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Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 08-06-06, Feast, Transfiguration of the Lord
USCCB.org/New American Bible ^ | 08-06-06 | New American Bible

Posted on 08/05/2006 1:44:15 PM PDT by Salvation

August 6, 2006

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Psalm: Sunday 33

Reading 1
Dn 7:9-10, 13-14

As I watched:

Thrones were set up
and the Ancient One took his throne.
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
The court was convened and the books were opened.

As the visions during the night continued, I saw:

One like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
When he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9

R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods.
R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Reading II
2 Pt 1:16-19

Beloved:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father
when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory,
“This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven
while we were with him on the holy mountain.
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Gospel
Mk 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John,
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
“This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.




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1 posted on 08/05/2006 1:44:16 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; sandyeggo; Lady In Blue; NYer; american colleen; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ...
Alleluia Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.

2 posted on 08/05/2006 1:46:00 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
EWTN - Our Lady of the Angels

TRANSFIGURATION
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Transfiguration of Christ is the culminating point of His public life, as His Baptism is its starting point, and His Ascension its end. Moreover, this glorious event has been related in detail by St. Matthew (xvii, 1-6), St. Mark (ix, 1-8), and St. Luke (ix, 28-36), while St. Peter (II Pet., i, 16-18) and St. John (i, 14), two of the privileged witnesses, make allusion to it. 

About a week after His sojourn in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them to a high mountain apart, where He was transfigured before their ravished eyes. St. Matthew and St. Mark express this phenomenon by the word metemorphothe, which the Vulgate renders transfiguratus est. The Synoptics explain the true meaning of the word by adding "his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow," according to the Vulgate, or "as light," according to the Greek text. 

This dazzling brightness which emanated from His whole Body was produced by an interior shining of His Divinity. False Judaism had rejected the Messias, and now true Judaism, represented by Moses and Elias, the Law and the Prophets, recognized and adored Him, while for the second time God the Father proclaimed Him His only-begotten and well-loved Son. By this glorious manifestation the Divine Master, who had just foretold His Passion to the Apostles (Matt., xvi, 21), and who spoke with Moses and Elias of the trials which awaited Him at Jerusalem, strengthened the faith of his three friends and prepared them for the terrible struggle
of which they were to be witnesses in Gethsemani, by giving them a foretaste of the glory and heavenly delights to which we attain by suffering.

LOCATION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

Already in Apostolic times the mount of the Transfiguration had become the "holy mount" (II Pet., i, 18). It seems to have been known by the faithful of the country, and tradition identified it with Mount Thabor. Origen said (A.D. 231-54) "Thabor is the mountain of Galilee on which Christ was transfigured" (Comm. in Ps. lxxxviii, 13). In the next century St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Catech., II, 16) and St. Jerome (Ep. xlvi, ad Marcel.; EP. viii, ad Paulin.; Ep. cviii, ad Eust.) likewise declare it categorically. Later St. Proculus, Patriarch of Constantinople (d. 447; Orat. viii, in Transfig.), Agathangelus (Hist. of Armenia, II, xvii), and Arnobius the Younger (d. 460; Comm. in Ps. lxxxviii, 13) say the same thing. The testimonies increase from century to century without a single dissentient note, and in 553 the Fifth Council of Constantinople erected a see at Mount Thabor (Notitif Antioch. . . . patriarch.). 

Some modern writers claim that the Transfiguration could not have taken place on Mount Thabor, which, according to Josephus, was then surmounted by a city. This is incorrect; the Jewish historian speaks neither of a city nor a village; he simply fortified, as he repeats three times, "the mount called Itabyrion" ("Bell. Jud.", II, xx, 6; IV, i, 8; Vita , 37). The town of Atabyrion of Polybius, the Thabor or Celeseth Thabor, the "flank of Thabor" of the Bible, is situated at the foot of Mount Thabor. In any case the presence of houses on a wooded height would not have made it impossible to find a place apart. 

It is again objected that Our Lord was transfigured on Mount Hermon, since He was at that time in its vicinity. But the Synoptics are all explicit concerning the lapse of time, six days, or about eight days including those of departure and arrival, between the discourse in Caesarea and the Transfiguration, which would infer a somewhat lengthy journey. Moreover the summits of Hermon are covered with snow as late as June, and even the lesser peaks of 4000 or 5000 feet are likewise snow-covered in February and March, the period of the Transfiguration. Finally, the ancients judged of the height of mountains by their appearance, and Thabor especially was considered a "high mountain", if not by David and Jeremias, at least by Origen and St. Jerome and the pilgrims who made the ascent.

Barnabas Meisterman


Transcribed by Paul T. Crowley

From the Catholic Encyclopedia
Copyright © 1913 Encyclopedia Press, Inc.

Electronic Copyright © 1996 New Advent, Inc.
All Rights Reserved


Provided Courtesy of New Advent Supersite to:
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, AL 35210
www.ewtn.com



3 posted on 08/05/2006 1:46:55 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
Hymn for the Feast:

"'Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here"
by Joseph A. Robinson, 1858-(?)

1. 'Tis good, Lord, to be here,
Thy glory fills the night;
Thy face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.

2. 'Tis good, Lord, to be here,
Thy beauty to behold
Where Moses and Elijah stand,
Thy messengers of old.

3. Fulfiller of the past,
Promise of things to be,
We hail Thy body glorified
And our redemption see.

4. Before we taste of death,
We see Thy kingdom come;
We fain would hold the vision bright
And make this hill our home.

5. 'Tis good, Lord, to be here.
Yet we may not remain;
But since Thou bidst us leave the mount,
Come with us to the plain.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #135
Text: Matt. 17:4
Author: Joseph A. Robinson, 1888
Composer: Johann S. Bach, 1750, ad.
Tune: "Potsdam"
1st Published in: _Church Psalter_, 1854
4 posted on 08/05/2006 2:31:21 PM PDT by lightman (The Office of the Keys should be exercised as some ministry needs to be exorcised.)
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To: lightman

Excellent hymn, lightman. Thank you and God bless.


5 posted on 08/06/2006 7:09:56 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Daniel's Vision (Continuation)



[9] As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days
took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head
like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire.
[10] A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him;
a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him; the court sat in judgment,and the books were opened.

[13] I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there
came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was
presented before him. [14] And to him was given dominion and glory and
kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his
dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his
kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.



Commentary:

7:9-14. Divine judgment is passed on the kingdoms in this scene. God
is depicted as being seated on a throne in heaven, his glory flashing
out and angels all around. Judgment is about to take place, and it
will be followed by execution of the sentence. The books (v. 10)
contain all the actions of men (cf. Jer 17:1; Mal 3:16; Ps 56:8; Rev
20:12). The seer is shown history past (not laid out according to chronology:
all the empires are included in one glance), and he notes that a more
severe sentence is passed on the blasphemous horn than on the other
beasts. They had their lives extended (v. 12), that is, their
deprivation of power did not spell the end; but the little horn is destroyed
forthwith. "Following in the steps of the prophets and John the
Baptist, Jesus announced the judgment of the Last Day in his preaching
(cf. Dan 7:10; Joel 3-4; Mal 3:19; Mt 3:7-42)" ("Catechism of the
Catholic Church", 678).

The one "like a son of man" who comes with the clouds of heaven and
who, after the judgment, is given everlasting dominion over all the
earth, is the very antithesis of the beasts. He has not risen from a
turbulent sea like them; there is nothing ferocious about him. Rather,
he has been raised up by God (he comes with the clouds of heaven) and
he shares the human condition. The dignity of all mankind is restored
through this son of man's triumph over the beasts. This figure, as we
will discover later, stands for 'the people of the saints of the Most
High' (7:27), that is, faithful Israel. However, he is also an
individual (just as the winged lion was an individual, and the little
horn), and insofar as he is given a kingdom, he is a king. What we
have here is an individual who represents the people. In Jewish
circles around the time of Christ, this "son of man" was interpreted
as being the Messiah, a real person (cf. "Book of the Parables of
Enoch"); but it was a title that became linked to the sufferings of
the Messiah and to his resurrection from the dead only when Jesus
Christ applied it to himself in the Gospel. "Jesus accepted Peter's
profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by
announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of Man (cf. Mt 16:23). He
unveiled the authentic content of his messianic kingship both in the
transcendent identity of the Son of Man 'who came down from heaven'
(Jn 3:13; cf. Jn 6:62; Dan 7:13), and in his redemptive mission as the
suffering Servant: 'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mt 20:28; cf. Is
53:10-12)" ("Catechism of the Catholic Church", 440).

When the Church proclaims in the Creed that Christ is seated at the
right hand of the Father, she is saying that it was to Christ that
dominion was given; "Being seated at the Father's right hand signifies
the inauguration of the Messiah's kingdom, the fulfillment of the
prophet Daniel's vision concerning the Son of man; 'To him was given
domination and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and
languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be
destroyed' (Dan 7:14). After this event the apostles became witnesses
of the 'kingdom [that] will have no end' (Nicene Creed)" ("Catechism
of the Catholic Church", 664).



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


6 posted on 08/06/2006 7:11:06 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: 2 Peter 1:16-19


The Transfiguration, an Earnest of the Second Coming



[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were
eyewitnesses of His majesty. [17] For when He received honor and glory
from God the Father and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic
Glory, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," [18] we
heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy
mountain.


Prophecy and the Second Coming


[19] And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well
to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until
the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.




Commentary:


16-18. The transfiguration of Jesus Christ, at which the voice of God
the Father was heard (verses 16-18), and the testimony of the Old
Testament prophets (verses 19-21) are a guarantee of the doctrine of
Christ's second coming.


"The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ": this phrase sums up
the purpose of apostolic preaching: "power" indicates that Jesus Christ
is God and is almighty like the Father; the "coming (literally
"Parousia") means the same as His manifestation in glory at the end of
time. This is not a matter of "myth"; it will be as real as His
sojourn on this earth, of which the Apostles are "eyewitnesses". When
speaking of the Transfiguration, the sacred writer refers to the
"majesty" of Jesus Christ (an attribute which He always possesses,
because He is God) and the "voice" of the Father confirming Christ's
divine nature (cf. Matthew 17:5). The simple line of argument is that
if Jesus Christ allowed His divinity to be glimpsed just for a moment,
He will also be able to manifest it in its fullness and forever at the
end of time.


"On the holy mountain": this wording indicates that he is referring to
the transfiguration and not to the baptism of our Lord (Matthew
3:16-17). The mountain is described as "holy" because a theophany
occurred there; similarly, in the Old Testament Zion is called a
"holy mountain" because God revealed Himself there (cf. Psalm 2:6;
Isaiah 11:9).


19-21. "The prophetic word" finds its complete fulfillment in Jesus
Christ (cf. Hebrews 1:1). This does not refer to a particular
prophecy; at that time "the prophetic word" meant the messianic
prophecies or (more usually) all the Old Testament insofar as it
proclaims the enduring salvation to come.


These verses encapsulate the whole notion of biblical prophecy--its
value, interpretation and divine origin. They also show the close
connection between the Old and the New Testaments. "The books of the
Old Testament, all of them caught up into the Gospel message, attain
and show forth their full meaning in the New Testament (cf. Matthew
5:17; Luke 24:27; Romans 16:25-26; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16) and, in their
turn, shed light on it and explain it" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 16).


By reaching their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Old Testament
prophecies confirm the truthfulness of what Jesus said and did.
Together with the Transfiguration they constitute a guarantee of the
second coming of the Lord.


The comparison of prophecy to the morning star is a very good one, for
that star is designed to bring light and announce the coming of day.
Similarly, the fullness of Revelation which begins with the earthly
life of Christ will reach its climax when He comes in glory.



Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


7 posted on 08/06/2006 7:12:17 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All

From: Mark 9:2-10

The Transfiguration



[2] And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and
led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was
transfigured before them, [3] and His garments became glistening,
intensely white, as no fuller on earth bleach them. [4] And there
appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus.
[5] And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let
us make three booths, one for You and one for Moses and one for
Elijah." [6] For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly
afraid. [7] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the
cloud, "This is My beloved Son; listen to Him." [8] And suddenly
looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only.

[9] And as they were coming down the mountain, He charged them to tell
no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man should have risen from
the dead. [10] So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what
the rising from the dead meant.




Commentary:

2-10. We contemplate in awe this manifestation of the glory of the Son
of God to three of His disciples. Ever since the Incarnation, the
divinity of our Lord has usually been hidden behind His humanity. But
Christ wishes to show, to these favorite disciples, who will later be
pillars of the Church, the splendor of His divine glory, in order to
encourage them to follow the difficult way that lies ahead, fixing
their gaze on the happy goal which is awaiting them at the end. This
is why, as St. Thomas comments (cf. "Summa Theologia", III, q. 45, a.
1), it was appropriate for Him to give them an insight into His glory.
The fact that the Transfiguration comes immediately after the first
announcement of His passion, and His prophetic words about how His
followers would also have to carry His cross, shows us that "through
many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

What happened at the Transfiguration? To understand this miraculous
event in Christ's life, we must remember that in order to redeem us by
His passion and death our Lord freely renounced divine glory and became
man, assuming flesh which was capable of suffering and which was not
glorious, becoming like us in every way except sin (cf. Hebrew 4:15).
In the Transfiguration, Jesus Christ willed that the glory which was
His as God and which His soul had from the moment of the Incarnation,
should miraculously become present in His body. "We should learn from
Jesus' attitude in these trials. During His life on earth He did not
even want the glory that belong to Him. Though He had the right to be
treated as God, He took the form of a servant, a slave (cf. Philippians
2:6)" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 62). Bearing in
mind WHO became man (the divinity of the person and the glory of His
soul), it was appropriate for His body to be glorious; given the
PURPOSE of His Incarnation, it was not appropriate, usually, for His
glory to be evident. Christ shows His glory in the Transfiguration in
order to move us to desire the divine glory which will be given us so
that, having this hope, we too can understand "that the sufferings of
this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be
revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

2. According to Deuteronomy (19:15), to bear witness to anything the
evidence of two or three much concur. Perhaps this is why Jesus wanted
three Apostles to be present. It should be pointed out that these
three Apostles were specially loved by Him; they were with Him also at
the raising of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37) and will also be
closest to Him during His agony at Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). Cf. note
on Matthew 17:1-13.

7. This is how St. Thomas Aquinas explains the meaning of the
Transfiguration: "Just as in Baptism, where the mystery of the first
regeneration was proclaimed, the operation of the whole Trinity was
made manifest, because the Son Incarnate was there, the Holy Spirit
appeared under the form of a dove, and the Father made Himself known in
the voice; so also in the Transfiguration, which is the sign of the
second regeneration [the Resurrection], the whole Trinity appears--the
Father in the voice, the Son in the man, the Holy Spirit in the bright
cloud; for just as in Baptism He confers innocence, as signified by the
simplicity of the dove, so in the Resurrection will He give His elect
the clarity of glory and the refreshment from every form of evil, as
signified by the bright cloud" ("Summa Theologiae", III, q. 45, 1.4 ad
2). For, really, the Transfiguration was in some way an anticipation
not only of Christ's glorification but also of ours. As St. Paul says,
"it is the same Spirit Himself bearing witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and
fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we
may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:16-17).

10. That the dead would rise was already revealed in the Old Testament
(cf. Daniel 12:2-3; 2 Maccabees 7:9; 12:43) and was believed by pious
Jews (cf. John 11:23-25). However, they were unable to understand the
profound truth of the death and Resurrection of the Lord: they expected
a glorious and triumphant Messiah, despite the prophecy that He would
suffer and die (cf. Isaiah 53). Hence the Apostles' oblique approach;
they too do not dare to directly question our Lord about His
Resurrection.




Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.


8 posted on 08/06/2006 7:13:39 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd

Mass Readings

First reading Daniel 7:9 - 14 ©
Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
Psalm or canticle: Psalm 96
Second reading 2 Peter 1:16 - 19 ©
It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour’. We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.
So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies; and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.
Gospel Mark 9:2 - 10 ©
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah’. He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean

9 posted on 08/06/2006 7:36:25 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
Office of Readings -- Awakening Prayer

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.


A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 83 (84)
Longing for the Lord's temple
How delightful is your dwelling-place, Lord of hosts!
 My soul is weak with longing for the courts of your palace.
 My heart and my body rejoice in the living God.
Even the sparrow finds itself a home,
 the swallow a nest to raise her young –
 in your altars, O Lord,
 Lord of strength, my king and my God.
Blessed are they who dwell in your house:
 they will praise you for ever.

Blessed the man whose help comes from you,
 who has set his heart on reaching you.
They pass through the valley of thirst
 and make a spring there:
 the morning rain will cover it with blessings.
They will go from strength to strength:
 they will see the God of gods, in Sion.

Lord God of hosts, listen to my prayer;
 hear me, O God of Jacob.
Take notice of us, God our protector,
 and look on the face of your anointed one.

One day in the courts of my God
 is worth more than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be at the doorstep of the house of my God
 than live in the dwellings of sinners.

For the Lord my God is my sun and my shield.
 The Lord gives grace and glory.
He will not deny his good things
 to those who walk in purity.
Blessed is he who trusts in you,
 O Lord of hosts.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 96 (97)
The glory of God in his judgements
The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice,
 let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and dark mist surround him,
 his throne is founded on law and justice.
Fire precedes him,
 burning up his enemies all around.
His lightnings light up the globe;
 the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains flow like wax at the sight of the Lord,
 at the sight of the Lord the earth dissolves.
The heavens proclaim his justice
 and all peoples see his glory.

Let them be dismayed, who worship carved things,
 who take pride in the images they make.
All his angels, worship him.
Sion heard and was glad,
 the daughters of Judah rejoiced
 because of your judgements, O Lord.
For you are the Lord, the Most High over all the earth,
 far above all other gods.

You who love the Lord, hate evil!
The Lord protects the lives of his consecrated ones:
 he will free them from the hands of sinners.
A light has arisen for the just,
 and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice, you just, in the Lord
 and proclaim his holiness.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 98 (99)
The Lord our God is holy
The Lord reigns! let the peoples tremble.
 He is enthroned on the cherubim: let the earth shake.
The Lord is great in Sion,
 he is high above all the peoples.

Let them proclaim his name – great and terrible it is,
 let them proclaim his holy name,
 the powerful king, who loves justice.
The laws you establish are just:
 you have given Jacob uprightness and right judgement.

Praise the Lord, our God,
 worship at his footstool,
 for he is holy.

Moses and Aaron were among his prophets,
 Samuel one of those who called on him.
They called on the Lord and he listened,
 and from the pillar of cloud he spoke to them.
They kept his decrees
 and the commands he gave them.
Lord our God, you listened to them;
 O God, you were gracious to them,
 but you punished their wrongdoing.

Praise the Lord, our God,
 worship on his holy mountain,
 for the Lord our God is holy.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Reading 2 Corinthians 3:7 - 4:6 ©
If the administering of death, in the written letters engraved on stones, was accompanied by such a brightness that the Israelites could not bear looking at the face of Moses, though it was a brightness that faded, then how much greater will be the brightness that surrounds the administering of the Spirit! For if there was any splendour in administering condemnation, there must be very much greater splendour in administering justification. In fact, compared with this greater splendour, the thing that used to have such splendour now seems to have none; and if what was so temporary had any splendour, there must be much more in what is going to last for ever.
Having this hope, we can be quite confident; not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not notice the ending of what had to fade. And anyway, their minds had been dulled; indeed, to this very day, that same veil is still there when the old covenant is being read, a veil never lifted, since Christ alone can remove it. Yes, even today, whenever Moses is read, the veil is over their minds. It will not be removed until they turn to the Lord. Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.
Since we have by an act of mercy been entrusted with this work of administration, there is no weakening on our part. On the contrary, we will have none of the reticence of those who are ashamed, no deceitfulness or watering down the word of God; but the way we commend ourselves to every human being with a conscience is by stating the truth openly in the sight of God. If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation; the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, ‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.

Reading From a sermon on the transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai, bishop
It is good for us to be here
Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father. “ Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.
These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.
Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.
It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honour could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?
Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here – here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.

Canticle Te Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.

Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
A concluding prayer may follow here.

10 posted on 08/06/2006 7:42:48 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

God calls each one of us to be a saint.
August 6, 2006
Transfiguration of the Lord

All three Synoptic Gospels tell the story of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36). With remarkable agreement, all three place the event shortly after Peter’s confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus’ first prediction of his passion and death. Peter’s eagerness to erect tents or booths on the spot suggests it occurred during the Jewish weeklong, fall Feast of Booths.

In spite of the texts’ agreement, it is difficult to reconstruct the disciples’ experience, according to Scripture scholars, because the Gospels draw heavily on Old Testament descriptions of the Sinai encounter with God and prophetic visions of the Son of Man. Certainly Peter, James and John had a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity strong enough to strike fear into their hearts. Such an experience defies description, so they drew on familiar religious language to describe it. And certainly Jesus warned them that his glory and his suffering were to be inextricably connected—a theme John highlights throughout his Gospel.

Tradition names Mt. Tabor as the site of the revelation. A church first raised there in the fourth century was dedicated on August 6. A feast in honor of the Transfiguration was celebrated in the Eastern Church from about that time. Western observance began in some localities about the eighth century.

On July 22, 1456, Crusaders defeated the Turks at Belgrade. News of the victory reached Rome on August 6, and Pope Callistus III placed the feast on the Roman calendar the following year.

Comment:

One of the Transfiguration accounts is read on the second Sunday of Lent each year, proclaiming Christ’s divinity to catechumens and baptized alike. The Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent, by contrast, is the story of the temptation in the desert—affirmation of Jesus’ humanity. The two distinct but inseparable natures of the Lord were a subject of much theological argument at the beginning of the Church’s history; it remains hard for believers to grasp.

Quote:

“At his Transfiguration Christ showed his disciples the splendor of his beauty, to which he will shape and color those who are his: ‘He will reform our lowness configured to the body of his glory’” (Philippians 3:21) (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae).



11 posted on 08/06/2006 7:44:54 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Sunday, August 6, 2006
The Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9
2 Peter 1:16-19
Mark 9:2-10

When we hear heretical voices about us..., when we see that the sanctity of marriage and the priesthood are attacked without fear of rebuke, have confidence, for the Holy Church is incorruptible.

-- St Augustine


12 posted on 08/06/2006 7:46:50 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
Raphael Sanzio's glorious Transfiguration now rendered in mosaic at St. Peter's Basilica. The original is in the Vatican Pinacoteca under very subdued lighting to preserve it.


13 posted on 08/06/2006 7:52:11 AM PDT by Carolina
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To: Carolina

Different perspective from the people at the bottom of the mountain. Very interesting. Thanks.


14 posted on 08/06/2006 8:00:10 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Catholic Culture

Collect:
God our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets, and show us the splendor of your beloved sons and daughters. As we listen to the voice of your Son, help us to become heirs to eternal life with him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

August 06, 2006 Month Year Season

Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Old Calendar: Transfiguration of Our Lord

Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent (John 6:26-30)."


The Transfiguration
In the Transfiguration Christ enjoyed for a short while that glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The splendor of His inward Divinity and of the Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed on His body, and permeated His garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James, and John in a snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their Master's prediction of His own Passion and Death. The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

Jesus and the three apostles Peter, James and John went up to the top of Mount Tabor. At a certain moment the divine Master disappeared from their sight to reappear all at once in a glory of light and splendor. Moses and Elijah stood on either side of him, and Jesus was talking to them. Moses represented the Law, Elijah the prophecies that had been made through the centuries, foretelling the Redemption of man. What was Jesus speaking about with these two personages of the Old Testament? Certainly not about human and worldly opinions and enterprises, nor about the enjoyment of this transient life, but about the fulfillment of the purpose of God's infinite goodness, in accordance with which the Son of God made man was about to suffer and die on the Cross in order to save mankind.

The three apostles were not yet capable of understanding all this; they were so entranced by the vision that they wished it could last for ever, so intense was the joy of their hearts. Stricken with awe they fell to the ground, but were soon raised again by Jesus who had re-assumed his ordinary human appearance. "Rise, and have no fear." That was the first order he gave them, and then, as they were coming down from the mountain, he said: "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead".

In this episode described by St Matthew there is a profound and sublime lesson for all times, and for Christians of all sorts and conditions. In this earthly life we must not expect every hour to offer us joy, pleasures and glory, even if we seek these with an honest and legitimate purpose.

The Transfiguration was to be followed, very soon, by the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus.

Pope John XXIII


15 posted on 08/06/2006 8:04:13 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
**
The Apostles were made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross, and glory—that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suffer with Him. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas
**

In two worlds -- they were in the presences of their own day, yet the three apostles were for a moment in the presence of a beatified Christ -- like time stood still. What an experience!

16 posted on 08/06/2006 8:06:44 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Lauds -- Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.


A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 62 (63)
Thirsting for God
O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
 as one in a parched and waterless land,
 so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
 and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
 and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
 I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
 and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Canticle Daniel 3
All creatures, bless the Lord
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.

Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.

Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Psalm 149
The saints rejoice
Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.
A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here.
Canticle Benedictus
The Messiah and his forerunner
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death;
to lead our feet in the path of peace.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
 as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
 world without end.
Amen.

Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God.
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
 hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
 and forgive us our trespasses
 as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.
A concluding prayer may follow here.

May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life.
A M E N

17 posted on 08/06/2006 8:08:04 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Pondering Christ

by Fr. Paul Grankauskas

Other Articles by Fr. Paul Grankauskas
Pondering Christ
08/05/06


I remember once being taught by another priest that I should be able to summarize my homilies in one line. I have always tried to abide by that, but for this commentary I am going to depart from that rule and offer two points for consideration.

Like our Blessed Mother, we ponder the words and deeds of Christ in our hearts and minds. Here we see Christ transfigured, His clothes becoming "dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could make them." Here we see Christ radiant and resplendent, bathed in light. Later we will see Him reduced to a bloody mess in His Passion. We see Him scourged, crowned with thorns, crucified and buried.

Christ's divine majesty — the glory and power that is His as the divine Son — is hidden behind a human nature that gets tired and hungry and experiences true pain and suffering.

When we consider the nature of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, we might see nothing more than a body bruised and battered by my own sins and the sins of others. But, we have to remember that the risen, glorified Christ is at work in that same mystical body, transforming and sanctifying her. In the Mass, it is Christ who is offering and offered in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and who feeds us with His Body and Blood. In the sacrament of penance, it is Christ who absolves.

In other words, we need to see that the Church triumphant in heaven is the same Church on pilgrimage here below. It is in and through the Church, His mystical body, that Christ prepares us for sharing the glories of heaven. We believe in a Church that is holy as well as one, catholic and apostolic. She is holy because she is united to Christ her head, who is all holy. She is made holy by Christ who communicates His life and love to us through her.

Peter acknowledged that it was good to be on that mountain during the Transfiguration. We might echo Peter's words every time we visit the Blessed Sacrament. Surely it is good to be in the presence of the Lord. Sometimes people we hang out with quite a bit begin to rub off on us, influencing the way we think and act. Our most ardent desire as those who bear the name of Christ — as those who long to be saints — should be to have the heart and mind of Christ. The more we contemplate His words and deeds, His goodness and love, the more we may be transformed by Him.

I have no doubt many of us will be taking a vacation this summer. We can fill up that "time off" with a lot of activity. In addition to taking along a novel, we might want to take along a good spiritual book, make time to pray a rosary and most certainly find a church so we can attend Mass. The voice of the Father said to the Apostles, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him." It is rather hard to do that if I am not willing to open the door and spend some time with Him.

Fr. Grankauskas is parochial vicar at St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax, Virginia.

(This article courtesy of the
Arlington Catholic Herald.)


18 posted on 08/06/2006 8:13:31 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
The Work of God

Transfiguration - His face shone like the sun Catholic Gospels - Homilies - Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit

Year B

 -  The Transfiguration of the Lord

Transfiguration - His face shone like the sun

Transfiguration - His face shone like the sun Catholic Gospels - Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit Matthew 17:1-9

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.
3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.
7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid."
8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Transfiguration of the Lord - Transfiguration - His face shone like the sun I had told my apostles about the sufferings and humiliations which I was going to undertake as part of my mission to save the world. Peter was outraged with the Jews and wanted to protect me but I strongly forbade him because whatever I did was always in accordance with the Will of my Heavenly Father. The other apostles did not fully understand my words, since they could not imagine that something as tragic as my predicted death could occur.

They had seen my miracles, they knew who I was. My remaining days on earth were few and I wanted to impress upon them the knowledge of my divinity.

And it was so disposed by the Divine Will that on that night when my three favorite apostles Peter, John and James came with me to the mountain for prayers, I became transfigured before them. They had the opportunity to look at my divine countenance illuminated by the dazzling light of my being, my entire body radiated light, now they really understood that I was “the light of the world, the sun of justice”. To testify of my spiritual connection with the past I was seen with Moses and Elijah. To make this a testimony of God, my Heavenly Father was heard saying "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

No greater consolation could my apostles have in their lifetime, it was a joy that brought renewed courage, enthusiasm and faith to their hearts, which soon would be torn with sorrow for my imminent passion and death.

During the time of the transfiguration Peter said, Lord, it is good for us to be here. And I assure you: it is really good for anyone to come into my Presence and experience the light of my being. It is most rewarding to the soul to seek moments of solitude and prayer in which I come to radiate my light, to give consolation, to strengthen the faith and to share my divinity.

Although you may not see me physically as they apostles did, let me assure you that you are never alone when you pray, I am always ready to listen. The rewards of believing the word of God are beyond your understanding, so there is no time to lose, follow my Father’s advise: “Listen to me!”

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary


19 posted on 08/06/2006 8:16:32 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Salvation
Mk 9:1-9
# Douay-Rheims Vulgate
1 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter and James and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, and was transfigured before them. et post dies sex adsumit Iesus Petrum et Iacobum et Iohannem et ducit illos in montem excelsum seorsum solos et transfiguratus est coram ipsis
2 And his garments became shining and exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller upon earth can make white. et vestimenta eius facta sunt splendentia candida nimis velut nix qualia fullo super terram non potest candida facere
3 And there appeared to them Elias with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. et apparuit illis Helias cum Mose et erant loquentes cum Iesu
4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. et respondens Petrus ait Iesu rabbi bonum est hic nos esse et faciamus tria tabernacula tibi unum et Mosi unum et Heliae unum
5 For he knew not what he said: for they were struck with fear. non enim sciebat quid diceret erant enim timore exterriti
6 And there was a cloud overshadowing them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is my most beloved son; hear ye him. et facta est nubes obumbrans eos et venit vox de nube dicens hic est Filius meus carissimus audite illum
7 And immediately looking about, they saw no man any more, but Jesus only with them. et statim circumspicientes neminem amplius viderunt nisi Iesum tantum secum
8 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them not to tell any man what things they had seen, till the Son of man shall be risen again from the dead. et descendentibus illis de monte praecepit illis ne cui quae vidissent narrarent nisi cum Filius hominis a mortuis resurrexerit
9 And they kept the word to themselves; questioning together what that should mean, when he shall be risen from the dead. et verbum continuerunt apud se conquirentes quid esset cum a mortuis resurrexerit

20 posted on 08/06/2006 12:55:36 PM PDT by annalex
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