March 2008

The Saint Monica Sodality here in Michigan is a local chapter of the Sodality that began out of St. John Cantius Catholic Church in Chicago in 1995.  Our next monthly Mass is at Assumption Grotto Shrine, First Saturday, April 5, at 4 P.M.  The Sts. Cyril & Methodius Mass is the fourth Sunday of every month the next Mass will be April 27 at 1:30 P.M. 

          In the three practices of Lent; prayer, fasting and alms, the Church gives us prayer first because without it we will have difficulty fasting and giving to those in need, near or far to us.  During His forty days in the desert, Jesus prayed to show us how we are to persevere in temptation, for it is God alone who sustains us and gives us strength to fast from the pleasures of this world.  During this time of Lent, Pope Benedict XVI recommends that we should think of fasting not only in relation to food and drink, but also from images, ". . . we need a space that is free from the . . . bombardment of images".   And from his Lenten Address, "In His school, we can learn to make of our lives a total gift; imitating Him, we are able to make ourselves available, not so much in giving a part of what we possess, but our very selves."  And ultimately the one we are giving to is, as the Holy Father says, "the poor Christ Himself".  Mathew 25: Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for Me. 

          The Saint Monica Sodality is all about prayer; for those who have left the Catholic Faith and for conversion of those far from God.  All are the least of our brethren who need our Spiritual Works of Mercy.  And the meaning of the word alms is mercy.

Note:  The traditional seven forms of Christian charity in favor of the soul or spirit of one's neighbor, in contrast with the Corporal Works of Mercy that minister to people's bodily needs, the Spiritual Works of Mercy are: converting the sinner, instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries, praying for the living and the dead.

          The seven practices of charity of the Corporal Works of Mercy are: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, minister to the sick, visit those in prison, and to bury the dead.

          The bases of these works of mercy are the teaching of Christ and the practice of the Church since apostolic times.

          Conversion is any turning or changing from a state of sin to repentance, from a lax to a fervent way of life, from unbelief to faith, from a place not in communion with the Church to the full embrace of the Catholic Faith.

(The basis of the definitions are taken from the Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.)