sign in sign up
<<
Home , Lent, Memorial (liturgy)

Daily Inspiration for Your Lenten Journey | February 17—April 4

SUNDAY MONDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY February 17 February 18 February 19 February 20

Ash Wednesday— Begin your journey with Abstaining from meat Begin your day with the Begins self-reflection and allow and other indulgences . Read or listen to yourself to experience during Lent is a peniten- the daily readings. Ashes are sprinkled on the mercy of the Lord. tial practice. Do you have our heads so that the fire How will you renew your questions about ? of love can be kindled commitment to , We’ve got answers! in our hearts. We are fasting and almsgiving citizens of heaven, and this season? our love for God and neighbor is our passport to heaven. (Pope Francis, , 2020) CNS/Nancy Wiechec February 21 February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25 February 26 February 27

First of Lent Today is the feast of “If you forgive men Catechumens who “Will we bend down Be patient with yourself Lord Christ, Son the Chair of St. Peter! their transgressions, / have been preparing to touch and heal the this Lent. This past year of the living God, have “This is the time of This feast reminds us your heavenly Father for will soon wounds of others? Will has been difficult in many mercy on me, a sinner. fulfillment. / The of the significance of will forgive you. / But be initiated into the we bend down and help ways. Take your journey kingdom of God is at (USCCA, 536) the ministry of St. Peter if you do not forgive Church. Say a prayer another to get up? This is one day at a time. hand. / Repent, and and the succession of men, / neither will your for all the elect, whose today’s challenge and we believe in the .” popes who followed Father forgive your journeys of spiritual should not be afraid to (Mk 1:15, ) in his footsteps. Say a transgressions.” growth have led them face it.” prayer for Pope Francis, (Mt 6: 14-15) to becoming our (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, successor of St. Peter. brothers and sisters no. 70) in Christ. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY February 28 1 March 2 March 3 March 4 March 5 March 6

Second Sunday of Lent Jesus said to his disciples: “As each one has received On the of Rededicate yourself to “To receive in truth the “Only by identifying “Be merciful, just as a gift, use it to serve one St. Katharine Drexel, prayer. Set aside time Body and with the least [will we] As one of the three your Father is merciful. another as good stewards who gave up her wealth every day, even for just given up for us, we come at last to be the pillars of Lenten practice, Stop judging and you of God’s varied .” to be a missionary, we a few moments, to sit recognize Christ in the brothers of all. May God almsgiving is “a witness will not be judged. Stop are reminded, “As a with Jesus. poorest, his brethren.” inspire that dream in to fraternal charity” (1 Pt 4:10) condemning and you Church, we are called to each one of us.” and “a work of (Catechism of the Catholic will not be condemned. How can you use your be missionary disciples pleasing to God.” Church, no. 1397) (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, Forgive and you will time and talents to help who know and live the no. 287) (Catechism of the Catholic be forgiven.” others today? faith and confidently Learn more about the Church, no. 2462) share the Gospel.” roots of Catholic Social (Lk 6:36-37, Lectionary) Teaching. Consider making a recur- (Living as Missionary ring gift to your parish. Disciples, USCCB)

March 7 March 8 March 9 March 10 March 11 March 12 March 13

Third Sunday of Lent “The Church’s obligation Today is the memorial Heart of Jesus, Son of During Lent we often “When we begin to In Lent, we are called to participate in shaping of St. Frances of Rome, the eternal Father, have pray the seven penitential separate people in our to renew our baptismal In today’s first reading, the moral character of who organized a women’s mercy on us. , like this one, thoughts for unjust commitment. We recall we are reminded of the society is a requirement religious order—the “Out of the depths I call reasons, when we start those waters in which Ten Commandments. ( of the ) of our faith. It is a basic Oblates of Mary—and to you, LORD; / Lord, to see some people as we were baptized into Which commandment part of the mission we was known for her great hear my cry! / May your ’them‘ and others as ’us,’ Christ’s death, died to sin do you struggle with the ears be attentive / to my have received from charity. In her honor we fail to love.” and evil, and began new most? Aim for one small cry for mercy.” life in Christ. Jesus Christ.” today, let us pray for (Open Wide Our Hearts, improvement this week. (Ps 130:1-2, NABRE) (Forming Consciences for those in consecrated life. USCCB) Faithful Citizenship, no. 9)

March 14 March 15 March 16 March 17 March 18 March 19 March 20

Fourth Sunday of Lent “In every act we do, in “A clean heart create Today is the memorial of St. Cyril of of St. Joseph Today is the first day every step we take, let for me, O God / and a St. Patrick, the “apostle honored today was of ! “Leaving an The Fourth Sunday of In celebration of the our hand trace the steadfast spirit renew to Ireland”! He wrote, known for his “Catech- inhabitable planet to Lent is the midpoint and Year of St. Joseph, Lord’s cross.” within me.” “Our way to repay God is etical Instructions.” Give future generations is, known as . we pray today for all to exalt him and confess thanks for the catechists first and foremost, up Laetare means “rejoice” (St. Jerome, Letters, 22.37) (Ps 51:12, Lectionary) fathers, that through the his wonders before every in your community and to us.” and the Church expresses example of St. Joseph, nation under heaven.” all they do to educate hope and joy in the they may fully embrace (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, children and adults alike. middle of our penitential (St. Patrick, , 3) their vocation and no. 160) Lenten practices. accept the privilege and responsibility of caring for their children as St. Joseph cared for Jesus. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY March 21 March 22 March 23 March 24 March 25 March 26 March 27

Fifth Sunday of Lent Why is the Lenten Today, we mark the “Keep your eyes fixed on Solemnity of the “Forgiveness first sets “My dwelling shall be season forty days long? memorial of St. Turibius the outstretched arms of free the person who had with them; / I will be As we journey with Jesus In the Bible, forty is of Mogrovejo, a Spanish- of Christ crucified, let the Lord the courage to grant it.” their God, and they shall towards , typically indicative of born evangelizer who yourself be saved over be my people.” remember all those in Today is the Solemnity (Pope Benedict XVI, a time of testing, trial, was sent as a missionary and over again.” our world today who of the Annunciation of Address, May 6, 2006) (Ez 37:27, Lectionary) , purification, to Peru and opened the carry heavy crosses of (Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, the Lord, celebrating the and renewal. first seminary in the New poverty, homelessness, no. 123) incarnation of Christ in World. In his honor, pray and hunger. Mary’s womb. Take time for vocations. to pray the Hail Mary, taken in part from the angel’s words to Mary.

March 28 March 29 March 30 March 31 April 1 April 2 April 3

Palm Sunday of the Holy Week is here. Take time this week Lent officially ends Holy Thursday Passion of the Lord How have you grown to go to confession. tomorrow as the of As we mark the day on throughout your Lenten Before celebrating the the Lord’s Supper begins. “If I, therefore, the As you prepare for , In one week, we will which Jesus was crucified, journey? of Penance, Contact your parish to master and teacher, reflect on your Lenten celebrate Easter Sunday. pray the Stations of the prepare yourself with learn more about how have washed your feet, journey and think about Pray that the Lord allow Cross to reflect on an examination of you can participate in / you ought to wash one how you can continue you to accompany him Christ’s Passion. conscience, which the moving of another’s feet.” to grow throughout the serenely during these involves reflecting the . Easter season. Easter mysteries and you (Jn 13: 14, Lectionary) prayerfully on one’s may emerge from them thoughts, words, and renewed in faith, hope deeds in order to identify and charity. any sins.

April 4 “I ask Mary Most Holy to pray that our Lenten celebration will open our hearts to hear God’s Easter Sunday of call to be reconciled to himself, to fix our gaze on the paschal mystery, and to be converted the Resurrection of to an open and sincere dialogue with him. In this way, we will become what Christ asks his the Lord disciples to be: the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-14).” “This is the day the Lord —Pope Francis, Message for Lent, 2020 has made; let us rejoice This calendar may be printed and distributed without charge in its original format only for personal and institutional use. No other use of and be glad.” the copyrighted content is permitted. Lectionary for Mass for Use in the of the United States, second typical edition, copyright © (Ps 118:24, Lectionary) 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition, copyright © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Quotes from Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, copyright © 2006, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020 Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Copyright © 2021, United States Conference of Catholic , Washington, DC. All rights reserved. CNS/Paul Haring