RELIGION AND ART

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh, St. John Bosco and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water... Heb, 10:19-25

Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins, but this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God..... Heb 10:11-18 Readings

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach. Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers cleansed once for all would not longer have any consciousness of sin?.... Heb. 10:1-10

Saint Thomas For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the  first covenant.... Heb 9, 15, 24-28

God our Father, you gave your saints Timothy and Titus  the courage and wisdom of apostles:  may their prayers help us live holy lives Saints Timothy and Titus  and lead us to heaven, our true home.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ,  your Son, who lives and reigns with  you and the Holy Spirit, one God,  for ever and ever. Prayer of the Church Readings

SAINT PAUL I have appeared for the purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness of what you have seen of me and what you will be shown.  I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God so that  they may obtain forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been consecrated  by faith in me. Acts 26:16b-18 Readings

St. Francis Now many have become Levitical priests,  since they are  prevented by death from remaining in office.  But because His priesthood permanently;  Therefore He is always able to save those who  come to God through Him,  since He always intercede for them.  Heb. 7:23-25 Readings 

For this Melchizedek: King of Salem, priest of the Most High God who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; first, his name mean "king of righteousness", then also "king of Salem", meaning "king of peace", without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God. Heb. 7:1-3

For God is not unjust: He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints; and you continue to serve them. Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, so that you won't become lazy, but imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. Heb, 6:10-20

Almighty, eternal God, you choose what the world considers weak to put the worldly power to shame. May we who celebrate the birth of Saint Agnes  into eternal joy be loyal to the faith she professed. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Prayer of the Church Readings Images of St. Agnes Story of St. Agnes

I will not keep silent because of Zion, and I will not keep still because of Jerusalem until her righteousness shines like a bright light,  and her salvation like flaming torch. Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the LORD's mouth will announce. You will be a glorious crown in the LORD's hand and a royal diadem of your God. You will no longer be called Deserted;  instead, you will be called My Delight..... Is 62:1-5 Readings

"Look, the days are coming" says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt....... Heb: 8:6-13

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. Readings Today's Saint

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common,  He also shared in these, so that through His death  He might destroy the one holding the power of death, that is the devil, and free those who were held in  slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it is clear that He does not reach out to help angels,  but to help Abraham's offspring. Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every  way, so that He could become a merciful  high priest in service to God, to make propitiation  for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tested and has suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. Heb. 2:14-18 Readings

 What is man, that You remember him, or the son of man, that You care for him? You made him lower than the angels for a short time; You crowned him with glory and honor and subjected everything under his feet..... Heb. 2:5-12 Textes de la messe

ORDINARY TIME YEAR C Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature, and He sustains all things by His Powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..... Heb.1:1-6 Readings

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me: he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release the prisoners, to announce  year of favor from the Lord. Isa. 61:1-2a Readings Images of Baptism Jesus is Baptized 

A man can lay claim to only what is given him from heaven. Readings God our Father, through your Son you made us a new creation. He shared our nature and became one of us; with his help, may we become more like him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.  Prayer of the Church

Jesus Christ: He is the One who came by water and blood; not by water only, but by water and blood, And the Spirit is the One who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify, the Spirit, he water, and the blood, and these three are in agreement.  If we accept the testimony of men,  God's testimony is greater, because it is God's testimony that He has given about His Son. Jn 5:6-10 Readings

Say to daughter of Zion, your saviour comes! Here is his reward with him,  his recompense before him. the redeemed of the Lord.  Isa. 62: 11-12a Readings

In a time of favor I answered you, on the day of salvation I help you,  to restore the land and allot the desolate heritage, saying to the prisoners:  Come out! to those in darkness: Show yourselves!  Is. 49:8b-9 Readings: God is Love

Dear friends, let us love one another,  because love comes from God.   Whoever loves is a child of God   and knows God. 1 Jn 4:7 Readings

Lord, let the light of your glory shine within us, and lead us through the darkness of this world to the radiant of joy of our eternal home. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.   Prayer of the Church: Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." He went around all of Galilee,  teaching in their synagogues,  proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,  and curing every disease  and illness among the people.  His fame spread to all of Syria,  and they brought to him  all who were sick with various diseases  and racked  with pain,  those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.  And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him Matt. 4:23-25.   Readings

EPIPHANY Lord Jesus help me to persevere in my search for you. Give me the courage to move on, and the Holy Spirit to strengthen and direct me. Readings Wisdom is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God the image of goodness.  And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; and passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. Wis. 7:26-27

Beloved: This is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the Evil One and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not wonder, brethren, that the world hates you.  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love remains in death...... 1 John 3:11-21 Readings

Little children; let no one deceive you.  He who does right is righteous.  He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil have sinned from the beginning.  The reason Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. Anyone born of God does not commit sin; for God does not commit sin; for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.... Ltr of Saint John 3:7-10 Readings Prayer of the Church: Liberator of mankind, through the Virgin Mary, you came to renew us, through her intercession keep us from our old ways. Son of God, you have shown us the Father's love, help us too show him to one another by our love

Beloved: if you know that God is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him. See what love the  Father has given us, that we should be called children of  God; and so we are...... John 2:29-3:6 Readings Prayer of the Church: Jesus, Son of the living God, King of glory, and Son of the Virgin Mary, brighten this day with the glory of your incarnation.

Nkem the Victorious One It is a story about child abuse, child kidnapping, etc The authors donated it to the Publisher so that the money realized from sales will be used to fund one of the projects for the Pauline Sisters Congregation in Lagos, Nigeria. For information if you could get a hard or soft copy contact Pauline Publication e -mail: publicationsabuja@gmail.com Website: www.paulineswestafrica.org Tel: +234 8074 704 730

Saints Basil and Gregory Beloved: Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also...... John 2:22-28 Prayer of the Church: Lord, keep us true in faith, proclaiming that Christ your Son who is one with you in eternal glory, became man and was born of a virgin mother. Free us form all evil and lead us to that joy of eternal life.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever Readings

The ruler in Israel will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of this brethren shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord in the majestic name of the Lord, his God.  He shall be peace.  Mic. 5:2,3a-4a Prayer of the Church: Christ born of the Virgin Mary, you are Wonder-Counsellor and Prince of Peace, give your peace to the world. Readings Hail Thou Star of Ocean Happy New Year, may God answer all your prayers, grant you favor and His blessings all the days of your life.