Laetare Sunday 2018
At the midpoint of Lent we recall the greatest gift God has given after the Redemptive Incarnation – the Holy Eucharist. The Gospel tells how Our Lord prepared the people for this Sacrament by the miracle of the loaves and fishes. By reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ we are given the foretaste of heaven and so every Holy Communion is a preparation for our entrance there.
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3rd Sunday in Lent 2018
We learn in the Mass texts not to let evil enter our thoughts, words or deeds. This is so we live every moment purely and for God. Then we are prepared for the last moment when we receive the grace of perseverance efficaciously. As the good works of Jesus were criticized in the Gospel, so we must also overcome discouragement during our Lenten practices. We must remember the saints who were like us sinners but who trusted in God and were victorious.
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2nd Sunday in Lent 2018
During Lent it is important to stir up sorrow for our sins and to receive the Sacrament of Penance. The older form for the penitent to use in the confessional expressed aspects of this beautiful sacrament that we should appreciate. If received well, this sacrament can even make us holier than just before we sinned, for example we have St. Peter. The Gospel for this Sunday is about the Transfiguration and is meant to encourage us, as it did the Apostles, for the struggles we must face in the days ahead.
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First Sunday in Lent 2018
Grace is present at every moment for us but especially during Lent. We, as Christians, must not be a scandal to those in the world. Lent is our retreat and it is dangerous to our spiritual life not to realize this. The virtue of chastity cannot be practiced without constant help from grace. We need the sacraments, prayer and spiritual reading to be holy. Christ was tempted in three ways which are conquered by our penances of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Remembering the four last things will help save us.
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Ash Wednesday Evening 2018
Blessed ashes remind us of death and our own nothingness. These marked the public sinners from the early days of the Church and do for all of us now. No sins are too much to be forgiven and penance and fasting are powerful means to save us as they did for the Ninivites. The Epistle calls all to join the priest in doing penance. We should never betray God for any momentary sin. Love of God dispels sin and vice from our hearts. We should pray for devotion and sorrow during Lent so Easter will be a preview of the life to come.
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Ash Wednesday 2018
In 1741 the pope declared that Lent is the true sign of the Christian fighting for his salvation by means of penance through fasting which is understood by the receiving of the sacramental of ashes today. The entire Septuagesima season focused our attention on sin and our identifying the predominant fault we want to eradicate now. We begin our forty days of prayers, almsgiving and fasting with confidence that God will hear our plea and forgive us as He did with the Ninivites at the preaching of the prophet Jonas.
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Quinquagesima Sunday 2018
This season is almost over and our training for Lent should be completed. Abraham is emphasized during these days because of his fidelity to God when so many others were not. He was willing to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, who was a willing victim as Christ would be in the future. Today strengthens our faith and spurs us on to love God better.
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Sexagesima Sunday 2018
During this sacred time before Lent we should examine our conscience so we know the predominant fault we will battle through penance once Ash Wednesday arrives. St. Paul is our spiritual director for this as we think about original and actual sin. The young especially have an opportunity to respond to grace and be instruments of sanctity in the world today.
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Feast Of St. Blaise 2018
St. Blaise was an early martyr bishop whose intercessory power was well-known especially by two famous miracles. The elements of these divine favors are what make up the blessing of throats on his feastday. The spiritual benefits from this sacramental are increased by our devout reception of this blessing.
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Feast Of The Purification 2018
This ancient feast is celebrated today in the same way as Sylvia described the ceremony in the fourth century. Our Lord and His Mother exercised humility by submitting to the Mosaic laws that did not apply to these sinless Personages. The Holy Infant was ransomed this day so that He could be offered for our redemption in the future. Our Lady did not need any purification in order to return to the temple but she identified herself with us sinners. The first procession took place on this day with Simeon and Anna joining the Holy Family.
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