Daily prayer
to St. Jude

O kindSaint-Jude, our faithful intercessor to Jesus, receive the following special intentions : to present them to the Almighty Lord, Root of all good. Above all, grant us an increase of our faith in His love. May each day find us closer in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. KindSaint-Jude, you who has revived hope in our hearts, you whose model merits and life bring us the divine blessings and graces, be our advocate, and lead us to Jesus and Mary. With you, blessed apostle, we give thanks and praise God with all our heart for His innumerable kindnesses. Amen.

The Monthly Note

February 2008

The joy of Lent

by Fr. Jacques Lauzier, OP

During the forty days He spent in the desert, Jesus was not sad.  On the contrary, He was all happy to offer the Father His absolute fast, for us all.

Jesus was not a sourpuss during His trek.  On the contrary, He was very happy to show us how to liberate ourselves from the golden chains that bind us and keep us from loving.

The Gospel tells us that He set out on this pilgrimage driven by the Spirit.  It is the same Spirit that invites us to follow Him in our heart’s interior and secret desert, where our selfishness and vices are found, where the Spirit can help us clean up, to purify ourselves and to teach us to «live» as Jesus did.

Yes, Lent is a time when we have the opportunity to walk to another rhythm in order to clean up our heart and soul.

But, as contrary to Jesus, we are not alone to begin this march towards Easter.  He is with us, happy to accompany and guide us and to teach us to bring us together with ourselves, our brothers and sisters and with Him.

Joy should be the first guest at the opening of Lent. Not the enthusiasm of a carnival, but the serene joy of the soul that knows that He is present, with us.  And it is in joy that we will offer all our deprivations, big and small, knowing that all is not lost.  Especially what others do not see and do not know.

Let embark on this fascinating adventure that takes us from servitude to liberty by « converting and joyfully believing in the Good News », knowing that Jesus was a joyful pilgrim of Resurrection.

Jacques Lauzier, o.p.