Passiontide is a name for the last two weeks of Lent, beginning on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Crucifixes and images are veiled. In covering the religious images during the height of Lent, all attention is centered on the Passion and death of Christ. This is why the only images not to be covered are the Stations of the Cross.
Laetare is the first word, meaning “rejoice” in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it rose, this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide.
Lenten challenge: This week ask God: “What do you want me to give up?” He may ask for that which you love most. It will be something precious to you: time, money, a relationship, a dream, an opportunity. What matters is we trust Him and act sacrificially in line with His command. Whatever we sacrifice will of course come back to us as surely as the Risen Jesus — but that doesn’t make it easy.
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated in parishes over this weekend February 3-4, 2024. Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation.
Help us kick-off and celebrate Catholic Schools Week. All are invited to the St. Ann Catholic School Open House following 9:00 AM & 10:30 AM Mass today. If it has been sometime since you and your family have roamed the halls of our parish school, please attend.
How marvelous, that Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming: “Repent!” We tend to think it means “stop doing bad things” but it doesn’t. It literally means “go beyond the mind you have.” Think in a new way.
The response is “And with your spirit.” This initiates the understanding that a people filled with the Holy Spirit is about to undertake the great action that Christ demanded of his disciples from the Last Supper.
Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M and B and the numbers of the year (ie: 20+C+M+B+24), at the top of their doors. The letters stand for the names of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Forgiving is one of the hardest things for people to do. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others.
The world holds its breath when a young mother smiles, as she cradles God’s gift from above. The wise men bring presents to welcome the Newborn, as all are encircled in love. At Christmas time may you and your loved ones be surrounded by His everlasting love.