Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Evening Prayer, Ash Wednesday 2020
Lent is upon us, a time for prayer, reflection, penitence, fasting, and charity. Let us not forget our mortality and our fragile existence.
During this penitential season, give thanks for all the joys and blessings in your life. Pray for those who are in want and are going through difficult or challenging times. Remember we are all sinners but only forgiven through Christ.
My your Lenten season be a time for renewal, spiritual growth, and strengthening in mind, body, and soul.
I’ve been given some thought about how I want to spend my Lent. I want it to be an honest self-reflecting period to look at areas for spiritual self-improvement and growth.
I plan on abstaining and fasting during the Lenten season (though the exact things I will be abstaining/giving up is still to be finalized). I want it to be reasonable and realistic. Something that means something, not just cutting out something from my life because it can be done.
I also plan on this period to be a time for prayer and self-reflection, on where I am spiritually and where I want to go.
One does not do Lent alone. One is guided by Christ as well as the Church and friends/family. I hope my fellow readers will also be part of my Lent, through prayer and support, as I will pray for all those who are also journeying through Lent like me.
Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, the final day before the beginning of the Lenten season.
Where has the time gone? I almost feel I just put away my Christmas decorations at Epiphany and in 41 days, it will be Easter.
I hope, like me, you will use tomorrow as a day of self-reflection on areas of spiritual growth and improvement, and to prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually for Lent.
Many will eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, I do not plan on doing so, as I dislike pancakes. I will however have waffles with maple syrup.
I will pray for all Christians tomorrow that their Lenten season is a fulfilling one and that all can be strengthened in faith.
The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple and Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary is often called Candlemas, so I took my candles to the cathedral to have them blessed.
The cathedral, being rather low church, hadn’t done candle blessing for some years now, so I priest did a private blessing of my candles.
I don’t go through that many candles, but I use it in private prayer. 18 candles should last me a full year.
The Nunc Dimittis or the Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29) Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Phos Hilaron (Ancient Greek hymn) O gracious Light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun, and our eyes behold the vesper light, we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices, O Son of God, O Giver of life, and to be glorified through all the worlds.
High Anglican Haligonian 