Lenten Reminders

Mitchell here, with a couple of reminders for you heading into the weekend.

First, the Lenten lecture series continues at St. Helena's Church, 3204 East 43rd Street in Minneapolis. The lectures begin at 7:30 p.m., following the 7:00 Stations of the Cross. Cost of each lecture is $4 per person. (I don't think I'll be there tonight, however; I habe a code.) The remaining topics are as follows:

March 16 - Christine Shannon, M.T.S. on "Devotions: Out of Step or On the Mark"
March 23 - Fr. Randal Kasel, M.Div.. on "Repent and Believe"
March 30 - Fr. Paul Sirba, M.A. on "Deepening One's Prayer in the Heart of the Church."

Second, a reminder that next Monday is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and the following Monday is the transferred Solemnity of the Annunciation. As Ray pointed out in this post, abstaining from something is a penitential act, and we don't perform acts of penance on Sundays. The same holds true for other Solemnities as well.

Therefore, traditionally if you've given up something for Lent, you don't have to observe that on those two days. (And as an FYI, when St. Joseph and the Annunciation fall on Fridays in Lent, as they did a couple of years ago, the meat abstinance is dispensed.)

It is purely optional on someone's part as to whether or not they want to continue their Lenten discipline on these dates. I think it is important, however, not only to know this, but know also why it is the case. It is also a reminder of how important these two dates are - they may not be Holy Days of Obligation in the United States, but don't let yourself be fooled into thinking they're not significant!