Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The Most Holy Eucharist

Sui moras incolatus, Miro clausit ordine:

Then He closed in solemn order, Wonderously His Life of woe.

Spiritual Communion (St. Alphonsus Ligouri):

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art really present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. (Pause)

As though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee, and unite myself wholly to Thee;
permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.
May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ keep my soul unto Everlasting Life.
Amen.

The Whole Law (Mt.22:35-39):
"And a doctor of the law asked him, tempting him, Master,
which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God, with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy
whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is
like to this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"

p/s:

Yesterday, was the feast of one of my favourite saints, the patron of writers, St. Francis de Sales. Ora pro nobis!
Today, is the feast of St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. Ora pro nobis!
Tomorrow, will be the feast of another one of my favourite saints, the patron of educators, St. Don Bosco. Ora pro nobis!

O, What Glorious Days! :)

p/p/s:

and, Deo gratias for this: I found a S$5.95 sale price Beethoven CD by Daniel Barenboim at HMV.
Marvellous!! :) Beethoven for 5.95! I was pleasantly surprised. :)

I now have the Moonlight Sonata in C sharp minor op.27, the 'Pathetique' Sonata in C minor op.13, the Sonata No. 20 in G op.49 and the 'Appassionata' Sonata in F minor op.57.

I now have 2 versions of the 'Pathetique', one by Vladimir Ashkenazy and now, Daniel Barenboim, two quite different styles of playing. :) Deo gratias. yay.

and now, I have to go to school for never-ending lectures on stats, human nutrition and cell bio. :)
(+never ending lectures on evolution and how dickens was such a great man... eww, =\)

Please pray for me. :) Deo gratias et Marie!

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Saturday, January 27, 2007

St John Chrysostom

Tota Pulchra es O Maria:

"Thou art all-beautiful, O Mary;
In thee there is no stain of original sin;
Thou art the glory of Jerusalem,
The joy of Israel,
The honour of our people,
Thou prayest for the sinners,
O Mary, Virgin most prudent,
Mother of divine grace,
Intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ."
"I will put enmities between thee and the woman, thy seed and
her seed; she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel"
(Genesis 3:15)

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Veritas liberavit vos! Jn 8:32

I'm just at the start of a hectic school year and the work seems never ending! :) lol.

During stats class today, I realised how some statistic proofs used, especially hypothesis testing, one sided/two sided are so philosophically inclined. To prove by contradiction. I think I might just use that method, show how its almost like syllogism and use it when I write more when I can grab the time too, to blog on the Evolution Out! series.
Statisticians are wonderful and brilliant. lol. They are the philosophers of the scientific community.
Deo volente, I hope I do write properly. Sancte Thomas Aquinas, ora pro nobis!

Here's some good meditation materiel from the Imitation. :)
"Sigh and grieve that thou art still so carnal and worldly; so
much inclined to exterior things, so negligent to the interior; so prone to
judge, so severe in reprehending."
-Chapter 7 of Book IV

Though unworthy, we are still confident, ora pro nobis!:
"For there is no oblation more worthy, nor satisfaction
greater, for the washing away of sins, than to offer thyself purely and entirely
to God, together with the oblation of the Body of Christ, in the Mass and
Communion"
-Chapter 7:4 of Book IV
Oblationem!

Domine non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanibitur anima mea.

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

And here's one of my favourite prayers, said by Sancte Padre Pio, who is the famous stigmatist of our times, a Saint! In it, we realise how really nothing we are. How small and miniscule we are. How God doesn't really need us to show His glory, because He made everything and everything, including the human intellect is all but just a speck in the everlasting beauty of the eternal kingdom. Everything depends on His will and it would be definitely His will that everyone and everything must follow. O Dearest Love of my soul, I love Thee!
STAY with me, O Lord. It is so necessary to have Thee present,
not to forget Thee; because Thou knowest how easily I abandon Thee.
STAY with me, O Lord, because I am weak and need Thy strength
not to fall so often.
STAY with me, O my Lor, because Thou art my life and without
Thee, I am without fervour.
STAY with me, O Lord, because Thou art my guiding light and
without Thee, I am in real darkness.
STAY with me, O Lord, to show me Thy Divine Will.
STAY with me, O Lord, that I may hear Thy voice and follow
Thee.
STAY with me, O Lord, because it is my desire to love Thee so
much and always be in Thy company.
STAY with me, O Lord, that I may always be faithful.
STAY with me, O Jesus, because as poor as my soul may be, I
really want it to be a home of consolation, a real love nest for Thee.
STAY with me, O Jesus, because it is really getting late and
the day is declining so fast. Naturally realizing that life fades, death,
judgement, eternity approach and it is necessary for me to revive my strength,
not to falter on the way, and for this I really need Thee.
IT is getting late and death is nearing fast. I fear darkness,
temptations, my crosses with their bitterness and fatigue, my sorrows, and I
need Thee so much, my Dear God, in that lonely night of exile.
STAY with me, O Jesus, in the darkness of life and its
dangers. I really need Thee. Let me know Thee as Thy disciples at the fraction
of the bread, that is, that the Holy Eucharist be the light that dispels the
darkness, the strength that sustains me and the sole joy of my heart.
STAY with me, O Jesus, I do not ask for Divine Consolations,
because I am unworthy; but the gift of Thy presence, O yes! I beg it of
THee.
STAY with me, O Lord, it is Thee alone I seek, Thy love, Thy
grace, Thy heart, Thy spirit, because I love Thee and ask no other reward than
to love Thee more and more, with a firm and practical love.
I LOVE Thee with my whole heart on earth, so that I may love
Thee perfectly throughout Eternity.

O Dearest Mother, pray to Jesus for me, protect me!

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Thursday, January 18, 2007

Ferial - The Progress of Jesus in His hidden life - What Jesus owes to His Mother

It has been a long long looonng day. :)

I spent a good 8 hours "holed" up in one of the few air-conditioned eateries in NUS, writing up a lab report, discussing, tumbling through all we learnt during the 6 hour long practical, discussing, calculating, drawing up tables in excel, discussing, drawing up a chart in excel (it really showed how much we forgot how to draw graphs, especially after 1 sem of no lab modules), pressing the calculator, talking about plasmids, trying to figure out the plasmid map for the plasmid pGFPuv, discussing the experiment that was all about Restriction Endonuclease Digestion lah lah blah ... gah! lol!

My brain is officially now muddled, fuddled, with all its screws, nuts and bolts officially out of order. Alright, just joking :) - but the experience of doing up the report together with my lab partner was good. I finally feel like I'm learning something substantial, I finally feel like a scientist. lol.

There was an "ultra-goondu" (singlish slang for very silly) but very cute myna that got stucked in the canteen. It had flew into the enclosed area but had no chance to get out. It banged its head against the windows many times and flew up and down the length of the canteen trying frantically to get out, even though my friend and I opened some small windows and doors for the bird to fly out. In the end it flew out (finally: after all the "bangings"), but it was a very much welcome laugh after the seriousness of the work that we were engaged in.

God really works in very very marvellous ways. I cannot help but type and blog about it. After looking back at the whole day and thinking about everything, I somehow see the hand of God, the Most High, interested in every single thing that anyone of us engages in.
I was thinking about a chapter from the book Mystical City of God by Venerable Mary of Agreda (link can be found on the side) on how Ven. Mary of Agreda, a 17th century nun (Mother Prioress) wrote about the Holy Trinity. How the Most High works in ways that are very much incomprehensible to all men. It was after all those hard work, analyzing all the results and interpreting the Agarose Gel Electrophoresis results that I came to understand that.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter of this, one of my favourite books in the whole wide world :)

O King, most high and most wise Lord: How incomprehensible are thy judgements, and inscrutable thy ways (Rom. 11,24)! Invincible God, enduring for ever and whose beginning is unknown (Eccli. 18,1)! Who can understand thy greatness and who can be worthy of thy most magnificient works, or who can tell Thee why Thou hast created them (Rom. 9,20)? For Thou art exalted above all of them and our vision cannot reach Thee and our understanding cannot comprehend Thee. Mayest Thou be blest, magnificient King, because Thou has deigned to show me, thy slave and a vile worm of the earth, great sacraments and most sublime mysteries.

We, mankind only of God's creation, from the first human created by the Most High, the Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Adam and then Eve from the rib of Adam, has had to think, understand, meditate, analyze, interpret, come to conclusions, write reports, understand, think, understand, meditate, analyze, interpret, come to conclusions, write essays, (I repeat to show that we all have been doing all that since the day we were born, until now, in all the fields of study, in our daily life, etc, throughout our whole life). Even though we were made in the image and likeness of the Most High, there are many ways in which we are not like the Most Holy Trinity - of course!. One very certain way in which we differ greatly and in which we can see our absolute nothingness and our inate need for the Most High, to be always in union with our Creator because He made us, is because we cannot think and understand like God. We spend our whole lives trying to understand, to know, to comprehend, in the end, to try to understand the ways of God...

God comprehends things in a split second. He was there even before time existed (if such a phrase existed). He was there even before the sun and the stars came into being. He was there even before all things were created. As St John the Apostle, the Evangelist writes in the last of the 4 Catholic Gospels, part of which is repeated at the end of every mass in the Last Gospel, and who can understand Him (Jesus) better than the one (St John) who at the first mass, the Last Supper, understood and comprehended Jesus's thoughts and heart intimately well, who was the only one of the Apostles who rested his heart on that of Jesus, whoose heart rested on Jesus's heart ... (St John, the Apostle whom Jesus loved)

Latin Vulgate (Latin translation of this spiritual reading)
John 1:

Gospel According to Saint John

The divinity and incarnation of Christ. John bears witness of him. He begins to call his disciples.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (the Baptist) 7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. 9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. 13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me.

16 And of his fulness we all have received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No. 22 They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said: I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. 24 And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

26 John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. 27 The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. 28 These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and he saith: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he, of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.

31 And I knew him not, but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him. 33 And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and I gave testimony, that this is the Son of God. 35 The next day again John stood, and two of his disciples.

36 And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turning, and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith to them: Come and see. They came, and saw where he abode, and they stayed with him that day: now it was about the tenth hour. 40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John, and followed him.

41 He findeth first his brother Simon, and saith to him: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter. 43 On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip. And Jesus saith to him: Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.

46 And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. 48 Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered him, and said: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered, and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see.

51 And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

-------
Coming back to the topic, God comprehends things in a split second, in a click of the hand, in a turn of a head, in a split of the match, He knows and understands, He sees and comprehends all the consequences, the analysis, the interpretation, the reasons, the works, etc. He is everywhere, because the Holy Trinity is everywhere by virtue of the fact that it was the Holy Trinity that created all things, that was there even before all things existed. The knowing, the comprehending and the loving of each of the three distinct persons in the Holy Trinity, who is but the only ONE and UNDIVIDED UNITY, leads to the creation of things and everything that is material (including us, humankind and the 2nd of the chief creatures of His creation, the Angels) out of the love that is present in the Holy Trinity. God is omnipresent, omnipotent.
:) Deo gratias!!!

And here's very good meditation materiel for today, January 18 - Ferial, on the Progress of Jesus in His hidden life from another of my favourite books, Alone with God. Here's also a link to a very good reading on What Jesus owes to His Mother (in 3 different parts - part I, part II and part III).

January 18, Ferial
The Progress of Jesus (Lk. 2:40-52)

1. Jesus, like unto us in all things, sin excepted, was like any other child; as His body grew, so did His mental faculties. It was a case of normal and healthy growth, not impeded by any sickness or ailment. Of all this Mary and Joseph were the delighted witnesses. With awe and reverence we behold this gradual development of the divine Child.

2. Petition: That we may believe and trust “in the grace that rests upon us”, through which we can grow “in grace with God and with men”.

I. Gradual Development

“And the child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was in him” (Lk. 2:40). After writing these words St Luke proceeds to related the unexpected and mysterious unveiling of the Divinity into the ordinary life of Jesus, who, at the age of twelve, unknown to His parents, remained in Jerusalem. And then the Evangelist continues: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men” (Lk. 2:51,52).

Whatever was human in Jesus was subject to natural growth: as man He learnt to speak, even to pray, learning from His holy Mother to recite the Psalms; He acquired human knowledge as other children acquire it; St Joseph taught Him the work of a carpenter.

Nay more: Mary had her share in the moulding of Godman’s heart. Just as other mothers have a share in the moulding of their children’s hearts. Therefore it was befitting that the Mother of Jesus be immaculate in her conception, full of grace, exempt of even the shadow of sin. She who was to train this divine Infant had to be a paragon of perfection.

These thoughts should increase our admiration and our reverence for Mary. Holy Mother of God, pray for us; Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

II. Grace with God and Men

As the human faculties of the Child Jesus reached their normal development, He, as man, came to know His Father better, who is in heaven. To praise and love Him more perfectly. In the one Person of Jesus the human and the divine natures were united, with the result that never had human nature given to God such perfect praise, love and service. Christ’s humanity was God’s ideal instrument, indissolubly united to the Divinity, and giving perfect service to God. Several times the Father will bear this solemn testimony to Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Gospel says that Jesus also grew more pleasing to men. The chief witness of this was Mary, His Mother. It had to be so: for the time being the Divinity was hidden in the shape of a perfect man, “the most beautiful of the children of men”. Of Him the Prophet had said: “He shall not cry . . . neither shall his voice be heard abroad . . . The bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench.” (Is. 42:2,3). At Nazareth He was meek and humble of heart as He would be later, when along the high ways of Galilee he “went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed” (Acts 10:38).

The day would come when His own would cast Him our, but at this time He had as yet offended no susceptibilities, and His fellow villagers saw in Him only the Son of Mary, whom they all knew.

With awe and wonder we contemplate this splendid example.

III. Divine Example

Every day we can and must grow in perfection. Remember that such growth does not consist in external practises, or mere feeling. Real progress and spiritual growth take place within the soul, and produce purer intentions, more self-forgetting love, deeper humility. “We faint not,” says St Paul, “but though our outward man is corrupted, the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor.4:16). This inward renewal must be a never ending process.

“He advanced in grace with God and men,” loving God and being loved by Him, loving men and deserving their love. To love God is the first and greatest commandment, but the second is like unto the first. Whosoever pretends to love God, and cares not for his brother, is a liar (1 Jn.4:20). Let all who strive after perfection never forget that strong expression.

May we “henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about by ever wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph. 4:14). St Paul wants us to be manly and steadfast in God’s service, and not like children who yield to passing moods and impressions. Then we shall be spiritually grown up, “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, true God and true Man, in whom our human nature grew into a perfect instrument in the Father’s service, we beseech Thee, help us “to do the truth in charity, so that in all things we may grow up in Thee, who art the head.”

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum.

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ :)

January 13
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD
(Mt. 3:13-17; Jn 1:29-36)

1. On this day (which used to be the Octave of the Epiphany), we commemorate the Baptism of our Lord. From earliest times, the Church, in her liturgy, was wont to establish a connection between three manifestations of Jesus: His manifestation to the Gentiles, represented by the three Wise Men from the East; the manifestation of His Divinity, when John baptized Him in the Jordan; the manifestation of Jesus as a worker of signs and miracles at Cana, where He performed His first miracle. Today we consider the Baptism of our Lord by John. We have often seen the event depicted in our churches and above our altars.

2. Petition: Jesus begins His public ministry with an act of the profoundest humility, followed by a heavenly testimony to His Divinity. May we penetrate deeper into these mysteries.

I. The Baptist Points Out the Messiah

St John the Baptist was the last of the Prophets of Israel, who had announced the Messiah as “He That was to come” On the banks of the Jordan John points to Him standing in their midst: He has come!

In the hallowed silence of the house of Nazareth the Son of God had become the Son of man by the Fiat of a lowly maiden. On the banks of the Jordan the Precursor solemnly and publicly presents Him to Israel. It was befitting that His Mother should shine with the splendour of virginal purity; befitting too that the Precursor be a man who sought God alone and spoke in His name. He gives his solemn testimony to the Messiah, and then withdraws into obscurity. Mary and John, both very closely connected with the Messiah, teach us that He must increase, and that man must decrease.

When John had baptized Jesus, he saw “the Spirit of God, descending as a dove and coming upon Him”, and John testified: “And I saw; and gave testimony that this is the Son of God” (Jn. 1:34). “The next day again John stood and two of his disciples, and beholding Jesus walking he said, Behold the Lamb of God” (Jn. 35,36). And before this, when he had seen Jesus, coming towards him, he had said, “Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me, because he was before me” (Jn 1:29,30).

It is good to fix our gaze on the Baptist, at the moment when Israel hails him as the great Prophet – perhaps the Messiah – before the whole nation and in the presence of his own disciples declining the honour that is offered him, and bearing testimony to another who is the true Messiah. He has testified; now he may pass into the night of obscurity.

II. The Father and the Holy Ghost Manifest Jesus

“And Jesus, being baptized, forthwith came out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon him. And, behold, a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:16,17).

When the Word was made flesh and came to dwell among us, the Three Divine Persons were present and wrought the wonderful mystery; so also, when the Son of man enters upon His office as Messenger of the Father, the Three Persons co-operate: we hear the voice of the Father, whom no man hath ever seen, proclaiming His love for His only-begotten Son; the Holy Ghost appears in the form of a dove, a symbol of love and of meekness. Jesus, the Son of man, at His Baptism assumes the form of a sinner, “for which cause also God hath exalted him” (Phil. 2:9).

At that moment, on the banks of Jordan, the veil is partly removed from the most unfathomable of divine mysteries, and we are allowed to cast a glance into the abyss of the Deity. We rejoice at this solemn testimony of the Father’s love for His Son, Jesus Christ. May we understand something of the feelings of the Heart of Jesus. “Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldst not; but a body thou hast fitted to me … Then said I, Behold, I come to do thy will, O God” (Heb. 10:5,9).

III. The Inauguration of the Public Ministry

In the presence of the Jews watching from the banks of the Jordan, Jesus, humble and meek, enters into the water and, as if he were a sinner receives the baptism of penance.

Jesus begins His own ministry by paying homage to John; He begins His labours very close to the spot where John was preaching; His first disciples were sent to Him by John; not that He had enticed them from their first allegiance, but because John himself had sent them to Jesus. It is good to reflect on the humility and the courtesy of Jesus, tactfully blending the old and the new.

Jesus adopted a new method: John’s manner had been that of the ancient Prophets “and there went out to him all the country of Judaea and all they of Jerusalem, and were baptized by him … confessing their sins” (Mk. 1:5). And they hearkened to his stern message.

John’s mission is a spectacular success, and the whole nation is aroused; but Jesus, the Messiah sponsored by John, enters upon the scene most discreetly, apparently attracting scant attention. The Jews fail to understand the message of Jesus, and the day is at hand when they will obstinately refuse to listen. They will oppose Christ, and finally reject Him. Both the inauguration and the conclusion of the Lord’s ministry are marked by two contrasts: the humiliating Baptism of Penance, followed by the solemn testimony of the Father from heaven; and at the end, Christ’s ignominious death on the Cross, which heralds His entry into the glory of His Father.
Such was the divine plan of our salvation; and in the Heart of Jesus there was at all times the most perfect acceptance of the Father’s decrees: “Be it so, Father, because it is pleasing in thy sight.” We admire, we praise, we give thanks.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus, whose ways are not our ways; our minds are too small and too carnal to grasp the meaning of Thy words and of Thy actions; Thou hast said to Thy disciples, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, that I may perfect his work” (Jn. 4:34), and again “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me” (Jn. 6:38). May we learn from Thee to be humble and to seek only God’s will.

“Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum.”

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Ferial Day in the Epiphany


Greetings one and all!


For those interested:

This is a must read on the Evolution OUT! topic

that I will *hopefully have the time to blog on. It is taken from chapter one of the book, in the "reading list" I put up, Creation Rediscovered by Gerard J. Keane.

and here's some more meditation materiel for today from the book Alone with God.
Very beautiful! :)

January 10
THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI – MARY’S PLACE (Mt. 2:11)

1. The Gospel is always concise, and it refers all things to Jesus; it says nothing about the thoughts and feelings of Mary, when she received this wonderful, and wholly unexpected visit of the Wise Men of the East. We may try to understand these feelings, which she pondered in her heart.

2. Petition: Greater love and reverence for the Mother of God, and deeper trust in her powerful intercession.

I. “They Found the Child with Mary, His Mother”

When the shepherds came to adore the Saviour in the manger the presence of St Joseph is explicitly mentioned by St Luke. When the Wise Men adore Christ, St Matthew simply says, “They found the Child with Mary, His Mother.” It was not necessary to mention St Joseph, but Mary’s name could not be omitted. Without His Mother this Child would not be thinkable, and without her we would not be able to find Him!

When the Wise Men entered the house, “they found the Child with Mary,” they saluted His Mother, and praised her, “and falling down they adored Him.” Mary, holding Jesus in her lap, gazed with wonder at these distinguished pilgrims, absorbed in prayer at the feel of her Child, and she praised God for the great things He had done to her. After the Wise Men had adored the King, and offered Him their gifts, they entered into conversation with Mary, and told her about their journey and about the star. St Luke, who is always anxious to tell us all he knows about the Blessed Virgin, says that, on the occasion of the adoration of the shepherds, “all that heard wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But May kept all these words, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:18,19). On this occasion Mary does the same.

Perhaps our childish curiosity would fain know how she used the gifts of the Wise Men: that hardly matters. But the story of the call of the Wise Men, and the mystical meaning of her oblations, “these things she kept pondering in her heart.”

II. Mary’s Thoughts and Feelings

Did Mary see a connection between the prophecy of the Angel Gabriel on the day of the Annunciation, and the royal gifts, which the Wise Men had brought to the new born King? Did Mary now remember the prophetic words of aged Simeon, the “just and devout man,” on the occasion of the Presentation in the Temple (which must have preceded the visit of the Wise Men): “My eyes have seen the salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Lk. 2:30,31). Were these men, who had come from so far, the first Gentiles to whom it was given to see this Light? Still these other words of Simeon: “Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce” (Lk. 2:34,35). Did Mary recollect these words when the myrrh was offered her, and when so soon after, she received the command to flee in order to preserve the life of the child? We can presume that Mary was privileged gradually to fathom the mystery of our salvation through suffering, death and resurrection; and as the veil was slowly lifted, she accepted it all, and again uttered a loving and unconditional Fiat: God’s Will be done.

It is by trying to understand better the thoughts and feelings of Mary, that we shall grow familiar with the thoughts and feelings of her divine Son: for Mary’s Heart was ever most like unto the Heart of Jesus.

We admire her greatness and her lowliness; we gaze on her as on a living “monstrance”, offering the Child on her lap for the adoration of the Wise Men, and of all of us, and she herself was all the while the most humble and most loving worshipper of all.

III. “Show unto Us the Blessed Fruit of Thy Womb”

This had been Mary’s privilege at Bethlehem with the Shepherds, and here again with the Wise Men. When they arrived this was their prayer: “Show us the Fruit of they womb.”

Are not we also, traveling on a long journey, weary and footsore, seeking Him, who by the star of our faith has called us “out of darkness into his marvelous light”? (1 Peter 2:9) We shall find Him only with Mary, His Mother. She will show Him to us, for He is her Son: and she conceived and bore Him, that we might be saved.

Who for us incarnate
Did not thee despise.
Qui pro nobis natus
Tulit esse tuus.”

Thus the Church sings in the Ave Maris Stella. One day Mary’s greatest joy will be to show us, after we have been released from this exile, “the Blessed Fruit of her womb”.

Prayer: Alma Redemptoris Mater:
Mother of Jesus, heaven’s open gate
Star of the sea, support the fallen state
Of mortals, Thou whose womb thy Maker bore;
And yet, strange thing, a virgin as before;
Who didst from Gabriel’s Hail this news receive,
Repenting sinners by thy prayers relieve.

And show us the Fruit of Thy womb, our Saviour and our everlasting bliss.

Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls!

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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Ferial Day after the Epiphany


The term has opened!
and now officially into day 2.
I'm starting to get a dose, especially today,
of the horrible thing called evolution.

It only strives to cloud a scientist's mind, that's in my very small opinion.
And I'm going to make 2 statements here which I will try to argue for in later posts under the title of Evolution OUT! Part (-).

The statements are as follows:
1) Evolution as it is, IS unscientific.
2) Creation as it stands since time immemorial, IS scientific.

Today's post is just a little rant. :) As I am sure we are all entitled to do.
I had a lecture today that went all out to try to explain evolution in the usual fashion. blah.
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Coming back to the real reason why I'm posting, here's some meditation materiel from the book, Alone with God.

January 8
VIRTUES PRACTISED BY THE WISE MEN

1. For a long while the Wise Men remain prostrate before the King and His Mother, their hearts full of joy and gratitude. We admire the wonderful manner in which God has led them to Bethlehem. They have followed the divine guidance, and co-operated with God’s grace.

2. Petition: May we too, following their example, allow ourselves to be led by God’s grace. May we faithfully tread the path of virtue, even if for a while, the start disappears.

I. In the Beginning

We ought to remember two things: these Wise Men were godly men, and, God had given them a sign.

We know very little about them, just what is related in the Gospel: suddenly they emerge from the darkness, they hold the centre of the stage for a moment, and then they vanish never to appear again. For centuries there were in the East learned men who were given to the observation of the heavenly bodies; from the movements of the stars they hoped to learn about future events. We may rightly suppose that this new bright star had been noticed by other, but only these men read in it a sign from heaven, and an intimation that the great King had been born. God alone knows why they, and they alone, were privileged to understand this. Possible the reason was that they were godly men, “men of good will,” righteous, intent on serving God according to their lights, ready to follow the divine guidance.

To them this star was a heavenly sign that in the land of the Jews a new King had been born, not an ordinary prince, but the anointed of the Lord. Led by the star, they will go and adore Him.

God is with us always, discreetly guiding us by His grace, but we must be ready to heed to His promptings. A vocation, natural or supernatural, generally has its beginnings in a gentle whisper in the soul. If silence and recollection reign in that souls, and if the heart is ready to accept God’s grace when offered, the whisper will be heeded, and God may speak again and bestow further graces. Our disposition should ever be that of little Samuel, when he said: “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Kings 3:9).

II. With and Without the Star

As long as the star pointed the way, they felt secure, even though they did not know whither it would lead them; every morning they set out with new courage, further away from home but closer to God. The Gospel does not tell us when and where the star disappeared, though we may surmise that this happened when they were close to Jerusalem. If they thought that they had reached the goal, and that the new King had been born in the capital, they must have been amazed when they found that no one had heard about the birth of a prince in the house of King Herod. The star had vanished, but their faith remained unshaken; therefore, in the absence of extraordinary help from above, they had recourse to the human means that were at their disposal, and made enquiries where they hoped to find further information. They made honest efforts, and were not discouraged when they discovered that Herod was troubled and all the city with him. The scribes appeared to have some information, but were not interested, and definitely determined to stay at home. At last, when they had gathered what information they could, they departed; but no sooner had they left Jerusalem than the star appeared again; and “they rejoiced with exceeding great joy” (Mt. 2:10). Though they had never yielded to doubt, the disappearance of the star had been a severe trial; but now the star shone again, and they knew that they had acted rightly when the Lord tried them, and that the goal of their long and weary journey was in sight. They “rejoiced with exceeding great joy”.

Here we receive salutary lessons, useful to all those who, in the midst of perils and temptations, seek the way to God; those above all to whom the Lord has shown the start of a religious or priestly vocation, can learn from the Wise Men that God may try them, but will never forsake them. They should be grateful for the light God is pleased to give them here and now’ even if they fail to see “the distant scene”, that is, what God may ask in future. Let us pray as Cardinal Newman prayed, when the surrounding gloom seemed to hide the path from his view:

Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

Even without star, that is, without extraordinary light and special consolation, which God frequently vouchsafes to beginners, we must persevere, and ever struggle forward towards the goal that beckons us. At such times it is good to seek counsel from those whose office it is to guide us; and let us pray with greater fervour, especially to Mary, Star of the Sea.

Hail, Queen of Heav’n, the Ocean Star,
Guide of the wand’rer here below.

III. Till They Find Jesus

The star did not vanish again but stood “over where the child was”. Then they knew they had reached the end of their journey, “and entering the house, they found the child with Mary his mother”.

They “had seen his star in the East” and now they behold Him in person. Their faith does not falter. This little Child, so frail and so lowly, has summoned them, has guided their steps, has shown them a sign in the heavens, and has endowed them with unshakable faith. They behold Him, and “falling down they adored him”. Mary showed them Jesus, the Fruit of her womb.

O Holy Mother, when our star comes to a standstill in the heavens, be pleased to show us too the Fruit of thy womb.

Prayer: O God who, having guided them by a star, on this day didst manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who by faith already have knowledge of Thee, may be brought also to the full vision of Thy beauteous Majesty. Through our Lord (Collect, Mass of Epiphany).
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Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee, Save Souls!



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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Feast of the Holy Family

J.M.J!


May the Blessings of the Most Blessed Trinity be upon Thee and Thy family.


May we, through the example of the Most Holy Family, sanctify our family lives, living as Jesus taught, loving and forgiving.


From the part of the Introit of today's mass, a very favourite Psalm of mine,


How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Gloria Patri . . . Ps. 83:2,3


Quam dilecta tabernacula tua, Domine virtutum: concupiscit et deficit anima mea, in atria Domini.


and this, from the Gradual of the mass today:


One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord, they shall praise Thee for ever and ever. Ps. 26:4, 83:5


Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram: ut inhabitem in domo Domini omnibus diebus vitae meae. Beati qui habitant in domo tua, Domine, in saecula saeculorum laudabunt te.


Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus. :)

A little write up on the Feast Day today, taken from the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal:

The special devotion which sets forth the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue for all Christian households began in the seventeenth century. It commenced almost simultaneously in Canada and France: the Association of the Holy Family being founded in Montreal in 1663, and the Daughters of the Holy Family in Paris in 1674. Numerous other congrgations and associations under the patronage of the Holy Family have been established since that time, and they are spread over the world. The archconfraternity was established by Pius IX in 1847. In 1893 Leo XIII approved a feast for Canada, and Benedict XV extended the Feast of the Holy Family to the whole Church and ordered its celebration to take place on the Sunday after the Epiphany.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

Cor Jesu sacratissimum, Miserere nobis,

Mater Dei Genitrix, Ora pro nobis,

Sancte Josephe, Ora pro nobis.

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Friday, January 05, 2007

First Friday!

and here's a very interesting article I chanced upon, regarding Fast Food ... :)
=)

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Evolution OUT! - Part I: The Introduction



You must wonder why I'm suddenly posting on this. :)
In fact, I've been wanting to write about this ever since I started thinking about it.

Henceforth,
I'll be starting a new series of posts that will touch on evolution.

This is the introductory post for this series of blog posts,

as time goes by, I will post, short posts, here and there along the way

(notice this necessary phrase :), because the next semester will be starting very soon.)

when time permits.


This means that I will blog about this when I have the time to do so, besides my other posts on other things, e.g. meditation materiel, daily life etc.etc. (things that I have already been blogging about)

Making myself very clear, each time I post on this topic, the official disclaimer:

1) the title of the post will read: Evolution OUT! - Part (-):---

2) the labels with regards to the post will look like this: The Anti-Evolution Thesis, Evolution Out! Part (-)

3) any comments/suggestions/disagreements/agreements/debates/etc will only be allowed through the comment function and NOT the tag-board. Emails should be fine, although I may/may not reply. To sum it all up, censor, I will, if need be.

Since this is the introductory post, here are some reasons as to why I'm blogging about this, lest you feel there is no need for me to do so:

1) I study in an environment, and I also mean, I live in this modern world, where almost every single thing denies every single ounce of one very important aspect of life, that supersedes every single one of us, God the Creator, the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity.

2) I grew up learning only about evolution and nothing against evolution. Everything was always for evolution and not against evolution. The post-concilliar church, the "novus ordo", has never, in any of my years, growing up, taught that evolution was contrary to the faith - which I must say something: evolution IS contrary to the True Faith, to the traditions of the Church and evolution is detrimental to the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

Everything, as a child, as a teenager, in school, especially when studying for the A Levels, evolution was taught full scale, to the brim, especially in my most favourite subject - Biology. I have had friends (even some, who went into medical school), after years studying biology, tell me, "what's the point of living, since we all came from the monkey?" etc.etc. - I was affected by that phrase at one point in time of my life.

3) Another point is that, I'm majoring in Life Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Science. This means that for most of my 365 days of the year (save for the total of approximately 4 long months of holidays and on the rare occasion - like last semester when I took only 2 life science modules), I am immersed in a studying environment that is dominated by evolution, one in which, after a while, I feel a bitter taste in my mouth about. It is not that I don't like it. Alright, I don't like it, BUT, I don't mind it anymore. :) if you have been reading my blog, you must have had a taste of the rants that I put up, especially against evolution.

4) Pope Pius XII, in 1950, in his encyclical, Humani generis, has this to say about the evolution of the body, the very question of our origins.

"In the present state of scientific and theological opinion, this question" [evolution of the body] "may be legitimately canvased by reserach and by discussion between experts on both sides. At the same time, the reasons for and against either view must be weighed and adjudged with all seriousness, fairness and restraint; and there must be a readiness on all sides to accept the arbitrament of the Church . . . "

5) The point about this series of posts, is not to "convert" you, or to push you into thinking as to why evolution is sincerely wrong and should be abhored - Deo volente, even though it might just be a good side effect :) Faith and Reason, my dear blog reader, is sincerely very very compatible and logical. Atheism in all its horrid forms is almost as illogical and "un-thinking" as you telling me that the sun rises in the north and sets in the south.

The point is just to present to you, the dear blog reader, with the facts, evidence etc. that I've read or am studying about or thinking about, from a variety of sources (of which I will list in this introduction - which will lengthen with time, I think) about the facts and scientific experiments and explanations that will show things against evolution, things that many of us lack the knowledge of. As Pope Pius XII said, as from point 4 above, in all discussions, the facts against and for it must be shown and discussed and given full consideration.

6) The most important point to note is that I am no master. I have not even completed my degree.
All I aim to accomplish by blogging on this topic IS just to present and compile what I've read and studied and perhaps a little on what I feel - since this is a blog and not a scientific journal, although quotes might just come from journals etc.

7) Most of the things that I will/might write about will not come from me, from any of my work, research etc. :) They are from the many others so much better than me who have spent time, years, thinking, researching and writing about this topic. Credit all goes to them not me because I didn't do any of the work.
Thus, in the next section of this Introductory post, I will provide you with a list of sources, links etc. on where all the other excellent reading materiel can be found and read. This list will be subject to change as often as I see anything wrong with it or as often as I find any new article, etc. to place in this list.
*To any of my readers, if you do have any good reading materiel to add to this list, please do add to this list by placing the links or the articles etc. in the comments section of this Introductory post.

Reading Materiel:





7) The Devolution of Evolution by Dr. Terry Jackson

Blogposts on this topic before this series:


Jesus, Mary, I love Thee! Save Souls!


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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Ferial Day in January after the Circumcision



Puer natus in Bethlehem Alleluia!


That's the starting line of one of the verses of my favourite Christmas Chant(Gregorian),



And now, since I have some time, I have decided to post forward since I found a very good meditation reading materiel from the most recent book I was blogging about, Alone with God by Fr J Heyrman S.J.

Here's the extract:

January 5
BETHLEHEM, THE PALACE OF PEACE

1. We kneel before the Child Jesus, whom Mary holds on her lap. We adore the Prince of Peace, and greet Mary, the Queen of Peace.

2. Petition: The grace to enjoy true peace in our hearts, and to spread it around us.

I. The Palace of Peace

God Himself has chosen it, and here peace between heaven and earth has been sealed. It is not a palace built by man: in such a palace Herod keeps his court in Jerusalem. Heaven has carefully prepared all the circumstances that will attend the inauguration of this peace: a stable, a manger, an Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, a humble carpenter and his wife, so poor that there was no room for them in the inn; there is also a small group of shepherds … and the cave is all dark and damp.

God is wonderful in His works; but here we fail to comprehend His ways; everything here goes counter to our human standards. We are in admiration.

We adore the Prince of Peace.

II. Peace between Heaven and Earth

A peace treaty is inscribed on a parchment, or engraved on bronze or granite. Sheets of parchment, bronze plates and granite tablets are perishable material. Of shorter duration still is the peace engraved on them.

Very different is the peace bestowed on us at Bethlehem: this peace is a pure gift of God, who, at His own initiative, grants it to us out of infinite love and mercy. His own Son, made man, is the living tablet on which this peace is engraved, or rather our peace and reconciliation are made tangible in His Son, in the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. One day the most precious Blood of the Lamb will seal our peace.

Thou, for the sake of guilty men,
Permitting Thy pure Blood to flow
Didst issue from Thy Virgin shrine
And to the cross a victim go.
-Creator Alme Siderum

III. The Authors of Our Peace

The three Persons of the Blessed Trinity are the Authors of our peace: The Father sends His Son; the Son says, “Behold I come … that I should do thy will, O my God” (Ps.39:8,9); the Holy Ghost who came upon Mary and in her womb fashions the Body of the Word of God. Mary’s role in establishing this peace is subordinate, but profoundly real. After her consent the Son of God descends on earth saying, “Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldst not; but a body thou hast fitted to me” (Heb.10:5).

We greet Mary:
O Gate, through which hath passed the King,
O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom;
The ransomed nations praise and sing
Life given from the Virgin womb.
-O Gloriosa, Lauds

IV. The Heralds of Our Peace

God’s angels were the first heralds of our peace. They announced it to the shepherds (Lk.2:9-14). Heaven and earth are reconciled; the chasm that yawned between God and man has been bridged. “Today true peace has come down to us from Heaven; this day Heaven overflows with honey over the whole world” (Responsory of Christmas).

Peace on earth to men of good will! God is the giver of peace and He offers it to all men, on one condition: that we be of good will; that humbly and gratefully we accept the peace that is offered us. If we do that, we give glory to God in the highest, and possess in our hearts “that peace which the world can neither give nor snatch away”.

Prayer: “I will hear what the Lord will speak in me, for he will speak peace unto his people, unto his saints, and unto them that are converted to the heart. Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met each other; justice and peace have kissed. Truth is sprung our of the earth; and justice hath looked down from heaven. For the Lord will give goodness; and our earth shall yield her fruit. Justice shall walk before him; and shall set his steps in the way” (Ps. 84:9-14).

Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee, Save Souls!

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The Most Sweet Name of Jesus

REMARKS OF ST. BERNARD ON THE SWEET NAME OF JESUS

The sweet name of Jesus produces in us holy thoughts, fills the soul
with noble sentiments, strengthens virtue, begets good works, and nourishes
pure affections. All spiritual food leaves the soul dry, if it contain not
that penetrating oil, the name Jesus. When you take your pen, write the name
Jesus: if you write books, let the name of Jesus be contained in them, else
they will possess no charm or attraction for me; you may speak, or you may
reply, but if the name of Jesus sounds not from your lips, you are without
unction and without charm. Jesus is honey in our mouth, light in our eyes, a
flame in our heart. This name is the cure for all diseases of the soul. Are
you troubled? think but of Jesus, speak but the name of Jesus, the clouds
disperse, and peace descends anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin? so
that you fear death? invoke the name of Jesus, and your fears will vanish.
Never yet was human being in urgent need, and on the point of perishing, who
invoked this help-giving name, and was not powerfully sustained. It was
given us for the cure of all our ills; to soften the impetuosity of anger,
to quench the fire of concupiscence, to conquer pride, to mitigate the pain
of our wounds, to overcome the thirst of avarice, to quiet sensual passions,
and the desires of low pleasures. If we call to our minds the name of Jesus,
it brings before us His most meek and humble heart. And gives us a new
knowledge of His most loving and tender compassion. The name of Jesus is the
purest, and holiest, the noblest and most indulgent of names, the name of
all blessings and of all virtues; it is the name of the God-Man, of sanctity
itself. To think of Jesus is to think of the great, infinite God Who, having
given us His life as an example, has also bestowed the necessary
understanding, energy and assistance to enable us to follow and imitate Him,
in our thoughts, inclinations, words and actions. If the name of Jesus
reaches the depths of our heart, it leaves heavenly virtue there. We say,
therefore, with our great master, St. Paul the Apostle: If any man love not
our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema (I Cor. 16:22).

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I saw this on the SSPXasia website. It's a new link to audio sermons. Do download and listen to them when you have the time. :) They are fantastic!

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Monday, January 01, 2007

The Circumcision of the Our Lord Jesus and (tmr) The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

"The More You Honour Me, The More I Will Bless You."


Puer natus est nobis,

et filius datus est nobis:

cujus imperium super humerum ejus:

et vocabitur nomen ejus,

magni concilii angelus.

-from the Introit of Today's Proper, Is.9:6

(A child is born to us,

and a Son is given to us,

Whose government is upon His shoulders:

and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.)




Thine are the heavens,

and Thine is the earth:

the world and the fullness thereof Thou hast founded:

justice and judgment are the preparation of Thy Throne.

-from the Offertory of Today's Proper, Ps.88:12,15


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On This the First day of the New Year, Anno domini 2007,

rachelannethérèse, your humble blogger,

would like to wish you a very happy New Year and,

May the Blessings of the Divine Infant and His Most Dearest Mother

be upon Thee and Thy family. :)

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Here's a most beautiful prayer by Rev. Cyrillus a Matre Dei, the first and most devoted venerator of the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague (of whose picture you see at the top of this post, on a holy card).


Jesus, unto Thee I flee,

Through Thy Mother praying Thee

In my need to succor me.

Truly, I believe of Thee

God Thou art with strength to

shield me;

Full of trust, I hope of Thee

Thou Thy grace wilt give to me.

All my heart I give to Thee,

Therefore, do my sins repent me;

From them breaking, I bessech Thee,

Jesus, from their bonds to free me.

Firm my purpose is to mend me;

Never more will I offend Thee.

Wholly unto Thee I give me,

Patiently to suffer for Thee,

Thee to serve eternally.

And my neighbour like to me

I will love for love of Thee.

Little Jesus, I beseech Thee,

In my need to succor me,

That with Joseph and Mary

And the angels, I may Thee

Once enjoy eternally. Amen.


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St. Thérèse of Lisieux, my patron, had a little prayer she composed once for the dearest Child Jesus:

"O eternal Father, Your only Son,
the dear Child Jesus,
is mine,
since You have given Him to me.
I offer Thee the infinite merits of His divine Childhood,
and I beg Thee in His name to open the gates of heaven to a countless
host of little ones who will forever follow this divine Lamb."
:)

INTROIT of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus:


In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow,

of those that are in heaven,

on earth,

and under the earth:

and let every tongue confess

that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

(Psalm) O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!

Gloria Patri.

-Phil.2:10-11; Ps.8:2

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Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee, Save Souls!

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