Lenten Worship and Resources

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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

  1. All adults (18 years of age and older) are bound to the law of fast up to the beginning of their 59th birthday.
  2. On fast days, those bound by law are limited to a single full meal. This meal is to be meatless. Two 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.
  3. There are two prescribed days of fast: Ash Wednesday (March 2, 2022) and Good Friday (April 15, 2022).

Law of Abstinence

  1. Those who are 14 years of age and older are obliged to observe the law of abstinence.
  2. On days of abstinence, those bound by law abstain from meat.
  3. 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 and 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, March 6, 2022 through Trinity Sunday, June 12, 2022. 

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 27 at 1:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church in Laconia. ​

Purple Crosses

Our Christian discipline reminds us that Lent is a time for emptying of our very selves from our sin in preparation for the celebration of Easter. Crosses made of purple ribbon are attached. This ribbon may be placed on your main door as a reminder that you are in the midst of this Paschal preparation.

Fridays at 6 pm
Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph Church

The praying of the Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday at 6:00 pm at St. Joseph Church, Belmont. Please join us.​

Fridays at 3 pm
Divine Mercy Chaplet at Sacred Heart Church

Every Friday during Lent, we will pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 pm at Sacred Heart Church. All are invited.​

Lenten Messages, Resources, Classes

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
More Lenten Resources

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