Greetings Friends!
The Lenten Season is upon us – may we welcome it so as to give ourselves the space and time to delve our souls further in the journey of Faith. Though Lent is at-times met with a sense of “pressure” or sense of being “strict,” I would like for us to consider a few different perspectives to consider so as to benefit more-fully from this liturgical season the Church provides. As such, the following are some notable highlights to consider:
Your brother,
Friar Bryan
The Lenten Season is upon us – may we welcome it so as to give ourselves the space and time to delve our souls further in the journey of Faith. Though Lent is at-times met with a sense of “pressure” or sense of being “strict,” I would like for us to consider a few different perspectives to consider so as to benefit more-fully from this liturgical season the Church provides. As such, the following are some notable highlights to consider:
- Most people will notice that within the church, the four saint statues have been draped in purple cloth: Anthony, Our Lady, Bonaventure, Joseph. The reason they are draped in purple is so that it spurs us to focus our attention upon the main crucifix within the sanctuary, as well as the Stations of the Cross which adorn the side walls. By focusing more fully on these images of our Lord, may we reflect on the paradox that while people in anger and distrust sought to end the life breath of our Lord, Jesus in His goodness and tremendous care willingly embraced this unfolding of events of hardship to more fully bring-forth His life breath. Put simply, when we see Christ Crucified, we see Christ fully alive. This is something to consider! Alas, do NOT think Friar Bryan is opposed to having saint statues. As such, the statue of the Immaculata in the oratory of Our Lady of Grace and the statue of the Holy Family will NOT be covered. I invite y’all to continue meditate upon those images to further nourish y’all’s Christian soul.
- Within the Gathering Area, y’all will notice two things: (a) the grids for the MinisTREE and (b) our Living Lord bursting forth from the Cross. This juxtaposition is intentional. Oftentimes when we think of Lent, we think of things we ought to give-up or things we should not do. However, this Lent, I invite y’all to lend yourselves to the Marian spirituality of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv, who always encouraged the friars to consider what you CAN DO to manifest and celebrate the Christian virtues within your own life and within the local community. To this end, I invite y’all to consider what you CAN DO during Lent to manifest Christian virtues – these intentional good deeds of our time and talent and treasure, as well as these intentional corporal and spiritual works of mercy we manifest. Not only do I desire us a community to spread goodness, but I want us to recognize and celebrate the goodness we Christians bring forth. For every good Christian virtue or deed y’all do (including the MinisTREE), please tie onto the cross of the Living Lord a purple ribbon so that our local community can acknowledge all the goodness we as a Christian community bring forth in life. This is not self-righteous praise; rather, this is an expression of the Christian witness we are bringing forth during Lent. Thank you for building the Kingdom of God – may we acknowledge and celebrate that during our Lenten season!
- Please join the Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community in praying the Stations of the Cross. Stations will be offered twice each Friday: (1) in the mornings following daily Mass and (2) in the evenings as orchestrated by our parish’s Intentional Discipleship Ministry. I heartedly invite y’all and your friends to partake in the evening sessions of FORGIVEN, a series from Formed.
Your brother,
Friar Bryan
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