SECOND WEEK OF LENT
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 29, 2024 (LEAP YEAR)
Greetings beloved family. Happy Thursday of the Second Week of Lent and Happy Leap Year, 2024!
We thank God for the gift of life and for bringing us all successfully to the end of the month of February. May His name be praised forever and ever. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we continue our Lenten journey. Amenš
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | February 29, 2024 on EWTN” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 29, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | February 29, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 29, 2024 |
Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 29, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUALš¹JOYFULš¹LUMINOUSš¹SORROWFULš¹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |
Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday February 29, 2024
Reading 1,Ā Jeremiah 17:5-10
Responsorial Psalm,Ā Psalms 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gospel,Ā Luke 16:19-31
40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Fourteen: Presumption | Thursday of the Second Week of Lent | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-fourteen-presumption/
40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | Day Fourteen ā āDo Whatever He Tells Youā | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-fourteen-do-whatever-he-tells-you/
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 Fr. Thomas Kennedy, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. 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, Fr. Tom Kenedy 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: Every fourth year, the month of February is one day longer, reminding us that every fourth year is a Leap Year. Leap Year is a necessity. The Earth we live on revolves around the sun in about 365.242189 days. Or, to be precise, a total of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds.
On this Leap Year, today, four of the many Saints assigned for commemoration on the 28th of February are repeated on the 29th: Blessed Antonia of Florence, St. Auguste Chapdelaine, St. Oswald of Worcester, and Pope, St. Hilary (refer to February 28th post).
SAINT OSWALD OF WORCESTER, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK: Saint Oswald of Worcester was born in 925 AD, in Denmark. He was Archbishop of York from 972 to his death of natural causes on February 29, 992 AD (age 67Ā years),Ā Worcester, United Kingdom. St. Oswald was of Danish ancestry, but brought up by his uncle, Oda, who sent him to France to the abbey of Fleury to become a monk. His Feast day is Ā 29 February (leap years); 28 February (common years); 19 May (POCSP).
St. Oswald’s parents came from Denmark to England before his birth and he was born when his parents had just relocated to England. Saint Oswald was the nephew of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Odo the Good. The Archbishop played a crucial role in St. Oswald’s early life, raising and educating him. He became a Priest in the diocese of Winchester, England. St. Oswald decided to travel abroad to France to further his education. While in France, he felt called to become a Benedictine monk at Fleury-sur-Loire France. He was chosen and served as the Bishop of Worcester in England in 962 AD working with Saint Dunstan and Saint Ethelwold to revive the monastic and ecclesiastical discipline in England. He later became the Archbishop of York in 972 AD. As Archbishop, St. Oswald instituted many helpful reforms and established several monasteries, including the abbey at Ramsey and the monastery at Winchester. He wrote theological treatises, and worked for the improved theological training of his clergy. He invited leading scholars in astronomy and mathematics to these monasteries to improve the intellectual lives of the monks. St. Oswald had a deep love of the poor. Daily washed the feet of poor people. When Lent began in 992, St. Oswald resumed his customary tradition of washing the feet of 12 poor men every day. On February 29, Saint Oswald passed on to his heavenly home after washing, blessing, and kissing the feet of the 12th poor man of his final day.
REFLECTION: Saint Oswald had a deep love of the poor, and welcomed ministering to them in any way that he could. He even made it a point to wash the feet of 12 poor men each day during the season of Lent. Do you make ministering to the poor, lonely, or forgotten a priority in your life? Spend a few quiet minutes in prayer, talking to the Lord. Ask him to help you in your ministry to the poor.
PRAYER: God present in the poor, help us to realize that serving the needs of others is something all of us are called to do. Let us be generous in giving to others. Let us give not only of our surplus but also of our time and energy. š
SAINT AUGUSTE CHAPDELAINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR: St. Auguste Chapdelaine (1814-1856), was a French Priest and member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society. A priest, missionary, and martyr, who converted hundreds of souls before his martyrdom in China. St. Auguste was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on October 1, 2000. He was born on January 6, 1814 at La Rochelle-Normande, France to Nicolas Chapdelaine and Madeleine Dodeman in the tiny northwestern French village of La Rochelle-Normande. Youngest of nine children born to Nicolas Chapdelaine and Madeleine Dodeman, who were farmers. Following grammar school, St. Augustus dropped out to work on the family farm. He early felt a call to the priesthood, but his family opposed it, needing his help on the farm. He was strong, and for this reason his parents were reluctant to āloseā him to the priesthood since they needed able-bodied people to work their land, especially as they grew older. However, the sudden death of two of his brothers caused them to re-think forcing him to ignore his lifeās vocation, and they finally approved. He entered the minor seminary at Mortain on Ā October 1, 1834, at age 20, studying with boys half his age. It led to his being nicknamed Papa Chapdelaine, which stuck with him the rest of his life.
St. Auguste was ordained on June 10, 1843 at age 29, and after several months waiting for an assignment at home, his bishop appointed him as a parochial vicar in Boucey, France. Associate pastor from 1844 to 1851. Before this appointment, he had told another one of his brothers, āI did not become a priest for those who already know God but for those who donāt.ā Nonetheless he bided his time, and for seven years served the roughly 650 souls in the village. Finally, around 1851, he was able to join the Foreign Missions of Paris (PIME). He finally obtained permission from his bishop to enter the foreign missions, and was accepted by French Foreign Missions; he was two years past their age limit, but his zeal for the missions made them approve him anyway. He stayed long enough to say a final Mass, bury his sister, and say good-bye to his family, warning them that he would never see them again. Left Paris, France for the Chinese missions on 30 April 1852, landing in Singapore on September 5, 1852.
Due to being robbed on the road by bandits, St. Auguste lost everything he had, and had to fall back and regroup before making his way to his missionary assignment. He reached Kwang-si province in 1854, and was arrested in Su-Lik-Hien ten days later. He spent two to three weeks in prison, but was released, and ministered to the locals for two years, converting hundreds. Arrested on 26 February 1856 during a government crackdown, he was returned to Su-Lik-Hien and sentenced to death for his work. Tortured with and died with Saint Lawrence Pe-Man and Saint Agnes Tsau Kouy. One of the Martyrs of China. St. Augustus Chapdelaine was beheaded on February 29, 1856 in Su-Lik-Hien, Kwang-Si province, China. St. Auguste Chapdelaine was beatified in 1900. Pope St. John Paul II canonized St. Augustus and other Chinese Christian martyrs on October 1, 2000, the same day (perhaps not coincidentally) as the anniversary of the Peopleās Republic of China. The next day the Chinese Communist Partyās Peopleās Daily released an article showing all the ways those canonized were actually bandits and other types of miscreants. It accused St. Auguste of raping women, of living with a woman named Cao, and of bribing officials on behalf of ābandits.ā Needless to say, the charges were the sorts of lies and politically motivated propaganda at which all communists excel. God have mercy on their piddling souls.
St. Auguste Chapdelaine, Priest and Martyr ~ Pray for us š
BLESSED ANTONIA OF FLORENCE OSC, WIDOW: Blessed Antonia of Florence OSC (1401-1472) Widow, Abbess of the Monastery of Corpus Christi in LāAquila. Bl. Antonia was born in 1401 in Florence, Italy. Married and a mother of one. Widowed. Franciscan tertiary. Poor Clare nun. Spiritual student of Saint John Capitran. Abbess at Aquila, Italy from 1433 to 1447. Founded a Observant-oriented house of Poor Clares in Aquila. Sick the last 15 years of her life and died on 29 February 1472 in her Convent at Aquila, Italy of natural causes. Her Feast Day is, therefore, celebrated on 28 February in non-Leap years.Ā Her body is incorrupt.Ā Bl. Antonia was Beatified in 1847 by Pope Blessed Pius IX (cultus confirmed).
Blessed Antonia of Florence was born of a noble family in Florence, Italy, in 1401. She entered the married state at a very early age, in compliance with the wish of her parents. She and her husband had one child, a son. When her husband died in 1428, she allowed nothing to induce her to contract a second marriage but resolved to withdraw from the world and live only for God and the salvation of her soul. These were the years in which Saint Bernardino of Siena, with some companions, spread the Observance movement and the return of an original āFranciscanismā in many Italian cities. Most of the sermons were given in the square, the churches were unable to contain the crowds that punctually flocked. Brother Bernardino preached in Santa Croce in Florence from 8 March to 3 May 1425. Bl. Antonia, listening to him, responded yes, without conditions, to Godās call. She had known the experience of married life, she was a mother, but the Lord gave a turning point to her life. Four years later, once family matters were settled, she entered the religious life. In 1429, after ensuring the comfort and care of her son, she entered the Convent of Tertiaries which Blessed Angelina had founded at Florence. Here she so distinguished herself by virtue and wisdom that after a few years, the Superiors called her to Foligno to preside as Superior of the Convent there.
Although, in her humility, she found it difficult to accept the advancement, she was happy to carry out the appointment under the guidance of Blessed Angelina, who, as Superior General of the several Convents she had founded, dwelt at Foligno. Bl. Antonia so availed herself of the opportunity to profit by the holy example and the good counsel of the Foundress that she could be honoured as an example of how a Superior should conduct herself and her responsibilities. In consequence, after a few years, Blessed Antonia of Florence was sent to establish a Convent in Aquila. There, under her maternal direction, a veritable sanctuary of holiness budded forth, the fame of which brought joy to that City and the entire vicinity. Although the religious community zealously served God according to the rule of the Third Order, it did not satisfy Blessed Antonia in her yearning for personal perfection. She felt strongly drawn to a stricter life, to more perfect poverty and to more complete renunciation of the world, as practiced in the Order of St Clare. At a visitation she communicated her desire to her spiritual Coinfessor, St John of Capistrano OFM (1386-1456). He approved it and, at his suggestion and with the sanction of the Holy Father, in 1447, a new Convent of the Poor Clares was founded at Aquila which ,Antonia with twelve consecrated virgins, entered. She was appointed Superior and Abbess but, while she occupied the highest place, she always strove to find the last. The lowliest tasks, worn clothes, the most disagreeable occupations she assigned to herself, while she shunned all honour and distinction. In all she did and said, there shone forth the most sincere humility.
Just as pronounced was the patience with which Blessed Antonia bore the burdens of her position, the weakness of all her subjects, the many importunities of her relatives and finally, the sufferings of a lingering illness. While she was extraordinarily severe with herself, she possessed truly motherly concern for her Sisters. They, in turn, clung to her with filial love and, when after seven years of administration, she was relieved of the burden, she was still considered, by the sisters, as their mother and model. God distinguished His faithful servant with special graces. Blessed Antonia’s prayer amounted to perfect contemplation of heavenly things, the ardour of her devotion sometimes causing her to be raised aloft bodily. Once a glowing sphere was seen suspended over her head. Blessed Antonia of Florence reached the age of seventy-one years and died on 29 February 1472, addressing words of comfort and holy exhortation to her sorrowing fellow Sister, who were gathered around her. Numerous miracles occurred at her tomb and her body is a constant miracle, for, up to the present time, it is preserved wholly incorrupt and is of an extraordinary freshness and beauty which is emphasised by the open eyes. The uninterrupted veneration which began with the day of her death received the sanction of Pope Pius IX. Feast Day, February 29th.
Blessed Antonia of Florence OSC, Widow ~ 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, Thursday of the Second Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel ~ Luke 16:19-31
“Good things came to you and bad things to Lazarus; now he is comforted while you are in agony”
“Jesus said to the Pharisees: āThere was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich manās table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, āFather Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.ā Abraham replied, āMy child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.ā He said, āThen I beg you, father, send him to my fatherās house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.ā But Abraham replied, āThey have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.ā He said, āOh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.ā Then Abraham said, āIf they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.āā
In todayās Gospel reading, the parables Jesus tells are intended to make us think and reflect. In the parable, two people lived side by side, a rich man in his great house and a poor man at the gate of the house. These two men were from very different ends of the social spectrum, one very rich and the other very poor. Even though they lived in close proximity to each other, there was a great gulf between them. The rich man treated the poor man as if he was not there, as if he did not exist, even though he was only a short distance away. He refused to notice him. His failure was a failure to notice, to pay attention, and, having done so, to respond to the poor manās needs. We donāt always notice one another; we donāt always pay attention to one another. Even though we can be physically close to people, there can be, in reality, a great gulf between us. If we fail to notice, to pay attention, the reality that we have ignored for so long can suddenly hit us in the face, as happened to the rich man in the parable. After death, he was suddenly confronted with what he had ignored for so long. Noticing others, paying attention to them, entails stepping out of our own world and attending to the world of the other, whoever that other happens to be. It could be someone in our own home. Being attentive, noticing, is one important expression of authentic love. In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that the little we can do can make an enormous difference in the lives of those in need. Lazarus would have been happy with the scraps that fell from the heavily laden table of the rich man. Those scraps would have made a huge difference to him. It was within the gift of the rich man to give Lazarus what he needed, but he didnāt bother to do so. Very little was being asked of him, and that little would have made a huge difference, but he neglected to do the little he could have done. We all need to do the little we can do, whatever situation we are confronted with. We can never underestimate the power of our giving, even when what we give is very small. Jesus declares that those who give even a cup of cold water will not lose their reward. The parable challenges us to enter the world of the other and to allow the other to enter our world. That, in a sense, is what Jesus did; He entered our world and invited us to enter His world. We can do the same for each other. When we cross the threshold into the world of the other, into the world of those who are very different from us in all kinds of ways, we may discover that we not only have something to give the other but a great deal to receive as well.
In our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord spoke to His people in the kingdom of Judah through His prophet, Jeremiah regarding how they all should not put their trust in mankind, and how they should instead believe in the Lord and place their faith in Him. The context for this was that, at the time, the kingdom of Judah, to whom the Lord had sent Jeremiah to, had been beset by many troubles and difficulties, and was in fact in the last years of its existence, just before it was wiped out and destroyed by the Babylonians, who would conquer and destroy Jerusalem, ransack and tear down the Temple of God that King Solomon had built for the Lord, and carry many of the people of Judah into exile in distant lands. At that time, the prophet Jeremiah had been sent by God to the people of Judah to call them to repent from their sins and wickedness, warning them all that everything would happen just as the Lord has always reminded them, their fated destruction and sufferings, because of their disobedience and refusal to believe in God, their failures to obey the Law and the commandments of God. But many of the people refused to listen to Jeremiah and persisted in their rebellious and sinful ways, choosing to believe in the many false prophets and leaders who claimed that the Lord would bless them and protect them against their enemies despite their many sins and disobedience against Him. Those people advocated the king and the people to seek help and support from the worldly powers like the Egyptians in their struggle against the Babylonians. In today’s reading, the fates of the righteous man and the wicked man were put plainly before everyone. The ones who have faith in the Lord and believed in Him shall always have the blessings and grace of God, with God as their firm foundation and assurance, with Him as their source of strength and hope. Meanwhile, the wicked shall never find their true happiness and satisfaction, unless they seek the Lord and turn towards Him wholeheartedly. We are all reminded that following the Lord requires us to distance ourselves from the path of evil and wickedness, of evil and selfishness, distancing ourselves from all the desires and temptations of the world.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scripture today, we are all reminded of how our actions in this life in this world can have great consequences for us in the future, a consequence that can last for eternity. Let us all be more generous in giving, in giving our love for others around us, those who need our help, like what St. Frances of Rome and all the Saints we celebrate today many others have done. Let us not forget that as Christians, it is our calling and in fact, obligation to do what the Lord had always called on us to do, in serving Him and in loving our fellow men and women. As we continue to progress through this season of Lent, we are called to make a conscious effort to choose the right path for us before it is too late for us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to attend to those in need and may He continue to bless and guide us in our journey of faith, especially as we continue to progress through this penitential time and season of Lent, so that we may continue to grow ever stronger in faith, and be ever more devoted to Him, our ever loving and compassionate God and may we always ever be committed to Him, to the very end. Amenš
Let us pray:
My Lord of true riches, You chose to be poor in this world as a sign to us that true riches come not with material wealth but with love. Help me to love You, my God, with all my being and to love others as You love them. May I be wise enough to make spiritual riches my single goal in life so that these riches will be enjoyed for all eternity. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen š
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Pope Saint Hilary (Hilarius); Blessed Antonia of Florence, St. Auguste Chapdelaine, and St. Oswald of Worcester ~ 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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