₦airaland Forum

Today's Saint
St. Clare (1194-1253)


One of the more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi pictures Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating through sun-drenched fields, a sort of one-girl counterpart to the new Franciscan Order.

The beginning of her religious life was indeed movie material. Having refused to marry at 15, she was moved by the dynamic preaching of Francis. He became her lifelong friend and spiritual guide.

At 18, she escaped one night from her father’s home, was met on the road by friars carrying torches, and in the poor little chapel called the Portiuncula received a rough woolen habit, exchanged her jeweled belt for a common rope with knots in it, and sacrificed the long tresses to Francis’ scissors. He placed her in a Benedictine convent which her father and uncles immediately stormed in rage. She clung to the altar of the church, threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair and remained adamant.

End of movie material. Sixteen days later her sister Agnes joined her. Others came. They lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity and complete seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares). Francis obliged her under obedience at age 21 to accept the office of abbess, one she exercised until her death.

The nuns went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence. (Later Clare, like Francis, persuaded her sisters to moderate this rigor: “Our bodies are not made of brass.”) The greatest emphasis, of course, was on gospel poverty. They possessed no property, even in common, subsisting on daily contributions. When even the pope tried to persuade her to mitigate this practice, she showed her characteristic firmness: “I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ.”

Contemporary accounts glow with admiration of her life in the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. She served the sick, waited on table, washed the feet of the begging nuns. She came from prayer, it was said, with her face so shining it dazzled those about her. She suffered serious illness for the last 27 years of her life. Her influence was such that popes, cardinals and bishops often came to consult her—she never left the walls of San Damiano.

Francis always remained her great friend and inspiration. She was always obedient to his will and to the great ideal of gospel life which he was making real.

A well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. She had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens. “Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.” To her sisters she said, “Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.” The Saracens fled.

ebos:
But, if I tell you that I have not eaten since morning - you will doubt it. Just sitting here since morning. So, you have also reminded me that I have not eaten. My Laptop is down and will soon go off. It's an opportunity to go and eat now. I will come back later.

na wa 4u

Ebos, but u will neva 4get to eat shey . It's still on, started on 6th.

ebos:
Busting with a lot of gain? Server disappointing here and there. Make gain and the following day it reverse against you because you cannot have access to close it. Just trying to see if I can have to network. Hope that will be better.

I pray it gets better. Hope you are also participating in the 9 days novena in honour of our blessed Mother.

ebos:
I'm fine o, but I have not been regular here because server and even my movements here and there made it so. How is work?

Work is fine a little bit stressful. Eya but u hv bn able to rectify it, hope marketing is bustling with lot of gain

ebos:
Oby, happy you are online now

Hello Ebos, how are things.

Today's Saint 08/08/08 _{special date}

St. Dominic (1170-1221) 


If he hadn’t taken a trip with his bishop, Dominic would probably have remained within the structure of contemplative life; after the trip, he spent the rest of his life being a contemplative in active apostolic work.

Born in old Castile, Spain, he was trained for the priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon of the cathedral at Osma, where there was an attempt to revive the apostolic common life of the Acts of the Apostles.

On a journey through France with his bishop, he came face to face with the then virulent Albigensian heresy at Languedoc. The Albigensians (Cathari, “the pure”) held to two principles—one good, one evil—in the world. All matter is evil—hence they denied the Incarnation and sacraments. On the same principle they abstained from procreation and took a minimum of food and drink. The inner circle led what must he called a heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers.

Dominic sensed the need for the Church to combat this heresy, and was commissioned to be part of the preaching crusade against it. He saw immediately why the preaching was not succeeding: the ordinary people admired and followed the ascetical heroes of the Albigenses. Understandably, they were not impressed by the Catholic preachers who traveled with horse and retinues, stayed at the best inns and had servants. Dominic therefore, with three Cistercians, began itinerant preaching according to the gospel ideal. He continued this work for 10 years, being successful with the ordinary people but not with the leaders.

His fellow preachers gradually became a community, and in 1215 he founded a religious house at Toulouse, the beginning of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).

His ideal, and that of his Order, was to link organically a life with God, study and prayer in all forms, with a ministry of salvation to people by the word of God. His ideal: contemplata tradere: “to pass on the fruits of contemplation” or “to speak only of God or with God. “

"Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes". ST. DOMINIC.

Today's Saint

St. Cajetan (1480-1557)


Like most of us, Cajetan seemed headed for an “ordinary” life—first as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia.

His life took a characteristic turn when he joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, a group devoted to piety and charity, shortly after his ordination at 36. When he was 42 he founded a hospital for incurables at Venice. At Vicenza, he entered a “disreputable” religious community that consisted only of men of the lowest stations of life—and was roundly censured by his friends, who thought his action was a reflection on his family. He sought out the sick and poor of the town and served them.

The greatest need of the time was the reformation of a Church that was “sick in head and members.” Cajetan and three friends decided that the best road to reformation lay in reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. (One of them later became Paul IV.) Together they founded a congregation known as the Theatines (from Teate [Chieti] where their first superior-bishop had his see). They managed to escape to Venice after their house in Rome was wrecked when Charles V’s troops sacked Rome in 1527. The Theatines were outstanding among the Catholic reform movements that took shape before the Protestant Reformation. He founded a monte de pieta (“mountain [or fund] of piety”) in Naples—one of many charitable, nonprofit credit organizations that lent money on the security of pawned objects. The purpose was to help the poor and protect them against usurers. Cajetan’s little organization ultimately became the Bank of Naples, with great changes in policy.

JOURNEY WITH THE SAINTS
This is my happiness, this my pleasure: to live with Jesus, to walk with Jesus, to converse with Jesus-to suffer with and for him, this is my treasure. ST. ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ

Carlosein:
lin hello, glad to know u don't go through the hassles of the 3rd mainland bridge.
tanks again for the reminder.

guys, see the interesting pix i found below of Pope Benedict XVI walking with his brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, in Bressanone, Italy July 31. The pope was spending his summer holiday at a seminary where he used to vacation as a cardinal.

They look alike so much.

ebos:
hey guys, I have not been able to connect since last week.

Oby, Carlosein, Lindiwe and Lady. How is life?

Viee is no where to be found.

Life is so good and i know is also treating you fine.

Lindiwe:
hey peeps,
hope y'all had a restful night. . .
today is the second day of the novena in preparation for the feast of Our Lady's Assumption. . . just a REMINDER!

Alrigth den, wishing y'all a great day at work and on FOREX - ebos

Yes o, i pray that God will give us the strength of prayerfulness to enable us to start and finish the 9 days novena and also receive the accompanying Grace.

Carlosein:
hey guys, where is imhotep

heard the latest version of the mummy was released this week. hope he will be in it

imhotep come show face here small now no be only muslims and the lost sheep them wan ordain(?) u for now.

we miss you sha.

which one is mummy?

Today's Feast
Transfiguration of the Lord

All three Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36). With remarkable agreement, all three place the event shortly after Peter’s confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus’ first prediction of his passion and death. Peter’s eagerness to erect tents or booths on the spot suggests it occurred during the Jewish weeklong, fall Feast of Booths.

In spite of the texts’ agreement, it is difficult to reconstruct the disciples’ experience, according to Scripture scholars, because the Gospels draw heavily on Old Testament descriptions of the Sinai encounter with God and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. Certainly Peter, James and John had a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity strong enough to strike fear into their hearts. Such an experience defies description, so they drew on familiar religious language to describe it. And certainly Jesus warned them that his glory and his suffering were to be inextricably connected—a theme John highlights throughout his Gospel.

Tradition names Mt. Tabor as the site of the revelation. A church first raised there in the fourth century was dedicated on August 6. A feast in honor of the Transfiguration was celebrated in the Eastern Church from about that time. Western observance began in some localities about the eighth century.

On July 22, 1456, Crusaders defeated the Turks at Belgrade. News of the victory reached Rome on August 6, and Pope Callistus III placed the feast on the Roman calendar the following year.

Quote

“At his Transfiguration Christ showed his disciples the splendor of his beauty, to which he will shape and color those who are his: ‘He will reform our lowness configured to the body of his glory’” (Philippians 3:21) (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae).

Carlosein:
good morning my people.

how una dey?

Fine day to everyone too.

JOURNEY WITH THE SAINTS
Since the salvation of humanity began through the Hail Mary, the salvation of each individual is linked with this prayer, This same prayer, devoutly said, will cause the word of God to germinate in our souls, and to bear the fruit of life: Jesus Chris. ST. LOIUS DE MONFORT.

The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major

First raised at the order of Pope Liberius in the mid-fourth century, the Liberian Basilica was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III shortly after the Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary’s title as Mother of God in 431. Rededicated at that time to the Mother of God, St. Mary Major is the largest church in the world honoring God through Mary. Standing atop one of Rome’s seven hills, the Esquiline, it has survived many restorations without losing its character as an early Roman basilica. Its interior retains three naves divided by colonnades in the style of Constantine’s era. Fifth-century mosaics on its walls testify to its antiquity.

St. Mary Major is one of the four Roman basilicas known as patriarchal cathedrals in memory of the first centers of the Church. St. John Lateran represents Rome, the See of Peter; St. Paul Outside the Walls, the See of Alexandria, allegedly the see presided over by Mark; St. Peter’s, the See of Constantinople; and St. Mary’s, the See of Antioch, where Mary is supposed to have spent most of her life.

One legend, unreported before the year 1000, gives another name to this feast: Our Lady of the Snows. According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God. In affirmation, she produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site. The legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the basilica’s dome every August 5.

Quote

“From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, in whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the People of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, ” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 66).

ebos:
Oby, Oya voice make Carlosein hear now. Me no open my computer at all yesterday. I was not around. You know I don't browse on saturdays and sundays, but I just wan greet una.

Carlosein tellam to voice out but e fit enter voice- mail.

voice mail ko, voice mail ni

Lindiwe:
Morning peeps,
hope you guys had a restful weekend!

Just a quick one. . .

Did you know that today is the memorial of St. John Mary Vianney (the Patron of Parish Priests)?

Did you know that this Cure of Ars had a childlike devotion to St. Philomena when he was alive?

Did you know that he was the one who composed the Litany of St. Philomena?

May St. John Mary Vianney in union with St. Philomena present your petitions to God through the hands of the Queen of All Saints, your Mother. AMEN.

Thanks for the more insight about St. John Vianney.

~Lady~:
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

viee:
hi sweeties

hop u'll r doing great
have a blessed month!

hi lovely
not bad at all.
have a blessed month too.

Today's Saint

St. John Vianney (1786-1859)

A man with vision overcomes obstacles and performs deeds that seem impossible. John Vianney was a man with vision: He wanted to become a priest. But he had to overcome his meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared him for seminary studies.

His failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue. But his vision of being a priest urged him to seek private tutoring. After a lengthy battle with the books, John was ordained.

Situations calling for “impossible” deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish at Ars, John encountered people who were indifferent and quite comfortable with their style of living. His vision led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep. (Some devils can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.)

With Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he established La Providence, a home for girls. Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of all those who came to make La Providence their home.

His work as a confessor is John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment. In the winter months he was to spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months this time was increased to 16 hours. Unless a man was dedicated to his vision of a priestly vocation, he could not have endured this giving of self day after day.

Many people look forward to retirement and taking it easy, doing the things they always wanted to do but never had the time. But John Vianney had no thoughts of retirement. As his fame spread, more hours were consumed in serving God’s people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed frequently by the devil.

Who, but a man with vision, could keep going with ever-increasing strength?

Quote

Recommending liturgical prayer, John Vianney would say, “Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.”

Carlosein:
my sis abeg voice out any voice-able make i hear jare.

Don't worry when he comes in, we will know what he has to say, if e no talk better na sorry b name, i go voice out what ever i get for am

Carlosein:
now where is that runaway albine ebos. let him come nw and declare the assets he has amassed
from forex and give us our share (since him no wan marry again)

shey? Ebos oya report with immediate effect b4 i voice out wetin dey my mind naw make u no talk sey i dey yab o

Carlosein:
don't worry i am a mind reader and i know you will make it tomorrow.

just remember to pray for all of us.

Sure i will, the more we pray for others the more we are praying for ourselves.

I will try, i will put on the alarm.
As if you read my mind thank God is Friday

Happy new month to you all too.

I pray i can wake up early tomorrow to attend the first Saturday Mass.

Today's Saint

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)


Moral theology, Vatican II said, should be more thoroughly nourished by Scripture, and show the nobility of the Christian vocation of the faithful and their obligation to bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world. Alphonsus, declared patron of moral theologians by Pius XII in 1950, would rejoice in that statement. In his day, he fought for the liberation of moral theology from the rigidity of Jansenism. His moral theology, which went through 60 editions in the century following him, concentrated on the practical and concrete problems of pastors and confessors. If a certain legalism and minimalism crept into moral theology, it should not be attributed to this model of moderation and gentleness.

At the University of Naples he received, at the age of 16, a doctorate in both canon and civil law by acclamation, but soon gave up the practice of law for apostolic activity. He was ordained a priest and concentrated his pastoral efforts on popular (parish) missions, hearing confessions, forming Christian groups.

He founded the Redemptorist congregation in 1732. It was an association of priests and brothers living a common life, dedicated to the imitation of Christ, and working mainly in popular missions for peasants in rural areas. Almost as an omen of what was to come later, he found himself deserted, after a while, by all his original companions except one lay brother. But the congregation managed to survive and was formally approved 17 years later, though its troubles were not over.

Alphonsus’ great pastoral reforms were in the pulpit and confessional—replacing the pompous oratory of the time with simplicity, and the rigorism of Jansenism with kindness. His great fame as a writer has somewhat eclipsed the fact that for 26 years he traveled up and down the Kingdom of Naples, preaching popular missions.

He was made bishop (after trying to reject the honor) at 66 and at once instituted a thorough reform of his diocese.

His greatest sorrow came toward the end of his life. The Redemptorists, precariously continuing after the suppression of the Jesuits, had difficulty in getting their Rule approved by the Kingdom of Naples. Alphonsus acceded to the condition that they possess no property in common, but a royal official, with the connivance of a high Redemptorist official, changed the Rule substantially. Alphonsus, old, crippled and with very bad sight, signed the document, unaware that he had been betrayed. The Redemptorists in the Papal States then put themselves under the pope, who withdrew those in Naples from the jurisdiction of Alphonsus. It was only after his death that the branches were united.

At 71 he was afflicted with rheumatic pains which left incurable bending of his neck; until it was straightened a little, the pressure of his chin caused a raw wound on his chest. He suffered a final 18 months of “dark night” scruples, fears, temptations against every article of faith and every virtue, interspersed with intervals of light and relief, when ecstasies were frequent.

Alphonsus is best known for his moral theology, but he also wrote well in the field of spiritual and dogmatic theology. His Glories of Mary is one of the great works on that subject, and his book Visits to the Blessed Sacrament went through 40 editions in his lifetime, greatly influencing the practice of this devotion in the Church.

Quote

Someone once remarked, after a sermon by Alphonsus, "It is a pleasure to listen to your sermons; you forget yourself and preach Jesus Christ."

those refers to different people and mine refers to me

Does it mean you don't know what kynna kwesions r dese?

Gospel
Mt 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples:
“The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom
both the new and the old.”
When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

MEDITATION OF THE DAY
This parable-the last of seven in this chapter of Matthew concerns the kingdom of God and the last judgment which will determine whether we will be in or outside of God's presence for eternity.  The basis for this judgment will be how we respond to God's initiative, how we use our wills and our consciences to choose good and evil.  When God came among us, a new life came into being-a life not founded on the requirements of the law.  This new life brought with it the capacity to know Jesus Christ, to be renewed in mind, and to know "what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).  All this was made possible through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 cor 2 : 12 ).  As we look at the state of the world today, it is not difficult to see that much of what happens is in opposition to God will for his people.  Consider the global epidemics of immorality, crime, divorce, abortion, and prejudice.  Consider the mass poverty and subjugation of peoples.  Sin is being minimized if not dismissed.  Family life is failing to develop a lively conscience in the young that enables them to distinguish between good and evil.  We need to realize that our remedy is in Jesus who, by dying and rising, conquered all sin and made it possible for us to live new lives.  "If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come" (2 cor 5 : 17 ).  Each month, with regularity, we resolve to examine our consciences and ask God's forgiveness.  Are we faithful to this? Faithfulness to this practice will develop clarity of conscience, a heightened awareness of sin, and the joy that comes from daily experiencing the cleansing blood of Jesus.

Negligence in examining ourselves causes our consciences to become more and more dulled.  "Jesus, through your Holy Spirit, teach us to do what is pleasing in your sight so that we may one day rejoice with you in the presence of the Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever."

St. Ignatius Loyola pray for us.

ebos:
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

What is the reason behind this quote _{market dey move ?}