11th February 2018 - Preparing to celebrate the season of Lent

On this weeks programme John and Shane are joined by Fr Luke McNamara from Glenstal Abbey to reflect on preparing to celebrate the season of Lent as well as telling us about a series of reflections on the readings of the Easter Vigil being hosted at the abbey. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as a quick run through this weeks liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Preparing to celebrate the season of Lent

Fr Luke McNamara OSB joins us on this weeks programme to discuss with us about preparing to celebrate the "joyous season" of Lent reflecting on what the different elements of Lent mean of us and the opportunity they present to reconnect with God and ourselves in the season of metonia. Reflecting on the opportunity to rebuild our relationships with God, others and ourselves, Fr Luke takes us through the chances presented to us as we prepare for Easter. 

As part of that preparation, making time and finding the opportunity to participate in Lent can be difficult. Fr Luke also shares with us an opportunity being presented by Glenstal Abbey to take time during Lent to reflect on our journey of faith towards Calvary and beyond and reflecting on the relationship God has maintained with his Chosen People throughout history in a series over the Sundays of Lent reflecting on the readings of the Easter Vigil.

You can listen to Fr Luke's reflection excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours 

Psalter week 2 - 6th week in Ordinary time (Sunday - Tuesday)
Psalter week 4 - Ash Wednesday - Saturday 

Saints of the Week

February 12th -  Saint Ethelwald of Lindisfarne
February 13th - Saint Maura of Ravenna also Blessed Jordan of Saxony
February 14th - Ash Wednesday - Day of Fast & Abstinence 

The celebration of the season of Lent takes precedence takes most feasts and solemnities. The Sundays of Lent outrank all such feasts (with the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th being moved to April 9th). The weekdays of Lent also take precedence over the memorials of the saints during the week. 

February 15th - Saint Farannan of Iona
February 16th - The Shipwrecking of St Paul the Apostle
February 17th - Saint Fintán of Clonenagh