Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072)

Readings of the day: RB 18:1-6 The Order for Reciting the Psalms

Mass: Jon 3:1-10; Resp. Ps 51; Lk 11:29-32

Even now, says the Lord,

return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.

(Verse before the Gospel, Mass)

In this year’s Lenten message, Pope Francis references the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. Before doing so, the Holy Father asks, ‘What are the signs that indicate that our love is beginning to cool?’ Some signs follow: greed for money and the rejection of God and his peace which together lead to violence against anyone we think is a threat to our own ‘certainties’, for example, the unborn child, the elderly and infirm, the migrant, the alien among us, or our neighbor who does not live up to our expectations. Pope Francis then turns to Evangelii Gaudium listing signs of love gone cold in communities: selfishness, spiritual sloth, sterile pessimism, spiritual worldliness, warring among ourselves, and lack of missionary zeal. For more thoughts on the signs, see paragraphs 76-109 of the Exhortation. One will find much to reflect upon during this Lenten journey. Para. 109 summons us: ‘Challenges exist to be overcome! Let us be realists, but without losing our joy, our boldness and our hope-filled commitment. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary vigour!’ 

THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER THAN JONAH HERE!

For Pope Francis on the 17^th Anniversary of Being Named a Cardinal.

For Pope Francis and Members of the Roman Curia during their Spiritual Exercises.