Friday, March 7th is:

• a First Friday is a First Friday. If you're joining us in the devotion of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on First Fridays, don't forget to attend Mass! (Learn more about First Fridays)

• AND a day of abstinence, so don't eat meat!

We Catholics are so fortunate, we get to share the ultimate meal at each and every Mass - the meal of Jesus Christ, the Eucharist. This week we get to focus on the reception of Our Lord. (Learn more)

Seven Last Words

For the remaining weeks of Lent we'll be reviewing our meditations on the Last Seven Words. These are not simply words, but the seven things Jesus said as He was dying on the cross. We encourage you to consider the impact of these words on your life this Lenten season.

This week we'll review:

1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

In case you have not yet decided what to do for Lent, please consider completing the Family Lenten Inventory,
then check out the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving you can practice throughout Lent.
 

Use a violet candle Monday through Saturday for the season of  Lent.

These lovely candles are  available for purchase through Wolfe's Baldwin Brass Center Ordering candles from this link  financially supports this site. Thank you!

• Sunday, March 2 you may use a rose candle for Laetare Sunday, a day when the Church relents a bit in the solemn, penitential spirit of Lent, and gives a hint of the joy to come. The name Laetare means "rejoice." The traditional entrance antiphon for this Sunday is from Isaiah 66:10-11 and begins, "Rejoice Jerusalem!"
   
• Monday, March 3 is the memorial of St. Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia heiress and debutante. She was concerned about the plight of the American blacks and Indians. She gave away her millions, became a nun, started a religious order, built schools, missions, and even a university during a time of civil unrest. We still use a violet candle, but make it a point to remember a woman who willingly gave away her material possessions and spent her life working for the good of others. She was canonized in the year 2000.
   
• Tuesday, March 4 is the memorial of St. Casimir, the patron saint of Poland. Casimir was a Prince of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Nevertheless, he was a conscientious objector preferred prayer to war.
   
• Friday, March 7 we still use a violet candle, but keep in mind the memorial of Sts. Perpetua, a nursing mother, and Felicity, an expectant mother, who were two early Christian martyrs. First they were fed to wild beasts; when that didn't kill them, they were beheaded.

Liturgy of the Hours is becoming a regular rhythm now!

We're learning to pray the morning and evening prayers of Liturgy of the Hours during Lent this year. We've been doing fine incorporating morning prayer into our routine, but are much better with evening prayer. Universalis has helped out. We print out the prayers, but follow along in the book without difficulty. It is actually enjoyable!

Daily prayers for the Liturgy of the Hours are also found in these sources:
 Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours
 Saint Joseph Guide for the Liturgy of the Hours (St. Joseph Liturgy Guides)

Are You Blind?

The readings this week remind us that when we focus on our world we are in darkness. When we focus on God, we see the Light. Giving our devout attention to God may be lonely at times. Others may sneer, be indifferent, and even attack our beliefs. We must stand firm when we have chosen the path of God.

In the first reading Samuel, the great judge of the Israelites, follows God's direction in anointing the new king. The choice of the youngest son is remarkable. After all, the older sons all seem quite worthy of the honor. But God saw something special in David that no one else could see. Through God David became a great king.

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is lovely. He tells us we are not just in darkness, but we are darkness when we are not actively pleasing God. When we strive for goodness, righteousness, and truth we are light. It is time to recall our past lives and recognize how much closer we have now come to the Light of Christ.

The Gospel story from John shows us practically every way possible to experience faith -- through true conversion, indifference, ignoring, and even unbelief. The blind man has a true conversion. He has seen God and can never go back to his former life. He is loving and humble, but matter-of-fact with his conviction. His own parents prefer not to get involved if it means facing harsh consequences. Neighbors give absurd excuses, such as the man was never blind in the first place, to downplay the possibility of a miracle. The Pharisees are so sure of their beliefs they refuse to open their hearts to the possibility of God being in their midst.

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Lectionary readings for the 4th Week of Lent: