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TRÁI TIM
MẸ: NƠI CON NƯƠNG NÁU - ĐƯỜNG ĐẾN VỚI CHÚA |
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"Chúa Giêsu muốn dùng con để làm
cho Mẹ được nhận biết và yêu mến" |
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November 27/2009 - Friday
of
34th Week of Ordinary Time
LITURGICAL/THEME MEDITATION:
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but
my words will not pass away"
UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORLD EVENT(S):
Cardinal Bertone Calls for
"New Humanism"
SAINT OF THE DAY
St. Francesco Antonio Fasani
GENERAL
MARIOLOGY
Nativity of the
Virgin Mary
DIVINE MERCY
Divine Mercy: The Miracles
TEACHING/TESTIMONY/CONVICTION:
The Loudness of Silence
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DAILY LITURGICAL MEDITATION |
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Friday (11/27): "Heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away"
Scripture: Luke 21:29-33
29 And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the
trees; 30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and
know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these
things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly,
I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken
place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass
away.
Meditation: Do you recognize the signs of God's presence and
action today? Jesus used the image of a fig tree to teach his
disciples an important lesson about reading the "signs of the times."
The fig tree was a common and important source of food for the Jews. It
bore fruit twice a year, in the autumn and in the early spring. The
Talmud said that the first fruit came the day after Passover. The Jews
believed that when the Messiah came he would usher in the kingdom of God
at Passover time. The early signs of a changing season, such as
springtime, summer, or autumn, are evident for all who can see and
observe the changes. Just so are the signs of God's kingdom and his
return in glory on the day of judgment. The "budding" of God's kingdom
begins first in the hearts of those who are receptive to God's word.
Those who trust in God's word will bear the fruits of his kingdom. And
what are the fruits of that kingdom? "The kingdom of God ..is
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). The
Lord gives the firstfruits of his kingdom to those who open their hearts
to him with expectant faith and trust in his word.
We do not know the day nor the hour when the Lord Jesus will return
again in glory. But the Lord does give us signs, not only to "wake us
up" as a warning, but also to "rouse our spirits" to be ready and eager
to receive his kingdom when he comes in all his power and glory. The
"Day of the Lord" will strike terror in those who have ignored or
rejected God, but it will be a day of joy and rejoicing for those who
long to see the Lord face-to-face. The Lord Jesus wants us to be filled
with joyful anticipation for his coming again. While we wait for the
Lord's physical return in glory, we can know his presence with us
through the work and action of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.
The Lord Jesus comes daily and frequently to those who long for him and
he speaks tenderly to our hearts like a lover who whispers in the ear of
the beloved. He comes to show us the way to our heavenly Father and to
give us the hope of eternal life. Do you recognize his presence and do
you listen to his word?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end of all history, and the lord of all creation. Give me joyful
hope and assurance that I will see you face to face and be united with
you forever when you return in glory."
Psalm 119:49-56
49 Remember thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction that thy promise gives me life.
51 Godless men utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from thy law.
52 When I think of thy ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake thy law.
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I remember thy name in the night, O LORD, and keep thy law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept thy precepts.
www.dailyscripture.net
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UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORLD EVENTS |
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Cardinal Bertone Calls for "New Humanism"
Addresses European University of Rome
By Luca Marcolivio
ROME, NOV. 25, 2009 ( Zenit.org).- Charity, truth and justice are key words in the articulation of a new social and economic humanism, the Vatican secretary of state told the students and professors of the European University of Rome.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said this Tuesday in his lecture to open the academic year of the university. He used Benedict XVI's most recent encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate," as the reference point of his talk.
The cardinal said the encyclical "returns man to the center of a new humanism, whose values are charity and truth."
He said the Pope pointed out charity and truth as "two fundamental realities" that are not "extrinsic to man, much less imposed on him in the name of some ideological vision."
Cardinal Bertone noted that in economic humanism, human behavior "is not inspired by subjectivism, directed to egoism, through hedonist calculations, but by solidarity based on the common good."
Revolution
Cardinal Bertone placed the birth of this economic humanism between the 14th and 15th centuries -- at the center of an "ample and impetuous European cultural movement" in which "man was rediscovered, leading him again to the center of the world, that is, to the center of all moral and spiritual interests."
The cardinal called this moment in the late Medieval period as "the greatest revolution, after the Neolithic and before the industrial, of which Europe was the theater." He also noted that "spiritual charisms," especially Christianity, had an indispensable role in bringing about the revolution.
"Europe would not be as we know it today [...] without the Benedictine and Franciscan movement, in which fundamental innovations had their origin, also for that which would later become the market economy," affirmed Cardinal Bertone.
The cardinal explained that after the year 1000, the proliferation of Benedictine abbeys posed the problem, also addressed by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, of the "risk of a non-productive accumulation of lands and riches."
In the "Carta Caritatis" of 1098, Cardinal Bertone noted, two principles are delineated: "On one hand, it is stated that it is not licit 'to build one's own abundance obtaining it by the impoverishment of another.'"
Alms
Moreover, he added, the same letter replaces the term "alms" with that of "beneficence," and explains that "the need of one asking for help must be evaluated with intelligence."
"The reasons must be understood why a poor man is so," the cardinal said, and "beneficence must not motivate laziness in the needy."
Cardinal Bertone called for a "second humanism" that will provide answers to the current economy marked by "globalization, liberalization, financing, new technologies, global migrations, social inequalities, identity conflicts and environmental risks."
He said the current financial crisis has been caused in part by the neglect of the "ethical dimension" of business, and called for a "return to morality, which means, above all, responsibility of the person -- rather than of governments."
The cardinal noted that business ethics must not be neglected which, in the globalized economy, "must be directed increasingly to ethics and less to profit."
In this connection, Cardinal Bertone quoted the encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" which, far from distinguishing simply between profit and non-profit, describes "a new ample complex reality, which involves the private and public, and which does not exclude profit, but considers it an instrument for human and social ends."
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DAILY LITURGICAL SAINT |
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http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay
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GENERAL
MARIOLOGY |
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Nativity of the Virgin Mary
The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
Translation by Saint Jerome
CHAP.
32.--After these things, Joseph and Mary
departed thence with
Jesus into the city of Nazareth; and He remained
there with His parents.
And on the first of the week, when Jesus was
playing with the children on
the roof of a certain house, it happened that
one of the children pushed
another down from the roof to the ground, and he
was killed. And the
parents of the dead boy, who had not seen this,
cried out against Joseph
and Mary, saying: Your son has thrown our son
down to the ground, and he is
dead. But Jesus was silent, and answered them
nothing. And Joseph and Mary
came in haste to Jesus.; and His mother asked
Him, saying: My lord, tell me
if thou didst throw him down. And immediately
Jesus went down from the roof
to the ground, and called the boy by his name,
Zeno. And he answered Him:
My lord. And Jesus said to him: Was it I that
threw thee down from the roof
to the ground? And he said: No, my lord. And the
parents of the boy who had
been dead wondered, and honoured Jesus for the
miracle that had been
wrought. And Joseph and Mary departed thence
with Jesus to Jericho.
CHAP.
33.--Now Jesus was six years old, and His mother
sent Him with a
pitcher to the fountain to draw water with the
children. And it came to
pass, after He had drawn the water, that one of
the children came against
Him, and struck the pitcher, and broke it. But
Jesus stretched out the
cloak which He had on, and took up in His cloak
as much water as there had
been in the pitcher, and carried it to His
mother. And when she saw it she
wondered, and reflected within herself, and laid
up all these things in her
heart.[3]
CHAP.
34.--Again, on a certain day, He went forth into
the field, and
took a little wheat from His mother's barn, and
sowed it Himself. And it
sprang up, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
And at last it came to
pass that He Himself reaped it, and gathered as
the produce of it three
kors,[4] and gave it to His numerous
acquaintances.[5]
CHAP.
35.--There is a road going out of Jericho and
leading to the
river Jordan, to the place where the children of
Israel crossed: and there
the ark of the covenant is said to have rested.
And Jesus was eight years
old, and He went out of Jericho, and went
towards the Jordan. And there was
beside the road, near the bank of the Jordan, a
cave where a lioness was
nursing her cubs; and no one was safe to walk
that way. Jesus then, coming
from Jericho, and knowing that in that cave the
lioness bad brought forth
her young, went into it in the sight of all. And
when the lions saw Jesus,
they ran to meet Him, and adored Him. And Jesus
was sitting in the cavern,
and the lion's cubs ran hither and thither round
His feet, fawning upon
Him, and sporting. And the older lions, with
their heads bowed down, stood
at a distance, and adored Him, and fawned upon
Him with their tails. Then
the people who were standing afar off, not
seeing Jesus, said: Unless he or
his parents had committed grievous sins, he
would not of his own accord
have offered himself up to the lions. And when
the people were thus
reflecting within themselves, and were lying
under great sorrow, behold, on
a sudden, in the sight of the people, Jesus came
out of the cave, and the
lions went before Him, and the lion's cubs
played with each other before
His feet. And the parents of Jesus stood afar
off, with their heads bowed
down, and watched; likewise also the people
stood at a distance, on account
of the lions; for they did not dare to come
close to them. Then Jesus began
to say to the people: How much better are the
beasts than you, seeing that
they recognise their Lord, and glorify Him;
while you men, who have been
made after the image and likeness of God, do not
know Him! Beasts know me,
and are tame; men see me, and do not acknowledge
me.
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DIVINE MERCY
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Divine Mercy:
The Miracles
It is an
amazing testimony. But did it happen? If so, was it a miracle? There is no
doubt that medically what happened to Stanley took place. This part of his
story is true. He was convulsing, pouring blood, went into a coma and then
died. No doctor wants to take a very ill person off of life support
equipment. The thing is, medical treatment is not free in the Philippines
and law determines that no doctor can remove medical equipment without
permission from the next of kin. Stanley's medical records were examined,
all hospital reports regarding him, and all staff involved in his care,
questioned over and over again.
The investigation first began when peoples talk was picked up by the media.
It was given more credence, when a well known doctor resigned to become a
Priest, because of what he saw medically, which he deemed as "Impossible, a
miracle, an act of God".
A person from the Philippines sent a telegram to Father Seraphim Mekalanco -
who is the Director of the John Paul Institute for the study of Divine
Mercy, appointed by Pope John 11. Father Seraphim received the telegram in
Rome. He launched an investigation. Medical records were studied by Cardinal
Vidal, Cardinal Sing, and twelve Bishops. Another person who independently
examined the medical records was Paul Regan from Malden, who is the founder
of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy For the Sick and Dying Institute, in America.
The fact that Stanley had died, and woke in full health, with no brain
damage is against all the science of nature. So, yes, this part can be
termed a miracle. Certainly one that had the main doctor leave his
profession and become a Priest. Certainly enough to have a whole nation's
television studios and radio stations, halt every day at three o'clock in
the afternoon, to pray the chaplet publicly. To have people of all faiths
stop in the street at this time to pray the chaplet.
Now, what we have to look at is whether Stanley is being honest about his
spiritual encounter. What is convincing is that Stanley described both rays
coming from Jesus as white, and not one red and one white as is in the
image. The white ray is described as a washing of sin, as in baptism. But
Stanley's account would have been obviously more convincing if he described
the rays as they are shown in the image and as seen by St. Faustina; but, I
think the fact he described seeing the rays differently makes his account
more authentic; who would deliberately want to complicate a con?
The other thing than makes Stanley's account believable is that he describes
some of the sins he committed and saw. He was President of the Chapel to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus. He saw himself pass the chapel seeing people inside
gambling. He saw another time his neighbors in the chapel drinking and
gambling and did not stop them. Another time, he saw himself inside the
chapel drinking with them. This is not someone trying to show a "holier than
thou" image. Quite the opposite.
Stanley himself received a request sent on behalf of Pope John Paul 11 to go
to Rome. When asked what language he spoke to the Archbishops, Cardinals and
Bishops, given that they were from all over the world, but each would speak
Italian, Stanley was very firm that he spoke in English, not a mystical
Italian that rose from the Spirit of God.
The profound effect that Stanley's experience has had on a whole country is
the largest mark of authenticity. In the conversation he said he had with
Jesus, he was told that the chapel was not to be used for any other purpose
other than that for which it was built. Jesus requested, that the chapel be
extended, and a new door was to be placed on it, in the shape of a large
heart, representing His Sacred Heart. All the people of Cebu and surrounding
areas, contributed material and labor to comply with this request. People of
many religious dominions joined together to fulfill this task.
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CATHOLIC TEACHING/CONVICTION/TESTIMONY |
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by John Le
am not sure how other people feel, but for me, I have
been raised to think that silence is a bad thing. When I
was little, whenever I did something bad, my parents
would send me to my bedroom for "quiet time." This would
mean sitting in my bed for at least an hour with nothing
to do - no TV, no radio, no calling anyone on the phone,
no talking to my brother or sister. It was an hour that
seemed like an eternity. As a disciplinary tool, it was
quite effective in teaching me the lessons that my
parents wanted to instill in me.
I think in general, for many of us, silence is a very
uncomfortable thing. I wake up in the morning to the
sound of my CD player which I keep on through my shower,
and then getting dressed for school. When I am in the
car driving to school, I turn on the CD player in the
car to keep me entertained. In the afternoon when I get
home, I head for the kitchen, get something to eat, go
into the livingroom and invariably turn on the
television. Even though I hate the afternoon shows like
Ricki Lake, Jenny Jones, and Judge Judy, I still watch
them anyway because it passes the time. Even when I am
studying in my room, I have music in the background (in
fact there is music on right now as I write this).
I don't think I am the only person who behaves like
this. There is something about silence that makes us
fearful of it. It increases the tension of the
environment in such a way that sets us on edge. Have you
ever stand in front of someone in which you cannot find
anything to say? The silence is deadly. In the movies,
silence is used to build up to something unexpected,
sometimes, something very terrible.
Because of how we are conditioned to perceive
silence, many of us fail to recognize the importance of
having silence in our lives. As young people, we often
associate silence with boredom. We go to loud cafes and
nightclubs; we like our music with a lot of bass; and we
like our movies with a lot of sound effects.
Unfortunately, the constant bombardment of sounds in
our ears is not only dangerous to us physically but also
spiritually. There is a proverb which says that "Silence
is golden." This is true for many reasons. Let us take a
look at a plant as an example. After the farmer has sown
the seed into the soil, there is a period of time in
which nothing happens. Weeds seem to be sprouting up
constantly, but there is nothing that comes up from the
seed. Until one day, there comes through the ground a
little seedling, then some small leaves, then eventually
a full-fledged plant.
The period of time between the sowing and the
appearance of the seedling is precisely the time of
silence. It is a time of internal change. Nothing is
happening above the surface of the ground, but
underneath, there are thousands of activities taking
place. For us, we also need that time of silence so that
internal changes can occur. We need that time to reflect
on our interior so that one day, we can also show our
leaves and begin to grow.
Instead of perceiving silence as "nothing," it is
important that we see silence as something very
powerful. Silence says things that words cannot. Have
you ever sat next to a friend for an hour, and the two
of you said very little verbally, but after you left,
you felt like you had a great time together? In this
situation, silence between you and your friend was not
something bad, but rather a powerful expression of the
closeness of your friendship. It was silence that
allowed you and your friend to feel each other's care
for one another. Oftentimes, we are so distracted by the
sounds of our own words and the sounds from other people
that we cannot feel. Silence helps us to do precisely
just that. It helps us to examine our feelings, question
our feelings, and also affirm our feelings. This is
important because though we may say that we want
something, it is truly more powerful if we feel it as
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