Yes, I did not finish the video.

Been thinking of making a pilgrimage to Fatima though, but have budgetary constraints ... praying for a suitable solution. In God's own time, I suppose.

Nice! They have a documentary film for her now? Cool!

For next Saturday, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ...



Amen ...

Friday is coming ...



God bless!

In case any Catholics in Penang are interested ... :D:D



Enjoy!!! ... :D:D

a.k.a. The Knights of St. John ...

Much ado about nothing ...

Don’t Let Those Starbucks Cups Make You See Red

So, apparently, Starbucks hates Christmas, or Christians, or even Jesus. That’s the message that’s been circulating recently on several news media sites.

For example, Andrea Williams of the U.K.-based group Christian Concern says this move by Starbucks “denies the hope of Jesus Christ and his story so powerfully at this time of year.”

What did Starbucks do to earn this opprobrium? According to today.com:

" ... The company's decision to use minimalist red cups without the reindeer, Christmas ornaments, and other holiday symbols that have been featured past years has sparked a viral campaign started by a former pastor in Arizona and criticism from some conservative groups. ... "

The former pastor is Josh Feuerstein, who has managed to amass an impressive following on social media. He said in a video that’s been viewed more than 12 million times, “Starbucks removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus."

Lots of people seem to share this sentiment, but other Christians are opposing what they see as an overreaction that just makes the Church look bad.

My take? To quote another popular cultural element of the Christmas season, good grief!

Don’t get me wrong; around the world Christians are being tortured and murdered. In the U.S. they risk losing their livelihoods for simply living their faith.

But Christians who go around saying that everything they don’t like or any refusal to affirm Christian beliefs amounts to a “war on Christmas” or a “war on faith” will end being the boy who cried "Wolf!"—or, rather, "Persecution!"

Besides, I like the cups. When I spend all November hearing Christmas carols on the radio and seeing multicolored lights and mistletoe in shops and homes, a simple, minimalist Christmas design is a welcome respite from the holiday juggernaut that begins every year right after Halloween.

Did Starbucks avoid Christian language and imagery because it might offend non-Christian customers? Probably. Does that bother me? No. It wants its product to reach as many people as possible, and that’s their right as a business.

Besides, it’s not Starbucks's or any secular company’s job to preach the good news about Christmas; it’s our job. So please, just let the cups go.

However, if the cups really bother you, here are three things you can do about it:

1. Don’t be cheeky and, as Josh Feuerstein suggests, tell the barista your name is “Merry Christmas” so that will be written on your cup. How about saying your name is “Joy” and the last name is “To-the-world” (a little contrived, but at least it’s unique). Or, just order your coffee, and when you get it say “Thank you” (that’s important), and then say “Merry Christmas” in a sincere and kindhearted way.

2. Instead of buying coffee, buy a malaria net. Every day 3,000 children die from this disease, but for $3 (less than the price of a cup of coffee) you can protect two people from malaria for three to four years by giving them an insecticide-treated net under which to sleep.

3. Buy a Starbucks gift card and give it to a panhandler. A cup of coffee or hot chocolate would definitely provide relief to anyone who has to brave the cold this winter. Also, this is where a message like “Merry Christmas” has the most potential to remind someone that the reason we give gifts to one another this time of year—and the reason we have hope even when times are tough—is because God gave us the greatest gift of all: his Son.

For the next two months a lot of things will distract us from the true meaning of Christmas. A lot of things will also give us an opportunity to stand up for the meaning of Christmas in an increasingly materialistic and secular world.

Just don't let seeing red over coffee cups be one of them.

Source: http://www.catholic.com/blog/trent-horn/do...ake-you-see-red

FYI ...

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Reading 1: Wis 7:22b–8:1

In Wisdom is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do all things,
and renews everything while herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets.
For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes precedence;
for that, indeed, night supplants,
but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.

Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
R. (89a) Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Through all generations your truth endures;
you have established the earth, and it stands firm.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Alleluia

Jn 15:5
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Lk 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.
But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

Would the 'good' Reverend Mather have been able to willingly distinguish between being a Catholic and a witch? After all, even until today, many Americans still consider the Catholic Church a cult with roots in occultism and foul witchery, a'la Jack Chick et al ...

Amen!

The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Three Things You Can Do
Trent Horn
November 19, 2015

There is a lot of debate right now about how to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis. Iin September, when photos surfaced of Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee who drowned off the coast of Turkey, there was an outpouring of support. Pope Francis even asked every parish, religious community, monastery, and sanctuary in Europe to take in one refugee family.

But the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, and the possibility that the terrorists operated under the guise of being Syrian refugees, have moved some Christians to say we should not allow Syrian refugees to enter the United States.

Are they right? Wrong? Right and wrong?

No easy answer just yet

The Catechism says we must promote the common good, which includes “alleviating the miseries of refugees dispersed throughout the world, and assisting migrants and their families" (CCC 1911). I think the United States could at least alleviate the suffering of a few hundred orphaned toddlers—children younger than age four comprise 17.3 percent of Syrian refugees.

On the other hand, the Catechism also says, “[T]he common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order. It presupposes that authority should ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members” (CCC 1909).

Would admitting Syrian refugees jeopardize U.S. security? At this point, I do not believe there is a definitive answer. Believe me, I wish I had one, but I don’t want to give a simple answer based on “gut feeling.” The stakes are simply too high. As of right now I am leaning toward one side of the issue, but I won’t write about it until I can thoroughly explain and defend my position.

I may not know what our country should do when it comes to these refugees, but at least I know what I should do. If you like the steps I’ve taken myself, feel free to try it for yourself and to share it with others.

1. Don’t rely on Facebook’s French flag filter

This filter was designed to help people show solidarity with France after last week’s terrorist attacks. While I have no doubt people have used it with good intentions, and some French people seem to appreciate it, this gesture borders on slacktivism. The term refers to actions a person takes ostensibly to help a cause when in reality those actions only help the person feel better about himself. Slacktivism doesn't cause direct harm, but it can short-circuit one’s desire to do anything else for a cause he’s already “helped.”

A recent example of slacktivism is forwarding the Kony 2012 video on Facebook, which has not led to any action against the African warlord and child exploiter Joseph Kony. However, there is evidence that the ALS ice bucket challenge did raise significant sums and accomplished some good, even though many who partook in it could be considered slacktivists because they didn’t donate money to ALS research.

So, if you French-flag-filtered your Facebook photo (try saying that three times fast), it doesn’t mean you’re a slacktivist. Just don’t let it be the only thing you do in the wake of this tragedy and ongoing refugee crisis.

2. Do something

The antidote to apathy and slacktivism is empathy and activism. It’s doing something. There are a lot of ways you can help people who are suffering right now. For example, you can donate to Save the Children, UNICEF, or Catholic Relief Services. I’m not ashamed to ask you to give money rather than donate old household goods, because, as the website charitywatch.org says:



You just have to do it. Right now. Trust me, it will make you happier than almost anything else on which you could have spent that disposable income. Besides, as the letter of James says, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead” (2:15-17).

3. Pray

We don’t have to choose between performing corporal works of mercy and praying for those in need. We can do both. We can take part in the good works “God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10) and also pray “for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Here is a good prayer from the USCCB you can use and share with others:



Source: http://www.catholic.com/blog/trent-horn/th...ings-you-can-do


This post has been edited by khool: Nov 20 2015, 03:21 PM

Very very nice!

The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Lectionary: 161

Reading 1 (Dn 7:13-14)
As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5)
R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Reading 2 (Rv 1:5-8)
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God,
"the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

Acclamation before the Gospel - Alleluia
Mk 11:9, 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Jn 18:33b-37)
Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

For those who feel downtrodden and discouraged at one point in time or another ...

God speaks thru’ us

I remember one University student, probably the only Christian in the class, who was ridiculed by the professor because of her creed. Many parents would advise their children to keep quiet and finish their studies. But this particular student stood for her faith, and the professor never disturbed her again. One needs to know his/her faith, one needs to practice his/her faith, not to be fanatical but to promote with love. Today we remember St Catherine who in the midst of severe persecutions stood for her faith.

Gospel Reading for 25 November 2015 (Lk 21:12-19)
Source: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112515.cfm



Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

A reflection from Father Phillips Muthu: https://www.facebook.com/phillips.muthu?fref=ts

A Blessed week ahead to all!


This post has been edited by khool: Nov 25 2015, 12:08 PM

First Sunday of Advent, 29 November 2015



This coming Sunday! Peace!

ON ADVENT (1): WHAT IS ADVENT?
Time of Preparation, of Hope and of Interior Joy



This coming Sunday marks the beginning of a new liturgical year when the Catholic Church celebrates the 1st Sunday of ADVENT.

BUT WHAT IS THE ADVENT SEASON ALL ABOUT?
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin term “adventus” which indicates the “coming”, “arrival” and “presence” of someone especially important.

For us Christians, the season of Advent is a time of EXPECTATION, a time of HOPE, a time of PREPARATION for the ARRIVAL of OUR SAVIOR. “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming (Cf Rev 22:17) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 524).” The season of Advent consists of 4 weeks of PREPARATION for:

• the commemoration of the 1ST COMING OF OUR SAVIOR AND LORD JESUS CHRIST more than 2000 years ago with His Birth in Bethlehem which we celebrate on CHRISTMAS DAY;
• His 2nd COMING which will occur at the end of the world when Jesus will come in Glory to judge the living and the dead (FINAL JUDGMENT) and His Kingdom will have no end.

Nevertheless, let us not forget that while preparing ourselves for the anniversary of the 1st coming of Our Savior and for His 2nd coming, GOD IS PRESENT AMONG US HERE AND NOW and we must take advantage of this marvelous time to RENEW OUR DESIRE, OUR NOSTALGIA, OUR REAL LONGING FOR CHRIST (cfr. St. Josemaría, “Forge”, n. 548).”

ADVENT AS PRESENCE: GOD IS WITH US, HERE AND NOW
As Pope Benedict XVI said in a beautiful homily (which I suggest for your personal meditation): “The essential meaning of the word adventus was: GOD IS HERE, HE HAS NOT WITHDRAWN FROM THE WORLD, HE HAS NOT DESERTED US. EVEN IF WE CANNOT SEE AND TOUCH HIM AS WE CAN TANGIBLE REALITIES, HE IS HERE AND COMES TO VISIT US IN MANY WAYS. (Homily, Nov. 28, 2009).”

ADVENT indicates “PRESENCE”. GOD IS WITH US AND COMES TO VISIT US IN MANY WAYS: He is truly, really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist; He is present in us if our soul is in the state of grace; He listens and talks to us in our mental prayer; He awaits for us in our dealings with the people around us and in the midst of our ordinary daily activities. GOD IS PRESENT IN OUR MIDST but oftentimes goes unnoticed for those who do not seek Him. "UNDERSTAND THIS WELL: THERE IS SOMETHING HOLY, SOMETHING DIVINE, HIDDEN IN THE MOST ORDINARY SITUATIONS, AND IT IS UP TO EACH ONE OF YOU TO DISCOVER IT." (St. Josemaria, “Conversations”, n. 114)

ADVENT IS A TIME FOR PREPARATION, A TIME OF HOPE and -in a very special way- A TIME OF INTERIOR JOY because God made Himself present among men as a child.
Jesus “was the greatest madman of all times. What greater madness could there be than to give oneself as he did, and for such people? It would have been mad enough to have chosen to become a helpless Child. But even then, many wicked men might have been softened, and would not have dared to harm him. So this was not enough for him. He wanted to make himself even less, to give himself more lavishly. He made himself food, he became Bread. Divine Madman! How do men treat you? How do I treat you (St. Josemaría, “Forge”, n. 824)?”

Dear friends, LET US STRIVE TO BE MORE AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR SOUL IN GRACE, IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND IN OUR DAILY AFFAIRS. LET US NOT FORGET THAT LOVE SEEKS UNION WITH THE BELOVED.
“Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom (Opening Prayer, Mass of 1st Sunday of Advent).”

PHOTO SOURCE: hd-gbpics.de

Article Source: http://www.facebook.com/Catholicsstrivingf...?type=3&fref=nf

Blessed Sunday ...

O holy, patient, and loving God, in this season of grace-filled longing, we await the coming of your Son and our Savior. It is difficult for us to remember that this is a holy time. There are many distractions: commitments seem to pile up, and expectations are high. In the midst of our busy world, our busy lives, we need your help to remind us of what is important and necessary. While many of those things that we do not need will come to us in packages gleaming and bright, the one gift that will last comes from you alone, gracious God, as we grow in our awareness of your love. Bless us, our family and friends, and the food and the company that we share. Increase in us a growing urgency to celebrate the birth of your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.




This post has been edited by khool: Dec 6 2015, 01:59 PM

Dear fellow Catholic Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this is a series called "Elements of the Catholic Mass" This is the first of 5 episodes. once you click on the link you will see how to access the other 4. Each is no longer than 3 and 1/2 minutes and very informative.



Blessed week ahead!