Reviving Faith

On the Danger to which Tepidity Exposes the Soul.
“But Jesus hid himself.” John, 8:59.   He enlightens all; but he cannot enlighten those who voluntarily shut their eyes to the light; from them the Saviour hides himself…. What then are we to understand by a tepid soul? A tepid soul is one that frequently falls into fully deliberate venial sins such as deliberate lies, deliberate acts of impatience, deliberate imprecations, and the like.

On Ash Wednesday, it’s standing room only at our church – with IU students! The St. Paul Catholic Center offered five – yes, five – Masses with Ash Wednesday services, all jam-packed!  And lines three deep against the back wall! Something’s going on.

Solemnity, Annunciation of the Lord … the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child…

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary  Feria IV, Passion Week. Dixit autem María: Ecce ancílla Dómini, fiat mihi secúndum verbum tuum.

Pentecost, (Novus Ordo) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
Pentecost Sunday (Tridentine Latin Mass) Veni, Sancte Spíritus, et emítte cǽlitus lucis tuæ rádium.

On the Danger to which Tepidity Exposes the Soul  “But Jesus hid himself.” John, 8:59.   He enlightens all; but he cannot enlighten those who voluntarily shut their eyes to the light; from them the Saviour hides himself…

First Sunday of Lent, (Novus Ordo, Year A)
The LORD God formed man .. so man became a living being…
I Sunday of Lent,  (Tridentine Latin Mass)
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will deliver him and glorify him; with length of days I will gratify him.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the spiritual combat of Lent. Dom Prosper Guéranger notes we face two enemies, internal passions and external devils, both from our pride and refusal to obey God. God forgave him his sin, but He punished him.

Ash Wedneday (Novus Ordo, Year A)  …Rend your hearts, not your garments… return to the LORD, your God

Ash Wednesday (Tridentine Latin Mass) … thou hast mercy upon all… and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

First Sunday of Advent (Novus Ordo, Year A) …before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage…
I Sunday of Advent (Tridentine Latin Mass) To You I lift up my soul: in You, O my God, I trust; let me not be put to shame;

On the General Judgment  “And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven with much power and majesty.” Matt. xxiv. 30.

The ancient prayer method of Lectio Divina begins with using the mind to read and understand and then moves into the silent contemplation of the soul – a powerful combination.

It’s a Sunday evening at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and the pews are full. Redeemer is a conservative Evangelical Christian congregation, but the parishioners don’t fit the easy Bible Belt stereotypes.