February 24, 2013 - St. Josaphat Parish

Stations of the Cross
The idea of going on a pilgrimage is very much in tune with our Lenten focus
of the journey of forgiveness. When traveling to the Holy Land for this
sacred journey was not possible for most people, the practice of the Stations
of the Cross developed. Built upon the Way of the Cross, following the last
journey of Our Lord, these 14 “Stations” provide a means for reflection on
all Jesus has done for me through his Passion and death. You can find one
version, “The Way of the Cross,” beginning on page 213 in the We Celebrate
Worship Resource in the hymnal racks at the doors of church. If this is a new
prayer form for you, you will find the 14 Stations depicted in the framed basrelief
artworks around the outer walls of the main body of the church. The
first Station can be found on the south wall in the eastern corner. Station
Two and following then follow after that until, after walking around the
church’s outer aisle, you have reached the fourteenth Station on the north
wall in the eastern corner. As you will see in the booklets, each Station has a
title, a brief description, and a prayer. It is customary to arrive at the Station,
recite its number and name, then pray the invocation, “We adore you, O
Christ, and we praise you,” while standing. Then kneel for the response,
“Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” Then stand for
the prayer/reflection. Pause after each, then proceed to the next Station.
The involvement of our whole bodies in this prayer engages us in a way far
different that simple reflection.
Lenten Liturgy
As we do each year, the pace of our liturgy is slowed and more deliberate
during Lent, inviting us into a more reflective prayer. After the Entrance
Procession and Opening Hymn, the Presider begins mass in the usual way.
Then, reflecting the penitential nature of Lent, we kneel as a sign of sorrow
for our sins. After a time of silent reflection, we chant the ancient Greek
version of the Lord, Have Mercy, "Kyrie Eleison...Christe Eleison...Kyrie
Eleison."
After the First Reading, we will be singing a common psalm during Lent,
“The Lord is kind and merciful.”
The gospel acclamation is sung without an Alleluia, reminding us of the
penitential nature of this season.
The homily each week will focus on one reflection question about the
journey of forgiveness, as it is revealed in the scripture readings for that day.
The Lamb of God will be sung in Latin: “Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata
mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.”
Throughout the Lenten season we will also make greater use of the
Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation, focusing our attention on our
personal reconciliation, and the reconciliation of society, or communal
reconciliation.
Please make a special effort to attend Mass all the Sundays of Lent.
Lent
5
A Lenten Attitude
Lent can become an onerous season
if we are not careful. If we approach
the practices of prayer, fasting and
almsgiving as another task, we’ll
end up hating the season and the
practices. Instead, remember, Lent
means spring. And the thing we
do in springtime is to clean up the
inside of the house! Same with Lent!
Time to clean up and out the stuff
we’ve accumulated and don’t need.
Lent is not about making life more
complicated, but simpler. Which
almost certainly means we need to do
less – not more! If I’m trying to spend
a few quiet minutes in prayer AND
watch television at the same time, it’s
just not going to work. As we begin
this season, let’s try to ask, “What
LESS can I do for these 40 days?”
Lenten Regulations
Abstinence from meats is to be
observed by all Catholics 14 years
old and older on Ash Wednesday
and on all Fridays of Lent.
Fasting is to be observed on Ash
Wednesday & Good Friday by
all Catholics who are 18 years of
age but not yet 59. Those who are
bound by this may take only one
full meal. Two smaller meals are
permitted if necessary to maintain
strength according to one’s needs,
but eating solid foods between meals
is not permitted. We encourage
every parishioner to fast as well
from sarcasm, criticism, negativity,
judgementalism, resignation, selfrighteousness,
cynicism, know-it-allness,
self-centeredness, provincialism,
self-absorption, divisiveness,
intolerance, violence in thought, word
or deed, excess pride, blindness to our
own involvement in sin.
February 24, 2012