Lent

Confidence In Our Conquest

February 26, 2012By Servants Of The Holy Family

1st Sunday of Lent 2012
This is the season in which saints are made. All these days demand from us a great desire for holiness. The devil temps us to sin so we may be his pawn in revenge against God. In the Gospel we see Christ tempted in the inauguration of His public life, the theme of which was combat with the devil and his servants. Temptations come to us so that we may be made strong in the virtues where we are the weakest. We will be invincible in the face of temptation if we never fail to ask confidently for God’s help.

Stations of the Cross is among the most ancient devotions of the Church. Through it we make a spiritual pilgrimage to share in the sufferings of our Redeemer. This practice developed from the imitation of the Blessed Mother who visited the places where her Divine Son suffered. We should ask to see the stations through the eyes of the Virgin Mary so we may reap the greatest profits from this devotion.
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We the Penitents and Catechumens

February 22, 2012By Servants Of The Holy Family

Ash Wednesday 2012
The time leading up to the season of Lent is to help us follow the example of the catechumens and public sinners of the early Church. The Sundays that comprise Septuagesima take to heart all that was in the mind of these two groups of people.

After God told Noah of His regret for creating mankind because of their rebellion, and after He destroyed the world with the deluge, he sent the dove with an olive branch to make peace with humanity. It is important to remember that God desires not our damnation, but our salvation.

Many people dislike the season of Lent because they are forced to see their true sinful nature. When we see ourselves in this way it should spur us to a deep detestation and a humble confession of our sins. This humility is the recognition of the truth about ourselves.

The principal works of penance are prayer, especially the Holy Mass and mental prayer, spiritual reading, and the gift of alms. If we can overcome one habit of sin through these works, we have made great progress towards sanctity..

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Penance in Charity

February 19, 2012By Servants Of The Holy Family

^{Sermon From}^{Quinquagesima Sunday 2012}There is no question on the Catholic Church’s stance regarding contraception and abortion, despite the attacks of the world on these moral teachings in our day.

We have had St. Paul as our retreat master preparing us for Lent, and now that we have spent this time and know the malice of our fallen nature, we are prepared to perform penances during the coming season in all charity. We will need faith and love to carry our cross with Christ through Lent. This is our chance to do battle with the help of Christ. God will never abandon us.
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Never Despair of the Mercy of God

February 5, 2012By Servants Of The Holy Family

Septuagesima Sunday 2012
St. Blaise was a bishop who was arrested during the early persecutions and was blessed with many favors by God. Devotion to him has been very popular throughout the history of the Church and so the Church has devised a special blessing which invokes his intercession.

St. Agatha was close to the last of the martyrs. She was unwilling to submit to sins of impurity under the greatest pressures and even endure terrible torture rather than give up her virtue.

When a woman gave birth under the Old Law, she was considered ritually unclean and because of this she was commanded to submit herself to the temple after one month for her purification. Although Our Lady was not subject to this because of the miraculous birth, she submitted so she might have a greater union with us sinners. It is also the day of the first of the great sorrows of her life in the prophecy of Simeon.

These Sundays before Lent are meant to help us know ourselves. If we put out just a portion of the effort for our reward, which will last forever, that the sports stars put into their victory, we will be sure to triumph over this life.
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