Alleluia!!!

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is a celebratory time, but its also a time of preparation for what is to begin with the Season of Lent. In the seminary, we would sing the "Alleluia" good and loud at Mass because it was the last time that we would use that glorious word until Easter time. At the conclusion of Mass, a banner with "Alleluia" on it was folded up, put in a box, and buried in the courtyard, but I don't think it was buried all that long because of the weather. It was a symbolic burial for the "Alleluia" since Lent is a penitential time and it takes on a more somber tone, even though Lent does bring joy. During the Season of Lent, we are called to get our house, our lives in order. It is a time of prayer, penance, and renewal. Lent calls us to do what we should be doing everyday, making sure we have a good relationship with God and one another. Lent is a time to build on the good things in our lives and get rid of what is bad. Hopefully once Lent concludes, those good things will continue. Let us sing the "Alleluia" good and loud today and rejoice and be glad because this is the day the Lord has made. The Season of Lent is a time that has been made for us. Let us make the most of it. God Bless You!!!

Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Whenever the Roman Canon, Eucharistic Prayer I, is used at Mass, you will hear the names of the saints that we celebrate today. That is, if the priest, goes through all the saint names that are listed. Saints Perpetua and Felicity are found in the second listing of saints in that Eucharistic Prayer. Not much is known about their lives. One source states: "Saints Perpetua and Felicity suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Septimus Severus in Carthage in 203. A most accurate account of their death still exists, derived partly from their own testimonies and partly from a writer of the period" (Magnificat, 99). We remember them in our prayers and look to their example because they were not afraid to suffer for the sake of Christ and his Church. The opening prayer even says that the Heavenly Father, through His love, gave them the courage to suffer martyrdom. We pray that their intercession will be with us, to help us on our journey of faith, and to have a strong love for God and our neighbor. Saints Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us. Have a blessed day!!!

Building on the Rock!!!

As we gather at Church this weekend, we will be invited to build our house, our lives on the rock, Jesus Christ. The word "rock" is nothing new to the scriptures. In Psalm 31 we will hear, "Lord, be my rock of safety." One of the stanzas will also say, "Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead and guide me." The invitation to build our lives on the rock comes from Matthew's gospel, 7:21-27. Jesus wants us to listen to his words and act on them. He says, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock." Of course, the person who built his house on sand lost everything. That is why Jesus wants us to build our house on rock. Jesus we know is the cornerstone, but he is also the rock upon which we find our strength, our safety, and our refuge. This weekend will also be preparing us for the Season of Lent which begins on Wednesday. Lent is a good time for us to get our house, our lives in order and hopefully carry that momentum long after the Lenten Season has ended. If we find that we have not been listening to our Lord and building our house on rock, now would be a good time to begin, the invitation is there! Have a blessed weekend!!!

Saint Casimir

We celebrate the memorial of Saint Casimir! He was born in 1458 and was the son of the king of Poland. During his life, he practiced the Christian virtues with special regard to chastity and kindness to the poor, and was zealous in his faith. Casimir had a wonderful devotion to the holy Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. He died in 1484 (Magnificat, 64). In the gospel for today, Mark 11:11-26, Jesus talks about faith, "Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him." Let us look to Saint Casimir today, who was zealous in his faith, and pray that through his intercession our faith will always be strong. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Katharine Drexel

Today we celebrate the memorial of a saint for our time. She is a saint of the United States and her name is Saint Katharine Drexel. Katharine was born in Philadelphia in 1858. From a young age, Katharine learned what it meant to love God and to love our neighbors. This prepared her for the future work that she undertook by helping the African-American and Native American peoples. Saint Katharine was the foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She established some forty nine foundations, including Xavier University in New Orleans. She died on this day, March 3, 1955 and was canonized by the Venerable Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 (Magnificat, 53). As Jesus said in a recent gospel, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:45). We look to the saints who followed this example and were not afraid to live their faith and share the love of God with others. On this day we look to Saint Katharine, a saint of the United States, a saint of the last two centuries and canonized at the beginning of this new millenium, as she continues to intercede for us and helps us to live the example of love and service. God Bless You!!!

Countdown to Lent!!!

We are now a week away from beginning the 40-day Season of Lent. This is our penitential time, a time of renewal and hope. What are you going to do to make this a meaningful season? It is not about giving things up but about takings things on. Things that will help us to live a happy, holy, faith-filled life. Our focus during this Lenten Season, as we can say everyday of our lives, is on the cross. Here is the opening paragraph from a quote by Father John Tauler, O.P., a German Dominican priest. The title of his piece is: "Participating in Christ's Passion": "Although we have many afflictions to suffer and each of these crosses has its length, breadth, depth, and height, yet we should clearly understand that it is only by the cross of Christ's holy humanity that we are saved. To this cross is joined - if we may so express ourselves - the cross of Christ's divinity, all painless and elevated in heavenly joy" (Magnificat, 45)... To get to the Resurrection we have to go through the cross. Jesus calls us to be his disciples and in doing so we are to pick up the cross and follow him. We have a week to think and pray about what we would like to do for Lent. Let us make the most of this time as we prepare for the season that will help us to prepare for the glorious Solemnity of our Lord's Resurrection at Easter. Have a blessed day!!!

Follow Me!!!

That is the continual call that we receive as disciples of Jesus, come, follow me. In today's gospel, Mark 10:28-31, we hear Peter say, "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus assures Peter, the other disciples, and us, that our giving up everything to follow him will not be in vain. We will receive what is coming to us, not in this present time, but in the eternal life to come. Here is a quote to give us hope as we follow the call of Jesus in our lives: "Christ sends his disciples out to sow the seed of the Gospel in a world still governed by sin, pain, exile, and death. When the burden seems too great to bear, let us put our hope in his promise that joy awaits those who follow the road faithfully to the end and bring home the harvest of life" (Magnificat, 35). God Bless You!!!