On The Third Day...

I had a calm and prayerful day today, contemplating on the various aspects of faith and religion, and again was bombarded with many news and articles on the Year of Faith. Its wonderful to see how Catholics across the world are using various media to spread The Word and evangelize and reach out to many.

Let us proceed with today's entry.

Verses That Struck Me

In today's readings the verses that struck me the most were:

First Reading : for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.- Gal 3:26

Sons(daughters) of God through faith.

Gospel : "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" - Luke 11:27

Don't only hear the word, keep it too.

A Peep Into Vatican II 

The Second Vatican Council in addition to making the Eucharistic Mass a more active and participatory celebration for all, also brought back the importance of the Sacred Scriptures and urged its usage and study. Before the Council the Bible had taken a back seat in Catholicism, but in the Council the Sacred Scriptures were brought back to the main stream and there importance was reiterated. A document name Dei Verbum ("Word of God"), Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation was another such document that was a product of the Second Vatican Council which shed light on the importance of scriptures in the life of the faithful. Here's an excerpt:

The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the "excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:8). "For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."

We as Catholics should not shy away from delving deeper into the scriptures and learning them by heart. And read Dei Verbum too, it is a short but power packed document.

  See See See (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Catholic Fun Trivia

 Remember how Raphael helped Tobias find a wife? Well if you are looking for a virtuous girl or a righteous man, say this prayer to Saint Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings & Catholic Singles.

And One More Thing...

We all know very well about the Seven Deadly Sins, but do you know all the Seven Cardinal Virtues?

Answer of yesterday's question: Daniel 10

The Journey Begins...

The Year of the Faith has finally begun, and I praise God for giving me and all us this blessed opportunity of being present and alive during this historic moment in the history of the Church. Celebrating 50 years of the Second Vatican Council isn't a small feat, Catholicism has seen many ups and downs during all these years, but the Faith is still alive and strong.

Through prayer and contemplation I have been inspired to document, and maintain a  spiritual journal during this Year of Faith. So from today, till the end of the year, I am going write a post each day, sharing my spiritual explorations and endeavors.

So let us begin...

Verses That Struck Me

In today's readings the verses that struck me the most were:

First Reading : Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?- Gal 3:3
No! I don't want to end up with flesh. What about you?

Gospel : if you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! - Luke 11:13
 "... to those who ask him" To those who ask him! Why didn't I ask?

A Peep Into Vatican II 

Today morning I attended the mass at my parish. The mass was in Gujarati, my mother tongue as well as the local language. And it is all thanks to the Second Vatican Council that we have masses celebrated in the vernacular. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, was a document released by the Second Vatican Council  on December 4, 1963. The paragraph 54 of this document reads

“In Masses which are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. This is to apply in the first place, to the readings and to the Common Prayer. But also as local conditions may warrant, to those parts which pertain to the people. Nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.”

Though we may here have totally done away with the Latin parts, we should all be thankful to the Second Vatican Council for giving us the Eucharistic Celebration, in languages in which we may participate to the fullest.

See See See (Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Catholic Fun Trivia

Cheers

"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." - St Arnold of Metz, The patron Saint of Brewers.

And One More Thing...

WHEN DID JESUS CRY? - Answer in next post!