Introduction to the Liturgy – Citizens of Heaven – In ancient times the making of a covenant or treaty was done in the interests of a just and peaceful future. In today’s reading from Genesis, an unusual form of covenant-making between God and Abram speaks to the future of people and land. In the Lucan transfiguration scene Jesus manifests his future glory as he speaks with Moses and Elijah about his journey home. And in the midst of too much world-centered thinking, Paul reminds the Philippians of where their real citizenship lies.

From the Popes – St. Leo the Great – “The marvel of the transfiguration contains another lesson for the apostles, to strengthen them and lead them into the fullness of knowledge. Moses and Elijah, the law and the prophets, appeared with the Lord in conversation with him. This was in order to fulfill exactly, through the presence of these five men, the text which says: Before two or three witnesses every word is ratified. What word could be more firmly established, more securely based, than the word which is proclaimed by the trumpets of both old and new testaments, sounding in harmony, and by the utterances of ancient prophecy and the teaching of the Gospel, in full agreement with each other? […] In the preaching of the Holy Gospel all should receive a strengthening of their faith. No one should be ashamed of the cross of Christ, through which the world has been redeemed. No one should fear to suffer for the sake of justice; no one should lose confidence in the reward that has been promised. The way to rest is through toil, the way to life is through death. Christ has taken on himself the whole weakness of our lowly human nature. If then we are steadfast in our faith in him and in our love for him, we win the victory that he has won, we receive what he has promised.” (Sermo 51; Matins – 2^nd Sunday of Lent)

In your prayers kindly remember the sick and those who care for them, the lonely, the handicapped, those isolated, and those who have died. 

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY WEEK

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Stations of the Cross – Stations of the Cross will take place at 7:00 p.m. every Friday throughout Lent.

Looking for Sacristans – We are currently looking for active members of the parish to join the Sacristan Team. Duties would include – setting up before each Mass, cleaning up after Mass, changing linens as required and preparing the Cathedral for special celebrations throughout the year. Please contact Lance Patriquin at 613-633-1108 if you can help.

Faith Lenten Retreat – The Diocesan Office of Faith Formation and Leadership Development is sponsoring an Adult Faith Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at St. James the Less Parish, Eganville Ontario from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with registration at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $15.00 per person (lunch and refreshments provided). This retreat is open to all the faithful. The theme of the retreat is the “A Walk through the Mass.” Our guest speaker will be Fr. Michael Smith, Vicar General of the Diocese of Pembroke. Please join us for this very special day. To register or for more information, please contact Deacon Adrien Chaput at (613) 732-7933 ext. 206 or dcadriendchaput@pembrokediocese.com. Registration deadline is Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Recollection for Women – There will be a recollection for women at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pembroke on Thursday, March 17 from 11 am to 1 pm. Recollections are like mini-retreats that help you take a break from your busy schedule to think about your life, your relationship with God and gain a fresh outlook. The day begins with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a time of guided prayer, followed by an examination of conscience, confessions/spiritual direction, benediction and concludes with a talk on a practical aspect of living the faith in ordinary life. We are planning on hosting recollections in Pembroke every second month. This spiritual activity, inspired by the thoughts and writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal Prelature of the Roman Catholic Church. For more information on the Prelature of Opus Dei go to www.opusdei.ca. Should you have any questions, please contact Nadia at nadia.bagshaw@sympatico.ca or 613-584-9388.

Practice of Lent – Presented with the imperative to “do something” for Lent, a familiar response is to “give something up.” In itself, this is a healthy enough instinct. Depending on your lifestyle, giving up alcohol, or even chocolate, can be a reminder of the nature of the season and a noticeable sacrifice. Alternatively, people think of giving up something bad, trying to overcome a habitual sin. This is laudable, but penance is the sacrifice of something good, not something bad. Catholics should be able to go beyond both kinds of “giving up.”

The imperatives of Lent in particular, and of the Christian life in general, are the eminent good works of prayer, penance, and almsgiving. These really are good works—works that earn us merit. These works will cancel out temporal punishment we would otherwise suffer in purgatory, and add to our glory in heaven, and we can offer them for the good of the holy souls in purgatory and for the conversion of sinners. Good works in this sense are possible only if we are in a state of grace (sanctifying grace), and they will themselves be done in and through God’s assisting grace (actual grace). When we do them, we may say with St. Paul, it is not we who do them, but God who does them through us (Phil. 2:13). They are in fact a gift of God to us—but when God gives us something, we really do possess it. [Read the rest of this article at: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/go-beyond-giving-something-up-for-lent]

The Story of the Praying Hands – For years people have admired the art masterpiece known as “The Praying Hands.” Behind this work of art is a fascinating story of love and sacrifice.

In the late fifteenth century two struggling young art students, Albrecht Dürer and Franz Knigstein, worked as laborers to earn money for their art studies. But the work was long and hard, and it left them little time to study art. Finally, they agreed to draw lots and let the loser support them both while the winner continued to study. Albrecht won, but he agreed to support Franz after achieving success so his friend could finish his studies. After becoming successful, Albrecht sought out Franz to keep his bargain. But he soon discovered the enormous sacrifice his friend had made. As Franz had worked at hard labor, his fingers had become twisted and stiff. His long, slender fingers and sensitive hands have been ruined for life. He could no longer manage the delicate brush strokes so necessary for executing fine paintings. But in spite of the price he had paid, Franz was not bitter. He was happy that his friend Albrecht had attained success. One day Albrecht saw his loyal friend kneeling, his rough hands entwined in silent prayer. Albrecht quickly sketched the hands, later using the rough sketch to create his masterpiece known as “The Praying Hands.”