17 March 2013 5th Sunday of Lent Motives for penance: The loss the sinner incurs By mortal sin we lose God’s friendship, ‘sanctifying grace’, inheritance of the beatific vision, and all privileges received in Baptism. In a state of mortal sin we are God’s enemies; the devil’s children and slaves. We are under a curse. Perhaps we have spent days in this miserable state; or even a great part of our lives. This bitter thought caused such deep grief to St Augustine, that his only consolation was to do constant penance daily. During these days of universal penance, let us imitate the saint. If God’s mercy has preserved us from frequent mortal sin, recall those numerous venial sins, a sufficient cause for penance. Venial sin does not deprive us of God’s love but certainly diminishes it. Mortal sin also deprives our soul of ‘supernatural life’: our union with God, bonded by love. Mortal sin breaks this tie. While separated from God, the soul is dead -- incapable of a meritorious action. Our best works are inert. Every day, every month, passed in this state, is lost forever. Venial sin does not ‘destroy’, but weakens this supernatural life. The soul is less fruitful in good works which are less pleasing to God and less meritorious. Moreover, our human imperfection is so great that it always deforms and diminishes the merit of our best works. The saints tried to compensate for all this by great penance and constant mortification. We, who have sinned so much and repented so little must imitate them. Mortal sin robs the soul of its beauty, and renders it ugly in the eyes of God and his holy angels. As the Scriptures say, ‘They are become abominable’. One mortal sin changed an angel into a demon, and cast him down to hell. How, then, must a soul, defiled by numerous mortal sins, appear to God? What will be its destiny in eternity, when the punishment will be in proportion to sins committed? We might have incurred this penalty. If so, we have a strong motive to accept hardship and penance, and persevere till the end. For, although it may be certain that we have sinned grievously, our penance could not have been sufficient. The Church also tells us that the slightest venial fault leaves a stain upon the soul; and ‘nothing defiled can enter heaven’ are the words of the Holy Spirit. We have daily stained our souls, and made few efforts to cleanse them. Therefore, our purgatory will last much longer. If we could but understand what for one moment is to endure the pain of purgatory, to be deprived of the beatific vision, the greatest penance would seem light. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp124-6 St Joseph of Arimathea In the “evening, a rich man, Joseph, also a disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb hewn out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone to the entrance and left. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting opposite ...” (cf Mt 27:57-61) St Patrick, bishop (385-461) Born in Scotland. Pope Celestine sent him to preach the Faith in Ireland. In thirty-three years, he succeeded in converting the whole country (known as “Island of Saints” during the Middle Ages) after heartbreaking difficulties. Patron of Ireland. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1492) Today, as we thank Our Lord for the gift of faith St Patrick handed on, and resolve to follow his example in our generation, we do so in words (Hymn, “St Patrick’s breastplate” in Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:123) attributed to him: Christ beside me, Christ before me Christ behind me, Christ within me Christ under me, Christ over me Christ to right of me, Christ to left of me Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting, Christ in rising up Christ in the heart of every person who may think of me Christ in the mouth of every person who may speak of me Christ in every eye that may look on me Christ in every ear that may hear me. THE SEVEN SUNDAYS DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH Honors the seven joys and seven sorrows of St Joseph. Ref: “Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), 1988, pp321-3 “What must Joseph have been, how grace must have worked through him, that he should be able to fulfill this task of the human upbringing of the Son of God. “For Jesus must have resembled Joseph: in his way of working, in the features of his character, in his way of speaking. Jesus’ realism, his eye for detail, the way he sat at table and broke bread, his preference for using everyday situations to give doctrine -- all this reflects his childhood and the influence of Joseph. “It’s not possible to ignore this sublime mystery: Jesus who is man, who speaks with the accent of a particular district of Israel, who resembles a carpenter called Joseph, is the Son of God.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop” in “Christ is passing by”, 40 7. The seventh sorrow and joy of St Joseph His sorrow when he lost the child Jesus; his joy in finding him in the temple. “They were overcome when they saw him and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you’.” (Lk 2:43) “Get to know Joseph and you will find Jesus. Talk to Joseph and you will find Mary, who always sheds peace about her in that attractive workshop in Nazareth.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivà, “In Joseph’s Workshop”, 56 • In the year 1095, under Pope Urban II., a council was held at Clermont, in Auvergne, at which the Office of Our Lady was instituted.—(Council of Clermont.) Foundation of the Abbey of Baumont-les-Toure, by Ingestrude, in the year 600.— (Gallia Christiana, t. iv.) “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (http://www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Institution of Our Lady's Office by Pope Urban II, in the Council of Clermont. 1095. (At this council, Urban II also responded favorably to a request from the Byzantine Emperor for help against an overwhelming Muslim force; Urban II preached the First Crusade, to regain Jerusalem and other territories which had been military conquered by Muslim armies. The Crusade succeeded, and founded a kingdom which survived for two centuries.) Urban II ordered that the town bell be rung three times every day in honor of the triple Angelical Salutation (Angelus Domini) to Mary on the Annunciation; the "Angelus" is still a frequent call to prayer in Ireland. Douay Catechism of 1649 explanation. Mary joins an acolyte to say the office: "A novice, who was very devout to our Lady and a faithful lover of observance, while praying fervently one night after matins, fell into a light sleep at his prayers. It then seemed to him as if a lady of great beauty stood by his side and put her hands on his shoulders. Seeing that it was a woman, he called out in alarm: 'My God, how can women have got in here, and at this time of night!' But she soothed him by telling him in a gentle voice who she was, and inviting him to say with her the Little Hours of the blessed Virgin's office. He agreed, and began the 'Ave Maria', while she answered throughout. She seemed to recite her part so sweetly and gently that his heart was stirred wonderfully, more especially as she repeated the versicles after each chapter. As she said the versicle for none, 'Elegit eam Deus ' ('The Lord hath chosen her'), the tones sounded with such heavenly melody in the novice's ears that his whole heart melted, and was rapt in God. She disappeared, and he woke to find himself radiant with a joy he could not control. While preparing to serve as acolyte that morning, the same joy shone so brightly on his countenance that a fellow novice rebuked him for it; and as he could not contain himself for gladness, the other served mass in his stead. As this gaiety was an unusual thing with him, his companion questioned him thereon, and after a long time drew out of him the secret of what he had seen, under strict promise of not letting it be known: and that joy lasted for a very considerable time." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Institution of Our Lady's Office (1095). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Office of Our Lady Instituted by Pope Urban II (1095) (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of Ireland. (Madonna of Ireland). 1697. Statue at the National Cathedral, in Washington. Essay discussing visit to Our Lady of Ireland Chapel at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Washington. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Ireland or the Madonna of Ireland (1697) (http://www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)