“If anyone should say to you, “Why are you doing this?" reply, ‘The Master has need of it …’ ….Rather He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
The Church has named this Holy Week. It is holy because of what we pause to recall, the unfolding of God’s plan for our salvation. The whole purpose of Holy Week, therefore, is the remembrance of Christ’s passion and death which led up to the glory of His Resurrection. For Catholics, this is, indeed, the most holy as well as unique week of the entire Church year. It begins with the gracious invitation to re-enter the Holy City with Jesus and share in the Pascal Mystery of His suffering, dying and rising from the dead. To accomplish this end, Jesus instructs all “the Master has need of it.” As we hold the blessed palm branch, may we see it as our ticket or pass to enter all the events, which Jesus experienced, and which we will remember and celebrate this week.
This week is holy, because we will respond through our prayers, fast and abstinence and our participation, in the ritual of walking with Jesus, dining with Him at the supper, and being with Him on Calvary and, later on, in the quiet of His tomb. Each event, every moment is directed by the Lord at the will of His Father. The chalice will not pass Him by. He will indeed drink of it. He requires us to respond to His saving actions and not simply remember. We are not to be detached observers...we are to try our best to be caught up into the joy and rapture of the Sacred Mysteries, which bring us ever closer to salvation.
As we now begin this holy week, let us commit ourselves to do our best to immerse ourselves in the Triduum for two reasons. “The Master has need of it,” and because we have need of Him. The sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist and the institution of the holy priesthood, all have a special significance for us this Holy Week. We ask all to join in prayer for the Church and for our parish. “The Master has need of you.”
“He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
LENTEN REGULATIONS FOR CATHOLICS
Time for us to prayerfully consider our spiritual preparations for the season of Lent is upon us. The Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday, this year [2023] that is February 21st.
ABSTINENCE forbids the eating of meat. Abstinence obliges from the 14th birthday throughout one’s life. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
FASTING prescribes that only one full meal be taken a day. Two smaller meals may be taken to maintain strength, but these taken together should not equal another full meal. Fasting obliges from the 18th to the 59th birthday.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are the two days of Fast AND Abstinence from meat.
There is a serious obligation for Catholics to observe these penitential practices in a substantial way. Those whose work or health would be impaired are excused from fast and abstinence. Individual conscience should decide proper cause for excuse.
Lent, in a very special way, points out that we are pilgrims. For seven weeks we walk with Christ, in response to His invitation, “Let us go up to Jerusalem.” The penances, the fasting and all the other aspects of Lent are the hardships of the journey.
Via Delorosa – Way of Sorrows
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to a tree? Were you there when they laid him in a tomb? Please try and make this traditional and very beautiful form of worship a part of your Lenten practice.
(Streamed recordings.)
“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor 5:20-21 |
A blessed Ash Wednesday to you. As we enter this season of Lent, let us reflect on the gift of reconciliation, and the love of the Lord that is poured out in each reconciliation. Whether it is reconciliation between each other or the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which our relationship with the Lord is mended, the Lord is present. In the Sacrament, the priest acts “in persona Christi” or “in the person of Christ,” through which Jesus forgives us of our sins. In our relationships with each other, we all know how challenging it can be to forgive each other. It is only with the grace of the Holy Spirit that we can truly forgive.
With thanks to the Lord for all the ways He works, let us thank the Lord for our priests, and let us pray for each other that this Lenten season may be a time where we open our hearts more fully to the Lord. Let us also keep our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in prayer.
Here are some resources for our Lenten journey:
Watch: Ready Reasons: What’s the Deal with Ashes on Ash Wednesday
Listen: My Beloved Son: Meditations for Lent
Watch: Ready Reasons: Was Jesus’ Sacrifice Enough?
Listen: https://watch.formed.org/meditations-for-lent-by-jacques-benigne-bossuet
USCCB Daily Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/
To read more about the sacrament of Reconciliation:
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm