Among the various adversities and attacks that we face on our journey, it is fitting that, on this holy itinerary, we should specifically take into consideration the lurking of the devil. Today’s Gospel describes them in the temptations of Jesus in the desert (Mt 4:1-11).
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THE TRANSFORMATION OF SUFFERING
“Suffering, considered in itself, is a terrible thing. But when we look at it in the Will of God, it becomes love and sweetness” (St. Francis de Sales).
Accepting suffering as coming from the hands of our Father is one of the most difficult lessons we have to learn on our journey of following Christ. This is not surprising, since suffering and death are the consequences of original sin and the loss of paradise. It is still alien to us and, considered in itself, suffering is a terrible thing, as our present companion on the way, St. Francis de Sales, tells us. Read More
LENTEN ITINERARY | Day 4: “Serenity in adversity”
Marked with the cross of ashes, we advance on this holy Lenten journey towards deeper conversion. With fasting we provide good wood for the fire of love and in everything we keep our gaze fixed on God, without seeking the praise of men.
THE LITTLE HALF HOUR
“I would also like your superiors to allow you to spend your free time with Me, so that you can console Me and love Me for half an hour each day” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
GOLDEN OBEDIENCE
“Be convinced: heaven and earth will pass away before the Lord will lose sight of you if you remain obedient, or at least if you are determined to be obedient” (St. Francis de Sales).
LENTEN ITINERARY | Day 3: “Do everything with your eyes fixed on the Lord”
The Gospel presented to us today in the lectionary of the Traditional Mass offers us important warnings for our holy journey towards the Feast of the Resurrection.
Having set out, marked with the cross of ashes, determined to deepen our conversion and to integrate fasting as an important aid on the spiritual journey, the Lord warns us today in the Gospel of an inclination that we must overcome with His help:
LENTEN ITINERARY | Day 2: Wood for the fire of love
The holy journey of Lent also includes – whenever possible – bodily fasting and the renunciation of certain things.
In doing so, we exercise ourselves in an asceticism that is beneficial for the spiritual life. If practised properly, the words of one of the Lenten Prefaces become a reality:
NOT BELIEVING OURSELVES CAPABLE
“When we renounce everything, the Lord takes care of everything and directs everything. If, on the other hand, we keep something for ourselves because we don’t want to entrust it to Him, He leaves us to it, as if to say, ‘If you think you’re smart enough to do it without me, then do it on your own! You will see how far you get!'” (St. Francis de Sales).
LENTEN ITINERARY – Day 1: “The Call to Conversion”
During Lent we will once again follow the “itinerary” that led us through these forty days last year. We especially recommend ourselves to your prayers as we will be on mission in Brazil and Argentina for most of Lent. A major concern in our hearts and prayers is world peace, which is particularly threatened in Ukraine and Israel. As we have close ties with the Holy Land, where we spend much of our time, I have written a prayer that I ask you to pray with us throughout Lent. The written version can be found at the end of the meditation text, and the audio version can be found at the following link:
HEARTS THAT ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ME
“What do I desire to achieve with this work of love, if not to find hearts able to understand Me?” (Message of God the Father to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio)