WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ADVENT?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Modern Catholic Dictionary, by Fr. John A. Hardon provides the following definition:

• A period of prayer in preparation for Christmas, including four Sundays, the first nearest the feast of St. Andrew, November 30. It is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. The use of the organ and other musical instruments is restricted in liturgical functions. However, it is allowed 1. in extraliturgical functions, 2. for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 3. to support singing, and 4. on Gaudete Sunday, feasts and solemnities, and in any extraordinary celebration. Altars may not be decorated with flowers. In the celebration of matrimony, the nuptial blessing is always imparted. But the spouses are advised to take into account the special character of the liturgical season. Masses for various needs and votive Masses for the dead are not allowed unless there is a special need. (Etym. Latin adventus, a coming, approach, arrival.)

Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the Church’s liturgical calendar. It is a time of preparation for and anticipation of the coming of the Lord that we celebrate on Christmas Day. It is an opportunity to place ourselves in the shoes of the Jewish people who waited so long for the coming of the Messiah. It is an opportunity to renew our appreciation for the Incarnation, the moment when the Son of God became man, one like us in all things but sin. Advent takes on a somber tone, similar to Lent, because our minds are focused on what life is like without Christ, without God’s entrance into our world. Of course, in waiting for this coming of the Lord, Advent takes on an eschatological tone as well since, as Christians, we also await the Second Coming, when Jesus will come again and make all things new.

THE ROSARY

Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth

Notable quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

"INTIMACY WITH JESUS"

The experience of the Saints bears witness to it: this popular Marian prayer [the Rosary] is a precious spiritual means to grow in intimacy with Jesus, and to learn at the school of the Blessed Virgin always to fulfill the divine will. It is contemplation of the mysteries of Christ in spiritual union with Mary ...

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

To be apostles of the Rosary, ... it is necessary to experience personally the beauty and depth of this prayer which is simple and accessible to everyone.

LET MARY LEAD YOU

It is ... necessary to let the Blessed Virgin take one by the hand to contemplate the Face of Christ: a joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious Face. Those who, like Mary and with her, cherish and ponder the mysteries of Jesus assiduously, increasingly assimilate His sentiments and are conformed to Him.

"CONTEMPLATION AND SILENCE"

The Rosary is a school of contemplation and silence. At first glance, it could seem a prayer that accumulates words, therefore difficult to reconcile with the silence that is rightly recommended for meditation and contemplation. In fact, this cadent repetition of the Hail Mary does not disturb inner silence but indeed both demands and nourishes it.

THE VOICE OF GOD

... In reciting the Hail Mary, we must be careful that our voices do not "cover" the voice of God Who always speaks through the silence like the "still small voice" of a gentle breeze (1 Kgs 19:12). ... How important it is to foster this silence full of God, both in one's personal recitation and its recitation with the community!

"RESPONSE TO THE WORD"

If it is to be a contemplative prayer, the Rosary must always emerge from the silence of the heart as a response to the Word, after the model of Mary's prayer. Seen clearly, the Rosary is completely interwoven with scriptural elements.

"STAY FAITHFUL"

Let us stay faithful to Our Lady and thus we shall stay faithful to love and to peace.

(Source: Meditation at Pontifical Shrine of Pompeii, October 19, 2008)

WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING...

GOD IS TRULY SO GREAT!

I just can't get enough of this song - so beautiful!

Last night I delivered the CO Talk # 4 to a 4-month old household only as pinch hitter for T2 JM who can't make it back in time from a long travel and boy, I was so glad coz I went home more enlightened.

The talk is entitled "Our Christian Culture in CFC" and God's message is about our covenant with our God and with one another. We are to be His people, and our lives are to reflect our intimate relationship with Him. We are called together in CFC to live out a common life.

And, here is where this song of Sanctus Real perfectly fit into the picture. The lyrics aptly sum up the whole talk of giving up our old self, being selfless, loving one another and entering into Jesus' new covenant of LOVE.

It was really a perfect night, T2 Steve introduced this song during the mood setting, it was T2 Noel's birthday celebration after the HH and I went home not only with take home of pancit luglug and bibingkang Cavite but with God's very clear message to me from this household.

I have no regret joining Couples for Christ 11 years ago, I'm happy serving the Lord 11 years after and I see no reason for me to stop making myself and my family available to do God's work.

Here is God's message...

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what you really want from me
I give everything, I surrender...

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there is peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
But I'm giving in to something Heavenly
Something Heavenly!
...

CODA:

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and LET EVERYTHING OUT!

ST. PAUL, MISSION AND MIGRANTS

Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth

Notable quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

"PROCLAIMED TO ALL"

Guided by the Holy Spirit, he [St, Paul] spared no effort to see that the Gospel ... was proclaimed to all, making no distinction of nationality or culture.

"A SINGLE PEOPLE" IN JESUS

His [St. Paul] life and his preaching were wholly directed to making Jesus known and loved by all, for all persons are called to become a single people in Him.

WE HAVE THE SAME MISSION

This is the mission of the Church and of every baptized person in our time too... a mission that with attentive pastoral solicitude is also directed to the variegated universe of migrants-- students far from home, immigrants, refugees, displaced persons, evacuees-- including for example, the victims of modern forms of slavery, and of human trafficking.

"THE SAME APPROACH"

Today too the message of salvation must be presented with the same approach as that of the Apostle to the Gentiles, taking into account the different social and cultural situations and special difficulties of each one as a consequence of his or her condition as a migrant or itinerant person.

"THE SAME APOSTOLIC ZEAL"

I express the wish that every Christian community may feel the same apostolic zeal as St. Paul... May his example also be an incentive for us to show solidarity to these brothers and sisters of ours and to promote, in every part of the world and by every means, peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions.

"LET US NOT TIRE"

Let us not tire of proclaiming and witnessing to this "Good News" with enthusiasm, without fear and sparing no energy! The entire Gospel message is condensed in love, and authentic disciples of Christ are recognized by the mutual love they bear one another by their acceptance of all.

(Source: Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, January 18, 2009, issued August 24, 2008)

YES! WE ARE DISCIPLES...

BACK-TO-BACK

10 months

after the first Disciples Weekend in Baguio City...

... 50 days
after the MEC in Bahrain

FINALLY!

THE SEASON OF LOVE AND HOPE

THURSDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2008

From the Director, Joe Tale Last Christmas, we kicked off the season with our hugely successful “A Time to Dance,” which in turn launched the equally hugely successful “One Time Big Time.”  This was the big miracle in our community life last year – that we were able to wipe out more than P20 million in debts – in spite of the relationship conflict and the challenges that we went through.   Now, it is Christmas once again.  How fast time flies, indeed!   And so we rummage through our things to bring out mothballed decorative items -- the Christmas tree, the belen, the little knick-knacks that proclaim that our household joyously anticipates the coming of our Savior.   But there is a cloud in our horizon this Christmas.  Ed David, who spoke at our most recent Mission Core Teaching Night, called it “A Perfect Storm,” the worldwide financial crisis that is now rapidly roiling through the developed nations and threatening to engulf small nations like ours.   Should we, as Christians who firmly believe in God’s mercy and providence, allow this cloud to affect how we respond to the Christmas theme of love and joy and generosity? Should we now lock up not just our wallets but also our hearts so that, seemingly battened down against the “storm,” we can say we are prepared?   At no other time of the year are expressions of love and caring more apparent than at Christmastime.  At no other season do we allow ourselves free rein in showing those we love how much we value them.  In fact, at no other time do we also allow our hearts to soften towards those who have hurt us.    Should the financial crisis now prevent us from giving expression to our love and caring?   I say NO.  It is precisely the threat of hard times ahead that should spur us to think of others besides ourselves and our loved ones.  It is the thought that so many people will be in even more dire situations than ours that should move us to express our concern for them NOW.   As Ed David suggested, there are so many creative ways by which we can show our love this Christmas.  It is said that Filipinos are expressive people and consequently, very creative in expressing their emotions.  So we should not run out of great ideas to show our brothers and sisters that Christ reigns in our hearts, not just at Christmas but always.   We can enjoy the season without the luxurious trappings that we normally associate with it.  We can light up a single lantern instead of stringing thousands and thousands of lights around our homes and fences, and even our trees.  We can give gifts made by our hands that are totally expressive of our love, rather than spend precious pesos on meaningless gewgaws.  We can write letters that speak of our love.  We can pay personal visits to friends we seldom see.  A hug and a warm handshake speak greater volumes than any gift ever can.  We can say, and mean, the precious words “I love you.”  That, to a Christian, is a gift more costly than any thing store-bought.   As CFC, what can we do to enjoy this particular Christmas season?  Let us all revisit our households and the way we relate to each and every member.  Have we shown our members the love and care that, as household head, we are obligated to provide?  Have we asked after their welfare?  Are we aware of their problems and needs and have we given them our assurance of support in their own periods of stress and difficulty?  Have we fulfilled our basic roles as household heads, meaning, have we provided them with the pastoral care that is expected of us as their leaders?  Are they better persons and Christians because of our love for them?   During this season, how wonderful it would be if we all took time to pay our members (even past members) that personal visit that speaks of love and the special relationship that Jesus alone can bring.  Or else invite everyone to a simple repast and give them the gift of honoring and affirming them through our kind words, spoken in love and felt by the heart.  This kind of honoring and affirming is what has sustained CFC households through all the 27 years of its existence.   The “perfect storm” may be coming.  But we are unfazed because our perfect Christ and Savior is by our side.    So we await the Redeemer’s coming this Christmas.  And we pay him the most perfect homage we can give – by loving our neighbor and witnessing to Christ’s presence in our lives.   A blessed Christmas to you all!

Household Topic November 17 - 23, 2008

Do Not Judge Others (Romans 14: 1-12)

Verse:

"Who are you to judge the servants of someone else?"

Reflection:

Many times, we wrongly judge others by using ourselves as yardstick. The Lord continuously reminds us of pride. Pride is self-focus. Pride is self-righteousness. Pride is wrongly taking yourself as standard.

The world does not revolve around us. We do not own anything. All is the Lord's. And so the Lord reminds us - "Who are you to judge the servants of someone else?"

If we are loved, if we receive love, and if we are blessed with the grace to share it - all are possible because of the greatest love that God is.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Discussion Questions:

1. What beliefs do I have of myself that I use to judge others?

2. What is it in others that I long to have in myself?

3. Does it impact on me - that we are all truly servants of God?

BIBLE QUIZ & PUZZLE - TRY IT!

Bible Quiz

Bible Names Crossword Puzzle 

ROSARY.BEADS

Try the Rosary.Beads from here.

- Choose manual or auto mode

- Choose manual to pause also

- Drag handle is on the top right

- Press play to start

You don't have to be connected to the internet to use Rosary.Beads.

Download it and use it anytime!.

Download Rosary.Beads here.

Download Instructions:

- Unzip the file Roary.zip

- Inside is a folder named Rosary

- Navigate to this folder

- Choose index.html

- Thats it!

PASS IT FORWARD!

DISCIPLES WEEKEND

All about... APOLOGETICS!

Christ the Teacher Series

VOL. I: The Apostles' Creed A seventeen-part discussion of the Apostles’ Creed, looking at Scripture, the Church Fathers and the great Catechisms of 1566 and 1992. Detailed, but easy to read, it amounts to a solid resource for catechists, home-schoolers, and those wishing to learn their Catholic Faith.

VOL. II: Law and Life An analysis of the Seven Sacraments, the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer looking at Scripture, the Church Fathers and the great Catechisms of 1566 and 1992. Detailed, but easy to read, it amounts to a solid resource for catechists and home-schoolers.

VOL. III: The Family and Human Life A brief discussion of family and human life matters, including marriage, contraception, abortion, euthanasia etc., looking at Scripture, the Church Fathers and the great Catechisms of 1566 and 1992. A useful introductory work.

VOL. IV: Defend the Faith! Lumen Verum’s most popular work, a 400-page defense of the Catholic Faith in 40 topical chapters. Updated and improved, it amounts to a powerful tool to defend the Faith, catechize the baptized and new converts, and introduce it to potential Catholics.

The Secret of Mary
by St. Louis de Montfort

With Imprimi Potest, Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1947

Contents: INTRODUCTION

THE NECESSITY OF SANCTIFYING OURSELVES

OUR SANCTIFICATION THROUGH MARY A NECESSARY MEANS

DEVOTION TO MARY A PERFECT MEANS

NATURE AND SCOPE OF THIS DEVOTION

EXCELLENCE OF THE HOLY SLAVERY OF LOVE

INTERIOR PRACTICE OF THE HOLY SLAVERY OF LOVE

EXTERIOR PRACTICES OF THE HOLY SLAVERY OF LOVE

THE TREE OF LIFE: HOW TO MAKE MARY REIGN IN OUR SOULS

THE RENOUNCEMENT OF THE WORLD AND THE THREE KNOWLEDGES

SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S PRAYER TO MARY

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE INCARNATE WISDOM

CONFRATERNITY OF MARY, QUEEN OF ALL HEARTS

SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S PRAYER TO JESUS

ABOUT SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT

All about... PRAYER!

E-BOOKS

#118 – Prayer


#119 – The Lord's Prayer


#304 – Lord, Teach Us to Pray


#309 – Prayer Time


#363 –The Way of the Cross:
Traditional and Modern Meditations

CFC International Missions

This site is dedicated to all of us in the international missions. We will now find additional strength that we are not alone on mission, but we are part of the larger family of God trailblazing in the love of Christ and bearing witness to His words in our life and our mission area walking in greater faith with an Omnipotent God.

• A CFC missionary is doing God’s work and is at the forefront of CFC’s missionary thrust.
• Crosses come our way. We look to them as blessings that can draw us closer to God and strengthen our faith.
• Trusting fully in God who calls usto be His missionary.
• We are in His hands and He is accomplishing His plan in our lives.
• Expecting to have the most rewarding time of our lives.

www.cfcinternationalmissions.com

CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM - Module One

CLP MODULE I - Through the Lens of LOVE
(Fast Track)

COMBINED TALK 1 & 2

COMBINED TALK 3 & 4

by Bro. Ernesto Santiago, Jr.