HOLY DAYS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WHY IT IS OBSERVED

HOLY DAYS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WHY IT IS OBSERVED

  23:44    Catholic Channels

---

HOLY DAYS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WHY IT IS OBSERVED
Obligation days are important feast days in the life of the Catholic community on which, in addition to Sundays, Catholics (who are above the age of reason and who are not sick) are obligated to participate in Mass according to the precepts of the Church.  They celebrate an important mystery of the Catholic faith.  The number of these holy days can vary from country to country.  In the United States, there are six holy days of obligation.

January 1 - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
This feast, closely connected to the feast of Christmas and celebrated on the octave of Christmas, is the most important and oldest of the major feasts of Mary. Mary's Divine Maternity became a universal feast in 1931. Liturgical reform initiated by Vatican II placed it on January 1 in 1969. Prior to this, the feast celebrated on January 1 was the circumcision of Jesus.  Mary is indeed the mother of God and our mother is well.  As we begin a new year, it is fitting that we honor and venerate Mary as an essential part of the Catholic Church and of our own lives.

The Ascension of Our Lord - Observed on the seventh Sunday of Easter or on the Thursday after the sixth Sunday of Easter
This feast is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter Sunday and commemorates the elevation of Jesus into heaven by his own power in the presence of his disciples. It is narrated in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51, and in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

In March 2000, the Catholic bishops of the Wisconsin province transferred the Feast of the Ascension to the seventh Sunday of Easter, one week before Pentecost Sunday. The Vatican, at the request of the bishops of the United States, granted permission for the date change, giving ecclesiastical provinces in the United States the authority to make the transfer. Observing the Ascension on the seventh Sunday of Easter allows for heightened celebration and an increased opportunity to educate people about the meaning of the feast.  Some dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Boston, continue to celebrate this feast day on the original Thursday.

August 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is the principal feast of Mary. It has a double purpose: first, the happy departure of Mary from this life and second, the assumption of her body into heaven. Departure from this world and entrance into the next is the same movement in two different expressions. Little is known for certain about the day, year and manner of Mary's death. The dates assigned for it vary between three and fifteen years after Jesus' Ascension.  Since Mary was preserved free from all stain of original sin, she was spared bodily decay and was taken up body and soul into heaven once her earthly life was over.  Thus the Lord has exalted her as Queen over all things.

Mary's Assumption takes nothing away from Christ. On the contrary, it demonstrates the power of his Resurrection. Since Mary was the mother of Christ and the first to believe in him, she was raised by Him to the glorified life of heaven. It is, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection" (no. 966).

Mary is not only the first disciple and mother of Jesus; she is also a symbol of the Church and a model for all Christians. By reflecting on the graces God gave the Blessed Virgin, we understand more about his gifts to us. The Assumption of Mary is the realization of the hope that all believers share. Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is a sign of the promise made by Jesus to all Christians that one day they too will be received into paradise.

November 1 - All Saints' Day
This feast honors all the saints, known and unknown.  This feast was first celebrated on May 13, 610, when Pope Boniface IV proclaimed the day Feast of All Holy Martyrs in Rome. The intent was to honor all martyrs who were not included in local records. In 835, Pope Gregory IV changed the date and name to November 1 and Feast of All Saints.   There are many saints who are not popularly known or who are not celebrated during the course of the liturgical year.  This feast day provides an opportunity to remember and celebrate their lives.

December 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the belief that God preserved Mary from any inclination to sin, the inheritance of original sin passed on to all humankind from Adam and Eve.  Even though Mary was conceived in the normal way by her parents, she was preserved from original sin and redeemed by God’s grace from the moment of her conception. Mary is indeed “full of grace.” The official teaching of the Church says: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all original sin.”  What Christ does for everyone who calls upon his name and is baptized (Acts 2:38; 4:12; Romans 10:13) he did for his mother when she was conceived. “By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.” [Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 493]

The feast of the Conception of Mary appeared in the Roman calendar in 1476. After the dogmatic definition by Pope Pius IX in 1854, it became the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

December 25 - Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord
This feast, one of the two major feasts of the liturgical year, celebrates the birth of Jesus.  We celebrate the Incarnation, when God became flesh and entered the world.  We have a God who loves us and saves us!

Please Note:
When the following holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday, there is no obligation to attend Mass:
January 1
August 15
November 1
Although the obligation to attend Mass when these three holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday is abolished, parishes are to continue to observe these holy days by scheduling one or more Masses at a convenient time so that people who wish to participate are able to do so. This was decided at the November 1991 meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The action was confirmed by the Congregation for Bishops on July 4, 1992

Read More

what advent stands for roman catholic and why it is observed

what advent stands for roman catholic and why it is observed

  23:12    Catholic Channels

---

What Is the Aim of Advent for Christians?
Advent is a season on the Church's liturgical calendar--specifically, it is as season on the calendar of the Latin Church, which is the largest Church in communion with the pope.
Other Catholic Churches--as well as many non-Catholic churches--have their own celebration of Advent.
According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar:
Advent has a twofold character:
as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered;
as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ's Second Coming at the end of time.
Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation [Norms 39].
We tend to think of Advent only as the season in which we prepare for Christmas, or the First Coming of Christ, but as the General Norms point out, it is important that we also remember it as a celebration in which we look forward to the Second Coming of Christ.
Properly speaking, Advent is a season that brings to mind the Two Comings of Christ.

2. What Liturgical Colors Are Used in Advent?
Particular days and certain types of celebrations can have their own colors (e.g., red for martyrs, black or white at funerals), but the normal color for Advent is violet. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal provides:
The color violet or purple is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead [346d].
In many places, there is a notable exception for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday:

The color rose may be used, where it is the practice, on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and on Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent) [GIRM 346f].

3. Is Advent a Penitential Season?
We often think of Advent as a penitential season because the liturgical color for Advent is violet, like the color of Lent, which is a penitential season.
However, in reality, Advent is not a penitential season. Surprise!
According to the Code of Canon Law:
Can.  1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Although local authorities can establish additional penitential days, this is a complete listing of the penitential days and times of the Latin Church as a whole, and Advent is not one of them.

4. When Does Advent Begin and End?
According to the General Norms:
Advent begins with evening prayer I of the Sunday falling on or closest to 30 November and ends before evening prayer I of Christmas [Norms 40].
The Sunday on or closest to November 30 can range between November 27 and December 3, depending on the year.
In the case of a Sunday, Evening Prayer I is said on the evening of the preceding day (Saturday). According to the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours:
96. Evening prayer, celebrated immediately before Mass, is joined to it in the same way as morning prayer. Evening prayer I of solemnities, Sundays, or feasts of the Lord falling on Sundays may not be celebrated until after Mass of the preceding day or Saturday.
This means that Advent begins on the evening of a Saturday falling between November 26 and December 2 (inclusive), and it ends on the evening of December 24th, which holds Evening Prayer I of Christmas (December 25th).

5. What Is the Role of Sundays in Advent?
There are four Sundays of Advent. The General Norms state:
The Sundays of this season are named the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent [Norms 41].
We have already mentioned that the Third Sunday of Advent has a special name--Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for "Rejoice," which is the first word of the introit of the Mass for this day.
The Church ascribes particular importance to these Sundays, and they take precedence over other liturgical celebrations. Thus the General Norms state:
Because of its special importance, the Sunday celebration gives way only to solemnities or feasts of the Lord. The Sundays of the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, however, take precedence over all solemnities and feasts of the Lord. Solemnities occuring on these Sundays are observed on the Saturdays preceding [Norms 5].
You also cannot celebrate Funeral Masses on the Sundays of Advent:
Among the Masses for the Dead, the Funeral Mass holds first place. It may be celebrated on any day except for Solemnities that are Holydays of Obligation, Thursday of Holy Week, the Paschal Triduum, and the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, with due regard also for all the other requirements of the norm of the law [GIRM 380].
6. What Happens on Weekdays in Advent?
It is especially recommended that homilies be given on the weekdays of Advent. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states
On Sundays and Holydays of Obligation there is to be a Homily at every Mass that is celebrated with the people attending and it may not be omitted without a grave reason. On other days it is recommended, especially on the weekdays of Advent, Lent and Easter Time, as well as on other festive days and occasions when the people come to church in greater numbers [GIRM 66].
The weekdays from 17 December to 24 December inclusive serve to prepare more directly for the Lord's birth [Norms 41].
This special role is illustrated, for example, by the Scripture readings used in the liturgy on these days.
7. How Are Churches Decorated During Advent?
During Advent the floral decoration of the altar should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord. During Lent it is forbidden for the altar to be decorated with flowers. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts [GIRM 305].
8. How Is Music Performed During Advent?
In Advent the use of the organ and other musical instruments should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord. In Lent the playing of the organ and musical instruments is allowed only in order to support the singing. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts [GIRM 313].
9. Is the Gloria Said or Sung During Advent?
Neither. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal provides:
[The Gloria or "Glory to God in the highest"] is sung or said on Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and also on Solemnities and Feasts, and at particular celebrations of a more solemn character [GIRM 53].
10. What Private Devotions Can We Use to Grow Closer to God During Advent?

Read More

why black crosses mark on the foreheads of many catholics, history of Ash Wednesday and Easter celebration

why black crosses mark on the foreheads of many catholics, history of Ash Wednesday and Easter celebration

  22:48    Catholic Channels

---

Black crosses  mark on the foreheads of many Christians, signifying the start of the Lenten season.
It's all part of Ash Wednesday. Learn more about the religious day, from the symbolism behind the black crosses to its history.
Ash Wednesday is inextricably linked to Easter. After all, it marks the beginning of the Lent penance period that ends on that important Christian holiday. But, even though the Easter story takes place in biblical times, the traditions of Ash Wednesday aren't quite that old.
"The practice of Ash Wednesday dates back to the 11th Century," says Lauren F. Winner, a priest and assistant professor at Duke Divinity School. "You see that in the book Daniel in the nine chapter there's a line about associating fasting with ashes, so ashes are associated with penance, which is the dominant theme of Lent."
And the most familiar Ash Wednesday observance—the ash crosses worn on the foreheads of many churchgoers—hasn't always been acknowledged by all branches of Christianity, Winner says. It wasn't until a few decades ago that the tradition became widespread in the United States.
In the 1970s, the practice matched up with a few wider trends in American religion, including the embrace of once-discarded traditions and the search for ways to connect the physical body to spiritual life. Ash Wednesday was an opportunity for a multi-sensory way of connecting faith to the body, so many American Christians at the time decided to begin wearing that outward physical mark of their spiritual lives. Winner says she thinks its popularity has endured as it offers those celebrating an easy way to prompt conversations about faith.

"We've seen the rise of a whole array of bodily practices and this is a very striking one for those who are not necessarily comfortable talking about faith,"she says. "The practice of this once a year is an organic way of drawing their faith into their lives."
Stay on top of the history behind today’s news.
But what is it exactly that's on the foreheads of those observing the holiday? The ash used for Ash Wednesday is made of palm branches used on the previous Palm Sunday, when Christians carry palms in a nod to the Gospels' reference to Jesus' path being covered in palm fronds on the day he entered Jerusalem. Occasionally the ashes are mixed with oil so they stay on congregants' foreheads for longer.
In modern times, especially as cremation has become more popular in the U.S., many people imbue the ashes with a new level of meaning, Winner says. "[They represent] penance and mortality," she says, "but there's also a much stronger and more palpable association if people were just last year scattering ashes of a family member."
With many religious traditions, the meaning can often be lost over time. But Winner says Ash Wednesday, even as observances evolve, is one exception to that rule."It's very powerful to say those words about 'you are dust and to dust you shall return,'" she says. "I keep waiting for it to get overly familiar and lose its power but it doesn't."

Read More

DAILY READING FOR 16TH AUGUST, 2017

DAILY READING FOR 16TH AUGUST, 2017

  22:10    Catholic Channels

---

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ DT 34:1-12; PS 66:1-3,5,16-17; MT 18:15-20 ]
1 Then, leaving the Plains of Moab, Moses went up Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah opposite Jericho, and Yahweh showed him the whole country: Gilead as far as Dan,

2 the whole of Naphtali, the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, the whole country of Judah as far as the Western Sea,

3 the Negeb, and the region of the Valley of Jericho, city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.

4 Yahweh said to him, 'This is the country which I promised on oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I shall give it to your descendants. I have allowed you to see it for yourself, but you will not cross into it.'

5 There in the country of Moab, Moses, servant of Yahweh, died as Yahweh decreed;

6 he buried him in the valley, in the country of Moab, opposite Beth-Peor; but to this day no one has ever found his grave.

7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye undimmed, his vigour unimpaired.

8 The Israelites wept for Moses on the Plains of Moab for thirty days. The days of weeping for the mourning rites of Moses came to an end.

9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and him the Israelites obeyed, carrying out the order which Yahweh had given to Moses.

10 Since then, there has never been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man whom Yahweh knew face to face.

11 What signs and wonders Yahweh caused him to perform in Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants and his whole country!

12 How mighty the hand and great the fear that Moses wielded in the eyes of all Israel!

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 66:1-3, 5, 8, 16-17
1 [For the choirmaster Song Psalm] Acclaim God, all the earth,

2 sing psalms to the glory of his name, glorify him with your praises,

3 say to God, 'How awesome you are! 'Your achievements are the measure of your power, your enemies woo your favour,

5 Come and see the marvels of God, his awesome deeds for the children of Adam:

8 Nations, bless our God, let the sound of his praise be heard;

16 Come and listen, all who fear God, while I tell what he has done for me.

17 To him I cried aloud, high praise was on my tongue.


Gospel, Matthew 18:15-20
15 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge.

17 But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.

18 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'

Pride is the cause of our sins.  Most of our problems stem from a low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence.  This explains why many of us are ambitious, winning laurel after laurel to prove to ourselves and to others that we are good enough, intelligent and capable.  We want to feel good about ourselves.  That is why we compete with others to climb to the top.   But the truth is that we will never be good enough for everyone and we can never be the best as there will always be others who are better than us in other things.

Pride also leads to anger, resentment and grudges.  This is especially so when others have more than us or are better than us and are more popular and loved.  We want to compare and when others are better than us, we fall into the sin of envy.  Pride also insists on justice and the need to secure our rights.  We become reactive and vindictive when our rights are compromised.  We feel the need to defend our rights and take what belongs to us.  We are always worried about how people think of us rather than how we think of ourselves.

But today we are called to see the bigger picture of life.  Whilst ambition and justice are important, they are not everything.  It is right to have an ambition in life so that we can live a purposeful and meaningful life.  It is not wrong to demand for your rights.  Yet, if we spend all our time winning crown after crown, and fighting with our opponents, we will feel drained and so sapped of energy that we have little left to enjoy life with our friends and loved ones.   We will be pursuing goals that can never be realized because there will be always another goal to achieve.

Indeed, the Lord told Moses to let go of his ambition.  Whilst Moses had done much to set His people free from the slavery of the Egyptians, formed a motley crowd of people into a nation and preparing them to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the desert, He would not be allowed to enter into it.   The Lord said to him, “This is the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your descendants.  I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not cross into it.’”

Moses accepted the will of God and His plan for himself and the people.  Moses did not appeal to the Lord to give him the opportunity to see through until the mission was accomplished.   He was ready to surrender everything into the hands of God.   He did not insist that since he rescued the people from Egypt and brought them out and up, he deserved the right to lead them into the Promised Land.  This is so unlike most of us when we bargain with the Lord that we be given the grace to see through what we started.   Parents when sick often pray that they will live till they are able to see their children graduate, get married and have a child.  They feel the need for closure before they leave the world.

But God was saying to Moses to leave everything into His hands.   He knew best and He knew what to do.  God had His plans in place.  God had already prepared his successor in the person of Joshua.   He “was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him.  It was he that the sons of Israel obeyed, carrying out the order that the Lord had given to Moses.”   In other words, no one is indispensable.  God will see through His projects and plans.  We need not worry about what will happen when we are no longer around.  Hence, the Lord gave Moses a preview of what He intended to give to the people of Israel.  “Leaving the plains of Moab, Moses went up Mount Nebo and the Lord showed him the whole land.”  With or without Moses, the plan of God would be realized.

We must learn from Moses to graciously let go and let God take over.  It is true that no one could replace Moses for he was an exceptional leader.  “Since then, never has there been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man the Lord knew face to face.  What signs and wonders the Lord caused him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and his whole land! How mighty the hand and great the fear that Moses wielded in the sight of all Israel!”  Yet, we can trust that it is not in our hands or power but in the hands and power of God.   As leaders, we are simply laying the foundation for the next leader to bring the organization to a higher level.  So in truth, we build upon each other’s successes and failures.   But at the end of the day, it is God’s work, not ours.  Like the psalmist, we pray, “Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of his name.  O render him glorious praise.  Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!’ Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among men.  Come and hear, all who fear God.  I will tell what he did for my soul: to him I cried aloud, with high praise ready on my tongue.”   All glory be to God alone.

Indeed, in life, we must remember that God has a plan for each one of us.  We are not here permanently but are pilgrims along the way.  As William Shakespeare in his play, “As you like it”, said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”   So let us not cling to our positions, to our offices and roles that we play in this life.  We should simply do our best, play our part and when it is time to exit, exit graciously and not grudgingly.  Life on this earth is temporary, so is everything else – money, health, beauty, accomplishments, power, position and fame.  All these things do not last.  Our real heaven and the true Promised Land is in heaven where we get our final reward.   This was what Moses was to arrive at, not the earthly Promised Land. But he had a foretaste of what the heavenly Promised Land was like – much greater than what he could see.

However, the Kingdom of God is not built in a day.  Already during the time of Matthew’s Christian community, there were quarrels, misunderstandings and scandals.  This was the context of the evangelist in citing the advice of Jesus in handling difficult matters in the community, especially errant members. Whether these are the real words of Christ or the thoughts of Jesus reinterpreted by the early Christian community, the truth remains that there is no perfect community.  If Catholics are scandalized by the sins and weaknesses of fellow Christians and Church leaders, it is because they are not realistic about themselves.  As Jesus said to the adulterous woman, “Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” (Jn 8:10f)

But it is important to take note of the process.  Underpinning the whole process of fraternal correction is dialogue in truth and in charity.  It is not about revenge and seeking to destroy the sinner or seeking punishment on someone who has wronged us.  Unfortunately, when we seek justice, we are in truth seeking revenge; not the restoration of the social order.  We just want the person who hurt us to be punished, not so much corrected or to repent.   Hence, the procedures taught by the Lord involves a series of steps.  Firstly, to have it out quietly with the person concerned.  If he refuses to listen, find some others to mediate.  Only when that fails, is it then to be reported to the authorities.  But how many of us observe the instructions of our Lord in dealing with errant Catholics?  We report them immediately to the authorities so that they could be humiliated and be given the punishment that we hope to see.   Underlying such desire is the inability to let go and let God take over.  We cannot let go of our anger and vindictiveness.  But Jesus is asking us, as He asked Moses, to let go of our attachment to our pride.  Jesus said, “But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.”  In other words, let him be and allow the grace of God to bring him back at the proper time.  We cannot force people to be converted.  They need self-awareness and grace is required. We need to wait for God’s time.

Read More

CATHOLIC DAILY READING FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH. 2017

CATHOLIC DAILY READING FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH. 2017

  21:38    Catholic Channels

---

             CATHOLIC DAILY READING FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH. 2017

First Reading, Deuteronomy 34:1-12

1 Then, leaving the Plains of Moab, Moses went up Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah opposite Jericho, and Yahweh showed him the whole country: Gilead as far as Dan,

2 the whole of Naphtali, the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, the whole country of Judah as far as the Western Sea,

3 the Negeb, and the region of the Valley of Jericho, city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.

4 Yahweh said to him, 'This is the country which I promised on oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I shall give it to your descendants. I have allowed you to see it for yourself, but you will not cross into it.'

5 There in the country of Moab, Moses, servant of Yahweh, died as Yahweh decreed;

6 he buried him in the valley, in the country of Moab, opposite Beth-Peor; but to this day no one has ever found his grave.

7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye undimmed, his vigour unimpaired.

8 The Israelites wept for Moses on the Plains of Moab for thirty days. The days of weeping for the mourning rites of Moses came to an end.

9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him, and him the Israelites obeyed, carrying out the order which Yahweh had given to Moses.

10 Since then, there has never been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man whom Yahweh knew face to face.

11 What signs and wonders Yahweh caused him to perform in Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants and his whole country!

12 How mighty the hand and great the fear that Moses wielded in the eyes of all Israel!

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 66:1-3, 5, 8, 16-17
1 [For the choirmaster Song Psalm] Acclaim God, all the earth,

2 sing psalms to the glory of his name, glorify him with your praises,

3 say to God, 'How awesome you are! 'Your achievements are the measure of your power, your enemies woo your favour,

5 Come and see the marvels of God, his awesome deeds for the children of Adam:

8 Nations, bless our God, let the sound of his praise be heard;

16 Come and listen, all who fear God, while I tell what he has done for me.

17 To him I cried aloud, high praise was on my tongue.


Gospel, Matthew 18:15-20
15 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.

16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge.

17 But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.

18 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'

Read More

Some Fractions Of Ahiara Diocese Rejects Bishop Peter Okpalaeke

Some Fractions Of Ahiara Diocese Rejects Bishop Peter Okpalaeke

  11:20    Catholic Channels

---

             

Ahiara Diocese Rejects Bishop Peter Okpalaeke.
A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Philip Jamang, has described the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke by some members of Ahiara Diocese, Mbaise, in Imo, as a “disgrace” to the Catholic Church. Jamang, Parish Priest of Church of Assumption, Chongo Pyel, Jos, told the Newsmen that it was particularly wrong for some priests to support those against a Bishop appointed by the Pope. “Their action is strange; it is an insult never heard of in the Catholic Church,” he said on Monday in Jos. The Ahiara Catholic Diocese has remained without a Bishop, more than four years after the death of its pioneer Bishop, Rt. Rev. Victor Chikwe, after the rejection of Okpalaeke, who was appointed and consecrated in 2012. Sources indicated that a section of Mbaise priests, supported by a segment of the laity, had remained opposed to  Okpalaeke, citing clannish differences. In May 2017, the Pope gave the Diocese a 30-day ultimatum to accept Okpalaeke and apologise over their unruly behaviour to him, or face sanctions. The ultimatum expired last month without compliance. Jamang, while reacting to the lingering disagreement, said that the action of the priests and the laity had demeaned the Catholic Church and the sacred place of the Pontiff. “The Catholic Church is a united entity known for sanity and dignity. If today some sections of the Church, including priests in Ahiara, are rejecting a Bishop on the basis of clan, then something is really wrong. “Most of the Bishops are not natives of Dioceses where they serve. Bishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, for instance, is from Jalingo in Taraba. Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese is from Kaduna State. “For any Catholic faithful to insist that his or her Bishop must be a native of the area he is posted, is very odd and strange,” he said. Jamang urged Catholics and other Christians to accept and support people ordained by God and sent to work with them as his ministers, and avoid actions that would bring shame to Christianity. He also called on Christians to pray for the unity of the Church and Nigeria in general

Read More

POPE FRANCIS SEND HIS CONDELENCES TO VICTIMS OF ANAMBRA MASSACRE

POPE FRANCIS SEND HIS CONDELENCES TO VICTIMS OF ANAMBRA MASSACRE

  09:44    Catholic Channels

---

Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury following the violent attack in Saint Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu.”
He offered his “heartfelt condolences to all the faithful of the Diocese of Nnewi, in particular, the families of the deceased and all those affected by this tragedy.”
The Pontiff also gave the entire diocese his blessings of “consolation and strength.”
Pope Francis has ordered rebel priests in Nigeria to write to him personally pledging "total obedience" following the spat over the Vatican's choice of local bishopplay
Pope Francis offers prayers and condolences to victims of Anambra church attack (AFP/File)

ALSO READ: What Christian leaders are saying about Ozubulu massacre
The Catholic News Agency reports that the telegram was addressed to Bishop Hilary Paul Odili Okeke of Nnewi.
It was signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Pope Francis’ telegram follows the attack on the worshippers of ‎St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ugwu Oye in Ozubulu, Anambra State on Sunday, July 6, 2017.
St. Philips in Anambra, a place for worship has been violated by a recent attack at least 11 peopleplay
St. Philips in Anambra, a place for worship has been violated by a recent attack at least 11 people (premiumtimesng)

According to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, the death toll has risen to 13.
The state police has linked the attack to a feud between members of the community living outside Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Channels TV reports that priests of Nnewi Diocese have held a mass for the victims of the attacks.
Priests hold Mass for victims of the attackplay
Priests hold Mass for victims of the attack (channelstv)

The mass was led by Catholic Bishop, Most Reverend Hilary Okeke, who said it was important for people to still come together in spite of the tragedy.
He said, “We have come here to turn to God in confidence and in trust: for the dead, so that the dead will have eternal rest; for the wounded, so that they will have healing; for the parents and the families, that they may be consoled and helped in every way; for the parish, that the parish will have confidence in God and even though they have gone through this suffering that they will still know that God has not abandoned them.”

Read More