SECOND WEEK OF LENT
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 27, 2024
Greetings beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we continue our Lenten journeyš
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | February 27, 2024 on EWTN” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 27, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | February 27, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 27, 2024 |
Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 27, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUALš¹JOYFULš¹LUMINOUSš¹SORROWFULš¹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Reading 1,Ā Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
Responsorial Psalm,Ā Psalms 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23
Gospel,Ā Matthew 23:1-12
*40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Twelve: Perseverance | Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-twelve-perseverance/
*40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | Day Twelve ā A Shared Suffering | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-twelve-a-shared-suffering/
A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, InĀ Micah 6:8, You say, āO people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.ā Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by YourĀ Holy SpiritĀ and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen š
God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amenš
LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the āpaschal fastā to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.
On this special feast day, as we continue our Lenten journey, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the first memorial anniversary of his death. We pray for the repose of his gentle soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the gentle soul of Pope Benedict XVI and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christā¦ Amen š āļøšÆāļøšÆāļøšÆ
During this season of Lent, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen š
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amenš
A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen š
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Gabriel Possenti), Cleric (Patron Saint of Clerics, Students, Youth, Seminarians,Ā Novices,Ā Catholic Action and Abruzzi); Saint Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church and Saint Leander of Seville, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and all the ministers, the Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Seminarians, all religious and we pray for our children, students and youths all over the world. We particularly, pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life.
āBy the shining example of St. Gabriel, you, dear young people, draw the courage to be faithful disciples of Christā ~ St. John Paul II
Dear Saint Gabriel, your very name recalls your particular devotion to Christ, the Man of Sorrows, and to Mary, his Afflicted Mother. You died young as a Passionist religious but left to us all an example of a life of Christlike sacrifice. Intercede for our seminarians and young religious, who are in desperate need of your patronage amid today’s sensual and selfish worldā¦ Amenš
SAINT GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS (SAINT GABRIEL POSSENTI), CLERIC: St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was an Italian Passionist clerical student, he gave up ambitions of a secular career to enter the Passionist congregation.Ā St. Gabriel (1838 – 1862) was born on March 1, 1838 atĀ Assisi, Italy. This Saint of modern times was originally named Francisco Possenti after the great Saint of his native city Assisi. Born into a professional family, was the eleventh child of Sante Possenti and AgnesĀ Frisciotti. The first year of his life was spent away from his family with a nursing woman who cared for him because his mother was unable. In 1841 Sante moved the family to Spoleto where he was appointed magistrate. In that same year, the youngest Possenti child died at just six months old; Francisā nine-year old sister, Adele, soon followed. Just days later, his heartbroken mother was too called to eternal life. Francis had lost his mother at just 4 yearsĀ old. Tragedy continued to plague the family during his youth. In 1846 Francisā brother, Paul, was killed in the Italian war with Austria. Another brother, Lawrence, later took his own life. Such events, however, did not rob Francis of his spirit and cheerfulness. During his formative years, Francis attended the school of the Christian brothers and then the Jesuit college in Spoleto. He was lively, intelligent and popular at school and was a great favorite with his fellow students and professors. Fastidious in manner and dress, he was fond of literature and the theater. As a young man he enjoyed the society and the worldly life of a typical teenager. He was known as a fancy dresser and a good dancer, he possessed good horsemanship and marksmanship, he frequented parties, and twice was engaged to be married. However, he decided to leave the world after being miraculously cured from two bouts of illness. At sixteen, he suffered a life-threatening illness. Praying for a cure, Francis promised to become a religious. With recovery, however, Francis quickly forgot his promise. But Godās call would not be denied, and Francis soon turned his heart to the Congregation of theĀ Passionists. Sante Possenti was less than pleased with his teenage sonās decision. Determined to show Francis the joys of a secular life of theater and society parties, Sante continued to hope Francis would find pleasure in a social life. But the young man was not to be dissuaded.
Immediately after completion of his schooling, Francis was guided by our Lady into the Passionist Institute, he left for the Passionist novitiate in Morrovalle. In the novitiate, he cultivated a great love for Christ Crucified. Francis received the Passionist habit on September 21, 1856, which that year was the Feast of the Sorrowful Mother. He was given the name: Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother and he became a veritable Apostle of her Sorrows. A year later he took his vows. His monastic life preparing for the priesthood made Gabriel a secluded, non-public figure. His writings reflect his close relationship with God and His mother. During that period, it was a difficult and tumultuous times in Italy. The new Italian government issued decrees closing religious Orders in certain provinces of the Papal States. The new Passionist province of Pieta, to which Gabriel belonged, was in the center of this chaos. By 1860, the Passionists had ceased apostolic work due to the growing threats surrounding the community. During this period various Italian provinces were overrun by soldiers who robbed and terrorized the towns with little mercy. In 1862, at twenty-four years of age, he was struck with tuberculosis and died on February 27, 1862 at Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia, Italy, a year before his ordination to the priesthood but having already attained to a heroic degree of sanctity by a life of self-denial and great devotion to Our Lordās Passion. His fidelity to prayer, joyfulness of spirit and habitual mortifications stand out in his otherwise ordinary life. He was Canonized on May 13, 1920, Rome, Italy by Pope Benedict XV. The people of Isola would always remember him as ātheir Gabriel.ā St. Gabriel, in life, did not perform any miraculous events, but after his death (in 1862) many miraculous occurred at his tomb in Isola di Gran Sasso, Italy including the healing of St. Gemma Galgani. Thousands of divine favors are attributed to his intercession with Christ Crucified and the Sorrowful Mother Mary. He’s the Patron Saint of Youth, especially of young religious, Clerics, Seminarians, Novices, Students, Catholic Action and Abruzzi.
PRAYER: Lord, You inspired St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows with a special love for Your Mother and compassion for her sorrows. Through her, You raised him to the heights of holiness. Grant us great devotion to her sorrows, that we may known her as our loving Mother. Amenš
SAINT GREGORY OF NAREK, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: Saint Gregory (c.950 – c.1005) was born in a village on the shores of Lake Van in 950, the son of an Armenian Archbishop. When his mother died Gregory and his older brother were raised by a scholarly uncle who had them educated at the Narek monastery where he was a monk. The monastery wasĀ a prominent center of learning located in what is now Turkey. Gregory too entered the monastery and was ordained in 977. He was raised and lived most of his life in the Monastery of Narekavank in Turkey, teaching, and writing. St. Gregory was a priest/monk, poet, theologian, mathematician, and scientist. He wrote the Encyclopedia of Prayer for all Nations, thatās considered a classic in Armenian literature. The Book of Lamentations, his masterpiece, was completed just before he died at age 90. Today heās known as āthe Watchful Angel in Human Formā because of the many miracles started with prayer. A professor of theology, St. Gregory wrote a mystical interpretation of the Song of Songs, and a long mystical poem called the Book of Prayer or the Book of Lamentations. He described his poem as “an encyclopedia of prayer for all nations.” This classic of Armenian literature has been translated into 30 languages. The Russian text of the Book of Lamentations was set to music in 1985. Little else is known about St. Gregory, other than he died in the early 11th century and was buried within the walls of the Narek monastery where he had spent his life.
In 2015 as the world observed the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, Pope Francis concelebrated a Mass at the Vatican with Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni and declared the monk, poet, and saint of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Gregory of Narek, a Doctor of the Church. His liturgical feast is celebrated on February 27th.
Saint Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church ~ Pray for us š
SAINT LEANDER OF SEVILLE, BISHOP: St. Leander was born of an illustrious family at Carthagena in Spain. He was the eldest of five brothers, several of whom are numbered among the Saints. He entered into a monastery of Seville very young, where he lived many years and attained to an eminent degree of virtue and sacred learning. These qualities occasioned his being promoted to the see of Seville; but his change of condition made little or no alteration in his way of life, though it brought on him a great increase of solicitude. Spain at that time was held in possession by the Visigoths. These Goths, being infected with Arianism, established that heresy wherever they came, in such wise that at the time Saint Leander was made bishop, it had already reigned in Spain a hundred years. This was his great affliction. Nonetheless, by his prayers to God and by his most zealous and unwearied endeavors, he became the happy instrument of the conversion of that nation to the Catholic faith, as his story makes clear.
St. Leander, the holy archbishop of Seville had converted, among others, his own nephew Hermenegild, who was the king’s eldest son and heir apparent, and for this he was banished by King Leovigild, his own brother-in-law. The pious Catholic prince, now known as Saint Hermenegild, was put to death in prison by his unnatural father in the following year, for refusing to receive Communion from the hands of an Arian bishop. Afterwards, touched by grace and filled with remorse, the king recalled Saint Leander. When Leovigild fell sick and found himself past hopes of recovery, he sent for Saint Leander, and recommended to him his other son Recared. This son, by listening to Saint Leander, became a Catholic, and finally brought the whole nation of the Visigoths to the faith. The new king Recared also brought the Suevi back to Catholic unity; they were a people of Spain whom his Arian father Leovigild had perverted.
Saint Leander was no less zealous in the reformation of morals than in restoring the purity of faith, and planted the seeds of the zeal and fervor which produce martyrs and Saints. He received from Saint Gregory the Great a painting of the Mother of God by the hand of Saint Luke, Evangelist, since known as Our Lady of Guadelupe (of Spain). It is he who, as a refutation of Arianism, added to the liturgy of Spain the recitation during Mass of the Nicene Creed, which practice spread to Rome and then to the entire Church. This holy doctor of Spain died about the year 596, on the 27th of February (On leap years, the feast day of this Saint is celebrated on February 28)
Saint Leander of Seville, Bishop ~ Pray for us š
PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amenš
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 23:1-12
“They preach but they do not practice”
“Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, āThe scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on peopleās shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation āRabbi.ā As for you, do not be called āRabbi.ā You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called āMasterā; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.ā
In today’s Gospel reading, from the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Lord spoke to His disciples and followers, and to the people who were assembled to listen to Him, about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law and why they should listen to them but not to follow what they had been doing, in how they practiced their faith and in their actions, in parading their piety and actions before everyone so that they could be praised and honoured for all of those actions. The crux of the problem here is that, many among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law at the time of the Lord acted high and mighty, lording over the others whom they deemed and considered as less worthy and less pious than they were, and they even persecuted those who did not practice the Law in the manner that they had done. According to the Gospel reading, Jesus refers to the Pharisees as those who tie up heavy burdens and lay them on peopleās shoulders. In contrast, Jesus had said earlier in Matthewās Gospel, āCome to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you restā. Jesusā work consisted in lifting unnecessary burdens from peopleās shoulders rather than laying such burdens on peopleās shoulders. Most of us have to deal with burdens of one kind or another as we go through life. Some burdens are necessary and unavoidable; they are the burdens of love, the burdens that come to us from giving ourselves to others in one way or another. Jesus is critical of those who impose unnecessary burdens on others. We can all be guilty of doing that from time to time. Rather than imposing unnecessary burdens on others, our calling is to help carry each otherās burdens, to make life less burdensome for each other. In doing that we will be acting in the spirit of the one who said, āCome to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you restā. The Lord helps us all to carry our burdens, both the necessary and inevitable ones and the unnecessary ones. Saint Paul was very burdened as he wrote to the church in Philippi from his prison cell. Yet, he could say to that church, āI can do all things through him who strengthens meā. The Lord strengthens us to carry our burdens so that we can help to carry the burdens of others. As St. Paul writes to the churches of Galatia, āBear one anotherās burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christā. The law of Christ, which is the law of love, the fruit of the Spirit, is not about burden imposing but burden lifting.
As Jesus says towards the end of the Gospel reading, āthe greatest among you must be your servantā. Jesus defines greatness in terms of service of others. Jesus calls on His disciples to give attention to others. It is those who humble themselves in the service of others who will be exalted, whereas those who exalt themselves and look for honour for themselves will be humbled. Jesus gives expression to His teaching in His own life. Paul says of Jesus that He emptied Himself taking the form of a servant and that He humbled Himself, even to the point of death, death on a cross. We are called to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Lent is a time when we try to enter more fully into the mind and heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Isaiah showed us all the Lordās clear reminders and warnings to His people, the people of Israel and Judah, about the dangers of sin and what sin and evil could bring about for them, ruin and destruction, just as it had happened in the past. The Lord presented the example of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were infamous for their great wickedness and sins, the evils and disobedience which they had committed, and also their refusal to listen to the Lord and His messengers, that the two cities were destroyed by the great rain of fire and brimstone from Heaven, and henceforth, the two cities were eradicated from the face of the earth, never to be populated or remembered again. By mentioning those two cities, and remarking that His people were like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord was in fact making a clear point before all of them that they had all been disobedient and wicked in their way of life and in their actions, and the Lord certainly knew about all that they had done. He therefore warned them of what they would also suffer if they continued to persist in their path of rebellion and evil, and if they refused to repent from their many sins, wickedness and faults. However, at the same time, the Lord also presented to His people a clear avenue and pathway for them to come back to Him, telling them that even if their sins were truly terrible, He would still welcome them back to His loving Presence and forgive them, if they would reject their sinful ways and abandon their evil and wickedness.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded to be humble and righteous in all of our actions and deeds, in each and every moments of our lives. We have to be humble and attuned to our sins and faults, all the wickedness we have committed, and endeavour to overcome them, replacing them instead with righteousness and virtue. We are reminded to turn away from sin and to embrace Godās path, His love and grace. Let us all therefore seek the Lord with renewed heart and mind, with the strong and genuine desire to be forgiven and to be reconciled with Him, with the strong desire to repent and turn away from our many sins and wickedness. Let us all seek the forgiveness and mercy of God, and do our best so that our lives from now on may be truly worthy of Him in all things, which we can gain inspiration from the life and faith of the Saints and Holy men and women, especially Saint Gregory of Narek who we celebrate today. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace during this season of Lent and may He empower us all to live ever more courageously in His presence, now and always. Amenš
Let us pray:
My humble Lord, thank You for the witness of Your humility. You chose to put all people first, even to the point of allowing Yourself to experience the suffering and death which was a consequence of our sins. Give me a heart that is humble, dear Lord, so that You can use me to share Your perfect love with others. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen š
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Gabriel, Saint Gregory and Saint Leander ~ Pray for usš
Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled second week of Lent ~ Amenš
Blessings and Love always, Philomena š
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