Lenten Meditations: Thursday 11 March

Mar 11, 2021 by Jill

LENT III:  St. Gregory the Great, Bishop and Scholar, 604.

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY:   St. Gregory is remembered by Anglicans for sending a party of missionaries headed by Augustine of Canterbury to preach the Gospel to the pagan Anglo-Saxon tribes that had invaded England and largely conquered or displaced the Celtic Christians previously living there. Gregory had originally hoped to go to England as a missionary himself, but was pressed into service elsewhere, as bishop of Rome. He accordingly sent others, but took an active interest in their work, writing numerous letters both to Augustine and his monks and to their English people.  He is also remembered for influence on the forms of public worship throughout the West. He developed the idea of a Lectionary and founded a school for the training of church musicians, from which came Gregorian chant (plainchant) which is named for him. He is known along with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine of Hippo as one of the Four Latin Doctors of the ancient Church.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY:  What do you thirst for? What do you pine for? That is the passionate image given in the Psalm today. Can you imagine yearning for something so powerful that it refreshes the whole of one’s being? To be sure many people in this pandemic are pining. They are pining for health. They are pining to no longer feel pressured for a meal or

for income. This Psalm reminds us that the role of faith in these circumstances is  not just about feeling better about ourselves. Lent is the time of our lives where we are most especially called to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves, how deeply do we pine for the things that matter in our existence? It is the time that we must deeply ponder how much do we pine for a life that is life-giving to others?

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE:  Perhaps it is not after all so difficult for a man to part with his possessions, but it is certainly most difficult for him to part with himself. To renounce what one has is a minor thing; but to renounce what one is, that is asking a lot” — St. Gregory, Homilies on the Gospels.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: “Father, you guide your people with kindness and govern us with love. We pray this day that you give the spirit of wisdom to those you have called to lead your Church. May the growth of your people in holiness be the eternal joy of our shepherds. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

LENTEN DISCIPLINE –   Listen to a different type of music today. Listen to Gregorian http://www.schuyesmans.be/gregoriaans/EN/ENnet.htm or Anglican Chant http://chantblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/anglican-chant-second-installment.htmlin   your car and at home. Enjoy this gift to the church and experience the roots of all music but more important listen to how profound it is when Psalms which are lyrics are put to music. Hear the grandeur, beauty and majesty of God!

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