PRAYERS FOR LENT 2021, NO. 2
GOSPEL PASSAGE: MK 9: 2–10 (ESV)
The Transfiguration
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and
John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And
he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became
radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach
them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and
they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents,
one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he
did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a
cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud,
“This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly,
looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but
Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged
them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man
had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to
themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might
mean.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER …
1. When I imagine myself with the
apostles on the mountain, what is
my inner reaction to Jesus’s
showing me His radiant divinity?
2. Where in my life do I need His
light to shine? What are the ‘dark
parts’ of my life at this moment?
EXTRACT FROM PATRIS CORDE
(Pope Francis’s letter on the Year of St Joseph 2020/21)
[Pope] Saint Paul VI pointed
out that Joseph concretely
expressed his fatherhood “by
making his life a sacrificial
service to the mystery of the
incarnation and its redemptive
purpose. He employed his
legal authority over the Holy
Family to devote himself
completely to them in his life
and work. He turned his
human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation
of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a love placed at the
service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his
home.”
Thanks to his role in salvation history, Saint Joseph has always
been venerated as a father by the Christian people. This is
shown by the countless churches dedicated to him worldwide,
… and the many traditional expressions of piety in his honour.
Innumerable holy men and women were passionately devoted
to him. Among them was Teresa of Avila, who chose him as
her advocate and intercessor, had frequent recourse to him
and received whatever graces she asked of him. Encouraged
by her own experience, Teresa persuaded others to cultivate
devotion to Joseph.
Every prayer book contains prayers to Saint Joseph. Special
prayers are offered to him each Wednesday and especially
during the month of March, which is traditionally dedicated to
him.
(from §1 A Beloved Father)
CAFOD PRAYERS FOR LENT
https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Lent-prayers
LOVING GOD, let a desire for change rise up within us.
May we overflow with compassion and love. May we
reshape our world together to reflect your kingdom of
hope for all. Amen.
GOD OF ALL, may we remember that each one of us is
precious in your sight. Forgive us for the times we
have caused harm. Move us to respond with love and
mercy to those who do us wrong, and strengthen us to
stand alongside all who face persecution and
discrimination. Amen.
OUR LADY IN LENT
In the Gospel of Luke, Simeon told Mary that her heart
would be pierced so that “the thoughts of many hearts will
be revealed.” This prophecy was fulfilled during Christ’s
passion when Mary stood beneath the cross witnessing her
Son’s crucifixion.
Vatican II tells us that Mary “faithfully persevered in her
union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in
keeping with the divine plan, grieving exceedingly with her
only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart
with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the
immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought
forth” (Lumen Gentium, n. 58).
Lent, along with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, (15th
September), is a special time for venerating Mary as our
sorrowful mother. This is done in the Stations of the Cross,
which often includes the singing of verses from the
medieval hymn, the Stabat Mater:
At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had pass’d.
Oh, how sad and sore distress’d
Was that mother highly blest
Of the sole-begotten One!