St. Mary's Catholic Church Ji-Mbausu.

08/09/2023

KNOW THE HIDDEN TRUTHS ABOUT THE NATIVITY OF OUR BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
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The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8th, is a momentous occasion in the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar. This feast commemorates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and offers profound insights that resonate with believers across the world. Through a careful examination of Church documents, the Bible, and Old Testament prophecies, we can uncover valuable lessons from the Nativity of Mary that inspire our faith, hope, and love.

LESSON 1: DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Mary's birth was a divinely orchestrated event, reflecting God's providential care for His people. Just as God prepared a way for Mary to be born to Saints Joachim and Anne, He also prepares paths for each of us in our journey of faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 308) reminds us that God's divine plan encompasses all of creation, and the birth of Mary is a testament to His unwavering providence.

LESSON 2: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

The Nativity of Mary points to her unique privilege of being conceived without original sin, known as the Immaculate Conception. This profound truth, solemnly defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854, emphasizes Mary's purity and holiness. It underscores the Church's teaching that Mary was preserved from sin to become a fitting vessel for the Incarnation. Her immaculate conception offers a model of purity and moral excellence for all Christians.

LESSON 3: FIAT- THE POWER OF YES

Mary's joyful "yes" to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation (Luke 1:38) echoes in the Nativity narrative. Her unwavering acceptance of God's plan, as evident in her birth, teaches us the power of surrendering to God's will. Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Redemptoris Mater" (1987) highlights Mary's fiat as a model of faith and obedience. It challenges us to embrace God's plan for our lives with trust and humility.

LESSON :4 THE FAMILY OF FAITH

Mary's birth brought immense joy to her parents, Joachim and Anne, who had longed for a child. It reminds us of the sanctity of family life and the importance of nurturing faith within our households. The Catechism (CCC 1655) emphasizes that the family is the domestic Church, where faith is passed down from generation to generation. Mary's birth showcases the beauty of family bonds rooted in faith.

LESSON 5: PREPARATION FOR THE INCARNATION

The Nativity of Mary serves as a prelude to the greater event—the birth of Jesus. Just as Mary was prepared to become the Mother of God, we are called to prepare our hearts to receive Christ daily. The Second Vatican Council's "Lumen Gentium" (1964) underscores Mary's role as a guide and model for the Church, encouraging us to imitate her faith and devotion.

LESSON 6: OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES

While the Old Testament does not directly mention Mary's birth, it contains prophecies and themes that foreshadow her role in salvation history. In Genesis 3:15, God promises to put enmity between the serpent and the woman, pointing to Mary's eventual triumph over evil. Isaiah 7:14 foretells the birth of a child to a virgin, echoing the miraculous nature of Mary's conception. Micah 5:2 prophesies the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, a key element in the Nativity narrative.

In conclusion, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary invites us to contemplate the mysteries of our faith, embrace divine providence, and respond to God's call with a resounding "yes." Mary's birth foreshadows the birth of our Savior and offers enduring lessons in faith, hope, and love. As we celebrate this feast, may we draw inspiration from Mary's life and strive to emulate her virtues in our journey of discipleship.
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07/09/2023

MY CATHOLIC FAITH: ARE THERE LAWS GOVERNING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

INTRODUCTION
In order to attain its goals, every human community needs rules or norms of behavior governing both private and public life. Although the Catholic Church is of divine origin and depends upon divine guidance to accomplish its goal of salvation, it is also a very human community. From its earliest days, the church has referred to its norms for private and public behavior as canon law.

WHAT IS CANON LAW?
"Canon" comes from the Greek word kanon, which means reed, rod, or ruler. Originally, it meant a ruler or gauge used by a carpenter to measure the proper length of a piece of wood. In time, the word was used to describe a measure for human behavior, such as law.

Canon law is primarily concerned with private or public behavior, not totally with articles of faith or morals. Official church teaching is contained in publications such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) or the Documents of the Second Vatican Council (1965).

BRIEF HISTORY
In the long history of the church, canon laws multiplied, and, as they did, the study of them became a significant specialty at university level. Collections of canon law soon had an important role in the life of the church. The first collections of canons were regional. But, during the Middle Ages, collections were published pertaining to all churches that used the Latin rite for Liturgy.

In 1917, the many collections of church law were combined into one compilation entitled The Code of Canon Law. In 1959, when Pope John XXIII called an ecumenical council to renew the life of the church, he also stated that, after the council adjourned, the laws of the church should be renewed as well. The result of a long process of study came to an end in 1983, when a revised Code of Canon Law was promulgated by Pope John Paul II.

WHY IS CANON LAW NEEDED IN THE CHURCH?
All societies need rules and regulations, including religious organizations. Hence, Canon law is meant to be a tool of service to the Church and to Christian and human values. It governs all aspects of Church life, from how a diocese is organized to who may be given a Catholic funeral to what is involved in selling a piece of Church property.

Canon law is necessary for good order within the Church. At times, it imposes penalties. Canonical norms give reliable procedures with predictable outcomes. As a result, it affords stability.

Canon law also defines and protects the institutions and externals of the Church.

Canon law defines and protects the rights and responsibilities of all people, according to their status in the Church.

Law is intrinsic to Christian relationships within the Church. For example, canon law defines the sacraments, which are essential to defining our Christian relationships. It is meant to facilitate peace, justice, equity and fairness among all members of the Church.

CONCLUSION
The Church has, at various times in its history, been described as a communitas perfecta, a perfect and supreme society that has as its goal the promotion of salvation of humanity, and thus Canon law has as its supreme law and end, the salvation of souls (Salus Animarum Suprema Lex).

THANK YOU FOR READING, MAY GOD BLESS US ALL AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH. AMEN

02/09/2023

THE BATTLE FOR YOUR SOUL

(Saturday Confession Alert)

The Christian life is not a funfare, it is a warfare that is fought against the three enemies of our souls; the devil, the world and the flesh. He/she who does not know this fact is bound to lose out and be defeated even before he/she comes to realize it.

St. Paul knew this well that was why he opened the eyes of the Ephesians to what the kingdom battle actually entail. He knows that a battle in which ones key enemies are well understood is a battle almost won. As a result of this he tells them “ For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

This battle is principally directed at winning our souls and making sure it ends up denied of true communion with God. The final goal of the enemies of our soul is to make sure we lose communion and union with God both here and in the next.

Why does the evil one come for our souls; it is because he does not want us to experience the love of God that he lost through disobedience, obstinacy and pride. He does this in a special way by making sure we are on the same path with him- the path of disobedience, obstinacy and pride.

The moment we sin and decide to remain in that sinful state to enjoy the pleasures that comes from it, then we have chosen the path of the devil; we have befriended the enemies of our souls. This makes us losers in the battle instead of conquerors that God has made us.

One of the thing that will always keep us shielded and protected from being defeated by the devil and the foes of our soul is the practice of REGULAR CONFESSION. Confession snatches a sinner from the jaws of destruction, the jaws of the devil and places him/her at the ocean of mercy which always overflows.

With the practice of regular confession one maintains a relationship and communion with God; and this is good to keep the devil away to get ourselves set for spiritual warfare.

Confession remains powerful as the sincere accusation of ourselves in the sacrament is an arrow one shoot into the heart of the evil one. Infact, every honest confession of sin is a spear with which one pierce the heart of the evil one.

Go for Confession today…

PREACHING-FRIAR@2023
Written by Magnificat Series

09/08/2023

09/08/2023

UBI CATHOLICA…
You think you can intimidate or suppress this Huge Institution called Roman Catholic Church, you dey play. It is built upon the Rock and sealed with the words and blood of many witnesses!
Long Live the Church of Christ.

(Pix of Pope Francis with 2 million young people in Lisbon)
Credit: Fada Ebube Divine Mercy
Bishop Shanahan Bulletins

07/08/2023

COULD YOU TEST YOUR CATHOLIC DOCTRINES KNOWLEDGE BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

N.B: PRIESTS, DEACONS, SEMINARIANS AND RELIGIOUS ARE EXEMPTED PLEASE.

1. O all you works of the Lord..
is related to..
A. Zechariah
B. Daniel
C. St. Gabriel
D. King David

2. ......was born in Sweden in 1303.
A. St. Gregory
B. St. Bridget
C. St. Felicity
D. St. Thomas

3. ... Is called an invitatory Psam
A. Psalm 99
B. Psalm 1
C. Psalm 23
D. Psalm 121

4. ... Is odd here
A. The Acclamation
B. The Magnificat
C. The TE Deum
D. The Benedictus

5. ... Is the right to remarry of persons who already married....
A. Holy Matrimony
B. Mixed Marriage
C. Pauline Privillegium
D. Sorugate Marriage

6. The Persian word Paradise means..
A. Kingdom
B. Heaven
C. Enclosed Garden
D. House of Angel

7. Paroimia is a.... Word
A. Latin
B. Hebrew
C. Greek
D. Aramaic

8. The prayer of Simeon is....
A. Canticle
B. Benedictus
C. Nunc Dimittis
D. Magnificat

9. . .. is change of mind
A. Retriever
B. Alternative
C. Magna
D. Metanoa

10....is the prayerful reading of sacred scripture
A. Singing
B. Psalms
C. Lectio Divina
D. Breviary

REV. FR. GODWIN ALKALI, CSSp.
(EXAMINER)

31/07/2023

JUST BEFORE YOU STEP OUT!

Good morning good Jesus; good morning friends.

As you step out on this last day, this last Monday of the month of JULY 2023, may the good Lord from whom every good and perfect gift proceeds connect you to all your unclaimed blessings for the month. If you have left your place of blessings for the month, may the Lord bring them to you and if your blessings have left you, may He restore them to you - because nothing is ever too late for God to accomplish. May He put a new song in your mouth and grant you the grace to know Him more, love him more, serve him more faithfully and follow him more closely wherever He leads. May the seal of sonship/daughtership which you carry separate you from the rest and from the crowd; and by the reason of the seal, may no man or woman cause you any trouble, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

25/07/2023

25/07/2023

JUST BEFORE YOU STEP OUT!

Good morning good Jesus; good morning friend.

Today, may the hand of the Lord that was upon you yesterday and preserved your life and stopped tears from flowing in your family rest upon you, preserve you all and cause you to rejoice and be exceedingly glad in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

24/07/2023

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐀 𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀 𝐍𝐔𝐍?

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The terms "𝐧𝐮𝐧" and "sister" are often used interchangeably. However within Roman Catholicism, there is a difference between the two. Here's a simple summary of the differences.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐮𝐧 is a woman who lives as a contemplative life in a monastery which is usually cloistered (or enclosed) or semi-cloistered. Her ministry and prayer life is centered within and around the monastery for the good of the world. She professes the perpetual solemn vows living a life according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Check out the Carmelite Nuns for example.

𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 is a woman who lives, ministers, and prays within the world. A sister's life is often called "𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞" or "𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜" because she is engaged in the works of mercy and other ministries that take the Gospel to others where they are. She professes perpetual simple vows living a life according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Check out the IHM Sisters for example.

Because both nuns and sisters belong to the church life form of Religious Life, they can also be called "𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬."

As you might have noticed, there is a difference in the type of vows, solemn vs. simple. The New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law explains the distinction this way:
"The older religious orders (monastic, canon regulars, mendicants, Jesuits) have perpetual solemn vows, and the more recent apostolic congregations have perpetual simple vows. The chief juridical difference between the two is that religious who profess a solemn vow of poverty renounce ownership of all their temporal goods, whereas religious who profess a simple vow of poverty have a right to retain ownership of their patrimony (an estate, endowment or anything inherited from one's parents or ancestors) but must give up its use and any revenue."

In ordinary conversation, the terms "𝐧𝐮𝐧" and "𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" are used interchangeably. Both nuns and sisters are addressed as "𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫"

In popular culture, the term "𝐧𝐮𝐧" is often more widely accessible and immediately understood to refer to women who have professed the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
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SHALOM
PROPH JERRY

24/07/2023

MY CATHOLIC FAITH: WHY IS CATHOLIC WORSHIP CALLED MASS?

INTRODUCTION
It is uncommon for a Catholic to go to Church and say "I went for Service", He /She would always say, "I just came back from Mass. What does Mass mean and why do Catholics use the word?

THE WORD MASS
The English word “Mass” comes from the Latin word missa, which means to be “sent.”

WHY IS CATHOLIC WORSHIP CALLED THE MASS?
The Latin word Missa has been used since the 6th or 7th century to describe the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, our main liturgical service. The word is used during the conclusion of the celebration, when the priest or deacon says in Latin, Ite, missa est.

The literal translation of that phrase is, “Go, it has been sent.” Saint Thomas Aquinas wrote a commentary on these words and explained in his Summa Theologiae, “And from this the Mass derives its name … the deacon on festival days ‘dismisses’ the people at the end of the Mass, by saying: ‘Ite, missa est,’ that is, the victim [Jesus] has been sent to God through the angel, so that it may be accepted by God.”

Pope Benedict XVI also expanded on these words in his encyclical Sacramentum Caritatis, but focused on a different spiritual meaning behind the phrase. He wrote, “In antiquity, missa simply meant ‘dismissal.’

However in Christian usage it gradually took on a deeper meaning. The word ‘dismissal’ has come to imply a ‘mission.’ These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church. The People of God might be helped to understand more clearly this essential dimension of the Church’s life, taking the dismissal as a starting- point.”

Instead of seeing the words of the priest or deacon as a conclusion to the celebration, Pope Benedict saw them as a beginning. He made that abundantly clear when he developed new words for the dismissal at Mass. Pope Benedict approved the phrases, “Ite ad Evangelium Domini annuntiandum (Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord)” and “Ite in pace, glorificando vita vestra Dominum (Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life).”

Both of these dismissals focus on the missionary character of the Mass and how those in the pew are meant to go out in the world, sustained by the Eucharist they just received.

CONCLUSION
Viewed in this framework, the “Mass” is not just a single celebration on a Sunday or weekday or feast day, but a starting-point for a lifelong journey of Christian witness. The priest, in the place of Christ, sends forth his parishioners into the world so that they may be beacons of light, set on a hill for all to see.

THANK YOU FOR READING, MAY GOD BLESS US ALL AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH. AMEN