March 12, 2025 - Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Artist Sister Mary of the Compassion, OP (1908-1977)

Msgr. James Turro is a beloved Scripture scholar who has taught in many seminaries throughout the east coast, but most notably our own Immaculate Conception Seminary, where the seminary library is named after him. In our Preaching Formation program, he is one of our Wisdom Figures of Preaching. This year marks Msgr. Turro’s 103 birthday.  

We share here one of Msgr. Turro’s many inspiring reflections from his book Reflections...Path to Prayer (Paulist Press, 1972) on this Lenten season. “Can we drink of this cup” involves knowing what is right and what is wrong and how our conscience can be challenged:  

“'Evil is never done so thoroughly as when it is done with good conscience': a maxim of Pascal’s to be pondered with great earnestness in these times when we are being exhorted as never before to act according to our conscience. 

Is our good conscience, however, so poorly formed as to constitute a menace to the security and happiness of our fellowman?  

Ponder this: no matter how ‘good' our conscience may be, are there not times when the welfare of our neighbor requires us to defer?” 

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those who by self-denial are restrained in body may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Roman Missal)

Rev. Msgr. James Turro, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies

Do you know someone who may be interested in receiving our daily reflection emails? Invite them to sign up by visiting our subscription page.