As we celebrate Laetare Sunday this weekend with rose colored vestments and the allowance of some flowers in the sanctuary (altar area of the church), one can't help but remember that I wore rose colored vestments on the third Sunday of Advent (which is called Gaudete Sunday). In both instances these two Latin words mean "Rejoice" and they both mark the halfway point of the two seasons of Advent and Lent. The "rejoicing" comes from looking ahead to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord (the Nativity) and the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter). They also tell us that there is still time for us to prepare the way of the Lord (Advent) and to repent and turn back to the Lord (or for some to turn closer to the Lord) with our hearts and with our lives. Unlike Advent when the challenge is to make room for the Lord amidst all the secular preparations for Christmas, in the case of Lent, not only is there more time to grow spiritually before we come to the "Great Three Days" (The Triduum), but there should also be less distractions from the secular world (though there are plenty of worldly activities that can distract us all the time if we let them) and more time for the practices of Lent that draw us into a deeper union with the Lord.
I spoke last weekend of those opportunities that some have missed out on in part or totally, and I shared the good news that there are more being offered in the second half of the Lenten season. These include a retreat day for the ladies of the parish (and anyone else who would like to come THIS MONDAY, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; a parish Lenten mission for four nights (April 3-6) at 6:00 p.m. each night with Fr. George Knab; our last Wednesday night video (this Wednesday) at 6:00 p.m. in the lower hall on the "Mystery of the Eucharist), Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 1 (Praying With Mary the Mother of Jesus) and Friday, April 8 (Stations of the Cross for Seniors) and MANY daily Masses. Making it a priority to participate in some or all of thse events and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the mission and even as late as Good Friday will help us all to surely come to Easter ready to Rejoice in the God who has not only won for us the joys of everlasting life through hs Passion, Death and Resurrection, but a God who has drawn us into a deeper union with him in our life's journey to him which will bring us a continual joy and peace that this world cannot give. Don't forget the blessings that come from logging in to the many offerings of the Augustine Institute (by logging into www.FORMED.ORG), as well as taking time to read and reflect on God's Word (through our Lenten daily reflections) and praying spontaneously and through the traditional forms of prayer (the rosary, the chaplet of divine mercy, and the stations of cross at home).
I spoke last weekend of those opportunities that some have missed out on in part or totally, and I shared the good news that there are more being offered in the second half of the Lenten season. These include a retreat day for the ladies of the parish (and anyone else who would like to come THIS MONDAY, March 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; a parish Lenten mission for four nights (April 3-6) at 6:00 p.m. each night with Fr. George Knab; our last Wednesday night video (this Wednesday) at 6:00 p.m. in the lower hall on the "Mystery of the Eucharist), Stations of the Cross on Friday, April 1 (Praying With Mary the Mother of Jesus) and Friday, April 8 (Stations of the Cross for Seniors) and MANY daily Masses. Making it a priority to participate in some or all of thse events and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the mission and even as late as Good Friday will help us all to surely come to Easter ready to Rejoice in the God who has not only won for us the joys of everlasting life through hs Passion, Death and Resurrection, but a God who has drawn us into a deeper union with him in our life's journey to him which will bring us a continual joy and peace that this world cannot give. Don't forget the blessings that come from logging in to the many offerings of the Augustine Institute (by logging into www.FORMED.ORG), as well as taking time to read and reflect on God's Word (through our Lenten daily reflections) and praying spontaneously and through the traditional forms of prayer (the rosary, the chaplet of divine mercy, and the stations of cross at home).