Happy Lent to everybody! OK, I know that I am several weeks late with my well-wishes, but that will happen. When Lent comes around, everybody thinks about “What am I going to give up?” That self-sacrifice is a good thing, but it should not be the only difference for you in Lent.

I’m sure many of you are aware, but there are actually three areas that the Church emphasizes an individual work on during Lent. The first, as I mentioned, is fasting. This includes not eating meat on Friday, the sacrifices that you make such as not eating sweets, or in my case, not drinking soda and, this year, not having potato chips.

The second Lenten practice is almsgiving. Now many think this just means giving a little extra money, however, when cash is tight there is always giving of one’s time. This can be working at an event at your local parish, or helping out at a volunteer shelter. There are plenty of places where time and work are more important than the extra money you could put into the envelope.

Finally, and this is where the Salzmann Library can help, the final practice is prayer. Now prayer comes in all forms, as we know, but sometimes a person needs a little push to help them set up a daily prayer routine. There are lots of books that can be that push, whether it be through daily readings or suggestions for how to get the most out of your prayers. I am only going to list some of our newer titles, but we have plenty more that might interest you as well.

40 Days, 40 Ways: a new look at Lent” by Marcellino D’Ambrosio

Rediscover Lent” by Matthew Kelly

When I survey the wondrous Cross: scriptural reflections for Lent” by Patrick Ryan

The Lenten pharmacy: daily healing therapies” by Edward Hays

Simplifying the soul: Lenten practices to renew your spirit” by Paula Huston

These books deal, especially, with Lent. If your Lenten goal is to read about a particular saint, we can also help – or read a little more of the Bible, or a book on how to pray more effectively. We have the materials to help.

As always, if you have any ideas and comments for things I could change, please let me know. If you have any books that you have read or have read the books I mention, please leave a comment. We here at Salzmann also want to know what people are reading. Comments are always appreciated – anything I can do to make this better I will strive my best to accomplish.

Here is some basic information about the library:
• Our standard hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, 12 to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Our address is 3257 S. Lake Dr., St. Francis, WI 53235, right next to Henni Hall, due west of the South Parking Lot.
• The library’s phone number is (414) 747-6479. If you would like to contact me through email, it is mschrauth@sfs.edu.
• There is free Wi-Fi available.
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