Our Lenten Journey
Dear Crusaders of Fatima,
The season of Lent has arrived and we are encouraged on the journey toward Jerusalem to take Our Lady’s advice by offering our sacrifices for sinners, and those who have no one to pray for them. I recall at the end of the First apparition, Our Lady asked the seers this question; “Do you wish to offer yourselves to God for the reparation for sins for which he is offended and for the conversion of sinners?” Immediately Lucia answered: “yes we do.” Our Lady then said; ”Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.” This Lenten reply is all about saying Yes to God, as a response to all those who sin against the First commandment and for interior conversion.
We begin these forty days by contemplating Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert. We become more aware of the temptations that we face day to day as we prepare to join St. John and Our Lady at Calvary on Good Friday. This Gospel scene reminds me to turn to Christ when I am tempted, realizing Jesus’s words in response to the Devil, that “you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Jesus cannot give in to temptation because he is God, but we could and do, that is why we need to turn immediately to Jesus “to lead us not into temptation.”
Let us consider our sacrifices being offered for those who sin against the Fifth Commandment, especially the sin of scandal. Scandal is an attitude or behavior that leads another to do evil. If someone is deliberately led into a grave offense, that person’s tempter commits a grave sin (CCC 2284 and 2285). Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
I apologize for overlooking the important feast day of our newest saints, St. Jacinta & Francisco, on the 20th of February; Saint Jacinta, Saint Francisco, Pray for us.
Some important days in March, the 17th St. Patrick’s day, on the 19th we have the feast of St. Joseph, the 25th the Incarnation falls on Palm Sunday this year. April 1st will not be April fool’s day this year but rather we will be celebrating the The Resurrection of Our Lord on Easter Sunday.
I will be issuing updates on the St. Gabriel construction project when I receive them. We have created a page on our website to keep everyone up to speed. If people would like to make a donation to the Crusaders of Fatima Inc. you can do so by sending a donation to the PO Box address listed at the bottom of the page, or you can make a donation through our new website. Just hit the donate button. The new Website address is www.fatimashrineboston.org.
Your donation is tax deductible, and will be helping us repair the existing roof which is now over 50 years old and leaking badly. I would like to thank all of you who have made donations to us in the past, it is very much appreciated, and want to let you know that we are praying for your need at the shrine.
The Rev. Richard Mwisheni SMA will be presiding over our First Saturday devotion in March.
Edward G. Greene
