First Sunday of Lent March 10, 2019
BUILDING VIRTUES FOR LENT There s a Latin phrase used in the Lenten Season: sub specie aeternitatis which means under the light of eternity. This phrase reminds Christians of always keeping the long view as guide for our actions and circumstances in the present. How will my present situation look in the context of death and eternity? How will this cross, problem, sin, temptation, or present situation look at the moment when I stand before the Lord at my Judgment? Depending on our daily habits and due to the busyness of life, it s quite common to lose this eternal perspective and the seriousness our life. We hear frequently in the gospels, Christ s encouragement to his disciples to stay awake and keep watch. Lent is a season to remind ourselves of this perspective and our final end- union with God for all eternity- and on the means to that end- conformity to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. This conformity to the life of Christ demands a conversion of life- a repentance - a more intentional and sustained effort at focusing on the areas of our soul and personal lives,where sin has become a habit. It demands fortitude. Just as any professional has spring training to get athletes back into shape by rooting out bad habits and cultivating good habits (exercise and diet), so too Lent is a season of spiritual training to work on the fundamentals of the spiritual life (prayer, fasting, almsgiving). Also, we need to work on our character by a closer look at the virtues (good habits) and we need to cultivate the vices (bad habits), which we need to root out. Virtues are important because they are the aim of the moral life (the pillars of good character) and they lead to human flourishing (our happiness). They are also the call of Christ to us: Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is Perfect. For example, young people ask what kind of character is needed to have a happy marriage? What elements of a good character will lead to greater chance of happiness? The cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude are the foundation. For example: Temperance (self-control) is necessary in order to stay faithful to one s spouse. Fortitude (courage/guts) is needed in order to face the challenges, setbacks, losses together and to persevere. Justice orients a husband and wife towards caring for the other s needs and those of their children. Prudence (good-decision making) is also needed in work, financial problems, and raising children to have good character themselves. The virtues are good habits (repeated choices) which perfect the powers of the soul (intellect/will) and bodily passions (emotions/feelings). There are virtues which perfect your intellect s ability to reason wisely - to make proper judgments in light of your final end. There are virtues which help you to be more self-controlled with the emotion of anger and tempering the excessive desire for food and drink. We need fortitude/courage to persevere in doing what s good when it s difficult and just (giving your neighbor their proper due). There are also virtues that specifically apply to your relationship with God, hence the reason they are called theological virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity). In the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus one of the titles invoke says: Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues. In contemplating Christ s Passion during this Lent, we see the greatest display and example of all the virtues which we should aspire after and pray to cultivate. Hence the need for more prayer and meditation to ask the Lord for the grace to imitate the virtues of his Sacred Heart. It s important to remember that virtues are cultivated by our repeated choices until they become second nature. It s also wise to have someone or something to keep you accountable (coach, priest, friend) because ridding one of old habits and creating new ones is hard. Frequent sacramental confession can also be a great source of grace to conquer bad habits and sins. During the next six weeks we are going to focus on the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues. We ll give an explanation in the bulletin and a virtue card describing the nature of the virtue and then practical tips at how to grow in this virtue. We ll also provide links, books or articles to help you further explore the topics if you want to learn more, which we encourage you to do. May God bless your Lent, Scott Johnson Director of Evangelization
This week!
Mass Intentions for the Week Saturday, March 9th: 5:00 PM: For the Souls of Donald & Gretchen Ford Sunday, March 10th: 8:00 AM: For the Souls of the Flaherty Family 10:00AM: For the Soul of Barbara Durkin Monday, March 11th: 9:00 AM: Pro Populo Tuesday, March 12th: 9:00 AM: Anniversary ~ John Griffin Wednesday, March 13th: 9:00 AM: For the Souls of the Goodwin Family Thursday, March 14th: 9:00 AM: Birthday Remembrance ~ J. Neil Murphy Friday, March 15th: 9:00 AM: 20th Anniversary ~ Harry Connetti Saturday, March 16th: 9:00 AM: For the Soul of Sheril Ann Murphy 5:00 PM: 7th Anniversary ~ William Kelley Sunday, March 17th: 10:00AM: 1st Anniversary ~ Henry McGreen St. Veronica Chapel Saturday, March 9th: 4:00 PM: For the Soul of Frances Tamboe-Payne Sunday, March 10th: 9:00 AM: For the Souls of the Delaney & Kiran Families 11:00 AM: For the Soul of Carmine Napolillo Saturday, March 16th: 4:00 PM: For the Souls of Rita Travis & Robert Travis Sunday, March 17th: 9:00 AM: 18th Anniversary ~ Pamela Holmberg 11:00 AM: Birthday Remembrance ~ Grace Verducci You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves. -St. Francis de Sales Knights of Columbus Pope Pius XII The next meeting is this Monday, March 11th at 6:00PM* at St. Thomas More parish hall. Contact Rich Bourbonnais for any additional information at 932-3124. *Please note time change due to the Lenten Mission beginning at 7:00PM. Men s Bible Study Our parish has a very active group of men, who for more than 16 years, have met each Saturday at 7:30AM in a "round table" format to discuss the Sunday scripture readings. It is very informal and attended by some scholarly and not -so-scholarly folks. It s rewarding and even some fun. Bring your coffee and come on over to St. Thomas More parish hall! Our Lady s Guild The next meeting of Our Lady s Guild is this Tuesday, March 12th following the 9:00AM Mass. All are invited and new members are welcome. Prayer Chain Ministry If you know someone who would like extra needed prayers, please call Jean at 783-3403 and express your request. Volunteers are needed for this important ministry. Please call Jean, if you can volunteer. First Sunday of Lent March 10, 2019 The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. -- Romans 10:8
First Sunday of Lent Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, and then the devil tested him. Moses and the Israelites had been in the desert for forty years before being led to the land of milk and honey. There were times when they called out to God, sure that, as Saint Paul wrote to the Romans, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We sometimes spend time in the desert as well. Not a literal desert most of the time, but a desert in which it seems difficult to perceive Gods presence, times when we face difficulty and are tempted to leave Gods ways behind. On this First Sunday of Lent, Jesus shows us what to do in these moments: stand firm and trust in God. 40 Days for Life The Lenten Campaign begins on March 6th and ends on April 13th. We pray that with God s help, this will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our state ~ and beyond. The mission of this campaign is to bring together the Body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful activities, as we seek God s favor in turning hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life. St. Thomas More Church is open during the week. Come and join us for the 9AM Mass or make a visit.
Religious Education Schedule ~ March 2019 Sun. AM: March 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st Grades 1~4: 10:05~10:55AM ~ St. Veronica Mon. PM: March 11th, 18th & 25th Grades 1~4: 4:00~5PM ~ St. Thomas More Wed. PM: March 13th, 20th & 27th Grades 5 & 6: 4:15~5:15PM ~ St. Veronica Wed. PM: March 13th, 20th & 27th Grades 7 & 8: 5:45~6:45PM ~ St. Veronica Conf. I: March 17th, 24th* & 31st** Grade 9: 7:00PM ~ 8:15PM ~ St. Veronica *March 24th ~ Life Nite/Msgr. Clarke **March 31st ~ Service hours are due. Conf. II: March 17th, 24th* & 31st** Grade10: 7:00PM ~ 8:15PM ~ St. Veronica *March 24th ~ Life Nite/Msgr. Clarke **March 31st ~ Service hours are due. Conf. I & II Please note that out Lenten Mission is this Sunday, Monday & Tuesday beginning at 7PM at St. Thomas More Church. You are expected to attend 2 nights. Please sign in before the mission and bring your sponsor and family!. Open House Bishop Hendricken will have an open house on Sunday, March 10th from Noon to 3PM. For more information. please call 739-3450 ext. 163 or go www.hendricken.com. Please join us for the 2019 Traditional Marriage Crusade in support of traditional marriage. We must ask God to save America through the Rosary of His Most Holy Mother and through the intercession of Saint Joseph. Please join us in praying for our nation on Saturday, March 23rd, at 12:00Noon. The local Traditional Marriage Rosary Rally will take place at Narraganset Pier wall. Please contact Bill Murphy at (916) 372-6139 for more information Pray the Rosary The rosary is prayed each weekday after the 9:00AM Mass at St Thomas More and for the special intention of peace in the world and on Saturday mornings at 8:30AM before Mass. Please join us.
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