Dear Friends and Parishioners,
Once a year Our Lord invites us to repentance and sorrow for our sins. In the liturgy we return every year to grow in holiness —even though it may seem we still have the same defects from last year. Human nature is made by God to be good, but we have to learn to follow Christ in order to overcome our weaknesses.
This Lent, many of us will give up things we enjoy in order to unite ourselves to Christ on the Cross. Take this time to reflect on what your own predominant defect is. Ask yourself, “What do I have to conquer? What do I want my Lenten sacrifices to help me overcome?”
On Ash Wednesday the priest blesses the people at the end of Mass with these words:
Pour out Your spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before Your majesty, and by Your mercy may they merit the rewards You promise to those who do penance.
This blessing asks for mercy and encouragement as we pass through 40 days of Lent. We bow before the majesty of God and want to merit the rewards of those who do penance. Make your big and little sacrifices, finding ways to serve others instead of ourselves, and we’ll reap the rewards that come with using the Lenten season well. As always, let us ask Our Lady, Christ’s greatest disciple, to intercede for us.
Have a joyful and blessed Lent!
Sincerely,
Fr. Michael