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| BENEDICT XVI TO THE YOUNG "IN SEARCH OF A MAKER" Vatican City, 20 December 2012 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI addressed a group of young people from Catholic Action Italy who "We know who this maker is: He is God, who has shown His face to us. God created us, He made us in His image, and above all He gave us the gift of His son, Jesus Christ, as a child - we will soon worship him on the feast of the Nativity - who grew up, as you have, and followed the paths of our world so as to communicate to us the love of God, which brings beauty and happiness to our lives, rendering them full of goodness and generosity. "Certainly, you also search the creator of your joy", the Pope continued. "There are many people who bring you happiness, but there is also a great friend who is the creator of the joy of all, and with Whom our hearts are filled with a joy that surpasses all other, and which lasts throughout our lives: this friend is Jesus. ... The more you get to know Him and to enter into dialogue with Him, the greater the happiness you will feel in your hearts, and the more able you will be to overcome the minor disappointments you sometimes feel within. "You are also in search of a guide in love. ... We all need to love others and to feel that someone accepts and loves us in return. To feel loved is necessary for life, but it is equally important to be able to love others, to bring beauty to the lives of all, including our peers who find themselves in difficult situations. Jesus showed us through the example of His life that God loves all without discrimination, and wants all of us to live in happiness". "Finally, you are without doubt in search of a bringer of peace, the need for whom the world so keenly feels. Often men believe they are able to build peace by themselves, but it is important to understand that it is only God who can bring us true and durable peace. If we learn how to listen to Him, if we make space for Him in our lives, God clears away the selfishness that often pollutes the relationships between people and nations, and gives rise to the desire for reconciliation, forgiveness and peace, even in those with the most hardened of hearts". "If you wish to help each other to find the great Creator of life, joy, love and peace, you will discover that He is never far from you, but rather, is very close to us: He is the God who came to us as the child Jesus Christ!" concluded the Holy Father. |
| THE POPE IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES: CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD Vatican City, 20 December 2012 (VIS) - The "Financial Times" daily newspaper has today published an article by Benedict XVI entitled "A time for Christians to engage with the world". According to an introductory note from the Holy See Press Office, "The Pope's article for the Financial Times originates from a request from the editorial office of the Financial Times itself which, taking as a cue the recent publication of the Pope's book on Jesus' infancy, asked for his comments on the occasion of Christmas. Despite the unusual nature of the request, the Holy Father accepted willingly. "It is perhaps appropriate to recall the Pope's willingness to respond to other unusual requests in the past, such as the interview given for the BBC, again at Christmas a few months after his visit to the United Kingdom, or the television interview for the programme 'A sua immagine' produced by the RAI, the Italian state broadcasting company, to mark the occasion of Good Friday. These too have been opportunities to speak about Jesus Christ and to bring his message to a wide forum at salient moments during the Christian liturgical year". Below is the full text of the Pope's article: A time for Christians to engage with the world "'Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God,' was the response of Jesus when asked about paying taxes. His questioners, of course, were laying a trap for him. They wanted to force Him to take sides in the highly-charged political debate about Roman rule in the land of Israel. Yet there was more at stake here: if Jesus really was the long-awaited Messiah, then surely He would oppose the Roman overlords. So the question was calculated to expose Him either as a threat to the regime, or a fraud. "Jesus’ answer deftly moves the argument to a higher plane, gently cautioning against both the politicisation of religion and the deification of temporal power, along with the relentless pursuit of wealth. His audience needed to be reminded that the Messiah was not Caesar, and Caesar was not God. The kingdom that Jesus came to establish was of an altogether higher order. As He told Pontius Pilate, 'My kingship is not of this world.' "The Christmas stories in the New Testament are intended to convey a similar message. Jesus was born during a “census of the whole world” taken by Caesar Augustus, the Emperor renowned for bringing the Pax Romana to all the lands under Roman rule. Yet this infant, born in an obscure and far-flung corner of the Empire, was to offer the world a far greater peace, truly universal in scope and transcending all limitations of space and time. "Jesus is presented to us as King David’s heir, but the liberation He brought to His people was not about holding hostile armies at bay; it was about conquering sin and death forever. "The birth of Christ challenges us to reassess our priorities, our values, our very way of life. While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great joy, it is also an occasion for deep reflection, even an examination of conscience. At the end of a year that has meant economic hardship for many, what can we learn from the humility, the poverty, the simplicity of the crib scene? "Christmas can be the time in which we learn to read the Gospel, to get to know Jesus not only as the Child in the manger, but as the one in Whom we recognize God made Man. "It is in the Gospel that Christians find inspiration for their daily lives and their involvement in worldly affairs – be it in the Houses of Parliament or the Stock Exchange. Christians shouldn’t shun the world; they should engage with it. But their involvement in politics and economics should transcend every form of ideology. "Christians fight poverty out of a recognition of the supreme dignity of every human being, created in God’s image and destined for eternal life. Christians work for more equitable sharing of the earth’s resources out of a belief that, as stewards of God’s creation, we have a duty to care for the weakest and most vulnerable. Christians oppose greed and exploitation out of a conviction that generosity and selfless love, as taught and lived by Jesus of Nazareth, are the way that leads to fullness of life. Christian belief in the transcendent destiny of every human being gives urgency to the task of promoting peace and justice for all. "Because these goals are shared by so many, much fruitful cooperation is possible between Christians and others. Yet Christians render to Caesar only what belongs to Caesar, not what belongs to God. Christians have at times throughout history been unable to comply with demands made by Caesar. From the Emperor cult of ancient Rome to the totalitarian regimes of the last century, Caesar has tried to take the place of God. When Christians refuse to bow down before the false gods proposed today, it is not because of an antiquated world-view. Rather, it is because they are free from the constraints of ideology and inspired by such a noble vision of human destiny that they cannot collude with anything that undermines it. "In Italy, many crib scenes feature the ruins of ancient Roman buildings in the background. This shows that the birth of the child Jesus marks the end of the old order, the pagan world, in which Caesar’s claims went virtually unchallenged. Now there is a new king, who relies not on the force of arms, but on the power of love. He brings hope to all those who, like himself, live on the margins of society. He brings hope to all who are vulnerable to the changing fortunes of a precarious world. From the manger, Christ calls us to live as citizens of his heavenly kingdom, a kingdom that all people of good will can help to build here on earth". |
| DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS Vatican City, Vatican City, 20 December 2012 (VIS) - Today, during a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Pope authorised the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees: MIRACLES - Blessed Antonio Primaldo e Compagni, killed in 1480 in Otranto, Italy. - Blessed Laura Montoya, Colombian foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate and of St. Catherine of Siena (1874-1949). - Blessed Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, Mexican co-foundress of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and of the Poor (1878-1963). - Venerable Servant of God Antonio Franco, Italian bishop of Santa Lucia del Mela (1585-1626). - Venerable Servant of God Jose Gabriele del Rosario Brochero, Argentinian priest (1840-1914). - Venerable Servant of God Cristobal of St. Catherine (ne: Cristobal Fernando Valladolid), Spanish priest and founder of the Congregation and the Hospital of Jesus of Nazareth in Cordoba (1638-1690). - Venerable Servant of God Sofia Czeska-Maciejowska, Polish foundress of the Congregation of the Virgins of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1584-1650). - Venerable Servant of God Margherita Lucia Szewczyk, Polish foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Sorrowful Mother of God - Seraphic Sisters (1584-1650). MARTYRDOM - Servant of God Miroslav Bulesic, Croatian priest, killed in hatred of the faith in 1947. - Servant of God José Javier Gorosterratzu, Spanish, and five companions of the Congregation of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 1936 and 1938. - Servants of God Fr. Riccardo Gil Barcelon and Antonio Arrue Peiro, Postulant, of the Congregation of the of killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936. - Servant of God Manuel de la Sagrada Familia, (ne Manuel Sanz Dominguez), Spanish professed monk and Reformer of the Order of San Girolamo, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936. - Servant of God Maria di Monserrat (nee Giuseppa Pilar Garcia y Solanas) and eight companions, Spanish professed nun, along with Lucrezia Garcia y Solanas, laywoman, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain in 1936. - Servant of God Melchora de la Adoración Cortés Bueno, Spanish, and fourteen companions of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, killed in hatred of the faith in Spain between 1936 and 1937. HEROIC VIRTUES - Servant of God Paul VI, Giovanni Battista Montini, Italian, Supreme Pontiff (1897-1978). - Servant of God Francesco Saverio Petagna, bishop of Castellamare di Stabia, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts (1812-1878). - Servant of God Juan José Santiago Bonal Cortada, Spanish founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne (1769-1829). - Servant of God Fr. Louis-Marie Baudouin, French priest, (1765-1835). - Servant of God Marcelina de San José (nee Luisa Aveledo), foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver, Venezualan (1874-1959). - Servant of God Claudia Russo, Italian foundress of the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1889-1964). - Servant of God Maria Francisca de las Llagas (nee Rosa Elena Cornejo), Ecuadorean foundress of the Congregation of Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate (1874 -1964). - Servant of God Clara Ludmilla Szczesna, Polish cofoundress of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1863-1916). - Servant of God Consuelo (nee Joaquina Maria Mercedes Barceló y Pagés), Spanish cofoundress of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (1857-1940). |
| AUDIENCES Vatican City, 20 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Bishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. |
2012
CHRISTMAS NOVENA - DAY 4 - PLENARY INDULGENCE
Opening Prayer:
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world without
end.Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Day 3 Prayers
The Holy Nativity.
O most sweet infant Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary in
Bethlehem, wrapped in poor swaddling clothes, laid
in the manger, glorified by angels, and visited by
shepherds.
Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord. Have mercy on us.
O Jesus born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Christ is at hand. O come, let us worship him.
Hail Mary...
Amen.
FROM THE RACCOLTA OFFICIAL
NOVENA PREPARATORY TO CHRISTMAS In order to the devout preparation of ourselves for the glorious Birthday of our most loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, which the holy Church recalls to our memory every year on the 25th of December, and at the same time to render Him thanks for this great benefit, Pope Pius VII., by a Rescript of the Segretaria of the Memorials, dated August 12th, 1815 (which said Rescript is preserved in the Segretaria of the Vicariate), granted to all faithful Christians who, being contrite in heart, should prepare themselves for that great solemnity by a novena, consisting of pious exercises, prayers, acts of virtue, &c. -
i. An indulgence of 300 days each day of the said novena, and -
ii. A plenary indulgence to be gained on Christmas day, or on some day in its octave, by those who, after Confession and Communion, shall have made the said novena every day, and who shall pray according to the intentions of the Sovereigns Pontiff: and note that the Confession and Communion may be made on any one of the days of the said novena, provided the novena is correctly kept. This was declared by Pope Pius VIII., of holy memory, by means of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, July 9, 1830. These indulgences were extended by the above-named Pius VII. to one other time in the year, besides the the specified, when any one should make the aforesaid novena in honour of the Child Jesus.
CHRISTMAS NOVENA - DAY 4 - PLENARY INDULGENCE
Opening Prayer:
V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to
the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world without
end.Amen.
the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world without
end.Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Day 3 Prayers
The Holy Nativity.
O most sweet infant Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary in
Bethlehem, wrapped in poor swaddling clothes, laid
in the manger, glorified by angels, and visited by
shepherds.
Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, 0 Lord. Have mercy on us.
O Jesus born of Virgin bright,
Immortal glory be to thee;
Praise to the Father infinite,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Christ is at hand. O come, let us worship him.
Hail Mary...
Amen.
FROM THE RACCOLTA OFFICIAL
NOVENA PREPARATORY TO CHRISTMAS In order to the devout preparation of ourselves for the glorious Birthday of our most loving Saviour, Jesus Christ, which the holy Church recalls to our memory every year on the 25th of December, and at the same time to render Him thanks for this great benefit, Pope Pius VII., by a Rescript of the Segretaria of the Memorials, dated August 12th, 1815 (which said Rescript is preserved in the Segretaria of the Vicariate), granted to all faithful Christians who, being contrite in heart, should prepare themselves for that great solemnity by a novena, consisting of pious exercises, prayers, acts of virtue, &c. -
i. An indulgence of 300 days each day of the said novena, and -
ii. A plenary indulgence to be gained on Christmas day, or on some day in its octave, by those who, after Confession and Communion, shall have made the said novena every day, and who shall pray according to the intentions of the Sovereigns Pontiff: and note that the Confession and Communion may be made on any one of the days of the said novena, provided the novena is correctly kept. This was declared by Pope Pius VIII., of holy memory, by means of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, July 9, 1830. These indulgences were extended by the above-named Pius VII. to one other time in the year, besides the the specified, when any one should make the aforesaid novena in honour of the Child Jesus.
i. An indulgence of 300 days each day of the said novena, and -
ii. A plenary indulgence to be gained on Christmas day, or on some day in its octave, by those who, after Confession and Communion, shall have made the said novena every day, and who shall pray according to the intentions of the Sovereigns Pontiff: and note that the Confession and Communion may be made on any one of the days of the said novena, provided the novena is correctly kept. This was declared by Pope Pius VIII., of holy memory, by means of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, July 9, 1830. These indulgences were extended by the above-named Pius VII. to one other time in the year, besides the the specified, when any one should make the aforesaid novena in honour of the Child Jesus.
2012
CATHOLIC MOVIES - WATCH ST. RITA - PART 4
IN HONOR OF THE YEAR OF FAITH - JCE NEWS WILL BE SHOWING SOME OF THE TOP CATHOLIC MOVIES OF ALL TIME. TUNE IN FOR THE NEXT PART OF ST. RITA- TOMORROW
EUROPE : ARCHBISHOP - CHRISTMAS PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
TBISHOPS CONFERENCE OF ENGLAND RELEASE
The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster was on Radio 2’s Chris Evans breakfast show on Thursday 20 December.
Listen to and read his Christmas Pause for Thought reflection below:
THE FULL TEXT
Did you know that the film ‘The Snowman’ has been a Christmas-time broadcast every year for the last 30 years? It’s a charming story, a classic silent movie with the exception of that wonderful song ‘Walking in the Air’ as boy and snowman fly far above the ground in joy and amazement. And this year there’s a sequel, too, introducing a snow dog to the story.
So there’s clearly something very enduring about this story. It appeals to children’s imagination and desire for friendship. It appeals to our adult longing for new innocence and simple goodness. Yet there’s also an underlying sadness to the whole story for we all know that the friendship of a snowman cannot last.
The true Christmas story has an even stronger quality of endurance. It too appeals to both the imagination and to our yearnings. It’s told over and over again, bringing comfort in adversity, courage in hardship and hope in even the darkest night.
We can enter the story of the birth of Jesus through the background music of carols in the supermarket or through the narrative of St Luke’s Gospel. Its outline remains the same: the gift of God, coming in humility and poverty, to bring great dignity and hope to every human being and summoning us to care for one another especially those who, like the infant Jesus, are in need.
We’re told that in this land the number of Christians, people who take the birth of Jesus as crucial in all human history, is decreasing. Yet the story will not be silenced. Its truth is stronger than neglect, ridicule or persecution. Churches and homes are being filled with its music and its grace for Jesus, unlike the snowman, is the friend who never leaves us, breaking through that ultimate separation of death itself.
May this celebration of his birth bring you great joy. May you too share in that true and trustworthy sense of knowing him as your friend and with him walking in the air!
+Vincent Nichols
LISTEN
Listen to the reflection at 2 hours 56 minutes 27 seconds in by clickinghere
AFRICA : EGYPT : 10000 CHRISTIANS AT CHURCH PRAYING FOR PEACE
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT
Up to 10,000 Christians of all denominations gathered in Cairo last Thursday to pray for peace, political growth and stability, church unity and spiritual revival in Egypt. Held at Cairo's massive Cave Church and televised live by SAT-7 ARABIC and SAT-7 PLUS, extracts from the event were also taken by secular TV channels.
Two secular Egyptian newspapers published articles on the event and SAT-7's coverage of it. More than 50,000 have so far watched on YouTube, where the clips will continue to be available.
Many posted their responses on social media. One said; "My mum, my wife, my daughter, and a friend are now at the Cave Church standing before the Lord praying for our country among thousands of other Christians. Not a single harassment incident was reported and not one single bad word said against other religion."
One attendee posted: "To all those who keep saying that Christians are mobilizing the crowds against Egypt's interest... I'd like to tell you that, yes, they're mobilizing a huge crowd right now in the Cave Church... There are nothing but songs, Egypt's flags, and prayers for Egypt and for its good... To all the Christians in Egypt: your raised hands and prayers are what is making Egypt go on until now..."
A viewer in Lebanon commented, "We are joining you in praying for Egypt. We pray that peace fills Egypt and that Jesus shines over it."
Farid Garas, Executive Director of SAT-7's Egypt production centre, said the live broadcast of the event allowed "people all over the world to participate in the prayers. Such events are always a good way to introduce SAT-7 especially to non-Christians. They become curious about SAT-7 and Christianity and start watching more of our productions and seeking the truth."
View clips of the prayer night here:
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
OCEANIA : CYCLONE EVAN : CAUSES MANY DEATHS AND MUCH DAMAGE
Agenzia Fides REPORT - Cyclone Evan has caused deaths, destruction and damage to the infrastructure in the South Pacific. From what emerges in a statement of the Salesian community in Samoa, the archipelago was hit by the cyclone between 13 and 14 December. There is no electricity almost everywhere and the damage to the power supply is widespread. There is also very little water and water services will not be restored until at least 2 weeks. The worst situation regards crops, especially bananas and breadfruit. Farmers were able to save part of the crop, but since the majority of the population counts on agriculture for their livelihood as well as on fishing, their greatest fear is for the next few months, when they will run out of stocks. 25% of Samoans are already living in poverty and, as a result of the cyclone, the situation will worsen since in the country there will be a further increase in prices. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2012)
ASIA : INDIA : YOUNG STUDENT - GANG RAPED
UCAN REPORT
Lawmakers want death penalty for attackers
Activists from India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party protest the rape of a student in Delhi (AFP photo/Raveendran)
The brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old student on a bus in New Delhi on Sunday has sparked outrage across the country, with Indian parliamentarians demanding the death penalty for those responsible.
The unusual outpouring of anger also prompted calls for greater protection for women in a country where crimes against women are treated with apathy and rarely prosecuted, activists say.
The girl was attacked on Sunday evening after she and a male friend boarded a bus with tinted windows in south Delhi.
Seven men on the bus allegedly attacked the pair with iron bars, raped the girl then threw them off the vehicle which had passed through several police checkpoints.
The girl is currently fighting for her life in hospital. Police have since arrested four people, including the bus driver.
The savagery of Sunday’s alleged rape sparked uproar in parliament yesterday with women members sobbing amid demands for the death penalty to be imposed for those found guilty of the crime.
Rape in India carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
In the Lower House, the leader of the opposition, Sushma Swaraj said "those convicted in such cases should be hanged."
Other members of the House voiced their agreement.
Similar sentiments were echoed in the Upper House when Samajwadi (Socialist) Party member, Jaya Bachchan, demanded that rape be treated on a par with murder.
Federal Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, assured lawmakers the case would be pursued vigorously
He said he would monitor police investigations and “if there were any lapses, strict action would be taken.”
Lawmakers, activists and protesters have all accused the police of not doing enough to protect women and that the rape highlighted just how vulnerable young women in the national capital and across India are.
Official sources say as many as 572 rape cases were reported in Delhi last year, while over 600 cases have been registered by police so far this year.
"This is not a solitary case...women are not safe in Delhi. An infant or even a six-year-old girl is not safe here," said lawmaker Maya Singh.
"All these rapists are arrested, but then released. They come out and rape again. Police are not trained to deal with rape cases," she said.
Elsewhere in the capital, students set up road blocks across the city to demand a government crackdown on crimes against women.
SHARED FROM UCAN NEWS
The unusual outpouring of anger also prompted calls for greater protection for women in a country where crimes against women are treated with apathy and rarely prosecuted, activists say.
The girl was attacked on Sunday evening after she and a male friend boarded a bus with tinted windows in south Delhi.
Seven men on the bus allegedly attacked the pair with iron bars, raped the girl then threw them off the vehicle which had passed through several police checkpoints.
The girl is currently fighting for her life in hospital. Police have since arrested four people, including the bus driver.
The savagery of Sunday’s alleged rape sparked uproar in parliament yesterday with women members sobbing amid demands for the death penalty to be imposed for those found guilty of the crime.
Rape in India carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
In the Lower House, the leader of the opposition, Sushma Swaraj said "those convicted in such cases should be hanged."
Other members of the House voiced their agreement.
Similar sentiments were echoed in the Upper House when Samajwadi (Socialist) Party member, Jaya Bachchan, demanded that rape be treated on a par with murder.
Federal Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, assured lawmakers the case would be pursued vigorously
He said he would monitor police investigations and “if there were any lapses, strict action would be taken.”
Lawmakers, activists and protesters have all accused the police of not doing enough to protect women and that the rape highlighted just how vulnerable young women in the national capital and across India are.
Official sources say as many as 572 rape cases were reported in Delhi last year, while over 600 cases have been registered by police so far this year.
"This is not a solitary case...women are not safe in Delhi. An infant or even a six-year-old girl is not safe here," said lawmaker Maya Singh.
"All these rapists are arrested, but then released. They come out and rape again. Police are not trained to deal with rape cases," she said.
Elsewhere in the capital, students set up road blocks across the city to demand a government crackdown on crimes against women.
SHARED FROM UCAN NEWS
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : THURS. DEC. 20, 2012
Luke 1: 26 - 38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.28And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,33and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."34And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"35And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.36And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37For with God nothing will be impossible."38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 20: ST. DOMINIC OF SILOS
St. Dominic of Silos
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BENEDICTINE AND MYSTIC WRITER
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Feast: December 20
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