Our Lenten Journey-2026
https://www.usccb.org/resources/Lent-2026-calendar_English.pdf
Fourth Sunday of Lent and A Prayer Before Fasting
Heavenly Father, as I begin this time of fasting, I pray that you will fill me with Your grace, and grant me strength and resolution to endure the hunger and discomforts that I may experience during this fast.
Keep me strong and alert, Lord. Deliver me from all unwanted thoughts and distractions that would jeopardize my fast. Protect me from temptation and from the Evil One. May this fast lead me to spiritual growth, renewal, and healing.
Grant me, Father, the assurance that You will strengthen me during the difficult and challenging times of this fast, and meet me for sweet moments of spiritual growth and surrender. Help me to focus not on what is being taken away, but what I will be gaining as I use this fast as a spiritual discipline. With you leading me, Holy Spirit, I am ready.
My God, I offer up this fast to You and to Your glory. May Your mercy be always upon me, a sinner. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
March 15, 2026—Fourth Sunday of Lent: Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:8-9
March 16, 2026—If possible, spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, asking God to fill you with his grace so that you may draw ever closer to the Body of Christ.
March 17, 2026—On this Memorial of Saint Patrick, pray for missionaries and all who are called to spread the Gospel
March 18, 2026—“The Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. …In every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.” Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te, no. 75
March 19, 2026—Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. Pray for all fathers and those who exercise a father’s responsibility, that they may give the children in their care an example of self-sacrificial love.
March 20, 2026—(Day of Fasting): As spring brings new life to the earth, take a walk in your community to praise God in his creation. (Bonus points if you pick up trash as you walk!)
March 21, 2026—In Lent, we are called to renew our baptismal commitment. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Fifth Sunday of Lent and A Prayer Before Fasting
Heavenly Father, as I begin this time of fasting, I pray that you will fill me with Your grace, and grant me strength and resolution to endure the hunger and discomforts that I may experience during this fast.
Keep me strong and alert, Lord. Deliver me from all unwanted thoughts and distractions that would jeopardize my fast. Protect me from temptation and from the Evil One. May this fast lead me to spiritual growth, renewal, and healing.
Grant me, Father, the assurance that You will strengthen me during the difficult and challenging times of this fast, and meet me for sweet moments of spiritual growth and surrender. Help me to focus not on what is being taken away, but what I will be gaining as I use this fast as a spiritual discipline. With you leading me, Holy Spirit, I am ready.
My God, I offer up this fast to You and to Your glory. May Your mercy be always upon me, a sinner. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
March 22, 2026—“I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” John 11:27
March 23, 2026—As we journey with Jesus towards Holy Week, remember all those in our world today who carry heavy crosses of poverty, homelessness, and hunger.
March 24, 2026—“Charity and justice should perpetuate the Eucharist through love and attention to the poor.” Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te, no. 41
March 25, 2026—On this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, pray for all mothers facing crisis pregnancies and discern what actions you can take to support them.
March 26, 2026—When confronted with your own weakness during Lent, don’t give in to anger, frustration, and self-pity. Be patient, and see yourself as God does, with unconditional love and mercy.
March 27, 2026—(Day of Fasting): On this final Friday of Lent, let your sacrifices unite you with your suffering brothers and sisters and with Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the Cross.
March 28, 2026—If possible, make plans to participate next week in your parish’s celebration of the moving liturgies of the Triduum (Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday).
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
March 29, 2026—“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:9
If Jesus told you, that you would deny him three times, what would you say? I’d be shocked. Would you? Imagine how Peter felt. Stunned. Would you run out weeping like he did?
Today is Palm Sunday and important events will unfold before us once again. Remember, every time we sin, we deny Jesus. Ask yourself, is the frequency more than three? Our journey now follows our Shepard and his final days on earth. His last hours with his apostles. Soon a great sorrowful joy will befall mankind.
As you and I walk with Him, let us ask for the grace to forgive oneself, forgive others and repent all our sins. Ask for a clean heart.
Victory over sin, and death is on the horizon. Fear not and be joyful of the Risen Lord. He is almost here.
Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly. Mk 14:29-31
March 30, 2026—Pray for a deeper respect for all human life, especially for the most vulnerable: the unborn, the infirm, those with disabilities, those on death row, and the terminally ill.
March 31, 2026—As Lent draws to a close, reflect on your Lenten journey. How have you grown closer to God? How have you grown in holiness? Give thanks to God for accompanying you in this season.
April 1, 2026—“When the Church bends down to break the new chains that bind the poor, she becomes a paschal sign.” Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te, no. 61
April 2, 2026—(Holy Thursday-Evening Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper) “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” John 13:15
April 3, 2026—(Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord—Day of Fasting): Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear Isaiah 53:11
Peter’s denials: 1. Denied being one of Jesus’ disciples.
2. Denied being one of Jesus’ disciples again.
3. Denied being in the garden with Jesus.
The Trial: Pilate could not find guilt in Jesus.
Custom at Passover: one prisoner released-Barnabas freed.
Jesus scourged, beaten, spat on, and humiliated.
Jesus crowned with thorns and clothed in a purple cloak.
Crucify Him! Crucify Him! The crowd shouted.
Jesus carried his cross. Your sins. My sins. The Worlds sins.
Jesus crucified. Five wounds.
Jesus dies. His last breath released for you, me, everyone.
It Is Finished.
Predestined pain and knowledge of bearing the weight of all our sins, Jesus undertook in humble fashion, for he loved so much you, me and everyone else.
Sin is a revolt against God. It is the earthly enemy of all that is holy, an adversary of virtuousness. Treachery and madness, instruments of the people toward internal purity toward one another. Jesus took it all on as mankind decided he was guilty, the insults, assaults on his person from his adversaries. He was the one real victim for us all as humanity refused his merciful love, his agonizing heart and soul cried internally. The Son of God was betrayed by the very people he loved.
We are the Judas’ every time we sin against God. Our human weaknesses failed us and drove the nails into Jesus hands and feet and the lance into his side. How many times have we crucified Jesus? Too many times. Now we walk alongside him toward Mt. Calvary. Scripture fulfilled as he took his last breath for you, me and everyone.
It is now finished.
If you are able, attend a Good Friday service today, or offer an additional act of penance. Add more to your fasting for today.
Read scripture: Jn 18:19-42 When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. Jn 19:30 “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” Jn 19:37
April 4, 2026—(Holy Saturday of the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter) If possible, spend today in quiet prayer, praying for those who will receive Sacraments of Initiation tonight and that you will have renewed strength to live your baptismal call.
One can only imagine how grief stricken the apostles were after they saw Jesus crucified and die on the cross. I’m sure they felt lost. To no longer see Jesus. Lost in their sorrow, they remembered not what He had told them; that on the third day the Son of Man would rise after being handed over to sinners and crucified.
The prophesy fulfilled, a glorious daybreak, the Vigil of Jesus’ Resurrection.
Daybreak, and all that was found were his burial cloths.
Holy Saturday. Do you think just a quiet day? Are you feeling sorrowful like the apostles? We should feel sad. Think about what he endured for you and me.
How will you prepare for Easter morning? I will rise knowing he saved me, a poor sinner, through his suffering and death.
Are you filled with great anticipation? My soul is filled with love and eagerness for Jesus. A day I will proclaim He is Risen.
What kind of hope does Jesus’ Resurrection give you? Eternal Life.
We are almost at the end of our journey, but really, just the beginning. A new day is on the horizon. Let us rejoice and live in Jesus Christ.
Today, meditate throughout the day on the Death of Jesus for your Salvation.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16 Mk 16:1-7
And, “But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.” Lk 24:12
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
April 5, 2026—“Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.” Matthew 28:5-6
“Christian love breaks down every barrier, brings close those who were distant, unites strangers, and reconciles enemies. It spans chasms that are humanly impossible to bridge, and it penetrates to the most hidden crevices of society. By its very nature, Christian love is prophetic: it works miracles and knows no limits. It makes what was apparently impossible happen. Love is above all a way of looking at life and a way of living it. A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today.” —Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi te, no. 120