Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis,et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. I rejoiced when they said to me: “we shall go to God’s House!

What is for you a reason to rejoice today?

In a new episode of ‘Health and Holiness’, I talk about Lent and my quest for balance between being and doing, between listening and talking, between prayer and work.

Saint Joseph, whose feast the Church celebrates on March 19, is an inpiring model during these first weeks of Lent.

Links: Website | Feed | iTunes

By Kathleen Setina-Herbert

If you’re anything like me, time is a precious commodity. If one of your promises for Lent is to make more time for prayer in your life, I would highly recommend the U.K. Jesuits’ Pray-As-You-Go podcast.

Pray-As-You-Go is not a thought for the day, a sermon or bible study, but rather a framework for your own prayer. The sound of cathedral bells invite you in, giving you a moment to quiet your mind. Then a short musical presentation from the monks of Pluscarden or Glenstal Abbeys, the Community of Taize or the Westminster Choir further bring you into a prayerful state. Sometimes a contemporary piece or the south African male choir group Ladysmith Black Mambazo change it up a bit.

Then listen to a short scripture reading along with questions for personal reflections pertaining to that scripture. Given this framework, talking to God in your own words is made easy.

Available in iTunes, or at their website http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ allows download as an MP3, WMA or as a .zip file to your device. Or listen on-line.

Pray-as-You-Go allows you to listen to and reflect on God’s word, grow in your relationship with God and become more aware of his presence in your life. All in 12 minutes a day. Who says promises are hard to keep?

Do you know the difference between fasting and abstinence? And what is the deal with the ‘no meat on Fridays’ for Catholics? In an entertaining and informative episode of the podcast ‘Catholic Stuff You Should Know‘, Joe and Nathan explore the meaning of this ancient tradition of fasting and abstinence.

You can sample the episode here or go to the website to subscribe and to read more about ‘Catholic Stuff You Should Know’. Recommended!

To mark Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, ‘Confession: A Roman Catholic App’ is on sale today at the discounted price of $.99.

The app means to help Catholics to prepare for the sacrament of Penance.

You can purchase the app (universal: iPhone/iPod/iPad) by clicking on the link below:

Have you ever heard a tune on the radio or in a store that you recognize, but you have no idea what the title of the tune is? In this week’s episode of The Break, Fr. Roderick talks about two apps that can help you name that tune.

Also in this episode: The SQPN fund-raising marathon; more about The Dollhouse; The Guild; Star Wars in 3-D coming in 2012; Health and Holiness and Lent; the distorted facts in ‘Zeitgeist’; Shazam and SoundHound.

Listen by clicking on the player, or go to the website of The Break to subscribe.

The season of Lent will begin in a few short days and around the world Catholics will begin making special personal observances of this prayerful season.

Some people will fast from a favorite food or activity as a way of reminding themselves of Lent. Others will start something new, such as spiritual reading, attending daily Mass, or adding additional exercise to their normal routines and thus make positive changes to their lifestyles. In the United States and other parts of the world, Catholics are required to fast from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

However, it is not uncommon to occasionally forget what we have committed to do during Lent, or perhaps that another Friday has come around again. Luckily, some enterprising young adults in the Diocese of Tulsa in Oklahoma have come up with a way to help you remember.

LivingLent.org is a new website dedicated to help you have a more spiritually rewarding season of Lent. The website lets you post your Lenten pledges online and will send you daily reminders via email or SMS so that you do not forget. It will even remind you of feast days and Fridays.

If you are struggling to decide on your own Lenten commitment, check out LivingLent.org for some of the great ideas that others have chosen.

LivingLent.org is a new ministry of the Catholic Young Adults of the Diocese of Tulsa. To learn more about them and some of their other activities, check out their web page.