This sacrament is unique in that the minister is not a deacon, or a priest, or a bishop, or even the Pope! The priest or deacon who officiates is only a witness. In Matrimony, man and woman are both the subjects (the ones who receive) and the ministers (the ones who carry out or execute) of the sacrament.
“The sacrament of Matrimony establishes a perpetual and exclusive bond between the spouses. God himself seals the consent of the spouses. Therefore, a marriage which is ratified and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved” (CCCC 346).
Starting from February until December, the Diocesan Center, on Rua Formosa, will host a prayer meeting once a month, aimed at mothers that are willing to pray for their family and for their relatives’ intentions. The initiative, which was first organized in 2021 with great success, is being once again promoted by the Macau Catholic Family Advisory Council.
The Diocese of Macau will welcome the Year of the Tiger with the celebration of a Mass, presided over by Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang, followed by a performance of a Lion Dance troupe. The celebration, Father Daniel Ribeiro pointed out, is a good example of how harmoniously the Catholic Church coexists with Chinese culture and Chinese traditions.
Representatives of the Macau Taoist Association, the Bahai Community, Buddhist Association of Macau, the Sheng Kung Hui Macau, the Macao Catholic Culture Association held a gathering at the Centro De Cultura e Artes Performativas Cardeal Newman De Macau on 22nd January to discuss and follow up the work of the Concert Organized by the Five Religions and discussed future cooperation.
The anniversary of St. Paul’s School was on 25 January, but due to the pandemic, the school celebrated its 51st anniversary thanksgiving Mass earlier, on January 21. The Mass was officiated by the Principal Fr. Chen Xin Wang, accompanied by Fr. Lawrence The Reh and Fr. Fan Ya Cheng.
The American magazine Inside the Vatican has included Italian conductor, composer and writer Aurelio Porfiri in its list of ten most influential people in the world in 2021, alongside scientists, human rights activists and religious and political leaders. A contributor to O CLARIM, Mr. Porfiri lived and worked in Macau between 2008 and 2015.
THERE’S NONE LIKE HIM. Jesus is truly one of a kind. He is the only man, the only founder of a religion, who could claim that people had been talking about his coming centuries before he was born.
Of the mystical signs evident in the life of St Thomas Aquinas, Friar Kennedy records that on one occasion, at Naples in 1273, after he had completed his treatise on the Eucharist, three of the brethren saw him lifted in ecstasy, and they heard a voice proceeding from the crucifix on the altar, saying “Thou hast written well of me, Thomas; what reward wilt thou have?” Thomas replied, “None other than Thyself, Lord.”
What a dark turn of events! In the sequel of last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus’ countrymen were “speaking highly” of Jesus and “amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” However, after a better understanding of His message, they arrived at the point of “being filled with fury” and “drove Him to the brow of the hill to hurl him down headlong” (Luke 4:21-30). What caused such a drastic change of attitude?