1. RCIA
February 22, 2017
Exploring Lent

2. For Discussion What comes to your mind when you hear the word “ Lent”
What colours, what thoughts, feelings, sights, sounds?

3. Ash Wednesday and Lent in Two Minutes

4. For Discussion
What new things did you learn about Ash Wednesday and Lent as a result of
this video ?

5. Lent- Overview ` Word that means ‘springtime’
Part of a larger 90 day celebration of Lent/Easter/Pentecost
There is no competition for the celebration of Lent/Easter like there is for Advent
These 90 days are the heart of the liturgical year when we are renewed for mission and sent forth
Lent/Easter seeks to empower us to live the Gospel in every aspect of our lives
confront the established structures and practices that are contrary to the Gospel

6. Two Lenten Themes Baptismal Penetential
Catholics have a well-developed sense of the penitential sense of the season
Church insists on the importance of both

7. Two Lenten Themes Baptismal
The primary theme of the season is baptismal. The final spiritual preparation for those who will be baptized at Easter
The faithful support the Elect in their preparation by
their prayer, fasting and support
Faithful prepare to recommit to their baptism by renewing their baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil.
All things are made new at Easter, including a recommitment to our life in Christ

9. Themes of Lent- Penitential
Lent is a time to seriously examine our lives and root out all that is sinful
We ask God to heal the areas of deep-seated sin, weakness and woundedness
We make a heartfelt commitment to change our lives.
We ask God to heal us- we ask for the grace to grow and to be converted more profoundly to Jesus Christ
The Church takes an entire season to reflect on the baptismal and penitential realities of Lent

10. Lenten Time Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and extends for six weeks
We ritualize our commitment to enter this time of baptismal and penitential conversion with with a sign of the cross placed on our forehead with ashes
ashes are a sign of our commitment of renewal, to be reborn at Easter through the waters of baptism
Church designates three disciplines that help us more fully participate in the season of Lent - prayer, fasting , almsgiving

11. The Three Disciplines of Lent-
Come back to me with all your heart
These practices are designed to help us to radiate life-
to radiate Christ
Prayer
Is prayer about quality or quantity?-
Is prayer about words or an attitude of life?
What prevents me from praying regularly?
What could we do so that our Sunday liturgy spills over from Monday - Saturday?

12. Web Resources for Lenten Prayer
Lectio Divina Lenten Sunday Gospels
The Gospel for All Ages
Exploring the Sunday Readings
JesuitPrayer.org

13. Our Lenten Practices Fasting- Learning to be a hungry Christian
Hungry for God’s kingdom
What distracts me from a relationship with God and other people?
What might we fast from which would make a difference in the world?

14. Fast From Feast On... Do you see yourself in any of this poem?
Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism. Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

15. ...Fast From Feast On
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation. Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer. Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness. Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth Fast from discouragements; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire. Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that undergirds.
-William Arthur Ward (American author, teacher and pastor, )

16. Our Lenten Practices
Almsgiving -commonly understood as a monetary donation
Does that bring us into solidarity with those who are in need?
Does it make a lasting difference?
How can we together give our time, talents, personal comfort?
ShareLife

17. Our Lenten Practices
25 Great Things You Can Do This Lent

18. From Lent to Holy Week
Lent officially ends at the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s supper on Holy Thursday
Holy Week is time for extended meditation on cross of Christ
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday
In addition to the three disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we also engage in other spiritual practices such as care for the poor
Stations of the Cross- meditation on the stages of Jesus passion and journey to Calvary

19. Themes and Symbols from the Sunday Readings
The Desert- First Sunday of Lent
Israelites wandered for forty years
place of temptation, a place where the people of Israel were both faithful and unfaithful
Desert is a place of encounter with God
Jesus was victorious just as we can be victorious with God’s grace to help us.

20. Themes and Symbols from Readings
Liturgies help prepare the elect for baptism
prepare the faithful to renew baptismal promises
Readings help us reflect on the power of sin in our life,
and on the reality of grace
Lent is a meditation on the need to turn our lives over to God
to express sorrow for the sin in our life

21. Closing Thoughts
Have we physically set aside a prayer space for our Lenten journey?
. What is the grace we desire to deepen within us during Lent?
To deepen our understanding of Jesus’ Passion?
To walk with Jesus through his Passion and Resurrection?
To work on overcoming a temptation that keeps us from fully entering into life with Christ?
To foster a new spiritual practice to ignite or inflame our relationship with Jesus?
In these last few days before Lent begins, .
We can turn to Jesus and ask, “What is the grace you desire to deepen within me over these next 40 days?”