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Mother Mary said at Fatima: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the sure way which will lead you to God." St. Thomas Aquinas said: "The things we love tell us who we are!" With that in mind, I will try to post each day something about Our Blessed Lady, items about the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and public domain Catholic books too! I pray you enjoy my ministry! Below are two albums of pictures that I created: 1. Our grand daughter Adrianna. 2. Tears of Mary!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
VISnews 11/28/2011
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| 11.28.2011 – Twenty-First Year – Num. 208 |
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SUMMARY: 26 - 28 NOVEMBER
- Holy Father Meets Lebanese Prime Minister - Humanity Has No Future Unless It Cares for the Creation - Life Does Not Have Only an Earthly Dimension - Music Helps Us to Turn to God - Experts from MONEYVAL Visit the Vatican - The Face of the Dying Christ Teaches Us to Defend Life - Exercising the Prophetic Dimension of Episcopal Ministry
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HOLY FATHER MEETS LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER
VATICAN CITY, 28 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office released the following communique at midday today:
"This morning the Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Najib Mikati, prime minister of Lebanon. The prime minister subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
"The cordial discussions served to highlight the role Lebanon plays in the region and in the entire world, and its vocation to offer a message of freedom and respectful coexistence among the various Christian and Muslim communities who live there.
"The parties expressed a hope for greater political stability and more fruitful collaboration and dialogue between the various leaders of social and institutional life, also in order to meet the challenges the country faces, both internally and internationally.
"Attention then turned to the Middle East, also with reference to the delicate situation in Syria. On this subject, emphasis was given to the vital need for all parties to commit themselves to peaceful coexistence founded on justice, reconciliation, and respect for the dignity of human beings and their inalienable rights. Finally, mention was made of the fundamental contribution that can be made in this field by Christians, who are called to be builders of harmony and peace, and whose presence is essential for the good of the region". OP/ VIS 20111128 (240)
HUMANITY HAS NO FUTURE UNLESS IT CARES FOR THE CREATION
VATICAN CITY, 28 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father received 7,000 students who are participating in a meeting promoted by the Italian Association "Sorella natura". Extracts from his address to them are given below.
"Dear young people, it is for your sake that I wished this meeting to take place, and I want to tell you how much I appreciate your decision to become 'guardians of the creation'".
"We must first remember that your Foundation, indeed this meeting itself, have a deep Franciscan inspiration. Even the date has been chosen to recall the proclamation of St. Francis of Assisi as patron of the environment by my beloved predecessor John Paul II in 1979".
"St. Francis, faithful to Holy Scripture, invites us to recognise that nature is like a marvellous book speaking to us of God, of His beauty and goodness. Francis used to ask the friar who tended the convent garden ... to leave space for a rich flowerbed so that passers-by would raise their thoughts to God, Creator of such beauty".
"Dear friends the Church, while appreciating the most important scientific research and discoveries, has never ceased to remind people that by respecting the mark of the Creator in all creation, we achieve a better understanding of our true and profound human identity. ... If, in fact, human activity forgets to collaborate with God, it can do violence to the creation and cause damage which always has negative consequences, also for mankind. ... Today more than ever it is clear that respect for the environment cannot overlook recognition for the importance and inviolability of human beings, at every stage of life and in every condition. Respect for the human being and respect for nature are the same thing, they grow and find their just measure if we respect the Creator and His creation, both in the human creature and in nature".
"I would now like to address teachers and representatives from the public authorities, ... highlighting the great importance education has in environmental questions. ... It is now clear that humankind has no productive future on earth if we do not educate everyone to be responsible for the creation, This is first learnt in the family and in school, and for this reason I encourage parents and teachers to continue educating people to that end. Furthermore it is indispensable that the efforts made by families and schools find support in the relevant institutions".
"May St. Francis teach us to sing, with all creation, a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to our heavenly Father, giver of all gifts". AC/ VIS 20111128 (450)
VATICAN CITY, 28 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
- Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, U.S.A. AP/ VIS 20111128 (40)
VATICAN CITY, 28 NOV 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Fr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, episcopal vicar for Tamil faithful in the archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Fr. Sampathawaduge Maxwell Grenville Silva, headmaster of the St. Thomas College at Kotte, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Colombo (area 3,838, population 5,891,000, Catholics 634,202, priests 588, religious 1,502). Bishop-elect Fernando was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1973. He studied in Rome and the U.S.A., and has worked as pastor, and as a professor and later rector of the National Seminary of Kandy. Bishop-elect Silva was born in Willorawatte, Sri Lanka in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1981. He has worked as pastor and as a school teacher.
On Saturday 26 November it was made public that he appointed:
- Msgr. Charles John Brown, official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as apostolic nuncio to Ireland, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in New York, U.S.A. in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1989. Before coming to Rome he worked as parochial vicar in the parish of St. Brendan in the Bronx. In September 2009 he was appointed as adjunct secretary of the International Theological Commission.
- Msgr. Marek Solczynski, nunciature counsellor, as apostolic nuncio to Georgia, at the same time elevating him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Stawiszyn, Poland in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1987. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1993, since when he has served in Paraguay, Russia, U.S.A., Turkey, Czech Republic and Spain.
- Fr. Antonio De Luca C.SS.R., pro episcopal vicar for consecrated life in the archdiocese of Naples, Italy, as bishop of Teggiano-Policastro (area 1,986, population 117,200, Catholics 116,400, priests 81, permanent deacons 3, religious 107), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Torre del Greco, Italy in 1956 and ordained a priest in 1981. He has worked in various offices for his order including provincial secretary for formation and provincial superior for the Italian Region of Campania, and has been active in missionary work in Madagascar and Argentina.
- Bishop Johannes Wihelmus Maria Liesen, auxiliary of 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, as bishop of Breda (area 3,368, population 1,114,000, Catholics 491,323, priests 251, permanent deacons 25, religious 974), Netherlands. NEA:NN:NER/ VIS 20111128 (400)
LIFE DOES NOT HAVE ONLY AN EARTHLY DIMENSION
VATICAN CITY, 27 NOV 2011 (VIS) - In his remarks before praying the Angelus this morning, Benedict XVI reflected on the period of Advent, which begins the liturgical year. In Advent "people's hearts are reawakened to the expectation of Christ's return, and to the memory of His first coming, when He divested Himself of His divine glory to assume our mortal flesh", he said.
He then went on to quote from today's Gospel reading in which Jesus tells His disciples to "keep awake". That was, said the Holy Father, "a timely reminder to us that life has not only an earthly dimension, but is projected 'beyond'".
"Isaiah, the prophet of Advent, also makes us think today with his heartfelt prayer addressed to God. ... He dwells on the shortcomings of his people and at a certain point says: 'There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hands of iniquity'. How can we not be struck by this description? It seems to reflect certain aspects of the post-modern world: cities where life has become anonymous and horizontal, where God seems to be absent and only man is master, as if he were the universal architect. Building, work, economy, transport, science, technology, everything seems to depend only upon man. And at times, in this apparently perfect world, terrible things happen, either in nature or society, which make us think that God has withdrawn and has, so to say, left us to our own devices.
"The real 'master' of the world is not man but God", the Pope added. "The Gospel says: 'keep awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly'. Advent comes every year to remind us of this fact, that our lives might find their just orientation towards the face of God. The face not of a 'master', but of a Father and a Friend".
Following the Marian prayer, the Pope recalled that a United Nations conference on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol is beginning tomorrow in Durban, South Africa. "My hope", he said, "is that all the members of the international community will agree on a responsible, credible and joint response to this worrying and complex phenomenon, while taking account of the needs of the poorest people and of future generations". ANG/ VIS 20111128 (430)
VATICAN CITY, 26 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This evening in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, the government of the Principality of Asturias, Spain, offered a concert in honour of the Holy Father. The Orchestra of the Principality played works by Falla, Albeniz, Rueda, Strauss and Rimsky-Korsakov. At the end of the performance Benedict XVI arose to address some words to musicians and public.
"This evening", he said, "a 'piece' of Spain has been transferred into this hall. We have heard music written by some of the most famous composers of that land, ... as well as by the German Richard Strauss and the Russian Rimsky-Korsakov who were fascinated with what ... has been defined as 'more hispano'; that is, the 'Hispanic' way of being, and of composing and playing music. This is the element which the various pieces we have heard have in common, they share the fundamental characteristic of using music to communicate feelings and emotions, almost I would say the fabric of daily life. This is because composers who follow 'more hispano' are almost naturally led to a harmonious fusion of elements of folklore and popular song, which come from everyday life, with what we call 'classical music'".
"However", the Holy Father went on, "another constantly recurring theme of 'more hispano' compositions is the element of religion, with which the Spanish people are so deeply imbued. Rimsky-Korsakov understood this well mixing, in his splendid 'Capriccio Espagnol', songs and dances of Spanish folklore with popular religious melodies. ... This is the magic worked by music, the universal language which can overcome all barriers and allow us to enter the world of others, of a nation or a culture, at the same time enabling us to turn our mind and hearts ... to the world of God". BXVI-CONCERT/ VIS 20111128 (310)
EXPERTS FROM MONEYVAL VISIT THE VATICAN
VATICAN CITY, 26 NOV 2011 (VIS) - From 21 to 26 November a series of meetings took place between members of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) and the Vatican authorities responsible for the prevention and countering of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, according to a communique released today by the Holy See Press Office.
"The 'in loco' visit of the inspectors is a further step in the MONEYVAL assessment procedures, promoted by request of the Holy See following the issue of Law No. 127 of 30 December 2010. Those procedures began on 14 September 2011 with the delivery of a preliminary explanatory document concerning both the juridical system of the Holy See and Vatican City State, and the implementation of initiatives to adapt to international standards in this field (40+9 Recommendations of FATF/GAFI (Financial Action Task Force) and the methodology of assessment agreed with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank).
"The group of legal, financial and law enforcement experts from various countries (Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Liechtenstein), coordinated by the MONEYVAL Secretariat, met with representatives from the Secretariat of State, the Governorate, the Juridical Offices, the Gendarmerie, the Prefecture for Economic Affairs, the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), and the newly-founded Financial Information Authority.
"The outcome of this procedure will be the final assessment report, to be discussed at the MONEYVAL plenary assembly which is expected to take place around the middle of 2012". OP/ VIS 20111128 (280)
THE FACE OF THE DYING CHRIST TEACHES US TO DEFEND LIFE
VATICAN CITY, 26 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican the Holy Father received 500 participants in an international conference on the theme: "Health Pastoral Care, Serving Life in the Light of the Magisterium of Blessed John Paul II", organised by the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care. It was John Paul II who established the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, as well as the World Day of the Sick, and the Good Samaritan Foundation which offers health care services to poor people in a number of countries.
Extracts from Benedict XVI's remarks to the group are given below:
"Over the long and intense years of his pontificate, Blessed John Paul II proclaimed that serving the sick in body and spirit must be a constant part of the ecclesial community's commitment to evangelisation, in accordance with Jesus command to the Twelve to go forth and heal", he said.
"The mystery of suffering seems to obscure the face of God, almost making Him a stranger, or even identifying Him as the person responsible for human suffering; however the eyes of faith can see into the depths of this mystery. God became incarnate, He came close to man, even in the most difficult situations. He did not eliminate suffering, but in the risen Christ, in the Son of God Who suffered unto death, and death on a cross, He showed us that His love descends even into man's deepest abyss and brings him hope. ... In the Son, Who was 'given' for the salvation of humankind, the truth of love is, in some way, proven through the truth of suffering, and the Church, born from the mystery of Redemption upon the Cross of Christ, must meet man on the long path of his suffering".
"Your proximity and the care you show to our sick brothers and sisters, often alone and suffering not only physically, but also spiritually and morally, places you in a privileged position to bear witness to the salvific action of God, His love for mankind and the world which embraces even the most painful and terrible situations. The Face of the Saviour, dying upon the cross, ... teaches us to defend and promote life, whatever its state and condition, recognising the dignity and value of each individual human being, who was created in the image and likeness of God, and is called to eternal life.
"The slow Calvary of the final years of life of Blessed John Paul II bore witness to this vision of pain and suffering illuminated by the death and resurrection of Christ", Pope Benedict added. "His profound humility, rooted in his intimate bond with Christ, enabled him to continue to guide the Church, and to address an even more eloquent message to the world, even when his physical strength was failing".
"Dear friends", the Holy Father concluded, "in the service you provide in the various fields of health pastoral care, may you too experience that 'only if I serve my neighbour can my eyes be opened to what God does for me and how much He loves me'". AC/ VIS 20111128 (530)
EXERCISING THE PROPHETIC DIMENSION OF EPISCOPAL MINISTRY
VATICAN CITY, 26 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received a group of prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, at the end of their "ad limina" visit. Today's meeting was the first between the Pope and American bishops since the Holy Father's 2008 visit to the U.S. which, he said, "was intended to encourage the Catholics of America in the wake of the scandal and disorientation caused by the sexual abuse crisis of recent decades".
"I wished to acknowledge personally the suffering inflicted on the victims and the honest efforts made both to ensure the safety of our children and to deal appropriately and transparently with allegations as they arise", he added. "It is my hope that the Church's conscientious efforts to confront this reality will help the broader community to recognise the causes, true extent and devastating consequences of sexual abuse, and to respond effectively to this scourge which affects every level of society. By the same token, just as the Church is rightly held to exacting standards in this regard, all other institutions, without exception, should be held to the same standards".
The Holy Father then turned to consider another purpose of his 2008 trip, that of summoning "the Church in America to recognise, in the light of a dramatically changing social and religious landscape, the urgency and demands of a new evangelisation. ... Many of you have shared with me your concern about the grave challenges to a consistent Christian witness presented by an increasingly secularised society", he said. "I consider it significant, however, that there is also an increased sense of concern on the part of many men and women, whatever their religious or political views, for the future of our democratic societies. They see a troubling breakdown in the intellectual, cultural and moral foundations of social life, and a growing sense of dislocation and insecurity, especially among the young, in the face of wide-ranging societal changes.
"Despite attempts to still the Church's voice in the public square, many people of good will continue to look to her for wisdom, insight and sound guidance in meeting this far-reaching crisis. The present moment can thus be seen, in positive terms, as a summons to exercise the prophetic dimension of your episcopal ministry by speaking out, humbly yet insistently, in defence of moral truth, and offering a word of hope, capable of opening hearts and minds to the truth that sets us free".
"The obstacles to Christian faith and practice raised by a secularised culture also affect the lives of believers, leading at times to that 'quiet attrition' from the Church. ... Immersed in this culture, believers are daily beset by the objections, the troubling questions and the cynicism of a society which seems to have lost its roots, by a world in which the love of God has grown cold in so many hearts. Evangelisation thus appears not simply a task to be undertaken ad extra; we ourselves are the first to need re-evangelisation".
The Holy Father expressed his appreciation at the progress made by the American episcopate in responding to these issues, and cited the examples of recent documents on faithful citizenship and the institution of marriage. He also thanked them for their efforts in implementing the revised translation of the Roman Missal, and their efforts "to ensure that this new translation will inspire an ongoing catechesis which emphasises the true nature of the liturgy and, above all, the unique value of Christ's saving sacrifice for the redemption of the world".
Pope Benedict concluded: "A weakened sense of the meaning and importance of Christian worship can only lead to a weakened sense of the specific and essential vocation of the laity to imbue the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel. America has a proud tradition of respect for the Sabbath; this legacy needs to be consolidated as a summons to the service of God's Kingdom and the renewal of the social fabric in accordance with its unchanging truth". AL/ VIS 20111128 (680) |
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Torture and mutilation of children held in prisons in Syria
ASIA/SYRIA - Torture and mutilation of children held in prisons in the country
Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - The United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) expressed serious concern due to the incidents of general violation of human rights that are registered in Syria and for the total impunity to the perpetrators, as well as for complaints of tortures and mutilation perpetuated on children held in prisons. In the Asian country, for about 9 months, a crackdown rages that has led to armed violence. Among them are mostly torture of prisoners, attacks on civilians, killings of protestors and persecution against the activists. In particular, there is concern about the violence and mutilation against children in prisons, of which public authorities cannot but be aware of. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the CAT has officially called on Syria to respond to these complaints in the shortest possible time. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2011)
ASIA/INDONESIA-Six churches threatened by extremist groups, other two will be demolished by the state
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) -Islamic extremists of the Islamic Defenders Front ("Front Pembela Islam," FPI) took to the streets en masse in Bekasi, one of the biggest suburbs of the metropolis of Jakarta, threatening to raze six Christian churches in the area. The police were alerted and ordered, in advance, forced closure of six churches, to avoid riots. According to local sources of Fides, the majority of Islamic militants come from outside, therefore, "we are talking about an organized action": "They came after the Muslim prayers on Friday, challenging the presence of churches in several villages, although the locals have never raised any objections". According to the militants, the churches, that belong to the evangelical Christian community, rose without authorization, and therefore must be dismantled. "Either the state does it, or we will deal with this issue", say the militants. In the suburbs of Jakarta, such as Bekasi and Bogor, inter-religious tension remains high due to the presence of Islamic militants, who do not take kindly to the presence of Christian communities, accusing them of proselytizing.
Fr. Benny Susetyo, Secretary of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue in the Episcopal Conference of Indonesia, says to Fides: "The main problem for the peaceful coexistence in Indonesian society is the presence of extremist groups like the FPI. The government should do more to stop them, ensuring the rule of law and fundamental principles of Pancasila. I hope that the international community gives a warning to the Indonesian government in order to respect freedom of religion. The problem of fundamentalism exists today, inside the Muslim world".
Another story, report Fides sources, affects the Christian community of Manado on the island of Sulawesi (eastern Indonesia). There is a real risk that, at the end of 2011, two Christian churches are demolished in Manado, one apparent to the reformed church, another of the Pentecostal Church. On the two churches, which have been opened for worship for decades, there is a demolition order issued by the Supreme Court: the two houses of worship, in fact, stand on the disputed land, claimed by heirs of a former owner who had sold it more than 50 years ago to the Christians. The local faithful are organizing initiatives and public events and have announced non-violent forms of protest to prevent the demolition. Fr. Susetyo hopes, in that case, "a different solution, perhaps with a clearing of land, taking into account the needs and history of the Christian community". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2011)
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Paul Bhatti: "The NATO attack may compromise the fight against terrorism and religious harmony in Pakistan"
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - "The NATO attack is serious because it can compromise the fight against terrorism but also interreligious harmony, intercultural dialogue, and peace in Pakistan": with these words, the Catholic Paul Bhatti, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and president of the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" (APMA) comments in a note sent to Fides, the attack of NATO forces on Pakistani military posts on the border with Afghanistan , which resulted in the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers and caused a crisis in international relations between Pakistan and the Atlantic Alliance.
Bhatti defines the NATO raid "an act of terrorism, which affects sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of our country" and says: "As adviser to the Prime Minister and as President of the APMA I am shocked and, on behalf of the Christian community, I express sympathy and condolences to the soldiers' families, assuring prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded".
The tension in the country remains high and there are anti-Western demonstrations in major cities. Gulshan Barkat, of the community of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Quetta, in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan, told Fides: "People are really angry against NATO, also because there has not been any form of apology. In fact I think this serious episode could have negative repercussion concerning social harmony in the country: anti-Western propaganda, fueled by extremist Islamic groups, has good game and gets stronger. But I do not think that there may be consequences or violent acts against Christians in Pakistan". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2011)
Kibeho: 30th Anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Sorrows in Rwanda
Check out this website I found at members4.boardhost.com
November 2011 is the 30th anniversary of the first apparition and the 10th anniversary of the Church’s official recognition of Our Lady of the Sorrows in Rwanda.
In 2003, the Vatican formally recognized a series of Marian apparitions that occurred between 1981 and 1983 in the town of Kibeho in the southwest of Rwanda.
It was here that three young women received messages about their spiritual life but also darker visions of an impending violence that was to visit Rwanda.
A civil war between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes broke out in April 1994. The genocide that followed, took 800.000 lives, above all women and children.
Today Kibeho is under the care of the Pallottine Fathers, and they are striving to make it a center of pilgrimage for reconciliation, conversion and peace.
The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has approved a grant to Bishop Augustin Misago of Gikongoro, in whose diocese Kibeho lies,
enabling him to assist with the accommodation needs of the huge numbers of local pilgrims that visit the area every year.
Editor’s Notes
Directly under the Holy See, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity – helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action.
The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, Aid to the Church in Need’s Child’s Bible – God Speaks to his Children has been translated into 162 languages and 48 million copies have been distributed all over the world.
While ACN gives full permission for the media to freely make use of the charity’s press releases, please acknowledge ACN as the source of stories when using the material.
For more information or to make a donation to help the work of Aid to the Church in Need, please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148.
On Line donations can be made at www.aidtochurch.org
Mary TV Daily Reflection 11/28/2011
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH: Daily renewal for busy Catholics 11/27/2011
Sunday, November 27
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The time is now
In an Advent pastoral letter to his diocese, the 15th-century bishop of Milan and later saint Charles Borromeo wrote: “Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit . . . . This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets.” Note the saint is using the present tense: “Now is”; “this is.” Advent has a way of reaching into the past and making Christ’s coming a living reality in the present. It also, however, looks ahead. In a time of preparing to celebrate Christ’s first Advent we ready ourselves for his second—as Borromeo said in his letter: “The church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts.”TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 (2)
“Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”
CONTRIBUTORS
Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Ann O'Connor, Joel Schorn, Patrice J. Tuohy, and Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.
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After centuries, Bethlehem Church of Nativity to get new roof
via boston.com
BETHLEHEM, West Bank—Preparations for a long-needed renovation of the 1,500-year-old Church of the Nativity are moving ahead in Bethlehem, the town of Jesus' birth, in the face of political and religious conflicts that have kept one of Christendom's holiest sites in a state of decay for centuries.
Read the story here: http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2011/11/27/after_centuri...
Catholic Prayer Life Blog: Daily Advent Scripture Reflections [Week 1}
| Nov 27, Daily Reflections On Scripture Readings That Will Nourish Your Soul  Image by Will Humes via Flickr Short daily reflections have been posted for this week. Read these daily Catholic reflections on scripture readings, much like a devotional. |
 Image via Wikipedia New Prayer Requests here. Be sure to leave your prayer requests as well. All who visit can pray for you and your prayer intentions. |
Zemanta helped me add links & pictures to this email. It can do it for you too.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
The Mother of God's Role in Transforming us into Christ
"When a person looks at you, O Mother of God and Virgin, and at the divine mystery that came about in you by a miracle, one assumes an attitude of complete silence because of the unspeakableness of it, and full of wonder one is moved to offer praise because of the greatness of the One who loved us in such an extrordinary way...for this reason, the recollection of the Mother of God wakes up our souls, making them consider how by God's intervention, we have have been called from such an irreconcilable enmity with God, from a situation of war with God so to speak...to such a great peace....to divine familiarity...to children of God."
Serverus of Antioch (Father of the Church....this was written in 500 A.D.!!)
You can receive complimentary materials to make your Consecration to God through Mary’s Immaculate Heart ( important spiritual protection at this time in salvation history) at myconsecration.org... where you can also learn about Our Lady of Las Lajas.
You can learn more about our Lady of Fatima at www.wafusa.org.
God Bless you and your work,
Mike Tony
Michael La Corte Anthony Mullen
Executive Director MyConsecration.org
World Apostolate of Fatima, USA 222 S. Manoa Road
A Pontifical Association of the Faithful Havertown, PA 19083
visit us at: www.wafusa.org visit us at: www.myconsecration.org
A new order based on Our Lady's messages in Massachusetts
A new order based on Our Lady's messages
*There is a new Order called Apostles of Peace, founded by Fr. Michael Sevigny, already approved by Cardinal O'Malley of Boston, based on Our Lady's messages in Medjugorje.They are having a prayer meeting Sunday, November 27th. This is short notice but there is a number here for more information for anyone interested who lives in the Massachusetts, USA area.Prayer Meeting, Weymouth, MA -- The Apostles of Peace, a Marian community, will host a Prayer Cenacle on the monthly Medjugorje message to the world at Immaculate Conception Convent, 1199 "R" Commercial Street, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Questions, please call Sister Angeline at 781-812-1603. All are invited.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH: Daily renewal for busy Catholics 11/26/2011
Citing of the Week
"Extensive exposure to something new—hearing it, saying it, thinking it, trying it out—is absolutely required in order to expand one’s horizon."
--© Bryan Froehle, 2011, Pastoral Trends, PrepareTheWord.com
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Saturday, November 26
FEAST OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Living cheerfully—and vigilantly
There’s lots of bad news out there. You can hide from it only if you turn off the TV, stop the newspaper, forsake the computer, and don’t answer the phone or the door. Unless you live alone, you might want to stay under the bed, too, because in a world of trouble, relationships are the most troublesome of all. Young Mary got the news from a stranger when her boy was only weeks old: Her son would face conflict, and her own heart would be pierced with sorrow. Embracing that revelation, she went home and lived her life, faithful as always.
TODAY’S READINGS: Daniel 7:15-27; Luke 21:34-36 (508)
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations.”
Friday, November 25, 2011
Medjugorje, Message of November 25, 2011
Message of November 25, 2011
“Dear children! Today I desire to give you hope and joy. Everything that is around you, little children, leads you towards worldly things but I desire to lead you towards a time of grace, so that through this time you may be all the closer to my Son, that He can lead you towards His love and eternal life, for which every heart yearns. You, little children, pray and may this time for you be one of grace for your soul. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Vicka Beamed for 13 Minutes in Comeback Apparition [Video]
Vicka with fellow seer Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez in Corridonia. Photo: Marco Piagentini
The apparition lasted more than 13 minutes when visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic came back to the public after almost five months with a shoulder injury. The video of Vicka’s encounter in Corridonia, Italy, is the longest lasting recent documentation of an apparition to Vicka whose public apparitions are rare.
Vicka with fellow seer Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez in Corridonia. Photo: Marco Piagentini
Vicka always attracted the most attention when the young Medjugorje visionaries were still having simultaneous group apparitions in the early 1980s. With her very extrovert and energetic reaction, gesticulating, smiling and shining, she stood out from the rest of the seers.
No different today, a video of Vicka’s apparition on November 13 in Corridonia, Italy, shows. Lasting more than 13 minutes, Vicka’s apparition was considerably longer than recent public apparitions to fellow visionaries Ivan Dragicevic and Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti. One report from Corridonia talks about a 15 minutes apparition, matching the beginning part to be missing in the video.
It is the first time for many years a recording of an almost complete apparition to Vicka appears, her daily apparitions taking place in private as a rule. The apparition in Corridonia was Vicka’s third public apparition this year, the first two having taken place in February in Dublin, Ireland.
RELIGIOUS BROTHER TESTIFIES TO AFTERLIFE IN BOOK REVIEWED ON WEBSITE RUN BY U.S. BISHOPS
Check out this website I found at catholicnews.com
Author says he felt Christ's loving embrace in near-death experience
By Emily Lahr
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The afterlife is a common topic of discussion for a religious brother in Santa Paula, Calif., since the publication of his book, "Proof of the Afterlife -- The Conversation Continues," a book of hope, forgiveness and mercy.
"People can say, 'Oh that wasn't just a dream.' God was having a conversation with their life," said Brother Gary Joseph, a member of the Servants of the Father of Mercy, an association of vowed and lay members in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Read more here: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100734.htm
Mary TV Daily Reflection 11/25/2011
 Denis, Ivan and Milona in Vienna Used with permission from Tom Matasso
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November 25, 2011 St. Catherine of Alexandria
Dear Family of Mary!
Today we receive a message from Our Lady! As we wait, Denis will share some wonderful news and statistics from our recent live event in Vienna. They are very encouraging and will help us to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy. Denis writes:
It was wonderful seeing Fr. Pervan Nov. 17th in St. Stephens Cathedral... I noted at the beginning of Mass that His Eminence, Cardinal Schoenborn, singled him out among the 78 priests concelebrating to recognize and thank, and at the end of the Mass in the sacristy (at 165 minutes into video "Mass and Adoration" that can be viewed on our web page <www.marytv.tv>) he walked over and embraced Fr. Pervan as our camera came in close! It was really beautiful! Milona von Habsburg was our translator.... After hearing confessions, Fr. Pervan brought his chair over to where we were sitting to pray the rosary with us.... Everyone was so happy to be together. Milona said she felt the same. We all were like family and felt such unity. We're very, very grateful!
On November 17th there were more than 2 million hits on MARY TV's web page; 231,200 continuous viewers in 100 countries (many of those computer hook-ups were viewed by multiple people, so it wouldn't be off the mark to assume close to one million people were praying along with us in the cathedral): Canada, Korea, Argentina, Poland, United States of America (all 50 States), Belgium, Mexico, Spain, Peru, Brazil, UK, Columbia, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago, Netherlands, Italy, Venezuela, India, Japan, Malta, Ireland, All Other Regions, Germany, Puerto Rico, France, El Salvador, Australia, Costa Rica, Philippines, Hong Kong, Panama, Honduras, Slovakia, Bolivia, Austria, Paraguay, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mauritius, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, Guatemala, Uruguay, Sweden, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary, Russian Federation, Malaysia, China, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon, Guyana, American Samoa, Ukraine, Latvia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Oman, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Sir Lanka, Denmark, Croatia, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Barbados, Thailand, Albania, Kuwait, Qatar, Martinique, Jordan, Indonesia, Reunion, Zambia, Gibraltar, Anguilla, Ghana, Norway, Turkey, Viet Nam, Egypt, Macedonia, Estonia, Finland, Taiwan, Jamaica, Faroe Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Malawi, Andorra, Santa Lucia, Israel, Guadeloupe, Sudan, Netherlands Antilles, Belarus, Slovenia, Uganda, Virgin Islands and Guam.
On November 17th our web page had 3,103 days of viewing (equivalent to 9 years of continuous viewing)!!! Absolutely astronomical! Sixteen times the amount of data was viewed this year than had been viewed during last year's evening of prayer in St. Stephens Cathedral. And as happened last year, more people are viewing the evening of prayer this week then had viewed and prayed along with us on November 17th. It's reasonable to expect the number to end up being several million. (We stream at a lower bit rate than Kathnet....so that even those in poor countries with poor bandwidth - internet connection - can access our streaming.)
This is all due to the intercessory prayer of Our Lady's little ones.... We experienced more technical problems this year than we did last year...but the peace was greater... Without Tom knowing how to solve those technical problems, all of a sudden an idea would pop into his head that to him didn't make any sense at the time....and lo and behold, it would fix the problem. It was an evening of amazing grace.
Yes, November 17, 2011 was a powerful day. So many, many of Our Lady's children were united in prayer and adoration on that day, through the internet! This is a new and powerful grace for us all. Thank you, dear Mother, for helping us to develop such a tool to be used for you in your mission from Medjugorje!
In Jesus and Mary! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV
PS. I am sure we all want to thank Milona Von Habsburg - de Rambures for hosting and translating during the whole evening at St. Stephens. Milona communicated the peace and purity of Our Lady, as she translated and shared the events in Vienna. Thank you, Milona, for helping us all to understand and enter into the prayer and reflection of that beautiful evening! |
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