Laetare Sunday and Mothering Sunday

Laetare Sunday and Mothering Sunday

How is your Lenten journey progressing?  

Are you feeling weary and ready for a little break?

LAETARE SUNDAY

In Lent, we have the tradition to have  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.

LET UP SUNDAY

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 mid-point, 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.

MOTHERING SUNDAY

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.

Spring cleaning and Lent

Spring cleaning and Lent

Even though it is Autumn, I am attempting to do some 'spring cleaning' both on the physical and spiritual levels. Both levels are emotionally demanding and at times draining. On the physical level, I realize that over the years I have collected 'things', that is kept them 'in case I needed them'.  In fact, as I look at them, I ask myself (a) when was the last time I used these items and (b) what I am keeping them for?  I am trying to free myself up physically by removing the clutter which has accumulated over such a long time.  It takes courage for me to let go, because in my past experiences of attempting to do de-cluttering', I discovered that the items that I let go, I somehow needed in the next couple of weeks, after I had said goodbye to them. Strangely enough I still managed without them.  It takes courage because these items all have a story and a memory attached, but by De-cluttering, it lets the story and memory live.

SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEANING

On the spiritual level, I have also been trying to do some 'spring cleaning' in the season of Lent.  The Church provides this fitting time of the year to 'spring-clean the soul'.  Scripture tells us " Where your treasure is, there will your heart also be' (Mt 6:21).  I ask myself:

·                     Where is my heart really?

·                     What is the treasure that is most important spiritually?

So I wish to share this reflection prayer as I De-clutter my physical, emotional and spiritual life.

Open my hands, Lord...

Help me to let go of those worldly treasures to which I cling.

Open my heart, Lord...

Help to make room for the heavenly treasures 

Your Spirit will bring.

Baptismal and Ministerial Priesthood

         

  THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST.

AT MASS.

Welcome to my ninth post on 'The Year of the Priest' Series. Each week until end of June 2010, this series will provide food for thought on the Year of the Priest', examine how we, as laity, can appreciate the gift of Priesthood in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and encourage our priests in this special year. If you missed my previous posts on this series, why not take a look.

PURPOSE OF THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

Let us consider the purpose that Pope Benedict XV1 desired for this special Year.

On the 25 June 2009, Pope Benedict XV1 stated the purposed of the Year of the Priest was:

• ‘To help priests rediscover and reinvigorate their awareness of the extraordinary and indispensable   gift of grace that the ordained ministry is for he who receives it.

•  To help all of God’s people rediscover what the ordained ministry means for the whole Church, and for the world, which would be lost without the real presence of Christ mediated by the priesthood’.

In this Year of the Priest we are invited to learn about our own baptismal priesthood and vocation, and how this is distinguished from the ministerial priesthood and vocation of the ordained ministry.

BAPTISMAL PRIESTHOOD

By learning about our own baptismal priesthood and its distinction from the ordained ministry and developing a clear understanding of the ‘baptismal priesthood of the laity, that, the priestly charter of all baptized and confirm members of the Church, we will learn to appreciate at greater depths the specific ministry and role of the ordained ministerial priesthood.  This will be beneficial to both laity and to the clergy, as any mistaken confusion will be clarified between the two roles and both laity and clergy can fulfil the vocation given to them by Christ.

Yesterday I attended a Mass of the Anointing in my parish.  I became aware in a small visual yet significant manner of the two roles.  The priests anointed the congregation on the forehead and palms of hands with the sign of the cross with the oils.  When the congregation had been anointed, the four priests anointed each other- on the forehead and on the other side of the hands.  As I wondered about this difference, it occurred to me that on their ordination day, which I had been present at one of them, these priests were anointed on the palm of the hands as they received the sacrament of Holy Orders.

It is one very small gesture in a host of differences, but it reminded me to appreciate and rejoice the complimentary roles of the baptised priesthood of the laity and the ministerial priesthood.

Renewed in God's mercy.

CHANGE OF HEART AND DIVINE MERCY

Divine Mercy

One of the many temptations in Lent (and also during the year) is to be so 'impressed' and overwhelmed by our sins and weaknesses and failings that we become stuck in a paralysing guilt, a guilt that leads us to an unhealthy introspection, instead of directing our eyes to God. This form of guilt results in being an idol and a form of pride.

Lent provides us with the opportunity to break down this idol (and any others also) and to direct our focus and attention to our loving God.  We need to consider Peter and Judas' response to God's mercy and decide

• whether we follow the same pattern as Judas, who was so overwhelmed by his sin, that he could not believe in God's mercy any longer or 
• do we follow the same pattern as Peter, who returned to the Lord with repentance and cried bitterly for his sins? 

 The Church provides us with the beautiful sacrament of penance/reconciliation by which we can access God's mercy and be renewed.

Jesus does not speak about a change of activities, a change of contracts or even a change of pace.  He speaks about a change of heart, which makes everything different, although everything appears to remain the same.

Jesus wants us to live in our many faceted worlds rather than leave it, but firmly rooted in the centre of all things.

Jesus asks us to move our hearts to the centre, where all things fall into place since scripture tells us:

' Set your hearts on His kingdom first, 

and all thing others things will be given you as well'.

The Virtue Series: Courage Part 1

The Virtue Series: Courage Part 1

So far in this series called the Virtues, we have first explored as an overview what the virtues are and how they are important to our lives. Then we have explored wisdom and justice over 4 weeks. If you have missed these posts, why not have a look.

Let us continue the journey of exploration on the virtue of Courage.

Courage is the virtue that enables us to know and confront our fear and do good for the sake of doing good.  When we are courageous, we feel fear and yet do not allow ourselves to be mastered by it.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:

' Courage not only helps us withstand temptations, but it also "strengthens the resolve" to resist then and pursue holiness' (para 1808).

Courage, in its ultimate test, is readiness to die rather than to deny Christ or commit a mortal sin. The martyrs in both the Old and New Testament were asked to make the ultimate test and accepted willingly.  We too have to use the virtue of courage in our daily lives and be prepared to take the ultimate test, albeit in the small and tedious ways of our lives. On a personal note, this virtue is one I use on a regular basis as I care for my elderly mother, as I learn to cope with the new challenges caring for her presents each day.  I certainly feel the fear, and yet with God's help do not allow myself to be mastered by it.

What does Scripture add to our understanding of this virtue?  

·                     Proverbs 28.1: The righteous are as bold as lions.

·                     Philippians 1:27-28: We are not frightened by our opponents.

·                     2 Timothy 1:7: God does not give a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, love and self-control.

As Catholics, we need to exercise all the virtues- not only a few as each of them build and rely on one another. In order to be courageous, we need above all the virtue of wisdom, since this is the prerequisite of courage.  It is important to know the good for which one is willing to suffer which is revealed and known through the virtue of wisdom.  

In 2 Timothy 3:10-15, St Paul encouraged his disciple Timothy to endure suffering with the reminder of what he had been taught by word and example.    We too must know the good for which we are willing to suffer through the virtue of wisdom and carried out through the virtue of courage. The virtue of courage enables us to patiently endure hardships for the sake of the good.  Courage, however, is not exercised when one suffers for the sake of suffering or is reckless with life.

In this season of Lent we need to use the virtue of courage as we make our inner journey of repentance.  It takes courage for us to face our sins and weaknesses. God is inviting us personally to demonstrate greater courage in our spiritual lives. This might be achieved by:

·                     Making a thorough examination of conscience, taking note of the patterns of strengths and weaknesses.

·                     Developing a practical plan and having the support and accountability of a spiritual director to address our weaknesses.

·                     Putting the plan into action supported by the grace acquired through the sacraments ( Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation and personal and communal prayer).

If you need the virtue of courage to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, then why not explore this sacrament further.  In my own preparations for World Youth Day in 2008, I decided to explore this sacrament as if I was receiving it for the first time.  This personal faith development plan bore fruit and it released me of my unnecessary fear and anxiety around this sacrament.  I have found these two resources most helpful and have continued to benefit from it.

Next week we will continue to explore further the virtue of courage.  May you find ways to practice and develop this virtue in your life this week

Scripture Series: Second Creation Narrative.

EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES.

Genesis Chapter 2.

THE BIBLE- EXPLORING GENESIS ICON.

The second creation narrative in chapter 2 of Genesis gives a simple, yet spirited message to us.  Mankind was created by God out of nothing and is called to live in friendship with God, the Creator.  The masterpiece of creation, he dominates all created beings and by his work he must make the world a better place.  

Man and woman share in the same nature; they are made for each other, they fulfill each other.  In the intimacy of marriage the profound unity of the couple is realized. Mankind’s co-operation with God is a divine extension of the work of creation.  Verse 25 is also important for our relationship with God and with each other.  We know what happens to Adam and Eve in chapter 3 with the temptation and the sin and the effect of it for humanity. 

However, Christian psychologists say that humanity is constantly trying to strive to ‘return to the Garden of Eden’. Everything comes from the hands of God that is good; evil does not have its source in Him. Returning to the Garden of Eden implies that we go to the source of this innate goodness within us.  How we define the Garden of Eden will be different for each person. People want to live blameless lives and to be able to stand with clear conscious (naked) before God who created them, and in front of other people.  

The challenge is to reflect on what are the mechanisms we use to hide, to cover ourselves, to protect ourselves.  We might also consider that although ‘it is not good for man to be alone’, this does not mean co-dependency or an enmeshed relationship with a spouse or family.  Reading Ecclesiasticus chapter 17 and reflecting on it with chapter 2 of Genesis may be worthwhile food for thought. 

In light of the whole of the Salvation story,  (eg when the shepherds went to explore what the angels had told them or the wise men  who knew the source of their light and placed Christ first in their hearts or the disciples who left everything and followed Him and finally met their death through martyrdom)  we need to allow  God’s light to  continue to shine forth on each of us during 2010.

Opening Prayer Series: Third Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES.

OPENING PRAYER

The Opening Prayer of the Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent reads as follows:

Let us pray

(for confidence in the love of God)

Father,

You have taught us to overcome our sins

by prayer, fasting and works of mercy.

When were discouraged by our weakness,

give us confidence in Your love.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does being confident in the love of God mean to you?
2. In what area/s of your life does your confidence in God's love weaken?
3. What are the sins/weaknesses that you find hard to overcome?
4. How are you using the Lenten tools of prayer, fasting and works of mercy in your Lenten journey?
5. What is the root cause of your discouragement in your weakness?
6. How might I gain more confidence in God's love this week?
7. What is the meaning of repentance and how might you obtain it this week?

GOSPEL REFLECTIONS

The Gospel message is very clear this week- we are invited to take seriously our need to repent. We are encouraged to be ready- we do not know the hour or the day. Yet, God is kind and merciful and like the kind gardener gives us another year to dig and put the manure around it and bear fruit.  As Catholics, we know the fruit we are meant to be bearing as set out in Galatians 5:22-25:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

As we enter into our third week of our Lenten journey, let us continue to make progress.  If we have had a patchy start like myself, then starting again is the best option. God gives us another chance to make a fresh start, since Easter is still 4 weeks away.  Let us get digging and root out the weeds of sin/ weaknesses in our lives as we repent. Let us nourish and water the good soil within us with the confidence of God's love