Seven Catholic Things that Caught My Eye Today (Second Day of Lent, 2015)

1. From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great in the prayer of the Church today:

Dear friends, what the Christian should be doing at all times should be done now with greater care and devotion, so that the Lenten fast enjoined by the apostles may be fulfilled, not simply by abstinence from food but above all by the renunciation of sin.

There is no more profitable practice as a companion to holy and spiritual fasting than that of almsgiving. This embraces under the single name of mercy many excellent works of devotion, so that the good intentions of all the faithful may be of equal value, even where their means are not. The love that we owe both God and man is always free from any obstacle that would prevent us from having a good intention. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. The person who shows love and compassion to those in any kind of affliction is blessed, not only with the virtue of good will but also with the gift of peace.

The works of mercy are innumerable. Their very variety brings this advantage to those who are true Christians, that in the matter of almsgiving not only the rich and affluent but also those of average means and the poor are able to play their part. Those who are unequal in their capacity to give can be equal in the love within their hearts.

2. What St. Dominic’s blessed mother saw.

3. From Catholic New York: In Marriage, Couples Need Not Be Perfect, But They Must Be Loving

4. From the Catholic News Service:

For 20 years, Las Patronas have tossed meals to migrants riding atop trains passing through their hamlet of cane and coffee farmers in Veracruz state, 175 miles southeast of Mexico City.

Las Patronas named themselves for their hometown — La Patrona — and Our Lady of Guadalupe, the national patroness. The women started out with scant resources, but their work has won national awards and international attention. Their work also has contributed to changes in attitudes toward migrants in Mexico, where people have not always welcomed their southern neighbors, despite the fact that the country sends so many its own citizens to the United States.

“There are more people aware now … that a migrant is not a person coming here to do harm. It’s someone who is trying to get ahead and help their family,” Romero said, adding that some of those riding the rails will contact her after arriving to give thanks — even though they never met.

“They look for us and ask, ‘Why would you give us something to eat?’ I always say to them, ‘Because you’re my brother.'”

5.

#ArtHistory majors at @CatholicUniv created an online exhibit http://t.co/eHx17lQLRw based on the #MeetMary exhibit at @WomenInTheArts

— Honoring Mary (@HonoringMaryCUA) February 19, 2015

6. Pope Francis today: Have the courage to choose God every time. He is with us and never abandons us.

7. I love, love, love reading Father John Tauler, O.P., a German Dominican from the 14th century. I brought him with me on a retreat a few years ago and was so glad I did.

The excerpt from him in Magnificat today is on self-denial. But lets start where it ends: “Beloved soul, fortunate soul, fear nothing.”

That could be a reflection for a long while in itself.

But I’ll give you one other sentence from it, following from Luke 9:23: “So must a man renounce all that hinders true spiritual progress.” There’s a Lenten prayer and plan.