Saint Pope John Paul II Message for Lent

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II
FOR LENT 1979

You ask: “What has happened to Lent?”. Going to some small extent without food does not, you think, mean much, at a time when so many of our brothers and sisters are victims of war of disasters and are undergoing such suffering, both physically and morally.

Fasting concerns personal asceticism, which is always necessary; but the Church asks the baptized to mark this liturgical season in yet another way...

Read the rest HERE.

Lent - Unmortified Habitual Inperfections

"The smallest imperfection is opposed to the will of God because Go cannot desire the slightest imperfection."
- St. John of the Cross

Examples of unmortified habitual imperfections:

1.  Talking too much;

2.  Unrestrained curiosity;

3.  Attachments to the little things whether persons or objects such as food and so forth which the soul refuses to give up;

4.  Attachment to one's comfort;

5.  Attachment to one's own opinion and reputation.

Lent - Jesus' Words to St. Faustina Regarding Sanctification and Salvation

Jesus told Sr. Faustina during His retreat that her sanctification and salvation was assured and available through the sacraments, especially Holy Eucharist and Confession and by:

1.  Totally abandoning herself to His will;

2.  Putting her self-love in the last place;

3.  Shunning gossip like the plague;

4.  Acting kindly to those who sought her harm;

5.  Hiding in His heart whenever confronted by temptation and discouragement;

6.  Trusting He is always with her;

7.  Praying for the sick and the dying;

8.  Always being adorned by the virtue of humility, purity of intention and love.

This is also true for us.

Lenten Meatless Recipe - Fried Fish Dinner Peruvian Style

FRIED FISH for 4 Servings

1 large piece of firm fleshed fish per person (such as Mahi Mahi as in the photo above)
Salt and pepper to taste (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt, two grinds of fresh pepper; optional garlic powder)
1/2 cup white flour
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Rinse fresh fish an pat dry with paper towel.  Mix white flour in a shallow pan or dish with salt and pepper.
Heat your frying pan and add enough oil to lightly cover bottom.  Make sure to lower heat if the oil starts to smoke.
Coat the fish pieces with the flavored flour and place in hot pan.
Fry until both sides are crispy and brown.  Be careful not to burn the coating.

WHITE RICE

2 cup white long grain rice (or Medium grain) and rinsed and drained
3 cups boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt optional
1 tablespoon oil optional
2 or 3 large cloves of rice, minced


Heat a saucepan, add the oil and garlic. Brown the garlic, being careful not to burn it.  Add the rice and salt and stir until rice is coating and glistening with the oil.  Add the boiling water.  Lower the heat to simmer and cover.  The rice is ready when the water is absorbed and it usually takes approximately 20 minutes. 

FRESH TOMATO AND ONION SALAD

1 large ripe tomato, cut into small cubes
1 medium onion, preferably sweet, sliced thinly.
1 half of a juicy lime or lemon
Salt
Oil
Parsley, optional

Mix all ingredients together.

PAPAS CON AJI (Potatoes and chili peppers)

1 boiled Yukon Gold potato per person
1 bunch fresh basil, processed in a food processor
1 large scallion (green onion), sliced thinly
1/2 tsp Aji Amarillo paste (Peruvian yellow chili paste),
-or- 1 fresh Jalapeno, seeded and sliced thinly
Drizzle of oil (Olive oil or vegetable oil)
Salt to taste
Cottage cheese or Queso Fresco, Optional

Mix all ingredients and serve on the peeled boiled potato. 

Serve with Peruvian Chica Morado like in the photo

CHICA MORADA (Peruvian Purple Corn Drink)

3 or 4 Purple corn on the cobs
Peelings and core from a fresh pineapple
5 dried cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 quarts water

Boil all ingredients for an hour.  Let cool and strain.  Mix the mixture with lemon juice and sugar to taste.

Serve cold.

Ash Wednesday - How to Grow Spiritually this Lent via the Saints and Holy People

The following are from a couple of sources and are shared as a way of helping you become holier.

"O Holy Spirit, 

quench my thirst at the torrent of Your delights,

so that I will no longer wish to taste the poisonous delights of the world."

St. Augustine

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"Jesus Christ was the only man ever born into the world in order to die."

Father Andrew Apostoli about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's quote

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Precious Blood wash over me and protect me from the wickedness and snares of the devil.

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"...teach me how to nourish my prayers to be really like Yours, by true, generous sacrifice-

renouncing some well-earned repose, detaching myself from creatures, being silent and 

interiorly recollected.  Grant that I may be faithful in performing my duties, that I may

prove my love by little voluntary mortifications, and may joyfully accept Your will in

all circumstances of my life."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D**

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"Anything that does not contribute to our sanctification or to the sanctification of

others is useless, a waste of time, and should be courageously eliminated."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

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"I do nothing by myself, I act according to God's inspiration, in order to do

what is most pleasing to Him."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

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"I beseech You, Lord, grant me that grace without which I shall never be at

peace with my neighbor, but will every be prompt to take offense.  

It would be far better for me to correct my own faults than to criticize the actions

of others!

If I expect others to bear with my defects, I must likewise bear with them."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

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"Let us consider nothing too difficult when it is a question of winning souls."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

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I promise to declare a merciless war against myself.  My weapons for the battle will be prayer, the practice of the presence of God, and silence... I will arm myself with sovereign confidence in

You; with patience, humility, conformity of Your Divine Will, and supreme diligence..."

Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

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"One single, unmortified appetite is sufficient to fetter the soul."

St. John of the Cross

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"Renounce everything, be detached from everything."

St. John of the Cross

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**Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year