RELIGION



QUIZ

Do you remember the Ten Commandments? Turn away and recite them if you can then check!
  1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other Gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep Holy the Sabbath day.
  4. Honor your Father and mother.
  5. Thou shalt not kill,
  6. You shall not comit adultery.
  7. You shalt not steal.
  8. You shall not be false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbors wife.
  10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to you neighbor or friends.
Well how did you make out? Did you get through them OK? Bet you were ever so pleased you managed to remember them! Now all you have to do is LIVE up to THEM!

God bless you and yours.

Fr.J


Four Questions

When we make right judgements we are said to have acted - PRUDENTLY!
Q1. Have you acted PRUDENTLY lately? If not why not? If yes - well done!

If we minister to everyone according to their rights we are said to have acted - JUSTLY!
Q2. Do you always act JUSTLY? ALWAYS? OK! If not SHAME on you!

If despite obstacles you do good to people generally you have acted with - FORTITUDE!
Q3. How did you make out? Did you succeed? Well done!

When we control our DESIRES and use them wisely we are said to have TEMPERANCE!
Q4. Have you been TEMPORATE in all you do? Especially during LENT? I hope so!

HAPPY EASTER to you all!


The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!

I shall not want
That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters
That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That's Healing

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That's Guidance!

For His name sake
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That's Testing!

I will fear no evil
That's Protection

For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies
That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil
That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over
That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That's Security!

Forever
That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you!


SDS? What's That?

Some of you might be wondering what the SDS stands for after my name. Actually it is the logo for my Religious Congregation and in Latin it is

Societas Divini Salvatoris

When translated means:

The Society of the Divine Savior

And there you have the three letters SDS
The members, men and women, of the Society, are also called

SALVATORIANS

Or put another way:

The Savior's Men and Women!!!


St.Patrick of Ireland

Everyone has his own version of the 'Patrick Story'! I think I am in a better position to tell it, than most. Where he was born or how he came to Ireland is not all that important. What is important, is the fact that to begin his mission among the Irish people he had, first, to convert the High King of Ireland, who resided at Tara in County Meath. My qualification stems from the fact that I was born in Navan, County Meath, and Tara is part of Navan. So I have first hand knowledge of what went on in my home county.

Patrick did, in fact, visit the High King and the story goes that he converted the King and the rest as they say, is history. The people followed the example of the High King and it was only a matter of time before Ireland was converted to Christianity. Those who listened to his eloquent message of Jesus and the simple way he delivered it must have been very impressed. They followed him. His mission was undoubtedly an enormous success.

Can we conclude, therefore, that Navan, was Ireland's first parish, with Patrick it's first Pastor? The significance of the shamrock is a simple one. He used it to convince the High King how three leafs can exist on one stem! Illustrating the Three Divine persons in one God. The exact date of his death is uncertain but commentators put it at approximately 460 AD.

His prayer The breast plate is such a beautiful prayer - you should read it..


MOTHER TERESA... A SAINT IN THE MAKING

Without doubt Mother Teresa is a woman of our time. In fact she was named woman of the year, the century and the millennium. She was not a politician nor was she a member of Royalty. She was a simple, caring and loving person who loved people. Her devotion to the sick has been well documented and admired by countless people from every walk of life, religion and race. She did not spare herself when administering to the poor, the sick and destitute on the streets of Calcutta in India and other large cities in the world.

She could not understand how so much wealth was vested in the hands of just a few people, while countless millions of people had to go without. So enormous was her task in caring for the hungry, sick and dying, that she had to gather other women to help her. The Pope gave her permission to found a congregation for women and today they number several thousands. They work among the poor, oppressed and underprivileged in many countries in the world, carrying on her mission of love and care.

On her death bed, she asked her sisters to continue God's work among the needy and never to spare themselves when it came to serving others. She emulated Jesus and His care for all of us. She said: "Give them not only your care but also your heart." She is a saint in the making!

She said being happy with Jesus means:
       Loving as He loves,
       Helping as He helps,
       Giving as He gives,
       Serving as He serves,
       Rescuing as He rescues.



HOLY MASS

The Mass is the central of our faith. As Catholics we believe in the real presence and give glory to God each time we celebrate the Holy Mass. It is often referred to as EUCHARIST.

We offer Jesus to God the Father in four different ways in the Mass:

  1. Adoration.
  2. Thanksgiving.
  3. Reparation.
  4. Petition.

In return we receive from God the Father, Jesus as our BREAD for ETERNAL LIFE.

The Mass is a joyous celebration, in which we sing hymns, read the Sacred Scriptures, and share Peace with each other.

The four MAJOR parts of the Mass are:
  1. Introduction Rites. We offer our sorrow for our FAULTS.
    2. Sometime referred to as the CONFESSION of the Mass.

  2. Liturgy of the WORD. Here we celebrate readings from the Old Testament, as well as the NEW. During this time we read a GOSPEL passage and listen to a HOMILY.

  3. Liturgy of the EUCHARIST. The preparation of the gifts... bread and wine; which the priest, with the people, offers and changes into the Body and Blood of Jesus. When we receive this PRECIOUS GIFT we are actually receiving the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus, who gave HIMSELF for us.

  4. Concluding Rite. We receive the FINAL BLESSING and depart bringing JESUS, with PEACE, JOY, and HAPPINESS, to those with whom we come into contact.

Why did I tell you all this when you knew it already? Actually I just wanted to prompt you so you could challenge your folks when you are at dinner or in the living room with the TELLY switched off!

BE ON TIME ... Remember?



CHURCH... TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

Going to church each week makes us very familiar with things around us or does it?
Can you list at least 30 things you notice when you go to church?
Can you list them in order of preference?
What do you call the 'BOX' that houses the Blessed Sacrament? A clue it starts with 'T'!
There is something special about an altar that not many people see, do you know?
The pictures around the walls of the church are called what?
We bless ourselves with Holy Water, why?
In all Catholic churches there burns a special perpetual little light, why?
Where the priest vests is called what?
A choir director is called what?

Somewhere in these question is a trick question. Do you know which is the "TRICK ONE?

NOTE! There will be a PRIZE for the one with the most OBJECTS or THINGS found in church. Click HERE and send me your list.

JOKE
There were two kids, one five the other four, walking to church one Sunday morning and they were talking about church. The five year olds told the other "You will have to keep quiet in church!" The four year old inquired 'Why"? The first one replied "If you don't the HUSHERS' will throw you out! Get it - HUSHERS?

At the time of JESUS the 'CHURCH building' was called what?

THAT'S IT FOR NOW. KEEP SAFE and SAY YOUR DAILY PRAYERS.


True or False?
There are ten commandments of the church?
There are seven commandments of God?
There are eight sacraments?
Three kinds of serious sin -Mortal, light and venial?
The Pope was married before he became a priest?
The Catholic Church was founded in Egypt?
The Red sea is where Jesus was baptized by James?
The last is marriage?
Confirmation is administered first?
You must be at least 15 before you can contract marriage?
St. Paul is the patron saint of Scotland?
America was Catholic before Italy?
St. Patrick used clover to impress the High King of Ireland?
Faith is when you believe nothing?

Want to see your name HERE? Be the first one to E-Mail me the correct answers!


I hope you had fun with the True/False questions.
Everybody knows there are:
Ten commandments of God;
Six commandments of the church and
Seven Sacraments.

Are you one of the EVERYBODY?
Honestly did you get them all correct?
How about e-mailing me a list of the 10 commandments of God?
Try it without researching! Ask around the dinner table.



BAPTISM

You were correct.
The first Sacrament we receive is Baptism.
Without Baptism we cannot receive any of the Sacraments.

Did you know there are three types of Baptism?
Baptism of WATER
Baptism of BLOOD
Baptism of DESIRE

BAPTISM
It would make a good conversation piece next time you have FRIENDS over for a visit. Goad them and have fun with your discussion! Discuss it with your family.

Parents and Sponsors now have to attend one (1) instructional class before the person is baptized. Certificates are awarded to those who attend.

Baptism makes us children of God. How good are we?



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