Please click on the links below to download and stream the sermon from Fr. Tuscan offered on Sunday, February 14th, as well as the audio from the Lenten Mission.

Please note: Audio will be posted as it is available.

Bibliography for Lenten Mission

• Life of St. Francis of Assisi – Father Cuthbert, O.S.F.C.
• St. Francis of Assisi – G.K. Chesterton
• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ – Anne Catherine Emmerich

 

ST. FRANCIS & THE HOLY WOUNDS:
True Source of the Mercy of God

Sunday, February 14, 2016
Introduction to the topics of the Lenten Mission

Download Audio (MP3)

Monday, February 15, 2016
The side: The Heart of Christ, the Church; Why be Catholic?

Download Audio (MP3)

Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The right hand: The Holy Mass, Prayer and Devotion

Download Audio (MP3)

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
The left hand: Sin, Repentance and Mercy

Download Audio (MP3)

Thursday, February 18, 2016
The feet: Evangelization and Mission

Download Audio (MP3)

Friday, February 19, 2016
The Crown of Thorns: The Glory of Jesus and Mary

Unavailable

 

On each of the Fridays of Lent, a plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, after Communion, recite the “Prayer Before a Crucifix”:

“Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Thy face I humbly kneel and, with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity; true contrition for my sins; and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me while I call to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.”  Amen.

The Mass times for Ash Wednesday are:

• 6:30 AM (Low)
• 12:10 PM (Low)
• 7:00 PM (Sung)

The Sacrament of Confession will be offered before and after all Masses.

Fasting and Abstinence During Lent – Current Practice

Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are not forbidden. (So it is permissible to use margarine and lard.)

Source: Catholic Diocese of Dallas Office of Worship

Fasting and Abstinence During Lent – Current Practice

Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means partaking of only one full meal. Some food (not equaling another full meal) is permitted at breakfast and around midday or in the evening—depending on when a person chooses to eat the main or full meal. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments made from animal fat are not forbidden. (So it is permissible to use margarine and lard.)

Source: Catholic Diocese of Dallas Office of Worship

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Current practice vs. 1962 Discipline

As a help in understanding the Church’s discipline of fast and abstinence, the following summary of the requirements, both current and those in force in 1962, has been excerpted from the 2016 Liturgical Ordo published by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

 

	Current Practice	Discipline of 1962
Days of Abstinence	Begins on 14th birthday Ash Wednesday & Fridays of Lent Obliges abstention from flesh meat	Applies on one’s 7th Birthday Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas Partial Abstinence (meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Days of Penance	Applies to all the Faithful Lent and Fridays outside of Lent The obligation to do penance is lifted on Fridays which are also celebrated as a solemnity.	Applies on one’s 7th Birthday Complete Abstinence: all Fridays of the year, Ash Wednesday, Holy Saturday, and the Vigil of Christmas Partial Abstinence (meat & soup or gravy made from meat permitted once a day at principal meal): all the days of Lent, the Ember Days of Wednesday and Saturday, and the Vigils of Pentecost & the Assumption Abstinence from meat is dispensed on Holy Days of Obligation
Days of Fast	Applies to everyone aged 18 to 59, inclusive One full meal permitted and two other meals which, when combined, are less than a full meal Ash Wednesday and Good Friday	Applies for those aged 21 to 59, inclusive Days of Lent from Ash Wednesday, inclusive, Ember Days and Vigils of Christmas, Pentecost and the Assumption One full meal permitted and two other meals may be taken which, when combined, are less than a full meal
Law of Eucharistic Fast	Under the new Code of Canon Law, the Fast for Holy Communion is one hour before the reception of the Holy Eucharist. Those who are able to maintain the previous discipline of the three-hour fast are still encouraged to do so.	The complete fast from all food and drink (except water or medicine) for three hours before the reception of Holy Communion. Those who are able to maintain the midnight fast, which was the previous discipline, are still encouraged to do so.

From the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8, 2015, until its end on November 20, 2016, an opportunity is given for the faithful to receive a Plenary Indulgence, decreed by Pope Francis and with the pastoral intention of Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, D. D., Bishop of Dallas. Throughout the Diocese of Dallas, Catholics should follow the guidelines, below, in order to obtain remission from all temporal punishment due to sin.

What is a Plenary Indulgence?

Temporal punishment can be thought of as a type of “penalty” that remains even after sacramental confession. Some type of restorative, purifying “process” can take place either in this life or in purgatory. Because the baptized are members of the Communion of Saints, some or all of the temporal punishment for sin is removed by the Plenary Indulgence, and any remaining restoration/reparation happens when we exchange holiness with one another. Although some may need to deal with the personal guilt that occasionally lingers after forgiveness, we can see the work of God’s grace as we pray and do good works to become better Christians. Also, it is possible to obtain a Plenary Indulgence for oneself or for one who is already deceased, so that the deceased person’s “time” in Purgatory can be reduced.

What is the source of a Plenary Indulgence?

The source of a Plenary Indulgence is Christ himself, the saints and martyrs, and the Church’s treasury of spiritual goods that is unending and inexhaustible.

How to obtain a Plenary Indulgence during the Jubilee Year of Mercy

1. Visit the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, entering through the Doors of Mercy, plus receiving the designated sacraments and praying the prescribed prayers (listed below) OR
2. Practice the Corporal and/or Spiritual Works of Mercy, plus receiving the designated sacraments and praying the prescribed prayers (listed below).

Receive the Sacrament of Penance (make a sacramental confession), then shortly thereafter, receive Holy Communion during a celebration of the Eucharist, and finally pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, and pray the Creed (Nicene or Apostles’).

Those who are in prison or jail may receive the Plenary Indulgence if they attend Mass during the Jubilee Year of Mercy and receive the designated sacraments and pray the prescribed prayers.

Those who are sick in hospitals or homebound with illness, and who receive Holy Communion OR view the Mass on television, may receive the Plenary Indulgence.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy	The Corporal Works of Mercy
To instruct the ignorant To counsel the doubtful To admonish sinners To bear wrongs patiently To forgive injuries willingly To console the sorrowful To pray for the living and the dead.	To feed the hungry To give drink to the thirsty To clothe the naked To shelter the homeless To visit the sick To visit those in prison To bury the dead

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
The Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

At the words that follow, up to and including and became man, all bow.
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins,
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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Published for the Jubilee Year of Mercy for the People of God in the Diocese of Dallas by the Office of Worship, beginning December 8, 2015

Printable Version – PDF