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“We begin the season of lent with ashes on our foreheads. What is symbolized by this smudging? Perhaps the heart understands better than the head because more people go to church on Ash Wednesday than on any other day of the year, including Christmas. The queues to receive the ashes in many churches are endless.
Why? Why are the ashes so popular?"
(The Ashes of Lent by Ron Rolheiser OMI)
“What is the meaning of Lent? Why do we set aside forty days to voluntarily give up legitimate enjoyments so as to prepare for Easter?” (Images for Lent by Ron Rolheiser OMI) -
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AUDIO ONLY: Hear Fr. Mario on: "The Pain and the Ashes" (listen or download)
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Prepare for Lent.
Article 1 - “The Ashes of Lent" (Read the full article from Ron Rolheiser OMI)
Do you have questions about Ash Wednesday? About Lent? How long is it really? Ashes? Giving something up? The Scrutinies? Penance, Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving? Then you may want to read these articles from Catholic Online:
Article 2 - "Ash Wednesday"
Article 3 - "FAQs About Lent"
Giving something up or fasting during Lent often cause us a little pain. Making changes in our lives and “turning away from sin” can also be painful because of our resistance. Illness, death, other losses may haunt us throughout our lives. What role does pain play in our lives? The following article is from "WhyPain.org".
Article 4 - "Benefits of Suffering"
Our culture is being taught that what matters most is “acquiring things”, “possessing things” and even the belief that we are “owed things”. Lent is a time to offer up the pain of withdrawal from these tendencies and to consider what really matters. In this article Ron Rolheiser shows us that we really don’t own anything – it is all “Ad Usam”.
Article 5 - "Ad Usam"