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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Tuesday, February 28, 2006 >>
 
1 Peter 1:10-16 Psalm 98 Mark 10:28-31
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"JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON"
 
"Do not yield to the desires that once shaped you in your ignorance." —1 Peter 1:14
 

Lent begins tomorrow with the ashes of Ash Wednesday. It's common to hear people plan parties for tonight with huge amounts of sweets and other pleasures. After all, the thinking goes, we won't be able to enjoy ourselves again until Easter.

It's true that Lent is a season to focus on acts of self-denial. Self-denial, however, is not unique to Christians. Athletes (1 Cor 9:25), pregnant women, soldiers (2 Tm 2:4), dieters, Buddhists, and others often perform heroic acts of self-denial that make giving up chocolate for the forty days of Lent pale in comparison. Our Lenten sacrifices must help us grow deeply in our relationship with Jesus. Our Lenten crosses, when joined to the sacrifices of Jesus (1 Pt 4:13; Col 1:24; Phil 1:29), become acts of penance and reparation.

Will your Lenten self-denials simply be acts of self-improvement, or will they help you to "draw close to God" (Jas 4:8)? Is your goal to "make it" to Easter with no failures, or is your goal to be united with the crucified Jesus out of love for Him?

As for not being able to "enjoy ourselves" again until Easter, when we draw close to Jesus in a spirit of repentance, we will find a joy that is heavenly (Lk 15:7, 10), "full" (Jn 16:24), and "inexpressible" (1 Pt 1:8). No Mardi Gras party can begin to compare with sharing in Jesus' joy. So why wait until tomorrow to "draw close to God"? Turn to Jesus today.

 
Prayer: Jesus, may I be so consumed with love of You that I don't even notice the pleasures of the world.
Promise: "There is no one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for Me and for the gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many." —Mk 10:29-30
Praise: George commemorates Shrove Tuesday by going to Confession.
 

19 posted on 02/28/2006 10:13:11 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Compline -- NIght Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.


This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.


Psalm 4
Thanksgiving
Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer. Alleluia.
When I called out, he heard me, the God of my righteousness.
When I was in trouble, you gave me freedom:
 now, take pity on me and listen to my prayer.

Sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy?
 Why do you seek for vain things?
 Why do you run after illusions?
Know that the Lord has done marvellous things
 for those he has chosen.
When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

Be vigorous, but do not sin:
 speak in the silence of your heart,
 in your bed, be at rest.
Offer righteousness as a sacrifice,
 and put your trust in the Lord.

Many are saying, Who will give us good things?
Let your face shine on us, Lord,
 let the light of your face be a sign.
You have given me a greater joy
 than the others receive
 from abundance of wheat and of wine.
In peace shall I sleep, Lord, in peace shall I rest:
 firm in the hope you have given me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer. Alleluia.

Psalm 133 (134)
Evening prayer in the Temple
Bless the Lord through the night. Alleluia.
Come, bless the Lord,
 all you servants of the Lord
 who stand through the night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your arms to the sanctuary
 and bless the Lord!

May the Lord bless you from Sion –
 the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
Bless the Lord through the night. Alleluia.

Reading Deuteronomy 6:4-7
Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one God. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength.
These words that I teach you today will remain in your hearts. You will teach them to your children; you will speak them as you sit at home and as you go on your journeys; you will speak them when you lie down and when you rise up.

Short Responsory ?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
 You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
 the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Alleluia.

Prayer
Let us pray.
Come, Lord, to our dwelling, and drive the snares of the enemy far away from it. Let your holy angels dwell in it and keep us in peace; and may your blessing be with us always.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

20 posted on 02/28/2006 10:29:01 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation

Sorry to hear about your car trouble. Did you ever make it to your Pancake Dinner for Shrove Tuesday? I've given up goodies like pancakes and syrup because I have to watch my diet and my sugar and salt levels, for health reasons. Lent is great because we're all encouraged to eat more fish, baked or broiled fish makes a good, healthy meal.


22 posted on 03/01/2006 1:22:15 AM PST by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
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