March 8

Lent 2018

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Read

Today we honor and remember St. John of God.

Reflect

“Lent is thus an opportunity to ‘become’ Christian ‘anew,’ through a constant process of inner change and progress in the knowledge and love of Christ. Conversion is never once and for all but is a process, an interior journey through the whole of life.” (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, February 21, 2007)

Pray

St. John of God was extremely dedicated to the sick and dying. Once, when he heard that a hospital was going up in flames, he ran in and rescued the patients and much of the bedding, just before the roof fell in. Moments later, he walked out of the building, miraculously spared. St. John of God is the patron saint of firefighters. Pray to him today to intercede and keep the firefighters in your community safe.

Act

Today is the first Friday in Lent, where most Catholics will observe an abstinence from meat. Check out some meatless recipes, and plan to try new ones each Friday of this Lenten season. 

A sign hangs outside the parish hall of St. Mary's Church in Altoona, Pa., prior to a Friday Lenten fish fry.  CNS photo/Bob Roller