Reflecting on Lent

Reflecting on Lent
Originally uploaded by Chris Inside

As I begin my journey this year into the season of Lent, I would like to share with you a bit of history offered by the Little Black Book.

St Telesphorus is the pope often credited with instituting the tradition of a seven week Lent.

Whether that is true or not, Telesphorus was one of the Church's earliest popes, serving from about 128-129 A.D. until his martyrdom about 10 years later.

Little is known about this saint. It is thought he was probably Greek. Legend says that he was a hermit before he became pope during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.

But despite the scarcity of information of his background, he is credited (rightly or wrongly) with initiating may of today's Catholic traditions.

For instance, he is said to have begun the celebration of Easter on a Sunday, the tradition of midnight Mass at Christmas, and deciding that the Gloria should be sung at Christmas midnight Mass. It is also said that he started Quinquagesima Sunday (Shrove Sunday) to encourage Christians to prepare for Lent, and he determined the length of the Lenten season.

What is documented is that Telesphorus died a martyr possible because he was a powerful preacher who led many people to convert to Christianity.

The Greek Church celebrates his feast day, February 22.

And so tomorrow the Journey again begins just as it does every year. With plans and resolutions for our journey to the Cross and ultimately to the empty Tomb. May your journey be as fruitful as I hope mine will be.

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Thanks be to God!

The Oscars...

Funniest of stories...

While watching the Academy Awards, Duchess was asleep on the floor in front of the TV. When the winner for costume design was announced for the movie Duchess, OUR Duchess sat up and looked at the television waiting for her TREAT. She looked at both Ron and I as if to say, "Well? Where's the treat?"

Sorry, Duchess, no Oscar for you...only a doggie bone. (We could only laugh out loud at our "puppy.")

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Charism

Church of the Immaculate Conception
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN

The lesson this month for discussion was that of charism. As one in the process of discerning the role of becoming an Providence Associate, this was challenging. I had to look inward and identify my gifts/talents. Then, too, I had to acknowledge them. This process involved writing cinquain poetry. I found I like it. I, too, have to acknowledge that Laura at Catholic Teacher's Musings primed me for this by challenging me to write Haiku. Today I share with you this cinquain.

Charism
Creator's gift
Cherished treasure untold
Accepted with true gratitude
Fruitfulness

Have a grand day!!!!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Angels explained by Children

This was sent to me my many friends. It is a little lighthearted humor about one of God's treasured gifts to us. Have a grand weekend with lots of smiles!

Angels Explained by Children

I only know the names of two angels. Hark and Harold... Gregory, 5

Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it. --Olive, 9

It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes. --Matthew, 9

Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else. --Mitchell, 7

My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science. --Henry, 8

Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from Holy Cows. --Jack, 6

Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead. --Daniel, 9

Love this one:

When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado. --Reagan, 10

Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter. --Sara, 6

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.--Jared, 8

All! angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it. --Antonio, 9

My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth. --Katelynn, 9

Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.

What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Road to Providence

Saint Therese of Lisieux
Saint May-of-the-Woods Campus

I was struck this morning as I was changing "The Quotable" how two days in a row I have been given a lesson by each of my patron saints. Even more ironic is the lesson this time on my journey to becoming a Providence Associate is on charism. By definition, "God's grace, given for the service and edification of all." Though the subject of prayer was long and took us two visits to complete, learning to look inward at one's own charism is really a daunting task. First, one has to accept that it is not being proud, but humble, when we acknowledge these gifts or talents.
ascribed to us by God. And then we must humbly accept them as our own. And so it was that yesterday's quote by Saint Therese gives me the courage to look inward, to truly find those gifts I must to share and to accept them graciously.

The only way to make rapid progress along the path of divine love is to remain very little and put all our trust in almighty God. ~~Saint Therese of Lisieux~~

Today's quote touches home, because the task of searching and knowing who I am (something God already knows) can cause me frustration and anger, for it is difficult to express who I am without realizing that, as I have journeyed these many years, I have neglected or failed to use these gifts properly or at all.

There is no sin or wrong that gives a man such a foretaste of hell in this life as anger and impatience. ~~Saint Catherine of Siena~~

Finally, defining who I am by the charisms is difficult, so I must rely totally on the Holy Spirit to guide me. The next few days leading to my visit with Sister Dorothy will be one of simple surrender to the Holy Spirit, for he will have to be my guide. I ask you all to offer prayers that this journey I take will be fruitful and rewarding. And when I come home from this journey, I will not find I am NEW, but RENEWED.

~~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God!!