Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday) ~ 11 June 2017

In the Catholic faith, we believe and worship One God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity. are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Glory be to the Father, 

and to the Son, 

and to the Holy Spirit.

The Father is made of no one, neither created nor begotten.

The Son is from the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. We celebrate the presence of the Triune God within us, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Holy Trinity, a doctrine enunciated by the ecumenical councils of Nicaea and Constantinople, is one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and the greatest mystery of our Faith, namely, that there are Three Divine Persons, sharing the same Divine nature in one God. �There is one God, who has three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each Person is God, yet there is still only one God� (CCC #234, #253-256). This is the mystery we profess each week when we affirm our belief in the Son of God, who is "consubstantial [one in Being] with the Father, God from God, light from light true God from true God" and in the Holy Spirit, who "with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified." The inner relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is such that each of them is fully God, yet They are not three Gods but One. This is not comprehendible by the human mind.

O my God, 

Trinity Whom I adore

Grant my soul peace.

Make it Your Heaven,

Your beloved dwelling, 

and the place of Your rest.

May I never abandon You there,

but may I be there,

whole and entire.

Completely vigilant in my faith,

entirely adoring, 

and wholly given over 

to Your creative action.

~ Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity ~ 

Liturgy

Reading 1

Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai
as the LORD had commanded him,
taking along the two stone tablets.

Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there
and proclaimed his name, "LORD."
Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord,
do come along in our company.
This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
and receive us as your own."

Responsorial Psalm

Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!
Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!


Reading 2

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Brothers and sisters, rejoice.
Mend your ways, encourage one another,
agree with one another, live in peace,
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the holy ones greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
to God who is, who was, and who is to come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

John 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God ~ 01 January 2016

On New Year's Day, the octave day of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. It is a Holy Day of Obligation as it commemorates the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ. As the Father from all eternity generates the Son in the love of the Holy Spirit, so Mary, in the flesh, generated the same eternal Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ's Birth was made possible by Mary's fiat: "Be it done unto me according to Thy word.". Calling Mary �Mother of God� is the highest honour we can give to her.

On this day, we too remember our own mothers, living and deceased, and to implore the Blessed Virgin�s intercession for them. May the peace of the Lord remain within us, our families and communities and bring us the joy and happiness in the year to come.

Have a Blessed and Happy New Year.

 

O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1

Numbers 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses:
�Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.�


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.


Reading 2

Galatians 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, �Abba, Father!�
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Alleluia

Hebrews 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;
In these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel

Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ 8 December 2015

"I am the Immaculate Conception."

The Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary herself. From the very first moment of her life, it was God's plan as her prepared her to be the highly favoured one to become the mother of Son of God, Jesus. She preserved from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception in her mother, St.Anne's womb, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race. Many have mistaken that the feast celebrates Jesus� conception, but in actually it celebrates Mary�s Immaculate Conception.

Loving God, We thank you for the example of Mary, whom you chose to be the mother of your only Son, Jesus. She lived her life with love for you and for others. Help us to do the same. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

On this Solemnity, then, by contemplating our beautiful Immaculate Mother, let us also recognize our truest destiny, our deepest vocation: to be loved, to be transformed by love, to be transformed by the beauty of God. Let us look to her, our Mother, and allow her to look upon us, for she is our mother and she loves us so much; let us allow ourselves to be watched over by her so that we may learn how to be more humble, and also more courageous in following the Word of God; to welcome the tender embrace of her Son Jesus, an embrace that gives us life, hope and peace. (Pope Francis, 2nd Sunday of Advent, 8 December 2013)

Reading 1

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, �Where are you?�
He answered, �I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.�
Then he asked, �Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!�
The man replied, �The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.�
The LORD God then asked the woman,
�Why did you do such a thing?�
The woman answered, �The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.�

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
�Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.�

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.


Reading 2

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin�s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
�Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.�
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
�Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.�
But Mary said to the angel,
�How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?�
And the angel said to her in reply,
�The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.�
Mary said, �Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.�
Then the angel departed from her.

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist ~ 24 June 2015

John, the Lord�s forerunner is born

six months prior to the birth 

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God has brought John, 

the greatest of prophets, 

to prepare the way of the Lord.

His call to repentance and baptism 

formed a faithful remnant 

that awaited the coming of the Messiah.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 

make his paths straight.

~ Mark 1:3 ~

I tell you, 

among those born of women 

no one is greater than John; 

yet the least in the kingdom of God 

is greater than he.

~ Luke 7:28 ~

The Church normally celebrate feast day of saints to commemorate their death, their birth into Heaven but to this rule there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. John the Baptist. In Luke 1:41-42, when Elizabeth heard Mary�s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, �Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. John was completely healed of sin in Elizabeth womb, therefore born without Original Sin, and he was then free of any serious sin throughout his life.

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your family may walk in the way of salvation and, attentive to what Saint John the Precursor urged, may come safely to the One he foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
�No. He will be called John.�
But they answered her,
�There is no one among your relatives who has this name.�
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, �John is his name,�
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbours,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
�What, then, will this child be?�
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.

Past Posting
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Solemnity) - 2013

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles ~ 29 June 2015 (Solemnity)

The feast commemorates a solemn celebration in honour of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the great apostles and the principal Patrons of the Church of Rome. Peter, was one of the earliest of twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, and he also was our first pope. Saint Paul never met Jesus prior to Jesus� death and resurrection, but had a conversion experience with the risen Christ while on the road to Damascus which converted him from a persecutor of Christians to become �Apostle to the Gentiles.� Peter, preached of the Gospel among the Jewish people and Paul, the mission among the Gentiles. We celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles� blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.

Peter, prior to Jesus calling was known as Simon, a fisherman by trade. Jesus called Peter, along with his brother Andrew, James, and John, to leave everything behind to become His followers, �Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men�(Matthew 4:19). Paul, prior to Jesus calling was known as Saul, an educated Jew and a member of the Pharisee, as well as being a Roman citizen. Saul persecuted the Christians savagely, but was converted by the risen Christ the one that he had been persecuting after seeing Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4). Peter being martyred in 64 AD, by crucifixion upside down because he said he was not worthy to be sacrificed in the same manner as Christ. Peter was martyred in 67 AD, he was beheaded. Like St.Paul, we must always be on fire for the Lord, and proclaim Him to everyone and in every situation, no matter how difficult it can sometimes be to do so. St. Peter demonstrates to us how difficult discipleship can truly be, but is also an example of the Lord choosing the weak and making them strong in bearing witness to Him. 

Faith in Christ is the light of our life as Christians and as ministers in the Church. Let yourselves be consumed by love for Christ and his Gospel, to become all things to everyone. It is your task to hold nothing back, to go outside of yourselves in the service of the faithful and holy people of God.

The words in the passage from the Gospel of Matthew 16:13-23 below, shows us the confirmation of faith made by Peter in Christ, and the words from the reading from 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, reveals to us Paul's confirmation of love in Christ.

Matthew 16:13-23

Peter�s Declaration about Jesus

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philippi, he asked his disciples, �Who do men say that the Son of man is?� And they said, �Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.� He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?� Simon Peter replied, �You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.� And Jesus answered him, �Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.� Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, �God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.� But he turned and said to Peter, �Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.�

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1

Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.

He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,

and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews

he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

�It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.�

He had him taken into custody and put in prison

under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.

He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter thus was being kept in prison,

but prayer by the Church was fervently being made

to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,

Peter, secured by double chains,

was sleeping between two soldiers,

while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him

and a light shone in the cell.

He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,

�Get up quickly.�

The chains fell from his wrists.

The angel said to him, �Put on your belt and your sandals.�

He did so.

Then he said to him, �Put on your cloak and follow me.�

So he followed him out,

not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;

he thought he was seeing a vision.

They passed the first guard, then the second,

and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,

which opened for them by itself.

They emerged and made their way down an alley,

and suddenly the angel left him.

Then Peter recovered his senses and said,

�Now I know for certain

that the Lord sent his angel

and rescued me from the hand of Herod

and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting.�

Reading 2

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,

and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race;

I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,

which the Lord, the just judge,

will award to me on that day, and not only to me,

but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,

so that through me the proclamation might be completed

and all the Gentiles might hear it.

And I was rescued from the lion�s mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat

and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi

he asked his disciples,

�Who do people say that the Son of Man is?�

They replied, �Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,

still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.�

He said to them, �But who do you say that I am?�

Simon Peter said in reply,

�You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.�

Jesus said to him in reply, �Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter,

and upon this rock I will build my Church,

and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;

and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.�

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ 12 June 2015

A solemnity in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. It falls on a Friday, 19 days after Pentecost Sunday. The faithful are reminded on this solemnity of Jesus� love and are encouraged to make reparation for the many sins committed against Him. Jesus, the Son of God the fruit of Blessed Virgin Mary womb whose heart the same as any human but Jesus heart is pure, full of mercy and love., He is willing become the sacrificial Lamb of God on the cross and die for our salvation because He loved us. The Sacred Heart is depicted as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, encircled by the crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross and bleeding.

In the Heart of the Redeemer 

we adore God's love for humanity, 

his will for universal salvation, 

his infinite mercy, 

and adoring that Heart which, 

after having loved us to the end, 

was pierced by a spear 

and from high on the Cross 

poured out blood and water, 

an inexhaustible source of new life.

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL

John 19:31-37

Jesus� Side Is Pierced

Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness�his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth�that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, �Not a bone of him shall be broken.� And again another scripture says, �They shall look on him whom they have pierced.�