Saints, Feasting and Fasting
Posted by Lisa Hendey in News on Thursday, March 17, 2011
This week on the podcast (click here to listen or click on the player above), Sarah and Rebecca are joined by Jennifer Fulwiler of Conversion Diary. This week, we celebrate the feasts of St. Patrick and St. Joseph. Sarah recently shared a sweet reflection about St. Joseph, in light of being a mom of boys. How about you? Does your family celebrate these saints in any special ways? St. Joseph seems... READ MORE
Do You Fast On Sunday?
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Family on Tuesday, March 15, 2011
I don’t know why memories of my first years as a Catholic keep coming to me this year, but I recall taking my first Lent very seriously.
I fasted completely (water and black coffee alone) on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, took on several other challenging disciplines, and considered people who took Sundays off to be wimping out.
This was the zeal of a convert and the metabolism of youth.... READ MORE
40 Ways for 40 Days
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Tuesday, March 08, 2011
In case you and your family are still seeking inspiration for this year’s Lenten season, I thought I would share the 40 ideas I came up with for the Marriage & Parenting column I wrote for Parable, my diocesan magazine this year:
40 Ways for 40 Days: Give Your Family the Gift of a Meaningful Lent
Instead of ‘thinking big’ this year, maybe we could think small. The Church recommends traditional penitential practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for Lent. Why not pray, fast and give as a family this year? Here are 40 small but meaningful ways to try to accomplish this ...
Fast and Furious
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Back in college, in my days before husband and children and running a household, I felt like I had the energy and wherewithal to do so much more during Lent.
One year, my college roommates and I gave up bread. And meat. And also sweets. We basically ate cheese and crackers for 40 days and whether I lost weight or not I cannot remember. That I was able to stick with this plan for the full Lenten season... READ MORE
Health Insurance Reform & The Bishops
Posted by Rebecca Teti in News on Monday, March 15, 2010
When a group of “Catholic” hospitals endorsed the health care bill up for a vote this week, it made headlines.
The USCCB, however, while in favor of health insurance reform, strongly opposes the bill.
In a bulletin insert sent to dioceses around the country, the bishops urged Catholics to call their representatives and oppose this bill.
Bishop Loverde of Arlington is calling for days of prayer and fasting against passage of the bill.... READ MORE
Lenten Calendar
Posted by Robyn Lee in Faith on Tuesday, March 09, 2010
I went over to my sister’s the other day and I noticed the kids’ Lenten calendars on the fridge. I glanced over the daily resolutions.
Handwritten, in each box were little sacrifices or good works: write letter to Pat, no Wii, make my bed, no computer, draw Aunt Robyn a picture (like the one shown here by my niece Fiona).
It reminded me of Lent growing up in my house.
Mom didn’t make dessert very... READ MORE
Fruitful Fasts
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Holy Father’s Message for Lent is out.
It’s a meditation on justice and our need to renew our thirst for it—and be restored to it by grace.
The letter’s publication reminds me I need to think about my program of prayer and penance for this Lent.
There’s nothing wrong with the “usual” penances (giving up sweets or coffee, praying the Stations of the Cross). In the spiritual life, the rule is to... READ MORE
Fast for Haiti
Posted by Arwen Mosher in News on Thursday, January 14, 2010
I know we’ve all been watching in horror at what’s happening in Haiti. I know we’ve all been praying for the victims, and thinking about other ways we can help.
In case you’re still looking for a way to help, here’s an idea: Fast for Haiti.
You may have seen this other places, but I thought it was worth posting here as well. As Christians we’re well aware of the power of prayer and fasting together,... READ MORE
Closer to Thee, My God
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Faith on Wednesday, February 25, 2009
All day I have wanted to ask my Faith and Family community how their day of fasting was going, but everytime I thought to do so, today’s Gospel would pop into my mind.
“If I bring it up,” I thought, “then I’ll be like one of those Pharisees, drawing attention to fasting instead of suffering in silence.”
So I put it off. But here we are, at the end of the day, and our fast is over. So I’m curious... READ MORE
There Was Fasting In Paradise
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Holy Father has written us a letter to help us benefit fully from our Lenten practices.
Read it here, its main theme is fasting.
I love the way Benedict always starts with the practical before leading us to the sublime, and this letter is no exception. Rather than starting with pieties, he asks a blunt question about fasting: what good is it? Read the whole thing to find his answer, but I’ll... READ MORE
