Preview

A video series from CRS Rice Bowl helps explain and explore

We know Lent is a journey of approximately 40 days, Ash Wednesday to Easter. We know its three pillars are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We know our foreheads will be marked with ashes on Ash Wednesday, that we are called to make a personal Lenten sacrifice, and that we abstain (or fast) from meat on Fridays.

But how do we give deeper personal meaning to these introspective weeks of Lent?

In a series of short, easy-to-watch videos, Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl has brought together eight Catholics — cardinals and archbishops, priests and laity — to talk about what Lent means to them. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan looks at Lent as a journey back to God. Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez sees Lent as a practice in unity. America Magazine managing editor Kerry Weber sees Lent as a “call to action” for mercy. Jesuit Father James Martin invites us to listen to the quiet of Lent and hear the call of God to serve.

Watch Catholic Relief Service president Dr. Carolyn Woo in the video below, then visit the CRS Rice Bowl “What Is Lent” website to view all eight.

On the CRS website, you can also learn more about the Rice Bowl program — which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year — find family activities and recipes, and donate to CRS projects.

Find OSV Lenten resources here.