Lent - Season of Repentance

Now that we've begun the first full week of Lent, I thought I should write something appropriate.  But I couldn't top the article by Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin:

10 Things to Remember for Lent

I considered writing about my own Lenten journey, but in the end I couldn't square it with the advice of Jesus in Matthew 6 (the Gospel for Ash Wednesday):

Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
...do not let your left hand know what your right is doing...
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Instead, I plan to write a little about each of the three pillars of Lent:  prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

In the meantime, I will leave you with some inspirational chant for the season:

Attende, Domine is a traditional Lenten chant dating from the 10th century.  The Latin words and English translation are listed below.

R. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.	R. Hearken, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee.
Ad te Rex summe, omnium redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. R.	Crying, we raise our eyes to Thee, Sovereign King, Redeemer of all. Listen, Christ, to the pleas of the supplicant sinners. R.
Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti. R.	Thou art at the Right Hand of God the Father, the Keystone, the Way of salvation and Gate of Heaven, cleanse the stains of our sins. R.
Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge. R.	O God, we beseech Thy majesty to hear our groans; to forgive our sins. R.
Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua Redemptor, pietas ignoscat. R.	We confess to Thee our consented sins; we declare our hidden sins with contrite heart; in Thy mercy, O Redeemer, forgive them. R.
Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus, testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus: quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe. R.	Thou wert captured, being innocent; brought about without resistance, condemned by impious men with false witnesses. O Christ keep safe those whom Thou hast redeemed. R.