“Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2010”
Justice was the central theme of the pontiff’s Lenten message for 2010. Read the text of the message at the Vatican’s website.
Resources in: English
“Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2011”
Pope Benedict XVI focused on the the traditional themes of fasting, almsgiving and prayer in his Lenten message for 2011. “The practice of almsgiving is a reminder of God’s primacy and turns our attention towards others,” Benedict writes.
“Ashes to Ashes”
Read an essay from ChristianHistory.net on how the early tradition of pre-Lenten repentance developed into our modern practice of Ash Wednesday.
“Fasting has spiritual, physical benefits but also points to good works”
Read “Fasting has spiritual, physical benefits but also points to good works,” a March 2, 2011 Catholic News Service story.
“Apologies Fail to Live Up to Our Expectations”
A Jan. 25, 2011, column at Scientific American reports on a new study that finds we tend to overestimate the healing power of an apology.
“Feel the pain, shed the guilt”
A Feb. 3, 2011, post at the website of New Scientist magazine rounds up research indicating that suffering physical pain — the old-fashioned way of expiating guilt — is in fact effective at easing feelings of guilt.
“Does Guilt Inadvertently Lead to More Guilt?”
Read a Feb. 22, 2011, column about guilt at the website ScienceAnd ReligionToday.com.
“Churches Find End Is Nigh”
Read a Jan. 25, 2011, story from The Wall Street Journal about how Christians responded to decreased giving and economic hardship during the recession.
“How Evangelicals Give”
Read a Jan. 31, 2011, story from Christianity Today about how Christians are responding to decreased giving to churches.