Parish Lenten Fast Intentions
/This Lent we would like to try something new as a parish family.
In Matthew 17:21, Jesus explains to his perplexed disciples why they were unable to cast out daemons by saying, "This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Notice that Jesus places the importance on both prayer and fasting.
Each week during Lent we would like for you to be intentional with your Lenten sacrifice and offer whatever you have chosen to give up toward a common parish-wide intention. The goal is to strengthen the entire Seton Parish community through your own personal prayer and fasting.
We ask that as you go through each week, you pray and offer your Lenten sacrifice for that week's parish intention.
* Week 1 - Families
* Week 2 - Priests
* Week 3 - Youth
* Week 4 - Elderly
* Week 5 - Vocations
* Week 6 - Increase in Discipleship
Week 1 - March 2
During Lent, we are encouraged to focus on the spiritual practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In “A Reflection on Lenten Fasting,“ Rev. Daniel Merz notes the following:
Christian tradition can name at least seven reasons for fasting:
From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.
Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.
Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—for the reception of grace.
Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.
http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/catholic-reflection-on-lenten-fasting-father-daniel-merz.cfm
Please pray for your family and all the families of the parish. Pray that strained relationships may heal, new seeds may be planted, and that our families can be unified and strengthened.
Week 2 - March 9
In his General Audience on Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the Lenten journey of preparation for Easter that, in a sense, imitates Jesus’ 40 days in the desert in preparation for his public ministry. Pope Francis stated:
“An important part of our Lenten desert experience is the practice of fasting, which trains us to recognize, in simplicity of heart, how often our lives are spent in empty and superficial pursuits. The solitude of the desert makes us all the more sensitive to those in our midst who quietly cry out for our help and encouragement. This Lent, may our prayer, fasting and works of mercy strengthen us in our resolve to follow the Lord on his journey through Good Friday to Easter Sunday, and enable us to know the power of his grace, which can make of every desert a garden of new life.”
This week’s intention is priests. Please pray for Father Jim, priests of our diocese, Bishop Brennan, Pope Francis, and all the priests around the world. We pray that God will grant them wisdom and strength as they carry out their mission.
Week 3 - March 16
In his Message for Lent 2009, Pope Benedict XVI focused his reflections on the value and meaning of fasting. Consider the following excerpts:
“We might wonder what value and meaning there is for us Christians in depriving ourselves of something that in itself is good and useful for our bodily sustenance. The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it.”
“In our own day, fasting seems to have lost something of its spiritual meaning, and has taken on, in a culture characterized by the search for material well-being, a therapeutic value for the care of one’s body. Fasting certainly bring benefits to physical well-being, but for believers, it is, in the first place, a ‘therapy’ to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God.”
“Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word. Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God.”
Please offer your Lenten prayer and sacrifice to this week’s parish-wide intention: youth. Please pray for all the children of our parish and for those that have fallen away from the Church. We pray that God will surround them with people that will continually remind them how much they are loved, assist them in determining their own personal vocation, and pull them closer to His own merciful and loving heart.
Week 4 - March 23
This week is devoted to the elderly. We pray that God will bless the elderly of our parish with heath of mind and heart. We ask that God will grant them the courage and opportunities to continue transmitting the faith through their words and daily example.
Week 5 - March 30
This week is devoted to vocations. We pray that God's voice and direction can be heard by all those discerning His will for their lives. We ask for dedicated single people, married couples whose love overflows to others, and consecrated religious who diligently guide people to you.
Week 6 - April 6
This week is devoted to increased discipleship at our parish. Lord, through your great commission you call each one of us to discipleship. We ask you to fill Seton Parish with courageous disciples. Empower us to be ready in every moment to share the Gospel message with everyone we meet. Give us wisdom to discern your will, so that we may be examples of your love and mercy, in our daily service to others.
