1st Sunday of Lent - Year A - Wrestling with Temptation & “O Salutaris Hostia”
In His great humility and compassion for us, Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, allowed Himself to endure something that we sinful human beings encounter every day—temptation.
God’s glorious plan from the beginning included the creation of both humans and pure spirits—angels—to form one glorious Kingdom of God. Theologians such as Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine offer profound insights into God’s original plan for His Kingdom. In that plan, angels were believed to have been tasked with assisting humans in their journey toward perfection through enlightenment and contemplation.
Tragically, the fall of angels, along with the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, has resulted in a world filled with struggle and sin. The fallen angels—now demons—use their natural gifts to deceive, confuse, and tempt. Those who were once responsible for guiding the cosmos now seek to sow chaos, contributing to the existence of natural disasters, disease, and death. While Catholic angelology is speculative, based on a limited amount of biblical revelation, it is important to recognize the role of angels and demons as we enter this sacred season of Lent.
This weekend’s Gospel focuses on the activity of the most powerful fallen angel—Satan, originally named Lucifer, meaning “Light-Bearer.” Tradition holds that he was among the highest of the angels, possibly a Seraphim. According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, Lucifer’s fall resulted from pride: He desired to be a god unto himself, to create and govern according to his own will, refusing to serve God. This cosmic reality, of which both Jesus and Satan were fully aware, sets the stage for and adds profound significance to their encounter in the desert.
In this dramatic confrontation, Jesus, by allowing Himself to be tempted, begins the ultimate defeat of Satan, a victory that will culminate in Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection. This is the only recorded instance in which Jesus permits Satan to tempt Him directly. While Satan remained active throughout Jesus’ ministry, seeking to disrupt His mission, this moment in the desert addresses temptation specifically. By rejecting each temptation, Jesus not only demonstrates how to overcome the devil but also empowers humanity with the grace needed to resist temptation through His triumph on the Cross.
As we enter into the first full week of Lent, reflect today on the temptations you face in your own life. Satan is no match for the grace of God. By uniting ourselves to Christ, we are strengthened to resist all that Satan and his demons throw at us. Victory over temptation is not achieved by our own strength but through Christ’s grace, which He freely offers to all who turn to Him.
My victorious Lord, You faced Satan with courage, the once-beautiful angel who fell from grace through pride and envy. Now he seeks to destroy those whom You love. Give me Your strength and courage this Lent as I confront my own temptations, so that united with You, I may share in Your victory. Jesus, I trust in You.
For the First Sunday of Lent, we would like to share our latest video, “O Salutaris Hostia”, a sacred Latin hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas. It is traditionally sung during Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflecting deep reverence for Christ’s saving sacrifice made present in the Eucharist. Its Latin text lift hearts in prayer, especially fitting for the First Sunday of Lent as we pray for Jesus’ aid:
Bella premunt hostilia; da robur, fer auxilium.
Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
