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A voice is heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more. –Matt. 2:18 quoting Jer. 31:15 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted—and you yourself a sword will pierce—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.' –Luke 2:34-35 In the Catholic Church, each day's liturgy brings a different celebration or commemoration, either from the life of Christ or...

Fr. Roger Landry rticleOther Articles by Fr. Roger LandryPrinter Friendly Version   The Redemption and Protection of the Family January 3, 2007 When we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus, we marked the fundamental fact that when the Son of God became man, when the Word became flesh, He became flesh as a little child within a family. That was a divine choice, for Jesus did not have to come into our world in that way. He could have come as a 33-year-old adult and begun to preach. He could have...

December 31, 2006 Sunday within the Octave of ChristmasThe Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Psalm: Sunday 52 Reading 1Sir 3:2-7, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children;a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.Whoever honors his father atones for sins,and preserves himself from them.When he prays, he is heard;he stores up riches who reveres his mother.Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,and, when he prays, is heard.Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is...

LORETO, Italy, MARCH 30, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The stones in the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth have the same origin as those of an altar at the Holy House of Loreto, says an archaeological study. Architect Nanni Monelli and Father Giuseppe Santarelli, director of the General Congregation of the Holy House of Loreto, led the study. Their finding has reopened discussion of the historicity of the mysterious transfer of the Holy House of Nazareth to Loreto. According to tradition, the house was translated miraculously from Nazareth to Tersatto (in present-day Croatia) in 1291 and then to Loreto. Giorgio Nicolini, author...

December 30, 2005Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Psalm: Friday 3 Reading ISir 3:2-7, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children;a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.Whoever honors his father atones for sins,and preserves himself from them.When he prays, he is heard;he stores up riches who reveres his mother.Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,and, when he prays, is heard.Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old;grieve him not as...

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." - MATTHEW 2:13        How much do we really know about Jesus?    Not as much as we might think, according to a new film documentary focusing on the little-known childhood of Christianity's savior.    Titled "Jesus in Egypt," the film is based on a book of the same name by author Paul Perry, widely known...

Barcelona, Jun. 03, 2005 (CNA) - The Church of the Holy Family in Barcelona, the unfinished work of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, will be ready for worship in 2008 and its construction will be finished in 20 to 30 years if projections are accurate.In order for the church to open its doors in 2008, project leader Joan Rigol, recently named to the post by the Archbishop of Barcelona, explained that will be necessary to finish the roof over several parts of the church that remain uncovered.  He said the project committee expects this stage to be completed in the next...

1962 Sunday Missal Mass Readings/Propers for the Feast of the Holy Family Colors:  White   INTROIT  Proverbs 23-25 The father of the Just rejoiceth greatly, let Thy father and Thy mother be joyful, and let her rejoice who bore Thee. -- (Ps.88. 2, 3). How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- The father of the Just . .   COLLECT - O Lord Jesus Christ, who, being subject to Mary and Joseph, didst sanctify home life...

Just The Kind of Craziness You’d ExpectThe BitPig Rant 2004.12.26 Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, martyr. (St. Stephen was one of the 7 deacons chosen by the Apostles to work with the poor. Because of his unwavering belief in Jesus, he was stoned to death, becoming the first martyr of the Church.) It is also the Feast of the Holy Family — the day when we Christians celebrate the Earthly family of the Lord, and, by extension, the miracle of the Incarnation, the defining miracle of Christianity. It’s pretty hard to believe if you think about it. The...

December 26, 2004Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Reading ISir 3:2-6, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children;a mother's authority he confirms over her sons.Whoever honors his father atones for sins,and preserves himself from them.When he prays, he is heard;he stores up riches who reveres his mother.Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children,and, when he prays, is heard.Whoever reveres his father will live a long life;he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old;grieve him not as long as he...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Actor Mel Gibson's father isn't shy about admitting his belief in conspiracy theories. Hutton Gibson, an 84-year-old activist and author, says he believes the World Trade Center was destroyed by "remote control," not airliners hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists. He insists that every pope in the last 50 years has been illegitimate, and he denies that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. "Go and ask an undertaker or the guy who operates the crematorium what it takes to get rid of a body," the elder Gibson says in Sunday's editions of The New York Times...

December 28, 2003Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Psalm: Sunday 3 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading I1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28 In those days Hannah conceived, and at the end of her term bore a sonwhom she called Samuel, since she had asked the LORD for him.The next time her husband Elkanah was going upwith the rest of his householdto offer the customary sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vows,Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband,"Once the child is weaned,I will take him to appear before the LORDand to remain there...

December 29, 2002Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Psalm: Sunday Week 3 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Families Adults Reading IGn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying:"Fear not, Abram!I am your shield;I will make your reward very great."But Abram said,"O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,if I keep on being childlessand have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"Abram continued,"See, you have given me no offspring,and so one of my servants will be my heir."Then the word of the LORD came to...

Lots of Graphics: Post your favorite image of the St. Mary and Child, the Holy Family, or St. Joseph with the Child Jesus A thread to bless our eyes, hearts, souls, and minds: Kissing the Face of God Morgan Weistling