Dear Friends,
Father Chuck invited me to write this Sunday’s letter on his behalf with a focus on preparing for Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season. Sadly, the ongoing invasion of Ukraine as I write this on Thursday afternoon has given us a more pressing matter for prayer and reflection.
I can’t say I knew much about Ukraine before I joined the Paulists, but my experiences with Ukrainian Catholics were an important part of my seminary studies. The Dean of Theology at the Catholic University of America, Fr. Mark Morozowich, is a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Every fall he hosted his annual “Dean’s Vespers” at the Ukrainian Shrine where prayers were chanted according to their liturgical tradition in Ukrainian, Old Slavonic, and English. The CUA choir sung additional prayers in Latin, and it was always a beautiful evening celebrating the richness of our faith that transcends both language and culture. I took classes with seminarians from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and I remember they were all distraught by the upheaval in 2014. I can’t imagine their anguish right now.
Every Lent we prepare ourselves to renew our baptismal promises during the Easter season. In our celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, we recall our own baptism as a participation in dying to sin and death and rising to new life in Christ. Amid the senseless death and destruction that now plague the people of Ukraine, we unite our Lenten journey with the suffering of the Body of Christ in Ukraine, praying that the dawn of Christ’s resurrection will shine through.
Pope Francis shared the following invitation at his weekly audience on February 23.
My heart aches greatly at the worsening situation in Ukraine…. I would like to appeal to those with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war; who is the Father of all, not just of some, who wants us to be brothers and not enemies. Pray that all the parties involved refrain from any action that would cause even more suffering to the people, destabilizing coexistence between nations and bringing international law into disrepute.
And now I would like to appeal to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus taught us that the diabolical senselessness of violence is answered with God's weapons, with prayer and fasting. I invite everyone to make next March 2, Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace. I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day.
May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.
God Bless,
The Basilica is adjacent to the Catholic University of America mentioned in Fr. Paolo's message. This photo, as well as the excerpt and prayer below is from the Basilica's website...
In times of turmoil and uncertainty, our faith can be tested. Our hearts may waver and our spirits fail us, but the Lord remains steadfast. He holds the world in His hands, guiding our course, watchful of even the sparrows. Not only does He sustain us amidst the sin, suffering, and evil of this fallen world, but as His children, we look with hope toward His eternal kingdom, where we will find everlasting peace, goodness, and joy.
A Prayer
from the National Shrine's Chapel of
Our Lady Queen of Peace
God our Father,
Creator of the world,
you establish the order
which governs all ages.
Hear our prayer and
give us peace in our time
that we may rejoice
in your glory and
praise you without end.
Mary, Queen of Peace,
look upon us kindly.
Through your prayers
obtain for us the gift of peace
which Your Son promised.
We ask this through
the same Lord Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace, Son of God,
Son of Mary
who lives and reigns
with the Father
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen