Each year you give us this joyful season,What jumps out from it is just what my old guru, Paul Cioffi stressed: God is at work accomplishing our salvation. God gives us the season, God gives us a spirit, God gave us new life in Christ, God brings Christ's image to perfection in us. We don't earn any of this stuff, not by fasting, not by good works, not by anything. "All is gift," as Fr. Cioffi used to say (quoting the dying protagonist of Diary of a country priest.)
when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our Father,
and of willing service to our neighbor.
As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ,
you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Ash Wednesday, part 2
My friend Bob guessed that the reference to lent as a "joyful season" comes from the preface for lent, not, as I guessed, from the opening prayer for Ash Wednesday. (The preface is the mass prayer that leads up to the response "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts . . .", after which the eucharistic prayer begins and the congregation kneels.) Bob's right, as usual. The relevant section is:
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1 comment:
It was a blessing to have Fr. Cioffi in our lives. Thank goodness someone of us were able to enjoy him for a few years. To this day I still miss Fr. Cioffi but am thankful for knowing him. He made me a better person.
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