We have made it to the fourth week of Lent. The Gospel this week looks into one of the most complex mysteries of all. God’s Love. It is the kind of concept that the more you ponder the more you realise you just don’t know.

It is also the time of Lent where failure can be a bit of a theme. We might have broken our Lenten promises a little more often than we would like to think about. This week in our music we have a piece by Catholic musician Audrey Assad called “New Every Morning” It helps to know that time is a gift from God and each new day, we are given “new mercies” to start over.  That Anne of Green Gables quote often comes to mind,

 “Marilla, isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

We hope you have a very blessed week.

 

Gospel Reading Audio 

Reflection on the Gospel by Monica Russell

reflection sheet

We have provided a number of reflection questions based on the video above. You don’t need to answer them all. They are just a guide to help you reflect on what was said. You can pick as many or as few as you wish. It really depends on the time you have through the week and what really spoke to you. Click the image to download the sheet.

Further reading

Here we are listing a number of other resources that you might like to look at. Of course you don’t need to use any at all or even just in Lent! It is mainly for those who wish to delve more deeply into themes or ideas that have been looked into this week.

Scripture Readings
Click here for the other reading from Mass today.

Prayer
The Rosary often gets a bad rap. “It’s so boring” ” I just can’t get into it” “I just don’t have time” etc etc. The Rosary seems to always come with an excuse not to say it. We keep needing reminding ourselves that it is so very important. If battles can be won because of this prayer, what could it do for your life for the lives of those you love? For the culture in which we live? For your own salvation?

There is so much written about this prayer. St John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter on it. The Secret of the Rosary is an old book written by St Louis Marie de Montfort with brilliant imagery to help you understand the beauty of this prayer. There have even been classic Australian poems dedicated to the family Rosary.

This week, on our blog we have a post that gives us a really wonderful insight into the Rosary from Mary Clare Meney. She has written with such wisdom about the graces she and others have seen from being faithful with this prayer.

Sometimes, yes, it is hard. The devil doesn’t actually want you to say it. He will come up with all sorts of reasonable sounding reasons why you just can’t today. If it is something you want to work into your days here is a post that might give you some ideas. 

Books
(You can buy these books from anywhere you like –  links are given just for information)

In a week where there is so much emphasis on love, you cannot go past this classic masterpiece from CS Lewis. Find it. Read it.

In the reflection above Monica quotes a fair bit from Peter Kreeft. He has this book called “The God who Loves you” where he can can really take you into a deeper understanding of God’s love for you.

Finally, for those who wish to delve into this topic on a higher level, the philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand wrote The Nature of Love. A deep, philosophical analysis on the nature of Love.

Articles/Blog Posts
This week it is also traditionally Laetare Sunday, there might be some rose coloured vestments at Mass today.

Here is a link to a Peter Kreeft article on love. He goes through six of the most common misunderstandings of love in our current culture.

Edith Stein, or St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was an incredible woman who really understood that suffering is love. This past week it was International Woman’s Day. Perhaps we should really be looking to women like her. Women who’s strength and love came from outside of herself and not just some vague inner belief in herself.

This is a prayerful reflection from Mother Angelica on the idea that Love Himself is not loved, but still loves.

It is so important to instill love in your home. Your children can only learn to fully understand love, if they are loved. This is a beautiful article written about Stratford Caldecott, a well known Catholic English academic, written by his daughter.  Sophie reflects as he comes to the end of his life, how much his example of love has made her the person she is today.

Mary is such an example to mothers. In times of both trial and joy a mother can focus on Mary and take strength from her faithful trust in God.

Audio
Fr Mike (we just can’t go past his quick videos of wisdom!) on whether we deserve the Love of God.

Haley and Christy from the Fountains of Carrots podcast interviewed Laura Fanucci a while back about the loss of her twin baby girls and how much they found the love of God in that time of terrible suffering.

 Here is a classic video of Mother Angelica on the Love of God. You cannot go passed her down to earth manner of practical wisdom and spiritual insight. The world could do with a little more of it!

Lenten Music

Click here for a YouTube playlist of music for this week. It is meant to be a tool for prayer, but also can be played through your day to help keep the season in mind. Apologies for any advertisements that may interrupt your listening!

~ Just a note, when we link to a site we are not always endorsing the site as a whole,  we are just highlighting the post of interest on the site.