Lent: Ember Wednesday: The day of Judas' Betrayal (Fast and half-abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 04:00AM in Ember Days
St Peter in Prayer Hendrick Bloemaer
"Our brethren of the laity often complain of the priest they get; I wonder, does it ever occur to them to pray for better? When the Ember seasons come round, how many people remember to pray for the priests who are being ordained? We pile the sanctuary with flowers, we make it a blaze of candles; but there is something else needed far more than lights or flowers for God's honor, that the hearts of his priests should be made a fit habitation for Himself. Of his priests? Not of His priests only, but our own hearts too." Source: Pastoral Sermons and Occasional Sermons, The Eucharist, Fr. Ronald Knox- Ember days: The four ember-weeks in the year, are times of
public prayers, fasting, and procession, partly instituted for the
successful ordination of priests and other ministers of the Church;
which is commonly performed at those seasons; and partly to thank God
for the fruits of the earth and implore a continuance of them.
- Ember day derives its name from the ancient religious custom of eating nothing on those days till night, and then only a cake baked under the embers, called ember-bread.
The observance of ember-days is of great antiquity in the Church. Their connection with the ordination of the ministers of religion renders them particularly worthy to the regard of the faithful. We cannot be too deeply impressed with the blessing granted a people, whose priests are according to God's heart. To obtain such, no humiliation should be deemed too great; no supplication should be neglected. Whilst therefore we thank God for the fruits of the earth, and humble ourselves for the sins we have committed, we should beg God to supply his Church with worthy pastors. Source: Saint Vincent's Manual, A Selection of Prayers and Exercises for the Sisters of Charity 1856 p34
Mass Propers for Ember Wednesday
- Prayers for Ember Days:
Listen, Almighty God, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which Thy universal Church offers to Thee at this time, beseeching Thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to Thy Holy Service of the Altar, in particular on ..... Give Thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst Thy clergy, and so replenish them with the truth of Thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve Thee, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of Thy Holy Church. Amen
O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank Thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue Thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of Thy temporal blessings as Thou knowest to be for our good. Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by Thy holy favor, increase and multiply. Defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from Thy hand only that we look for succor, and to Thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen. Source: St. John's Manual 1856, Archbishop of New York John J. Hugues
Prayer for the Bishop in Assigning Priests:
God, Eternal Shepherd, You tend your
Church in many ways and rule us with love. You have chosen your servant,
Bishop (Name), to be the shepherd of Your flock. Give him a spirit of
courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. Inspire him
to lay aside all worldly ambitions and concerns so that he may nurture
us in the eternal truths of the Catholic Faith. May he be led by the
Holy Ghost so that he will use wisdom and discernment in his choices in
assigning new priests to the parishes of this diocese.
Blessed
Virgin Mary, guard our bishop with your motherly care; bring him closer
to your Son through your Immaculate Heart. Keep him pure and humble and
grant that he may attain eternal life with those under his care. Holy Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Devotions for Ember days:
- Diving into the Catholic Treasury: A Revival of the Ember Days by Canon Huberfelt, ICRSS
- Renewal and the Penitential Life by Msgr. Ingham
- The Seven Penitential Psalms (Msgr. Ingham, audio)
- Seven Penitential Psalms (Latin/English)
- Litany of Saints
- Litany to Obtain Holy Priests
- Holy Hour of Adoration and Reparation for Priests
- Stations of the Cross for Priests (Especially for those who are suffering persecution)
- The Rosary to Our Lady of Sorrows dedicated for Priests, (by Fr. Scott McCaig,CC on the occasion of the Year for Priest, 2009)
St. Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, Confessor, a.d. 806.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was brought up by his pious mother in the practice of the most eminent virtues. Above all things, she recommended him to keep no company but that of the most virtuous. The young man, by his talents and virtue, gained the esteem of all, and was raised to the greatest honours of the empire, being made consul, and afterwards secretary of state to the Emperor Constantine, and the Empress Irene, his mother. In the midst of the court, and of its highest honours, surrounded by all that could flatter pride, or gratify sensuality, he led a life like that of a religious man. Paul, patriarch of Constantinople, touched with the sense of his own weakness, in having conformed in some respects to the errors of the Iconoclasts, who opposed the pious veneration of holy images, quitted the patriarchal see, and determined to end his days in a monastery, that he might there do penance for his rashness. Being asked whom he thought equal to the charge of succeeding him in the see of Constantinople, he immediately named Tarasius, who was accordingly chosen patriarch, by the unanimous consent of the court, clergy, and people. Being consecrated bishop, his humility was remarkable, in his renouncing all manner of state and superfluity, both as to table and retinue, having that always in his mouth and practice, that he came not to be served, but to serve. His charity was great to the poor: his zeal for discipline and reforming abuses, both in clergy and people, wonderful; and his courage apostolic in opposing the errors of his time. He stood up against the iniquity of his prince, who cast off his empress for pretended crimes: for which he suffered confinement for some years; and by his patience in it prepared his soul for the liberty of heaven, to which he was called in the beginning of the ninth century.
Pray for all prelates and pastors; and beseech God that they may be imitators of this glorious saint." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Blessed Domenico Lentini, The Angel of the Altar. (1770-1828)
by VP
Posted on Wednesday February 25, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"In the south Italian province of Basilicata lies the little town of Lauria in the diocese of Policastro. Here was born on November 20, 1770, the Blessed Dominic Lentini. On account of the extreme poverty of his parents the boy met with great difficulties in completing his studies. After his ordination Lentini became a professor in the Lyceum of his native town. He strove particularly to enlighten the young as to the false principles of the philosophy of the day by means of many discourses of a philosophy-apologetic kind.
In 1779 a liberty tree had been erected in Lauria. When the revolution reached its climax, the cooler hears desired to pull it down, but a crowd of furious revolutionists ranged themselves before it, ready to strike down any one who should dare to touch it. A great uproar ensued. Then the young priest Lentini stepped out before the crowd and resolutely ordered them to pull down the tree and bring it to the nearest hill. They involuntary obeyed him. Then he mad them fashion the wood into a cross and raise it aloft. Beneath it he addressed them with burning eloquence, telling them: "This is the tree of freedom and of salvation. We shall honor no other." Contrite and with hearts redeemed to the ancient Faith, the crowd dispersed. Lentini died on February 16, 1828. His grave continually attracts many pilgrims because of the extraordinary things which take place there."
Source: The Holiness of the Church in the Nineteenth Century: Saintly Men and Women of our own times ... By Rev. Fr. Konstantin Kempf, S.J.
"Priest of the Diocese of Tursi-Lagonegro (formerly Policastro); b. Nov. 20, 1770, at Lauria, Potenza, Italy;d. there Feb. 25, 1828. The youngest of the five children of Macario Lentini and Rosalia Vitarella, Domenico (Dominic) Lentini studied in the seminary at Salerno and was ordained in 1794. In addition to his ministry in Lauria, he taught literature, philosophy, and theology to young people in his home without monetary compensation. He preached and catechized throughout the diocese and spread the devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. He is called the "precursor to the Curé d'Ars" (St. John vianney) because of his willingness to make himself available to hear confessions and his gift of reading hearts. He practiced personal austerity in order to provide charity to the poor, and frequent penances in the spirit of reparation. Lentini was beatified on Oct. 12, 1997 by Pope John Paul II."
Source: Encyclopedia.com
Biography: Blessed Dominic Lentini
Prayer:
O blessed Domenico Lentini listen to the prayers of supplication that we bring you, trusting in your intercession. Help us turn our life towards the Lord, to seek in everything, His taste, His will and His glory. You were in love with the Crucifix, teach us the way of brotherly love. Watch over our families, that they may be a place of prayer, peace and life. Arouse in the hearts of young people the desire to follow Christ and to serve Him in His Church. Be a refuge, comfort and hope for those experiencing suffering in body and spirit. Give us, following your example, the ability to abandon ourselves in the hands and heart of the Sorrowful Virgin, to proceed safely towards eternal life, the final destination of our pilgrimage, where you await us. Obtain for us the grace that we need the most. AmenTranslated from the Italian with the help of DC
Day 7. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: On Temptations
by VP
Posted on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 04:01AM in Lenten Sermons
"We are all inclined to sin, my children; we are idle, greedy, sensual, given to the pleasures of the flesh. We want to know everything, to learn everything, to see everything; we must watch over our mind, over our heart, and over our senses, for these are the gates by which the devil penetrates. See, he prowls round us incessantly; his only occupation in this world is to seek companions for himself. All our life he will lay snares for us, he will try to make us yield to temptations; we must, on our side, do all we can to defeat and resist him.
We can do nothing by ourselves, my children; but we can do everything with the help of the good God; let us pray Him to deliver us from this enemy of our salvation, or to give us strength to fight against him. With the Name of Jesus we shall overthrow the demons; we shall put them to flight. With this Name, if they sometimes dare to attack us, our battles will be victories, and our victories will be crowns for heaven, all brilliant with precious stones.
See, my children, the good God refuses nothing to those who pray to Him from the bottom of their heart. St. Teresa, being one day in prayer, and desiring to see the good God, Jesus Christ showed to the eyes of her soul His divine Hands; then, another day, when she was again in prayer, He showed her His Face. Lastly, some days after, He showed her the whole of His Sacred Humanity. The good God who granted the desire of St. Teresa will also grant our prayers. If we ask of Him the grace to resist temptations, He will grant it to us; for He wishes to save us all, He shed His Blood for us all, He died for us all, He is waiting for us all in heaven; we are two or three hundred here: shall we all be saved, shall we all go to heaven? Alas! my children, we know nothing about it; but I tremble when I see so many souls lost in these days. See, they fall into hell as the leaves fall from the trees at the approach of winter.
We shall fall like the rest, my children, if we do not avoid temptations; if, when we cannot avoid them, we do not fight generously, with the help of the good God, if we do not invoke His Name during the strife, like St. Anthony in the desert. This saint having retired into an old sepulcher, the devil came to attack him; he tried at first to terrify him with a horrible noise; he even beat him so cruelly, that he left him half dead and covered with wounds. "Well," said St. Anthony, "here I am, ready to fight again; no, thou shalt not be able to separate me from Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God." The spirits of darkness redoubled their efforts, and uttered frightful cries. St. Anthony remained unmoved, because he put all his confidence in God.
After the example of this saint, my children, let us be always ready for the combat; let us put our confidence in God; let us fast and pray; and the devil will not be able to separate us from Jesus Christ, either in this world or the next."
Source: The Spirit of the Cure d'Ars, by l'Abbe Monnin p.130, 1865.
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPGThe Old Church
by VP
Posted on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 12:00AM in Poetry
Procession near Ploumanac'h, 1879 Léon Lhermitte (Brittany, France)
"Tis not a ship on the tossing waves
That the Old Church seems to me,
But a guide light set on a headland high
And gleaming over the sea.
Lit by the breath of Christ Our Lord,
As He sat with His friends to rest,
Where the waves of the blue Genesareth
Kissed the land that His presence blessed.
The powers of earth may chase the gleam
Of will-o'-the-whisps that fly.
But their good ships reel on the sunken rocks,
and the false lights flickering die.
But Thou, white light of the breath of Christ,
Thou shinest across the foam,
Till the shoals are past and the anchor cast
The light is the light of home.
H.H.H., in Irish Catholic
Source: Our Young People, Volumes 39-40
Saint Matthias, Apostle
by VP
Posted on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
“It behoves us to combat the flesh and
make use of it without pampering it by unlawful gratifications. As to
the soul, we must develop her power by faith and knowledge.” St. Matthias
"He was an apostle: pray for all that are called to that holy function. And as he was chosen by heaven, pray that all of that character may be the choice of heaven.
He was chosen to fill the place of Judas. Conceive an humble distrust of yourself, and tremble at the fall of an apostle. Pray for heavenly strength, that by it you may be secured against the sad effects of human weakness.
Judas having fallen from the apostleship, one is to be chosen to fill his place. Two are proposed, Joseph called Barsabas, surnamed the just, and Mathias. The apostles join in prayer, and beg of God to determine the person; and the lot fell upon Mathias, who was numbered among the eleven. An excellent method and direction left to all succeeding ages, for the choice of persons to ecclesiastical functions, and for all places of trust. What wonder that there are so many abuses in all public employments both in church and state, when justice and duty are so generally neglected, God so commonly forgotten, and all things managed by the direction of private gain and interest?
Either open or secret covetousness is at the root of all evils. It was that which cast Judas from his apostleship, and carried him on to the denial of his Master; and it ought to make all Christians very jealous of themselves, and of all their proceedings, especially where gain and money are in the case. For though he must have renounced all principles of honor, honesty, and justice, who steals and designedly wrongs his neighbor; yet there are so many disguised robberies and palliated injustices, that a man must have a very powerful influence of sincerity, truth, and virtue, to escape being drawn into these snares. For self-love is so very subtle and ingenious in finding out reasons favorable to what it desires, that without great caution, it insensibly leads men, under the cover of pretended right and justice, into a variey of frauds and oppressions. So that even those who have an abhorrence of all such proceedings in their neighbors, are but too often, through an affected partiality, carried beyond all that they have before condemned in others; and when their actions come more particularly to be looked into, are found to have done things which raise wonder in all sober men.
So that the lesson of this day comes to be the common concern of all, as far as they are entrusted with money affairs; as of the wife in regard to her husband; of children, to their parents; of stewards, and servants, to their masters; of lawyers, to their clients; of overseers and collectors, to the poor; and finally, of as many as have any sort of trust, in relation to what they have undertaken. There are none of these, but what are under a great tie of fidelity and justice, and are exposed to many temptations of transgressing their bounds. Here then, let him that thinks himself to stand, take heed lest he fall. Let all beg for a powerful assistance of grace to support them against the power of private interest; that so they may be able to give an account of their stewardship.
And because there is a
like danger in all other christian duties; and there is no security, as
St. Bernard observes, either in heaven, or paradise, or on earth; since the angels fell from heaven, Adam from paradise, and Judas from the very school of Christ; let the memory of this day inspire all with a salutary distrust of themselves. Let it put them upon working out their salvation with fear and trembling; and most earnestly on importuning Him to come to their assistance, whose grace alone is able to secure them against the dangers of their own weakness, and of all snares set before them. O Lord, save us, or we perish. Thus let this day's devotion be concluded with acts of most profound humility and fear, and an entire confidence in God." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Day 6. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: We must expect temptations
by VP
Posted on Monday February 23, 2026 at 04:00AM in Lenten Sermons
"It is most unfortunate for ourselves if we do not know that we are tempted in almost all our actions, at one time by pride, by vanity, by the good opinion which we think people should have of us, at another by jealousy, by hatred and by revenge. At other times, the Devil comes to us with the foulest and most impure images. You see that even in our prayers, he distracts us and turns our minds this way and that. (..)
And even more, since the time of Adam, you will not find a saint who has not been tempted -- some in one way, some in another -- and the greatest saints are those who have been tempted the most. If Our Lord was tempted, it was in order to show us that we must be also.
It follows, therefore, that we must expect temptation. If you ask me what is the cause of our temptations, I shall tell you that it is the beauty and the great worth and importance of our souls which the Devil values and which he loves so much that he would consent to suffer two Hells, if necessary, if by so doing he could drag our souls into Hell.
We should never cease to keep a watch on ourselves, lest the Devil might deceive us at the moment when we are least expecting it. St. Francis tells us that one day God allowed him to see the way in which the Devil tempted his religious, especially in matters of purity. He allowed him to see a band of devils who did nothing but shoot their arrows against his religious. Some returned violently against the devils who had discharged them. They then fled, shrieking hideous yells of rage. Some of the arrows glanced off those they were intended for and dropped at their feet without doing any harm. Others pierced just as far as the tip of the arrow and finally penetrated, bit by bit.
If we wish to hunt these temptations away, we must, as St. Anthony tells us, make use of the same weapons. When we are tempted by pride, we must immediately humble and abase ourselves before God. If we are tempted against the holy virtue of purity, we must try to mortify our bodies and all our senses and to be ever more vigilant of ourselves. If our temptation consists in a distaste for prayers, we must say even more prayers, with greater attention, and the more the Devil prompts us to give them up, the more we must increase their number.
The temptations we must fear most are those of which we are not conscious. St. Gregory tells us that there was a religious who for a long time had been a good member of his community. Then he developed a very strong desire to leave the monastery and to return to the world, saying that God did not wish him to be in that monastery. His saintly superior told him: "My friend, it is the Devil who is angry because you may be able to save your soul. Fight against him." But no, the other continued to believe that it was as he claimed. St. Gregory gave him permission to leave. But when he was leaving the monastery, the latter went on his knees to ask God to let this poor religious know that it was the Devil who wanted to make him lose his soul. The religious had scarcely put his foot over the threshold of the door to leave when he saw an enormous dragon, which attacked him. "Oh, brothers," he cried out, "come to my aid! Look at the dragon which will devour me!" And indeed, the brethren who came running when they heard the noise found this poor monk stretched out on the ground, half-dead. They carried him back into the monastery, and he realized that truly it was the Devil who wanted to tempt him and who was bursting with rage because the superior had prayed for him and so had prevented the Devil from getting him.
Alas, my dear brethren, how greatly we should fear, lest we do not recognize our temptations! And we shall never recognize them if we do not ask God to allow us to do so."
Source: The Sermons of the Curé of Ars, p.90, 1960 (Public Domain)
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPGSt. Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor. A.D. 1072.
by VP
Posted on Monday February 23, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was the youngest of many children, and losing his parents when very young, was very cruelly treated by one of his brothers, and when grown up was sent to keep swine. Another of his brothers however treated him kindly, and gave him an education. He was soon qualified to teach others, which he did with great applause. To arm himself against the allurements of pleasure and the artifices of the devil, he wore a rough hair shirt, and inured himself to fasting, watching, and prayer. At length he resolved entirely to leave the world, and embrace a monastic life; and soon after this, he became a religious of the order of St. Benedict, in an hermitage at the foot of the Apennines. His obedience was so perfect, that the least word of any superior made him run that moment to discharge what was enjoined, with the utmost exactness. After some time he was commanded by his abbot to take upon himself the government of the hermitage, which he governed with great wisdom and sanctity.
St. Peter Damian was much employed for twelve years in the service of the Church, by many bishops and by four popes successively. At length Pope Stephen IX. prevailed on him to quit his desert, and made him cardinal bishop of Ostia. Having rendered great services to the Church in this dignity for some years, he begged with great importunity to be allowed to resign it, and return to his solitude. Pope Alexander II. out of affection for the holy man, allowed him to do so. In his retirement he edified the Church by his penance and compunction, and by his numerous writings. God was pleased to call him to the crown of his labours in the year 1072, when he was 83 years old.
This day is also the Vigil of St. Mathias; and those who expect the favours of heaven
are required to fit themselves for them by spending it in a suitable
manner. Our great indispositions are pride and self-love; and these are
best cured by penance and humiliation. There are many kinds of mortification, by which you may answer the design of the Church. Make not this day, at least, a day of liberty and diversion, but let these give place to recollection and prayer." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
First Sunday in Lent: Help in Temptation
by VP
Posted on Sunday February 22, 2026 at 04:00AM in Sunday Sermons
Christ in the Desert Served by the Angels (1631–1681) by Jean Baptiste de Champaigne
"Behold angels came and ministered to Him.”—MATT. iv. 16.
1. We are sure to be tempted.
2. We forget to cry for help.
3. Our Lord suffered Himself to be tempted for our instruction and encouragement.
4. Angels ready and faithful to assist us.
5. Let us imitate St. Antony's defense.
"THE Gospel tells us today how our divine Lord suffered Himself to be
tempted by the devil. It was for our sake that He did so. Each one of
us, that we may be worthy to win heaven, must be tried, and assaulted,
and pass through the conflict. We must face this fact: we shall be tempted by the devil. It is not within anyone's power
to escape temptation. The misery of it may wellnigh overwhelm us. Our
self-love will be crushed, for we did not think that we were so vile as
the specters of temptations around us would make us think. We find
oftentimes that, when we have resolved to do our best, temptations are
the most importunate. Yes, it is true, we are tempted by the devil.
In our misery, when thus tempted and tried, how often do we make a great
mistake. We have not the sense of children. In fear and danger,
children cry for help: we forget! There is One near us, with His angels,
ready to minister to us; only waiting to be invoked, "Lord, save us, or
we perish." "Wherefore it behoved Him in all things to be made like
unto His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful
high-priest before God, that He might be a propitiation for the sins of
the people. For in that, wherein He Himself hath suffered and been
tempted, He is able to succor them also that are tempted " (Heb. ii. 17,
18). "For we have not a high-priest Who cannot have compassion on our
infirmities; but One tempted in all things as we are, without sin" (Heb.
iv. 15).
Our Blessed Lord accepted the ministration of angels after His
temptation to teach us that we are not alone in our misery and our
danger. To be tempted is not a sin; but to trust to ourselves to be able
to resist and overcome is presumptuous. Pride goeth before a fall. To
come out of the conflict unscathed needs help, and help is at hand if we
humbly invoke it. The angels are our guardians to assist us in our
struggle with their fallen brethren. If the fallen angels hate us
because we are Christ's, the good angels are anxious to shield us from
evil and ruin for that very same reason. A prayer can summon them to the
rescue. To forget their assistance, to venture to stand alone and
defend ourselves single-handed from evil, is to imperil our souls. We
are bound to pray for help in grave temptation. To fall into sin is our
own fault; always our own fault. We could have been saved from the sin,
if we had prayed for assistance. The angels are with us wherever we go
through life; in every occurrence, in every danger they are at hand. Our
passage through the temptations of life is not a forlorn hope; we have
our leaders, our friends, our guardians around us. But alas! how often
are they forgotten and ignored. Temptations seduce us. Careless souls
even love the danger; foolishly disregarding the imminent and eternal
consequences.
With what an occupation have the ministering angels been entrusted by
God! They first have to arouse us to be afraid of evil; to wish to
escape it. Instead of fearing sin, we turn a deaf ear to the
remonstrances which the angels prompt our consciences to urge upon us.
We are reluctant to turn from the evil suggestion; the wicked companion;
the occasions that we know will be our ruin. It is not that the angels
are remiss in their endeavors; it is all our own fault yielding to our
sinful desires, clinging to bad habits that will be our eternal ruin.
Pray that the angels may not grow weary of us, and that their divine
Master may not recall them from their rejected ministrations. How
faithful they have been to us! They are interested in us and devoted to
us, because we are destined to be their brethren for all eternity. They
rejoice over every soul they can save, for each one is another soul
redeemed by the precious Blood of our Lord, and rescued from eternal
loss.
This life is a time of trial and temptation; but to be forewarned is to
be forearmed. We must not cowardly give way, though we have to face the
combat, for we are not alone. Remember we can instantly summon
assistance. Imitate the great St. Antony, the model of those who are
tempted. He tells us that his weapons were the sign of the holy Cross
and the most holy name of Jesus. That sacred name, that blessed sign,
would bring us instant help. "God is faithful, Who will not suffer you
to be tempted above that which you are able" (I Cor. x. 13). He will
send His angels to defend you, to drive away the enemies of your soul.
Temptations would be robbed of their terror, they would be vanquished,
if we only remembered to invoke and trust. We must learn this lesson in
life: the lesson to remember and pray; for as death approaches,
temptations may be more powerful and deadly. The good habit of prayer
will then spring to our rescue. The angels will redouble their
vigilance. Not only our own prayers, but the prayers of the Church for
the dying will be our safeguard. The priest before he anoints us bids
the evil spirits to be banished, and the angel of peace to stand by us;
and he prays the Almighty Father to send His holy angel from heaven to
guard and protect and defend. Happy indeed will be the death of one who
has trusted in the angels in the days of his warfare. He will have
endured temptation bravely; his fidelity will have been proved, and his
consolation then will be that the angels will come forth to meet him,
and bear his soul to receive the crown of life." Short Sermons on the Epistles & Gospels of the Sundays of the Year By Fr. Francis Paulinus Hickey 1922 (First Sunday in Lent)
Day 5. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: Homily on the Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent
by VP
Posted on Sunday February 22, 2026 at 04:00AM in Lenten Sermons
"Our Divine Lord, having been our model in every thing, would be our model in temptation also. For this end He allowed Himself to be led into the desert.The good soldier has no fear of the battle, and so a good Christian ought to have no fear of temptation. All soldiers are good in garrison: on the field of battle we see the difference between the brave and the cowardly.
The greatest of all temptations is to have none. We may almost say that we are happy in having temptations; it is the moment of the spiritual harvest, when we lay up stores for heaven. It is like the time of harvest, when we rise very early, and take a great deal of trouble; but we do not complain, because we gather in a great deal.
The devil tempts only those souls that wish to abandon sin and those that are in a state of grace. The others belong to him: he has no need to tempt them.
A saint, passing one day before a convent, saw a quantity of devils tormenting the religious, without being able to succeed in seducing them. He passed afterwards by a town, and saw a single one sitting down with his arms across, and guiding the whole population. Then, the saint asked him how he came to be alone in a great town, while there were so many tormenting a handful of religious. The devil answered him that he was quite enough for the town, because he tempted those who were already inclined to hatred, impurity, drunkenness, and it was done in a moment; while with the religious, it was more difficult. The army of devils occupied in tempting them lost their time and their trouble; they could gain no ground. So they waited till others should come, who might grow weary of the austerity of the rule.
In a monastery, during the Holy Sacrifice, one of the brothers saw devils prowling round those good religious. He saw one in particular stamping on the head of a monk, and another advancing and receding by turns. After Mass, this brother asked the two religious what had occupied their minds during Office. The first said he had thought of a floor he wanted to have made in the convent; and the second said that the devil had come to attack him, but he had always tried to drive him away. This is what all good Christians do; and, therefore, temptation is to them a source of merit.
The most ordinary temptations are pride and impurity. One of the best means by which we can resist them is a life of activity for the glory of God. Many people give themselves up to idleness and indulgence; so it is not surprising that the devil has them in his power.
A religious complained to his superior of being violently tempted. The superior ordered the gardener and the cook to call him every moment. Some time after, he asked him how he was getting on. "O father," he said, "I have no time now to be tempted !" If we were penetrated with the holy presence of God, we should find it easy to resist the enemy. With this thought, God sees thee! we should never sin.
There was once a good saint - I think it was St. Teresa - who complained to our Lord after having been tempted, and said to Him, "Where wert Thou then, O my most loving Jesus, during that horrible tempest?" Our Lord answered her, "I was in the midst of thy heart, taking pleasure in seeing thee fight against it."
At the moment of temptation we must firmly renew our baptismal promises. . . . Now listen well to that. When you are tempted, offer to the good God the merit of that temptation, to obtain the opposite virtue. If you are tempted to pride, offer the temptation to obtain humility; that of immodest thoughts, to obtain purity; or charity, if it is against your neighbor. Offer also the temptation to obtain the conversion of sinners; that spites the devil and puts him to flight, because the temptation is turned against himself: yes, after that he will be sure to leave you alone.
A Christian ought always to be ready for battle. As in time of war sentinels are always placed here and there to see if the enemy is approaching, so we ought to be always on our guard to see if the enemy is not laying snares for us, and if he is not coming to surprise us. One of two things: a Christian either rules his inclinations, or his inclinations rule him; there is no medium. It is like two men taking each other by the collar to try which is the strongest - one will throw the other down. One will almost always end by overthrowing the other; and when he has him on the ground, with his foot upon his neck, he does not care much for him: he has the upper hand. So with our passions; the struggle is seldom equal, either we guide our passions, or they guide us.
My brethren, how sad it is to let ourselves be led by our passions! A Christian is noble; he ought to command his vassals like a noble. Our vassals are our passions. A shepherd was asked what he was. He answered, that he was a king. Over whom do you reign? Over my subjects. And who are your subjects? My inclinations. This shepherd was quite right in saying that he was a king.
We are in this world like a ship upon the sea. What causes the waves? The storm. In this world the wind is always blowing. Our passions raise a tempest in our soul; and these struggles will gain us heaven.
We must not imagine that there is any place on the earth where we could
escape from this war. We shall find the devil everywhere; and everywhere he will try to deprive us of heaven. But everywhere and always we
may be the conquerors. It is not like other battles, in which one of
two parties is always beaten; in this, if we choose, with the grace of
God, which is never refused us, we may always triumph.
When we think all is lost, we have only to cry out, "O Lord, save us; we
perish!" For our Lord is there, close to us, looking at us with
complacency, and saying to us with a smile: "In truth thou lovest Me; I
see that thou lovest Me." It is indeed by battles against hell, and by
resistance to temptations, that we give God proofs of our love.
How many souls, unknown in the world, will one day be seen enriched by these victories of every moment! The good God will say to these souls, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, enter into the joy of your Master."
Our guardian angel is always there by our side, pen in hand, to write down our victories. We must say every morning,"Come, my soul, let us labor to obtain heaven. This evening our battles will be over." And in the evening, "Tomorrow, my soul, all the troubles of life will perhaps be over for thee."
We have not yet suffered like the martyrs. Ask them if they are sorry now... The good God does not require so much from us. There are some people who are upset by a single word. One little humiliation capsizes the ship... Courage my brethren, courage! When the last day comes, you will say, "Happy struggles, that have purchased heaven!"
Let us then fight generously. When once the devil sees that he has no power over us, he will leave us in peace. This is the way he usually treats sinners who are returning to God; he lets them taste the sweetness of the first moments of their conversion, because he knows very well that he would gain nothing; they are too fervent. He waits a few months, till their first ardor has passed away; then he begins to make them neglect prayer and the Sacraments; he attacks them with divers temptations; then come the battles, and then indeed is the time to ask for strength, and not to let ourselves be overcome. Some people are so weak that when they are a little tempted, they give way, like soft paper. If we were always marching forward like good soldiers, we should raise our hearts to God when war or temptation come upon us, and take courage. But we linger behind; we say, "Provided I am saved, that is all I want. I do not wish to be a saint." If you are not a saint, you will be lost, there is no medium - you must be one or the other; mind that.
All those who will one day possess heaven will be saints. The souls in purgatory are saints, because they have no mortal sins; they have only to be purified, and they are friends of the good God. Let us work hard, my children; the day will come that we shall find we have not done at all too much to gain heaven."Source: The Spirit of the Cure d'Ars by l'abbe Monnin, p.133, 1865.
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPG