Pope talks about three points during Palm Sunday Homily: Joy, Cross, Youth

News from RomeReports.com

Pope Francis made his way through St. Peter's Square to celebrate the first Palm Sunday Mass of his pontificate.

To mark the beginning of Holy Week, Pope Francis blessed palm and olive branches on the obelisk that stands before the square. It's a symbol that honors Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

During his homily, Pope Francis focused on three points: Joy, the Cross and Youth. On the first point he said true joy comes from Jesus, not from possessions.

POPE FRANCIS
“Do not be men and women of sadness: a Christian can never be sad! Never give way to discouragement! Ours is not a joy that comes from having many possessions, but from having encountered a Person: Jesus! Don't let your hope to be taken from you.”

Since Holy Week honors the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Pope went on to explain the second point of his homily: The Cross.

POPE FRANCIS
“I think of what Benedict XVI told cardinals: You are princes, but you are princes of a crucified King. This is the gift that Jesus gives to us all, on the throne of the Cross. The Cross of Christ embraces love. It never carries sadness, but rather joy. The same joy of salvation and of doing even just a small portion of what he did the day of His Crucifixion.”

For 28 years now, Palm Sunday also marks World Youth Day in Rome. So the Pope's third point, was quite fittingly: the youth. Pope Francis officially announced that he will be traveling to Brazil in late July to lead World Youth Day in Rio.

POPE FRANCIS
“Dear friends, I will walk along with you, and follow in the footsteps of Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI. We are already close to the next stage of this great pilgrimage of Christ’s Cross. I look forward joyfully to next July in Rio de Janeiro! I will see you in that great city in Brazil! Prepare well – prepare spiritually above all in your communities, so that our gathering in Rio may be a sign of faith for the whole world.”

The Pope improvised quite a bit during his Homily and he told all the young people that their role in the Church is key. He also said that with Christ, the heart never grows old.

POPE FRANCIS
“Young people should tell the world that it is good, joyful to follow Jesus, to walk along with Him and believe in His message. It is good to go beyond one's limits and existence to teach others about Jesus. Three words: joy, cross and youth.”

Towards the end, the Pope celebrated the Angelus in Latin before roughly 250,000 people.

Wounded Cop Saw Vision of Jesus

News excerpt from UTSanDiego.com

By Dana Littlefield

EL CAJON — In the minutes after a sheriff’s detective was seriously injured in a shootout with a child molestation suspect last year, he began to accept that he might not make it out alive. And then a miracle happened — he said he saw Jesus Christ.

Detective Ali Perez had just kicked in the door of a Lakeside apartment where he and others had gone to contact the suspect, when a bullet tore through his left arm. Moments later, the detective was shot in his torso, just below his chest.

 

Lying on his back on the floor, Perez said he was out of bullets and losing blood quickly, while the suspect — Daniel Robert Witczak — was still able to move around the apartment, armed with a high-powered rifle.

 

And that’s when it happened.

 

“I saw my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Perez testified, adding that Jesus appeared to be seated in a chair between himself and the shooter.

 

Read more: Ali Perez Saw Vision of Jesus

Miraculously Healed While Reading the Bible

News excerpt from CBN.com

By David DiCicco

When Sue Wynn was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the prime of her life, her apathy towards God began to change.

One Sunday her pastor shocked the congregation. “He was standing in the pulpit and said, ‘I’m going to stick my head out. I’ve had a vision and in it Sue, you are healed.’ And I didn’t believe healing was for today and yet my face lit up and I smiled.”

Sue’s doubt didn’t stop her pastor, and he met with her and Jeff regularly for Bible study. “He says, ‘The first thing we need to do is go to Hebrews 13:8. Read it out loud.’ The minute I said, ‘Jesus Christ is the same – the same yesterday, and today and forever’, I was immediately convicted that I had limited God. I was saying He doesn’t do that, and this Word was telling me, ‘Oh yeah, He does.’”

She began reading healing scriptures and with each visit from their pastor, Sue’s faith for healing grew. “I had faith and I’m saying, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, He’s gonna do it.’ I go to bed this one night and a wave of doubt – ‘Who do you think you are? MS is incurable. You’re fooling yourself. You’re not worthy.’ On and on… and I was crushed. All my faith, it seemed, went right out the window.”

“I heard in my heart, ‘You’re sinking in a sea of doubt.’ And I knew it was the Lord. I knew it was His voice.” Sue went downstairs and read her Bible. “All of a sudden, I felt a sensation that I had not felt before. I had felt maybe little tiny touches, nothing like this. It was like oil was being poured on my head from the inside, and was slowly diffusing down through everything, out to the fingertips, down to the toes – everything. And I knew that as it was happening, it was Jesus, and He was healing me. Everything wrong sat right just right down through my body. And I knew I was healed.”

“I woke up the next morning and I felt like I had been plugged in to a super charger. I mean I’m like, ‘There’s power in me that I have never felt before. I mean this is a whole new thing. Oh my goodness, what has happened?’”

At her next visit to the neurologist the doctor confirmed her miracle. “He looked in my eyes first and there was damage in my left eye that was visible with an ophthalmoscope, and it was gone. And he said, ‘This is God.’ He tested my whole body, did all the usual neurological tests, and there was no evidence of any neurological problem.” 

Read more: Miraculously Healed of MS

Pope Francis: 'Build bridges' across religions, beliefs for peace

News from RomeReports.com

The Vatican holds diplomatic relations with about 180 countries worldwide. Most of them were represented Friday during the Pope's audience with accredited diplomats to the Holy See.

Meeting inside the Sala Regia, Pope Francis delivered brief remarks on the work he shares with the other countries to build lasting peace in the world.

FRANCIS
“I wish that the dialogue between us will help build bridges between mankind, so that each person can find in others, not an enemy or competitor, but a brother welcomed with open arms.”

Ditching the red cape that covers his upper body, traditionally used for meetings with diplomats, Pope Francis encouraged dialogue between different religions, to achieve peace.

He said it was also important to reach out to non-believers, and those in search of truth. Be he added that God plays an important role in the process.

FRANCIS
“You cannot in fact build bridges between mankind forgetting about God. But it's also true inversely. You cannot live in truth with God by ignoring others.”

The newly-elected Pope explained how his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, inspired him to look after the poor, and those who are suffering, as well as the Church's role in protecting them.

But he also gave a second explanation. Echoing the words of his predecessor Benedict XVI, he spoke spiritual poverty in the richer countries, caused by individualism.

FRANCIS
“You cannot have peace if each person is the measure of oneself, if each person claims their own rights without, as the same time, looking out for the good of others, of all others, starting with mother nature which accommodates each and every person on this Earth.”

During his nine minute speech, he thanked the presence of Muslim leaders, as well as those countries who do not have diplomatic ties with the Vatican, but still attended his Inaugural Mass. He closed off the meeting, individually greeting each delegate and their spouses.

Orthodox and Catholic Breakthrough? Pope Francis Embraces 'My Brother Andrew'

International News - Excerpt from Catholic Online

By Deacon Keith Fournier

Pope Francis, has made it clear. He will continue the work toward the day when the two lungs of the Church, East and West, breathe together again.

First, I want to share my heart with my readers. I long for the full communion of the Orthodox and Catholic Church. I pray daily for the full communion of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. I do so because I believe it is the will of God that "All May be One" (John 17: 21).

I am also persuaded that the healing of the division between the two sister churches would unleash a profound renewal of the entire Church at the dawn of this new missionary age. I believe that the gifts found in the whole Church will enrich both East and West and assist us in the One mission which we must face together in our One Lord.

Read more: Orthodox and Catholic Breakthrough

St. Mary's Prayer Service Scheduled for March 21, 2013

"Into Your Hands I commit My Spirit" - Photo by Loci B. Lenar 

Please consider visiting St. Mary's Catholic Church for Mass and prayer services. 

Are you in need of prayer? Perhaps a family member or friend is in need of God's mercy and grace?

With help from Loci B. Lenar and support of Father Richard Tartaglia, including Barbara Jones from the National Conference of Catholic Women (NCCW), prayer requests which are submitted through "Christian-Miracles.com" are prayed for every Monday morning after Mass during Holy Hour Adoration, between the hours of 8:30 to 9:30 am. If you're unable to attend St. Mary's Church, please join in prayerful unity on Monday mornings every week as we petition God to answer all of our prayers.

Submit your prayer requests to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com

The church also holds a monthly service for prayer with Fr. Richard Tartaglia including special prayer intentions which are submitted through the website of Christian-Miracles.com.

Previous services have included prayer for Christian Unity. However, prayers for world peace are always included.

St. Mary's prayer service is held every third Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM with a new theme. March will focus on the Crucifixion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The prayer service is scheduled for March 21, 2013.

There is great power through the Holy Spirit when people join together in agreement while praying for God’s help and intervention.

However, if you cannot attend St. Mary's prayer service, you can still join in by praying in unity with St. Mary’s Church for all special prayer intentions.

God wants us to approach him with the desires of our heart. Our Lord calls us to connect with his divine grace in order to receive blessings in our lives.

Trust and believe in God's word and wait for his timing to receive an answer to your prayers. Miracles happen when least expected!

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24)

Regarding prayer, Jesus said, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Matthew 18:19-20)

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

If you live in the area or plan on visiting New Jersey, please consider attending and joining in the evening prayer service with Fr. Richard Tartaglia. The service begins with singing of hymns followed with psalm prayers and then reading of the gospels. After the reading, Fr. Tartaglia gives his homily which is followed with a prayer of intercession for Special Prayer Intentions (prayer requests). The Lord's Prayer is recited and after that there is a closing prayer with a blessing given by Fr. Tartaglia. The prayer service is concluded with a closing song.

St. Mary's Catholic Church is located on 15 Myers Avenue in Denville, New Jersey. Father Martin Glynn is the head pastor of the church.

For directions to St. Mary's Church, please visit the following link: http://www.stmarys-denville.org/directions.htm

Regardless of your religious denomination, please feel free to submit your prayer request by email to PrayerRequest@Christian-Miracles.com. Your email will remain confidential.

Prayer request can also be submitted at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/prayerrequest.htm

Mr. Lenar visits Father Richard Tartaglia on a regular bases for spiritual guidance and shares with him the prayer requests.

Saint Mary's Monthly Prayer Schedule and Related Themes for 2013

Christian Unity - Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 PM

Lent - Thursday, February 21 at 7:30 PM

Easter - Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 PM

St. Mark - Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 PM

Pentecost - Thursday, May 16 at 7:30 PM

John the Baptist - Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 PM

Mary Magdalene - Thursday, July 18 at 7:30 PM

Michaelmas Day - Thursday, September 19 at 7:30 PM

Church Memorial Day - Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 PM

Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 PM

Advent - Tentatively set for Thursday, December 19 at 7:30 PM

St. Mary's Weekly Mass Schedule

Sunday: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 AM

Saturday: 5:00 PM

Weekdays: 8:00 AM and 12:05 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)

First Fridays: 8:00 AM, 12:05 PM, 8:00 PM - (Except June ~ Labor Day - No 12:05 PM)

Holy Days: 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM

Eve of Holy Days: 5:00 PM