(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)


MAY 2️⃣6️⃣ – Mary, Queen of all saints

💭 To Reflect
Mary, by her intimacy with the Lord and faithfulness to His Will, is an inspiration to everyone to live in holiness.

✅ To Practise
Seek to be a saint!

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may remain in close union with the Lord, follow His Will, and thus, climb the ladder of sanctity, Amen

(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)

MAY 2️⃣5️⃣ – Mary, Queen of the Apostles

💭 To Reflect
Mary, the perfect apostle of Christ, was with all the other apostles – praying with them – as they experienced the descent of the Holy Spirit

✅ To Practise
Pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may be zealous in my apostolic works, with the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

“May the comforting assurance of the Lord be our hope and confidence!”

(Based on Acts 18:1-8 and Jn 16:16-20 – Thursday of the 6th Week in Easter)

A young man had joined a new parish.

After a couple of Sunday Masses, he went across to an elderly person, whom he had observed to be quite joyful and in good cheer.

The young man asked him: “I have been noticing over the last couple of weeks that you radiate a great sense of joy.
Is there any particular philosophy that you follow, which makes you always rejoice?”

To that, the elderly man, smiled and reaching out to his shirt pocket, handed the young man a small handwritten-card and said: “Have this for yourself, and you will never be sad!”

The young man, curious to know what it was, read the words on the card:
“Fret not – God Loves you! (John 13:1)
Faint not – God Holds you! (Psalm 139:10)
Fear not – God Keeps you! (Psalm 121:5)”

Fret Not, Faint Not, Fear Not!

These were three assuring phrases that the man had made the philosophy of his life
… and those words, kept him always joyful and in good cheer.

Life is very often “uncertain!”

Such uncertainties, often put us through tensions or anxiety or in an “uncomfortable” state of mind!

However, the Lord always assures us in such “uncertain” situations: “Fret Not, Faint Not, Fear Not!”

The Gospel of the Day presents the disciples undergoing “an experience of uncertainty”…
… and Jesus assuring them with hope and courage.

Jesus told His disciples, “A little while and you will see me no more; again a little while and you will see me” (Jn 16:16)

But these words of Jesus put the disciples into a state of dilemma

They failed to grasp the meaning of the words of Jesus and were confused!
They began to have a discussion on the phrase of Jesus – “a little while”
“What does he mean by ‘a little while'”? (Jn 16: 18)

How long was this “little while” going to be?
How does He define the phrase “a little while”?

If they knew exactly how long this “little while” would last…
…. then they would have been more courageous and patient

But now the disciples find themselves to be confused and in dilemma.

However, Jesus the Good Shepherd, knew the confusion of His little sheep

Jesus, the Master, knew the perplexity of His simple followers

But He doesn’t define the phrase “a little while”

He doesn’t say that it is a particular moment of time that can be considered as a countdown!
He doesn’t refer to it as being an exact measure of time, to which one can count and gauge!

Instead, Jesus defines “a little while” in terms of an experience…
… an experience of weeping and lamenting turning into rejoicing
… an experience of sorrow turning into joy (Jn 16:20)

Is our life today in a state of crisis and confusion?

Is our life today passing through waves of troubles and the deserts of anxiety?
Is our life today moving along the rough terrains of calamities and the valleys of brokenness?

Then the Lord assures us…
… “In a little while” and things will be fine!
… “In a little while” and the sunshine will appear again!

We might complain… How long is this “little while!”
We might argue…. this “little while” is being too agonizing!

But the Lord invites and challenges us to look to Him, telling us…
“I too have had my painful and agonizing moments… in My life and especially on the Cross
I too had My experience of feeling ‘how long is this little while going to last’…

But I stood firm and patient in trusting the Will of My Father…
… I held on the mighty Providence of my Father and knew that a bright morn awaited Me”

Yes, Jesus, through the Gospel wishes to encourage us and strengthen us…
… in sufferings, to love Him strongly!
… in hardships, to trust in Him deeper!
… in uncertainties, to depend on Him greater!

St Paul and the other early Christians experienced much persecution and opposition.

Yet, they – being convinced of the Presence of the Lord – gave bold witness to Christ and His Kingdom…
… “And he argued in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks!” (Acts 18:4)

Surely, life will take us through many experiences of “uncertainties”
… We may tend to lose our patience!
… We may feel like giving up!
… We may want to quit!

But let us turn to the Lord for strength, grace and courage…
… and listen to Him whispering to us…
“Hold on my Child! I am with you… embracing you in my arms!
In Me, your weeping will be changed to rejoicing
In Me, your sorrow will be turned to joy!”

May the assurance of the Lord: “FRET NOT, FAINT NOT, FEAR NOT”…
… be our hope and confidence!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HOW IS THE LITURGY CELEBRATED? – HOLY IMAGES

The sacred image, the liturgical icon, principally represents Christ.
It cannot represent the invisible and incomprehensible God, but the incarnation of the Son of God has ushered in a new “economy” of images:
Previously God, who has neither a body nor a face, absolutely could not be represented by an image. But now that he has made himself visible in the flesh and has lived with men, I can make an image of what I have seen of God… and contemplate the glory of the Lord, his face unveiled.
Christian iconography expresses in images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words. Image and word illuminate each other: We declare that we preserve intact all the written and unwritten traditions of the Church which have been entrusted to us.
One of these traditions consists in the production of representational artwork, which accords with the history of the preaching of the Gospel.

For it confirms that the incarnation of the Word of God was real and not imaginary, and to our benefit as well, for realities that illustrate each other undoubtedly reflect each other’s meaning. (CCC # 1159-1160)

(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)

MAY 2️⃣4️⃣ – Mary, Help of Christians

💭 To Reflect
Mary, united with her Beloved Son, is the perfect disciple, and continually intercedes and inspires us to follow Christ faithfully!

✅ To Practise
Encourage one another to grow as a faithful Christian!

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may learn from you to always follow Christ, and to be loyal to His Love, Amen!

“Realising that the ‘school of True Joy and Peace’ is very near us!”

(Based on Acts 17:15,22-18:1 and Jn 16:12-15 – Wednesday of the 6th Week in Easter)

One morning, a six-year-old girl missed her school bus.

Being new to the neighbourhood, her father – who though was getting late to go to office – decided to drive her to school…
… provided she gave him directions.

They spent twenty minutes going round in circles and through many long lanes.

Finally they arrived at the school…
… which was only a few blocks away from their home.

“Why did you take us all over the place when your school is so close to home?” asked her exasperated father.

“Because this is the way the school bus goes,” the little girl replied….
… and with a sense of innocence: “I don’t know any other way!”

So often are we too such…

We go round and round searching for happiness and contentment…
… when the “school of True Joy and Peace” is very near us

Do we know THE WAY?
… or are we getting lost and deviated with many other peripheral lanes of life?

The Gospel of the Day is the invitation of Jesus to depend on the Holy Spirit, Who will always reveal the mysteries of life and of our faith…
… and will guide us on the right path!

The Lord had been with the disciples for quite some time and had instructed them on many teachings.

Even at the final discourse, in the context of the Last Supper, Jesus teaches His chosen ones many things.
Yet, He has many more things to tell and teach.

But like a loving parent, who knows the grasping power of the child….

Like an understanding teacher, who realises the comprehending capability of the student…
Jesus knows, that the disciples would not be able to understand still further His teachings.

And so He says, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (Jn 16:12)

He, however, does not leave the Disciples in this state of hanging in mid-air…

He assures them of the Might Power that will follow His going away from the disciples.
He promises them that the Holy Spirit will descend on them and they would realise, gradually, the power and depth of His teachings!

“But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all truth” (Jn 16: 13)

In our lives, we too often go astray…
… or tread on paths that are too complicated

Situations and circumstances often lead us away from the right destination!

It may lead us to desperation.
It may even lead us to anxiety.

But the Lord assures us…
… that He is the Way to every solution in the world
… that He is the Path to every answer in life

Of course, not all will be told to us, or revealed to us, at once.

They will be conveyed to us, at the appropriate time, in the appropriate situation.

From our part, what is needed is…
… an openness to His Spirit
… a trust in His Divine Providence
… a constant seeking to know His Will

The underlying principle for this simple, yet, seemingly hard to practise philosophy of life, is the fact that “God Loves Us” immeasurably, and that every moment of our life, is taken care by Him.

His glory fills the heavens and the earth.
His knowledge permeates in every event of life.

St Paul invited the people of Athens… to leave behind unknown objects of worship…
… and instead, to trust and believe in the Living God, Who has risen from the dead, and lives and moves in each one of us:
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.

And He made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being!’” (Acts 17:24-28)

The greater our trust in the Living God…
… the nearer will we be, to the right destination!

As Christians, we ought to be persons who have our aims set on the “proper lanes” life – seeking Jesus and His Kingdom.
• Jesus ought to be the greatest treasure of our life
• Jesus ought to be the deepest satisfaction in our life

We need to make an examination of our lives.

So often we go round and round searching for happiness and contentment…

But let us realise, that the “school of True Joy and Peace” is very near us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HOW IS THE LITURGY CELEBRATED? – Singing and music
The harmony of signs (song, music, words, and actions) is all the more expressive and fruitful when expressed in the cultural richness of the People of God who celebrate.

Hence “religious singing by the faithful is to be intelligently fostered so that in devotions and sacred exercises as well as in liturgical services,” in conformity with the Church’s norms, “the voices of the faithful may be heard.”

But “the texts intended to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine. Indeed they should be drawn chiefly from the Sacred Scripture and from liturgical sources. (CCC # 1158)

(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)

MAY 2️⃣3️⃣ – Mary, Comforter of the afflicted

💭 To Reflect
Mary, who experienced much pain and affliction, surendered herself totally to Divine Providence, and experienced strength and peace

✅ To Practise
Extend your care to those in affliction

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may surrender myself to Divine Providence, and experience peace, even in my affliction, Amen!

“Thanking God for the gift of life, and with humility, totally depending on Him!”

(Based on Acts 16:22-34 and Jn 16:5-11 – Tuesday of the 6th Week in Easter)

Here is an interesting prayer, that perhaps, many of us might have not actually made…
… but perhaps, is echoed, in the depths of one’s heart:

“Dear God,
So far today I’ve done all right.
I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper.
I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent.

I’m very thankful for that!

But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed…
… and from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help, Amen!”

Do we realise that we are prone to sin?

Or have we become quite “lethargic and tepid” in matters concerning sin?

Becoming aware that we are weak and fragile, helps us to depend more on the Power and Grace of God…
… Failure to realise so, will make us to bank only on ourselves and thus will lead to great falls!

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the Grace to be aware of the “sinful areas and tendencies” of our lives…
… And helps us to totally depend on Him, to live a holy and credible life.

Jesus, in the Gospel of the day, enlightening on the coming of the Holy Spirit, speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world regarding sin.

He says, “And when He (Holy Spirit, the Advocate) comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation” (Jn 16: 8)

One of the standout factors in the teachings of Jesus is His uncompromising attitude with respect to sin.

And perhaps, this is where Jesus as a Holy Person stands out incomparable with all other great spiritual or philosophical leaders of the world.

This is also where Christianity as a religion stands out unmatched with any other belief system or practice of spirituality.

For Jesus and in Christianity…
… there is an uncompromising teaching on the need to root out sin and evil offences
… there is an absolutely unparalleled insistence on removal of sin for spiritual progress
… there is an unsurpassed assertion on being holy and pure to be in communion with Him

The Lord points out to this prime role of the Holy Spirit: Convicting the world of sin.

St Peter, after His first proclamation on Pentecost Day, had the hearers’ conscience convicted of sin. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and they asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, my brothers?'” (Acts 2:37)

It is the Holy Spirit Who causes a person to become aware of one’s state of sinfulness and living an evil life.

This also means, that when there is “a loss of the sense of sin”, the workings of the Holy Spirit is also highly dormant and latent.

A “loss of sense of sin” occurs, when the Holy Spirit fails to have an active role in one’s life!

We need to make an honest examination of our conscience…

Is our life suffering from a “lack of sensation to sin”…?

Do I continue to pursue, persevere or promote deeds of sin…
… even though I am aware of it, or has been brought to my notice?
Do I fail to be sensitive to issues of immense sin and evil happening in and around me, in people and situations…
… and instead become indifferent and uninterested?

A persistence with this tendency can very dangerously sever our relation with the Lord.

It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we become ‘convicted’ of this spiritual malady and make efforts to overcome them.

Let the reality of sin be recognized and acknowledged in our lives and in the world.

Paul and Silas, who were locked in the prison, experienced the miraculous Power of the Holy Spirit – as we read in Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16:25-34)

This incident evoked feelings of faith and repentance in jailor. His cry for the Mercy of the Lord would be answered by Paul and Silas in a majestic manner: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household!” (Acts 16:31)

May we also have an open heart to accept this “conviction of sin” by the Holy Spirit and to co-operate with Him to remedy this spiritual woe!

As we thank God, every morning, for the gift of life, let us also, with humility and total dependence on Him, pray:
“…in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed…
… and from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help, Amen!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HOW IS THE LITURGY CELEBRATED? – Singing and music

“The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.
The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of solemn liturgy.”
The composition and singing of inspired psalms, often accompanied by musical instruments, were already closely linked to the liturgical celebrations of the Old Covenant.
The Church continues and develops this tradition: “Address… one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.” “He who sings prays twice.”
Song and music fulfil their function as signs in a manner all the more significant when they are “more closely connected… with the liturgical action,” according to three principal criteria: beauty expressive of prayer, the unanimous participation of the assembly at the designated moments, and the solemn character of the celebration.

In this way they participate in the purpose of the liturgical words and actions: the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful (CCC # 1156-1157)

(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)

MAY 2️⃣2️⃣ – Mary, Comfort of migrants

💭 To Reflect
Mary – who had to make the arduous travel to Egypt, along with many other uncertain travels – gives strength and hope to ever migrant.

✅ To Practise
Reach out in help to the needy migrant

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may extend my help and service to every migrant – social or spiritual – Amen!

“Witnessing JESUS CHRIST – by thought, by word, by deed!”

(Based on Acts 16:11-15 and Jn 15:26-16:4a – Monday of the 6th Week in Easter)

Every Christian is expected to be a witness to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, in one’s everyday life.

In a random survey conducted, as to why many Christians don’t speak about Christ to others, some of the common answers given by Christians were as follows:

“I am not sure what I have to say!”
“My lifestyle doesn’t match what Christ expects of me!”
“I may not be able to give convincing answers, when questions are asked!”
“I am not sure if I will be called as a hypocrite – or living by double standards!”
“I don’t really care about speaking about Christ etc…”
“I think it is not my duty. It is the duty of the leaders of the Church. First let them do…”

And prominently…

“I am afraid what others will feel…!”
“I feel anxious if I will be rejected and be side-lined by all!”

What about us?

Do we witness to Christ, daily?

Do we speak about and witness the Love of God to people?

What answer do we have?

The Gospel of the Day is an assurance and an invitation by Jesus to live by the Power of the Holy Spirit…
… and thus be a “Witness of Jesus and His Kingdom!”

One of the primary tasks of Jesus, as he left this world, was to “Strengthen His Disciples”

He knew very well, how each one of them would go through periods of crisis, after His Departure.

When things go on well, life seems to be easy…
… But when hardships and loneliness creeps in, life seems to be too difficult!

As long as Jesus was with them, the disciples would have an easy life…
… But with the departure of Jesus, they would have to face a difficult life!

And so Jesus prepares them by assuring them of how the Holy Spirit would strengthen them:
“When the Counsellor comes, Whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth… He will bear witness to Me, and you also are witnesses…
I have said all this to you, to keep you from falling away!” (Jn 15:26-27, 16:1)

Jesus knew that all his disciples had weaknesses …

Some would be unsure of what answer to be given when questions were asked
(Like Peter who would deny Jesus, when questions were asked – Lk 22: 54-61)

Some would only worry about their own positions and comforts
(Like the disciples at the Last Supper, who would discuss the one who is great among them – Lk 22: 24)

Some would be afraid of the people and the society around
(Like the disciples who would run away and abandon Jesus – Mk 14: 50)

Some would prefer to choose riches and money, than Jesus
(Like Judas who would betray the Lord for the sake of money – Mk 14: 10-11)

Despite these weakness and fragilities, the Lord did not give up on them

He invited them to “Be open to Receive the Holy Spirit and thus to Live a Powerful Life of Witnessing!”

By this Power of the Person of the Holy Spirit, the disciples became powerful witnesses to the world, bringing many people to experience the Love of the Lord …
… as we read in the Acts of the Apostles…
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati′ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.” (Acts 16:14)

We too have our own weaknesses in witnessing to the Lord, in this modern society…

Some of us…
… are not sure of what answers to be given to questions that are asked about faith

Some of us…
… like to remain in our own comfort zones

Some of us…
… are afraid of “what other people will think” and if I will “lose my name and esteem in the society”

Some of us…
… give more importance to the false promises of the world, and don’t make a clear-cut choice for God and His Kingdom (Mt 6:33)

To each of us too, the Lord invites to “Be open to receive the Holy Spirit and thus to Live a powerful Life of Witnessing!”

Yes, He doesn’t give up on us.

Let us renew our commitment to the Lord, everyday..
… and by His Spirit, with boldness and courage, “Stand Firm for the Gospel Values”

Let us “Witness Jesus Christ” – by thought, by word, by deed!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HOW IS THE LITURGY CELEBRATED? – Signs and symbols

A sacramental celebration is a meeting of God’s children with their Father, in Christ and the Holy Spirit; this meeting takes the form of a dialogue, through actions and words.
Admittedly, the symbolic actions are already a language, but the Word of God and the response of faith have to accompany and give life to them, so that the seed of the Kingdom can bear its fruit in good soil.
The liturgical actions signify what the Word of God expresses: both his free initiative and his people’s response of faith.
The liturgy of the Word is an integral part of sacramental celebrations.
To nourish the faith of believers, the signs which accompany the Word of God should be emphasized: the book of the Word (a lectionary or a book of the Gospels), its veneration (procession, incense, candles), the place of its proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible and intelligible reading, the minister’s homily which extends its proclamation, and the responses of the assembly (acclamations, meditation psalms, litanies, and profession of faith).
The liturgical word and action are inseparable both insofar as they are signs and instruction and insofar as they accomplish what they signify.
When the Holy Spirit awakens faith, he not only gives an understanding of the Word of God, but through the sacraments also makes present the “wonders” of God which it proclaims.

the Spirit makes present and communicates the Father’s work, fulfilled by the beloved Son. (CCC # 1153-1155)

(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)

MAY 2️⃣1️⃣ – Mary, Refuge of sinners

💭 To Reflect
Mary, who made a choice to follow God’s Ways, is the refuge for all of us, who go astray and are in need of God’s Mercy

✅ To Practise
Become a refuge to those in distress

🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may find strength and courage to come back to the Lord, and live a life away from sin, Amen!