Saturday, April 1, 2023

Holy Week 2023

 


POPE FRANCIS: UPDATE – The Holy See Press Office confirmed that Pope Francis will be discharged from Gemelli hospital on Saturday morning. Since he is scheduled to return home to the Vatican on Saturday morning, Pope Francis is expected to preside at the Mass for Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, which will be celebrated in St Peter’s Square on Sunday.

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HOLY WEEK – resources:

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Following are a selection of podcasts, articles, and reflection questions to help guide your prayer during Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum:

PALM SUNDAY
Reflection Questions
  • Is my self-love an obstacle to allowing God to reign in me and to take possession of my thoughts, words, and actions?
  • Do I acknowledge the good that others are doing around me? Instead of criticizing, gossiping, or judging their actions, do I give thanks for their generosity and follow their good example?
MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK
Reflection Questions
  • Do I reduce charity to the purely material – just giving a few coins or things to the needy? Do I really know and understand the works of mercy? How is God asking me to live charity, not only with the poor and the needy but also with those closest to me?
TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK
Reflection Questions
  • Does Faith inform my whole life? Do I lack faith and a vibrant humility? Do I offer up my challenges and good deeds for an increase of faith?
  • Do I pray for what I need, confident that I will obtain it if it is for good? Do I persevere in my prayers and petitions without becoming discouraged?
WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK
Reflection Questions
  • When a temptation threatens to overwhelm me, do I remember that it’s not worthwhile to exchange my happiness as a child of God for a pleasure that ends right away, leaving the bitter aftertaste of defeat and infidelity?
  • Do I realize that I can influence the whole world and make so many people happy in the place where I am, doing my work well, caring for my family, and serving my friends?
  • Do I ask God to help me to say no, firmly, to everything that separates me from Him?
  • If I feel weak, do I hurry to the Sacrament of Penance knowing that our Lord is waiting for me there like the father in the parable of the prodigal son? When I become discouraged or pessimistic do I remember that God’s mercy and power to lift me up from my falls is even greater?
HOLY THURSDAY
Reflection Questions
  • Do I correspond to God’s immense love: by attending Holy Mass with faith and devotion? By preparing myself very well to receive Communion, being clean in soul and body to worthily receive Him? By frequently visiting Jesus hidden in the tabernacle?
GOOD FRIDAY
Reflection Questions
  • Do I accept joyfully little daily sacrifices because I don’t want our Lord to carry the Cross alone?
  • Do I take advantage of the ability to love what God has given me, in order to make specific resolutions, to say sincerely: “Lord, never again, never again!”?
HOLY SATURDAY
Reflection Questions
  • The people around me are waiting for me to reveal to them the marvel of finding God. Do I have the courage to accept my mission as a Christian and speak to people about the joy of getting to know our Lord?
  • What resolutions of conversion and apostolate can I draw out this Holy Week to identify myself more closely with Jesus Christ and to be more fully concerned with souls?
  • Do I go to Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, to help me understand what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ and to give my life for others?


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Monday, March 13, 2023

Pope Francis 10 years

 


Pope Francis: 10 years of missionary zeal along paths of mercy and peace

Ten years have passed since 13 March 2013, the day Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to the See of Peter. Pope Francis’ pontificate has been marked by a passion for evangelization and a constant journey to reform the Church to make her more missionary. A decade during which time has taken on two different dimensions: the progressive one, to initiate processes, and the circular one, to go out to meet others and return enriched in thought and heart.

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Entry “Roman Pontiff” in Dictionary of St Josemaria

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Saturday, March 4, 2023

Second Sunday of Lent

 Second Sunday of Lent


Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Lent

This Sunday's Gospel portrays Jesus as a new and greater Moses.

Moses also took three companions up a mountain and on the seventh day was overshadowed by the shining cloud of God’s presence. He too spoke with God and his face and clothing were made radiant in the encounter (see Exodus 24, 34).

But in today’s Lenten Liturgy, the Church wants us to look back past Moses. Indeed, we are asked to contemplate what today’s Epistle calls God’s “design . . . from before time began.”

With His promises to Abram in today’s First Reading, God formed the people through whom He would reveal Himself and bestow His blessings on all humanity.

He later elevated these promises to eternal covenants and changed Abram’s name to Abraham, promising that he would be father of a host nations (see Genesis 17:5). In remembrance of His covenant with Abraham, He raised up Moses (see Exodus 2:24; 3:8), and later swore an everlasting kingdom to David’s sons (see Jeremiah 33:26).

In Jesus’ transfiguration today, He is revealed as the One through whom God fulfills His divine plan from of old.

Not only a new Moses, Jesus is also the “beloved son” promised to Abraham and again to David (see Genesis 22:15–18; Psalm 2:7; Matthew 1:1).

Moses foretold a prophet like him to whom Israel would listen (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 18), and Isaiah foretold an anointed servant in whom God would be well pleased (see Isaiah 42:1). Jesus is this prophet and this servant, as the Voice on the mountain tells us today.

By faith we have been made children of the covenant with Abraham (see Galatians 3:7–9; Acts 3:25). He calls us, too, to a holy life, to follow His Son to the heavenly homeland He has promised. We know, as we sing in today’s Psalm, that we who hope in Him will be delivered from death.

So like our father in faith, we go forth as the Lord directs us: “Listen to Him!”

Taken from: Listen to Him: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Lent – St. Paul Center (stpaulcenter.com)

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Fifth Sunday of St Joseph

 Fifth Sunday of St Joseph


Fifth reflection for the seven Sundays of Saint Joseph. The topics are: Joseph welcomes God's plans; discovering God in daily events; and the divine logic of God's plans.

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ORDINARY LIFE is full of events and decisions that determine the paths we take, some of them of great importance for our future. If we normally need to ponder our choices in God’s presence, it is all the more necessary when faced with especially weighty decisions and events. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife” (Mt 1:20), the angel told the patriarch. The Gospel of Saint Matthew tells us that Joseph pondered what was happening in his prayer in order to decide how to act. Hence we see him as “a respectful and sensitive man. Even though he does not understand the bigger picture, he makes a decision to protect Mary’s good name, her dignity and her life. In his hesitation about how best to act, God helped him by enlightening his judgment.”[1]

To continue, click HERE.

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AUDO meditation

https://soundcloud.com/opusdei-english/seven-sundays-of-saint-joseph-fifth-sunday?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Fopusdei-english%252Fseven-sundays-of-saint-joseph-fifth-sunday

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