Tag Archives: liturgy

Solemnity of Christ the King: Homilies, Images, Presentation and Video

READINGS

FIRST READING: Dn 7:13-14
PSALM: Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5
SECOND READING: Rv 1:5-8
GOSPEL: Jn 18:33b-37

HOMILIES

Truth on Trial [www.bible.claret.org]
Today, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. In the Gospel we read the fascinating story of the trial of Jesus by Pilate. It is indeed the story of the trial of truth. It is the story of a throng moved to blindness by passion. Amongst the throng there is one who stands out as having the greatness to recognize the stature and the innocence of Jesus. This is Pilate. Read more…
“Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world” [www.rc.net]
Do you recognize Jesus’ sovereignty over heaven and earth? Jesus was crucified for his claim to be the Messianic King who would rule not only over his people Israel but ultimately over all the nations as well. What is the significance or meaning of Jesus’ kingship for us? Read more…
The Solemnity of Christ the King: Commitment to the King [www.st.ignatius.net]
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the conclusion of the Church year. This is a feast rich in theology and spirituality. The first reading from Daniel focuses in on the witnesses to the Kingdom. The Gospel reading from John presents the Kingdom of Truth. Read more…
Feast of Christ the King [www.saintvincentarchabbey.org]
The choice of this text from John’s gospel could not be more appropriate for the feast of Christ the King. It is taken from the Passion Narrative and is part of the exchange between Pilate and Jesus during his trial before the Roman Procurator. This trial scene is particularly important for John and he devotes no less than twenty-nine verses to it. In fact, this scene reveals John’s concept of the central issue in the life and ministry of Jesus. Read more…

IMAGES

To view and download their full size versions, please click on the images or the names of the artists.

Christ the King by Fivecoat

Christ Pantocrator by Señorial2

Christ-King by Benjaminvilladolid70

PRESENTATION

The multimedia presentation below presents the history and meaning of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Please take note that the presentation contains audio. You can download it here.

VIDEO

The following video presents how Jesus is depicted by different artists across history. Although each artist presents Jesus differently, one thing remains the same – that Jesus is Love and His life, death and resurrection is the realization of His love for us.

All Souls’ and Saints’ Days

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Let me begin with a little etymology. Halloween is an Old English word which literally means All Hallows Eve. Halloween is celebrated on the eve of the 31st of October and derived its name from the feast of the following day – All Hallows Day (Nov. 1), the day dedicated to all the hallows, the saints. All Saints Day, as it is more popularly termed, is a celebration wherein the Church solemnly remembers all the known and nameless saints and martyrs who lived and died for God and have helped in shaping the Christian faith.

Now a little history. The celebration of the day dedicated solely to all saints is as old as Christianity itself. In the early days, the Christians were accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. But as the number of martyrs increased, individual celebrations became impossible. More so when a regular process of canonization of saints was established. The Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all. In the sixth century, Pope Boniface IV proclaimed May 13, 610 as a Feastday of All Holy Martyrs. The celebration was held in Rome to honor all martyrs not listed in local records. In his pontificate, Gregory III (731-741) changed the date and the name of the feast. He fixed the date for November 1 and consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and renamed the feast to All Saints/Hallows Day.

Another important celebration for the dead is All Souls Day (Nov. 2). Obviously this day is dedicated to our beloved dead who did not make it to the roster of the saints. It is the day when the faithful are encouraged to pray for dead members of the faith who are believed to be suffering in purgatory in order to help them enter into heaven. The theological basis for All Souls Day is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are not given entrance to Heaven, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsgiving and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass.

The history of the Feast of All Souls Day can be traced back to early Christianity. The early Christians entered the names of the faithful departed in the diptychs and prayed for them. Benedictine monks in the sixth century began a customary practice of commemorating their deceased members on the day after the Pentecost by offering masses especially for them. Later on, other monasteries and congregations followed suit. St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful departed to be held annually in the monasteries of his congregation. This time the date of the celebration was moved to November 2, the day after All Saints Day. This custom spread and in the thirteenth century, Rome put the feast on the calendar of the entire Church. The date remained November 2 so that all in the Communion of the Saints might be celebrated together.

The Feast of All Saints on November 1st and the Feast of All Souls on November 2nd are days of remembrance, celebration and prayer. It is a time for remembering with respect and affection all those beloved people, now dead, whose lives are intertwined with ours in ways both known and unknown. It is also a time of honoring all the unknown and never-to-be-found persons who have served to shape our lives, and whose influences contributed to what we are and what we are becoming. Thus, even though these days seem to be surrounded with the atmosphere of death, it really is a celebration of life: your life, my life, the life of people we remember, the spiritual life that ties us together and eternal life in the Lord. Those who have gone before us are connected to us and have real effects on us. Knowingly or unknowingly, their lives have shaped and influenced ours. We are what we are in good part because of them. So these days are days of prayer too. The best way to remember the dead, the people of our precious, personal past is in prayer. We pray to the saints while we pray for the departed. Prayer is our strongest link to each other wherever we may be.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40207003@N07/3697092273/

Baptism of the Lord (Year B)

Epiphany of the Lord (Year B)

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This is a slideshow presentation based on Matthew 2:1-12, the Gospel reading for the Epiphany of the Lord (Year B). You may embed this slideshow into your own blog/website or download the original PowerPoint/Pdf file so you may use it in your liturgical celebrations.

Year B: Epiphany of the Lord

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READING: Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Feast of the Holy Family (Year B)

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This is a slideshow presentation based on Luke 22:22-40, the Gospel reading for the Feast of the Holy Family (Year B). You may embed this slideshow into your own blog/website or download the original PowerPoint/Pdf file so you may use it in your liturgical celebrations.

Year B: Feast of the Holy Family

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: christmas family)

READING: Luke 22: 22-40

For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus* said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’

He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’

He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’

How To Celebrate Lent With Your Family

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The Lenten season is an ideal time to deepen the faith in your family. Deep, personal and mature faith is a necessity that is why every family needs to work at it. It is not something that comes naturally nor easily. It demands sincere commitment to make faith grow in the family and lots of hard work. The easy part of being parents is the physical creation of life. The hard part is the continuous creation of life in their children. This continuous re-creation of life includes the cultivation of a family spirituality that will help children grow up in an atmosphere of prayer and deep commitment to doing God’s will.

Allow me to offer a few suggestions on how to develop an atmosphere where faith and commitment can grow in your family this Lent. Let me also share a few points on how to make Lent a season to strengthen the closeness and intimacy in your home.

PRAY TOGETHER AT HOME
An ideal atmosphere for any family is one of togetherness and prayerfulness. One researcher asked 1500 children as to what they think makes a happy family. The results say it all. The children didn’t name money, cars, or mansions as necessary for family happiness. They all agreed that simply doing things together makes a happy family. My childhood experience confirms it – the happiest times of my life were the moments when we were all together as one happy family.

As much as possible do things together with your whole family. Prepare food together, eat together, wash the dishes together, recreate together, clean the house together, study together, sleep together. There is nothing more inspiring than parents and children having good time together. By being with their children, parents can express their love without even saying it. The natural fruits of spending time together are closeness and intimacy. Not even the most expensive presents can take the place of your simple presence.

One very important thing that should be done together regularly by the whole family is PRAYER. Lent is a season of prayer and penance, thus it is an opportune time for you to gather again at your family altar and make prayer a part of your daily family life. Read the bible and reflect on its message everyday as a family. Recite the rosary together. Say grace before and after meals together. Offer a prayer together to God before and after sleeping. Give thanks to God together before going to and after work. Lift your worries to God together. Whatever prayer you wish to offer God, just do it with the whole family. And it is the parents who should take the initiative for the whole family to spend lots of times together in prayer. For any child will learn to worship and adore God who lives his/her daily life with parents who worship and adore him.

GO TO MASS AS A FAMILY
The Lenten season of forty days is essentially a time to return to the Lord, to do penance for the wrongs we have committed and to undergo true conversion. Thus it presupposes a raging hunger for God and for new life in Christ. What else can satisfy our hunger for God’s intimacy and newness of life but the Holy Eucharist. For in the Eucharist we receive no less than Christ himself, who is the living bread of our spiritual life. The Catechism for Filipino Catholics states that “the Eucharist responds to the deepest human hungers, both personal and communal. Such are the basic human hungers for love and acceptance, understanding, purpose in life, and justice and peace” (# 1708).

These basic human hungers can be easily felt in our families. Thus the Eucharist’s importance in our family life is crystal-clear. It is precisely in regularly going to Mass as a family that we can gradually find satisfaction for our need for love and acceptance, understanding, purpose in life, and justice and peace. In the Eucharist we hear Christ’s words, receive his body (and blood) and experience his love. What we have received from Christ in the Eucharist is something which we must also give. The challenge is to make Jesus’ words and actions our own. When his words become our own and our actions reflect a life of self-giving service, then the Eucharist becomes extremely meaningful because it has now become a bold proclamation of our commitment to Christ and of our concern for each other.

The challenge therefore for families this Lent is to live Eucharistic lives. To live Eucharistic lives is to make everything we do flow from our experience in the Eucharist. It is to transform our everyday activities and works into meaningful service of God and our neighbor. It is to constantly strive at deepening our knowledge of God and bettering our response to him. What this means is that all of the family’s undertakings, values, plans and decisions, successes and worries, joys and pains should find its source and summit in the Eucharist. In this way, all you do as family then becomes a means of expressing your total dependence on God and your gratitude for his ever-present love.

DO THREE LOVING ACTS EACH DAY
Do three loving acts each day this Lent – one for God, one for your family, and one for yourself. It might be as simple as massaging the head of your Papa when he has headache or as commonplace as taking time to listen to your children or as modest as helping your manghod bandage a cut or as sublime as planting a tree in your backyard. Whatever you do, make it an act of love. Love is what matters and makes all the difference. For each loving act you do you communicate loud and clear – I love you. God loves you. I care. God cares.

There are three traditional Lenten practices – almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These could well serve as your three loving acts. Almsgiving means getting personally involved with the poor and compassionately helping them alleviate their plight. Prayer means reflecting on these questions – How’s my relationship with God? With others? How will I grow close to God during these forty days? Is there something I can’t give up which is hurting my relationship with God, with my family and friends? Are my values and priorities in proper order? Fasting is a symbolic expression of our self-offering to God and of our detachment from all the transitory material things in this world (like food) in order to become open for spiritual values and to see clearly what really counts in life. In a word, fasting means to thirst and hunger for God.

Do each loving act not for self-satisfaction but for the praise and glory of God. Imagine each of you doing at least three loving acts each day. What a happy, healthy, and holy family you’ll have. And you don’t have to do “great” things in order to achieve this at home. You only have to do the ordinary ones – like encouraging your children often, praying with and for your family habitually, being honest with your children – but with extraordinary love. When Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote peace?” She replied, “Go home and love your family.”

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62765012@N00/2239619988/

Fr. Stephen Cuyos, MSC

Catholic Priest. Filipino. Photographer. Linux Advocate.