Here is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ explanation of Lent:

Our observance of Lent begins this year on March 9th, Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics. At Mass on Ash Wednesday, the imposition of ashes replicates an ancient penitential practice and symbolizes our dependence upon God’s mercy and forgiveness.

During Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics.

The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting and to giving alms. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents.

The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Our 40 days of Christ-centered self-reflection will begin with ashes this coming Wednesday. That evening our entire family (me, wife and five children) will, thanks to the gracious benevolence of an anonymous praying supporter, attend the Chris Tomlin concert at the Memorial Coliseum. My kids hear Tomlin on Star 88 and at Upward basketball, and we are excited to be attending this Christian concert!

Here is one of Tomlin’s spirited hymns for modern man:

Fort Wayne is graced with many fine congregations and many inspiring works of architectural beauty.  Pictured above is just one of them.  It is St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on South Barr, just east of the Catholic Cathedral. 

In more than a few Fort-based cases a faith-filled congregation worships in one of these architectural wonders built by generations who have since gone to their eternal reward.

The above was built in 1905.

The Institute, as part of its mission under the ArchAngel Gabriel Division, celebrates faithful communities in such traditional settings.  They point a path out of the current post-modern madness and back to a foundation for social sanity.

One such faith-filled congregation worships in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Fort Wayne.  The architecture is among the most inspiring among the downtown church buildings, and could be considered the most inspiring among Lutheran edifaces in Allen County.

Last Sunday the congregation sang that great stalwart of the Faith, A Mighty Fortress is our God, written by Dr. Martin Luther.  Two of the Institute’s Board members visited St. Paul’s with a Lutheran family that is very involved in the Institute.  

It can be argued that our church buildings are underutlized and under appreciated.  These pictures are intended to allow us all to better appreciate St. Paul’s on Barr Street in Fort Wayne,  a beautiful structure housing an active community of the Missouri Synod persuation.