What is Ecumenism?What is the need for Ecumenism?

Ecumenism refers to initiatives aimed at Christian unity. Christian unity was Christ's
dearest desire. He expressed it in his last testament as he walked towards his tragic
destiny:the Cross. He prayed in his priestly prayer "that they may all be one;even as
you,Father,are in me,and I in you,that they also may be in us,so that the world may
believe that you have sent me" Divisions in the Church openly contradicts the will of
Christ,scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel
to every creature. Everywhere large numbers have left the impulse of this grace for
the restoration of unity among all Christians. Every year a Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity is observed in churches all over the world. It commences on 18 January
-the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter and concludes on 25 January- the Feast of
the Conversion of Saint Paul.A different theme for this week is chosen every year.







 

Mind Your Attitude

     Very often anger,fear,mistrust,disrespect,selfishness,pride and siblings rivalry are the root causes of disharmony and disunity in the home. The cultivation of good and healthy attitudes is the responsibility of every
member of the family:"Husbands,love your wives"(Eph 5:25). "Wives, respect your husbands"(Eph 5:25)."Children,obey your parents"(Cpl 3:20)."Parents, do not drive your children to resentment"(Col 3"21) "Be kind and compassionate to one another,forgiving each other" (Eph 4:32). Good attitudes create the right atmosphere in the family. They also bring about the proper moral,emotional and social development of persons for their own adjustment and well-being in society and help them live more upright Christian lives. Parents, first,must set a good example to their children ! They are obliged to teach their children manners and to cultivate in them good values/habits and proper attitudes. St.Thomas More said: "Children should have honorable people for parents,since in this way, a seedbed of good nature and virtue is fostered in these children from the time they are born." Every Christian should pray for the blessing of the Holy Spirit who with his fruits of Charity.   Joy,Peace,Patience,Kindness,Goodness,Longanimity(Forbearance),Mildness,Faith,Modesty,Continency and Chastity,makes one holy and perfect.

Grow and help others to grow:

1.          Our purpose in life is to grow in holiness by knowing , loving, and serving God in this world so that we can be happy with him forever in eternity. Therefore, all members in the family must help each other to strive towards this purpose and goal.
2. Secondly, each one can must try and discern the will of God and accomplish it in there daily life.Parents must give their children the opportunity to discover their God-given talents and their vocation through which they can best serve God.With grace and understanding, parents will be able to discern when and how to let (their children) go and allow them to grow. This is the first step in helping children grow into responsible adults so they can face difficult situation in life and make moral & value judgements and proper choices.

What is faith?

" For by grace you are saved through faith,and that not of yourselves,for it is the gift of God."(Ephesians2:8)

There is no way to understand Christianity than by beginning to understand the concept of faith.Faith is a
supernatural virtue,and a gift from God,freely given and freely to be received (or rejected)by man.By faith,
man completely submits his intellect and his will to God.Sacred scripture calls this human response to God
"the obedience of Faith,"Faith enables us to believe the truths revealed by God about himself that are contained
in Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. We could never know this truths about God on our own, since they
transcend the power of reason.

Though faith is above human reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason,since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind.Faith,therefore,presupposes reason.Faith is related to reason as a telescope to the eye,which does not destroy vision,but opens new worlds hitherto closed to it.Let two minds with exactly the same education,one without and the other with faith,look on a peace of unleavened bread in a monstrance. One sees bread, the other adores the Eucharistic Lord.One sees more than the other because he has a light which the other lacks- the light of faith.

How does faith come about? God puts the desire supernaturally in our hearts at Baptism. In order to believed,man needs the interior help of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit awakens faith,he not only gives
of the Word of God, but through the sacraments also makes present the 'wonders" of God which is proclaims. By submitting to God's truth, the mind is enlightened and the will is strengthened. God gives his
Spirit to help us say: "I believe", and then to use us to bear witness to him in every corner of the world.

According to the Gospel of St. Mark,'Jesus final instruction to his disciples presents faith and Baptism together as the only way to salvation : "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned"(Mk 16:16). But , the faith which brings salvation must be seen in every aspect
of our lives,in the way we think and in the way we act.St. Paul sums this up by saying: "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Heb 11:6).

The challenge we face everyday is how to live our faith more fully.It is then that we must turn to the witnesses
of faith: to Abraham,who " in hope believed against hope";to the Virgin Mary, who walk in " her pilgrimage of
faith"; and to so many others,such as the saints. The truth is that only by walking in faith, can we be more deeply immersed in it; only by offering it up through prayer,sacrifice,love,and good works can God continue to fill us with his heavenly life.

St. Paul said, " Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith "
"Hebrews 12:1-2).

May 22 - Homily: Strength Through Hope of Ressurection

Fr Tito: A Sacred Bridge

Song of St Anthony