I did! The thought of walking a quiet, sunny beach is very appealing at this time of the year. (Especially if you live in that part of the country where winter has a death grip on you.) As you watch the waves wash away your footprints, you can't help being caught up into a reflective mood about your past and your future. When you think of this upcoming Lenten season, don't just think of it as 40 days of sacrifice. Instead, consider it an opportunity for spiritual growth, renewal and re-prioritization as you walk your own, personal path to holiness. Unlike Jesus, who knew what was about to happen as He was approaching Jerusalem, we do not know our futures. We do however know for certain that our time here on earth is very short. So make the most of it. Remember, if you think Lent is long, wait till you have to deal with E T E R N I T Y !

Christine
Administrator - The Way of the Cross

This Month's Freebie

I stumbled across this terrific, little Lenten pocket guide while at St. Mary's bookstore in San Francisco last week. It contains daily reflections for Lent 2008. Each reflection is VERY short. By the time you've had your morning coffee, you would be done. I took every book they had... 36 in all. So I will have to limit this to one per person. After that, you'll have to check out your neighborhood Catholic bookstore. Because Lent starts so early, I have copied the reflection for that day below. That way, if you order one, you have a chance to not miss a day.

ASH WEDNESDAY - February 6th
Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Sincere Religion
Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting. We are marked with ashes and accept the call to purification from sin and conversion to Christ. Our lenten program embraces fasting, prayer and generosity to those in need.
Jesus casts a searchlight not on the pious deed, but on the intention. If you want to be noticed, then don't do it. There is a confessor who often says, "For your penance do a kind act to someone without letting them know you did it."
Look for approval from God, not from the crowd. To seek public acclaim for our good deeds tempts us to pride. Piety's greatest pitfall is hypocrisy. The more you advertise your charity, the less love you really show.
Fast. Recall this adage attributed to William Penn, a seventeenth-centtury Quaker and American colonial settler, "Always rise from the table with an appetite and you'll never sit down without one."
Pray. The greatest source of the Christian spirit is the Eucharist. Come to the Eucharist each day of Lent. Take in the Bread of Life to quell temptation. Enrich your love life with the greatest love of all, the infinite love of Christ.
Help people in need. Millions of children are starving. Let us spend less money on food and drink for ourselves and give more to children in need. The breakdown of our excessive eating and drinking means a breakthrough for the hungry children of this world. Fast and you will get more out of life. And so will those in need.

Pray
Father, help us to hear your call to fast, pray and help others. Move us to spend time with Christ in the desert to meditate on the meaning of life and our final destiny. Show us how to get by with less, so that the needy of the world will have more.
Amen.

Reflect
Be merciful to me O Lord, for I have sinned. How can I look at myself with utter honesty? When will I learn to say what I mean and mean what I say? How would God's mercy make a difference in my life?

Click here if you would like your copy. Limited supply. One per person. We will contact you immediately if we run out.

Ash Wednesday: Overview

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. (In the Eastern Rite Catholic churches, Lent begins two days earlier, on Clean Monday.)

While Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, all Roman Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on this day in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season.

The Distribution of Ashes:
During Mass, the ashes which give Ash Wednesday its name are distributed. The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday; many churches ask their parishioners to return any palms that they took home so that they can be burned.

After the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them with holy water, the faithful come forward to receive them. The priest dips his right thumb in the ashes and, making the Sign of the Cross on each person's forehead, says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return" (or a variation on those words).

A Day of Repentance:
The distribution of ashes reminds us of our own mortality and calls us to repentance. In the early Church, Ash Wednesday was the day on which those who had sinned, and who wished to be readmitted to the Church, would begin their public penance. The ashes that we receive are a reminder of our own sinfulness, and many Catholics leave them on their foreheads all day as a sign of humility.

Fasting and Abstinence Are Required:
The Church emphasizes the penitential nature of Ash Wednesday by calling us to fast and abstain from meat. Catholics who are over the age of 18 and under the age of 60 are required to fast, which means that they can eat only one complete meal and two smaller ones during the day, with no food in between. Catholics who are over the age of 14 are required to refrain from eating any meat, or any food made with meat, on Ash Wednesday.

THIS MONTH'S PRIVATE REVELATIONS:
There are two kinds of revelations: (1) universal revelations, which are contained in the Bible and form the core of our faith. These ended with the preaching of the Apostles and must be believed by all; (2) private revelations which are constantly occurring among Christians even to this day. You are under no obligation to believe the latter. When the Church approves private revelations, she declares only that there is nothing in them contrary to the faith or good morals. Private revelations contained here are approved by the Church's appointed Spiritual Advisors.

Medjugorje Message
January 25, 2008

Our Blessed Mother: "Dear children! With the time of Lent, you are approaching a time of grace. Your heart is like ploughed soil and it is ready to receive the fruit which will grow into what is good. You, little children, are free to choose good or evil. Therefore, I call you to pray and fast. Plant joy and the fruit of joy will grow in your hearts for your good, and others will see it and receive it through your life. Renounce sin and choose eternal life. I am with you and intercede for you before my Son. Thank you for having responded to my call."
***

“ANNE” – DIRECTION FOR OUR TIMES
February 1, 2008

Jesus: My friend, heaven has accomplished many things with your service to the Kingdom. Shall I tell you what we are achieving together? First of all, we have increased your holiness. It is true, dear apostle. With your cooperation, I have been able to advance you in virtue. Consider where you were in the holiness walk when you first committed to serving as My apostle. Consider where you are now. You will see that you have advanced, even though you also see that you have additional work to do in this regard. I want you to understand, though, that progress has been made so that you will rejoice and have hope for additional progress. This is good for you and good for heaven. Next, your service to the Kingdom has been used to bring light to other souls. Think for a moment. Is it not true that you have tried to treat others more like I treated others? Is it not true that there have been times when you returned love for hostility? Have you not discovered that you view even your enemies with greater compassion? Think dear apostles. Have you shared My merciful message with others? Have they benefited? Without your cooperation, this could not have happened. Yes, many have benefited because you have chosen to serve Me. Would you like to know of another result of your service? Heaven, as you know, is filled with perfect love and comfort. I love all of humanity, of course, but not everyone returns My love. Because of your cooperation, I, Jesus Christ, have received a greater amount of love and comfort from your world. You, in your determination to serve Me, have bestowed upon Me the greatest consolations. The light from your willingness to serve as I wish you to serve has given Me comfort in a time when My heart aches with loneliness for so many. You have truly become My friend and I hold you in My heart most protectively. All of the intentions in your heart now move to the
regular beating of My heart. I will not abandon you and I will not abandon your intentions. Together, we will see to each one of them. The loyalty you feel for your loved ones is shared by Me in that your holy desires become personal to Me as they are personal to you. Just as you are determined that your loved ones be healed, so I am determined that your loved ones be healed. These are joint projects embarked upon by the Saviour and His beloved apostle. You are never alone in your concerns or your crosses. I thank you for helping heaven to accomplish so much and I will reward you, in part, by keeping the promise I have made to seek conversion of all of those dear to you. Be at peace in every trial, please, because I am with you.

***

Ann P. (Alex's Friend)
January 21, 2008
At the Sacred Heart Chapel

Jesus: My child.  The people of the world are suffering for the many sins committed against Me.  They are so blinded by their lies and foolish behavior, that they cannot hear the truth.  My Heart is heavy, listening to their perverse talk and the immodesty of dress that leads to many sins of the flesh.  They offend My Sacred Heart day in and day out without any remorse.  Their salvation is at stake and for this reason I have called many of My people to make reparation for these souls to suffer at great length for the salvation of mankind.  Those that I have chosen to suffer, will be rewarded greatly and will give glory to My Heavenly Father.  In all sufferings, I will help carry their cross, giving them the strength and grace necessary to endure.  By accepting the call to suffer, I will give tremendous blessings to those you love and are praying for.  I never go back on My word.  My sufferings for mankind were more than anyone can ever endure here on earth, so I ask you to bear yours with patience and joy.  Complaining and becoming angry may lose the value of this gift.  You must accept with total love, all that is asked of you.  In this way, My work will be accomplished and a great good will come upon the world. 
Your loving Jesus.
 
At the Adoration Chapel
My child.  Come sit before Me and let Me gaze at the beauty of My creation.  You were created in My image, therefore, you are My treasure, a pleasant sight to behold.  You have come to give honor and glory to Me and for this you shall be greatly rewarded.  The time you spend with Me is worth all the gold on earth, for I am the only treasure that you need.  I am rich in all things.  Your time on earth is passing, but you are always to remember that in the life to come all the treasure that you have built up will accompany you and will last forever.  Continue to make a difference while you are given the time to do so, for you do not know when you may be taken.  The road to eternal life is filled with many obstacles but through prayer and fasting, all hurdles will be removed and you will accomplish My Holy Will.  Continue to be lead by the authority of My Bride the Church, for She is all truth.  Obedience is the key that will open all doors.  Be patient and wait, My plan will be revealed to all those who remain faithful servants. 
Go in peace, your loving Jesus.