Hey there,
Preparation is important for any task or undertaking.
Jock, the painter, often would thin his paint so it would go further. So when the Church decided to do some deferred maintenance, Jock was able to put in the low bid, and got the job. As always, he thinned his paint way down with turpentine.
One day while he was up on the scaffolding — the job almost finished — he heard a horrendous clap of thunder, and the sky opened.
The downpour washed the thinned paint off the church and knocked Jock off his scaffold and onto the lawn among the gravestones and puddles of thinned and worthless paint.
Jock knew this was a warning from the Almighty, so he got on his knees and cried, “Oh, God! Forgive me! What should I do?”
And from the thunder came a mighty voice: “REPAINT! REPAINT! AND THIN NO MORE!”
As Jock learned, the type of preparation done is vital.
We are two weeks away from Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Here at Genuflect, we’ve written many times about Lent preparation and the various things we can do to enhance our Lenten journey. This year, I’ve pulled together and refreshed several of those past issues to provide a robust Lenten preparation guide. We look at ways to prepare for Lent … big and small … fasting, reconciliation, almsgiving, the way of the cross, interjecting joy, and more.
We’ve got two weeks to put together the plan for our personal Lenten journey to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Let’s not water it down.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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Preparing For Your Best Lent
Genuflect is here to help you prepare for your best Lent ever! This week’s resources look at ways to deepen your relationship with the Lord through various types of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving this Lent. And there’s even a way to integrate it with your social media.
How to Prepare For Your Best Lent | Genuflect
Little Things Are Key
This edition of Genuflect presents little things you can do to complement your Lenten grand gestures. Most of these you’ve probably heard of before, but they’ve fallen out of practice of late.
The Little Things That Are Key to Your Great Lent | Genuflect
Observing Ash Wednesday
Genuflect focuses on Ash Wednesday to help us all go a little deeper in our understanding to make the most of the experience and to draw closer to Our Lord.
Observing Ash Wednesday | Genuflect
Fasting
Genuflect dishes on fasting, what it is, what it’s not, how and why to do it, some tips to help us with fasting, and a prayer we can say when beginning a fast.
Fasting: It’s Not Just For Lent | Genuflect
Reconciliation
This issue of Genuflect is devoted to the sacrament of Reconciliation. We look at its history, its various titles and myths, a guide to confession and examination of conscience resources, and various struggles you may encounter with Confession.
Reconciling With The Lord | Genuflect
Almsgiving
Genuflect takes a close look at what almsgiving is, how we benefit, how to do it, suggested rules to follow, ideas for this Lent, and how to give alms as a family.
The Spiritual Powers of Almsgiving | Genuflect
All About The Stations of The Cross
In this issue of Genuflect, you’ll learn about the origins of the Stations of the Cross, the science behind Jesus’ suffering, how to gain a plenary indulgence, several different ways to pray the Stations of the Cross, and what happened to the True Cross.
Appreciating The Way of The Cross | Genuflect
Walking With Love
This week’s issue of Genuflect delves into the meaning of love in our Lenten journey. So we can learn to love as God loves us … now and beyond Lent.
Walking With Love This Lent (And Always) | Genuflect
Getting Going
This issue of Genuflect will hopefully give you the motivation to get going with your Lenten sacrifices!
How to Keep Going or Get Going With Your Lenten Sacrifices | Genuflect
Do we Have to Keep Lenten Promises?
This issue of Genuflect will help you see how you can use divine help to get you through the 40 days of Lent, whether you successfully keep your Lenten promises … or have a slip up here or there.
Does Keeping Lenten Promises Matter? | Genuflect
Joy During Lent?
Genuflect digs into the idea of a joyful Lent. We look at the difference between happiness and joy, the importance of a joyful Lent, how to approach a joyful Lent, tips for a joyful Lent, how to battle through to joy, and a prayer to the patron saint of joy.
Injecting Joy Into Your Lenten Season | Genuflect
Lenten Movies
Genuflect raises the curtain on how we can extend our Lent beyond the typical prayer, fasting, and almsgiving … and invest some of our free time learning more about Jesus or contemplating lenten topics through movies.
Raising The Curtain on Lenten Movies | Genuflect
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