"Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him." Lk 5: 1 - 11
Saint of the Day
Saint Macarius the Egyptian
Confessor
One of the most famous of the early Christian solitaries, born about A.D. 300; died 390. He was a disciple of St. Anthony and founder of a monastic community in the Scetic desert. Through the influence of St. Anthony he abandoned the world at the age of thirty, and ten years later was ordained a priest. The fame of his sanctity drew many followers, and his monastic settlement at his death numbered thousands. The community, which took up its residence in the Nitrian and Scetic deserts, was of the semi-eremitical type.
In the Baptism of Christ, his humble love and a manifestation of the Trinity
January 08, 2021. “His will to redeem humanity from within”.
“With the wish to understand that Jesus’ decision to be in solidarity with sinners, confusing himself with them and asking for John’s Baptism, expresses his will to redeem humanity from within.”
In the Baptism of Christ we contemplate his humble love and a manifestation of the Trinity.
Epiphany: “The manifestation of the Lord to all peoples’
January 08, 2021. “To allow ourselves to be fascinated, attracted, guided, illuminated and converted by Christ”.
POPE FRANCIS angelus Library of the Apostolic Palace Wednesday, 6 January 2021
JUST IN: Vatican Lays Out 20 Points for ‘Universal & Fair Destination of Vaccines’
December 29, 2020. A Joint Venture of Vatican’s COVID-19 Commission & Pontifical Academy for Life (FULL TEXT).
‘Vaccine for all. 20 points for a fairer and healthier world’
National Youth Day in Philippines Postponed to 2022
December 28, 2020. Specifics to be Determined.
The National Youth Day festivities, set to take place in Naga City next year, has been postponed due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, according to CBCP News.
Feast of the Holy Innocents
December 28, 2020. Celebrated today, December 28, is the feast of the Holy Innocents and Father Rafael Mosteyrin, priest of the Opus Dei, offers the following article.
We are all capable of the best and of the worst. On Palm Sunday, the majority of those in Jerusalem celebrated Jesus’ entrance. Three days later, many who acclaimed Him on His arrival, shout and cried out for His crucifixion.
Better Oversight of Spending & Investments at Heart of Pope’s New Motu Proprio
December 28, 2020. “A Better Organization” establishes a greater control and a better visibility of Saint Peter’s Pence and of the funds that come from donations of the faithful.
As Pope Francis works toward greater financial transparency and accountability in the Vatican, he has given a new mandate to improve oversight of spending and investments, including of Peter’s Pence.
Pastoral Letter for Feast of Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
December 27, 2020. By Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster.
These days we hear a great deal about ecology, and rightly so. We must take care of the created world in its beauty and resources.
Pope Francis Has Advice for Families on Feast of Holy Family
December 27, 2020. Please, Thank You, I am Sorry.
Pope Francis offered some common sense but profound advice for families during his Angelus Address on December 27, 2020, the Feast of the Holy Family.
Full Text of Holy Father’s Angelus Commentary on Feast of Holy Family
December 27, 2020. Announces Year of Reflection on Amoris Laetitia
Pope Francis in his Angelus commentary on the Feast of the Holy Family — December 27, 2020 — noted the upcoming anniversary of Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, promulgated five years ago this coming March 19, 2021. In that context, he announced a year of reflection on the document and said reflections will be available to communities and families throughout the world.
Full Text of Holy Father’s 2020 Urbi et Orbi Message
December 25, 2020. ‘The Child born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem was born for everyone: he is the son that God has given to the entire human family’.
Pope Francis delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi (“To the City [of Rome] and the World”) on Christmas Day. This year, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, he spoke in the Hall of Benediction of St. Peter’s Basilica, the upper area just behind the central loggia where he would usually have delivered his message, with a limited gathering of the faithful.
Archbishop Follo: Pilgrimage to Holy Family in Nazareth
December 25, 2020. With the invitation to contemplate the Son of God who makes himself a pilgrim for us and lives in a Holy Family.
Sunday of the Holy Family – Year B – December 27, 2020
Roman Rite: Jan 15.1 to 6; 21.1-3; B 11, 8.11-12.17-19; Luke 2, 22-40
Full Text of Holy Father’s Homily for Midnight Mass on Solemnity of Nativity of the Lord
December 24, 2020. ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given’.
Here is the homily Pope Francis presented on the eve of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord in the Vatican Basilica.
‘To Beloved People of Lebanon, Whom I Hope to Visit As Soon As Possible’ — Pope Sends Christmas Letter (FULL TEXT)
December 24, 2020. “Let Us Help Lebanon Surmount This Grave Crisis…. Providence Will Never Abandon Lebanon… Trust in God’s Presence and Faithfulness’.
I express “my affection for the beloved people of Lebanon, whom I hope to visit as soon as possible…”
‘The Psalms: A Doorway to Jewish-Catholic Dialogue’
December 23, 2020. Released by Catholic and Jewish Leaders of Canada.
On the recommendation of the Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews and Interfaith Dialogue of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the approval of the Conference’s Executive Committee, the CCCB – Canadian Rabbinic Caucus bilateral dialogue released a new resource entitled: “The Psalms: A Doorway to Jewish-Catholic Dialogue.”
‘This Christmas, May Jesus Be Born Anew in Each of Us, So Our Lives Bring Joy & Hope to All’
December 23, 2020. Christmas and Tenderness of Baby Jesus at Heart of Pope Francis’ General Audience (FULL TEXT).
“This Christmas, may Jesus be born anew in each of us, so that by our lives we may bring joy and new hope to all.”
Cardinal Tagle’s 2020 Christmas Message
December 23, 2020. President of Caritas Internationalis.
As 2020 draws to a close, our world needs more than ever the promise of God’s presence among us through the birth of His son.
Archbishop Follo: Christmas 2020
December 23, 2020. With the invitation to contemplate the Son of God who becomes a pilgrim for us and lives in a Holy Family.
CHRISTMAS 2020: Christmas: birth of the Heart of our heart, amazed by Light, Joy, and Simplicity[1]
Mass of the night, dawn, and of Christmas day.
Pope Tells Curia a Crisis a Time of Testing and Renewal
December 21, 2020. ‘This is the Christmas of the pandemic, of the health, economic, social, and even ecclesial crisis that has indiscriminately struck the whole world’.
Pope Francis on December 21, 2020, gathered the Roman Curia in the Vatican’s Benediction Hall for their annual Christmas message and minced no words about the crisis facing the world. But he lit a light at the end of the tunnel.
JUST IN: Vatican Publishes Note on Morality of Using COVID-19 Vaccines
December 21, 2020. In Pope Approved Letter, Explains What Would or Could Be Moral Acceptability & Why.
The Vatican has published a note about the morality of COVID-19 vaccines.
Pope at Angelus Recalls Mary’s Response at Annunciation (Full Text)
December 20, 2020. ‘Let it be to me According to Your Word.
Pope Francis in his December 20, 2020, Angelus address recalled Mary’s acceptance of God’s will when the angel called on her to “rejoice” at the Annunciation.
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One of the most famous of the early Christian solitaries, born about A.D. 300; died 390. He was a disciple of St. Anthony and founder of a monastic community in the Scetic desert. Through the influence of St. Anthony he abandoned the world at the age of thirty, and ten years later was ordained a priest. The fame of his sanctity drew many followers, and his monastic settlement at his death numbered thousands. The community, which took up its residence in the Nitrian and Scetic deserts, was of the semi-eremitical type.