5:30 pm 3 March- Stations of the Cross

https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/stations-of-the-cross.html

Could you walk a mile in Jesus’s shoes? The Stations of the Cross bring us closer to Christ as we meditate on the great love He showed for us in His most sorrowful Passion!

You can pray the Stations of the Cross (also known as the Way of the Cross) alone at anytime, but people most often pray them in a group setting Friday nights during Lent.

Tradition traces this loving tribute to our Lord back to the Blessed Mother’s retracing her son’s last steps along what became known as the Via Dolorosa (the Sorrowful Way) on His way to His Crucifixion at Calvary in Jerusalem.

Adoration, First Friday devotions 4:00, Stations 5:30; Mass (NOM) follows at 6:00. Rev Fr Nicholas Akindele, presider.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDESPrayerBe blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest your shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’ A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings: deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request.(state your request)Through gratitude for your favors, we will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your divine son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Sunday 26 February- First Sunday of Lent: 11:00 Holy Family, Davenport, 2:30 pm St Patrick, Iowa City

https://extraordinaryform.org/propers/Lent1st.pdf

Catechism 9:30, Confessions 10:10, Rosary 10:30, Blessing and Distribution of Ashes 10:50, High Mass 11:00, Holy Face devotion, After Mass, Fellowship Meal after Mass in Enright Hall (Davenport)

Confessions, 2:05, Low Mass 2:30, Catechism in Social Hall 4:00 (Iowa City)

22 February- Ash Wednesday: Readings and Prayers proper to the Missal of 1962.

https://maternalheart.org/propers/Septuagesima%20to%20Passion%20Sunday/Ash%20Wednesday/Ash%20Wednesday.pdf

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.