Letter from the Pastor
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February 4, 2024Ten days from today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. In the ancient Christian liturgies, going back to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) there was a period of preparation before the great fast of Lent, at least three weeks of preparation. The faithful were informed of the arrival of this major season of the liturgical year, so that they could slowly begin the penitential exercises that would accompany them until Easter.
The three Sundays before Lent were known by the symbolic number of days before Easter: Septuagesima (seventieth), Sexagesima (sixtieth), and Quinquagesima (fiftieth) and Lent were known as Quadragesima (fortieth).
Lent didn’t sneak up on a person, these weeks helped them to think and pray over what their Lent would consist. It gave them three weeks to look deeply into their hearts and souls to examine what needed to change in their lives.
Even though we don’t have the Pre-Lent season liturgically, we can use these next few weeks to accomplish the same. So, take these next few days and think and pray over what you are going to do for Lent this year. It will be here in 10 days, don’t let Lent sneak up on you.
Pope’s Monthly Intentions
Did you know each month: the Holy Father has a special intention he prays for, and asks us to join him in his special intentions? The Holy Father composes the specific monthly prayer intentions. It does not mean that you are to pray for the Pope himself, but for whatever he is asking. Whenever one receives an indulgence, one prays for the intentions of the Holy Father. Another way is to pray the Morning Offering. For most of us, a prayer learned in Grammar School. We prayed it every morning, it’s a beautiful prayer.
Do you remember it? If not, start. Some people put the prayer on their mirror to remind them:
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world:
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and for the Holy Father for this month:February - For the terminally ill
March - For the new martyrs
April - For the role of women
May - For the formation of religious and seminarians
June - For migrants fleeing their homes
July - For the pastoral care of the sick
August - For political leaders
September - For the cry of the earth
October - For a shared mission
November - For anyone who has lost a child
December - For pilgrims of hope
It is a beautiful habit to offer the entire day to the Lord,
not knowing what the day will bring,
but we do know it is in union with Him.