Sunday Holy Mass Online : Sun. January 17, 2021 - #Eucharist on 2nd of Ordinary Time in Your Virtual Church

 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 65
Reading I
1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19
Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD
where the ark of God was.
The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.”
“I did not call you, “  Eli said.  “Go back to sleep.”
So he went back to sleep.
Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli.
“Here I am, “ he said.  “You called me.”
But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son.  Go back to sleep.”
At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD,
because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.
The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time.
Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.  You called me.”
Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.
So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply,
Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”
When Samuel went to sleep in his place,
the LORD came and revealed his presence,
calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!”
Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him,
not permitting any word of his to be without effect.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

 I have waited, waited for the LORD,
    and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
    a hymn to our God. 
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
    but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
    then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
    and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
    I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Reading II
1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20
Brothers and sisters:
The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord,
and the Lord is for the body;
God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?
But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him.
Avoid immorality.
Every other sin a person commits is outside the body,
but the immoral person sins against his own body.
Do you not know that your body
is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been purchased at a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body. 
 
Alleluia
Jn 1:41, 17b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We have found the Messiah:
Jesus Christ, who brings us truth and grace.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 
Gospel
Jn 1:35-42
John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.
It was about four in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,
was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him,
“We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —.
Then he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said,
“You are Simon the son of John;
you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion-
People who cannot communicate now make spiritual communion
At your feet, O my Jesus I bow down and offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abysses itself into its nothingness and Your holy presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I wish to receive you in the poor home that my heart offers you. In anticipation of the happiness of sacramental communion, I want to possess you in spirit. Come to me, oh my Jesus, that I may come to you. May Your love inflame my whole being, for life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. So be it. Amen

Saint January 17 : St. Anthony the Abbot and the Patron of Amputees; Butchers; Epilepsy; Graveyards; Monks; Pigs; Skin diseases

Feast Day: January 17
Born: 251, Herakleopolis Magna, Egypt
Died: 356, Mount Colzim, Egypt
Major Shrine: Monastery of Anthony, Egypt; Vienna, Austria His body was at Saint-Antoine l'Abbaye, Isère, France
Patron of: against pestilence; amputees; animals; basket makers; basket weavers; brushmakers; butchers; cemetery workers; domestic animals; eczema; epilepsy; epileptics; ergotism; erysipelas; gravediggers; graveyards; hermits; hogs; Hospitallers; monks; pigs; relief from pestilence; shingles; skin diseases; skin rashes; swine; swineherds


Founder of Christian monasticism. The chief source of information on St. Anthony is a Greek Life attributed to St. Athanasius (ca. 296-373). Anthony was born at Coma, near Heracleopolis Magna in Fayum, about the middle of the third century. He was the son of well-to-do parents, and on their death, in his twentieth year, he inherited their possessions. He had a desire to imitate the life of the Apostles and the early Christians, and one day, on hearing in the church the Gospel words, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all thou hast", he received them as spoken to himself, disposed of all his property and goods, and devoted himself exclusively to religious exercises. Long before this it had been usual for Christians to practice asceticism, abstain from marriage and exercising themselves in self-denial, fasting, prayer, and works of piety; but this they had done in the midst of their families, and without leaving house or home. Later on, in Egypt, such ascetics lived in huts, in the outskirts of the towns and villages, and this was the common practice about 270, when Anthony withdrew from the world. He began his career by practising the ascetical life in this fashion without leaving his native place. He used to visit the various ascetics, study their lives, and try to learn from each of them the virtue in which he seemed to excel. Then he took up his abode in one of the tombs, near his native village, and there it was that the Life records those strange conflicts with demons in the shape of wild beasts, who inflicted blows upon him, and sometimes left him nearly dead.
After fifteen years of this life, at the age of thirty-five, Anthony determined to withdraw from the habitations of men and retire in absolute solitude. He crossed the Nile, and on a mountain near the east bank, then called Pispir, now Der el Memum, he found an old fort into which he shut himself, and lived there for twenty years without seeing the face of man, food being thrown to him over the wall. He was at times visited by pilgrims, whom he refused to see; but gradually a number of would-be disciples established themselves in caves and in huts around the mountain, Thus a colony of ascetics was formed, who begged Anthony to come forth and be their guide in the spiritual life. At length, about the year 305, he yielded to their importunities an emerged from his retreat, and, to the surprise of all, he appeared to be as when he had gone in, not emaciated, but vigorous in body and mind.
For five or six years he devoted himself to the instruction and organization of the great body of monks that had grown up around him; but then he once again withdrew into the inner desert that lay between the Nile and the Red Sea, near the shore of which he fixed his abode on a mountain where still stands the monastery that bears his name, Der Mar Antonios. Here he spent the last forty-five years of his life, in a seclusion, not so strict as Pispir, for he freely saw those who came to visit him, and he used to cross the desert to Pispir with considerable frequency. The Life says that on two occasions he went to Alexandria, once after he came forth from the fort at Pispir, to strengthen the Christian martyrs in the persecution of 311, and once at the close of his life (c. 350), to preach against the Arians. The Life says he died at the age of a hundred and five, and St. Jerome places his death in 356-357. All the chronology is based on the hypothesis that this date and the figures in the Life are correct. At his own request his grave was kept secret by the two disciples who buried him, lest his body should become an object of reverence.
Of his writings, the most authentic formulation of his teaching is without doubt that which is contained in the various sayings and discourses put into his mouth in the Life, especially the long ascetic sermons (16-43) spoken on his coming forth from the fort at Pispir. It is an instruction on the duties of the spiritual life, in which the warfare with demons occupies the chief place. Though probably not an actual discourse spoken on any single occasion, it can hardly be a mere invention of the biographer, and doubtless reproduces St. Anthony's actual doctrine, brought together and co-ordinated. It is likely that many of the sayings attributed to him in the "Apophthegmata" really go back to him, and the same may be said of the stories told of him in Cassian and Palladius. There is a homogeneity about these records, and a certain dignity and spiritual elevation that seem to mark them with the stamp of truth, and to justify the belief that the picture they give us of St Anthony's personality, character, and teaching is essentially authentic. A different verdict has to be passed on the writings that go under his name, to be found in P.G., XL. The Sermons and twenty Epistles from the Arabic are by common consent pronounced wholly spurious. St. Jerome (Illustrious Men 88) knew seven epistles translated from the Coptic into Greek; the Greek appears to be lost, but a Latin version exists (ibid.), and Coptic fragments exist of three of these letters, agreeing closely with the Latin; they may be authentic, but it would be premature to decide. Better is the position of a Greek letter to Theodore, preserved in the "Epistola Ammonis ad Theophilum", sect. 20, and said to be a translation of a Coptic original; there seems to be no sufficient ground for doubting that it really was written by Anthony (see Butler, Lausiac History of Palladius, Part I, 223). The authorities are agreed that St. Anthony knew no Greek and spoke only Coptic. There exists a monastic Rule that bears St. Anthony's name, preserved in Latin and Arabic forms (P.G., XL, 1065). While it cannot be received as having been actually composed by Anthony, it probably in large measure goes back to him, being for the most part made up out of the utterances attributed to him in the Life and the "Apophthegmata"; it contains, however, an element derived from the spuria and also from the "Pachomian Rules". It was compiled at an early date, and had a great vogue in Egypt and the East. At this day it is the rule followed by the Uniat Monks of Syria and Armenia, of whom the Maronites, with sixty monasteries and 1,100 monks, are the most important; it is followed also by the scanty remnants of Coptic monachism. It will be proper to define St. Anthony's place, and to explain his influence in the history of Christian monachism. He probably was not the first Christian hermit; it is more reasonable to believe that, however little historical St. Jerome's "Vita Pauli" may be, some kernel of fact underlies the story (Butler, op. cit., Part I, 231, 232), but Paul's existence was wholly unknown unknown till long after Anthony has become the recognized leader of Christian hermits. Nor was St. Anthony a great legislator and organizer of monks, like his younger contemporary Pachomius; for, though Pachomius's first foundations were probably some ten or fifteen years later than Anthony's coming forth from his retreat at Pispir, it cannot be shown that Pachomius was directly influenced by Anthony, indeed his institute ran on quite different lines. And yet it is abundantly evident that from the middle of the fourth century throughout Egypt, as elsewhere, and among the Pachomian monks themselves, St. Anthony was looked upon as the founder and father of Christian monachism.
This great position was no doubt due to his commanding personality and high character, qualities that stand out clearly in all the records of him that have come down. The best study of his character is Newman's in the "Church of the Fathers" (reprinted in "Historical Sketches"). The following is his estimate: "His doctrine surely was pure and unimpeachable; and his temper is high and heavenly, without cowardice, without gloom, without formality, without self-complacency. Superstition is abject and crouching, it is full of thoughts of guilt; it distrusts God, and dreads the powers of evil. Anthony at least had nothing of this, being full of confidence, divine peace, cheerfulness, and valorousness, be he (as some men may judge) ever so much an enthusiast" (op. cit., Anthony in Conflict). Full of enthusiasm he was, but it did not make him fanatical or morose; his urbanity and gentleness, his moderation and sense stand out in many of the stories related of him. Abbot Moses in Cassian (Coll. II) says he had heard Anthony maintaining that of all virtues discretion was the most essential for attaining perfection; and the little known story of Eulogius and the Cripple, preserved in the Lausiac History (xxi), illustrates the kind of advice and direction he gave to those who sought his guidance.
The monasticism established under St. Anthony's direct influence became the norm in Northern Egypt, from Lycopolis (Asyut) to the Mediterranean. In contradistinction to the fully coenobitical system, established by Pachomius in the South, it continued to be of a semi-eremetical character, the monks living commonly in separate cells or huts, and coming together only occasionally for church services; they were left very much to their own devices, and the life they lived was not a community life according to rule, as now understood (see Butler, op. cit., Part I, 233-238). This was the form of monastic life in the deserts of Nitria and Scete, as portrayed by Palladius and Cassian. Such groups of semi-independent hermitages were later on called Lauras, and have always existed in the East alongside of the Basilian monasteries; in the West St. Anthony's monachism is in some measure represented by the Carthusians. Such was St. Anthony's life and character, and such his role in Christian history. He is justly recognized as the father not only of monasticism, strictly so called, but of the technical religious life in every shape and form. Few names have exercised on the human race an influence more deep and lasting, more widespread, or on the whole more beneficent.
Edited from The Catholic Encyclopedia - Image SHARED from Google Images
Prayer:
God our Father,
You gave St Anthony of Egypt
the courage and belief of an apostle
to give up his wealth,
living a life of poverty and solitude,
and to found monasteries.
Help us to be zealous in imitating his virtues
and to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grant this through the same Christ Our Lord
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

US Bishops' Urge Peace Following Reports Warning of Plans for Additional Violence at State Capitols and U.S. Capitol - FULL TEXT

U.S. Bishop Chairman Urges Peace Following Reports Warning of Plans for Additional Violence at State Capitols and U.S. Capitol
JANUARY 16, 2021 
WASHINGTON —Following the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and reports of an FBI bulletin warning of “armed protests” in state capitals and Washington, DC, in the coming week, including groups urging participants to “storm” state capitols and other government buildings and threatening “a huge uprising,” as well as reports of threats against lawmakers and their families, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, urged peace.
The full statement is as follows:
“Like Pope Francis, after viewing the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, I was ‘astonished’: a violent attack on a peaceful political process at the heart of our democracy, bombs placed at political party headquarters, the murder of a police officer and others dead and injured, symbols of racial hatred, calls to execute politicians, a gallows and a noose. There were those present who misappropriated Christian symbols as well.  There must be accountability for these actions.
“As a Christian, I must say to anyone considering further violence: you are being led astray by a voice that is not from God.  St. Paul gave us a reliable test of what is from God and what is not. 
              . . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Gal 5:22-23). 
“Please look into your heart.  Look at the images of the events on January 6. Look at the messages that accompanied them on social media.   Look at the symbols of racial hatred in the crowd.  If you supported this, or are considering further actions in the coming week, ask: is what I intend the fruit of the Holy Spirit?  Are my intentions expressions of love for others, including those I may consider enemies?  Are they reflections of joy? Will they lead to peace? Do they exhibit patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control?  The violence of January 6, and the many voices that urged it on, including some political leaders, were the opposite of these things.
“St. Paul names what is opposed to the Spirit: “…hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions…” (Gal. 5:20).  Do not listen to those sowing hatred, anger, and divisions!  They lead you away from God.  Though sometimes masked in deceit or seemingly demanded by fear, for your sake and the sake of others, do not mistake empty promises for the love and peace that come only from God.”
Since November 2019, the USCCB has urged peaceful and civil public discourse around politics through the Civilize It! campaign.
 FULL TEXT Release Source: USCCB

US President Trump Proclamation on Annual Religious Freedom Day, 2021 - "Faith inspires hope." FULL Official Text

 Proclamation on Religious Freedom Day, 2021

Faith inspires hope.  Deeply embedded in the heart and soul of our Nation, this transcendent truth has compelled men and women of uncompromising conscience to give glory to God by worshiping both openly and privately, lifting up themselves and others in prayer.  On Religious Freedom Day, we pledge to always protect and cherish this fundamental human right.
When the Pilgrims first crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 years ago in pursuit of religious freedom, their dedication to this first freedom shaped the character and purpose of our Nation.  Later, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, their deep desire to practice their religion unfettered from government intrusion was realized.  Since then, the United States has set an example for the world in permitting believers to live out their faith in freedom.
Over the past 4 years, my Administration has worked tirelessly to honor the vision of our Founders and defend our proud history of religious liberty.  From day one, we have taken action to restore the foundational link between faith and freedom and promote a culture of religious liberty.  My Administration has protected the rights of individual religious believers, communities of faith, and faith-based organizations.  We have defended religious liberty domestically and around the world.  For example, I signed an Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty to ensure that faith-based organizations would not be forced to compromise their religious beliefs as they serve their communities.  This includes defending the rights of religious orders to care for the infirm and elderly without being fined out of existence for refusing to facilitate access to services that violate their faith.
We have also protected healthcare providers’ rights not to be forced to perform procedures that violate their most deeply-held convictions.  Additionally, we have ended the misguided policies of denying access to educational funding to historically black colleges and universities because of their religious character and of denying loan forgiveness to those who perform public services at religious organizations.  Throughout this difficult year, we have continued these efforts, cutting red tape to ensure houses of worship and other faith-based organizations could receive Paycheck Protection Program loans on the same grounds and with the same parameters as any other entity.  We have also aggressively defended faith communities against overreach by State and local governments that have tried to shut down communal worship.  Together, we have honored the sanctity of every life, protected the rights of Americans to follow their conscience, and preserved the historical tradition of religious freedom in our country.
While Americans enjoy the blessings of religious liberty, we must never forget others around the world who are denied this unalienable right.  Sadly, millions of people across the globe are persecuted and discriminated against for their faith.  My Administration has held foreign governments accountable for trampling — in many cases, egregiously so — on religious liberty.  In 2019, to shed light on this important issue, I welcomed survivors of religious persecution from 16 countries in the Oval Office, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and made history by standing before the United Nations General Assembly and calling on all nations of the world to stop persecuting people of faith.  The United States will never waver in these efforts to expand religious liberty around the world and calls on all nations to respect the rights of its citizens to live according to their beliefs and conscience.
On Religious Freedom Day, we honor the vision of our Founding Fathers for a Nation made strong and righteous by a people free to exercise their faith and follow their conscience.  As Americans united in unparalleled freedom, we recommit to safeguarding and preserving religious freedom across our land and around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2021, as Religious Freedom Day.  I call on all Americans to commemorate this day with events and activities that remind us of our shared heritage of religious liberty and that teach us how to secure this blessing both at home and around the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
DONALD J. TRUMP

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-religious-freedom-day-2021/

Death Toll of Earthquake in Indonesia Rises to 67 People Killed and Many Injured - Pope Francis sends Message of Prayer

A 6.2 earthquake hit West Sulawesi, Indonesia, with at least 67 dead and hundreds injured hours before another quake of magnitude 5.9. There is horrific damage to homes; the governor's palace and two hotels collapsed. Rescue teams are searching for survivors under the rubble. Pope Francis sent this telegram via Cardinal Parolin:

Telegramma

The Most Reverend Piero Pioppo
Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia
JAKARTA

Your Excellency,

With regard to the earthquake which occurred today in Indonesia, I would ask you kindly to transmit the following message to the appropriate ecclesiastical and civil authorities:

Saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life and the destruction of property caused by the violent earthquake in Indonesia, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by this natural disaster. He prays for the repose of the deceased, the healing of the injured and the consolation of all who grieve. In a particular way, he offers encouragement to the civil authorities and those involved in the continuing search and rescue efforts. Upon all His Holiness willingly invokes the divine blessings of strength and hope.

 

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State

The quake, which lasted a few seconds, was recorded on Friday, January 15, 2021.
Those in charge of emergency operations expect the number of victims to rise.
Mitra Manakarra hospital in Majene, a five-story building totally collapsed: two security guards are believed to be under the rubble. 
According to the Indonesian geophysics agency (Bnpb), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 38 km. Minor tremors occurred in Mamuju, 39 km from the epicentre; Polewali, at 58 km distance; Majene at 62 km distance.
The inhabitants of the area fled their homes in search of shelter outside. 
The rescue teams are launching an appeal for some urgent necessities: tents, medical services, heavy vehicles, communication tools, instant foods, masks, medicines.
A few hours before the earthquake, in the same district there was a quake of magnitude 5.9, which damaged several buildings and injured one person.
According to the BNPB, in the last 24 hours, a series of tremors caused at least three landslides and cut off electricity in the area.
Indonesia is a nation with high tectonic activity, being on the so-called "ring of fire", which causes earthquakes and eruptions of volcanoes. (Edited from Asia NewsIT - DW - and Vatican.va)

RIP Archbishop Oscar Rizzato - Pope Sends Condolences on Death of Former Papal Almoner at Age of 91

VaticanNews reports that Pope Francis sent a telegramme of condolences for the death of Archbishop Oscar Rizzato, former Papal Almoner.
By Vatican News staff writer
In a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis and addressed to Bishop Claudio Cipolla of Padova, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expresses the Holy Father's condolences for the death of Archbishop Oscar Rizzato, former Papal Almoner, who died in Padova, Italy on 11 January.
In the message, the Cardinal Secretary of State writes that "the Holy Father Francis wishes to express his closeness to this diocesan community, remembering with gratitude this discreet servant of the Church who, cultivating the interior life and attention to the weakest, carried out his ministry with humility and dedication, especially in the Secretariat of State and the Office of Papal Charities".
Describing Archbishop Rizzato as "vigilant and courteous", Cardinal Parolin goes on to say, "he was also thoughtful and happy in his pastoral collaboration, especially in the administration of the Sacraments of Christian initiation. His Holiness, invoking from divine mercy the reward promised to good and faithful servants, raises the prayer for his soul and transmits to Your Excellency, to the presbytery of this diocese, to the relatives of the deceased and to all who mourn his passing, the comfort of the apostolic blessing".
Finally, Cardinal Parolin adds his own condolences, "invoking the intercession of the Mother of God and of all those who, once poor on earth and now rich in heaven, benefited from the help of our late brother".

Source: VaticanNews.va

Holy Mass Online - Readings and Video : Saturday, January 16, 2021 - #Eucharist in Your Virtual Church

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 310
Reading I
Heb 4:12-16
The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,     
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
Responsorial Psalm
19:8, 9, 10, 15
R.    (see John 6:63c) 

   

 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
    enlightening the eye.
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just.
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
    find favor before you,
    O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R.    Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Alleluia
Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 2:13-17
Jesus went out along the sea.
All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus,
sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed Jesus.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples;
for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners
and tax collectors and said to his disciples,
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 
Jesus heard this and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion-
People who cannot communicate now make spiritual communion
At your feet, O my Jesus I bow down and offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abysses itself into its nothingness and Your holy presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I wish to receive you in the poor home that my heart offers you. In anticipation of the happiness of sacramental communion, I want to possess you in spirit. Come to me, oh my Jesus, that I may come to you. May Your love inflame my whole being, for life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. So be it. Amen

Saint January 16 : St. Berard of Carbio a Franciscan Friar Minor and of the 1st Martyrs of the Friars in Morocco

 

St. Berard of Carbio

FRIAR MINOR AND MARTYR

Born:

Carbio, Umbria, Italy

Died
16 January 1220, Morocco
Canonized:
1481, Rome by Pope Sixtus IV
Of the noble family of Leopardi, and a native of Carbio in Umbria, Berard was received into the Franciscan Order by the Seraphic Patriarch  himself, in 1213. He was well versed in Arabic, an eloquent preacher, and was chosen by St. Francis, together with two other priests, Peter and Otho, and two lay-brothers, Accursius and Adjutus, to evangelize the infidels of the East. On the conclusion of the Second General Chapter in 1219, St. Francis believed that the time had then come for the religious of his order to extend their apostolic labours beyond the Italian peninsula and Northern Europe; and, choosing for himself and twelve other religious the greater part of Syria and Egypt, he allotted to Berard and his companions the missions of Morocco. The five missionaries set sail from Italy, and after sojourning some time in Spain and Portugal finally arrived in the Kingdom of Morocco. Their open preaching of the Gospel there and their bold denunciation of the religion of Mahomet soon caused them to be apprehended and cast into prison. Having vainly endeavoured to persuade them to abandon the true religion, the Moorish king in a fit of rage opened their heads with his scimitar, and thus were offered to God the first fruits of the blood of the Friars Minor. Berard and his companions were canonized by Sixtus V, in 1481. The feast of the martyrs of Morocco is kept in the order on the 16th of January.
SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia

Free Christian Movie : "The Keys of the Kingdom" in English - Drama

The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) Approved | 2h 17min | Drama | 15 December 1944 (USA) The Keys of the Kingdom Poster A young priest, Father Chisholm is sent to China to establish a Catholic parish among the non-Christian Chinese. While his boyhood friend, also a priest, flourishes in his calling as a priest in a more Christian area of the world, Father Chisholm struggles. He encounters hostility, isolation, disease, poverty and a variety of set backs which humble him, but make him more determined than ever to succeed. Over the span of many years he gains acceptance and a growing congregation among the Chinese, through his quiet determination, understanding and patience. Director: John M. Stahl Writers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz (screenplay), Nunnally Johnson (screenplay) Stars: Gregory Peck, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price | 

#BreakingNews March for Life Organizers Release Statement that the Pro-Life March will be Virtual - FULL TEXT

 Official March for Life Press Release: (Jan. 15. 21 - You can Register below)
The protection of all of those who participate in the annual March, as well as the many law enforcement personnel and others who work tirelessly each year to ensure a safe and peaceful event, is a top priority of the March for Life. In light of the fact that we are in the midst of a pandemic which may be peaking, and in view of the heightened pressures that law enforcement officers and others are currently facing in and around the Capitol, this year’s March for Life will look different. 

The annual rally will take place virtually and we are asking all participants to stay home and to join the March virtually. We will invite a small group of pro-life leaders from across the country to march in Washington, DC this year. These leaders will represent pro-life Americans everywhere who, each in their own unique ways, work to make abortion unthinkable and build a culture where every human life is valued and protected.
We are profoundly grateful for the countless women, men, and families who sacrifice to come out in such great numbers each year as a witness for life – and we look forward to being together in person next year.  As for this year’s march, we look forward to being with you virtually.

Source: https://marchforlife.org/statement-on-2021-march-for-life/

How do I watch online?

The March for Life Rally and march to the Supreme Court will be broadcast online for you to join virtually. We invite you to join us online for the broadcast by RSVPing at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/. On January 29th, you will receive a link in your email inbox containing the link to watch the March for Life Rally and march.

How do I watch with my classroom?

The March for Life has created an instructional packet for classrooms and other groups to participate in the March for Life virtually. You can download the informational packet here: https://marchforlife.org/downloads/

We invite you to join the March for Life online by RSVPing at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/.

Is the March for Life virtual from now on?

We look forward to being together in person next year.  However, for the protection of all those who participate in the annual March for Life, we ask you to join us virtually. You can register for the online broadcast by RSVPing at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/.

Is there a Rose Dinner this year?

Yes! This year we are airing the Virtual Rose Dinner Gala at 7 PM on January 29th. We invite you to join us to hear from our keynote speaker, Tim Tebow, and Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl Anderson, as he receives the Pro-life Legacy Award. Click here for more information and to register: https://marchforlife.org/annual-rose-dinner/

Is anyone marching this year?

The annual rally will take place virtually and we are asking all participants to stay home and to join the March virtually. We will invite a small group of pro-life leaders from across the country to march in Washington, DC this year. These leaders will represent pro-life Americans everywhere who, each in their own unique ways, work to make abortion unthinkable and build a culture where every human life is valued and protected.  We invite you to join us online by RSVPing at https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/.

What should I do about travel reservations I’ve booked?

For the protection of all those who participate in the annual March, we invite you to participate virtually. To make adjustments to your travel plans please reach out to those hotels and other travel services directly. We invite you to join the March for Life virtually by registering here: https://marchforlife.org/2021-virtual-events/.

U.S. Bishops' Pro-Life Chairman Welcomes Supreme Court's Reinstatement of Safety Requirements for Abortion Drugs

U.S. Bishop Chairman for Pro-Life Activities Welcomes Supreme Court Decision Reinstating Safety Requirements for Chemical Abortion Drugs

WASHINGTON - On Tuesday night, the Supreme Court of the United States granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s request to reinstate its authority to enforce important health and safety requirements for mifepristone, a chemical abortion drug. On July 13, 2020, a federal district court judge in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction preventing the FDA from enforcing the “Elements to Assure Safe Use” in the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for mifepristone and allowing the drug to be dispensed by clinics, medical offices, and hospitals through the use of mail or delivery service. The Supreme Court’s decision in Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FDA v. ACOG) stays this nationwide injunction. Litigation on this issue continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement:
“We welcome the Supreme Court’s reinstatement of the FDA’s ability to enforce important and long-standing health and safety requirements related to chemical abortion drugs. Mail order mifepristone compounds the risks and trauma of abortion by encouraging women to end the lives of their children in their own bathrooms, often without any medical attention or follow-up care. This dangerous, painful, and emotionally bleak process results in the death of innocent unborn lives and often has lasting negative impacts on women. The inalienable dignity of women and their unborn children deserves so much more.”

FULL TEXT Release USCCB

Top 50 Countries of Christian Persecution - World Watch List - Newly Released Shows Over 340 Million Persecuted Christians Globally

The Open Doors organization has just released its annual report. It shows that over 340 million people—1 in 8 Christians worldwide are persecuted. 
 340+ million of Christians are targeted, discriminated against and attacked—because they choose to follow Jesus. 
 Open Doors released its 2021 World Watch List—the annual ranking of the top 50 countries where it’s most dangerous to be a believer. The list is the foremost report of its kind, offering the most in-depth, reliable data on Christian persecution.
Over the last year, we’ve seen record increases in modern-day persecution—from oppressive surveillance and arrests in China and Iran to brutal violence in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout the world, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the ugliness of persecution in a new way, as thousands of families were refused government relief due to their faith. 
The facts this research reveals are staggering. It’s important we see the current reality. But don’t miss something else the list shows us: the resilience of God’s people. SEE the FULL List below the Video:

Please Remember to PRAY daily for persecuted Christians. 
 

 The numbers of believers who are suffering should mean the Church is dying—that Christians are keeping quiet, renouncing their faith and turning away.
But that’s not what’s happening. Instead, their on-the-ground ministry partners tell us that so many times, persecution is the direct result of believers sharing the gospel. 

Where there is persecution, you can be sure that God is moving in the hearts of people, strengthening them to share His love and stand resilient (Isaiah 43:19).

The top 50 countries where its most difficult to follow Jesus
1) Country: North Korea

Source of Persecution: Communist and post-communist oppression
Continent: Asia
Main Religion: Agnosticism
2) Afghanistan
Clan oppression
Central Asia
Islam
3) Somalia

Clan oppression
Africa
Islam
4) Libya
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
5) Pakistan
Islamic oppression
Asia
Islam
6) Eritrea
Denominational protectionism
Africa
Islam
7) Yemen
Clan oppression
Middle East
Islam
8
Iran
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
9
Nigeria
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam, Christianity
10
India
Religious nationalism
Asia
Hinduism
11) Iraq
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
12) Syria
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
13) Sudan
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
14) Saudi Arabia
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
15) Maldives
Islamic oppression
Asia
Islam
16) Egypt
Dictatorial paranoia
Africa
Islam
17) China
Communist and post-communist oppression
Asia
Agnosticism
18) Myanmar
Religious nationalism
Asia
Buddhism
19) Vietnam
Communist and post-communist oppression
Asia
Buddhism
20) Mauritania
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
21) Uzbekistan
Dictatorial paranoia
Central Asia
Islam
22) Laos
Communist and post-communist oppression
Asia
Buddhism
23) Turkmenistan
Dictatorial paranoia
Central Asia
Islam
24) Algeria
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
25) Turkey
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
26) 
Tunisia
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
27) Morocco
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
28) Mali
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
29) Qatar
Clan oppression
Middle East
Islam
30) Colombia
Clan oppression
Latin America
Christianity
31) Bangladesh
Islamic oppression
Asia
Islam
32) Burkina Faso
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam
33) Tajikistan
Dictatorial paranoia
Central Asia
Islam
34) Nepal
Clan oppression
Asia
Hinduism
35) Central African Republic
Islamic oppression
Africa
Christianity
36) Ethiopia
Denominational protectionism
Africa
Christianity
37) Mexico
Organized crime and corruption
Latin America
Christianity
38) Jordan
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
39) Brunei
Dictatorial paranoia
Asia
Islam
40) Democratic Republic of the Congo
Islamic oppression
Africa
Christianity
41) Kazakhstan
Dictatorial paranoia
Central Asia
Islam
42) Cameroon
Islamic oppression
Africa
Christianity
43) Bhutan
Religious nationalism
Asia
Buddhism
44) Oman
Clan oppression
Middle East
Islam
45) Mozambique
Islamic oppression
Africa
Christianity
46) Malaysia
Islamic oppression
Asia
Islam
47) Indonesia
Islamic oppression
Asia
Islam
48) Kuwait
Islamic oppression
Middle East
Islam
49) Kenya
Islamic oppression
Africa
Christianity
50) Comoros
Islamic oppression
Africa
Islam

Source: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/ - Text Edited from Open Doors Email release

RIP Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid - Death of Cardinal in Brazil from COVID-19 at the Age of 88

The following is the telegram of condolence from the Holy Father to His Eminence Cardinal Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist., archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the death yesterday of His Eminence Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., archbishop emeritus of the same metropolitan see, of the Title of Ss. Bonifacio e Alessio:
Dom Orani João Tempesta, O. Cist.
Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro
It is with deep regret that I receive the news of the death of cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, and I wish to assure you of my prayerful solidarity with all the faithful who found in him a zealous pastor. His episcopal motto, “god is good”, reminded us of the goodness of god with his church, and this remembrance is truly consoling when we remember beloved Dom Eusébio, who served the people of god so diligently, as the first bishop of São José dos Campos, and in the guidance, with equal care, of the archdiocese of florianopolis and the metropolitan see of São Sebastião do Rio de janeiro.

 

 While I thank the most high for having given such a generous pastor to the church in brazil, I raise fervent prayers that the departed cardinal be welcomed in his eternal happiness, and console with hope in the resurrection all those who mourn the loss of their beloved pastor, imparting to them, as a pledge of heavenly consolation, the apostolic blessing.
Franciscus pp.
 
Biography of SCHEID Card. Eusébio Oscar, S.C.I. 
Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., Archbishop emeritus of Saõ Sebastião do Rio de Janiero, Ordinary emeritus for Eastern-Rite faithful resident in Brazil, was born in Bom Retiro, Joaçaba, Brazil, on 8 December 1932.
He studied at the Dehonian Fathers’ Seminary and was ordained a priest in Rome on 3 July 1960. He holds a specialization and a doctorate in Christology.
Back in his homeland he taught dogmatic theology and liturgy until his appointment as Bishop of São José dos Campos on 11 February 1981; he was ordained on 1 May.
He was appointed Archbishop of Florianópolis on 23 January 1991.
On 25 July 2001, he became Archbishop of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, and that same year he was named Ordinary for Eastern-Rite faithful resident in Brazil. He also served as President of South Region IV of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference.
Archbishop emeritus of Saõ Sebastião do Rio de Janiero, 27 February 2009.
Ordinary emeritus for Eastern-Rite faithful resident in Brazil, 28 July 2010.
He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 October 2003, of theTitle of Ss. Bonifacio e Alessio (Sts. Boniface and Alexius).
Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid died on 13 Janaury 2021. 

Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/01/14/0024/00049.html

Holy Mass Online - Readings and Video : Friday, January 15, 2021 - #Eucharist in Your Virtual Church

 Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 309
Reading I
Heb 4:1-5, 11
Let us be on our guard
while the promise of entering into his rest remains,
that none of you seem to have failed.
For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.
But the word that they heard did not profit them,
for they were not united in faith with those who listened.
For we who believed enter into that rest,
just as he has said:
As I swore in my wrath,    
“They shall not enter into my rest,”
and yet his works were accomplished
at the foundation of the world.
For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner,
And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;
and again, in the previously mentioned place,
They shall not enter into my rest. 

 

 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest,
so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.
 
Responsorial Psalm
78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8
R.    (see 7b)  Do not forget the works of the Lord!
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.
R.    Do not forget the works of the Lord!
That they too may rise and declare to their sons
that they should put their hope in God,
And not forget the deeds of God
but keep his commands.
R.    Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And not be like their fathers,
a generation wayward and rebellious,
A generation that kept not its heart steadfast
nor its spirit faithful toward God.
R.    Do not forget the works of the Lord!
 
Alleluia
Lk 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 
Gospel
Mk 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days,
it became known that he was at home.
Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them,
not even around the door,
and he preached the word to them.
They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd,
they opened up the roof above him.
After they had broken through,
they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him,
“Child, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,
“Why does this man speak that way?  He is blaspheming.
Who but God alone can forgive sins?”
Jesus immediately knew in his mind what 
they were thinking to themselves, 
so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,
‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?
But that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”
–he said to the paralytic,
“I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”
He rose, picked up his mat at once, 
and went away in the sight of everyone.
They were all astounded
and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion-
People who cannot communicate now make spiritual communion
At your feet, O my Jesus I bow down and offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abysses itself into its nothingness and Your holy presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I wish to receive you in the poor home that my heart offers you. In anticipation of the happiness of sacramental communion, I want to possess you in spirit. Come to me, oh my Jesus, that I may come to you. May Your love inflame my whole being, for life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. So be it. Amen

Saint January 15 : St. Ita a Religious who said God Detested 'A Scowling Face' and Patron of Limerick, Ireland

Born:
475, County of Waterford, Ireland

Died:
15 January 570
Patron of:
Diocese of Limerick, Ireland
 St. Ita, baptized Deidre, was born of a Christian family about 475 A.D. near the present city of Waterford, Ireland. She was the daughter of the chieftain Confhaola and of Necta who claimed royal descent from Feighlim Reachtmhar, King of Tara.
From early on, Deirdre was said to embody the six virtues of Irish womanhood — wisdom, purity, beauty, music, sweet speech and embroidery. She was described as “sweet and winning in her address, prudent in word and work and constant in mind and firm of purpose.” This last virtue of “being firm of purpose” stood to her when it came to making decisions about her life’s work.
Her parents hoped she would marry a nobleman of another clan; Deidre wanted to serve God in religious life. To overcome her parents' resistance to her chosen path, she fasted and prayed for three days and three nights, and on the third night, God revealed a message to her father in his sleep. The next morning, Conflhaola gave Deidre his blessing to follow her calling. At the age of sixteen, Deidre received the monastic habit of a nun and took the name of Ita. The name Ita is said to come from the Irish word iota, meaning thirst for holiness.
Ita then set out for Limerick, possibly in the company of her sister Fiona, who was later to become a nun in the community at Killeedy. Ita settled at Cluain Credall where there was a spring well - now a holy well - on the site of what later became a church. She turned down offers by the people and king of Ui Chonaill to take over all the lands of the area and settled instead for four small divisions of land to provide her small community with food.
The initial settlement later became known as Cill Ide or Killeedy (Ita's cell) and prospered as a center of learning and spiritual formation, drawing men and women from as far away as the Midlands. Children came, too, for this was still the age of fosterage in the old Gaelic tradition. One of the most famous of her pupils is said to be St. Brendan, the Navigator or Voyager of Clonfert. Among many others, the great Saint Columban came to Ita for counsel and guidance in the problems of his apostolate. It is thought that Ita was a contemporary of Saint Patrick as well.
Legend has it that Brendan asked Ita the three things which she thought God loved most. She said: "True faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a grateful spirit, and openhandedness to the poor inspired by charity." The three things that most displease God are: "a mouth that hates people, a heart harboring resentments and confidence in wealth.
Her life was spent mainly at Cill Ide, and, according to Sr. Declan Power, hers was a life based on penance, asceticism, vigils, fast and prayer. She was said to have special devotion to the infant Jesus and to have sung the Irish lullaby, Losagan, to mark that special love.
St. Ita, sometimes called "the white sun of the women of Munster" or the "Brigid of Munster," died on January 15, 570 A.D. and was laid to rest in her own Pobal Ide, where countless generations have come to pray.

Image Source: https://holycrossrumson.typepad.com/pastor/2018/01/saint-ita-of-kileedy.html

Text Source: https://www.saintita.org/patroness

Saint January 14 : St. Sava a Monk who became Metropolitan and Patron of Serbia

Born:

1175

Died:
January 14, 1235, Tarnovgrad, Bulgariaa
Major Shrine:
Temple of Saint Sava (Belgrade)
Patron of:
Serbia

Born, Rastko, he was the third son of Stephen I Nemanja (r. 1167-1196), ruler of Serbia. In 1191, he went to Mount Athos, where he took the name Sava and became a monk. He was joined there five years later by his father, who had abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Stephen. With his father, Sava established on Mount Athos the monastery of Khilander (Hilandar), which emerged as one of the leading monastic centers for the Serbians. Sava returned to Serbia in 1208 and became archimandrite of Studenica, using the post to wield considerable political and religious influence throughout the kingdom.

He opposed his brother's religious policy of treating with the Holy See and in 1219 was consecrated the metropolitan of an independent Serbian Church by the patriarch of Nicaea with the approval of the Byzantine emperor, who was much in favor of keeping Serbia within the sphere of Greek Orthodox influence. Sava worked to establish dioceses throughout Serbia, promoted native clergy, built churches, and translated numerous religious texts into Serbian. In 1229, he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, returning there in 1233 to win recognition of the Bulgarian patriarch from the patriarchs of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch. he died while on his way home, at Tirnovo, Bulgaria.

(Taken from Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints

Vatican Announces that both Pope Francis and the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Received the Covid-19 Vaccine

Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receive their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the Vatican.
By Vatican News
The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican which began on Wednesday continues with both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI receiving their first doses of the vaccine.
“I can confirm that as part of the vaccination program of the Vatican City State, as of today, the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine has been administered to Pope Francis and to the Pope Emeritus,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office in response to journalists’ questions.
 
Pope Francis had announced during an interview with Italian television station Tg5 on Sunday that he planned to receive the vaccine this week.
The Pope referred to the vaccination as “an ethical action, because you are gambling with your health, you are gambling with your life, but you are also gambling with the lives of others.”
Private Secretary to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, Bishop Georg Gaenswein, had also confirmed that the Pope emeritus would be vaccinated.

Source: VaticanNews.va

RIP Archbishop Philip Tartaglia - Death of the Archbishop of Glasgow, Scotland Suddenly at Age 70 who had Tested Positive for COVID

Archdiocese of Glasgow release:
It is with the greatest sorrow that we announce the death of our Archbishop.

The Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, has died suddenly at his home in Glasgow. He was 70 years old.

Archbishop Tartaglia, who had served as Archbishop of Glasgow since 2012, had tested positive for COVID 19 shortly after Christmas and was self-isolating at home. The cause of death is not yet clear.

The Archbishop had served as leader of Scotland’s largest Catholic community since 2012.

The Pope’s Ambassador to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti has been informed.

It will be for Pope Francis to appoint a new Archbishop to succeed Archbishop Tartaglia, but until then the Archdiocese will be overseen by an administrator.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Philip, for his family and friends and people of the Archdiocese.

Philip Tartaglia was born at Glasgow on 11th January 1951. He is the eldest son of Guido and Annita Tartaglia and had three brothers and five sisters. After his primary schooling at St. Thomas’, Riddrie, he began his secondary education at St. Mungo’s Academy, Glasgow, before moving to the national junior seminary at St. Vincent’s College, Langbank and, later, St. Mary’s College, Blairs, Aberdeen. His ecclesiastical studies were completed at the Pontifical Scots College, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained Priest by then-Archbishop Thomas Winning in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Dennistoun on 30th June 1975. He then returned to Rome to study for his Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

On completing his Doctorate in 1980, he was appointed assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald, while at the same time becoming visiting lecturer at St. Peter’s College, Newlands, Glasgow.

A year later, he was appointed Lecturer at St. Peter’s College, Newlands, becoming Director of Studies in 1983. When Chesters College, Bearsden, opened in 1985 he was made Vice-Rector. In 1987 he was appointed Rector.

He served as Rector until 1993 when he was appointed to St. Patrick’s, Dumbarton, as Assistant Priest before being appointed Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, Duntocher in 1995. In 2004, the Bishops’ Conference appointed him Rector of the Pontifical Scots College, Rome.

On 13th September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Bishop of Paisley. On 20 November 2005, he was ordained Bishop in St Mirin's Cathedral by Archbishop Mario Conti who he was to succeed as Archbishop of Glasgow

On 24th July 2012, Bishop Tartaglia was appointed Archbishop of Glasgow and was installed at St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, on Saturday 8th September 2012, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He died on January 13 2021, the Feast of St Mungo, the Patron Saint of Glasgow.

Archbishop os St Andrews and Edinburgh, Leo Cushley, said: "I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Archbishop Philip. He was a dear friend whom I’ve known most of my life and his learning, wisdom and experience benefited so many people, in Paisley, Glasgow and beyond.  

"He will be sorely missed by everyone in the Catholic Church in Scotland. My affection and prayers go to his family, who are also dear friends, and to all the clergy and people of the Archdiocese. May the Lord welcome him into paradise.”

Bishop John Keenan, on behalf of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Paisley, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, and the clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

He said: "Archbishop Tartaglia throughout his life was a faithful servant of the Lord and a caring shepherd of the Diocese of Paisley between 2005 and 2012.   He was a much loved Bishop of Paisley and will be remembered fondly by many. May he rest in peace."

Bishop Toal of Motherwell said: "On behalf of everyone in the Diocese of Motherwell I express our shock and sadness on the sudden death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia. We offer the support of our prayers to his family and the community of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, and join with them in commending his soul to the tender mercy of our Loving Father through the saving power of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

"In the years I have shared with him in the episcopal ministry I have heard him repeatedly express his steadfast belief in Christ and the need for Him to be at the heart of all we say and do in the Church,

his Body. His faith was straight-forward and re-assuring, and from that came the wise counsel which he offered in the deliberations about and the decisions taken in so many areas of the Church’s

Mission in Glasgow Archdiocese and In the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. 

"As his brother bishops we will miss him greatly, and that sense of loss is shared with so many others.

"It is good to remember with gratitude his priestly minister before he became a Bishop – in the parishes he served in and in the seminaries he taught and rectored in. Those who attended his

classes remember him as a gifted lecturer, and in later years he looked back with some nostalgia to these times of theological investigation and teaching as a time of much fulfilment and contentment.

"He loved his native city, and the family and community he grew up in. It was hard to leave his parents and younger brothers and sisters to go to Junior Seminary to train for the priesthood, but it must have been a great joy for the family that both he and his brother Gerry were ordained as priests. We offer our sympathy now to all of them as they grieve the loss of their brother Philip, and pray with them that he will be united with their beloved parents and their recently deceased sister in Paradise, in the blessed company of Our Lady, St Mungo, and all the Saints.

"May his soul , and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen."

President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert has issued the following statement:

“It is with the deepest sadness that we have learned today on the Feast of St. Kentigern (Mungo) of the death of our brother bishop and friend Philip Tartaglia. His loss to his family, his clergy and the people of the Archdiocese of Glasgow will be immeasurable but for the entire Church in Scotland this is a day of immense loss and sadness.

"He was a gentle, caring and warm-hearted pastor who combined compassion with a piercing intellect. His contribution to the work of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland over the past sixteen years was significant and we will miss his wisdom, wit and robust Catholic spirit very much.

"On behalf of the Bishops of Scotland, we commend his soul into the hands of God and pray that he may enjoy eternal rest.”

Requiescat in pace

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ArchdioceseofGlasgow/photos/a.127972690567336/3857933974237837/

RIP Bishop Moses Hamungole - Death of Catholic Bishop from Zambia from COVID-19

The Lusaka Times reports that Bishop Moses Hamungole, the Bishop of Monze Diocese and Bishop-Director of Communications at the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has died.
Two weeks ago, Bishop Hamungole announced to his Catholic Faithful that he had tested positive to COVID-19 and was under treatment.
Born on May 1, 1967 in Kafue, he attended Mukasa Minor Seminary.
After his primary and secondary education, he went to to St. Augustine’s Philosophical Seminary in Mpima Kabwe and later to the Theological Seminary of St. Dominic’s in Lusaka.
Since his ordination to priesthood for the Archdiocese of Lusaka on August 6, 1994, he served in several roles.
He also served as Director of Radio Yatsani and served in the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Lusaka.
Between 2002 and 2008, he had served as Communications Secretary of Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA).
AMECEA comprises; Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Zambia and Somalia.
It is a Catholic service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the eight countries of Eastern Africa.
Before his appointment as Bishop on February 10, 2014, he was Director of Vatican Radio in charge of English and Swahili programmes from 2010.
1994-1995: Parochial Vicar of the New Kanyama Parish – Lusaka;
1995-1997: Parochial Vicar of the Railway-Chowa Parish – Kabwe;
1997-1999: Director of Radio Yatsani and of the Communications Office of the Archdiocese in Lusaka;
1999-2002: Studies for the Licentiate in Social Communications at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome;
2002-2008: Secretary for Communications of AMECEA in Nairobi (Kenya);
2002-2009: President of SIGNIS-Africa;
2008-2010: Studies for a doctorate in Social Communications at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

Source: lusakatimes.com

Australian Financial Supervisory Admitted to a Calculation Error in Transfer of Funds from Vatican

Vatican News reports that the Alleged Vatican transactions in Australia involved erroneous amounts.
The Australian financial supervisory body, which had spoken of 1.4 billion euros transferred over the last six years, admits a calculation error: it was 6 million euros. The Holy See: “The figure is attributable, among other things, to a number of contractual obligations and the ordinary management of resources"
By Vatican News
The case over the enormous financial transfers allegedly sent from the Holy See to Australia has been dismantled. The amount was not 1.4 billion euros with 47,000 financial transactions over the past six years, but 6 million euros consisting of 362 transactions. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Australia's financial overseer, released the information via the website of “The Australian” newspaper with a statement admitting that it had massively overestimated the flow of these transfers. “It is believed that a computer coding error is at the origin of the miscalculation,” writes AUSTRAC, which had mistakenly considered transactions with Italy as also being those of the Vatican.
The question generated media coverage in recent weeks when AUSTRAC, responding to a parliamentary inquiry from Australian Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, had stated that from 2014 to 2020 it appeared that the total of the funds amounting to 1.4 billion euros (2.3 billion Australian dollars) had been sent from the Vatican to Australia via 47,000 unique financial transfers. This enormous figure immediately appeared impossible both in terms of the amount of money and the number of transactions, since it was not at all in keeping with the typical financial movements of the Holy See.
Verifications of those numbers took place upon the request of the Holy See and were carried out by AUSTRAC in conjunction with the Vatican’s Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF) leading to an enormous downsizing of the amount. Over the last six years the money transfers made by entities linked to the Vatican amounted to 9.5 million Australian dollars, equal to about 6 million euros, through 362 transfers taking place during the period.
In a statement issued today, “the Holy See acknowledges the results of the audit it requested, carried out jointly by ASIF and AUSTRAC, and of the significant discrepancy reported today by an Australian newspaper, regarding the data previously disclosed on financial transactions made by the Vatican to Australia between 2014 and 2020: 9.5 million as opposed to 2.3 billion Australian dollars.”
“The figure," the statement continues, "is attributable, among other things, to a number of contractual obligations and the ordinary management of resources. The Holy See takes this opportunity to reaffirm its respect for the country’s institutions and expresses its satisfaction for the collaboration between the entities involved.” 

Full Text Release VaticanNews

Holy Mass Online - Readings and Video : Thursday, January 14, 2021 - #Eucharist in Your Virtual Church

Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 308
Reading I
Heb 3:7-14
The Holy Spirit says:
    Oh, that today you would hear his voice,
        “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion
        in the day of testing in the desert,
    where your ancestors tested and tried me
        and saw my works for forty years.
    Because of this I was provoked with that generation
        and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart,
        and they do not know my ways.’
    As I swore in my wrath,

       

‘They shall not enter into my rest.’”
Take care, brothers and sisters,
that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart,
so as to forsake the living God.
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”
so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.
We have become partners of Christ
if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.
Responsorial Psalm
95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11
R.    (8)  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
    let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
    and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
    “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
    as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
    they tested me though they had seen my works.” 
R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Forty years I was wearied of that generation;
    I said: “This people’s heart goes astray,
    they do not know my ways.”
Therefore I swore in my anger:
    “They shall never enter my rest.”
R.    If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Alleluia
See Mt 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mk 1:40-45
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him, 
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere. 

Prayer to Make a Spiritual Communion-
People who cannot communicate now make spiritual communion
At your feet, O my Jesus I bow down and offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abysses itself into its nothingness and Your holy presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I wish to receive you in the poor home that my heart offers you. In anticipation of the happiness of sacramental communion, I want to possess you in spirit. Come to me, oh my Jesus, that I may come to you. May Your love inflame my whole being, for life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. So be it. Amen