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.
What is 'All Hallows' Eve'? Why do Catholics celebrate it on Halloween, just before the feast of 'All Saints Day'?
In this special episode of Kumment Kattoliku (divided into 3 parts), Fr. Ray Toledo gives some insights into these questions and encourages Catholics to stand firm in the Catholic faith.
True Light Catholic Media would like to thank the members and community of the 'Fergħa Ewkaristika' in Marsa, for their help in making these videos.
1st video--- Kumment Kattoliku 5: Il-Halloween L-Ewwel Parti (with English Subtitles)
2nd video--- Kumment Kattoliku 5: Il-Halloween It-Tieni Parti (with English Subtitles)
3rd video--- Kumment Kattoliku 5: Il-Halloween It-Tielet Parti (with English Subtitles)
or
The three videos joined in ONE, without music intro - Catholic Comment in Maltese - IL-HALLOWEEN - from Fr. Ray Toledo (without Subtitles) (click over arrow to start video)
I Wonder As I Wander / How Can I Keep From Singing (Fox Sessions) feat. Sarah Kroger
I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus my Saviour did come for to die For poor on'ry [ordinary] people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky ************
My life flows on in endless song; Above earth's lamentation, I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn That hails a new creation
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing It finds an echo in my soul How can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Saviour liveth What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin I see the blue above it And day by day this pathway smooths, Since first I learned to love it,
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart A fountain ever springing For all things are mine since I am his How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?
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Audrey Assad
Drawn to You (with lyrics) Published on Jan 12, 2018
Luke was a Greco-Syrian physician who lived in the Greek city of Antioch in Ancient Syria.
His earliest notice is in Paul’s Epistle to Philemon, verse 24. He is also mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and 2 Timothy 4:11, two works commonly ascribed to Paul. The next earliest account of Luke is in the Anti-Marcionite Prologue to the Gospel of Luke, a document once thought to date to the 2nd century, but which has more recently been dated to the later 4th century.
If one accepts that Luke was in fact the author of the Gospel bearing his name and also the Acts of the Apostles, certain details of his personal life can be reasonably assumed. While he does exclude himself from those who were eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry, he repeatedly uses the word “we” in describing the Pauline missions in Acts of the Apostles, indicating that he was personally there at those times.[9]Epiphanius states that Luke was one of the Seventy (Panarion 51.11), and John Chrysostom indicates at one point that the “brother” Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 8:18 is either Luke or Barnabas. J. Wenham asserts that Luke was “one of the Seventy, the Emmaus disciple, Lucius of Cyrene and Paul’s kinsman.” Not all scholars are as confident of all of these attributes as Wenham is, not least because Luke’s own statement at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke (1:1–4) freely admits that he was not an eyewitness to the events of the Gospel.
There is similar evidence that Luke resided in Troas, the province which included the ruins of ancient Troy, in that he writes in Acts in the third person about Paul and his travels until they get to Troas, where he switches to the first person plural. The “we” section of Acts continues until the group leaves Philippi, when his writing goes back to the third person. This change happens again when the group returns to Philippi. There are three “we sections” in Acts, all following this rule. Luke never stated, however, that he lived in Troas, and this is the only evidence that he did.
The composition of the writings, as well as the range of vocabulary used, indicate that the author was an educated man. The quote in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians differentiating between Luke and other colleagues “of the circumcision”[10] has caused many to speculate that this indicates Luke was a Gentile. If this were true, it would make Luke the only writer of the New Testament who can clearly be identified as not being Jewish. However, that is not the only possibility. The phrase could just as easily be used to differentiate between those Christians who strictly observed the rituals of Judaism and those who did not.[9]
Luke died at age 84 in Boeotia, according to a “fairly early and widespread tradition”.[11] According to Nikiphoros-Kallistos Xanthopoulos (Eccles. History XIVth c. AD., Migne P.G. 145, 876) and others, Luke’s Tomb was located in Thebes (Greece), from whence his relics were transferred to Constantinople in the year 357.
Luke as a historian
Most scholars understand Luke’s works (Luke-Acts) in the tradition of Greek historiography.The preface of The Gospel of Luke (1:1-4) drawing on historical investigation is believed to have identified the work to the readers as belonging to the genre of history. There is some disagreement about how best to treat Luke’s writings, with some historians regarding Luke as highly accurate, and others taking a more critical approach.
Archaeologist Sir William Ramsay wrote that “Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy…[he] should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.”Professor of classics at Auckland University, E.M. Blaiklock, wrote: “For accuracy of detail, and for evocation of atmosphere, Luke stands, in fact, with Thucydides. The Acts of the Apostles is not shoddy product of pious imagining, but a trustworthy record…it was the spadework of archaeology which first revealed the truth.” New Testament scholar Colin Hemer has made a number of advancements in understanding the historical nature and accuracy of Luke’s writings.
Luke as an artist
Another Christian tradition states that he was the first icon painter. He is said to have painted pictures of the Virgin Mary (for example, The Black Madonna of Częstochowa or Our Lady of Vladimir) and of Peter and Paul. Thus late medieval Guilds of St Luke in the cities of Flanders, or the “Accademia di San Luca” (Academy of St. Luke) in Rome–imitated in many other European cities during the 16th century–gathered together and protected painters. The tradition that Luke painted icons of Mary and Jesus has been common, particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy. The tradition also has support from the Saint Thomas Christiansof India who claim to still have one of the Theotokos icons that St. Luke painted and which St. Thomas brought to India.
Some scholars attribute to Luke the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, which is clearly meant to be read as a sequel to the Gospel account. Other scholars question Luke’s authorship of these books. Many secular scholars give credit to Luke’s abilities as a historian. Both books are dedicated to oneTheophilus and no scholar seriously doubts that the same person wrote both works, though neither work contains the name of its author.
Many argue that the author of the book must have been a companion of the Apostle Paul, because of several passages in Acts written in the first person plural (known as the We Sections). These verses seem to indicate the author was traveling with Paul during parts of his journeys. Some scholars report that, of the colleagues that Paul mentions in his epistles, the process of elimination leaves Luke as the only person who fits everything known about the author of Luke/Acts.
Additionally, the earliest manuscript of the Gospel, dated circa AD 200, ascribes the work to Luke; as did Irenaeus, writing circa AD 180; and the Muratorian fragment from AD 170. Scholars defending Luke’s authorship say there is no reason for early Christians to attribute these works to such a minor figure if he did not in fact write them, nor is there any tradition attributing this work to any other author.
The ox as symbol of St. Luke
In traditional depictions, such as paintings, evangelist portraits and church mosaics, St. Luke is often accompanied by an ox or bull, usually having wings. Also, only the symbol may be shown, especially when in a combination of those of all Four Evangelists.
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Saint Luke The Evangelist
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18 ta' Ottubru Festa ta' SAN LUQA Evanġelista
San Luqa kien minn Antjokja, belt ewlenija tas-Sirja. Hu kien ta’ razza u kultura Griega. Fejn, kif u meta kkonverta ma nafux. X’aktarx li kkonvertieh San Pawl f’Antjokja, iżda żgur li kkonverta qabel sewwa s-sena 50 w.K. San Luqa kien tabib, infatti San Pawl sejjaħlu ”Luqa, l-għażiż tabib” (Kol: 4:14). Aktarx li kien ukoll jiddeletta jpitter, għax hemm xi pitturi li huma attribwiti lilu. F’Malta wkoll hemm tradizzjoni li tgħid li l-pittura tal-Madonna meqjuma fis-Santwarju tal-Madonna tal-Mellieħa hi xogħol idejh, iżda xejn b’ċertezza.
San Pawl ħadu miegħu fit-tieni u fit-tielet vjaġġi tiegħu. San Luqa qatt ma ħallieh lil San Pawl jekk mhux għal xi waqtiet ta’ qadjiet għall-knejjes stess. Kien miegħu fl-aħħar priġunerija tiegħu fil-ħabs, f’Ruma.
Meta San Pawl telaq minn Ċesarija għal Ruma, Luqa kien miegħu, u miegħu kien fin-nawfraġju tiegħu f’Malta, u miegħu kien meta wara t-tliet xhur tax-xitwa telaq minn Malta, 61 – 63 w.K.
San Luqa kiteb it-tielet Vanġelu, u wara, il-ktieb ta’ l-Atti ta’ l-Appostli. L-istudjużi moderni jgħidu li kitibhom lejn is-sena 70 – 80 w. K. Ma nafux fejn kitibhom. Tradizzjoni tgħid li San Luqa miet martri, msallab ma’ siġra, f’Boeotia, il-Greċja, fil-għomor ta’ 84 sena. Fl-arti jġibuh b’gendus. Dan għaliex jibda l-Vanġelu tiegħu bir-rakkont tal-qassis Żakkarija qed joffri sagrifiċċju fit-tempju.
Ħsieb
”Min hu fidil f’ħaġa żgħira, hu fidil ukoll fil-ħafna; min hu diżonest f’ħaġa żgħira, hu diżonest ukoll fil-ħafna”. (Dan il-kliem qalu Ġesù, Lq. 16:10)
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Verse // You are the kindest one I know Gracious and Your anger’s slow // Chorus // I love the way You think, and I love the way You feel I love that beautiful mind That beautiful heart of Yours // Improv I have nothing to bring to the table I have nothing, just an empty vessel You came, You draw me to the brokenhearted You came and filled an empty vessel Bridge // Wrap me in Your mercy Yoke me in Your meekness With cords of loving kindness Bind me to You //
The Divine Praises traditionally follows the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at Church when it is prayed by the priest and the worshippers before our Lord (in the Host) is returned to the tabernacle following adoration. It was composed in a slightly shorter form by Luigi Felici, a Jesuit priest, in 1797, as a prayer to make reparation for blasphemy and profane language. You can recite it privately (or in group settings other than during the Benediction) for this purpose as a great way to show God, the Holy Family, and the Angels and Saints thanksgiving and praise.
Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Amen. In an era when many people only refer to our Lord in an exclamatory fashion after some sort of accident, it is good for us to sing His Divine Praises here. As we say in the introduction to the Eucharistic prayer at Mass “it is right to give Him thanks and praise!”
Saint Thomas Aquinas once noted that this can increase the fervour of our devotion to Him, and that thus “we praise God not for His benefit but for ours.” This prayer reminds us of the glories of the Trinity, and of the key role our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and the Angels and saints have played in our salvation as well. http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/divine-praises.html
Wara l-Barka Sagramentali
IKUN IMBIEREK ALLA
Ikun imbierek Alla.
Imbierek l-Isem Imqaddes tiegħu.
Imbierek Ġesú Kristu, veru Alla u veru bniedem.
Imbierek l-Isem ta’ Ġesú .
Imbierka l-Qalb Imqaddsa tiegħu.
Imbierek id-Demm għażiż tiegħu.
Imbierek Ġesú fis-Santissmu Sagrament ta’ l-artal.
Imbierek l-Ispirtu s-Santu Paraklitu.
Imbierka l-kbira Omma alla, Marija Santissma.
Imbierka l-Imqaddsa u Immakulta Kunċizzjoni tagħha.
Imbierek it-Tlugħ glorjuż tagħha fis-sema.
Imbierek l-Isem ta’ Marija, Verġni u Omm.
Imbierek San Ġużepp, għarus kastissmu tagħha.
Imbierek Alla fl-anġli u l-qaddisin kollha tiegħu.
Din hija litanija qasira magħrufa bħala It-Tifħir Divin. L-oriġni tagħha mhux magħruf imma l-Encyclopedia of Catholicism, (San Francisco; HarperCollins, 1995) tgħid li dan it-tifħir divin aktarx inkiteb mill-Ġiżwita Louis Felici għal ħabta tas-sena 1779 bħala tpattija kontra d-dagħa.
Lk 11:15-26 -- Jesus and Beelzebul - Ġesù u Begħelżebul
FRIDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 27 IN ORDINARY TIME
Evanġelju
Jekk jiena qiegħed inkeċċi x-xjaten bis-saħħa ta’ Alla, dan ifisser li waslitilkom is-Saltna ta’ Alla.
Lq 11, 15-26
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa
F’dak iż-żmien, [Lq:11:15] wara li Ġesù keċċa xitan, xi wħud qalulu: "Bis-saħħa ta' Begħelżebul, il-prinċep tax-xjaten, qiegħed ikeċċihom ix-xjaten." [Lq:11:16] Oħrajn, biex iġarrbuh, riedu mingħandu sinjal mis-sema. [Lq:11:17] Iżda hu ntebaħ x'kienet il-fehma tagħhom, u qalilhom: "Kull saltna maqsuma fiha nfisha ssir ħerba, u taqa' dar fuq oħra. [Lq:11:18] Jekk ix-Xitan ukoll hu kontra tiegħu nnifsu, kif se żżomm wieqfa s-saltna tiegħu? Għax intom tgħidu li jien bis-saħħa ta' Begħelżebul inkeċċihom ix-xjaten. Lq:11:19] Imma jekk jiena qiegħed inkeċċi x-xjaten bis-saħħa ta' Begħelżebul, uliedkom bis-saħħa ta' min ikeċċuhom? Għalhekk huma stess ikunu l-imħallfin tagħkom. [Lq:11:20] Iżda jekk jiena qiegħed inkeċċi x-xjaten bis-saħħa ta' Alla, dan ifisser li waslitilkom is-Saltna ta' Alla.
[Lq:11:21] Sakemm il-bniedem qawwi u armat tajjeb jgħasses il-palazz tiegħu, ħwejġu jkunu fiż-żgur. [Lq:11:22] Imma jekk wieħed aqwa minnu jaqbeż fuqu u jegħlbu, jaħtaflu l-armi kollha li fuqhom kien iserraħ rasu, u jqassam il-priża tiegħu. [Lq:11:23] Min m'huwiex miegħi huwa kontra tiegħi, u min ma jiġborx miegħi, ixerred.
[Lq:11:24] "Meta l-ispirtu mniġġes joħroġ minn bniedem, huwa jmur jiġġerra u jfittex il-mistrieħ f'art niexfa, u billi ma jsibu mkien, jgħid, 'Mela nerġa' lura lejn dari mnejn ħriġt.' [Lq:11:25] U x'ħin jiġi, isibha miknusa u kollox f'postu. [Lq:11:26] Mbagħad imur iġib seba' spirti oħra agħar minnu, u jidħlu joqogħdu hemm ġew. U fl-aħħar dak il-bniedem isib ruħu f'qagħda agħar minn ta' qabel."
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu
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Pope at Santa Marta: Guard the heart to avoid the seductions of evil
(Vatican Radio) Only Christ crucified will save us from the demons that make us "slide slowly into worldliness", saving us also from the "stupidity" that St. Paul talks about to the Galatians, and from seduction. This was central message of the homily of Pope Francis at his Mass, Friday morning, at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. He was reflecting on the episode in Luke’s Gospel where Jesus casts out a demon, which some people interpret as through power of the devil.
Watchfulness against Devil's stealth
The Pope said the Lord asks us be watchful in order not to enter into temptation. This is why a Christians have to be awake, watchful and careful like a sentinel. Jesus was not narrating a parable but was stating a truth, i.e when the unclean spirit comes out of a man, he roams about in abandoned places looking for refuge and not finding any, decides to return to where he came from, where the freed man lives. Hence the demon decides to bring in "seven other spirits worse than him.” Pope Francis emphasized the word “worse”, saying it has much force in the passage because the demons enter quietly.
Worldliness
The demons thus start being part of the man's life. With their ideas and inspirations, they help the man to live better and entering his life and heart and start changing him from within, but quietly without making any noise. This method is different from the earlier diabolic possession which was strong, the Pope explained, adding this time it a diabolic possession, something like in a “living room”. The devil slowly changes our criteria to lead us to worldliness. It camouflages our way of acting, which we hardly notice. And so, the man, freed from the demon, becomes a bad man, a man burdened by worldliness. And that's exactly what the devil wants – worldliness, the Pope stressed.
Worldliness, Pope Francis explained, is a spell, a seduction, because the devil is the "father of seduction". When the devil enters "so sweetly, politely and takes possession of our attitudes," the Pope said, our values pass from the service of God to worldliness. Thus we become "lukewarm Christians, worldly Christians", a mixture, something that the Pope described as a “fruit salad” of the spirit of the world and the spirit of God. All this distances us from the Lord, the Pope said and stressed that the way to avoid it by being vigilant and calm without alarm.
Christ crucified who saves
Watchful means understanding what goes on in my heart, the Pope said, adding, “ It means stopping for a while to examine my life, whether I a Christian, whether I educate my children, whether my life is Christian or worldly?” And one understands this, as Paul points out, by looking at Christ crucified. One understands where worldliness lies and is destroyed before the Lord's cross. The Crucifix saves us from the charms and seductions that lead us to worldliness.
The Holy Father exhorted Christians to examine themselves whether they look up to Christ crucified, whether they pray the Way of the Cross in order to understand the price of salvation, not just from sins but also from worldliness. The examination of conscience, the Pope said, is done always before Christ crucified, with prayer, after which one has to break loose from one’s comfortable attitudes, through works of charity, visiting the sick, helping someone in need and so on. This breaks the harmony and the spiritual worldliness that the demon together with seven others tries to create in us, the Pope added.
