March 1,Ommentator 2019 Vol

THE CATHOLIC PAGE 3 Mural moved to Archives March 1,ommentator 2019 Vol. 57, No. 2 SERVING THE DIOCESE OF BATON ROUGE SINCE 1963 thecatholiccommentator.org C Confession offers healing By Debbie Shelley The Catholic Commentator Weeds compete with flowers, grasses and plants for water, sunlight and nutrients and weaken non-weed plants, leaving them prone to insects and disease. In the same way, sin damages the soul and leaves it prone to the destructive forces of evil, according to priests in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Lent, “The Springtime of the Soul,” is a time for Bishop Michael G. Duca blesses a rosary Pope Francis sent to a prisoner on death row at the Louisiana State Peni- Catholics to receive the sacrament of penance and tentiary at Angola on Feb. 20. Photo by Bonny Van | The Catholic Commentator reconciliation and root out sins and restore their relationship with God, according to Father Cayet Man- giaracina OP, parochial vicar at Holy Ghost Church in Hammond. “They may have cut off their relationship with God. ‘MY PARISHIONERS’ They may have given up on praying, going to church, maybe they’re envious or jealous. In some ways they may not have been able to forgive someone and they Bishop Duca visits death row have turned away from God. They can take a look at what has turned them away from God,” said Father Mangiaracina. By Bonny Van at Angola. the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Fjeld- According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Catholic Commentator The bishop was joined by An- sjo brought along bananas, legal conversion is the first step in reconciling with God. gola chaplain Jay Jackson; Dea- pads and gift bags filled with do- “St. Peter’s conversion after he had denied his mas- Overcast skies, chilly winds con Zeke Nola of Our Lady of Mt. nated essential items including ter three times bears witness to this. Jesus’ look of in- and the constant threat of rain Carmel Church in St. Francisville; shampoo, soap, a wash cloth and a finite mercy drew tears of repentance from Peter and, greeted Bishop Michael G. Duca and, Linda Fjeldsjo, coordinator pair of socks for the group to hand after the Lord’s resurrection, a threefold affirmation on his first visit to death row at of Prison Ministry and Joseph out to the 72 men on death row. of love for him.” (1429) the Louisiana State Penitentiary Homes for Catholic Charities of SEE ANGOLA PAGE 4 SEE CONFESSION PAGE 19 The Vatican is brilliant as dawn announces the be- ginning of a new day in Rome. Richard Meek shares his thoughts and photos from a recent pil- grimage to Rome, Florence and Assisi on pages 10-11. Photo by Richard Meek | The Catholic Commentator 2 The Catholic Commentator March 1, 2019 | DID YOU KNOW Divine mercy at Lent Heart to mouth By Dina Dow Rather, he emptied himself… (Phil After Mardi Gras is over, and the world.” 2:7) streets have been cleaned of – well The optional concluding prayer is Christ became obedient to the point of The loving obedience of Jesus is an act most – signs of revelry, as trees con- “Eternal God, in whom mercy is end- death, even death on a cross. of divine revelation, showing the world the tinue to harbor beaded jewels, many less and the treasury of compassion Because of this, God greatly exalted him life-giving love that flows from person to Catholics will “get their ashes” and — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and bestowed on him the name person in the Trinity. (Ig- look grimly ahead and groan over and increase Your mercy in us, that which is above every name. – natius Catholic Study Bi- the sacrifices they will have to make in difficult moments we might not Phil 2:8-9 Life-Giving ble, 2010). Jesus entered during Lent. From dessert to desert. despair nor become despondent, but The Mass readings of the 5th FAI H Jerusalem as a king enters Yes, Jesus, we are ready to walk with great confidence submit our- Sunday of Lent prepare the faithful his court: people joyfully wav- with you “to the end” to that black, selves to Your holy will, which is love for the following Sunday, known ing palms, shouting “Blessed grisly Good Friday. Can you make and mercy itself.” as Passion (Palm) Sunday. There are great is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” our crosses a little lighter though? The Divine Mercy chaplet is a ver- riches and depths in these readings, too Days later some of the same people shouted, But in the midst of the arid waste- satile devotion that can be prayed plentiful for this space. For now, the focus “Crucify Him.” Today’s glory is tomorrow’s land, Jesus does more than give us any day at “The Hour of Great Mer- will be on the Holy Spirit and the humility rejection. Yet, the prophet Isaiah explains, “oasis moments.” He provides us an cy” – 3 p.m. of Jesus. “The Lord God is my help, therefore I am “an ocean of mercy” through praying During Lent, many churches Life in the Spirit not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, the Divine Mercy chaplet. in the Baton Rouge Diocese pray a With baptism comes an infusion of the knowing that I shall not be put to shame” Through the Polish nun St. Fausti- nine-week Divine Mercy Novena Holy Spirit, where the grace of faith is (Is 50:7). na, Jesus not only left a chaplet to that concludes on Divine Mercy Sun- planted deep within. The power of the Holy Humility is when we turn everything pray for sinners and for the world, day, the Sunday after Easter. This Spirit enables the baptized to live in the over to the will of God for the sake of his he commissioned that a painting be is the “spreading out” of a nine-day fullness of Jesus. That being said, the faith- glory. Jesus not only humbled himself, he made that portrayed his divine im- Divine Mercy novena, which begins ful are baptized into the body of Christ, a emptied himself (the appropriate Greek age. on Good Friday and ends on Divine life of joy and suffering. By the power of term is “kenosis”) and submitted to the Refreshing moments are found in Mercy Sunday. the Holy Spirit faith, healing, restoration will of the father. He was betrayed, arrest- the opening prayer of the chaplet: St. Faustina’s diary contained and transformation occur. St. Paul writes ed, spit upon, misunderstood, denied, ac- “You expired, Jesus, but the Jesus’ promise to repentant sinners in his letter to the Romans, “If the Spirit cused, tried, beaten, mocked, crowned with source of life gushed forth for souls, who seek his mercy. of the one who raised Jesus from the dead thorns, crucified with nails driven into his and the ocean of mercy opened up “Once, as I was going down the dwells in you, the one who raised Christ hands and feet, bled, suffocated and died. for the whole world. O Fount of Life, hall to the kitchen, I heard these from the dead will give life to your mortal It is here we kneel at the foot of the cross, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop words in my soul: Say unceasingly bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah the whole world and empty Yourself the chaplet that I have taught you. you” (Rm 8:11). Life begins in the Spirit. which are now fulfilled in Christ: “Through out upon us,” begins the optional Whoever will recite it will receive Life is to be an imitation of Jesus’. Life is his stripes we are healed.” opening prayer of the chaplet, recit- great mercy at the hour of death. destined for eternity with the father. As the darkness covered the land that ed on a regular set of rosary beads. Priests will recommend it to sinners The prophet Ezekiel writes, “I (Yahweh) hour, so too are we covered in darkness Next one repeats three times, as their last hope of salvation. Even if will open your graves and have you rise from of our sins. But our redeemer has opened “O Blood and Water, which gushed there were a sinner most hardened, them.” This is God’s plan for salvation. Jesus the way from death to life. Hope has risen. forth from the Heart of Jesus as a if he were to recite this chaplet only in turn reveals the concreteness of this when But for now, we kneel in silence and medi- fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!” once, he would receive grace from he raises Jarius’ daughter (Mk 5: 21-43), the tate on why Jesus did this. The purpose of On the three beads of the decade My infinite mercy. I desire that the widow’s son (Lk 7:11-17) and Lazarus (Jn 11: his death was to obtain the salvation of all of the rosary, the Our Father, Hail whole world know My infinite mer- 1-44), which we hear about on the 5th Sun- mankind and to teach us how to love, for Mary and Apostles Creed are prayed. cy. I desire to grant unimaginable day of Lent. Even though mortal bodies are greater love than this no man has, than to On the Our Father bead of every graces to those souls who trust in my subject to decay, those who believe (faith) lay down his life for his friends.

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