Season of Lent

Cross bearing his cross

"We adore you, O Christ,
and we bless you,
because by your holy cross
you have redeemed the world.."

 

Welcome to our site

 
On this site you will find a variety of pages and features to help you immerse yourself in the Season of Lent and prepare for the celebration of Easter.

If you have any Lenten links that you would like to send for consideration, e-mail webmaster@archindy.org
 

Site features

Daily Readings

The links below will take you to the readings for each day of Lent (up to Easter Sunday), as published on the Web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

February 2012
March 2012
April 2012

 

Penance services

Penance servicesEach years, parishes around central and southern Indiana host penance services in their own churches or in neighboring churches.

The services are a chance for the parish community to come together for prayer and also for individual confession.

See a list of the services happening in our archdiocese this Lent

 

Reflections from the archbishop

Archbishop Daniel M. BuechleinRead Lenten themed columns which Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein has published in our weekly newspaper, The Criterion:

 

Stations of the Cross

The stations below, taken from photos by Mary Ann Wyand, are from Sacred Heart Parish in Indianapolis. Click on each station for a larger image, or click here to pray the stations.

Lord, I listen when you speak. Strengthen me, for I am weak. In the dust I see you lie. Lord, I hear the ages cry. Through the clamor hear my cry: "Was it I, Lord, was it I?" Strip me, Lord, of binding sin. With new hope let me begin. Death does not denote defeat. Jesus, you make life complete. This, the Great Amen in time—Jesus, sacrifice divine. With your death I live anew. Jesus, I will follow you. If at times I hesitate Prod me, Lord, lest I be late. Jesus, we should realize With your help we too will rise. In the strife of every day Caring hearts do find a way. Jesus’ path, salvation’s hill, Looms before us—always will. How can thoughts or words express This shared scene of tenderness! Shepherd’s staff to cruel cross: Could such love be seen as loss?Cunning men, with cowards’ fear Blaspheme all that faith holds dear

Links

 

What is Lent?

Each year, the 40 days (excluding Sundays) leading up to the Triduum and the Easter Season mark a solemn preparation for the glory of Christ's resurrection. Learn more about Lent here, or read these passages from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the preparation for Easter:

The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice.36 These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works). (#1438)

Jesus' temptation [in the desert] reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him.244 This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning."245 By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert. (#540)

The Church, especially during Advent and Lent and above all at the Easter Vigil, re-reads and re-lives the great events of salvation history in the "today" of her liturgy. (#1095)

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