It is impossible to talk about what the Church is without taking into account its eschatological dimension, because Christianity does not exist without reference to the future in which it seeks the meaning and profound meaning of faith for man’s earthly pilgrimage. Contemporary theology is rediscovering the great importance of the eschatological dimension for a proper understanding of the Gospel and thus for the very mission of the Church. The mystery of the Church in the perspective of the Kingdom of God is included mainly in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council. In our reflection, we will focus mainly on the analysis of a few points of this document that are devoted to the topic of the relationship of the Church with the Kingdom of Heaven.

The starting point for the Council Fathers is to define the Church as a mystery. The identity of the Church does not appear in itself, but in relation to the Divine Persons and to the economy of salvation. It is enough to look at the layout of the first chapter of Lumen Gentium, where the second point is devoted to God the Father, the third is about the Son of God, the fourth is about the Holy Spirit, and the fifth is about the Kingdom of God. In this way, ecclesiocentrism was avoided – it is not the Church that is at the center, but Christ. The ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council is therefore a Christocentric ecclesiology. In the Constitution on the Church, in the modern candle Gaudium et Spes, we read: “For the Word of God, through which everything was made, became flesh itself, so that the perfect man would save everyone and made everything possible. The Lord is the goal of human history, the point to which the desires of history and civilization turn, the center of mankind, the joy of all hearts and the fullness of their desires ”(GS 45). It must be said that in Lumen Gentium the mystery of the Church is also considered in relation to two other mysteries: the mystery of the Trinity and the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word. In this way, the Second Vatican Council presents the Church both in her nature and in her mission.

The term mysterium used in reference to the Church is an introduction to understanding the Church as a sacrament. Lumen gentium, already in the first point, calls the Church “a sign and instrument of intimate union with God and of unity for the whole human race” (LG 1). Considering the relationship between the Church and the Kingdom, it should be noted that in none of its texts, the Second Vatican Council calls the Church “a sacrament of the Kingdom of God,” although such an idea can be found in various commentaries. The definition of the Church as a sacrament broadens the understanding of her mystery and identity to an eschatological dimension, because it indicates the ultimate and universal plan of God’s salvation, realized in the Church and by the Church: “And the Father has forever foreseen and predestined all the elect, so that they may become like his Son. who was to be the firstborn among many brethren ”(Rom 8:29). And he decided to gather believers in Christ in the Holy Church, which from the beginning of the world, shown by types, miraculously prepared in the history of the nation of Israel and in the Old Covenant, established in the end times, was revealed by the outpouring of the Spirit, and at the end of the ages it will reach its glorious completion” (LG 2).

The Second Vatican Council indicates the Church’s eternal and permanent presence in the history and economy of salvation. For the Church was founded at the beginning of the world, and then developed in subsequent phases of the history of the Chosen People. He appeared to the world on the day of Pentecost, and will be full at the end of time. The Church exists to “reveal the mystery of His [the Lord], though under a cover, faithfully in the world, until it is finally revealed in full light” (LG 8). The constitution Gaudium et Spes adds: “In this earth the kingdom is already present in secret; and its accomplishment will take place with the coming of the Lord (GS 39). Here we can see the eschatological dimension of the Church, which is both an unveiled and a hidden mystery. This is due to its theandric (divine-human) nature and the dynamics of waiting for final fulfillment.

The Church is not only divine and human at the same time. The Church defines her original and deep character with the horizon of her destiny, which is eternity and heaven, before her eyes. Christianity is a constant reference to eschatology, although one is still on the way towards eternity. The Church constantly looks up to heaven and talks about it, but also talks about a man who struggles with the world. Hence the known tension between what is already there and what has not yet come. The Church should not be equated with the Kingdom of God, because it is a reality that draws closer to it and anticipates it. We find confirmation of the above words in Lumen Gentium, where we read: “The Church, that is, the Kingdom of Christ, already present in mystery, grows visibly in the world by the power of God” (LG 3). It should be emphasized that, according to the Council, the Kingdom of God is not only something for the future, but is already present in the world. The Church, as a community of believers in God’s promise, is an evidence of His presence, and even His presence: “To fulfill the Father’s will, Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth and revealed to us the mystery of the Father, and by his obedience he redeemed” (LG 3).

The attempt to define the identity of the Church in the light of the Kingdom and its dependence on Christ is noticeable above all in the fifth point of Lumen Gentium, in which we read: “The mystery of the Holy Church is revealed in her foundation. The Lord Jesus started his Church by preaching the good news, namely the coming of the Kingdom of God, promised for centuries in Scripture (…). And this kingdom has shone upon mankind in word, in deeds and in the presence of Christ ”(LG 5). In the above conciliar statement, one can see a connection between the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the founding of the Church of Christ. Jesus wants the Church and founds the Church to continue his saving work. The Church was born from the proclamation of the Kingdom, and then in the history of the world she becomes the herald of the Good News of salvation, that is, the Kingdom of God, which will be fully revealed to us at the end of time.
On the other hand, the most important words of the constitution Lumen Gentium, which speak of the interdependence of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven, are the following statements of the Council Fathers: of all nations and is the seed and foundation of this kingdom on earth ”(LG 5). These words direct our attention directly to the present in the Gospel according to St. Mark the metaphor of a seed thrown into the ground that germinates and grows (see Mark 4: 26-29).

We can therefore say that the Church, but only in a metaphorical sense, is the Kingdom of God, which is fully revealed in Jesus Christ (in His works, events and miracles). The more faithful he is to his Founder, the closer he comes to the Kingdom, that is, to God’s reign. In this way, the Church is not only a means or instrument of salvation, but also becomes the earthly form of its realization and the seed of the kingdom that will fully come at the end of time..

The Church is related to the Kingdom of God as “seed and beginning”, which means that these two realities cannot be equated with each other. The Second Vatican Council eliminated once and for all the concept of equality between Church and Kingdom, a concept that was put forward reductively by medieval theology and its “Christian republic”. This is confirmed by the declaration of Dominus Iesus: “To affirm the existence of an indissoluble bond between the Church and the Kingdom does not mean, however, to forget that the Kingdom of God – also considered in its historical form – is not identical with the Church as a visible and social reality” (DI 19). The Church is not the Kingdom of God, but only its anticipation. There is a very close relationship between the Church and the Kingdom, but it is not possible to connect these two realities with each other. The presence of the Kingdom of God in the Word, in the person and in the works of Christ cannot be equated with the Church. The kingdom of God is neither an organization nor an institution, because it does not depend on earthly and human factors. The church is a place of divine action, and therefore the organ and instrument of salvation, but it cannot be said that it is the Kingdom of God on earth.

It should be emphasized very strongly that without the eschatological dimension and without the tension between the already mentioned and not yet mentioned, the image of the Church would be incomplete or even false. In this way we come to the most important point of our reflection on the identity of the Church in the light of the Kingdom of God, and we can say that the Church does not exist for itself, but is an instrument in God’s hands to prepare all people for the final encounter with the Lord in parousia, or His second coming in glory.
The Church, aware of its temporality, truly becomes a community of hope – it is the bearer (by its very nature) and the proclaimer (beyond its visible limits) of the Good News of the Kingdom of God. In God’s plan, the Church, in view of the Kingdom to come, is a promise of future immortality, a reality that is still imperfect and incomplete. This is what the conciliar statement that the Church is “the seed and the beginning” of the kingdom of God means. Reaching once more to Lumen Gentium, we read that the Church is “a mighty seed of unity, hope and salvation for all mankind” (LG 9) and that “slowly growing up, she longs for a Kingdom fully accomplished and with all her strength she awaits and desires union. with his King in glory” (LG 5).
The celebration of All Saints opened for us a month of reflection on eschatology. It reminds us that the purpose of our existence is not death, but eternal life! The apostle John writes that “it is not yet revealed what we will be. We know that when this is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is “(1 Jn 3: 2). The saints, friends of God, assure us that this promise is not pears in the sky. Saints are not superhumans, they are not born perfect. Before attaining the glory of heaven, they lived a normal life, with joys and sorrows, efforts and hopes. However, when they came to know God’s love, they followed it with all their heart. They spent their lives serving others, endured suffering and difficulties, not hating but responding to evil with good, spreading joy and peace. Saints are men and women who had joy in their hearts and passed it on to others. This is the path of holiness! This is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven! Thanks to the saints, you can taste its reality on earth!

At the end of November, however, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King of the Universe, which shows us the Son of Man not only as the Ruler and Judge of history, but also as the Shepherd who separates sheep from goats. The basis for this eschatological sorting of the herd is charity. The Son of Man who judges all the nations gathered before Him is also the Shepherd who first gave an example of service and love for the good of the other: “I will find the lost [sheep], I will bring back the lost one, I will fix the wounded, strengthen the sick, and strengthen the fat and strong one. he protected” (Ezek 34:16). He is not a tyrant or a lofty ruler, but a Servant-King, a Love-King who sets them free: “I will deliver them from all the places where they have been scattered…” (Ezek 34:12). These are places where the King is not recognized, where it is not love but selfishness. Let us make sure that such places never were our hearts, but that Christ and His Gospel reigned in them. Then, for people far from the Church, we will become signs of the promised Kingdom of God.

Ks. Mateusz Tarczyński

How many of us, thanks to this prayer, have begged or implored a lot for ourselves and for others. This prayer gives comfort and comfort and help. From my own experience, I can say that when you pray the rosary regularly, often with a specific intention, then all matters are somehow easily resolved, sometimes you just feel lighter at heart, knowing that Mary takes care of us and intercedes for us. Therefore, let us try not to neglect this prayer and when some harder, difficult moments come, let us take it in our hand and pray through Mary’s intercession for our intentions. Especially now, in this difficult time that we are going through, times of an epidemic, where so many people died, where so many people fell ill and are still ill, of course, we recommend the victims, we recommend the sick, but this is also and perhaps a contribution to strengthen our prayer, to devote a little more time to God, to pray for our homeland, but also for the whole world for all humanity. And Mary will not leave us, we can say that she will intervene. As she did it more than once. We certainly remember how through her apparitions she asked to pray for favors for the whole world. Especially during the Fatima apparitions.

We are to be constantly aware of the truth that is joyful for each of us, that apart from our mothers who gave us life, we also have a mother in heaven, a mother who cares for our needs, and above all for our supernatural life, for our faith and love to her son Jesus Christ. The basic text of the New Testament that Mary is the Mother of all Christians are the words spoken by Jesus from the cross to his Mother and beloved disciple John. They are well known and often explained both from the pulpit and in the theological writings. Let us therefore listen to the words of one of the Mariologists who commented on this passage: Saying to the Mother: “Woman, here is your Son and to the disciple, Here is your Mother, Jesus proclaims Mary the Mother of all his followers, whose figure is the present beloved disciple. So the holy virgin is the spiritual mother of all believers, she is the mother of each of us. It is not by our invention but by the will of Jesus Christ. ” That is why Christ chose her to be our Mother. May we never be orphans here on earth either. She is the intermediary who brings our prayers to His throne. And it’s beautiful, it’s great to believe and do it. Because, like the Lord Jesus, Mary also knows what we need best. And he also knows how to direct our lives so that we achieve salvation, only on our part it is enough to open up to it – nothing more. It is difficult, of course, sometimes we do not see the point in it, it can bring hard experiences for us at times, but as a consequence we may later come to the point that it was necessary and will have salutary fruits for us. It is enough just to give some area of your life to God, and preferably the whole area.

Because if we trust God, we trust the Holy Mother, we will not be afraid of anything here on earth because we will know that they are with us and look after us, and there is no better care than that coming from them. And it can be said that we are kind of lucky as Christians having also the Mother of God as a Mother, that she left us so many prayers, so many opportunities to resort to her in our various needs, so that she would be our intermediary. Let us use this beautiful gift intended for us as often as possible, so that Mary may also see our commitment to the matters of faith, to God’s matters, to the matters of heaven. Therefore, let us take care that we are, above all, good Christians and that we remain faithful to God’s word. This problem resonates also in the Gospel, when we hear that it is sometimes from ourselves, from our behavior, that the bad things that Jesus calls unclean come out, for example, our speech, our relationship to other people, our relations with others. What we say, what we do, we decide it ourselves, it comes from within us and we are responsible for our actions, already here on earth, but also before God.

It is a great responsibility for us, so it is worth considering what deeds, words come from our interior, what our interior is, what is our heart, how our conscience is formed. Let’s even follow what happened today, what last week looked like, what our relations with others looked like, what our relationship to God looked like. Because God gave us commandments to help us, to help us achieve salvation. And it seems to me that the problem today, but also earlier, is that we want to adapt the commandments to our lives, we even want to change them so that it suits us, and here the essence is different, the Lord God gives them to us He gave, presented in a very simple way, later the Lord Jesus explained them to us during His earthly activity and we only need to accept it, open up to it and then we can be sure that nothing bad will come out of our heart. Let us take care of it, let us be open to God’s grace, which he wants to offer us in his word and in the sacraments, and let us share both our sorrows and joys with our most wonderful Mother, the Holy Mother, a Mother ready to help us constantly.

Because the action of the Lord God is sometimes incomprehensible to us, He knows perfectly well what a man needs and when he is to intervene in his life. On our part, it is enough to open ourselves to His grace, to His blessing, not ceasing to pray, not ceasing to be faithful despite various adversities that may occur. The Lord Jesus speaks to us in the Gospel, let your speech be yes, no, no. Clarity, clarity, transparency. These are the qualities that the Lord Jesus requires of us. He did the same as He was here on earth. He knew how to talk to Pharisees, he knew how to talk to Sadducees, he knew how to bring lost souls to him. So let us draw as much as possible from this unsurpassed pattern. Because he can give us salvation, that’s our assurance, but how we approach it depends only on ourselves, on our attitude, and on our commitment to faith.

Let us remain convinced, therefore, that Mary also wants us to pray the rosary frequently, especially for this modern world, which offers us newer and newer facilities for joy, reforms, changes that often do not go hand in hand with God’s plan. St. John Paul II also prayed the rosary very often, very often he had it in his hand. He even said it was his favorite prayer. Let us also bear this in mind. But let us keep our reason, let us keep our Christian, Marian identity. Let us continue in this trust in Mary and let us not give in to the temptations of this world, which are transitory, but let us fight for eternal life for the salvation of our soul because it will be permanent.

KS. MATEUSZ KOZŁOWSKI

1. Every petition that is presented before the Altar of God in favor of the Church, the Pope and consecrated souls.
2. The annulment of Satan’s power over its person and its loved ones.
3. Special protection in case of earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters which otherwise would affect it.
4. It will be lovingly withdrawn from the world and its attractions, which are the cause of perdition.
5. The elevation of its soul, desiring to attain sanctification, in virtuous eternal contemplation of My Face.
6. Relief of its loved ones from the pains of Purgatory.
7. My blessing on every material and spiritual project it undertakes, if they are for the good of its own soul.
8. The receiving of My visit in company with My Mother at the moment of its death.
9. To listen to and to look after the needs of the persons for whom it prays.
10. The intercession of the Saints and Angels at the hour of its death, in order to diminish temporal punishment.
11. That My Love will cause holy vocations consecrated to God among its loved ones and friends.
12. That the soul which preserves a genuine devotion to My Presence in the Eucharist will not be condemned or die without the Sacraments of the Church.

“To the priests and nuns that propagate the devotion of Adoration, I will grant many special graces, the complete recognition of their sins and the Grace to amend them.  I will help them to form communities of devout and holy faithful, and they will attain many privileges.

“I promise these things to all persons, under only two conditions which are the fruit of genuine love towards My Real Presence in the Eucharist, and which are absolutely indispensable for My promises to become a reality in their lives:
a) That they strive to preserve the dignity of My Altars.
b) That they be merciful towards their neighbor.”

Bishop, René Fernández Apaza has given his imprimatur to Catalina’s Messages.

    We repeat the above words contained in the testimony of St. John the Baptist at every Mass.  These words are the same answer John gave the Pharisees who asked if he was the Messiah.  For the most part, however, they confirm the truth revealed by God the Father Himself in these words:  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt.3:17).  John’s testimony, then, is his heart’s answer upon hearing the voice of God.  Jesus, presented by the Father as His beloved Son, is now shown as an innocent lamb who will be offered in propitiation for sin.  Thus is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah regarding our redemption and deliverance.  Through his sacrifice, he becomes a light to all mankind, in Him is revealed the glory of God.  “You are my servant, In you, Israel, I show my glory…I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (Is.49:3,6)  Today, we are participants in this promise.

            John’s testimony also was a sign of the beginning and purpose of Jesus’ mission for which the expected Messiah came:  “…the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” (Jn.1:31)   Just as the blood of a lamb saved the nation of Israel coming out of Egyptian captivity during the time of Moses, so in the New Testament, the Lamb of God is sacrificed and His Blood saves God’s people once again!

            Every day during the Eucharistic sacrifice, when everyone repeats the acclamation Behold the Lamb of God” before Communion, we participate in the very moment of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary.  This moment of Christ’s death on the cross, this moment of our cleansing in his wounds , this is the moment of the origination of  the Sacraments of the Church. (Easter Liturgy)

            Let us give thanks then for this great gift and through faith let us have the courage to draw so much from the stream of grace that our transformed life might be an actualization of the words of John.    May our lips proclaim: “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (Jn.1:34)

Roman Harmata, PA

Today as we celebrate the solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord, we read about the homage which the wise men paid to Christ born in Bethlehem. They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh!

For centuries, the gifts the Magi placed at the feet of the Messiah have symbolized true worship. By depositing gold, they emphasize His royal divinity; By giving incense they profess that he is a priest of the new Covenant. By offering myrrh, they worship the prophet who will shed his blood to reconcile humanity with the Father.

Their gesture has a deeper meaning. For, according to the mentality of the ancient East, it constitutes the recognition of the person of Jesus as God and Lord. It is an act of submission. The wise men want to state that from now on they belong to the ruler and recognize His sovereignty. This affects their subsequent decisions. They can no longer follow their prior path on their return, they cannot go back to Herod, they can no longer be allied with this powerful and cruel tyrant. They are now forever following the path of the Child, a royal path. The newborn King has given them an audience and thus an  invitation to participate in His mission. They are the representatives of us today. From now on, every Christian is invited to participate in Christ’s royal, priestly and prophetic mission. We are to be like royal gold of the purest quality, and at the same time, a people offering our lives in the priestly sacrifice of love with one goal: our own salvation and that of our brothers. This is done by proclaiming the Word of Christ by our actions. And this, in turn, includes us in His prophetic mission. Saint Peter describes our vocation in his letter: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light “(1 P2: 9)

Let us then take the advice of St. Augustine, who reminds us: “We, also recognizing Christ as our king and priest who died for us, ought to celebrate Him as if we had brought gold, incense and myrrh; all we lack is this, that we testify about him by taking a new path, different from the one by which we had arrived.”

Roman Harmata PA

my chosen one with whom I am pleased,

upon whom I have put my spirit;

he shall bring forth justice to the nations… (Is 42:1)

We celebrate the Baptism of The Lord today, which ends the Christmas Season. In the first reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear the announcement of the mission of the Messiah who, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power, brings justice to the people. Saint John wrote about this in his letter quoted throughout the readings of the past week, and they can be summarized by these words: “Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”(1 Jn 4: 7-8)” There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. … “(1 Jn 4 17-18)
            The Holy Spirit brings internal freedom, and this is a new law that God wants to pour into us. However, he must be allowed to. Love requires voluntary decision and trust. It must be accepted as a gift and reciprocated in full freedom. Baptism is the gateway to this freedom.  There is a close relationship between the Baptism of Christ and our Baptism.

“At the Jordan the heavens opened (cf. Lk 3: 21) to indicate that the Savior has opened the way of salvation and we can travel it thanks to our own new birth “of water and Spirit” (Jn 3: 5), accomplished in Baptism. In it we are inducted into the Mystical Body of Christ, that is, the Church, we die and rise with him, we are enveloped by him, as the Apostle Paul often emphasized (cf. I Cor 12: 13; Rom 6: 3-5; Gal 3: 27). The requirement that comes with Baptism is therefore “to listen” to Jesus:  to believe in him and subordinately follow him, doing his will.

In this way everyone can be inclined towards holiness, a goal that, as the Second Vatican Council recalled, “constitutes the vocation of all the baptized.” (Benedict 16, Angelus: Jan 7, 2007)
            So, this is our plan of action: the start is to listen to His Word, with the goal that is holiness or, perfect love; the realization consists of: humble service to our brothers and sisters, so that everyone can recognize the power of the Spirit of Love working in us. This way we can attain salvation. It is possible, only perseverance is needed: “Whoever diligently considers and perseveres in the perfect Law, the Law of Freedom, is not a listener willing to forget, but the doer of the work; by fulfilling it he will receive a blessing.” James 1:25

            Roman Harmata

In Great Britain the celebration of this holiday as the “Immaculate Conception” began in the eleventh century, and around 1130 A.D. this tradition was passed on to France.

Due to opposition from some theologians (including Saint Bernard, Peter Lombardo, Saint Albert the Greater, and Saint Thomas), the decline in popularity suffered in the 13th century. However, after Duns Scot defended the idea, it became more widespread and became almost universal.

In 1477 Pope Sixtus IV approved the texts of the Mass and Liturgy of the Immaculate Conception.

Starting from the end of the 15th century, many universities introduced the custom of granting academic degrees only to those who vowed to defend the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1708, Pope Clement XI raised the feast of the Immaculate Conception to the rank of a compulsory feast. Pius IX, on the other hand, approved the texts of the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours, which were reviewed again in 1863. The significance of this celebration must be traced to the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, which was solemnly proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854 with the  “lneffabilis Deus”.

For theologians, it was not clear from the beginning that Mary was conceived without sin because such a fact was, in their opinion, difficult to reconcile with other truths of the faith, among others with the dogma of the universality of salvation. The development of this doctrine was therefore slow. The key point was the distinction made by Duns Scot to “redenzione prevenieste” (prophylactic, preventive) and “redenzione curativa” (healing, curing).

Only Pius IX dogmatically defined the truth about the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary after prior consultation with the universal church. Dogma speaks of a special privilege granted to Mary by the subsequent merits of her Son Jesus Christ.

Mary was thus prepared to be a dignified dwelling place (Sanctuary and Mother) for the Son of God. The Immaculate Conception was a preparation for Mary and her ability to answer the mystery of the Annunciation. She was a person truly free from sin, free from all selfishness, which enabled her to respond perfectly to God’s call, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to Your word,” and to let her humbly and responsibly participate in God’s Plan of Salvation for humanity . Being perfectly free, Mary opened and continues to open her heart to everyone, even to the greatest sinner, desiring to draw him to her Son, with whom she could find the grace of forgiveness and salvation.

This dogma and this celebration should be especially dear to our hearts, because they confirm the great things that God accomplished in Mary and through Mary, and which he often accomplishes in us through her motherly intercession.

Translated by Marta Sniezko

Lord, Make Me…

It is said that St Francis of Assisi if the most known Catholic Saint in the world, to both Catholic and non-Catholic people. Most people know him for his love of nature and animals. Many also remember him as the one with the Stigmata. But I wanted to share with you what brought me closest to this amazing saint. His famous prayer, “The Peace Prayer of St Francis.”

Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

This prayer basically sums up life’s goals and the purpose for us to be on this earth. And ultimately, if I follow this recipe, I will find peace in my life.
The part in the prayer where he says, “Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,” hits me every time. So many times, I think that I need someone to make me feel better, that I need a shoulder to lean on, that I need someone to hear me out. Yes, it may be true, but I need to see that there is something more important than that. That there may be a person around me that maybe needs that consolation a little more than I do, or that understanding a little more than I do. Now don’t get me wrong, St Francis did not write to never be consoled, but “not so much seek to be consoled”. In other words, he is stressing the fact that I need to be more concentrated on others’ needs rather than my own. Not to ignore my needs, but to put them second.
One would ask, “But why? What do I get out of that?” Well, the answer is in the next part of his prayer. “For it is in giving that we receive… pardoning that we are pardoned… dying that we are born to eternal life.” Isn’t that ironic? By doing one thing, we receive the opposite in return! Amazing how our Lord works! By placing myself after others’ needs, I am hitting two birds with one stone.
I remember as a child, when my parents would take me to Church on All Saints Day, for example, and tell me about certain indulgences that were granted to us if we say certain prayers and such. My mom would tell me that you can either use the indulgence for yourself or offer it for a soul in purgatory so they can get to Heaven. For me it was common sense to offer it for a soul! I would think that if a soul got to Heaven because of a prayer I said, that this soul would be my best friend forever and pray for me too, so I get to Heaven. It was like a 2 for 1 sale in my childhood brain. Two people in Heaven instead of one!
Now of course, remember, I was only a child. But I hope it helped get my point across. By attending to others’ needs before my own, I can get that 2 for 1 blessing, too! And that is what St Francis has taught me in this prayer.
So hopefully, as we celebrate his upcoming feast day, St Francis can help us become less self-centered and more attentive to others around me needing all different kinds of help. So that our eyes can be open to all the opportunities to get those 2 for 1 blessing!
St Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

They had moods, too – like you and me

In the month of June, we have many feast days, one of which is of two very great saints: St Peter and St Paul. Most likely, a fact we all know about St Peter is that he was the first pope, and that St Paul fell off a horse. We know that they were great and important leaders in faith and therefore we venerate them both much now. But is there something more that we can see from Holy Scripture that can show us who these famous men were? Was there a human, everyday side of them that maybe we can all relate too?

We were all called to holiness. It’s our ultimate goal of this earthly life. Becoming a saint is attainable for each one of us. And if we look at both holy men, who journeyed through life trying to reach this same goal, we will see that they were completely human with human nature just like us. They laughed, they cried, they stumbled. They were as human as humans can get.

St Peter, for example, was a simple fisherman. Not much out of the ordinary those days, with probably no formal education, trying to lead a regular life by sustaining his family through his trade of fishing. Once Jesus called him and put him as the head of His Church, St Peter gave his all, even though he may have stumbled at times, he persevered in his faith. St Paul, on the other hand, was a very highly educated and elite citizen of his time. His story of persecuting Christians, because he was a fervent Jew, shows that he believed in certain values he was taught. Once God opened his eyes, and threw him off the horse, he completely dedicated his life to Christ using his life as an example of God’s Great Mercy. They both went through life, the same hard and trying life that we all must go through. But life is full of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, good days and bad days. We can very much see this in the Scriptures that show us different sides of these strivers for sanctity.

St Paul is very well known for his joyful phrases when he had times, he could not contain his happiness because of God, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Peter also had his days when he was enthusiastic about faith. “Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’” (Matthew 17:4) I know I can relate to this, when everything just seems to be going very well, and everyone around me is in a good state of mind. Then I am all about keeping the current mood and doing anything to keep it that way. But like St Peter was brought back to reality by God Himself, so I must remember too, that life is more than just those good times. “Life is a bowl of cherries” a good friend once told me. “You have the sweet cherry flesh, and then there are the pits.” So true! You can’t have life with just all the sweets and none of the hard pits. But even when we hit a “pit”, I should still thank God for that “pit” in my life.

The pits; the times when we feel low, sorry, and disgusted with ourselves. St Peter went through that too! “He fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:8) St Paul also had his hard days when he writes that “there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me”.(2 Corinthians 12:7) Even though he doesn’t exactly say what that thorn was, I believe we can relate and realize we are not the only ones with thorns in our sides in this life. But we must stay strong, and keep going since, as St Paul says, God gives us the strength to carry on. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Just like us, they had their mood swings, their ups and downs. When St Peter was courageous and “high” on faith, he would give up everything for Christ: “Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’” (Matthew 26:35) I’m sure we can relate to a day in our life when we were on this same “high” of faith, where we believe that nothing will stop us. Then, the first test comes, and we fall straight on our face. Do we then give up? Do we go and despair? No. St Peter shows us that he got up and came back to Jesus. Yes, he failed horribly. He denied Christ. Not once! Three times! I’m sure we can say that we have failed Christ on more than several occasions as well. But that is not the end. St Paul says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

There is where our hope lies. And that’s what these two great and holy men show us. We were not born saints, and neither were any of the ones who already are saints. We were all born sinners. But Christ died for Peter, for Paul, for you, and for me even when we were all still sinners, to show us His Love and give us a reason to strive to become His saints. What better way to repay God for all the Love He has shown us than by becoming holy? Becoming holy in the everyday things we go through, just doing them the best way we can with God.

Sts. Peter and Paul, pray for us!

 /Fr. Lawrence Malcolm/

 /Fr Thomas Koys, M.A.,S.T.L./

World Youth Day 2018 represents another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019. This new stage of our pilgrimage falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will meet on the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. This is a happy coincidence. The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to embrace the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world.

As you already know, we have chosen to be accompanied on this journey by the example and intercession of Mary, the young woman of Nazareth whom God chose as the Mother of his Son. She walks with us towards the Synod and towards the WYD in Panama. If last year we were guided by the words of her canticle of praise – “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49) – teaching us to remember the past, this year we seek, together with her, to listen to the voice of God who inspires courage and bestows the grace needed to respond to his call: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30). These are the words addressed by God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, to Mary, an ordinary girl from a small village in Galilee.

1. Do not be afraid!

As is understandable, the sudden appearance of the angel and his mysterious greeting: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28), strongly disturbed Mary, who was surprised by this first revelation of her identity and her vocation, as yet unknown to her. Mary, like others in the Sacred Scriptures, trembles before the mystery of God’s call, who in a moment places before her the immensity of his own plan and makes her feel all her smallness as a humble creature. The angel, seeing the depths of her heart, says: “Do not be afraid”! God also reads our inmost heart. He knows well the challenges we must confront in life, especially when we are faced with the fundamental choices on which depend who we will be and what we will do in this world. It is the “shudder” that we feel when faced with decisions about our future, our state of life, our vocation. In these moments we are troubled and seized by so many fears.

And you young people, what are your fears? What worries you most deeply? An “underlying” fear that many of you have is that of not being loved, well-liked or accepted for who you are. Today, there are many young people who feel the need to be different from who they really are, in an attempt to adapt to an often artificial and unattainable standard. They continuously “photo-shop” their images, hiding behind masks and false identities, almost becoming fake selves. Many are obsessed by receiving as many “likes” as possible. Multiple fears and uncertainties emerge from this sense of inadequacy. Others fear that they will not be able to find an emotional security and that they will remain alone. Many, faced with the uncertainty of work, fear not being able to find a satisfactory professional position, or to fulfil their dreams. Today a large number of young people are full of fear, both believers and non-believers. Indeed, those who have accepted the gift of faith and seek their vocation seriously are not exempt from fears. Some think: perhaps God is asking or will ask too much of me; perhaps, by following the road he has marked out for me, I will not be truly happy, or I will not be able to do what he asks of me. Others think: if I follow the path that God shows me, who can guarantee that I will be able to follow it through? Will I become discouraged? Will I lose my enthusiasm? Will I be able to persevere for the whole of my life?

In moments when doubts and fears flood our hearts, discernment becomes necessary. It allows us to bring order to the confusion of our thoughts and feelings, to act in a just and prudent way. In this process, the first step in overcoming fears is to identify them clearly, so as not to find yourself wasting time and energy by being gripped by empty and faceless ghosts. And so, I invite all of you to look within yourselves and to “name” your fears. Ask yourselves: what upsets me, what do I fear most in this specific moment of my life today? What blocks me and prevents me from moving forward? Why do I lack the courage to make the important choices I need to make? Do not be afraid to face your fears honestly, to recognize them for what they are and to come to terms with them. The Bible does not ignore the human experience of fear nor its many causes. Abraham was afraid (cf. Gen 12:10ff), Jacob was afraid (cf. Gen 31:31; 32:7), and so were Moses (cf. Ex 2:14; 17:4), Peter (cf. Mt 26:69ff) and the Apostles (cf. Mk 4:38-40; Mt 26:56). Jesus himself, albeit in an incomparable way, experienced fear and anguish (cf. Mt 26:37; Lk 22:44).

“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4:40). In admonishing his disciples Jesus helps us to understand how the obstacle to faith is often not scepticism but fear. Thus understood, the work of discernment identifies our fears and can then help us to overcome them, opening us to life and helping us to calmly face the challenges that come our way. For us Christians in particular, fear must never have the last word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God… and in life! This means believing in the fundamental goodness of the existence that God has given us and trusting that he will lead us to a good end, even through circumstances and vicissitudes which often bewilder us. Yet if we harbour fears, we will become inward-looking and closed off to defend ourselves from everything and everyone, and we will remain paralyzed. We have to act! Never close yourself in! In the Sacred Scriptures the expression “do not be afraid” is repeated 365 times with different variations, as if to tell us that the Lord wants us to be free from fear, every day of the year.

Discernment is indispensable when searching for one’s vocation in life. More often than not our vocation is not obvious or evident at first but rather something we come to understand gradually. Discernment, in this case, should not be seen as an individual effort at introspection, with the aim of better understanding our interior make-up so as to strengthen us and acquire some balance. In such instances the person can become stronger, but is still confined to the limited horizon of his or her possibilities and perspectives. Vocation, however, is a call from above, and discernment in this context principally means opening ourselves to the Other who calls. Prayerful silence is therefore required in order to hear the voice of God that resounds within our conscience. God knocks at the door of our hearts, as he did with Mary; he longs to establish friendship with us through prayer, to speak with us through the Sacred Scriptures, to offer us mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to be one with us in the Eucharist.

It is also important to dialogue with and encounter others, our brothers and sisters in the faith who have more experience, for they help us to see better and to choose wisely from the various possibilities. When the young Samuel hears the voice of the Lord, he does not recognize it immediately. Three times he runs to Eli, the older priest, who in the end proposes the right response to give to the Lord’s call: “If he calls you, you shall say: ‘Speak Lord, for your servant hears.’” (1 Sam 3:9). In your doubts know that you can rely on the Church. I know that there are very good priests, consecrated men and woman and lay faithful, many of whom are also young, who can support you like older brothers and sisters in the faith. Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, they will help you to make sense of your doubts and understand the plan of your own vocation. The other is not only a spiritual guide, but also the person who helps us open ourselves to the infinite riches of the life that God has given us. It is important to create spaces in our cities and communities to grow, to dream and to look at new horizons! Never lose the enthusiasm of enjoying others’ company and friendship, as well as the pleasure of dreaming together, of walking together. Authentic Christians are not afraid to open themselves to others and share with them their own important spaces, making them spaces of fraternity. Dear young people, do not allow the spark of youth to be extinguished in the darkness of a closed room in which the only window to the outside world is a computer and smartphone. Open wide the doors of your life! May your time and space be filled with meaningful relationships, real people, with whom to share your authentic and concrete experiences of daily life.

2. Mary!

“I have called you by name” (Is 43:1). The first reason not to fear is the fact that God has called us by name. The angel, God’s messenger, called Mary by name. To God belongs the power to give names. In the work of creation, he calls into existence every creature by name. There is an identity behind a name, that which is unique in every single thing, in every single person; that intimate essence that only God truly knows. This divine prerogative was shared with man when God invited him to name the animals, the birds and also his own offspring (Gen 2:19-21; 4:1). Many cultures share this profound biblical vision; they recognize in a name the revelation of the profound mystery of life and the meaning of existence.

When God calls someone by name, he also reveals to the person his vocation, his plan of holiness and fulfilment, through which the person becomes a gift to others and is made unique. And when God wants to expand the horizons of life, he gives a new name to the person he is calling, as he did with Simon, whom he called “Peter”. From here comes the custom of taking a new name when entering a religious congregation, to indicate a new identity and mission. Since the divine call is unique and personal, we need the courage to disentangle ourselves from the pressure of being shaped by conforming patterns, so that our life can truly become an authentic and irreplaceable gift to God, to the Church and to all.

Dear young people, to be called by name is therefore a sign of our great dignity in the eyes of God and a sign of his love for us. God calls each one of you by name. All of you are the “you” of God, precious in his eyes, worthy of respect and loved (cf. Is 43:4). Welcome with joy this dialogue that God offers you, this appeal he makes to you, calling you by name.

3. You have found favour with God

The main reason why Mary need not be afraid is that she has found favour with God. The word “grace” speaks of love freely given, not owed. How much we are encouraged to know that we do not have to earn the closeness and help of God, by presenting a “Curriculum Vitae of excellence”, full of merits and successes! The angel says to Mary that she has already found favour with God, not that she will obtain it in the future. And the same formulation of the angel’s words helps us understand that divine grace is continuous, not something passing or fleeting; for this reason, it will never fail. Even in the future, the grace of God will always be there to sustain us, especially in moments of trial and darkness.

The continuous presence of divine grace encourages us to embrace our vocation with confidence; our vocation demands a commitment of faithfulness that needs to be renewed each day. Our vocational path is not without its crosses: not only our initial doubts, but also the frequent temptations that crop up along the way. The feeling of inadequacy accompanies Christ’s disciple to the end. Yet he or she knows the help of God’s grace.

The Angel’s words descend upon our human fears, dissolving them with the power of the Good News of which we are heralds: our life is not pure chance or a mere struggle for survival, rather each of us is a cherished story loved by God. That we have “found grace in his eyes” means that the Creator sees a unique beauty in our being and that he has a magnificent plan for our lives. The awareness of this certainty, of course, does not resolve all our problems nor does it take away life’s uncertainties. But it does have the power to transform our life deeply. The unknown that tomorrow holds for us is not a dark threat we need to overcome, but a favourable time given to us for living out the uniqueness of our personal vocation, and for sharing it with our brothers and sisters in the Church and in the world.

4. Courage in the present moment

From the certainty that God’s grace is with us comes the strength to take courage in the present moment: the courage to carry forward what God asks of us here and now, in every area of our lives; courage to embrace the vocation which God reveals to us; courage to live out our faith without hiding or diminishing it.

Yes, when we open ourselves to God’s grace, the impossible becomes a reality. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). God’s grace touches the “now” of your lives, “takes hold” of you as you are, with all your fears and limits, but it also reveals his marvellous plans! You young people need to know that someone truly believes in you: please know that the Pope has confidence in you, that the Church has confidence in you! For your part, have confidence in the Church!

To the young Mary was entrusted an important task, precisely because she was young. You young people have strength as you go through a phase of your lives where energy is not lacking. Make use of this strength and this energy to improve the world, beginning with the realities closest to you. I want important responsibilities to be given to you within the Church; that there may be the courage to make space for you; and that you may be prepared to take on these responsibilities.

I invite you once again to contemplate Mary’s love: a caring, dynamic and concrete love. A love full of boldness and focused completely on the gift of self. A Church permeated by these Marian qualities will always be a Church going forth, one that goes beyond her own limits and boundaries to let the grace she has received overflow. If we allow ourselves to be truly touched by Mary’s example, we will live out authentically that charity which urges us to love God above all else and above ourselves, to love those with whom we share our daily life. And we will also love those who may seem hardly lovable in themselves. It is a love that is service and dedication, above all towards the weakest and poorest, love that transforms our faces and fills us with joy.

I would like to end with the beautiful words Saint Bernard used in a famous homily on the mystery of the Annunciation, words that express the anticipation of all humanity for Mary’s response: “You have heard, O Virgin that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer… We too, O Lady, are waiting for your word of compassion… In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life… This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet… Answer quickly, O Virgin” (Sermon 4, 8-9; Opera Omnia).

Dear young people, the Lord, the Church, the world are waiting for your answer to the unique call that each one receives in this life! As World Youth Day in Panama draws closer, I invite you to prepare yourselves for our gathering with the joy and enthusiasm of those who wish to participate in such a great adventure. WYD is for the courageous! Not for young people who are searching only for comfort and who withdraw whenever difficulties arise. Do you accept the challenge?

From the Vatican, 11 February 2018

VI Sunday of Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes

Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction. Mk 5:34

Christians are people who follow Jesus, who leads them in their faith and perfects it. He not only teaches us how to live, but also helps us that we may not lose hope and stall in the middle of our lives’ road.

The Gospel links two people’s stories, which should become for us an example of perseverance in faith, although it seems that for them all lights of hope have gone out.

A woman has been suffering from hemorrhage for twelve years, who gave her entire livelihood to doctors for a cure, who were unable to help her. As time passed, her problem grew worse. However, she did not give up. She went out with hope onto the road, where Jesus was supposed to be passing by. She believed, which was why she told herself: If only I will touch his garments, I will be cured. She did not expect spectacular gestures that would return her to her health. She only wants to touch Jesus. She believes that that is enough to return her to her desired health. This trusting faith paid off. After touching Jesus’ cloak not only did she feel that she was cured, but Jesus himself confirmed it, saying: Daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace and be free of your illnesses.

On that same road, one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up to him and a earnestly begged him: my daughter is feverish, please come and place your hands on her, that she might be saved and live. This man also believes, that Jesus could only restore health, but it will be seen soon that he can restore life to Jairus’ daughter as well. Besides, Jesus himself encourages him to have greater faith: Do not be afraid, just believe. Trust, that for God nothing is impossible. Thus also Jairus’ faith bore fruit in the gift of life for his daughter.

Our personal problems and needs of our loved ones not only show us our limits as humans and our weaknesses, but they are also trials and necessary tests of or faith. They are invitations that we should go to Jesus with anything that overwhelms us and what we cannot deal with ourselves. This will always pay off. It is important that this is to be done with faith and humility, that he will always help us, though not always in the way we expect. Faith teaches us, that it is not important what we expect from Jesus, but that which He wants from us. We must place our trust in him, and he will act, sometimes more through and in us, rather than for us, the miracle of His transformation.