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.
Summer snow in Rome? Pope explains ancient miracle - August 5, 2024
Vespri in occasione della solennità di Santa Maria della Neve, 5/8/2024 - Omelia di Papa Francesco
Ferja - FeriaOR - Tifkira (abjad) - Memorial (white)- Id-Dedikazzjoni tal-Bażilka ta’ Santa Marija Maggiore, f’Ruma -The Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in Rome
Quddiesa u Rużarju mill-Kurja tal-Arċisqof - 5 ta' Awwissu 2021
Beauty, Tradition, & Relics - Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major (EWTN Vaticano)
Below are the readings suggested for today's Memorial. However,
readings for the Memorial may also be taken from the Common of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, #707-712.
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race.
He will dwell with them and they will be his people
and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away."
The One who sat on the throne said,
"Behold, I make all things new."
R. (15:9) You are the highest honor of
our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
R. You are the highest honor of our race. Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
R. You are the highest honor of our race.
While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
"Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed."
He replied, "Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it."
Liturgy of the Word - 5 August - True Happiness
THE GOSPEL Lk 11:27-28 -- 'Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it'. - L-hena veru
AUGUST 5 - Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint
Mary Major in Rome
Evanġelju
Hieni l-ġuf li ġiebek ! Aktar hienja dawk li jisimgħu l-kelma ta' Alla u
jħarsuha !
Lq 11, 27-28
Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa
F'dak iż-żmien, waqt li Ġesù [Lq:11:27] kien qed jitkellem, kien hemm
waħda mara li għolliet leħinha minn qalb il-folla u qaltlu: "Hieni l-ġuf
li ġiebek u s-sider li rdajt!"
[Lq:11:28] Iżda hu qalilha: "Imma tassew ngħidlek, aktar hienja dawk li
jisimgħu l-kelma ta' Alla u jħarsuha!"
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu
=====================================
Scenes from the Basilica of Saint Mary Major
The Story Behind the Feast Day of St. Mary Major and why it's important to Pope Francis
Piazza Esquilino, Santa Maria Maggiore - north (apse) side.
Santa Maria Maggiore façade
>>>
St Mary Major, Rome, Italy
>>>
The sacra culla, the sacred crib that holds the wood of Our Lord's Manger
Rome's holy crib
Art historian Elizabeth Lev talks about the history and significance of the relic of the crib in Rome.
------------------------------------------
The feast day of Our Lady of the Snow is also the day of the dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria of the Snows, or Santa Maria Maggiore [Saint Mary Major] in Rome.
Since the 7th century it was known also as Maria ad Præsepe because the Basilica has some pieces of wood from the Manger in which Our Lord was born. The ceiling of the Basilica is gilded with the first gold that came from the Americas.
This was the first church in Rome to be dedicated to Our Lady. In the 4th century Pope Liberius added a lateral hall to a large existing hall of a Roman patrician palace and dedicated it to the cult; for this reason it was called the Basilica Liberii [Liberian Basilica]. Pope Sixtus III (432-440) restored it almost a century later and dedicated it to the Virgin, who the Council of Ephesus had defined as Theotokos, that is, the Mother of God. It was then that the Basilica received the name of Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Maria Mayor.
Pope Liberius defines in the
snow the future site of Santa Maria Maggiore
A beautiful legend tells us that Our Lady appeared in dreams simultaneously to Pope Liberius and to the Roman patrician who owned the property where the church would be erected. She commanded the Pope to build a basilica on Esquiline Hill on the site that would be covered with snow the next day. Indeed, during that night of August 4-5, 352, in the very heat of the summer, a miraculous snow fell on the summit of the Hill, indicating the place for the church to be built. This is why this basilica is also called Our Lady of the Snow.
The patrician had a similar dream indicating that he should donate the palace and land for the church to be built. Our Lady also told him that she would send the snow as a sign.
To commemorate the Miracle of the Snow, every August 5th a cascade of white petals descends from the coffered ceiling onto the altar place during the religious festivities.
It was in this church that one Christmas night Our Lady placed the Divine Infant into the arms of St. Cajetan of Thiene It was here on another Christmas night that St. Ignatius of Loyola celebrated his first Mass. In this church, St. Pius V prayed the Rosary that obtained for the Catholic warriors the victory of Lepanto.
There is a chapel in the Basilica that has a picture of Our Lady that, according to tradition, was painted by St. Luke.
St Charles Borromeo used to pray often in front of this Madonna, and in testimony of his gratitude to her, he wrote the Rule of the Canons of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Fis-sena 355, fi żmien il-Papa San Liberju (352-366), kienet inbniet knisja fuq il-għolja Eskwilin, f’Ruma, iddedikata lill-Madonna, li biż-żmien kienet saret magħrufa bħala l-”Bażilika Liberjana”.
Fis-sena 431, ftit wara l-Konċilju ta’ Efesu kien stqarr li Omm Ġesù hi Omm Alla, il-Papa Sistu III kabbar din il-knisja u kkonsagraha f’ġieħ l-Omm qaddisa ta’ Alla.
Din il-Bażilika hija l-iktar waħda antika fost il-knejjes tal-Punent li huma ddedikati f’ġieħ il-Madonna, taħt it-titolu ta’ Omm Alla. Biż-żmien saret magħrufa bħala ”Santa Marija Maggiore”. Ġieli tissejjaħ ukoll ”Santa Maria ad praesepe” għax fiha hemm miżmuma s-suppost relikwija tal-maxtura ta’ Betlem.
Hi wkoll waħda mit-tliet knejjes patrijarkali, li fihom il-Papa jmexxi l-funzjoni f’ċerti okkażjonijiet. Iż-żewġ knejjes patrijarkali l-oħra huma ta’ San Pietru u ta’ San Ġwann Lateran.
Fis-seklu disgħa xterdet leġġenda li wasslet biex din il-festa tibda tissejjaħ ”Il-Festa tal-Madonna tas-Silġ”. Li skont il-leġġenda, għatta l-post fejn il-Madonna riedet li timbnielha knisja.
Il-Papa San Piju V daħħal din il-festa fil-kalendarju liturġiku tal-Knisja universali, iżda wara l-Konċilju Vatikan II, din il-festa saret magħrufa bl-isem li għandha llum.
Talba
Sliem għalik, kewkba tal-baħar, Omm qaddisa u kbira t’Alla, dejjem Verġni bla mittiefsa, bieb il-hena u ferħ tas-sema. Uri li tassew int Ommna, wassal talbna quddiem Alla, li fi ħnientu twieled minnek biex isir għalina bniedem. (Mill-Innu ta’ l-Għasar)
http://en.romereports.com The Sign of Peace is getting some more attention at the Vatican. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments released guidelines on the Rite of the Sign of Peace during Mass.
The Sign of Peace using "familiar and profane gestures of greeting." and "abuses" should be avoided: such as...
-- "The introduction of a 'song for peace,' which is nonexistent in the Roman Rite."
-- "The displacement of the faithful from their places to exchange the sign of peace amongst themselves."
-- "The priest leaving the altar in order to give the sign of peace to some of the faithful."
-- People using the sign of peace at Christmas, Easter, baptisms, weddings, ordinations and funerals to offer holiday greetings, congratulations or condolences.
YOU WILL FIND THAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:
EACH ONE OF YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE EUCHARIST
IN THE SAME WAY
AGAIN;
YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GO TO MASS IN THE SAME WAY;
YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN
THE SAME WAY. IT
WILL ALL BE DIFFERENT FOR YOU !
Discover amazing truths you never knew about the Eucharist. Rich in content and full of surprises, this powerful talk reveals hidden treasures which will change your life and bring you closer to Jesus the very next time you receive Holy Communion. Perfect for a variety of parish programs.
=======================
About the Speaker: Vinny Flynn
Vinny Flynn is the founder of Mercysong Ministries and is known to many as the man who sings the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN. Along with his wife Donna, he has been serving the Church in active ministry for over thirty years through teaching, writing, retreats, speaking, counseling, and music. This talk is based on his new book from Ignatius Press, 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, and is the fruit of a lifetime of research and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Described as "a real gem" and "must reading for any Catholic" by Cardinal George Pell, Vinny's book is available directly from Mercysong.com. http://www.mercysong.com/
More about Seven Secrets of the Eucharist
This is the first Mary Foundation talk based on a book. Pope John Paul II referred to the Holy Eucharist as "the greatest treasure of the Church," and yet most practicing Catholics have received very little in-depth or inspirational theological insight about this critical aspect of our spiritual lives since our school days.
Mr Flynn's "secrets" are actually a series of surprising principles, insights, and "hidden" truths, presented together for the first time in one exciting talk. All seven secrets are based on truths found in the Bible, the writings of the Saints, the Catechism, and recent teachings of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict. These truths have always been embraced by the saints, Church Fathers, theologians, and mystics, but have never before been presented together, and rarely in such a meaningful and accessible way.
This talk also includes two "bonus secrets" about Our Lady's relationship to the Eucharist which are not found in Vinny Flynn's book.Vinny Flynn will show you how reception of the Eucharist can be a life-changing experience the very next time you receive Holy Communion.
Paula Magliocco of
Pewaukee, Wis., is a busy mother of three and a Catholic elementary-school
teacher. Yet, in spite of her hectic life, she finds time to make a spiritual
communion, not just once, but several times throughout the day. Why? Because
it’s easy, takes only a moment, and offers benefits beyond compare.
“Receiving the Eucharist
is really the joy of my life, so when I cannot receive sacramentally, I know
that the next best way for union with Christ is a spiritual communion,” she
said. “Jesus is always ready and waiting to unite his heart with ours; and all
we need to do is turn to him in prayer, and he is there with his arms wide open
and the graces flowing.”
A spiritual communion is
different from an actual or sacramental communion, in which we receive the Real
Presence in the consecrated Host and Precious Blood. A spiritual communion is a
devotion that we can initiate on our own, either inside or outside of holy
Mass. We can make a spiritual communion at any time and in any place, as long
as we approach the devotion with “renewed faith, reverence, humility and in
complete trust in the goodness of the divine Redeemer” and are “united to him
in the spirit of the most ardent charity,” according to Pope Pius XII’s
encyclical Mediator Dei (The Sacred Liturgy). In spiritual communion, we
embrace Our Lord as if we had actually received him in the Eucharist.
Redemptorist Father Jim
White, who runs the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc, Wis., suggests a
four-step method of spiritual communion, one that he himself practices in the
footsteps of St. Alphonsus Liguori as a retreat master. First, make an act of
faith. This can be one using the formal prayer taught by the Church (see
sidebar) or an extemporaneous one. The main point is to express to Our Lord our
firm belief in his goodness and mercy and in his real presence in the Blessed
Sacrament. Next, make an act of love, again either using the formal prayer of
the Church or an extemporaneous one. The act should express our love for Jesus.
Then, we express our desire to receive him. Finally, we invite Jesus to come
into our hearts spiritually. St. Alphonsus recommended that we even open our
mouths as if receiving actual communion.
“This puts us in the
state of mind of being in union with Jesus,” Father White explained. “It’s very
simple, it only takes a moment, and we can do it during our work, our studies
or anything else we may be doing.”
Spiritual communion
gives us a greater awareness of God’s overall presence in our lives and
increases our faith in the Real Presence. So, the more we spiritually
communicate, the more united we become with Christ. The Church recommends
making spiritual communions as often as possible, even if we’re able to
participate in Mass that day. It also is advisable to make at least three
spiritual communions during Mass: at the beginning, at the consecration and at
the end.
Joe Yank attends Mass
nearly every day before work at an electrical supply company and prays the
Rosary on his drive to work. This, he says, helps to unite him not only with
Christ, but also with his Blessed Mother. On the drive home to Hubertus, Wis.,
from work, he makes a spiritual communion so as to frame his day both actually
and spiritually around the Eucharist. Doing so helps to draw him more deeply into
the mystery and reality of the Blessed Sacrament.
“I do like to go to
daily holy Mass every morning, so I can receive holy Communion sacramentally to
start my day. This is a very real help to me, especially when I know I am faced
with many difficulties awaiting me at the office,” he said. “But as far as
spiritual communions on my drive home, I like to say the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
For me, it’s the perfect spiritual communion meditation. ‘Heavenly Father, I
offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ …’ This helps draw my day into perspective. “
Spiritual communion is
valuable, not only for its unity with Jesus and ability to increase our faith
in the Eucharist, but for other reasons as well. Whenever we make a spiritual
communion, we please God and receive an abundance of his graces. St. Alphonsus
taught that the Church grants a partial indulgence of 300 days with every act
of spiritual communion and a plenary indulgence once monthly when made under
the usual conditions. The Enchiridion on Indulgences defines an indulgence as,
“the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already
forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned.” Indulgences are granted only when
the person has a proper disposition and under certain conditions prescribed by
the Church. A partial indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due
for sin. A plenary indulgence removes all of the temporal punishment due for
sin and, according to the enchiridion, must be accompanied by confession,
Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intention of the Pope. The person also
must be in the state of grace.
Saints throughout the
ages have witnessed to the value of spiritual communion (see their prayers
below). In a vision, Our Lord explained it to St. Catherine of Siena by showing
her two chalices: one made of gold, the other of silver. He told her that her
sacramental Communions were preserved in the gold chalice and that her
spiritual communions were in the silver chalice. He told Blessed Jane of the
Cross that each time she communicated spiritually, she received graces of the
same kind as those received in sacramental Communion.
Blessed Pope John Paul
II was a great advocate of spiritual communion. He wrote in his encyclical Ecclesia
de Eucharitia (The Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church), “Precisely
for this reason, it is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for
the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin of the practice of
‘spiritual communion,’ which has happily been established in the Church for
centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life. St.
Teresa of Jesus wrote: ‘When you do not receive communion and you do not attend
Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice;
by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.’”
It can be especially
fruitful to make a spiritual communion when we are before Our Lord in
Eucharistic adoration, whether he is reverenced in the monstrance or protected
within the tabernacle.
In McSherrystown, Pa.,
Pam Singleton, a Spanish teacher and mother of five, discovered the
grace-filled bonus of making spiritual communions in a prayer booklet left in
the pew at her parish: “I love it whenever I’m at adoration and I think to pray
the spiritual communion prayer. Not only is it powerful, but it gives me great
comfort and calm to feel tightly united with Jesus during adoration.”
Marge Fenelon writes from Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Spiritual
Communion Prayers
We certainly can make a
spiritual communion extemporaneously, but formulated prayers
can be very
helpful, especially when our concentration is being tried by the busyness of
life. Here are some suggestions:
Send
Your Angel to Holy Mass
O, holy angel at my side,
go to the church for me.
Kneel in my place at
holy Mass,
where I desire to be.
At Offertory in my
stead,
take all I am and own,
and place it as a
sacrifice
upon the altar throne.
At holy consecration’s
bell,
adore with seraph’s
love,
my Jesus, hidden in the
Host,
come down from heaven
above.
And when the priest
Communion takes,
O, bring my Lord to me,
that his sweet heart may
rest on mine,
and I his temple be.
Then pray for those I
dearly love,
and those who cause me
grief,
Jesus’ love may cleanse
all hearts
and suffering souls
relieve.
Pray that this sacrifice
divine,
may mankind’s sin’s
efface,
then bring me Jesus’
blessing home,
the pledge of every
grace. Amen.
— Author unknown
Act
of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that
you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and
I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you
sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you
have already come and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be
separated from you. Amen. — St. Alphonsus Liguori
Act
of Love
I believe thou art
present in the Blessed Sacrament, O Jesus. I love thee and desire thee. Come
into my heart; I embrace thee. O never leave me. I beseech thee, O Lord Jesus,
may the burning and most sweet power of thy love absorb my mind, that I may die
through love of thy love, who wast graciously pleased to die through love of my
love. Amen. — St. Francis of Assisi
Brief
Acts of Spiritual Communion
May the burning and must
sweet power of thy love, O Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech thee, absorb my mind,
that I may die through love of thy love, who wast graciously pleased to die
through love of my love. Amen. — St. Francis of Assisi
“O love not loved! O
love not known!” — St. M. Magdalene of Pazzi
THE 7 SECRETS OF THE EUCHARIST - video published on 16 Nov 2021
%2Bside..jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*)
_04.jpg)
_02.jpg)
