Lazarus and Death in Sin

Today's Gospel reading is the bittersweet, and well known, story of Jesus' raising of Lazarus. I say bittersweet because, although the miracle itself is important, we are shown a side of Jesus' humanity that not often comes to light in The Bible: his empathy and his pain. The mere tears of Mary drive Jesus to …

Quick Takes: 7 Good Friday Thoughts

Although the days passed quickly this year, we are approaching the end of Lent with Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Christ. This year especially, I have noticed that, even though I’ve been busy with my dissertation and still more essays this year, I have drawn closer to Christ. Not through prayer or alms-giving or …

Ash Wednesday – Strengthen Your Lenten Journey Through Fasting

More on Ash Wednesday and the way we ought to be turning our behaviours to during and onwards from Lent. Ellen Gable brings some thoughts to mull over and help those less confident about their faith this Lent.

Plot Line and Sinker (Ellen Gable, Author)

When you hear the word “fasting,” do you automatically cringe? Do you dread Ash Wednesday or Good Friday? Or do you embrace the self-denial of fasting on those days? If you’re like most people, you might not look forward to Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, the Church’s compulsory days of fasting. However, when you become accustomed to the regular practice of fasting throughout the year, these “compulsory” days are opportunities for abundant graces and spiritual growth.

Many people mistakenly believe that fasting belongs only in the Penitential Season of Lent. However, the regular self-denial of fasting is a positive and generous act that we can do all year round. After all, Jesus fasted — and He fasted before every major event in His life — and His apostles fasted. In Scripture, fasting is mentioned numerous times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

“When you fast, do not…

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A Start to Lent

Happy Lent, everyone! Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the 40 days and nights Jesus spent in the desert, fasting and enduring the temptations of the Devil. In this way, Lent is a time for us to fight against the many temptations that flood our lives and turn our faces to the Lord. Not looking …

Finding God in the Happiness

As Lent rolls around again – and with it, the first-year anniversary of my Rite of Election – I find it apt to reflect on spiritual health. Now, in terms of the other levels of health one can have, I have been pretty physically healthy over the last few months (praise God!), my mental health …

7 Quick Takes: I’ve Been Absent, But That’s the End of Term…

Wow, it seems these days that I’m so busy I forget even to blog. It’s not that it’s not important to me – and not that I don’t have ideas – the issue is simply one of time or lack thereof. Which is why 7 Quick Takes Friday is so rewarding. I do apologise for …

7 Quick Takes about New Ideas, New Earrings, and New Vloggings

I may have been a little busy the last couple of weeks, but I’m back for this week’s 7 Quick Takes with other Catholic bloggers and hosted by the lovely Kelly of This Ain’t the Lyceum. ~1~ With my first philosophy essay in this morning, things seem to be settling back to normal a bit— …

Lenten Fasting and Abstinence.

A great poster explaining Lenten fasting and abstinence, the difference between the two and the specifics about who should fast and from what. It’s bright and clear for those (like myself) who may be unsure about the exact ‘rules’ or practises in the Catholic Church around Lent. This will be my second Lent following Catholic practise and I am excited.

1catholicsalmon

image@http://ucatholic.com/blog/lent-guide/

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Lent: A Time for Giving, Not Taking

  Someone asked me at dinner today what I was giving up for Lent. This took me by surprise. For starters, I thought only teenagers partook in the ritual of giving up foodstuffs for 40 days and night. There is also the point I will make that choosing to give up something can actually have …

Spy Wednesday

I’d not heard of the term ‘Spy Wednesday’ before, but there’s no better time to learn than today as part of Lenten preparations.

1catholicsalmon

In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) we see that 30 pieces of silver was what a slave was sold for, which wasn’t a lot of money. Judas Iscariot betrayed Our Lord for the classic “30 pieces of silver” and Jesus knew it.

Holy Wednesday was known as Spy Wednesday in reference to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Escariot. Judas went to the Sanhedrin who were plotting against Jesus and offered them his support in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. The events that lead Jesus to the cross are filled with intrigue, suspense and an impending sense of disaster, thus it was called Spy Wednesday. The events that lead Jesus to the cross are filled with intrigue, suspense and an impending sense of disaster.

The powers of good and evil, light and darkness, sin and salvation are poised to exhibit themselves at the place we call Golgotha…

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