LENT 2012

We are already 3 weeks into the 40 days of preparation for Easter. Yet it’s still relevant to write something about this period of grace, the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit has given us.

Lent er a time for true conversion, a time to open our heart still more widely to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. All of our acts of penance have no value, if they don’t lead us to this.

The lenten liturgy unfolds itself as a long retreat, a time in the desert, a wandering to Jerusalem with the baptismal reality in the background (that is, we are grafted into the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ). Lent reflects a turning to truth, to the very foundation of life.

What is truth for us today? Is it not first and foremost a rediscovery of God, the living God, the Father who reveals himself in Jesus Christ? Is it not to again find him in the depths of our heart, urging us to stake everything we have on him?

Is fasting relevant? Yes, it is indeed as long as it makes us share with those who have nothing. God has always been on the side of the poor. His voice can’t be heard, when there’s too much prosperity.

Abundance of food and wealth have paralyzed us so much, that we have lost courage. We have closed our heart to the poor and thus also to God. However, our lenten acts of penance will have no value, if they don’t lead us to give up those things, that have made us deaf toward God and the cry of the poor.

We must learn to live in a different way, to take the entire Gospel more seriously. Our acts of penance must lead us away from ourselves to him, the Father has sent, Jesus Christ, and him as the crucified one. Then Lent will be fruitful and we will be more genuinely human.

Paul Marx,omi

pastor

ABOUT OUR CATHOLIC FAITH

(It is so very important that we know our Catholic faith well, so that we can live it in a more authentic way, but also to be able to stand firmly and defend the Catholic faith when confronted with bias and prejudice and downright ignorance. Therefore I want to have as a permanent feature of Sinnopkornið a teaching from YOUCAT, the Catholic Catechism for Youth.)

Why do we need faith and the sacraments in order to live good and decent lives?

If we only had ourselves and our own strength to rely upon, we would not get very far in our attempt to be good human beings. Through faith we discover, that we are God’s children, and that God gives us strength. When God bestows us his strength, we call it “grace”. It is especially through the holy signs, which we call sacraments, that God gives the ability to really do what we want to do. (Question 279)

"Youcat" online 

Youth Cathecism

Catholic Faith explained in words and images

COMING EVENTS

The Way of the Cross 7,30 p.m. - Wednesday the 21^st and 28^th of March and the 4^th of April.

Theme Day 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Saturday the 31^st of March and the 21^st of April. On these two Saturdays we will take up the question of What it means to be Catholic? The day ends with ½ hour adoration before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. It will be in both Danish and English.

Ecumenical liturgical service 7.30.p.m. Tuesday the 10^th of April in Havnarkirkjan (the Cathedral Church).

Paul Marx,omi