THE FEAST OF ST PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
FEAST OF ST PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
"The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time:
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” (Jonah 3: 1 - 10).
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 in the first Week in Lent is the feast of St Peter Damian (1001 - 1072). Italian. Benedictine monk. Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
The monk-Cardinal whose life we celebrate today is a Reformer in the make of the great reformers of the Church: Saints Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, etc. . Damian urged his fellow clergy to live upright lives. Many clergy at all levels were at that time living sordid lives. But Peter pursued reforms with the heart of a pastor.
Our key Scripture is from Jonah 3: 1 - 10. This Scripture reminds us that God calls us to repentance this Lent 2024. There is no time to waste. God is waiting to see a humble and contrite spirit. He pleads: "Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful." (Joel 2: 12 - 13).
Do not delay the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Remember the ABC of Mercy:
A: ASK FOR MERCY.
B: BE MERCIFUL.
C: COMPLETELY TRUST JESUS FOR MERCY.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spur.
Behold, now is the favourable time.
This is the day of salvation.
For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:
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