Pope to Faithful: Welcome Advent with Hope, Prepare the Way for the Lord
The Lord Jesus came in the past, he comes in the present and will come in the future’
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 29, 2009 (Zenit.org)- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI’s address before praying the Angelus at midday with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters!
This Sunday we begin, by the grace of God, a new liturgical year, which opens naturally with Advent, a time of preparation for the Lord’s nativity. In the constitution on the Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council states that the Church “presents in the annual cycle the whole mystery of Christ, from the incarnation and the nativity, to the ascension, the day of pentecost, and the expectation of the blessed hope and return of the Lord.”
The Only Thing That Can Heal Your Emotional Wounds?
Have you been hurt before?
Have you ever been rejected by others? Ridiculed? Maligned? Gossiped about?
Have you been cheated? Betrayed? Lied to? Stolen from?
If your answer is yes, then I’m writing to the right person.
That means you have emotional wounds, and my big message for you is that there’s only one thing that can heal your wounds.
Let me start by talking about something of great cosmological and eternal significance: My bloody ingrown toenail.
Sometimes called hangnail.
Let me translate that in Pilipino: hangnail is kukong nagbigti.
Shroud of Turin real
ROME (AP) – A Vatican researcher claims a nearly invisible text on the Shroud of Turin proves the authenticity of the artifact revered as Jesus’ burial cloth.
The claim made in a new book by historian Barbara Frale drew immediate skepticism from some scientists, who maintain the shroud is a medieval forgery.
Frale, a researcher at the Vatican archives, said Friday that she used computers to enhance images of faintly written words in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic scattered across the shroud.
Fight The Relationship Drift
Warning: There’s a cruel epidemic afflicting our families, our marriages, and our friendships. It’s called the Relationship Drift.
It’s a very devious disease. It’s like some cancers. You really don’t know you have it until it’s fatal. And then it’s too late.
And then Relationship Drift becomes Relationship Dead.
The only solution is to diagnose it early.
But the symptoms of Relationship Drift are almost invisible to the naked eye.
Because you’re not really fighting each other.
There are no screaming matches. In fact, your home is quiet. Like a convent.
Stop Trying To Fix People
You know what our monstrous mistake is?
We try to fix the people in our life.
Oh, I see it everywhere.
Everywhere I go, I see people complain about the people in their life.
Wives complain about their husbands.
“Bo, please talk to my husband. He eats too much.”
“Bo, can you help me? My husband watches too much TV.”
One frustrated wife told me, “Bo, please advice my husband. He doesn’t have a one romantic bone in his body. Last year, he gave me a bar of soap for Valentines Day. The brand? Mr. Clean.”
Bridge Over Troubled Tiber: Holy See Welcomes Anglican Christians into Catholic Church
The prayers of millions have been answered and Christian history has been made on October 20, 2009. ‘May They Be One’.
ROME (Catholic Online) – In an absolutely stunning announcement on the morning of October 20, 2009, the Holy See has, by Apostolic Constitution, provided the canonical vehicle for Anglican Christians to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Throughout the evening expectations rose throughout the world along with the fervent prayers of millions who have longed to see this day. Many Catholics have watched in prayer with hopeful, heartfelt longing for their Christian brethren in the Anglican Communion. Many Anglican Christians have suffered from the ravages of their community from within brought about by moves away from Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Now,there is a way to the safe harbor of the Catholic Church.
Why You Need To Fail
Last week, I had lunch with a friend I’ve known for the past thirteen years.
Let’s call him Patrick Passive.
Thirteen years ago, Patrick and I were in the same financial boat. We had very little money. We lived by the day. We had zero financial wisdom.
Today, thirteen years later, we’re poles apart.
I’ve moved on. I now have 16 income streams. I’m an entrepreneur, with interest in many small businesses. I bought foreclosed properties and rent out a few condos. I also invest in the Stock Market—both here and in the US—and other Mutual Funds.
Prayer before a Picture or Statue of Saint Anne
Dearest St. Anne,
it is you I wish to honour
in your statues and images.
They are the tangible representations
of the mysteries of divine love
that were accomplished in you.
The sight of your holding the infant Virgin Mary
brings to my mind a clearer understanding
of your role in Christ’s Redemption of mankind.
You are the woman whom God the Father
called to prepare a Mother for His Only Begotten Son.
This little Virgin in your arm
will soon grow to be the mother of the Son of God.
Because you are her Mother,
you share in her privileges.
The amazing mystery of the Immaculate Conception
was accomplished within your body.
When time came, you gave birth to Mary.
Then, you prepared her for the dazzling role
of Mother of God which was to be hers.
Are You Malnourished For Love?
Before the wedding of Felipe and Maria began, the groom spoke to the priest.
Felipe said, “Father, I’d appreciate that during the wedding vows, you’d omit the difficult parts.”
“What difficult parts?” the priest asked.
“You know Father, just don’t say anymore the for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health thing. Just leave those lines out.”
Felipe then slipped a crisp P1000 into the priest’s pocket and walked away, smiling.
Prayer against Depression – by Saint Ignatius of Loyola
O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.