DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR MARCH  2009

+A Lenten Meditation for  March  in which we prepare for Our Saviour’s Passion and Death+

During this Lent period we should be reflecting on our Lord’s suffering and death, and in our prayer ask Him through the Holy Spirit to help us try to have a little understanding and a greater appreciation of what it was He did for us. But it remains one of God’s secrets of which we can have only a little glimpse. Our Lord says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.” Again, it is right in Lent that we should reflect on the role of the Cross in our lives. There is no human life that is ever totally free of some suffering or pain. It may be something quite trivial, a little anxiety or worry; on the other hand something much greater and long lasting which could be a great burden. It is good to remember, when we have to endure pain, that our Lord said: “If you would be my disciple, deny yourself, take up your Cross daily and follow me”….. I remember being told two things about the Cross in our lives; both have been very helpful. First: the real Cross is the one you have not chosen, the one that doesn’t fit neatly on your shoulder. That is a very authentic Cross and so very difficult to accept. The other: a Mother Superior said to one of her community who was grumbling about the Cross she had to carry: “Don’t drag your Cross – carry it.”
There is a lot of wisdom in that.
(Cardinal Basil Hume in a Lenten sermon at the Carmelite Church, Kensington. March 5th 1992)

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Bishop Anthony writes: The days of Lent are meant to focus our minds on God as we remember exactly what Jesus did for us on Calvary. One aspect of Lent is the “giving up”, yet how pointless that might be without the “taking on”!!  There is no point in giving up cakes or alcohol for Lent if, at the back of our minds, is the notion that we may lose a few pounds in weight! Abstinence must be for Jesus’ sake as we try to draw closer and closer to Him – which is what He wants us to do. Take on some good work this Lent: visit an elderly, lonely or housebound person in HIS name; support a homeless Unit; we all know somebody far worse off than we are. Above all, take on more prayer and be at Holy Mass as often as is possible. Whatever we do, let us do it cheerfully for Jesus, as we prepare to be with Him again in His terrible Passion and Death. The Reverend Mother who advised carrying the Cross and not dragging it, meant just that – do something cheerfully in Jesus’ Name! And if anything in our lives is displeasing to God, let Lent bring the opportunity to put matters right as we meditate on Christ’s Passion and indeed on our Eternal Destiny. Lent is a preparation not only for Holy Week but also for Easter: that Queen of Feasts in which we celebrate not only Christ’s Resurrection, but our own!

Let us pray: Ever loving Father, help us to become more like Jesus Thy Son Who loved mankind so much that He died for our Salvation. Inspire us by His great love and guide us more and more by His example. Thou Who art God, living and reigning in Trinity unto ages of ages. Amen

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And a Passing Thought

It is certainly true that the Christian Religion, given to us from Heaven with its laws, is intended to lead us to eternal happiness. However, it is also incontestable that this Religion fills our present life with untold benefits.  [Pope Pius XII]

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BY THY BITTER PASSION AND CROSS, O JESU, THOU HAST REDEEMED THE WORLD!
LOUDER STILL AND LOUDER LET US PRAISE THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR SAVIOUR!
MAY THE SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY BE OUR SALVATION!

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Lord Jesus: we worship Thee so sorely wounded on the Cross. We pray that Thy death may be our life!