Laetare Sunday Fourth Sunday of Lent St. John Ogilvie

Laetare Sunday 

Vested in rose-coloured chasuble for Laetare Sunday.
Lent: March 10th

Fourth Sunday of Lent

"Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts." This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday and is a Sunday of joy. Lent is half over, and Easter is enticingly near.

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The Station at Rome is in the basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem, one of the seven principal churches of the holy city. It was built in the fourth century, by the emperor Constantine. The emperor's mother, St. Helen, enriched it with most precious relics, and wished to make it the Jerusalem of Rome.

St. John Ogilvie

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Jesuit priest and martyr. St John was born at Drum na Keith in Banffshire, Scotland, in 1580 and brought up as a Calvinist. His parents sent him to France for his education and at the age of 16 he decided to become a Catholic. He was received into the church at Louvaine and joined the Society of Jesus in 1599.

For ten years he worked in Austria, He was then assigned to the French province and ordained in Paris in 1610. He longed to return to his native Scotland but had to wait until 1613 until he was granted permission.

Because of the penal laws at the time he had to hide the fact that he was a Catholic and a priest. Arriving in Scotland he found most families had become Protestant at least officially, and were unwilling to help him. Eventually he was taken in by William Sinclair, an advocate who employed him to tutor his son. John also ministered, preached, reconciled and counselled Catholics in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.

He was arrested and tortured in Glasgow for many days but refused to name any fellow Catholics. Eventually he was taken to Edinburgh where he was charged with high treason. At his trial he declared his loyalty to the King and obedience in all temporal matters. But, he said he could not 'in matters of spiritual jurisdiction unjustly seized'. He was offered both his freedom and a rich benefice if he would give up his religion but refused and was executed by hanging.

Read more about the life of Bl. John Ogilvie.

http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Saints/Saints_017.htm

COMMENT Lent William

Feast of Saint Bernard 2010

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William W ….  
To: Fr. Nivard.. . .
Sent: Sunday, 26 February 2012, 14:18
Subject: Re: [Blog] Lent Community Chapter Sermon

Dear Fathers,

Just a comment, if I may, in response to Fr. Nivard's sermon, for his words are full of observations!

Togetherness usually has no formal agenda (except perhaps in Chapter), and it is in the refectory - rather than in the Offices - that personalities are revealed in the mode of love.

When I come amongst you on my [longed-for] cloistered retreats, there is one place in particular in which I see all the instances of which Fr. Nivard writes: the concern for other brethren, the reciprocity and mutual 'correction' with encouragement, and instances of personal holiness - and that is when the Community are gathered together in the Refectory.

In the Refectory I have witnessed 'the hand on the shoulder' of the other in an expression of concern; the shrug that is followed by a wry smile over the helping taken, or at the crumbs left for another to wipe-up, or at the wet tea towel abandoned for another to solve - all simple 'confusions' so well illustrated by each response without any of the 'worldly attempts' to counter or conceal, revealing a wonderful honesty one to the other; and the quite unconscious loving acknowledgement at the time of personal prayer for the sufficiency granted by Our Lord at table.

I am currently reading a fascinating commentary on the Cloud of Unknowing written by William Johnston SJ which focuses on the contemplative experience. Goodness me, if I feel a sense of distraction, even frustration, of being drawn away from my focus, then how will you not experience the distractions in even greater measure: the life of shared community might otherwise be a testing ground but for the wonderful honesty, humility and simplicity of manner that I see amongst you.

You live the life of Fr. Nivard's commentary, and how I love to witness it.

A joy to share my reflections,

With my love in Our Lord,

William

Lent Community Chapter Sermon

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Nivard . . .
Sent: Sunday, 26 February 2012, 8:00
Subject: Lent Sermon.

Pope's Lenten Message Focuses on Fraternal Correction.

By Kathleen Naab,

Adapted.

Introd: Scripture says that even the upright fall seven times. (It’s unlikely that we will ever all be down at the same time). Every-one is weak and imperfect. To help others and allow them to help us see the whole truth about ourselves is a great service. We must not remain silent before evil."

   The Pope reflected on three elements of Christian life: 1. concern for others, 2. reciprocity (and 3. Personal holiness.

   Concern for others

Benedict suggests that we look at others with the eyes of Jesus. We are to be concerned for one another. We should not remain isolated and indifferent to the fate of our brothers and sisters."  "All too often, however, our attitude is just the opposite. Our indifference and disinterest is born of selfishness and masked as a respect for 'privacy.'  This concern for others means desiring what is good for them from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual."

   We are indifferent to the material needs of others because we do not look on our brothers and sisters with a humane and loving gaze. Often it is the possession of material riches and a sense of sufficiency. But it can also be the tendency to put our own interests and problems above all else."

   Turning then to the need to look out for the spiritual well-being of others, the Holy Father continued: "Here I would like to mention an aspect of the Christian life, which I believe has been quite forgotten: fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation. Today, in general, we are very sensitive to the idea of charity and caring about the physical and material well-being of others, but almost completely silent about our spiritual responsibility towards our brothers and sisters.

   (The old chapter of faults had the right idea behind it. But we are glad it has disappeared. It could be good, hurtful or farcical. As a novice I once solemnly confessed, in that awesome assembly, “Rev Father, I accuse myself of not keeping custody of the eyes.” I was surprised and delighted at the light-hearted response.)

   "The Scriptures tell us: 'Rebuke the wise and he will love you for it.' Christ himself commands us to admonish a brother who is committing a sin. It is important to recover this dimension of Christian charity. We must not remain silent before evil. We must warn our brothers and sisters against ways of thinking and acting that are contrary to the truth and goodness. Christian admonishment is never motivated by a spirit of accusation or recrimination. It is always moved by love and mercy. It springs from genuine concern for the good of the other.

   "In a world pervaded by individualism, it is essential to rediscover the importance of fraternal correction, so that together we may journey towards holiness. It is a great service to help others and allow them to help us. In this way we can be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk more uprightly in the Lord's ways. There will always be a need for a gaze which loves and admonishes, which knows and understands, which discerns and forgives. God has done so and continues to do so with each of us."

   Regarding Reciprocity we recall that the Lord's disciples, united with him through the Eucharist, live in a fellowship that binds them one to another as members of a single body. This means that the other is part of me, and that his or her life, his or her salvation, concern my own life and salvation. Here we touch upon a profound aspect of communion: our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension."

   3. And regarding the last point, Personal holiness. The Holy Father recalled that there is always "the temptation to become lukewarm, to quench the Spirit, to refuse to invest the talents we have received, for our own good and for the good of others."

   The spiritual masters remind us that in the life of faith those who do not advance inevitably regress. Dear brothers and sisters let us accept the invitation to aim for the high standard of ordinary Christian living.

COMMENT: Daffodils on Ash Wednesday

"Their heads bowed down as if they are waiting on the ashes." 

Hi, Anne Marie,
The artist's COMMENT.
Thank you for spotting the picture to fit the story.
You said, "I knew there would be a picture somewhere and there it was the daffodils on Ash Wednesday."
Every thing is connected.
God bless you.
Donald 

+ + +

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Anne Marie ....
To: dom donald ....
Sent: Sat, 12 March, 2011 9:12:21
Subject: RE: [Dom Donald's Blog] Comment:  Ash Wednesday

Hi, Donald,
You have been busy this snowy morning.
I love the idea that we are the only Gospel that poeple might read.  What a profound way to express our mission as we go about our daily lives.

"Their heads bowed down as if they are waiting on the ashes."
Ash Wednesday 2011

I knew there would be a picture somewhere and there it was the daffodils on Ash Wednesday.  They have their heads bowed down as if they are waiting on the ashes.
Lent in pictures? 
There is a challenge.
Yours ....

    Anne Marie              

Daffodils survive from March winds and snow.

Pope Ash Wednesday "Station Church" Santa Sabina

On Sunday we were praying for the Pope as Ash Wednesday marks the first of the 43 Lenten Station Churches, Santa Sabina..
He will be leaving the Vatican.to cross over to the Aventine, the highest of the seven hills of Rome.
He gives the lead to the beginning of Lent with Mass, the Blessing and distribution of the Ashes.

ZENIT - Pope to Begin Lent With Visit to "Station Church"

4 Mar 2011 ... ROME, MARCH 4, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will begin Lent with a visit to the Lenten Station Church for Ash Wednesday, the Basilica of ...
www.zenit.org/rssenglish-31927 - Cached

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Lenten Station Church for Ash Wednesday,
the Basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine.

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Pope to Begin Lent With Visit to "Station Church"

Ash Wednesday March 9

ROME, MARCH 4, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will begin Lent with a visit to the Lenten Station Church for Ash Wednesday, the Basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine.

A note of from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff revealed that on Ash Wednesday, which falls on March 9 this year, the Pope will preside at a 4:30 p.m. prayer service in the Church of St. Anselm on the Aventine, a procession to St. Sabina, and liturgy at the basilica.

Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, Benedictine monks of St. Anselm, Dominican Fathers of St. Sabina and some faithful will take part in the procession. At the end of the procession, the Eucharistic celebration will take place with the rite of blessing and imposition of ashes.

The custom of celebrating Mass at a Station Church during Lent dates back to the Middle Ages when popes would celebrate the Eucharist assisted by all the priests of the churches of Rome in one of the 43 "station" basilicas of the city.

After an initial prayer, the procession proceeded from one Church to another with the singing of the Litanies of the Saints, which concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist.

At the end of the Mass, the priests took the Eucharistic bread (fermentum) and brought it to the faithful who were unable to participate, to indicate communion and unity among all the members of the Church.

The imposition of ashes was a rite reserved at first for public penitents, who had asked to be reconciled during Lent. However, out of humility and recognizing themselves always in need of reconciliation, the Pope, the clergy and then all the faithful wished successively to be associated to that rite also receiving the ashes.

The Lenten Station indicates the pilgrim dimension of the People of God that, in preparation for Holy Week, intensifies the Lenten desert and experiences the distance of "Jerusalem" to which Palm Sunday is directed, so that the Lord can complete -- at Easter -- his earthly mission and fulfill the plan of the Father.

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