"A good Lenten read," says Father Kastl.
"One of the best recent books on Catholicism," says Monsignor Dorney.
By the way, here is a study guide for the book.
1347 E. 49th Place, Tulsa, OK 74105
Showing posts with label lent2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lent2011. Show all posts
3/10/11
Free Books for You: Rediscover Catholicism
"A good Lenten read," says Father Kastl.
"One of the best recent books on Catholicism," says Monsignor Dorney.
By the way, here is a study guide for the book.
3/9/11
See what Lent Opportunities are Available to You
Lent has started, and we have a spot on the parish website full of Lenten information and opportunities. Visit it at www.churchofsaintmary.com/lent_2011.
Lent Blog Series: 101 Practical Fasting Ideas for Lent
101 Practical Fasting Ideas for Lent
By Nick Senger
Fasting, praying and almsgiving are the three penitential practices that we are asked to engage in during Lent. In addition to fasting and abstaining with the rest of the Church on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent, we are also challenged to make individual sacrifices appropriate to our own spiritual condition. However, before we choose something to give up for Lent, it’s important to assess our current spiritual state:
- What habits do I engage in that are destructive to my spiritual health?
- To what material things am I too attached?
- What areas in my life are unbalanced?
- To what do I devote too much or not enough time?
Lent Blog Series: Message of His Holiness
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
FOR LENT 2011
BENEDICT XVI
FOR LENT 2011
“You were buried with him in baptism,
in which you were also raised with him.” (cf. Col 2: 12)
in which you were also raised with him.” (cf. Col 2: 12)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Lenten period, which leads us to the celebration of Holy Easter, is for the Church a most valuable and important liturgical time, in view of which I am pleased to offer a specific word in order that it may be lived with due diligence. As she awaits the definitive encounter with her Spouse in the eternal Easter, the Church community, assiduous in prayer and charitable works, intensifies her journey in purifying the spirit, so as to draw more abundantly from the Mystery of Redemption the new life in Christ the Lord (cf. Preface I of Lent).
1. This very life was already bestowed upon us on the day of our Baptism, when we “become sharers in Christ’s death and Resurrection”, and there began for us “the joyful and exulting adventure of his disciples” (Homily on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 10 January, 2010). In his Letters, St. Paul repeatedly insists on the singular communion with the Son of God that this washing brings about. The fact that, in most cases, Baptism is received in infancy highlights how it is a gift of God: no one earns eternal life through their own efforts. The mercy of God, which
3/3/11
Lent 2011: Discovering Stewardship in Lent
Discovering or Recovering Stewardship this Lent
As we are about to begin another Lenten Season, I consistently recall other Lenten seasons and how I began them with such enthusiasm on Ash Wednesday to have a “good, fruitful and holy Lent,” only to discover that 20 days into the 40 days of Lent, I am just “coasting” to get through the rest of the season. I KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS!READ MORE HERE
2/22/11
Lent 2011: On Lenten Practice by Sister Christine
Our Lent Blog series will feature reflections about Lent. If you see or already have an article, quote, etc. about Lent that you'd like to share, email me, Ashley Daly.
The following piece is from a local blog that I love to read, A Benedictine Presence. The sisters at Saint Joseph's Monastery (Monte Cassino) fill this blog with thoughts about life and God. Posts are generally short and very insightful. I'm proud Tulsa has people adding beauty and wisdom to the world wide web.
On Lenten Practice
By Sr. Christine, OSB, at Saint Joseph's Monastery in Tulsa
A Benedictine Presence Blog
In the Rule (Chapter 49), Benedict tells us that “the life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent.” When I first heard that, my immediate response was, “Yuck!” Forty days a year is Lent enough for me, thank you very much.
Of course, he goes on to say that few have the strength for this and then outlines his preference for the observance of the days of Lent.
Benedict is calling his followers to a purity of life, a manner of living which gives space for God to grow within us. While the ideal is to keep that space open for God all the time, we have the opportunity during Lent to clear out some of our personal clutter. Benedict asks us to both add something and do without something in out Lenten observance. This helps keep things balanced. Do without some food or drink or entertainment while also adding some extra service, like a particular prayer practice or a form of charitable work, can make for an enriching Lenten season. Focusing on the added service can help prevent focusing on what I’m giving up.
May your days of Lent be blessed and bring you closer to the heart of our God.
Sr. Christine, OSB
See the full blog series of Lent reflections here.
2/16/11
Lent 2011: Why Give Things Up?
To start us off, here is a meditation on Lent from Father Jewitt, most recently a Tulsa pastor at Saint Bernards; he passed away in 2008. My best friend's brother has this quoted on his facebook page, of all places. Father Jewitt made quite an impression on many of my good friends, including my husband who still has Father Jewitt's Mass card clipped to the driver side sun visor in his car.
"Each and every day of our life we are faced with a similar choice. Do we give in to temptation or resist it? Do we seek our own will or God's? The battle is fought on many levels. Sometimes it is in little things - to make that cutting remark or not, to tell that little lie or not. Sometimes it involves far higher stakes - to be unfaithful to my spouse or not, to have that abortion or not. No matter how serious, the choice is still the same: Adam or Christ - disobedience or obedience.
This is why we should make self-denial a regular part of our Lenten practice. It isn't because the things we choose to give up are bad in and of themselves, it’s because if we can never say "no” to some of the innocent pleasures of life we will probably never learn to say "no" to anything. Self-discipline is ...not a quality that comes to us easily and naturally. It is an art that can be learned only by regular practice. That is why we are urged by the Church to "practice" self-denial and self-discipline during Lent. If we are foolish enough to think it is not important we will more than likely suffer Adam's fate. We will find ourselves naked and exposed to the cold winds of evil and selfishness that chill the spirit and sap our strength for doing good."
- Father Bernard Jewitt
5/12/36-2/6/08
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)