Marist Messenger

by Fr Brian O’Connell (Editor)
Pope Benedict waited for two years and three months of his pontificate before issuing his long-awaited Motu Proprio (‘own initiative’) broadening the use of the ancient Latin form of the Mass. It was time enough to defeat the expectation that he was going to turn the clock back; he has produced a typically careful and pastoral instruction, and asked the Bishops to get back to him after three years to report how things are going. Read more »

Addressing Catholic faithful in China, according to statistics 8-12 million strong, the Pope expresses his “sincere gratitude to the Lord for the deeply-felt witness of faithfulness offered by the Chinese Catholic community in truly difficult circumstances. At the same time, I sense the urgent need, as my deep and compelling duty and as an expression of my paternal love, to confirm the faith of Chinese Catholics and favour their unity with the means proper to the Church.” Read more »

At first glance the HIV/AIDS epidemic can seem like much too large a problem to come to terms with. The figures are nearly incomprehensible with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimating the number of people living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) globally to be 39.5 million. When figures get that large it is a bit like trying to comprehend the infinite nature of the universe. The mind boggles before it moves onto something much easier to comprehend. Read more »

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours, Sister Paula Brettkelly RSJ became a Member of the Order of Merit for Services to Human Rights. She talks to the Messenger: Read more »

“If there were no God, there would be no atheists.”

G. K. Chesterton was, according to George Bernard Shaw, a ‘colossal genius’.
Whether Shaw was referring to his IQ or his 6ft 4in, 21 stone frame isn’t clear but a genius he undoubtedly was. Whatever the subject, he wrote or spoke about it in essays, articles, books, lectures and poetry – few writers can match his output. All from a man who could barely read until around eight years old, provoking a teacher to comment, “If we opened up your head, we should not find a brain but only a lump of white fat.” Read more »

On the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, 2007, Pope Benedict XVl declared a ‘Year of St. Paul’. The following litany comes from titles and descriptions of the Lord Jesus in St. Paul’s letters, with references supplied. It is offered as an aid to living the year prayerfully. Traditionally the response in litanies addressed to Our Lord is “Lord have mercy”. The compiler of this litany leaves it to those who use the prayer to provide their own responses. Read more »

ELISABETH NICHOLSON chooses some interesting saints whose feast days occur this month Read more »

Fr John Kelly is a monk of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua.
In the two former articles that I wrote on humility I perhaps over-stressed ‘humble subjection to God’ and to the neighbour when willed by God. Read more »

When I used to worry about the Church and talk about the state of it with others, my son told me it is not natural for young people to go to Mass on Sunday. I thought of the nature/nurture debate and hoped that the good habit of going to Mass would be traditioned by him and many like him in their turn. Reading the statistics released on Mass attendance it seems my hope is dashed, washed up as Christian jetsam on the shores of an increasingly secular society. Read more »

The ‘at risk’ students at the MAEC have come up with a plan to reach out to less fortunate young people in developing countries Read more »

JOHN GERARD CLEARY SM
July 1919 – June 2007
From the Eulogy by
Fr. Des Darby sm Read more »

These jokes were sent in by readers:
A Doctor was addressing a large audience in Tampa. “The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High fat diets can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?” After several seconds of quiet, a 75-year-old man in the front row raised his hand, and softly said, “Wedding Cake.”

Bob, a 70-year-old, extremely wealthy widower, shows up at the Country Club with a breathtakingly beautiful and very attractive 25 year- old blonde who knocks everyone’s socks off with her youthful appeal and charm. She hangs onto Bob’s arm and listens intently to his every word. His buddies at the club are all aghast. At the very first chance, they corner him and ask, “Bob, how did you get the trophy girlfriend?” Bob replies, “Girlfriend? She’s my wife!” They’re amazed, but continue to ask. “So, how did you persuade her to marry you?” “I lied about my age”, Bob replies “What, did you tell her you were only 50?” Bob smiles and says, “No, I told her I was 90.”

A pirate walked into a bar and the bartender said, ”Hey, I haven’t seen you in a while. What happened? You look terrible.” ”What do you mean?” said the pirate, “I feel fine.”
”What about the wooden leg?” the bartender asks. “You didn’t have that before.” ”Well, we were in a battle and I got hit with a cannon ball, but I’m fine now.” says the pirate. ”Well, OK, but what about that hook? What happened to your hand?” asked the bartender. ”We were in another battle.” replied the pirate. “I boarded a ship and got into a sword fight. My hand was cut off. I got fitted with a hook. I’m fine, really.” So the bartender asks, “What about that eye patch?” The pirate replies, “Oh, one day we were at sea, and a flock of sea gulls flew over. I looked up and one of them dropped birdlime in my eye.” ”You’re kidding, “ said the bartender, “you couldn’t lose an eye just from bird lime.” The pirate responds, “It was my first day with the hook.”

Belief in God
Spring is just around the corner even though winter is trying its best to remain with us. It is so good to see the days growing longer, the bulbs pushing their way through the soil, the spring flowers coming into bloom and the blossoms appearing on the trees. Read more »

It is Springtime in my garden and God has given me new eyes, for it is myself I see reflected there.

The beautiful weeping cherry tree, the first to blossom, seems to offer a welcoming embrace that says – Come, be with me. I think of the many times that Jesus has said those same words to me and wonder if I am as welcoming.

Regal tulips replace the dancing waving daffodils that now stand tired and forlorn. I too can be happy and rejoicing one day and exhausted the next.

Pansies and forget-me-nots growing together gift me with their own precious bouquet. How perfect they look, how wonderful is the gift of friendship.

In the far corner, Mt. Fuji stands tall and majestic, its fluffy white blossom resembling freshly fallen snow. I gaze in awe and wonder knowing that all too soon the winds will scatter the blossom far and wide.

This is the message of Jesus for me – to keep shedding the parts of myself that no longer serve a purpose, to remain open to new life and growth.

There is so much for me to learn from my garden. What has emerged from the darkness of the earth is a feast for rejoicing.

May that be so for me too, when facing my own fears and fragility. It is Springtime in my garden and my soul delights.

Judith Casey