Lumina
Hope and Healing After Abortion
Lenten Meditations – Ash Wednesday
Welcome to the Lenten Meditations.
Each day you are able to click on the link to get the readings. We pray that this series invites you into the heart of Christ and healing.
Todays Readings: Ash Wednesday
The Responsorial Psalm for the Mass on Ash Wednesday captures the essence of the ENTERING CANAAN ministry. The refrain repeats a moment of awareness and conversion. ” Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned..”
Psalm 51 begins :”Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness, in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offence. Thoroughly wash me of my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. “The psalm ends with the joyful promise of God’s love and mercy! “Give me back the joy of your salvation and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise!” Jesus reminds us that the. “truth ” shall make us free.!
This wonderful ministry that leads to freedom and peace is the fruit of true repentance and the amazing truth of God’s infinite Mercy!!! _
Fr. Mariusz Koch, CFR
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Fr Mariusz Koch, CFR, has worked in the Entering Canaan ministry of healing for over twenty years. He is a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and currently is the Associate Spiritual Director and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Newark, New Jersey.
Ashes to Ashes – Beginning the Journey
“Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
Every Ash Wednesday I reflect on what a profound reminder these words are of the frailty of man. “Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return.”
A sobering reminder of whence we came.
It is so against our nature to think of ourselves this way. We get caught up in our lives and what we believe is our importance and our false sense of security in self…jobs, money, esteem etc. I know for me; I always end up having to kick myself out of Gods way again and again. Pride takes hold of me without me even recognizing it is there, human nature!
In truth nothing is more important than our relationship with God and the only true security is in Him. I cannot help but think of the years I spent away from Him because of my fear of condemnation because of my abortion. God’s mercy was not something I could fathom…I dared not approach Him.
I do not beat myself up for that. I recognize in my humanness I was like a lot of people who had an abortion, many who are still out there because of this fear.
I thank Him for the grace I received to bring me back to Him and for the experience of His mercy. We may return to dust, but we are also promised life everlasting…the Resurrection…a life with Christ.
Ash Wednesday: St Faustina
“During Holy Mass, I felt for a short time the Passion of Jesus in my members. Lent is an incredibly special time for the work of priests. We should assist them in rescuing souls.”
May we all assist them by our prayers this Lent and acts of charity. Let us pray in a special way for the countless women and men suffering from a past abortion who do not know Gods mercy. -Theresa
Thank You for this beautiful reflection. I saw this post after returning home from a two hour Traditional Latin Mass ( Ash Wednesday). One of the Parishioners asked me tonight if I knew Fr Mariusz ( I did not) She recommended I ask about him…and here he is! The moment I first knew that I was “home” in the Catholic Church, was when I entered the Church for Easter Vigil Mass. I literally cried, not understanding what I was feeling, a profound sorrow, yet the comfort and warmth of knowing I was “home” That was in 2011. The sorrows of the Blessed Mother, echo the sorrows of those Mothers ( like myself) who carry the weight of their abortion forever within their hearts . Uniting ourselves to Her, she will continually lead us to the Light, which is her Son, to His abundant Mercy and love. I am eternally grateful for the Grace that has been bestowed upon me and the “thirst” that compels me to continue seeking, and learning His Truth. In my humble opinion ,the Lenten season is profoundly united to those who suffer after abortion, this is when He calls us., to lay our sorrow at the foot of His Cross..