The world has gone mad, but Jesus calls us anew to repent, turn away from evil and sin, and love even enemies. - Wednesday, 3rd Week of Lent, March 23rd, 2022 - S + L Mass at MQW Cathedral downtown Montreal

Sign of the + Cross                                     March 23^rd, St. Turibius of Mogrovejo

We continue to Pray & Fast for Peace in Ukraine and try to help

Good morning. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ….

This Mass is offered by Cecilia Lobo for the repose of the souls of Jovito and Molly Lobo an for the living and deceased members of the Lobo, Fernandes, Marin and DeSouza families.

(for peace in Eastern Europe, for the deliverance of the oppressed, healing of the sick and wounded, and peace for the souls of the dead.) We join Pope Francis in prayer and fasting in solidarity with those made to suffer by the current conflict. As Mary requested at Fatima in 1917, in two days with faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ, Pope Francis will “entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine” to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Penitential Rite         Brothers and sisters let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.  (Formula 3)

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HOMILY

Jesus is the Son of God as well as the son of Mary. Saint Joseph was not his biological father; it was the Holy Spirit who caused Jesus to be conceived in Mary's womb. Dear brothers and sisters, we live in a world gone mad. Jesus walked our Earth for a mere 33 years and then was executed because when evil people looked at Jesus, they saw the evil in themselves reflected back as in a mirror; so, they shattered that mirror. When good people look at Jesus, they feel loved by God.

The reality of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, which we are preparing to celebrate at Easter, and 50 days later - 10 days after Jesus' Ascension into Heaven - the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost into the apostles and disciples gathered in prayer around Mary, transformed these frightened followers of Jesus into fearless proclaimers of the good news that God is love. We no longer need to be afraid of being condemned by the law, because if we believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, God’s love in us will enable us to focus no longer on avoiding sin but instead on practicing love: love of God and love of our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, Jesus is making it possible for us to rise above concerns about the law, in other words to do more than simply trying to follow the law. 

 At first, the Roman Empire and society embraced Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Over time, succeeding generations did not know God and embraced worldly ways. The Church tried to impose the good news with authority, but that does not work. People and nations have come to think that if you practice any kind of love at all, you can do whatever you want. Our behavior shows we don’t know what real love is as a human race: terrorism and war, destruction of the environment, rejecting the poor and others, using people sexually, aborting unborn babies; we need to repent and change.

In light of the world’s troubles, we feel helpless and, in the face of our own weakness, we might despair, but God is not idle. All is not lost. All Jesus asks of us is that each of us personally repent and turn away from evil and sin; at least to desire to do so, and turn to the Lord. We are to pray, fast, and give to the poor: to love others, even enemies, to forgive, and put others ahead of ourselves.  “O my Jesus, I trust in You. Immaculate Mother Mary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. We give praise to You, O God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

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Prayer after Communion                                    Announcement 

Let us all join Pope Francis Friday when he entrusts and consecrates “ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine” with faith in our God and Lord Jesus Christ to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May the Lord accept our Live Daily Mass and sacrifices in support of his labors for the salvation of the world. Thank you for your prayers, Mass intentions, and donations to Salt + Light Media and Mary Queen of the World. We are most grateful. 

Mother Mary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.    Blessing and Dismissal

 

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© 2006-2022 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2006-2022 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC