Sirach,
Chapter 22, Verse 16
A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building is not loosened by an
earthquake; So the mind firmly resolved after careful deliberation will not be afraid at any time.
A prudent mind firmly resolved
is undisturbed by violent and conflicting thoughts. Sometimes we all have senseless
thoughts and feelings which shake us but faith is a firm anchor for our
thoughts. We indeed do have the power within ourselves to choose not to react
to impulsive thoughts.
Holiness consists in friendship with
God. If we would be in any sense the friends of God, we must have at least that
desire for holiness without which such friendship would be impossible; growth
in the knowledge of God is the deepening of this friendship. To know God is to
know self and if we know ourselves well, we know have one or two prominent sins
that have dogged our life’s path for years, and against these we struggle
bravely and are conscious that God is helping us. Sin and sanctity reveal us to
ourselves; therefore, if there is to be any spiritual growth, there must be a
growth in self-knowledge. We cannot make any serious attempt to conquer our
sins until we know what who we are and who’s we are. Therefore the greatest
advancement we make is when we learn to examine ourselves in the light of
Christ.[1]
To examine ourselves in
the light of Christ a good place to begin is with the seven heavenly virtues: Humility,
Charity, Chastity, Patience, Temperance, Diligence, and kindness.[2]
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the
LORD are true, all of them just. (Ps. 19:10)
Let the words of my
mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O LORD, my rock and my
redeemer. (Ps. 19:15)
Today is traditionally
Septuagesima.
Three weeks prior to Ash Wednesday, on
the day before Septuagesima Sunday, a touching ceremony is held. A choir
assembles, chants the divine office and, afterwards, sings a bittersweet hymn
bidding farewell to the word "Alleluia": We do not now deserve to
sing the Alleluia forever; Guilt forces us to dismiss you, O Alleluia. For the
time approaches in which we must weep for our sins.
So important was Lent to both Eastern
and Western Christians that they actually had a separate season to prepare for
it. Thus, the day after Septuagesima Sunday, they would begin a period of voluntary
fasting that would grow more severe as
it approached the full and obligatory fast of Lent. The amount of food would be
reduced, and the consumption of certain items, such as butter, milk, eggs, and
cheese, would gradually be abandoned. Starting on the Thursday before Ash
Wednesday, this self-imposed asceticism would culminate in abstinence from
meat. Thus the name for this seven-day period before Ash Wednesday is "Carnival," from the Latin carne levarium,
meaning "removal of meat." Finally, within the week of Carnival, the
last three days (the three days prior to Lent) would be reserved for going to
confession. This period was known as "Shrovetide," from the old English word "to shrive," or to
have one's sins forgiven through absolution.[3]
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