Catholic couples and liturgical experts are advising how to observe Ash Wednesday -- the beginning of the Latin Church's penitential season of Lent leading up to Easter -- which falls on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, this year.
The former is a day of
An annual Lenten collection taken up by Catholics across the U.S. provides "life-changing hope," said Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia, chair of the board of Catholic Relief Services.
The CRS Rice Bowl initiative, which combines prayer, fasting and almsgiving to help those
Kansas City Chiefs fans are looking forward to a Super Bowl victory parade Feb. 14 -- but for Catholics, who mark Ash Wednesday that same day, "first place always goes to the Lord Jesus and what he's done," said Bishop James V.
Observing Lent is a lot like cleaning up for guests. We do it not because they’ll judge us, but because we’re honored by their presence. Lent, argues Our Sunday Visitor columnist David Mills, is all about facing the reality of sin and
From the standpoint of an unsympathetic Protestant or non-Christian observer, Mardi Gras partying one day and Ash Wednesday penance the next are a sign of contradiction, if not even hypocrisy. How can we reconcile raucous revelry Tuesday night and humble repentance Wednesday
God knows we bring what we can of love within the scope of our lives, our roles, our circumstances.
And that’s a wonderful thing to remember as we ponder this collision of a commercial holiday, Valentine's Day, with coming of Lent, for the
A reader writes: “What does the Church currently teach in regard to Friday abstinence? I have read something to the effect that during Fridays of Lent and each Friday of the year, Catholics over the age of 14 are obliged to refrain
The Second Last Word: "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Lk 23:43)
This February, we celebrate Valentine's Day, the day of love and friendship. February 14 is also Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. At first glance, many will think that we will not be able to celebrate with our partners, but there are
In this reflection, Jaymie Stuart Wolfe shares her personal journey with Lent and how it evolved from a competitive and self-imposed challenge to a more profound spiritual practice. Initially viewing Lent as a competition in personal holiness, she recounts her rigorous efforts