You are God we praise you! (Te Deum)

TE DEUM

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
   Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
   heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
   Father, of majesty unbounded,
   your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
   and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

℣. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
℟. Govern and uphold them now and always.
℣. Day by day we bless you.
℟. We praise your name for ever.
℣. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
℟. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
℣. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
℟. for we put our trust in you.
℣. In you, Lord, is our hope:
℟. and we shall never hope in vain.

 ©IBreviary

Conditions for obtaining it:

1. Have the intention of receiving it

2. Sacramental confession with same intention

3. Communion 

4. Prayer for reception and for the intention  of the holy father. (1 our father, hail Mary, glory be and  1 creed)

The Mark of Greatness

Thursday of the third week in Advent, year C.

Mark of greatness 

"...among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Beloved, what is the mark of greatness? John wanted nothing of himself, he understood his role and humbly carried it out; he served. What else can we associate to the least in heaven? the lowest of ranks? Or service?

The greatest among you must be your servant. No matter the status you bear, it comes with great responsibility, the greatness lies in the service.

Humility is a mark of greatness. Humility is truth. In truth beloved, the bulb does not shine for itself, its greatness lies in its being light to others and shinning brightly. Jesus who praises John is not left out, He humbled himself (kenosis) and was obedient unto death, not for himself, for you and I. He stooped low to wash the feet of his disciples, showing us the way to greatness.

Bringing it down to myself, I have my responsibilities. Baptism has placed a role on me; to be Christian, likewise religious life, family, citizenship, etc. has placed roles on me. I will account for them; my greatness is not in the status but in my humble service.

St. Francis Xavier, priest.

 

This young Spanish gentleman, in the dangerous days of the Reformation, was making a name for himself as a Professor of Philosophy in the University of Paris, and had seemingly no higher aim, when Saint Ignatius of Loyola won him to heavenly thoughts. After a brief apostolate amongst his countrymen in Rome he was sent by Saint Ignatius to the Indies, where for twelve years he was to wear himself out, bearing the Gospel to Hindostan, to Malacca, and to Japan. Thwarted by the jealousy, covetousness, and carelessness of those who should have helped and encouraged him, neither their opposition nor the difficulties of every sort which he encountered could make him slacken his labors for souls. The vast kingdom of China appealed to his charity, and he was resolved to risk his life to force an entry, when God took him to Himself, and on the 2nd of December, 1552, he died, like Moses, in sight of the land of promise.

-ibreviary

Fiat Voluntas Tua! (Thy Will be done!)

 Thursday of the first week in Advent (C)

Fiat voluntas tua

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven but the one who does the will of my Father"(Mt 7:21, 24-27)

Beloved, 'Christianity no be for mouth'. It's one thing to be a Christian and another to make Christ's words the rock of your Christianity. We are called Christians; being like Christ, acting like Christ, thinking and speaking like Christ, an in summary, being another Christ. On this basis, actions speak louder than popular acclamations.

What a misery it would be that on the last day, after being a Christian, a religious, minister, priest; with all the duties, practices, deprivations, sacrifices and so on, we get the reply, 'I do not know you'. However, in faith and hope; the Lord is our portion, justified by faith, of course not without good work. This is only when we do the will of the Father; founded on Christ the rock.

Beloved, a house built on the rock stands firm amidst rain, storms, problems, evil, obstacles and limitations. They come during and after we have received the word and Eucharist, to distort our disposition and distract them from taking root in us. Let's watch and pray.

That's why when temptations to steal, to fear, to commit sins against purity; fornication, masturbation, pornography and others, to lie, to judge, to let your anger and pride take hold of your emotion, etc. come, the house built on Christ stands unshaken, a life that abides in the word, full of the spirit, wisdom and fear of the Lord, perseveres to the end. 

What saves me at last, where have I built my being a Christian; acting on Christ's word; the rock, or on sand; being without acting? 

Let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. (Is 26:1-6)

Thy will be done O Lord!

Good morning and have a blessed day.

-Gerald Nwogueze, OFMCap.