MAY THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST, BE ALWAYS IN OUR HEART TO KEEP US HUMBLE, GRATEFUL, MERCIFUL, FORGIVING --- O GOD, BLESS ALL THAT IS COMING FROM YOU AND BREAK ALL THAT IS NOT COMING FROM YOU, AMEN --- This site is just a drop from the immeasurable ocean in JESUS, THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, HOLY TRINITY ONE GOD - HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE - TEACHER, HEALER, REDEEMER --- The main purpose of this site is to make an easier access to Catholic Religion-related links.
Is 40:26 Erfgħu għajnejkom 'il fuq u araw: min ħalaqhom dawn il-ħlejjaq kollha? Imexxi u jgħodd l-eżerċti tiegħu, u jsejjħilhom b'isimhom wieħed wieħed. Bis-saħħa ta' qawwietu, bil-qawwa ta' setegħtu, ħadd minnhom ma jonqos. Look at the night skies: who do you think made all this? Isaiah 40:26 Author GK Chesterton wrote: 'The world is not lacking in wonders, but in a sense of wonder.' Listen to these facts which point to the wonders of our planet. If the earth were as small as the moon, its gravitation wouldn't sustain our needs. On the other hand, if it were as large as Jupiter its gravitation would be so extreme, it would make human movement almost impossible. If we were as close to the sun as Venus the heat would be unbearable, yet if we were as far away as Mars every region would experience snow and ice nightly. If the oceans were half their size we'd get only 25 percent of our present rainfall, and if they were one-eighth larger, the annual rainfall would increase 400 percent, turning the earth into a vast, uninhabitable swamp. Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But if that happened in the oceans, the amount of thawing in the polar regions wouldn't balance out and we'd all end up living in an ice-age. To prevent this, God put salt in the sea to change its freezing point. How's that for a day's work? The Psalmist wrote: 'Lord, You have made many things ... the earth is full of your riches ... I will sing praise to my God as long as I live' (Psalm 104:24-33 NCV). If all that isn't enough to get you praising God, and wanting to know Him better, what would? John Stott said: 'Our greatest claim to nobility is our ability to know God, to be in personal relationship with Him, to love Him and to worship Him. We are most human when we are on our knees before our creator.'
(Koħelet:4:9) Tnejn min-nies aħjar minn wieħed waħdu, għax fejda akbar ikollu xogħolhom.
To Whom are you accountable? Two are better than one ... Ecclesiastes 4:9 You've probably heard the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments before, but instead of focusing on Moses, let's take a look at his brother Aaron. The brothers worked together as they campaigned for freedom for the Jews, and as they crossed the Red Sea, and as they began their 40-year journey through the desert. Then it all went wrong. Moses went up a mountain to spend time with God, leaving Aaron with the rest of the Israelites. He was gone a long time, and the people started to think he wasn't coming back. The pressure grew on Aaron, as Moses' brother, to provide a God they could see. It got too much for poor Aaron and he ended up making a golden idol for them. When Moses came back down, and saw what Aaron had done, he confronted him, but Aaron blamed everyone else, saying, 'You know how prone these people are to evil. They said ... make us a God ... I threw ... gold in the fire' (Ex 22-25 NLT). But Aaron wasn't the only one to struggle during the journey. Moses found that being the sole problem-solver was more than he could handle, his father-in-law told him, 'You cannot handle it alone...select capable people...that will make your load lighter...' (Exodus 17-24). Ever wonder why Jesus sent His disciples out in twos instead of solo? Because when we've got the right person by our side, we have support, encouragement and-protection. Protection from what? Ourselves! If you're serious about walking in victory, accountability is a step you must be willing to take. So, who are you accountable to?
Lhud 5:14 Imma l-ikel sħiħ hu tal-kbar, ta' dawk li biż-żmien huma mdorrija jagħżlu bejn it-tajjeb u l-ħażin.
... Those who ... have their senses exercised to discern ... Hebrews 5:14 The Bible says that those who are spiritually grown up 'have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.' What does that mean? Well the word, 'exercise' suggests trimming and toning until we've got muscles in all the right places. The word 'discern' means telling the difference between things. So, this verse tells us we need to get in good shape in telling the difference between right and wrong, God-style. But how do you flex those muscles into shape? We need to bench-lift a bit of the Bible; it's no good to us on the shelf. Study it, chew on it, live by it; that'll firm up those discernment pecs. We need to compare what we hear from others, what we're thinking, what we're doing, alongside what the Bible says. And we need to practice it: just as a treadmill won't get you fit unless you work that booty on it, the Bible won't help you grow unless you're acting on it. And there's another important way we need to be reminded of. When it comes to knowing what's good for you and what's not, the Holy Spirit can speak to you and guide you when your head doesn't know which way to go. Sometimes things that you have dismissed as a hunch or an intuition are actually God's Spirit trying to convey the answer to you
[Fil:4:6] Tħabbtu raskom b'xejn. Fit-talb kollu tagħkom itolbu u uru lil Alla xi jkollkom bżonn, u iżżuh ħajr. [Fil:4:7] U s-sliem ta' Alla, sliem li jgħaddi kull ma l-moħħ jista' jifhem, iżommilkom qalbkom u moħħkom sħaħ fi Kristu Ġesù.
Lq:6:38] agħtu, u jingħatalkom. Kejl tajjeb, marsus,
mheżheż sewwa u mburġat iqegħdulkom f'ħoġorkom; għax bl-istess kejl li tkejjlu
intom jitkejjel lilkom."
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
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Quddiesa fil-festa tal-Arkanġli Mikiel, Gabriel u Rafel,
mill-Knisja tas-Salib Imqaddes,
Kunvent tal-Kappuċċini, Furjana
- 29 ta' Settembru 2022
Wara l-quddiesa tlajna fuq, fil-kunvent tal-Kappuċċini Furjana.
Id-dehriet ta' San Mikiel Arkanġlu, Knisja tas-Salib Imqaddes. Spjegalna Patri Joe Buttigieg
Tlabna t-talba lil San Mikiel mal-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna
Il-Ħamis, 29 ta' Settembru 2022
Apparitions of Archangel Michael to Friar Adriano, at the Cappuchin convent in Floriana, Malta
F'ISEM TA' ĠESÙ KRISTU TA' NAZZARET - lil San Mikiel Arkanġlu In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth - to St Michael the Archangel
F’isem ta’ Ġesù Kristu ta’ Nazzaret, ħa jqum il-qawwi u l-qaddis San Mikiel Arkanġlu kontra satana u l-anġli l-ħżiena tiegħu affavur tal-poplu t’Alla l-Ħaj Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis – Qaddis Alla, Qaddis Qawwi, Qaddis Immortali, ikollok ħniena minna.
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In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, let the mighty and holy Archangel St. Michael rise against satan and his bad angels, in favour of the people of the Living God Sanctus Deus, Sanctus Fortis, Sanctus Immortalis, miserere nobis -
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy of us.
San Mikiel Arkanġlu, idħol għalina fit-taqbida; kun int il-għajnuna tagħna kontra l-ħażen u t-tnassis tad-demonju. Irażżnu Alla, nitolbuk bil-ħerqa. Int l-aqwa fost il-qtajja’ tas-sema, itfa' bil-qawwa t'Alla, fil-qiegħ ta' l-infern lix-xitan u l-ispirti ħżiena l-oħra li jiġġerrew fid-dinja għat-telfien ta' l-erwieħ. Ammen. ------------------------------------------------- http://www.laikos.org/Talba_S_Mikiel.htm
TALBA LIL SAN MIKIEL
San Mikiel
Arkanġlu, iddefendina f’dan il-jum tal-battalja! Kun
it-tarka tagħna kontra l-ħażen u x-xbieki tax-xitan. Aħna,
umilment nitolbu, biex Alla jrażżnu u inti, O prinċep tal-Ġemgħa l-Kbira
tas-Smewwiet, bis-saħħa ta’ Alla, itfa’ lil Satana u lill-ispirti ħżiena kollha,
li jħufu madwar id-dinja kollha biex iħassru l-erwieħ, fin-nirien tal-infern!
Ammen. Papa Ljun
XIII
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
"Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against
the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and
do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell,
Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking
the ruin of souls. Amen." Pope Leo XIII https://www.michaeljournal.org/articles/roman-catholic-church/item/the-vision-of-pope-leo-xiii
The Chaplet of St. Michael -with Mother Angelica - word for word
(While making the sign of the Cross)
O God, come to my aid. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The First Salutation
1. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may it please God to make us worthy to receive into our hearts the fire of His perfect charity. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Second Salutation
2. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may God grant us the grace to abandon the ways of sin and follow the path of Christian perfection. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Third Salutation
3. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may it please God to infuse into our hearts a true and earnest spirit of humility. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Fourth Salutation
4. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may it please God to grant us grace to have dominion over our senses and to correct our depraved passions. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Fifth Salutation
5. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may Our Lord keep us from falling into temptation and deliver us from evil. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Sixth Salutation
6. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and the temptations of the devil. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Seventh Salutation
7. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may it please God to fill our hearts with the spirit of true and hearty obedience. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Eighth Salutation
8. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may it please God to grant us the grace of perseverance in the Faith and in all good works, that we may thereby be enabled to attain unto the Glory of Paradise. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
The Ninth Salutation
9. Through the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may God vouchsafe to grant that they may protect us during life and after death may lead us into the everlasting Glory of Heaven. Amen.
- One Our Father and three Hail Marys
In honour of St. Michael - one Our Father
In honour of St. Gabriel - one Our Father
In honour of St. Raphael - one Our Father
In honour of Our Guardian Angel - one Our Father
Concluding prayers:
St. Michael, glorious Prince, chief and champion of the Heavenly Hosts, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebellious angels, steward of the Palace of God, under Our Divine King Jesus Christ; our worthy leader, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue; vouchsafe to free us from all evil; who with full confidence, have recourse to Thee and by Thy incomparable protection, enable us to make progress everyday in the faithful service of our God. Amen.
Pray for us, Most blessed Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.
Let us pray:
Almighty and Eternal God, Who in Thine Own marvellous goodness and pity, didst, for the common salvation of men, choose Thy glorious Archangel Michael, to be the Prince of Thy Church; make us worthy, we pray Thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that, at the hour of our death, none of them may approach to harm us; rather do Thou vouchsafe unto us that by the same Archangel Michael, we may be introduced into the Presence of Thy Most High and Divine Majesty. Through the Merits of the same Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Prayer To St Michael the Archangel for the Depressed Even Jesus was helped by an angel when he felt anguished. He said, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22:42-43) [Lq:22:42] u jgħid: "Missier, jekk inti trid, warrab minni dan il-kalċi! Iżda tkun magħmula r-rieda tiegħek, u mhux tiegħi."[Lq:22:43] Deherlu anġlu mis-sema biex jagħmillu l-qalb
Prayer of the Depressed - This is a simple deliverance prayer asking St. Michael the Archangel's intercession.
THE APPARITIONS OF ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL ON MOUNT GARGANO
On Mount Gargano St. Michael appeared with a censer in his hand, on the spot where a church was to be built; hence it is said of him in the Office of the Church: "The angel stood before the altar of the temple, having a golden censer in his hand;" an unmistakable allusion is here made to the vision of the heavenly altar which St. John saw (Apoc. 8, 3-4).
O Mqaddes Ġużeppi, fil-hemm li fih ninsabu, lejk nirrikorru u b’tama qawwija nsejħu l-patroċinju tiegħek, wara dak tal-Għarusa Mqaddsa tiegħek.
Mela f’ġieħ dik ir-rabta għażiża ta’ mħabba li biha kont marbut max-Xebba bla tebgħa, omm Alla, u f’ġieħ dik l-imħabba ta’ missier li biha ħabbejt lit-tfajjel Ġesù, nitolbuk li tħares ħarsa ħelwa lejn il-wirt għażiż, li Ġesù Kristu rebaħ b’demmu, u bis-setgħa u bil-għajnuna tiegħek tidħol għalina fil-bżonnijiet tagħna.
Kif int, O Ġużeppi, kont taħseb f’din l-art għall-Familja Mqaddsa u tħarisha, hekk ukoll ħu ħsieb tal-familja maħtura ta’ Ġesù Kristu. Eqred minn ġo nofsna, Missier ħanin, din il-pesta ta’ erruri u ta’ ħażen li qegħdin imarrdu d-dinja. Ieqaf magħna mis-smewwiet, f’din il-gwerra li għandna mal-qawwa tad-dlamijiet, O Protettur qawwi tagħna. U kif darba ħlist mill-mewt lill-Bambin Ġesù, hekk issa iddefendi l-Knisja Mqaddsa t’Alla mit-tnassis tal-għedewwa u minn kull hemm.
Xerred dejjem fuq kull wieħed u waħda minna l-patroċinju tiegħek, sabiex bl-eżempju u bil-għajnuna tiegħek, nistgħu ngħixu ħajja qaddisa, nagħmlu mewta tajba, u naqilgħu l-hena ta’ dejjem ġewwa l-ġenna. Ammen.
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.
O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God?s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity
Shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.
Imbierek il-Mulej, Alla ta' Izrael, * ghaliex gie jzur u jifdi l-poplu tieghu, u waqqaf ghalina qawwa ta' salvazzjoni * f'dar David, qaddej tieghu,
bhalma kien wieghed fl-imghoddi * b'fomm il-profeti qaddisin tieghu, biex isalvana mill-ghedewwa taghna * u minn idejn dawk kollha li joboghduna.
B'hekk juri hniena ma' missirijietna, * u jiftakar fil-patt qaddis tieghu, fil-halfa li halef lil Abraham missierna, * li jaghtina
li, mehlusin minn idejn l-ghedewwa taghna, * naqduh bla biza' tul hajjitna kollha, * bil-gustizzja u l-qdusija quddiemu.
U inti, tfajjel, tissejjah profeta ta' l-Gholi; * ghax tmur qabel il-Mulej biex thejjilu triqatu, biex tgharraf lill-poplu tieghu bis-salvazzjoni, * bil-mahfra ta' dnubiethom,
hierga mill-qalb hanina ta' Alla taghna, * li jibaghtilna mill-gholi z-zjara tax-Xemx tielgha,
ha jdawwal lil dawk li jinsabu fid-dlamijiet u d-dell tal-mewt, * ha jmexxi l-passi taghna fit-triq tas-sliem.
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Luke 1:68 – 79 The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Jn 9:1-41 -- Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind - Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma minn twelidu
9. Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma minn twelidu [Ġw:9:1] Kif kien għaddej, lemaħ raġel agħma minn twelidu, [Ġw:9:2] u d-dixxipli tiegħu staqsewh: "Rabbi, dan twieled agħma għax dineb hu stess, jew għax dinbu l-ġenituri tiegħu?" [Ġw:9:3] Ġesù wieġeb: "Mhux għax dineb hu jew il-ġenituri tiegħu, imma ġralu hekk biex l-għemil ta' Alla jidher fih. [Ġw:9:4] Sakemm għadu binhar, jeħtiġilna nagħmlu x-xogħol ta' dak li bagħatni, għax jasal il-lejl meta ħadd ma jkun jista' jaħdem. [Ġw:9:5] Sakemm għadni fid-dinja, jiena hu d-dawl tad-dinja." [Ġw:9:6] Kif qal dan, beżaq fl-art, għamel minnu qisu tajn, u dilek bih għajnejn ir-raġel agħma. [Ġw:9:7] U qallu: "Mur inħasel fil-menqgħa ta' Silwam." Din tfisser 'il-Mibgħut'. Mela dak mar, nħasel u ġie jara. [Ġw:9:8] Il-ġirien u dawk li s-soltu kienu jarawh, għax hu kien tallab, qalu: "Dan m'huwiex dak li kien joqgħod bilqiegħda jittallab?" [Ġw:9:9] Xi wħud qalu: "Iva, hu." Oħrajn qalu: "Le, imma jixbhu." Iżda hu qalilhom: "Jiena hu." [Ġw:9:10] Qalulu: "Mela kif infetħulek għajnejk?" [Ġw:9:11] Weġibhom: "Wieħed raġel, jgħidulu Ġesù, għamel ftit tajn, dilikli għajnejja bih, u qalli, 'Mur fis-Silwam u nħasel hemm.' Mort, nħsilt, u ġejt nara." [Ġw:9:12] Qalulu: "Fejn huwa dan ir-raġel?" Qalilhom: "Ma nafx." Il-Fariżej jistaqsu dwar il-fejqan [Ġw:9:13] Lil dan il-bniedem li fl-imgħoddi kien agħma ħaduh għand il-Fariżej. [Ġw:9:14] Issa dak in-nhar li Ġesù għamel it-tajn u fetaħ għajnejn l-agħma inzerta kien is-Sibt. [Ġw:9:15] Il-Fariżej ukoll staqsew mill-ġdid lill-agħma kif sar jara. U hu qalilhom: "Qegħedli ftit tajn fuq għajnejja, mort ninħasel, u issa qiegħed nara." [Ġw:9:16] Xi wħud mill-Fariżej qalu: "Dan il-bniedem m'huwiex ġej mingħand Alla, għax ma jħarisx is-Sibt." Iżda oħrajn qalu: "Kif jista' wieħed midneb jagħmel sinjali bħal dawn?" U ma qablux bejniethom. [Ġw:9:17] U reġgħu qalu lill-agħma: "Int x'jidhirlek minnu, issa li fetaħlek għajnejk?" Qalilhom: "Dak profeta." [Ġw:9:18] Il-Lhud ma ridux jemmnu li hu kien agħma u ħa d-dawl qabel ma bagħtu għall-ġenituri ta' dak li sar jara, [Ġw:9:19] u staqsewhom: "Dan, li intom qegħdin tgħidu li twieled agħma, dan binkom? Mela issa kif ġie jara?" [Ġw:9:20] Il-ġenituri tiegħu wieġbu u qalulhom: "Nafu li dan hu t-tifel tagħna u li twieled agħma; [Ġw:9:21] imma kif issa ġie jara, dan ma nafuhx, u anqas ma nafu min fetaħlu għajnejh. Staqsu lilu, żmien għandu; ħa jitkellem hu għalih innifsu." [Ġw:9:22] Il-ġenituri tiegħu wieġbu hekk għaliex beżgħu mil-Lhud, għax il-Lhud kienu ġa ftiehmu bejniethom li jekk xi ħadd jistqarr li Ġesù hu l-Messija, isib ruħu barra mis-sinagoga. [Ġw:9:23] Kien għalhekk li l-ġenituri tiegħu wieġbu, 'Żmien għandu, staqsu lilu.' [Ġw:9:24] Għal darb'oħra reġgħu bagħtu għal dak li kien agħma u qalulu: "Agħti glorja lil Alla! Aħna nafu li dan il-bniedem huwa midneb." [Ġw:9:25] Dak weġibhom: "Jekk hux midneb ma nafx; ħaġa waħda naf: li jien kont agħma u issa qiegħed nara." [Ġw:9:26] Qalulu: "Imma hu x'għamillek? Kif fetaħhomlok għajnejk?" [Ġw:9:27] U hu weġibhom: "Ġa għedtilkom u ma smajtux! Xi tridu tisimgħu iżjed? Jaqaw tridu intom ukoll issiru dixxipli tiegħu?" [Ġw:9:28] U qabdu jgħajjruh u qalulu: "Dak int dixxiplu tiegħu! Aħna ta' Mosè dixxipli! [Ġw:9:29] Aħna nafu li lil Mosè kellmu Alla, imma dan ma nafux minn fejn hu!" [Ġw:9:30] Weġibhom ir-raġel u qalilhom: "Sewwa! Hawn qiegħed l-għaġeb, li intom ma tafux minn fejn inqala', u madankollu lili fetaħli għajnejja! [Ġw:9:31] Aħna nafu li Alla m'hux se jisma' lill-midinbin; iżda mbagħad jekk wieħed ikun iqim lil Alla u jagħmel ir-rieda tiegħu, lil dan jisimgħu. [Ġw:9:32] Qatt fid-dinja ma nstema' li xi ħadd fetaħ għajnejn wieħed agħma mit-twelid. [Ġw:9:33] Li kieku dan ma kienx ġej mingħand Alla, xejn ma kien ikollu ħila jagħmel." [Ġw:9:34] Mbagħad qabżu u qalulu: "Int se tgħallem lilna, int li twelidt dnubiet waħdek?" U keċċewh 'il barra. L-għama spiritwali [Ġw:9:35] Ġesù sama' li keċċewh 'il barra; sabu u qallu: "Temmen inti f'Bin il-bniedem?" [Ġw:9:36] Dak wieġeb u qallu: "Min hu, Mulej, biex nemmen fih?" [Ġw:9:37] Qallu Ġesù: "Mhux biss rajtu, imma huwa dak stess li qiegħed ikellmek." [Ġw:9:38] Qallu: "Nemmen, Mulej!" U nxteħet għarkubbtejh quddiemu. [Ġw:9:39] Mbagħad Ġesù qal: "Jien ġejt fid-dinja biex nagħmel ħaqq, biex min ma jarax isir jara, u min jara jagħma." [Ġw:9:40] Xi wħud mill-Fariżej li kienu hemm madwaru semgħuh jgħid dan u staqsewh: "Aħna wkoll għomja?" [Ġw:9:41] Weġibhom Ġesù: "Li kieku kontu għomja, ma kontux tkunu ħatja ta' dnub. Imma issa qegħdin tgħidu, 'Aħna naraw.' Mela d-dnub tagħkom għadu fuqkom."
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CATHOLIC TEACHINGS REGARDING ANCESTRAL CURSES ERRONEUS INTERPRETATION CAN BE HARMFUL by Fr. Antony Payyapally There are some people who twist the Word of God while speaking about ancestral curses. I have heard many people giving wrong interpretations when talking about the primeval curse mentioned in the Bible. Some allege that sins of parents or ancestors are the cause of various misfortunes like sickness, not having children, accidents, loss of fortunes, debts, etc. Such erroneous interpretations can give rise to a lot of misunderstandings. They can be the reason for children to have an aversion for their parents. When children tell their parents that it is due to their misdeeds that their own children are not able to find life-partners or that they are not having children, imagine the grief and guilt feelings that the old parents will experience! Once an elderly couple came to see me. The man had his chin twisted to one side. I asked them whether it was always like that. "No, Father" the wife replied, "Yesterday our darling son caught his father's neck and twisted it." Then I asked whether their son was suffering from any mental disorders. "No, Father," again she replied, "The other day he went to attend a one-day convention. Ever since he came back from there he hates his father's sight. Whenever they happen to face each other, the son threatens the father and abuses him." Since their house was not far away I sent for the son and during the conversation casually asked him why he had beaten his father. Immediately he flared up and replied that the old man should not only be thrashed but must be killed. Then he took off his shirt and showed me his body disfigured by the skin disease known as psoriasis. Only his face was not affected. "For the past twelve years," he said, "I am putting up with this. I have gone to every hospital and have taken all kinds of medicines, but to no effect. I did not know how it came about, but recently I attended a retreat. The retreat preacher told us that God would punish up till the fourth and fifth generations for the curses incurred by the ancestors. I went to him for counseling and after praying he told me that my sickness was the result of the sins of my father's father. When I came to know that my grandfather is the cause of my ailment I felt bitter against my father too. I was so angry that when I reached home seeing my father sitting in the verandah I said to myself, 'His father is dead but he is here and let him pay for it,' so I gave him a tight one." I corrected the wrong notions that he had acquired. I showed him the context in the Bible where we read; "I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendents down to the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5). God seeing the iniquity and hard-heartedness of the Israelites said this so that they might not be lost and to teach them the seriousness of their sins. Later when Jesus came He gave us a clear answer when seeing a blind man the disciple asked Him, "Teacher, whose sins caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents' sin?" Jesus answered, "His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parent's sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him" (Jn. 9:2-3). In the Book of Ezekiel we read, "What is this proverb people keep repeating in the land of Israel? 'The parents ate the sour grapes, but the children got the sour taste.' As surely as I am the living God, says the sovereign Lord, You will not repeat this proverb in Israel anymore. The life of every person belongs to me, the life of the parent as well as that of the child. The person who sins is the one who will die" (18:1-4). If the father eats sour grapes the son will not get the sour taste, only the father will get it. Everyone's life is in God's hands. "Parents are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their children, and children are not to be put to death for crimes committed by their parents; a person is to be put to death only for a crime he himself has committed"(2 Kings 14:6). "You know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold. It was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw"(1 Peter 1:18-19). In order to take away the sin of the whole world God gave us a lamb, His own son(Jn.1:29). This Lamb that was sent to take away the sin of the whole human race was sacrificed on the cross on Calvary. For our sake, due to our sins, Christ became accursed. Therefore, we should not put blame on our ancestors or our parents for the cause of our sicknesses, or debts or having no children. I said all this to that son who stood before me with tears in his eyes. "Your illness is in the plan of God," I told him. Before my very eyes he fell at his father's feet and begged for pardon. Three or four weeks later the father, the mother and the son together came to see me. He took off his shirt before me; he was completely healed of his skin disease. Thanks be to God! http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/apologetics/ancestralcurses.htm
