Change to Lenten Mission
Fr. Daniel Heenan, FSSP, the pastor of our parish in Guadalajara, has agreed to come to give our parish Lenten mission this year. The dates and length of the mission have been adjusted to fit his schedule: Monday, March 16 to Wednesday, March 18. There will be two conferences every day – one in Spanish after the noon Mass, another in English after the evening Mass. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to the mission.
Septuagesima
Lent is coming!
Septuagesima is a time of preparation for Lent. During it, we should prayerfully consider the prayer, penance, and almsgiving that we should like to maintain throughout the Lenten season, and we should likewise make firm resolu-tions to observe them faithfully. I remind all that, outside the laws of the Church (given below in #1 and #2), penances during Lent are not binding under pain of sin.
The next two and a half weeks before Ash Wednesday also serve as a time of gradually working towards the rigors of Lent. For example, if one were to resolve to take on the more traditional fasting of Lent, it is wise to slowly work towards that in this preparatory period: cutting out snacking, reducing meal sizes, and using any meats or other delicacies in the home to take them “off the playing field,” so to speak.
The Law of the Church for Lent
1. Abstinence. All persons, 14 years and older, are obliged to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent.
2. Fasting. Everyone from ages 18 to 59 is obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Fasting is generally understood to mean that one full meal may be eaten. Two other small meals (collations) may be eaten, but together they should not equal a full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted.
The more traditional fast
Please note that, traditionally, those who reasonably could not fast on the appointed days, especially the sick, those engaged in heavy labor for their wages, and pregnant women, were always excused from fasting. The faithful should also take care to moderate fasting in the event of any health considerations that arise from it.
We highly encourage the observance of the traditional discipline of Lent, which would mean daily fasting and abstinence from meat from Ash Wednesday until after None (3 pm) on the Vigil of Easter. Fasting, but not abstinence from meat, would traditionally be relaxed on Sundays.
Consider giving up social media for Lent!
Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
On Monday, February 2, we begin our annual Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, which is constituted of one decade of the Holy Rosary, followed by the Memorare prayer. This prayer will be offered after all Masses during the Novena period, and we encourage the faithful to join in the prayer at home. The intention is the patronage and protection of Our Lady over the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.
