Ash Wednesday-2012

This is Our Lady of Sorrows. She has plenty to be sorrowful for. It mostly involves us, God's children. We begin Lent tomorrow, and, with it, responsibility. We are suppose to be like Christ Himself, and He has thrown down the challenge once again. He asks us to be faithful, more charitable, and cleaner in our lives. We want to be with Him in the next life, so we have work to do.

St. John the Apostle, in his 1st epistle, 2nd chapter, verse 15, says this: 'Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.' Nuff said.

St. Francis de Sales tells us the following. He is speaking about all of us who are still trodding the boards on earth. He advises us to think, from time to time, on such considerations as these;--that while all these frivolous, and often dangerous, amusements are going on, there are countless souls being tormented in the fire of hell, on account of the sins they committed on similar occasions;--that, at that very hour of the night, there are many holy religious depriving themselves of sleep in order to sing the divine praises and implore God's mercy upon the world, and upon them that are wasting their time in its vanities;--that there are thousands in the agonies of death, while all that gaiety is going on;--that God and His angels are attentively looking upon this thoughtless group;--and finally, that life is passing away, and death so much nearer each moment.'

This last statement makes me think about a gentleman we met at the 'Catholic Family News' conference last year in Cleveland. He was an ex-NYC policeman and FBI agent, and had helped start a Catholic school for those who he thought weren't getting their hard earned money's worth for. He told the kids, and I think that this is the school's motto: "If you don't make it to heaven, your life has been wasted."

Let's hope and pray and work hard so that our lives are not wasted!

I'm going to end with something from last Saturday's readings. It is from something called 'Complaint to Mary', composed by the monk Euthymius. it is in the Greek liturgy. Think!


O blessed Lady! how shall I worthily lament over my impure life, and the multitude of my grievous sins? I know not how to address thee, most chaste Virgin! I tremble with fear; but do thou help me.

I will speak of my wickedness and my hateful sins; but where shall I begin? Alas! what will become of me, a wretched sinner? Do thou, O blessed Lady, have compassion on me before my departure from this life.

I, having gone in every path that sinner ever trod, how shall I find now the way of salvation, O Immaculate Virgin? Yet have I recourse to thy goodness; despise me not, for I repent from my heart.

My thoughts are ever on the hour of death, and on the dread tribunal; and yet an evil habit violently tempts me to sin. O most pure Virgin, do thou help me.

The deadly enemy of all that is good, seeing me poor and naked, without patron or protector, and most destitute of heavenly virtue, rushes forward that he may devour me. O blessed Lady! forbid him, and drive him far from me.

Alas, unhappy man! in the arrogance of my soul, I have defiled the image of God that was in me. Whither shall I now turn? Hasten to my assistance, O Virgin ever holy!

The choirs and hosts of Angels, the heavenly Powers, tremble in the presence of thy all-powerful Son, O Immaculate Mother! and I, who have nothing wherein to hope, am so devoid of fear!

Suffer me not, O blessed Lady! to perish in the pit of my sins, into which I have fallen. The cruel enemy sees me struggling in despair, and mocks me. Do thou stretch forth thy hand, that can so well deliver me.

Awful is the judgment of God, unhappy senseless soul! and everlasting is the punishment. But turn thee, whilst yet there is time, and prostrate in prayer before the Mother of thy Judge and Lord. Why wouldst thou despair?

O Immaculate Virgin! the multitude of my grievous sins has set a thick darkness around me; the eyes of my soul, and my understanding, are blinded. Wherefore, I beseech thee, quickly lead me by the brightness of thy light, to sweet freedom from my passions.

Grant me an unceasing sorrow, O blessed Lady, and a fount of tears, that I may wash away my countless sins and wounds, and gain eternal life.

Lo! I thy servant, most sinless Virgin! approach thee in deep reverence and love, for I know the power of thy prayer. Great, indeed, with her Son, is the power of the Mother's prayer, and His heart is moved when she asks, O most blessed Mother!

O Mother worthy of the whole world's praise! thy Son will be to me a merciful and compassionate Judge. Despise me not, but let me find favour in His sight, that He may set me on the right hand of His most just tribunal; for in thee have I put my trust.