AmericanCatholic.org
 
Skip Navigation Links
Home
Catholic News
Seasonal
Saints
Special Reports
Movies
Social Media
Shopping
Donate
RSS Feeds  RSS Feeds  
Daily Features
St. Anthony Messenger
Books
Catholic e-Greetings
Parish Newsletters/Services
E-Newsletters
Shopping
Media Productions
Living Your Faith
Update Your Faith
Español
Contact Us
About Us
Donate
Advertise
Site Map

advertisement
Seasonal Features View Calendar
Lent
For each day of Lent, we offer reflections from Lent with the Saints by Franciscan Fr. Greg Friedman. Click here to go to the main calendar page. You can also use the link in the upper right corner of this column.
Catholic Greetings
Giving Up on Giving Up?
Susan Vogt writes: "A year ago, I was facing Lent—again. I was ready to repeat the routine of what I usually do for Lent: no sweets or complaining, extra prayer, and the usual fasting and abstinence. I realized, though, that I wasn’t growing or being challenged. I decided to find a practice that would remind me daily of this penitential season and join me to Jesus’ sacrifice of his life for others." Read the rest of the article here.
Wondrous Encounters
Franciscan Father Richard Rohr offers daily reflections on the Scriptures for Lent.



Click here for the Catholic Update version.
Click here to purchase a copy of the book.
Lent Videos
from St. Anthony Messenger
Read about a Good Friday tradition that began as a local event and is now a one-of-a-kind pilgrimage drawing people from all over the world.
from St. Anthony Messenger
What Jesus revealed at the Last Supper led one Jewish man from the Seders of his youth to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life.
Why do Catholics fast and give things up during Lent? Why are there ashes on Ash Wednesday and palms on Palm Sunday? When does Lent end? Find the answers to these and other frequently asked questions here.
Sunday Soundbites
Visit our sister site, Franciscan Media Productions, for a weekly Lenten radio retreat.
The Stations of the Cross are a Catholic custom of Lent that commemorates the passion of Jesus on Good Friday.
More Lenten Information

Chair of St. Peter: This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church (see June 29). <p>After the “lost weekend” of pain, doubt and self-torment, Peter hears the Good News. Angels at the tomb say to Magdalene, “The Lord has risen! Go, tell his disciples and Peter.” John relates that when he and Peter ran to the tomb, the younger outraced the older, then waited for him. Peter entered, saw the wrappings on the ground, the headpiece rolled up in a place by itself. John saw and believed. But he adds a reminder: “...[T]hey did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). They went home. There the slowly exploding, impossible idea became reality. Jesus appeared to them as they waited fearfully behind locked doors. “Peace be with you,” he said (John 20:21b), and they rejoiced. </p><p>The Pentecost event completed Peter’s experience of the risen Christ. “...[T]hey were all filled with the holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4a) and began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them. </p><p>Only then can Peter fulfill the task Jesus had given him: “... [O]nce you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). He at once becomes the spokesman for the Twelve about their experience of the Holy Spirit—before the civil authorities who wished to quash their preaching, before the council of Jerusalem, for the community in the problem of Ananias and Sapphira. He is the first to preach the Good News to the Gentiles. The healing power of Jesus in him is well attested: the raising of Tabitha from the dead, the cure of the crippled beggar. People carry the sick into the streets so that when Peter passed his shadow might fall on them. </p><p>Even a saint experiences difficulty in Christian living. When Peter stopped eating with Gentile converts because he did not want to wound the sensibilities of Jewish Christians, Paul says, “...I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong.... [T]hey were not on the right road in line with the truth of the gospel...” (Galatians 2:11b, 14a). </p><p>At the end of John’s Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). What Jesus said indicated the sort of death by which Peter was to glorify God. On Vatican Hill, in Rome, during the reign of Nero, Peter did glorify his Lord with a martyr’s death, probably in the company of many Christians. </p><p>Second-century Christians built a small memorial over his burial spot. In the fourth century, the Emperor Constantine built a basilica, which was replaced in the 16th century.</p> American Catholic Blog Jesus, often I still judge others too quickly despite what I have learned in my life experience. I can still be unwilling to consider the needs and motivations of others. I excuse myself too easily.

 
PICK OF THE DAY
New audiobook for Lent
An inspiring new way to Rediscover Lent with Matthew Kelly!

 
CATHOLIC GREETINGS
Ash Wednesday
Throughout these 40 days we allow our pride to fade into humility as together we ask for forgiveness.



Come find us at: Facebook | St. Anthony Messenger magazine Twitter | American Catholic YouTube | American Catholic

American Catholic is for Catholics, all Christians and seekers. Find Roman Catholic Saints, Minute Meditations, Catholic Church Questions and Catholic News. Post Prayer Requests and send Catholic e-cards. Discover Catholic Books, Catholic Audio Books, Catholic Videos, and a leading Catholic Magazine.

An AmericanCatholic.org Site from the Franciscans and Franciscan Media Copyright © 1996-2011