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
Official booklet for the entire celebrations of World Youth Day 2013 (Mass, Vigil, prayers, etc.), currently ongoing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (23 – 28 July 2013) is available at the site above in PDF format. It is also downloadable as PDF file from the website above.
Pray for the success of the World Youth Day 2013. Go and make disciples of all the nations!
As the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is approaching in about ten days time, here is the official hymn of the World Youth Day 2013, titled “Hope of the Morning” in English and “Esperança do Amanhecer” in the original Portuguese language.
Portuguese Original Lyric :
Esperança do Amanhecer
Sou marcado desde sempre
com o sinal do Redentor,
que sobre o monte, o Corcovado,
abraça o mundo com Seu amor.
(Refrão) Cristo nos convida: “Venham, meus amigos!” Cristo nos envia: “Sejam missionários!”
Juventude, primavera:
esperança do amanhecer;
quem escuta este chamado
acolhe o dom de crer!
Quem nos dera fosse a terra,
fosse o mundo todo assim!
Não à guerra, fora o ódio,
Só o bem e paz a não ter fim.
(Refrão) Cristo nos convida: “Venham, meus amigos!” Cristo nos envia: “Sejam missionários!”
Do nascente ao poente,
nossa casa não tem porta,
nossa terra não tem cerca,
nem limites o nosso amor!
Espalhados pelo mundo,
conservamos o mesmo ardor.
É Tua graça que nos sustenta
nos mantém fiéis a Ti, Senhor!
(Refrão) Cristo nos convida: “Venham, meus amigos!” Cristo nos envia: “Sejam missionários!”
Atendendo ao Teu chamado:
“Vão e façam, entre as nações,
um povo novo, em unidade,
para mim seus corações!”
Anunciar Teu Evangelho
a toda gente é transformar
o velho homem em novo homem
em mundo novo que vai chegar.
Today, Tuesday, 19 March 2013, our new Pope will be solemnly inaugurated to begin his Pontificate. He is already our Pope, ever since he accepted the rightful election in the Conclave, but the Inauguration ceremony affirms and completes that process, with the imposition of the symbols of the authority of the Pope, as the leader of the entire Universal Church.
There will be some changes to the liturgy this year, as the imposition of the Pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman will take place just before the Mass starts, instead of being within the Mass itself, as the impositions are seen as more of an extra-liturgical event.
The Pope will pray with the leaders of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops at the Tomb of St. Peter underneath the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the pallium and the ring had been placed since the night before.
The Pope will then proceed with all the other concelebrating Cardinals and prelates outside to the Altar at St. Peter’s Square, which in the meanwhile the Laudes Regia hymn or ‘Laud to the King (Christ)’, that is a glorious rendition of the Litany of the Saints, with the new innovation of the inclusion of part asking the past Popes who had been canonised as saints for the new Pope, their successor, beginning from Pope St. Linus to Pope St. Pius X.
Following after this is the imposition of the papal pallium, which is different from the pallium worn by the Metropolitan Archbishops. Pope Francis’ pallium will be the same in appearance with that of Pope Benedict XVI’s pallium, with red crosses instead of black ones, representing the wounds of Christ, with three gold pins on three of the crosses, representing the nails that bound both hands and the legs of Christ onto the cross. The pallium symbolises the authority the Pope has over the entire Universal Church. The pallium will be imposed by the senior Cardinal of the order of Priest in the Cardinal-electorate, Cardinal Godfried Danneels.
The Ring of the Fisherman will be given after this, which signifies the bond between the Pope and God’s Church, and as the image on the ring depicts, that of St. Peter holding the keys on a boat, while fishing, as a fisher of man, it symbolises the Pope’s role as the successor of St. Peter the Apostle, and also as the current holders of the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, entrusted by Christ to Peter. The ring will be presented to the Pope by the senior Cardinal Deacon, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.
Six Cardinals representing the rest of the Cardinals will pay homage to the Pope, and will give their obedience to him, following the imposition of the pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman.
The Mass follows as usual, and the readings will be done in different languages, English, Spanish, and most notably the Gospel in Greek, to highlight the universal nature of the Church, encasing both the Western and Eastern tradition of Christendom. The whole liturgy of the Mass itself will be conducted in solemn Latin and beautiful Gregorian chants.
The booklet for the Mass is available at the link below, in English, Italian, and Latin :
Modifications to the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis that regulates the Papal Conclave, as explained in English by Vatican Insider, with three main changes highlighted :
1. Conclave can begin earlier than 15 days after the vacancy of the See of Rome, but the exact date depends entirely on the College of Cardinals.
2. Cardinal-electors can opt not to attend the Conclave based on health and other valid reasons, but otherwise, all electors should attend, and those with the rights should not be impeded attendance at the Conclave.
3. All people locked inside the Conclave, including even the laity must take the oath of secrecy, the same as that of the Cardinals. More specific latae sententiae excommunication is given immediately to those who broke the oath during and even after the Conclave, unless permission given by the new Pope.
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