HERE is a great list of resources for the season of Lent, which begins today Ash Wednesday. There is nothing more important than to give yourself to prayer and penance during the next 40 days and to capture some of that collective spiritual energy of the season, a vitality that still exists in these nihilistic times.

While exterior works of penance are important, inner mortification is superior.

From Dom Prosper Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year:

“Our Redeemer would not have us receive the announcement of the great feast as one of sadness and melancholy. The Christian who understands what a dangerous thing it is to be behindhand with divine justice welcomes the season of Lent with joy; it consoles him. He knows that if he be faithful in observing what the Church prescribes, his debt will be less heavy upon him. These penances, these satisfactions (which the indulgence of the Church has rendered so easy), being offered to God unitedly with those of our Savior Himself, and being rendered fruitful by that holy fellowship which blends into one common propitiatory sacrifice the good works of all the members of the Church militant, will purify our souls, and make them worthy to partake in the grand Easter joy. Let us not, then, be sad because we are to fast; let us be sad only because we have sinned and made fasting a necessity. In this same Gospel, our Redeemer gives us a second counsel, which the Church will often bring before us during the whole course of Lent: it is that of joining almsdeeds with our fasting. He bids us to lay up treasures in heaven. For this, we need intercessors; let us seek them amidst the poor.”

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy indignation, nor chastise me in Thy wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is troubled exceedingly: but Thou, O Lord, how long? Turn Thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for Thy mercy’s sake. For in death, there is no one that remembereth Thee: and who shall give Thee thanks in hell? I have labored in my groanings: every night I will wash my bed, and water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed, and sore vexed: let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Psalm 6, The Penitential Psalms

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