Get ready for Lent! “This Time of Forty Days”

Lent 2010 is upon us! That reality came to mind when I was planning the next Youth Mass at my parish, St. Michael the Archangel, which will be on the Second Sunday of Lent.

Lent is never an easy time for Catholics (or other non-Catholic Lenten Observers). It’s not supposed to be easy. So, it’s a good practice to start thinking about it now and how we can best use Lent to help us prepare for the climax of the Church Calendar – Easter!

As it turns out, a friend and fellow Catholic Musician – Nick Alexander – has just released a video that will get us thinking about Lent and how we can make Lent more than just giving up desserts and television.

This video comes at just the right time. I hope you enjoy it! And I hope you’ll comment and share it!

Lyrics:

This Time of Forty Days

by Nick Alexander (Parody of “King of Pain” by The Police)

There’s a little black spot on your head today
I guess it must mean today is Ash Wednesday
And we enter a time when we will give things up
For some it’s so easy but for me it’s tough

I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday’s no meat, but at least fish is okay
We just got our throats blessed on the Feast of St. Blaise
And it starts right this week, this time of forty days.

There’s a little black spot on your head today (Is my soul prepared?)
It’s to remind us that from dust we came (Is my soul prepared?)
Guess I should read a good book, and watch the t.v. less (Is my soul prepared?)
Should I complete the Old Testament, or Prayer of Jabez? (Is my soul prepared?)

I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday’s no meat, but at least fish is okay
I guess I should stop calling my sister bad names
And it starts right this week, this time of forty days.

When you fast don’t act like all those Pharisees
Rumpled hair, bruises on your hands and knees
Instead wash yourself, put on a happy face
And on the Feast of St Joseph you can take a break…
Forty Days

Now, Jesus He fasted through the wilderness (Is my soul prepared?)
With all the Church offers, can we do no less? (Is my soul prepared?)
There’s a little black spot on your head today
Is it dark, is it bold, or has it faded grey?

I hope I can last without it being a pain
On Friday’s no meat, but at least fish is okay
When I’ve completed this Lent, don’t want to be the same
As I am right this week, upon these forty days.

Forty days…
You’ll always need forty days…