No man can of himself even attempt to reach God. It is the grace of God that he has created man as an embodiment of desire for God; desire for God which must become the theological virtue of hope to attain the Divine One.
Category: Faith & Life
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Festa de’ Noantri: A chance to relive the fervor of the Catholic faith and devotion to Mary
Once seen as an opportunity to gain adherence to one’s faith and loved ones, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as celebrated in Trastevere, no longer has the same impact as in bygone days. It would serve our Catholic Faith well if this and other feasts were revived to the splendor of yore.
There is place in Macau for everyone in the world: Sister Maria Lúcia Fonseca
Nine years were time enough to put together a choir and write songs based on Holy Scriptures, and more importantly – to breathe new life into the catechesis of Our Lady of Carmel parish and help reawaken the Lusophone Catholic community of Taipa Island. Almost a decade after she first came to Macau, Sister Maria Lúcia Fonseca returned permanently to Portugal due to ongoing health issues. Before her farewell to Macau, O Clarim spoke with the Franciscan Missionary about the beauty of faith and the challenges she encountered in Macau.
Let Marthas be Marthas and Marys be Marys
Appreciating who we are, as God created us, is crucial to living a life of serenity. Envy is an insidious poison that can corrupt and not let us live our lives as our authentic selves.
Martha and Mary, finally reconciled
The story of Martha and Mary serves as a perfect reflection of how we tend to become trapped in the cares of this world which, while important, should not eliminate the presence of God in our lives. Only the contemplation of God and maintaining a balance of prayer and worldly duties can allow us the experience of the true peace that Christ offers us.
BITE-SIZE THEOLOGY (185): What’s the difference between sanctifying grace and actual grace?
To understand the difference between sanctifying grace and actual grace, let us imagine a seed that we plant on the ground…
“In times of stress, contemplation can be the answer”
The Macau Ricci Institute (MRI) will promote a new online session of its Contemplation and Leadership workshop on July 19th, at a time when the Special Administrative Region continues battling its worst Covid-19 outbreak. The initiative, Fr. Stephan Rothlin claims, can help the participants to cope more creatively with the consequences of the epidemic breakout.
Catholic Diocese of Macau postpones summer program, may opt out of World Youth Day
The Catholic Diocese of Macau postponed its summer program to August due to the current Covid-19 outbreak, but the Diocesan Youth Commission does not exclude the possibility of canceling the initiative. Macau’s participation in next year’s World Youth Day is also shrouded in doubt.
Amidst the Covid crisis, the Church is still at prayer!
Covid-19, much like any other catastrophe, must be seen as an opportunity to grow closer to God. As Catholics, we must fully believe and accept this, continuing and enhancing our prayer life against all odds.
The Loss of the Inheritance of Eternal Life
When religious beliefs and rituals, and other ideologies rob us of our innate humanity, it is time to re-evaluate their purpose and goal. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a splendid example of how we should not judge people based on their origins and that serving our neighbor in need comes before superficial, even pretentious, religious rites.