News - March 2018

“Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:45

Today, a sole light lit up the entire world with it’s brightness. As He gazed on the world, the Heavenly Father saw the serene light of faith still shining brightly in a soul He loved. Full of faith in Her Divine Son’s words, Mary looked expectantly to the fulfilment of the Promise that Her Son would rise again on the third day, when everyone else relapsed into the sleep of unbelief. O Virgin most faithful, intercede for us your children!

If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.

“When they reached the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the two criminals, one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ Then they cast lots to share out His clothing.” Lk 23:33-34

What tremendous love Jesus must have for a world of ungrateful and wicked sinners to willingly and silently bear the pain of the crucifixion from them - the power of love which seethed out from every fibre of his heart, soul and body to seek and reach out towards every human being who lay lost in the mire of forgetfulness of God, pride, bitterness, despair and other sins! He completes His Sacrifice by offering up prayers before God for His crucifiers. Let us realise that each time we commit a mortal sin, we take the place of Christ’s executioners and are crucifying Him again within our souls.

Take care of your own soul before saving the rest of the world."I Love Jesus Christ and that is why I am on fire with the desire to give Him souls, first of all my own,and then an incalculable number of others.

“And after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' And in the same way, with the cup after supper...” 1 Cor 11:24-25

Giving thanks to the Father, the Son takes a loaf of bread and makes It His Body. He takes a cup of wine and makes It His Blood. He then commands His Apostles to repeat these mysterious words in His memory. Thus we have in our midst today the living memorial of His Presence amongst us - the Body and Blood of the Son of God, which He gives us daily as food and drink that imparts everlasting life to those who believe.

We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.

Jesus does not ask for great achievements: only surrender and gratitude.

“Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven..” Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus tells us three things in the above verses: the first, that we should resolutely stand for Him, the second that we should be prepared to hear all kinds of calumny spoken against us, and the third that we greatly rejoice because our reward is assured. We are indeed on the right track if we have to suffer because we stand for Jesus.

Yes, I love the cross, the cross alone. I love it because I always see it behind Jesus’ shoulders.

“He was bearing our sins in His own body on the Cross, so that we might die to our sins and live for uprightness; through His bruises you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:25

When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the first sacrifice was also made to make clothes of skin to cover their nakedness. For those who turn to Him, the Lord covers the nakedness caused by their sins with dazzling garments of righteousness. These garments are made from the Lamb of God, His Son Jesus Christ.

Everyone has a vocation: parents, teachers, students, workers, professional people, people who are retired. Everyone has something to do for God.

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.”Luke 1:35

God chose the lowliest of all maidens to receive the greatest revelation He could ever give to humanity - the revelation of His Son, the mystery which as Saint Paul describes, He had kept hidden within Himself for many generations, and now had chosen to reveal to humanity. The Virgin believed and gave Her assent to God’s revelation and behold, the Word - the Son of God, became flesh and dwelt amongst us.

Whenever I make a mistake, no matter how trivial it is, I shall do some acts of penance. This is the easiest way to stop repeating the mistake.

“Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

God has given us everything we have. Some may offer back to God part of their wealth or their possessions. The saints, on the other hand, give us an example in giving back everything to God, including their own lives and all their freedom - so that God free to do as He pleases in their lives, without complaint. Let us imitate them by being joyful in our offerings, because God loves those who offer their gifts to him with a smile that comes from deep within their generous and joyful heart.

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

“He was bearing our sins in His own body on the Cross, so that we might die to our sins and live for uprightness; through His bruises you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:25

Every one of us has wounds within our inner selves. The more deeper and serious of these wounds are those caused by our sins. Such wounds make us feel disturbed, depressed, sad, dejected, lonely and uneasy. But let us never become discouraged - Jesus has carried all our sins in His own body on the Cross - so that we would die to our sins and live for uprightness. Therefore, let us come with hope into the presence of the Divine Saviour in the Blessed Sacrament, let us disclose all our wounds in His Presence. He will treat them, dress them and clothe our naked souls so that we will be completely healed.

Were there neither heaven nor hell, still would I ever wish to love God, who is a father so deserving of our love.

Human nature grows tired of always doing the same thing. It is God’s will because of the opportunity of practicing two great virtues; the first is perseverance, which will bring us to our goal, and the other is steadfastness, which overcomes the difficulties on the way.

If you want to meet a merciful judge, be merciful before he comes. Forgive if someone has offended you; give away the possessions of which you have in abundance.

We cannot live without hope. We have to have some purpose in life, some meaning to our existence. We have to aspire to something. Without hope, we begin to die.