The CatholiCity Message

Volume XIX, Number 2 – February 18, 2015

Dear CatholiCity Citizen,

Thank you for letting us be a part of your Lent this year. Every item in today's Message, including the Message itself, will be brief. I'll have a regular message for you next week. You, your family, friends, your intentions and most ardent needs will be in my heart and in my prayers every day this Lent whenever I receive Communion and pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.

How to Have Your Best Lent Ever
In 2009 I sent an encouraging Ash Wednesday message that really seemed to hit the spot. The more of us that have truly potent spiritual Lents, the better for every soul in our countries and on the planet. Over the past six years we've added thousands of new CatholiCity Citizens. Here's how to have the Best Lent Ever.

Final Appeal Update
We made it! You guys are the best: we reached our annual appeal goal and that means we're going to stick around for another year and reach millions! We still have a very limited number of St. Benedict medals, magnets, and art-house prints left if you want to join in.

Feast of the Holy Face
Although not noted on most published Catholic calendars, the Feast of the Holy Face (of Christ on the Cross) was yesterday, February 16. Our prayer together today was favored by my girl, St. Therese of Lisieux. Few know her full religious name was Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. She will certainly pray with us because I asked her to, so let us begin Lent 2015 with the Little Flower, co- patron of the missions, tens of thousands of us together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

Oh Jesus, who in your bitter passion became "the most abject of men, a man of sorrows," I venerate your sacred face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead even though now it has become for me as if it were the face of a leper. Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize your infinite love and I am consumed with the desire to love you and make you loved by all men. The tears which well up abundantly in your sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to gather up in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite value. Oh Jesus, whose adorable face ravishes my heart, I implore you to fix deep within me your divine image and to set me on fire with your love that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of your glorious face in heaven.

And I am going to add, "Modern day Egyptian martyrs and all recent Christian martyrs of the Middle East, Pray for us. Amen."

Getting More Out of Mass?
In 2007 I wrote a CatholiCity Message about how to get more out of Mass (which means, essentially, receiving more from Jesus at Mass), especially daily Mass. I hope this helps.

Treasure in Heaven
It should be obvious: now is the time to stock up (or restock) Mary Foundation CDs, booklets and novels for distribution at and through your local churches. Every doorway of every Catholic church in your area should have these ready for the many people who only come to Mass during Lent and Easter. It takes only a few minutes.

Quote

Take up your cross and follow me.
- Jesus

With Immaculate Mary,

Bud Macfarlane