Gracious and merciful God,

As we enter this holy season of Lent, we pause at the threshold of these forty days with humble hearts and open hands. You call us into the wilderness, not to abandon us, but to draw us closer to You.

In this season of repentance and renewal, search our hearts and reveal what keeps us from Your love. Where we have been distracted, refocus us. Where we have been hardened, soften us. Where we have sinned, forgive us.

Give us courage to fast from what does not give life and to feast on what truly nourishes our souls. Teach us to pray more deeply, to love more generously, and to serve more faithfully.

When the journey feels long, sustain us. When we stumble, lift us up. When we are tempted, strengthen our resolve.

May this Lent be a time of transformation, a journey from ashes to hope, from brokenness to wholeness, from death to resurrection life.

Create in us clean hearts, O God, and lead us ever closer to the cross and the joy of Easter morning.

Amen.

Colored wooden statue of Saint Alexius of Edessa. Flemish school, Belgium, second half of the 16th century.

Almighty God,

we thank You for the relaxing weekend You have given us. We have been able to distance ourselves from our everyday worries and gain spiritual peace and physical strength. We thank you for the tranquility, the rejuvenation, the time spent with our loved ones, and the quiet moments in which we could grow closer to You and to each other. Help us to use the strength we gained over the weekend in our everyday lives, in service, in love, and in following Your example.

Amen.

This day is closely linked to the apparition in Lourdes, when in 1858 the Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in a rock cave, where a miraculous spring gushed forth. Since then, millions of pilgrims have visited Lourdes every year to pay their respects at this holy site, and miraculous healings have accompanied the events.

The pictures show the chapel named after Saint Bernadette at the Alexian mission in Hungary, with a stained-glass window depicting the saint and a relic of Saint Bernadette.

 

On February 11, we commemorated World Day of the Sick, which has been celebrated worldwide since 1993 at the initiative of Pope John Paul II. The purpose of the commemoration is to "encourage all of God's people to pay due attention to the sick and to promote understanding of suffering."

The stylized depiction of Christ the Healer in the picture is the work of Valentino Bianco CFA (1923-2013), an American Alexian Brother.

Saint Alexius,

patron saint of the Alexian Brothers, pray for us during this new week. Please accompany and guide us on our journey so thatvwe may find peace and love in every moment of our lives. Bless our work, our efforts, and all our decisions in the coming period. Help us to faithfully follow the Lord's call and support us in serving others with the love of Christ. Be with us on our journey and guide us on the path of truth and love. O Saint Alexius, we ask you to strengthen our faith and support our ministry in serving others. Shower us with your blessings and guidance in every moment of the new week, so that we may say: "The love of Christ compels us." 

Amen.

Wooden statue of Saint Alexius in the Church of Saint Barbara in Venezuela.

Statue of Annie Moore and her brothers on the quayside in Cobh. She was an Irish émigré who was the first immigrant to the United States to pass through federal immigrant inspection at the Ellis Island station in New York Harbor.

Memories of Ireland

Everyone knows the tragic story of the Titanic, but perhaps not everyone knows that the famous, infamous ocean liner was built in Belfast and set sail on its ill-fated journey from the port of Cobh (formerly known as Queenstown). The Hungarian Alexians visited here with Brother Barry and saw this fascinating exhibition, which commemorates not only the Titanic but also the Lusitania, another ship that met a tragic fate, and also presents the emigration processes that played a significant role in Irish history. We selected some of the photos taken here. The first photo shows a statue erected in the port of Cobh in memory of the 1,200 victims of the Lusitania, one of the largest passenger ships of its time, which was sunk by a German torpedo near the Irish coast on May 7, 1915 (in less than 20 minutes!!!). By comparison, the Titanic had approximately 1,500 victims. The photos were taken at the Titanic Experience Cobh - Cobh Heritage Centre exhibition.

 

Pictures from the past

The beautiful church in the port of Cobh (where the Titanic set sail on its tragic journey). The Alexian Brothers from Hungary (Brother Alexius and Brother Leo) traveled here with Brother Barry, a member of the Irish Alexian community, during their visit to Ireland.

A Jesuit and a Cellite/Alexian monk, 1821, color engraving.

Saint Alexius, patron saint of our order, hear our prayers at the beginning of the new month of February and help our Alexian Brothers around the world, in Hungary, Ireland, Germany, the Philippines, America, and Belgium, to faithfully carry out their service. Bless them with your strength and wisdom so that they may help those in need in the most appropriate way. Send vocations to their communities and help them to work for those in need in a spirit of love and dedication, and to see your presence in everyone. Give them strength and perseverance so that they may serve faithfully even in the midst of difficulties. We ask that through their service, which they have been performing for 800 years, more and more people may discover your love and presence in the world around them. Bless the ministry of the Alexian Brothers and be with them in every step they take. Amen.

Dear God,

As February dawns, a new month begins, a bridge between winter's grip and the promise of spring. Thank you for the beauty of this time, the quiet stillness of the season, and the hope that stirs within us. We ask for your blessings this month. Help us to find warmth and light in the darker days, and to appreciate the small joys that surround us. Grant us the strength to face challenges with courage and resilience. Help us to be kind to ourselves and to others, and to seek opportunities for growth and connection. Bless the relationships in our lives, and guide us to be present and loving to those we cherish. We pray for those who are struggling, for those who are facing hardship, and for those who are in need. May your grace and comfort be with them. We ask all this in your name.

Amen.