Letter from the Pastor
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February 12, 2023Ten days to Ash Wednesday and Lent! In the Church’s calendar before Vatican II, there was a mini season called Pre-Lent. There were three Sundays that no one could ever pronounce: the “gesima” Sundays Septuagesima, Latin for the “Seventieth” day before Easter, Sexagesima (“sixtieth”) and Quinquagesima (“fiftieth”). Lent in Latin is Quadragesima, “Fortieth.” Quadragesima Sunday would be the 1st Sunday of Lent.
These Pre-Lent Sundays prepared us for the discipline of Lent. Purple was worn on these Sundays rather than green. The Gloria and the Alleluia were no longer sung. In fact, there was the “burying” of the Alleluia, with a ceremony like a little funeral. There was a procession with crosses, candles, holy water and, if possible, a “coffin” containing a banner or scroll with the wording Alleluia. The coffin is sprinkled, incensed and buried. A hymn of farewell was sung.
The pre-Lent Sundays were particularly a time for preaching about missions and missionary work, the evangelization of peoples.
Lent is a very sacred time in the Church’s year; now is the time to prepare and think of what our Lent should be, not just what are we going to “give up,” but what are we going to add on, or change about our life. Please, teach your children that Lent is different, a time to change. Don’t wait until Ash Wednesday to determine your Lenten practices; prepare now.
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Tuesday is St. Valentine’s Day — 94% of Americans believe in true love, so, it’s no surprise to see that 52% of Americans plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day in some way.
Those who are hopelessly romantic will spend $ 25.9 billion this year. Men will spend on the average $ 291 on gifts for their beloved, while women will spend only $ 106. (Women are smarter or more frugal then men!). 57% will receive candy, $ 5.5 billion will be spent on jewelry, another $ 2.3 billion on flowers with roses remaining the most popular pick and 69% will be red roses.
Average Valentine’s Day spending by age. Where do you fit in?
• 18 - 24 – $ 189
• 25 - 34 – $ 245
• 35 - 44 – $ 269
• 45 - 54 – $ 162
• 55 - 64 – $ 106
• 65+ – $ 74 (with age comes wisdom or is it, “why bother”??!!)
Whatever your status, we should be grateful to God on Tuesday for giving us a share in His Divine Life, for God is Love. Love is uniquely human. Love is a choice, a desire for what is the best for the person you love, even if it is not the best for you. Love of its nature is sacrifice; love can make sacrifice easy, even joyful.
“Love one another, as I have loved you”, says the Lord.
