The hymn we share on this Third Sunday of Lent - chanted for Lauds - calls to mind the Gospel read yesterday: the Prodigal Son. The son reminds us of the attitude we are to have before God: one of complete repentance and acknowledgment of our sins, begging for mercy before the Lord's throne. The father in the parable is meant to remind us of God the Father, Who, when we come to Him with a humble and contrite heart, runs to meet us with open arms , ready to embrace us and pour out His love upon. All we have to do is to return Him completely. 

During this Third Week of Lent, let us, together, turn to the Lord with our whole heart and fall before Him in an act of adoration and reparation, pleading for His mercy. 
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In prayer together let us fall,
And cry for mercy, one and all,
And weep before the Judge's feet,
And His avenging wrath entreat.

Thy grace have we offended sore,
By sins O God, which we deplore,
But pour upon us from on high,
O pard'ning One, Thy clemency

Remember, thou, though frail we be,
That yet Thine handiwork are we;
Nor let the honor of Thy Name
Be by another put to shame.

We pray Thee, Holy Trinity,
One God, unchanging Unity,
That we from this our abstinence,
May reap the fruits of penitence.

"The Church invokes St. Joseph as her Patron and Protector through her unshakable trust that he to whom Christ willed to confide the care and protection of his own frail human childhood, will continue from heaven to perform his protective task in order to guide and defend the Mystical Body of Christ himself, which is always weak, always under attack, always in a state of peril." - St. Pope Paul VI
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Last weekend we spoke of how important sacred hymns are both in the Church and in our community. We shared with you one of the hymns we sing before Lauds during the Lenten Season, and wished to share other hymns for the Divine Office on each Sunday during.

On this Second Sunday of Lent, we share with you a hymn we sing before Vespers, "O Merciful Creator, Hear." We pray the texts of this hymn can add to your Lenten meditation on the outpouring of God's mercy toward us who are sinners and are in need of an abundance of grace - for this we fast and pray for 40 days. 

Sacred hymns hold quite a prevalent place within the life of a Marian Sister, and for anyone who fosters a liturgical spirit. To a religious, the hymns given by the Church become the the very breath throughout one's day. 

Miserere mei, Deus, miserere mei: quoniam in te confidit animas me. 
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me for my soul trusteth in Thee. 
Psalm 56:2

The apparitions of Our Blessed Mother retain a special place of honor within our Marian community, as we strive to practice all  she requested. 

Last weekend we said goodbye to our dear friend "Al" - also known as the "Alleluia". During the season of Septuagesima, the Church bids farewell to this glorious word and removes it from the Sacred Liturgy because it is so closely untied to the mystery of our Lord's Resurrection.  

"Embrace, then, Jesus crucified, raising to Him the eyes of your desire!
Consider His burning love for you,
which made Jesus pour out His blood from every part of His body!
Embrace Jesus crucified, loving and beloved and in Him,
you will find true life because He is God made man.
Let your heart and your soul burn with the fire of love drawn from Jesus on the Cross!
… You will have no other desire than to follow Jesus!
Run, … do not stay asleep because time flies and does not wait one moment!
Dwell in God’s sweet love!”
- St. Catherine of Sienna

A 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Jesu Dulcis Memoria extols the Most Holy Name of Jesus. It's text has inspired centuries of composers, from Palestrina,  to Victoria, even until today.

In an effort to "close out" the month of the Holy Name - or rather give it back to heaven -  the text of this beloved hymn is below, as well as links to a few more well-known renditions. 
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