First Sunday of Lent

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February 21, 2010

This past week I read again the autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola. I was glued to the pages that talked about his illuminating experience of daydreaming as he sat on the banks of the Cardoner River near his Manresa cave. As soon as this experience was complete, he went directly to the cross to pray to our Lord. During this prayer, he had a vision that at first blush seemed beautiful, but then he saw that it lacked its full color and distinction. He realized this was a vision from the devil. The experience of Jesus in the desert brings to mind that same type of experience. Filled with the Holy Spirit after his baptism and the start of his public ministry, he was led into the desert where he was visited by the devil.

Perhaps it is good that we reflect upon our understanding of the devil and its role in our spiritual life. Jesus and Ignatius had a well-developed understanding of a personal devil, but I think many people today view the devil merely as an undistinguished, general force of evil. We think in terms of a destructive anti-life force rather than a personal being or adversary to the spiritual and worldly life. At the end of the Gospel, we hear that the devil departed from Jesus “for a time.” Ignatius, repulsed by the presence of the devil, vehemently tossed away that vision, but the devil would try again later in his life. One of Ignatius’ rules for discernment in the Spiritual Exercises tells us that once we have had a profoundly significant experience of God, the devil will in full deceit try to derail us on our path of doing good.

It is good for us to know the ways of the devil so that we can see where and how he tempts us. We have to be bold enough to always return to God in prayer so we can confirm the spirits that battle for our souls. This is serious business and the devil, which is real, means us harm. A second aid for us in dealing with the devil is to stay close to sacred scripture. Jesus quotes scripture back to the devil and Paul tells us in Romans that “the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Praying over scripture allows us to become familiar with God’s voice so we can reject the subtle and deceitful ways of the devil. Paul writes “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Quote for the Week

Please enjoy this prayer from Edward Hays about a helpful attitude towards Lent.

May you live these Lenten days not in purple penitential denial but in the joyfulness of the intimate embrace of your Blessed God.

May you hear on the Lenten winds your beloved calling you daily to go apart from your routine time to spend desert time with your God. Then your heart can be freshly aflame
with a lover’s delight in your God.

May you have a blessed and grace-filled Lenten season so as to be a new person in Christ in alleluia joy on Holy Easter.

Themes for this Week’s Masses

First Reading: Isaiah’s words begin this Lenten season emphasizing the power of the word of God to achieve the end for which it was sent. It is enacted in Jonah as he is sent in a mission to the city of Nineveh to bring people to repentance. The people believed, fasted, and their king repented from his evil ways. Queen Esther likewise turns to the Lord for saving protection. In the wisdom literature, even the common person could turn to the Lord, repent, and receive life and virtue. We lastly hear from Moses who tells the newly elected people of God about the covenant that God is making with them. For their part, they are to walk in God’s ways and to observe his statutes, decrees and commandments.

Gospel: Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and offers them his prayer to the Father. He likens his generation to Jonah’s time in which the people would not be moved unless they had a divine sign. He instructs them to ask for whatever they want in his name during prayer because the Father is gracious and generous, and then tells them that they are to be more righteous than the Pharisees who preach, but do not practice. Forgiveness is a key trait for their conduct; love of enemies will distinguish them from all other people.

Saints of the Week

Monday: The Chair of Peter is honored today with a feast that focuses on the work of Peter and his successors as bishops of Rome. Catholics show their gratitude for the pastoral service the bishops have provided the city and the world.

Tuesday: Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John and knew Ignatius of Antioch. Polycarp helped many new Christians to become initiated into the faith. He died in 155 CE because of the he was doing to promote the faith.

This Week in Jesuit History

• Feb 21, 1595. At Tyburn, the martyrdom of Robert Southwell after he had suffered brutal tortures in Topcliffe's house and in prison. He embraced the jailer who brought him word that he was to be executed. As he breathed his last, Lord Mountjoy, who presided over the execution, exclaimed: "May my soul be one day with that of this man."
• Feb 22, 1599. By order of Pope Clement VIII, the superiors general of the Jesuits and the Dominicans, assisted by others, met to settle, if possible, the controversies about grace. Nothing came of the meeting, since the Dominicans insisted on the condemnation of the writings of Fr. Molina.
• Feb 23, 1551. The Roman College, the major school of the Society later to become the Gregorian University, began its first scholastic year with 15 teachers and 60 students.
• Feb 24, 1637. The death of Francis Pavone. Inflamed by his words and holy example, sixty members of a class of philosophy that he taught and the entire class of poetry embraced the religious state.
• Feb 25, 1558. St Aloysius Gonzaga received tonsure at the Lateran basilica. Within the next month he would receive the minor orders.
• Feb 26, 1611. The death of Antonio Possevino, sent by Pope Gregory XIII on many important embassies to Sweden, Russia, Poland, and Germany. In addition to founding colleges and seminaries in Cracow, Olmutz, Prague, Braunsberg, and Vilna, he found time to write 24 books.
• Feb 27, 1767. Charles III banished the Society from Spain and seized its property.

Lenten Regulations

In keeping with the spirit and meaning of the Lenten fast, Catholics are encouraged to observe the Good Friday fast through Holy Saturday and until the celebration of the Easter Vigil. Fridays in Lent are days for fasting.

The law of fasting binds persons from the day after their 18th birthday to the day after their 59th birthday.

The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing as far as quantity and quality are concerned, approved local custom. The order of meals is optional; i.e., the full meal may be taken in the evening instead of at midday. Also: 1) The quantity of food taken at the two lighter meals should not exceed the quantity taken at the full meal; 2) The drinking of ordinary liquids does not break the fast.

The law of abstinence binds persons from the day after their 14th birthday throughout life.

The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat. It does not forbid the use of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat. Also permissible are soups flavored with meat, meat gravy and sauces.

Rite of Election

In the dioceses around the world, the Rite of Election is celebrated in its cathedral today. Catechumen, men and women who seek baptism in the Catholic Church, and candidates for full communion and confirmation, will attend a Mass in which their names will be inscribed in the Book of the Elect. Parishes will specially care for these men and women who will soon undergo more intensive scrutiny on their path to the Easter sacraments. Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters who will soon join us at the table of the Lord and let us also pray that many others will hear the word of sacred scripture and be brought into our community of faith.