Ash Wednesday

I kept having the desire to wish people a Happy Ash Wednesday... but you know... that's not right. Lent is somber, more serious. I don't mean serious as in... the rest of the Church year shouldn't be taken seriously.. No. That's not at all how I mean it.. but for real... it's not one of those days that you go screaming "HAPPY ASH WEDNESDAY!!" But, for the record.. I wanted to.

Lenten season is a time for Catholics to make commitments to bring themselves closer to God and Jesus in three ways.. through:

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Alms

1. Fasting: For me, I'm fasting in a few ways. I'm giving up cursing and using God's name in vain. I feel like for me, cursing and using the Lord's name in vain are two ways I can just... feel myself distancing myself from Him, and I know I am not acting in a way that is fulfilling His will. Also, I know that using God's name in vain is one of the Ten Commandments... explicitly states that THOU SHALT NOT... and yet I know I do it more than I should. I've also decided to refrain from buying things from the vending machines; be it the crappy cappuccino machines on campus, any kind of candy or pop out of machines.. anything that comes out of the vending machines, and I'm mostly keeping in mind on campus. I'm paying over ten thousand dollars in tuition and housing... I don't think I need to be wasting my money on vending machines. Each time I feel the desire to buy something from the vending machines, I will put half of the cost into a little bank I have and donate it at the end of the season. 

2. Prayer: I have several prayer goals for this season. I am going to work on going to mass more. I was really good about getting to mass last semester, I went to daily masses (even when it meant missing class sometimes), and I rarely missed a Sunday mass. This semester, I've dropped to only two days: Sunday and Thursday. I want to make sure I start going back on Tuesdays. On days where I have reasonable breaks or lighter homework, I want to try to make it to the noon mass (MWF). I have a break during that time, but I usually use it for homework because my nights tend to be busy.. especially Wednesdays. 

3. Alms: The Story Telling Project. I will give myself for an hour (plus) each week to a patient with a traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, or some other ailment... and write their life stories/ their memoirs. Another way, is that I'll be donating the money from my fast to children in need. 

This Wednesday was ridiculous. 

Today.. 

Class 9-11. Break 12-2. Class 2-4. RCIA 7:30-9. Ash Wednesday Service 9-10. 

This blogger is exhausted... and has tons of homework, so I'm going to sip my cinnamon-spice black tea and get to work. 

Enjoy,

H.Eilene