February 26, First Sunday in Lent
Photos on the left and right from the Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza.
ST. PORPHYRIUS OF GAZA (b Thessalonica 353, d Gaza 421), Bishop and Confessor
Born on the European mainland, he came to Jerusalem where he was ordained a priest at the age of 40.
Before that, he had spent much time living in the desert and in caves as an ascetic, and had a reputation
for generosity to the poor. At age 45, he was elected unexpectedly by the tiny Christian community in
Gaza to be their bishop. Gaza in the early 5th century was a center of paganism. With patient work,
Porphyrius tended his flock and preached to pagans, and some time in 401-402, he went to Constantinople
to ask the Emperor for a decree ordering the destruction of the pagan temples in the city. He served for
another 20 years. A Life of Porphyrius written by his deacon Mark survives today in modern
editions.
Readings for today's Mass: usccb.org/bible/readings/022612.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
Sunday Angelus - The Holy Father commented on Mark's terse account of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert
after his Baptism, where he was beset by Satan's temptations,and how he began his preaching after John the Baptist
was arrested, calling on the people to "Repent, and believe in the Gospel". The Pope said Lent is the time
to strengthen our relationship with God through daily prayer, acts of penance and alms-giving.
This evening, the Holy Father begins his seven-day annual Lenten spiritual exercises with the Roman Curia,
preached this year by Cardinal Larent Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo).
There will be no events for the Holy Father until Sunday, March 4, when he makes a pastoral visit to
the parish of San Giovanni Battista de La Salle in Rome, where he will celebrate the Sunday Mass.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 27/02/2012 08:24]