Trying to make up a little for my lack of posting last week. I'll be busy this weekend gearing up for the start of co-schooling, which we staggered three weeks later than the start of the home-schooling, so I don't think I'll post a lot.
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I realize there's a lot of geopolitics going on that would be worth commenting on, but I haven't the energy. My focus is highly family-centered right now. But I'll just toss this one off, and maybe because it is both intensely global and intensely local:
You know that Pope Francis declared a global day of fasting and prayer and penance for
- world peace,
- particularly in the Middle East,
- particularly in Syria,
no?
On notice so short that North American pastors didn't even have a chance to mention it from a Sunday pulpit?
Craaaaaaazy.
Anyway, since it doesn't appear to be a binding and obligatory-type fast, one can pretty much plan to do whatever seems most appropriate to respond to this call.
(UPDATED: Here is a link to the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' guidelines confirming this. Information on Fasting)
I think the children (all under 14) and I (pregnant) will treat it as we would a Lenten Friday; I'll go to Mass and Confession as I do on First Saturdays anyway, but with an extra intention; Mark will plan a fast of his own; and all of us will take the time for some family prayer in the afternoon.
Bearing in mind that
(deep breath)
—–this is NOT a competition,
—–nor even a canonical duty, but a rather suddenly-thrust-upon-us exhortation and encouragement,
—–nor even just for Catholics and people who do things the Catholic way, but for everyone to do in their own individual ways–
I renew the invitation to the whole Church to live this day intensely, and even now I express gratitude to the other Christian brethren, to the brethren of other religions and to the men and women of good will who desire to join in this initiative, in places and ways of their own—
are you responding to this call? How?
bearing blog 