I am not a fan of February to tell you the truth. I find it cold, dark, rather boring, and I’m impatient for Spring to begin. However, this February, I admit, is kind of exciting. This Sunday the KC Chiefs play in the Super Bowl again. But even more importantly, this month is pretty much the Super Bowl of great faith opportunities, especially retreats, as well.
On February 13th, there is a chance to invest in your marriage by attending a “Mini Marriage Retreat” here at
Prince of Peace — see page 3 of the bulletin for promotional information. February 7-14 is National Marriage Week, so even if you aren’t attending the retreat, do something special for your marriage.
On February 15th, we begin a 33-day parish-wide Consecration to St. Joseph so that it ends on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Deacon Justin is leading some sessions in the Church to go deeper into this — details are on page 5 of the bulletin. Remember that this is the Year of St. Joseph, so I encourage you to start doing something to include St. Joseph in your prayer.
The Ladies of Peace are hosting “Meetings with Mary” on Saturday, February 27th. And there is also a retreat for men, sponsored by F.I.R.E Ministries called “F.I.R.E. in the Pews” coming up soon on March 6th. Again see these promotions elsewhere in this bulletin.
Finally, Lent begins in February, our holy season! Ash Wednesday is February 17th. Start thinking of what practice(s) you want to do for Lent. By the way, the distribution of ashes will be slightly different this year. We have been instructed by Rome to say the words “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” once at the start, and then to sprinkle the ashes over individual’s heads in silence. So, no ash crosses on your forehead this year, alas! Maybe we will have to do our fasting on the inside rather than on the outside — that kind of matches up with Jesus’ words on the subject.
P. S. Here is a poem by a Catholic poet, Hilaire Belloc, about the month of February, why not? The way I interpret it, he called the month of February the “eyelids of the year” which I find an apt analogy, but also he wrote “the morning’s here,” so there is something good coming!
February
The winter moon has such a quiet car
That all the winter nights are dumb with rest.
She drives the gradual dark with drooping crest,
And dreams go wandering from her drowsy star.
Because the nights are silent, do not wake:
But there shall tremble through the general earth,
And over you, a quickening and a birth.
The sun is near the hill-tops for your sake.
The latest born of all the days shall creep
To kiss the tender eyelids of the year;
And you shall wake, grown young with perfect sleep,
And smile at the new world, and make it dear
With living murmurs more than dreams are deep.
Silence is dead, my Dawn; the morning's here.
-Hilaire Belloc