WHY DO CATHOLICS PUT ASHES ON OUR HEADS ON ASH WEDNESDAY?

by MARK HART

“Excuse me, you’ve got some dirt on your head.”

Every year someone says that to me on Ash Wednesday. Maybe it has happened to you too. In the past it used to frustrate me, but in recent years I have come to see it as a great opportunity to evangelize, to share with someone about the most important person in my life: Jesus Christ.

So, what do you say when folks ask you about that smudge on your forehead?

Here are a few responses that I would not recommend:

THE IGNORANT RESPONSE

‘My mom made me go to church and get them. I have no idea what they mean.’

THE SARCASTIC RESPONSE

‘I’m protesting showers. Today, ashes; tomorrow I’m going to swim in raw sewage.’

THE RIDICULOUS RESPONSE

‘I have a big zit that I’m trying to cover up. Is it working?’

THE PRACTICAL (but Misguided) RESPONSE

‘Better dirty on the outside of my head than on the inside.’

And here are a few responses that I would recommend:

THE BIBLICAL RESPONSE

Over forty passages in the Bible associate ashes with mourning and grief. In Old Testament times people used ashes as a sign of repentance. They would sit in ashes, roll around in them, sprinkle them upon their heads, or even mingle them with their food and drink. They did this as an outward sign of their inward posture of repentance. Check out Daniel 9:3-6, for an example.

Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a time when we stop and assess how we’re doing in our walk with God. Lent helps us identify spiritual areas in which we can grow and sinful areas that we need to avoid. To repent, put simply, means to turn away from sin and turn toward God. We use ashes as an outward expression of our need to begin again.

A TRADITIONAL RESPONSE

Ashes are a sign of physical death, as in ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ We began as dust (a joyless and lifeless existence), and our bodies will return to dust until we are raised up by Christ. By receiving ashes and keeping them on, we publicly proclaim our intent to die to our worldly desires and live even more in Christ’s image, which we focus on during the season of ‘rebirth’ that is Lent (a Latin term for ‘Spring’).

THE HISTORICAL RESPONSE

For over twelve hundred years on the dies cinerum (day of ashes) faithful followers have approached the altar and received ashes upon their foreheads. These ashes are made from the burnt palm fronds that were blessed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. The ashes are sprinkled with holy water, usually fragranced with incense and blessed using four prayers that are thousands of years old.

The use of ashes for repentance and penance can be traced even further back and is practiced throughout the world. On Ash Wednesday ashes are applied to believers’ foreheads in the shape of the cross.

THE SYMBOLIC RESPONSE

God formed Adam out of the ‘dust’ of the earth, which we read about in Genesis 2:7. In addition, Jesus healed the blind man with clay (earth and spit) in John 9:6. We mark ourselves with ashes as a ‘new beginning’ at the onset of Lent, allowing the life of Jesus Christ to make us whole and new again.

THE MOST BASIC RESPONSE

I’m a sinner. I don’t always love God as strongly as I could or as directly as I should. Ash Wednesday reminds me that it is only through God that I have life; He gave it to me.

Ash Wednesday also begins my preparation for Holy Week and the Passion and Resurrection of my Lord, Jesus, without Whom I have no life here and no chance at eternal life in Heaven. This is just a great opportunity for me to get better. Thanks for asking.

God forgives. He loves. And He gives this sinner a second chance.

https://www.nairaland.com/6392455/lionel-messi-barcelona-deny-leaking


Developing story

Barcelona say they will take "appropriate legal action" against Spanish newspaper El Mundo after it published details of forward Lionel Messi's contract.

Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document".


Argentina international Messi, 33, joined Barcelona at 13 but handed in a transfer request in August.

His contract runs out in the summer and there is uncertainty if he will remain with the club.

Barcelona said in a statement that they "regret" its publication, adding: "FC Barcelona categorically denies any responsibility for the publication of this document, and will take appropriate legal action against the newspaper El Mundo, for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication.

"FC Barcelona expresses its absolute support for Lionel Messi, especially in the face of any attempt to discredit his image, and to damage his relationship with the entity where he has worked to become the best player in the world and in football history."

Messi is Barcelona's record goalscorer and has won 10 La Liga titles, the Champions League four times and the Ballon d'Or - awarded to the world's best player - six times.

His controversial summer request to leave followed clashes with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October.

Messi, who described Bartomeu's reign as "a disaster", said in December: "I don't know what I'm going to do yet."




https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55873590

"Life in its true sense is not something we have exclusively in or from ourselves, it is a relationship. And life in its totality is a relationship with him who is the source of life. If we are in relation with him who does not die, who is life itself and love itself, then we are in life. Then we live... Our relationship with God is established through communion with Jesus -- we cannot achieve it alone or from our own resources alone."

Much debate has set Catholic "Baptism" against the Evangelical "Born again" concept. Greater common ground can be found if we compare the Evangelical "Born Again" experience to the Catholic "Second Conversion" experience which is when a Catholic surrenders to Jesus with an attitude of "Jesus, take my will and my life, I give everything to you." This is a spontaneous thing that happens during the journey of faithful Catholics who "get it."
Yup, the Catholic Church teaches a personal relationship with Christ:

The Catechism says:

1428 Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal." This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first.

1430 Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion.

The Pope and the Catechism are two of the highest authorities in the Church. They are telling us to get personal with Jesus.

Good News for Ecumenism

In one respect, Catholics and Evangelicals are saying the same thing. "Surrender your life to Jesus. He is God, He is the Saviour. Let Him run your life. Get personal with Him." This is what we have in common and why we can pray together and love one another as He has loved us. (Jn 15:12) We love praying with anyone who loves Jesus. (Mt 18:20).

Do Catholics say "our relationship with Jesus" rather than "my relationship with Jesus?

Although Catholics preach a personal encounter with Christ we also emphasize the importance of the entire Body of Christ, which is the Church. The Christian walk is not a self centered journey, it is a journey for the community of believers, which the Bible calls the "Elect." (Col 8:33, Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 5:21; Tit. 1:1; 2 John 1) This attention to the Body of Christ has sometimes caused Evangelicals to say that we are not into a personal relationship with Christ. This is not so. We are into a personal relationship with him, particularly during communion, and we belong to the Body of Christ, which is made up of all the faithful of this age and those who went before us.

The Catholic/Evangelical comparison grid

Let us compare the Evangelical "getting saved" process to the Catholic "Conversion of Heart" experience. There are many similarities:

1 - Sin

Evangelicals -A person is apart from God and a slave to sin. Personal sin and ignorance of Jesus have condemned them.

Catholics - A person is apart from God and a slave to grave sins (serious) and/or venial sins (not as serious). Perhaps they were baptized at birth but have lost the grace of that sacrament through rebellion, complacency or disbelief.

2 - Awakening

Evangelicals - Something happens that lets him/her see the error of his/her ways (a movement of the Spirit)

Catholics - Something happens that lets him/her see the error of his/her ways (a movement of the Spirit).

3 - Repent

Evangelicals - The sinner repents before God and asks Jesus into his/her life (is born again). It is a personal encounter with Jesus. Evangelicals would say he is "saved" from final damnation.

Catholics - There is an alpine curious (affliction of spirit) and compunction cords (repentance of heart) and conversion of heart. A "second conversion" that is a personal encounter with Jesus. (Catechism 1428,
Also, in Acts 2, and Col 7:9 people are having a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit)

4 - Confess

Evangelicals - Usually, the sinner will speak to his pastor and prays with him. He gets active in his Church again.

Catholics - The sinner confesses his sins before God and man (a Priest) and asks forgiveness which is granted by God. He/she has a reconciliation with God and Church and is freed of "eternal punishment" of hell. He/she is restored to the Grace received at baptism

5 - Amend

Evangelicals - Amends are often made where possible (this attempts to repair injuries caused to neighbours) i.e., returning stolen goods, apologizing for harms done. etc...

Catholics - Amends are made where possible (this attempts to repair injuries to neighbours). i.e., returning stolen goods, apologizing for harms done. This is called restitution or "making satisfaction" (Catechism 1459)

6 - Penance

Evangelicals - He/she tries to live a useful life of service out of love for Jesus

Catholics - This helps to restore the injuries that the sin caused the sinner him/herself. He/she tries to live a useful life of service, out of love for Jesus and a desire to please him. (Charity)

When are we saved - "Born Again" vs. "Baptism"

Evangelicals believe the "Born Again" decision is the critical moment of salvation for the individual. Some feel that this decision guarantees salvation regardless of any future sin. Catholics view "Baptism" as the critical event in the salvation of an individual.

In the New Testament we see a connection between salvation and baptism. (Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Pt. 3:21, Mk 16:15-16 Acts 2:38). Catholics look at the journey of water through the Old Testament including the great flood that cleansed the world. They feel that these were foreshadowings of baptism in the New Testament.(Gen.1:1-2, 6:5, 8:23, 9:9, Ex 3:4, Is12:2-3,1 Pt 3:20,1 Cor. 10:2) Particularly, Peter makes the connection between the great flood and baptism in 1 Peter 3:20-21.

...who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ...

Here we see the express relationship of water baptism to salvation and also the foundation of the required appeal and "heart" behind the baptism. Baptism requires not only water, but the words "Father Son and the Holy Ghost" and the intention of baptizing. Catholics don't believe we are saved by water alone, all three of these things are necessary for a valid baptism (water, words and intention). We think this passage outlines the necessity of water and of the appeal.

"In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity" (Zechariah 13:1).

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalms 51:2).

When the eunuchs were traveling along the road and Philip evangelized them, one of them said
"Wait look, there is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?' ...when they came up out of the water the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 3:35-40)

The eunuch was hit with the Holy Spirit. For the Eunuch the born again experience included a water baptism.

15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

It is a fundamental principle in mathematics and logic that the word "and" is a joining word. If we require a credit card and an email account to make an online payment, both are necessary. If either is missing we will not be able to complete the transaction. In this case, Catholics believe Peter uses the word "and" to join belief and baptism as the necessary elements of salvation. The line after that "the one who does not believe will be condemned" in no way diminishes that association. If either of them is missing there is no salvation. In this case belief is missing and the person is condemned. It's like saying "the one who has a credit card and an email address will be accepted for this online transaction but the one who does not have an email address will be denied."

Martin Luther, indicates Baptism to be more than a symbolic gesture. He said that baptism...

"...works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal salvation...."

Baptism doesn't means every "card carrying" Catholic with a Baptismal Certificate is saved. Not at all. Catholics believe that the saving grace of baptism can be easily lost through rebellion, complacency, sin, and disbelief (for instance in nominal or cultural Catholics). One problem of being a 2000 year old church is that some people are born into the faith but have very little actual connection to it. The saving and redemptive powers imparted by the Holy Spirit during Baptism bring with them the expectation that the Baptized person will make an adult choice for Jesus as soon as they reach the age of reason. In theory, this should happen at confirmation (about 10 years old) but in reality it usually happens later during a personal crisis of some sort. My surrender to Jesus happened when I was 27 years old. That's when I really encountered him. Many faithful "practicing Catholics", have had a "conversion of heart" experience which akin to the Evangelical "born again" experience. The Church expects this to happen and also requires it.

Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received as food have made us "holy and without blemish," just as the Church herself, the Bride of Christ, is "holy and without blemish." Nevertheless the new life received in Christian initiation has not abolished the frailty and weakness of human nature, nor the inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence, which remains in the baptized such that with the help of the grace of Christ they may prove themselves in the struggle of Christian life. This is the struggle of conversion directed toward holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us. (Catechism 1426)

We got an email that said:

Cornelius was saved before he was baptized. Acts 10:47 states that he "received" the Holy Spirit...Also Cornelius spoke in tongues before he was baptized (Acts 10:44-48). This New Testament gift is given to those "in the church" (1 Corinthians 12:28)

This is a good point. It shows that Cornelius received the gifts of the Spirit, but Scripture tells us that having the gift of the Holy Spirit, does not necessarily mean someone is saved. Mathew 7:22 says:

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evil doers.' "

The New Testament Christians that Jesus talks about in this passage declared Jesus to be Lord. They received gifts of the Holy Spirit. They could not have cast out demons if they were not filled with the Holy Spirit. Yet they were not saved. It appears that there was another critical event that needed to occur for them to receive salvation. We Catholics suggest that event is baptism.

In his #1 selling Evangelical book, The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren said:

For years I wondered why Jesus' Great Commission gives the same prominence to baptism as it does to the great tasks of Evangelism and edification...(The Purpose Driven Life, pg 120)

Catholics have the answer to that.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3–4).

In Colossians 2:11–13, he tells us, "In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision [of] Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ" (NIV).

What about the thief on the cross beside Jesus, he was saved but wasn't baptized?

The Church teaches that there may be extraneous circumstances where baptism is not possible. In those cases, it is clear that the person would be baptised if possible, then they receive the "baptism of desire". He would have done it in a moment if he was allowed. Therefore we would say that the thief on the cross had the "Baptism of Desire."

Did Catholics rewrite John 3:3 "Born again" to "Born from above"?

This is what some Evangelicals have been told by their pastors. The Greek word used in the passage is "anothen" {an'-o-then}. Anothen means literally "from above, from a higher place." All through his Gospel, John uses this word to refer to spiritual movement that comes down from "above." In the King James Version, the only two times "anothen" is translated to "again" in the KJV are in John 3:3 and 3:7; every other time it is given a different rendering.

The NRSV Bible which is used in many scholarly circles is not the Catholic version. Yet it translates the passage as "born from above" in John 3:3. It is translated by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

However, the words "born again" also work and Catholics have no trouble with translations of John 3:3 by theologians that use "born again."

Backsliding vs. Venial Sin

Perhaps what Evangelicals call "backsliding", Catholics would call "venial sin" (non-mortal sin). Evangelicals tell the born again person who is backsliding to "return to the Lord and get right with Him." Catholics say the same thing to the person who is practicing venial sin. Both Catholics and Evangelicals are big on repentance. Confession is part of that repenting process for the Catholic.

Evangelicals would say that the born again Christian who backslides so far as to lose their faith, never made a sincere decision in the first place and therefore was not "born again." Evangelicals feel this person is in grave danger of facing hell.

Catholics look at it a bit differently. They say that "mortal sin" - which is the conscious decision to gravely and disobediently sin, cuts us off from the saving Grace received at Baptism. This severs our relationship with God that was won at Baptism. If not reconciled, it will cause eternal damnation (hell). Catholics feel that, although we are saved, we must "endure until the end" (Mk 13:13, James 1:2, Mt 10:22, Mt 24:13) and not reject the Grace of Baptism. Paul recognized the importance of enduring to the end when he said "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil 2:12) and " ...or I myself ...may be rejected as worthless" (1 Cor 9:27) Catholics believe God never forgets the indelible seal that is imparted at Baptism and is always calling and waiting for those who have drifted from the faith to return to Him. Catholics believe that by being baptized, surrendering to Christ on an ongoing basis, by enduring to the end with faith, and reconciling when we fall, we receive salvation.

Isn't Jesus all about the heart - isn't the intellect useless?

Another criticism of the Catholic faith is that it's too "intellectual" or "scholarly", and that there isn't more room for "the heart". However, when we think of the most influential "born- again" Christian in history, we have to question that position. The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest intellects in the history of mankind.

Paul did not throw out his intellect after his encounter with Jesus. He used it. He went to Athens to dispute with the Greeks in Greek. He went to Rome and argued with the Romans in Latin as a Roman citizen. He always spoke with groups in the context of their socio/political framework. He used his intellect to win souls. He used his supreme knowledge of the law. We don't believe it was "all about the heart" for him. He used his powers of reasoning to convert pagans and to lay down the foundation of our Faith.

The Catholic Church places value on the human reasoning that was given to us by God. God invented the intellect. Let's not throw theological scholarship away. By the way, it's interesting for us to observe that it's the evangelical, Jesus-loving, intellectual-types that are converting to the Catholic church in droves.

The Pope made a famous speech about the relationship of faith and reason. It is here.

Notes on infant baptism

Below is a summary, further discussion is here

Many Evangelicals (but not all) that I speak with explain that they believe "Separation from God" is a result of personal sin not original sin. They say that before the age of reason everyone is bound for heaven.

Catholics believe that humanity's "Separation from God" is the result of "original sin" from Adam and Eve, our first parents. Catholics believe we are born into "original sin." We inherit it. If original sin is the source of our damnation then we believe that we are born with it. We don't think children should be without the grace of Jesus. That is why Catholics baptize babies.

Infant Baptisms predate the 2nd century and it is quite possible that from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized. (Acts 16:15). It is quite logical that most of the Baptisms in the Bible were adults since Jesus had just died. If I was there just after he rose from the dead and saw the apostles speaking in tongues I'd run into the water for a Baptism too.

We didn't choose to be born into humanity but we nevertheless received the grace of human life. Catholics think we don't have to choose baptism in order to receive its grace. We didn't choose to be born into the sin of Adam, (caused by his disobedience), yet nevertheless we were born into it (original Sin). In the same way, Catholics believe that as infants, we can receive the saving grace of Baptism that was won by Jesus obedience, without consciously choosing it.

In an infant baptism, salvation is granted upon the child with the expectation that the child will in fact give their heart to the Lord as soon as they understand what that truly means. In a child baptism, the parents and the Church intercede for the child (Evangelicals might call it "standing in the Gap". The parents who are interceding for the Child promise to bring the child up in the faith so as to prepare the child for this future mature decision to accept Christ as a personal Lord and Saviour. Catholics feel that Jesus' generosity and the parent's and Church's intercession make the Baptism valid and wins salvation for the child.

Can the Grace of Baptism be Lost?

As the child grows and matures they will be faced with the choice of maintaining that salvation through conscious contact with God (conversion of heart) or reject it through sin, complacency, or rebellion. If they reject it, they lose the grace that they were granted at Baptism and will lose salvation. (That's what's happened to a bunch of 'Cultural Catholics' who don't know the Lord and never pray or go to Church.)

ARCHBISHOP’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE FOR 2021
Don’t Enter the New Year with Fear

-Archbishop Martins Admonishes Nigerians

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr Alfred Adewale Martins has admonished Nigerians to disregard the temptation of going into the new year with fear. No one should allow fear to rob them of the joy that comes with the New Year 2021.

In his New Year message signed by the Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, Archbishop Martins also challenged all those in government at the Federal and State levels, to be proactive in addressing the fears being expressed by people. This they can do by quickly putting in place appropriate measures and policies that would mitigate against the projected renewed economic challenges that may come with the New Year.

He equally tasked them to be more pragmatic in tackling the health challenges occasioned by the new strain of the COVID-19 in order to guide against another round of total economic lockdown in view of the colossal losses it would cost the entire nation.

Says the Archbishop, “We thank the good Lord for making it possible for us to see the beginning of the New Year 2021. We pray that the souls of our brothers and sisters who died in the year 2020 may rest in peace.

In this New Year, my admonition to Nigerians is not to allow fear to rob them of the joy of seeing a New Year. I understand so many predictions have been going around in the social media that the year 2021 will be a tough year. But I urge you not to be afraid. Rather than succumb to fear and its corresponding apprehension, people should be optimistic and place their hope and trust in the Almighty God who is able to turn around all things for good. Yes, there are ominous situations that indicate that the year would be tough but faith and trust in God should make us optimistic and encourage us to go into the new year with courage”.

Let us start each day with a prayerful optimism and go about our responsibilities with utmost caution and in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. However, as we pray with hope for divine intervention, we must also be prepared to work hard and be more productive in order to make the New Year a good and fruitful one. Each of us is required to make necessary sacrifices and meaningful contributions towards the growth of our nation. Certainly, government has a crucial role to play by diligently attending to its constitutional responsibilities without playing unnecessary politics with issues that affect the day to day lives of the masses. For instance, so many challenges came up in 2020 in the various areas of peoples’ lives: particularly in the economy, health, security, and education sectors. Government must make objective appraisals of the situation and take necessary steps to reassure the people that they have a government that cares. The onus is now on the Federal and states governments to listen to the people and save them from the agonies they have to face daily.”

Archbishop Martins, while calling on government at all levels to be more humane in their approach to issues of governance in the New Year 2021, frowned at the renewed spate of insecurity across the country. He referred particularly to the recent abduction of Bishop Moses Chikwe, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri as an act of sacrilege.

He says: “The issue of insecurity in the land is a burning one and we hope that the government of President Buhari would change its approach to the issue in 2021. Many people have consistently cried out on the need for a fresh approach to solving the situation of insecurity in the country while the President has always declared that he is doing his best. Perhaps replacing the heads of the Security Agencies in the nation would help to convince people that he is truly trying his best. We believe that fresh hands along with the provision of an enabling situation for the agencies to work would show that the best is actually being done.”

Signed
Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu,
Director. (Directorate of Social Communications)





https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3617032845046806&id=460913837325405

A DREAM STORY: THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL
by Henry van Dyke (b. 1852)

It was the hour of rest in the Country Beyond the Stars. All the silver bells that swing with the turning of the great ring of light which lies around that land were softly chiming; and the sound of their commotion went down like dew upon the golden ways of the city, and the long alleys of blossoming trees, and the meadows of asphodel, and the curving shores of the River of Life.

At the hearing of that chime, all the angels who had been working turned to play, and all who had been playing gave themselves joyfully to work. Those who had been singing, and making melody on different instruments, fell silent and began to listen. Those who had been walking alone in meditation met together in companies to talk. And those who had been far away on errands to the Earth and other planets came homeward like a flight of swallows to the high cliff when the day is over.

It was not that they needed to be restored from weariness, for the inhabitants of that country never say, "I am tired." But there, as here, the law of change is the secret of happiness, and the joy that never ends is woven of mingled strands of labour and repose, society and solitude, music and silence. Sleep comes to them not as it does to us, with a darkening of the vision and a folding of the wings of the spirit, but with an opening of the eyes to deeper and fuller light, and with an effortless outgoing of the soul upon broader currents of life, as the sun-loving bird poises and circles upward, without a wing-beat, on the upholding air.

It was in one of the quiet corners of the green valley called Peacefield, where the little brook of Brighthopes runs smoothly down to join the River of Life, that I saw a company of angels, returned from various labours on Earth, sitting in friendly converse on the hill-side, where cyclamens and arbutus and violets and fringed orchids and pale lady's-tresses, and all the sweet-smelling flowers which are separated in the lower world by the seasons, were thrown together in a harmony of fragrance. There were three of the company who seemed to be leaders, distinguished not only by more radiant and powerful looks, but by a tone of authority in their speech and by the willing attention with which the others listened to them, as they talked of their earthly tasks, of the tangles and troubles, the wars and miseries that they had seen among men, and of the best way to get rid of them and bring sorrow to an end.

"The Earth is full of oppression and unrighteousness," said the tallest and most powerful of the angels. His voice was deep and strong, and by his shining armour and the long two-handed sword hanging over his shoulder I knew that he was the archangel Michael, the mightiest one among the warriors of the King, and the executor of the divine judgments upon the unjust. "The Earth is tormented with injustice," he cried, "and the great misery that I have seen among men is that the evil hand is often stronger than the good hand and can beat it down.

"The arm of the cruel is heavier than the arm of the kind. The unjust get the better of the just and tread on them. I have seen tyrant kings crush their helpless folk. I have seen the fields of the innocent trampled into bloody ruin by the feet of conquering armies. I have seen the wicked nation overcome the peoples that loved liberty, and take away their treasure by force of arms. I have seen poverty mocked by arrogant wealth, and purity deflowered by brute violence, and gentleness and fair-dealing bruised in the winepress of iniquity and pride.

"There is no cure for this evil, but by the giving of greater force to the good hand. The righteous cause must be strengthened with might to resist the wicked, to defend the helpless, to punish all cruelty and unfairness, to uphold the right everywhere, and to enforce justice with unconquerable arms. Oh, that the host of Heaven might be called, arrayed, and sent to mingle in the wars of men, to make the good victorious, to destroy all evil, and to make the will of the King prevail!

"We would shake down the thrones of tyrants, and loose the bands of the oppressed. We would hold the cruel and violent with the bit of fear, and drive the greedy and fierce-minded men with the whip of terror. We would stand guard, with weapons drawn, about the innocent, the gentle, the kind, and keep the peace of God with the sword of the angels!"

As he spoke, his hands were lifted to the hilt of his long blade, and he raised it above him, straight and shining, throwing sparkles of light around it, like the spray from the sharp prow of a moving ship. Bright flames of heavenly ardour leaped in the eyes of the listening angels; a martial air passed over their faces as if they longed for the call to war.

But no silver trumpet blared from the battlements of the City of God; no crimson flag was unfurled on those high, secret walls; no thrilling drum-beat echoed over the smooth meadow. Only the sound of the brook of Brighthopes was heard tinkling and murmuring among the roots of the grasses and flowers; and far off a cadence of song drifted down from the inner courts of the Palace of the King.

Then another angel began to speak, and made answer to Michael. He, too, was tall and wore the look of power. But it was power of the mind rather than of the hand. His face was clear and glistening, and his eyes were lit with a steady flame which neither leaped nor fell. Of flame also were his garments, which clung about him as the fire enwraps a torch burning where there is no wind; and his great wings, spiring to a point far above his head, were like a living lamp before the altar of the Most High. By this sign I knew that it was the archangel Uriel, the spirit of the Sun, clearest in vision, deepest in wisdom of all the spirits that surround the throne.

"I hold not the same thought," said he, "as the great archangel Michael; nor, though I desire the same end which he desires, would I seek it by the same way. For I know how often power has been given to the good, and how often it has been turned aside and used for evil. I know that the host of Heaven, and the very stars in their courses, have fought on the side of a favoured nation; yet pride has followed triumph and oppression has been the first-born child of victory. I know that the deliverers of the people have become tyrants over those whom they have set free, and the fighters for liberty have been changed into the soldiers of fortune. Power corrupts itself, and might cannot save.

"Does not the Prince Michael remember how the angel of the Lord led the armies of Israel, and gave them the battle against every foe, except the enemy within the camp? And how they robbed and crushed the peoples against whom they had fought for freedom? And how the wickedness of the tribes of Canaan survived their conquest and overcame their conquerors, so that the children of Israel learned to worship the idols of their enemies, Moloch, and Baal, and Ashtoreth?

"Power corrupts itself, and might cannot save. Was not Persia the destroyer of Babylon, and did not the tyranny of Persia cry aloud for destruction? Did not Rome break the yoke of the East, and does not the yoke of Rome lie heavy on the shoulders of the world? Listen!"

There was silence for a moment on the slopes of Peacefield, and then over the encircling hills a cool wind brought the sound of chains clanking in prisons and galleys, the sighing of millions of slaves, the weeping of wretched women and children, the blows of hammers nailing men to their crosses. Then the sound passed by with the wind, and Uriel spoke again:

"Power corrupts itself, and might cannot save. The Earth is full of ignorant strife, and for this evil there is no cure but by the giving of greater knowledge. It is because men do not understand evil that they yield themselves to its power. Wickedness is folly in action, and injustice is the error of the blind. It is because men are ignorant that they destroy one another, and at last themselves.

"If there were more light in the world there would be no sorrow. If the great King who knows all things would enlighten the world with wisdom--wisdom to understand his law and his ways, to read the secrets of the earth and the stars, to discern the workings of the heart of man and the things that make for joy and peace--if he would but send us, his messengers, as a flame of fire to shine upon those who sit in darkness, how gladly would we go to bring in the new day!

"We would speak the word of warning and counsel to the erring, and tell knowledge to the perplexed. We would guide the ignorant in the paths of prudence, and the young would sit at our feet and hear us gladly in the school of life. Then folly would fade away as the morning vapour, and the sun of wisdom would shine on all men, and the peace of God would come with the counsel of the angels."

A murmur of pleasure followed the words of Uriel, and eager looks flashed around the circle of the messengers of light as they heard the praise of wisdom fitly spoken. But there was one among them on whose face a shadow of doubt rested, and though he smiled, it was as if he remembered something that the others had forgotten. He turned to an angel near him.

"Who was it," said he, "to whom you were sent with counsel long ago? Was it not Balaam the son of Beor, as he was riding to meet the King of Moab? And did not even the dumb beast profit more by your instruction than the man who rode him? And who was it," he continued, turning to Uriel, "that was called the wisest of all men, having searched out and understood the many inventions that are found under the sun? Was not Solomon, prince of fools and philosophers, unable by much learning to escape weariness of the flesh and despair of the spirit? Knowledge also is vanity and vexation. This I know well, because I have dwelt among men and held converse with them since the day when I was sent to instruct the first man in Eden."

Then I looked more closely at him who was speaking and recognised the beauty of the archangel Raphael, as it was pictured long ago:

"A seraph winged; six wings he wore to shade
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad
Each shoulder broad came mantling o'er his breast,
With regal ornament; the middle pair
Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold
And colours dipped in Heav'n; the third his feet
Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail,
Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood
And shook his plumes, that Heavenly fragrance filled
The circuit wide."

"Too well I know," he spoke on, while the smile on his face deepened into a look of pity and tenderness and desire, "too well I know that power corrupts itself and that knowledge cannot save. There is no cure for the evil that is in the world but by the giving of more love to men. The laws that are ordained for earth are strange and unequal, and the ways where men must walk are full of pitfalls and dangers. Pestilence creeps along the ground and flows in the rivers; whirlwind and tempest shake the habitations of men and drive their ships to destruction; fire breaks forth from the mountains and the foundations of the world tremble. Frail is the flesh of man, and many are his pains and troubles. His children can never find peace until they learn to love one another and to help one another.

"Wickedness is begotten by disease and misery. Violence comes from poverty and hunger. The cruelty of oppression is when the strong tread the weak under their feet; the bitterness of pride is when the wise and learned despise the simple; the crown of folly is when the rich think they are gods, and the poor think that God is not.

"Hatred and envy and contempt are the curse of life. And for these there is no remedy save love--the will to give and to bless--the will of the King himself, who gives to all and is loving unto every man. But how shall the hearts of men be won to this will? How shall it enter into them and possess them? Even the gods that men fashion for themselves are cruel and proud and false and unjust. How shall the miracle be wrought in human nature to reveal the meaning of humanity? How shall men be made like God?"

At this question a deep hush fell around the circle, and every listener was still, even as the rustling leaves hang motionless when the light breeze falls away in the hour of sunset. Then through the silence, like the song of a far-away thrush from its hermitage in the forest, a voice came ringing: "I know it, I know it, I know it."

Clear and sweet--clear as a ray of light, sweeter than the smallest silver bell that rang the hour of rest--was that slender voice floating on the odorous and translucent air. Nearer and nearer it came, echoing down the valley, "I know it, I know it, I know it!"

Then from between the rounded hills, among which the brook of Brighthopes is born, appeared a young angel, a little child, with flying hair of gold, and green wreaths twined about his shoulders, and fluttering hands that played upon the air and seemed to lift him so lightly that he had no need of wings. As thistle-down, blown by the wind, dances across the water, so he came along the little stream, singing clear above the murmur of the brook.

All the angels rose and turned to look at him with wondering eyes. Multitudes of others came flying swiftly to the place from which the strange, new song was sounding. Rank within rank, like a garden of living flowers, they stood along the sloping banks of the brook while the child-angel floated into the midst of them, singing:

"I know it, I know it, I know it! Man shall be made like God because the Son of God shall become a man."

At this all the angels looked at one another with amazement, and gathered more closely about the child-angel, as those who hear wonderful news.

"How can this be?" they asked. "How is it possible that the Son of God should be a man?"

"I do not know," said the young angel. "I only know that it is to be."

"But if he becomes a man," said Raphael, "he will be at the mercy of men; the cruel and the wicked will have power upon him; he will suffer."

"I know it," answered the young angel, "and by suffering he will understand the meaning of all sorrow and pain; and he will be able to comfort every one who cries; and his own tears will be for the healing of sad hearts; and those who are healed by him will learn for his sake to be kind to each other."

"But if the Son of God is a true man," said Uriel, "he must first be a child, simple, and lowly, and helpless. It may be that he will never gain the learning of the schools. The masters of earthly wisdom will despise him and speak scorn of him."

"I know it," said the young angel, "but in meekness will he answer them; and to those who become as little children he will give the heavenly wisdom that comes, without seeking, to the pure and gentle of heart."

"But if he becomes a man," said Michael, "evil men will hate and persecute him: they may even take his life, if they are stronger than he."

"I know it," answered the young angel, "they will nail him to a cross. But when he is lifted up, he will draw all men unto him, for he will still be the Son of God, and no heart that is open to love can help loving him, since his love for men is so great that he is willing to die for them."

"But how do you know these things?" cried the other angels. "Who are you?"

"I am the Christmas angel," he said. "At first I was sent as the dream of a little child, a holy child, blessed and wonderful, to dwell in the heart of a pure virgin, Mary of Nazareth. There I was hidden till the word came to call me back to the throne of the King, and tell me my name, and give me my new message. For this is Christmas day on Earth, and to-day the Son of God is born of a woman. So I must fly quickly, before the sun rises, to bring the good news to those happy men who have been chosen to receive them."

As he said this, the young angel rose, with arms outspread, from the green meadow of Peacefield and, passing over the bounds of Heaven, dropped swiftly as a shooting-star toward the night shadow of the Earth. The other angels followed him--a throng of dazzling forms, beautiful as a rain of jewels falling from the dark-blue sky. But the child-angel went more swiftly than the others, because of the certainty of gladness in his heart.

And as the others followed him they wondered who had been favoured and chosen to receive the glad tidings.

"It must be the Emperor of the World and his counsellors," they thought. But the flight passed over Rome.

"It may be the philosophers and the masters of learning," they thought. But the flight passed over Athens.

"Can it be the High Priest of the Jews, and the elders and the scribes?" they thought. But the flight passed over Jerusalem.

It floated out over the hill country of Bethlehem; the throng of silent angels holding close together, as if perplexed and doubtful; the child-angel darting on far in advance, as one who knew the way through the darkness.

The villages were all still: the very houses seemed asleep; but in one place there was a low sound of talking in a stable, near to an inn--a sound as of a mother soothing her baby to rest.

All over the pastures on the hillsides a light film of snow had fallen, delicate as the veil of a bride adorned for the marriage; and as the child-angel passed over them, alone in the swiftness of his flight, the pure fields sparkled round him, giving back his radiance.

And there were in that country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: "Fear not; for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all nations. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men." And the shepherds said one to another: "Let us now go, even to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass."

So I said within myself that I also would go with the shepherds, even to Bethlehem. And I heard a great and sweet voice, as of a bell, which said, "Come!" And when the bell had sounded twelve times, I awoke; and it was Christmas morn; and I knew that I had been in a dream.

Yet it seemed to me that the things which I had heard were true.

––– THE END –––

The NDIC yesterday announces the immediate closure of 42 Microfinance Banks nation wide

This is to inform the depositors, creditors, shareholders and the general public that the operating licenses of the under listed Forty-Two (42) Microfinance Banks (MFBs) have been revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective 12th November, 2020. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the official Liquidator of the banks whose licenses were recently revoked, is in the process of closing the listed banks and pay their insured Depositors.

We therefore request that all depositors of these banks should visit the closed banks’ addresses and meet NDIC officials for the verification of their claims, commencing from Monday, 21st December, 2020 till Thursday, 24th December, 2020:

The list of affected closed banks is as follows:


S/N BANK ADDRESS
1 HEDGEWORTH MFB GUOBA PLAZA SUITE B06, – 171, A.E. EKUKINAM STREET, BY CHISCO, UTAKO, ABUJA
2 FUTURE GROWTH MFB REAL TOWER PLAZA, PLOT 1121 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, UTAKO, ABUJA
3 BAGWAI MFB BAGWAI-SHANONO ROAD, BAGWAI LGA, KANO
4 ERE CITY MFB ERE-IJESHA/IIIAHUN ROAD, ERE-IJESHA, ORIADE LGA, OSUN
5 CAFON MFB GARKI POLICE BARRACKS, GARKII, FCT, ABUJA
6 AKCOFED MFB EKIT ITAM II (BESIDE WATER BOARD), P. O. BOX 2048, UYO, AKWA-IBOM STATE
7 GUFAX MFB N0. 3 UDOTUNG UBO STREET UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE
8 PARTNERSHIP MFB 107 UPPER IWEKA ROAD, ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE
9 ICB MFB IIIAH-ASABA ROAD, OSHIMILI NORTH LGA, IIIAH, DELTA STATE
10 ONIMA MFB NIPOST BUILDING, EKEOCHA ONICHA, EZINIHITTE MBAISE LGA, IMO STATE
11 HOMETRUST (NATIONS) MFB 76, ORLU ROAD, NKWERE, IMO STATE
12 RINGIM MFB OPP. RINGIM CENTRAL MARKET, RINGIM, JIGAWA STATE
13 BIGTHANA MFB 6, ALI AKILU ROAD, KADUNA
14 ROGO MFB ROGO TOWN, ROGO LGA, KANO STATE
15 MAKODA MFB NO 15, KOGUNA TOWN, MAKODA LGA, KANO
16 TAKAI MFB TAKAI TOWN, TAKAI LGA, KANO STATE
17 BEBEJI MFB NO. 10 GIDAN IYAN, BEBEJI TOWN, BEBEJI L.G.A., KANO STATE
18 AJINGI MFB NO. 10 HAKIMI STREET, AJINGI TOWN, AJINGI LGA, KANO STATE
19 GARKO MFB 3, GARKO TOWN, KANO
20 KANGIWA MFB KANGIWA TOWN, KANGIWA LGA, KEBBI STATE
21 AUGIE MFB AUGIE TOWN, AUGIE LGA, KEBBI STATE
22 MOPA MFB SILAS BAMIDELE DANIYAN HOUSE, KABBA-ILORIN ROAD, MOPA, KOGI-STATE
23 SOLID BASE MFB EKIRIN ADDE, IJUMU LGA, KOGI STATE
24 ULTIMATE BENEFIT MFB 150C, OKENE KABBA ROAD, LOKOJA, KOGI
25 OVIDI MFB NO. 1, ATTA ROAD, OKENE, KOGI STATE
26 KIRFI MFB KIRFI TOWN, KIRFI LGA, BAUCHI
27 CREDIT EXPRESS MFB 27, KAKAWA STREET, LAGOS
28 KING SOLOMON MFB GOD BLESS NIGERIA HOUSE, 117/119, WETSERN AVENUE, IPONRI, LAGOS
29 RIGGS MFB PLOT 5, IMAN ABIB ADETORO STREET, OFF AJOSE ADEOGUN STREET, V.I., LAGOS
30 BILLIONAIRE BLUE BRICKS MFB APERIN HOUSE (2ND FLOOR) BLOCK I, PLOT 27, BUDO LAYOUT AJIWE, LEKKI EPE EXPRESSWAY, AJAH, LAGOS STATE
31 SUSU MFB 34, COMMERCIAL AVENUE SABO, YABA, LAGOS
32 WEALTHSTREAM MFB AQUARIUS BLOCK, ELEGANZA PLAZA, GROUND FLOOR, LEFT WING 1 COMMERCIAL ROAD, APAPA, LAGOS
33 AGUDA TITUN MFB 21, SHONOLA STREET, AGUDA TITUN, OGBA, LAGOS
34 SAPPHIRE MFB 111, ABAK ROAD, UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE
35 METRO MFB 15, OTUNUBI STREET, OFF HARUNA, OGBA, IKEJA, LAGOS
36 MOUNTAIN TOP MFB PROGRESS BLOCK, SHOP A102, AFRICAN TYRE VILLAGE, OPP. APT TRADE FAIR COMPLEX, LAGOS/BADAGRY EXPRESS WAY, LAGOS
37 UNYOGBA MFB 1, ALOMA ROAD, OPP. MKT. SQ., EJULE, OFU LGA, KOGI STATE
38 WAPO MFB OKENE-LOKOJA ROAD, NAGAZI, ADAVI LGA, OKENE, KOGI STATE
39 IBOGUN MFB IBOGUN EGBEDA, IFO LGA, OGUN STATE
40 KOREDE MFB NO. 3, LUWOYE STREET, IGBOTAKO, ONDO STATE
41 AHETOU MFB 26, EREMA ROAD, BYEPASS, AKABUKA, OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LGA, RIVERS STATE
42 FUFORE MFB NO. 25 GURIN ROAD, FUFORE LGA, ADAMAWA, YOLA STATE

https://ndic.gov.ng/notice-of-closure-of-42-microfinance-banks-mfbs/

waldigit:

I sincerely do hope you understand Pope's position. Remember by virtue of his office he can't be questioned.

When did the pope make that decision.

And the church hasn't changed its stand on Gays.

Prove me wrong

2special:
The way and manner they attack other Christian denominations.

Your view....

But I sincerely believe that Catholics are the most persecuted christians.

Pope Francis on persons Struggling with their Sexual Identity:

During the return flight from Rio de Janeiro I said that if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge.

By saying this, I said what the Catechism says… A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’

We must always consider the person. Here we enter into the mystery of the human being.

In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy.


—American Magazine, Sept. 30th, 2013, americamagazine.org

Pope Francis on persons Struggling with their Sexual Identity:

During the return flight from Rio de Janeiro I said that if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge.

By saying this, I said what the Catechism says… A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’

We must always consider the person. Here we enter into the mystery of the human being.

In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy.
—American Magazine, Sept. 30th, 2013, americamagazine.org

2special:
Catholic, always acting as if they're the holiest.

How

The Catholic Church DOES NOT Accept Same Sex Marriage:

+ The demand for Same Sex Marriage is not a demand for marriage to be extended to our gay brothers and sisters but for marriage to be redefined so that it is no longer linked to the begetting and raising of children by their natural parents.

So, in turning marriage into a mere partnership, the law render marriage largely Meaningless, and makes it less likely that children will be raised in ways that best suits them.

+ The slogan "Equal Marriage" implies equality of access to the same institution; in fact, in means Overthrowing the Institution, making marriage Equal to Non-marital Relationships.

+ The Church believes the state should continue to promote conjugal marriage, not because it disapproves of our gay brothers and sisters or rejects any particular group in society, but because it believes Marriage is a Conjugal Institution that the state should promote and protect for the sake of society and above all of Children.

+ Same Sex Marriage enshrines in law the Idea that the Gender is incidental to marriage and the raising of children, such that all those who believe otherwise become vulnerable to the accusation that they are promoting discrimination and prejudice.

The Catholic Church DOES NOT Accept Same Sex Marriage:

+ The demand for Same Sex Marriage is not a demand for marriage to be extended to our gay brothers and sisters but for marriage to be redefined so that it is no longer linked to the begetting and raising of children by their natural parents.

So, in turning marriage into a mere partnership, the law render marriage largely Meaningless, and makes it less likely that children will be raised in ways that best suits them.

+ The slogan "Equal Marriage" implies equality of access to the same institution; in fact, in means Overthrowing the Institution, making marriage Equal to Non-marital Relationships.

+ The Church believes the state should continue to promote conjugal marriage, not because it disapproves of our gay brothers and sisters or rejects any particular group in society, but because it believes Marriage is a Conjugal Institution that the state should promote and protect for the sake of society and above all of Children.

+ Same Sex Marriage enshrines in law the Idea that the Gender is incidental to marriage and the raising of children, such that all those who believe otherwise become vulnerable to the accusation that they are promoting discrimination and prejudice.

The Catholic Church DOES NOT Accept Same Sex Marriage:

+ The demand for Same Sex Marriage is not a demand for marriage to be extended to our gay brothers and sisters but for marriage to be redefined so that it is no longer linked to the begetting and raising of children by their natural parents.

So, in turning marriage into a mere partnership, the law render marriage largely Meaningless, and makes it less likely that children will be raised in ways that best suits them.

+ The slogan "Equal Marriage" implies equality of access to the same institution; in fact, in means Overthrowing the Institution, making marriage Equal to Non-marital Relationships.

+ The Church believes the state should continue to promote conjugal marriage, not because it disapproves of our gay brothers and sisters or rejects any particular group in society, but because it believes Marriage is a Conjugal Institution that the state should promote and protect for the sake of society and above all of Children.

+ Same Sex Marriage enshrines in law the Idea that the Gender is incidental to marriage and the raising of children, such that all those who believe otherwise become vulnerable to the accusation that they are promoting discrimination and prejudice.

Popular Buharist and CEO of IPI group has advised Jack Dorsey of twitter to stay clear of the #ENDSARS protesters or risk a possible Court action.

See tweet.

So president plane is now used for wedding invitation. Yet some Buharist here are still shouting you see... Na official assignment be this ..

PRESS STATEMENT ON NIGERIA AT 60
By Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu

PRESS STATEMENT ON NIGERIA AT 60

Not Yet Uhuru for Nigeria at 60, Says Archbishop Martins!

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has said that the country’s leadership has not done enough to address the underlying issues fanning insecurity and disunity in the country.

In his 60th Independence anniversary message to Nigerians signed by the Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, Archbishop Martins, while acknowledging the need for all to thank God for keeping the country as one despite her numerous challenges, regretted that not enough has been done in practical terms by successive leadership to foster a deep sense of patriotism and oneness amongst the various nationalities that make up country.

He said it was shameful that 60 years after gaining independence from the British, the country was yet to get its acts together; we still lack the quality leadership needed to guide the country in the path of peaceful coexistence, economic prosperity and security of life and property.

Hear him: “We thank God that we are alive to mark the Diamond Jubilee of our country’s independence. We are an independent country still searching for how to become a nation where no one is oppressed, and everyone feels a sense of belonging. In spite of all odds we have survived for 60 years and so we must thank God and praise the resilience of Nigerians. However, this year of our Diamond Jubilee has turned out to be one of the most challenging for most Nigerians. We were still battling with the effects of insecurities in the land when COVID-19 struck and made life impossible for those who lost their jobs and sources of livelihood. To make life even more impossible, there was an increase in the rate of VAT only to be followed by the imposition of stamp duty on house rent and

Certificates of Occupancy. The dust raised by that had hardly settled when we were slapped with an increase in electricity tariffs which was followed a couple of weeks later by an increase in the pump price of petrol.

Life is becoming harder and harder for majority of Nigerians and government needs to take radical steps to ease the burdens they are carrying. Everyone, led by Civil Society Organisations and NGOs and the Labour movement, needs to do something in their areas of competences in order to bring the suffering of people home to government. If people must bear the burdens of the day, government must also show good faith by cutting down on the cost of governance.”

The Archbishop also reiterated his call for a major restructuring of the country along the path of true federalism in order to give the various ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging.

The Archbishop continued: “The landmark celebration of 60 years should make us reflect on the reality of our existence as a country. A cursory reflection shows that we are far below where we ought to be if we take into consideration the human and natural resources with which the country is blessed. It would seem that the structure of our country that was distorted with the advent of the military into governance has remained the obstacle to our growth. Selfishness and lack of regard for common good that covers all the different nationalities that make up our country has made it impossible for us to be the Federal Republic that we were meant to be at independence.

It Is necessary to continue to harp on the need to return to the original concept of Nigeria as a Federation that recognises the uniqueness of the federating units and gives each its right to govern aspects of its life while we remain one country, united in our diversities.

The current structure, as many have rightly pointed out, has given too much power to the centre that the states and local governments have been reduced to appendages that

go cap in hand to Abuja to seek for their survival from the Federal Government. We must return to a true federalism in order to become the nation that we want to be.”

According to him, agitations for self-determination as being promoted by some groups would continue to grow as long as the nation’s leadership continue to pay lip-service to the genuine needs and desires of the people. The Archbishop said: “Nigerians are indeed a special breed of people blessed by God. That is why we excel in almost all spheres of human endeavors at the international level. What we need here at home is an enabling environment that would bring out the best in us. As it is, our best is yet to come.”

In conclusion, Archbishop Martins called on all citizens to pray for our country and her rulers that we may overcome the present challenges and remain a united country where no person is oppressed and all are proud to serve our sovereign Motherland.

Updating...↓
05:17
Final Result Of The 10th Local Government Area, Uhunmwonde, Announced
PDP: 10,022

APC: 5,972

Updated: 05:17
1ShareComment

05:15
RESULT OF POLL: Esan west LGA

APC - 7,189

PDP - 17,433

Updated: 05:17
1ShareComment

05:15
RESULT OF POLL: Egor LGA



APC: 10, 202



PDP: 27, 621

1ShareComment

04:29
BREAKING: Results From Seven LGAs Announced, Eleven Being Expected -- Obaseki Has Five, Ize-Iyamu Two


Results from seven of the 18 Local Governments in Edo State have been announced so far, with Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a clear lead over his closest contender, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress.



Out of the seven, PDP's Obaseki has five, leaving his rival with two LGAs.





0ShareComment

04:16
Result For Oshiomole's LGA, Etsako west
Final result of Etsako west

Total Accredited Voters: 48,846

Total Registered Voters: 158,899

APC: 26,140

PDP: 17,959

Etsako west is the Local government area of both Adams Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the APC, and Philip Shuaibu, deputy governorship candidate of the PDP.



2ShareComment

03:56
RESULT OF POLL: Owan East LGA

APC: 19,295

PDP: 14,762

1ShareComment

03:53
RESULT: Ikpoba Okha LGA
PDP: 41, 030

APC: 18, 218

Margin: 22,812

23ShareComment

03:52
RESULT: Igueben LGA
PDP: 7,870

APC: 5,199 votes

1ShareComment

03:50
RESULT: Esan Central LGA

PDP: 10,694

APC: 6,719

1ShareComment

03:48
Final result from ESAN SOUTHEAST

Registered voters-73907

Accredited voters-20274



AA-02

ADC- 31

ADP-33

APC- 9237

APGA-03

APM- 02

APP-03

LP- 07

NNPP- 02

NRM-02

PDP-10565

SDP-02

YPP-00

ZLP-02



Total valid votes -19898

Rejected votes- 307

Total votes cast- 20205




0ShareComment

02:58
Final Result For Esan North East
Total registered voters 84241

Accredited voters: 20825

AA 4

ADC 58

ADP 89

APC 6559

APGA 7

APM 1

APP 3

LP 11

NNPP 7

NRM 27

PDP 13,579

SDP: 14

YPP: 4

ZLP: 9



TOTAL VALID VOTE 20369

REJECTED VOTES: 361

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The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins. commissions new Dialysis Centre for The St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ijede, Lagos. https:///3ozqFo7cQu

The Osun state government has directed principals and heads of public elementary schools to revert to the old names used before the reclassification under Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the state, in 2013.

Taiwo Adeagbo, coordinating director, ministry of education, gave the directive in a circular addressed to principals, headteachers of elementary schools, inspectors of education and zonal inspectors of education.

Adeagbo directed the officials to comply with the directive immediately.

“Recall that at the policy review roundtable summit on some extant policies in Education Sector held between 20 and 21 of February 2020, His Excellency, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola approved that Schools should revert to their pre-reclassification names and nomenclatures,” the circular read.


“Sequel to the above, all schools are hereby directed to revert to their old names with immediate effect as approved by the Osun State Government.

“Kindly give this circular the widest publicity it deserves.”

More to follow…



https://www.thecable.ng/osun-asks-schools-to-revert-to-old-names-before-rebranding-by-aregbesola/amp

A Catholic Priest in Benue, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asue has re-embarked on the rehabilitation of 10 kilometer trunk A road linking Ameladu, Mkar, Akaajime and Kontien communities with Gboko town in Gboko local Government area of Benue State.

Fr Asue who is leading healing Mass at Bua Ameladu for over ten years now had embarked on yearly rehabilitation of the road about five years ago using his personal funds.
Speaking with our correspondent in Gboko yesterday, Fr Asue said the exercise became imperative considering the bad nature of the road. He said the rehabilitation of the road would boost transportation system, agricultural activities and improve on the standard of living of the people of the area and those plying it.

According to him, the rehabilitation of the roads was part of his responsibility in order to give smooth transportation to the sick people attending the healing Mass and the hospitals around the area, as well as to complement government efforts in improving on the agricultural, socio-economic activities and reduce the plight of residents while transporting their goods to neighbouring markets.

When our correspondent visited the site, the Catholic Priest was seeing up and down with Youths instructing tippers and graders on how to fill the worst portions.
Some community leaders and NURTW/ Okada riders members in the area, Mr. Tyover Akaajime, Smith Takema, Terkende Ishwa, Emmanuel Ikpilaka and Mrs Mercy Shija among many others who commended the Catholic Priest said, “The road rehabilitation is to reduce the hardship the people face when plying them as well as fight poverty, boost socio-economic activities and reduce transport fares charged by motor and Okada riders among other benefits,” they said.
They however appealed to the federal and state Governments to assist the community by reconstructing the road. “I appeal to the state government to assist us by reconstructing the road,” a community leader urged.

Even though the Catholic Priest declined to disclose how much he had used for the road reconstruction, but some community members value it at about #30 Million within the range of five years.

Kingpele:
Sorry for whatever inconveniences yjou guys are passing through but I thought it has the duration of two years... Correct me if am wrong, but I think they could have saved most of their salaries, so that they can use it to start up something in future... But the face of this woman looks very mean or even wicked, she might be very stingy as well...

If you stay in Lagos and the likes how do you save 30k allowance that's not even regular..

What are you even saying sef....

Ok

QUESTION -
Does "born again" claim make you a SUPERIOR Christian or a perfect human being? Does confessing, believing you are saved make you saved? Absolutely NOT!

By Fr David Olusi

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. They only change whenever they claim to be "BORN AGAIN" Why?

Catholics and Protestants agree that to be saved, you have to be born again. Jesus said so: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

When a Catholic says that he has been "born again," he refers to the transformation that God’s grace accomplished in him during baptism and reinforced weekly through the reception of the Eucharist . Evangelical Protestants typically mean something quite different when they talk about being "born again."

For an Evangelical, becoming "born again" often happens like this: He goes to a crusade or a revival where a minister delivers a sermon telling him of his need to be "born again... If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe he died for your sins, you’ll be born again!" says the preacher.

So the gentleman makes "a decision for Christ" and at the altar call goes forward to be led in "the sinner’s prayer" by the minister. Then the minister tells all who prayed the sinner’s prayer that they have been saved "born again."

But is the minister right? Not according to the Bible. Salvation is not a cup of tea! In fact Saint Paul tells us "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Philippians 2:12.

THE THREE STAGES OF SALVATION :

We understand that to be saved we need to come to Jesus Christ, receive Him as Savior by faith, repent of our sin, and receive from Jesus forgiveness of sin and the free gift of eternal life. However, this is not the entire message of the Bible regarding salvation. There is more …

There are actually THREE STAGES OF SALVATION, and every person in the entire world has this threefold need for salvation. Why threefold? Why are there three stages? What are these three stages?

Firstly, we need to be saved in regard to YESTERDAY.

Secondly, we need to be saved in regard to TODAY. And,

thirdly, we need to be saved in regard to TOMORROW.

In other words, we need SALVATION PAST, SALVATION PRESENT and SALVATION FUTURE.

Salvation is a definite threefold process. It begins in JUSTIFICATION: The Bible says in Romans 5:1 that WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH, and because of THIS, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “JUSTIFICATION” is a LEGAL term, and means to declare NOT GUILTY.

This proceeds through SANCTIFICATION: Philippians 2:12-13 reads “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

This definately means that our good works saves us. It means that having received salvation through faith we are now to work it out "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,..." Mathew 25:35-40.

The sin of the past has been removed and we have been justified. However, the present is still here. We are still living and we face a world full of temptations and sin every day. This scripture says that we must CO-OPERATE WITH GOD in His WORK OF SANCTIFICATION to save us on a daily basis from sin.

Finally it ends in GLORIFICATION: Lastly we’ll briefly look at SALVATION FUTURE or GLORIFICATION. In Philippians 3:20-21 we read “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

Jesus died on the cross to save our souls from eternal death and granting us eternal life. He is coming back to complete our salvation by changing our bodies into immortal GLORIFIED BODIES to live with Him in the new, forever. Then our salvation is complete. SALVATION FUTURE, GLORIFICATION.

So we see that our SALVATION is a THREEFOLD PROCESS. It begins in JUSTIFICATION and deals with the PAST forever. It continues through SANCTIFICATION as WE DEAL WITH THE PRESENT, as we WALK DAILY WITH JESUS and ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN US. It ends in GLORIFICATION, that FUTURE day of our final salvation that we eagerly await.

My challenge to each and everyone, including myself, is to WALK THE ROAD OF SANCTIFICATION WITH JESUS, just as Paul did. To be saved and to have dealt with the past is good, but not good enough.

We need to deal with the present on a daily basis. We need to allow God daily to work in us for His purpose. We need to grow in holiness as we allow more of the Light of Jesus to come into our lives. We need to continuously put behind us the things that are revealed by the Holy Spirit as wrong. We need to have JESUS CHRIST AS PERSONAL LORD and not only as personal Savior.

We can say that WE ARE SAVED, WE ARE BEING SAVED and WE WILL BE SAVED. This is also how the Bible speaks of our salvation. This is the meaning of salvation for Catholics.
[but we cannot know that we are saved and saying that we are is the sin of presumption, for as Jesus says in Matt 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.] and that judgement is of Jesus

Me I know some that has two BVN.

But if you say NO na NO.

I no get energy for that

My brother it's possible but illegal

STAGES OF FAITH DEVELOPMENT:

The Christian tradition has recognized for a long time that there are different types or levels of spiritual awareness. In 1981 James Fowler, a professor of theology and human development at Emory University, identified seven "stages" or types of faith which tend, as a general rule, to emerge as individuals grow and mature.

Fowler explained his stages of faith in two books, Stages of Faith (1981) and Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian (1984). Other observers have also identified stages or types of faith, although most tend to explain faith development in broader categories or more generalized stages than Fowler.

It is important to remember that such developmental "stages" or types are descriptive, not prescriptive. In other words, they attempt to describe the way faith generally develops, but do not prescribe how faith must or should develop in any individual.

The descriptions do not suggest that one stage or kind of faith is better than another, only that how individuals or communities understand faith may differ from each other.

Fowler's seven "stages" are not as distinct or self-contained as they appear. The transition from one to another often takes place gradually, and usually depends upon a variety of personal and social circumstances in addition to chronological age. It is possible -- in fact, likely -- that individuals may incorporate aspects of more than one type, particularly during periods when they are growing gradually from one stage to the next.

As a general rule, Fowler's stages are sequential and individuals move from one to the next along the continuum outlined by Fowler. However, in any given stage, circumstances may cause individuals to return to elements of previous stages. Personal images of God, which may seem to be quite distinct in each stage, in reality usually contain aspects or characteristics of two or more different types.

Despite these cautions, the concept of faith development remains useful. It tends to confirm the impression individuals have that their faith has grown and changed, that it continues to change, often in response to particular circumstances in their lives. The information presented here is a composite of key characteristics of the stages in faith development identified by Fowler and others.
-- Dave Cushing.
• • •
1. Primal Faith
[Dominant in Infants from Birth to Age 3]

This stage in a young child's faith formation sets the foundation for what will later develop as a conscious, intentional and personal faith. A very young child cannot be said to have any conscious faith at all, but he or she is unconsciously developing a basic attitude about reality -- a perception about whether the world and the people in it are basically friendly or dangerous, pleasant or painful, trustworthy or capricious.

• This stage establishes a fundamental but pre-conscious disposition which will eventually enable the child to believe that there is a God who loves and cares for them.
• • •

2. Imaginative Faith
[Dominant in Children Ages 4 to 8]

At this stage faith has a magical or imaginary quality, marked by the child's ability to believe almost anything. It is essentially intuitive, non-rational and non-conceptual. It is based on what the child feels rather than on what the child thinks or "knows." It is, in a sense, "borrowed" from adults whom the child trusts to be knowing and truthful. This stage sets the foundation for the child's eventual ability to believe in nonmaterial realities and sacred mysteries which cannot be seen or "proven." Imaginative faith is almost entirely non-critical or naive, in the sense that children for the most part lack the knowledge, experience and insight to evaluate or judge the content of faith against objective criteria.

• In this stage the child's image of God depends primarily on what parents do and say. If parents are loving, kind and forgiving, the child assumes that God, who is like a cosmic parent or grandparent, is also loving, kind and forgiving.
• • •

3. Literal Faith
[Dominant in Children Ages 6 to 12]

During this stage the child is gradually developing the ability to think for her or him self and beginning to ask questions about things which earlier they took for granted, including their parents' faith. At this stage, children develop an intense desire and need to know how things really are. They are fascinated by stories, rituals and traditions which show real people living out their faith in concrete ways. They depend on authority figures, rules and structure to assure them that reality is ordered and safe. Literal faith is the first step toward a less naive and more critical attitude toward faith, although the older child's ability to subject the content of faith to critical standards is still limited.

• In this stage, the child is like to imagine God as something like a divine superhero who uses his power and authority to create order and justice by rewarding good and punishing evil.
• • •

4. Conventional Faith
[Dominant in Young Adults and Adults Age 13 and Older]

During this stage faith is shaped by the individual's growing ability and desire to participate in the wider world beyond parents and family. There is developing need to belong and be accepted by peers and friends who share the individual's interests and values. Faith is highly inter-personal, institutional, and communal; like the older child, it is rooted in the group and is shaped by the conventions, traditions, rules and habits of the group or faith community to which he or she belongs. Conventional faith may incorporate critical and non-critical attitudes toward faith. Young and early adults develop the ability to evaluate faith-claims by more objective standards, but may suppress critical questions out of fear, or for the sake of the security and acceptance provided by the group.

• In this stage the older child, young adults and many adults image God as an authority figure who holds the group -- and the world -- together by enforcing order -- a kind of cosmic "Godfather" with whom one exchanges "favors," who rewards loyalty and punishes disloyalty. In this sense, God may be loving and merciful, but never at the expense of justice.
• • •

5. Personal Faith
[Dominant in Adults Age 20 and Older]

This stage is sometimes characterized as a period of rebellion or withdrawal, a kind of spiritual adolescence. In this stage individuals are rethinking the conventions and convictions of the group as they search for a personal faith, independent of the individuals and groups they relied upon as children and young adults. This stage may be marked by a certain amount of ambivalence and confusion -- both a desire to belong and a need to be independent. Personal faith represents the individual's transition from a primarily pre-critical to a post-critical faith. It is a highly critical stage in which individuals evaluate faith-claims against personal experience, "common sense," rational and scientific criteria.

• In this stage an individual's relationship to God may be very personal and private, but nonetheless real and intense. Some individuals in this stage express a desire to be "spiritual but not religious."
• • •

6. Conjunctive or Mystical Faith
[Possible in Adults in Their 30s or Older; Rarely Before Middle Age]

In this stage an individual adult become more aware of the presence of the Divine Mystery in all of life. This awareness produces a deep sense of sufficiency, wholeness and peace, which enables the individual to accept and believe what cannot be fully understood or explained. Faith now includes a sense of solidarity and compassion, which allows the individual to reconnect with the faith community and to live comfortably with contradictions and shortcomings within the self and the faith community. Mystical Faith is the first stage in a post-critical attitude about faith. Adults in this stage reject the literalism of early stages not because it is untrue, but because it is not true enough; they have discovered that there are truths (or mysteries) embedded in reality which do not conflict with, and can not be judged by, entirely rational or scientific standards.

• In this stage an individual experiences God's presence in the deepest levels of oneself, others and creation, transcending superficial differences. The human analogy would be to the deep interpersonal connection which spouses sometimes feel. This awareness of God as the Holy Spirit leads to an abiding conviction that all will be well because God wills it.
• • •

7. Universal Faith
[Rare in a Few Adults During or After Middle Age]

In this stage an individual's faith is shaped by an intense awareness of the unity of all living things and the oneness of God's creation. A vision of the Kingdom of God breaking into everyday reality frees the individual to be both radically detached from self and passionately committed to living a life of self-sacrificing love marked by transcendent values like truth, justice and love and devoted to overcoming division, oppression and violence of every kind. Universal faith is the ultimate stage in the development of a post-critical attitude toward faith. Adults in this stage realize that the truths embedded in faith are ultimately more important and helpful than those which emerge from rational or scientific inquiry.

• In this stage an individual's image of God defies words or images. The individual's life and faith center on an awareness of God's transforming presence. The rare individuals who reach this level live lives of totally self-less love, uncompromised by concerns for personal status, comfort or security.
• • •

Spiritual Exercise:

THE EXAMEN IN 5 STEPS:

Here is how I do the examen. It is only slightly modified from what St. Ignatius of Loyola suggests in the Exercises.

Before you begin, as in all prayer, remind yourself that you're in God's presence, and ask God to help you in your prayer.

STEP 1: GRATITUDE

Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful, and give thanks.

STEP 2: REVIEW

Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, noticing where you felt God's presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitation to grow in love.

STEP 3: SORROW

Recall any action for which you are sorry.

STEP 4: FORGIVENESS

Ask for God's forgiveness. Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt.

STEP 5: GRACE

Ask God for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God's presence more clearly.

FACTS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Today is the 1987th birthday of the Catholic Church

1. Catholicism has been a moving force in the development of Western culture. It continues to be influential in religious issues, social institutions, art, education, medicine, science, music, philosophy, literature, and politics.

2. The Catholic Church’s Vatican has diplomatic relations with almost every country in the world.

3. Pope John Paul II traveled to more than 129 different countries, logging more than 750,000 frequent flyer miles, which is about three times the distance to the moon.

4. The word “Catholic” was first used by Ignatius of Antioch around the year A.D. 110. It is from the Greek word katholikos, which means “toward the whole.” Ignatius was suggesting that the Church is a gift offered by Christ to all people.

5. The Catholic Church is the largest single Church in Christianity.

6. The “Devil’s Advocate” or Advocate Diaboli, is a real position within the Catholic Church.

7. Between John Paul II’s election to the papacy in 1978 and his death in 2004, more than 17 million people attended his weekly audiences in Rome.

8. The oldest institution in the Western world is the Catholic Church. It traces its history back almost 2,000 years.

9. There are more than 1 billion Catholics in the world, in all five continents. They are particularly concentrated in southern Europe, the U.S., the Philippines, and the countries of Central and South America. What binds them together is faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to the papacy.

10. Catholics believe that the pope, who is based in Rome, is the successor to Saint Peter, which Christ appointed as the first head of His church.

11. For almost 1,000 years, Catholicism was Christianity. But over time, schisms have disrupted the unity, including a schism in A.D. 144 with Marcionism, a schism in 318 A.D. with Arianism, a divide in 1054 A.D. with the East-West Schism, and yet another divide in 1517 during the Protestant Reformation.

12. The pope does not live in Italy; he lives in Vatican City, which is a county within Italy.

13. Women are not allowed to become Roman Catholic priests.

14. The Catholic Church is the body of churches that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, which includes the Roman Catholic Church and 22 Eastern Catholic Churches.

15. Brazil has more Catholics than any other country with close to 127 million, or 11.7% of the world’s Catholic population. It is followed by Mexico (96 million), the Philippines (76 million), the U.S. (75 million), Italy, (49 million), Columbia (38 million), France (38 million), Poland (35 million), Spain (35 million), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (31 million). These 10 countries account for 55.6% of the Catholic population globally.

16. Over the past 100 years, the number of Catholics around the world as tripled from 291 million in 1910 to 1.1 billion in 2010. Percentage wise, the population has remained relatively stable, constituting 17% of the world population in 1910 and 16% in 2010.

17. In 1910, 65% of Europe was Catholic. In 2010, only 24% was. While Catholics in Europe have declined, there has been rapid growth in the Catholic population in the Sub-Saharan African and Asia-Pacific regions.

18. During the High and Late Middle Ages, the Latin Roman Catholic Church sanctioned military campaigns called the Crusades. The impact of the Crusades was profound, and judgment ranged from praise to condemnation.

19. The first printed Bible was printed under the supervision of the Catholic Church. It was printed by the Catholic inventor of the printing press: Johannes Gutenberg.

20. The magical term “hocus pocus” comes from the most sacred moment in Catholic ritual: the consecration of the bread as the body of Christ by the priest speaking the words “This is my body,” which in Latin is Hoc est enim corpus meum.

21. It was the Catholic Church that added modern-day chapters and numbered verses to the Bible.

22. The first black person to be documented as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church was known as Saint Maurice (a.k.a. St. Mauritius or St. Moritz). He was a 3rd-century Roman soldier born in Egypt who was martyred when he refused to massacre Christians for the Roman Empire.

24. While there is no definitive “head count,” based on history, the Roman martyrology, and Orthodox sources, scholars estimate that there are over 10,000 saints and beati (“blesses ones”).

24. The Catholic tradition of honoring saints actually came from the Jews who had a long-standing tradition of honoring prophets and holy people with shrines.

25. Scholars note that Catholicism spread largely because of the work of Roman road-builders.

26. While the exact date of the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church is indeterminable, the Church can trace its origin to Jesus of Nazareth during the period of Roman occupation in early A.D. 33

27. The Big-Bang theory was proposed by a Catholic priest, Monsignor Georges Lemaitre.

28. The Vatican is the smallest sovereign state in the world.

29. Though Germanic tribes destroyed most of Roman civilization, the Catholic Church preserved much classical learning, especially in the monasteries during the Middle Ages.

30. The Catholic Church has been a plot device in several horror movies, particularly The Exorcist. The Church actually participated with the production. The technical advisor was Rev. William O’Malley, a Jesuit priest and teacher.

31. The Catholic Church spends more money than Apple brings in. Expenditures by the Catholic Church, largely on charity, exceeded $170 billion in 2012, according to The Economist magazine. In that same year, Apple took in $157 billion in revenue. It is believed that the Catholic Church is the largest provider of charity and Healthcare.

32. The Pope is protected by the Swiss Papal Guard. Wearing uniforms designed by Michelangelo and commonly armed with halberds, they are capable of using heavier weapons if needed. Each member is Catholic, male, and Swiss, and must complete military training in Switzerland. They must demonstrate good conduct and be at least five-foot-eight in height. In extreme circumstances, they are expected to guard the Holy Father with their lives. The Swiss Papal Guard is the oldest active military unit in continual existence since 1506.

From online sources