Essentials and Expressions: Third Week of Lent

The Third Week of Lent

 

Alms Giving, Prayer, Abstinence and Fasting

Essentials and Expressions

Deacon Ward Nolan

St. Mary Star of the Sea

St. Edward the Confessor

St. Benedict Labre

St. James the Greater

For the latest update of events, Holy Masses, and hours of confession, please go to the parish website: materdeivermont.com or give us a call at the St. Mary's rectory: 334-5066

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"Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning: Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment."

Joel 2:13

In this period of forty days we devote our time and energies to not worrying or concerning ourselves with our own needs, but we turn our attention to the needs of others.  We make the effort to be more repentant, more humble...more giving. We make ourselves to be a new creation...a true people of God.

We can do this by our fervent worship, obedience and fidelity to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...they are our strength, hope, salvation and our glory to come!

All that we do during this Lenten season in strengthening and living our faith does not end on Easter Sunday, but is a continuum of that slow journey toward the future...eternal and everlasting life in Heaven!

 

 

Pope Francis proclaims 

“Year of St Joseph”

With the Apostolic Letter “Patris corde” (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of Saint Joseph” from today, 8 December 2020, to 8 December 2021.

“I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of [St. Joseph] which he has failed to grant… To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities, but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all…” (Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila)

Prayer to Saint Joseph

To you, O blessed Joseph,

do we come in our tribulation,

and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,

we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you

to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God

and through the paternal love

with which you embraced the Child Jesus,

we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance

which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,

and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,

defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;

O most loving father, ward off from us

every contagion of error and corrupting influence;

O our most mighty protector, be kind to us

and from heaven assist us in our struggle

with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,

so now protect God's Holy Church

from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;

shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,

so that, supported by your example and your aid,

we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,

and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.

Join The Mater Dei parish Consecration To St. Joseph, a 33 day novena. For more information go to the parish website: materdeivermont.

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ADORATION ST. EDWARD'S 

A perfect offering to Jesus during this Lenten season

Jesus invites you to spend an hour (or a few minutes)in His presence

Each Monday from 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

at St. Edward the Confessor Church.

Join me in Morning Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours)

from the Shorter Christian Prayer,

 and in the praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet

....from 9:00 - 10:00.

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The Third Sunday of Lent:  A short reflection on the Gospel

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A final prayer to St. Joseph, our Defender and Protector of families, which Pope Francis encourages all of us to pray together:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil.  Amen.

🌹🌹Until next time...In His Peace. 🌹🌹  

                          Deacon Ward                           

Telephone  /  Email

(802-624-4964  /  nekdeacon@gmail.com)