March 23, Third Sunday of Lent

Devotions, Explained!
Anima Christi           

Mini Explanation — Great for social media or in your bulletin
Traditionally said after or before receiving the Eucharist, the Anima Christi dates to the 14th century and was a favorite prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Anima Christi, Explained
The Anima Christi prayer takes its name from its opening lines: Soul of Christ — “Anima Christi” in Latin. In this prayer, the faithful invoke the image of Christ crucified, calling upon the salvific elements of his wounds, his Body and his Blood to strengthen them, imploring him to save them from “the malicious enemy” and to bring them, in their final hour, to his presence.

The author of this prayer is unknown, but it originated in the 14th century and was referenced in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. It is traditionally said after or before receiving the Eucharist.

March 16, Second Sunday of Lent

Taizé             

Mini Explanation
Taizé is an ecumenical Christian movement that is known for its distinctive style of music and prayer. Taizé devotees have carried its music and traditions to Catholic and Christian communities throughout the world.
Taizé, Explained
Taizé originated in France during World War II. It takes its name from the small town just southeast of Paris where Brother Roger Schutz, a Swiss Protestant, founded the community in the hopes of serving both Christian and Jewish refugees of the German-occupied country. In the years following World War II, Christian men from various traditions — Catholic and Protestant — came to live at Taizé and participate in Brother Roger’s vision of ecumenism, social justice and peace, eventually forming a community of about 80 brothers from nearly 30 countries.

Today, Taizé continues to be a place of pilgrimage, particularly for young people, who visit the community in the tens of thousands each year.

Taizé has also become well-known for its style of music and prayer, which emphasizes silence, contemplation and stillness. Taizé devotees have carried its music and traditions to Catholic and Christian communities throughout the world.

March 9, First Sunday of Lent
The Sign of the Cross                     

Mini Explanation
Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times. It is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

The Sign of the Cross, Explained
“I claim you for Christ by the sign of his cross.” These words from the Rite of Baptism, spoken as the priest traces a cross on the infant’s forehead, perfectly communicate the significance of that simple, familiar action. In signing the cross, we claim ourselves again and again for Christ, unite ourselves with His sacrifice on Calvary, and confess his victory over death.

Christians have been making the sign of the cross since ancient times, as evidenced by writings from Tertullian, Hippolytus and St. Cyprian. The ritual action is not only an important component of formal liturgies and sacramental rites, but also a daily devotional practice whereby the faithful invoke the blessing and protection of God.

In the Latin rite, it is made either with a movement of the full hand from one’s forehead, breast and shoulders (going right to left) or with the thumb tracing the cross on the forehead, lips and breast.

Icon Writing

Mini Explanation
Though an icon depicts an image, it’s much more than a religious picture. An icon is visual theology. It expresses the same truths written in the Gospel, but through an artistic medium, mirroring how Christ’s incarnation made the Word visible to man in the flesh.

Icon Writing, Explained
At first, the term “icon writing” may be confusing. Writing an icon? Shouldn’t it be drawing an icon, or painting an icon?

But although an icon depicts an image, it is so much more than just a religious picture. An icon is visual theology. Those who purchase icons for private devotion should have them blessed, as they are sacramentals. The Catechism tells us that “Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words.”

In early Christianity, this was deeply controversial. Many so-called “iconoclasts” pointed to the Old Testament’s prohibition of idols and insisted that it was sinful to represent the face of God in an image. But defenders of iconography like St. John Damascene pointed to the incarnation as a turning point in our visual relationship with God. In Christ, God made himself visible, and thus continually invites us to contemplate and understand Him visually

Devotions, Explained!
Fasting

Mini Explanation
Fasting was practiced by righteous men and women of the Old Testament and later by Christ himself. It remains an important part of the Christian devotional life today, being most strongly associated with the penitential season of Lent.

Fasting, Explained
The practice of fasting predates Christianity. The Old Testament is full of examples of righteous men and women mortifying their flesh for the purpose of making atonement or simply to grow closer to God. Jesus himself fasted for forty days and forty nights in preparation for the beginning of his public ministry, and we see his disciples following his example in the Acts of the Apostles.

Fasting continues to be an important part of Christian devotional life today. Many people feel the practice of fasting enhances their prayer and helps them fulfill St. Paul’s advice to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13) to grow in the Spirit. Most Catholics will associate fasting with the liturgical season of Lent, which begins and ends with obligatory fasting for all members of the Latin Catholic Church between ages 18 and 59.

Devotions, Explained!
St. Patrick’s Breastplate

Mini Explanation
St. Patrick’s Breastplate is an ancient Irish prayer attributed to St. Patrick. Its eleven sections call upon different elements of divine protection, beseeching Christ to surround the physical and spiritual reality of those who say it.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate, Explained
St. Patrick’s Breastplate (sometimes called The Lorica of St. Patrick) is an ancient Irish prayer attributed to St. Patrick. The prayer first appears in the Liber Hymnorum, an 11th-century collection of Irish and Latin hymns, where it is said that Patrick sang these words when he was besieged by the anti-Christian chieftain Lóegaire.

The prayer’s most famous excerpt contains an invocation that Christ be “with me, before me, behind me, beneath me, above me, on my right, on my left, when I lie down, when I sit down, in the heart of every man who thinks of me, in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, in the eye that sees me, in the ear that hears me.” The prayer’s complete version can be divided into eleven sections, each calling upon different elements of divine protection, binding those who recite it to the strength of the Trinity. 

Devotions, Explained! - Prayer to St. Joseph

Mini Explanation
For centuries, Christians have relied on the intercessory prayers of Joseph, earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin and foster father of Christ. One particular novena prayer to St. Joseph is often called “the unfailing prayer to St. Joseph.”

Prayer to St. Joseph, Explained
For centuries, Christians have relied on the intercessory prayers of Joseph, earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin and foster father of Christ, who was obedient to the will of God in all things.

One particular novena prayer to St. Joseph is often called “the unfailing prayer to St. Joseph.” It is thought to have originated in the first century A.D. and was sent by the pope to Emperor Charles as he went into battle. It is said that those who recite this prayer will not suffer a sudden death and will likewise be protected from drowning, the effects of poison and fire, falling into the hands of the enemy or being overpowered in battle.

For a full text of this prayer, visit ewtn.com/catholicism/library/novena-to-st-joseph-11865. 

Examination of Conscience

3rd Sunday in ordinary time           

Mini Explanation
The practice of examining one’s conscience dates to the very beginning of the Christian faith. It simply calls for reflection on one’s actions, making note of lapses in judgment that should be confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Examination of Conscience, Explained
In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle writes that it is imperative for a Christian to reflect on his conscience before he partakes of Holy Eucharist: “Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The practice of examining one’s conscience before seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation thus dates to the very beginning of the Christian faith and was encouraged as a regular practice by many saints and founders of religious orders as a means of growing in virtue.

An examination of conscience, when it relates to the sacrament, simply means reflecting on one’s actions (and particularly the intentions behind those actions) since the penitent’s last absolution, making note of lapses in judgment that should be confessed. A good basis for this reflection can be the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the seven deadly sins.