Search Page
Showing 81 - 100 of 181
God the Son was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. No more dramatic and marvellous event had ever occurred upon earth than the appearance of the infant Who was fully God and fully human. And He had come to earth so that we can go to Heaven.
An event so marvellous as the birth, in our world, of the Incarnate Son of God could not pass unnoticed. The Angels who witnessed this event could not have failed to burst into song, praising the Father for His infinite love for mankind, and praising Christ for His love and humility.
Christ the Son of Mary is God's own Son, Son before all ages, then born in time, made flesh for our sakes.
In descending to earth as man, the Son of God came to share His Divine power, life, wisdom and joy. He showers with extraordinary gifts all who follow His instructions and, for love of Him, follow His Way.
We can say that Jesus the God-man came to earth to found the Church. In and through the Church we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; we receive the Divine life and power Christ brought to earth at His Incarnation, and the Divine Food (the Holy Eucharist).
For the sinless Christ to come into a sinful world, was like leaping into a cesspit; yet it was for love of us all that Christ endured the presence of evil, and the stench of sin, and the grievous sight of hard human hearts - so that He could bring Divine Love to earth.
For the sinless Christ to come into a sinful world, was like leaping into a cesspit; yet it was for love of us all that Christ endured the presence of evil, and the stench of sin, and the grievous sight of hard human hearts - so that He could bring Divine Love to earth.
The Angel said to Mary: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus." And Mary said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord."
The Angel said to Mary: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus." And Mary said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord."
Men in storybooks have undertaken long journeys to prove their love for a princess. Christ has undertaken the longest journey of all, to prove His love for Mankind. He descended from the heights of glory in Heaven, not just to Earth, but to the bottom of the dungeon in which He huddled, bleeding and deserted, during His Passion.
Christ was paraded by His captors before jeering crowds; yet He accepted without hatred or impatience the humiliating treatment he received because of His words. He let nothing stop Him from His mission to show out His Divine nature and to rescue us from our sins. We cannot repay Him for all He suffered to bring truth and salvation to the world; but we give joy to Him when, in gratitude, we show love towards Him and our neighbour.
Christ was paraded by His captors before jeering crowds; yet He accepted without hatred or impatience the humiliating treatment he received because of His words. He let nothing stop Him from His mission to show out His Divine nature and to rescue us from our sins. We cannot repay Him for all He suffered to bring truth and salvation to the world; but we give joy to Him when, in gratitude, we show love towards Him and our neighbour.
From the 'whirlwind' of love which is the life of the Three Divine Persons in the Godhead, Christ descended to earth at His Incarnation, in the womb of the Virgin Mary; and it was always part of the Father's plan of salvation that Christ would continue to be found amongst us, by His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist.
The Christian Way is like a ladder into Heaven. The only way into Heaven is the Way made by Christ, Who Himself came down from Heaven, and knows the Way and is The Way; unlike the leaders of other religions - despite their good intentions and what is good amongst some of the practices they recommend.
It was as a 'cloud' over the earth had been rent apart, when Jesus toured Galilee, speaking the truth about the purpose of life, the glory of the Father, the need for repentance, and for Baptism. He showed out God's nature and God's Will. He revealed the extent of Divine Love by accepting death on a Cross, rather than give up His Mission. He proved His Divinity by His miracles, above all by His Resurrection.
Just as the Ark, in the story about Noah, provided a safe, warm place of safety not just for animals but for a human family, the Holy Virgin Mary was like an 'ark' for Jesus; she was a sinless, warm place of shelter for the Son of God, holding Him in her womb joyfully, and in her love.
As the Son of God looked down from Heaven towards the filth and darkness which He would enter, far below, when He came into our sinful world, He saw the Blessed Virgin Mary, who had been prepared, at her consent, as a safe place for Him who is all purity and goodness. She was like an 'ark', to hold and protect Him for a while.
The Blessed Virgin Mary accepted God's Will, which was that she carry a child in her womb. She bore the gaze of amazed villagers, for love of God, unlike married people who refuse to do God's Will, as they deliberately make their married union sterile, by contraceptive use, and refuse the gift of life.
Catholics, more than other people, have so many opportunities for prayer, yet many cannot be bothered to praise Christ for Creation, or for His Incarnation, or for His Church, or when receiving Him in Holy Communion, or when near the tabernacle, or during each day as He sustains our lives, or at death when we shall meet Him and find out what we have done with our lives and whether we are ready for Heaven.
Although some people expected the Saviour to appear on earth as a triumphant warrior, He came to earth to a quite place: into the womb of a chaste, gentle virgin who consented to be His Mother. He was with her, in ordinary life, for over thirty years. He longs to see us develop the virtues which His Mother had from her Conception.
Showing 81 - 100 of 181