Reflection Starter from St. Katharine Drexel

"If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing." - Saint Katharine Drexel, whose memory the Church celebrates today (3 March)

"Ashes to Ashes"

As we continue our observance of Ash Wednesday, I offer this version of Dan Schutte's "Ashes to Ashes":

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the holy season of Lent. The assigned readings are Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2; and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 51 (Psalm 51: 3-6, 12-14, 17).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm: Ash Wednesday "Psalm 51".

The Gospel reading is as follows:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Reflections on today's observance:

National Catholic Register: Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday: Lent is a Time for Conversion and Interior Renewal (2 MAR 22)

Crossroads Initiative: Repentance & God's Mercy - Ash Wednesday

The Deacon's Bench: Marked for Lent: Homily for March 2, 2022, Ash Wednesday (1 MAR 22)

Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality: Ash Wednesday

 

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings and opportunities You have planned for us during this holy season of Lent.

Pope Francis' Message for Lent 2022

"Lent is a favourable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians: 'Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairós), let us do good to all' (Gal 6:9-10)."

In his message for Lent 2022, Pope Francis is encouraging us to to persevere in doing good, one step at a time, and, if we fall, stretching out our hand to the Father, who always lifts us up.

To access his complete message, please visit:

The Vatican: Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2022

Related commentary:

Aleteia: Teresa Tomeo: This Lent, how 'bout doing what you're made for? (2 MAR 22)

Reflection Starter from the Book of Genesis

^{"For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." - Genesis 3:19}

National Cheerleading Safety Month

The month of March is being observed as National Cheerleading Safety Month, an observance designed to to spread the word about cheerleading safety and to put a spotlight on the core responsibilities of keeping athletes safe.

 

For more information about this initiative and its related weekly themes, please visit:

USA Cheer: National Cheerleading Safety Month

Background information:

USA Cheer – National Governing Body for Sport Cheering in the United States

 

Holy Father's Prayer Intention for March

The Holy Father's prayer intention for March is:

For a Christian response to bioethical challenges: We pray for Christians facing new bioethical challenges; may they continue to defend the dignity of all human life with prayer and action..

Diana Krall: "Cheek to Cheek"

It's time for some jazz, a genre of music I enjoy. Here is a presentation of "Cheek to Cheek" by Diana Krall and other musicians:

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have planned for us during this month of March.

Br. Nicholas Hartman, O.P., on Breaking the Spirit of Pride

"My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
A broken and humbled heart,
You will not spurn, O God (Psalm 51:19).

" This Lent, God wants us to break something. Unlike us, who break physical things out of anger or frustration or tactile incompetence, the Lord breaks something interior out of his mercy for us. He breaks what shuts him out; he destroys what hogs the foundation on which he intends to build. Our unbroken hearts stand in the way; our spirits, left intact and unshattered, bar the gates to the King's entry. God's 'breaking our spirits' is an act of charity for us."

In a recent commentary, Brother Nicholas Hartman, O.P., reflected on the importance of our breaking down the spirit of pride so that Jesus' charity might flood into our souls.

To access Br. Nicholas' complete post, please visit: 

Dominicana: God Wants Us to Break Something (1 MAR 22)

Reflection Starter from Earl Nightingale

"It may be true that there’s nothing new under the sun; but we’d sure be a lot better off if we could just remember some of the old truths that we all really know but tend to forget." - attributed to Earl Nightingale