Entering into the pre-Lenten cycle, the Epistle recognises life to be a competitive "race" for athletes of Christ, to "strive" and to "fight" against world, flesh and devil and to conquer or lose the "prize." It warns us too against the presumption that because we "were baptised," we are entitled to lag behind in the race or to idle in God's vineyard. Again, the Gospel describes life as a call to labour, God coming to us "early" in life, repeating His plea during all the hours of life, "Why stand idle?' Despite the difficulties of this "race" and "labour," the Introit bids us to call upon God, our strength (also Gradual and Communion), fearing His Justice but trusting in His Mercy (Prayer).
 
In this pre-season to Lent, the priest wears violet vestments. Although we are not obligated to make sacrifices as during Lent to prepare for Holy Week and Easter, nevertheless our minds should turn toward more serious things. Lent is primarily a time of instruction. The Masses are intended as a catechism, so to speak, and the catechumens of ancient times benefited from the Gospels and Epistles used in the Masses. Each day is different, and the Mass Propers of Lent are the oldest in the Missal and go back to the I Century. How wonderful that we have a tie to our ancestors.
 
Today Is Feast of St. John Bosco C. If one visits Italy, he might visit the Basilica of St. John Bosco C., a bit off the tourist sites in Turin. St. John was known for schooling and taking care of thousands of children, for forming the Salesian Fathers, honouring Our Lady, Help of Christians, inspiring missionaries and forming over 1,000 houses. Although not commemorated in the Sunday Mass we might pray for his intercession to help the young during this pandemic.
 
The week ahead ….
 
Monday 1st February: St. Ignatius E. M., was Bishop of Antioch whose name is inscribed in the Canon of the Mass. The priest makes a slight bow toward the Crucifix at its mention. At Rome in 110 the Saint was thrown into the Coliseum in Rome and torn apart by wild beasts for amusement of the corrupt crowd. His famous saying: “I am Christ’s wheat. Let me be milled by the teeth of the beasts that I may become spotless bread.”
 
Tuesday 2nd February: II Class Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, now considered a Feast of the Lord, as Our Lord, is presented, enters the Temple, where He is greeted by Simeon’s prophetic words as Light of the World. Can-dles are blessed for the faithful. If there are enough faithful, a procession with the blessed candles may be made.
 
Wednesday 3rd February: Wondrous Feast of St. Blaise E. M., Bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. In 316 the Roman authorities arrested St. Blaise, tortured him, put him to death. Known in both the Eastern and Western Church, St. Blaise cured a child choking on a bone through prayer and is invoked for diseases of the throat. Two blessed candles are blessed and placed on the throats of the faithful with a prayer from the Rituale Romanum. St. Blaise is one of the XIV Holy Helpers invoked for diseases of the throat.
 
First Thursday 4th February: Preferred is Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ High and Eternal Priest, if Devotion for the Sanctification of Priests is made. In the Votive Mass commemoration of St. Andrew Corsini E. C., of Florence who passed away in 1373 having received a vision from Our Lady on Christmas Day 1372. Mother of the Saint had a vision where her son changed from a wolf to a lamb upon entering a Carmelite chapel. Leading a sinful life, St. Andrew later repented and joined the Carmelite Order. Setting an example for the penitential life, while instructing his flock, he reformed abuse and instructed his clergy.
 
First Friday 5th February: Preferred Mass is of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus with commemoration of St. Agatha V. M. Martyred at Catania in 250 St. Agatha is Patroness of Sicily. Her veil laid in the path of rushing lava several times at Etna, saved the faithful. Her name is in-scribed in the Canon of the Mass, and the priest makes a slight bow at its mention toward the Crucifix. Devotions of Reparation in honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is pre-condition to celebrated the Votive Mass
 
First Saturday 6th February: A Votive Mass of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is permitted in each chapel or church where Devotions of Reparation in honour of the Immaculate Heart are made. St. Titus E. C. is commemorated in the Votive Mass. St. Titus made several journeys with St. Paul who appointed him Bishop of Crete. He served until age 94 and died in 105. St. Dorothy V. M. is commemorated. Beheaded at the beginning of the III Century in Cappadocia, the Saint was a model for faith in Christ.

The Gospel describes two miracles of Christ, confirming His Divinity before Jewish priests through the cleansing of the despised leper who came to Him personally; also, before the Gentile world through the amazing cure of a lowly paralytic utterly unable to come. "They all wondered at these things." (Communion). We must show our faith in His Divinity by never despising anyone, however lowly, for our God is a God of Mercy; again, as the Epistle warns, never to render evil for evil, since He is the God of Justice, who will avenge all injustice. Then will He "stretch forth the right hand" (Prayer) of His Divinity to heal our souls from the leprosy and paralysis of sin (Secret). The Gospel finally speaks of the eternal banquet where humanity will feed on Divinity; outside of which, non-believers in His Divinity will suffer eternal night.

Today is Feast of St. Timothy E. M., most faithful disciple of S. Paul after being converted to the Faith by the Disciple, who accompanied him on his missionary journeys, and was finally stoned to death in 97 at Ephesus. Although not commemorated in the Masses using the newer rubrics, pray to the Saint for strength to love and defend the Faith. Intention today is Conversion of the Jews.

This Week:

Monday 25th January 2021: Feast relates the great miracle whereby Saul, as he was known when he was the great persecutor of Christians, enroute to Damascus to round up Christians, was cast down by a great light from Heaven from his horse and heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” St. Paul, no doubt fearing for his safety, replied, “Who art Thou, Lord?” The simple answer, “I am Jesus, Whom thou persecutes.” Saul was directed to go into the City of Damascus and meet Ananias to whom Our Lord had given command to restore Saul’s sight which was lost due to the bright light. Ananias was reluctant due to the persecution Saul had inflicted upon Christians but agreed, met with Saul, laid hands upon him, whereupon sight was restored to Saul. He received instruction, was baptised, and met with the Apostles. He immediately began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus was Son of God which was astonishing both to the chief priests and Jews. St. Peter Apostle is commemorated in the Mass. Today we pray for the Missionary Conquest of the World, the last in the Church Unity Octave.
 
Tuesday 26th January 2021: A disciple of St. John, St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of St. John, was martyred in the Coliseum at 86 for the amusement of the corrupt crowd in 166.

Wednesday 27th January 2021: St. John Chrysostom, one of the great Eastern Fathers of the Church, Archbishop of Constantinople, was a defender of the Faith, with St. Athanasius, against Arianism in the V Century.
 
Thursday 28th January 2021: St. Peter Nolasco devoted his life to ransom of captives from Moslem imprisonment. The second feast day of St. Agnes is also celebrated in the Mass honouring her appearance with a group of angels, while holding a white lamb, at her tomb to her parents on the octave day of her martyrdom. St. Agnes, help us to keep our holy faith inviolate, to profess ourselves Catholics in word and deed.

Saturday 30th January 2021: St. Martina’s name is a corruption of the name of the Roman god, Mars, after whom she was named. Tortured and then beheaded in 228, St. Martina was buried in a former temple of Mars which was later turned into a Catholic Church. While being tortured for the Faith, the holy virgin, St. Martina, said over and over, “I love my Lord Jesus Christ Who strengthens me.”

And so after None, the Time of Septuagesima begins with I Vespers.

The miracle of changing water into wine was performed by Jesus only after the request of Mary to deliver the young married couple "out of their distress" (Gradual).

As a result of the miracle wrought through Mary's intercession, the disciples of Jesus "believed in Him" (Gospel) for they recognised His Power to change all substances. Hence, the Epistle describes the daily miracle of God's "grace that is given us," graces of interior and social justice to change from evil to good in both single and married life.

This " exercise of power" (Postcommunion) in the "Divine Sacrament" effects a change from the cold dull water of mere human life to the warm generous wine of Divine Life, and thus unites our changed souls to God in the indissoluble bonds of an eternal marriage. As we recognise "the great things" (Offertory) done for our soul through Mary's prayers to Jesus, we should, like the disciples, acknowledge His Divinity. "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye."
 
Today would be the Feast Day of St. Anthony Abbot. The hermit retired to the desert at age 18 and today is honoured as Father of Hermits and regarded as founder of the monastic life in common. St. Anthony had many confrontations with the Arian heretics, who denied the divinity of Our Lord, but lived to age 105 in 365. St. Athanasius, friend of the Saint, wrote of the life of St. Anthony. Although not commemorated in Masses using the newer rubrics, pray to St. Anthony for strength and guidance in prevailing dark times.

A new feast of the Holy Family was only established by Pope Leo XIII in 1893 and set upon the Sunday in the Octave of  the  Epiphany,  which was continued in the new rubrics of 1960.

The Feast was intended as a model and protection against anti-Christian governments and to combat godless theories and practices that would force Christ out of the modern home.

"Subject to them" is the often repeated phrase in this Mass. When the Son of God came, He did not exempt Himself from obedience to Divine and human law. He did not live an isolated life away from men when He became the Son of Man.

The Unity of the Holy Trinity was reflected in the unity of the three Persons of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, Joseph; each working for the other. This obedience to law (Communion) is singled out as the basis of happiness here and hereafter (Prayer).

The Epistle explains in detail  this  Christian  law  for  the Christian family, especially charity and unity. Obedience to "My Father's business" (Gospel) must come first, before all other business, if earth and Heaven are to find our family unbroken. (Slight bow is made in the Canon at name of St. Joseph).

This Sunday, we honour the Holy Name of Jesus. We are reminded that there is no other Name by which we can be saved. God has taken our human nature upon Himself so that He may fulfil the demands of Justice that is due to our sins. Not only has Jesus redeemed us, but He has also shown us the way that we must take if we are to be saved. He has redeemed us without any effort on our part, but He cannot save us unless we do our part in cooperating with His graces.

Every Catholic is, by his faith, a follower of Jesus. We are instructed by Him through the Gospels and His Church in the way in which we are to live our lives here on earth, so that we may reach the blessedness of eternal glory with Him in Heaven. We begin with the command to believe in Him and receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Many imagine that this is all that is required of them. Protestants preach that through faith alone we are saved. Jesus, however, has made many more demands of us.

Not only must we believe in Him and be baptized, but we must also have Charity. We must love God above all things, even more than ourselves, and we must love our neighbour as ourselves. We must also do penance: "I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish." (St. Luke 13, 3) We must also take up our daily cross and follow Him. Et cetera. Faith without works is dead.

It is in His Name that we pray: anything you ask the Father in My Name, He will give to you. Yet, we are given His example in prayer to imitate: Father, not My will, but Thine be done.

There are many who use the name of Jesus, but they do not reference the true Jesus. The "Jesus" that they reference is one who complies with their own desires. They have rejected the true Jesus because He has taught things that they do not wish to obey. For example the real Jesus has said: "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder."(St. Matthew 19, 6) The false "Jesus" that many believe in teaches something like: If you grow tired of each other, then get a divorce and find another. Do whatever makes you happy or whatever "feels" good. On the last day Jesus says that many will claim that they have preached in His Name, and worked wonders in His Name; but He will say to them: "Depart from Me you workers of iniquity. I know you not."(St. Matthew 7, 23)

To be a true Christian, we must believe in the True Jesus. We cannot make a Jesus that suits our pleasures. We must search out and find exactly what Jesus has said and done so that we may know Who He is. We can only find the unadulterated teachings of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church. She reveals Him to us in both Scripture and in Tradition. As we discover the True Jesus for ourselves, we increase our knowledge of Him, but even more importantly we grow in the love of Him. This is the First and greatest Commandment: To love God with a preferential love of our entire being. As we grow in true Charity, we will receive greater graces which will increase our knowledge and understanding of Jesus, which will in turn cause true charity to grow stronger. We, therefore, find that there is a type of cyclical growth in love and understanding.

This growth in charity and knowledge does not just take place in the hidden recesses of the soul; it is manifested in the body through its many activities. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God, we likewise grow in the understanding of all His creation. We know and love Him in all His works. Men are His greatest creation, and so we must correspondingly have an ever increasing understanding and love for one another. This loving our neighbour as we love ourselves must manifest itself in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is not enough to say that we love our neighbour. True love is manifested not only in words, but especially in works.

Those who love Jesus, believe in Him, and imitate Him, especially in the daily carrying of the cross. They bear patiently and forgivingly the burdens that their fellow men place upon them for the love of Jesus, and in imitation of Him. They strive at all times to avoid ever displeasing Him by sin, or ever leading any of His children to offend Him. One of the more offensive sins against Jesus today is the blasphemous use of His Holy Name. Every true Christian must strive ardently to never use Our Lord's Name in vain. We must likewise seek to stop the abuse of His Holy Name in all those around us. This is necessary for two reasons: first, because of our love of God, Whom we do not want to see ever offended; secondly, because of our love for our fellow men, whom we do not want to see incur the just punishment of eternal damnation for this grave crime.