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.
Għandi dar, ingawdiha iva, Imma l-bqija għal ta' warajja! Għandi karozza, nuzaha iva, Imma diġa għamlitu zmienha! Għandi flus Biex nixtri l-bżonnijiet U nħallas il-kontijiet. Mil-bqija,u jekk jirnexxieli nfaddal xi ħaġa Jibqgħu hemm għal li jista' jinqala'. U jekk ma jinqala' xejn Imur kollox għal ta' warajja! Allura x'għandi tiegħi ? S'issa, Għandi n-nifs Li bil-ħila tiegħu qed ngħix. Għandi l-moħħ Li bih nasal biex nifhem. Għandi d-dawl t'għajnejja Li bih nista' nara s-sbuħija ta' madwari. Għandi l-qalb li s'issa għada tħabbat U tiflaħ tferra l-imħabba f'idejn battala. Għandi esperjenzi Li nista' naqsam miegħek. Għandi s-swaba f'idi Li bihom qed nittajpja dan il-ħsieb. U meta dawn ukoll jispiċċaw Tibqa' biss il-kitba, għal ta' warajja! Allura x'għandi tiegħi fiż-żgur? Għandi ħini f'idi, Għalhekk nipprova nużah sew. Fuq kollox, Ċerta li għandi ruħ Għalhekk kemm jista' jkun Nipprova li ngħix sew. Għax dak li jiena nemmen fiH Irrid inkompli ngawdiH Lilu għandi fiż-żgur Ma jinsini qatt Ma jwarrabni qatt Ma jitmermer qatt U ma jispiċċa qatt! Anzi, aktar ma nsir midħla tiegħu Aktar nara jitkattar l-kobor tiegħu Allura ngħożżu u nżommu kuljum viċin qalbi Għax Hu biss ser jibqa' tiegħi għal dejjem. Mill-bqija ser jibqa' kollox għal ta' warajja ! Silvana Cardona 28.05.2012
Ittra li rċevejna u li tirrakonta l-esperjenza ta’ ġuvni u tfajla li marru jgħixu flimkien bla ma żżewġu biex jiffrankaw l-ispejjeż tat-tieġ. L-ismijiet ġew mibdula biex jostru l-identità tal-persuni. Napprezzaw jekk wara li taqra din l-esperjenza tħallilna l-kummenti tiegħek. Jisimni Ruth. Żewġi jismu Tony. Minn sentejn u nofs ilu ‘l hawn sirt nifraħ u nħossni kburija meta nuża din il-kelma – żewġi. Ilna ngħixu flimkien kważi ħames snin, imma huwa biss f’dawn l-aħħar sentejn u nofs, li bdejt insejjaħlu żewġi. Qabel kont ngħid li kien il-partner li ngħix miegħu. In-nies kienu jgħidu li aħna poġġuti. Tant tweġġani din il-kelma! Naf li hemm min kien jgħidhielna b’disprezz, imma mhux kulħadd, għax anke ommi stess, li m’għandi ebda’ dubju mill-imħabba kbira tagħha lejja, mhux darba jew tnejn kienet użatha magħna stess. Tony u jiena minn dejjem ħabbejna lil xulxin, u minn dejjem ridna li nkunu ta’ xulxin għal dejjem. Kemm jiena u kemm Tony konna naħdmu. Ma kellniex xi paga kbira, imma lanqas kienet waħda ħażina. Xtrajna flimkien appartament ħelu ħafna, mhux fir-raħal tagħna u bdejna nħejjuh biex meta jkun lest niżżewġu. Għidt xrajna, insomma, iddejjinna mal-bank, imma llum kulħadd hekk. Tawna 30 sena biex inħallsuħ. Jekk kollox imur sewwa, inkunu kważi wasalna għall-pensjoni meta nagħmlu l-aħħar pagament. Id-dar kienet għadha vojta imma ridna niżżewġu għax l-għoxrin konna ilna li għalaqnihom. Anke ħsibna biex nagħmlu l-kors ta’ Kana għax ridna niżżewġu fil-Knisja, imma ma stajniex. La jiena u lanqas hu ma konna qaddisin, imma l-quddies tal-Ħadd kważi dejjem morna, u mhux darba jew tnejn tlajlna nqerru fil-knisja ta’ San Franġisk il-Belt. Ma kellna ebda impediment ħlief wieħed – il-misħuta flus. Meta bdejna nduru biex niġbru l-kwotazzjonijiet għat-tieġ, mal-ewwel jum bdew il-problemi. Kif stajna nofqu dawn l-eluf kollha meta kellna dak id-dejn kollu fuq dar li kienet għadha kważi vojta? Fl-aħħar qtajnieha li mmorru noqgħodu flimkien bil-ħsieb li xi darba niżżewġu. Imma aktar ma beda jgħaddi żmien, il-possibiltà ta’ żwieġ bdiet issir aktar remota. Il-Bambin biss jaf kemm kont nibki waħdi! Kemm drabi tlabt lill-Madonna ssibilna soluzzjoni! Imma xorta waħda ma ridtx nofoq dawn l-eluf għal ftit sigħat. U mhux veru, meta jgħidu li tista’ tagħmel xi ħaġa sempliċi bi ftit flus. Mhux veru! La sħabek u lanqas niesek ma jħallukx. Li tnejn ipoġġu llum saret aktar aċċettata mis-soċjetà milli tnejn jiżżewġu b’ċeremonja u festin sempliċi. Sirna ilsiera tas-soċjetà u d-drawwiet li daħħlu biex jiżdied il-kummerċ. Naf minn sħabi li nefaq paga ta’ sena sħiħa għat-tieġ. U dan la jiena u lanqas Tony ma konna lesti nagħmluh. Jum wieħed, ftit wara li wasalna lura mix-xogħol ħabbat il-bieb. Kieku ndunajt qabel minn kien dak li ħabbat ma kontx niftaħ. Kien qassis li ġie jbierek, Stħajna ndaħħluh. Dar vojta minn kollox! Lanqas bieb tal-kamra tal-banju kien għad ma kellna. Kien qassis ftit anzjan, li ma kontx nafu, imma hu bħal intebaħ mill-ewwel li konna mbarazzati. Ra l-kikkri bit-tè fuq il-mejda, “Għadkom ġejjin mix-xogħol?” staqsiena. “Tieħu ftit tè magħna?”, weġibtu jiena. Minn dak il-ħin ma bbastax jitlaq. Bħal donnu nesa’ kemm kien fadallu familji oħra warajna. “Mnejn intom? Intom mir-raħal? Ilkom xejn li ġejtu toqgħodu hawn? Ilkom miżzewwġin?” Fl-aħħar kelli ngħidlu. Ħarist f’għajnejn Tony, li kien fuq in-naħa l-oħra tal-mejda, u wara b’għajnejja baxxa għidtlu, “Għax ħa ngħidlek, Father, aħna m’aħniex miżżewġin. Riddna niżżewġu, imma ma nistgħux!” Dak li ntqal dakinhar għadu rekordjat f’moħħi kelma b’kelma. “Għaliex binti, hemm x’impediment?” staqsa. “Il-flus, Father! Il-misħuta flus!” “Il-flus, mhumiex impediment għaż-żwieġ”, weġibni. “Jekk ikollok minnhom, mhumiex”, għidtlu. “Lanqas jekk ma jkollokx”, interrompa hu. “Father, tidher li qatt ma żżewwiġt int”, irrispondejtu fil-pront. Sa dak il-ħin, Tony kien għadu ma qalx kelma. Imma dak il-ħin qabeż u qalli, “Mhux hekk, Ruth! Mhux hekk”. Imbagħad dar fuq il-qassis u qallu, “Skużha, Father.” “Ta xhiex, ibni? Għax qalet il-verità? U bi tbissima qalilna, veru li jiena qatt ma żżewwiġt, imma xi ftit esperjenza ta’ dan għandi.” Dak il-ħin qam, bħal intebaħ li kien fadallu fejn imur. “Jimporta nerġa niġi s’għandkom ħalli nitkellmu ftit xi darba oħra biex ma nħalli lil ħadd jistenna?” Wara dakinhar iltqajna diversi drabi. Sar jafna u sirna nafuh. Fissrilna kif it-tieġ mhux iż-żwieġ. Ta’ l-ewwel idum ftit sigħat, imma l-ieħor irid jibqa tul ħajja sħiħa. It-tieġ m’għandu qatt ikun impediment għaż-żwieġ. It-tieġ m’għandu qatt ikun mogħti importanza aktar miż-żwieġ. Illum is-soċjetà tgħidilna bil-maqlub, imma dak li qed jiġri fil-familji llum juri li s-soċjetà m’għandhiex raġun. Meta se nibdew nehduha kontra dan il-kurrent li qed ikaxkarna l-baħar? Tliet xhur wara, dan l-istess qassis żewwiġġna f’kappella ċkejkna, f’ċerimonja privata. Magħna kien hemm il-ġenituri, ħutna, u erba’ ħbieb tal-qalba. Kienet ċerimonja sempliċi u b’festin żgħir li għamilna wara fid-dar stess tagħna. Il-fatt li d-dar kienet għadha kważi vojta, dakinhar xejn ma dejjaqna, għax min kien hemm ġie biex jifraħ magħna u mhux biex jissindikana u jgħid fuqna. Kollox ħejjejna aħna stess, l-aktar il-ġenituri tagħna. Imma l-ferh kbir li ħassejna dakinhar diffiċli niddeskrivih. Illum ħassejt li għandi nikteb għax il-paċi kbira li saltnet f’qalbna u bejnietha minn dak iż-żmien trid tgħaddi minnha biex tifhimha. Fil-verità din l-ittra ilha żmien f’moħħi, imma llum ridt niktibha, għax fi ftit ġimgħat oħra, meta tasal it-tarbija li l-Mulej għoġbu jafda lili u lil żewġi, naf li se jkolli ħafna anqas ħin milli għandi llum. Ridt naqsam din l-esperjenza tagħna mal-qarrejja tiegħek għax naf li hemm barra hemm ħafna oħrajn li bħalna jibqgħu ma jiżżewġux minħabba l-ispeżż tat-tieġ. Illum irrid ngħid lilhom dak li darba qalu lili; it-tieġ mhux iż-żwieġ. Ta’ l-ewwel jgħaddi fi ftit sigħat. L-ieħor irid jibqa’ għall-ħajja kollha. Tinvestux fluskom u l-imħabba tagħkom fid-duħħan! Ridt ngħid ukoll kelma lis-saċerdoti. Hemm barra hemm ħafna li bħali ma jiżżewġux bil-Knisja għal raġunijiet banali. Oħorġu fittxuhom u sibuhom, kif darba dak il-qassis twajjeb fittex u sab lilna. Nassigurakom li wara Alla, u l-Verġni imbierka, l-hena li għandna f’qalbna llum nafuh lilu. Skużani li ktibt fit-tul, imma napprezza jekk tista’ tippublika din l-ittra. Lili swietli sforz kbir, imma ġiet minn qalbi. Ruth u żewġi Tony. .
https://bible.ewtn.com/Player?lang=en Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition – Luke 2 Luke 2:35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed(Luke 2:35).
The four Gospels are not without passages that need explanation. That is why we have an ecclesia docens (a Church teaching). And that is why the Church has given us in the earliest Christian centuries holy doctors to enlighten theirs and all generations to come. Of course the Church has many saints that have been given the title doctor over the centuries (thirty six as of today) but the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries have been blessed with the most illustrious. Four in the West and four in the East stand out. They are Saints Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Pope Gregory in the West and Saints Athanasius, Gregory Nazianzen, John Chrysostom, and Basil in the East.
If I find a verse, primarily in the Gospels, to be troublesome or too enigmatic for my literal reading, I know where to go to get an answer. First, I go to Cornelius a Lapide, who has the best of all commentaries on the Gospels, and, if I am not satisfied there I go to another scholar’s commentary, Reverend George Leo Haydock’s, whose Douay English translation of the Vulgate is the best in our language.
A Lapide has a good collection of patristic exegesis for the enigmatic verse I introduced above. The actual name of our trusty Jesuit from Flanders was Cornelis van den Steen. (In his time, saddling the sixteenth and seventeenth century, it was not uncommon for scholars to Latinize their names.) As is always the case with a Lapide he begins with commentators whose opinions, although pious, are somewhat stretched and ends with the more acceptable and easily understood interpretations.
And thy own soul a sword shall pierce . . . Right away we learn that “sword,” in the Arabic text and the Greek can mean lance as well as sword. Hence, when Our Savior was already dead on the Cross, the centurion came and pierced His side with a lance. Who felt the pain of this lance thrust into the Heart of the Son of God but His holy mother Mary? Her soul, which was continually being pierced on Calvary by the mocking blasphemies of the Jews and the pagan executioners, was now, after Jesus had expired, pierced unto death. Only by the Will of God did she not expire then and there. “The sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Psalm 56:5).
What is this sword?
A Lapide tells us that Saint Eucherius of Lyons (Hom. in Dominicam), understands the sword of the Spirit to be the word of God, i.e., the spirit of prophecy, To Mary, he says, was revealed the secrets of Holy Scripture and the hidden thoughts of men. Even the hidden thoughts of her divine Son as we see at the wedding of Cana when the Mother with authority told the waiters: “Whatsoever He telleth you, do it.” Perhaps, too, we can apply this to the message of Saint Paul to the Hebrews: “The word of the Lord is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (4:12).
A more literal interpretation of “sword” here is with reference to the sufferings inflicted on Christ, that is the sign of contradiction spoken of above; for the contradiction of the tongue is a kind of sword, as in Psalm 56:5, “The sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword”; and Psalm 63:4, “Who whetted their tongues like a sword.” This sword, a Lapide notes, is twofold. (1) The sword of the tongue. For the Blessed Virgin, hearing the insults, calumnies, and blasphemies with which Christ was assailed by the Jews, even when He was crucified, suffered intense tortures, just as though a sword had been struck through her soul. (2) The sword of iron – the nails and other torments which not only pierced the body and soul of Christ, but also pierced the soul of the Virgin. ”They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul” (Psalm 104:18). Such is the interpretation of Saint Augustine (Ep. 59, ad Paulinum).
How great was the torture inflicted by this sword we may gather, with Franciscus Toletus, S.J., from the fact that it was her Son who suffered, whom the Mother of God loved more than herself, so that she would far rather have suffered and been crucified herself. For, though the Blessed Virgin stood by Him and suffered with Him, yet did the Mother’s anguish but add a new pang to the Son’s torments, and this grief again had its echo in the Mother’s soul. Knowing His Heart perfectly this too was a sword piercing her Immaculate Heart.
In this vein, a Lapide cites Saint John of Damascus, “The pains she had escaped in childbirth she bore at the time of His Passion, so that she felt her bosom torn asunder by reason of the depth of her maternal love” (de Fide, lib. iv. cap. xv).
And, too, Saint Bernard: “The chosen arrow,” he says, “is the love of Christ, which not only pierced, but pierced through and through, the soul of Mary, so that it left in her virginal breast not the smallest part void of love, but with all her heart, and all her soul, and all her strength, she loved. And truly, again, it penetrated through her to come to us, that of that fullness we might all receive, and she might be the Mother of that Love whose father is the Love of God. . . . And in her whole self did she receive the vast sweet wound of love. Happy shall I think myself if sometimes I may feel pricked with but the very tip of that sword’s point, that my soul too may say, ‘I am wounded with love’.”
That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
This passage is surely difficult to interpret.
A Lapide prefers the explanation of the sixteenth century Jesuit, Toletus: “The sword that shall pierce thy soul, O Virgin, shall be the occasion of revealing the thoughts of many hearts that before lay hidden. For, long before Christ was slain, the leaders of the Jews had the intention of slaying Him, but dared make no attempt against Him, for fear of the people. But then the Jews had already before the Passion made manifest their thoughts about Christ, by caviling at His words and works, although they concealed their desire to slay Him.”
The “that” that begins the passage is expressive both of the purpose and its attainment. It refers back to the preceding verse, “This child is set for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign that shall be contradicted.” Thus, we see it exhibited manifestly in the scribes and pharisees who, like heretics of all times, appeared to be the upholders of justice and truth. Their “thoughts would be revealed” in their murderous designs against the Messiah and His justice, and all the Jews were about to see this antagonism. For, before the advent of Christ, their leaders were in hopes that He would come with pomp, might, and splendor, even as Solomon, and certainly deliver them from the Romans. Too, they hoped to be exalted with Him as His champions. Therefore, when they saw Him in His humility and poverty opposing Himself to their ambition and avarice, and publicly rebuking them for it, they schemed how they might have Him put to death. Let us see with what detail their hateful scheme was prophesied:
He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the son of God. He is become a censurer of our thoughts. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like other men’s, and his ways are very different.We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and glorieth that he hath God for his father. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice blinded them. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice (Wisdom 2: 13-22).
Thus, the thoughts of men were revealed in Israel manifesting who were the just who loved Christ and who were the unjust who hated Him.
But, you may still be wondering, why is the piercing of Our Lady’s soul with this sword or lance the cause of the revelation of the thoughts of men’s hearts?
Perhaps we may think here of Dismas. He was first moved by hearing the King of the Jews forgive His enemies. Prior to that it seems that he also was blaspheming along with his companion in crime: “Let Christ the king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him” (Mark 15:32).
My own belief is that Dismas was moved also by seeing the grief of Jesus’ mother. There is a tradition that on their flight into Egypt the Holy Family was accosted by robbers and that one of the robbers, seeing Mary, took pity on them and caused the others to leave the Family alone. Tradition is that this was Dismas. (See Abbe Gaume’s book, The Life of the Good Thief, available from our bookstore.) If this be true, he merited the prayers of the Mother of God who remembered him as she stood beneath the Cross. The thoughts of Saint Dismas were then opened to grace and, after his conversion, they were revealed. So it is through the centuries. The thoughts of those who love Mary and those who scorn her or snub her will always be revealed.
What dark thoughts the heretics have in their disregard for the Mother of God! They see her soul pierced with that lance on Calvary and they are unmoved. They will not call her “Blessed.” They will not proclaim her perpetual virginity, her Immaculate Conception, and sinlessness. Their protests of “Lord, Lord” will be of no avail before the Judge. Love of Mary is the sign of contradiction for all who claim to be Christian. He who will not have Mary for his mother cannot have God for his Father.
What did Saint Elizabeth say when she saw Mary at her door for the Visitation? “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” She first praises the mother and then her Son.
This is the way of God: To Jesus through Mary. It is the way God came to us.
Il-Knisja tfakkar id-duluri tal-Madonna darbtejn matul is-sena: nhar il-Ġimgħa tal-ġimgħa tal-Passjoni (il-Ġimgħa ta’ qabel il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira), u llum 15 ta’ Settembru. L-ewwel waħda inbdiet f’Cologne, il-Ġermanja, fis-seklu ħmistax bħala tpattija ta’ l-ereżija ta’ Ġovanni Hus. Dik tal-lum bdewha l-Patrijiet Serviti meta fl-1668 qalgħu permess mingħand il-Papa biex jiċċelebraw il-festa tas-Seba’ Duluri fit-tielet Ħadd ta’ settembru. Meta mbagħad il-Papa Piju VII fl-1814 rritorna mill-eżilju estenda din il-festa għall-Knisja kollha bħala tifkira ra’ kemm il-Knisja (u hu personalment) batiet minn Napuljun.
Imbagħad, il-Papa san Piju X, meta għamel ir-riforma tal-Kalendarju liturġiku, iffissa d-data tal-festa meta għamel fil-15 ta’ Settembru, fl-Ottava tat-Twelid tal-Verġni Marija.
Il-Madonna sofriet mhux għax kellha xi dnub. It-tnissil tagħha kien immakulat. Il-ħajja tagħha kienet bla l-iċken dnub.
Is-Seba’ Duluri nistgħu nniżżluhom hekk:
Il-Profezija ta’ Xmun fit-tempju.
Il-ħarba lejn l-Eġittu, triq ta’ 480 kilometri, bit-tarbija Ġesù ta’ inqas minn sena.
It-telfa ta’ Ġesù.
Il-laqgħa tagħha ma’ Ġesù jġorr is-salib fi triqtu lejn il-Kalvarju.
Il-kruċifissjoni.
Ġesù mejjet fi ħdanha.
Id-difna ta’ Ġesù.
Ħsieb
Kollox nieħu bis-sabar għal dawk li huma magħżulin biex huma wkoll jiksbu s-salvazzjoni li hi s-sebħ għal dejjem fi Kristu Ġesù. Din hi kelma ta’ min joqgħod fuqha: jekk aħna mitna miegħu, għad ngħixu miegħu wkoll; jekk insofru bis-sabar, għad insaltnu miegħu wkoll. (2 Tim. 2:10-12)
5th Sorrowful Mystery - Il-5 Misteru tat-Tbatija Mosaic at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary, Gozo.
Stabat Mater (At the cross her
stations keeping)
Panegyric to Our Lady of Sorrows - Paniġierku Festa Marija Addolorata Sultana tal- Martri SPB, 27 ta' Lulju 2014 - minn Patri Martin Mamo OFM Cap
An Unutterable Heart-Rending Grief
Perhaps someone will say: "Had she not known before that he would not die?" Undoubtedly. "Did she not expect him to rise again at once?" Surely. "And still she grieved over her crucified Son?" Intensely. Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary's Son? For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his. (from a Sermon of St. Bernard)
~excerpts from Bd. Henry Suso's A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom: On The Unutterable Heart-Rending Grief of The Pure Queen of Heaven ~
WHAT SUFFERING BRINGS...
PROPER GOSPEL ON SEPTEMBER 15 - OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Jn 19:25-27 - His mother, standing close to Jesus crucified - X’weġgħa ġarrbet u x’kefrija meta ratu fit-tbatija l-Omm lil Binha Alla.
SEPTEMBER 15 - THE GOSPEL ON THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS
Evanġelju X’weġgħa ġarrbet u x’kefrija meta ratu fit-tbatija l-Omm lil Binha Alla.
Ġw 19, 25-27
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann
F’dak iż-żmien, [Ġw:19:25] Kien hemm wieqfa ħdejn is-salib ta' Ġesù ommu, oħt ommu, Marija ta' Kleofa, u Marija ta' Magdala. [Ġw:19:26] Mela kif Ġesù lemaħ lil ommu u lid-dixxiplu li kien iħobb wieqaf ħdejha, qal lil ommu: "Mara, hawn hu ibnek." [Ġw:19:27] Mbagħad qal lid-dixxiplu: "Hawn hi ommok." U minn dak il-ħin id-dixxiplu ħadha għandu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu
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GOSPEL (2nd alternative)
Lk 2:33-35 -- a sword will pierce your own soul too / u inti wkoll, sejf jinfidlek ruħek - 15 Sept
Evanġelju Lq 2, 33-35
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa
F’dak iż-żmien, [Lq:2:33] Missieru u ommu baqgħu mistagħġba b'dak li kien qiegħed jingħad fuqu. [Lq:2:34] Xmun berikhom, u qal lil ommu Marija: "Ara, dan se jġib il-waqgħa u l-qawmien ta' ħafna f'Iżrael; se jkun sinjal li jmeruh, [Lq:2:35] - u inti wkoll, sejf jinfidlek ruħek! - biex jinkixfu l-ħsibijiet moħbija fil-qlub ta' ħafna."
“Apparently when people came to Padre Pio in Confession he often asked them as a ‘penance’ to recite seven Hail Mary’s while reflecting on the so-called seven ‘dolors,’ or ‘sorrows,’ of Mary”
Here is the homily given Sunday by Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, at the annual Padre Pio pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine of Knock.
* * *
Mother of Sorrows – Mother of Mercy
On Monday last while on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with other European bishops, I knelt to touch the very spot where Jesus was crucified. Our visit to the shrine of Golgotha was all the more special because we were there on both the Feast of the Holy Cross and the Feast of Mary, Mother of Sorrows. At Golgotha I could not help thinking of our Blessed Mother standing at the foot of the Cross.
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina had a great devotion to Our Lady, as Mother of Sorrows. He once wrote: “The Mother of Sorrows is my confidante, my teacher, my counsellor, and my powerful advocate”.
Apparently when people came to him in Confession he often asked them as a ‘penance’ to recite seven Hail Mary’s while reflecting on the so-called seven ‘dolors’ , or ‘sorrows’ of Mary. My Granny used to pray the seven sorrows on her ‘dolor’ beads: first, the prophecy of holy Simeon; second the flight into Egypt; third, the loss of the child Jesus for three days at Jerusalem; fourth, Mary meets her Son on the way to Calvary; fifth, Mary stands beneath the Cross; sixth, Mary receives the dead body of Jesus taken down from the Cross; seventh, Mary arranges the body of Jesus in the tomb with her own hands.
No wonder Padre Pio felt such empathy with the seven sorrows of the ‘Mater Dolorosa’, for he too experienced, in a mystical way, the Passion of the Crucified Christ. His sorrows mirrored the sorrows of Mary, and this is why we can so readily turn to him and of course to our Blessed Mother when we experience suffering, anxiety, loneliness or any of life’s daily trials. Padre Pio wrote: “Our Lord sometimes makes you feel the weight of the Cross. This weight seems unbearable but you carry it because in His love and mercy, the Lord helps you and gives you strength”.
This week I have been reflecting on seven modern-day ‘dolors’ or ‘sorrows’:
- First, the abortion of millions of innocent unborn children in the world, and how this seems to be taken so much for granted, even though every human life is precious.
- Second, neglect of the earth – ‘our common home’ – as Pope Francis called it in his recently published and compelling encyclical, Laudato Si. That so many people on this planet suffer poverty, are exploited and starved of the world’s resources, calls each of us to conversion, to make some sacrifices and never to waste or take for granted what we have.
- My third example of a modern-day ‘dolor’, or sorrow, is the displacement of people as refugees through war and persecution. Sadly, it is one that we have become shockingly aware of in recent months. Let us commit ourselves and our parishes to embrace refugees and migrants to Ireland with open arms and Christian charity.
- Human trafficking is my fourth modern-day sorrow. Millions of people – particularly women and children – are trafficked like slaves around the world each year and exploited for cheap labour and prostitution including, sadly, even here in Ireland. We must act and be ever vigilant to prevent human trafficking.
- Fifth, I mention the sorrow of addiction which sadly affects too many of our people – be it addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling or, increasingly nowadays, addiction on the Internet, for example to gaming or pornography. All kinds of addiction disrupt relationships and drain the joy out of daily life. Pray for addicts and support recovery programmes.
- My sixth sorrow is the quest in many countries to pass legislation that will allow assisted suicide or euthanasia. I think our energies should be directed towards quality hospice care so that the elderly are never made feel a burden and terminally ill patients, and so that their families are always entitled to the best of dignified support in their final days.
- Finally, as a seventh ‘dolor’ of the modern world, I choose ‘indifference‘ which, in many ways, ‘indifference’ links the other ‘sorrows’ together. It is that “I don’t really care?” attitude which sadly is more and more common today – indifference to the problems of the world, to the sins against the sacredness of human life, to modern forms of enslavement, to the waste of the earth’s resources, to the plight of the poor and the suffering. Indifference turns us more and more in on ourselves. It makes us more selfish and demanding, so conscious of our individual rights and personal autonomy, that we don’t really care about our responsibilities to others, especially the weakest and most vulnerable. Indifference says, “it’s my money, my land, my relationship, it’s my body, it’s my life and I shall do what I want with it.” I think the root of indifference is not wanting Jesus into your life in any meaningful way which would make a difference to how you live or what you do.
The reality of these immense modern day ‘dolors’ or sorrows, presents Christians today with great challenges, but also with a huge responsibility and mission to encourage real friendships with Jesus that will make the world a better place. In face of these modern day sorrows there is sometimes a temptation among believers to react in a judgemental way to those who have fallen, rather than showing mercy and compassion.
Today’s scripture readings illustrate the conflict that is often involved in following Christ. The writer of the Book of Wisdom speaks of the opposition that goodness encounters as it attempts to flourish. The Letter of Saint James notes the need for wisdom from above in order to discern true good and evil. In the Gospel the disciples of Jesus are shown fighting among themselves and misunderstanding the reason for Christ’s forthcoming Passion, death and Resurrection.
Pope Francis offers us a key to unlock the indifference to the Gospel that is at the root of so much suffering and sorrow in the world. The Holy Father has proclaimed a Jubilee Year of Mercy, beginning on 8 December next, as a call to re-position mercy at the centre of what we’re about. He says, “Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy” (Misericordiae Vultus 12). Pope Francis does not see mercy, as some people might, as a sign of weakness. Rather, he describes it as a strength or a “force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope (Misericordiae Vultus 10).”
Padre Pio epitomised the mercy which the Pope is talking about. His commitment to poverty, chastity and obedience as a Capuchin, his acceptance of ecclesiastical discipline, his suffering, his hours spent hearing confession, his construction of a hospital to alleviate illness, his intense prayer – all of these things are indicators of someone who had mercy burning within him. He was a lamp of God’s mercy.
Padre Pio calls us to be merciful after the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary. No wonder he himself turned to Mary so often as the ‘Mother of Sorrows’ and the ‘Mother of Mercy’. After all, at the foot of the Cross Mary witnessed the supreme expression of forgiveness when Jesus was merciful even towards those who crucified Him. For that reason we can be sure that just as Mary carried the bitter sword of the seven dolors so patiently and lovingly, so also she carries the sorrows of the modern world to the merciful heart of Jesus. Misericordiae Vultus movingly puts it: “Mary attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone, without exception.” That is why we say in the Salve Regina, “turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile in this valley of tears, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
Pope Francis: Fight evil, say no to fratricidal hatred - Published on 9 Sep 2013 O HOLY TRINITY, BLESS THE COUNTRIESWHERETHERE IS CONFLICT, ESPECIALLY IN SYRIA AND
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
I PRAY,RENEW SAUL’S CONVERSION IN
OUR MIND, MISLED BY DECEIVED OPINIONS. GIVE US YOUR PEACE IN OUR HEART
BY YOUR OMNIPOTENT POWER, LIGHT UP OUR MIND, TO CHOOSE TO LIVE IN PEACE TOGETHER WITH TOLERANCE
AND SOLIDARITY.AMEN.
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O TRINITA QADDISA, BIEREK IL-PAJJIŻI FEJN HEMM KUNFLITT SPEĊJALMENT FIS-SYRJA U F'ILVANT NOFSANI.
NITOLBOK, ĠEDDED IL-KONVERŻJONI TA' SAWL F'MOĦĦNA, ŻGWIDAT B'OPINJONIJIET IMQARRQA. AGĦTINA L-PAĊI TIEGĦEK F'QALBNA.
BIL-QAWWA OMNIPOTENTI TIEGĦEK, DAWLILNA MOĦĦNA ĦA NGĦAŻLU NGĦIXU FLIMKIEN FIL-PAĊI, BIT-TOLLERANZA U SOLIDARJETÀ. AMMEN.
Conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me ?"
"Who are you ?"
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting"
From SAUL to PAUL - The greatest conversion part 1
From SAUL to PAUL - The greatest conversion part 2
