Such as fasting from secular newspapers.

It's surprising to learn how much time we actually waste on newspapers, especially when you can keep in touch with the world through radio newscasts.

"My advice is to vary small acts of self-mortification each day, so as not to draw attention to yourself, to add variety to your routine, and to keep things between you and the Lord.

"For example, one day. don't put seasoning on your food. The next day, skip butter on your toast. Go without sugar in your coffee or tea the following day. Another day, fast totally from TV. Here's a hard one especially if you're waiting for a personal letter - put off opening your mail for several hours.

"These small acts of mortification are best kept between you and the Lord." Msgr. Galeone assures us that practicing a spirit of mortification during Lent, uniting our small sacrifice's with Christ, will lead us to an exuberant Easter season.

By Una McManus

Fries with that Theology?, or "Is McDonald's Baptistic?"

The Rev. Massimo Salani, a Roman Catholic priest from Tuscany has added fuel to the fires of ltaly's debate over fast food by condemning the hamburger, french fries and Coke as "the fruit of a Protestant culture." Italians are deeply divided over the arrival of McDonald's and other fast-food chains in a country that takes its three-hour lunches seriously. 'The individualistic relation between man and God, started by Luther, is also reflected in the world of eating. Lacking the community aspect of sharing, fast food is certainly not a Catholic model," Salani said.