Almsgiving: Day 4

“Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, with John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention upon them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.” (Acts 3:3-7)

Intentions: That Christians may realize the riches that they can give, and proclaim the Gospel with both gentleness and boldness; that Christians may joyfully embrace self-denial in material possessions and worldly indulgences that we may be a persuasive force as witnesses for the love of Christ.

Action: Reflect on the many ways in which you can give alms, apart from the monetary. Commit yourself to one such a way of giving at least once in this Lenten season.

Almsgiving: Day 3

“Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)

Intentions: That all Christians may detach themselves from worldly possessions, fame and pleasures, so as to be able to serve Christ fully by surrendering them to Him; pray for the religious, that they may be faithful to their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Action: Examine your attachments to worldly possessions (be it money or jobs), fame (human approval) and pleasures. Surrender them to Christ, that you may be prudently ready for a Divine calling.

Almsgiving: Day 2

“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you.” (Luke 11:39-41)

Intentions: That we may first of all seek purity and holiness in the interior, before our exterior actions; that all Christians may seek to live a life of humility and ongoing interior conversion, and so be worthy of being called followers of Christ.

Action: Continue to strive for humility. Reflect on your thoughts and perceptions of yourself and of others, and make a resolution to sanctify them continuously and absolutely.

Almsgiving: Day 1

“Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)

Intentions: That we may be prudently generous with both our money and time; that we may give without regard for our reputation.

Action: Examine your motives in giving of your money, your time, and your effort. Strive for purity in every action, recognizing that all you have is the Lord’s.

Fasting: Day 7

Two bits of Scriptures again:

“…Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.’” (Mark 2:19)

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.’” (John 6:53-56)

Intentions: That by fasting from earthly food we may truly recognize in the Eucharist all its splendor, as the wedding feast, heavenly Manna, and the true Bread of Life; the “source and summit” of our Catholic faith which sustains us, reconciles us to the Father, and brings us to life everlasting.

Action: Make it a habit to pray silently at the moment of consecration (suggestion from scripture: “My Lord and my God” [John 20:28]), and in preparation for reception of the Eucharist that you may receive it worthily with faith, reverence and awe, and with joyful thanksgiving for the grace and life Christ has given you in the Sacrament through his death and resurrection.

Fasting: Day 6

Two bits of Scripture today:

“Then came the disciples to Jesus secretly, and said: Why could not we cast him out? Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief… But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:19-21)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)

Intentions: That the Church Militant may withstand the battle against spiritual powers through prayer and fasting; that we may realize our great need for the Bread of Life in both the Word and in the Eucharist. Recite the St. Michael prayer.

Action: Be mindful that as a member of the Church Militant, you are both the soldier fighting the battle and the battleground on which the war is fought. Fasting and prayer are very powerful in spiritual warfare. Be sure also to equip yourself with sacramentals such as the Brown Scapular for extra protection, although a virtuous life that is in accord with God is the surest protection. The Rosary is also a most powerful weapon, as Mary is the Ark of the New Covenant.

Fasting: Day 4

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)

Intentions: That our fast may allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us and enable Him to guide our lives; that our fasting and prayer may empower us to go out to communicate Christ’s love to the world.

Action: As you fast and pray, remember to listen to God who not only listens to your prayers but speaks to you as well. Be ready to obey when He speaks!

Fasting: Day 3

“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.” (Acts 14:23)

Intentions: That our sacrifices may help the leaders in the Church. Pray for yourself a prayer of re-commitment and surrender to Christ, as your Lord in whom you believe.

Action: Use fasting as an opportunity for deeper commitment to Christ, by accepting and offering up the sacrifice, that through this act of purification you may be able to better “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1).

Fasting: Day 2

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’” (Luke 18:11-12)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God– not because of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Intentions: That we may never delude ourselves in thinking that we fast out of our own strength, or that it is because of our own effort that God has loved us. Pray, “we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:10).

Action: Re-read the Pharisee’s prayer; do you recognize in yourself the judgmental attitude toward others, or the overly high estimate of your own holiness? How can your have more the attitude of the tax collector who prayed after him to acknowledge his sinfulness? Remember that humility is about seeing the reality for what it is.