Lent - A time to sow good seed on fertile soil

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March 22, 2016 - Tuesday of Holy Week:

Collect Prayer:
“Almighty ever-living God,
grant us so to celebrate
the mysteries of the Lord’s Passion
that we may merit to receive your pardon.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Scripture readings and reflections for today:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/M30.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-22

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm
 
March 23, 2016 - Wednesday of Holy Week:

Collect Prayer:
“O God, who willed your Son to submit for our sake
to the yoke of the Cross,
so that you might drive from us the power of the enemy,
grant us, your servants, to attain the grace of the resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Scripture readings and reflections for today:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/M31.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-23

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm
 
Amiciel said:
March 20, 2016 - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord:

Collect Prayer:
“Almighty ever-living God,
who as an example of humility for the human race to follow
caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross,
graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering
and so merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

Scripture readings and reflections for today:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/M28_ps.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-20

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm
Click to expand...
9 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PALM / PASSION SUNDAY, by Jimmy Akin, NCRegister, 03-17-2016:
ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/palm-passion-sunday-9-things-to-know-and-share/
 
March 24, 2016 - Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday):

For catechesis, reflections and Collect Prayers of the Chrism Mass in the morning and the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening, please see links:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=13763549#post13763549
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-24

www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/Holy_Thur.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm​

"Christ’s Way of the Cross"
from NCRegister, “Walk with Jesus During Holy Week”:
www.ncregister.com/images/documents/WayoftheCross2015.pdf
 
March 25, 2016 - Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday):

Today, we commemorate and internalize the sufferings and death of Our Lord on the Cross.

This event was prefigured in Zech 12:10:
‘…when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.’

Then, the actual reality of this crucifixion was confirmed in Jn 19:37:
‘They will look on the one whom they have pierced.’

Trusting in the Lord’s mercy, let us express our sorrow and ask for forgiveness:

Act of Contrition:
'O my God,
I am heartily sorry
for having offended You,
and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven
and the pains of hell;
but most of all
because I have offended You, my God,
who are all good
and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve,
with the help of Your grace,
to confess my sins,
to do penance,
and to amend my life. Amen.​

For today’s catechesis, Collect Prayer & reflections, and information on the Novena to the Divine Mercy, please see links:

www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/Good_Friday.htm
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=13763586#post13763586
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-25

"Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPmGcridHQ8​

NOVENA TO THE DIVINE MERCY:

The Novena begins today, Good Friday, in preparation for the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016.

Novena to the Divine Mercy, Day 1:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#1

Note: During this Novena, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For information on the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm
 
“Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” We know that physically, we were not … Isa 53:3-6, however, pointedly tells us we were all there – represented by our sins and iniquities!

Describing the “Man of Sorrows”, Isaiah writes:

“3. He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief …
4. Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,
and with his stripes we are healed.”
6. All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned every one to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.” (isa 53:3-6)

In his narrative of the Lord’s Passion, Luke describes Jesus as the actual ‘Man of Sorrows’ in Isaiah. He also presents various characters as they related to Jesus during His Passion. During this Holy Week, it might do us good to reflect and see who of these Gospel characters mirror our own lives, at one time or other…

‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord?’ No, we know we were not physically present there with Jesus when they crucified Him; but our whole life’s activities were!

Perhaps our choices today for material things and self-indulgence placed us there among the crowd who cried out: *Give us Barabbas! Away with Jesus! *

Or our prideful choices in life situate us among those who insulted and mocked Jesus, and mercilessly gave Him the lashes that caused His precious blood and strength to ooze steadily out of His sacred Body.

Or, today, are we like Judas whose unbridled greed for material things led him to betray a friend? And most probably, we have often been like Peter, so confident of ourselves but taken by surprise and fear, we did not have the courage to own publicly our affinity to Jesus? Then there’s Pilate who, fearing threat to his political career, allowed injustice to be done to an innocent man? Have we, perhaps, acted like Pilate towards our neighbor in order to protect our image?

Yes, what we do to others today, we did to Jesus then. For although Jesus physically lived His Passion on earth and died centuries ago, He assures us that He is still with us today… and the manner we treat our neighbor (and our own selves) gave him either pain or comfort during His Passion. For He assures us: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)
(Read on for continuation of thought.)
 
Reflection on the Lord’s Passion - continued:

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Mt 25:40)

Thus, our presence during Our Lord’s Passion need not be totally negative. There is also another aspect of our life where our interaction with others can count us among those who publicly acclaimed Jesus their King when He triumphantly entered Jerusalem: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 19:38)

Or we can be like Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus carry the Cross (which is really our cross) by courageously carrying our own crosses every day, and helping others to carry theirs. Then, in our silent way, we can also be among the faithful followers of Jesus from Galilee by faithfully living out our daily routine for love of Him and remaining faithful to the demands of our state in life. And if, perhaps, we are aware that we have denied Jesus countless times before in our life, we can be like Peter responding to Jesus’ unconditional love by pledging - and living out today - our steadfast loyalty and love for Him.

While we were not physically present when Jesus was crucified centuries ago, today, however, through the miracle of Liturgical Remembrance during our Eucharistic Celebration, we can be physically present to our Sacramental Lord when His Sacrifice on the Cross is brought forth from the distant Past to the Present. Thus, the Lord’s Sacrifice of long ago becomes present to us, and we become present to it. Our Lord Jesus truly becomes present to us, and we become present to Him!

Let us then hold dear our Eucharistic Liturgy. It’s a wonderful time to make amends for the countless times our behavior mirror those who betrayed Jesus, denied Him, rejected, beat, mocked, insulted and crucified Him…

Let our Holy Masses remind us of this precious opportunity we have today to choose a life-style that places us in the company of transformed Peter, of Simon of Cyrene, the faithful followers from Galilee, the repentant thief, the centurion, and above all, in the company of Our Lady.​

More reflections on the sufferings of our life understood in light of the sufferings of Jesus:
  1. Fr. V Serpa, O.P. – Reflection on the Passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ
    forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?threadid=948527
  2. “Learn to view our suffering from a higher level when we feel betrayed.”
    www.ymlp.com/zOyBmi
  3. The mystery of our sufferings and the mystery of Jesus’ life are revealed to those who are open to Him and seek Him.
    www.ymlp.com/zwps53
 
Diary of St. Faustina - 72

Although sin is an abyss of wickedness and ingratitude, the price paid for us can never be equalled. Therefore, let every soul trust in the Passion of the Lord, and place its hope in His mercy. God will not deny His mercy to anyone.
 
March 26, 2016 - Holy Saturday:
March 26, 2016 (evening) - The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night (Solemnity)

**Today’s catechesis, Scripture Readings & reflections:
**
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=13772440#post13772440
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=13772469#post13772469

www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/Holy_Sat.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm​

Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 2 (Holy Saturday):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#2

Note: During the Novena, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm
 
March 27, 2016 - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Collect:
“O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

For today’s Easter reflections:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/eastersunday.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-27

Lenten Resources from USCCB:
www.usccb.org/lent

Lenten Prayers from USCCB (includes Lectio Divina for Lent):
usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/prayer-resources-for-lent.cfm​

Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 3 (Easter Sunday):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#3

Note: During the Novena, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm
 
Diary of St. Faustina - 1602

“When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I Myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity”.

Words of Jesus to St. Faustina
 
Amiciel said:
March 27, 2016 - Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Collect:
“O God, who on this day,
through your Only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.”

For today’s Easter reflections:
www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/eastersunday.htm
usccb.org/bible/reflections/
ymlp232.net/archive_gbmbuqgjgu.php
www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-03-27​

Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 3 (Easter Sunday):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#3

Note: During the Novena, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm
Click to expand...
Sharing this reflection from the Euchalette, 03-27-2016, Easter Sunday, p.4:

THE RESURRECTION: NEW LIFE FOR CHRIST, NEW LIFE FOR ALL

"The Resurrection is, first of all, an event that concerns Jesus Christ. It is his personal triumph over death, and the vindication of the truth of his teaching. He had spoken about it before it happened. The fulfillment of that prophecy underscores the power of Christ and the truthfulness of his message. He experienced his physical resurrection in all its transforming vitality, just as he had experienced the destructive power of sin in his agony and death. This is what the “Paschal Mystery” is all about. The Resurrection reveals this with a glorious clarity perceived through the eyes of faith.

But whatever happened to Christ has also a cosmic resonance. It influences and affects positively the whole universe, but especially mankind. At the Incarnation, the Son of God united himself in a permanent way to every human being with a solidarity that makes him share in all the miseries of every individual (including the deadly consequences of sin), and makes every human being a sharer in Christ’s dignity, holiness, and glory.

This is why Jesus’ coming out of the tomb alive, transformed, immortal . . . concerns us, too. It concerns all human beings. His Resurrection is also mankind’s resurrection because it marks mankind’s liberation from the oppression of sin."
(Please read on for continuation of thought.)
 
THE RESURRECTION: NEW LIFE FOR CHRIST, NEW LIFE FOR ALL - continued:

"Christ’s shattering the shackles of death (manifested through the breaking of the seals of his grave) is like the cracking of the shell of a seed which allows the sprout to burst forth with all the freshness of the new life it carries. That sprout is Christ, but is also all mankind. It is also each one of us. On Easter morning a new world dawned, a new humanity rose from the slavery of sin and death, in Jesus, through him and with him. (See Col 2:12-13.)

No human expression can exhaust the transforming greatness of this mystery. The Church has been proclaiming it during her 20 centuries of existence through her liturgy, her creeds, and her life. She will continue to do so until the liberating power of the Resurrection will have reached its full manifestation in the Kingdom of heaven.

There are a billion and one reasons for celebrating, then, as we commemorate, re-live and rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus. It is our resurrection, too. But we are challenged to prove it by living a new life. We have to get rid of the “old yeast” of corruption and wickedness, and live a life characterized by sincerity and truth. (See 1 Cor 5:7-8.) We have to set our hearts “on what pertains to higher realms” (Col 3:1). Then will our actions ring the joyous notes of the Easter alleluia, and we shall become a living “proof” of Christ’s Resurrection." (The Euchalette, 03-27-2016,p.4.)​

A glorious and happy Easter to us all!
 
**March 28, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 4
(Monday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#4

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
**March 29, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 5
(Tuesday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#5

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
**March 30, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 6
(Wednesday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#6

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
**March 31, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 7
(Thursday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#7

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
**April 01, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 8
(Friday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#8

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
**April 02, 2016 - **Novena to the Divine Mercy - Day 9
(Saturday within the Octave of Easter):
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#9

Note: During this Novena which leads to the Divine Mercy Sunday on April 3, 2016,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is also offered each day for the day’s intention.
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

For the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence, please see link:
www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/indulgence.htm

For “those who cannot go to Church or the seriously ill”,
the Decree of Indulgence from the above link explains the conditions to obtain the Indulgence.
 
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