“Why does the Church place ashes on our foreheads today? Why does she remind us of death? Death which is the effect of sin! Why?…To prepare us for Christ’s Passover. For the paschal mystery of the Redeemer of the world. Paschal mystery means what we profess in the Creed: “On the third day he rose again”!…Yes.
Today we need to hear the “you are dust and to dust you will return” of Ash Wednesday, so that the definitive truth of the Gospel, the truth about the Resurrection, will unfold before us: believe in the Gospel.” – Saint Pope John Paul II
“Are you capable of risking your life for someone? Do it for Christ.” – Saint Pope John Paul II
“As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst… Repent and believe.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
“Lent is the autumn of the spiritual life during which we gather fruit to keep us going for the rest of the year.” – St. Francis De Sales
“Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving.” – St. Augustine
“Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.” – St. Francis de Sales
“Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy, if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God’s ear to yourself.” – St. Peter Chrysologus
