Wishing our Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Francis, a most blessed tenth anniversary of his election to the Papacy, as the Successor of St. Peter, Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!
Ad multos annos, Your Holiness!
His Eminence Cardinal William Goh Seng Chye, Archbishop of Singapore, was ordained on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, ten years ago on 22 February 2013.
The principal consecrator was the then Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, with two co-consecrators, the then Archbishop of Singapore, Archbishop Nicholas Chia (now Archbishop Emeritus), and the then Metropolitan Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam (now Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus).
Wishing His Eminence Cardinal Goh a most blessed Episcopal Ordination anniversary and may God bless him in his mission and leadership as the shepherd of the Lord’s flock in Singapore, and in his works as a Prince of the Church, a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church!
Ad multos annos, Your Eminence!
1937 days since its beginning in January 2013, my blog has reached its 10,000th post milestone as of this Sunday morning!
Thanks to all the viewers and visitors who have graced this blog with your time and presence over the past five and a half years. May God continue to guide me and strengthen my resolve to write and post, for the greater glory of His Name!
Deo gratias!
Brief statistics (16 January 2013 – 6 May 2018)
Total Posts: 10,000
Total Views: 956,218
Total Visitors: 504,523
Friday, 19 September 2014 marked the exact ten years since I received the Holy Sacrament of Baptism on Sunday, 19 September 2004.
With this, I renewed my profession of faith before the Holy Gospels, and I ask that all of you will pray for me, that I will continue to grow stronger and deeper in faith, in hope and in love.
‘I baptise you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’
‘The almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has caused you to be born over again of water and the Holy Spirit and pardoned you all your sins. May He now anoint you with the chrism that sanctifies in Christ Jesus our Lord, and bring you to everlasting life.’
‘Take this burning candle as a reminder to keep your baptismal innocence. Obey God’s commandments, so that when our Lord comes for the joyous wedding feast you may go forth to meet Him with all the saints in the halls of heaven, and be happy with Him forevermore.’
On Monday, 1 September 2014, Cardinal Paolo Sardi, Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana, Cardinal-Patron of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (Italy), turned 80, and therefore, according to the rules written in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, he lost his right to vote in any future conclave.
Cardinal Paolo Sardi was made Cardinal-Deacon of S. Maria Ausiliatrice in Via Tuscolana by Pope Benedict XVI in the 2010 Consistory of Cardinals on 20 November 2010, the third Consistory of his pontificate. Cardinal Sardi was made a Cardinal in honour of his position as the Patron of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, one of the most prominent and important charity and public action arm of the Church, the direct and current successor of the Knights Hospitallers established during the era of the Crusades, a position which he held from 2009 to the present day.
http://www.gcatholic.org/hierarchy/data/cardB16-3.htm#1368
May God bless His Eminence Cardinal Sardi with a blessed old age and health. May he remain strong in the faith and hopefully can perhaps still continue to work great graces and good works of love and peace as he continues to minister to the people of God through his patronage of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. We also pray for the success of the actions and the charities of this faithful order of the Church.
The College of Cardinals now stands at 210 members in total, with 115 Cardinal-electors and 95 Cardinal non-electors. There are now a vacancy of 5 Cardinal-elector as compared to the maximum number of electors allowed in the Conclave of 120.
Next Cardinal-elector to age out (80) will be Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes (Germany), the President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council ‘Cor Unum’ on 5 September 2014.
As of tonight, the time between 16 and 17 January 2014, my blog reaches its 1 year mark. It was begun with an inspiration exactly a year ago, just a month after I created my twitter account, inspired by the example of our dear Pope Benedict XVI who made the @Pontifex papal twitter account in early December 2012.
I thank all of those who had chanced upon my blog, and for my regular readers. I apologise for any mistakes I have made or any delay in my postings. The Lord had been kind to me throughout this past year, and He continues to encourage me to write despite some difficulties and challenges I have met along the way.
May this coming new year for my blog bring it to even greater heights, as I will soon write more about the Faith, the Church, and many catechesis of the Faith, from various official sources such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Canon Law, and many others. Thank you once again for your support, and may God bless you all!
May our faith continue to strengthen and grow in God!
Yours in Christ,
+Peter Canisius Michael David Kang
Ut Omnes Unum Sint, ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
(That they all may be One, for the greater glory of God)
Today marked the 48th year since the independence of the Republic of Singapore, which occurred on 9 August 1965, when Singapore left Malaysia to be a fully sovereign nation on its own.
Singapore has gone through many difficulties and trials, and yet as one united people, a melting pot of people from many different races and backgrounds, they have overcome those challenges, and today, they emerge as a First World nation, prosperous and respected by many in the world.
Let us pray for Singapore and the people of Singapore, that they will continue the hard work they had done all these while, and may the Lord continue to bless and protect them, and of course, reminding them that, while looking after themselves and their own nations, they should not lose sight on those less fortunate among them, and therefore pledge themselves to help one another, that everyone will rejoice together and be happy together, sealed with God’s love.
Happy 48th anniversary, Singapore! God bless the Republic of Singapore!
(The National Pledge (0:00 – 0:30) and National Anthem of the Republic of Singapore (0:31 – 2: 16))
National Pledge :
We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.
National Anthem (Majulah Singapura/Onward Singapore) :
Official (in Malay)
Mari kita rakyat Singapura
sama-sama menuju bahagia;
Cita-cita kita yang mulia,
berjaya Singapura.
Marilah kita bersatu
dengan semangat yang baru;
Semua kita berseru,
Majulah Singapura,
Majulah Singapura!
Marilah kita bersatu
dengan semangat yang baru;
Semua kita berseru,
Majulah Singapura,
Majulah Singapura!
Official translations (in English, Chinese, and Tamil)
English
Come, fellow Singaporeans
Let us progress towards happiness together
May our noble aspiration bring
Singapore success
Come, let us unite
In a new spirit
Together we proclaim
Onward Singapore
Onward Singapore
Come, let us unite
In a new spirit
Together we proclaim
Onward Singapore
Onward Singapore
Chinese
来吧，新加坡人民，
让我们共同向幸福迈进；
我们崇高的理想，
要使新加坡成功。
来吧，让我们以新的精神，
团结在一起；
我们齐声欢呼：
前进吧，新加坡！
前进吧，新加坡！
来吧，让我们以新的精神，
团结在一起；
我们齐声欢呼：
前进吧，新加坡！
前进吧，新加坡！
(Transliteration from Chinese)
Lái ba, xīnjiāpō rénmín,
Ràng wǒmen gòngtóng xiàng xìngfú màijìn;
Wǒmen chónggāo de lǐxiǎng,
Yào shǐ xīnjiāpō chénggōng.
Lái ba, ràng wǒmen yǐ xīn de jīngshén,
Tuánjié zài yīqǐ;
Wǒmen qí shēng huānhū:
Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
Lái ba, ràng wǒmen yǐ xīn de jīngshén,
Tuánjié zài yīqǐ; Wǒmen qí shēng huānhū:
Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō! Qiánjìn ba, xīnjiāpō!
Tamil
சிங்கப்பூர் மக்கள் நாம்
செல்வொம் மகிழ்வை நோக்கியே
சிங்கப்பூரின் வெற்றிதான்
சிறந்த நம் நாட்டமே
ஒன்றிணைவோம் அனைவரும்
ஓங்கிடும் புத்துணர்வுடன்
முழுங்குவோம் ஒன்றித்தே
முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
ஒன்றிணைவோம் அனைவரும்
ஓங்கிடும் புத்துணர்வுடன்
முழுங்குவோம் ஒன்றித்தே
முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
முன்னேறட்டும் சிங்கப்பூர்
(Transliteration from Tamil)
Ciṅkappūr makkaḷ nām
Celvom makiḻvai nōkkiyē
Ciṅkappūriṉ veṟṟitāṉ
Ciṟanta nam nāṭṭamē
Oṉṟiṇaivōm aṉaivarum
Ōṅkiṭum puttuṇarvuṭaṉ
Muḻuṅkuvōm oṉṟittē
Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr
Oṉṟiṇaivōm aṉaivarum
Ōṅkiṭum puttuṇarvuṭaṉ
Muḻuṅkuvōm oṉṟittē
Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr:
Muṉṉēṟaṭṭum ciṅkappūr!
1. For the victims and survivors of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki, 68 years ago on this day. May the Lord who is loving and merciful protect and be with them throughout their ordeal and difficulties, and may He welcome those departed into His loving embrace in heaven. That they will not become bitter through their suffering, but remain loving and forgiving, that they may bring others into understanding about their plight and push further the cause for the complete ban of any Weapons of Mass Destruction.
2. For Singapore and all Singaporeans, who are celebrating their 48th Anniversary of Independence today. May the Lord continue to bless and protect Singapore and all its people, as He had always done for these past forty-eight years. May He continue to bless her people with love and awareness, of the plight of others less fortunate, that they will not be engulfed in excessive and endless pursuit of money, wealth, and worldly pleasures, and instead being active citizens of the country and this world, helping one another and supporting those who are in need with love, compassion, and kindness.
3. For our Church. May the Lord continue to shine upon our Church and all of us His beloved people. May our Church continue to provide God’s love upon many who are suffering, from the lack of food, the lack of care, and the lack of love. May we, the people of God’s One Body in the Church continue to work hard and do our best to contribute to the charitable activities led by the Church to bring God’s love and light to others.
May the Lord who is merciful and loving, listen to our prayers and the humble petitions in our hearts, that He will exercise His divine grace and power, interceding for our behalf. God bless us all. Amen.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our God loves us, and He loves all of us so much that He is willing to save all of us from the damnation of hell. He sent us His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour, the One who redeemed us from the sins of our forefathers, from their rebellion against the love of God. Through Him we are saved, if we accept Him as our Lord, and His free offer of salvation to all of us.
To prepare for the Messiah, the Lord sent His messenger, in the person of John the Baptist, the precursor and the preparer of the way for Christ. His dedication to the mission for which he had been chosen for, and his tireless work had indeed straightened the way for Christ and paved the way for salvation.
Today we celebrate the feast of this great messenger of God and saint, John the Baptist, whose baptisms called the people back towards the Lord through repentance. Repentance allowed the people to set their hearts and minds right, so that they would be in the correct state of heart and mind to be receptive of the Lord and His message that is brought by none other than Christ, His Son and our Saviour.
St. John the Baptist had dedicated his whole life to the Lord, as someone set aside for the works of God, through whose hands God had worked His wonders to the people of Israel, the last of the prophets before the coming of the Messiah, who would eventually liberate God’s people from the tyranny of evil, sin, and therefore death.
God is faithful, and He remembered His covenant that He made with Abraham years ago, with the promise He had made that the descendants of Abraham, all of us, will be fruitful, and will be blessed. Even when the descendants of Abraham, as shown through Israel did not stay faithful entirely to the Lord, but fell into rebellion, in the similar way as their forefathers, God did not give up on us, just as He did not give up on mankind after the disobedience of Adam and Eve, our first ancestors.
We are all precious to God, so precious that despite the covenant broken by our rebellion and our stubbornness against God’s love and compassion, He was willing to forge a new covenant with all of us, and this covenant will never be broken, because this covenant is not made just by God’s words alone, but sealed with none other than the Most Precious Blood of the Lamb of God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who shed His blood from up there on the cross, flowing from His holy wounds, pierced by our sins and our rebellion.
St. John the Baptist had a great part to play in this plan of salvation, not only as the one who helped to bring God’s mission to perfection, and helped to convert many to the cause of the Lord through repentance, but also through his direct role in the initiation of Jesus’ ministry on this world. Through his baptism of Christ on the Jordan, he initiated Christ on His ministry, which began after that baptism, when the Lord proclaimed to the world, that Jesus is indeed His Son, and that His favour is on Him.
His humility that he showed when he declared the identity of Christ to his own disciples, so that He would increase while John himself would decrease in importance is an example for all of us, that whenever we do things, let us remember that we should do it for the greater glory of God, and not to our own personal human glory, and seek the praise of the Lord, and not the praise of man.
We can follow the many examples of Saint John the Baptist, my dear brothers and sisters, that we should emulate him in our lives. To love and serve the Lord with all our hearts, with all our minds, and with all our being, that we truly become the children of God, and people beloved by the Lord our God. May the Lord guide us at all times in our lives, that we will not be led astray in our path towards Him. God bless us all. Amen.
Luke 1 : 57-66, 80
When the time came for Elizabeth, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the merciful Lord had done a wonderful thing or her, and they rejoiced with her.
When, on the eighth day, they came to attend the circumcision of the child, they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name!” and they asked the father, by means of signs, for the name he wanted to give him.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet, and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighbourhood, and throughout the hill country of Judea the people talked about these events.
All who heard of it pondered in their minds, and wondered. “What will this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him.
petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang 