We continue preparing the liturgy of the t hird Sunday of Lent (March 15, 2009) with the usual explanation of Dom Prosper Gueranger.
Third Sunday of Lent
Lent: a time of reflection.
The holy Church the first Sunday of Lent, we proposed the temptation of Jesus as the subject of our meditations, to enlighten us about the nature of our temptations and teach us the way to surmount them, today makes us read a passage from the Gospel of St. Luke, whose doctrine is to complete our education about the power and the maneuvers of our invisible enemies. During Lent, Christians must repair the past and secure its future, it could not rely on the first nor the second effective defense, not to have healthy ideas about the extent of the dangers that made him succumb and even on those who threaten it. Rightly so ancient liturgists recognize a stretch of maternal wisdom in discernment with which the Church today presents to her children this new reading, which constitutes the core of today's teachings.
The existence of the devil.
We would certainly blind men more and more unhappy, though, as we are surrounded by enemies so bent of our defeat and much superior to us in strength and dexterity, we did not think frequently to their existence, or there never us to reflect. Unfortunately it is the condition in which a vast number of Christians of our day: so "the truth came not among the sons of men" (Ps 11.2). It is so widespread that state of apathy and forgetfulness upon a truth that the holy scriptures remind us every page that is not unusual to see people in the eyes of such incessant activity of the demons that surround us is only a Medieval and common folk belief, which has nothing to do with the dogmas of religion, so that, according to them, everything that is said in church history and the lives of the saints is like did not exist, according to them, Satan is not that a pure abstraction that personifies evil.
When you want to explain sin in them or in others, put forward the trend that we have the evil and the bad use we make of liberty, without wishing to observe that Christian teaching, in our transgression, reveals in addition to this, ' intervention as an evil agent, whose power is equal to the hatred that leads us. Yet they know that it was the devil to drag our ancestors to sin; believe he tried the Son of God made flesh in the air and carried him from the pinnacle of the temple, and thence on a high mountain. Also read in the Gospel, and believe that a demon-possessed degl'infelici freed by Jesus was besieged by a legion of evil spirits, who, having received permission. were seen attacking a herd of swine and precipitate into the lake of Gennesaret. These and a thousand other facts are also the object of their faith, but what they hear of the existence and operations of the cunning of demons to seduce souls, all of them seems a fairy tale. Christians are, or have lost his mind? I really do not know what to say, especially when you see people today are dedicated to the devil sacrilegious consultations, using the resources borrowed from the pagans centuries, without any sign of remembering, and even to know that by doing so they commit an offense in ' God's ancient law punished with death, and the legislation of all the peoples of many centuries Christians used to strike with the greatest of punishments.
The diabolical obsession.
But if there is a time of year in which the faithful should ponder what faith and experience teaches about the existence and operations of the spirits of darkness, this is certainly the time when we are, where we have to reflect the causes of our sins, the dangers of the soul and the means to be strengthened against further falls and new assaults. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. It first of all tells us that the devil had taken possession of a man, that because of this obsession had become mute. Jesus frees him, and immediately resumed the unfortunate use of the word, toltagli by the enemy. We learn from this, that the obsession with evil is not only an eloquent sign of the impenetrable righteousness of God, but can also produce physical effects in those who are its victims. The expulsion of the evil spirit returns the language to those who groaned in the network of his bonds. Do not intend to insist on the wickedness of the enemies of Jesus, who wanted to give her power over the demons to the intervention of a prince of the infernal army: we want only to note the power of the spirits of darkness on the bodies, and confuse the sacred text of rationalism some Christians. So that they learn to know the power of our opponents and to guard against their becoming bait for the pride of reason.
After the promulgation of the Gospel, the power of Satan over the bodies, by virtue of the Cross, was very low in Christian countries, but this does not mean that we can extend it again, if it will be to diminish the faith and the works of Christian piety. For this, all those devilish horrors that are committed, especially in the shadows, under various names more or less scientific, are accepted in some way by honest people, and would lead to reversal of the company, if God and his Church there mettessero a embankment. Remember, or Christians of our day, that rinunciaste Satan: Beware therefore, that your ignorance is not culpable to pull you into apostasy. Not rinunciaste, the baptismal font to be abstract, but to be real and formidable, of which Jesus Christ said that he was a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44).
The fight against Satan.
But if we frighten the terrible power that can exert on the bodies, and to avoid any relationship with the devil, by practices which he presides, and which are the cult to which it aspires, we must also fear its influence on our souls. Consider the fight that he had to bear the grace of God to tear your soul! In these days the Church offers us all the means at its disposal to triumph over him, fasting and almsgiving joined the prayer. You will come to peace, and your hearts, your breasts will return to being cleansed the temple of God, but do not believe that your enemy is vanquished: he is angry, because penance chased him from his domain, and has sworn that he will do to re-enter everything. So, fear of falling into mortal sin, and to reinforce this healthy fear in you, ponder the following words in the Gospel.
The Savior tells us that when the unclean spirit is driven by a soul, wanders through dry places and deserts, where he devours his humiliation and torture of hell that suffers more everywhere brings with it, if it could, would drown slugs the killing of souls that Jesus Christ has redeemed. Since the Old Testament we see the demons defeated and forced to flee to distant solitudes, so that the Archangel St. Raphael banished to the deserts of Upper Egypt the infernal spirit that had killed the seven husbands of Sara (Tb 8.3) . But the enemy of man can not resign ourselves to be always so far away from the prey to his lust. Driven by hatred that leads us from the beginning of the world, he says to himself: "I must return to my house from which I came." But not only back, he wants to triumph, and so lead him, if need be, seven other demons more wicked than he. What conflict is preparing now for the poor soul, if not vigilant and fierce will, and if the peace that God has given back is not an armed peace! The enemy will land wise, in his insight, examines the changes that were made during his absence: and what the soul sees where until recently was accustomed to live? Our Lord tells us: the devil is the unarmed defenseless and ready to receive it again leveled, it seems as if the soul is again waiting for him. Then the enemy, to be more sure of his conquest, he goes to seek reinforcements. Moving to the assault, does not meet any resistance, and the poor soul, instead of hosting a single inhabitant of hell, soon it albergherà an army: "And Jesus adds, the last state of that man is worse than before" .
Let us clearly understand the warning that today gives us the holy Church, by making us read this Gospel. Everywhere they prepare to return to God, in many minds is doing is reconciliation and the Lord is always ready to forgive, but all they endure? When Lent returns in a year to call Christians to repentance, all those who in these days will be ripped to the power of Satan, have kept their souls free from his yoke? A sad experience does not allow the Church to hope. Many will fall into the snares of sin, even shortly after their release: Oh, if this condition were affected by the righteousness of God! However, this will be the fate of many, and perhaps many. We fear so each relapse, and to grant us perseverance, without which there would be earned back just for a few days in the grace of God, watch, and pray always defend the trenches of our soul, resisting in combat, and so the enemy , bewildered by our resolve, he'll go somewhere else to vent his anger and his shame.
The Sunday of Ballots.
The third Sunday of Lent is called Oculi, the first word of the Introit of the Mass, but the early Church called the Sunday of the ballots, because on this day we began the examination of the Catechumens, who had to be admitted to Holy Baptism the Easter night. All the faithful were invited to the church to witness the life and habits of those who aspired to the Christian militia. In Rome these analyzes, which gave the name of Ballots, were held in seven sessions, because of the multitude of candidates for baptism, but the most important election took place on Wednesday the fourth week. More on that later.
The Roman Sacramentary of St. Gelasius gives the formula of calling the faithful to these meetings, conceived in these terms: "Dear brothers, you know that approaching the day of Poll, in which our elected officials must receive divine education, so please reunite with zeal in that day of the week, hour of Sext, so we are able, with God's help, of properly fulfill the heavenly mystery that opens the door to the kingdom of heaven and destroys the devil with all his pumps. " That call was repeated, if necessary, even on Sundays following. In what we celebrate today, if the Poll had already made the admission of a number of candidates, they form part of their names in the diptychs of the altar, along with those of godfathers and godmothers, and recited in the Canon of mass.
Mass
The station took place, as now, in the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls in wanting to awaken the memory of this most famous martyr of Rome, and point out to Catechumens what sacrifices could take from them the faith that they were about to embrace.
In the Greek Church this Sunday is famous for the solemn adoration of the Cross called Mesonestima preceding the week, ie half of the fast.
Epistle (Eph. 5.1 to 9). - Brothers: Be imitators of God as sons elected, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us to God in the Holocaust as host of a sweet smell. Fornication, impurity of any kind, the greed will not feel not even appoint from among you, as is fitting among saints. No obscenities, no foolish talking, no antics, all things indecent, but rather thanksgiving. For this ye know, no one who is sexually immoral, or indecent, or covetous (that is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God no one deceive you with vain speeches, because due to these is the wrath of sugl'increduli God. Therefore there associated with them. Once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Or the fruit of light is all that is good, just and true.
Imitating God
Addressing himself to the faithful of Ephesus, the Apostle reminds that were once darkness, and now have become light in the Lord. What a joy, knowing that the same fate is reserved for our Catechumens! Up to this time they have lived in the depravity of paganism, but now with the admission to baptism have in their hands the earnest of holiness. Until recently they were enslaved to false gods, which fueled the cult of the defect; now hear from the Church exhorts her children to imitate the holiness of the Christian God and the grace that will enable them to aspire to reproduce in himself the divine perfections is being communicated to them. But they will fight to keep this elevation. Two enemies, above all, try to claim: the impurity and avarice. The first of these vices, the Apostle does not want even more to be appointed, and the second comparing the bubble to the worship of idols who are elected to deny. These teachings that the Church strives to his future children. And we were sanctified from the entry into this world, have remained faithful to our baptism? We were light: darkness because we are now? where are the signs of the divine likeness which had been imprinted in us? Premuriamoci to revive them, returning to renounce Satan and his idols, and ensuring that penance us back in the state of light, whose fruit is found in all sorts of goodness, justice and truth.
Gospel (Luke 11.14-28). - At that time: Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. And kicked the devil, the dumb spoke, and the multitudes marveled. But some said, He casts out demons in the name of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. And others, to test him, asked him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided in itself will be ruined and a house will fall on the other. Or, since you say you cast out demons in the name of Beelzebub, if Satan is divided against itself, as will hold his kingdom? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, in the name of your sons cast them out? That the same shall be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out demons, surely the kingdom of God is come upon you. When looking at the strong arms lobby, is safe because it has everything. But if one is stronger than him and overcomes him, he takes all the weapons in which he trusted and divides up the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, goes through arid places seeking rest, and, finding none, he says: I will return to my house from which I came. When you arrive, he finds it swept and garnished. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entered, we are established. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. It happened that while he said these things, a woman, raising her voice in the crowd, he said: Blessed is the womb that brought thee and the breasts that you sucked. And he said: Blessed are those who hear and practice the word of God
Demons dumb.
The devil, of whom Jesus freed the possessed man of the Gospel made dumb, but it just came out the spirit of darkness, who vessava, the language of that poor guy broke up. It is a fact that gives us the image of the terrible sinner became a slave to the winner that made him dumb. If such a sinner, speak to confess his sins and ask for grace, would be saved. How many demons silent, scattered, preventing people to do this salutary confession that would save them! The holy day of grace and Quarantine shall pass: take advantage of favorable weather, and if we are in friendship with God, we pray earnestly for sinners, so move the tongue, you accuse and be forgiven.
Power of demons.
Let us now hear what the Savior tells us about our invisible enemies. With their power and cunning, with their means of hurting you, who could resist them, if God did not support us and had not charged his angels to watch over us and to fight on our side? But meanwhile, with sin, we were there delivered into the hands of hateful quest'immondi and pushed, and we preferred to their tyrannical rule as sweet and light yoke of our compassionate Redeemer. Now that there are liberated, or we're going to do that, we thank our deliverer, and we are very careful not to fall into sin again in the hands of these infernal inhabitants. Jesus warns us of impending danger. They will come back to force the dwelling of our soul sanctified by the Lamb of Easter: if we are vigilant and faithful, will retire confused, but if we are lukewarm and listless, and lose sight of the gift of grace and obligations that bind us to him who saved us, our ruin is certain, and, according to the terrible words of Jesus, "the latter condition will be worse than the first."
To be with Christ.
We want to avoid so great a calamity? meditate on that other word of Jesus in the Gospel: "Whoever is not with me is against me". What makes us fall into the snares of the devil, making us forget what we owe to our liberator, is that frankly does not take sides on the part of Jesus Christ, in front of the occasions on which the Christian must be able to rule firmly. It is niche, it stalls, and meanwhile the soul energy s'affievolisce; God bestows more with the abundance of his graces first, and relapse is imminent. So we walk with firm steps and safe, and remember that the soldier of Jesus Christ must always will honor its Head.
Please
Accept, we beseech thee, Almighty God, the votes of the poor and stretch to the power of your majesty to our defense.
(Sun Prosper Gueranger, The Liturgical Year. Trad. It. P. Graziani, Alba, 1959)
[...] The Holy Church the first Sunday of Lent, we proposed the temptation of Jesus as the subject of our meditations, to enlighten us about the nature of our temptations and teach us the way to surmount them, today makes us read a passage from the Gospel of St. Luke, whose doctrine is to complete our education about the power and the maneuvers of our invisible enemies. Read more [...]