Written by Yeng Abinales
‘'Not by bread alone does man live,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'’
March 10, 2019
Quadragesima Sunday or First Sunday of Lent
Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
For the Epistle, Gospel, Prayers and Propers of today's Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, please see at: Quadragesima Sunday or First Sunday of Lent.
Celebration this Week:
March 11, 2019 (Monday) - Day of Fasting / Feria
March 12, 2019 (Tuesday) - Day of Fasting
Pope St. Gregory I, pope, Confessor and Doctor
March 13, 2019 (Wednesday) - Day of Fasting and Partial Abstinence
Ember Wednesday of Quadragesima
March 14, 2019 (Thursday) - Day of Fasting / Feria
March 15, 2019 (Friday) - Day of Fasting and Abstinence
Ember Friday of Quadragesima
March 16, 2019 (Saturday) - Day of Fasting and Partial Abstinence
Ember Saturday of Quadragesima
March 17, 2019 (Sunday) - Second Sunday of Lent
St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
__________________________________________________________________________
Quadragesima Sunday or First Sunday of Lent
Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
For the Epistle, Gospel, Prayers and Propers of today's Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, please see at: Quadragesima Sunday or First Sunday of Lent.
Celebration this Week:
March 11, 2019 (Monday) - Day of Fasting / Feria
March 12, 2019 (Tuesday) - Day of Fasting
Pope St. Gregory I, pope, Confessor and Doctor
March 13, 2019 (Wednesday) - Day of Fasting and Partial Abstinence
Ember Wednesday of Quadragesima
March 14, 2019 (Thursday) - Day of Fasting / Feria
March 15, 2019 (Friday) - Day of Fasting and Abstinence
Ember Friday of Quadragesima
March 16, 2019 (Saturday) - Day of Fasting and Partial Abstinence
Ember Saturday of Quadragesima
March 17, 2019 (Sunday) - Second Sunday of Lent
St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor
__________________________________________________________________________
Today is the Quadragesima Sunday or the First Sunday of Lent. We began the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Quadragesima means Forty which signifies the forty days of prayer, fasting, repentance and spiritual reflection for the coming of Easter. It also represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry.
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (March 06, 2019) and ends on Holy Saturday (April 20, 2019). Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because Sundays are celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus and they are automatically considered days of joy and cannot be considered days of fasting.
Lent fast starts on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Holy Saturday, totaling 40 days.
***All days in Lent are days of fasting, excluding Sundays.***
Note: All Fridays of Lent are also days abstinence.
***During Lent, there also three Ember Days which are days of fasting and partial abstinence: Ember Wednesday (March 13, 2019); Ember Friday (March 15, 2019); and Ember Saturday (March 16, 2019).***
Summed up succinctly, Roman Catholics, during Lent, must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Ember Days, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
FASTING
On days of fast, only one full meal is allowed, at which meat may be taken. Two other meatless meals, which together are less than the full meal, are also permitted. Only liquids may be taken between meals. The law of fast must be observed by all between the ages of 21 and 59 inclusive.
If fasting poses a serious risk to health or impedes the ability to do necessary work, it does not oblige.
ABSTINENCE
There are also certain days of abstinence.
On days of complete abstinence, meat (and soup or gravy made from meat) may not be taken at all.
On days of partial abstinence, meat (and soup or gravy made from meat) may be eaten only once. The law of abstinence must be observed by everyone age 7 and older.
There is no obligation of fast or abstinence on a holy day of obligation, even if it falls on a Friday.
___________________________________________________________________________
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday (March 06, 2019) and ends on Holy Saturday (April 20, 2019). Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because Sundays are celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus and they are automatically considered days of joy and cannot be considered days of fasting.
Lent fast starts on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Holy Saturday, totaling 40 days.
***All days in Lent are days of fasting, excluding Sundays.***
Note: All Fridays of Lent are also days abstinence.
***During Lent, there also three Ember Days which are days of fasting and partial abstinence: Ember Wednesday (March 13, 2019); Ember Friday (March 15, 2019); and Ember Saturday (March 16, 2019).***
Summed up succinctly, Roman Catholics, during Lent, must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Ember Days, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
FASTING
On days of fast, only one full meal is allowed, at which meat may be taken. Two other meatless meals, which together are less than the full meal, are also permitted. Only liquids may be taken between meals. The law of fast must be observed by all between the ages of 21 and 59 inclusive.
If fasting poses a serious risk to health or impedes the ability to do necessary work, it does not oblige.
ABSTINENCE
There are also certain days of abstinence.
On days of complete abstinence, meat (and soup or gravy made from meat) may not be taken at all.
On days of partial abstinence, meat (and soup or gravy made from meat) may be eaten only once. The law of abstinence must be observed by everyone age 7 and older.
There is no obligation of fast or abstinence on a holy day of obligation, even if it falls on a Friday.
___________________________________________________________________________
The Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste
Today is also the feast of the Forty (40) Holy Martyrs of Sebaste, Armenia. The names of the Forty Martyrs are:
Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicus, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaisus, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Pholoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Servian, Sisinus, Smaragdus, Theodulus, theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivanus, and Zanthias.
The story of these mysterious martyrs unfolds in the city of Sebaste during the reign of Emperor Licinius in 320 A.D. A garrison of Forty Roman soldiers were stationed in Sebaste, Armenia. While they were bold, courageous soldiers, they were also devout Christians. Upon hearing of this in Rome, the infuriated Emperor issued an edict, stating that those throughout the Empire who would not worship pagan gods would be tortured and put to death. An additional contingent of soldiers was sent to Sebaste to see exactly where the loyalties of these 40 Christians actually stood.
All forty soldiers refused to reject Christ. A cruel death was planned for them. It was bitterly cold in Sebaste at this time of the year, and they were forced to remove their clothes and stand along the shores of a frozen lake, looking across the waters at the glowing fires of the pagans where they could go if they would renounce the Lord. Still they refused!
As death approached, a band of angels came down from heaven and placed crowns on the heads of these dying saints. One of the Roman guards was so moved by this glorious sight that he removed his own garments and rushed to die himself at the side of these Christian warriors.
Collect:
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we who know how courageously Your holy Martyrs have confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede for us with You.
Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicus, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaisus, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Pholoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Servian, Sisinus, Smaragdus, Theodulus, theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivanus, and Zanthias.
The story of these mysterious martyrs unfolds in the city of Sebaste during the reign of Emperor Licinius in 320 A.D. A garrison of Forty Roman soldiers were stationed in Sebaste, Armenia. While they were bold, courageous soldiers, they were also devout Christians. Upon hearing of this in Rome, the infuriated Emperor issued an edict, stating that those throughout the Empire who would not worship pagan gods would be tortured and put to death. An additional contingent of soldiers was sent to Sebaste to see exactly where the loyalties of these 40 Christians actually stood.
All forty soldiers refused to reject Christ. A cruel death was planned for them. It was bitterly cold in Sebaste at this time of the year, and they were forced to remove their clothes and stand along the shores of a frozen lake, looking across the waters at the glowing fires of the pagans where they could go if they would renounce the Lord. Still they refused!
As death approached, a band of angels came down from heaven and placed crowns on the heads of these dying saints. One of the Roman guards was so moved by this glorious sight that he removed his own garments and rushed to die himself at the side of these Christian warriors.
Collect:
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that we who know how courageously Your holy Martyrs have confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede for us with You.
Lenten Sacrifice for St. Anthony's Chapel
Friends, we should also not forget that it is also important to practice an interior type of penance, that is to be more charitable, to help people and show mercy.
It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We really depend on donations to support our apostolate and projects.
St. Anthony of Padua Chapel in Hindang, Leyte, Philippines will celebrate the 788th Death Anniversary of St. Anthony which is also the Saint's feast day. And this year will be our 6th year celebration on his feast day in the only traditional Chapel in the town of Hindang, Province of Leyte. We will celebrate his feast day on June 13, 2019. We always do a 9-day novena for his feast day from June 4 to June 12 by praying the rosary and daily prayers to St. Anthony.
We will need your help to make this celebration successful. Please help us get these items:
1. Flowers - ₱1,000 Php ($20 USD)
2. Beeswax candles - ₱2,500 Php ($50 USD)
3. Devotional Candle Stand - ₱10,000 Php ($300 USD)
4. Repair of the St. Anthony's Carosa or Vehicle - ₱15,000 Php ($200 USD)
5. 50 Inches Statue of St. Anthony - ₱60,000 Php ($1,200 USD)
It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We really depend on donations to support our apostolate and projects.
St. Anthony of Padua Chapel in Hindang, Leyte, Philippines will celebrate the 788th Death Anniversary of St. Anthony which is also the Saint's feast day. And this year will be our 6th year celebration on his feast day in the only traditional Chapel in the town of Hindang, Province of Leyte. We will celebrate his feast day on June 13, 2019. We always do a 9-day novena for his feast day from June 4 to June 12 by praying the rosary and daily prayers to St. Anthony.
We will need your help to make this celebration successful. Please help us get these items:
1. Flowers - ₱1,000 Php ($20 USD)
2. Beeswax candles - ₱2,500 Php ($50 USD)
3. Devotional Candle Stand - ₱10,000 Php ($300 USD)
4. Repair of the St. Anthony's Carosa or Vehicle - ₱15,000 Php ($200 USD)
5. 50 Inches Statue of St. Anthony - ₱60,000 Php ($1,200 USD)
We also have five more bells coming from the United States of America for St. Anthony's Chapel. They will arrive soon in the Philippines and we need to redeem them from the Philippines' Bureau of Customs. I don't know yet if how much will be the costs. They will let us know the price once the cargo arrives at the Port of Cebu.
Last time we paid ₱80,000 Php ($1,600 USD) for the previous cargo that we received from USA.
These bells will be consecrated by a Traditional Bishop soon. Each bell will dedicated and will be named under the names of different Catholic Saints. And you are all invited to attend the consecration ceremony of these antique bells.
Last time we paid ₱80,000 Php ($1,600 USD) for the previous cargo that we received from USA.
These bells will be consecrated by a Traditional Bishop soon. Each bell will dedicated and will be named under the names of different Catholic Saints. And you are all invited to attend the consecration ceremony of these antique bells.
Our main project is to buy the land needed for the Church building and the cemetery. Please donate as a sacrifice to help our Church in the Philippines. Please read more and donate at:
We hope and ray the we will be able to buy the land this year and start the construction of the Church. And please do come to witness the dedication and the consecration of our future Church and cemetery. God bless.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________