Category: Lent

CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “[‘The Gospel … takes us to Bethany, where … Lazarus, Martha and Mary were giving a supper for the Teacher’] Homily Of His Holiness Benedict XVI: Eucharistic Celebration On the Fifth Anniversary of the Death of the Servant Of God John Paul II” – VaticanVa 3.29.10

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Faith Links, Headlines, Holy Week, Lent
File Photo of Bethany ca. 1900, adapted from image at loc.gov from G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection

“The Gospel … takes us to Bethany, where … Lazarus, Martha and Mary were giving a supper for the Teacher …. This banquet in the house of Jesus’ three friends was marked by presentiments of his imminent death: the six days before Easter, the suggestion of Judas, the traitor, Jesus’ answer that calls to mind one of the devout burial rites, anticipated by Mary, the hint that they would not always have Him with them and the attempt to put Lazarus to death that mirrors the desire to kill Jesus. … Mary of Bethany ‘took 300 grams [a pound] of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the Feet of Jesus and wiped His Feet with her hair” … [an] expression of great faith and love for the Lord … Mary offers Jesus the most precious thing she has and with a gesture of deep devotion. Love does not calculate, does not measure, does not worry about expense, does not set up barriers but can give joyfully; it seeks only the good of the other, surmounts meanness, pettiness, resentment and the narrow-mindedness that human beings sometimes harbour in their hearts. Mary stood at the feet of Jesus in a humble attitude of service, the same attitude that the Teacher himself was to assume at the Last Supper, when ‘… He … began to wash the disciples’ feet’ …”

Click here for: “[‘The Gospel just proclaimed takes us to Bethany, where, as the Evangelist notes, Lazarus, Martha and Mary were giving a supper for the Teacher’] Homily Of His Holiness Benedict XVI: Eucharistic Celebration On the Fifth Anniversary of the Death of the Servant Of God John Paul II” – VaticanVa 3.29.10

 

 

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: Saint Andrew of Crete: “[‘Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel!’]; Sermon for Palm Sunday; PG 97, 1002” – DailyGospel.org

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Cross Atop Rocky Cliff

“Have courage, daughter of Zion, do not be afraid. ‘Behold, your king comes to you, humble and mounted on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden’ (Zec 9:9). He is coming who is everywhere present and pervades all things; he is coming to achieve in you his work of universal salvation. He is coming ‘who came to call to repentance not the righteous but sinners’ (Lk 5:32), coming to recall those who have strayed into sin. Do not be afraid, then: ‘God is in the midst of you, and you shall not be shaken’ (Ps 46[45]:6) Receive him with open, outstretched hands, for it was on his own hands that he sketched you. Receive him who laid your foundations on the palms of his hands. Receive him, for he took upon himself all that belongs to us except sin, to consume what is ours in what is his… Rejoice exceedingly, daughter of Jerusalem, sing and leap for joy… ‘Be enlightened, for the light has come to you and the glory of the Lord has risen over you’ (Is 60:1). …”

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “See What the End Shall Be – Palm Sunday”- Archdiocese of Washington/Msgr. Charles Pope

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Jesus Carries the Cross, adapted from image at loc.gov

“… As we read the Passion we must understand that this is not merely an account of the behavior of people long gone, this is a portrait of you and me; we do these things. …”

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CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “O Sacred Head Surrounded”

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Jesus Carries the Cross, adapted from image at loc.gov

O Sacred Head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O Bleeding Head, so wounded,
reviled and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of Thy Most Holy Face,
yet Angel Hosts adore thee
and tremble as they gaze
[lyrics continue below video]

I see thy strength and vigor
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

From a medieval Latin hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux of the 12th century.

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CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “All Glory Laud and Honor”

Catholic, Catholic Music, Catholic Videos, Holy Week, Lent, Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
Interior of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University oif Notre Dame, Copyright Steven C. Welsh

“All Glory Laud and Honor,” by Saint Theodulph ca. 9th century, translated by John Mason Neale, 1851, sung at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame.

All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
and David’s royal Son,
now in the Lord’s name coming,
the King and Blessed One.

The company of angels
is praising you on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before You went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before You we present.

To You, before Your passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To You, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

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CATHOLIC MUSIC VIDEO: “The Glory of These Forty Days”

Catholic, Catholic Music, Catholic Videos, Headlines, Lent
Cross Atop Rocky Cliff

“The Glory of These Forty Days,” from a Latin hymn of the 6th century, translated by Maurice M. Bell, 1906.

The glory of these forty days
we celebrate with songs of praise;
for Christ, through whom all things were made,
himself has fasted and has prayed.

Alone and fasting Moses saw
the loving God who gave the law;
and to Elijah, fasting, came
the steeds and chariots of flame.

So Daniel trained his mystic sight,
delivered from the lions’ might;
and John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became
the herald of Messiah’s name.

Then grant us, Lord, like them to be
full oft in fast and prayer with thee;
our spirits strengthen with thy grace,
and give us joy to see thy face.

O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
to thee be every prayer addressed,
who art in three-fold Name adored,
from age to age, the only Lord.

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Laetare Sunday: On Laetare Sunday the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances” – Our Sunday Visitor/Catholic Answers/Michael R. Heinlein

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Faith Links, Headlines, Lent
Stained Glass Window of Dove with Golden Rays and Dark Edging, Bernini's Gloria from Saint Peter's Basilica, adapted from image at cia.gov

“… The day’s theme comes from the entrance antiphon reflecting on Isaiah 66:10-11: ‘Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exalt and be satisfied at her consoling breast.’ Laetare is the first word — meaning “rejoice” — in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide. …”

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CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)” – FishEaters

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Faith Links, Headlines, Lent
File Photo of Sunrise at Joshua Tree National Park

“The fourth Sunday of Lent is rather unique; like the third Sunday of Advent (‘Gaudete Sunday’), the fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in an otherwise penitential season. The vestments for this day will be rose, as they are on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, and flowers may adorn the Altar. This day is called ‘Laetare Sunday’ (also “Rose Sunday” ), and takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit’s ‘Laetare, Jerusalem’ …”

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CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2018 Released; [‘Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold’ (Mt 24: 12)]” – VaticanVa 11.1.17

Catholic, Catholic Church, Catholic Faith, Christian Charity, Christian Life, Faithwatch, Headlines, Lent, Pope Francis, Vatican
Pope Francis file photo, adapted from image (c) VIS

“Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24: 12) … the Pasch of the Lord draws near! In our preparation for Easter, God in His Providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a ‘Sacramental Sign of our Conversion’ … to help the entire Church experience this time of grace anew, with joy and in truth.  * * * More than anything else, what destroys charity is greed for money, ‘the root of all evil’ …. The rejection of God and His Peace soon follows … What are we to do? … devoting more time to prayer … Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. … Fasting weakens our tendency to violence … an important opportunity for growth. … experience[ing]what the destitute and the starving … endure. … express[ing] our own spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God. Fasting wakes us up. It makes us more attentive to God and our neighbour. It revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hunger. … I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew. …”

Click here for: “Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2018, 06.02.2018; [‘Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold’ (Mt 24: 12)]” – Vatican.va 11.1.17 

Additional Links & Resources:

Cross Atop Rocky Cliff“Pope Francis releases 2018 Lenten message: Full text” – Vatican Radio
http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-02/pope-francis-lenten-message-2018.html

“Pope Francis: ‘Come back to the Lord with all your heart during Lent’
http://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-02/pope-francis-lent-message-2018-cold-hearts.html

“This Lent, revive your enthusiasm for the faith, Pope says” – CNA
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/this-lent-revive-your-enthusiasm-for-the-faith-pope-says-16801

“Pope Francis releases Lenten message” – CNS/Arlington Catholic Herald
https://www.catholicherald.com/News/National___International/Pope_Francis/Pope_Francis_releases_Lenten_message/

“This Lent, Pope Francis invites us to reject ‘false prophets’; The pope’s 2018 Lenten message is released” – OSV
https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Perspectives/Columnists/Article/TabId/797/ArtMID/13632/ArticleID/24159/This-Lent-Pope-Francis-invites-us-to-reject-false-prophets.aspx

“Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2015; ‘Make your hearts firm'” – OSV
https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Faith/Article/TabId/720/ArtMID/13628/ArticleID/16821/Pope-Francis-Message-for-Lent-2015.aspx

[featured images are file photos]

View of St. Peter's Basilica at Vatican from River

 

 

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CATHOLIC FAITHWATCH: “[Almsgiving, Lent, the Final Judgment] – John Paul II General Audience, Wednesday, March 28, 1979” – VaticanVa

Catholic, Catholic Faith, Christian Charity, Christian Life, Faithwatch, Headlines, Lent
Saint Pope John Paul II file photo, adapted from image at archives.gov

“Only with a total attitude — in his relationship with God … himself and … his neighbor — does man reach conversion and remain in the state of conversion. ‘Alms’ … has a meaning … decisive for this conversion. … recall the image of the Last Judgment that Christ gave us: ‘… I was hungry and you gave Me food. I was thirsty and you gave Me drink … a stranger and you welcomed Me. … naked and you clothed Me … sick and you visited Me … in prison and you came to Me. … * * * Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ (Mt 25:35-40). … the Fathers of the Church will then say with St Peter Chrysologus: ‘The poor man’s hand is the treasury of Christ, since Christ receives everything that the poor man receives’ (Sermo VIII, 4), and with St. Gregory of Nazianzus: ‘The Lord of all things wants mercy, not sacrifice; and we give it through the poor’ (De patuperum amore, XI). … this opening to others … expressed by ‘help,’ by ‘sharing’ food, a glass of water, a good word, consolation, a visit, precious time, etc., this interior gift offered to the other man, arrives directly at Christ, directly at God. It decides the meeting with Him. It is conversion. … many texts in the Gospel … confirm this … also in the whole of Scripture. ‘Alms’ understood according to the Gospel, according to the teaching of Christ, has a definitive, decisive meaning in our conversion to God. If alms be lacking, our life does not yet converge fully towards God. …”

Click here for: “[Almsgiving, Lent, the Final Judgment] – John Paul II General Audience, Wednesday, March 28, 1979” – VaticanVa

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