Editor, Gazette-Journal:
Many years ago, I attended a Catholic school and went to Mass many times. We only sang Catholic songs, because we thought Protestant hymns were too worldly.
Much later, I attended a Protestant church and heard wonderful old songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Blessed Assurance, The Old Rugged Cross, etc. I wondered if the Catholics realized what blessings they were missing (Thankfully, Catholics are now singing those songs). I wondered what other songs, traditions, services, etc. other denominations have that could bring us closer to God.
Catholics observe Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 26 this year) by doing penances for 40 days, symbolic of Jesus’s 40 days in the desert. Penances are voluntary and might be extra things, such as praying for an hour each day, daily Bible reading, handing out tracts, etc., or giving up things, such as liquor, drugs, foul language, etc. The intention is to make you a better Christian by drawing you clos...