The attachment

to detachment.

Thought of the Day: Detachment

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When less is more

The Virtue of Asceticism

The biggest problem in our culture is avoiding excess. It seems that there's always a tendency to 'biggie-size' anything and everything. In this case more would be less...

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The season begins

Lent: Season of Our Hypocrisy

"From to-do lists to angels in the wilderness."

I can certainly relate to this. I started my season of hypocrisy by missing Mass on Ash Wednesday because I was just so tired and burned out that I had to sleep when I got home. There's nothing like sticking one's head in the sand about one's own condition. A very good way to start the Lenten season...

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The film version of the semon and sacrament

The Ash Wednesday Sermon I Would Give

""Moonstruck" gives us a fine introduction to the business of Ash Wednesday."

My only question is, how many people can't spend an extra 10-12 minutes out of their day being nourished by a sermon? Are we all really that rushed, especially on a special and important day like Ash Wednesday?

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When the Church

grasps at current culture to try to keep/attract/enthuse its members...

Black Wristbands to Help Catholics Observe Lent

In much the same way as there are ribbons of every colour (and combination of colours) possible for the various causes, so too are there rubber wristbands for the same reason. There are so many that some people (myself included) have stopped wearing any at all. I'll try, however haltingly and pitifully, to keep Lent myself based on the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. I'll try...

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For Lent

Something we're all often a little confused about...

"Abstinence does not consist in refraining from material goods ... but in the complete giving up of one's own will." - St. Basil

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There is value

in maintaining some traditions and practices...

At a Catholic fish fry, a hunger for tradition

Nice headline, though.

I don't hunger for tradition, though. What I do hunger for are practices that help me reach over the gap that I place between myself and God every day. I need things that help me bridge that. Lenten sacrifice, along with prayer, helps me to do that...

Lent again...

At Lent, a Most Powerful Rendering of the 14 Stations

This sounds wonderful. Traditionalists wouldn't like them too much I don't think.

Here's the answer to your burning question...

Celebrating St. Patrick’s day during Lent

You were wondering about it, admit it!

Catholic small talk

How's Your Lent Going?

OK, I guess. Yours?

Comment

on the Italian Bishops suggestion for Lent...

Giving Up On Giving Up?

I must say that their recommendation strikes a chord with me. I don't do a lot communication by the new technology (I never do any texting) but I do use the intertubes a lot. I could cut down my computer use to just what's necessary for work and the blog...

When did Lent begin?

Roger Cardinal Mahoney, Cardinal Archbishop of LA, has an answer that's different than usual.


When did Lent begin?

Here's his whole message:


Lent 2009: A time to 'make sacred' our many sacrifices

Of course, there's many more things

25 Great Things You Can Do For Lent (besides giving up chocolate)

We're always looking for ideas, and always trying to do something other than the usual penitential 'giving up fill in the blank for Lent'. Ideas are good. Positive ideas are good...

And here's the rules

Lent: Regulations define Catholic obligations during Lent

You can't say no one told you...

Were you there...

...when they crucified my Lord?



Attributed to Bernardo Daddi
The Crucifixion, c. 1335
Samuel H. Kress Collection

I wouldn't have the energy to do it

and I'm nowhere near his age. Good for him.

Fewer Good Friday steps for Pope

Lenten selections

Two Books for Times of Trouble that Can Enlighten Us at Any Time

While both books are fine, the second book looks really good. Doing the hospital work I do has made me realize how woefully inadequate I am to deal with dying patients and how the skills, for me at least, have to be learned as they're not natural to me.

What a great headline

The Dust of Everyday Sin

(Of course, mine might be more like the dark ink stain of everyday sin, but it's still a great line to think about...)

Here's some recipes...

...for Lent, from the Arkansas Catholic....

Favorite Family Food for Lent

Some of them sound wonderful!

An article like its topic

Living Simply During Lent

A very simple article discussing very simple things regarding how to make our lives very simple. Things that we should carry over to our everyday life after Lent...