Lenten Thoughts – 27 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Year C
Progress towards Perfection
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
“We too often forget that maxim of the Saints which warns us to consider ourselves as each day recommencing our progress towards perfection. If we consider it frequently, we shall not be surprised at the poverty of our spirit, nor how much we have to refuse ourselves.
The work is never finished, we have continually to begin again and that courageously. What we have done so far is good but what we are going to commence, will be better and when we have finished that, we shall begin something else that will be better still and then another – until we leave this world to begin a new life that will have no end because it is the best that can happen to us.
It is not then a case for tears, that we have so much work to do for our souls, for we need great courage to go ever onwards (since we must never stop) and much resolution to restrain our desires. Observe carefully this precept that all the Saints have given to those who would emulate them – to speak little, or not at all, of yourself and your own interests.”
Quote of the Day – 27 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Year C
We cannot discover our failure to keep God’s law, except by trying our very hardest (and then failing). Unless we really try, whatever we say, there will always be at the back of our minds, the idea that, if we try harder next time, we shall succeed in being completely good. Thus, in one sense, the road back to God, is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder. But in another sense, it is not trying that is ever going to bring us home. All this trying leads up to the vital moment, at which you turn to God and say, “You must do this. I can’t.”
One Minute Reflection – 27 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 5:17–19
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.”…Matthew 5:17
REFLECTION – “Grace, which was formerly veiled, so to speak, in the Old Testament, has been fully revealed in the Gospel of Christ by a harmonious disposition of the times, just as God usually disposes of everything with harmony… But within this wonderful harmony we notice a great difference between the two ages. On Sinai the people did not dare draw near the place where the Lord was giving His Law; in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit comes down on all those assembled there, while waiting for the fulfilment of the promise (Ex 19:23; Acts 2:1). In the first instance, the finger of God inscribed the laws on tablets of stone but now, it is in human hearts, that He writes it (Ex 31:18; 2 Cor 3:3). Formerly the Law was written without and brought fear to sinners but now, it has been given to them within, to make them righteous…
Indeed, as the apostle Paul says, everything written on the stone tablets, “you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill…, you shall not covet” and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this saying: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbour, hence, love is the fulfilment of the Law” (Rm 13:9f.; Lv 19:18)… This charity has been “poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rm 5:5)….St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor On the spirit and the letter, 28-30
PRAYER – Protect Your family, Lord and strengthen us with Your consoling presence. Help us in our way to follow Your commandments and live as disciples of love. Look now on Your chosen people, grant us the light of Your Spirit and bring us forever to eternal life. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Son and our Mother, be ever our protective shield. Through Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
Lenten Reflection – 27 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Year C, Gospel: Matthew 5:17–19
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets, I have come, not to abolish them but to fulfil them.”…Matthew 5:17
Daily Meditation: Make us one in love and prayer.
This was a special liturgy in the early church.
On this day the first of the Scrutinies was celebrated.
We can see why the instruction is about fidelity but tone of the prayer is one of unity.
On this day when the community prayed so earnestly for those about to be baptised,
we can feel the power of asking that we be made one.
We might reflect upon what it is that divides us
and what I might do to let the Spirit of Unity draw us together.
I want all of them to be one with each other,
just as I am one with you and you are one with Me.
I also want them to be one with us.
Then the people of this world will believe that You sent Me.
Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper for “for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. “
John 17:21
“We are called to conform our lives to the New Law of grace. This New Law was taught by Christ and established for us by Christ on the Cross. Through His passion and death, He merited for us the grace, that enables us to fulfil the New Law, to respond to the action of the Holy Spirit and to go beyond the demands of justice in our dealings with others. It is the Law of the children of God the Father, that fills our minds with the Wisdom of the Word and directs us to act in accord with the Love of the Holy Spirit.”…Father Jason Mitchell
Closing Prayer:
God, you love me as Your own child.
May I bend my life and will toward You
so that I might accept Your teaching and guidance.
I am so grateful for Your support in my life,
now and in the eternal life, You are preparing for me.
I beg for Your help and Spirit in my life today.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 27 March – Wednesday of the Third week of Lent, Year C
I Want to Love You, My God By St Anthony Mary Claret (1807-1870)
I want to love You, my God, with all my heart, with all my being, with all my strength. I consecrate to You, my thoughts, desires, words and actions, whatever I have and whatever I can be. Let me use what I have for Your greater honour and glory, according to Your will. Amen
Saint of the Day – 27 March – St Rupert of Salzburg (c 660–710) Bishop and Abbot Apostle to Bavaria and Austria – born c 660 probably in France and died in 710 in Salzburg, Austria. Patronages – Salzburg, Austria, city of and Salzburg, Austria, province of.
St Rupert with a barral of salt
Holy tradition states that Rupert was a scion of the Frankish royal Merovingian dynasty. He was possibly related to the Robertians, most likely a descendant of Count Palatine Chrodbert II.
As Worms bishop, Rupert was at first accepted as a wise and devout dignitary, however, the mostly pagan community eventually came to reject him and forced him out of the city. By the end of the 7th century, Duke Theodo of Bavaria requested that he come to his residence at Regensburg (Ratisbon) to help spread the Christian faith among the Bavarian tribes.
Baptism of Duke Theodo by Bishop Rupert, Franciscus de Neve (II) (c 1670)
Rupert then moved to Altötting, where he converted the locals. He sailed down the Danube river, visiting many towns, villages and forts. Soon he had converted a large area along the Danube southeastward to the Bavarian border. Here he stayed at Lorch, where an Early Christian church—the present Basilica of St Lawrence—already existed.
Warlike conditions in the borderlands made him abandon plans of missionary work there. Instead he proceeded along the Roman road to the ruined city of Juvavum, where he made his base and renamed the city “Salzburg”. Like in Lorch, Rupert was able to build on ancient Early Christian traditions that were already in place. He re-established the convent at St Peter’s Abbey and laid the foundations of Salzburg Cathedral that was finished by his successor St Vergilius (c 700-784). He also founded the Benedictine nunnery of Nonnberg beneath the Festungsberg fortifications (later Hohensalzburg Castle), where his niece Erentrude became the first abbess.
Rupert also introduced education and other reforms. From the hands of Duke Theodo of Bavaria, his bishopric received estates around, where he promoted the development of the local saltworks. Rupert’s mission work also spread into the Alps, where a first monastic cell was founded about 711.
Rupert reportedly died on Easter Sunday in 710. His mortal remains were transferred to Salzburg Cathedral by Bishop Vergilius on 24 September 774.
Rupert’s life and mission work is documented in medieval chronicles. In accordance with Christian tradition, St Rupert’s feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his repose, 27 March. In Austria, it is 24 September commemorating the translation of his relics to Salzburg Cathedral. Rupertitag is also a public holiday in the State of Salzburg, associated with popular Volksfest events.
Rupert is the patron saint of the State of Salzburg, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg (together with his successor Vergilius) and of the adjacent Bavarian Rupertiwinkel region. He is also known as the “Apostle of the Bavarians” and patron of several settlements like Sankt Ruprecht in Styria or Šentrupert in Slovenia and of numerous church buildings.
Statue of St Rupert at Salzburg Cathedral
High Altar, Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) Salzburg, Austria. Saint Rupert is depicted atop the altar carrying a barrel of salt in his left hand and a bishop’s crozier in his right. Saint Virgil is also represented atop the altar, opposite Saint Rupert.
Bl Aimone of Halberstadt
St Amphilochius of Illyria
St Alexander of Drizipara
St Alexander of Pannonia
St Alkeld the Martyr
St Amator the Hermit
St Augusta of Treviso
St Claudio Gallo
St Cronidas of Illyria
St Ensfrid of Cologne
Bl Francesco Faà di Bruno
Bl Frowin of Engelberg
St Gelasius of Armagh
St John of Lycopolis
St Matthew of Beauvais
St Macedo of Illyria
St Panacea de’Muzzi of Quarona
Bl Pellegrino of Falerone
Bl Peter Jo Yong-sam
St Philetus
St Romulus the Abbot St Rupert of Salzburg (c 660–710)
St Suairlech of Fore
St Theoprepius
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Martyrs of Bardiaboch: A group of Christians who were arrested, tortured and executed together for their faith during the persecutions of Persian king Shapur II. Martyrs. – Abibus, Helias, Lazarus, Mares, Maruthas, Narses, Sabas, Sembeeth and Zanitas. 27 March 326 at Bardiaboch, Persia.
AnaStpaul 
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