In "Angela’s Ashes" Frank McCourt writes vividly about his boyish fear of confessing to a priest.

It’s always good to try new ways of prayer. It might change your relationship with God, which is not a bad thing at all for Lent.

The reassurance and familiarity of routines foster the growth of trust and love.

The truth about God’s mercy is this: It is a divine gift, not a human attainment.

When I was growing up, the impending arrival of Lent brought on great anxiety over what to give up — soda? chocolate? or most drastically, all sweets?