| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Catholic Missions In Canada
E-Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 4: April 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
| Greetings!
Lenten spiritual exercises for the baptized BY ANTAL PROKECZ AND CHRISTINE MADER
Reading the pastoral notes for Lent in the Ordo (the Liturgical Calendar) the other day, we noticed something we hadn't noticed clearly enough before: that the reason the baptized pray and do penance in Lent is to be able to renew their baptismal vows at the vigil (Congregation for Divine Worship, "Preparation and Celebration of the East Feasts," January 16, 1988, No. 2). Why would we need to prepare just to answer a few questions about our belief in God and rejection of sin with "I do"?

Perhaps the answer lies in our slowness to embrace and claim the dignity of baptism that each of us has received. It doesn't take much looking around to notice how little likeness of God there is in human-and Christian-behaviour. Yet, becoming members of Christ's faithful (lay or ordained) through baptism, we rejoice that we have been made new, signs of God's love for others. The Christian community is supposed to be the place where all can see clearly and experience powerfully the love of God for all creatures. Read more....
Faithfully yours,
(Rev.) Philip Kennedy President Catholic Missions In Canada |