Almost Lent - 2/14/2026

Happy St. Valentines Day, friends. With the way the Liturgical Year falls here in 2026, it falls on the last weekend before Lent begins on Wednesday. I'm still working on a plan for my personal Lenten observances. Last night I went through the calendar and also latest the Sacred Heart Mass Bulletin, to try and formulate a schedule. I also found that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) publishes a Lenten Calendar, which is helpful. Some observations, and things I learned that I didn't know before:

1. Ash Wednesday isn't a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. Despite it NOT being a required day for Mass, Sacred Heart has 4 Masses scheduled: 7, 9, 11 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. That's a busy schedule for a day when Mass isn't required.

2. Catholics don't eat meat on Friday's during Lent (at least, we're not supposed to), and Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting. I knew both those things, but what I didn't know, is that the USCCB only calls for fasting up to one's 60th birthday. I did not know that. So, I can eat all the fish, mac and cheese, and peanut butter (crunchy, always) sandwiches I want and still be within the rules.

 Looking at the calendar and at the bulletin, some of the traditional Lenten observances and practices that I will participate in:

• I'll get my ashes at Mass on Ash Wednesday
• I'll go to Confession at lest once during Lent
• At least once I'll pray the Rosary in the church. They do this at 7:55 a.m. 
• On that same day or days, I'll attend daily Mass right after at 8:30 a.m.
• At least once I'll pray the Stations of the Cross, which they do every Friday at 5:00 p.m.
• At least once I'll join other parishioners in Eucharistic Adoration, which they do Fridays from 9-10 a.m.

 Some things I'll do personally for Lent:

• I'll watch Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ during Lent
• I'll do some charitable giving or service. I'm still deciding what I'll do or to whom we'll give.
• I'll continue my normal (newly normal, considering my recent reversion situation) prayer and Bible study routine.
• I'll make an extra effort to be even more fully present at Mass. I've done really well in this regard, but I can try to be even more so. With every bit of Bible study and reading the Catechism, I find my appreciation of and spiritual connection to the Mass increases. I will try to make this trend continue, especially as a focus during Lent.

Not a lot more to report this Valentine's Day, 2026, Caroline and I are celebrating our 45th VD together. I am blessed and thankful.

Have a great day, friends. May God richly bless you, your family, and your friends.