Archbishop Sheen: The Divine Sense of Humor

Pope Benedict celebrates Presentation of Lord, World Day of Consecrated Life

The following comes from the NEWS.VA:

Pope Benedict celebrated on Thursday evening Solemn Vespers for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at Saint Peter’s Basilica here in Rome. The Feast celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple forty days after his birth, and is also known as Candlemas on account of the Blessing of Candles and Procession that take place during the liturgy. In his homily during Vespers, the Holy Father noted that the liturgical significance of the Feast, and especially the idea of Christ the Light: “This is one of those cases in which liturgical time follows historical time, because today we mark precisely forty days from the feast of Christmas; the theme of Christ the Light, which has characterized the series of Christmas feasts and culminated in the Feast of the Epiphany, is taken up and extended to the celebration today."

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also marks the observance of World Day for Consecrated Life. The Holy Father connected the Gospel story of the Presentation of Christ with the consecration of men and women who have dedicated their lives to the Church: “On today’s feast we therefore celebrate the mystery of consecration: the consecration of Christ, the consecration of Mary, the consecration of all those who commit themselves to following Jesus for the sake of the Kingdom of God.” The yearly celebration is an opportunity to express gratitude for the work of those who have dedicated their lives to the service of God and of their neighbour by embracing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. At the same time, it offers a chance to promote vocations to consecrated life, especially through prayer.

Father Bernd Hagenkord – a Jesuit for almost twenty years – spoke about the meaning of the “It means a couple of things: praising God for the gift of vocations, of having this particular kind of vocation… and praying for more of them – it’s also a day of prayer for vocations… and renewal, we need constant renewal … of the charism we try to live. So these three things come together in celebrating this day.”

Consecrated life, he said, is one of the ways in which men and women try to recognise Jesus Christ in the world: “We try to do that… it is one way of recognising Jesus Christ in the world so that’s what we try to do, and try to be – or we are called to be, I should rather say. And this is what connects this particular charism to this Feast of today.”

Number of Religious Priests and Brothers on the Rise

The Presentation of the Lord and World Day of Consecrated Life

All-powerful Father,
Christ Your Son became man for us
and was presented in the temple.
May he free our hearts from sin
and bring us into your presence.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

For more information on this feast please click here.

Today is also the World Day of Consecrated Life!  World Day for Consecrated Life was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1997. It is an opportunity to recognize the countless and often times unexpected ways those in religious and consecrated life serve the Church through their chosen ministries and through lives of prayer. It is also a day to help parishioners learn more about the contributions those in consecrated life have made.  Pray in a very special way for all of our Religious Communities that they might be faithful to their consecrations! Let's also pray for more good and holy vocations!

Fr. Robert Barron: How do we know we are encountering God?

Fall On Your Knees by David Crowder Band

This is a great song for adoration! Beautiful!

Mother Teresa: "I Thirst"

Mother Teresa from Fellowship NWA on Vimeo.

The following is an excerpt from a poem entitled "I Thirst" by Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

"Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit: “No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake. Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock ... Open to-Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…”