Lent is a Time for Spiritual Renewal of the Soul

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Commentary By Loci B. Lenar

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent for many Christian denominations including Catholics. Lent prepares us through sacrifice and prayer for a spiritual renewal of the soul. However, Easter rejuvenates our lives as God the Father calls us to live by the gospels of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by transforming us into the resurrected image of His divine son.

Ash Wednesday Is An Invitation to Turn Away From Sin and Be Faithful to the Gospel

Lent / Easter - Catholic Online

The following excerpt is from Catholic Online:

By Deacon Keith Fournier

When lent is voluntarily embraced it opens us to a deeper experience of the freedom which Jesus Christ has obtained for each one of us. Because "it was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1,2) we enter into Lent with our whole person, it can draw us at its' closure, into a deeper experience and embrace of the power of the Resurrection, beginning right now. The practices of piety, asceticism and extended prayer and worship challenge us to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel".

Read More: Ash Wednesday

Pope announces he will be stepping down as of February 28

News Bulletin from RomeReports.com

The Pope is unable to continue. He made the announcement today to the cardinals gathered in Rome. On February 28 at 8 p.m. Benedict XVI will no longer be Pope. That date will kick off the sede vacante, or vacant seat. According to canon law, within 20 days the cardinals must meet in conclave to elect the new Pope.

In the Vatican statement the Pope read in Latin to his cardinals, he explained that, “In order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”

His resignation is a rare occasion for the Catholic Church, as only three other Popes have resigned in their time, Celestine V, Clement I and Gregory XII.

Starting at 8 p.m. on the last day of February, all posts within the Vatican will remain vacant until a new Pope is elected, with exception of the Camerlengo, the Major Penitentiary and the Vicar of Rome. The new Pontiff will be the one to canonize new saints on May 12, attend the World Youth Day in Brazil, and guide the Church through the remaining Year of Faith.

Writer Vittorio Messori investigates Lourdes apparitions

Video and News Story - RomeReports.com:

Italian journalist Vittorio Messori is widely known for tackling current issues within the Catholic Church. Previously, he has published two books about John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger.

Now, he is focusing his attention on the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. He believes the authenticity of the message, lies in the credibility of Bernadette's testimony, since she says she saw the apparition directly. It's also the topic of his latest book Bernadette non ci ha ingannati, or Bernadette Does Not Deceive.

VITTORIO MESSORI
Journalist and Writer“History can show that the apparitions of Lourders are authentic. And when we have a faith crisis, which also happens to me, naturally, when we have doubts, when we have problems, then we can seize that which is true, and that is Lourdes.”

Messori says the message of Lourdes can help many people reconcile with their Catholic faith, because her apparitions appear to strengthen the Pope's authority.

VITTORIO MESSORI
Journalist and Writer“Let's not forget that Lourdes is very Catholic. Our Lady appears always with a rosary in hand, she appears four years after a dogma on her Immaculate Conception, as if to confirm what Pius IX did. Our Lady appears according to the several cycles of the liturgy. It's why Lourdes is the place that the Popes have loved more.”

The Italian writer is also working on his next book, also dealing with Lourdes. He will attempt to explain why the grotto in Lourdes was the best place for Our Lady's apparition.

VITTORIO MESSORI
Journalist and Writer“In the fist book, I've been dedicated entirely to examining Bernadette's credibility. The second book will be called “Return to that Grotto,” where I will respond to questions about that mystery. Because we believers may say, why an insignificant town as Lourdes? Why a person as humanly insignificant as Bernadette?”

Vittorio Messori, was raised in an agnostic environment. He decided to document supernatural interventions, apparitions and miracles of Our Lady, because he considers them to be God's manifestations, that can reinforce the faith.

Brush with Death Changes Drug Addict's Life

The video and news story is from CBN TV

Cocaine addiction put Kim Ivory on the wrong side of a drug deal gone bad, but that's what God used to bring Kim a change of heart.

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament - By Stephen B. Whatley 

By Stephen B. Whatley

I am 'divinely pushed' when I create, especially my works of faith; so often when I might be suffering.

That day I was so tired in the evening but wanted to celebrate my niece, Grace's 5th birthday....exhausted so that I tried to draw and felt it wouldn't come so rejected the drawing, feeling upset...so I prayed harder, determined my energy would not be in vain and this, Our Lady of The Most Blessed Sacrament was the result. Truly one of my most powerful works I gratefully feel; by the grace of God.

May peace, healing and love shine on all who view this image.

Inspired by a devotion randomly selected from the Illustrated Book of Mary (William J. Hirten Co., NY, published 2010).

Our Lady of The Most Blessed Sacrament. 2013
Pastel on paper, 23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm

For prints and original artwork by the artist, please visit the following link: http://www.stephenbwhatley.com/

To see other artwork by the artist, please visit the following link: www.flickr.com/stephenbwhatley

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Stained glass image courtesy of www.StainedGlassInc.com

 

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),  and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,  and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.  Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.  Luke 2:22-40

Florida women frighten off intruder by chanting ‘Jesus’

Jesus - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Excerpt from The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

By Eric Pfeiffer

If you ask the 15 women inside Jacquie Hagler’s house what happened, they’ll tell you it’s simple: Jesus scared a would-be thief out of the Florida woman’s home.
 

At first, those gathered at Hagler’s house for a jewelry party thought the intruder was part of an elaborate gag, using a “water gun” to tease the Florida women.

"It's only a water gun," one attendee reportedly said, while brushing away the firearm allegedly brandished by Derick Lee, who allegedly entered the home wearing a ski cap and bandana across his face.

Witnesses say Lee then held the gun to the woman’s head and announced, "I'm not joking, I'm going to shoot someone, give me your money." He even showed the women some of the bullets loaded into his gun before they could be convinced the robbery attempt was real.

What Lee didn’t know was that, spiritually speaking, he was outgunned by the jewelry party attendees.
 

"When I realized what was going on, I stood up and said, 'In the name of Jesus, get out of my house now,'” Hagler told WJXT-TV. "And he said, 'I'm going to shoot someone.' And I said it again, real boldly," Hagler continued. "Everybody started chanting, 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,' and he did a quick scan of the room and ran out the door as fast as he could go."

Read More: "I believe he saw angels”

Fight against caste system in India unites Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox

The video and following news story is from RomeReports.com:

There is one week a year where Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox pray together for the same cause. It's known as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Over the course of the week, Christians from several denominations highlight their similarities, rather than their differences.

This year, organizers included a group of university students from India. They integrated their concern for the “dalit,” or the untouchables, the lowest caste in society which often suffers discrimination, and who make up a large portion of Christians in India.

MSGR. BRIAN FARELL
Secretary, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
“India is one of those places that division and injustice is very visible. Every year we have a reason to go for ecumenical dialog to India, and it takes a long time to understand of the separation between social classes, religious groups, and the consequences suffering that this division in society brings.”

For Brian Farell, the Year of Faith is an opportunity to promote ecumenism because it emphasizes going back to the roots of Christianity. He says the New Evangelization will only be possible if all Christians are united.

MSGR. BRIAN FARELL
Secretary, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
“This prayer must be one that the World believes. Well, of course, if we are not one, it can be much more difficult, if not impossible, for the World to believe the Christian message.”

This year's theme, “What does God require of us?” looked to initiate dialogue between the Christian denominations to overcome divisions. The goal is for a self-assessment of whether they discriminate each other, the way other castes discriminate against dalits in India.

Pope on social networking: the virtual is real

News from The Associated Press

The following excerpt is from the Associated Press:

By NICOLE WINFIELD       

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI put church leaders on notice Thursday, saying social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter aren't a virtual world they can ignore, but rather a very real world they must engage if they want to spread the faith to the next generation.

Read more: Social Networking

Margaret of Castello Intercedes for Many

NCRegister | An Unwanted ‘Blessed’ Inspires Pro-Lifers

The photograph and following excerpt is from the National Catholic Register:

By Jim Graves, Register Correspondent

2011 was a hard year for Marilyn Pinkerton of San Marino, Calif. The 57-year-old’s baby grandson, Nicholas, was diagnosed with nail-patella syndrome (NPS), a rare genetic disorder that adversely affects the nails and kneecaps and sometimes other parts of the body.

 

Prominent among Nicholas’ symptoms was that he had no kneecaps. Therefore, doctors wondered if he would ever be able to walk.

 

Near Pinkerton’s home was the Motherhouse of the Carmelite Sisters of Alhambra, a traditional community whose apostolates in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles include health care and retreats. The sisters suggested she pray for the boy’s healing to Blessed Margaret of Castello, an Italian virgin born in 1287 who herself suffered from severe disabilities.

 

Although she was not Catholic, Pinkerton followed the sisters’ suggestion. Every day she attended Mass with the sisters in their beautiful retreat chapel, pleading with God, the Blessed Mother and Blessed Margaret: "Please, help him to grow. Please help him."

 

Nicholas was undergoing constant therapy for other NPS-related symptoms (e.g., his arms were bent at the elbows so that his hands were flat against his shoulders). Marilyn was delighted to discover that, "while I kept praying and praying, he got better and better."

 

But the most impressive change occurred a year after Marilyn began her devotion to Blessed Margaret. Last March, the doctors were again examining Nicholas, and, for the first time, they discovered he had kneecaps. He is now able to walk and run like other typically developing children his age.

 

As Pinkerton said, "Nicholas is our miracle baby. He has defied the odds of everything they thought he’d be able to do."

 

Nicholas’ grandma is grateful not only to God, but to Blessed Margaret, and she continues her devotion to her: "She had so many handicaps, but through it all had great faith. I pray I can have that great faith, too."

 

At Easter 2012, Pinkerton, her husband and daughter (Nicholas’ mother) all entered the Catholic Church. The family has found great joy in their new faith. As the thankful grandmother said, "It’s given me so much strength."

Read more: Margaret of Castello Intercedes for Many

Something new to local Catholics: a married priest

John Cornelius

City and Region - The Buffalo News

The photo and following excerpt is from BuffaloNews.com:

BY: Jay Tokasz

A husband and father of three daughters will become the area’s first married Roman Catholic priest when he is ordained Saturday in Allegany County.

Bishop Richard J. Malone of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo will preside over the ordination of John Cornelius, a former Episcopal priest who is being allowed into the ranks of the Catholic priesthood under a 2012 papal exception to the church’s celibacy rule.

Cornelius, 64, converted to Catholicism about two years ago with his wife, Sharyl.

He spent 20 years as a priest in the Episcopal Church until retiring in 2010.

“I look forward to celebrating Mass again. It’s been two years, and I missed it greatly,” Cornelius said Tuesday. “That closeness to God is an amazing thing.”

A directive by Pope Benedict XVI aimed at welcoming disaffected Episcopalians and Anglicans into the church allows for Cornelius’ ordination.

Last year, the pope established a new “ordinariate” – an entity similar to a diocese – serving former Episcopalians and Anglicans who have converted to Catholicism.

More than 100 former Anglican priests, including Cornelius, applied to become priests for the ordinariate, and Cornelius will be among the first 30 applicants to be ordained.

His wife of 33 years and their three daughters – Virginia, Rebecca Maier and Sarah – will be on hand for the 5 p.m. ceremony in Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville.

Afterward, Cornelius will lead a small community of former Anglicans who meet in a Catholic church in Henrietta, in the Catholic Diocese of Rochester.

The community, known as the Fellowship of Saint Alban, is considered fully Catholic but may use a traditional Anglican liturgy, including the Book of Divine Worship, which features prayers in Elizabethan-style English.

Cornelius will be a priest of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, which is based in Houston, and overseen by Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson, a former Episcopal bishop turned Catholic.

But much of Cornelius’ spiritual work will be focused in the Diocese of Buffalo – in Allegany County, where he will celebrate standard Catholic Masses and participate in other ministries at rural Catholic parishes.

Read More: A Married Priest

Pope calls for peace, asking leaders to show the courage to negotiate

The following news story and video is from RomeReports.com:

In light of the ongoing conflict in Mali, Syria and Algeria, during Sunday's Angelus, Benedict XVI made a new call for peace. More specifically he asked for a new round of negotiations, that can pave the way to a peaceful accord.

BENEDICT XVI
“Once again, I ask that you pray for peace, so that all the open conflicts, may cease, including the violence and death of inocent civilans. May leaders find the courage to speak and negotiate peace.”

With the week of Prayer for Christian Unity taking place from the 18th to the 25th of January, the Pope talked about the need to pray for this very intention. He also talked about the Community of Taizé, an ecumenical youth group, which recently came to Rome.

BENEDICT XVI
“It was very significant for me, to have celebrated this vigil nearly a month ago in this very square with thousands of youths from all over Europe, including the ecumencial youth group of Taizé. It was a moment of grace in which we experienced the beauty of building one force, under Christ.”

Reflecting on Sunday's Gospel, in which the Virgin Mary asks Jesus to do something when the wine begins to run out at a wedding, the Pope asked pilgrims to pray to Mary for Christian Unity.

Heartbroken Dog Attends Mass Daily

The photo and following excerpt is from LifeWithDogs.com

Every day when the bells ring out to mark the start of services at a church in Italy, Tommy is there. The German Shepherd used to attend mass with his owner Maria Margherita Lochi. Two months ago Lochi passed away and Tommy continues to attend mass without her, heartbroken and missing his companion.

When 57-year-old Lochi passed away, Tommy was there with the mourners at her funeral service. He continues to mourn and attends services every day. “He’s there every time I celebrate Mass and is very well behaved,” said Father Donato Panna. “He’s still coming to Mass even after Maria’s funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly.” Panna, who recently lost his own dog, can’t bear to turn Tommy away.

Read More: Tommy