A Lenten Reading Program

I found this on Mary Ellen's Blog

Church Fathers Lenten Reading Program

Instructions: Each day, read the assigned writing. This Lenten discipline takes 10-15 minutes of your day. By day 40, you will have read 10 different Fathers...

Saintly Quote - Surrender

Shared by Sue

The day you learn to surrender yourself totally to God, you will discover a new world, just as I am experiencing. You will enjoy a peace and a calm unknown, surpassing even the happiest days of your life.

Blessed Jaime Hilario (1898-1937)

Mater Dolorosa - Our Lady of Saturday

Daily Lenten Resolution - Saturday After Ash Wednesday

From Regnum Christi

I will think of the people I detest or am indifferent to, and I will think of at least one of their good qualities. If the opportunity arises, I will speak well of them, and if I can, I will do a good deed for them.

Daily Lenten Resolution - Friday after Ash Wednesday

From Regnum Christi

To follow Christ, I will choose a small mortification that I will practice during the entire Lenten season.

The Legionaries of Christ - Ordination

I found this on Deal Hudson's blog

The Ordination of 48 New Priests

I think I was first introduced to the Legionaries of Christ by my mom. She and my sister have invited them over for dinner and great conversation. If you have a chance to have them over, please extend the invitation. From what my mom shared with me, it was just inspiring listening to these young men of God.

Feast Day - St. Josephine Bakhita

To learn more about this flower of the Sudan, view photos, listen to original music, please visit Jane Ellen's website.

Fine Art Friday

Today's featured artist is Georges de la Tour, March 13, 1593 to January 30, 1692.

His early works were painted in a realistic manner and influenced by the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio. The paintings of La Tour's maturity are marked by a startling geometric simplification of the human form and by the depiction of interior scenes lit only by the glare of candles or torches. His religious paintings done in this manner have a monumental simplicity and a stillness that expresses both contemplative quiet and wonder.

Penitent St. Jerome
The New-born 1640s

Young Virgin Mary c. 1640

A Young Singer

Christ in the Carpenter's Shop 1645

The Penitent Magdalen

Source: WGA

Dying to Self

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.

THAT IS DYING TO SELF

Source: here

Daily Lenten Resolution - Thursday After Ash Wednesday

From The Regnum Christi e-letter

Before doing something today I will pause to examen the motives for which I do it: is it for me or for God? If it is only for me, I will rectify my intentions or leave the deed aside, especially if I have the opportunity to do something else for God or to serve God in my neighbor.

Lenten Resolution for the Day

From Regnum Christi

Resolution: I will do one or more acts of charity in which I do not gain anything, but serve my neighbor and show my love to Christ.

Bloggers of the World!!

.....Award! (You thought I was going to say "Unite", didn't you?)


That very popular British Blogger...Mac has awarded me this new and coveted award! I went back a bit to see how many people we are supposed to bestow the honors on. It appears that the original was 8 and then someone changed it to 10. So I pick 10 bloggers from far and wide:

1. View From the Pews in Australia How could I not choose them?

2. The Whitestone Name Seeker. One day I must inquire what her name means.

3. UKOK's Place and another fabulous blogger from the UK.

4. Serviam from Malaysia. And, it's good to see Mark blogging again.

5. A Bit of the Blarney I know she's in the US but I like to imagine her blogging from the Emerald Isle.

6. St. Therese's Roses formerly Divine Mercy in Canada.

7. Grandma's MusingsI'm not quite sure which state but I do know it's in the good ol' U.S. of A.

8. Catholic Warrior in Colorado.

9. Catholic Fire in Kansas.

10. and how could I end this w/o picking a blogger from NJ....From Across the Net and now that I know Ellen plays tennis, the name of her blog makes a lot of sense!

Prepare for Lent and Triduum

Shared by Sue of Half the Kingdom Be sure to check out the Lenten Novena on her blog.

As my DH would say, Lent is a time to gain "plenty of indulgences" (plenary indulgences).

During Lent, we prepare ourselves to share in the Crucifixion. We make ready by cleansing ourselves of sin through the sacrament of reconciliation and cleansing the world of all traces of our sin through the work of indulgences. Both Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI created new indulgences during their pontificates to re-emphasize the importance of this ancient teaching.

What are Indulgences?

God sent us into the world to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, my sins make it worse. When I sin, I do two things: I take grace away from (1) myself and (2) the rest of the world. Because my sin takes away my power to be joyful, I do not have the power to treat others well. The sacrament of reconciliation restores me to a state of joyful grace, but the people I mistreated still suffer from my earlier lack of grace. How do I repair that damage? And I must repair that damage – God intends me to make the
world a better place, and I must do His will. In fact, I cannot enter heaven until I have. The world must be free from the suffering my sins have caused.

I have two choices if I wish to heal the world: I can share in the healing work of the Cross either in Purgatory or through indulgences. An indulgence (partial or plenary) is a prayerful act I can do today that restores part or all of the grace the world would have enjoyed if I had never sinned. However, to be worthy of sharing in this healing work of Christ, I must first be in a state of grace.

To perform a partial indulgence, I need only be in a state of grace when doing the work.

To perform a plenary indulgence, I must be in a state of grace when doing the work, receive confession, receive the Eucharist, pray for the Pope’s intentions (an Our Father, Glory Be and a Hail Mary is sufficient), and make an act of the will to love God and despise all sin, even the most venial.

Plenary Indulgences for the Seasons of Lent and Triduum
Every Friday of Lent: Recitation of O Good and Sweetest Jesus after reception of the Eucharist before an image of the crucified Christ.

Holy Thursday: Praying the Tantum Ergo after the Mass of the Last Supper.

Good Friday: Participating in the Veneration of the Cross.

Holy Saturday: Renewing your baptismal vows at the Easter Vigil Mass (renewing your baptismal vows on the anniversary of your baptism may also earn a plenary indulgence). Attending any Mass of First Communion (Easter Vigil Mass is a First Communion Mass) may likewise earn a plenary indulgence.

Only one plenary indulgence may be won per day.

Stations of the Cross: This always merits a plenary indulgence, no matter the season. It must be performed before 14 stations, lawfully erected, with devout meditation on the Passion of Our Lord and movement from one station to the next. If the crowd is large, the leader at least must move from cross to cross.

O Good and Sweetest Jesus
Look Down Upon Me, O Good and Sweetest Jesus, while before your face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech you
to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment,
while I contemplate with great love and tender pity your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David, your prophet, said of you, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones.” Amen.

Tantum Ergo
Down in adoration falling, To the Everlasting Father
Lo! The Sacred host we hail. And the Son Who reigns on high,
Lo! O’er ancient forms departing, With the Spirit blessed proceeding
Newer rites of Grace prevail; Forth, from Each eternally,
Faith for all defects supplying, Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Where the feeble senses fail. Might and endless majesty. Amen.

The Stations of the Cross
1 Christ is Condemned to Death
2. Christ Carries His Cross.
3. Jesus Falls the First Time.
4. Jesus Meets His Mother.
5. Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross.
6. Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face.
7. Jesus Falls the Second Time.
8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus Falls the Third Time.
10. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.
12. Jesus Dies on the Cross.
13. Jesus’ Body is taken down from the Cross
14. The Deposition of Christ’s Body in the Tomb

• Bridegroom Press • 309-685-4085

Fasting From Our Clutter

Catholic Update from St. Anthony Messenger Press continues it's annual Lent meditations with the daily readings of Fasting From Our Clutter by Susan K. Rowland.

I will be posting today's meditation here. Please be sure to visit their website daily during Lent for the rest of the series.

ASH WEDNESDAY
GETTING READY TO CLEAR MY CLUTTER

Jl 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Today’s readings give me basic instructions for the next 40 days. As a first step to clearing my heart and mind of clutter, I arrange a quiet prayer corner in which to talk to God. I find a suitable place in my home and stock it with a Bible, a notebook, pens (and this Update!). Today, and every day this Lent, I will spend time with God, reading over the Scriptures for the day, listening to what God is saying to me, and writing down what I hear.

Ash Wednesday

For Lent

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of light.

Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.

Fast from worry;
Feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives;
Feast on affirmatives.

Fast from pressure;
Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility;
Feast on nonresistance.

Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety;
Feast on Eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement;
Feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress;
Feast on truths that uplift.

Fast from lethargy;
Feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicion;
Feast on trust.

Fast from shadows of sorrow;
Feast on sunlight of serenity.

Fast from idle gossip.
Feast on purposeful silence.

--William Arthur Ward

Catholic Voters - Resource

Someone shared the following website with me via email.

One Nation Under God

JPII Singing the Pater Noster

Evangelization 2.0 has the video. It is so good to hear his voice again.

Catholic protests listing of reputed relics for auction on eBay

ARTICLE

"The internet auction site eBay is listing for sale the reputed relics of Catholic saints, Newsweek reports, though a layman has taken up the task of preventing the site’s sale of both sacred items and the bodily remains of holy men and women.

Recently, alleged strands of hair from the head of St. Therese of Liseux were put up for auction with bids starting at $40. Another auction opening at $49.99 purported to be a fragment of bone from St. Philomena, a 13-year-old girl who is said to have been flogged, drowned, and beheaded for refusing marriage to the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

A “splendid, rare, antique” reliquary containing bone fragments from six different saints from a dealer at Belgium was posted for auction at an opening price of $625.

If the relics are genuine, their sale would violate Catholic canon law, which states, "it is absolutely forbidden to sell sacred relics..."

A Lenten Meditation

Prayer for the Household

Hear us, Lord,
and send your angel from heaven
to visit and protect,
to comfort and defend
all who live in this house.

Amen.

A partial indulgence.

Source: This SITE

Shared by Sue

Saintly Quote

Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Shared by Sue of Half the Kingdom