Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
Like megachurches, homeschooling, and Tim Tebow, “Merry Christmas†has become a religio-cultural Rorschach test. If you prefer that department stores greet you with a “Merry Christmas,†or at least wish they didn’t feel compelled to adopt the anodyne “Happy Holidays,†chances are good you’re a conservative Christian of some stripe. If, on the other hand, you prefer to talk about how ridiculous it is that anyone should care how a department store greets them, or if you prefer to mock that concern and say that people who feel that concern should (a) get a life or (b) stop trying...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
January 9, 2012 The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Reading 1 Is 42:1-4, 6-7 Thus says the LORD:Here is my servant whom I uphold,my chosen one with whom I am pleased,upon whom I have put my spirit;he shall bring forth justice to the nations,not crying out, not shouting,not making his voice heard in the street.a bruised reed he shall not break,and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,until he establishes justice on the earth;the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,I have grasped you by the hand;I...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
Although a large number of shops in Tehran put a Christmas tree in their windows to welcome Christmas season, the Christmas theme in several shopping centers has displeased the regime dependent media. Last week you could sense the Christmas season in several streets in Tehran. Many shops had placed a decorated Christmas tree where it could easily capture the attention of passersby. But it seems that this trend has upset the pro-government media! ... "One of the main symbols of Christianity, the majority religion of the world, is Christmas which is known by a colorfully decorated tree. What's the point...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
On Christmas and Epiphany "Christmas Is Joy Because We See -- and at Last We Are Sure -- That God Is Man's Good" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 6, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave last Wednesday during the general audience held in Paul VI Audience Hall. The Pope reflected on the feasts of Christmas and the Epiphany. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, I am pleased to welcome you in this first general audience of the new year, and with all my heart I offer you and your families my affectionate good wishes:...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
January 8, 2012 The Epiphany of the Lord Reading 1 Is 60:1-6 Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,the glory of the Lord shines upon you.See, darkness covers the earth,and thick clouds cover the peoples;but upon you the LORD shines,and over you appears his glory.Nations shall walk by your light,and kings by your shining radiance.Raise your eyes and look about;they all gather and come to you:your sons come from afar,and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see,your heart shall throb and overflow,for the riches of...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
January 7, 2012 Christmas Weekday Reading 1 1 Jn 5:14-21 Beloved:We have this confidence in God,that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,we know that what we have asked him for is ours.If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,he should pray to God and he will give him life.This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.There is such a thing as deadly sin,about which I do not say that you should pray.All wrongdoing is sin,...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
SAINT RAYMOND OF PENAFORT Confessor, 1175-1275 LIKE his contemporary, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Raymond was of noble descent; his was the illustrious family of Penafort, related to the kings of Aragon. He was born at Villafranca, near Barcelona, Spain, in 1175. As a boy he was a bright and able student; at twenty he was already a professor of philosophy. He taught in Barcelona for fifteen years, then went to Bologna, Italy, to study for his doctorate in civil and canon law. He received the degree in 1216, and three years later returned to Spain.On Good Friday of the year...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
The Visit of the Wise Men 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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Posted by admin! / Under Christmas Tree
January 6, 2012 Christmas Weekday Reading 1 1 Jn 5:5-13 Beloved:Who indeed is the victor over the worldbut the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,not by water alone, but by water and Blood.The Spirit is the one who testifies,and the Spirit is truth.So there are three that testify,the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,and the three are of one accord.If we accept human testimony,the testimony of God is surely greater.Now the testimony of God is this,that he has testified on behalf of...
Published on Monday 6th of February 2012 04:40:44 AM
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