Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina
“Probe me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me on the path to everlasting life.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
From time to time I’ve heard it suggested that you should keep your Lenten penance a secret. This suggestion is tied to our Lord’s admonition in Matthew’s gospel to not look gloomy when we fast, so as not to appear to be fasting (Mt 6:17-18). It may seem ironic that this passage is read on Ash Wednesday, when the faithful go about with black smudges on our foreheads.