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Showing posts with the label Benedict XVI

'The contemporary world above all needs hope.' Sunday Reflections, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C

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Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] . And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves . . .  (Luke 21:25; today’s gospel). We begin Year C, which highlights St Luke's Gospel. From this weekend the Church in England & Wales and in Scotland will be using a new lectionary based on the English Standard Version of the Bible. Readings   (English Standard Version: England & Wales, Scotland) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36  (English Standard Version Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: 'There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,   people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is c...

'Christ compares himself to the sower and explains that the seed is the word.' Sunday Reflections, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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The Archangel Michael Unknown Italian Goldsmith [ Web Gallery of Art ] At that time shall arise  Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time  (Daniel 12:1. First Reading).  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 13:24-32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    Jesus said to his disciples: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,   and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.   And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.   And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the fou...

Honouring the Queen of Heaven during the Easter Season

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The Coronation of the Virgin Blessed Fra Angelico,  Musée du Louvre, Paris  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Compline, the official Night Prayer of the Church ends with an anthem  of antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In monasteries this is sung. In the traditional liturgical calendar there are four of these, all in Latin. Alma Redemptoris Mater  is sung from Saturday before the 1st Sunday of Advent through February 1. The anthem from 2 February, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, through Wednesday of Holy Week is  Ave, Regina caelorum . Regina caeli  is the Easter anthem, sung from Easter Sunday through Friday within the Octave of Pentecost. The best known anthem, sung on many occasions apart from Compline, is  Salve, Regina . It is the anthem for Compline from Saturday after the Octave of Pentecost through Friday before the 1st Sunday of Advent. Regina Caeli Sung by Schola Gregoriana Medioalanensis, under Giovanni Vianini Continue at Bangor to Bobbio...

'Such is the Church, this communion of life with Jesus Christ and for one another . . .' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday of Easter, Year B

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The Red Vineyard Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 15:1-8     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser.   Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.   Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.   Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.   I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.   If anyone does not abide in me he is t...

'Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.' Sunday Reflections, 3rd Sunday of Easter

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Supper at Emmaus , c.1629 Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in  the breaking of the bread  (Luke 24:35; Gospel).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel     Luke 24:35-48     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Then [the two disciples] told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them,  “Peace to you!”   But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.   And he said to them,  “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?   See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit d...

'Her last two years were also full of pain, yet always of love and light . . .' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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  Jan Josef Horemans II A Sick Woman [ Web Gallery of Art ] Now  Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her  (Mark 1:30; Gospel}. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 1:29-39 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) And immediately Jesus left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.   Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.   And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sunset they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit th...

Feast of the Holy Family, Year B; Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Year B

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St Joseph and the Christ Child El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 2:22-40 [or 22, 39-40] ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they [the parents of Jesus] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  [(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)   and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons”.   Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.   And it had been revealed to him by the Holy...

Sunday Reflections, 4th Sunday of Advent, Year B; Christmas Day

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  Annunciation Alessandro Allori [ Web Gallery of Art ] And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”   (Luke 1:38; Gospel) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 1:26-38  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,   to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.   And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!”   But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.   And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.   And behold, you...

'To serve the unity of those who have become brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.’ Sunday Reflections, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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St Peter El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it'  (Matthew 16:18; Gospel).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 16:13-20 ( English Standard Version Anglicised) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,  “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”   And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”   He said to them,  “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   And Jesus answered him,  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, bu...