Sunday, July 8, 2012

Thy Will Be Done on Earth,as it is in Heaven

Jesus teaches us that one enters the Kingdom of Heaven not by speaking words, but by doing " the will of my Father in heaven" (Mt. 7:21). God's expression of his will is the Commandment that you love one another, even as I have loved you (Jn.13:34)." Although he was a Son. [Jesus] learned obedience through what he suffered" (Heb.5:8). For this reason Jesus gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God the Father. By prayer we can discern what is the will of God for us and obtain the endurance to do it. In committing ourselves to Jesus, we can become one spirit with him, and thereby accomplish his will that will be perfect on earth as it is in heaven.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD

Jesus teaches us this petition, because it glorifies our Father by acknowledging how good he is, beyond all goodness. The Father who gives us life cannot but give us the nourishment life requires - all appropriate goods and blessings, both material and spiritual. The presence of world hunger calls Christians to exercise responsibility and justice for the poor, to share with love our spiritual and material goods. This petition also addresses the spiritual famine of the world, and the Christian is to proclaim the good news to the poor. The specifically Christian sense of this fourth petition concerns the Bread of Life: The Word of God accepted in faith, the Body of Christ received in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is our daily bread. The power belonging to this divine food members of him, we may become what we receive... This also is our daily bread: readings we hear its day in church and the hymns we hear and sing. All these are necessities for our pilgrimage.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

And Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us:

In this petition, we return to him like the prodigal son and the tax collector; we recognize that we are sinners before him. Our petitions begins with a "confession" of our wretchedness, and his mercy.This petition has two parts. According to the second phrase, our petition will not be heard unless we have first met a strict requirement.This outpouring of mercy cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and and their hardness makes them impervious to the Father's merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace.It is there, in fact, "in the depths of the heart," that everything is bound and loosed. It is not easy to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purufies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession. Christian prayer extends even to the forgiveness of one's neighbor. God does not accept the sacrifice of an unforgiving mam ,but  commands that  he depart from the altar so that he may first be reconciled with his brother. For God can be appeased only by prayers that make peace.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION :

This petition goes to the root of the preceding one, for our sins result from our consenting to temptation; This petition asks God not to allow us to take the path that leads to sin. This petition implores the Spirit for discernment and strength in the battle between flesh and spirit. The Holy Spirit makes us discern between trials, necessary for the growth of the inner man, and temptation, which leads to sin and death. Discernment unmasks the lie of temptation . This petition also requests the grace of vigilance and final perseverance.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

But deliver us from all evil:

This last petition to our Father is included in the prayer Jesus, and we pray in communion with the Church for the deliverance of the whole human family from the person of Satan ,the Evil One, angel  who opposes God. When we ask to be delivered from the Evil One, we pray as well to be freed from all evils, present , past, and future, of which he is the author or instigator. Along with deliverance from the evils that overwhelm  humanity, the Church  implores the precious gift of peace and the grace of perseverance in expectation of Christ's return.

By the final "Amen," we express our "fiat" concerning the seven petitions : "So be it. "
[See CCC 2803-2954, 2865 ]

Sunday, May 20, 2012

How important is it to make the Sign of the Cross when we say the " Glory Be To The Father? say the

To make the Sign of the Cross while reciting the "Glory Be " is an oriental tradition.
In the Latin Rite, we make the Sign of the Cross only at the  beginning and at the end of
a celebration. While, there is no need to do it every time we say the "Glory Be", there
is no reason why we should not sign ourselves whenever we wish.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

What is the " The Sign of the Cross" ?

The Sign of the Cross is one of the most important and one of the most frequently used of the sacramentals.
It is the sacred sign first taught to the feeble fingers of the child at its mother's knee; it is the sacred sign traced by the faltering fingers of the dying Catholic. From birth to death it is the holy sign, the holy ceremony that continually reminds the Catholic of the source from which all spiritual blessings come-the cross. The two most common forms of sacramental are the large Sign of the Cross made by touching the forehead, the breast, and
the left and right shoulders.The cross thus covers the body- at least the most important members--the head and
heart. The smaller Sign of the Cross is traced upon the forehead, lips, and breast.