Holy Bible is the Book that has influenced the mankind more than any other books. No human can explain fully the greatness of this Book authored by the Most High God Himself. The Holy Bible is the Divine Word that is Lord Jesus Christ (St. Jn. 1:1). Many Christians specially the Catholics must make a self examination ‘whether one reads the Holy Bible (The Living Word of God) and meditates on it daily?’ It is very regrettable to find that the present generation gives very less importance to the Word of God. (We all know many portions and passages of the Bible!) As the Word of God is life-giving and illuminates ones path and serves as a lamp to one’s ways (Ps.119:105), it is highly advisable to start every day after reading at least some verses from the Holy Bible.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Christians and the habit of Reading and Meditating The Holy Bible daily:
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Souls in purgatory (the suffering Church)
The Church observes the month of November as the month of the saved souls in purgatory. The souls in Purgatory are considered as the 'suffering church'. The righteous souls (saints) who have fought a good war and completed the mission assigned by their Master in this world are known as the 'victorious Church' and the ones still living on this earth including you and me are the living Church. While the Church believes that the glorious ones (Saints) are glorifying and thanking the Creator and Savior unceasingly and interceding for the salvation of the living Church (the whole humanity), the suffering souls in the purgatory depend fully on the prayers of the faithful - as they cannot do anything for themselves as long as they are in that state.
So it is our duty and highly expected by our Savior, to pray and offer Sacraments for those souls as the Good Lord who is the peak of Mercy (also Justice) can show kindness to them against the intercessory prayers offered by the living Church. In return once they are elevated, they in turn intercede for the mankind.
It is very imperative for a devotee to remember his/her departed parents / grand parents /uncles /aunts / teachers /Priests / nuns / neighbors / friends / colleagues / .... every known souls throughout his/her life and pray for those souls, it is highly recommended to pray specially for those souls in the month of November without fail. All what one can do for a departed soul is offering prayer, penance and Sacraments. And no doubt the result will be highly rewarding.
So it is our duty and highly expected by our Savior, to pray and offer Sacraments for those souls as the Good Lord who is the peak of Mercy (also Justice) can show kindness to them against the intercessory prayers offered by the living Church. In return once they are elevated, they in turn intercede for the mankind.
It is very imperative for a devotee to remember his/her departed parents / grand parents /uncles /aunts / teachers /Priests / nuns / neighbors / friends / colleagues / .... every known souls throughout his/her life and pray for those souls, it is highly recommended to pray specially for those souls in the month of November without fail. All what one can do for a departed soul is offering prayer, penance and Sacraments. And no doubt the result will be highly rewarding.
Monday, October 25, 2010
WHICH IS THE GREATEST NAME EVER GIVEN OR HEARD IN THE UNIVERSE? JESUS
Most people of the Humanity in the Universe know that the Greatest Name ever given in the history of the universe is the Most Holy Name: *JESUS !*. This is the Name of the Savior of the Humanity. The Holy Name of the Incarnate God Himself. The Holy Name which has complete authority in the entire universe. The only Name capable of granting everlasting life in Heaven.
So how to say or utter that Holy Name of Jesus...? In my humble opinion, I greatly feel that the greatest name of the Greatest and True God of the universe should be uttered with the highest Reverence and titles. When we say the names of worldly people with their titles and surnames, why don't we say the Lord's Holy name with due titles, when HE has many...?
It is quite unfortunate to note that this Very Holy Name of the Divine Master is used by His own chosen people without any special respect or titles! When we know sufficiently how to utter the name of a human leader adding many titles, prefixes and suffixes to his/her name to please him/her, I wonder why we (even the devotees) enunciate the Most High Lord’s Holy Name without any least reverence…! For example, we say, President Abraham Lincoln, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Mr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, etc… A faithful will never call a Pope or Bishop merely by his name. We say Holy Father Benedict the XVI and the normal world at least says Pope or Pontiff Benedict XVI. Likewise, when our Visakhapatnam bishop visited our St Ann’s Catholic Church, Kakinada, he was addressed as His Excellency Dr. Kagithapu Mariadass or Right Reverend Dr. K Mariadass. The non-Christian community addresses him by saying Arch Bishop Dr. K. Mariadass MSFS; DD JUD.
The same is maintained the world-over by all denominations when they come to show their respect to their Bishops or Priests. Many Syrian Christian Bishops in Kerala are affectionately and respectfully called with a title ‘Mar’ (meaning holy) example Major Arch Bishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, Major Arch Bishop Mar Baselios Cleemis etc… I have never seen in my entire life someone calling a priest by his bare name in India particularly in Kerala. A priest or pastor is addressed as Rev Fr Thomas Choorackal or Fr Sebastian Edakkarotte or Rev Dr Dinakaran or Rev Bishop K. P. Yohannan. The regrettable part is that I see almost all of these Fathers and Pastors calling their Most High Master just JESUS…!
I strongly feel that the Divine Master must be called at least as Lord JESUS or JESUS the Savior. I suggest when we call upon our Lord in prayer we must add at least one of HIS additional Titles or Adjectives with strong devotion and love to the Name of our Lord even if they are not mentioned in the prayer books. For Example, where ever there is only 'Jesus' mentioned I request the devotees to call Lord Jesus or Christ Jesus or Jesus Son of God or Jesus Master of the Universe....!
If we observe closely how people belonging to other religions say the names of their prophets or Gods, it is enough to open the eyes of the Christians to give due respect to the Holy Name of JESUS the son of Almighty God…!!!
I used to watch a devotional program telecast on Surya TV (a leading television network in Malayalam) which shared the positive outlook of different religions by learned and famous Hindu Pundits, Islamic Scholars, and Christian Priests/Pastors. I was happy when I watched the Hindu Swamis and Muslim Clerics pronouncing the names of their idols with a lot of honor as Bhagavan (God) Sri/Shri (a word used in India with respect before a name) Rama Chandra Murthy, Bhagavan Sri Krishna and noticed the Muslims never call their Prophet Muhammad (Mohammed) without the title ‘Prophet’. And I was delighted to watch seeing the Islamic scholars always call their God “Parama Karunyavanaya Allahu” (Most Merciful Allah) or “Sarva Shakthanaya Allahu” (Allah the Almighty). Whenever a Christian Priest or Pastor used their Master’s name they repeatedly simply said ‘Jesus’ (as if they were saying the name of some children or their colleagues)…! It is very unfortunate and saddening. Let me hope that hereafter the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ use HIS most powerful, holy, and greatest Name with due respect and veneration.
So how to say or utter that Holy Name of Jesus...? In my humble opinion, I greatly feel that the greatest name of the Greatest and True God of the universe should be uttered with the highest Reverence and titles. When we say the names of worldly people with their titles and surnames, why don't we say the Lord's Holy name with due titles, when HE has many...?
It is quite unfortunate to note that this Very Holy Name of the Divine Master is used by His own chosen people without any special respect or titles! When we know sufficiently how to utter the name of a human leader adding many titles, prefixes and suffixes to his/her name to please him/her, I wonder why we (even the devotees) enunciate the Most High Lord’s Holy Name without any least reverence…! For example, we say, President Abraham Lincoln, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Mr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, etc… A faithful will never call a Pope or Bishop merely by his name. We say Holy Father Benedict the XVI and the normal world at least says Pope or Pontiff Benedict XVI. Likewise, when our Visakhapatnam bishop visited our St Ann’s Catholic Church, Kakinada, he was addressed as His Excellency Dr. Kagithapu Mariadass or Right Reverend Dr. K Mariadass. The non-Christian community addresses him by saying Arch Bishop Dr. K. Mariadass MSFS; DD JUD.
The same is maintained the world-over by all denominations when they come to show their respect to their Bishops or Priests. Many Syrian Christian Bishops in Kerala are affectionately and respectfully called with a title ‘Mar’ (meaning holy) example Major Arch Bishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil, Major Arch Bishop Mar Baselios Cleemis etc… I have never seen in my entire life someone calling a priest by his bare name in India particularly in Kerala. A priest or pastor is addressed as Rev Fr Thomas Choorackal or Fr Sebastian Edakkarotte or Rev Dr Dinakaran or Rev Bishop K. P. Yohannan. The regrettable part is that I see almost all of these Fathers and Pastors calling their Most High Master just JESUS…!
I strongly feel that the Divine Master must be called at least as Lord JESUS or JESUS the Savior. I suggest when we call upon our Lord in prayer we must add at least one of HIS additional Titles or Adjectives with strong devotion and love to the Name of our Lord even if they are not mentioned in the prayer books. For Example, where ever there is only 'Jesus' mentioned I request the devotees to call Lord Jesus or Christ Jesus or Jesus Son of God or Jesus Master of the Universe....!
If we observe closely how people belonging to other religions say the names of their prophets or Gods, it is enough to open the eyes of the Christians to give due respect to the Holy Name of JESUS the son of Almighty God…!!!
I used to watch a devotional program telecast on Surya TV (a leading television network in Malayalam) which shared the positive outlook of different religions by learned and famous Hindu Pundits, Islamic Scholars, and Christian Priests/Pastors. I was happy when I watched the Hindu Swamis and Muslim Clerics pronouncing the names of their idols with a lot of honor as Bhagavan (God) Sri/Shri (a word used in India with respect before a name) Rama Chandra Murthy, Bhagavan Sri Krishna and noticed the Muslims never call their Prophet Muhammad (Mohammed) without the title ‘Prophet’. And I was delighted to watch seeing the Islamic scholars always call their God “Parama Karunyavanaya Allahu” (Most Merciful Allah) or “Sarva Shakthanaya Allahu” (Allah the Almighty). Whenever a Christian Priest or Pastor used their Master’s name they repeatedly simply said ‘Jesus’ (as if they were saying the name of some children or their colleagues)…! It is very unfortunate and saddening. Let me hope that hereafter the devotees of Lord Jesus Christ use HIS most powerful, holy, and greatest Name with due respect and veneration.
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