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Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Making known God's goodness

BACKGROUNDER

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent= . It is a day that Catholics go to Mass and are signed with “ashes.&#= 8221; The ashes remind us that we are destined for greater things than the = world has to offer. While the world thinks a person is great because of a c= ar, house, or friends, God wants us to realize we are great because He love= s us. Lent is a time to see what is important in God’s eyes. <= /p>

In the Gospel for Ash Wednesday, Jesus = scolds people who are two-faced—that is a person who says one thing b= ut does another. God wants us to be authentic – the real person we ar= e called to be. This means that how we act and what we believe are the same= . Jesus highlights three practices to help us grow in holiness. Acts of cha= rity (almsgiving), prayer, and fasting are part of Jesus’ “spir= itual” training camp! During Lent we are challenged to become persons= God calls us to be. Lent reminds us that “now is the day of salvatio= n.”

How would you describ= e your participation in “spiritual” training camp? What does yo= ur “spiritual” exercise routine look like? Are you getting stro= nger in your response to God’s call to holiness?

Who? Me!

Vol= ume 2, Issue 9

Feb= ruary 2008

· What steps will you take = to make a “good” Lent?

· What will you “give= up” for Lent?

· What will you “do&#= 8221; for Lent?

ALMSGIVI= NG, PRAYER, AND FASTING

Jesus said to his disciples: “Tak= e care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; ot= herwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you gi= ve alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the syna= gogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, = they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your le= ft hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secre= t.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand an= d pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.= Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go= to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And= your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglec= t their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, = I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint yo= ur head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, excep= t to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden wil= l repay you.” —Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

GETTING = REAL

Sit quietly. Breathe deeply and exhale = the stress and worries of the day. Ask Jesus to help you be aware of what y= ou need to learn today.

Read each section of ALMSGIVING, PRAYER= , FASTING slowly. Think about each section as you hear it.

How do you reach out to others? Have yo= u ever reached out to someone who was sad or lonely? Have you ever given mo= ney to help someone who needed help?

How do you pray? Do you talk directly t= o Jesus? Do you recite something you have learned?

How do you fast? Do you choose not to g= ossip? Do you choose to give some money to a cause rather than buy somethin= g for yourself?

Take a few minutes to ask Jesus how you= can grow in holiness.

SAINT JULIE SAYS

“You know all that = I ask the good God for you. Oh! My He alone possess your heart without rese= rve, without division and forever.”

St. Julie Billia= rt,

Foundress of the=

Sisters of Notre= Dame de Namur

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