Sure Signs I’m Getting Old:  As I was thinking about what to write this week, I realized this article would be printed the weekend before Ash Wednesday.  As a result, I took a look at what I wrote last year, and I saw I wrote about the Church’s fasting and abstinence rules.  It caught my attention that the upper age limit on the fasting rule is one’s 59 ^th birthday.  Yikes, that’s within my reach, considering I’ll be 56 this year.  I AM getting old; even the Church thinks so! I can’t help but recall our oldest parishioner, Michaeline Hrabonz.  She is 104 years old.  I enjoy going up to her after Mass sometimes and kibitzing with her about how I feel “old.”  She’s a good sport about it; she normally humors me and laughs!
 
I was in the car with my parents the other day, and I was lamenting that I’ve discovered another sign of getting older:  shifting weight.  I’m not necessarily gaining weight, but I can tell from my clothes that my waist has expanded a bit.  Even though I’m not gaining weight, I am blaming this issue on that tempting … yet popular … chocolate candy dish that sits at the Parish Center front desk.  That dish is popular with everyone who walks through the Parish Center doors.  Many of us are particularly happy that someone “guards” that dish throughout the day (the front desk receptionist).  If that person wasn’t sitting there and no one was watching how many times my hand is in that dish, I would be putting on the pounds faster than I do around Christmas time.  As much as I complain about my need to lose weight, I rarely do much about it!  But I realize I’m in good company with that fact.  I remember our librarian at The North American College in Rome.  Brother Randal Riede, CFX, an “icon” at the college during my time in the Eternal City.  He was filled with tons of wisdom and insight and readily shared it with those who would visit him.  I remember one legendary Brother Randall quote. While eating a jelly donut and bacon and eggs one morning, he said with much laughter as he wiped his mouth lightly spackled with jelly, “I take particular delight in going to all of my athletic friends’ funerals.”
 
So, this one particular Sunday, I was complaining about my “shifting weight” problem with my parents as we were driving off to our family dinner.  My mom was a bit sympathetic.  But from the “coach class” of my car … the back seat … my dad started laughing and said, “Sure sounds like it’s time for the gym again!”  Thanks, Dad, for the obvious!  Unlikely to happen.  Now, where’s that chocolate?
 
Ash Wednesday:  This coming Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  While Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, we follow our holy day mass schedule (except for the vigil mass) because so many people like to begin their Lenten journey with the celebration of Mass.  Our mass schedule on Ash Wednesday will be 7:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 12 Noon, and 7:00 p.m.  Distribution of ashes will take place during each of these liturgies as well as throughout the day.
 
If you visit the Church during the day, you will be greeted by me, Fr. John, Fr. Bob, Deacon Tom, or Deacon Dom, who will be present for the distribution of ashes.  We will have flyers with the readings of the day as well as material for further reflection to help you “kick start” your Lenten journey.
 
Please remember that Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstinence.  Those who are 14 years old and older are obliged to abstain.  The fasting obligation is obligatory for persons age 18 until and including their 59th birthday.
 
Concerning fasting, here’s a blurb from one of my favorite Catholic websites, bustedhalo.com:  “The Catholic Church, our Mother, His Body on earth, is a very wise mother. She knows we aren’t perfect. She knows we struggle. In her wisdom, she asks very little of us when it comes to fasting. The Church officially lays out for the rest of us mortals the minimum requirements that to fast , one must be between the ages of 18 and 59 (inclusive) and that fasting involves taking only three meals a day. (I guess Taco Bell’s ‘Fourth Meal’ is out.) Those three, by the way, should include no meat and two of the meals together should not equal the size of one full meal. Oh the fun I’ve had with this one over the years. Apparently, it’s considered cheating when one’s full meal consists of seven courses. Oh, and the two, count ‘em, two days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
 
“Most of us skip meals all the time. I think it’s only when discipline is attached that we really feel the pinch. This is part of the big picture. We should feel a pinch. Remember, we’re giving of ourselves. The Church also asks those of us over the age of 14 to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (and to perform some penitential act of sacrifice on all other Fridays). God, when does it end?! Trust me, it’s not as hard as we make it to be.”
 
Lenten Resolutions:  Have you decided on any Lenten resolutions yet?  Lent gives us concrete time to step back and set some spiritual priorities in our life.  Many people will give up chocolate, ice cream, and the like.  But honestly, those practices do little to make us better disciples nor do they prepare us to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.  What are your Lenten resolutions?  Here are some suggestions:  1) attend daily Mass more often; 2)  spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament during Adoration on Mondays and Thursdays;  3) make more time for prayer or spiritual reading, possibly being faithful to reading the Little Black Book or praying the Liturgy of the Hours;  4) take time to read some of the amazing Lenten resources available on the internet (ewtn.org, osv.com, franciscanmedia.org, avemariaradio.net, sacredspace.ie, liturgy.slu.edu, to name a few).  And there are plenty of apps for your phone or iPad / tablet to consider:  iMissal, iBreviary, and Laudate are always favorite apps.  There is also the Stations of the Cross app from Ave Maria Press, the Vatican Radio app, the Mass Times app, the 3 Minute Retreat app, the Catholic TV app, the Rosary app, the 3D Catholic app, the Pray as You Go app, and the Rice Bowl app to name a few.  Consider having reflections sent to your inbox with Bishop Barron’s Daily Lenten Reflections (lentreflections.com).  You could also explore many of the phenomenal videos available on Formed.org (remember we have a parish subscription to formed.org, so there’s no charge to you).  There’s certainly no shortage of material on the internet to help us with our Lenten journey.  Happy Lent!
 
Enjoy the week.  Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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