Annunciation Of The Lord(25/3)(general Version)

We celebrate Archangel Gabriel's announcement to Mary,that she was to become,by power of the Holy Spirit, mother of long awaited Redeemer who would,by a reparation of infinite merit,atone for the innumerable injuries committed by our rebellious human race &so redeem it."I salute u Mary! You abound in grace. The Lord is with you and you are blessed above all women on earth".

Our free will is the only thing that is really our own. Our health,our wealth,our power-all these God can take from us!.But our Freedom He leaves with us, even in hell. Because Freedom is our own, it is the only perfect gift we can make to God.

The lady who sang Magnificat did it. It was the only birth in all the world that was truly willed and, therefore, truly Free.

Mary is the Lamp

Mary thru' troubled and puzzled at the annunciation of Her Virgin Motherhood with it's personal and social implications, displayed un conceivable courage and determination in making a daring decision. She was brave and ready to take risks for GOD's cause and for MAN's redemption!.She consciously consented to PLAN OF GOD in faith,resulting many troubles!. She didn't reveal to JOSEPH her husband,who was surprised to see her FREGNENT. "Let GOD'S Will be DONE" She was actively co-operating.

 Later She left to visit Elizabeth to be confirmed of GOD'S PLAN and to confirm Her own active involvement for redemption! Mary's faith,which was strong enough to move mountains,grew ever stronger and purer as she advanced on her pilgrimage down the years seeing daily ever deeper into divine truths she treasured in Her heart(cf:lk2:51). JESUS IS THE LIGHT,MARY IS THE LAMP

.
This feast is dates back to the great council at Ephesus in 431,when Our Lady was officially proclaimed the "Mother of God".

GBU

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com 
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

St Joseph Declaration

At the 1st vatican council(1869-1870) over 300 prelates petitioned to holy see to declare St joseph as the patron saint of the universal church, and on december 8,1870 pope pius IX proclaimed him so. In 1955 pope pius XII added the title, patron saint of workmen for St. Joseph, the feast to be celebrated on may 1st.

No less deeply aware of st josephs close patron al links with the universal church was John XXIII. In fact, this prompted him to declare st Joseph, as a heavenly protector of the second vatican council, realizing as he already did that the church's overall well-being and modernization would have top priority on its agenda.

Interestingly enough, it was in one of the councils initial sessions that John XXIII had striking proof of high esteem in which he held St joseph. For it so happened that a certain Yugoslav bishop felt moved to stand up and express his regret to the assembled prelates that devotion to St joseph had sadly declined in the present day church. This statement evoked a chorus of derisive laughter from the assembly: after all, was it for trivial matters such as this that they had been summoned to Rome from the ends of the earth?.
We can imagine how chastised many of those worthiest must have felt when, the very next day (november 13,1962), cardinal Cicognam, speaking on the Holy Fathers behalf, solemnly announce that he had decided to pay st Joseph the signal honor of including him, with immediate effect, in the cannon of Roman Mass, his name to be placed immediately after the Virgin Mary's and ahead of John the Baptist, the apostles and martyrs.

Vatican II assembly

Pope Pius XII laid the ground work in 1950 for Vatican II which opened in 1962 by pope John XXIII and closed by Paul VI in 1965.The major outcomes of this council are as follows:
(1)Latin was replaced by the common language of the local people,priest was allowed to face the people & in 3 years nearly all of the scriptures would be read at the Holy Mass.
(2)allowed lay people too,to involve reading scriptures,assisting with distribution of Holy communion
(3) marriage & single life were respected,as equal vocation of GOD along with Holy orders.
(4) promoting Christian unity among various denomination & religions.
(5) using modern technology to explain the faith.

Nearly 3000 priests +lay people attended. Previous council vatican1 held 100 years before to decide on papal infallability!

Undoubtedly one of St joseph's prime concerns as patron of the church is that it faithfully preserves and safeguards the precious truth of revelations- the so called deposit of faith!. Let us recall that the carpenter of Nazareth had been further privileged, along with Mary, to be the first depository of two key new testament truths: her virginal conception, and her child's identity as the incarnate son of God and redeemer-to-be of fallen mankind.

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com 
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

Lourdes (11/2) Brief version

1. Lourdes apparitions:

From feb11to july16th/1858, Mary appeared18 times to the14 year Bernadette(not yet received the Communion)in Lourdes,France.

On this day(11/2/1858),She went to collect fire wood(with Marie(sister)&Jean) when they were crossing the cold canal 'Gave',a gust of wind heard but the branches of trees not moving. On the other side of the canal,in the Grotto,She saw vision at Grotto of Massabielle,along river'Gave'. She saw shining lady,around16yrs,of UNSPEAKABLE BEAUTY,DRESSED IN WHITE,WEARING A BLUE SASH(AT WAIST),WITH A WHITE VEIL(FLOWING DOWN FROM HER HEAD)STANDING WITH BARE FOOT ON 2 ROSES.SHE was having a ROSARY in her right hand,with white beads in golden chain. Bernadette is not the type to imagine the things. She rubbed her eyes, but it did not make any difference. She is afraid. To fight against her fear, She took the rosary out of her pocket. SHE WILL NEVER FEAR anything again!.Every time She came to the Grotto, She said her Rosary. The lady said hers, but her lips moved only to the 'Glory Be'.The Rosary is to say Creed, the Our Father & the Hail Mary. The meaning of the words are clear. Bernadette knew only that!


2. Lourdes as a major pilgrim place.

Whole world run after Bernadette"said chief of Police,at the time of apparitions!unknown to himself these words appears to be prophetic. up to now more than 500 m people & on average and more than 6 Million/year people come to lourdes.
Why So many people with different languages and cultures meet there every year?.why  pilgrims,repeating same actions like lighting candles,drinking water from  spring,touching rock? So many prayer petition to Grotto? The message of lourdes is relevant even Today since it brings HOPE & HAPPINESS those who seek them!. This is linked to 13 apparitions of Mary to Bernadette on 2/3/1958," GO,TELL PRIEST TO BUILD A CHAPPEL HERE & HAVE PEOPLE COME HERE IN PROCESSION".Lourdes linked us to the good news of Jesus"who is the Way the truth & the life"!


3..Pilgrim people:

Modern people are nomadic,they travel a lot. But nomad also requires reference points. In desert we should  know where to find water holes. This is true for Christian as for everyone else. This is why, today, pilgrimages and Sanctuaries are so important; they are resting places and an oasis in a busy world which can, so often, be a spiritual desert. Each Sanctuary has its own particular atmosphere. Out of this lourdes become a vital place, where Holy Mary himself invited to visit!. Pilgrims find a source of enrichment in one Sanctuary or another. European marian network links 20 sanctuaries,same as the number of decades in the Rosary.

4.Main message of lourdes Apparition: -Immaculate conception:

On27/11/1830Mary gave a Medal to Catherine(24yrs).Formed around her,written,"O MARY CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, pray for us who have recourse to you"Then MARY told 'HAVE A MEDAL MADE ACCORDING TO THIS MODEL,EVERY ONE WHO WEARS IT AROUND THEIR NECK WILL RECEIVE GREAT GRACES.FOR THOSE WHO WEAR WITH CONFIDENCE THERE WILL BE ABUNDANT GRACES!" By1842 more than100million medals distributed. Due to profusion of healing & conversions, MEDAL named 'MIRACULIOUS'.2/2/1849 Pope Pius9 commence study "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION" and dogma established on 8/12/1854.

Within4 yrs,on 25/3/1858 Mary confirmed her name"I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION" to 14year illiteral Bernadette. A lady cannot have such a name!She repeated what she had heard to the priest!.


From feb11to july16th/1858, Mary appeared18 times to Bernadette in Lourdes. Both Catherine & Bernadette un corrupt bodies you can see in Paris and Nevere-France!.

5. Why it took so long years by church to define Dogma's on Holy Mary?

8/12/1854,dogma of Immaculate Conception was defined by pope Pius 9. Why did it took so long? In the course of history of church, this had been the object of some disagreement. Sources of these are 2 fold.1st was universility of original sin taught with such vigour by St Paul in his letters& universility of Redemption in which it seemed impossible to exempt one sole creature,even if she was mother of God. Council of trent shed light on this 1st point when it declared that it did not intend"to include Blessed & immaculate Virgin Mary in decree relative to original sin" with regard to 2 point,church introduced distinction between Redemption of victims of original sin&antecdent "Preservation" accorded to Virgin Mary in view of future Redemption. Despite these reservations, this feast spread gradually thru out church from the inception.!

6. Immaculate conception and other concepts:
The definition of the immaculate conception was made when the modern world is born. Within 5 years of that date,and within 6 months of the apparition of Lourdes where Mary said" I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION", Charles Darwin wrote his origin of species, Karl Marx completed his INTRODUCTION TO THE CRITIQUE OF THE PHILOSOPY OF HEGEL(religion is the opium of the people), and John Stuart Mill published his essay on liberty. At the moment the spirit of the world was drawing up a philosophy that would issue in two world wars in 21 years, and the threat of the 3rd, the church came forward to challenge the falsity of new philosophy. Darwin took man's mind off his divine origin and fasten it on an unlimited future when he would become a kind of God. Marx was so impressed with this idea of inevitable progress that he asked Darwin if we would accept a dedication of one of his books. Then following Feuerbach, Marx affirmed not a bourgeois atheism of the intellect, but an atheism of the will, in which man hates God because man is God. Mill reduce the freedom of the new man to licence and the right to do whatever he pleases, thus preparing a chaos of conflicting egotism, which the world would solve by Totalitarianism.
If these philosophers were right, and if the man is naturally good and capable of deification through his own efforts, then it follows that everyone is immaculately conceived. The church arose in protest and affirmed that only one human person in all the world is immaculately conceived, that man is prone to sin, and that freedom is best preserved when like Mary, a creature answers Fiat to the Divine Will.
The dogma of the Immaculate conception wilted and killed the false optimism of the inevitable and necessary progress of man without God. MAN FINALLY SAW THAT HE WAS NOT NATURALLY GOOD. ONCE HAVING BOASTED THAT HE CAME FROM THE BEAST, HE NOW FOUND HIMSELF ACTING LIKE A BEAST.

GBU

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com 
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

Mysterious Catholic-sunday 4/1/2015 this readings are same for all cycles1,2,3

​

 Christmas we remember historical birth of Christ, in Advent we reflected how the 2nd coming of christ to our life to be planted.

The 4 pillars of catholism(a)BELIEF- creed(2)WORSHIP- 7 sacraments (3)SPIRITUALITY-how we establish connection with God-Lords prayer+mary+saints (4)BEHEVIOR-10 commandments+pardoning leading to have a peaceful+ worry less+happy mind.

​

In christmas season we focused on physical characteristics of how Jesus came to this world. What are the essential changes that has been taken place with Mary, Joseph in bringing Saviour to this world!.
Christmas season starts from christmas day (Dec 25th) until Jan 8th will have around 2 sundays to reflect alone with (1) Jesus virginal birth
(2) characteristics of Holy Family
(3) Jesus human + divine character.

​

In advent season we planted in our life the birth of Jesus. In Christmas season,we focused why Judaism does not believe Saviour our Lord has come.  They cannot expect the saviour to come thru' human person, though in the old testament it was clearly mentioned. A virginal birth. Next point is Immaculate conception of Mary to support the Jesus-Our Saviours birth. It is by her own effort she exert herself to be fit to occupy that position. The last point is the virginal marriege of Joseph and Mary and how they live together in upbringing Jesus thru His unpublished life.

​
When we are earth bound, it is difficult to think how Mary and Joseph kept their virtues up to the mark!. But when we analyze the value of spirituality, the earth bound desires are of secondary and Not at all basic matter for living, as against some modern thinking!. The real love is not earth bound, it is going against the gravitational pull, to realise Happiness.(Ex Jesus resurrection) Joseph and Mary has shown this example of happiness, with overcoming fear and sorrow by following God's will.

Mystery!

Mystery of any subject is no longer going to be a mystery, if you focus more on that subject. This knowledge that you can acquire from the learning process. Catholism has allowed any adult to convert, the root less faith they develop at school, to a full pledge faith, by attendingsunday mass, specially following and reflecting on the sunday gospel reading alone with other 2 readings. Sunday Mass is the weekly banquet of God, where your reflection is equivalent to the proper cloth that you should wear for that banquet.

​

Mt2:1-12 says"..Jesus born.. Wise men came..King Herod..when U have found Him let me know..they saw child..offered Him gifts..But they were warned..not to go back to Herod. Reminds happy mind(wise men)will receive God's will &it may not normal(did not go back to Herod).Prop: Isaih says"lift up your' eyes & look around". Paul says"knowledge is Mystery".reminds that for you to learn any subject you should devote time to learn on that with a happy mind,otherwise it is going to be Mystery. If you don't reflect sunday readings/recite daily Rosary,without developing(peaceful+worry less and happy)mind,you will not be aware about
(1)DIVINE &HUMAN NATURE OF JESUS
(2)IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY
(3)JOSEPH&MARY'S VIRGINAL MARRIEGE
(4)IMPORTANCE OF HANDING OVER WORRIES TO MARY &SAINTS,for God's will
(5)GOD'S WILL MAY NOT SAME AS YOUR WILL.


Socratise says "unaware life is not worth for living." They sleep walk until they die!.

​

The last sunday of Christmas season, take us to understand more on Catholicism comparing with Judaism. How God in his own wisdom send His beloved son to this world,to show us a path to reach Happiness. The tree of life in the garden of eden, which has being closed to human, has being opened with Jesus(idea of christmas tree in christmas). For that we have to be very clear as to the difference of going against gravitational pull, to experience HAPPINESS. The logical way of thinking of human, with respect to families and extending to generations and idea of Virginal birth! And virginal marriege!. This further extend, the practical evidence supported by Holy mary with respect to immaculate conception revealed through Miraculous medal and apparition at Lourdes. May be God on His own wisdom, given us these evidences, when the society needs such evidence! Earlier people believed without those evidences before 1830. Present evidence is the un corrupt bodies now you in france (1) Body of St catherine(2) Body of St Bernedeth.

  ​

​
Human paradigms

We should not break our head how our fore fathers believed that!, it is similar that Catholicism does not start with Gospel but traditions start the church, then Gospel came. God is not dead but HE is a living God!. He changes the paradigm of the people to enforce changes in living with generations, otherwise the life of human will be stagnate, and there is no enthusiasm for new generation to enjoy.

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

1/1/2015 Solemnity Of Mary,the Holy Mother Of Church

1/1/2015 Solemnity Of Mary,the Holy Mother Of Church(general version)

​

To days readings summarises as follows:

All readings for all cycles1,2,3 are same
Book of numbers(nb:6:22-27) says"...may the Lord uncover His face to you and bring His peace........."
Paul says(Gal4:4-7) says"......God sent His son....God has sent the spirit of His son into our hearts....l

LK 2:16-21 says" the Shepard hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manager............As for mary she treasured all these things and pondered in her heart......"

Reminds:

​

(1)With Jesus a new method has been introduced.

​

(2)Jesus spirit means His words and actions, to be reflected in our lives to understand the new method. It is not history alone. The parables given in the gospels are good examples, which prevails for last 2000 years, parables has not become outdated even it is applicable today. Gospel is the only book which you can dynamically read, since it's reflection are going to varied from person to person!

​

(3)Value of holy Mary remind us to experience Jesus in to our lives and keep all such experience to identify how God is eager to help us to be happy. So Holy Mary led her life happily, though she experienced many difficulties/fear/sorrows, with reference to normal earth bound way. She set an example for us how to carry the God's will happily, like a boat sailing in misty weather(normal for every human)

THAT IS WHY CHURCH IDENTIFY MARY AS A GUIDE LINE FOR US TO FOLLOW THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE YEAR. In addition God in His own wisdom assigned mary to look after our happiness. Happiness means you get worries/sorrows/disagreements in your life temporarily and Holy mary will support you to get the God's will for you to make all your fears/sorrows converted Happiness!.

​
Wish you a Happy new year 2015.

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

HOLY FAMILY FEAST (28/12/2014)

​

Christmas season 1 sunday we were invited to reflect about the characteristics of HOLY FAMILY, specially how they lead their life in good faith of God.

​

Book of genesis(Gn 15;1-6:21:1-3) says" the word of the lord was spoken to Abraham in a vision," HAVE NO FEAR, ABRAHAM,I AM YOUR SHIELD;YOUR REWARD WILL BE VERY GREAT.....SO SARAH BORE A SON.......ISAAC..."
Letter to the Hebrews says(Heb11:8.11-12.17-19)" it was faith by Abraham obeyed the call....he set out without knowing where he was going.....it was equally by faith that Sarah......to conceive,she believed....It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test offered up Isaac........."

​

Gospel(Lk2:22-40) says"when the day came for them to purified .......two young pigeons....named simeon....Now master your servant go in peace.... You see this child: he is destined to fall and for the rising of many.......Anna.......serving God night and day .....to praise God.

Reminds the importance of faith on God's message to lead a Happy life. Mary and Joseph has given good examples of leading our lives in great faith of our creator God.

​

 importance of mary!
The divine and human natures of the person of christ lived in the womb of mary, God and man made one. In no person in this world was there ever such unity of God and man as Mary experienced within Her during 9 months in which she bore Him whom the heavens could not contain. Mary who was already one with Him in Body, as love reached its peak in mothering the wandering word!.

 The role of St Joseph:

A belief that permeates the old testament and extend a major influence in Joseph's life is the existence of an invisible- spirits of world of angles and demons. 1st angelic apparition " angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream(Mt1:20) to resolve his mental anguish over mary inexplicable pregnancy. The 2 nd recall of angelic al activity was. Night of saviours birth,hearing the chorus of angels for the newborn king- first ever christmas carols. Meanwhile fallen angels were taking the active hand for aiding and abetting king Herods murderous plot to liquidate the new born king. Again angle appeared in a dream(3rd time) to him to flee immediately with mary and jesus to Egypt.
The 4th time an angle appeared to exile Joseph, asking him to return to homeland. Finally he was favoured with 5 th recorded dream vision, the angel directed him to return to Galille instead Judea! Due to threat posed by Herods son.

Lessons for us to reflect:
(1)Mary did not took the upper hand, about giving messages to Joseph, rather than Her!
She trusted Joseph's directions!, though she is the starting point with Jesus.
(2) Joseph's mind was so clear to understand and receive the God's message
(3) Mary and Joseph overcame the practical fear and sorrow developed thru' the circumstances and never blame God in providing complex situations rather they both clearly accepts the God's will

The lessons Mary and Joseph shown us were applicable to our lives. Now there are no angles, no dreams, you are along with your family. How to find the God'S will for you?
Whether your wife will agree or children accepts? Very complicated story!

There were no records of disagreements with Joseph and Mary. How to lead a life without disagreements! Specially in a married life, where 2 different people with 2 different conditioning, with 2 different free will's try to follow 1 God's will, in a family will be much difficult than a single life!.

GBU.

For more details follow this links :
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com
Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/  ‬

Or for more details about Mary

http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More

Cycle 2:season:Christmas:No1 25/12/2014 Peaceful Catholic(Nativity of The lord)-general version(please note that all 3 liturgy cycles the readings are same)

A.  Back ground:

​

A.1 PURPOSE OF ADVENT

Today we remember the birth of Christ. Previous 4 sundays we reflected how to give rise to christ birth in our life. From today until 6 th January we will be reflecting about the characteristics of holy family and Jesus, comparing their earthly characters. In order to understand this one should have given birth to Jesus, by understanding and following the knowledge and actions given in advent season and be convinced about Catholicism. Otherwise the reflection need to carry out in christmas time will be difficult!.

What are the essential difference in character of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Jesus is the main outcome in this process. He has lead the human life which is both human and divine. Mary has clearly shown us, how she has been chosen by God to bring Jesus to this world, while Joseph character is allowing us to reflect more how he led his life as the foster father of Jesus. His character is somewhat hidden, for us to reflect more and see how he supported the God's plan!. Next 2 sundays we reflect more on characteristics of Holy family and characteristics of Jesus both human and divine nature.

A.2- CHRISTMAS SEASON

​

From December 25 th we start the Christmas season until January 6th. December 25 th we remember the historical event of Jesus birth. Jesus birth essentially remind us
(1) Promised messiah to relieve human to reach the intended happiness of God's creation
(2) How God beautifully send Jesus, like a normal human to this world. In order to do that how HE selected Holy Mary and Joseph
And of their virginal marriege.
(3)Jesus has shown the human + divine characteristics; Mary has shown how to follow God's will and Joseph represent all of human(including saints)how we should carry out God's will.

B. Preamble for today's reading:

B.1 Beauty of God's plan
God in HIS own wisdom, has decided how to send HIS own son Jesus to this world to show us a path for gaining happiness. the birth of Christ we remember age old prophecies that were made 500 of years in advance  fulfilled,that a virgin would conceive (Is7:14), and redeemer would be born of the tribe of Judah(Gen 49:10),

The season of advent which prepares for Christmas reminds us that God never ceases to come to us in order to create"New Heavens,new earth where according to his promise,the justice of God will reside"(2 Pt3:13)

​

But in order for God to come among us,we must welcome him."Here I stand,knocking at the door. If anyone hears me calling and open the door,I will enter his house"(Rv3:20) Each year Christmas allow us to realize again the necessity of creating a place for God to come &reside among us"&"create with us A NEW EARTH".

B.2 Historical Jesus and living jesus

We cannot separate the jesus of history for what some people call the Christ of Faith. They are one and the same. We need to put Jesus back to the first century context. If we disconnect Him from history or come up with some sort of New Age Jesus, who is detached from the cross or the resurrection, we have lost His real identity. The same goes with anti-Semitism in the name of a Jesus whose first century Jewish ness has been ignored or suppressed. How are we going out to sort out the real Jesus from the fake, unless Jesus anchored in the historical gospels?. There are countless people who has disconnected Jesus from reality and then manufactured their own version of Him.- A Jesus who teaches them what they want to hear rather than what they separately need to know. This Jesus is anemic- powerless and pale, because He exists only in their imaginations. All the while the authentic Jesus- with His love and strength, His miraculous power and saving grace- stand patiently by. So many people are creating Jesus who matches their preconceptions about what they think He should be like, but in the process they are missing the real Jesus!.

B.3 Back ground of Christmas:

The feast of christmas," the mass of christ" is not one of the church's earliest festivals; in fact birth of christ used to be celebrated on January 6th in union of the visit of the Magi. The feast of nativity became distinct in the eastern church during the 3rd century, and at Rome about the year 300. Here the date was december 25 th, but other parts of the church kept different days for a long time. It is likely that the selection of the december date was due to an effort to supplant the great Roman Solar feast'natalis solis invicti'(the birth of the unconquerable sun God, by the celebration of the earthly birth of "The light of the world", who indeed is so unconquerable as our lord? Wrote st chrysostom in the 4th century.'HE IS THE SUN OF JUSTICE'.

B.4. Pope's Masses on christmas

The pope used to say mid night mass of the angels in the great basilica of St Mary Major, where the relics of the manager are preserved, to recall our Lords Eternal Birth in the bosom of the Father' before the dawn of ages'.

The second mass at day break, 'The mass of the shepard' was said by the pope in St Anastasia's church.(Resurrection)basilica in Jerusalem, and it was the official chapel of the imperial Byzantine court at Rome. This Mass was to commemorate the human birth of the"Light of Light"

The 3rd and solemn mass of the feast is then celebrated in St Peters and was meant to symbolize christ's birth in the hearts of the faithful, and is coming in glory to every human. This 3rd mass came to be favorite one of the court ceremonies, such as the coronation of Charlenmagne by the pope in 800, or that of William of Normandy in westminister in 1066.

B.5. Popular catholic customs:

​

Crib
St Francis of Assisi, originated, to adore holy babe in 1223. He erected a representation of the stable and manger with a live ox and Ass in a forest-cave near the little town of graccio. During the Mass, the saint preached to the villagers on the limit less mercy, pity and love of God, and the image of the Babe in his arms was seen to come to life for a short space.

Christmas Carols and Trees

 In the 11th and 12th centuries the German. Christmas songs and 'Noels' came into being, and 'Carols' in 13th century. Jacopane da Todi at1306 AD is regarded as the composer of the charming 'stabat Mater Specioosa'. In the 10th century appeared the tradition that the trees and blosom on christmas night. Candles on a Christmas tree are 1 st mentioned in 13 th century epic. Our christmas tree seems to have of been German origin, and is symbolic both of the tree of life in the garden of Eden and of the tree of the Cross. It is earliest reference is 1605, but it did not attain popularity in Germany and England until about 1840.


C. Today's readings:

Vigil Mass:
Mt(1:18-25) " ...... The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call Him Emmanuel, a name which means' God-is-with-us'......."

Act of apostles(Ac 13:16-17.22-25) says
"............I am not the one you imagine me to be: that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undue His sandal"

Prophet isaiah(Is 62:1-5) says:"
"About Zion I will not be silent....."
All readings summerises how the propercy of birth of Jesus is fulfilled!

Mass during night:

Lk 2:1-14 says"........and suddenly with the angel there was a great thrown of the heavenly host praising God and singing
'Glory to God and highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy His favor"

Paul(Tt 2:11-14) says "God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race......"

Prophet isaiah says(Is 9:1-7)"the people that walked in darkness has seen a great light...."

All readings Reminds; about the good news of great Joy.


Mass at dawn:
Lk 2:15-20:
"Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepard said to one another 'let us go to Bethlehem..........and the Shepard went back glorifying and praising God for all......."

Paul says(Tt 3:4-7)" ...........it was for no reason except His own compassion that He saved us......."
 Prophet Isaiah says" say to the daughter of Zion, 'look your savior comes......."

All readings reminds that we have to give birth to christ in our lives!

Mass at day time:
Jn 1:1-18: " .... But to all who did accept Him
He gave power to become children of God......"

Letter to Hebrew(Heb1:1-6)" at various times in the past and in various different ways God spoke to our ancestors, through the prophets ; but in our own time, the last days, He has spoken to us through His son........"

Prophet Isaiah(is 52:7-10) says" how beautiful on the mountains,are the feet of one who brings good news........"

All readings reminds that when you follow the new message of jesus you will be relieved from fear and sorrow, in the present life!

Conclusion:

In advent we were requested to understand the basic actions needed to plant birth of christ. In christmas season we were invited to know further the historical background of how God has send His own son for our salvation. Special attention to be made about how Jesus came through Holy Mary
and St Joseph in to this world. The role of Mary and joseph in facilitation Jesus to come to this world.
Christmas day we will be mainly reminded
(1)Historical birth of jesus Christ
(2)Singing of angels at the birth of Jesus- carols
(3)Reminding the salvation for humans by christmas tree- introduction of original tree of life at the garden of Eden!.


Christianity is the new message of LOVE to all humans in this world. Until one feels the spirit of Christmas,there is no Christmas!.

Wish you a Happy Christmas!

GBU

For more pl visit:
http://weeklycatholicreflection.blogspot.com Or
http://www.sundayreading.net/
Or
http://holymaryreflection.blogspot.com

Read More