To-day, Our Lady is last commemorated in the Breviary with her Saturday Office before the spiritual austerities of Lent begin. Throughout this solemn season, the saints are solely commemorated at Lauds (and Low Mass) with but three exceptions, all first-class feasts with first Vespers: on Tuesday the 17th of March occurs that of St Patrick (in Australia and elsewhere, as originally in Ireland); on Thursday the 19th, of St Joseph; on Wednesday the 25th, of the Annunciation.
What to do for Lent? Pray; fast; give alms.
I am forming the serious resolution to resume daily attendance* at Mass for Lent: if I get up earlier, I can attend the 7.30am Mass at Carmel before work on Mondays, Tuesdays, probably Wednesdays (or Mass at 5pm at St Vincent's Hospital chapel†), Fridays and Sundays - on Thursdays and Saturdays, Mass in the side chapel at Church of the Apostles (at 5pm and 9am respectively) will suit my work and life schedule better.
[* While in Hobart and Melbourne I've been to Mass on weekdays,
this year I've only heard a weekday Mass in Launceston for Candlemas...]
[† This is the "lazy Mass" I once blogged on!]
Fasting will prove difficult - at least, I've always found it so. The obvious thing is to abstain from meat when I can (those I live with won't), and to be more sparing.
As for almsgiving, I know the bushfire appeal will be something continue to keep in mind, seeing as so many have lost everything; and Mass at Carmel gives me a chance to pop something into the sister's "Offerings" box...
