Another Lenten journey begins this Ash Wednesday.

A Tradition to Cherish

I say, another, because for many the keeping of Lent is a treasured tradition, and these mid-week hours set aside for worship and prayer are a blessing year after year.

We journey toward Easter. The purpose of these forty days of spiritual preparation is to hail again the decisive deed of God for the redemption of the world and the renewal of our lives in Christ's grace.

May it be so for you, and for countless others of the Christian faith throughout the world.

Christ's Call to Our Inner Life

The guiding word for us as Lent begins is our Lord's call for inward soundness of spiritual life, taken from the Sermon on the Mount:

Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them, for then you wil…