VICAR

This week, Dear Readers of Country Squire Magazine, I’d like to gently remind You that Lent has started. It began on March 6th and ends on Thursday, April 18th. Easter feast days are movable days, in that they don’t fall on a fixed date in the normal Gregorian or Julian calendars, which follow the cycle of the sun. Easter instead is determined by the lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. The Spring, or March, Vernal Equinox is the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north. So, in Western Christianity, Easter will always fall between March 22 and April 25.

Lent technically lasts 46 days, but Sundays are not included in the overall count. That means it is observed for 40 days in the run-up to Easter, and is often a time when instead of fasting people will give up certain food and drink such as chocolate and alcohol.

Lent is traditionally marked with fasting, abstinence and prayer. Most believers tend to give up something until Lent ends to “purify” their bodies. For children it could be something such as chocolate, sweets, television or certain toys, while adults tend to give up things such as alcohol, coffee or smoking. Some households may give up meat, eggs and dairy products. Many believers use the time to volunteer at a charity or donate money to a good cause.

What will You give up this year? You should have started already. I have given up whisky.

I wish You all well, Dear Readers. I trust that You and Your loved ones have a brilliant week to come and I’ll follow up this Lenten reminder next week with another prayer. God Bless.

Loving Father,

I invite you into my life today
and make myself available to you.
Help me to become the-best-version-of-myself
by seeking your will and becoming a living example
of your love in the world.
Open my heart to the areas of my life that need to change
in order for me to carry out the mission
and experience the joy you have imagined for my life.
Inspire me to live the Christian faith
in ways that are dynamic and engaging.
Show me how to best get involved in the life of my parish.
Make our community hungry for best practices
and continuous learning.
Give me courage when I am afraid,
hope when I am discouraged,
and clarity in times of decision.
Teach me to enjoy uncertainty and lead your Church
to become all you imagined it would be
for the people of our times.

Amen.