The snow from last Sunday postponed the opening of our Catholic Schools Week celebration and Open House. Today (Sunday 1 February) we will celebrate Catholic education at our 9:30 am mass at Notre Dame de Lourdes with the Open House of our parish school following from 10:30-Noon. Blessings to our students, staff, faculty, and administration at Notre Dame de Lourdes School as we extend our celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Please visit the school’s website to see the schedule of activities.
The memorial of St. Blaise is Tuesday 3 February. Throats will be blessed after all the Masses this weekend (31 January / 1 February). St. Blaise was a fourth century bishop who saved a young boy from choking and thus his patronage as saint of throat ailments commenced.
Candles (thankfully, unlit) are used as part of this blessing. While St. Blaise was imprisoned, he was visited by a woman who brought him candles to assist him in his darkened cell. These candles also recall the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Monday 2 February) when candles are blessed as a reminder that we, as baptized members of the Church, are called to bring the Light of Christ into a darkened world. The prayer of blessing for candles is: “O God, true light, who create light eternal, spreading it far and wide, pour, we pray, into the hearts of the faithful the brilliance of perpetual light, so that all who are brightened in your holy temple by the splendor of these candles may happily reach the light of your glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
And the prayer of blessing for throats is: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General has designated next Sunday, 8 February as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. 8 February is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child and sold into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once Josephine was freed, she became a Canossian nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. She was declared a Saint in 2000. Through prayer, we not only reflect on the experiences of those that have suffered through this affront to human dignity, but also comfort, strengthen, and help empower survivors.
“Saint Josephine Bakhita, as a child, you were sold as a slave and had to spend untold difficulties and suffering. Once freed from your physical slavery, you found the true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church. Oh, St. Bakhita, help those who are trapped in slavery; intercede on their behalf before God so that they are freed from the chains of captivity. Provide relief to those who survive slavery and allow them to see the goodness of faith and hope. Help all survivors to find healing for their wounds. We beg you to pray and intercede for those who are enslaved among us. Amen.”
Mass Readings and reflection questions – 4th Ordinary Sunday – Cycle A
Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 – What is humility? Are you a humble person? / How can you be sheltered against the Lord’s anger? Why are the virtues of justice and humility shelters against the Lord’s anger? / In what condition would the Lord find your tongue? / Who / what disturbs you?
Responsorial Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 – R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs! – Why does the psalmist equate faith with social justice? / Have you ever felt that God has thwarted your plans? Did you see the purpose in this redirection?
1st Corinthians 1:26-31 – Consider your own calling. Describe your journey of faith? / Why does God choose the foolish, weak, and lowly of the world instead of the strong and powerful? Who are the foolish, weak, and lowly of the twenty-first century? How are they shaming the wise, the strong, and the mighty?
Matthew 5:1-12a – Who do you see in each of the Beatitudes? Where do you see yourself in the Beatitudes? Where would you like to be seen? What do you need to get there? / Compare and contrast Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes with Luke’s (6:20-26). Why does Luke mention woes as well as blessings?