Pelangi Village trip.

Hi all,

We shall be going to Pelangi Village on 2nd November (Sunday) to volunteer and bring some joy to the residents there. We shall head for the home after our usual Sunday session, leaving IHM about 1230pm at 1215pm after an early lunch at 1115. The whole thing will probably end by 6pm.

Do try and join us as it is excellent chance for us to show our Christian love for those that are not as fortunate as us. It will be a wonderful and enriching experience I can assure you.

See you all!

Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"...

- St John Chrysostom

Be Not Afraid.

It is the midweek Wednesday, how fares your week so far?

It is also the exam period for those taking their O levels. All the best to Emmanuel and Marcus, our prayers are with you. Also to Glenn who is earning his right to be a citizen of this country. To our sponors who will be having their exams soon.

Are you worried or troubled about your work, examinations or problems that appear out of nowhere in your life? Jesus reassures us that we will not be alone and there is no need for fear...

The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

- John 14: 26-27


// dan

Abraham/Sacrifice

The video below is a very nice video about sacrifice, specifically Abraham's (intended) sacrifice of his son.

[+/-]Click here if you don'd know the Abraham story.


dan

The Choice

by Max Lucado

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness . . .

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control . . .

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

- val

The Holy Alphabet

read this today and i LIKE it! sharing :)

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a blessing
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
eXalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory....where none are ever sad!

- love from the pseudo english teacher

Do small things with great love

Hello everyone,

I found this post on the nus catholic students society blog and found it worth sharing. Remember the session on divine justice and judgement done by Jerome and Jacob? Here's something to think about. "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did unto me"

Thank You Jesus

I remember some few Sundays back, there was a visiting priest that gave a homily about this girl, who was blind. She was carrying some items that was to be sold, when two men rushed passed her. Both of them were rushing to catch their flight, which was already asking for them to report at the gate. And while they were rushing, man 1 knocked her down and her items spilled over the floor. He simply passed her by and did not give her a second look. Man 2 saw what was happening, and while he wanted to just pass her by, he could not. He called out after the first man, and said "I'll catch you there after the next flight". He stooped down, helped the blind girl up, and picked up the items she had dropped. When she was ready, he turned to leave. But as he was walking away, she called out to him "Mister, mister, are you Jesus?". When he was too stunned to respond, she called out to him again, asking, "Mister, mister, are you Jesus?"

I suddenly remembered this while I was on the train back from Toa Payoh to Yew Tee where I live. I got into the train with this old lady, but because the seats were full, she stood at the sides where the glass panel was. Whereas I was standing with my brother in front of the seats, holding the handles and in anticipation for someone to leave their seats. Stops after stops, I couldn't help but notice that the old lady kept turning around to spot for a seat. Finally, just before Ang Mo Kio, someone stood up in front of me. I hurriedly turned to see whether the old lady was alighting since I was thinking of 'chope-ing' the seat for her. If she wasn't, I would ask her to the seat. But I couldn't tell. She was standing amidst the crowd getting off at AMK. So I just sat first, afraid that some other unfriendly person would sit and not give up their seat for her. When she turned around to, again, look for available seats, I caught her eye and immediately stood up. I told her that the seat was for her, and she refused to take it, until somehow or another, she decided to sit down. As she made herself comfortable on the seat, she said, "Thank you Jesus". I thought I heard wrongly and returned to reply "you're welcome" when I heard her say, again, "Thank you Jesus". She was a Christian too, as I later found out. And she just kept thanking Jesus while talking to me. Till now, I have no idea whether she was speaking to me or to Jesus. But that struck me quite hard and hence, reminded me of the homily.

Just a simple act of offering the seat to another. It was one of those simple things that Clarissa was talking about in her sharing. So imagine how many people we can be 'Jesus' to, if we, like what Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "do small things with great love".

Have a blessed week my friends.

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Emergency Phone Numbers

When in sorrow, call John 14.
When men fail you, call Psalm 27.
If you want to be fruitful, call John 15.
When you have sinned, call Psalm 51.
When you worry, call Matthew 6:19-34.
When you are in danger, call Psalm 91.
When God seems far away, call Psalm 139.
When your faith needs stirring, call Hebrews 11.
When you are lonely and fearful, call Psalm 23.
When you grow bitter and critical, call 1 Cor. 13.
For Paul's secret to happiness, call Col.3:12-17.
For idea of Christianity, call 11 Cor. 5:15-19.
When you feel down and out, call Romans 8:31.
When you want peace and rest, call Matt.11:25-30.
When the world seems bigger than God, call Psalm 90.
When you leave home for labor or travel, call Psalm 121.
Your prayers growth narrow and selfish, call Psalm 67.
For a great invention/opportunity, call Isaiah 55.
When you want courage for a task, call Joshua 1.
How to get along with fellow men, call Romans 12.
When you think of investments/returns, call Mark 10.
If you are depressed, call Psalm 27.
If your pocketbook is empty, call Psalm 37.
If you're losing confidence in people, call 1 Cor. 13.
If people seem unkind, call John 15.
If discouraged about your work, call Psalm 126.
If you find the world growing small and yourself great, call Psalm 19.

NOTE: EMERGENCY NUMBERS may be DAILED DIRECT. No operator assistance is necessary. ALL LINES ARE OPEN TO HEAVEN 24 HOURS A DAY!

Promises

Somewhere along the line we all become jaded of broken promises. A parent who promises to buy us a new mobile phone, take us on a holiday, show up at a performance we're involved in, or simply just be home for dinner. A friend that stands us up after we've bought the movie tickets, left the house, or worse, are already waiting at the meeting place. Early on in life, we learn to shield ourselves from the pain of such rejection by not putting too much hope in these promises, lest we all be let down.

I guess the presence of people who let us down, despite their best intentions, is what makes God's promises so precious. What He has promised, He will deliver. It's almost like Fedex.. guaranteed delivery... or a eternal warranty! Signed (by His life among us on earth), sealed (by His passion and death) and delivered (us! the unworthy! from the grave)! Parents may grow old and forget, friends might have changes of heart. But God doesn't grow old, and God is constant, unchanging and unwavering in His love for us. He doesn't promise us a good, cushy life, nor the perfect family, nor Prince Charming or Princess Aurora/Fiona (depending on your preferences...) who will sweep you off your feet... But He does promise us His undying love and a place in the eternal kingdom, if we trust in Him.

And we know that God will come through on His promises, to give us a future and a hope, even when we feel like there isn't any left, because He *is* the everlasting God, and He will stand firm even when the foundations of this earth and this life crumble and fade away.

Isn't that the greatest news ever? :)

- val

The Holy Mass

Here are some words from an amazing saint - Padre Pio - on the proper way of attending Holy Mass:

In order to avoid irreverence and imperfections in the house of God, in church -- which the Divine Master calls the "house of prayer" -- I exhort you in the Lord to practice the following:

Enter the church in silence and with great respect, considering yourself unworthy to appear before the Lord's Majesty. Among other pious considerations, remember that our soul is the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and his angels.

Let us blush for having given access to the devil and his snares many times (with his enticements to the world, his pomp, his calling to the flesh) by not being able to keep our hearts pure and our bodies chaste; for having allowed our enemies to insinuate themselves into our hearts, thus desecrating the temple of God which we became through holy Baptism.

Then take Holy Water and make the Sign of the Cross carefully and slowly. As soon as you are before God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect. Once you have found your place, kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him along with those of others. Speak to Him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart, and give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.

When assisting at Holy Mass and the sacred functions, be very composed when standing up, kneeling down, and sitting, and carry out every religious act with the greatest devotion. Be modest in your glances; don't turn your head here and there to see who enters and leaves. Don't laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and also out of respect for those who are near you. Try not to speak to anybody, except when charity or strict necessity requests this.

If you pray with others, say the words of the prayer distinctly, observe the pauses well, and never hurry.

In short, behave in such a way that all present are edified by it and, through you, are urged to glorify and love the heavenly Father.

On leaving the church, you should be recollected and calm. Firstly take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; ask his forgiveness for the shortcomings committed in his Divine presence and do not leave him without asking for and having received his paternal blessing.

Once you are outside the church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be. Above all, be extremely modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals the affections of the heart. Nothing represents an object more faithfully or clearly than a mirror. In the same way, nothing more widely represents the good or bad qualities of a soul than the greater or lesser regulation of the exterior, as when one appears more or less modest. You must be modest in speech, modest in laughter, modest in your bearing, modest in walking. All this must be practiced, not out of vanity in order to display one's self, nor out of hypocrisy in order to appear to be good to the eyes of others, but rather, for the internal virtue of modesty, which regulates the external workings of the body.

Therefore, be humble of heart, circumspect in words, prudent in your resolutions. Always be sparing in your speech, assiduous in good reading, attentive in your work, modest in your conversation. Don't be disgusting to anybody but be benevolent towards all and respectful towards your elders. May any sinister glance be far from you, may no daring word escape your lips, may you never carry out any immodest or somewhat free action; never a rather free action or a petulant tone of voice. In short let your whole exterior be a vivid image of the composure of your soul.

Always keep the modesty of the Divine Master before your eyes, as an example; this Master who, according to the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians, placing the modesty of Jesus Christ on an equal footing with meekness, which was his one particular virtue and almost his characteristic: "Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ" [Douay-Rheims, 2 Corinthians 10:1], and according to such a perfect model reform all your external operations, which should be faithful reflections revealing the affections of your interior.

Never forget this Divine model. Try to see a certain lovable majesty in His Presence, a certain pleasant authority in his manner of speaking, a certain pleasant dignity in walking, in contemplating, speaking, conversing; a certain sweet serenity of face."

Source: http://totustuusfamily.blogspot.com/2008/09/spectular-saint-on-behavior-at-mass.html

~crystal

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