Lent is a time of Grace
(c) Mateo Ivankovic 2016 J.M.J. February 28, 2017 (Fat Tuesday) Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! Today I am calling you to profoundly live your faith and to implore the Most High to strengthen it, so that winds and storms cannot break it. May the roots of your faith be prayer and hope in eternal life. Already now, little children, work on yourselves in this time of grace, wherein God is giving you the grace – through renunciation and the call to conversion – to be people of clear and persevering faith and hope. Thank you for having responded to my call.” (February 25, 2017) Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday! As Our Lady tells us, “…Already now, little children, work on yourselves in this time of grace, wherein God is giving you the grace – through renunciation and the call to conversion – to be people of clear and persevering faith and hope.” This is Lent. It is above all a time of grace. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Holy Mother Church sets aside the next 40 days as a special time to seek the Lord, through prayer, fasting, renunciation, and conversion. These days give us the opportunity to test ourselves, to find out if we truly desire the Lord above all else. They also help us to grow in our awareness of Jesus’ great act of redemption. The more we understand that we need a savior and that we have a Savior, the more hope and joy we will have! This is Lent! Our Lady said this about Lent in 2006: “Dear children! In this Lenten time of grace, I call you to open your hearts to the gifts that God desires to give you. Do not be closed, but with prayer and renunciation say ‘yes’ to God and He will give to you in abundance. As in springtime the earth opens to the seed and yields a hundredfold, so also your heavenly Father will give to you in abundance. I am with you and love you, little children, with a tender love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”(February 25, 2006) Lent is primarily a time of grace. We have only to say “yes” and open our hearts. God will give us the gifts we need to draw close to Him. We should see our fasting and renunciation as great blessings to us, because through them we will open our hearts to the One who loves us. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2017