First Sunday in Lent ~ 2013

1st Sunday in Lent – February 17, 2013

Ist Sunday of Lent, I Class

So I attended what will probably be my last High Mass without another baby in tote.

I was thankful for such a glorious Mass and Father L’s sermon.  He spoke about the necessity to be aware of the battle that is currently taking place, the need to live for Christ in everything we do, and practical ways to avoid hell.  DEO GRATIAS!

My family waited in Church after the Mass so I could receive a Blessing for Mothers Before Childbirth.  Fr. L blessed me with the traditional formula.  My heart leaped with joy and my eyes filled with tears.  It was beautiful.  It was powerful.  It was exactly what I needed.  Praise God!

Father also blessed my newest rosary.  It was a lovely gift from a fellow blogger, Lauren of Knit in My Womb.

We hit the road shortly after Sweetie’s chorister lesson.

Sparkles was certain to remind me that the day was a First Class feast.  I hadn’t realized that she was privy to the lecture direction I received from Father B in regards to fasting on Sunday. 

We had our regular family dinner at Papa’s & Nana’s.

Needless, to say we celebrated the glorious day – SUNDAY!

~~~

First Week in Lent Sunday ~ Meditations for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas

IT WAS FITTING THAT CHRIST SHOULD BE TEMPTED Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. Matt. iv. i.

Christ willed to be tempted :

1. That he might assist us against our own temptations. St. Gregory says, " That our Redeemer, who had come on earth to be killed, should will to be tempted was not unworthy of him. It was indeed but just that he should overcome our temptations by his own, in the same way that he had come to overcome our death by his death."

2. To warn us that no man, however holy he be, should think himself safe and free from temptation. Whence again His choosing to be tempted after His baptism, about which St. Hilary says,  

" The devil s wiles are especially directed to trap us at times when we have recently been made holy, because the devil desires no victory so much as a victory over the world of grace." Whence too, the scripture warns us, Son, when thou comestto the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation (Ecclus. ii. i).

3. To give us an example how we should over come the temptations of the devil, St. Augustine says, " Christ gave himself to the devil to be tempted, that in the matter of our overcoming those same temptations He might be of service not only by his help but by his example too."

4. To fill and saturate our minds with confidence in His mercy. For we have not a high-priest who cannot have compassion on our infirmities, but one tempted in all things, like as we are, without sin (Heb. iv. 15). (3 4i i.)