Lent Resources

 Lent and Migration 

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Lent and Laudato Si

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Lent and Cosmic Redemption

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Pope Francis' Message for Lent 2019

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rm 8: 19)

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Each year, through Mother Church, God “gives us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed… as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ” (Preface of Lent I). We can thus journey from Easter to Easter towards the fulfilment of the salvation we have already received as a result of Christ’s paschal mystery – “for in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation. As Saint Paul says, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). In this perspective, I would like to offer a few reflections to accompany our journey of conversion this coming Lent.

1. The redemption of creation

The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to undertake a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ (cf. Rom 8:29) is a priceless gift of God’s mercy.

When we live as children of God, redeemed, led by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14) and capable of acknowledging and obeying God’s law, beginning with the law written on our hearts and in nature, we also benefit creation by cooperating in its redemption. That is why Saint Paul says that creation eagerly longs for the revelation of the children of God; in other words, that all those who enjoy the grace of Jesus’ paschal mystery may experience its fulfilment in the redemption of the human body itself. When the love of Christ transfigures the lives of the saints in spirit, body and soul, they give praise to God. Through prayer, contemplation and art, they also include other creatures in that praise, as we see admirably expressed in the “Canticle of the Creatures” by Saint Francis of Assisi (cf. Laudato Si’, 87). Yet in this world, the harmony generated by redemption is constantly threatened by the negative power of sin and death.

2. The destructive power of sin

Indeed, when we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbours and other creatures – and ourselves as well – since we begin to think more or less consciously that we can use them as we will. Intemperance then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by our human condition and nature itself. We yield to those untrammelled desires that the Book of Wisdom sees as typical of the ungodly, those who act without thought for God or hope for the future (cf. 2:1-11). Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans “I want it all and I want it now!” and “Too much is never enough”, gains the upper hand.

The root of all evil, as we know, is sin, which from its first appearance has disrupted our communion with God, with others and with creation itself, to which we are linked in a particular way by our body. This rupture of communion with God likewise undermines our harmonious relationship with the environment in which we are called to live, so that the garden has become a wilderness (cf. Gen 3:17-18). Sin leads man to consider himself the god of creation, to see himself as its absolute master and to use it, not for the purpose willed by the Creator but for his own interests, to the detriment of other creatures.

Once God’s law, the law of love, is forsaken, then the law of the strong over the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in the human heart (cf. Mk 7:20-23) takes the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, lack of concern for the good of others and even of oneself. It leads to the exploitation of creation, both persons and the environment, due to that insatiable covetousness which sees every desire as a right and sooner or later destroys all those in its grip.

3. The healing power of repentance and forgiveness

Creation urgently needs the revelation of the children of God, who have been made “a new creation”. For “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). Indeed, by virtue of their being revealed, creation itself can celebrate a Pasch, opening itself to a new heaven and a new earth (cf. Rev 21:1). The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery.

This “eager longing”, this expectation of all creation, will be fulfilled in the revelation of the children of God, that is, when Christians and all people enter decisively into the “travail” that conversion entails. All creation is called, with us, to go forth “from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Lent is a sacramental sign of this conversion. It invites Christians to embody the paschal mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

Fasting, that is, learning to change our attitude towards others and all of creation, turning away from the temptation to “devour” everything to satisfy our voracity and being ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts. Prayer, which teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy. Almsgiving, whereby we escape from the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us. And thus to rediscover the joy of God’s plan for creation and for each of us, which is to love him, our brothers and sisters, and the entire world, and to find in this love our true happiness.

Dear brothers and sisters, the “lenten” period of forty days spent by the Son of God in the desert of creation had the goal of making it once more that garden of communion with God that it was before original sin (cf. Mk 1:12-13; Is 51:3). May our Lent this year be a journey along that same path, bringing the hope of Christ also to creation, so that it may be “set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain! Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion. Let us leave behind our selfishness and self-absorption, and turn to Jesus’ Pasch. Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them. In this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives, we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation.

From the Vatican, 4 October 2018

Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

Social Justice Lenten Resources

As we enter into the holy of season of Lent, we are offered an opportunity to journey with Jesus through our own deserts, face our own temptations, and recommit to God’s loving justice and peace for the whole of creation. 

The JPIC Office has compiled below various resources for your Lenten journey this year that connect to themes of racial justice, care of creation, peace and nonviolence, social justice, and human trafficking (Print Version). 

We also share with you Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2019 in which he reminds us that, “The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery… Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them.” 

We hope that you find these resources helpful and meaningful as together we work to build communities of justice and peace that honor all of God’s beautiful and diverse creation.  May you have a blessed Lenten journey! 

Pope’s Message for Lent

Dear brothers and sisters, the “lenten” period of forty days spent by the Son of God in the desert of creation had the goal of making it once more that garden of communion with God that it was before original sin. May our Lent this year be a journey along that same path, bringing the hope of Christ also to creation, so that it may be “set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God”. Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain! Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion. 

https://saccvi.blogspot.com/2019/03/pope-francis-message-for-lent-2019.html

Recommit to Racial Justice

This year for Lent, we invite all NETWORK members and supporters to recommit to Racial Justice. We live in a society built on hundreds of years of oppressing People of Color in the United States. We are at a critical time for white people to do the work of racial justice, educating themselves and finding ways to act in solidarity with People of Color.  It is crucial that we confront our history and the ways racism continues today, including in our federal policies.

https://networklobby.org/lent/

Transform Network “Resipiscence 2019:  A Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy”

This Lent we have the opportunity to reflect deeply on the ways that white supremacy has infected our lives and our communities, and we have the opportunity to repent.  We invite you to be part of the RESIPISCENCE community. We have gathered here a widely ranging collection of daily reflections from a very diverse group of contributors—diverse in identities, theologies, and experiences—and every one of them has something to say about how we dismantle white supremacy.

https://www.transformnetwork.org/bookstore/lentdevotional2019-ebook

Franciscan Action Network: “40 Days 40 Ways – A Guide to a Green Lent”

This guide is designed to provide a green environmental context for you to consider this Lent. Despite its title, “40 Days; 40 Ways” is not fashioned as a daily devotional. Dianne describes it as "a range of suggestions for merging your Lenten disciplinary spirit with creation-centered activities." We hope you will consider challenging yourself with some creative action this Lent.

https://franciscanaction.org/article/40-days-40-ways-guide-green-lent

Interfaith Power and Light Calendar: “Lenten Creation Care”

May this calendar remind us to be more mindful of the ways that our daily habits impact both our common home and all those with whom we share it. On behalf of future generations and all living in poverty—those most harmed by our damaged climate—may we answer God’s call to be faithful stewards, speaking out for creation care.

http://ipldmv.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2019-DC-Creation-Care-Calendar.pdf

Lose Your Life to Save It

To be aligned with the way of nonviolence is our goal and our hope, and we pray we for it, study it, and act for it.  Nonviolence is a holistic endeavor that imbues, elevates, and changes our soul, mind, and body. If first we can align our hearts and our souls with a spirit of nonviolence through prayer, reflection, and meditation, then we can find the energy and guidance from God for how our minds and body are to follow.  Find the energy for your work for peace with justice by downloading Pax Christi USA's electronic Lent reflection booklet today.

http://paxchristiusa.3dcartstores.com/ELECTRONIC-2019-Lent-Reflection-Booklet_p_315.html

Broken Lent 2019

Broken is an interesting word to consider as we walk through the Lenten season. We can understand it from so many angles— as separation, destruction, damage, as injustice, as defeat, sorrow, despair. But when approached from another angle, broken takes on a new meaning. We remember, in our broken world, in these turbulent and heartbreaking times for our country and the Catholic Church— The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.  We can find strength. We can be released from captivity. We can destroy the chains of injustice. We can break the barriers that keep us from a world where dignity and compassion bring the justice we seek.

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/lent-2019/

Stations of the Cross

Human Trafficking focus: “Walking the Stations of the Cross with St. Josephine Bakhita” https://educationforjustice.org/wp-content/media/2018/02/Prayer-Service_Walking-the-Stations-of-the-Cross-with-St.-Josephine-Bakhita.pdf

Praying the Stations of the Cross for Victims of Human Trafficking (USCCB): http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/upload/Human-Trafficking-Stations-of-the-Cross.pdf

Scriptural Way of the Cross: http://www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/upload/cchd-scriptural-way-of-the-cross.pdf

Peace focus: “Stations of the Cross: Walking with Jesus for Peace” https://educationforjustice.org/wp-content/media/2018/02/Prayer-Service_Stations-of-the-Cross-Walking-with-Jesus-for-Peace-Henri-Nouwen.pdf

Catholic Women Preach

“For Christians nonviolence is the attitude of one who is so convinced of God’s love and power that he or she is not afraid to tackle evil with weapons of love and truth,” Sr. Martha Ann Kirk echoes Pope Francis’ message for the Fiftieth World Day of Peace.

In a reflection on the Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, she considers Jesus’ last free act before he was taken to be killed, he reached out to heal someone who had come to hurt him. 

This reflection can be seen on Catholic Women Preach: http://catholicwomenpreach.org/.  This is “an innovative project designed to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the Church today by responding to Pope Francis’ call for broader and more active engagement of the baptized in the preaching mission of the Church. 

This project is a deeply faithful, hopeful and joyful initiative intended to build up the Church.”   Hear Sister Tere Maya’s message last year:
http://catholicwomenpreach.org/preacher/teresa-maya  

One can register to receive the message each week.  http://catholicwomenpreach.org/

Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Lentan Resources

As we begin another Lenten season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, the Congregational Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Office -a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word- encourages you to explore the resources below and choose one for your own Lenten practice this year. 
Together we can continue to deepen our commitment to taking a prophetic stance for justice, peace, and the integrity of all creation.

Ignatian Solidarity Network: 

' Break Forth,

a Daily Lenten call to solidarity'

Development and Peace, Caritas:

' Together for Peace'

' Women at the heart for change'

The Catholic Climate Movement:

' Fast for creation '

NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice:
' 2018 Lent Series'

Pax Christi Lentan Booklet: 

'Go Forth and Live in Peace'

Catholic Mobilizing Network:

'2018 Lenten Reflections'

Catholic Relief Services has created an
app to accompany you in your 'Lenten journey'

Justice

Peace

Human Trafficking

Maryknoll Office:

Embracing Jesus’ Practice 

of Nonviolence

St. Louis, MO

Walk the Journey with Jesus: 

Lent Immigration Course

More resources: https://saccvi.blogspot.pe/search/label/Lent

Pray for peace on 23 February

We invite all to consider using this resources to mark this day and pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan,  as well as all areas of conflict in the world.

• A Meditation on Praying for Peace
• A Litany of Peace (PDF)

Pope Francis has called for a "special day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world" on Friday, 23 February 2018. The day of prayer is especially aimed at prayers for peace in the conflict-stricken nations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Catholics and other Christians as well as followers of other religions and people of good are invited to join in this event.

“In the face of the tragic continuation of conflicts in different parts of the world, I invite all the faithful to a special day of prayer and fasting for peace on 23 February, the Friday of the first week of Lent,” Pope Francis announced. “We will offer it especially for the populations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and of South Sudan."

“Our Heavenly Father always listens to his sons and daughters who cry to him in their pain and anguish,” the pope continued. “I make a heartfelt appeal so that we too listen to that cry and each of us, in our own conscience, ask ourselves before God, ‘What can I do for peace?’”

“Certainly,” he said, “we can pray, but not only that: Each one can concretely say NO to violence inasmuch as it depends on him or her. Because all the victories gained by violence are false victories; but to work for peace does good to us all!”

From: Pax Christi International 

Join Stations of the Cross at the Headwaters Sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Headwaters at Incarnate Word will be hosting a moving Stations of the Cross as interpreted by local San Antonio artists on Friday, April 14th at 1:30pm.  

All are welcome and invited to attend! 

Way of the Cross in America

The Diocese of Richmond put out a beautiful stations of the cross that highlights fourteen different countries throughout North, Central, and South America.  Each station includes a Scripture passage reflecting that station of Jesus' journey to the cross, as well as information from a selected country, how it related to that station, and a prayer for that country.

You can download a free copy of the stations here: http://richmonddiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Eng-OHM-Way-of-the-Cross-7x10.pdf

Encourage your faith community to pray this Way of the Cross in America this Lent, as we reflect on and pray for healing, compassion, and new life throughout the Americas.

End Human Trafficking in the Seafood Industry

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY

The Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) is engaged in an effort to end human trafficking in the seafood industry by encouraging producers to share information about their supply chains on their labels.

Human trafficking is a global phenomenon that enslaves women, men, and children into situations of forced labor, debt bondage, and sexual servitude. Human trafficking is wide spread in many products’ supply chains, including products sold in the United States. For example, the United States imports 80-90% of its seafood, and tens of thousands of people are exploited at every link in the seafood harvesting and production chain. This exploitation occurs through abusive recruitment practices, as well as slavery at sea and in seafood processing plants.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

So what can we, as Catholics, do to prevent human trafficking and exploitation in supply chains? We can educate ourselves and use our power as ethical consumers to help stamp out trafficking.

“Together with the social responsibility of businesses, there is also the social responsibility of consumers. Every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and not simply an economic – act.”

—Pope Francis, World Day of Peace, January 1, 2015

HOW CAN WE DO THIS?

Currently, we are not always given the information we need to make moral purchasing decisions. CCOAHT wants to ask seafood companies that are engaged in cleaning up their supply chains to label their packaged products. Through labeling, we as consumers can make educated purchasing choices that help eradicate human trafficking.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  This Lent, we ask you to fill out this short, five-question survey.

CCOAHT will use the data from this survey when it reaches out to seafood companies to request that they include a label on their packaged products.

Take the 5 question survey at:  https://www.cvent.com/surveys/Welcome.aspx?s=9dc4b0b1-84b8-4f5b-908f-45f96a1596a4

Thanks for your participation!  

Lenten Reflection Guide on Nonviolence

The season of Lent begins March 1. In this time of turmoil on so many fronts, we offer our 2017 Lenten Reflection Guide. Come pray, study, and act with us. 

Our 2017 Lenten Reflection Guide: A Journey with Gospel Nonviolence contains reflections, questions, prayers, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the discussions by Catholic peacemakers at the landmark Nonviolence and Just Peace conference in Rome in April 2016. Use it individually or in small groups. Share it with your friends, family, and faith communities.

Now more than ever we need to pray, study, and act for peace.

Download our Lenten Reflection Guide today.

From the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns

Laudato Si’ Reflection Resource On Care for Our Common Home:

LaudatoSiReflectionResource-2017 

– Scripture quotes coordinate with 2017 Scripture readings, but they are useful at any time of any year.

– Suggestions for pertinent videos and hymns that enhance the experience.

– Devoting the first of five sessions to the Introduction establishes a solid foundation for accepting the full document.

– Practical weekly action suggestions lead to lasting commitments.

Scripture quotes from the appropriate Sunday are explored in the light of various Earth concerns: Water, Air, Soil, all of Earth’s species and ecosystems.  As people of faith, we want to respond not only to Jesus’ suffering and death, but also to the suffering and death within creation, where God lives and acts, and we are part of a united whole: our home.

Whatever the aspect of creation being highlighted, participants reflect on excerpts from each Sunday’s Scripture readings in the light of our place in the Universe Story and the presence of the divine within it from the beginning — and within us, as we respond to the threats to Earth’s gifts.  Meetings include silence, prayer, input, discussion, action suggestions, and socializing.

Lent 2017: I Thirst

I Thirst 2017 – 14 sides

Tengo Sed 2017 – 14 sides Please use the 2014 version.

Join the Campaign for Slave-Free Seafood

The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word is proud to be participating in the Lentan postcard campaign to stop slave labor in the seafood industry.  We are collecting 250 signatures as we raise awareness and call for an end to slave labor in the seafood industry!  The campaign is sponsored by the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) which is a key leader in the Catholic struggle against human trafficking in the United States.

What's going on in the seafood industry?
The US imports about 80-90% of its seafood, and tens of thousands of people are exploited at every link in the seafood harvesting and production chain.

• Abusive Recruitment:  With little to no alternative, vulnerable people are deceived and forced/kidnapped into jobs that become trafficking situations.  
• Slavery at Sea: Once at sea, workers endure inhuman working hours and are compelled to labor under life-threatening conditions, including extreme and reckless exposure to danger and the elements, while being kept on the verge of starvation. Beatings and torture are routinely used to ensure submission.  The cost of noncompliance can be death.  
• Exploitation on Land: Conditions of slavery permeate seafood processing plants, and this seafood ends up on our plates.  

What is this campaign all about?
During Lent, many Catholics eat fish or seafood and abstain from meat in order to be in greater solidarity with those in need.  The Vatican has announced that is will "slave proof" its supply chain, and many major corporations are following its lead.

Catholics want slave-free seafood too, and we will be vigilant about this as we observe Lent.  That is where the postcards come in.  You sign a postcard which will be sent to both StarKist Co. and Costco Wholesale Corporation which states the background of the campaign and asks, "We therefore kindly urge you to do all in your power to ensure that your supply chains are free of the taint of forced labor."

How can I get involved?

1. If you are in St. Louis, please connect with Jennifer Reyes Lay, Assistant Director of the JPIC Office, to get your postcards.  You can contact the JPIC Office by email: jpic.office@amormeus.org.
2. If you are in San Antonio, you can connect with Sr. Jean Durel (at the Generalate) or Sr. Martha Ann Kirk (at the University of Incarnate Word) to sign some postcards.  Sr. Jean's e-mail is: jean.durel@amormeus.org and Sr. Martha Ann's e-mail is kirk@uiwtx.edu.     
3. Or you can also order your own postcards or download and print them off through the CCOAHT website.