Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
Do you observe decrees of the Lord?
Have you forgotten what he has done for you? Dt 4:1, 5-9
Do you see how Jesus has fulfilled the law?
Are you obedient?
Do you teach others? Mt 5:17-19
Questions from the book addressed to Autolycus by St. Theophilus of Antioch
- Are you a person who can see God?
- Are the eyes of your mind open?
- Is your mind shrouded by sin?
- Do you want to be healed?
- Does faith and love of God have first place in your heart?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent)
Image Credit: Christ Preaching, ca. 1657, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, The Morgen/PD
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Do you realize that you deserve nothing?
Do you trust in the mercy of God? Dn 3:25, 34-43
Is there a limit to your forgiveness?
Do you recognize how generous God has been to you?
Do you pass on that generosity to others? Mt 18:21-35
Questions from a sermon by St. Peter Chrysologus
- Do you close your ears to the cries of the suffering?
- Do recognize those who hunger?
- Do you show mercy and kindness?
- Do you despise others?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent.)
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Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Do you obey God’s commands?
Do you listen tot he good counsels of others?
Do you want to be clean? 2 Kgs 5:1-15
Do you listen to God’s word and the words of his holy ones?
Are you driving Jesus away from you? Lk 4:24-30
Questions from a homily by St. Basil the Great
- What things make you proud?
- What is the source of our greatness?
- Do you live entirely in the grace and gift of God?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Monday of the Third Week of Lent.)
Image Credit: Stained glass window from St Michael’s Sittingbourne, Kent from PxHere
Third Sunday of Lent
Do you recognize God in your life?
Are you ready to say, “Here I am”? Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15
Why was God not pleased with his people?
Do you test him in the same way?
Do you grumble? 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12
Do you look at the guilt of others rather than your own?
Are you producing good fruit? Lk 13:1-9
Questions from a Treatise on John by St. Augustine
- Do you thirst for Christ?
- Do you know the Gift of God?
- Do you ask for the living water?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Third Sunday of Lent.)
Image Credit: Photo of a chasuble in St Dominic’s Priory, Newcastle by Fr. Lawrence, OP
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The Solemnity of St. Joseph
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
Today we’ll take a little break from my quiz format to think about St. Joseph. Here is the second reading from the Office of Readings for St. Joseph’s feast.
From a sermon by Saint Bernadine of Siena
There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.
This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord.
What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph.
In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfillment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms.
Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honor which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth.
Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: Enter into the joy of your Lord. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: Enter into joy. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss.
Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.
Image Credit: Photo of a stained glass window from Lille Cathedral by Fr. Lawrence, OP
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Lawrence OP
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
What deeds have you committed due to jealousy?
Is there anyone you will not greet? Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
What do you do to God’s messengers?
Have you killed his Son?
Are you producing fruit? Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Questions from the Treatise Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus
- Are you living in friendship with God?
- Are you living in harmony with your neighbor?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Friday of the Second Week of Lent)
Image Credit: The Crucifixion, ca. 1675 by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo. PD/The Met
Thursday of the Second Week in Lent
Where do you place your trust?
Is your heart turned away from the Lord? Jer 17:5-10
Have you received what is good during your lifetime?
Have you shared it with those in need?
Do you listen to the one who has risen from the dead? Lk 16:19-31
Questions from St. Hillary
- Do you understand what the fear of the Lord is?
- Do you look and search for wisdom?
- Do you know the fear of God consists completely in Love?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Thursday of the Second Week in Lent)
Image Credit: Icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator, Encaustic on wood, St. Catherine’s Monastery Sinai, 6th century. PD
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Do you plot against the just?
Do you destroy others with your tongue?
Do you watch others in order to trap them?
What do you want from Jesus?
Can you drink his Chalice?
Are you the servant of all?
Questions from a Treatise on The Lord’s Prayer by St. Cyprian
- Are you living God’s teaching about unity?
- Do you pray for all of God’s people?
- Have you broken the bond of unity?
- Do you give thanks?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Monday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time)
Image Credit: Christ Preaching, ca. 1657, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, The Morgen/PD
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Do you hear the word of God?
Have you learned to do good?
Is justice your aim?
Do you hear the cries of those in need?
Do you obey those in authority?
Do you truly practice your Faith?
Do you make life burdensome for others?
Do you perform your works to be seen?
Do you like to be honored?
Do you know that you have one teacher, one father, one master?
Are you a servant to others?
Do you exalt yourself?
Questions from St. Augustine
- Do you pray with the whole body of Christ?
- Are you in anguish for the suffering of the Church?
- Do you pray in holiness from a faithful heart?
- Do you share in the fragrance of Christ?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent.)
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Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Do you recognize your sins?
Have you obeyed the prophets?
Have you listened to God’s commands? Dn 9:4b-10
Are you merciful?
Do you judge?
Do you condemn?
Do you forgive?
Do you give?
What is your measure? Lk 6:36-38
Questions from St. John Chrysostom
- What marvels has God done in your life?
- Do you understand the power of your baptism?
- Do you recognize the presence of Jesus?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Monday of the Second Week of Lent.)
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Second Sunday of Lent
Do you have faith in God? Gn 15:5-12, 17-18
Are you an enemy of the cross of Christ?
Who is your God?
Is your mind occupied with earthly things? Phil 3:17—4:1
Do you listen to Jesus? Lk 9:28b-36
Questions from St. Leo
- Do you receive strength from the Gospel?
- Are you ashamed of the cross of Christ?
- Are you willing to suffer for the sake of justice?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Second Sunday of Lent.)
Image Credit: Photo of a chasuble in St Dominic’s Priory, Newcastle by Fr. Lawrence, OP
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Lawrence OP
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Do you observe God’s commandments with all your heart?
Have you made an agreement with God?
Do you love your enemies?
Do you pray for them?
Are you a child of your Heavenly Father?
Do you only love those who love you?
How can you be perfect like God?
Questions from St. Dorotheus
- Why are you troubled and disturbed when someone corrects you?
- Is it because you do not find fault with yourself?
- Are you surprised when you’re rebuked?
- Do you not know that this is the path to peace?
- Are you lazy about improvement?
- Do you think that you have entered on a straight path?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Monday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time)
Image Credit: Photo of a Mosaic station from Covington Cathedral by Fr. Lawrence, OP
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Lawrence OP
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Do you rejoice when others turn away from evil?
Are your ways unfair?
Do you think with the mind of God?
Does your righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees?
Are you angry with someone?
Do you come before the altar of God without being reconciled?
Questions from The Mirror of Love by Aelred
- Do you love your enemies?
- Do you embrace them?
- Do you make excuses for them?
- Do you tell your Father that “they do not know what they are doing”?
- When you’re injured, do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Friday of the First Week of Lent)
Image Credit: The Crucifixion, ca. 1675 by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo. PD/The Met
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Do you pray without ceasing?
Do you pray from the heart?
Do you pray with persistence?
Do you believe in the goodness of God?
Do you do to others what you want them to do to you?
Questions from St. Asterius of Amasea
- Do you wish to resemble God?
- Do you imitate the love of Christ?
- Do you reflect on the kindness of God?
- How did Jesus receive those who listened to his call?
- Do you meditate on the gospel?
- Do you search for those who are lost?
- Do you look on others as lost or beyond hope?
- Do you abandon those who are in danger?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Thursday of the First Week in Lent)
Image Credit: Icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator, Encaustic on wood, St. Catherine’s Monastery Sinai, 6th century. PD
Wednesday of the First Week in Lent
Have you turned away from your sins?
Do you believe God’s messengers? Jon 3:1-10
Are you seeking a sign from Jesus?
Do you recognize that Jesus is the sign? Lk 11:29-32
Image Credit: Christ Preaching, ca. 1657, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, The Morgen/PD
Questions from the Moral Reflections on Job
by St. Gregory the Great
- Do you interpret the law by love?
- What is the new commandment of Jesus?
- Do you love one another?
- What does Paul say sums up the whole law?
- Do you help each other in your troubles?
- Are you patient?
- Are you kind?
- Are you jealous or conceited?
- Are you blameless?
- Are you ambitious or selfish?
- Are you quick to take offense?
- Do you have evil thoughts?
- Do you gloat over other people’s sins?
- Are you glad to see goodness?
- Do you bear wrongs patiently?
- Do you repay good for evil?
- Do you envy worldly success?
- Do you have worldly desires?
- Is hatred blotted entirely out of your heart?
- Do you long for the salvation of others?
(Office of Readings, Second Reading for Thursday of the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time)
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Do you make God’s word void in your life?
Is your life fruitful?
What is Gods will? Is 55:10-11
Do you babble when you pray?
Have you made the intentions in the Our Father your own?
Do you forgive?
Do you value the Our Father ?Mt 6:7-15
Questions from a treatise on the
Lord’s Prayer by St. Cyprian
- Do you follow the commands of the Gospel?
- Do you know what they are?
- Do you reject the commands of God to set up your own tradition?
- Is your prayer one of friendship?
- Is it a family prayer?
- Does the Father recognize his Son in your prayers?
- Does Jesus Live in your hearts and on your lips?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Tuesday of the First Week of Lent.)
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Monday of the First Week of Lent
What does it mean to be holy?
How is God holy?
Do you steal?
Do you lie?
Do you swear falsely?
Do you defraud your neighbor?
Who is your neighbor?
Do you oppress anyone?
Are you honest?
Do you spread slander?
Do you protect the weak?
Do you have hatred in your heart?
Do you desire revenge?
Do you hold grudges?
Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Lv 19:1-2, 11-18
Do you feed the hungry?
Do you give drink to the thirsty?
Do you welcome the stranger?
Do you clothe the naked?
Do you take care of the sick?
Do you visit those in prison?
Do you see Jesus in others? Mt 25:31-46
Questions from St. Gregory Nazianzen
- Do you recognize that everything comes from God?
- Do you know that he expects you to be generous to every other creature?
- Are you ashamed that you have not given him your generosity?
- Are you ashamed that you hold on to what belongs to someone else?
- If you imitated God’s justice, would anyone be poor?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Monday of the First Week of Lent.)
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First Sunday of Lent
What offering are you bringing to God?
Do you remember your lowly state?
Do you remember all that God has done for you? Dt 26:4-10
Is the word of God in your mind and in your heart?
Do you say that Jesus is Lord?
Do you truly believe that he is risen? Rom 10:8-13
Do you let the Holy Spirit lead you?
What do you live on?
Do you worship and serve God alone?
Do you put God to the test? Lk 4:1-13
Questions from St. Augustine
- Do you realize that Christ is one and we are all his members?
- Are you unified with the Body of Christ?
- Do you realize that Christ has gained for you salvation, life, glory and victory?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the First Sunday of Lent.)
Image Credit: Photo of a chasuble in St Dominic’s Priory, Newcastle by Fr. Lawrence, OP
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/Lawrence OP
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Do you oppress others?
Do you accuse others?
Is your speech malicious?
Do you bestow your bread on the hungry?
Do you satisfy the afflicted?
Do you follow your own pursuits?
Do you call God’s holy day a delight?
Do you want to delight in the Lord? Is 58:9b-14
Are you ready to leave everything to follow Jesus?
What is holding you back?
What kind of banquet do you prepare for Jesus?
Do you bring other people to him?
Do you recognize that you are sick?
Do you realize that you need Jesus? Lk 5:27-32
Questions from On Spiritual Perfection by Diadochus of Photice
- Do you maintain great stillness of mind even in the midst of struggles?
- Do you treasure the good and reject the evil?
- Do you provide the Holy Spirit a resting place by your peace of soul?
- Do you stifle the Holy Spirit?
- Do you grieve him by your evil actions and thoughts?
- Can you taste the riches of divine consolation?
- Do you preserve the memory of this taste?
- Is your love increasing?
(From Office of Readings, Second Reading for the Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time.)
Image Credit: Photo of a Mosaic station from Covington Cathedral by Fr. Lawrence, OP
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Friday after Ash Wednesday
How are you oppressing others?
Do you quarrel and fight?
Do you share your bread with the hungry?
Do you clothe the naked?
Do you turn your back on the needs of others?
Do you think God is pleased with your fast?
What can you change in order to hear him say to you, “Here I am!”? Is 58:1-9a
What is the purpose of fasting?
Do you have Jesus with you? Mt 9:14-15
Questions from St. John Chrysostom
- What is prayer from the heart?
- Do you pray always?
- Is your spirit quick to reach out to God?
- Do you long for God?
- Is your house made out of humility, justice, good deeds, faith, generosity and prayer?
- Which one of these does your house lack?
From a sermon by St. John Chrysostom (Office of Readings, Second Reading for Friday after Ash Wednesday)
Image Credit: The Crucifixion, ca. 1675 by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo. PD/The Met
Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Is your heart turned away?
Do you listen? Dt 30:15-20
Do you want to follow Jesus?
Are you losing your life for his sake? Lk 9:22-25
Questions from St. Leo
- Do you realize that Lent is not so much about practices but about renouncing sin?
- Where does your life need purification?
- Do you understand the value of almsgiving?
- Do you show love and compassion to the afflicted?
- How much love is in your heart?
From a sermon by St. Leo (Office of Readings, Second Reading for Thursday after Ash Wednesday)
Image Credit: Icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator, Encaustic on wood, St. Catherine’s Monastery Sinai, 6th century. PD
Ash Wednesday
What does it mean to return to God with your whole heart? What part of your heart do you keep back for yourself? Jl 2:12-18
Have you received the grace of God in vain? What is the grace of God? 2 Cor 5:20—6:2
What are you going to give God in the secret of your heart? What does he want you to give? Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Questions from St. Clement
- Do you reject empty works?
- Do you reject quarreling and jealousy?
- Do you reject arrogance?
- Do you reject pride?
- Do you reject anger?
- Are you merciful?
- Do you forgive?
- How do you treat others? As Christ? As you want them to treat you?
- Are you generous?
- Do you judge?
- What is your measure?
From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope (Office of Readings, Second Reading for Ash Wednesday)