Day 3: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

2017 Busy Catholic’s Online Lenten Retreat

Living Lent With Love

Day Three

Wednesday, March 22

Today’s Scripture

(Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9)

Now therefore, Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe, that you may live.… See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to possess. Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people.” For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children….

Pope Francis’s Comment

You can’t have a family without dreams. Once a family loses the ability to dream, children do not grow, love does not grow, life shrivels up and dies. So I ask you each evening, when you make your examination of conscience, to also ask yourselves this question: Today did I dream about my children’s future? Today did I dream about the love of my husband, my wife? Did I dream about my parents and grandparents who have gone before me?

 (Meeting with Families, Manila, January 16, 2015)

Let us Pray

Loving God, I had no say over choosing the family into which I was born. But I do have something to say about the family in which I live at this moment. I know how we can be flawed, broken and discouraged by our human limitations. I also believe that, with your grace, my family can come together, work, pray and play together to reflect your relationship of enduring love and forgiveness. May I always remember that you are at the center of who we are as family. Amen.

Material in this year’s online retreat is excerpted with permission from Living Lent with Love.

This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. 

Published by special arrangement with Creative Communications for the Parish

Day 2: Tuesday, March 21, 2017

2017 Busy Catholic’s Online Lenten Retreat

Living Lent With Love

Day Two

Tuesday, March 21

Today’s Scripture

(Daniel 3:25, 34-43)

Azariah  stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud: …For your name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven…. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have…no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering…no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bulls, or tens of thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today and find favor before you; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we seek your face. Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.

Pope Francis’s Comment

It is in the family that we learn to speak our “mother tongue”, the language of those who have gone before us. In the family we realize that others have preceded us, they made it possible for us to exist and in our turn to generate life and to do something good and beautiful. We can give because we have received. This virtuous circle is at the heart of the family’s ability to communicate among its members and with others. More generally, it is the model for all communication.

(Message for World Communications Day, January 23, 2015)

Let us pray.

Loving God, at times in my life, I need to call on that great cloud of witnesses who have gone before me. These saints known and unknown can be found in the global community, certainly. But what about in my own corner of the world? Lift up for me today my own personal list of the holy ones who are part of my graced story. Surround me with the blessed memory of family, friends and neighbors who have set the stage for me to grow into the fullness of your dream for me. Amen.

Material in this year’s online retreat is excerpted with permission from Living Lent with Love.

This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. 

Published by special arrangement with Creative Communications for the Parish

Day 1: Monday, March 20, 2017

2017 Busy Catholic’s Online Lenten Retreat

Living Lent With Love

Day One

Monday, March 20.

Today’s Scripture

(Luke 2:41-51)

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.  …[A]s they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind…, but his parents did not know it. …[T]hey…looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem…. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions….  When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Pope Francis’s Reflection

St Joseph is the model of the educator and the dad, the father. I, therefore, entrust to his protection, all parents….  I ask for you the grace to be ever closer to your children, allow them to grow, but be close, close! They need you, your presence, your closeness, your love.  May you be for them as St. Joseph was: guardians of their growth in age, wisdom and grace. May you guard them on their journey: be educators and walk with them. 

(General Audience, St. Peter’s Square, March 19, 2014)

Let Us Pray.

Loving God, you place children in my life with all their promise and their vulnerability. May they see in my words and actions a mirror of your loving face.  May I protect and nurture their dreams and offer my own heart as a safe shelter for all that is fragile and confused, wondering and fearful, in theirs. Teach me how to accompany them so they may know you and I are with them and they are never alone, no matter what is happening in their lives. Amen.

Material in this year’s online retreat is excerpted with permission from Living Lent with Love.

This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. 

Published by special arrangement with Creative Communications for the Parish

Introduction

2017 Busy Catholic’s Online Lenten Retreat

Living Lent With Love

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to our online Lenten Retreat for 2017.  This daily retreat is designed to give you a special opportunity for prayer and reflection during this Lenten season.

You may use the retreat at any time and in any environment that is convenient and conducive to your personal prayer and reflection.  You may also use the retreat in a family or faith-sharing environment.  Don’t worry if you miss a day; you do not have to complete the retreat on the appointed days.

Here are some suggestions which you might find helpful:

1. Choose a time and location for your daily retreat.

2. Take a few moments to relax and quiet yourself before you begin the retreat.  If necessary, make a list of the things you need to do or think about after you have finished your prayer and reflection—this will help insure that these things don’t distract you during your retreat time. 

3. Read the daily Scripture.  Read it a second time if you wish.  Consider what words, phrases or ideas stand out for you.  In what way might you “connect” to this scripture reading?

4. Read Pope Francis’s reflection.  Think about the ways in which the Pope’s comments affirm or challenge your own attitude or behavior.  Think of practical ways in which you might want to change your attitude or behavior in the spirit of the Pope’s comments. 

5. If time permits, spend a few minutes pondering the reflection and its connection to your own life.  How would you summarize the point of today’s reflection?  How does it apply to your own life?

6. Pray today’s prayer.  Pray it a second time if you wish.  Try to identify a word or phrase you want to remember and repeat throughout the day.

Remember to share your thoughts or insights with other people participating in this retreat.

We wish you a blessed and fruitful retreat experience.

Material in this year’s online retreat is excerpted with permission from Living Lent with Love.

This material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. 

Published by special arrangement with Creative Communications for the Parish