VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
MARCH 7, 2021
Saturday, Mar. 6
4:00 PM ✞ Eugene Slabinski – Walter, Debbie, Johnathan & Michael
Boyson
Sunday, March 7 THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Wednesday, Mar. 10
4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gift
Saturday, Mar. 13
4:00 PM God’s blessings for Lorene Wozniak from Ulana Campbell
Sunday, Mar. 14 FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST
John Climacus Venerable
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
Saturday 6:00 PM – Sunday 10:30 AM
PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX
Ever loving God, bring light
to the darkness of my heart.
Give me right faith,
certain hope, and perfect love.
God, give me insight and wisdom,
so I might always discern
Your holy and true will.
St. Francis of Assisi
SOUP & HOAGIE SALE: St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon, is sponsoring a sale of Vegetable Soup $7 a quart and either Turkey or Italian Hoagie $7 each. Pick up on March 18, from 11am to 4pm in the church hall. Orders placed by March 14 by calling Debbie at 570 736 6908. Support our local churches.
VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
The season of the Great Fast is a special time for mortification and penance, both internal and external. Because this spiritual struggle lasts a longer time, it often happens that we begin the first days or weeks of fasting with great zeal and resolution, but then gradually we become physically and spiritually exhausted, weakened and discouraged. Holy Church knowing well the weakened and instability of our human nature, places before our eyes the holy Cross in the middle of the fast – an extraordinarily powerful incentive to motivate us to persevere in our spiritual struggle.
On the third Sunday, or mid-Lent, holy Church encourages us to venerate the Cross of our Lord in a very special manner, so that we may be strengthened in spirit. This Sunday, therefore, is called the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross.
The holy Cross is designed to remind us of God’s infinite love for us, Christ’s suffering for our sake and our obligation to carry our daily cross courageously. Jesus Christ addressed these words to all of us, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me…He who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 9,23 and 14-27).
The services of this Sunday almost make no mention of the Cross as being a symbol of suffering, penance, or humiliation, but rather extol the holy Cross as a symbol of joy, victory and triumph, which are brought to fullness through the glorious Resurrection.
The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, indeed, teaches us to understand the great significance the Holy Cross has for us, not only during the Lent, but also throughout our whole life. This Sunday tells us that wherever we find the Cross, there will we find strength, victory, salvation and the pledge of resurrection to eternal life of bliss.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 