A Reflection on the Solemnity of Christmas

Here are my thoughts for Christmas Day :

The Son who is born of Mary is also our God. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father; He is the Word through whom all things have been created.

He is light from light, God from God, consubstantial with the Father.

Jesus Christ is outside of time; he is eternal. As God, he carries within himself the synthesis of all the perfections. By means of Mary, this God makes himself "True Man".

In Mary's virginal womb, there came about his human conception. On Christmas Day, he is born of Mary in a poor and unadorned cave; He is placed in a cold manger; He is adored by his Mother Mary and by his Legal Father Saint Joseph; He is surrounded by the humble presence of shepherds; He is glorified by the heavenly cohort of the angels who sing the hymn of glory to God and of peace to men who have been loved and saved by him.

Let us bow down and adore the Infant Jesus who is born. He is Emmanuel, "He is God with us".

"He is God with us", who makes himself man for our salvation. On Christmas Day, the Savior and the Redeemer is born for all.

The fragility of this "Divine Infant" becomes remedy for all human fragility: his cry is alleviation for all sorrow; his poverty is wealth for all misery; his pain is comfort for all the afflicted; his gentleness is hope for all sinners; his goodness becomes salvation for all who are lost.

"He is God with us" who makes himself redemption and refuge for all humanity. Enter with Mary into the bright cave of his divine love. Allow yourselves to be placed by Mary in the gentle and sweet cradle of his heart which has just begun to beat.

Finally, "He is God with us" because even in his human fragility - Jesus Christ is truly God. Jesus Christ is God, outside of changes of time and history: He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Credits and References:

To the Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons
1996 Supplement
"God with Us"
Pages 53-54

Feast of Christ the King - 23rd November 2014

When Pope Pius, the 11th instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925 it was to remind us of the tragic illusion of trying to build a new world without Christ.

There was no intention to dictate a particular social system as alone compatible with the Law of Christ. Triumphalism or the pathetic attempts thereat are completely at odds in the celebration of this feast.

Declaration of Faith in Christ and loyalty to his Kingship is never arrogant. That Christ is King by natural right has its source in the doctrine of the Incarnation and the ineffable hypostatic union.

In his encyclical letter Pope Pius, the 11th enumerated the blessings he hoped would accrue to the Church and all human society as a result of the public observation of the feast.

The acknowledgment by the State of  Christ's Kingly rights would be the supreme guarantee for its own authority and for the human rights of its members. The Annual Celebration would remind the nations that not only individuals but rulers and princes are bound to give public honour and obedience to Christ.

It would remind Men of the last judgement when all will be called to render an account.

The Feast of Christ the King this year is a time for thinking about how the common good can be promoted, about securing the rights of men and about limiting or ending injustice to our fellowmen.

Credits :

Don Bosco's Madonna Mumbai
November 1986
Feast of Christ the King
Page 25

THE ABIDING PRESENCE

Father Bernard Vaughan S.J. in one of his retreats told of the advice once given to him by his doctor when he was feeling tired and rundown : "Sit in the Sun. Wrap yourself up well, and just sit in the sun. Nothing will do you more good".

He applied this to the spiritual life by saying : " So I ask you to spend much time basking in the sunshine of the BLESSED SACRAMENT .... This sun bath is a great cure. Rest in the Sun and you will be enriched with his blessings".

This recalls the analogy with the electric powerhouse, suggested by another famous retreat master Father Walter Drum S.J. - he compared the Tabernacle with the electric power house. Over the door, of each might be placed the sign : "Power, Light, and Heat supplied here.

All that we need do is to turn on the switch- just kneel in prayer before the Tabernacle !! ".

Credits: Don Bosco's Madonna, Mumbai
             November 1986
             "The Abiding Presence"
               Page 24

Catholic Classics Unlimited is 1 Year Old

Dear Friends in Jesus and Mary,

Greetings from Mumbai, India. My Catholic Blog is 1 year old. I commenced blogging on the 5th of November 2013, so the 5th of November 2014 makes it a Year now.

Please pray for me and for continuous success for my Blog - "Catholic Classics Unlimited".

I will be constantly updating my Blog with articles and with Links to known and unknown "Catholic Classics" throughout November and December 2014.

I invite all Catholics to my Blog and encourage them to read  many beautiful and magnificent Catholic Classics that are online @ my blog.

Happy Reading.

Louis Pasteur - A Lover of the Holy Rosary

I recently came across an interesting article about a Scientist in 19th Century France who was a great devotee of the Holy Rosary.

The Scientist in question is "Louis Pasteur".

Here is the story.

"Over a Hundred years ago, a University Student found himself seated in a train by the side of a person who seemed to be a well - to - do - peasant. He was praying the Rosary and moving the beads in his fingers.

"Sir, do you still believe in such outdated things ??" asked the student of the old man. "Yes, i do. Do you not ??" asked the Man.

The Student burst out into laughter and said, "I do not believe in such silly things. take my advice. Throw the Rosary out through the window and learn what science has to say about it."

"Science?? I do not understand this Science?? Perhaps you can explain it to me, "the man said humbly with some tears in his eyes.

The Student saw that the man was deeply moved so to avoid further hurting the feelings of the man, he said, "please give me your address and I will send you some literature to help you on the matter".

The Man fumbled in the inside pocket of his coat and gave the boy his visiting card. On glancing at the card, the student bowed his head in shame and became silent. On the card he read: "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris".

The Title of this article was "He Prayed the Rosary". I found it in a prayerbook called "The Secret of Happiness" published in Denver, Colorado.

Credits and References :

The Secret of Happiness Prayer Book
Denver, Colorado 
 

October 7, 2014 Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

The Queen of Heaven's Rosary

History of a Binding Prayer:

This Feast of "Our Lady of the Rosary" was instituted by Pope Saint Pius 5th on the anniversary of the naval battle at Lepanto (1571) on the 7th of October. It was said that the Christians were victorious because of the "Help" of the Holy Mother of God, invoked by the saying of the Rosary.

Devotion to the Rosary through the Ages:

Our Lady at various times has appeared and requested that her Rosary be said for specific causes. Many centuries ago she appeared to Saint Dominic and encouraged the recitation of the Rosary to overcome a great heresy at that time. Saint Dominic preached the recitation of the Rosary and the heresy was overcome.

The past is full of records of devotion to the Rosary. Louis Pasteur, the great benefactor of humanity and a man of unquestionable learning and wisdom, was also remarkable for his deep faith. Many a time, while waiting for a train at a station he used those free moments to recite his Rosary. Instead, of losing time in idle conversation he preferred praying to his Heavenly Mother.

Our Lady's Promise to Fortuna Agrelli :

In the year 1884, in Naples Italy an Italian girl 19 years old named Fortuna Agrelli lay on a bed of intense suffering. She had been in that condition for more than a year and was now pronounced hopeless by her doctors.

Her Family therefore began a Novena of Rosaries to beg the Mother of God to cure her. After a few days the Queen of Heaven appeared to the dying girl, in company with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena. In her left arm, the Holy Virgin held the Infant Jesus and in her right hand a Rosary.

The girl exclaimed eagerly "O Queen of the Holy Rosary, cure me !!" The Blessed Virgin answered, "Because you invoke me by that title so pleasing to me, I cannot refuse you. Make three Rosary Novenas, and you shall obtain what you ask and make it known to everybody that whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three Rosary Novenas and three more in thanksgiving.

Remember that the title "Queen of the Holy Rosary" is most precious and dear to me.

Needless to say, Fortuna Agrelli was soon completely cured. Pope Leo 13th was so deeply impressed by this incident that no fewer than twenty encyclicals came from his pen during his lifetime urging the clergy and the faithful to love and recite the Rosary everyday.

Contemporary Perspective :

Today's celebration (October 7th) urges all to meditate on the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was in a special manner associated at the Incarnation, Public Ministry, Passion, and Glorious Resurrection of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ came on  earth because he wanted to be understood, to be seen, to be pondered. But How ?? You may ask.

I answer : "Lying in a manger, resting on his Mother's lap, preaching on the Mount, spending nights in prayer; or hanging on the cross, the pallor of death on his face like one forsaken among the dead, overruling the powers of hell; or rising again on the third day, showing the Apostles the print of the nails, the sign of victory, and finally ascending from their sight into heaven".

The 20 Mysteries are real visions that summarise Our Lord's Life under the headings of Joy, Sorrow, Light, and Glory.

The best way to grasp their full richness is to see them through the heart of the one who was closest to him, "Our Blessed Mother".

The Process is equal to a perfect orchestration: The Main Theme keeps on repeating itself in different variations, all laced together by the recurring refrain. Indeed Jesus Christ, the greatest of themes ever in the repetition of every Hail Mary appears in his life's facets: Son of God and of Our Lady; born in a stable ..... presented to the Temple .... dying on the Cross on Calvary; gloriously risen etc.

The Rosary, therefore is not a prayer for the lazy who do not know what to say; it is instead a binding prayer, binding us to follow in imitation of Our Lady, and specially Our Lord who is the way, truth, and life. Only then our life will take on the right transformation.

Reciting the Rosary is a must:

The old tradition of reciting the Rosary in the Family is a "MUST". Instead of spending endless hours as silent spectators of the profane altar of the T.V. ; the pious recitation of the Rosary will be the binding prayer that will keep us knit together. "The Family that prays together stays together".

Conclusion:

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. Make it part of your daily life. It can be said during a few spare minutes at home or in church, on the train, on the bus, or while driving to work or while one is at the super market.

Gather your family about you, mothers and fathers in the evening for the recitation of the family Rosary. Make October truly Mary's Month of the Holy Rosary and she will take care of you and yours.

Credits:
1. Don Bosco's Madonna Mumbai October 1975 No. 434 Page 3

2. Don Bosco's Madonna Mumbai October 1986 No. 566 Pages 3, 20, and 21. (A Binding Prayer on Pages 20 and 21).

3. Don Bosco's Madonna Mumbai October 2010 Vol - 12 No 6. The Queen of Heaven's Rosary by Crusader of the Divine Child Page 28.

6 Important Sayings of Saint Padre Pio for us today

1. "Always remain close to the Catholic Church, because it alone can give you true peace, since it alone possesses Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament,  the true prince of Peace.

2. "On this earth, everyone has his cross. But we must act in such a way that we are not the bad but the good thief."

3. "In the spiritual life, you must take one step forward each day in a vertical line, from the bottom up."

4. "The proof of love is to suffer for the one you love."

5. "It would be easier for the earth to exist without the Sun, than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

6. "Let's approach Holy Communion with holy love and fear. May the entire day be preparation  and thanksgiving for Holy Communion."

Credits : The Examiner, Mumbai
                Vol - 162, No. 21
                May 21, 2011
               "Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina"
               A True Face of Jesus Christ by Fr. Michael Fernandes OFM. CAP
               Page 8