#LENT

This is the "dry season"...The churches penitential season...
A time to reflect, slow down and LISTEN.

Jesus began His ministry with a 40 day fast in the desert...

Fasting (and giving something up for Lent) has been talked about a lot and I have some thoughts on it.
But the simple thought is this...if we can curb our appetite and "give-up" something, we make room for God. When you feel that little hunger pain, say a prayer, reflect on God, have a conversation.

A big more advanced is the thought on the will and the faculties.
By curbing our appetite and lower faculties from sweets, candy, sugar, coffee, tv, etc (whatever you choose to "give-up"), you make room for the upper faculties to progress. It is these upper faculties that need to be engaged to grow in/with Christ and get closer to God.
Get distracted during prayer? That is a lower faculty not letting you stay focused...
Discipline yourself... Discipline yourself in the little things and the big things will start to take care of themselves...

This Lent...maybe the best thing I saw/heard was from our March Formation Weekend Closing remarks (from Fr. Felix, I assume). I had to be at State Powerlifting and really missed being with my fellow brothers, but Paul A. sent me his notes...this is what struck me:
~ Quality vs. Quantity
~ Make your current prayers more quality

Here is my take away...

Prayer has two purposes:
1) To Glorify God
2) To make us better (Save our soul and make us more holy)

Prayer must be done with devotion and attention (focus)!
Devotion of prayer that we do it because we love God and want to be close to Him.Prayer is more efficacious the more attention we pay to it...

I have a post on Prayer HERE

So THIS Lent...I am trying to really focus when I do Morning/Evening Prayer.

HERE is a great devotion for the days of LENT that, while reading, you cannot help but focus on this season...It is call the 30 Days Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary in honor of the Sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.