Ash Wednesday - the Beginning of the Camino Del Rey

The walk of our King to Calvary begins today.   Will you join me in the Camino del Rey?  (Walk of the King.)  Each day as we walk this journey to the Cross, we strive to grow closer to God.  We walk the path that Jesus walked.  We grow closer to Him through prayer, fasting, and alms giving.  We seek Him in our joys, pain, and sorrows.  We strive to keep Him in our sight through each moment in life.  Let us walk the Camino with Jesus.  Let us open our hearts and walk in joy towards the cross.

Meditation:
Let us begin our Camino by holding a crucifix in our hands.  See Our Jesus as he hangs bleeding, naked, and cold on His Cross, held only by nails driven into His Hands and Feet. See the cross which He embraces, this instrument of torture and disgrace, which is the sign of our salvation.  Remember that He, who is the King of Kings, lowered Himself and willingly accepted all sufferings for the redemption of sin.  He, who is Love embodied, loved His His sisters and brothers, so much that He willingly and full of love, accepted His Father’s Will that He be tormented, tortured, and killed by those whom He came to save.  He who was the fulfillment of the covenant the Father made with the chosen people, gave His life that all might live eternally with Him in heaven. 

Stand at the cross and remember His Love for us.  Touch His cold feet and feel His Sacred, warm blood flow from them.  See His Mother standing by the cross.  Reach out to her, for she has walked her Camino with her Son, and ask her for help to grow closer to Jesus.  She will never refuse this prayer.  Ask our Mother to learn to trust in God’s Will.  Ask Mother Mary to hold you close in her arms.  

Rest in the gift of love which is the crucifix.  Hold the crucifix close to your heart.  Tell Jesus you love Him.  Thank Him for all He endured.  Ask Him to walk with you as you walk your Camino. 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
We adore You, oh Christ, and we praise You,
Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

Ash Wednesday Requirements - Get Ready! The Season of Lent Begins tomorrow!

Tomorrow, the season of Lent begins.  As we immerse ourselves into this season, we walk the way of the Cross with Jesus.  As with other Holy Seasons, our Church asks us to follow some simple rules to grow closer to God. 

What are the requirements of Lent?
What are the requirements for Ash Wednesday?

1) Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

2) Catholics age 14 and older are required to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays during the season of Lent.

That's not hard, so be ready. 

Here's a link to American Catholic. org.  The article explains the requirements and the reasons for the requirements of Lent.  It's not a long article, so be sure to read it to the end.

Click

HERE

to ready it.

Five Easy Ways to Prepare for Lent

“Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”  Romans 13: 11-14

A week from today is Ash Wednesday.  Lent begins.  Like a runner prepares for a race, we must prepare for the spiritual journey of penance and reparation.  Advent is a time of preparation for a meeting with the newborn Jesus.  Lent is a season of endurance as we detach ourselves from the world to meet the Risen Christ in grace.  As this sacred season begins, let us  journey together determined, expecting, and prepared to grow in holiness as we follow Jesus on His road to Calvary and His Resurrection.

1) Meditate on the meaning of Lent and pray.  Spend 5 minutes or more each day focusing on what Jesus might ask of you during this season.  Open your mind, heart, and soul to Him.  Ask Jesus to inspire you in this  journey.  Seek His direction as you walk  the way of the cross with Him.

2) Focus on Jesus.  No matter what you do in preparation for Lent, focus your time and energies on Him.  Prepare to surrender all to Him so that you, as His child, can give your “fiat” to walking that painful way of the cross that He walked.  Keep Jesus in your sight.  Never take your eyes off of Him.  Vow to follow Him with love and joy, no matter the cost.

3) Learn the requirements for fasting and abstinence that our Church asks us to perform during Lent.   Commit yourself to practice these requirements without resentment.  Study and decide which other practices of repentance and reparation you will use to grow in holiness during Lent. 

4)  Mark your calendars.  Note the days on which we must fast.  Note the days on which we must abstain from meat during Lent.  Mark the days of special services at Church, for example,  the Stations of the Cross.  Make note of times when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at your church or other churches in the area.  Mark the days and times of special prayer  services, such as Eucharistic Adoration that you will attend.  Be prepared.  Reserve your babysitters now,  if necessary.  Mark those days down and attend the services that you can. 

5) Make your grocery shopping list in preparation for Lent.  If you know when the days of fasting and abstinence are observed, then you will have the necessary foods on hand for fasting.


“I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “ Philippians 4:13