Tag Archives: Lent

Blessing of Paschal Foods/Easter Baskets

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

In some places there is an old tradition of blessing the food that will be eaten on Easter morning (thereby breaking the traditional Lenten fast). These foods are usually brought in a nicely-decorated basket to the church on Holy Saturday … Continue reading →

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Altar of Repose 2019

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

I wanted to share this photo of this year’s Altar of Repose in my parish, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Birmingham, Alabama. This year’s variation includes sheaves of wheat and bunches of grapes (beside and on the candlesticks), as well … Continue reading →

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The Mothers of Lu

Posted on April 18, 2019 by

On this Holy Thursday we consider the two sacraments our Lord instituted this day: the Holy Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. They are intimately connected – no priests, no Eucharist; no love and reverence for the Eucharist, no priests. In … Continue reading →

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Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide

Posted on April 12, 2019 by

Today — Friday before Palm Sunday — is traditionally the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in Passiontide; also known as “St. Mary in Passiontide”, “Our Lady in Passiontide”, or “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows”. This feast is found in … Continue reading →

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Passiontide Veiling & Unbleached Candles

Posted on April 6, 2019 by

This morning, after our Saturday morning Mass, our crew of employees and volunteers did the annual veiling of the images and setting out of unbleached candles that we do during Passiontide. (Since we are celebrating a Year of St. Joseph … Continue reading →

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Does Friday Penance Bind Gravely?

Posted on April 5, 2019 by

Today, when this is being posted, is a Friday of Lent — a day of abstinence from meat for all Catholics who have completed 14 years of age. But is it really a sin if one chooses to eat meat anyhow … Continue reading →

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Lenten Abstinence for Vegetarians and Vegans

Posted on March 5, 2019 by

The law on abstinence, which applies to Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent, requires us to abstain from eating any meat on those days. Under current law, broths made from meat may be taken, as long as there … Continue reading →

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Quinquagesima Sunday – Choosing Our Lenten Penances

Posted on March 3, 2019 by

Today, “about 50 days” before Easter, is traditionally known as “Quinquagesima” (Latin for “50th”). We had a guest priest at the Cathedral, so I did not celebrate Mass here; rather, a priest at a neighboring parish was kind to let … Continue reading →

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Sundays in Lent – Both/And

Posted on March 2, 2019 by

My friend, Fr. Zehnle, posted something on Twitter today that I thought was very good: I think he’s responding to the classic Catholic discussion on how the Sundays of Lent are not included in the Lenten season, because if you … Continue reading →

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Lenten Fasting in the Eastern Churches

Posted on February 25, 2019 by

I’ve already posted a couple of times in the way of encouraging everyone to get ready for Lent by giving up excuses and thinking carefully about what one might give up — not just “doing something extra” or reflexively “giving up chocolate”. … Continue reading →

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Pre-Lent

Posted on February 15, 2019 by

This Sunday (three Sundays before Ash Wednesday), February 17, 2019, is traditionally known as Septuagesima — Latin for “seventieth” and understood to be approximately the seventieth day before Easter. Septuagesima is the traditional beginning of Pre-Lent. This observance has been abolished in … Continue reading →

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The Purification of the Church

Posted on August 3, 2018 by

Last weekend in my parish I preached on the current scandals in the Church and our response to them. You may be interested in reading that homily here. In it, I encouraged prayer and fasting for the purification of the Church. … Continue reading →

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