- The characters of the sacramental

to be posted

St.Kevin

St. Kevin
Feastday: June 3

Known in Ireland as Coemgen as well as Kevin, according to tradition he was born at the Fort of the White Fountain in Leinster, Ireland, of royal descent. He was baptized by St. Cronan and educated by St. Petroc. He was ordained, and became a hermit at the Valley of the Two Lakes in Glendalough. After seven years there, he was persuaded to give up his solitary life. He went to Disert-Coemgen, where he founded a monastery for the disciples he attracted, and later moved to Glendalough. He made a pilgrimage to Rome, bringing back many relics for his permanent foundation at Glendalough. He was a friend of St. Kieran of Clonmacnois, and was entrusted with the raising of the son of King Colman of Ui Faelain, by the king. Many extravagant miracles were attributed to Kevin, and he was reputed to be 120 years old at his death. His feast day is June 3rd.

Tribute to a friend

CATHOLIC

CATHOLIC – YES, CONFIDENT, Mmmm

Being a lay person, and never had been in a theology college, I might say that I am proud to be a Catholic and to proclaim my Christianity.

The question is…. Are you confident of your faith or shy away when confronted by our Christian brethren?

I would like my brothers and sisters to love and cherish their faith at least have a little knowledge of what they believe in especially in these days of etheistism and controversy.

People have lost faith and prefer the gospel of “ Prosperity” written by the father of lies.

My hope is that people, who have been swayed, may at least persist and read through these humble passages, (which will be appearing periodically) and see if they can walk back to the right roots and have the hope of the just. Before we continue, let us see what has caused this lethargy or the absence of faith in our hearts.

- Our religious leaders are a bit lax or they are also caught up in this world,

look around and gage but do not judge.

- Civil leaders who are domineering and think that they are small gods on

earth, they turn people away from God with anger because of what they

do and represent.

- Family values undermined.

- Justification of the wrong morals.

All over the world, now you hear of pagan rituals increment, yet these are the same people who claim to be Christians or followers of other dominant religions. Can you imagine a professed believer to sacrifice a human being at this time and age?

Questions to ask ourselves:-

1. Who is a Christian?

A Christian is a person who follows Jesus Christ and what he teaches; and profess that Christ is the Son of God, one with the Trinity. God from God, true God, from true God, of one being with the Father.

2. What is Christianity?

Christianity is the professing and doing what we profess, through Jesus Christ. These we have in common as Christians, sharing the faith in Jesus Christ, though imperfectly.

As Christians we may have differences like domestic disputes, and any sane person can tell you that these differences may be dangerous as well, like sibling rivalry.

3. Catholic ?

Catholic means universal, it means no one is excluded, no limit, everyone can be a catholic – Christian. Sometimes you hear of Christian brothers / sisters saying that Catholics are not Christians. Shouldn’t we ponder and ask ourselves how they came to be Christians without the Catholic Church? Since the bible was in their possession of Rome until Martin Luther decided to abscond from the true faith? If we ask ourselves, who should be entitled to be called Christian than the one who has tried to keep all and follow what Jesus left to the apostles? For two thousand years, the catholic religion has had numerous attacks but has persisted, why because the Holy Spirit is present in the Church as he promised.

Yes, there have been many wrongs done by the church leaders, as we all know ‘the church is divine and human’ people who head it are prone to err but God is always present to help.

The Catholic Church is universal, insofar as Christ is present in her. “Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic church” (St. Ignatius of Antioch). The church proclaims the fullness and totality of faith; she bears and admonishes the fullness of the means of salvation; she is sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of human race.

Christian Faith;

The central mystery of Christian faith is the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt:28:19)

- Symbols of faith are composite formulas also called “profession of faith” or Creeds.

The apostles creed and Nicene – Constantinopolitan creed which stems from the first two ecumenical councils, that of Nicea (325A.D), and Constantinople (381A.D) and which even to this day are common to all the Great Churches of the East and the West.

The Pascal Mystery in the Sacraments of the Church.

- The sacraments of the church:-

This are sacraments, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the church, are efficacious signs of grace perceptible to the senses, through them divine life is bestowed upon us.

They are seven sacraments; Baptism, confirmation, Holy Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, Holy orders and matrimony.

- The characters of the sacramental;-

************ to be continued **********