Love God. Love others. Make disciples.
Why We Should Accept the Call of Lent
Philip Kosloski - published on 02/15/24
St. John Paul II urges us all to accept the call and challenge of Lent, embracing it with our entire being, instead of brushing it off as too difficult.
For many of us, we may want to embrace the season of Lent, but find ourselves at the end of Ash Wednesday already breaking our personal disciplines.
St. John Paul II urges us all to see Lent as an opportunity for growth and to accept it. He reflected on this call during his Ash Wednesday homily in 1981:
Accepting the call of Lent means accepting the call to a particular cooperation with Grace. This call is pronounced with the words of the liturgy, but it must resonate deeply in the heart and consciousness of each of us.
He goes on to say how, “accepting the call of Lent means accepting the call to a particular cooperation with Christ: “Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, ‘At the acceptable time I have listened to you and helped you on the day of salvation'” (2 Cor 6.1-2).
Lent is a time to accept God’s call to conversion, where we evaluate our lives and see where we need to improve, so that we can receive God’s many graces.
Sacrifice and God’s love
Above all, the various sacrifices we make during Lent should all go back to the love of God imitating his sacrifice on the cross:
[T]he cross is revealed before the eyes of our soul, that is, love.
Proclaiming fasting means remembering this Love with all its force! Remember the cross!
Accepting fasting means accepting the revelation of this love: finding oneself in the dimensions of this love-mercy.
Everything during Lent returns to the cross, which is God’s most clear sign of his love for us.
As we go through Lent, may we accept the spirit of prayer, fasting and alms giving and see it as a response to God’s love.
Posted on: May 17, 2020
Announcements - May 17, 2020
- A tabernacle has been placed inside the front doors of our parish at the Cowan Crescent entrance. If you are out for a walk or a drive, stop by and visit with Jesus. He is there waiting for you.
- The June Word Among Us is available. Please contact Shannon at pastoral@stannesregina.com or 306-585-1609 to arrange for delivery or pick up.
- The Archbishop’s weekly message explains the first phase of re-opening our parishes for public masses. More information will be shared in next week’s email explaining how this will impact St. Anne.
St. Anne Green Thumb Ministry
The St.Anne Green Thumb Ministry was commissioned last year as a new program of the parish to instill life, colour and vibrancy to our parish grounds. In the first year of the program - last year - more than 15 members of the parish volunteered for the Green Thumb Ministry program and took care of six of our main flower bed areas, adding beauty, colour and personal touch.
We have more flower beds and projects that we’d like to undertake and are now seeking additional volunteers for the current planting season. The primary purpose of this ministry is to add flowers and greenery to our flowerbeds, however if there are other areas you feel you’d like to help with such as tree trimming or other grounds tasks please let us know. If you would like to contribute your talents to the Green Thumb Ministry, please email Trevor at finance@stannesregina.com.