May 31 THE VISITATION --- 31 ta' Mejju - IŻ-ŻJARA TAL-VERĠNI MQADDSA MARIJA - FESTA ... The True Happiness...

We Are To Carry Jesus To Others 

Homily of Fr. Michael O'Connor from Mass on May 31, 2023

><>            ><>            ><>

Quddiesa u Rużarju mis-Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu, mill-Għarb Għawdex - 31 ta' Mejju 2023

><>            ><>            ><>

Does Luke Really Portray Mary as the New Ark of the Covenant?

https://youtu.be/pDaJYI1K25U

The Science Of Happiness 

Sometimes its hard to be happy. But if you look at the wonderful gospel scene of Our Lady's visit to her cousin St. Elizabeth, you will see how the Holy Spirit reveals the science of real happiness. You too, can sing the Magnificat ... if you submit to the 'science of happiness'!

 The First Disciple (5/31/16)

31 ta' Mejju - IŻ-ŻJARA TAL-VERĠNI MQADDSA MARIJA - FESTA


ANTIFONA TAL-INTROJTU (Salm 65:16)
Ejjew, isimgħu u ngħidilkom,
intom ilkoll li tibżgħu minn Alla,
ngħidilkom x'għamel miegħi.

LEZZJONI 1 (Sofonija 3:14-18)

Qari mill-ktieb tal-Profeta Sofonija

[Sof:3:14] Għajjat bil-ferħ ta' qalbek, bint Sijon, Iżrael, samma' leħnek! Infexx fl-hena u ifraħ b'qalbek kollha, bint Ġerusalemm![Sof:3:15]Neħħa l-Mulej minn fuqek is-sentenza li kellek kontrik, keċċa l-għedewwa tiegħek. Is-sultan t'Iżrael, il-Mulej, hu f'nofsok; ma jkollokx iżjed ħsara minn xiex tibża'.[Sof:3:16] Dakinhar jgħidu lil Ġerusalemm: "Tibżax, Sijon, tħallix idejk jintelqu:[Sof:3:17] il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, qiegħed f'nofsok, gwerrier li jsalva; minħabba fik jithenna b'hena kbir, fi mħabbtu jġeddek, jinfexx minħabba fik f'għajat ta' ferħ,[Sof:3:18]bħalkieku f'jum ta' festa.
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej


jew

LEZZJONI 1 (Rumani 12:9-16b)

Qari mill-Ittra ta' San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani

[Rum:12:9] Huti: Qisu li l-imħabba tagħkom ma tkunx wiċċb'ieħor; taħmlux il-ħażen; żommu mat-tajjeb.[Rum:12:10] Ħobbu lil xulxin bħal aħwa; fittxu li tistmaw lil xulxin.[Rum:12:11] Tħallux il-ħrara tagħkom tibred, tħeġġu fl-ispirtu, aqdu lill-Mulej.[Rum:12:12] Ifirħu bit-tama, stabru fl-hemm, itolbu bla waqfien.[Rum:12:13]Aqsmu ġidkom mal-qaddisin li jinsabu fil-bżonn; ilqgħu f'darkom lill-barranin.[Rum:12:14]Bierku lil dawk li jippersegwitawkom; bierku, u la tisħtu lil ħadd.[Rum:12:15]Ifirħu ma' min jifraħ, ibku ma' min jibki.[Rum:12:16] Aħsbu f'xulxin l-istess, taħsbux fi ħwejjeġ kbar, imma fittxu l-umli.
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

SALM RESPONSORJALI (Isaija:12:2-6)

R. Kbir hu f'nosok il-Qaddis ta' Israel

Alla s-salvazzjoni tiegħi,

jiena nittama u ma nibżax.

Għax il-qawwa u il-għana tiegħi hu l-Mulej,

hu s-salvazzjoni tiegħi.

Kollkom ferħana,

timlew l-ilma mill-għejjun tas-salvazzjoni. R.

Għannu lill-Mulej, sejjħu lil ismu,

għarrfu lill-ġnus l-għeġubijiet tiegħu,

xandru li ismu huwa fil-għoli. R

Għannu lill-Mulej għax għamel ħwejjeġkbar;

ħa jkun dan magħruf min-nies kollha ta' l-art.

Aqbeż bil-ferħ,għanni,

int li tgħammar f'Sijon,

għax kbir hu f'nofsok il-Qaddis ta' Iżrael. R

ALLELUJA (Luqa 1:45)

Alleluja. R. Alleluja

Ħienja int, Verġni Marija, għax emmint li jseħħ
dak kollu li l-Mulej bagħat igħidlek.

R. Alleluja

EVANĠELJU (Luqa 1:39-56)

- MAY 31 - THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - AUGUST 15 - SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. - OCTOBER 14 - OUR LADY OF GOOD HEALTH - MADONNA TAS-SAĦĦA - Franciscan memorial - one of the alternative Gospels. Evanġelju Lq 1: 39-56 Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa [Lq:1:39] F'dawk il-ġranet Marija qamet u marret tħaffef lejn il-għoljiet, f'belt tal-Lhudija. [Lq:1:40] Daħlet għand Żakkarija u sellmet lil Eliżabetta. [Lq:1:41] Malli Eliżabetta semgħet lil Marija ssellmilha, it-tarbija qabżet fil-ġuf tagħha u Eliżabetta mtliet bl-Ispirtu s-Santu; [Lq:1:42] u nfexxet f'għajta kbira u qalet: "Imbierka inti fost in-nisa, u mbierek il-frott tal-ġuf tiegħek! [Lq:1:43] U minn fejn ġieni dan li omm il-Mulej tiegħi tiġi għandi? [Lq:1:44] Għax ara, malli smajt f’widnejja leħen it-tislima tiegħek, it-tarbija li għandi fil-ġuf qabżet bil-ferħ [Lq:1:45] Iva, hienja dik li emmnet li jseħħ kulma bagħat jgħidilha l-Mulej !" [Lq:1:46] Imbagħad qalet Marija: Ruħi tfaħħar il-kobor tal-Mulej, [Lq:1:47] u l-ispirtu tiegħi jifraħ f'Alla s-Salvatur tiegħi, [Lq:1:48] għax hu xeħet għajnejh fuq iċ-ċokon tal-qaddejja tiegħu. Iva, minn issa 'l quddiem kull nisel jibda jsejjaħli hienja, [Lq:1:49] għax is-setgħani għamel miegħi ħwejjeġ kbar; qaddis hu l-isem tiegħu. [Lq:1:50] Il-ħniena tiegħu tinfirex f'kull żmien fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu. [Lq:1:51] Hu wera l-qawwa ta' driegħu, xerred lil dawk li huma mkabbra f'qalbhom. [Lq:1:52] Niżżel is-setgħana minn fuq it-tron tagħhom, u għolla ċ-ċkejknin. [Lq:1:53] Mela b'kull ġid 'il min hu bil-ġuħ, u l-għonja bagħathom 'il barra b'xejn. [Lq:1:54] Ħa ħsieb Israel qaddej tiegħu, għax ftakar fil-ħniena tiegħu, [Lq:1:55] bħalma wiegħed lil missirijietna - b'riżq Abraham u nislu għal dejjem." [Lq:1:56] Marija baqgħet ma' Eliżabetta għal tliet xhur u mbagħad reġgħet lura lejn darha.

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



 ><>            ><>            ><>

REFLECTIONS:

Do you recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus in your life? Blessed are you if you see and recognize the Lord with the "eyes of faith". The word "blessed" [makarios in Greek] literally

means "happiness" or "beatitude". It describes a kind of joy which is serene and untouchable, self-contained, and independent from chance and changing circumstances of life. There is a certain paradox for those "blessed" by the Lord. Mary was given the "blessedness" of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. Anselm, a great teacher and Archbishop of Canterbury (1033-1109), spoke these words in a homily: "Without God's Son nothing could exist; without Mary's son, nothing could be redeemed." To be chosen by God is an awesome privilege and responsibility. Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. Her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises. Jesus promised his disciples that "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which  enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death  can take away. Do you know the joy of a life given over to God in faith  and trust?

What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth before the birth of Jesus? When Elizabeth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they were filled with the Holy Spirit and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promise to give a Saviour. What a marvelous wonder for God to fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child in her womb as well. John the Baptist, even before the birth of the Messiah, pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Do you live in the joy and knowledge of God's indwelling presence with you through his Holy Spirit?

"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me joy in seeking you more closely. Increase my faith in all your promises, my hope in the joys of heaven, and my love for You as my All."

============================
============================
============================

============================

"Finding Happiness", Fr. Robert Spitzer, SJ, PHd








.

HOW TO DEFEAT SATAN!. "Pray. Fast. Let God act"

.

30th May - LITURGIJA TAS-SIGHAT - Tifkira ta' S Kamilla Battista ta' Varano

( 30 ta’Mejju – Tifkira – S Kamilla Battista ta’ Varano )

mill-LITURĠIJA TAS-SIGĦAT

mit-Tifħir ta' sbieħ il-jum

MILL KOMUN TAL-VERĠNI

Antifona tal-kant ta' Zakkarija -- Għal-verġni:
Din hi verġni bil-għaqal li marret għand Kristu, fejn issa tiddi fost il-qtajja' tal-verġni bħax-xemx fost id-dwal kbar tas-sema' (Ż.Għ. alleluja).

Preċi

Nuru l-ferħ tagħna lil Kristu, il-għarus tal-verġni u l-premju tagħhom, u minn qalbna nitolbuh u ngħidulu:

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

Kristu, il-qaddisin verġni ħabbewk bħala l-għarus waħdieni tagħhom:

-  agħmel li xejn ma jifridna mill-imħabba tiegħek.

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

Int igglorifikajt lil Ommok Marija bħala Sultana tal-verġni:

-  bit-talb tagħha għinna naqduk dejjem b’qalb safja.

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

Ilqa’ t-talb li joffrulek għalina l-qaddejja verġni tiegħek, li b’qalbhom kollha kienu dejjem ħsiebhom fik, biex ikunu qaddisa f’ġisimhom u f’ruħhom:

-  tħalli qatt li moħħna jixxerred fuq is-sura ta’ din id-dinja li tgħaddi.

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

Mulej Ġesu, inti l-għarus tal-verġni għaqlin li qagħdu jishru u jistennewk:

-  ħeġġeġ fina x-xewqa tiegħek, biex nishru u nistennewk bit-tama.

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

Tidħol għalina quddiemek Santa (Kamilla Battista ta’ Varano) li kienet verġni bil-għaqal u għarfa:

-  ieqaf magħna biex ngħixu fis-safa u l-għerf skond qalbek.

Ġesu, glorja tal-verġni, ismagħna

O          O          O          O          O

Princess Turned Poor Clare Nun to Be Canonized, Blessed Camilla Battista da Varano Answered Vocational Call

ROME, Oct. 15, 2010, 12:25 Hrs (Zenit.org):

On Sunday, Benedict XVI canonized Camilla da Varano, who left the life of a princess and multiple marriage proposals to become a Poor Clare nun at age 23.

The Pope canonized her in St. Peter's Square together with five others.

Camilla was born in 1458 in a small city in central Italy, which today has around 40,000 inhabitants. Her father, Giulio Cesare de Varano, was the prince of Camerino. Thus she was introduced to, and educated in, the splendour of the court.

The postulator for her cause of canonization, Franciscan Father Giovangiuseppe Califano, explained to ZENIT that "in the Renaissance period lordly palaces were the centre of politics, also of culture and mercantilism," and thus Camilla spent her youth in celebrations, dances and social life. She studied Latin, law, painting, dancing, and horseback riding.

Almost five centuries have gone by since her death. In fact, Camilla's cause for canonization was halted for 100 years because of problems related to the choice of her postulator.

Father Califano noted, however, that "these years of apparent silence were very fruitful for the systematic investigation and critical publication of the blessed's writings."

On Good Friday, when she was 9 years old, Camilla heard an homily in which Brother Domenico da Leonessa asked those present to shed at least one tear every Friday out of love for Jesus. The young girl accepted his suggestion, which she followed every subsequent Friday for the rest of her life.

"Through the gift of these tears, shed with a child's commitment, contemplation of the Lord's Passion became the agreeable and spontaneous means that oriented her whole spiritual life," said her postulator.

As a youth she felt strongly attracted to what the court offered her, but at the same time she felt the call to give it all up to follow Christ.

Mother Chiara Laura Seroboli, abbess of the convent of St. Clare of Camerino, which was founded by Camilla later in her life, said, "Initially, as many of us, she was unable to choose and did not hesitate to lead a double life."

The abbess explained: "On one hand were the dances, songs and distractions that the court offered her. On the other, recollection and the struggle in which God drew her absorbed her wholly."

It was during Lent of 1479, while the princess listened to the preaching of Brother Francesco de Urbino, that she perceived the interior light to understand the gift of consecrated virginity.

Her postulator said, "It was faithfulness to her commitment to prayer and spiritual direction that opened a gap for the spirit."

Camilla entered the monastery of St. Clare of Urbino in 1481. "Lord, with my life make me always praise, bless and glorify you and edify my brothers," she said in one of her writings.

She made her religious professions two years later and took the name Sister Battista.

Camilla faced a strong spiritual battle. For five years she lived through a dark night of the spirit.

Mother Seroboli said, "From the intensity of spiritual graces that had accompanied her in the first phase of her falling in love, Camilla now seemed abandoned in a sacrificing and raw essentialness."

Yet she did not let herself be defeated by this event. The abbess noted, "Emerging with greater frequency in her writings is recourse to the images of the Song of Songs, to the teaching of her Beloved on the part of the loved one, subject of understandable anguish due to the perceived abandonment."

In 1502 Sister Battista's father and brothers were killed and her family attacked, events which "'crucified' her with Christ and enabled her to be silent "where words do not suffice to explain the injustice of Calvary," said Mother Seroboli.

Sister Battista was forced to seek refuge in the city of Atri, a small locality in Abruzzi, the southern region of Italy.

Another event that caused her great sorrow and many hours of prayer was when she found out in 1517 that in Germany, the Augustinian monk Martin Luther announced his separation from the Roman Church.

The future saint had various mystical experiences, which are reflected in her numerous writings. In these writing she also reveals her love of the crucified Christ.

Mother Seroboli described them as "a precious and very narrow way," that enabled her to reread "her own life in the light of the Paschal Mystery."

Sister Battista died on May 31, 1524 during the plague. She wrote, "You have resurrected me in You, true life who gives life to every living being."

please read also:
http://www.clarissesval.ca/Battista%20da%20Varano%28inglese%29%20Paul%20Lachance.pdf




.

The Seven Rejoices of Mary

The images do not exactly depict what is in the lyrics; rather, the form of the Seven Joys of Our Lady that is usually prayed:
i. The Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel
ii. The Visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth
iii. The Birth of Christ
iv. The Adoration of the Magi
v. The Finding of Jesus in the temple
vi. The Resurrection of Christ
vii. The Assumption of Mary into heaven

It was the Franciscans who encouraged the devotion to the Seven Joys or Seven Delights of Mary; thus, the Rosary (Chaplet) of the Seven Joys is also called the Franciscan Crown.

Additional info from Fr. Patrick Shaughnessy, OSB, STD:

"The use of this rosary was begun in the Order of St. Francis in 1422. It is said that a certain novice, before joining the Order, was accustomed to place a crown on a statue of the Blessed Virgin. When he was not allowed to continue this practice he resolved to leave the Order. Then Mary appeared to him and dissuaded him, telling him he could offer a much more pleasing crown by reciting a rosary of 7 decades in honor of her Seven Joys. This is the most highly indulgenced of all the types of rosaries.

The Franciscan Rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary is composed of seven decades of 1 Our Father and 10 Hail Marys each. At the end 2 Hail Marys are added, and is concluded with the Our Father and Hail Mary. The last Our Father and Hail Mary are said for the intention of the Pope in order to gain the indulgence. The 72 Hail Marys commemorate the seventy-two years the Blessed Virgin Mary is supposed to have lived on earth. The seven decades need not be recited at once, but the single decades may be separated provided that the whole Rosary is said on the same day. It is not necessary to meditate on the mysteries of this Rosary, it suffices to say the single decades in honor of the respective mystery."

Albeit it is said that that, "It is not necessary to meditate on the mysteries of this Rosary, it suffices to say the single decades in honor of the respective mystery", I think it would be more lovely if you do so otherwise.

More on the Seven Joys:
http://franciscan-sfo.org/sts/S0826sj...

Feast of the 7 Joys:
Aug. 26 (Traditional)
May 7