Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Four Rights
The last day of the Nativity Season - the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - helps us to focus on our own Baptism and its value, meaning and the newness of life it brings.
In particular I think about the four basic rights flowing out of the Holy Baptism. These rights we tend to neglect or forget. And that is why we live sometimes like we live - in contradiction to our dignity we received in the Baptism.
First right - the right to call God - Father. The sanctifying grace we receive in the Baptism fills us with Divine Life and make us one with God and the family of His children. We no longer pray to the Creator, to God Almighty, to 'Rex Tremendae Maiestatis". Since the moment of our Baptism we pray with confidence and inner joy and pride to our Father, who loves us and His mercy is infinite.
Second right - the right to approach the altar and receive the Most Holy Eucharist. The Life of the Father in us in sanctifying grace is strengthened and elevated even higher - when we unite ourselves with Living Jesus in Eucharist. And Jesus in Eucharist is the Guarantor that f we stay in unity with Him, our earthly journey will reach eventually the House of the Father in Heaven.
Third right - the right to be part of the living community of the faithful and to be taken care of by the community. We, the baptized, have our obligation to the community of the Church as its living members. But at the same time we have the right to be looked after the community - in good and bad times. No one in any stage of one's life must ever feel lonely, sidelined, excluded in the community of the baptized. Even when the one's house falls down because of the flood or heavy rains as we see sometimes in our communities here in Africa - everybody should come to help as much as they can to make the affected feel loved and taken care of.
Fourth right - the inheritance right. The right to Heaven. The right to the housing prepared for each and every one of us by Jesus in Father's House in Heaven. This is not a place that we will be rented or made to pay for it. This will be our place forever. Wonderful place. The moment of death for the baptized is no longer a reality which scares us. It is only a passage to eternal life in happiness where everyone is assured of one's own dwelling for eternity.
The problem is - when I commit a grave sin, I lose all these rights. In the Year of Mercy we should reflect upon the majesty of our dignity as Children of God, baptized in the name of the Triune God. We should return to the total faithfulness to our Baptismal Vows through genuine penance and reconciliation.
May God our Father help us to rediscover the value of our Baptism today and to help us to defend the dignity of being a child of God who enjoys the fullness of these four rights.
In particular I think about the four basic rights flowing out of the Holy Baptism. These rights we tend to neglect or forget. And that is why we live sometimes like we live - in contradiction to our dignity we received in the Baptism.
First right - the right to call God - Father. The sanctifying grace we receive in the Baptism fills us with Divine Life and make us one with God and the family of His children. We no longer pray to the Creator, to God Almighty, to 'Rex Tremendae Maiestatis". Since the moment of our Baptism we pray with confidence and inner joy and pride to our Father, who loves us and His mercy is infinite.
Second right - the right to approach the altar and receive the Most Holy Eucharist. The Life of the Father in us in sanctifying grace is strengthened and elevated even higher - when we unite ourselves with Living Jesus in Eucharist. And Jesus in Eucharist is the Guarantor that f we stay in unity with Him, our earthly journey will reach eventually the House of the Father in Heaven.
Third right - the right to be part of the living community of the faithful and to be taken care of by the community. We, the baptized, have our obligation to the community of the Church as its living members. But at the same time we have the right to be looked after the community - in good and bad times. No one in any stage of one's life must ever feel lonely, sidelined, excluded in the community of the baptized. Even when the one's house falls down because of the flood or heavy rains as we see sometimes in our communities here in Africa - everybody should come to help as much as they can to make the affected feel loved and taken care of.
Fourth right - the inheritance right. The right to Heaven. The right to the housing prepared for each and every one of us by Jesus in Father's House in Heaven. This is not a place that we will be rented or made to pay for it. This will be our place forever. Wonderful place. The moment of death for the baptized is no longer a reality which scares us. It is only a passage to eternal life in happiness where everyone is assured of one's own dwelling for eternity.
The problem is - when I commit a grave sin, I lose all these rights. In the Year of Mercy we should reflect upon the majesty of our dignity as Children of God, baptized in the name of the Triune God. We should return to the total faithfulness to our Baptismal Vows through genuine penance and reconciliation.
May God our Father help us to rediscover the value of our Baptism today and to help us to defend the dignity of being a child of God who enjoys the fullness of these four rights.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Friday, January 1, 2016
Akathistos Hymn
It is proper on this day of Solemnity of Theotokos - Holy Mary, Mother of God, to stand up in reverence to Our Holy Mother and sing one of the most beautiful (and certainly - my favorite and most revered hymn in honor of Our Lady) - AKATHISTOS HYMN. The words of the hymn in English - click here.
Below is one of the performances of the Hymn in the Orthodox Church. I find this version particularly beautiful, solemn and touching.
Below is one of the performances of the Hymn in the Orthodox Church. I find this version particularly beautiful, solemn and touching.
Two New Liturgical Features In The Jubilee Year Of Mercy In Kiabakari
Listening to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, while keeping an eye on the life of the Church worldwide and new and old ways to express our living faith in the Presence of the Lord, I have arrived to the decision to introduce two new liturgical services on permanent basis in our prayer and liturgical life in the faith community in Kiabakari.
The first event which is called - Bible Evening, will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5-7pm and in this Jubilee Year we will meditate upon the Parables of Mercy and Psalms of Mercy (first three out of ten Psalms of Mercy to be precise).
The second event will be - Evening of Praise - and will be held on Third Tuesday of each month, also 5-7pm. This year we will praise the Lord in His Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist following His Holy Attributes and Names. It will be an evening of songs, spiritual joy, allowing the Holy Spirit to move us in the praise of God in ways He Himself wants.
These events are open to everyone who wishes to set on the path leading inside the great Mystery of God Whose Mercy Is Infinite.
Welcome! Karibu!
Below are the schedules of both events for this year (May and June are excluded as I will travel for medical treatment and ordination of my compatriot in my home parish in Kraków)
The first event which is called - Bible Evening, will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5-7pm and in this Jubilee Year we will meditate upon the Parables of Mercy and Psalms of Mercy (first three out of ten Psalms of Mercy to be precise).
The second event will be - Evening of Praise - and will be held on Third Tuesday of each month, also 5-7pm. This year we will praise the Lord in His Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist following His Holy Attributes and Names. It will be an evening of songs, spiritual joy, allowing the Holy Spirit to move us in the praise of God in ways He Himself wants.
These events are open to everyone who wishes to set on the path leading inside the great Mystery of God Whose Mercy Is Infinite.
Welcome! Karibu!
Below are the schedules of both events for this year (May and June are excluded as I will travel for medical treatment and ordination of my compatriot in my home parish in Kraków)
Through Mary To Jesus
"Through Mary to Jesus". This is a motto of the Sisters of the Congregation of Little Servants of Mary Immaculate (In Polish - Służebniczki Starowiejskie) which I am so familiar since the beginning of my priestly formation in Major Seminary in Kraków. The vicinity of our family apartment to the provincial house of the Sisters in Kraków-Grzegórzki made me a frequent visitor in their chapel.
Today, on the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God, I felt it was crucial to make my personal pilgrimage together with my Little Servants from Kiabakari to Cloistered Carmelite Sisters Monastery in Bunda to say Mass in honor of Our Lady at the beginning of the New Year in the initial stages of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and to commit myself to her maternal guidance and intercession in the School of Love of Jesus where She is a Head Teacher. May She lead us, may She lead me to Jesus, the King of Mercy and teach me how to listen to Him, how to follow Him, how to love Him, how to become a vessel and a tool of His Mercy.
I felt I need to empty myself completely on the Holy Mountain of Carmel in the presence of God to be filled anew with only this what is needed to become a true Missionary of Mercy in this Jubilee Year and beyond.
I came back home with my Sisters and finalize the pilgrimage passing through the Door of Mercy in Kiabakari Shrine.
"Through Mary to Jesus". This is the only proper and shortest way to learn and love Jesus and to acquire a comprehensive grasp of what really matters in our lives.
Full of Divine Mercy New Year, all my friends!
Today, on the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God, I felt it was crucial to make my personal pilgrimage together with my Little Servants from Kiabakari to Cloistered Carmelite Sisters Monastery in Bunda to say Mass in honor of Our Lady at the beginning of the New Year in the initial stages of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and to commit myself to her maternal guidance and intercession in the School of Love of Jesus where She is a Head Teacher. May She lead us, may She lead me to Jesus, the King of Mercy and teach me how to listen to Him, how to follow Him, how to love Him, how to become a vessel and a tool of His Mercy.
I felt I need to empty myself completely on the Holy Mountain of Carmel in the presence of God to be filled anew with only this what is needed to become a true Missionary of Mercy in this Jubilee Year and beyond.
I came back home with my Sisters and finalize the pilgrimage passing through the Door of Mercy in Kiabakari Shrine.
"Through Mary to Jesus". This is the only proper and shortest way to learn and love Jesus and to acquire a comprehensive grasp of what really matters in our lives.
Full of Divine Mercy New Year, all my friends!
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