LENT

Lent is a forty days period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We don't count Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays shows the Resurrection.This years Lent begins on 6th February 2008(Ash wednesday) and will end on 22nd March 2008(Holy saturday), which actually is the day before Easter(23rd March 2008,Resurrection day).Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the early days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.The colours used in all the Roman Catholic Churches,during lenten season is purple,Since as Christians we prepare for our King through reflection and repentance, purple has also become a penitential colour.Lent is seen also as the season of FASTING AND PRAYER. We have HOLY WEEK,which comes at the last week of lent,it comprises of the following..

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday), the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday), the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the betrayal by Judas,also the day catholic priest renew their priestly vow.
Good Friday, the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ.
Holy Saturday, the Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the grave

There is a special prayer said during lent by every Roman Catholic and this prayer is called STATIONS OF THE CROSS,this shows the sufferings of Jesus to his death.it is 14 in Numbers,ususally presented with roman numbers.Below are the prayers followed by the pictures.

I. JESUS IS CONDEMMED TO DEATH

II. JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS.

III. JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME.

IV. JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER MARY ON THE WAY.

V. SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS IN CARRYING THE CROSS.

VI. VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS.

VII. JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME.

VIII. JESUS SPEAKS TO THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM.

IX. JESUS FALLS THE THIRD TIME.

X. JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTH.

XI. JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS.

XII. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS.

XIII. JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS.

XIV. JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB.

THE PICTURES

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Blessed Virgin Mary,is the mother of Jesus Christ and also the mother of the whole world,though some people accuse catholics of worshipping her,but i saying it loud and clear now that we are not worshipping her rather we are honouring her and giving her,her deserved respect,because there is no way you will love a child and hate her mother,to me it does not work.I am challenging you now to ask whatever you want from God through her and you must surely get that provided you have faith.

FIVE MARRIAN DOGMAS

1. Mother of God:Declares mary as the mother of GOD(This dogma was declared by the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431).

2. Perpetual Virginity:This defines Mary as a virgin even after given birth to christ.

3. Immaculate conception: This declares that mary was born without the original sin(Immaculate Conception of Mary was promulgated by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854).

4. Assumption of Mary: This declares that mary body never decayed but was taken into heaven.(it was in the year1950 that it was officially pronounced a dogma by Pope Pius xii).

5. Mother of the Church:This declears Mary as the mother of the church.(The title, Mother of the Church, was proclaimed by Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council in an address ending the third session of the Council on November 21, 1964).

MARRIAN TITLES:

Byzantine icon adopted into Roman Catholicism as Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Among the most prominent Marian titles in the Roman Catholic Calendar are:
Mary, Mother of God
Mary, Most Favoured Daughter of the Father
Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit
Mary, the Immaculate Conception (Patroness of the United States and Principal Patroness of the Philippines)
Mary Help of Christians (Patroness of Australia)
Mary, Queen of Heaven
Mary, Queen of Saints
Mary, Queen of the World
Mary, Seat of Wisdom
Mary Untier of Knots
Mary Undoer of Knots
The Immaculate Heart
Our Lady, Help of Christians
Our Lady of Aparecida (Patroness of Brazil)
Our Lady of Combermere
Our Lady of Doctrine (celebrated in Tarxien, Malta)
Our Lady of Expectation (Our Lady in Expectation)
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Our Lady of Good Health (Vailankanni, India)
Our Lady of Good Success
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of La Salette
Our Lady of Lebanon
Our Lady of Loreto
Our Lady of Lujan (Patron of Argentina, in Lujan city where the impressive basilica is built)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Perpetual Help or Succour (Patroness of the Philippine Islands and Haiti)
Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Our Lady of Salambao, (Patron of Obando, Bulacan)
Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga, (Patron of Cavite City)
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
Our Lady of the Pillar
Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of the Wayside (Patron Saint of California)
Our Lady, Queen of Croats
Our Lady, Queen of Ireland
Our Lady, Queen of Poland
Queen of the Angels--Patron and namesake of Los Angeles, California, whose original Spanish name was El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula
Queen of Genoa
Queen of Peace
The Madonna of Consolation
The Madonna del Ghisallo
The Virgin of the Charity of Cobre (Patron Saint of Cuba)
Star of the Sea (Stella Maris)
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron and Queen of Poland
White Lily of The Trinity and Vermilon Rose of Heaven
The Rose
Ark of the Covenant
Nuestra Señora Del Buen Suceso ( Patroness of Parañaque )
Mother of All Sorrows
Among the most prominent Marian titles in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic liturgical calendars are:
Panagia Myrtidiotissa
Panagia Evangelistria (Our Lady of the good Tidings)
Aeiparthenos Maria (forever virgin Mary)
Hyperagia Theotokos (most Holy Mother of God)
Axion Esti (it is worthy to bless Thee, the Virgin)
Panagia Despoina (Our Lady and Queen)
Rodon to Amaranton (the Unfading Rose)

MARRIAN FEAST DAYS
Among the most prominent Marian feast days in the ordinary Roman Catholic Calendar are
January 1 Mary, Mother of God
January 8 Our Lady of Prompt Succor
February 2 Purification of the Virgin
February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25 Annunciation by Archangel Gabriel (it may be either moved to the day before Palm Sunday should this date be on Holy Week; or to the Monday after the second Sunday of Easter if this date falls on either Friday or Saturday of Holy Week or during Easter Week
April 26 Our Lady of Good Counsel
May 1 Queen of Heaven
May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
May 24 Mary Help of Christians
May 31 Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces
May 31 Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 27 Our Lady of Perpetual Help
August 15 Assumption into Heaven
August 21 Our Lady of Knock
August 22 The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8 Nativity (birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7 Feast of the Most Holy Rosary
November 21 Presentation of Mary
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
In the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Visitation is observed on July 2. Its modern date, May 31 is instead the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is commemorated on August 22 (which in the modern calendar is the Queenship). Friday in Passion Week (the week prior to Holy Week) is observed as the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 15, and the Motherhood of the BVM is October 11. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, does not exist in the extraordinary calendar.
the most prominent Marian feast days
March 25 Annunciation
August 15 Assumption
September 8 Nativity

MARIAN SHRINES:

Loreto, Italy
Our Lady of Fatima in Fatima, Portugal
Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa, Lebanon
Our Lady of La Salette in La Salette, France
The Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico
The Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland in Knock, Ireland
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
Black Madonna of Częstochowa in Częstochowa, Poland
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, France
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Orani, Bataan Philippines
The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Manila, Philippines
The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Caysasay, Taal, Batangas, Philippines
Shrine of Nuestra Señora Del Buen Suceso, La Huerta, Philippines
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in India.

ANGELUS IN LATIN AND ENGLISH:

V/. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ,R/. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen.
V/. "Ecce Ancilla Domini."R/. "Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum."
Ave Maria, gratia plena...
V/. Et Verbum caro factum est.R/. Et habitavit in nobis.
Ave Maria, gratia plena...
V/. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix.R/. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus: Gratiam tuam quæsumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui Incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem eius et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur.Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen

HAIL MARY:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

HAIL HOLY QUEEN:

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;to thee do we send up our sighs,mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,thine eyes of mercy toward us;and after this our exile,show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V./ Pray for us O holy Mother of God,R./ that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, who by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin-Mother Mary to become a dwelling-place meet for thy Son: grant that as we rejoice in her commemoration; so by her fervent intercession we may be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

THE MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY.

A.THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES:(Mondays and Saturdays & Sundays during Christmass season)

1.The Annunciation

2.The Visitation

3.The Nativity(Birth of Jesus)

4.The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

5.The Finding Of the Child Jesus in the Temple

B.THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES:(Thursdays)

1.Baptism of Jesus Christ at River Jordan

2.Changing of water into wine at the wedding of Cana

3.Proclamation of the Kingdom by Jesus

4.Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on Mt Tabor

5.Establishment of the Holy Eucharist

C.THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES:(Tuesdays and Fridays & Sundays during Lent)

1.The Agony in the garden

2The scourging at the pillar

3.The crowning with thorns

4The carrying of the cross

5.The crucifixion and death of our Lord Christ.

D.THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES:(Wednesdays and Sundays & Sundays during Easter)

1.The Resurrection

2.The Ascension of Christ into Heaven

3.The Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles

4.The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven

5The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

THE HOLY ROSARY:(and how to pray it)

POPE BENEDICT XVI

Joseph Alois Ratzinger,was born on the 16th of april 1925(holy saturday),at schulstrabe Marktl inn,Baveria Germany and was baptised the same day.The name of his father is Joseph Ratzinger,a police officer and his mother Maria(nee peintner).He is the youngest in the family of 3 and his elder brother George is also a priest and still alive and his only sister though late but she remained unmarried and worked under cardinal Joseph household till her death.

He became Pope John Paul II successor on the 18th of april 2005,after 2 days of papal conclave,at the age of 78 thereby making him the oldest to be elected Pope since Pope clement XII and he chossed to be addressed as POPE BENEDICT XVI.He is the ninth German pope and the 1st German pope in 1000yrs.He is the 265th pope in the roman catholic church.Before his appointment as a Pope he was the dean of college of cardinals.He began the beatification process of his

predecessor Pope John Paul II,on the 9th of may 2005.He also preaches about peace and oneness among the whole nations.


TITLES:


The official title of the Pope is His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI; in Latin, Benedictus XVI, Episcopus Romae. However, his rarely-used full title is "His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God."

BLESSED FR CYPRIAN MICHAEL IWENE TANSI

Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi was born in Aguleri, Anambra State, Nigeria in September 1903 in family of Mr Tabansi and Mrs Ejikwevi Tansi.He died in Leicester England, January 24th 1964.At the age of 22, after several years of working as catechist and school teacher, he entered the seminary and was ordained a roman catholic priest for the Onitsha diocese in 1937, when he was 34yrs old. As parish priest he worked zealously in Eastern Nigeria for 13 years, selflessly serving the religious and material needs of his people. He worked in the parishes of Nnewi, Dunukofia, Akpu/Ajalli and Aguleri.
He was later a Cistercian Monk at Mount saint Bernard Monastery in England. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 22, 1998, who said "Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi is a prime example of the fruits of holiness which have grown and matured in the Church in Nigeria since the Gospel was first preached in this land. He received the gift of faith through the efforts of the missionaries, and taking the Christian way of life as his own he made it truly African and Nigerian." He is the only Nigerian to be beatified and we pray that soon by the grace of GOD he will be a saint.

A PRAYER FOR PRIVATE DEVOTION
O God, who granted many graces to your servant, Priest and Monk, Cyprian Michael Tansi, choosing him as your faithful instrument for evangelisation and sanctification of your people, grant also that I may spend my life, loving you and neighbour and serving the Church. Deign to glorify your servant Cyprian Michael and through his intercession to grant me the favour I ask of you .. (here add your personal intentions). Amen.
Our Father…. Hail Mary… Glory be to the Father…

His Eminence,Cardinal Francis Arinze

1 Nov 1932:Born in Eziowelle Anambra state(was baptised by Rev Fr michael Tansi now Bl Tansi

23 Nov 1958:Ordained a catholic priest of Onitsha archdiocese.

6 Jul 1965: Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha.

6 Jul 1965:Appointed Titular Archbishop of Fissiana.

29 Aug 1965:Ordained Bishop(the youngest Bishop in the world at the age of 32).

26 Jun 1967:Appointed Archbishop of Onitsha.

8 Apr 1984:Appointed Pro-Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

9 Mar 1985:Resigned as an Archbishop of Onitsha.

25 May 1985:Appointed Cardinal-Deacon of S. Giovanni della Pigna.(1st Nigerian Cardinal)

27 May 1985:Appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

29 Jan 1996:Appointed Cardinal-Priest of S. Giovanni della Pigna.

1 Oct 2002:Appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament.

2 Apr 2005:Ceased to be Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

21 Apr 2005:Confirmed Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

25 Apr 2005:Appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Velletri-Segni.

HIS QUOTES:

"In many parts of the world, the family is under siege. It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

On an attack on "intellectual liberals": "If a child refuses to accept its father or mother, that child is not a liberal, that child is a brat. And how much more important is God to us than a parent to a child?"

Brief history of late Pope John paul 2nd

Josef Wojtyla Karol was born on the 18th of may 1920,in wadowice in southern Poland,in the family of Karol Wojtyla and Emilia.He is the youngest in the family of 3.He is a playwrite & poet, an actor and a footballer.

On the 4th day of july 1958 he was made the auxilliary bishop of Ombi and he became an archbishop in 28th of september 1958 thereby becoming the youngest pope in poland.He was promoted to cardinal on the 26th day of june 1967.

He began his papacy on the 16th of october 1978 when he was only 58 yrs thereby becoming the youngest pope,after which he chooses to be addressed as POPE JOHN PAUL II.For 455yrs of church existence,he is the only non Italian pope since Dutch Adrian iv and the 264th pope in the Roman Catholic Church,also the longest served pope(26yrs & 5 mths) and the most travelled pope,covering about 127 countries.he always preach about love,togetherness etc and tried to stop many things like abortion,homosexuality,lesbianism etc.He introduced the "MYSTERY OF LIGHT".on the 13th day of may 1981,he was shot by Ali Agca Mehmet a Turkish gun man at st Peters square.

He died at the age of 84, on saturday april 2nd 2005, at about 8:30pm(20:30),at the Vatican City.He died of septic shock and cardiocirculatory collapse.before his death people gathered at st peters square praying and holding vigils,on hearing this the dying pope said , "I have searched for you, and now you have come to me, and I thank you." and also before he gave up the ghost he said his last word which is "Let me go to the house of the Father", to his aides in his native language(polish) and fell into a coma about four hours later, He died in his private apartment, 46 days short of his 85th birthday.
His title was: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, head of the College of Bishops, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West (this title was recently removed from the papal list of titles by the reigning pope, Benedict XVI), Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God, Pope John Paul II.

NWAFADA SERVING MASS

MASS CELEBRATION AT EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS PARISH,IN KRAKOWSKA STREET RZESZOW POLAND.I GERALD HAPPENS TO BE THE BLACK MAN SERVING MASS.

I LOVE THIS MAN

No one falls in love by choice, it is by CHANCE.No one stays in love by chance, it is by WORK. And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by CHOICE .He did something for you, now do something for him.Spread his word, and you'll be rewarded.How will you be rewarded?Matthew 10:32.
"Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven

PSALM 23

The lord is my shepherd

i shall not want

he makes me to lie down in green pastures

he leads me beside the still waters

he restores my soul

he leads me in the path of righteousness

for his name sake

even thou i walk through the valley of shadow of death

i will fear no evil

for thou art with me

thou rod and thy staff,thou comfort me

thou prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

though annoint my head with oil

my cup run over

surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

and i will dwell in the house of the lord

forevere and ever.amen

BELIEVE IN HIM

Face it, the Lord and I think you are special. I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!! What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives; but WHO we have in our lives