Vol. 1, Issue 6: Shamrocks and Shrimp
Liturgical living this March
From the editor
Every Lent at least one of my friends turns to me at some point and says, “This has been a very Lenty Lent.” During this penitential season, it seems that we have a habit of noticing hardship in a different way than we do during the year. When the air conditioner breaks in July, for example, we say something along the lines of, “Why nowwww, why meeeeeeee? This shouldn’t be happeniiiiiing!” and complain about it to everyone we know. We feel that this difficulty is not fitting, that we are not getting what we deserve.
But when the heater breaks during a cold snap in the middle of Lent, we tend to just turn to a friend and say, “Well, I guess it’s just a very Lenty Lent this year” and call the HVAC guy. In Lent, we are already primed for penance, and so its arrival does not offend our pride and sense of control in the same way a summertime disaster might. We don’t like the HVAC breaking, of course, but in Lent, we can better understand the situation.
Lent also invites us to understand more painful forms of suffering, particularly the interior pain that comes from being misunderstood or mistreated by those who should know better. A broken HVAC is one thing; being the subject of vicious rumors or finding yourself the frequent target of blame from a selfish family member is much harder to bear. But Christ has prepared the way for us in this, as well. Remember the final Beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
As I told one of my children during a tearful conversation the other night, this is part of the Christian life. This sort of trouble is what we should expect when we tell the truth or do the right thing or otherwise resist the evil of the world. We should expect that we may be reviled; and we should also trust in God that he knows our hearts and will direct our paths.
In this month’s issue of Signs + Seasons, I hope you will find some inspiration for living out the last weeks of your own Lenty Lent with spiritual trust. Let us rest in the truth that Our Lord has foreknowledge not only of our suffering, but also of our final redemption. Rejoice, and be glad!
One last note: my lovely co-editors
and and I would love to hear your responses to this post!Which of the pieces below are the most meaningful to you? What do you appreciate about this post? What would you like to see more of (or less of)? Let us know!
Peace be with you,
St. Patrick’s Day (March 17)
The Prayer of Patrick
offers three takes on the Lorica (prayer of protection) of St. Patrick:The Lorica in question has been ascribed to Saint Patrick time out of mind (that is, since 690, which is basically the same thing, since the dear Saint of Ireland died only 200[ish] years before). The legend goes like this: Saint Patrick and his followers were braving a trip through the Irish countryside to evangelize the people of Tara. Pursued by kings and druids who wanted them dead, Patrick sang out his prayer of protection, and God disguised the Christians as deer. They passed through hostile territory unharmed.
Enjoy Meredith’s insights—including connections to Madeline L’Engle’s writing—here!
And here is my (Dixie’s) favorite musical setting of part of the Lorica (also, this is a perfect piece to memorize for your Spontaneous Music needs!):
Sure and His Was a Wonderful Life
of has a series on three posts on St. Patrick himself and the meaning of his feast over time:It was also commonly said of St. Patrick that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, and that they never returned. I have some things to say to the debunkers who claim that Patrick’s use of the shamrock and the story of him driving out the snakes are completely fictitious. [See Roseanne’s cartoon below!]
Holy Week (Begins March 24)
I Need You to Trust Me
| S+S EDITOR |
tells us about Holy Week and toddlers as we begin to wonder, am I the toddler here?In other words, we (like our children) are fickle and doubtful. We don’t trust Him, in spite of endless proofs that we should. We think that we know best. We let our lives become a series of demands, blissfully unaware that what we ask for would not serve us well. And we wail, and we protest, and we try to understand.
Read Sara’s story of self-control, littleness, and abundant love here!
St. Gabriel to Mary flies / this is the end of snow & ice
| S+S EDITOR |
Kristin Haakenson meditates on the placement of the Annunciation during Holy Week this year, as well as on other Lenten matters in this rich post full of goodness.1 A taste:
Being placed within the context of Lent allows the Annunciation to encompass the arch of Jesus in one potent day - the alpha and the omega, birth and death and resurrection, all culminate in this single vernal breath of conception. Anchored to the Spring Equinox, the Annunciation points across the year to Christ’s birth, celebrated near the Winter Solstice. The chant ripples in a wave, building and swelling, echoing our knowledge that the spiritual darkness of Lent is building towards the already and eternally following feast of Easter and its joyous promise.
Read Kristin’s reflection and see her beautiful watercolor artwork here! (And don’t miss her earlier post on a beautifully thought out Lenten gathering!)
Holy Week and Easter Illustrated by James Tissot
introduces a selection of stunning illustrations of Holy Week scenes:After his conversion back to the Catholic faith of his childhood, French artist James Tissot visited the Holy Land three times to capture as best he could the people, scenes, and customs of the beautiful land where Jesus lived—before modern ways of life erased them forever. His third trip was to visit scenes from the Old Testament. Each time he returned to France after one of those trips, Tissot used gouache (opaque watercolor) to paint hundreds of small format illustrations full of minutely observed details rendered with hundreds of tiny brushstrokes.
Immerse yourself in Tissot’s illustrations and read Roseanne’s introduction here!
Lent
Ave Regina Caelorum
discusses the beauty and meaning of the Lenten Marian Antiphon:The chant ripples in a wave, building and swelling, echoing our knowledge that the spiritual darkness of Lent is building towards the already and eternally following feast of Easter and its joyous promise.
Read Therese’s beautiful post here!
Are You Going to Rest?
writes about how the Exodus of Lent leads us toward Easter:Lent offers us a chance to consider our own trust in God. When have we seen Him working in our lives? When have we experienced His saving power? Do we believe that He will come through for us again? Do we trust him to provide our daily bread? Or are we more like the Israelites: witnesses to God’s interventions on our behalf, but scared to leave behind our work—no matter how burdensome—because at least we can provide for ourselves with it?
Read Kerri’s practical and convicting essay here!
Lenten Tempura Shrimp
Marie Giambrone of Hearth & Field has this amazing meatless recipe for you to try tonight or next Friday (or anytime!):
We recently went to a fish fry, and, well, frankly . . . it was disappointing. The fish was dry, flavorless, and overcooked. The shrimp was weird. The whole affair was an overpriced letdown. I guess as a Lenten activity, we shouldn’t attempt to climb the heights of gustatory pleasures. And, indeed, we didn’t. But still — it just wasn’t cutting it.
Drool over Marie’s recipe here!
The Story We Live In Our Bodies
likens chronic illness and surgery to Lent—followed by a Resurrection:It seems all very Lenten to be in this place, being forced to engage with the frailty, death, and malfunction I carry in my body. And yet, at the same time, I also carry the Imago Dei. We all live in this strange paradox - we carry both death and life within our very skin. My body, and yours, will return to dust. Right now I’m being reminded of the death part - the body filled with endometriosis lesions. And yet, at the same time, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Read Lisa’s moving reflection here!
Three Lenten Anecdotes
offers up three moments of spiritual awareness from this Lent:I do not want to pray at a perfectly finished and reupholstered kneeler. Rather, the battered and lowly pew connects me to other sinners. The faded and worn off finish reminds me that each of us are united in our humble request for mercy.
Read Rachel’s trio here!
Know someone who might enjoy the topics covered in this month’s issue of Signs + Seasons? We’d be honored if you’d share this post with them!
What’s Next?
Join us next month for an Easter Signs + Seasons!
Publication Date: April 15, 2024
Submission Deadline: April 10, 2024
Themes/Recommended Prompts: Easter! And all April feast days.
In Christ,
Dixie, Kristin, & Sara
The Roman Catholic calendar in the United States shifts the Annunciation to April 8 this year due to Holy Week, but March 25 is the standard date and remains the observed date this year in many Christian churches. March 25 is exactly nine months before Christmas Day!
I love St. Patrick's Breastplate -- it was my bridal processional and I've realized over the years how fitting that was. It's like a little sign post of God's grace when I look back.
I'm looking forward to digging in to more of these as I have time :)
And yes -- Lent-y Lent. There is something to the humility Lent brings. We are less surprised by life being life-y. But I'm still looking forward to Easter :)
Your intro came at a very providential moment for me… a Lenten moment, I guess! Thanks for the reminder about the nature of life.
Looking forward to reading these. I like the excerpts and summaries that the editors always offer so that it’s easier to know what I want to read at a given time, rather than just having a list of titles which is less clear.