Posts

Showing posts from November, 2012

St. Joseph of Nazareth: A historical & Gospel View

Image

The Nativity: Holy Family

Image

Church Tradition on St. Joseph & Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem

Image
Church Tradition On St. Joseph "Father Weiser explains the background of the feast of Saint Joseph in the Church, and gives short descriptions of traditions relating to this saint (such as "St. Joseph's Night" and "St. Joseph's Loaves") and customs from various countries, such as Valencia, Spain, northern Spain, and in parts of Italy. DIRECTIONS Up to the fifteenth century our Lord's foster father was not honored by a special feast of the Church, and people did not generally venerate him, although many ancient Fathers and writers mentioned him with reverence and high regard. It was only at the time of the Crusades that a practice of private devotion to Saint Joseph spread from the Eastern Churches into Europe. This devotion was greatly encouraged by some saints of the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries, especially Saint Bernard (1153), Saint Thomas Aquinas (1274), and Saint Gertrude (1310). At the end of the fourteenth cent

Joseph and Mary Journey in salvation: Holy Family

Image
"The Journey To Bethlehem is Not Comfortable! by  GARY ZIMAK  on  DECEMBER 21, 2009  ·  0 COMMENTS   Print This Article During the season of Advent, we are all invited to travel our own personal “road to Bethlehem”. When we arrive at our destination on Christmas Day, we will hopefully be closer to the Lord than when we began the journey.  Over the course of these few weeks, we have the opportunity to look at our lives and attempt to find ways of becoming closer to Christ.  One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to “take the easy way out” and do nothing or choose only those spiritual practices with which we are comfortable.  If we look at the lives of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men — there was nothing easy about the journey to Bethlehem. For each of these individuals, however, their efforts produced great fruit. Let’s explore how the Lord often calls us to leave our “comfort zone” in order to encounter Him more deeply. If our vision of the

Year of Faith Christmas Journey: Angels interview St. Joseph: Family is a holy sanctuary of God

Image
Family is a holy sanctuary of God Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God Its merited status Ordained by Father God Son of God and the Holy Spirit In uniting human family Dwell among the family Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God Family was created by the Trinity The first sacrament The only sacrament established Before the sinful status of men For whom all were created For whose arrival the Trinity created everything That exists and beyond Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God In whom the Trinity resides With whom the Trinity relates In where the Trinity friendship shines For whom the Trinity passion Of the salvation cross destined Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary of God Family is a sanctuary of God Family is a holy sanctuary

Year of Faith Christmas Journey: Angels Interview St. Joseph's faith

Image
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."  (Matthew 1, 20:21) God put His Angels incharge of Me Angels went to see Joseph the foster father of Jesus Interviewing his faith in leading the holy family He in his speaking Reflecting and recounting: I was an ordinary man When I heard the news of incarnation Doubts prevailed over me Shame of betrayal all over me Humiliation threatened within me                                                  I died within myself Questioning the will of God In accepting Mary Who had virgin incarnation Nightmares were my sleeps Fighting restless heart But in that moment in silent In that moment Only thing crossed my mind I knew

Year of Faith Christmas: Angels interview St. Joseph's faith: I became his disciple

Image
I was His first disciple next to His Mother Reference: 207† Creative Life: A Contemplation                                                                                                           Angels now asked Joseph The quest they came with Joseph smiled gently Paused for a minute in recollection Turned to them kindly Started his response I am his first disciple Next to his mother I experienced a peace That could not be contained in reason When angel explained The incarnation I fell on my knees of knowing My unworthiness Of leading the Holy family In Triune God presence Realizing nothing is impossible for God I live a joyful life That beyond any comparison In realization of Incarnation The reclamation of Trinity’s presence in the family I see the signature of Holy presence In Triune God presence Where Mary and I reside In Holy Trinity presence In nurturing the Son of God I have experienced Trinity’s presence in my family As natural events, un

Year of faith Christmas Journey with St. Joseph and Angels: Everyday Christmas

Image
Angels on rounds throughout the night on the roads and dwellings among human habitation. They hear church bells chiming from very far indicating the time for early morning Holy Mass. They reach to a priest residence nearby, where they saw the priest in morning prayers in the preparation for the Mass.They hear the chants of monks rising from the far mountainous residences and the sweet melodies of religious men and women rising above the convents and cloisters reaching to the heavens. They also pay attention to the residential areas lighting up one by one with individual and family prayers of the working men and women rising with conscientious of God's presence and giving few moments in praising God when they rise to lead the busy day. Totally there is a presence of gentle aroma around the world which comes from the prayers and praises rises from the hearts and residences of human, which rise to fill the air and spread a mantle of prayerful aroma around the world,which surrounds

Christmas Journey in Year of faith: Mother Church in charity of Prayers

Mother Church's Christmas journey in the year of faith is a testament of faith and a proclamation of divine love and salvation of humanity on earth and in universe as it was before and as it will be for ever. Church waits on the faithfuls with the charity of prayers and holy sacrifice ( Holy Mass), through which the realization of proclamation of spoken and written word of God, incarnated word of God, and resurrected word of God in the world, is achieved by the power of the Holy Spirit in Union with faithful. Christmas season brings lots of graces to the world through charitable activities among faithful. There is no scarcity of  human charity during this season. In this season, many who thinks of themselves as deserved try to serve the undeserved for a cause  most of the time these charities are done in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. The charitable acts vary in quantity and quality, when it is focused on earthly help, but it is limited in its reach and scope, however, it is a nece

St. Joseph and Angels

St. Joseph Speaks St. Joseph spoke in soft and eloquent voice.  God’s natural presence is the Church in the world.  His natural presence in the world was foretold in genesis itself.  As he was speaking, he took the angels’ attention to the time of his Nazareth life in the Holy family and he explained the revelation given to him of the re-establishment of Father’s presence on earth.  It all began with the annunciation of Incarnation through Immaculate Conception of Mary.  When the fallen sin of first family in the genesis occurred, which brought the sufferings and death onto the world, when humanity fell into the hands of merciless enemy’s tactics, then the human lost the Holy Spirit within them, they became a mortal being.  In addition, the sins multiplied and removed them from the presence of God; Fear and guilt creeped within them; because of fear and guilt, they were hiding between the trees and leaves, when they heard the voice of God. Then the Father, fore told the plan of sal

Mother Church the New creation: God's kingdom on Earth

Holy Catholic Church, which is a new creation, creation which was birthed and sanctified by the Holy Incarnation, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The creation came into life through the baptism of Holy Spirit.  Church is the creation, which is the natural sanctuary of Holy Trinity in the world.  Presence of Church is the presence of faith.  The presence of faith is the presence of Holy Spirit and His gifts and fruits.  Presence of Holy Spirit is the presence of the Holy Trinity.  God created the Church by the eternal wisdom to guide the world through His eternal reign on earth, which declares the heavenly kingdom on earth.  When Church is the kingdom of God, then naturally it becomes the natural presence of God in the world. I believe that Church is not a human institution or human social invention.  Church is the heavenly kingdom, which represents the presence of God. Although, God uses His ministers who are human, the author and founder of the Chur

Holy Angels on Rounds

It is a hot summer. Angels are on their daily routines on the earth. They look busy in the services including guidance, protection, deliverance, bringing good news from God, carrying the answers for the prayers, and carrying the prayers of the faithful. They are ascending and descending on the ladders between heaven and earth to minister to the people. Among them, the holy Angel Arc Angel Michael, Holy Angel, Arc Angel Gabriel, and Holy Angel Arc Angel Raphael are very prominent in their roles on earth. They analyze the world's situation infinitely and eternally, ever since they were created. They are in contact with world as they serve God's throne and the Church, which is the Earthly Throne of God. Holy angels of all the levels have been troubled greatly seeing the world news and all that comes from the world. Especially, they seem to be more worried about the devious heart and souls of human, which does not realize the presence of God on earth, in spite of Him becoming the

Christmas Journey: Angels journey with St. Joseph

This year, 2012 Christmas, year of faith Christmas journey, is underway in the reign of Pope Benedict XVII, whose original name reflects St. Joseph's name,  whose reign has announced the year of Faith for church and Universe, as St. Joseph who is the guardian and the foster father of Jesus and the protector of Mary, I would like to reflect this year Christmas with St. Joseph and contemplate his views and roles on salvation  in fostering the redemptive family, which is the Holy Family. As I reflect the spiritual themes around Christmas, salvation, and Mother Church, I would like present the content  taking the writers liberty of creation, as if  Holy Angels and St. Joseph would dialogue and discuss reflecting the past and connecting to the present. The boundaries of reflection would be contained within the content of the Holy Scripture and Church teachings. Prayer to Heavenly Father My dear heavenly Father, I praise your Holy Name. I am amazed at your creations, which ref