Lenten Med's Catch Up

Today is Day 27 of Lent. Below is Today's meditation.

Day 27 (Today's)

Fast: Refrain from self promotion. “The only way to make rapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and to put all our trust in Almighty God. That is what I have done.” — St. Therese

Pray: Is there someone who inspires feelings of inferiority in you? Offer a Memorare (or prayer) for her intentions.

Give: Page through your wedding album with your children today. Remember how loved you felt that day. Love your family well.

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The below is really just for me. I got behind on reposting the Lenten Meditations, and I want to have a record of them in case I could use them during the year! Some I lost, or something, so there is a random list below.

Day 26

Fast: Let go of despair and know that God gives you sufficient grace. “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — St. Francis of Assisi

Pray: Pray to know how God wants you to spend your time online.

Give: Make sure that everyone in your family gets at least one of your hugs today.

Day 25

Fast: Let go of self-recrimination. “There is still time for endurance, time for patience, time for healing, time for change. Have you slipped? Rise up. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand among sinners, but leap aside.” — St. Basil the Great

Pray: For a few minutes tonight, after your children are sleeping, kneel beside their beds. Let your breath rise and fall with theirs. Entrust them to the Father and thank Him for lending them to you.

Give: Do not say “In a minute” or “When I finish this” at all today. Instead, put aside your agenda and meet their needs (and even some wants) immediately and cheerfully.

Day 24

Fast: Give up thinking things have to be perfect.
“Don’t get upset with your imperfections. It’s a great mistake because it leads nowhere - to get angry because you are angry, upset at being upset, depressed at being depressed, disappointed because you are disappointed. So don’t fool yourself. Simply surrender to the Power of God’s Love, which is always greater than our weakness.” — St. Francis de Sales

Pray: Before you go anywhere else online today, pray this prayer, taken from the writings of St. Louis de Montfort: Lord, help me to imitate Mary’s deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom. Amen.

Give: As you do laundry today, bless the person for whom you are folding. With every crease, offer a prayer.

Day 23

Fast: Clean out the refrigerator today instead of eating lunch. Pull everything out and wipe it all down. As you do it, thank God for providing food in your family.

Pray: Give thanks for food, clothes, and shelter. Listen to His plan for stewardship.

Give: “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.“ — Mother Teresa
Assure the people in your home that they are wanted, loved and cared for. Don’t use words.

Day 22

Fast: Rise a little earlier and bring your husband breakfast in bed. (If it’s too late today, plan for tomorrow).

Pray: Move your wedding band to your right hand. Every time you notice the difference today, pray for your marriage. Listen to His answers.

Give: Plan a date night.

Day 21

Fast: Don’t compare or complain. Do compliment.

Pray: Ask God to make you humble and lowly.

Give: Pack a picnic and go somewhere to eat it with your children. If the weather is prohibitive, build a tent in the living room and it eat there. Sit on the ground with them. Be fully present.

Day 20

Fast: We’re half way through. Compare yourself now only to yourself when Lent began. Tweak the plan.

Pray: Insist on quiet from all your children during naptime today. Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet.

Give: Reach out to a local friend today. Reconnect.

Day 19

Fast: Don’t forget that the only pedestal you need ever stand on, is the one your husband and children build for you.

Pray: Persevere. “He who does not give up prayer cannot possibly continue to offend God habitually. Either he will give up prayer, or he will give up sinning.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori

Give: Focus on your home today. The world can find another volunteer, but your husband and children have only you.

Day 16

Fast: Think of someone whose life you are tempted to envy and then choke out these words: “Thank you, God, for the blessings you have given to X. Give her more. And help me to see my own.”

Pray: Take a walk, even if it’s cold or raining. Leave your iPod at home.

Give: Think about the kind of person your husband married. Be that person for him today.

Day 10

Fast: Give up your pride. “A soul does not benefit from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery.” — St. Faustina

Pray: Go to confession.

Give: Take your children to confession.