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Lent is upon us once again! The Church calls us to this ancient season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to rekindle our faith in Christ Jesus and prepare us for the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene invites us to sit with her at the feet of Jesus and receive His love for each of us. Pope Benedict calls us to then walk in love, to give our world a "renewed witness to the Resurrection of Christ." Our fellow humans are suffering, and they need us to allow Christ to love them through our acts of mercy. 

Through His wounds, Jesus overcame evil at its roots, and He anoints us with power to do the same. Saint Paul calls us to stand against the evil one by rejecting sin and putting on the armor of light (see Ephesians 6:10-20).

This Lent, let's ask Our Lord, "What do You want of me?" Lent is not so much giving up as giving in, surrendering to Jesus, allowing Him to have more of us so He can do more to us and through us! Let's seek to let go and let God, by spending more time with Him in prayer, fasting from legitimate pleasures, and sharing our treasure, time, and talents, so we can be more fervent instruments of His peace and mercy to others.

Here are some practical ways to carry out your Lenten resolutions:

• Pray using good Catholic Prayer Books
• Read the Scriptures, such as the New American Bible
• Pray the Rosary. If you need a good glass rosary or cord rosary, we can help!

If we cooperate with Jesus' abundant Lenten grace, we can be confident He will rise again in us on the morning of the Resurrection. Glory to God!