Lent

A Time For Reflection
 

Lent is a time for us to reflect on the Suffering and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ; to reflect on our sins which caused Him so much agony and pain; and to reflect on how we might try to repay Him in some way.

A vivid account of what Our Lord endured is presented in the book: THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST as visioned and narrated by Mrs. Fred (Mary Ann) Van Hoof during her periods of suffering the Passion of Our Lord on the Fridays of Lent and Advent.

Pope Benedict XVI  (Message for Lent)

Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him who is the fount of mercy.  It is a pilgrimage in which He Himself accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter.

Even in the ‘valley of darkness’ of which the Psalmist speaks, while the tempter prompts us to despair or to place a vain hope in the work of our own hands, God is there to guard us and sustain us.  Yes, even today Our Lord hears the cry of the multitudes longing for joy, peace, and love.  As in every age, they feel abandoned.  Yet, even in the desolation of misery, loneliness, violence, and hunger that indiscriminately afflict children, adults, and the elderly, God does not allow darkness to prevail.

In fact, in the words of my beloved Predecessor, Pope John Paul II, there is a ‘divine limit imposed upon evil,’ namely, mercy.  It is with these thoughts in mind that I have chosen as my theme for this message the Gospel text: ‘Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved to pity.’

Message of July 7, 1971 —  (Mercy of God Devotion)

It is a shame that so many different devotions have been destroyed, even the devotion to the Mercy of God.  Pray for the Mercy of God, seek His intercession.

Pope John Paul II  (Mercy of God)

During his life Pope John Paul II was a great promoter of the Divine Mercy message and devotion: “In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness!”  (From John Paul II’s homily at the consecration of the Divine Mercy Shrine, August 2002.)

On March 10, 2000 the Vatican announced that Polish nun, Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska would be canonized on April 30, 2000.  The canonization took place as stated at St. Peter’s in Rome.  Our beloved Pope John Paul announced during the canonization in Rome that from now on the first Sunday after Easter is declared “Mercy Sunday”.

Mercy of God Novena