Saints + Scripture: Quadragesima — Ash Wednesday

The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: "Ash Wednesday"

'Tis Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent (meaning "Spring;" the Latin name is Quadragesima, meaning "fortieth"): Ash Wednesday-link, Wikipedia-link Ash Wednesday, & Wikipedia-link Lent.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, & repentance. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday & falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Ash Wednesday
The Book of Joel, chapter two, verses twelve thru eighteen;
Psalm Fifty-one, verses three & four, five & six(a/b), twelve & thirteen, & fourteen & seventeen;
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verse twenty thru chapter six, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses one thru six, sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel asks us to do three things: pray, fast, and give alms. Let’s focus today on prayer. Studies show that prayer is a very common, very popular activity. Even those who profess no belief in God pray!

What is prayer, and how should we pray? Prayer is intimate communion and conversation with God. Judging from Jesus’ own life, prayer is something that we ought to do often, especially at key moments of our lives.

Well, how should we pray? What does it look like? You have to pray with faith, and according to Jesus’ model, you have to pray with forgiveness. The efficacy of prayer seems to depend on the reconciliation of differences.

You also have to pray with persistence. One reason that we don’t receive what we want through prayer is that we give up too easily. Augustine said that God sometimes delays in giving us what we want because he wants our hearts to expand.

Finally, we have to pray in Jesus’ name. In doing so we are relying on his influence with the Father, trusting that the Father will listen to him.

Reflect: How is the Lord’s Prayer a good model of what our prayer should contain in terms of praise, forgiveness, and petition?

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Mother Clare, C.F.R. (Array of Hope): Easter of Hope.

Scripture Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of the Psalms, psalm fifty-one (verses one thru nineteen);
The Book of the Proverbs, chapter six (verses one thru thirty-five).

Commentary: Prayer for Cleansing & Pardon (Psalm 51) & Practical Admonitions & Warnings (Proverbs, 6:1-35).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 45
The Book of Exodus, chapter nineteen, verses one thru fifteen.

Commentary: The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai (Exodus, 19:1-15).

Remember Your Death: Memento Mori Lenten Devotional
"Remember Your Death—Change Your Life"
"Live Memento Mori"
"The Memento Mori Daily Examen"
"Ash Wednesday"

†

Otherwise, 6 March would be the festival of Saint Fridolin of Säckingen, Abbot, O.S.B. (died circa 540, the "Apostle of the Upper Rhine" & the "Irish Wanderer;" A.K.A. Fridolin Vandreren), founder of Säckingen Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Cathróe of Metz, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 900-976, also spelt Cadroe): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Cyril of Constantinople, Priest, O.Carm. (circa 1126-1224): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

We would also remember Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi, Priest, O.F.M. (circa 1175-1240): Servant-link ūnus, Servant-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: First cousin of St. Clare of Assisi [11 August].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Colette of Corbie, Virgin, P.C.C. (1381-1447, A.K.A. Nicole Boellet), foundress of the Colettine Poor Clares (P.C.C.): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link P.C.C.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Proverb o' the Day (Sirach, 7:36)

In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"This season [of Lent] urgently calls us to conversion. Christians are asked to return to God with all their hearts, to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship with the Lord."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Enjoy in peace the joy God is giving you, without worrying about the future. He is reserving for you, I am sure, new graces & many consolations."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"He who could not be enclosed in space, willed to be enclosed; continuing to be before times, He began to exist in time; the Lord of the universe allowed His infinite majesty to be overshadowed, & took upon Him the form of a servant..."
—Pope St. Leo I the Great, Doctor of the Church (400-461, feast day: 10 November)