Archive for December, 2022

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of Pope St. Sylvester I – Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 31st, 2022

St Sylvester IPope St. Sylvester I Served as the Church Gained Freedom,
Presided Over Growth –Image: Fr. Terrence Prendergast@Twitter

(Franciscan Media) When you think of this Pope, one thinks of the Edict of Milan, the emergence of the Church from the catacombs, the building of the great Basillicas, St. John Lateran  St. Peter’s Basilica and others, the Council of Nicaea together with other critical events but for the most part, these events were planned or brought about by Emperor Constantine.

A great store of legends has grown up around this man who was Pope at this most important time but very little can be established historically.

We know for sure that his Papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335 and reading between the lines of history, we are assured that only very strong and wise could have preserved the essential independence of the Church in the face of the overpowering figure of Emperor Constantine–The Bishop’s in general remained loyal to the Holy See and at times expressed apologies to Sylvester for undertaking important ecclesiastical projects at the urging of Constantine.

More here from Catholic Online

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of Pope St. Sylvester I, Visit: -USCCB

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An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Sunday, December 25th, 2022

The Angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them — saying, “I am bringing you Good News of Great Joy for all the people: To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord!”  –Luke 2:9-11  Image Courtesy: St. Paul Street Evangelization

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
(Cf, Luke 2:11)

O sing to the Lord a new song;

Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Sing to the Lord, bless His name!

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
(Cf. Luke 2:11)

Tell of His Salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His marvelous works among all the peoples.

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
(Cf. Luke 2:11)

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;

He is to be revered above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols

but the Lord made the Heavens.

Honor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and beauty are in His Sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

Bring an offering and come into His courts.

Worship the Lord in Holy Splendor;

Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Say among the nations,

“The Lord Is King!

The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Let the Heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice;

Let the sea roar and all that fills it;

Let the field exult and everything in it.

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

before the Lord;

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
(Cf. Luke 2:11)

For He is coming,

for He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and the peoples with His truth.  –Psalm 96:1-13

  • You May Experience the Joy of Salvation Today
    Through The Good News of Jesus Christ!

Beloved, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing Salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! He it is who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds.

Declare these things; Exhort and reprove with all authority.
Let no one look down on you.  –Titus 2:11-15

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings During Holy Christmas Mass at Night, Visit: -USCCB

Posted in Christianity, Christmas | No Comments »

An Inspiration Of Time With God For Today

Friday, December 16th, 2022

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a Son and shall name Him Immanuel (Jesus)  –Isaiah 7:14  (See Also: Matthew 1:18-25)
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Friars

  • You May Know the Joy of Salvation Today Through The Good News of Jesus Christ
    and know in your heart why He is definitely the Reason for this Season!

Prayer For Guidance and Deliverance

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O My God, in You I trust…Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

For You I wait all day long!

Be mindful of Your mercy, O Lord, and of Your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

According to Your steadfast love remember me,

for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

Good and upright is the Lord;

Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble His way.

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep His Covenant and Decrees.

For Your name’s sake, O Lord,

pardon my guilt, for it is great.

who are they that fear the Lord?

He will teach them they way that they should choose.  –Psalm 25:1-2; 4-12

Posted in Advent, Christianity | No Comments »

Today Christians Celebrate Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Please Pray For Us!

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022

St Francis XavierSt. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) Image Courtesy: –Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Born in Northern Spain, Basque Province and given the birth name Francisco (Francis) de Jasso y Azpilicueta, Francis studied and taught Philosophy at the University of Paris according to SQPN and planned a career as a Professor. Francis’ friend St. Ignatius of Loyola (Feast Day: 31 July) after converting Francis to Christianity, he would convince him to use his natural abilities to spread the Gospel.

In 1534 Francis would join St. Ignatius of Loyola newly formed group ‘The Company of Jesus’ today known as the ‘Society of Jesus’ (Jesuits) which received Papal approval in 1540 Together at Montmarte, they took vows of poverty, chastity and apostolic service according to the direction of Pope Paul III (1534-1549)

From Venice, where Francis was Ordained a Priest in 1537 Fr. Francis Xavier, went on to Lisbon and from there, set sail to the East Indies landing in India Gao — While in Gao awaiting on a ship according to SQPN Fr. Francis Xavier witnessed for Christ on the streets, cared for the sick and taught children their Catechism, it is said that he walked through the streets ringing a bell to call the children to their studies. During Fr. Francis Xavier stay in Gao, its reported that he was able to convert the entire city to Christianity. For the next 10 yrs he labored to bring Christianity to such widely scattered people as the Hindu’s, the Malayans and Japanese. Fr. Francis Xavier would however spend much of that time in  India and served as Provincial of the newly established ‘Jesuit’ province of India.

Wherever Fr. Francis Xavier went, he lived with the poorest people, sharing their food and tough accommodations. Fr. Francis Xavier would spend countless hours caring and ministering to the needs of the sick and poor but especially to those with Leprosy. Very often he had no time to sleep or even to say his breviary but as we know from his letters, Fr. Francis Xavier was always filled with joy.

Fr. Francis Xavier went through the islands of Malaysia and then to Japan, where he learned enough Japanese to speak to people, preach, baptize Christians and to establish missions for those who followed him. From Japan, he had dreams of going to China to minister but this was never realized as he died this month in 1552 at China, Sancian Island, where St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church was built in his honor.

More here from EWTN

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Posted in Advent, China, Christianity, Saint of the Day | No Comments »