It Wasn't Right

In Tanzania we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady on Sunday preceding or following the August 15 (unless it is Sunday of August 15 itself). That is why we celebrated the Solemnity today in my parish as elsewhere in Tanzania. In my homily I focused on Divine Logic and God's meticulousness  in guiding life of Our Lady...

The Connection

The liturgical commemoration of St. Martha is celebrated annually on July 29th. Today. The connection between St. Martha and Christ, the High Priest of the New Testament fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament, struck me particularly hard this morning when I was celebrating the weekly Mass at sisters' convent...

Be There

Just a rough reflection as I was celebrating the Holy Mass this morning at sisters' convent chapel on the liturgical commemoration of St. Mary Magdalene. It stroke me that her feast is all about the Resurrection of the Lord, the readings, Gospel acclamation, Mass formula... She was rewarded by the Lord the very first audience with Him after He rose from the dead. Why she?

The Impact

As I suggested in my yesterday’s post, it’s time to gather together thoughts and reflections on what we have witnessed during the peregrination of the Holy Cross of the Centenary of Christianity Jubilee in Diocese of Musoma so far…

Schizofrenia

A Sunday with two names and two Gospels. Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday. Same crowd, same mouth. Two contradicting messages. 'Hosanna, Son of David!'...then 'Crucify Him!' A valid lesson of ongoing and thriving spiritual, moral and social opportunistic schizophrenia in our lives as followers of Christ. Shame on us. 

What You Have Said Is True

Still under deep impression of today's Gospel reading. Samaritan woman meeting Jesus. She presented herself in truth in the eyes of Jesus and earned His praise. He did not condemned her for inappropriate behavior, for having many husbands and for living in a relationship without valid marriage. He focused one her opening to Him in truth. The truth of a woman met the Truth Incarnate...

The People Of The Three Mountains

Christ's path of life and salvation restored for us led through three mountaintops - Tabor, Mount of Olives and Golgotha. The time of Lent puts us on the same route, reminding us that we, followers of Christ, must follow the same path - through the same three mountaintops...

Stations

Fridays of Lent. Happy are those who understand that Lent without participation in the Stations of the Way of the Cross loses a lot of its meaning and power. Happy are those who in the hectic schedules of their daily lives cut out a sufficient chunk of time for active participation and meditation of the Stations and the Passion of Christ. Nothing helps us grow faster and mature in the spiritual life and union with Living God than meditation on the Passion of Our Lord which has its summit in the Sacrifice of Eucharist. Every Saint throughout the ages will attest to this...

The Guided Tour in Your Personal Desert

Setting off to the personal desert, guided by the same Holy Spirit who led Jesus Himself and strengthened Him in His personal battle against the temptations of the Evil One and His own bodily weaknesses. This year I am particularly relieved that the Holy time of Lent came at last. It took so long. Been waiting for it with hunger and longing of spirit, mind and body. The first day of Lent, the Ash Wednesday, opens officially the forty days long lenten exercises. This is a special time charged with so powerful gifts of the Holy Spirit we have no slightest idea!

Μετανοεῖτε

The Catholic Church in the eyes of the secular world sometimes is nothing more than an international relief or social welfare agency, taking care of orphans, underprivileged, building hospitals, schools, water wells, orphanages, fighting deforestation, social injustice, global warming, you name it. Though these human activities are important, we as Catholics must not forget that the primordial task on our hands is preaching true conversion to God and salvation through the Church and the sacramental means at our disposal...

A Miracle Of Life

Remember the recent uproar of liberal pro-choice people and groups of pressure who cry foul when the ChurchAds.net in UK revealed Advent / Christmas posters depicting Baby Jesus in His Mother's womb with halo around His little head? I consider it a wonderful interpretation of Advent reality - a maternal womb of Our Lady as it was then... But for some, crooked 'art' like some time ago a crucifix in urine or something disgusting like this - is an epithomy of art. I rather see it as a decline and death of human culture that should always serve the proclamation of the beauty of life and genuine talents and charismas of people...

Intensity

The opening prayer of today's Mass of the Commemoration of St. Josaphat Kuncewicz, bishop and martyr, lays down in front of our spiritual eyes and conscience the following message:

Stir up within Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy Martyr and Bishop, was filled, when he laid down his life for his sheep: so that, through his intercession, we too may be moved and strengthen by the same Spirit, and may not shrink from giving our lives for our brethren. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. ...

Taken Away

"Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." (Lk 8:17-18)

This are the final words of today's Gospel. Take care, then, how you hear... HOW YOU HEAR... This expression has taken me strongly this morning during the Mass at Sisters' place, as I always celebrate there, while being at home...

Sacred Birds

It always amazed me that in Catholic Symbolism birds (doves, eagles, pelicans, phoenixes, peacocks etc...) hold a sacred meaning with no connotation of evil, contrary to what we sometimes experience and believe in secular world and our cultures, be it Polish culture and popular beliefs or in Tanzanian diverse ethnicity...