Blessed Pope John Paul II

Today, April 2, 2013, is the 8th anniversary of the death of Blessed Pope John Paul II, that year, it was the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, the devotion His Holiness brought in new vigor to the life of the Church.  Just 6 short after his death, Pope Benedict XVI
(now Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI) beatified him on Mat 1st, 2011.  Pope John Paul II showed the world many things- 

 HOPE for world in need, TRUST in God's wondrous mercy, LOVE for God and neighbor, JUSTICE for all, PEACE in the world, FAITH in the Catholic Church, HONOR for Mary and saints, JOY in God's goodness, PENANCE for sinners and the world, PRAYER for growing in union with God, PURITY for the youth, RECOURSE to the Blessed Sacrament, Confession, and the other Sacraments, PROMOTION of religious vocations, COURAGE under trials, SUFFERING lovingly for God and soul at the hour of our death. 


ENGLISH:     POPE JOHN PAUL II, PRAY FOR US!
SPANISH:     PAPA JUAN PABLO II, RUEGA POR NOSOTROS! 
POLISH:       Papież Jan Paweł II módl się za nami
ITALIAN:     Papa Giovanni Paolo II, prega per noi
FRENCH:      Pape Jean-Paul II, priez pour nous
LATIN:         PONTUFEX IOANNES PAULUS II, ORA PRO NOBIS!   

          

Easter and the Easter Octave

EASTER SUNDAY AND THE EASTER OCTAVE 

"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!  ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!" 

Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis
Easter Vigil, St. Peter's Basilica, March 30, 2013  


Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. In the Gospel of this radiant night of the Easter Vigil, we first meet the women who go the tomb of Jesus with spices to anoint his body (cf. Lk 24:1-3). They go to perform an act of compassion, a traditional act of affection and love for a dear departed person, just as we would. They had followed Jesus, they had listened to his words, they had felt understood by him in their dignity and they had accompanied him to the very end, to Calvary and to the moment when he was taken down from the cross. We can imagine their feelings as they make their way to the tomb: a certain sadness, sorrow that Jesus had left them, he had died, his life had come to an end. Life would now go on as before. Yet the women continued to feel love, the love for Jesus which now led them to his tomb. But at this point, something completely new and unexpected happens, something which upsets their hearts and their plans, something which will upset their whole life: they see the stone removed from before the tomb, they draw near and they do not find the Lord’s body. It is an event which leaves them perplexed, hesitant, full of questions: "What happened?", "What is the meaning of all this?" (cf. Lk 24:4). Doesn’t the same thing also happen to us when something completely new occurs in our everyday life? We stop short, we don’t understand, we don’t know what to do. Newness often makes us fearful, including the newness which God brings us, the newness which God asks of us. We are like the Apostles in the Gospel: often we would prefer to hold on to our own security, to stand in front of a tomb, to think about someone who has died, someone who ultimately lives on only as a memory, like the great historical figures from the past. We are afraid of God’s surprises. Dear brothers and sisters, we are afraid of God’s surprises! He always surprises us! The Lord is like that.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us not be closed to the newness that God wants to bring into our lives! Are we often weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which he cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to him.

2. But let us return to the Gospel, to the women, and take one step further. They find the tomb empty, the body of Jesus is not there, something new has happened, but all this still doesn’t tell them anything certain: it raises questions; it leaves them confused, without offering an answer. And suddenly there are two men in dazzling clothes who say: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; but has risen" (Lk 24:5-6). What was a simple act, done surely out of love – going to the tomb – has now turned into an event, a truly life-changing event. Nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of those women, but also in our own lives and in the history of mankind. Jesus is not dead, he has risen, he is alive! He does not simply return to life; rather, he is life itself, because he is the Son of God, the living God (cf. Num 14:21-28; Deut 5:26; Josh 3:10). Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future; Jesus is the everlasting "today" of God. This is how the newness of God appears to the women, the disciples and all of us: as victory over sin, evil and death, over everything that crushes life and makes it seem less human. And this is a message meant for me and for you dear sister, for you dear brother. How often does Love have to tell us: Why do you look for the living among the dead? Our daily problems and worries can wrap us up in ourselves, in sadness and bitterness... and that is where death is. That is not the place to look for the One who is alive!

Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life! If up till now you have kept him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms. If you have been indifferent, take a risk: you won’t be disappointed. If following him seems difficult, don’t be afraid, trust him, be confident that he is close to you, he is with you and he will give you the peace you are looking for and the strength to live as he would have you do.

3. There is one last little element that I would like to emphasize in the Gospel for this Easter Vigil. The women encounter the newness of God. Jesus has risen, he is alive! But faced with empty tomb and the two men in brilliant clothes, their first reaction is one of fear: "they were terrified and bowed their faced to the ground", Saint Luke tells us – they didn’t even have courage to look. But when they hear the message of the Resurrection, they accept it in faith. And the two men in dazzling clothes tell them something of crucial importance: remember. "Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee… And they remembered his words" (Lk 24:6,8). This is the invitation to remember their encounter with Jesus, to remember his words, his actions, his life; and it is precisely this loving remembrance of their experience with the Master that enables the women to master their fear and to bring the message of the Resurrection to the Apostles and all the others (cf. Lk 24:9). To remember what God has done and continues to do for me, for us, to remember the road we have travelled; this is what opens our hearts to hope for the future. May we learn to remember everything that God has done in our lives.

On this radiant night, let us invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who treasured all these events in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19,51) and ask the Lord to give us a share in his Resurrection. May he open us to the newness that transforms, to the beautiful surprises of God. May he make us men and women capable of remembering all that he has done in our own lives and in the history of our world. May he help us to feel his presence as the one who is alive and at work in our midst. And may he teach us each day, dear brothers and sisters, not to look among the dead for the Living One. Amen.


The Encounter of Easter
An Article by His Excellency Archbishop Jose Gomez, THE TIDINGS, March 29, 2013 

Our Filipino brothers and sisters have a beautiful Easter devotion they call Salubong (“The Encounter”). 
Gathering before dawn, they relive the meeting of the risen Jesus with his Blessed Mother on the first Easter morning. The women come from one direction carrying a statue of Mary who is covered in a black veil. From the opposite direction, men come carrying a statue of a risen Jesus. Their two processions meet in front of the church. There, a child who is dressed like an angel removes Mary’s veil of mourning and the people enter the church with joy to celebrate Easter Mass.

In the Gospels, there is no mention of this meeting between Jesus and Mary after his Resurrection. But popular faith sometimes starts where the Scriptures leave off. And many saints and mystics have reflected on this encounter down through the centuries.

The Franciscans who brought Christianity to the Philippines taught that Jesus appeared to Mary before anyone else. John of Caulibus, in his Meditations on the Life of Christ in the 14th century, imagined Jesus and his mother falling to their knees when they met:

“Then they arose with tears of joy, she embraced him, pressed her face to his, and held on tightly, falling into his arms as he eagerly supported her. Later, when they were sitting down together, lovingly and carefully she looked him all over: at his face, and at the wounds in his hands, and throughout his entire body.… His mother rejoiced, ‘Blessed be your Father, who returned you to me!’ … So they conversed at some length, rejoicing and observing the Paschal Feast in a delightful and loving way.”

It is beautiful for us to reflect on the joy that Mary must have felt to have her Son back!

I also wonder what Jesus felt at that moment.

As he embraced his Blessed Mother, did he remember the widow he had once met in the town of Nain (Luke 7:11-17)? Did he think that Mary’s situation was a lot like hers — that Mary too was a widow grieving the death of her only son?

At Nain, Jesus touched the dead boy’s casket and he sat up and began to talk. The Gospel account concludes: “And he gave him back to his mother.”

On that first Easter morning, Jesus was giving himself back to his mother.


This is the joy of Easter! It is the joy of knowing that Jesus will “give back” to us all that we might suffer and lose in this life. Christ is risen and we will rise with him!

Easter joy is knowing that God’s love is stronger than death. It is the joy of knowing that Jesus is on our side!! That he will lead us through all the dark valleys to the light of his love and peace.

And Easter reminds us that Christian salvation is both universal and personal.

Jesus came to save the whole world. But notice how he did it. He came into this world at night and unnoticed, as a little baby. In the same way, his Resurrection happened in the middle of night — and again, nobody was there to see it.

The Gospels don’t describe salvation in earth-shaking events or overwhelming shows of power. God’s power is the power of humility.

Jesus came to save the world one person at a time.

When we reflect on his ministry, we recall so many personal and family dramas — the widow of Nain; fathers and mothers whose little children are sick and dying; men and women suffering from poverty and diseases of body and mind; Mary and Martha, two sisters whose brother Lazarus has died.

Our lives are no different. Jesus also comes to bring us salvation in the reality of our daily lives — in our worries and sufferings; in our struggles and setbacks; in the trials we face in our lives.

The promise of Easter is that if we believe in him, if we trust in his Word and stay close to him, Jesus will wipe away every tear. In his compassion, he will heal our sadness and fear and take away our uncertainty about the future. So let’s have confidence in him. In his rising, all our lives are raised.

So let us rejoice this Easter with our families and our friends. Let us pray for one another and let us share with one another the joy of the Resurrection.

I ask a special blessing for all of you families, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother. May Mary help all of us to live with the joy she felt when she looked upon her Son and our Savior, risen to die no more.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU!

The Tridiuum- Saturday

HOLY SATURDAY 

"Today is not a day... it is  a day when there is nothing....The Son of God is dead..."  

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/lent/

The Tridiuum-Friday

Good Friday

The Son of Man, the Son of God dies for our sins. Behold the day of salvation, the day of vindication, the day of death, of suffering. The day of death, yet the day of life to those who will believe. It appears that Satan and his darkness has prevailed...

Seven Last Words of Christ: 


"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." 

Christ has a heart of endless mercy... He forgives up to the very moment of his death. Every once of His Precious Blood, poured out for you, and for me. Let us resolve never to sin again-for sin hurts the Heart of Christ so intensely. Each sin is like and thorn in Christ's head. 

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Have we ever felt downcast, or despaired? Christ is there to console our hearts. 

"Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!"

John the Apostle represents us, at the foot of the Cross, Christ commands us to behold the tender face of OUR Mother. Some people think this verse is simply Christ carrying for his Mother. It is that, but it is so much more. Christ gives Mary to US!!!! What a powerful, friend and intercessor! AD CHRISTO PER MARIAM! TO CHRIST THOUGH MARY! 

"I thirst!" 

Jesus thirsts -------- For SOULS!!!!! What is the things Christ died for? What does he care about most? OUR SOULS AND THE SOULS OF OTHERS!!! If we truly are the friends of Christ let us gain souls for him though HIS CHURCH! 

"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Jesus forgives the good thief at his moment of death! That is hope for our fallen away friends and family members who have left Christ's Church!


"It is finished!"

The life of Christ-The reason He came- is about to end. 

"Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit." 

All Creation was at a stand still- when Christ died on the Cross- for our sins.


DIVINE MERCY NOVENA STARTS ON GOOD FRIDAY! HERE IS THE LINK: http://thedivinemercy.org/novenas/prayer.php?nid=39&redirect=

The Tridiuum-Thursday

Holy Thursday 

Institution of the Holy Eucharist and Priesthood. Christ remains with us through his priests in the sacraments and gives to us His very own Body and Blood; food for our souls. 

"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." 


"Do this in remembrance of me."


"TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU"

"TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CUP OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT, WHICH WILL POURED YOU AND FOR MANY, FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME"

-The miraculous words of Consecration at the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

 

Pope Francis meets Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI

The Pope of Charity

Pope Francis: Whirlwind of Goodness

John Paul II Was the Pope of Hope, Benedict XVI the Pope of Faith and Francis the Pope of Charity

By Antonio Gaspari


ROME, March 20, 2013 (Zenit.org) - We do not know if the same happened when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Perhaps his election to the papacy has spread further and made the world know the human and spiritual qualities of Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

It is a fact that every time he appears, whether to speak or to meet people, Pope Francis sparks infectious enthusiasm.

With his joyful and kind-hearted spirit, the Pontiff arouses joy and emotion among people. He is not only the Father everyone awaited but also a sensitive Pope close to each one.

Impressive is the tranquility and confidence with which Pope Francis moves among the people. He is joyful, happy, serene; he communicates confidence and often gives a "thumbs-up" as if to say all is well.

Tuesday while he moved among the people standing in the jeep, there was a disabled man who was shouting. He had the jeep stop, kissed the disabled man and patted him, who then began laughing. The people around him laughed and wept.

Also the little girl who was brought to him crying, was kissed and patted by him and she calmed down.

There is no need to exaggerate, but Pope Francis carries out gestures and actions that are very similar to those described in the Gospel, when Jesus moved among the people.

Archbishop Filippo Santoro of Taranto, Italy, said that when he got to know Cardinal Bergoglio at a meeting in Brazil in 2007, he was very impressed by his “hospitableness and transparency united to a very profound intelligence.”

And Argentine missionary Father Pedro Pablo Opeka, recounted to the Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana all that his sisters, who live in Buenos Aires, told him.

When he was still in the Argentine capital, Cardinal Bergoglio was engaged in evangelization and social work in poor neighborhoods, in areas of ill-repute, among those who were most marginalized and on many occasions he washed the feet of inmates in prison on Maundy Thursday.

Looking at the reactions on the most frequented social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, one finds oneself before a true and proper “whirlwind” of goodness, which finds confirmation in people’s reaction.

A Sicilian woman said: “he is a wonderful Pope!”, and a young student added ”one sees immediately that he is good and gentle.”

A follower at the twitter@pontifex address wrote: “Welcome Pope Francis. I weep with emotion while I hear you speak. You will be our guide!” And another said: “they have chosen a man of immense spirituality and of very great care for the poor.”

A follower noted that Pope Francis “was not in the Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, but in the hospital of AIDS sufferers.”

Among the messages that arrived on ZENIT’s Facebook page, is one that says: “He is a spectacular Pope” and recalls that “the Lord is merciful with all his creatures.”

“He has sanctity, humility, spontaneity, honesty and reflects the love of God,” “one cannot judge in such a short time, but one can see that he is good,” “he awakens hope and charity,” “it is a return to the origins of the Church, compassion, humility and love.” “He is a Father, very close and attentive to his neighbor. A prophet of our time sent by the Holy Spirit.”

“John Paul II was the Pope of hope, Benedict XVI the Pope of faith and Francis is the Pope of charity,” "He is a Christian saint for humanity,” “Hope, gentleness and sincerity. We have yet to understand how good he is,” “his life as man, priest, bishop and cardinal shows him to be a coherent pastor in defense of the poor.” He is a “Pope able to generate beneficial changes inside and outside the Church,” and, finally, “He is the Pope we all hoped for.”

English-speaking readers of ZENIT wrote similarly: “A humble and simple Pope,” “Perfect for our times."

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