St. Pius V (1504-1572)

This is the pope whose job was to implement the historic Council of Trent. If we think recent popes have had difficulties in implementing Vatican Council II, Pius V had even greater problems after that historic council more than four centuries ago.

During his papacy (1566-1572), Pius V was faced with the almost overwhelming responsibility of getting a shattered and scattered Church back on its feet. The family of God had been shaken by corruption, by the Reformation, by the constant threat of Turkish invasion and by the bloody bickering of the young nation-states. In 1545 a previous pope convened the Council of Trent in an attempt to deal with all these pressing problems. Off and on over 18 years, the Church Fathers discussed, condemned, affirmed and decided upon a course of action. The Council closed in 1563.

Pius V was elected in 1566 and was charged with the task of implementing the sweeping reforms called for by the Council. He ordered the founding of seminaries for the proper training of priests. He published a new missal, a new breviary, a new catechism and established the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes for the young. Pius zealously enforced legislation against abuses in the Church. He patiently served the sick and the poor by building hospitals, providing food for the hungry and giving money customarily used for the papal banquets to poor Roman converts. His decision to keep wearing his Dominican habit led to the custom of the pope wearing a white cassock.

In striving to reform both Church and state, Pius encountered vehement opposition from England's Queen Elizabeth and the Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Problems in France and in the Netherlands also hindered Pius's hopes for a Europe united against the Turks. Only at the last minute was he able to organize a fleet which won a decisive victory in the Gulf of Lepanto, off Greece, on October 7, 1571.

Pius's ceaseless papal quest for a renewal of the Church was grounded in his personal life as a Dominican friar. He spent long hours with his God in prayer, fasted rigorously, deprived himself of many customary papal luxuries and faithfully observed the Dominican Rule and its spirit.

Comment:
In their personal lives and in their actions as popes, Pius V and Paul VI (d. 1978) both led the family of God in the process of interiorizing and implementing the new birth called for by the Spirit in major Councils. With zeal and patience, Pius and Paul pursued the changes urged by the Council Fathers. Like Pius and Paul, we too are called to constant change of heart and life.

Quote:
"In this universal assembly, in this privileged point of time and space, there converge together the past, the present, and the future. The past: for here, gathered in this spot, we have the Church of Christ with her tradition, her history, her Councils, her doctors, her saints; the present: we are taking leave of one another to go out toward the world of today with its miseries, its sufferings, its sins, but also with its prodigious accomplishments, values, and virtues; and the future is here in the urgent appeal of the peoples of the world for more justice, in their will for peace, in their conscious or unconscious thirst for a higher life, that life precisely which the Church of Christ can give and wishes to give to them" (from Pope Paul's closing message at Vatican II).

Freedom and Love:

Christ is freedom itself because he is love and there can be neither instrusion nor alienation in him. Anyone who has known a true love can tell of the unexpected unity and deep peace that he suddenly experiences from the moment he is certain he is loved and welcomed for himself.

An Invitation:

Faith awakens the freedom within us because God does not command but invites us.…He offers us the possibility of becoming ourselves by becoming him.

How Do Churches Get Their Names?

Q:How does a parish decide what to name the church? How was a name decided for a local church, say, 100 years ago?

A:Canon law is minimal on the naming of churches. Canon #1218 says only that each church is to have its own title which cannot be changed after its dedication. Commentaries then direct the reader to the current liturgical books which are more explicit on the titles of churches and are to be followed.

The Ritual for the Dedication of a Church states that every church to be dedicated must have a titular. This titular may be the Blessed Trinity, our Lord Jesus Christ invoked according to a mystery of his life or a title already accepted in the liturgy, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary (likewise invoked according to some appellation already accepted in the liturgy), one of the angels or a saint inscribed in the Roman Martyrology or in a duly approved appendix (to the martyrology).

A blessed may not be a titular without an indult from the apostolic see.
The ritual also indicates a church may have only one titular unless it is a question of saints who are listed together in the calendar of observances (for example, Cosmas and Damian, Peter and Paul). The ritual then gives to the bishop the responsibility of dedicating to God new churches built in his diocese.

The chancellor of the archdiocese in which I live tells me that, from a canonical point of view, the bishop alone has the authority to establish a parish. Part of the act of establishing a parish would include the dedication of that parish to God under a particular title. It is, therefore, the bishop who has the final say about the name of a new church. In practice, I am told, the bishop sometimes asks the founding pastor to recommend a name. In this instance, I would surmise that the pastor may sometimes consult the members of the new parish on a patron or title.
But sometimes the bishop has his own list of favorite names. Or he may want to be sure names are not duplicated. And it may be that someone who contributes greatly to the building of a church requests that it be dedicated under a particular title.

It's hard to say how particular churches came to be titled in the course of history. But the chancellor reminded me that after the definition of the Immaculate Conception (in 1854) many churches were named for Mary under this title. I'm sure the same was true of the dogma of the Assumption (an ancient dogma solemnly defined in 1950). And often enough after a new saint is canonized a church will be named for that saint, for example, St. Elizabeth Seton or St. John Neumann.

When religious orders build churches, those churches may well be named for their founders or saints of their order.

In some ways naming a church is like naming a baby--lots of people can get into the act.

St. Peter Chanel (1803-1841)

"Anyone who has worked in loneliness, with great adaptation required and with little apparent success, will find a kindred spirit in Peter Chanel."

As a young priest he revived a parish in a "bad" district by the simple method of showing great devotion to the sick. Wanting to be a missionary, he joined the Society of Mary (Marists) at 28. Obediently, he taught in the seminary for five years. Then, as superior of seven Marists, he traveled to Western Oceania where he was entrusted with a vicariate. The bishop accompanying the missionaries left Peter and a brother on Futuna Island in the New Hebrides, promising to return in six months. The interval lasted five years.

Meanwhile he struggled with this new language and mastered it, making the difficult adjustment to life with whalers, traders and warring natives. Despite little apparent success and severe want, he maintained a serene and gentle spirit and endless patience and courage. A few natives had been baptized, a few more were being instructed. When the chieftain's son asked to be baptized, persecution by the chieftain reached a climax. Father Chanel was clubbed to death, his body cut to pieces.

Within two years after his death, the whole island became Catholic and has remained so. Peter Chanel is the first martyr of Oceania and its patron.

Comment:

Suffering for Christ means suffering because we are like Christ. Very often the opposition we meet is the result of our own selfishness or imprudence. We are not martyrs when we are "persecuted" by those who merely treat us as we treat them. A Christian martyr is one who, like Christ, is simply a witness to God's love, and brings out of human hearts the good or evil that is already there.

Quote:

"No one is a martyr for a conclusion, no one is a martyr for an opinion; it is faith that makes martyrs" (Cardinal Newman, Discourses to Mixed Congregations).

Open our hearts with your words Lord...

Jesus’ Love:

Jesus loves us deeply. This love can be experienced daily and in all situations. Are we reflecting deeply and frequently enough on how Jesus is present in our life? If we are not, then we may be developing a lukewarm faith that takes Jesus’ love for granted. What is Jesus saying to me now?

Peace Given to Us:

God speaks our name and, especially in our first encounters with him, waits for our free response with an infinite delicacy that seeks to dispel all our fears.…When the light of God-love shines upon us in the face of the risen Christ, his peace is effectively given to us.

Fears That Keep Us From His Presence

"Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and left." ~ Luke 8:37

Jesus did many miracles when He lived on earth. One of those miracles involved the deliverance of a demon-possessed man. The people of the community witnessed this awesome demonstration of God's power when Jesus commanded the demon spirit to come out of the man and go into the herd of nearby pigs. The man was healed and sat at Jesus' feet.

You would expect the people who witnessed this to embrace Jesus as one performing good deeds and to honor Him. The opposite was true. Instead, they were overcome with fear. Why? Many of us respond the same way to Jesus when He does an out-of-the-ordinary act among His people. We are fearful because we have never personally experienced this before. So, we draw wrong judgments. The result is that Jesus removes Himself from us.

The Lord is able to do far exceeding above what we think. Jesus does not remain in the places where there is fear of His goodness. It is often subconscious fears that prevent us from going to a deeper level with Him. The people in Gerasenes could not benefit from Jesus' presence because of their fears.

Have you feared Jesus because of what He might require of you? Have you feared that He might ask of you something you are not prepared to give? Do not let your fears drive Him from your presence. His motive is always love for His children. We can trust Him.

St. Louis Mary de Montfort (1673-1716)

Louis's life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and mother of the Church.Totus tuus(completely yours) was Louis's personal motto; Karol Wojtyla chose it as his episcopal motto.

Born in the Breton village of Montfort, close to Rennes (France), as an adult Louis identified himself by the place of his Baptism instead of his family name, Grignion. After being educated by the Jesuits and the Sulpicians, he was ordained as a diocesan priest in 1700.

Soon he began preaching parish missions throughout western France. His years of ministering to the poor prompted him to travel and live very simply, sometimes getting him into trouble with Church authorities. In his preaching, which attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended frequent, even daily, Holy Communion (not the custom then!) and imitation of the Virgin Mary's ongoing acceptance of God's will for her life.

Louis founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (for priests and brothers) and the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick. His book, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, has become a classic explanation of Marian devotion.

Louis died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, where a basilica has been erected in his honor. He was canonized in 1947.

Comment:

Like Mary, Louis experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with St. Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Raymond Brown, S.S., described her

Quote:

“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin).

The Creeds and the Eucharist

Q: Why is there no mention of the Eucharist in the creeds?

A: I'm no expert in the history of the Creeds. Yet it seems to me the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was shaped and formed over many years in response to disputes over the nature of the Trinity and the relationships of the three divine persons.

Creeds expanded and new articles were added as new challenges to the faith arose. The early Councils tried to put into clear language what Christians believed about God and the theological questions of the day.

Theological disputes in the first four centuries did not center around the Eucharist. So the Fathers of the Nicene and Constantinopolitan Councils did not make credal statements concerning the Eucharist.

There is, however, some body of opinion that the Latin phrase communio sanctorum in the Apostles Creed is a reference to the Eucharist.

We are accustomed to seeing this phrase as a reference to persons, translated as "communion of saints."

There are those, however, who argue that communio sanctorum was the Latin translation of the Greek phrase kononia ton agion. This phrase or expression was imported to the Western Church from the East.

Berard Marthaler, O.F.M.Conv., in The Creed (Twenty-Third Publications), says the phrase was a reference to holy things and was a traditional term for the elements of the Eucharist.

Marthaler says if communio sanctorum translates the Greek kononia ton agion, it is a clear-cut reference to the Eucharist. Marthaler also says that medieval theologians were aware of the two views. As different as they are, they are not mutually exclusive, and St. Thomas Aquinas tried to synthesize them.

One theologian I consulted wrote, "When the Creed expresses faith in the Holy Spirit and the Church (one, holy, catholic and apostolic), the Eucharist is implied. It is the Spirit who consecrates the elements in this central act of the Church's worship."

In our own time, interestingly enough, Pope Paul VI was concerned about confusion regarding Catholic doctrine.

In 1968 he issued a profession of faith that is called the Credo of the People of God. It repeats the substance of the Nicene Creed with some developments called for by the spiritual condition of our time.

In this profession of faith, 30 paragraphs long, paragraphs 24, 25 and 26 are devoted to declaring our faith in the Eucharist.

For more on the Creeds, consult Early Christian Creeds, by I.N.D. Kelly (David McKay Company, Inc.).

Today's Meditation...

Vine-Branches:

If we try to pursue the attractions of the world e.g. power, popularity, possessions we will surely get upset with life regardless of how “successful” we may be. Some will end up in divorce others will give up their priesthood and religious vocations. The only way to live faithfully is to be united to Jesus the Vine.

Life and Love:

All the new beginnings of our experience of creation converge in Christ’s resurrection. Everything is drawn together along the axis of the Cross reaching out toward life and love.

New Coat Of Arms For Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI has included traditional Bavarian elements and a nod to St. Augustine in his papal coat of arms, the diocese of Munich and Friesing said Monday.

A crowned Ethiopian, a bear and a mussel - all of which appear on the insignia of the diocese - also appear in the three-sectored insignia chosen by Benedict.

The bear, which is saddled with heavy packs, symbolizes the weight of the papal office, the diocese said in a statement.

It has its origins in a Bavarian legend concerning the diocese's patron, Korbinian, who encountered the animal while on a trip to Rome. The bear ate Korbinian's mule, and God saddled it with the mule's packs.

The mussel dates back to a parable by St. Augustine - about whose works the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote his final thesis -- and symbolizes "diving into the groundless sea of God," the diocese said.

To Attend or Not to Attend, That Is the Question

Q: I would like to know the Church’s position on attending a wedding and giving gifts to a couple (one of whom is Catholic) who marries without a dispensation in a non-Catholic ceremony. Would it be a serious sin to attend and give a gift under the above circumstances?

A: It is not easy to answer questions like yours with just a yes or no.

Each case is individual and requires a particular judgment about what is the best or most charitable thing to do. There are a lot of factors to be weighed and questions to be answered before a person makes a decision to attend the marriage of a Catholic marrying outside the Church.

Among the questions to be answered are: Will my friend or child or relative take my attendance as approval of what he or she is doing? Will my decision to attend encourage the person to go ahead and marry contrary to God’s law and enter a sinful union? Or does the person know and realize my attendance will only be a sign of caring and friendship?

If I don’t attend, will it only embitter that person and drive him or her further from the Church, thus making any future effort to be reconciled with the Church and God harder and more unlikely? Will failing to attend cause divisions and enmity in the family? What action—attending or not attending—is morelikely to keep open communication with the person and, in the end, have the most beneficial spiritual effect?

That is one set of considerations. Another is: What effect will my attending or not attending the wedding have on other people, especially those for whom I have the most responsibility? If I attend, will my children or other family members take it to mean that I see nothing wrong with what the other person is doing?

Is it likely to encourage them to do the same thing in the future? In other words, will it give genuine scandal? Or will the other family members understand that I am not approving of sinful conduct and am merely showing friendship and caring by attending the ceremony?
The closer the relationship, of course, the more the pressure to attend and the more significant the act of attending or not attending.

In my own experience, I have discovered that, outside of close family relationships, attending or not attending a wedding isn’t noticed very much. The parties don’t stop to ask questions about why so-and-so didn’t come. We frequently exaggerate the importance of going or not going and the likelihood of giving real offense by not attending.

Also, to be fair, those marrying outside the Church must have some consideration and understanding for the consciences of their friends and relatives. They should not expect or demand them to do what they believe wrong. Friendship and love are, after all, two-way streets.
Where relationships are closest, kindness and a show of affection are more likely to have the best spiritual effect in the long run. A parent who has hope of eventually leading the child back to God and Church, for instance, might choose—after letting a child know he or she believes what the child is doing is wrong—to keep communication open and to show love and concern, even by attending the ceremony.

In all these cases, I believe we have to respect the prudential decision a person makes and accept that it is made in good conscience whether the person decides to attend or not to attend.

Today's Blessings....

Evil Spirits:

Jesus assures us that evil spirits have no power over us if we allow God’s power to protect us from harm, heal us of our hurts and forgive us of our sins. God is all powerful and evil spirits are powerless. They can confuse and threaten us only if our faith in God is weak.

Living Man Emerges:

When Christ rises from the bowels of the earth, it is no longer simply man emerging upright from mother earth, but now it is the living man who emerges; man who has broken through the barrier of death. In this emergence all our variations are resolved in harmony, everything passes from death to life.

St. Benedict

It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a man who has exercised measureless influence on monasticism in the West. Benedict is well recognized in the later Dialogues of St. Gregory, but these are sketches to illustrate miraculous elements of his career.

Benedict was born of a distinguished family in central Italy, studied at Rome and early in life was drawn to the monastic life. At first he became a hermit, leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb.

He soon realized that he could not live a hidden life in a small town any better than in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three years. Some monks chose him as their leader for a while, but found his strictness not to their taste. Still, the shift from hermit to community life had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity, permanent worship in one house. Finally he began to build what was to become one of the most famous monasteries in the world—Monte Cassino, commanding three narrow valleys running toward the mountain.

The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor and living together in community under a common father (abbot). Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside. In the course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought under the Rule of St. Benedict.

Today the Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation and the Cistercians.

Comment:
The Church has been blessed through Benedictine devotion to the liturgy, not only in its actual celebration with rich and proper ceremony in the great abbeys, but also through the scholarly studies of many of its members. Liturgy is sometimes confused with guitars or choirs, Latin or Bach. We should be grateful to those who both preserve and adapt the genuine tradition of worship in the Church.

Quote:
“Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the liturgy the sanctification of man is manifested by signs perceptible to the senses...; in the liturgy full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members.

“From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his Body the Church, is a sacred action, surpassing all others” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 7).

Saint of the Day : St. Mark

"Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint. "

_________________________________________

Most of what we know about Mark comes directly from the New Testament. He is usually identified with the Mark of Acts 12:12. (When Peter escaped from prison, he went to the home of Mark's mother.)

Paul and Barnabas took him along on the first missionary journey, but for some reason Mark returned alone to Jerusalem. It is evident, from Paul's refusal to let Mark accompany him on the second journey despite Barnabas's insistence, that Mark had displeased Paul. Later, Paul asks Mark to visit him in prison so we may assume the trouble did not last long.

The oldest and the shortest of the four Gospels, the Gospel of Mark emphasizes Jesus' rejection by humanity while being God's triumphant envoy. Probably written for Gentile converts in Rome—after the death of Peter and Paul sometime between A.D. 60 and 70—Mark's Gospel is the gradual manifestation of a "scandal": a crucified Messiah.

Evidently a friend of Mark (Peter called him "my son"), Peter is only one of the Gospel sources, others being the Church in Jerusalem (Jewish roots) and the Church at Antioch (largely Gentile).

Like one other Gospel writer, Luke, Mark was not one of the 12 apostles. We cannot be certain whether he knew Jesus personally. Some scholars feel that the evangelist is speaking of himself when describing the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane: "Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked" (Mark 14:51-52).

Others hold Mark to be the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Venice, famous for the Piazza San Marco, claims Mark as its patron saint; the large basilica there is believed to contain his remains.
A winged lion is Mark's symbol. The lion derives from Mark's description of John the Baptist as a "voice of one crying out in the desert" (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel's vision of four winged creatures (Ezekiel, chapter one) to the evangelists.

Comment:
Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation. In particular, Mark's way was by writing. Others may proclaim the Good News by music, drama, poetry or by teaching children around a family table.

Quote:
There is very little in Mark that is not in the other Gospels—only four passages. One is: “...This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come” (Mark 4:26-29).

Love in the World

"When people are in love everything in creation is new. They learn the true language of the heart and can communicate with others and hear what they have to say on this level.…Love, flooding into the world, enables all human beings to understand each other."

Today's Blessings...

"If the Christians continue to desert Jesus Christ in His temple, will not the Heavenly Father take away from them His well-beloved Son Whom they neglect?"

- St. Peter Julian Eymard

Today

Found a rather interesting poem from my friend's blog....hope to share it with everyone..enjoy.. =)

this is the beginning of a new day
God has given me this day to use as i will
i can waste it or grow in it's light
and be of service to others.
but what i do with this day is important
because i have exchanged a day of my life for it.
when tomorrow comes,
today will be gone forever.
i hope i will not regret
the price i'll pay for it.

Symphony of Eternity

In the Christian experience all is Christ, the word of God, and it is he who, at the very first notes of creation, accords his instrument to ours in order to lead things to the final triumphant symphony of eternity, of which the Bible is the score.

(Benedict XVI installed as pope)

(Photos here)

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)

Acts 6:1-7
Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
1 Pt 2:4-9
Jn 14:1-12


Do you ever long with nostalgia for the “good old days”? Hello, I'm Franciscan Father Greg Friedman with the “Sunday Soundbite” for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

I wonder if the early Christians, after the excitement of the first Pentecost had worn off, longed for their own “good old days.” As they found themselves “in for the long haul,” trying to set up structures and institutions for the growing community, did they wish they were back when it was just Jesus and a little band of disciples?

The passage from the Last Supper in John’s Gospel today seems to anticipate that situation. Jesus reassures his troubled followers that he is going to prepare a place for them. When they want to know the “way” to this place, Jesus tells them he is “the way.” The disciples will go on to do Christ’s work—a mission to a wider world. Elsewhere in that Last Supper discourse, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be present to remind them of all he’s said and done.

The spread of the gospel challenged the fledgling community as the Church grew, and encompassed other languages, cultures and regions. New structures and new ministries would be needed.

The same is true in our day. Facing a new millennium, we need to know the Holy Spirit, Christ’s gift to the Church, is present to teach us what’s needed today, and unite us to Christ, our way, our truth and our life.

Scripture

•They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. (Acts 6:6)

•He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. (Psalm 33:5)

•Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4,5)”

•"…Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.… Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:10,12)

Reflection
•How are you a vessel of Jesus, “a living stone?”

•What are the greater works that those who believe in Jesus do?

•How are you a “spiritual house, a holy priesthood?”

The “return” is the end beyond all ends, and the beginning of beginnings. To “return to the Father” is not to “go back” in time, to roll up the scroll of history, or to reverse anything. It is a going forward, a going beyond, for merely to retrace one’s steps would be a vanity on top of vanity, a renewal of the same absurdity in reverse.

Our destiny is to go on beyond everything, to leave everything, to press forward to the End and find in the End our Beginning, the ever-new beginning that has no end. To obey Him on the way, in order to reach Him in whom I have begun, who is the key and the end— because he is the beginning.

When Does Jesus Become Present?

Q: At what moment does our Lord become present at Mass?

A: Over the centuries East and West have argued when, precisely, the body and blood of Christ become present in the Eucharist.

According to Johannes Emminghaus in The Eucharist (The Liturgical Press), a practical question was at the base of the discussion—"What is to be done if, for some reason (for example, the sudden death of the celebrant), the Canon is broken off? When could the bread and wine simply be removed? From what point on is it consecrated?"

The Western Church asserted the body and blood are present at the completion of the words of consecration. The Eastern Church supported the view that the real presence takes place through the epiclesis (the prayer for the sending or coming of the Spirit to sanctify the gifts of bread and wine).

According to Richard McBrien in his Encyclopedia of Catholicism (Harper Collins), ecumenical theologians in the 1990's avoid attempts to locate a moment of consecration at either the epiclesis or words of institution. They prefer, he says, to consider the entire prayer over the gifts, and not one of its isolated moments, as the consecratory prayer.

Emminghaus observes that the Church has never made a dogmatic pronouncement on the point.
Ludwig Ott, however, in his Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (Herder Book Company, 1955) states it as certain that the form of the Eucharist consists of Christ's words of institution uttered at the consecration. And Ott cites the Council of Trent as teaching, according to the standing belief of the Church, "'immediately after the consecration,' that is, after the uttering of the words of institution, the true body and the true blood of the Lord are present."

I would add, as Emminghaus notes, the practice of the celebrant genuflecting immediately after the consecration of the bread and again after the consecration of the wine indicates belief that the real presence takes place at the consecration through the words of institution.

Deepening Conversion

The more deeply we are converted, the more we welcome Beauty himself and all he has to say. We are prepared for a deepening prayer life.

Humble reflections

"To have a clear faith according to the church's creed is today often labeled fundamentalism, while relativism, letting ourselves be carried away by any wind of doctrine, appears as the only appropriate attitude for today's times," he said. "A dictatorship of relativism is established that recognizes nothing definite and leaves only one's own ego and one's own desires as the final measure. ... An adult faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelty."

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

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Was surfing the internet when i came across these words said by Our Holy Father....touched me alot and i find them very meaningful in today's context.....it seems that many people in the catholic church today are moving based on relativism....being realistic...secular.....and not listening to God's words.....while those who attempt to follow the church's teachings ...are being laughed at, shunned, censured and etc......

i guess we all need to stop for a moment and reflect...our direction of movement.....for leaders in the church and its children;EVERYONE.....are we compromising the church's teachings/doctrines..for the sake of keeping the people happy, our selfish gains or for our own convenience? have we lost our reverence to God? or do we think we can PLAY God?? or we like the "Supermarket Catholic" that His Grace Archibishop Nicholas Chia mentioned?

God has chosen this humble cardinal as an instrument for his works....many things has been said about him...him being conservative...having a tough stand on the church's teachings and doctrines and etc.....does that ever sound out a clue to anyone that God wants us to wake up from our dreams/sheepish lives? Its time to do some housekeeping and put some order back.....otherwise...many years down the road..i guess...Roman Catholics everywhere won't be respected...but seen as a bunch of fools.....living in sinful ways and Godless.....

or do we have to be punished like the people during Noah's time.....or the children of Israel in the old testament...who behaved in the very same manner that we are doing now...compare and contrast...how we are living today...is very similar to them while they were being let out of Egypt.....they had Moses then to guide them.....today...we have centuries of history....countless inspiring live of saints and martyrs.....GOD's WORD (Sacred Scriptures) and etc....]

let us sincerely pray and reflect......


Abba Father...have mercy on us your children.....Kyrie Eleison

Jesus, brotherly king.....may your precious sacrificed body and blood that is poured out for us..keep us and heal us of all divisions....Christe Eleison

O Holy Spirit...comfortor.....be with us.....heal us....guide us...lead us.....discipline us......

Mother Mary....holy virgins of virgins.....pray and intercede for us....keep us close to your son and God the father.......

All Holy saints and martyrs...may your lives and actions..inspire us .....and your shining examples....wake us up from our sleep...

may we pray that we will never be lost.....and come back into the sheepfold of God..who is the supreme Shepherd...He who lives and reigns forever and ever...

Amen.

The Our Father, Amen and Holding Hands

Q: Would you say if there is still an amen at the end of the Our Father? At Mass, I realize a prayer has been inserted between the main body of the prayer and when the priest says amen. But when saying the Our Father in the rosary or just saying the prayer, is there still an amen?

Second, is it proper to hold hands at the Our Father during Mass? I have read that this should not be allowed.

A: In the Enchiridion of Indulgences where the texts of prayers are given, amen usually appears as a response of others to a leader's prayer.

When the text of the Our Father appears at the end of the renewal of baptismal promises, however, the prayer itself ends with amen.

You can draw your own conclusion. The prayer's efficacy doesn't depend on the amen. When praying in a group, I would follow whatever is the common practice.

Personally, I would not find holding hands during the Our Father at Mass antirubrical, though it is not included in the official rubrics. Neither are there rubrics allowing for the collection!

The question may become moot if the new Sacramentary is approved. There is provision there for the worshipers to imitate the gesture of the celebrant by raising their arms with palms and hands extended during the Lord's Prayer.

How Much of the Mass must I attend?

Q: To fulfill the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, how long or for what parts must you be present? What is the penitential rite? Must you be present for that? When may you leave and still fulfill the obligation? If you left for the homily or while Communion was being distributed, then returned, would you fulfill the obligation?


A: The present Code of Canon Law reads: "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." It doesn't say part or parts of the Mass. The expectation is that the person will attend a complete Mass. A Catholic Catechism quotes the canon and states, "Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin."

Before Vatican II, moral theologians and canonists would talk about the three principal parts of Mass as the Offertory, Consecration and Communion. If you missed any one of those parts, they wrote, you would not have fulfilled the obligation of hearing Mass.

Today, canonists and liturgists do not use that terminology. They speak of the gathering, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the commissioning as the main divisions of Mass.

And moralists are more likely to speak of substantial observance of the law and what that might mean. They would assert that the law imposes a serious obligation. But some would question whether a person seriously or gravely violates the law if on one occasion he or she does not attend Sunday Mass. And all moralists would acknowledge that to miss a few minutes would not be a serious matter.

If you look at your missalette or recall your experience on Sundays, the penitential rite is part of the Mass. It takes place after the entrance song, right after the priest has entered the sanctuary and greeted the people. It can take different forms. One commonly used is the confession of fault (confiteor) and Lord, have mercy (Kyrie, eleison). So if you come after these prayers, you are late for Mass.

Just as there can be excuses for missing Mass, there could be excuses for coming late or leaving early or missing part of the celebration. A parent might have to take a crying child from the church. A person may feel ill or need to use the restroom. There would be no fault in leaving for such reasons. But to sneak a cigarette or step outside because of boredom would hardly be sufficient causes.

A hospital worker may have to leave early or a mother may have to hurry home to watch children while Dad takes a turn at going to Mass. A traveler may have to make a bus or plane. Surely such reasons would excuse from fault. But to be first out of the parking lot, no!

While an emergency may demand that a person leave before the end of Mass, one who has departed before the consecration and Communion can hardly be said to have attended Mass. But the emergency may excuse that person from further effort to go to Mass.

Today's words for consumption....

Center of Reality :

The fundamental condition for an authentic relationship with God is changing course from our original egocentrism to the real Center of reality, God himself.

"Our Lord came down from life to suffer death; the Bread came down, to hunger; the Way came down, on the way to weariness; the Font came down,to thirst. "

- St. Augustine

"Faith is seeing the invisible, believing the unbelievable and achieving the impossible..."

"Since the coming of television we no longer have family circles -- we have semi-circles. "

What Is the Gospel of Thomas?

Q: I am very curious to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus that was found in 1945. Is this true? Why are we hiding it from being released? I have not been very successful finding information on this. I have also heard about a Gospel of Thomas and a Gospel of Mary Magdalene.

A: I think you are referring to the Gospel of Thomas, one of 300 Gnostic writings discovered in December 1945, at Nag Hammadi, Egypt. This writing exists completely only in the Coptic language; there are three fragments of it in Greek.

According to Anthony Saldarini in the New Jerome Biblical Commentary, of the 114 sayings of this gospel (division made by modern scholars), 79 of them have some parallel in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke which, with the Gospel of John, are called canonical. They belong to the canon or list of New Testament writings.

The Gospel of Thomas is called apocryphal because it is not in the New Testament. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene is also in this category.

Gnostics were people who relied on secret knowledge; gnosis is the Greek word for knowledge. Special teachers enabled Gnostics to hand on secret information not intended for everyone. In that general sense, Gnostics could be pagan, Jewish or Christian.

Scholars date the Gospel of Thomas to the start of the third century. It had a Gnostic final editor, at least.

Christian Gnostics claimed that Jesus wanted only a few of his followers to have the teachings they possessed. This knowledge was handed on by Gnostic teachers.

The mainstream Christian community answered the Gnostic challenge by saying that Jesus intended bishops, successors of the apostles, as reliable teachers about him. They also said that the Christian community considered as inspired only the canonical books in the New Testament and the Old Testament.

The Scriptures were given to a faith community (Old Testament to the Jews, New Testament to Christians). They should be read with that in mind. If we trust those faith co

Today's bread that we ponder...

"My soul, have you found what you are looking for? You were looking forGod, and you have discovered that he is the supreme being, and that you could not possibly imagine anything more perfect. You have discovered that this supreme being is life itself, light, wisdom, goodness, eternal blessedness and blessed eternity."

- St. Anselm (1033-1109)

Master - Servant: Jesus’ Words of Wisdom are always shown by the way He lived. When we are in position of authority, we are called to treat others justly, tenderly and humbly like Jesus. Do you think you are just, compassionate and humble? Speak to the Lord from your eart today

Cast Our Cares on the Lord:

Just as infants turn with complete trust to their parents for all of their needs, so we also cast our cares on the Lord, because he cares for us tenderly beyond our imagining.

Let us pray...

Holy apostles, Peter and Paul, we trust in your power and in your authority. Please bless us through Lord Jesus, our lord, amen.

Through the prayers and intercession of our lady, blessed John Baptist and all the apostles, Peter and Paul, and all the saints, omnipotent God, have mercy on us, and please remit all our sins with the blessing of Jesus Christ, and lead us into the eternal life. Amen.

May there be indulgence and absolution and the remission of all your sins. After having repented duly, and may your life be blessed, and may you have the consolation of the grace of the Holy Spirit. And may, through your perseverance and your good works, the Lord, in his omnipotence and in his mercy, forgive you. Amen.

And I bless, through the Lord omnipotent, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May the blessing be upon you and always be with you.

Amen.

HABEMVS PAPAM! - BENEDICTVM XVI

Deo Gratias! We have a new pope! Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany became Pope Benedict XVI...

Urbi et Orbi Blessing

"Dear brothers and sisters, after our great Pope, John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard.

I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers.

In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved Mother, stands on our side. Thank you."

- His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI


Updates (here)

The Resurrection Anchors Our Faith

"We do others far more good when we ourselves are close to God. The best thing husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, can do for each other and for their children is to become saints, men and women of burning prayer."

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What Causes the Stigmata?

Q: The only people who have the stigmata are people who are deeply religious believers in Christ, right? What causes the stigmata and how do people receive the marks?

A: I am not aware of any case where someone who did not believe in Jesus or who had a lukewarm Christian faith received the stigmata. On the other hand, the holiest people do not necessarily receive the stigmata.

The Roman Catholic Church tends to be very cautious about reported instances of the stigmata for two reasons: the possibility of a hoax (and thus all faith in God might seem questionable) and the possibility that some people could distort the meaning of the stigmata.

For example, these marks might appear more central to a person’s faith than the passion-death-resurrection of Jesus, the Scriptures, the sacraments or many other things that are more central to faith than the stigmata are.

Prayer for Conclave

Come, Holy Spirit, enliven the hearts of your faithful. Be among the cardinals as they choose a successor to St. Peter.

May the new pope be one who leads your Church with wisdom, with strength, with courage. We ask this through Christ Our Lord, from whom all blessings flow.

Amen.

Updates (here)

Smiles from the bible =)

Some smiles from the bible to break the monday blues..enjoy.. =)

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David'sTriumph was heard throughout the land. Also, the apostles probably drove crammed together in a Honda, because it says they were all of one Accord.

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?
A. Ruthless.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why ! he no longer lived in Eden?
A. "Your mother ate us out of house and home!"

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.


News on conclave (here)

Countdown to Conclave

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, symphathetic with the striving,and tolerant of the weak -- because some day you will have been all of these. "

George W. Carver

The search for a new shepherd will begin soon....lets all pray that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a new supreme pontiff will be chosen to lead the children of God...the successor of Peter....on which was the rock which Jesus built his church....

On this day of Good Shepherd Sunday, it has especially a deeper meaning......however apart from the conclave...lets also pray for ourselves.....we are also shepherds to each other....we belong to a common priesthood by the virtue of our baptism.....let's pray for the grace to carry out this common priesthood...and also for others...who might be touched ...to lead and serve in the ministorial priesthood.....

(Information on conclave here)

SeNd f0R j@nE

touching story to share...enjoy... =)

Before I die, send for Jane. Send for her when I can't get into the tub anymore, and when I need someone to brush my white hair, and spray Chanel No. 5 above the collar of my flannel pajamas. When my breath is shallow and my old words few, send for Jane.

I was Jane's supervisor before I left that job, but I still look for her. Four days a week and every other weekend I'd see her at the bus stop, her gray winter coat and yellow sweater as much a part of her uniform as her white pants and oxfords. She's a home health aide. She cares for those unable to leave their homes or accomplish their own basic activities of living. Some are dying, some are disabled, and some are heavily laden with frailties of old age. Jane can change the bed linens with a patient still in bed. She listens to advice about growing tomatoes, setting a proper Seder dinner, and adjusting a carburetor on a 1927 Roadster.

Jane brings the beauty of the season with spring wildflowers tucked behind her ear. She pulls back the curtain so a warm summer ray can reach an isolated face. I've seen her carry scarlet maple leaves to share the beauty of a last autumn.

Once I watched her pack winter's first snowball into a plastic bag and carry it into a home. There she announced the season's arrival to a bed-bound man, and he told her of a long ago snowball fight that ended in his first kiss. She whistles while she mops and delivers a bedpan with a smile, as if to communicate it's a pleasure to scrub floors and wash their bottoms.

When Jane walks into homes for the first time, some don't see the gift she brings; they see only her sable skin. But she doesn't hate them for their ignorance. She smiles and says, "Learn something new every day. That's what my mama taught me, and that's what I teach my little girl."

Jane had married soon after high school, and the baby came just after her husband left. Because she was born under pressure, Jane named her baby girl Diamond. Her daughter was born with cystic fibrosis. At least once a year Jane takes a leave of absence from work because Diamond's lungs won't clear. Jane stays at the hospital, then carries on the treatments at home after discharge. For weeks and weeks she breathes each breath in unison with Diamond.When Jane is absent, her patients torture the replacement aides, wanting them to have the essence of Jane. Though family, friends and caregivers often visit with good intentions, some are unable to hide their burden of obligation and duty, so they fail to bring the joy that Jane does.

In a few weeks, after Diamond is again stable, Jane's back with a grin on her face and resilience in her step. She's always happy to go back to her patients who smile their biggest smiles when they see her. When she returns, she brings home-baked cookies or homemade soup in a used margarine container.

Sometimes only Jane and those she cares for understand and appreciate her skill and gifts. When she's asked what she does for a living, no one responds with envy or admiration. At the bank she notices the rude stares at her welfare checks, and at the supermarket she hears the sighs of disgust when patrons wait for the clerk to count out her food stamps. She knows the minivans, SUVs, and sedans that whiz by her bus stop aren't filled with respectful eyes.

Jane has not been seen at her bus stop lately. Does she have a new schedule? Is Diamond sick again? I see others with old coats, or sweaters, and I see the white shoes. They remind me to pray that those who wear them will find grace and strength and honor. I still look for Jane.

Reflections....for thought

Medically, it has been proven that our blood vessels do burst when we are in a state of deepest sorrow and agony which then leads to blood flowing through the pores. This was the agony our Saviour went through whose sweat become like drops of blood falling on the ground at the Garden of Gethsemane when HE said: "My soul is sorrowful even to death". Mark 14:34. I guess no one would ever understand the depth of agony our Saviour went through till we see HIM face-to-face.

Have we ever wondered as children of God, whether we have unknowingly locked the door of our heart, preventing our agonising Saviour from entering when we:-

- choose to live a stubborn life;
- always dwells on injury and being unforgiving;
- dwell on self-righteousness and full of self-seeking nature;
- too proud-hearted to say "sorry";
- always wait for the other party to make the first move when a misunderstanding occurred;
- too quick to pass judgement on others and misinterprete them;
- are so full of ourselves;
- often speak ill and think badly of others.

For it is written in the bible, "On the day of judgement, people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." MT 13:36-37.

On the contrary, we can be life-giving to others if we practise the message of LOVE. The message may be too familiar to us that we do not take the meaning seriously.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, endures all things." 1 Cor 13:4-7.

Be still ....open your heart...and I shall speak..

"Remember always the immutability of God, and imitate it by a patience in the face of all tests. Remember always that God is eternal. Work courageously in order one day to be united with him forever."

- Bl. Damien the Leper (1840-1889)

"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"—Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of His sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry rends the air—"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which He had to pass; and to make His grief culminate with emphasis, He suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of His Father's presence.

This was the black midnight of His horror; then it was that He descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" There are seasons when the brightness of our Father's smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ's case it was a real forsaking.

We grieve at a little withdrawal of our Father's love; but the real turning away of God's face from His Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused Him? In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in His case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from Him for a season. O thou poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God's face, but art now in darkness, remember that He has not really forsaken thee.

God in the clouds is as much our God as when He shines forth in all the lustre of His grace; but since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when He exclaimed, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

One Liners

Don't let your worries get the best of you, remember, Moses started out as a basket case

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited, until you try to sit in their pews.

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, But mosquitoes come close.

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.

People are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Peace starts with a smile.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.

We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

Be ye fishers of men. You catch them. He'll clean them.

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

He who angers you, controls you!

If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

We don't change the message. The message changes us.

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him.

The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given

Your words are spirit and life O Lord....you work and talk in many ways...

Belief – Jesus: To have a sincere belief in Jesus means that our lives must be lived in a fundamental and constant awareness that what we think, say and do are done in His Presence. We cannot dissociate our lives from Him who i s our Lord and Saviour. Our belief in Jesus must be concrete and personal.

"I can do what you can't do, and you can do what I can't do. Together wecan do great things."

- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta -

A sincere prayer touches the meek...breaks the hardest hearts...

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this
morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God
and an understanding God. You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for
everything I have done, said or thought that was not
pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help
me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of
gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all
things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no
control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's
eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let
me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing,
and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me
remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a
quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm
pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't
pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do
Your will

Continue to bless me that I! may be a blessing to
others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep
me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for
others.

I pray for those who are lost and can't find
their way.
I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others.
I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes
things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For
each and every family member in their households. I
pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they
are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there
is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than
God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I
pray that these words be received into the hearts of
every eye that sees them and every mouth that
confesses them willingly.

This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The greatest things are somtimes found in the smallest happenings...

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming"

Hello God,
I called tonight
To talk a little while
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.
You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own...
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.
I want to ask you please to keep
My family safe and sound.
Come and fill their lives with confidence
For whatever fate they're bound.
Give me faith, dear God, to face
Each hour throughout the day,
And not to worry over things
I can't change in any way.
I thank you God for being home
And listening to my call,
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.
Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time.
I never get a busy signal,
Never had to pay a dime.
So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow.
Good night, God, I love You too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!

The man whispered, "God, speak to me"and a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear. So the man yelled, "God, speak to me"and the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the man did not listen. The man looked around and said, "God let me see you." And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see. And, the man shouted, "God show me a miracle." And, a life was born.

But, the man did not notice. So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted ... even in our electronic age .. so I would like to add one more:

The man cried, "God, I need your help!"And an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But, the man deleted it and continued crying ...Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you expect.

Reflections ...

"God is thirsting for the love of His creatures. The same God is our beggar. Let us give ourselves to Him. Let us not be mean.... Let us not look at what we are doing, but at the extent of our failure to correspond to His love."

- St. Theresa of Los Andes (1900-1920)

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.

The Dangers of Overcontrol

"For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king." ~ 1 Samuel 15:23

A friend of mine who is a jet pilot once told me that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will right itself. This goes against our natural inclination to control and manipulate in order to bring things back under control. It is scary to be out of control. Or is it?

Saul was a man out of control. He was losing control of his kingdom to David. He was losing the favor of God and the people. It began as compromises. Eventually he was given a final test to obey the voice of God fully. He was instructed to kill the Amalekites completely; but he failed to follow through. The prophet Samuel delivered a hard word to King Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king" (see 1 Sam. 15:26).

Saul obeyed partially, but notfully. It was partial obedience that led to his removal as king of Israel and his calling from God. But why did Saul do such a thing? "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Sam. 15:24b). Saul's fear and insecurity made him more afraid of the people and what they thought than of God. At the core of Saul's disobedience was fear of losing control. That fear of losing control led to partial obedience and the loss of his reign as king.

How many of us are in danger of losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need to control people and circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as workplace believers.The need to overcontrol things around us can prevent us from receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory of your control quotient.

Ask God if you are being fully obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the shelf for disobedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1Sam. 15:22b).

_________________________________________________

"If I saw the gates of Hell open and I stood on the brink of the abyss, I should not despair, I should not lose hope of mercy, because I should trust in You, my God."

- St. Gemma Calgani (1878-1903)

Something to think about . . .

"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials."
-- Chinese proverb

Finishing . . .

Every award, every honor, every aspect of what we call success, comes from finishing what an individual started. Recognition and success never come from merely starting an activity, no matter how great your goals or your original intention. Only those who finish the race can ever enjoy the prize.

We all know people who are going to do something great someday, but they never seem to start, much less finish, anything. Month after month, year after year, these people blissfully go through the exercise of stating grandiose and lofty goals that they really never internalize and take to heart.

Those people throughout history that we come to respect and revere, in the final analysis, are those people who finish what they start. If you are to be great or significant in this life, you must be a finisher. Starting is easy. It costs nothing.

The real race begins when you encounter the first obstacle along the way to success. Then, more and more people drop out of the race as the road becomes steeper and more filled with obstacles. When you finally reach the finish line at the top of the mountain, the air is sweet, the view unparalleled, and the mountain top is uncrowded. All of the starters have been left behind somewhere along the course. The only people left to stand on the mountain top are the finishers.

It does not matter how grand your goal as much as it matters whether or not you finish. Far too many people casually commit to a new goal and, just as casually, quit when they face a minimal obstacle. Decide today that you will not start a task or set a goal unless you are prepared to finish. This commitment alone will cause your life to be far less cluttered because you will find yourself undertaking very few tasks.

If you know that you have to finish what you start, you will be very particular what goals you set and tasks you begin. This clarity of thought and goal will bring focus into your daily life. Focusing on the finish line will bring you success in every endeavor. Make the commitment today to finish.

Today’s the day!


Consider this . . .
My friend,
What do you need to finish today? =)

Today...

heya all...hope everyone is doing fine.....nth much for me today.....went walk walk with Jeremy, Clement and Eugene after church....was at bugis when I saw a lego toy...found it rather nice...and cheap..so bought it home.....kinda bored...so took some photos for all to see..hehez.....fyi....i like lego..... have been playing with it since young...i guess..no age limit de la...can collect mah....who says lego is onli for children...hahah =D


Here is the toy......introducing the policeman and his car... =p


Close up of the police patrol car....i choose the "polizei" (german for police) stickers to put on the car....sounds more unique rather than "police"..haha...so that means..i got german police..ahhah...


another shot of my toys....note...the motor cycle has been around for a very long time...a toy from another lego collection..heehz..


Close up of the motorcycle....guess you all can see that this toy is not new..haha...

hope u all enjoyed viewing my toy..haha...sorry la...bored la....self entertainent.......shall pen off here with some blessings and words of wisdom....take care everyone and have a good week ahead.. =D

Today's Blessing:

"Be driven by the love of God because Jesus Christ died for all, that those who live may live not for themselves but for him, who died and rose for them. Above all, let your charity and zeal show how you love the Church. Your work is for the Church, which is the body of Christ and the body of Christ make up of you and me."
- St. John Baptist De La Salle (1651-1719)

Words of Wisdom:

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, symphathetic with the striving,and tolerant of the weak -- because some day you will have been all of these."

George W. Carver

Rantings....

it has been a very "happening" week....i remember last week at this time, most of us around the world are still praying for the pope's recovery..however unknown to us, God already has a better plan for him.....and that plan was revealed to us at 2137hrs Rome time....then papal uttered "Amen" and returned home....upon reflection, the uttering of "Amen" by papal..reminded me of Jesus on the cross who uttered the words " it is accomplished"....

Jesus returned home to God by surrendering everything to him....so did papal.....for amen means your will be done....days passed.....the children of God mourned the pope's passing...commemorating him in whateva ways that we can...his funeral finally took place yesterday....the service touched many hearts and sent the many people who were present in Rome away in tears and sorrow...all this was joined by the millions world wide....regardless of race, religion....

what i see from this event is that a man......though weak in flesh and vulnerable in many ways....can have so much power to touch people's life...send them into tears...and make people miss him....is only because of one reason....that man...lived his life based on God's ways...not his own ways...he gave everything to God...trusted in him....and allowed God to control his life...are we also ready to do that?

the church is now without a leader...sede vacante.....the conclave will begin soon....lets all hope that the Holy Spirit through God's power ..will guide the cardinals and select a good leader..indeed the new papal will have a very big pair of shoes left behind by John Paul II to fill in....but then....i'm pretty sure that...that candidate...selected and mandated by God....will know very well in his heart that..GOD will not abandon him....he will guide him...and protect him.....that he may be a real instrument....bringing peace, love , joy..hope to the many children in this world...who are thristing and hunger for God....

closer home....life has been going on as usual...people going around with their chores....as for me...nothing much has changed.....going to camp everyday....doing my work....and of cos...getting arrow shot at by the "legolas" in my camp.....oh well....part and a parcel of a NSF life....

more recently......i lost a friend yesterday.....a friend in camp.....though not very close..but the relationship is there......God took him home......he met with and accident and took his leave first....i dont have much to say about it...neither do i complain.....its part of life i guess....we cannot escape death..it will come knocking on our doors at any time....

age does not matter....whether u have things left undone or not does not matter also....of cos i feel some tinges of sadness in it....however....to me...i feel that rather than staying sad....channel tat into praying for his soul...and his family especially....who must be veri devastated by this event....and also some of my friends..who are closer to him than i am....

May the spirit of comfort be brought to them..calm their hearts and minds.....may they see the light of God in these times that my friend...though no longer with them anymore...has not gone to a lousy place..but a place of great reward...where death has no power.......

shall pen off here....for some moments of personal reflections...till then....May the grace of the risen Jesus be with everyone and keep all safe and healthy.... =)

what is sede vacante?