THE SIX CHIEF COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH 1. To keep the Sundays and Holy days of Obligation holy, by hearing Mass and resting from servile works. 2. To keep the days of Fasting and Abstinence appointed by the Church. 3.To go to confession when we are conscious of having sinned gravely. 4.To receive the Blessed […]
Monthly Archives: March 2023
05
Mar
Mar
DANIEL 9:4-10; PSALM 79; LUKE 6:36-38 “Yours is the integrity, Lord; ours the shame”. The first reading makes us to understand that God never fails to forgive us despite our sins. Whenever we ask him for forgiveness He never fails to pardon our offences. Precisely because of this, today’s psalm prays that God should not […]
04
Mar
Mar
Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 32; 2Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9 Called to be Transfigured Jesus went with Peter, James and John to the mountain but while they were at prayer he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were […]
04
Mar
Mar
Love DEUTERONOMY 26:16-19; PSALM 118; MATTHEW 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in […]
03
Mar
Mar
WHY 40 DAYS DURING LENT? Lent is the 40-day before Easter. Sundays are not part of this number. Otherwise, it would have been 46 days as some may have it. Why 40? 40 has special significance in the Bible: In Genesis, it took 40 days and nights of rain to cause a flood that wiped […]
03
Mar
Mar
The liturgical colour of Lent is purple. Purple or violet represents agony, sorrow, remorse, and contrition. During Lent this colour challenges us to pause and reflect on what Jesus gave up for us. In both advent and Lenten seasons however, purple represents preparation and penitence. Additionally, purple was also a kingly color, and so the […]
03
Mar
Mar
TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS EZEKIEL 18:21-28; PSALM 129; MATTHEW 5:20-26 “I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live” The first reading reminds us that God does not rejoice at the death of a wicked man but in his conversion. He says “If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has […]
02
Mar
Mar
Prayer ESTHER 14:1, 3-5, 12-14; PSALM 138; MATTHEW 7:7-12 In the first reading, Queen Esther took refuge in the Lord as King Ahasuerus set out to eliminate the Jews. She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and said: “Lord, thou only art our King; help me, who am alone and have no helper but […]
01
Mar
Mar
Repentance JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51; LUKE 11:29-32 Jonah was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to warn them about the coming wrath if they don’t turn from their evil ways. They received Jonah’s message with so much remorse, declared fasting and penance and repented. Nineveh’s narrative reminds us of the importance of penance […]