5th week of Lent before Holy week begins.

5th week of Lent before Holy week begins.

 Lent finishes at 12 noon on Holy Thursday. Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent and next week we begin Holy Week.

So how has your Lent gone?  Has it been great or a mixed bag( like mine) or perhaps you had great intentions and they all disappeared along the way.

Whatever the case, take a stock take today.  Why do I say this?

It is 5th week and we have the opportunity to start again or tweak or perhaps even start our Lenten journey again.  Never too late to start again.  Perhaps the penance you chose has not really worked for you.  Well, perhaps try something different, or if it is not working well for you, then work out why and change what needs to be changed.

There is a reading from Romans which reminds us of  the race and how they go into training to win the wreath.  It is not the start of the race that hurts but near the end when the finish line is in sight.

This is why we must keep going and run the race to the finish this Lent.

Perhaps if we have been slack or less than enthusiastic in our efforts, we might need to pick up the pace and sprint to the finish line. If we have been steady and solid in our journey, then we need to keep that pace going.  Whatever our circumstances, God knows and sees our efforts.

I have to say that I will probably need to sprint yet again to the finish line and make up for lost time.
Yet again I have to say to God- give me another year..

Yet this week we celebrate the feast of St Joseph which is a day off from Lent.

Perhaps we could ask St Joseph to journey with us through the rest of Lent together.  After all, he was foster father of Jesus, would have taught him his trade as a carpenter and cared for both Mary and Jesus.
So why not ask him to take us into his care as we journey through the rest of Lent.

Keep your faith alive with enthusiasm and burn with love for Jesus this coming week.

Laetare Sunday- Rejoice.

Laetare Sunday- Rejoice.

How is your Lenten journey progressing?  

Are you feeling weary and ready for a little break?

In Lent, we have the tradition to have a mid-Lent break, (the half way point of Lent), which is known as 'Laetare' Sunday derived from the Latin 'to rejoice'. Liturgically we break away from the Lenten penitential spirit of the purple vestments to the wearing of rose-coloured vestments by the priest and/or deacon.  These rose-coloured vestments are only worn twice a year, so from a practical perspective, some parishes do not have a set, but use lighter purple vestments.

The fourth Sunday of Lent is also known as 'let up Sunday' because we 'let up' on our Lenten penance. It can be a timely reminder for those of us who may have struggled through Lent so far.  I remember thinking during one of my disastrous Lents that we had reached the midpoint, and I had not got started.  It is an excellent time to review how our Lenten journey and tweak it accordingly.  Never too late to start and/or start again.

It is also known as 'Mothering Sunday', coming from the ancient Roman tradition, when a festival of motherhood and fertility was held at this time. It was linked to the fact that the whole earth seemed to be fertile at this time. (Spring).   This festival was also known 'Matronalia,' and was celebrated by making cakes out of grains of cereal or pounded almonds.  Simmel cake and the creamy egg custard pudding were traditional menu items.

The Church took over these festivals and gave them new meaning by highlighting the dignity of women and motherhood through the image of Mary.  Through Mary, the dignity and status of Christian mothers was 'iced on the Catholic menu'.

Another important tradition of the Mothering Sunday is to to honour 'Mother Church'.  We can do this simply by visiting the cathedral (Mother Church of the diocese) on this day (or if not, sometime during this week). By doing this, we can gain a greater understanding of the great reality of the Church as our Mother and Bride of Christ.

Let us rejoice as we universally celebrate 'Laetare' Sunday.