The Meditation The First Sunday in Lent Quadragesima (XL) March 10 th - A.D. 2019 The Temptations of Christ - 12 th cent. Mosaic St. Mark s Basilica, Venice, Italy 1
The Introit (Entrance) Prayer for the First Sunday in Lent, Quadragesima Sunday He shall call upon me and I will hearken unto him: I will deliver him and bring him to honor: with length of days will I satisfy him... Whoso dwelleth under the defense of the Most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91) Seek ye the Lord The Introit psalm-prayer for today s Mass is further emphasized by the words of the prophet Isaiah, in an Epistle reading for the coming week. Isaiah writes: Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah; Chap. 55, Vss. 6 7). What excellent words for us to hear and inwardly digest as we begin our Lenten observances! Isaiah points us to God s infinite mercy and goodness. God forgives our sins, however great they may be, and remits the punishments due to them, as soon as we implore Him, with contrite hearts, to do so. God loves all of His creation and His creatures, to which and to whom all of His fatherly care extends. He watches especially over mankind, whom He has established as King of creation, and adopted like a child, and with whom He desires to share His own happiness and glory in eternity. God alone is infinite Wisdom, knowing what is best for each of us. We humans, being very short-sighted, (despite how great we imagine ourselves to be), don t always understand God s conduct. We may be certain however, that we are on the right road, if we accept His decisions in all faith, humility and obedience. It s important for us to always remember His warning: My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah; Chap. 55, Vs. 8.) God is indeed a wise, loving, and forgiving Father, and as such, is not given over to allowing His children to indulge themselves. Children always seem to have a penchant for indulging themselves too much! Life itself can be good, despite the many and often challenging trials that can come with it. Life, to the person who obeys the laws of Nature and of grace, and who allows themselves to be led by God s Providence, can take on a certain form of balance and rhythm that allows one to better face and even endure those trials. Since the Fall (of Adam) [1], the world lies under a curse, and mankind has to earn its daily bread through the sweat of his brow... he must labor. Difficulties of all kinds pile up in his path, causing him to stumble, and sometimes lose his way. Despite all, he remains nonetheless, God s child. It is an appointment and a vocation which should serve as a source of joy during such times. 2
Everything does not always go according to our wishes. We expect too much in our youth and inexperience, of ourselves and the world around us. We dream that we will find full and lasting satisfaction in passing fancies such as wealth, fame, and pleasures of the senses. We believe ourselves to be a force to be reckoned with and that we will change the world. We embrace the spirit of the age...whatever that age may be. Experience teaches us as we get older, that the happiness which we all desire does not lie in such things, and we begin to realize their uncertainty and transparency. Wisdom gained by experience, convinces us of the real workings of the world. Little by little our thoughts begin to reflect upon this life of ours and what it has to offer, and we begin to be drawn to that which is essential, to the highest and the only Good... to Him Who alone can satisfy all the longings of the human heart. Such a grace, one of the greatest, if we choose to embrace it, can be the beginning of a new life, one surpassing the former life in fullness and satisfaction, and which, for some, ends in the cloister. The person who allows themselves to be led by the All-highest will be a happy soul, even if God s Hand lies heavy upon them, and they have to bear blows, misfortunes, physical, and spiritual trials. None of the contradictions to which we are exposed will crush that soul, because they know themselves to be in the Hands of God and believe in the healing and educating value of suffering for the human personality. God; spared not his only Son, but delivered him up for us all. (Romans; Chap. 8, Vs. 32) He allowed the purest of all creatures (Blessed Mary) to stand under the Cross on which her only child suffered; we d be blind indeed if we couldn t see the value of pain, both for individuals and societies. The person who considers sorrow and suffering with the eyes of faith will never be cast down, whatever sacrifice the Master of life and death may ask of them. Sacrifice on which they may not have reckoned perhaps, and which may touch the most sensitive part of their humanity. It s perhaps a very fortunate thing for us that the Lord does not always take our plans and wishes into account, but instead adapts our lives to His plan for His entire Mystical Body, and not just for our own selves. How many saints in heaven rejoice that God didn t listen to their selfish desires, but instead, used them much like levers and jacks to raise up the universe to Himself. God has His own intentions in all that happens to us. We ll find that all things work together for good if we put no obstacles in His way. If we do throw up a wall...he ll put in a window for us to climb through. Our stubbornness and procrastination only serve to slow up the process for us, not God, for He works on Divine Time and will always have more time than we do. Sooner or later God will get His way, rest assured! God doesn t ask or expect us to understand His plans, He even says so to us: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.(isaiah; Chap. 55, Vs. 9) The proud and self-willed, (who are legion, i.e. uncountable), insist on having their own way, reject God and His plan and thereby endanger their salvation. Let no one fool themselves, salvation is not universal. Just being a good person will not be enough. Let us each, as we begin this Lenten Season, ask of Lord to teach us by His example, to accept whatever the Father may send us. That we may never become discouraged over the cross 3
or crosses that we are given to bear. Let us also ask for the strength and grace to sanctify ourselves in the situation(s) where Providence may place us, and to desire no other. May His will be done in us, as it was to our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A Prayer for our Lenten Journey by St. Alphonsus Ligouri My Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee, I repent sincerely for having ever offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou goest to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. O my Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt. Meditation Note: [1] The Fall of Adam: The first act of disobedience of Adam and Eve whereby mankind lost its primal innocence and happiness and entered upon his actual condition of sin and toil. See. Genesis; Chapters 2 & 3 4
Priory Kalendar For the week of: March 10 th to March 17 th - A.D. 2019 in Great Lent Sunday, March 10 th.... First Sunday in Lent (Quadragesima - XL) Daylight Savings Time Begins 2: 00 a.m. Monday, March 11 th.............. feria in Lent...Fast Day Tuesday, March 12 th....... St. Gregory the Great; Po. C. & Doct. Wednesday, March 13 th..... Ember Wednesday in Lent...Fast & Abstinence Last day for Lent to begin. Thursday, March 14 th............. feria in Lent...Fast Day. Friday, March 15 th..... Ember Friday in Lent....Fast and Abstinence Saturday, March 16 th... Ember Saturday in Lent...Fast and Abstinence Sunday, March 17 th.... Second Sunday in Lent Comm. St. Patrick of Ireland; B. & C. Preparing Fish during the Great Lenten fast 15 th cent. German woodcut. 5
LE NT Guardian Angel Card of the Week Guardian Angel watching over a sleeping child 6
KALENDAR KEY: Abt. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Abp = Archbishop, Anc. = Anchorite, Ancs. = Anchoress, Ap. = Apostle, Bl. = Blessed, Br. = Brother, Bp. = Bishop, Card. = Cardinal, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemoration/Commemorate, Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, H. = Hermit, LBr. = Lay Brother, LSr. = Lay Sister, K. = King, Mat. = Matron, M. = Monk, M.M. = Month s Mind ( Requiem for the recently departed on the 30 th day after death or burial). Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, Obl. = Oblate, P. = Priest, Po. = Pope, Pr. = Prior, Prs. = Prioress, R. = Recluse, RM = Requien Mortuorum, ( Mass and Offices for the departed once a month as designated on Kalendar). SDcn. = Sub Deacon, Q. = Queen, Ven. = Venerable, Vir.=Virgin, W. = Widow. FASTING KEY: A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence RELIGIOUS ORDER ABBREVIATIONS: C.O = Congregation of the Oratory (Oratorians), C.P. = Congregation of the Passion (Passionists), C.S.J. = Congregation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Er. Cam. = Camaldolese Hermits, F.P. O. = Franciscans of the Primitive Observance, O. Car. = Carmelite Order, O. Cart. Carthusian Order, O.C.D. = Order of Discalced Friars (Carmelites), O.F.A. = Augustinian Order, O.F.M = Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), O.F.M. Cap = Capuchin Order, O.P. = Order of Preachers (Dominicans also called Blackfriars ), O. Praem. = Order of Cannons Regular (Norbertines), O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines), O.Ss. S. = Bridgettines, O.S.U = Ursulines, O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists/Trappistines), O.C.S.O. = Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (Trappists/ Trappistines). Tert. = Tertiary (Third Order religious) About the Meditation and About Us The Meditation is an online apostolate of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory in Raymond, Maine, USA. We are an Anglican-Catholic Benedictine contemplative community that follows the Holy Rule of St. Benedict, the 5 th century Father of Western Monasticism. We are resident within the Diocese of the Northeast (DNE), of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), a member of the worldwide Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC). The Meditation is a weekly online offering that is sent out free of charge to anyone who desires to receive it. Subscribers may copy and pass along The Meditation to their families and friends, or send us their e-address (with their permission) to add to our subscription list so they may receive it directly from us. Each issue is sent out as a BCC (Blank Copy) in respect to subscriber privacy and online security. To subscribe, contact us at: klamarre@maine.rr.com To read past issues of the Meditation, please go to our website at: www.ourladyofsevensorrows.org and you can find them in the section marked Meditations on the homepage. PLEASE NOTE: In respect to our contemplative vocation and the animals in our rescue and rehab center, we do not have guest or bathroom facilities and do not regularly receive visitors. Fr. Kevin is available to hear confessions and give spiritual direction by appointment only. Please contact via email to make an appointment or to make us aware of your needs, concerns and intentions for our prayerful attention. It is our privilege to pray for you. NOTE: We think due to the discrepancy between Windows 7 and Windows 10 we are not receiving some of your emails. The Meditation will continue to be sent from klamarre@maine.rr.com however if you do email us to subscribe, schedule confessions or spiritual counseling, and do not get a response please contact Fr. Kevin on his gmail account which is revkev258@gmail.com. PLEASE CONSIDER REMEMBERING US IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. for more information via our email address 7
Chloe Turns 15! Animal News By Sr. Mary Francis March 7 th is Chloe s 15 th birthday. She is sister to Nicholas, Alice and Janey who have all passed on due to old age and she has challenges of her own but is the most cheerful, naughty, funny dog there is. We know someone at this time who is looking to next week when they will have to put their old dog to rest due to incurable cancer. This was her first dog as an adult and has had her for the 11 years she has been with her husband. The dog has marked the first decade of her marriage and been there for her in some difficult times. The woman has multiple dogs, as we do, and the words from many people have been that s too bad but you have a bunch more. This woman is going to be devastated when this animal is gone but why?...she has 4 other dogs... Dogs, much like horses, are very spiritual, intuitive animals. They feel things. They focus and reach us on a deep level, where many people do not, maybe cannot...they read our souls where people fail miserably. They are magnificent and patient teachers for people who are humble enough to see the lesson. When a dog dies it leaves a hole in your life whether it is the only one, or one of many. Dogs, if people take the time to consider it, are the markers of the chapters of our lives, so when they die, that chapter is officially closed. The proof of this is that years later, we will think of a dog from our past, but we don t just envision the dog, we will review the flood of memories from that block of time that was shared by our furry friend. They are like the cover of a book that when opened, allow the chapters to unfold over and over. Dogs are not children, they are, thankfully, not human, but to their credit, they are unimaginably important to those that understand their spiritual psyche and the magical way they archive our existence. Each life is important whether it be an unborn child, human in any form, plant, or animal and whether it is so called normal or deficient in some way. Each life has something to give, and something it will take away when it is gone whether it is one...or one of many... The Pandy years : 2002-2018 8
Welcome, Zooey! This week we received this beautiful lamb as well as 2 new sheep that are pregnant. The sheep have permanently deformed feet from a case of hoof rot that was not dealt with quickly enough. They will need special care for life so that they can continue to walk. The lamb, named Zooey was born very prematurely and with a wry neck. She was not really expected to make it but has exceeded expectation. She can stand and get up on her own and even tries to jump and play a little. She is eating fairly well. We will be bracing her neck soon since she has triumphed over these hurdles. These are the things that your kind and generous donations make possible and we and the animals are so grateful for your prayers and thoughtfulness...thank you and bless you!! PAX 9
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