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Showing posts with the label Benedict XVI

'Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World . . .' Sunday Reflections, Pentecost Sunday, Year C

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Pentecost El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Pentecost Sunday, at the Vigil Mass  (Saturday evening), Years ABC NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings. Those for the Mass During the Day on Sunday should not be used – though some priests seem to be unaware of this. It is incorrect to refer to this Vigil Mass as an ‘anticipated Mass’. It is a celebration proper to the evening before Pentecost Sunday and may be celebrated in an extended form. It also fulfils the Sunday obligation. Readings ,   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings ,   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel ,   John 7:37-39  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.   Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”   Now this he said a

‘Jesus Christ . . . is also the foundation of 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 Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, [England & Wales], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36  (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Jesus said to his disciples: “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,   people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.   And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.   Now when these things begin to take place, straighten u

'The word of God, a seed of eternity that transforms this world from within.' Sunday Reflections, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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  St Michael in Victory Murillo [ Wikimedia Commons ] 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: India) 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 four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becom

'I feel called to make my life a little simpler. This comes from trying to be a follower of a poor man.’ Sunday Reflections, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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    Mocking of Christ Titian [ Web Gallery of Art ] I gave my back to those who strike,   and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;   I hid not my face   from disgrace and spitting.   (Isaiah 50:6. First Reading). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 8:27-35   (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples,  “Who do people say that I am?”   And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”   And he asked them,  “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”   And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after t

‘Rather, it is seen as the Lord’s most precious gift . . . and with it write a love story.’ (BXVI). Sunday Reflections, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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  Moses Carlo Dolci [ Web Gallery of Art ] Moses said to the people:  “And now, O Israel, listen to  the statutes and the rules  that I am teaching you, and do them,  that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the  Lord , the God of your fathers, is giving you."  [First Reading]. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23   (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem,   they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.   (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders,   and when they come from the market-place, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing

'Mary assumed into Heaven points out to us the final destination of our earthly pilgrimage.' Sunday Reflections, The Assumption

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  Assumption of the Virgin Egid Quirin Asam [ Web Gallery of Art ] This magnificent sculpture is over the High Altar in the Pilgrimage Church, Rohr, Bavaria, Germany. The Solemnity of the Assumption This takes the place of the Mass for the 20 th  Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B   Vigil Mass This Mass is used on the evening of 14 August, either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Solemnity. It fulfils our Sunday obligation.   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) This page gives the readings for both the Vigil Mass and the Sunday Mass. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 11:27-28   (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) As Jesus said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”   But he said,  “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Mass celebrated on