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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

FEBRUARY 22 - Feast of the Chair of St Peter - Festa tal-Katedra ta' San Pietru







The Meaning and History Behind the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter | EWTN News Nightly - 23 Feb 2022  



 22 ta' Frar
Festa tal-Katedra ta' San Pietru
X’aktarx li din il-festa bdiet tiġi ċċelebrata kull sena mill-bidunett tal-Knisja, b’tifkira tal-ġurnata... li fiha San Pietru għamel l-ewwel ċerimonja reliġjuża hekk kif wasal Ruma, xi ħdax-il sena wara li Ġesù tela’ s-sema.
Fil-Vatikan, hemm siġġu sempliċi bid-dirgħajn, magħmul mill-injam tal-ballut, u li żmien wara kien ġie msebbaħ b’panelli ta’ l-avorju. Dan is-siġġu (sedesgestatoria) jinsab ippreservat ġo kaxxa kbira tal-bronż, iddisinjataminn Bernini, u tinsab imqiegħda fil-għoli mal-ħajt.
Fl-1867, dan is-siġġu kien ġie espost għall-venerazzjoni tal-Fidili biex jiikkomemora it-tmintax-il ċentinarju mill-mewt ta’ San Pietru.
Biż-żmien,il-Knisja, bdiet tara fis-siġġu ta’ San Pietru, simbolu ta’ l-awtorita’ tal-Papa, jew fi kliem ieħor l-għaqda tal-Knisja mal-Papa suċċessur ta’ l-Appostli, u għalhekk f’dan il-jum, tħeġġeġ il-Fidili biex isaħħu l-fedelta’ tagħhom lejn il-Papa u biex jitolbu għalih.
Talba
Mulej, int għażilt lil San Pietru biex ikun l-ewwel wieħed li jmexxi l-Knisja tiegħek, u tlabt għalih biex il-fidi tiegħu ma tonqsux; wettaqna fl-istess fidi, u saħħaħna fil-fedelta’ tagħna lejn il-Papa, is-suċċessur ta’ San Pietru.
(laikos Malta)



 

The Gift of the Papacy (2/22/17)






CatholicTV Mass: 2/22/17 | Chair of St. Peter
Catholic Mass celebrated in American Sign Language by Father Shawn Carey, Director of the Office of the Deaf Apostolate in the Archdiocese of Boston, on the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle.

Readings:
-1 Peter 5:1-4
-Matthew 16:13-19





GOSPEL
Mt 16:13-19 -- Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah - Stqarrija tal-fidi minn Pietru


FEBRUARY 22 - The Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle. Feast - Il-Katedra ta’ San Pietru, Appostlu. Festa

EVANĠELJU
Mt 16,13-19

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mattew

F’dak iż-żmien: [Mt:16:13] Meta wasal fl-inħawi ta' Ċesarija ta' Filippu, Ġesù staqsa  lid-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: "In-nies min jgħidu li hu Bin il-bniedem?" [Mt:16:14] U huma weġbuh: "Xi wħud, Ġwanni l-Battista; oħrajn, Elija; u oħrajn, Ġeremija jew wieħed mill-profeti. "[Mt:16:15] Imma intom min tgħidu li jien?" staqsiehom.


[Mt:16:16] U qabeż Xmun Pietru u qallu: "Inti l-Messija, Bin Alla l-ħaj." [Mt:16:17] U Ġesù wieġbu u qallu: "Hieni int, Xmun bin Ġona, għax mhux bniedem tad-demm u l-laħam uriek dan, imma Missieri li hu fis-smewwiet. [Mt:16:18] U jiena ngħidlek: Inti Pietru, u fuq din il-blata jiena nibni l-Knisja tiegħi, u s-setgħat ta' l-infern ma jegħlbuhiex. [Mt:16:19] Jiena nagħtik l-imfietaħ tas-Saltna tas-Smewwiet, u kulma torbot fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-smewwiet, u kulma tħoll fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-smewwiet."

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu.


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Feb 22 - Homily: Keys of the Kingdom







22 ta’ Frar: Il-Katedra ta’ San Pietru – Tagħrif Dwar il-Qaddisin (wordpress.com)

“Pietru, qabel ma sejjaħtlek mid-dgħajsa, għaraftek, qegħedtek kap tal-poplu tiegħi, U tajtek l-imfietaħ tas-saltna tas-smewwiet. Kull ma torbot fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-smewwiet, u kulma tħoll fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-smewwiet.” – Antifona mil-Liturġija tas-Sigħat tal-Festa tal-Katedra ta’ San Pietru (Mattew 16:19)

IL-KATEDRA TA’ SAN PIETRU

Tagħrif: X’aktarx li din il-festa bdiet tiġi ċċelebrata kull sena mill-bidunett tal-Knisja, b’tifkira tal-ġurnata li fiha San Pietru għamel l-ewwel ċerimonja reliġjuża hekk kif wasal Ruma, xi ħdax-il sena wara li Ġesù tela’ s-sema.

Kittieba tal-Istorja jaffermaw li San Pietru, qabel ma mar Ruma, kien diġà waqqaf is-Sedi tiegħu f’Antjokja. Antjokja dak iż-żmien kienet il-kapitali tal-Lvant. San Girgor il-Kbir jgħid li l-Prinċep tal-Appostli kien isqof ta’ dik il-belt għal seba’ snin.

Huwa fatt ukoll ibbażat fuq il-kunsens unanimu tal-kittieba Nsara tal-qedem li San Pietru kien ukoll Ruma u waqqaf il-Knisja hemmhekk. B’danakollu hu ma baqax kontinwament Ruma, billi għal xi waqtiet kellu spiss ikun bnadi oħra minħabba l-ħidma appostolika tiegħu .

Fil-Vatikan, hemm siġġu sempliċi bid-dirgħajn, magħmul mill-injam tal-ballut, u li żmien wara kien ġie msebbaħ b’panelli tal-avorju. Dan is-siġġu (sedes gestatoria) jinsab ippreservat ġo kaxxa kbira tal-bronż, iddisinjata minn Bernini, u tinsab imqiegħda fil-għoli mal-ħajt.

Fl-1867, dan is-siġġu kien ġie espost għall-venerazzjoni tal-Fidili biex jiġi kkomemorat it-tmintax-il ċentinarju mill-mewt ta’ San Pietru.

Biż-żmien, il-Knisja, bdiet tara fis-siġġu ta’ San Pietru, simbolu tal-awtorità tal-Papa, jew fi kliem ieħor l-għaqda tal-Knisja mal-Papa suċċessur tal-Appostli, u għalhekk f’dan il-jum, tħeġġeġ il-Fidili biex isaħħu l-fedeltà tagħhom lejn il-Papa u biex jitolbu għalih.

Fl-imgħoddi, il-festa li tfakkar l-awtorità pontifiċja ta’ San Pietru kienet tiġi ċċelebrata f’żewġ dati differenti: fit-18 ta’ Jannar, f’ġieħ il-pontifikat tiegħu f’Ruma, u fit-22 ta’ Frar f’ġieħ il-pontifikat tiegħu f’Antjokja. Fir-riforma tal-Kalendarju Universali tal-Knisja tal-1969 dawn iż-żewġ festi nġabru f’festa waħda.

Ħsieb: Qari mid-Diskorsi tal-Papa San Ljun il-Kbir:

“Minn fost kulħadd, Pietru waħdu ntagħżel, u tqiegħed fuq il-ħidma għas-sejħa tal-ġnus kollha, fuq l-Appostli kollha, u fuq il-missirijiet kollha tal-Knisja. Għalkemm ħafna huma s-saċerdoti u ħafna r-rgħajja fil-poplu ta’ Alla, sewwa sew huwa Pietru li jmexxi lil kulħadd, taħt il-mexxej il-kbir, li hu Kristu. Għeżież, kemm hu kbir u tal-għaġeb is-sehem li Kristu għoġbu jagħti lil dan ir-raġel mis-setgħa tiegħu stess! U jekk Kristu għoġbu wkoll jagħti sehem minn din l-istess setgħa tiegħu lill-Appostli u ‘l-mexxejja l-oħra, jekk hu ma ċaħadx jagħti lill-oħrajn sehem minn dak li għandu hu, huwa qatt ma tahom xejn jekk mhux permezz ta’ Pietru.

Ġesù qal lil Pietru: ‘Jiena nagħtik l-imfietaħ tas-saltna tas-smewwiet, u kulma torbot fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-smewwiet, u kulma tħoll fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-smewwiet.’ Il-jedd ta’ din is-setgħa għadda wkoll lill-Appostli l-oħra, il-kmand mogħti b’dan id-digriet twassal ukoll lill-kapijiet kollha tal-Knisja; iżda m’hux ta’ xejn tħalla fil-ħsieb ta’ wieħed dak li ġie kkmandat lil kulħadd. Dan ġie fdat b’mod speċjali lil Pietru, għax Pietru hu l-mudell li lejh għandhom iħarsu l-mexxejja kollha tal-Knisja.”

Ma kienx is-soltu li Ġesù jbiddel l-ismijiet tad-dixxipli tiegħu; barra mil-laqam li ta lill-ulied Żebedew, ‘ulied ir-ragħad’ (Mark 3;17). Qatt ma ta isem ieħor, biss lil Xmun biddillu ismu u sejjaħlu ‘Kefas.’ Dan l-isem aktar ’il quddiem ġie maqlub bil-Grieg bħala Petros u bil-Latin bħala Petrus. U dan ġie maqlub mhux għax kien isem imma għax kien mandat li Petrus irċieva mingħand il-Mulej. Dan l-isem Petrus baqa’ jidher spiss fil-Vanġelu u spiċċa biex biddel l-isem oriġinali ta’ Xmun.

“U jiena ngħidlek: Inti Pietru, u fuq din il-blata jiena nibni l-Knisja tiegħi, u s-setgħat tal-infern ma jegħlbuhiex. Jiena nagħtik l-imfietaħ tas-Saltna tas-smewwiet, u kulma torbot fuq l-art ikun marbut fis-smewwiet, u kull ma tħoll fuq l-art ikun maħlul fis-smewwiet.” (Mattew 16: 18-19)

Papa Franġisku, f’silta mill-ewwel omelija tiegħu meta laħaq Papa (19 ta’ Marzu, 2013) qal hekk:

“Hu minnu li Ġesù Kristu lil Pietru tah f’idejh is-setgħa, imma x’setgħa hi din? Wara l-mistoqsija tripla li Ġesù jagħmel lil Pietru dwar l-imħabba, tasal l-istedina tripla: irgħa l-ħrief tiegħi, irgħa n-nagħaġ tiegħi. Ma ninsew qatt li s-setgħa vera hi s-servizz, u li anki l-Papa, biex iħaddem is-setgħa tiegħu, irid jidħol dejjem iżjed f’dak is-servizz li għandu l-quċċata kollha dawl tiegħu fuq is-salib.”

Tajjeb li f’dan il-jum nitolbu b’mod speċjali għall-Papa: nitolbu għall-bżonnijiet, għall-protezzjoni u għall-qdusija tiegħu kif ukoll skont l-intenzjonijiet li għandu. Ma ninsewx nitolbu għall-Knisja kollha biex tibqa’ fidila lejn is-suċċessur ta’ Pietru u f’għaqda miegħu, taħdem u sservi lil kulħadd fuq l-eżempju tal-Iben t’Alla li “ma ġiex biex ikun moqdi imma biex jaqdi u jagħti ħajtu b’fidwa għall-kotra.”

Talba: Mulej Ġesù Kristu int waqqaft il-Knisja tiegħek fuq il-blata tal-fidi ta’ San Pietru. Agħmel li ħadd u xejn ma jkun il-kawża li jdgħajjef jew ixejjen il-fidi tagħna. Int għażilt lil San Pietru biex ikun l-ewwel wieħed li jmexxi l-Knisja tiegħek, u tlabt għalih biex il-fidi tiegħu ma tonqosx; wettaqna fl-istess fidi, u saħħaħna fil-fedeltà tagħna lejn il-Papa, is-suċċessur ta’ San Pietru. Ammen.



Il-Katedra ta' San Pietru (22 ta' Frar)


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Monday, February 20, 2017

5 Saintly marriage tips from Blessed Charles of Austria and his bride, Zita


There's a reason why the Church chose the date of their wedding to be Blessed Charles' feast day



http://aleteia.org/2017/02/14/5-saintly-marriage-tips-from-blessed-charles-of-austria-and-his-bride-zita/


1) Remember the primary goal of marriage is to get your spouse to heaven.......


2) Entrust your marriage to God and to the Blessed Mother....... 


3) After the wedding day, it is no longer “me,” but “we.”.......


4) Continually fan the flame of love.......


5) Love each other with an everlasting love that endures through any trial.......



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and from The Fatima Center:-

Blessed Karl and Fatima - The Surprising Connection




VATICAN: CHARLES OF AUSTRIA (1887-1922)
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20041003_charles-austria_en.html


HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II - Sunday, 3 October 2004
http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2004/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20041003_beatifications.html




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Friday, February 17, 2017

The Ongoing Process of Spiritual Conversion --- & --- Mark 8:22-26 -- Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida - Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma f'Betsajda






 




WEDNESDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 6 IN ORDINARY TIME

Ġesù jfejjaq raġel agħma f'Betsajda

EVANĠELJU
L-agħma kien imfejjaq, hekk li sar jara kollox tajjeb mill-bogħod ukoll.
Mk 8, 22-26

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù u d-dixxipli waslu Betsajda, u ħadulu quddiemu raġel agħma u talbuh imissu. Qabad l-agħma minn idu u ħadu barra mir-raħal, beżaqlu f’għajnejh, qiegħed idejh fuqu u staqsieh: “Qiegħed tara xi ħaġa?”. Dak ħares ’il fuq u qal: “Qiegħed nara n-nies, imma qiegħed narahom donnhom siġar mexjin”. Imbagħad raġa’ qegħedlu jdejh fuq għajnejh, u beda jara ċar: u kien imfejjaq, hekk li sar jara kollox tajjeb mill-bogħod ukoll. Bagħtu lura lejn daru, u qallu: “Qis li ma tgħid xejn meta tmur ir-raħal”.

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu



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Some points to reflect on ... The ongoing process of spiritual conversion :-


The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament


 
 
- The people brought to Jesus the blind man --- This is the same as when we visit the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist to intercede for someone who needs help to be freed from the blinding slavery to sin. Faith may move mountains but insisting prayer moves God, in His time and in His mysterious ways --- Although the blind man did not ask himself for Jesus to heal him, or maybe he did not even ask to be brought to him, Jesus did what was told by the people who brought him ... and more ...
 
- Jesus touched him, took his hand and led him outside the village --- as when Jesus, who listens to our prayers, touches the heart of the person we prayed for, brings him conscious of his disillusioned way of living, encourages him to pick up courage to leave that environment and change his behaviour: The infinite Mercy of God restores and recreates - physically, psychologically, morally, emotionally, spiritually ...
 
- 23b and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” --- Jesus opens our eyes through His Word, little by little: The more we listen to it, the more we meditate on it, the more we become conscious of the reality we live in - the evil around us and the struggle in us between good and evil, that tries to steal our attention from Jesus; that tries to steal our dignity; that tries to allure us to egoistic desires of power(prestige), pleasure, possessions...


Tower of Babel



... The man was not blind from birth for when Jesus asked him, he replied that he could see people but they looked like trees walking ! --- The same happens when we accept to convert: we have recollections of the sweet experiences of our humble innocence before we got trapped into the peer pressure of the culture of the day - corruption, abuses, deceit, marginalization, drugs, sex outside marriage, frenetic consumerism --- cultures of extremes:
> The throw away culture: The media uses advertisements to blame you for not being beautiful enough, for not being strong enough, for not being intelligent enough, for not being rich enough, for not being young enough, for not buying the latest gadgets enough, for not being free enough ... if you do not do what is advertised !
> Falling into the playboy culture: Throwing away commitments by irresponsible, immature and selfish behaviour, which may be even the results of lack of basic formation and information.
> The “culture of well-being” and comfort that convinces married men and women to intentionally remain childless, choosing a carefree life of world travel and summer homes ... even preferring to raise pets instead of kids; solo living; autonomy; self-sufficiency.
> The culture of death: contraception, abortion, euthanasia, illicit scientific experiments on humans and the creation,  wars, genocides.


Pope: Jesus is the good shepherd


 
25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. --- The more we open our heart to Jesus the more we become conscious of how much He was patient and merciful with us; how much He waited upon us to change. How many times He prevented us from sinning by providing people who corrected us, who taught us by their good examples. The closer we come to Jesus the more we become conscious of how much more we need to become humble, obedient, gentle, patient, forgiving, happy in simple ways, conscious of how difficult it is not to offend His honesty, His loyalty due to our frailty and weakness...Only by His grace we succeed to experience our transformation in a marvellous new reasoning, through the spiritual wisdom He bestows on us ... even through trials, ridicule, difficulties, humiliation, provocations, temptations, tragedies, sickness, persecution, isolation ... for all that God permits, is good for our purification and salvation.
 
- 26b “Do not even go into the village." --- Conversion is not a one time event but an ongoing process, day by day, second by second to overcome temptation: A nagging itch, a fleeting thought, a curious glimpse and bad thoughts start racing in our mind. (You cannot stop a bird from flying over your head BUT you can stop it from making a nest IN your head) Conversion comes as a result of our righteous efforts to follow God. These efforts include Prayer, Sacred Scripture, sincere repenting of sin, receiving the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist and enduring to the end in faith. We can endure all when we have an intimate relationship with Jesus, our teacher, our Saviour, our redeemer ... in silence and even in solitude (not isolation ! ).

God loves us. God loves you. God loves me.

 
 
 
 
 
 






Pope Francis: Nothing, and no one, can take away the assurance that God loves us  

 





Fr. Ignatius on the first reading from Sirach where we are admonished to not delay our conversion since this is presumption on God's later mercy when he is giving this mercy now.





... Once you see the primacy of Grace, Prayer is God's addressing of us ... "Whatever is good and true and right in our prayer is the Holy Spirit already praying in us" ... Authentic petitionary prayer is the Holy Spirit prompting you to ask for what He wants to give. So its the primacy of the Lord's involvement ...

Bishop Barron Comments on Prayer



LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD,
have mercy on me, a sinner



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Fr. Casey - The Spiritual Battle of Our Time --- The Devil: Liar and Murderer
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEYDcemW6Gv9C50iDimuuAi87yHlLc6_c








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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Vatican magazine "Una nuova bellezza digitale" 27-01-2017 --- I Musei Vaticani - The Vatican Museums and MORE


Published on Jan 27, 2017




I Musei Vaticani - The Vatican Museums


 


New Vatican Museum website: "Less is more"













Television cameras enter the laboratories of the Vatican Museums for the first time - Published on Mar 12, 2017






Vatican Magazine, "I depositi “nobili” dei Musei Vaticani", 24-03-2017






Vatican Magazine "La Menorà tra San Pietro e la Sinagoga" 19.05.2017







Vatican Magazine, "Un nuovo, sorprendente Giudizio Universale", 20-10-2017












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