Month: April 2013

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Wednesday, 3 April 2013 : Wednesday of the Easter Octave (First Reading)

Acts 3 : 1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the temple gate called “Beautiful”; there he begged from those who entered the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you : In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”

Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognised him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

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On the Altar Crucifix and the Benedictine Arrangement

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Priests and laity alike must always remember, that when we worship, all is to glorify God, and not ourselves.

That is why I also highly recommend Pope Benedict XVI’s recommendation on the Benedictine arrangement, that is when the priest celebrate the Mass ad populum (facing the people), there should be an altar crucifix on the altar itself, because that crucifix is for the priest to focus himself on the Lord, and not at all the people’s attention to him.

Facing the people means that priests are more prone to self-glorification and vanity, as now they are truly visually aware that all the attention in the church are on them. So, they need to make sure that their internal orientation towards the Lord is firm, and that is why the altar crucifix, to remind them at all times during the Mass.

The big crucifix behind the priest is for the people, the congregation to focus their attention to the Lord, but because of its location, it is not visible to the priest, hence, the presence of two altar crucifixes. They may be two in physical appearance, but one in spirit, and one in purpose and intention.

Then let me end with my favorite phrase from the Psalm (Psalm 115)

Non nobis, non nobis, Domine
Sed Nomini tuo da gloriam

Not to us, not to us, o Lord
But to Your Name we give glory

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(Video) Entrance Procession of the Episcopal Ordination of Coadjutor Archbishop William Goh of Singapore (Friday, 22 February 2013)

The entrance procession of the Episcopal Ordination Mass of Coadjutor Archbishop William Goh of Singapore, the future Archbishop of Singapore in the MAX Pavilion, EXPO, Singapore.

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Also included is a portion of the Te Deum, during which the newly ordained Coadjutor Archbishop blessed the entire congregation, as well as part of the exit procession.

The music is by the Combined Choir of the Archdiocese of Singapore, led by the Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ under the command of Sir Dr. Peter Low, the Choirmaster of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

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75th Birthday Anniversary of Archbishop Nicholas Chia Yeck Joo, Archbishop of Singapore (born 8 April 1938)

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Today marks the 75th birthday anniversary of the Archbishop of Singapore, Archbishop Nicholas Chia. Ad multos annos, Your Excellency!

According to Canon Law 401, §1, all bishops must submit their resignation upon reaching the age of 75. Whether they will resign shortly or a while after the reached that age, depending on the decision of the Pope and the Congregation for Bishops, and whether the suitable candidate has been found.

In this case, as we already have a Coadjutor Archbishop, the Coadjutor Archbishop (William Goh) will take over as the new Archbishop of Singapore the moment the announcement of retirement of the current Archbishop (Nicholas Chia) is made by the Holy See.

(Check at Holy See Press Office daily bulletin at : http://attualita.vatican.va/sala-stampa/bollettino/en/index.html)

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Tuesday, 2 April 2013 : Tuesday of the Easter Octave (Scripture Reflection)

The Lord Jesus Christ is risen, and He offers to all of us who believe in Him, the gift of the Holy Spirit as St. Peter the Apostle had mentioned. Through Christ, the Holy Spirit descends upon us all. Remember the words of St. John the Baptist at the Jordan, that while he would baptise people with water, the Lord, the Messiah would baptise all with fire and the Holy Spirit. That Messiah is indeed Christ, Risen Lord, our Saviour.

The Lord brought justice to all and He brought salvation to all of us. He is our hope, and He represents the living water, the endless spring through which we can sate our spiritual thirst for God’s love, just as Christ had said to the Samaritan woman. He gave us His Body, the very Precious Body, as our spiritual food too, that just like Elijah, who walked the desert for forty days and nights after receiving the food from the angel, we too can do so in our evangelising mission, and here is a Body and Food greater than that received by Elijah!

Christ was lifted up high between the heavens and the earth on the cross, and this reminds us of the time when Israel walked the desert with Moses, when they rebelled against God and rebelled against His love. God who loves all His children, is also a just God, who hates evil. Thus, He sent the serpents to kill many of the sinful people of Israel, due to their rebellion.

Just as Moses crafted the bronze serpent on the Lord’s instruction, such that when it is lifted up high, all the people who saw it may live, therefore, the same happened, as Christ, whom was lifted up high like the bronze serpent, becomes the new symbol of hope, through whom all mankind who look up towards Him can be saved and gain eternal life.

Through the waters of baptism, we have seen Christ, and we have looked upon Him, and He looked down upon us baptised in Him, that we share with Him now the everlasting life He promised all of us who have faith in Him. But never slacken, as our sight of Christ is often covered by the filth of sin, and by the shaking of our faith.

Just like Mary of Magdalene, who was faithful to our Lord, but whose faith in Him had been shaken by then recent death of Jesus on the cross, that she failed to see that the One speaking to her is none other than Christ Himself, risen from the dead. Therefore, we too can fail to see the Risen Christ, because our faith in Him had been shaken.

Never fear! For the Lord comes to save us all, and if we put our faith firmly in Him, we shall get our heavenly reward in due time. Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us strive to put our trust, all of it, in God who is Risen, who died to save us all, and then rise up again to show His triumph against death and sin, that had enslaved us for so long.

Let us be free from the sins and the evils that blind us from seeing the glory of the Risen Christ, and let us pray for one another that all of us will be ever faithful. May God bless us all. Amen.

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Minister General of the Franciscan Order, Jose Rodriguez Carballo of Spain appointed as the new Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

The Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, or better known as the Franciscans, Fr. Jose Rodriguez Carballo, had been appointed as the new Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, filling up the vacancy left by his predecessor, Archbishop Joseph William Tobin, who was appointed the Archbishop of Indianapolis, USA last October (2012).

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Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo is appointed Titular Archbishop of Bellicastrum, as part of his office as the Secretary of the Congregation, together with his new appointment. He is expected to be ordained bishop soon, either by the Pope or by a Cardinal delegated for the Episcopal Ordination.

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Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis of Vilnius, Lithuania retired and succeeded by Bishop Gintaras Linas Grusas

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Cardinal Audrys Juozas Backis, Metropolitan Archbishop of Vilnius in Lithuania, also the Cardinal-Priest of Nativita di Nostro Signore Gesu Cristo a Via Gallia, retired yesterday, Friday, 5 April 2013 from his position as the Archbishop of Vilnius, having exceeded the expected retirement age of 75, according to the Canon Law.

http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/viln0.htm#45455

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Bishop Gintaras Linas Grusas, who was the Military Ordinary of Lithuania, replaces Cardinal Backis, becoming the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Vilnius.

Cardinal Backis, who is currently 76 years old (born 1 February 1937) will still be a Cardinal-elector with right to vote in any future conclave until his 80th birthday on 1 February 2017.

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Tuesday, 2 April 2013 : Tuesday of the Easter Octave (Gospel Reading)

John 20 : 11-18

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb; and as she wept, she bent down to look inside. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet.

They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put Him.”

As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognise Him. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and answered Him, “Lord, if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and remove Him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned, and said to Him, “Rabboni!” – which means Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and say to them : I am ascending to My Father, who is your Father, to My God, who is your God.”

So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what He said to me.”

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Tuesday, 2 April 2013 : Tuesday of the Easter Octave (Psalm)

Psalm 32 : 4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22

For upright is the Lord’s word and worthy of trust is His work. The Lord loves justice and righteousness; the earth is full of His kindness.

But the Lord’s eyes are upon those who fear Him, upon those who trust in His loving kindness to deliver them from death and preserve them from famine.

In hope we wait for the Lord, for He is our help and our shield. O Lord, let Your love rest upon us, even as our hope rests in You.

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Tuesday, 2 April 2013 : Tuesday of the Easter Octave (First Reading)

Acts 2 : 36-41

Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.

When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, brothers?”

Peter answered, “Each of you must repent and be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call.”

With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who accepted His word were baptised; some there thousand persons were added to their number that day.