Lent – Page 13

My New Plan

February 22, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: EPLifeFit, Fitness, Lent, Resources, Wellness Challenge Leave a Comment

I hit a bump in the road but I have not ended my journey to living a healthier life for Him. In fact, I need it now more than ever since I am dealing with some serious aliments. I desire a complete healing if it is His will for me. I trust that this is the path He is leading me on – it is within my means, will benefit my entire family, and help me to live out my call. I continue the journey all for His glory!

Providentially, I have been brought to some great resources online – there’s really no other way to explain how I was brought here. It continues to amaze me everyday when I read something that shows a direct correlation between what I have been dealing with and the benefit of the diet I now seek to live by. More than that, I have experienced the benefits first hand. Late last year (1.5 months into the radical change in diet), I felt the best physically and mentally than I have felt in a very long time.

Unfortunately, I am now on the decline. Is it spiritual warfare, physiological, or both? Regardless, I’m praying to stay where He has led me and I will trust in my body. I have recommitted to this lifestyle for Lent. I will take it one day at a time and keep my eyes on Him.

I will continue to use the following resources…

EPLifeFit provides a real approach to fitness, as well as the nutrition expertise. All the thinking and the programming has been done for you and you have access to a workout program that is not just a program but also a way of life. Fee based membership.

Wellness Mama Meal Plans offer healthy, affordable meals planned for you! Improve your family’s health with delicious, nutrient packed meals! This has been a tremendous time and money saver for me. Fee based subscription.

I will be participating in the Wellness Challenge. I have learned a great deal from Katie at Wellness Mama and I’m excited to have this support for me during Lent. The Wellness Challenge lasts 7 weeks, which will take me to Holy Week – perfect for my Lenten Program.

This challenge is designed to help you improve your health and stay motivated for 30 days. FREE!

Here’s a look at the first challenge…

Mini Challenge #1

Cut out the grains, sugars, potatoes, beans and all processed foods from your diet (including vegetable oils, margarine, and other frankenfats) and focus on getting maximum nutrition from meats, vegetables, healthy fats (coconut, olives, coconut oil, olive oil, tallow, lard, butter, unprocessed cream, etc) and fruits.

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Prayers for a blessed, fruitful, and healthy Lent.

AD JESUM PER MARIAM

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Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Ash Wednesday, Lent

"Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris."

Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return. (Gen. 3. 19)

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“Grant to Thy faithful, O Lord, that they may begin the venerable solemnity of Lent with becoming piety, and perform it with undistributed devotion.”

Fasting, alms, penance and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are the best means to employ during the forty days of Lent to gather heavenly treasures. For this purpose, O Christian, God Himself summons you today, while through His church He earnestly cries out to you: “Remember man that thou art dust, and into dust thou wilt return. ~The Gospels for Lent and the Passion of Christ

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Pre-Lent – Ash Wednesday: Introit from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

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Resources:

Family Lenten Program

February 19, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Family Night, Lent, Lenten Calendar

Dad and I have finalized our Family Lenten Program, personal Lenten program, and the Lenten programs for all of our children. Praise God for the early start.

I am seeking to regain order in my home and to further simply during the Lenten season. I’m creating a Lenten Binder to organize all the programs, activities, prayers, and anything else that pertains to my family’s Lenten progress.

Rose and Sparkles will post the 2012 Lenten Calendar in the home, tomorrow after Mass. I will diligently work on the Lenten Binder. Copies of the following items will be included in the binder and posted on the fridge for easy access and accountability. I have a tendency to set my eyes on lofty spiritual goals, often more than I am capable of implementing to completion. The result is always the same, complete frustration and all that follows. I am praying that my family’s simple approach to this Lenten Season will produce the fruits that He wills for us.

As always, my family has removed ourselves from all extracurriculars not related to the Church or our livelihood. Our days will be centered around prayer. We will refrain from participating in superfluous social events – leaving the home only out of necessity for our state in life, Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, and of course, MASS.

All technology use will be kept to a minimum. The TV that was used for videos is being removed from the home for the entire Lenten Season (and beyond – God willing). My computer use is still being discerned since Dad and I are not in complete agreement. I say, remove it entirely and he says, use it in moderation. My nature is all or nothing. I don’t want to inflict undue hardship on myself by not working within my means. Ultimately, I will submit to what Dad decides – ALL FOR!

In addition, my family will recommit to a lifestyle change that He has called us to follow. **I listed my plan here.** It has not been easy to break free from the poor diet that we had become accustomed to eating but He continues to give us the graces to move down this path so that I can have a complete restoration of health and my family can be nourished with real food – all for His glory!

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season.

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN CALENDAR

I’ve listed a small portion of my family’s daily Lenten Calendar. You may click on the title above for a download to my complete calendar.

February

Monday 20 – Feria, 4^th Class
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
Tuesday 21 – Shrove Tuesday – Feria, 4^th Class
- Corporal Work of Mercy – visit the elderly
- fun and fellowship
- family work day at parish
Wed. 22 – ASH Wednesday, 1^st Class
- 7 pm High Mass
Thur. 23 – Chair of St. Peter, 1^st Class (for FSSP)
- Adoration
- 7 pm High Mass
Friday 24 – Friday after Ash Wednesday, 3^rd Class
- Mass & Stations of the Cross
Saturday 25 – St. Matthias, AP, 2^nd Class
- 9 AM Mass
- First Holy Communion preparation
- family work day at parish
Sunday 26 – First Sunday of Lent
Monday 27 – Feria of Lent, 3^rd Class
- 10 am prayer at abortion clinic
- Clean Monday
- 7 pm adult Catechism lesson from Fr. Lyons
Tuesday 28 – Feria of Lent, 3^rd Class
Wed. 29 – Ember Wednesday, 2^nd Class

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The following charts are to serve as checklists. I used a printable chore chart, found here to complete these Lenten charts.

I have printed two copies of each chart listed below. One copy will go into my Lenten Binder and the other copy will be laminated for durability and use with a white-board pen. The laminated charts will be displayed in a prominent spot so that we can better manage this year’s Lenten program.

JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN PROGRAM

Daily Family Lenten Program:

Morning Offering
Angelus
Daily Readings – 1962 Roman Missal
Lenten Reflection – Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa
Angelus
Total Consecration Readings – True Devotion to Mary & Leading the Little Ones to Mary
Examen
Rosary – Meditations by St. Louis de Montfort
Compline

Daily Prayer Meditation & Intention:

Mon – Souls in Purgatory & End to Abortion
Tue – Holy Angels & Conversion of Family
Wed – St. Joseph & Godparents & Godchildren
Thur – Holy Eucharist & Pope Benedict XVI & Priests
Fri – Crucifixion & The Sick
Sat – Blessed Virgin Mary & Vocations
Sun – Blessed Trinity & Poor, homeless, and those in great need

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 FAMILY LENTEN ACTIVITIES

Family Lenten Activities:

Review personal Lenten program chart (daily)
Update the Sacrifice Bean Jar for sacrifices/almsgiving (daily)
Pick Cleaning item out of jar & perform assigned task from the Lenten Cleaning Calendar (Mon.-Sat. with an emphasize on Mondays)
Family service at parish (Saturday)
Adoration (Thursday)
Mass & Stations of the Cross (Friday)
Mass (Saturday)

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JOYfilledfamily

2012 PERSONAL LENTEN PROGRAM

Each member of my family has a custom chart. This is blank chart for your own use.

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Now it is only right that, before we arrive at that glory of impassibility and immortality which began in Christ, and which was acquired for us through Christ, we should be shaped after the pattern of Christ’s sufferings. It is then only right that Christ’s liability to suffer should remain in us too for a time, as a means of our coming to the impassibility of glory in the way He himself came to it. ~Meditations For Lent – St. Thomas Aquinas, (1-2 85 5 ad 2.)

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Pax Christi,

Time to Recommit

February 18, 2012 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: Journal Entry, Lent Leave a Comment

Lent is coming! Part of my family’s Lenten program will be to recommit to a lifestyle change that He has called us to follow. It has not been easy to break free from the poor diet that we had become accustomed to eating but He continues to give us the graces to move down this path so that I can have a complete restoration of health and my family can be nourished with real food – all for His glory!

Prayers for a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season.

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In His joy,

St. Margaret of Scotland ~ Initiative ~ Black Eyed Susan

February 18, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: 06 June, 06 June Saints, Lent, Little Flowers, St. Margaret of Scotland, Wreath III

Here’s a quick recap of my sixth meeting of the year for Little Flowers.

The meeting was held on the First Saturday of February. We took up three pews at Mass. Thirty-four girls were in attendance. This included some new members and the girls preparing for First Holy Communion with Father L.

We did the normal routine; grace, snack and social time, reviewed last month’s saint and virtue, introduced the saint and virtue of the month, studied the coordinating flower, listened to a talk from Father L, received a blessing, worked on a related craft/project, updated LF binders, and closed with a prayer.

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SAINT MARGARET
QUEEN OF SCOTLAND
Widow

Old ~ Feast Day – June 10 – New ~ Feast Day – November 16

The granddaughter of King Edmund Ironside of England, Margaret (c. 1050-93) married King Malcolm III of Scotland. Malcolm perceived that Christ dwelt in the heart of his queen and he was always ready to follow her advice. The royal couple’s chief aims in life were to serve the Church, to maintain justice and to make their subjects happy. Queen Margaret was known as the mother of orphans and the treasurer of the poor of Jesus Christ. Her private life was most austere, and she carefully educated her eight children in the fear and love of God.

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Patron: Death of children; large families; learning; queens; Scotland; widows.

Symbols: Black cross; sceptre and book; hospital.
Often portrayed as: queen, often carrying a black cross, dispensing gifts to the poor.

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The lesson of St. Margaret of Scotland and the virtue of initiative extended into the craft/project time. I opted out of a traditional craft. Instead, I coordinated a Lenten Donation Drive.

Father L and I thought this would be a fruitful way to celebrate St. Margaret of Scotland’s charity. It was also an act of initiative for the girls to begin their preparation for Lent.

The girls decorated fliers to post around the parish and to distribute to family, friends, neighbors, and etc…

All items collected, from now until the end of Lent, will be donated to the local St. Vincent de Paul. This corporal work of mercy will be a beautiful gift to Jesus from all the girls and their families.

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The girls showed more initiative by preparing something special for Fr. L, Fr. S, and Fr. M, in honor of St. Valentine. The girls had to complete the following sentence, “I love my Priests because____________.” I recorded each response on a pink doily. Each girl signed her love note.

I took the love notes home to create a banner. I had initially planned to hang the banner in the parish office but soon realized that the banner was far too big, and wonderful, for the closed quarters.

I displayed the banner in the gym on Sunday morning (two days before the feast of St. Valentine) for all to see. It was the perfect place and time since the Rosa Mystica Girls Society was holding their annual bake sale. I only hope that the Little Flowers’ Valentine lasted and was on display for the intended recipients. (I shall find out on Sat.)