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GETTING = REAL

Sit quietly. Breathe deeply and exhale = the stress and anxieties of the day. Ask Jesus to help you be aware of what= you need to learn or see.

Read each section of ALMSGIVING, PRAYER= , FASTING. Think about each section as you hear it. How do you give alms? H= ow do you pray? How do you fast?

Re-read a section again. Picture the SC= ENE. Listen to Jesus speak to you. Are you listening as a member of the CRO= WD or as a DISCIPLE?

Re-read the sections again. Where do yo= u give alms? What do you find yourself praying for most often? What is the = relationship between forgiving and being forgiven? What is the purpose of f= asting?

Take a few minutes to talk and thank Je= sus!

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SAINT JU= LIE SAYS

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

St. Julie Billiart,

Foundress of the

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

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

BACKGROUNDER

The readings for Ash Wednesday call us = to examine lives. They challenge us to look at how we are growing in our re= lationships with God and one another. The readings challenge us to deepen o= ur faith in Jesus Christ.

The gospel lists three “exercises= ” -- almsgiving, prayer and fasting—as practices that strengthe= n us. These disciplines change us and reorient us towards God and God’= ;s law. By practicing these exercises, we change our relationship to God an= d each other in Jesus. Lent reminds is that “now is the day of salvat= ion.”

What kinds of acts of= charity do you perform?

What ways can you act= to become more charitable?

What steps can you ta= ke to become more of a woman of prayer?

What kind of fasting = do you do?

Do you have a need to= fast?

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· How are you charitable? <= /span>

· What acts of kindness do = you perform?

· What prayer practices do = use?

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Why Me?

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Making known God’s goodness

Vol= ume 2, Issue 9

Feb= ruary 2008