For years I have said that it’s not what I give up or take on for lent that defines my lenten journey. Rather, lent seems to happen to me.  That certainly seems to be the case for me this year.  I have been having a very busy time both personally and professionally which has druagged me so thoroughly into the desert of lent, that I haven’t had time to contemplate on what will be my lenten sacrifice this year.  However, it seems this week a 3 day retreat for my family and I will happen.  First up on Thursday night, our parish and several neighbouring parishes are combining their Lenten penitential services.   My daughter has asked me to help her memorize the act of contrition– something I’ll be happy to help her with because I have never actually memorized it myself.  On Friday evening, our parish is having Stations of the Cross followed by mass and a talk by a visiting lay evangelist.  Saturday, my wife and I are planning to attend a one day retreat on the Theology of the Body, entitled God, Sex and the Meaning of Life at a parish about an hour from here.  Combine that with our daily Morning Prayer along with the fine folks at divineoffice.org, family rosary in the evenings and a kind of fast from both food and Internet, and we have the makings of a family retreat right in the comfort of our home.

How about you?  What are ways that you can take time for a bit of a retreat this lenten season, either at home or away from home?

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