Today we celebrate the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This is the last Sunday before the season of Lent, which begins from Ash Wednesday. During Lent we are encouraged to observe the main Lenten works such as prayer, penance, self-denial, fasting and alms giving. Ash Wednesday is a universal day of fasting and abstinence from meat. According to Canon Law (#1252), by abstinence are bound those who have completed their 14th year and the law of fasting binds the faithful who are between 18 and 60 years old (the obligation ceases with the beginning of the 60th year). On the day of fasting we can have only one meal and two small amounts of food. Fasting is not a kind of diet to keep our bodies healthy, but it has a profound spiritual meaning: we deprive ourselves of food in order to be more open to prayer, to share more in the suffering of those who are striving and to save money to give to the poor. Fasting is a penitential act intended to open our hearts to God and our neighbours, means of purification and spiritual liberation and a witness of the depth of our faith. Abstinence, like fasting, is avoidance of something that is good in favour of something that is better. It is not a matter of vegetarianism or veganism. Fasting and abstinence are forms of penance in honour the sacrifice that Christ made for our sake on the Cross.
The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is a visible sign of our call and willingness to repent and do penance during the season of Lent. Lent has a twofold meaning: it prepares catechumens to celebrate the Paschal Mystery by the various stages of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) and also it makes ready the faithful for Easter as they recall their Baptism and do penance in preparation for the greatest Feast of the year. We observe some external signs that express the spirit of the season of Lent. Therefore, during Lent we do not sing Glory to God in the highest (except on feast and solemnities) and we refrain from singing Alleluia. We as well do not decorate with flowers the altar and the area around it except for the Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent), solemnities and feasts. Memorials of Saints are celebrated only as Optional Memorials. Purple is the proper colour of the Lenten liturgy.
On Fridays we are encouraged to be united with Jesus in His passion and death by participation in the Stations of the Cross, which are to be celebrated in our church alternately in the morning and in the evening.
The Catholic Church calling the faithful to penance and repentance reminds them of the Sacrament of Penance, which is usually offered up widely in this season.
During Lent in our church the Grade 2 students from St. Lawrence School will celebrate their First Reconciliation.
God bless,
Father Peter