AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR TRINCO-BATTICALOA

Rev. Fr. Joseph Ponniah,

Auxiliary Bishop of Batticaloa

[ Vatican Information Service - 19.02.2008 ]

Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed Rev. Fr. Joseph Ponniah, Vicar General of Trincomalee-Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, as auxiliary of the same diocese (area 8,397, population 1,545,129, Catholics 68,174, priests 66, religious 131). The bishop-elect was born in Thannamunai, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1980.

Very Rev. Fr. Ponniah Joseph, born on 12th October 1952, at Thannamunai, Batticaloa, was ordained a priest on 30th April 1980.

Having done his B.Ph at St. Paul's Seminary, Tiruchirapalli in South India, and B.Th in the Papal Seminary, Poona, India, returned to Sri Lanka for the Ordination. Thereafter he did B.A. in the Unversity of Peradeniya, Licentiate in Biblical Theology at Urbania University, Rome, and Ph.D in Christian Civilization at the Unversity of Jaffna.

He served at the Parishes of Batticaloa Cathedral, Vakarai, Veechukalmunai, Aiyithiyamalai, Periya Pullumalai and Thandavanvely. He was appointed as the Rector of St. Joseph's Minor Seminary, Batticaloa and served from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 he appointed as a Lecturer at the National Seminary, Ampitiya, Kandy in 1996 and was involved in the National Seminary formation and lecturing Sacred Scripture, Hinduism, Indian Philosophy and Catechetics, untill 2001.

He was also Resource persopn at the National Institute of Education, Maharagama, lecturing Religion in Tamil language to the teachers.

He was the Editor of the Diocesan Catholic Paper "VETTAPPU" and the Diocesan Bulletin. As a Spiritual Director he assisted the Legion of Mary and Divine Mercy Apostolates. He was appointed as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Trinco-Batticaloa on 19th February 2006 and beside the commitments in the Diocese, he hab been lecturing at the Eastern University, Vandaramoolai, Batticaloa.

Bro. D. G. S. Dhinakaran passes away

BRO DHINAKARAN PASSES AWAY: FUNERAL ON FRIDAY

It is with profound sadness that we record the passing away of Bro. Dr. G. G. S. Dhinakaran. Though with CSI background, he was a great friend and lover of the Catholics. In fact, he has had rallies jointly with the Catholic Charismatic Leadership of Chennai at the Marina Beach. I have copied his profile from JESUS CALLS website.

Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran is the founder of the Jesus Calls Ministry. Born on July 1, 1935, he had a very tough life being torn by the ailments of poverty and agony of unemployment.

Unable to bear the agony of these problems, on February 11, 1955, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran decided to put an end to his life. He started towards the nearest railway track in his village to throw himself before the speeding train when he was stopped by his uncle who introduced Jesus Christ. He experienced a sudden wave of divine peace and hope, flood his heart. His mind was transformed and he returned home enlightened.

After this incident, things started happening in him supernaturally. There arose an unquenchable thirst in him to spend hours together poring over the life-transforming pages of eternal Truth - The Bible, discovering secrets that could revolutionize human life. He spent hours talking to God and sought Him with all his heart.

The High Calling

Seven years of diligently seeking the Lord Jesus Christ!

On October 9, 1962, he tarried at the feet of the Lord Jesus in prayer till midnight. He pleaded persistently. "Lord! Hear my prayer now and grant me Your power! Or else, slay me! I don't want to live as a powerless and phoney Christian!" Next day dawned. 10th October 1962! After an exacting day in the bank, he returned home at 9.30 in the night. Supper over, he joined the family prayers. He longed to have a glimpse of blessed vision of Jesus. The very next moment, a divine presence appeared in front of him! He was thrown into an ecstasy of joy. The Lord opened His eyes and with a radiant face, addressed him with a smile:

"My beloved son! I am Christ! Because you have been seeking Me diligently, I have come seeking you Myself, to bless you".

Yes! For three full hours he saw Lord Jesus face to face. The Lord gave His commission that has made his life a continual blessing to countless.

"My son! People might have heard of My love, but they haven't tasted it. So, I pour My love and compassion in your heart! This love will console their broken hearts and heal their diseased bodies. You will be witness to the power of My Holy Spirit."

Birth of a Ministry

With a glorious vision and words of assurance, God blessed Dr.Dhinakaran His servant profusely for persistently seeking Him.

Thus, the 'JESUS CALLS MINISTRY' came into being as a one-man ministry. Dr.Dhinakaran considered men and women from all over the world, irrespective of their caste, creed, race or language, as his own brothers and sisters. He considered their tears as his own and preached to them the love and compassion of Christ. He invoked the Lord's blessings and pleaded Him to perform miracles that will wipe away the tears of the multitudes.

Apart from his job as a top executive in a bank, he devoted himself to God's ministry with utmost zeal. The power of Christ was manifest in his preaching and prayers. "Jesus Calls Ministry" spread far and wide. Today with God's grace, it has grown into a multi-faceted far-flung ministry, spreading the Good News to the world in 20 different ways.

His wife Stella has stood with him in all his joys and sorrows and also extends her hand in the ministry of wiping tears of millions and building up broken homes. His son Paul has been working with him from the age of 18, when he received the call from the Lord.

The Power of Anointing

On October 10, 1962, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Since then, whenever he preaches and prays at public meetings, he displays a rare power of interpreting different languages, and speaks the word of wisdom and knowledge. He also meets people personally and replies to letters sent to him by people who search for serenity and comfort in their lives.

During the prayer time at public meetings, guided by the Holy Spirit within Him, he calls out the names of people who are in the crowd and exactly reveals their spiritual, mental, emotional and physical conditions. These people run to the dais and testify confirming what Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran said about their lives is true.

In some meetings, he calls out a few people from the crowd and right before the huge crowd of over four hundred thousands, and reveals their past, their present and foretells the future. People are amazed by the powerful acts of God.

Hundreds of thousands of people write to him seeking solutions to problems that are beyond human comprehension. Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran is inspired by the Holy Spirit to send replies to all the letters he receives. Some problems are so critical that the lives of some people may depend on the answer that comes from above through Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran.

On several occasions, Dr.D.G.S.Dhinakaran's prayers have stopped a heavy downpour. Such is the power of his prayers that God answers it immediately.

The Trial

On May 21, 1986, a great tragedy struck this spiritual giant! That was his ultimate test of his faith. He lost his only daughter Angel Dhinakaran in a car accident. He was shattered and forsaken. Even today, when he remembers her, he is filled with tears. Yet he did not give up. He recovered from the great shock and continues his ministry in wiping the tears of millions who are in need of Christ's love and compassion.

Bro. Dhinakaran passed away on 20^th February to be with the Lord and leaves his son Paul to continue the ministry. The funeral will take place on 22^nd.

Vatican goes on a road show.

When you're one of the planet's foremost cultural and religious institutions, the world tends to come to you. Those who want to see art commissioned by the popes or vie for an up close look at Pope Benedict XVI's fisherman's ring generally have to brave a trip to Rome. ''Vatican Splendors From Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard,'' which opened this month at Florida International Museum, brings some of the Catholic Church's most exquisite items on a three-city U.S. tour. It is not some watered-down collection, as the exhibit's first room demonstrates. ''The Madonna del Sassoferrato,'' a painting of the Virgin Mary that has graced many holiday cards but never been exhibited outside Rome, is one of the first works to greet visitors. And at the center of the room is a display case with a silver and gold reliquary said to contain the bones of St. Peter and other saints. But the star of the room, and indeed the collection, is the Mandylion of Edessa. For believers, the gaunt, bearded face staring from the cloth is the likeness of Jesus, and is among a rare class of artifacts deemed ''not made by human hands.'' Religious lore has it that Jesus pressed a handkerchief to his face, leaving an indelible imprint of his likeness much like the Shroud of Turin. Scientific evidence suggests it is a painting, but regardless, the object remains one of the Vatican's prized possessions. Other segments of the show offer similarly awe-inspiring pieces. Mosaics dating as far back as the eighth century, a compass supposedly used by Michelangelo, and portraits, statues and papal vestments are among the roughly 200 items on display. So, too, are dozens of items created by and for the popes, including the iconic staff Pope John Paul II was often filmed with and Benedict XVI's fisherman's ring, one of the first items conferred to new popes. ''This is just a taste of all the wealth of art and its beauty the Vatican owns,'' said Monsignor Roberto Zagnoli, one of three curators of the Vatican Museums. He accompanied the exhibit to Florida, the first of three stops in the United States. After it closes here in May, the exhibit moves on to Cleveland, Ohio, and finally St. Paul, Minnesota. The items then return to Rome, where they cannot be absent for more than a year.''Even if you go to Rome, you won't see some of these things,'' said Peter Radetsky, a former professor and writer who helped develop the exhibit. ''They're just not displayed.'' Some of the items have been to North America before on a previous tour of items from the Vatican Museums. And at least one journeyed across the Atlantic prior to that _ a wooden missal stand wrapped in fish scales that was reportedly used by Christopher Columbus' chaplain on his voyages to the Americas. AP

Premeditated Mobs attack Christians

Hindu extremists exploit economic fears to launch attacks on Christians.

by Vishal Arora

Observers and Christian leaders say India's largest incident of sustained anti-Christian violence, which rendered thousands homeless in Orissa State, was preplanned.

The violence began on Christmas Eve, with an attack on a Catholic church in Brahmani village, and continued until January 2. Christian leaders told the National Human Rights Commission that 9 people had been killed, close to 90 churches burned, about 600 houses torched or vandalized, and thousands displaced.

Three months before the series of attacks, a newspaper had warned that tensions were brewing between the Christian and non-Christian tribal communities over governmental affirmative-action benefits. During Christmas week, local Christians had urged district authorities to provide police protection. Their pleas went unheeded.

Christians make up an estimated 16 percent of the 650,000 people in Kandhamal district. More than 60 percent of them belong to the Pana community and are classified as "Scheduled Castes," better known as Dalits (formerly "Untouchables"). Their demand for recognition as a tribal community is opposed by the largely Hindu Kui people, as it would increase the number of candidates eligible for government-reserved jobs.

With elections due in 10 other states this year and a general election scheduled for 2009, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to use religion-related issues to polarize voters. This tactic, Christians fear, could increase the incidence of anti-Christian violence.

The Orissa State government transferred both the district collector and the police superintendent for failing to prevent the violence. Orissa's population of 36 million includes fewer than 900,000 Christians.

Portrait of a President of the United States

American Bible Society Conducts Zogby Poll That Reveals the Answer

NEW YORK, /Christian Newswire/ -- The American Bible Society has discovered what America wants in a President, based upon research done through a Zogby Poll. A nationwide survey of likely voters shows that the majority of those questioned want someone who mirrors biblical ideals of leadership. Truthfulness and integrity, by far, topped the list of the characteristics respondents feel are most important. And they say they want a leader who is, in essence, a servant and mindful of accountability to God.

Three-quarters of the likely voters agree that it is appropriate that every President since George Washington has been sworn into office with a hand on a Bible. Also, about six in ten say that they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who speaks publicly about following the example of admirable leaders from the Bible and who consistently uses the Bible for guidance in both public and personal matters.

A whopping 78 percent of respondents--86 percent of women and 68 percent of men--view candidates citing Scripture, when speaking about political positions, as positive.

A surprising number of respondents (95 percent) said they have some interaction with the Bible, ranging from well aware to exploring the contents of the Bible.

Interestingly, younger respondents are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who sees the office as a privilege to serve others, with a responsibility to God. Some 84 percent of those 18-29 said this would have an impact on their vote, while only 62 percent of respondents 50-64 said this would influence their decision.

In addition, nearly 50 percent of likely voters indicated that they would not vote for a presidential candidate who does not believe in God, while 20 percent said they would vote for such a candidate and another 20 percent agree that this would not affect their vote.

Participants in the poll, conducted January 25-27, were evenly divided geographically and mirror the U.S. population with reference to age and race. The survey of 1008 adults has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

Those responding tended to be rather well-educated, with 75 percent reporting some college education or having a college degree. And nearly one quarter said they were born-again.

Did Tsunami strike Sri Lanka in 1627?

OUR LADY OF MIRACLES SAVE SRI LANKANS 400 YEARS AGO

Did tsunami occur on 20th February 1627?

Both Tamil and Sinhala chronicles record that there was a deluge in the 2^nd century A. D. There are alsosome references to deluges in the Sangam literature which even speaks of an immensely large continent south of Sri Lanka which in later years came to be known as Lemuria by scholars. But it was called Kumari kandam in the Tamil writings.

However, there is some interesting news coming from the tamil website Tamilwin. It says that some referenes are found in the Portuguese documents that Jaffna was flooded by high rising tides on 20^th February 1627 . But fuller details are not available. At that time, Jaffna was under the rule of the Portuguese.

With the rise of tides, the people inside the fort took refuge inside a church dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles. Many boats were carried away to a distance of one mile. Those people who escaped this disaster considered that they were saved by the miraculous intervention of the Lady of Miracles. The Portuguese have recorded that this type of disaster had not taken before.

The Pannai sea which is in the close vicinity of the Fort is not a deep sea. The The Arabian Sea was then called Theedai Kadal locally. The Pannai Sea used to be dry during the summer. If according to the records the waves had come over the walls of the fort, it would have been definitely due to a Tsunami and caused serious damages to the peninsula and other parts of Sri Lanka.

Lent means following Jesus, taking responsibility for sin, says pope

By Cindy Wooden - Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – To enter into Lent is to get serious about taking responsibility for one's own sinfulness and about following Jesus, especially in caring for the poor, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Lent, the pope said, is "a time of particular commitment in the spiritual battle against the evil present in the world, in each of us and around us."

Pope Benedict spoke about the meaning of Lent at his Feb. 10 midday Angelus prayer, just a few hours before beginning a weeklong retreat with his closest aides. During the week, all papal audiences are canceled.

The pope said Lent is a time "to look evil in the face and prepare to battle against its effects and especially against its causes, to the point of the ultimate cause, which is Satan."

"It means not blaming the problem of evil on others, on society or on God, but recognizing one's own responsibility," he said.

The only effective way to face sin is to be serious about following Jesus, who conquered sin through his suffering, death and resurrection, the pope said.

"The way of the cross is, in fact, the only path that leads to the victory of love over hatred, sharing over selfishness, peace over violence," he said.

Pope Benedict ended his short talk by promising to remember the sick in his prayers during the retreat and by thanking those who would pray for him during the week.

The Glory of God: A Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday

Glory of God

David Bennett, co-editor of Ancient and Future Catholics, and ChurchYear.Net, is from Ohio and graduated from Ohio University with a B.A. in Psychology, and from Emory University with a Master of Theological Studies. Currently, he is pursuing a post-Master's certificate in Religious Education. David was officially received and confirmed into the Catholic Church on August 14, 2004, after spending four years in the Anglican church. He is a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Currently, he is the religion department chair at a Catholic High School. He enjoys being with his family, wife Jennifer, friends, and 3 cats. He enjoys coffee, golf, tennis, target shooting, reading, writing, health, and music. He was married in September 2007.

David has written and spoken on a variety of topics, including Sacraments, the Eucharist, the Bible, the Church, the Charismatic Movement, Inclusive Language, the Nicene Creed, Postmodern Ecumenism, Evangelism, Liturgical Worship, his conversion to the Catholic Church, Christmas, Easter, Lent, Trinity Sunday, and many more topics in a variety of Catholic Articles, Church Year Informational Materials, and blog posts.

The Glory of God: A Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday

By David Bennett

This sermon was originally delivered to the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Athens, Ohio on Transfiguration Sunday, 2000. The author of this sermon has now joined the Catholic Church.

Today's texts all involve the glory of God revealed to humankind in a real and powerful way. These are some of the rare times in the Bible where the tremendous glory of the Trinity was revealed directly to human beings. Most of the time God's glory was revealed in more subtle ways, such as through miracles or wise teaching. Today's text from Luke involves God's glory revealed by Jesus. This text is traditionally referred to as "The Transfiguration."

The Eastern Orthodox Study Bible concisely describes the Transfiguration as, "the demonstration that Jesus is the Lord of glory despite the fact that he will later suffer and die on the cross." It is a foreshadowing of the Risen Lord. I guess you could say that the experience the apostles had on the mountain was a break from all the madness of the world. It was a brief, but important, encounter with God's glory, and God's plan for all people. The transfiguration of Jesus revealed to his closest disciples the heavenly transformation to glory that awaits all the saints of Christ. The text from 2nd Peter makes the point that the revelation of the Transfiguration proves that Christianity is more than just a novel superstition. Christianity is about the Power of the Son of God.

Perhaps we should take the time to examine the men who saw God's glory face to face. They were as human as can be. Moses, mentioned in today's OT text, while being a great man of God, and a hero to the Hebrews, wasn't even allowed to set foot in the Promised Land. Yet he still saw God face to face. Moses once told the Lord, "I have never been eloquent, neither now or in the past, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." This does not sound like the type of person God would choose to meet face to face. But despite Moses' failings as a human being, he experienced God's glory.

Peter, James, and John, who witnessed the transfiguration, all had their faults too. Peter denied Jesus when the going got rough. Let's face it; Peter wasn't the brightest star in the sky either. He was pretty dense. The Gospel authors seem to poke fun at Peter for his many mishaps. The truth is that any one of our names could be placed within the gospels in place of Peter's. It comes as a relief to me to find that even the future "rock" of the church was as plagued by confusion and doubt as we are, yet he was revealed God's glory.

James and John had their problems too. They woefully misunderstood the Kingdom when they asked to be Jesus' right and left hand men once the Kingdom came. They were probably just as thickheaded as poor Peter was. Yet they too saw the Glory of God in the most real way any human probably could. I guess my point is that you don't have to be perfect to experience God, just willing to follow.

I believe there is great comfort in the story of the transfiguration. There is comfort in the future glory that the transfiguration has revealed to us. This glory is our hope. Peter probably died around 67 AD. According to church tradition he was crucified upside-down, as he was not worthy to be crucified the same way his Lord was. His life was probably neither fun nor productive by today's standards. He was poor and a member of an outcast religion. He was most likely either misunderstood or despised by the majority of people he came in contact with, both in the Jewish and Roman worlds. Yet he and many other followers of a Nazarene carpenter died for the belief they had in the Power of the Son of God. The mystical transfiguration experience probably sat in Peter's mind throughout all of the persecutions he endured; perhaps he could vividly recall it any time he wanted to. Maybe the exact details were becoming hazy, but I would bet that as he was hanging upside-down, he had a good vision of what awaited him after he took his final breath.

I don't think that anyone sitting here will see God's glory right now the way Peter did. (Though I have to add that since I believe in miracles I won't eliminate the possibility). However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, there are still many ways that we can witness and know the same Lord of glory written about in the book of Luke. We can do this through the mystery of the body and the blood, through prayer and meditation, through the weekly liturgy, through observing the church calendar, or by simply reading the Bible. I often see God's glory in nature, through his meticulous and colorful creation. Whenever I get too stressed a drive in the country helps me to get it together and remember how big the whole picture really is. A brisk hike or an intense run at the scenic State Park is a good way for me to see God's glory up close. Usually at the beginning of a run I am thanking God for the beautiful day, and at the end thanking Him I didn't collapse. I also see God's glory through other people, such as my amazing friends, family, professors, girlfriend, and church family. The great theologian C.S. Lewis suggested that we could get a glimpse of the eternal through fine music and that heart-warming feeling called "nostalgia." Many of you out there today have other ways you feel God's glory. I was just told today by a friend at Good Shepherd that she feels God's glory by praying in tongues.

I think the glory of God is all around us and available to us; I guess sometimes we just don't look for it, or maybe we've honestly forgotten how to look, or maybe we expect to see it directly as Peter did. Unfortunately we won't see it in full until we die. Until that day we can only get sneak previews, breaks from the madness of the world, much like Peter, James, and John got on a mountain over 1900 years ago.

As I end here, I want to pray that I will always live in the hope of glory that is due to God's faithful saints, and I hope that I will never cease to find previews of God's amazing glory in the strangest places.

Priest Penalized for Praying in Algeria

2006 Pro-Islam Law Begins to Have Effects

ROME, FEB. 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A Catholic priest was sentenced by

the tribunal of Oran, a city in northwestern Algeria, to a year in prison for having "directed a religious ceremony in a place which has not been recognized by the government."

Father Pierre Wallez is the first victim of legislation approved in

March 2006 regarding the exercise of the practices of non Muslim worship, in this North African country of 33 million residents, 99% of whom are Muslim.

Speaking Saturday on Vatican Radio, Archbishop Henri Teissier of Alger,

explained that "the most surprising thing is that the conviction was

issued simply because the priest visited a group of Christians in

Cameroon. He had not celebrated Mass, but was only joining them in a prayer. It was Dec. 29, a little after Christmas."

The prelate clarified that the sentence will not be carried out,

because the tribunal decided to modify it to a sentence of parole.

"Obviously we are all very shocked by the decision made against our

brother," the archbishop said.

According to a report by the Italian daily Avvenire, along with Father

Wallez, a young Muslim doctor was condemned to a harsher punishment(two years without parole) for using medicines "paid for by Caritas,"

sources from the Algers archdiocesan office said.

"They systematically reject entrance visas for our delegates," stated

the archbishop, "and in November they withdrew the residency permission

for four young Brazilian priests who were working with the

Portuguese-speaking African immigrants."

In Algeria, Islam is the state religion, and freedom of worship is

purportedly guaranteed by the constitution. The new law on worship sought above all to control clandestine evangelical proselytizing groups, which Archbishop Tessier said, "have made something of a racket because of the conversion of some of the faithful."

The law, composed of 17 articles, prohibits the exercise of non-Islamic

worship outside buildings approved by authorities.

An article allows for fines and prison for anyone "who changes the

original function of places of worship" or "incites, coerces, or uses

persuasive means to oblige a Muslim to embrace another religion."

The same penalties are also applied to those who "produce, store, or

distribute publications or audio or video material or other means

oriented toward undermining faith in Islam."

Sister Lucia's Beatification Process to Begin

Sister Lucia's Beatification Process to Begin

Pope Waves 5-Year Waiting Period

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI announced he

will dispense with the five-year waiting period established by Canon Law  to open the cause of beatification of Sister Lucia, one of the three Fatima visionaries.

The news was announced today in the cathedral of Coimbra, Portugal, by

 Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints'

 Causes, on the third anniversary of the Carmelite's death.

The Holy Father dispensed with the established waiting period once

before for the cause of Pope John Paul II. Benedict XVI made the

announcement on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, some 42 days after the Pontiff's death in 2005.

John Paul II waived the waiting period in the case of Blessed Teresa of

Calcutta. The blessed died Sept. 5, 1997, and was beatified by John

Paul II on Oct. 19, 2003.

A communiqué of the Vatican press office states: "Benedict XVI, taking

into account the petition presented by Bishop Albino Mamede Cleto of Coimbra, and supported by numerous bishops and faithful from all parts of the world, has revoked the five-year waiting period established by the canonical norms (cf. Article 9 of the 'Normae Servandae'), and he has allowed for the diocesan phase of the Carmelite's cause of

beatification to begin three years after her death."

Apparitions

Lucia de Jesus dos Santos was 10 years old when she said she saw for

the first time, on May 13, 1917, a lady whom she later identified as the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Cova de Iria.

She saw the vision with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who

were beatified by John Paul II in Fatima, in 2000.

In a pastoral letter dated Oct. 13, 1930, the bishop of Leiria-Fatima,

José Alves Correia da Silva, declared the apparitions of Fatima worthy

of faith and allowed public devotion. Since then, the shrine has become

a center of spirituality and pilgrimage of international scope.

Born in Aljustrel in 1907, Lucia moved to Oporto in 1921, and at 14 was

admitted as a boarder in the School of the Sisters of St. Dorothy in

Vilar, on the city's outskirts.

On Oct. 24, 1925, she entered the Institute of the Sisters of St.

Dorothy and at the same time was admitted as a postulant in the

congregation's convent in Tuy, Spain, near the Portuguese border. She made her first vows on Oct. 3, 1928, and her perpetual vows on Oct. 3, 1934, receiving the name Sister Mary of the Sorrowful Mother.

She returned to Portugal in 1946 and two years later entered the

Carmelite convent of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she made her profession as a Discalced Carmelite on May 31, 1949, taking the name Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart.

She wrote two volumes, one entitled "Memories" and the other "Appeals

of the Fatima Message." In her writings, she recounts how the Virgin

Mary and Child Jesus appeared to her on other occasions, years after the initial apparitions.

The mortal remains of the Carmelite were moved in 2006 to the Shrine of

Fatima. The body of the nun, who died at age 97, is buried next to

 Jacinta. Francisco is buried in the same basilica.

SC reserves orders in Divine Retreat Centre

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its orders in the Divine Retreat Centre case.

A Bench comprising Justice S H Kapadia and Justice B Sudershan Reddy heard at length the submissions of senior counsel P P Rao and G Prakash for the State of Kerala. Anil Diwan and Romy Chacko presented their case for the petitioners from Divine Retreat Centre.

The Divine Retreat Centre averred that it was established and managed by Vincentian Congregation and that it is the largest Retreat Centre in the world. Since 1990, over 10 million pilgrims from all over the world has attended retreats there and about 3,500 people are living permanently at the centre.

The organization is currently running a retreat centre at Muringoor, Thrissur, Kerala. The petitioner contended that an anonymous letter was written to the High Court based on which the High Court ordered an investigation without affording them an opportunity to present their case.

The Kerala High Court directed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team on March 10, 2006 to enquire into the allegations. Consequently, a Special Investigation Team headed by Vincent Paul, IPS, started the probe and filed an FIR on April 28, 2007.

The High Court also said that the state government should investigate everything, including foreign exchange issues. The petitioners stated during the course of the hearings that the FIR named 10 persons and out of them, eight are only the helpers.

The Bench has tagged the petition filed by one Jomon Jose on the same issue and allowed him as an intervener. Jomon sought intervention of the Apex Court to set in motion the competent authorities to regulate and prohibit the alleged irregular and illegal activities carried out at the petitioner’s Centre.

The Bench directed the parties to file their written submissions within a week.

Matteo Ricci

2008 is the Year of the Rat,
which is also known by its former name of Wu Zi. The first day of the Year was 7th February 2008.

Chinese calendar has been in continuous use for centuries, which predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) we use at the present day which goes back only some 425 years. The calendar measures time, from short durations of minutes and hours, to intervals of time measured in months, years and centuries, entirely based on the astronomical observations of the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars.

The Chinese are very conscious of their culture and it so happened that in the year 2005, the Ash Wednesday was shifted to the following Sunday by His Grace the Archbishop of Singapore.

Now, let us read about the Man who Came from West who introduced Christianity to this great Nation of China in a form that they could understand.

Italian missionary to China, born of a noble family at Macerata in the March of Ancona on the 7th of October 1552. After some education at a Jesuit college in his native town he went to study law at Rome, where in 1571, in opposition to his father's wishes, he joined the Society of Jesus.

In 1577 Ricci and other students offered themselves for the East Indian missions. Ricci, without visiting his family to take leave, proceeded to Portugal. They arrived at Goa in September 1578. After four years spent in India, Ricci was summoned to the task of opening China to evangelization.

Several fruitless attempts had been made by St. Francis Xavier, and since his death, to introduce the Church into China A house of the Jesuits had already been set up at Macao in 1571 but their attention was then occupied with Japan. After various disappointments they found access to Chow-king-fu on the Si-Kiang or West River of Canton, where the viceroy of the two provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si then had his residence, and by his favor were able to establish themselves there for some years.

Their proceedings were very cautious and tentative; they excited the curiosity and interest of even the more intelligent Chinese by their clocks, their globes and maps, their books of European engravings, and by Ricci's knowledge of mathematics, including dialling and the projection of maps. They conciliated some influential friends, and their reputation spread widely in China. It was during these days that they decided to adopt the costumes of Chinese literates, and, in fact, they before long adopted Chinese manners altogether.

Chang-chow, as a station, did not prove a happy selection, but it was not until 1595 that an opportunity occurred of travelling northward. For some time Ricci's residence was at Nan-chang-fu, the capital of Kiang-si; but in 1598 he was able to proceed under favorable conditions to Nan-king, and from there for the first time to Peking, which had all along been the goal of his missionary ambition. But circumstances were not then propitious, and the party had to return to Nan-king. The fame of the presents which they carried had, however, reached the court, and the Jesuits were summoned north again, and on the 24th of January 1601 they entered the capital. Wan-li, the emperor of the Ming dynasty, in those days lived in seclusion, and saw no one but his women and the eunuchs. But the missionairies were summoned to the palace; their presents were immensely admired, and the emperor had the curiosity to send for portraits of the fathers themselves.

They obtained a settlement, with an allowance for subsistence, in Peking, and from this time to the end of his life Ricci's estimation among the Chinese was constantly increasing, as was at the same time the amount of his labors. Visitors thronged the mission house incessantly; and inquiries came to him from all parts of the empire respecting the doctrines which he taught, or the numerous Chinese publications which he issued. This in itself was a great burden, as Chinese composition, if wrong impressions are to be avoided, demands extreme care and accuracy. As head of the mission, which now had four stations in China, he also devoted much time to answering the letters of the priests under him, a matter on which he spared no pains or detail. New converts had to be attended to -- always welcomed, and never hustled away. Besides these came the composition of his Chinese books, the teaching of his people and the maintenance of the record of the mission history which had been enjoined upon him by the general of the order, and which he kept well up to date. Thus his labors were wearing and incessant. In May 1610 he broke down, and after an illness of eight days died on the 11th of that month. His colleague Pantoja applied to the emperor for a burying-place outside the city. This was granted, with the most honorable official testimonies to the reputation and character of Ricci; and a large building in the neighborhood of the city was at the same time bestowed upon the mission for their residence.

Ricci's work was the foundation of the subsequent success attained by the Roman Catholic Church in China.

Probably no European name of past centuries is so well known in China as that of Li-ma-ku, the form in which the name of Ricci (Ri-cci Mat-teo) was adapted to Chinese usage, and by which he appears in Chinese records. The works which he composed in Chinese are numerous. In the early part of his residence at Peking, when enjoying constant intercourse with scholars of high position, Ricci brought out the T'ien-chu shih-i, or "Veritable Doctrine of the Lord of Heaven", which deals with the divine character and attributes under eight heads. "This work", says A. Wylie, "contains some acute reasomng in support of the propositions laid down, but the doctrine of faith in Christ is very slightly touched upon. The teachings of Buddhism are vigorously attacked, whilst the author tries to draw a parallel between Christianity and the teachings of the Chinese literati."

Among the scientific works which Ricci took into China was a set of maps, which at first created great interest, but afterwards disgust when the Chinese came to perceive the insignificant place assigned to the "Middle Kingdom", thrust, as it seemed, into a corner, instead of being set in the center of the world like the gem in a ring. Ricci, seeing their dissatisfaction, set about constructing a map of the hemisphere on a great scale, so adjusted that China, with its subject states, filled the central area, and, without deviating from truth of projection, occupied a large space in proportion to the other kingdoms gathered around it. All the names were then entered in Chinese calligraphy. This map obtained immense favor, and was immediately engraved at the expense of the viceroy and widely circulated.

BRO. EDUARDO BONNIN, FOUNDER OF CURSILLO MOVEMENT DEAD

“The Holy Spirit did it. I don’t make nothing.” - Eduardo Bonnin


Eduardo Bonnin, founder of the Catholic lay Cursillo movement, died Wednesday at age 90.

A note on the movement's web site asked for prayers for the founder, who was born May 4, 1917. "Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I send this message with a heart full of Christ's mercy and joy, to inform you of the passing to eternal life of our beloved friend, Eduardo Bonnin, founder of the Cursillos of Christianity, Feb. 6, 2008, in Mallorca," Victor Lugo, national executive director, wrote on the site.
The Cursillos of Christianity began in Spain, on the island of Mallorca, between the years of 1940 and 1949. "Numerous laymen and some priests, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, discovered very clearly the fact that laymen too, in virtue of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, perform an active role in evangelization," the national secretariat site explained.
“Cursillo is not for the comfort of good people. Cursillo is for people far away from the church."
"Newspapers, radio, television don't give the solution to life. Christ gives the solution."
"You can't say to someone, 'You must go to church.' You say, 'You must be friends of mine.' When the bridge is built, then you can speak of Christ."
These ideas and others are part of the three-day weekend retreats that are the heart of Cursillo, a Spanish word meaning "short course." The retreats are experiences designed to give Christian and non-Christian alike what Bonnin says is more important than the ideas: "An encounter with yourself, with Christ and with your neighbour" that touches the heart and the emotion as well as the mind.
What Cursillo provides for many is not only an initial conversion experience, but also deep ongoing relationships through small groups and other events that challenge men and women to keep up the Christian commitments they have made during the retreats.
From its original start in Spain, the movement and its courses, have now spread all over the world, including to Ireland.
The retreats still use the same 13 talks on the fundamentals of Christianity that Bonnin and six others worked out for the first Cursillo retreat on the Spanish island of Mallorca in 1944. And although Bonnin said he could never have anticipated the movement would spread so far, he said they had hopes. Even at the first retreat, "We said we would never stop until we gave a Cursillo on the moon."
According to the founder, he read talks of Yves Congar and psychologists such as Carl Rogers, and then synthesized the ideas into short talks. "The Holy Spirit did it. I don't make anything,” he said in an interview in Canada some years ago.
One of the key concepts of Cursillo is to "be Christian and form community where we are." That's how Bonnin has spent his whole life.
Except for nine years of military service, he always worked in the family almond business on Mallorca. But he never married, and spent his holidays giving Cursillo retreats, and his weeknights visiting prisoners and befriending others.
Bob Robinson, from Cursillos in Canada spoke of Bonnin’s concern for others: of the prisoner he visited for 20 years, but never tried to convert, of the two hardened murderers he visited the night before their executions, and who went to the gallows with a smile because they had believed Bonnin's conversation-starter: "You are very lucky. You will see Christ tomorrow."
A wake for the beloved founder has been taking place since he died until today (Sat 9th Feb 08). The funeral will be celebrated on Tuesday(today) by Bishop Jesús Murgui of Mallorca.

The Apparitions of Mary in Lourdes

150 years from February 11,1858

The mountain air was cold on February 11, 1858, in Lourdes. Food was scarce and the firewood was all gone in the "cachot" (the squalid room where Mr. Soubirous found refuge for his wife and 9 children). So that day young Bernadette went out with a few friends, to gather dead wood at the grotto of Massabielle near the Gave River. Suddenly, she heard a sound like a gust of wind, and she raised her head to look at the grotto. Bernadette saw a Lady dressed in white. Her body was not different from ours except for its ineffable beauty. She was medium height and seemed very young. The curve of her oval face had heavenly grace and her blue eyes were so sweet that they could melt anyone's heart. Her mouth breathed God's goodness and kindness. Entering a supernatural stupor but filled with joy, Bernadette dared to approach the Lady, reciting her rosary. The apparition ended. Bernadette came out of her ecstasy, and egged on by her companions, she shared with them what she should have kept to herself. On hearing the story, Mrs. Soubirous was wary and forbid her daughter to return to the grotto of Massabielle. But the following Sunday, she gave in to Bernadette's friends and gave them permission to go. Arriving at the grotto, the visionary announced: "There she is." Then she threw holy water in the Lady's direction, saying: "If you come from God, stay or else go away!" The Lady smiled and bowed her head. The more Bernadette threw holy water, the more she smiled.


Adapted from Dom Antoine Marie OSB, abbot of Clarval

On Entering Into Lent

"Live This Time of Grace With Interior Joy and Generous Commitment"
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today before reciting the midday Angelus with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square.* * *Dear Brothers and Sisters!Last Wednesday, with the fast and the rite of ashes, we entered into Lent. But what does it mean to "enter into Lent?" It means to enter into a time of particular commitment in the spiritual combat that opposes us to the evil present in the world, in each one of us and around us. It means to look evil in the face and dispose oneself to fight against its effects, above all against its causes, right up to its ultimate cause, Satan. It means not unloading the problem of evil onto others, onto society, onto God, but recognizing one's own responsibility and consciously taking it upon oneself.In this regard Jesus' invitation to everyone to take up his "cross" and follow him in humility and confidence (cf. Matthew 16:24) resounds more urgently than ever. The "cross," as heavy as it may be, is not synonymous with misadventure, with a disgrace that must be avoided as much as possible, but with the opportunity to follow Christ and in this way acquire strength in the battle against sin and evil. Entering into Lent therefore means renewing the personal and communal decision to face evil together with Christ. The way of the cross is in fact the only way that leads to the victory of love over hate, of sharing over egoism, of peace over violence. Seen in this way, Lent is truly an occasion for determined ascetic and spiritual commitment founded upon the grace of Christ.This year the beginning of Lent providentially coincides with the 150th anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes. Four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pius IX, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto of Massabielle for the first time on Feb. 11, 1858. Other appearances followed, accompanied by extraordinary events, and at the end the Holy Virgin, bidding farewell to the young visionary, told her in the local dialect, "I am the Immaculate Conception." The message that the Madonna continues to spread at Lourdes recalls the words Jesus pronounced at the beginning of his public mission and that we hear again often during these days of Lent: "Convert and believe in the Gospel," pray and do penance. Let us accept Mary's invitation, which echoes Christ's, and let us ask her to help us to "enter" with faith into Lent, to live this time of grace with interior joy and generous commitment.We entrust to the Virgin as well the sick and those who care lovingly for them. Tomorrow, the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, we celebrate, in fact, the World Day of the Sick. I greet with all my heart the pilgrims who are gathering in St. Peter's Basilica led by Cardinal Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council of Health. Unfortunately I cannot meet them because this evening I will begin spiritual exercises, but in silence and in recollection I will pray for them and for all the necessities of the Church and the world. To all those who will remember me to the Lord I offer my sincere thanks in advance.[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic][After the Angelus the Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in six languages. In English, he said:]I warmly greet all the English speaking pilgrims present at today's Angelus. I particularly welcome members of the Hohenfels Catholic Military Faith Community from the United States of America, as well as young people from the Sant'Egidio community in Asia and Oceania who are attending a formation course in Rome. My dear friends, this past week we began our Lenten practice of prayer, fasting, and -- in a special way -- almsgiving. I invite all believers to enter this "spiritual battle" with hearts full of generosity towards those in need. In this way, we learn to make our lives a total gift to God and to our brothers and sisters. I wish all of you a fruitful preparation for the Paschal Feast!

The visionary of Lourdes

Remembering Bernadette on the occasion of 150 years of apparitions at Lourdes

Famed visionary of Lourdes, baptized Mary Bernard. She was born in Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, the daughter of Francis and Louise Soubirous. Bernadette, a severe asthma sufferer, lived in abject poverty. On February 11, 1858, she was granted a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a cave on the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. She was placed in consider able jeopardy when she reported the vision, and crowds gathered when she had futher visits from the Virgin, from February 18 of that year through March 4.The civil authorities tried to frighten Bernadette into recanting her accounts, but she remained faithful to the vision. On February 25, a spring emerged from the cave and the waters were discovered to be of a miraculous nature, capable of healing the sick and lame. On March 25, Bernadette announced that the vision stated that she was the Immaculate Conception, and that a church should be erected on the site. Many authorities tried to shut down the spring and delay the construction of the chapel, but the influence and fame of the visions reached Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon Ill, and construction went forward. Crowds gathered, free of harassment from the anticlerical and antireligious officials. In 1866, Bernadette was sent to the Sisters of Notre Dame in Nevers. There she became a member of the community, and faced some rather harsh treatment from the mistress of novices. This oppression ended when it was discovered that she suffered from a painful, incurable illness. She died in Nevers on April 16,1879, still giving the same account of her visions. Lourdes became one of the major pilgrimage destinations in the world, and the spring has produced 27,000 gallons of water each week since emerging during Bernadette's visions. She was not involved in the building of the shrine, as she remained hidden at Nevers. Bernadette was beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1933 by Pope Pius XI.

BLESSINGS TO THE ARCHBISHOP FROM THE HOLY FATHER

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, sent his blessings today to His Grace the Archbishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his priesthood and 40 years as a bishop.

The citation is in Latin and could be viewed in the Archdiocesan website http://www.archdioceseofcolombo.com/

"Disneyland of the Catholic Church"

'The Disneyland is 150 years on Monday"
An article from the February issue of St. Anthony's Messenger

WHEN LOURDES was once described as the “Disneyland of the Catholic Church,” as “God’s Magic Kingdom,” I replied that it is the complete opposite. Disneyland is a commercial enterprise where joy and pleasure are manufactured and paid for. Lourdes is about generosity of spirit where true joy is found in giving time and loving service freely to the sick and those in need.
At the heart of Lourdes stands an encounter of love between a child and a mother, between Bernadette Soubirous and Mary, Mother of God and our mother. That meeting forever changed the face of a small French village and reawakened the spiritual yearnings of people, making Lourdes a worldwide center of pilgrimage.
In 1858, with a population of little more than 3,000, Lourdes was an obscure village amid the Pyrenees in southwestern France. Among its poorest citizens were members of the Soubirous family. With his wife, Louise, and their four children, Francois Soubirous, a miller by trade, had fallen upon hard times. In 1857 they were forced to live in the Cachot, an abandoned jail.
On Thursday, February 11, 1858, life changed dramatically and decisively for Bernadette. On a cold, damp day, her simple search for firewood initiated an amazing encounter with heaven. Bernadette, her sister Toinette and a friend, Jeanne Abadie, were searching for firewood. At a rocky recess in a place known as Massabielle, where the river currents washed up driftwood and other debris, Bernadette had a vision that left an indelible imprint on her heart and began the story that is Lourdes.
In this grotto she saw a “Lady dressed in white with a blue sash and a yellow rose on each foot, the color of her rosary.” Who the “Lady” was became the subject of much debate. There were 18 apparitions in all, the last one occurring on July 16, 1858.
As news reached the townspeople and neighboring districts, people flocked to the grotto. With the discovery of a spring of water, and the news of healings taking place, the crowds grew.
For Bernadette it was a time of private ecstasy and public hell. She was mocked and ridiculed by some. A 14-year-old illiterate child, she was hounded by police and local authorities, interrogated and even threatened with prison. In the face of this adversity, she remained steadfast. Even the local priest, the Abbé Peyramale, who was skeptical at first, eventually believed her.
He became convinced when, at the ninth apparition on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, the “Lady” said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Peyramale knew that a poor, uneducated child with no formal religious training or doctrinal knowledge could never have invented such a title—a dogma only proclaimed by the Church in 1854.
After four years of stringent Church investigation, the clear evidence of Bernadette’s credibility and many cases of inexplicable healing, the local bishop, in a pastoral letter dated January 18, 1862, declared, “Truly, the Blessed Virgin Mary did appear to Bernadette.”
Bernadette remained in Lourdes until 1866 when she joined the Sisters of Charity and Christian Learning at Nevers in northern France. She remained there until her death on April 16, 1879.

SUNDAY LITURGY SHEET "VAZHVU THARUM VARTHAI" IN TAMIL - NOW WORLDWIDE
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal prayer group is distributing weekly a liturgy guidance sheet in Tamil for the last twelve years. In addition to the posting of these copies to more than 68 parishes in Sri Lanka, it is now being posted electronically to more than seventeen countries in four continents where the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora reside. It contains the Scripture readings and some articles of interest. For example, the issue of 17th February contains an article on Mount Tabor and the 24th an article on Samaritans.
The Tamil font too is sent for those who assist in preparing for mass and for those who do not want to alter it in the pdf format.
Please contact us at stanisdevot@yahoo.co.in to receive it regularly.

TEWATTA CHILDREN'S DAY POSTPONED

Due to the security situation in the country and in reference to the instructions given by the Ministry of Education with regard to the events and festivals of schools, His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis has postponed the Annual Children's Day scheduled to be held on 01st March 2008, at Tewatta Basilica.

His Grace the Archbishop Oswald Gomis having discussed the above matters with the Archdiocesan Catechetical Director, Rev. Fr. Bertram Fernando, decided to postpone the Children's Day to be held in some other time during the year.

Annual Children's Day at Tewatta Basilica draws thousands of children from Daham Pasals ( Sunday schools ) and also from schools. Children await for this annual gathering to come to Tewatta Basilica, which include the Holy Mass presided by His Grace the Archbishop together with a large number of Priests and Religious and Sunday School teachers and variety of cultural programmes.

KFC LENTEN TREAT - KENTUCKY FRIED FISH

THIS IS A NEWS ITEM WHICH APPEARED ON 21 FEB 2007 AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT THAT YEAR

KFC APPEALS TO HIGHER AUTHORITY BY ASKING FOR PAPAL BLESSING FOR NEW KFC® FISH SNACKER SANDWICH New Fish Snacker Offers Modern Take on 'Loaves and Fishes' for Today's Lenten Observers

LOUISVILLE, KY - The world's most popular chicken restaurant chain is offering fish for the first time nationally with the introduction of the new KFC® Fish Snacker. The company has asked the Pope himself for his blessing, with KFC President Gregg Dedrick sending a personal letter to the Vatican.
KFC's new Fish Snacker Sandwich, a tender, flaky filet of 100 percent Alaskan Pollack topped with tangy tartar sauce and served on a warm sesame bun, extends KFC's popular Snacker line-up and is ideal for American Catholics who want to observe Lenten season traditions while still leading their busy, modern lifestyles. The company has turned to Pope Benedict XVI, beseeching him to bestow his Papal blessing for this innovative new menu item. Vatican officials confirmed they received KFC's request, and the company is hopeful to get the Pope's blessing this Lenten season.
"People can enjoy the flavor of the new Fish Snacker any day of the week, but we believe it will be especially popular on Fridays," said James O'Reilly, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC. "It's perfect for an on-the-go lunch or any time of the day when you need a quick snack but don't want to sacrifice taste."
KFC has more than 5,500 locations across the country, which means Americans won't have to travel to Vatican City to find the New Fish Snacker. The KFC Fish Snacker costs 99 cents plus tax at participating restaurants -- a price that is significantly less than most restaurant-made sandwiches.
About KFCKFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™ and Colonel's Crispy Strips® with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 14,000 KFC outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM).

P. Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcap

Peacemakers

(Raniero Cantalamessa is a Franciscan Capuchin Catholic Priest and a great preacher involved in Charismatic Renewal. We are giving today a part of his speech at the Vatican during Christmas season)

The beatitudes are not arranged according to a logical order. Except for the first one, which sets the tone for all the others, each one can be considered separately without its meaning being in the least compromised. The Pope's message for the World Day of Peace has made me decide to dedicate our meeting today to the beatitude about the peacemakers and to postpone for another time my reflections on the third beatitude, the one about the meek. The message of peace, directed to the whole world, must first of all be accepted, meditated on, and bear fruit here among us, at the center of the Church.This year message is for peace in all areas, from the more personal ambit to the more vast ones of politics, economy, ecology, and international organizations. These are different fields, but they are united by the fact that all have the human person as their primary object, as the title of the message indicates "The Human Person: Heart of Peace."There is a fundamental affirmation in the message that is the interpretive key of the whole. The Holy Father says: "Peace is both gift and task. If it is true that peace between individuals and peoples -- the ability to live together and to build relationships of justice and solidarity -- calls for unfailing commitment on our part, it is also true, and indeed more so, that peace is a gift from God."Peace is an aspect of God's activity, made manifest both in the creation of an orderly and harmonious universe and also in the redemption of humanity that needs to be rescued from the disorder of sin. Creation and Redemption thus provide a key that helps us begin to understand the meaning of our life on earth."[1]These words help us to understand the beatitude of the peacemakers and this beatitude, in turn, throws light on these words of the Pope's message. The nearness of Christmas sets a particular tone, a liturgical one, to our meditation. On Christmas night we will hear the words of the angelic hymn: "Peace on earth to men loved by the Lord." The meaning of these words is not “may there be peace”, but rather “there is peace”; it’s a news not just a wish. "The birth of the Lord," St. Gregory the Great said, "is the birth of peace": Natalis Domini natalis est pacis.[2]

Telling the Pope He Is Dust

Cardinal Shares ExperienceBenedict XVI Receives Ashes to Begin Lent
By Marta Lago
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 6, 2008 (Zenit.org).-
The cardinal who administered ashes to Benedict XVI today says the exhortations that accompany the rite are not easy to say to a Pope.Cardinal Jozef Tomko, cardinal-priest of the Basilica of Santa Sabina where the Bishop of Rome celebrated this evening's Ash Wednesday Mass, has been the prelate who administers ashes to the Pontiff for the last 12 years. He receives this task because he was assigned the cardinal titular church where the Pontiff traditionally celebrates Mass for the beginning of Lent.Like all Catholics, the Holy Father receives the ashes while the one administering them proclaims one of the two traditional exhortations: "Repent and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return."Both formulae are difficult to say to a Pope, Cardinal Tomko told L'Osservatore Romano. Referring to the first formula, the cardinal said the Holy Father "would have every right to say this to me and to everyone else. How can I remind the Pope of this?"And it was particularly difficult to say the second "as John Paul II got older [...] It was like reminding him again what he not only knew, but felt in his body," the cardinal said."The choice has always been difficult. At times I have used one formula, at times the other. It is a very personal aspect, but also very significant because in whatever case," Cardinal Tomko added, "I must opt for a formula that is neither from the Pope nor from me: They are the words of God before which we should all bow our heads."Ashes, like dust, "are a very eloquent sign of weakness, of sin and of the mortality of man," and to receive them one recognizes his limitation, the cardinal affirmed. Wealth, knowledge, glory, power, titles and dignities, he said, "do nothing for us."The time of Lent "is directed toward the resurrection, and also our hope, which is not limited to this life, nor detained by our limits," Cardinal Tomko said, "but rather is based on eternal life that is assured for us by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection."And it is Jesus, affirmed the cardinal, who "asks three things of us in this intense time of the liturgical year."He said Christ asks for almsgiving, "an expression of a more attentive generosity [...] of our love and respect for the needs of our neighbor and those who suffer"; prayer, "which flows from the heart more than from the lips"; and fasting, "sometimes of the body, although today it can imply many modern forms of renunciation."

PILLARS OF LENTEN OBSERVANCE

The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The key to renewed appropriation of these practices is to see their link to baptismal renewal.
Prayer: More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully. We might pray for the elect who will be baptized at Easter and support their conversion journey by our prayer. We might pray for all those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation with us during Lent that they will be truly renewed in their baptismal commitment.
Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. In fact, the paschal fast predates Lent as we know it. The early Church fasted intensely for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Vatican II called us to renew the observance of the ancient paschal fast: "...let the paschal fast be kept sacred. Let it be celebrated everywhere on Good Friday and, where possible, prolonged throughout Holy Saturday, so that the joys of the Sunday of the Resurrection may be attained with uplifted and clear mind" (Liturgy, # 110).
Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God. The first reading on the Friday after Ash Wednesday points out another important dimension of fasting. The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. "This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own" (Is 58:6-7).
Fasting should be linked to our concern for those who are forced to fast by their poverty, those who suffer from the injustices of our economic and political structures, those who are in need for any reason. Thus fasting, too, is linked to living out our baptismal promises. By our Baptism, we are charged with the responsibility of showing Christ's love to the world, especially to those in need. Fasting can help us realize the suffering that so many people in our world experience every day, and it should lead us to greater efforts to alleviate that suffering.
Abstaining from meat traditionally also linked us to the poor, who could seldom afford meat for their meals. It can do the same today if we remember the purpose of abstinence and embrace it as a spiritual link to those whose diets are sparse and simple. That should be the goal we set for ourselves—a sparse and simple meal. Avoiding meat while eating lobster misses the whole point!
Almsgiving: It should be obvious at this point that almsgiving, the third traditional pillar, is linked to our baptismal commitment in the same way. It is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.

ASK CHRIST TO HELP YOU TO BECOME HAPPY: PAUL MIKI

St. Paul Miki and Companions
(d. 1597)

Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to us as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, killing hundreds of thousands. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church.
Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”
When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862.

Today is Ash Wednesday

A CALL TO REPENT

For the last four or five days we have seen the worst carnages that this country has witnessed in its recent history. From the blasts at Dambulla and Madhu, to the one at Colombo Fort railway station one sees the terrible had of the evil one. It appears that this country is set for its own destruction just as Nineveh was at the time of Jonah, the prophet. However the wisdom of the people of Nineveh made them listen to prophet and repent.

To repent is to mend our ways – to turn from evil to embrace what is right.

Will Sri Lanka repent and be saved or …?
In the Old Testament, Jonah is mentioned twice, first in 2 Kings 14:25 (as a prophet in the time of King Jeroboam II) and later in the Book of Jonah. He was the son of Amittai (meaning 'My Faithfulness'), from the Galilean village of Gath-hepher near Nazareth. God orders Jonah to prophesy to the city of Nineveh. Not wanting to, Jonah tries to avoid God's command by going to Joppa and sailing to Tarshish. A huge storm arises and the sailors, realizing this is no ordinary storm, cast lots and learn that Jonah is to blame. Jonah admits this and states that if he is thrown overboard the storm will cease. The sailors try to get the ship to the shore but in failing feel forced to throw him overboard, at which point the sea calms. Jonah is miraculously saved by being swallowed by a large fish. In chapter two, while in the great fish, Jonah prays to God and asks forgiveness. As a result, God commands the fish to vomit Jonah out.
God again orders Jonah to visit Nineveh and prophesy to its inhabitants. This time he goes there and walks through the city crying, "In forty days Nineveh shall be destroyed." The Ninevites believe his word and appoint a public fast, ranging from the King (who puts on sackcloth and sits in ashes) to the humblest person. God has compassion and spares the city for the time being.
Embittered by this, Jonah questions the need for his journey, stating that since God is merciful it was inevitable that God would yield to the Ninevites' entreaties. He then leaves the city and makes himself a shelter, waiting to see whether or not the city will be destroyed.
God causes a plant to grow over Jonah's shelter to give him some shade from the sun. Later, a worm bites the plant's root and it withers. Jonah, now being exposed to the full force of the sun, becomes faint and desires that God take him out of the world.
But God says to him, "Are you really so very angry about the little plant?...You were upset about this little plant, something for which you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the next day. Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!" (Jonah 4:9-11)