Into the desert with Jesus we go
As if…
Happy Shrove Tuesday former Anglo Catholics
Meanwhile in London…
22 February- Ash Wednesday: Readings and Prayers proper to the Missal of 1962.
Ash Wednesday: Sacred Liturgy
Today’s Mass embodies the spirit of Lent. All are reminded to be sorry for sin and to do penance, but not in a spirit of showy sadness or of inward despair. Rather, let the sincere and humble prepare with inner joy to celebrate their baptism in Christ. By living their baptismal promises, they enter more deeply into Christ’s suffering. Knowing God’s desire to forgive, to heal, and to share with all men His own divine life, we discipline our passions gladly and with confidence in victory. God gives grace for every Lenten restraint. Therefore everyone should receive the blessed ashes, both as a means of grace and as a reminder to do penance unobtrusively, for personal sins and for the sins of all mankind.
Before the Mass, the celebrant vested in alb, purple stole, and cope, goes up to the altar for the blessing of the ashes.
This is a day of mandatory abstinence and fasting. All Catholics aged 14 or older must abstain from meat on this day, as per the current 1983 Code of Canon Law. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the law of abstinence began at age 7. Since it is worthwhile to teach children the importance of this law, we should have our children begin to observe this even before the law explicitly commands it.
Abstinence and Fasting
What is forbidden by the law of abstinence? All meat. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and shellfish are permitted. Eggs are presently allowed.
Additionally, as per the 1983 Code of Canon Law, anyone between 18 and up until 60 years of age is also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday. In the earlier 1917 Code, the fast began at age 21 and continued until a person turned 60. On this day one, normal-sized meal and two smaller snacks (called collations) that do not equal the normal meal are allowed. No indulging at a buffet at night to make up for the meals you could not eat during the day.
Eating between meals, however, is prohibited although fruit juices and milk are allowed. Milk was added only in the recent centuries and the Church had asked that those who do consume milk on fasting days offer some additional prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father for doing so.
These rules are much more lenient than in centuries past. If you can, truly make your fasting a sacrifice. In times past, the faithful would try to eat nothing at all on Ash Wednesday.
Remember, man, that you are dust, and into dust you shall return.
Four More historic Stations of the Cross paintings Restored
Restoration work, cost recovery donated by St Anthony, Davenport parishioners, is continuing with the six remaining paintings.
If you would like to participate, contact John Cooper: davstanthonypa@diodav.org
Lent begins next Wednesday, 22 February, the annual Holy Season of Penance, Fasting and Almsgiving
Why Penance?
Our Redeemer said, “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Fasting in Biblical Times
In principio, in the beginning, amongst the very first Commandments God gave to Adam and Eve was one of fasting from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (cf. Genesis 2:16-17). Their failure to abide by this fast brought sin and disorder to all of creation. Thus the Original Sin of mankind included a dimension of gluttony. Clearly, both this divine command and its violation are intricately tied to fasting.
In the Old Testament, both Elijah and Moses fasted for forty days prior to seeing God.
Likewise, in the New Testament, St. John the Baptist, the greatest prophet (cf. Luke 7:28), fasted. And our Blessed Lord also fasted in the desert for forty days (cf. Matthew 4:1-11), not for His own needs but to serve as an example for us.
The Disciples of St. John the Baptist came, one day, to Jesus, and said to him: Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy Disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast. [St Matth. ix. 14,15].
Hence, we find it mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, how the Disciples of our Lord, after the Foundation of the Church, applied themselves to Fasting.
The Purpose of Fasting:
The Church has hallowed the practice of fasting, encourages it, and mandates it at certain times. Why? The Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, writes that fasting is practiced for a threefold purpose:
“First, in order to bridle the lusts of the flesh…Secondly, we have recourse to fasting in order that the mind may arise more freely to the contemplation of heavenly things: hence it is related of Daniel that he received a revelation from God after fasting for three weeks. Thirdly, in order to satisfy for sins: wherefore it is written: ‘Be converted to Me with all your heart, in fasting and in weeping and in mourning.’ The same is declared by Augustine in a sermon: ‘Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.’”
What is Almsgiving?
Any material favour done to assist the needy, and prompted by charity, is almsgiving. every material deed wrought by man to benefit his needy brother is almsgiving. almsgiving implies a material service rendered to the poor for Christ’ssake. “Blessed is he that considers the needy and the poor” (Psalm 40:2) — not he that gives to the needy and the poor.
Scripture is rich in passages which directly or indirectly emphasize the necessity of contributing towards the welfare of the needy. The history of the Church in Apostolic times shows that the early Christians fully realized the importance of this obligation. Community of goods (Acts 4:32), collections in church (Acts 11:29 sqq.; 1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 2:10), the ministry of deacons and deaconesses were simply the inauguration of that world-wide system of Christian charity which has circumscribed the globe and added another testimony to the Divinity of that Church which directs her ministrations towards the alleviation of human misery in every shape and form.
An announcement from our Scola Leader to all who sing
“The choir will be having auditions on Monday 27 February at 7:00 PM.
Membership is limited to singers aged 15 years and older. The audition will consist of singing chant and another piece together as a group in order to gauge one’s ability to learn and sing as a group. One need not be a metropolitan opera star, but one must be able to match pitch, learn music, and blend as a group.
To receive the audition materials and register your interest, please email hfschola@proton.me
We look forward to hearing people sing and continuing to grow our sacred music program for the traditional Latin mass in the Quad Cities.”
19 January -Quinquagesima Sunday: 11:00 Holy Family, Davenport- 2:30 St Patrick, Iowa City
Catechism 9:30, Confessions 10:10, Rosary 10:30, High Mass 11:00, Holy Face devotion in church after Mass, Fellowship meal downstairs in Enright Hall, after Mass (Davenport)
Confessions 2:05 pm, High Mass 2:30, Fellowship Meal after Mass in Social Hall (Iowa City)
7:15 am, Friday 17 February – Commemoration of the Most Holy Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Transferred from Tuesday, it’s assigned Day
Confessions 6:45, Adoration following Mass for one hour
The Ostende Blog - Fr Christopher Young 