St. John Cantius Parish

Station - St. Anastasia

Details:

Mar. 3, 2:00 am

TUESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
STATION – ST. ANASTASIA

Linked to this church is the tradition of the first-light Mass, Mass at Dawn, which is celebrated in the first hours of the Christmas morning.

We keep this day in company with the widow-martyr whose heavenly birthday the Church observes on the very birthday of the Light of the world. In the Christmas Mass “at Dawn” St. Anastasia, whose name means dawn, new light, is commemorated. In that “aurora-Mass” and again today, the words, “fulgebit, fulgeat” occur, which mean to “shine, radiate.”

A holy “radiating” is the fruit of a holy Lent. Everyone is called to be an “Anastasia,” a new light, replenished by the light of Christ – “Lumen Christi.”

This “radiating” must be preceded by an honest cleaning and washing. Our souls, as the Church prays, must be “chastened by the mortifications of the flesh.” We know well enough how necessary this is. Many “buyers and sellers” have established themselves in the consecrated temples of our heart – earthly affection’s unworthy inclinations – which, as Christ drove out the money changers in the Temple, must be driven out as well. We are Christ’s property. Our affections cannot be divided. Our baptismal promises exiled all division. An yet, we confess in humility and sorrow that only too frequently we have made compromises and concessions that were a disgrace to our Christian dignity and certainly not a source of joy to Him who laid down His life for us.

Let us pray: Look down upon Thy household, O Lord, and grant that our souls, chastened by the mortification of the flesh, may radiate in Thy sight with the desire for Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.