Pope Benedict's Trip to Turkey

Well, the Pope's trip seems to be going well and I hope that it continues to be a peaceful trip. Yesterday our Holy Father was in the house that was believed to be where Mary resided with the apostle John for the last years of her life. It was the smallest gathering for a outdoor papal Mass with only 250 guests. I guess you could say that it reflected the small Christian presence in Turkey. This morning our Holy Father attended Divine Liturgy with the Patriarch Bartholomew I celebrating the feast of St. Andrew and then later in the day Benedict and Bartholomew signed a joint declaration. So share with My World you thoughts on this apostolic trip. Do you think this will make a great impact on the Muslims? Do you think our relationship with the Orthdox Church will improve? Just send me your thoughts.


Pictures from www.whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com

THE VIEW FROM MY WORLD

Is it just me or does the season of Christmas season seem to be pushed upon us earlier and earlier. I know shortly after the pumpkins were down the Christmas trees were replacing them. It's unfortunate that this is done because by the time Christmas Day is here, people are so glad it's over where the Church is saying it's just begun. So I invite all of you to join me and let us enjoy the season of Advent as it begins on Sunday and let us sing outloud, "O come o come Emmanuel!"

SAINT OF THE DAY

Andrew, like his brother Simon Peter, was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, "what do you seek?" When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, "Come and see." Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messiah.
From then on, he chose to follow Jesus. Andrew was thus the first disciple of Christ. Next, Andrew brought his brother Simon (St. Peter) to Jesus and Jesus received him, too, as His disciple. At first the two brothers continued to carry on their fishing trade and family affairs, but later, the Lord called them to stay with Him all the time. He promised to make them fishers of men, and this time, they left their nets for good. It is believed that after Our Lord ascended into Heaven, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. He is said to have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron - Russia and Scotland.

text from: www.catholic.org
picture from: www.eaglescorner.com

Pope Benedict arrives in Turkey

Well, our Holy Father has arrived in Turkey and the pope has encouraged dialogue between the Christians and the Muslims. Hopefully the Turkish people will see this pope as a man that brings a message of hope and peace. Now, as you know that Christians are outnumbered in this country of Turkey. How many Christians are there in Turkey? Well, if you include all the churches of the Christian faith we make up about only 2 percent. So as you could imagine you won't find a Catholic Church on each corner in Instanbul as you do in the city of Rome(or my hometown of Fall River). Well, let us continue to pray for our Holy Father as he continues his visit in Turkey.

Picture from www.cnn.com

Pope Benedict off to Turkey

Well, our Holy Father will be leaving Rome tomorrow as he goes on a 4 day journey to the predominately Muslim Country. It will be interesting to see if the Turkish people will see Pope Benedict as a man that brings a message of peace and friendship or will they see a man that made a comment against the prophet Mohammad? We all pray and hope that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict will have a safe stay in Turkey and that this journey will be a fruitful trip for both the Muslims and the small Christian group that are present. Vai con Dio, Santo Padre!

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING

Happy Feast of Christ the King! I hope everyone enjoyed their turkeys and especially the time togther with family and friends. Well, it's hard to believe that we are celebrating the Solemnity of Christ hte King and a week from today we will begin our season of Advent which prepares us for that big day on the 25th. So how did the solemnity of Christ the King begin? Pope Pius XI instituted the Solemnity of Christ the King on 11 December in 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas. At that time he saw the rise of Atheistic Communism and Secularism as a direct result of man's turning away from Christ's sovereignty, and man's denying of the authority of Christ's Church. This result was "disorder" or a move away from the Divine Order. The Feast of Christ the King was set on the last Sunday in October. After the Second Vatican Council, the calendar reforms of 1969 moved the date of the Feast of Christ the King to the last Sunday before the next liturgical year's Advent (Advent marking the start of the liturgical year; Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day). Before this change, the Sunday before Advent bore the designation "Last Sunday After Pentecost" and had its own special mass, regardless of the number of Sundays there were between Pentecost and Advent (23 to 28) in that particular year. Many of the same readings used in this mass were incorporated into the mass authorized for the feast of Christ the King in its new location in the calendar.

information provided by www.wikipedia.com
image from www.stjoevan.org

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hello Friends,

I just want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends. Let us remind ourselves and our loved ones the blessings that God has bestowed on us this past year. I know for myself it truly has been a year full of blessings. On this Thanksgiving Day, let us pronounce the words that St. Francis of Assisi composed:

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.To you alone, Most High, do they belong;no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,especially for Brother Sun,who is the day through whom You give us light.And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,of You Most High, he bears your likeness. We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair. We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,fair and stormy, all weather's moods,by which You cherish all that You have made. We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,so useful, humble, precious and pure. We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,through whom You light the night.He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong. We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,who sustains uswith her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs. We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,for love of You bear sickness and trial.Blessed are those who endure in peace,by You Most High, they will be crowned. We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,from whom no-one living can escape.Woe to those who die in their sins!Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.No second death can do them harm.We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,and serve You in all humility.