Celebrating the First Sunday of Lent

The Temptation of Christ, Gustave Doré

In illo témpore: Ductus est Jesus in desértum a Spíritu, ut tentarétur a diábolo. Et cum jejunásset quadragínta diébus et quadragínta nóctibus, póstea esúriit. Et accédens tentátor, dixit ei: Si Fílius Dei es, dic ut lápides isti panes fiant. Qui respóndens, dixit: Scriptum est: Non in solo pane vivit homo, sed in omni verbo, quod procédit de ore Dei. Tunc assúmpsit eum diábolus in sanctam civitátem, et státuit eum super pinnáculum templi, et dixit ei: Si Fílius Dei es, mitte te deórsum. Scriptum est enim: Quia Ángelis suis mandávit de te, et in mánibus tollent te, ne forte offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum. Ait illi Jesus: Rursum scriptum est: Non tentábis Dóminum Deum tuum. Íterum assúmpsit eum diábolus in montem excélsum valde: et osténdit ei ómnia regna mundi, et glóriam eórum, et dixit ei: Hæc ómnia tibi dabo, si cadens adoráveris me. Tunc dicit ei Jesus: Vade, Sátana; scriptum est enim: Dóminum Deum tuum, adorábis, et illi soli sérvies. Tunc relíquit eum diábolus: et ecce Ángeli accessérunt et ministrábant ei. ~ Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11) *

We observed the First Sunday of Lent at the traditional Latin Mass at Our Lady of Peace Church in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Before Mass, we prayed the Holy Rosary, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Stations of the Cross in Latin. As is our custom, we offered our Sunday Rosary for the Beatification of Servant of God King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies and for the Canonization of Beata Queen Maria Cristina di Savoia.

After Mass, we broke our strict Lenten fast (no meat, dairy, or eggs)—first with coffee and cornetti, then later with a modest Sicilian repast.

Regrettably, our engaging discussion on the manufactured decline of Western art was cut short by the approaching winter storm.

~ By Giovanni di Napoli, February 22nd, Feasts of the Chair of San Pietro Apostolo at Antioch and Santa Margherita da Cortona

During Lent, the altar is stripped of flowers in
keeping with the Church's penitential tradition

Stations of the Cross

Some of the statues in the church were recently repositioned

Crocchè di patate e arancini

Anelletti chî vròcculi arriminati e muddìca

Polpette

Parmigiana di melanzane

Notes:
* At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter coming said to him: If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' Who answered and said: 'It is written: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him: If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down. For it is written: That He hath given His angels charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord Thy God. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him: Begone, Satan! For it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left Him: and behold angels came, and ministered to Him. ~ Gospel (Matthew 4: 1-11)