The apostles are a proof of the transforming contact with Jesus. Their own mothers would have been surprised to see them transformed from quarrelsome brutes to well-mannered gentlemen, from proud and ambitious recruits to humble servants, from impulsive characters to prudent leaders, from cowardly weaklings to brave martyrs.
Pope Francis declared on April 14, 2013 in St Paul’s Outside the Walls: “[W]e have to empty ourselves of the many small or great idols that we have and in which we take refuge, on which we often seek to base our security. They are idols that we sometimes keep well hidden; they can be ambition, a taste for success, placing ourselves at the center, the tendency to dominate others, the claim to be the sole masters of our lives, some sins to which we are bound, and many others. This evening I would like a question to resound in the heart of each one of you, and I would like you to answer it honestly: Have I considered which idol lies hidden in my life that prevents me from worshiping the Lord? Worshiping is stripping ourselves of our idols, even the most hidden ones, and choosing the Lord as the center, as the highway of our lives.”
The Wise Men knew something important: they knew that they did not know everything. Socrates taught: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” This is why the wise men asked for directions. They practiced the virtue of prudence.
In order to carry on the vision of their founder, Magdalene of Canossa, and to light the fire of the missionary love more than a hundred years ago, Canossian Sisters came to the village of Mong-Há in Macau. In addition to building a dedicated community, they responded to the needs of the society at the time by establishing hospitals, homes for the elderly, libraries, and schools, to care for the poor, sick and abandoned babies, and support numerous families. The Sisters established the presence of the Lord in the community and set up a place for people to get to know the Lord of mercy. Later, the Diocese sent Diocesan priests to develop pastoral work in the same place and gradually forming the parish of St Francis Xavier’s Church. Today, the faithful have inherited the fruits and hard work of their predecessors and the blessings of the Lord and continue to spread the good news of the Kingdom in the community.
The Legion of Mary in Macau celebrated their 100th Anniversary. A Mass was held at St Lazarus’ Church presided by Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-Sang, Spiritual Director Fr Edgar Palomo Pasaporte, former Spiritual Director Fr Ip Luk Pui, Fr Ho Lu Vien James, Our Lady of Fatima Church Pastor Fr José Angel Castellanos Hernandez, Igreja de S. Francisco Xavier (Mong Ha) Assistant Parochial Vicar Fr Rafael Gemelli Vigolo, chaplain of St Paul School Fr Lawrence The Reh and Fr Chan Pou Chun Francisco Xavier. Prayers of Legion of Mary at 3 PM preceded the thanksgiving Mass, which began at 3:30 PM. The participants were very enthusiastic and grateful.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau has finished restoring the “Village of Ka Ho,” previously used as a leprosarium. The Bureau held an exhibition of “Land of Hope – Historical Archives Exhibition on Leprosariums in Macao” on 6 November, Saturday, in the Village of Ka Ho.
The Macau Diocese held the Macau Diocesan Youth Day on 27th November Saturday and establish the Diocesan Youth Commission, responsible for organizing the Youth work in the Diocese. O CLARIM interviewed the Supervisor of the Diocesan Youth Commission Mr. Bosco Wong and Vice Supervisor Ms. Tammy Chiu, to share about the future mission and the work of the Diocesan Youth Commission.
Some people think that the Bible suffices to know Christ and his doctrine. This is the belief on sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”). But the Bible itself does not say that it contains everything, that it should be the only rule of faith. In fact, the last chapter of the last verse of Saint John’s Gospel tells us: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25).
The proximate matter is the mutual giving of the spouses to one another through matrimonial consent. What is matrimonial consent?
It was neither society nor the Church that invented marriage. It was God who planned it, from the moment he created our first parents.