Lenten Reminders

Lenten Resources

The Church asks us to give ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting and to giving of alms during the Lenten season. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and possessions and through work of many kinds for a just world.

Fasting and Abstinence

According to Canon Law regarding Lenten Fast and Abstinence, the following is a definition of our Lenten obligation.

Law of Fast

All adults (18 years of age and older) are bound to the law of fast up to the beginning of their 60th birthday.
On fast days, those bound by law are limited to a single full meal. This meal is to be meatless. Tow other Meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one's needs; however these two meals should not equal another full meal.
There are two prescribed days of fast: Ash Wednesday (February 17, 2021) and Good Friday (April 2, 2021).

Law of Abstinence

Those who are 14 years of age and older are obliged to observe the law of abstinence.
On days of abstinence, those bound by law abstain from meat.
On all Fridays of Lent, abstinence is prescribed. This, of course, includes Good Friday. Abstinence is also prescribed for Ash Wednesday.

Lenten Discipline

The Code of Canon Law very aptly summarizes the Church's discipline in Canon 1249: "All members of the Christian faithful in their own way are bound to do penance in virtue of divine law; in order that all may be joined in a common observance of penance, penitential days are prescribed in which the Christian faithful in a special way pray, exercise works of piety and charity and deny themselves by fulfilling their responsibilities more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence."

Diocesan directives call for Lenten devotions at least twice a week on days other than Sunday. The celebration of additional Masses during the week would fulfill these directives, as would the celebration of Liturgy of the Hours and the additional practices of Stations of the Cross and Friday evening devotions.

Almsgiving

ALMSGIVING Is the foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels. During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on "almsgiving," which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is "a witness to fraternal charity" and "a work of justice pleasing to God."

Easter Duty

The EASTER DUTY is the obligation to receive Holy Eucharist between the First Sunday of Lent, February 21, 2021 through Trinity Sunday, May 30, 2021.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an obligation for all those who are conscious of grave sin. The time for fulfilling the precept of A frequent celebration of Reconciliation is encouraged for all, especially during the Lenten Season. A Lenten Penance Service with opportunity for individual confession and absolution will be held on Sunday, March 7 at 1:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church in Laconia.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through all forty days of Lent, you will receive a daily email with a short video to help you reconnect with yourself and your God.

Lenten Messages, Resources, Classes

Thursdays During Lent
Seven-Week Study: The Sacraments

Bishop Robert Barron's
The Sacraments

7-Week Study sponsored by
St.André Bessette Parish
February 18 through March 25 Thursdays 7 pm - 8:45 pm
Sacred Heart Gym

Come to know the power of the Sacraments like never before. This Lent, join Bishop Robert Barron on a Journey through our most intimate encounters with Christ on earth - the Sacraments! Email sethevangelho@gmail.com or call 524-9609 to register. The $25 fee includes Participant Workbook. Facilitated by Parish Evangelist, Seth Evangelho. Participants will be required to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

During Lent Dr. Scott Hahn and the St. Paul Center are offering free access to their latest video series, The Bible and the Mass. This is a true masterpiece! You'll never see the Mass, or the Bible, the same again.