The Season of Lent Pray Fast Give We

The Season of Lent ~ Pray, Fast, Give We are now in the Season of Lent, the 40 days (plus Sundays) which lead up to Easter. Lent began last week on Ash Wednesday and will continue for the next six weeks. This is the time of year when Christians prepare for the biggest celebration of all, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. There are three things which Christians are asked to do during Lent: to pray, to fast and to give. We will make these the focus of our prayers this week, remembering that the most important part of Lent is what happens in our hearts, in our relationship with God, and in our relationship with others & all of creation. Prayers prepared by Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ & Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ

Wednesday 24 th February The first thing which Christians are asked to do a little more of in Lent is to pray, the second is to fast. ‘To fast’ means to go without something or to give something up. Traditionally Christians would give up some item of food in Lent but today many people think of other things to give up or have less of during Lent. For example – some choose to spend less time on social media, to have a shorter shower and so use less water or to ‘fast’ from single-use plastic. The reason we are asked to go without something is to help us to focus our minds and hearts more on God. It is also a way of us uniting ourselves with people who do not have as much as we do.

Wednesday 24 th February The opposite of fasting is feasting…here are some more ideas of how we can ‘fast’ during Lent:

Wednesday 24 th February We pray… Loving God, We thank you for the good things which you give to us each day; we thank you for food, for clean water, for education and for people who care for us. We pray for people who will go hungry today, people who will have to drink dirty water, and people who will be alone again today. This Lent, may the things that we choose to go without, help us to be more mindful of people who regularly have to go without the basic things they need, and more mindful of the things we can do to take better care of our planet. May the choices we make this Lent, help us to follow you more closely. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.