In every Mass, we have the two major parts of the Mass: the
liturgy of the Word in which we listen attentively to God’s Word, and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist – in which we are fed with the Word made flesh in Holy
Communion.
Well in every mass, prior to the Liturgy of the Word, we
celebrate the introductory rites: the sign of the cross, an official liturgical
greeting, usually the penitential rite, the gloria on Sundays and holy days,
and finally the collect prayer.
And those Collect prayers are thusly called because they
collect or gather all of the intentions, dispositions and prayers of all who
are gathered, and offer them to God in a concise form.
Because each liturgical season has a specific character--Advent’s
longing expectation, Christmas’ joy at the Incarnation, Lent’s call to
repentance, Easter’s triumphant celebration of the Resurrection—the Collect of
each day or season condenses that season’s spiritual emphasis into a short,
structured prayer.
In doing so, the Collect also shows us how we are to
approach God in prayer during the particular liturgical season, reflecting the
dispositions the Church wants to foster in the faithful.
In these first few days of Lent, our collect prayers speak a
lot about the Lenten disciplines that we have begun. Listen again to todays
Collect: Show gracious favor, O Lord, we pray, to the works of penance we have
begun, that we may have strength to accomplish with sincerity the bodily
observances we undertake"
The “bodily observances” mentioned in Collect today refer to
those Lenten practices that we engage in with our bodies. The Church’s
tradition recognizes that we are both body and soul. Penance isn’t meant to
remain at the level of abstract good intentions; rather, penances involves
concrete practices that engage the whole person—physically as well as
spiritually.
St. Paul speaks of how Christians share in Christ’s suffering
in our flesh—“offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”, he tells us. Our Lord
himself didn’t simply offer us his good intentions, rather he offered his body
on the cross. So, too, during Lent we are to engage our bodies, in fasting,
prayer, and other tangible tangible forms of self-denial that engage the body.
And what we discover is that these bodily observances help
to purify our hearts, minds, and souls.
So during Lent, pay attention to the daily Collect prayers,
they will give a lens for understanding the daily scriptures, they give daily
insight for directing our Lenten observances, and they remind us to engage our
whole self in preparing throughout Lent for the great Paschal Victory at Easter
for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten
season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the
mouth of God.
For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace
our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.
For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in
this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.
For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts
aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.
For Pope Francis: that during this time of serious illness,
the Holy Father might know the merciful presence of the Lord and give us all an
example of patience and faith. And for all those who are sick, suffering, or
near death: That may know the consoling presence of Christ crucified and risen.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in
purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you
with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they
may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.
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