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Sunday, October 17, 2010

CATECHISM

Deepen your faith! Learn the Catechism bit by bit

May be we start with the encyclical by Pope John Paul II

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
SECOND EDITION

APOSTOLIC LETTER
LAETAMUR MAGNOPERE

IN WHICH THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

IS APPROVED AND PROMULGATED

JOHN PAUL, BISHOP
SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD
FOR EVERLASTING MEMORY



To my Venerable Brothers the cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and to all the People of God.


IT IS A CAUSE FOR GREAT JOY THAT THE LATIN TYPICAL EDITION OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS BEING PUBLISHED. It is approved and promulgated by me in this Apostolic Letter and thus becomes the definitive text of the aforementioned Catechism. This is occurring about five years after the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum of October 11, 1992, which, on the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, accompanied the publication of the first, French-language text of the Catechism.

We have all been able to note with pleasure the broad positive reception and wide dissemination of the Catechism in these years, especially in the particular Churches, which have had it translated into their respective languages, thus making it as accessible as possible to the various linguistic communities of the world. This fact confirms how fitting was the request submitted to me in 1985 by the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that a catechism or compendium of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals be composed.

Drawn up by the special Commission of Cardinals and Bishops established in 1986, the Catechism was approved and promulgated by me in the aforementioned Apostolic Constitution, which today retains all its validity and timeliness, and finds its definitive achievement in this Latin typical edition.

This edition was prepared by an Interdicasterial Commission which I appointed for this purpose in 1993. Presided over by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, this Commission worked diligently to fulfill the mandate it received. It devoted particular attention to a study of the many suggested changes to the contents of the text, which in these years had come from around the world and from various parts of the ecclesial community.

In this regard one can certainly understand that such a remarkable number of suggested improvements shows the extraordinary interest that the Catechism has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life. At the same time it draws attention to the eager desire of all to make their contribution so that the Christian faith, whose essential and necessary elements are summarized in the Catechism, can be presented to the people of our day in the most suitable way possible. Furthermore, this collaboration of the various members of the Church will once again achieve what I wrote in the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum: "The harmony of so many voices truly expresses what could be called the 'symphony' of the faith" (no. 2).

For these reasons too, the Commission seriously considered the suggestions offered, carefully examined them at various levels and submitted its conclusions for my approval. These conclusions, insofar as they allow for a better expression of the Catechism's contents regarding the deposit of the Catholic faith, or enable certain truths of this faith to be formulated in a way more suited to the requirements of contemporary catechetical instruction, have been approved by me and thus have been incorporated into this Latin typical edition. Therefore it faithfully repeats the doctrinal content which I officially presented to the Church and to the world in December 1992.

With today's promulgation of the Latin typical edition, therefore, the task of composing the Catechism, begun in 1986, is brought to a close and the desire of the aforementioned Extraordinary Synod of Bishops is happily fulfilled. The Church now has at her disposal this new, authoritative exposition of the one and perennial apostolic faith, and it will serve as a "valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion" and as a "sure norm for teaching the faith," as well as a "sure and authentic reference text" for preparing local catechisms (cf. Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, no. 4).

Catechesis will find in this genuine, systematic presentation of the faith and of Catholic doctrine a totally reliable way to present, with renewed fervor, each and every part of the Christian message to the people of our time. This text will provide every catechist with sound help for communicating the one, perennial deposit of faith within the local Church, while seeking, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to link the wondrous unity of the Christian mystery with the varied needs and conditions of those to whom this message is addressed. All catechetical activity will be able to experience a new, widespread impetus among the People of God, if it can properly use and appreciate this post-conciliar Catechism.

All this seems even more important today with the approach of the third millennium. For an extraordinary commitment to evangelization is urgently needed so that everyone can know and receive the Gospel message and thus grow "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:13).

I therefore strongly urge my Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, for whom the Catechism is primarily intended, to take the excellent opportunity afforded by the promulgation of this Latin edition to intensify their efforts to disseminate the text more widely and to ensure that it is well received as an outstanding gift for the communities entrusted to them, which will thus be able to rediscover the inexhaustible riches of the faith.

Through the harmonious and complementary efforts of all the ranks of the People of God, may this Catechism be known and shared by everyone, so that the unity in faith whose supreme model and origin is found in the Unity of the Trinity may be strengthened and extended to the ends of the earth.

To Mary, Mother of Christ, whose Assumption body and soul into heaven we celebrate today, I entrust these wishes so that they may be brought to fulfillment for the spiritual good of all humanity.

From Castel Gandolfo, August 15, 1997, the nineteenth year of the Pontificate.

Piligrimage






Hej Hej!
Well friends, EACYN have started new programme on "In the footsteps of Saints" on which we will be sharing the stories and insights of the pilgrimages we have done and those we will do in the future. Someone has thrown me a quick question "can any EACYNer participate?" and a mph! let me think "Of course!!!!!!!! aren't we all friends, like family or something? Of course we are. So you may share your pilgrimage story as well.

Well, If I borrow from Catholic Encyclopaedia, pilgrimage means; (Middle English, pilgrime, Old French, pelegrin, derived from Latin peregrinum, supposed origin, per and ager—with idea of wandering over a distance).

Pilgrimages may be defined as journeys made to some place with the purpose of venerating it, or in order to ask there for supernatural aid, or to discharge some religious obligation.



I remember my chaplain back at the University of Dar es Salaam, the humble and holy man, Monsg. Mbiku, told us that "one can get indulgence (I don't remember whether it was plenary or ..., any way it doesn't matter) well, if he go to the pilgrimmage but must be done well. Done well? a person at the back of my back (mh!that sounds cute ; at the back of my back) asked "done well?" Sure, you got do some rituals before you go for pilgrimages if you so need the indulgence

I remember the qualifications quiet well

1. Do confession (must be in the state of grace)
2.Receive the holy Eucharist
3. Pray for Pope's intentions



Any way, we start with a trip of some EACYNers to FINSTA: A birth place of St. Birigitta of Sweden (It's also the place where she started receiving revelations from Our Lord Jesus Christ. She then founded the order of Birigitta sisters after the death of her husband. By the way, her daughter Catherine of Sweden is also a saint.

So who's Saint Birgitta of Sweden? some hints; http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/birgitta.html


Birgitta Birgersdotter was born to an aristocratic family related to the kings of Sweden and influential at court. By the time she was 10 years old, her mother had died; when she was 13 or 14, Birgitta was married to Ulf Gudmarsson. She had eight children and served at court for several years. In 1341, the couple went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain; on their return to Sweden, her husband retired from public life, and they apparently discussed plans for both to enter monasteries. However, at Ulf's death in about 1345, Birgitta decided to remain a lay person for a time, until she could found a new religious order.



Her first written descriptions of the visionary experiences that had begun after her husband's death concerned her proposed foundation, but they soon included directions for admonitory letters to be sent to the king of Sweden and Swedish nobles, and later to the kings of England and France and the current pope. Some of her visions she wrote down in Swedish, others she reported to a series of clerical advisors who then wrote them in Latin. This procedure continued until her death, although she soon learned to read and write Latin.



Birgitta went to Rome for the 1350 Jubilee year, in part to get the pope's approval for her religious order and for a Rule that she had written, but the pope, then living in Avignon, France, did not attend the Jubilee. Birgitta, however, remained a resident of Rome for the rest of her life, although she travelled considerably. As a Swedish noblewoman, she made influential friends, and so her reports of her visions (frequently described in letters that were widely circulated) could not merely be ignored. In most of these visions, Christ and/or his mother Mary gave Birgitta messages to be given to others; their theme was usually the need for the reform of the Church through the reform of the lives of the pope, cardinals, clergy, and the secular rulers. Birgitta believed that the prerequisite for any reform involved the permanent return of the pope to Rome from Avignon, where all popes had lived since 1305.



So sit back and enjoy!







Despite the fact that this small church in Finsta which was built by St Birgitta's father,is now a protestant one,(Swedish church)they atleast hold a beautiful icon of our lady and an infant Jesus.



EACYNers


The Holy Mass in the Chapel by Bishop Anders OCD (Order of Carmel Discalced); The Bishop of Stockholm Diocese (Dormkyrkn)



The small beautiful church: extremely old too





Shoes won during middle age in St Brigitta's time




(May be they were St.Birgitta's )

Hope you have enjoyed,

Peace n' Best,

Piccola and EACYN staff.

Friday, October 15, 2010

SAINT OF THE DAY: TERESA DE JESUS! (TERESA OF AVILA)REFORMER OF THE CARMELITE ORDER TO ORDER OF CARMELITE DISCALCED (OCD)





It's almost 3am in the cold Stockholm but I can't sleep without writing about Madre Teresa de Jésus (also known as St Teresa of Avila.) I recount the old memories when I was s very, very young. I cannot remember the exact years but before I reached even ten years. In simple put, since I started talking (probably) hahahha anyway,my lovely mother ; whose name is Catherine, has great devotion to St Catherine of Sienna (her patron saint) and Teresa de Jesus. So she's one of the earliest Saints I came across with. Nevertheless,only the name was famous to me an issue which made me kinder lax to search for any information about Teresa of Avila.

In a way, I took the "old memories for granted" Well, for quiet sometime now her name and fame became so popular in my ears and I wondered what's so special about this woman? Still, I kept my laxity and I bothered not to do any kind of research. It's unfortunate/ or rather fortunate may be! mh who knows? I came to know her through her famous daughters; St Thérèse of the infant Jesus (my patron saint) and St Teresa of the Andes. My close friendship with these two women directed me to the woman who influenced their love towards the only one Love; Jesus Christ.





Still, I didn't take any effort but I guess she kinder did 'cause I sometimes asked myself "Why is Saint Teresa de Jésus so famous?" with no avail. In case you don't know, I have got a bunch of saints friends (strange mh?!) so I spend a great deal of my time to learn about their lives et.
One day, I was set to watch a film in EWTN, guess what I found? "A min- series of St Teresa de Jésus". I was extremely happy and I knew for sure, this was the "famous bright beginning." I followed this series for three consecutive weeks, and when they wrote "FINITO", I had the reasons why "she is a super woman". So I went to buy her book "The way of perfection" which left me in wonder.





I would love to regenerate some of her words from the book which really touched my heart the most. Don't be happy 'coz I will quote just few of them.
"For one occasion as much distress may be caused by quiet a small matter as would be caused by some greater trial, and there are people whose nature it is to be very much cast down by small things. If you are not like this, do not neglect to have compassion on others; it may be our Lord wishes to spare us these sufferings and will give us sufferings of another kinds which will seem heavy on us, though to the person already mentioned they may seem light. In these matters, then, we must not judge others by ourselves, nor think of ourselves as we have been at some time when, perhaps without any effort ou our part, the Lord has made us stronger than they; Let us think of what we were like at times when we have been weakest" (The way of perfection Pg 52)





It's sad that I have to post this story with no photos, how sad! Can't upload any photo por qui? lol, my poor french!

About giving up our WILL, this is what she said "It seems very easy to say that we will surrender our WILL to someone, until we try it and realize that it is the hardest thing we can do if we carry it out as we should" (PG 206 Supra)

NEVERTHELESS, SHE CONTINUES

"Do not fear that He will give reaches or pleasures or great honours or any such earthly things; His Love for you is not so poor as that. And He sets a very high value on what you give Him and desires to recompense you for it since He gives you His Kingdom while you are still alive." (ibid)

Guess what, I was joking to my sister few days ago requesting her to visit me before I go back to Tanzania for she might find me in a cloister. We both laughed at the Idea. After that talk, I felt something pulling me to search for cloistered orders in Tanzania,only to land in Kiabakari
http://kiabakarisnippets.blogspot.com.
What a grace! So I wrote to the sisters, wish they reply today (The feast of Saint Teresa de Jesus, Madre Teresa de Jesus!. O Lord, it takes a strong woman to enter Carmel ,how can I even desire it? The weak Piccolito, the imperfect little one?
O Madre St Teresa de Jesus pray for us!
Pray for our beloved Pope Benedict XVI
Pray for our priests,
Pray for religious
Pray for Vocations,
Pray for families
Pray for me
I'm so sleepy! Let me call it a day! Happy feast day. This makes me miss Pilauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

(Managed to appload pictures) papapapapapappapa (clapping)
pICCOla

WTO | 2010 News items - The WTO inspires budding poets from around the world

WTO | 2010 News items - The WTO inspires budding poets from around the world
SAINT OF THE DAY: TERESA DE JESUS! (TERESA OF AVILA)REFORMER OF THE CARMELITE ORDER TO ORDER OF CARMELITE DISCALCED (OCD)


It's almost 3am in the cold Stockholm but I can't sleep without writing about Madre Teresa de Jésus (also known as St Teresa of Avila.) I recount the old memories when I was s very, very young. I cannot remember the exact years but before I reached even ten years. In simple put, since I started talking (probably) hahahha anyway,my lovely mother ; whose name is Catherine, has great devotion to St Catherine of Sienna (her patron saint) and Teresa de Jesus. So she's one of the earliest Saints I came across with. Nevertheless,only the name was famous to me an issue which made me kinder lax to search for any information about Teresa of Avila.

In a way, I took the "old memories for granted" Well, for quiet sometime now her name and fame became so popular in my ears and I wondered what's so special about this woman? Still, I kept my laxity and I bothered not to do any kind of research. It's unfortunate/ or rather fortunate may be! mh who knows? I came to know her through her famous daughters; St Thérèse of the infant Jesus (my patron saint) and St Teresa of the Andes. My close friendship with these two women directed me to the woman who influenced their love towards the only one Love; Jesus Christ.

Still, I didn't take any effort but I guess she kinder did 'cause I sometimes asked myself "Why is Saint Teresa de Jésus so famous?" with no avail. In case you don't know, I have got a bunch of saints friends (strange mh?!) so I spend a great deal of my time to learn about their lives et.
One day, I was set to watch a film in EWTN, guess what I found? "A min- series of St Teresa de Jésus". I was extremely happy and I knew for sure, this was the "famous bright beginning." I followed this series for three consecutive weeks, and when they wrote "FINITO", I had the reasons why "she is a super woman". So I went to buy her book "The way of perfection" which left me in wonder.

I would love to regenerate some of her words from the book which really touched my heart the most. Don't be happy 'coz I will quote just few of them.
"For one occasion as much distress may be caused by quiet a small matter as would be caused by some greater trial, and there are people whose nature it is to be very much cast down by small things. If you are not like this, do not neglect to have compassion on others; it may be our Lord wishes to spare us these sufferings and will give us sufferings of another kinds which will seem heavy on us, though to the person already mentioned they may seem light. In these matters, then, we must not judge others by ourselves, nor think of ourselves as we have been at some time when, perhaps without any effort ou our part, the Lord has made us stronger than they; Let us think of what we were like at times when we have been weakest" (The way of perfection Pg 52)


It's sad that I have to post this story with no photos, how sad! Can't upload any photo por qui? lol, my poor french!

About giving up our WILL, this is what she said "It seems very easy to say that we will surrender our WILL to someone, until we try it and realize that it is the hardest thing we can do if we carry it out as we should" (PG 206 Supra)

NEVERTHELESS, SHE CONTINUES

"Do not fear that He will give reaches or pleasures or great honours or any such earthly things; His Love for you is not so poor as that. And He sets a very high value on what you give Him and desires to recompense you for it since He gives you His Kingdom while you are still alive." (ibid)

Guess what, I was joking to my sister few days ago requesting her to visit me before I go back to Tanzania for she might find me in a cloister. We both laughed at the Idea. After that talk, I felt something pulling me to search for cloistered orders in Tanzania,only to land in Kiabakari
http://kiabakarisnippets.blogspot.com.
What a grace! So I wrote to the sisters, wish they reply today (The feast of Saint Teresa de Jesus, Madre Teresa de Jesus!. O Lord, it takes a strong woman to enter Carmel ,how can I even desire it? The weak Piccolito, the imperfect little one?
O Madre St Teresa de Jesus pray for us!
Pray for our beloved Pope Benedict XVI
Pray for our priests,
Pray for religious
Pray for Vocations,
Pray for families
Pray for me
I'm so sleepy! Let me call it a day! Happy feast day. This makes me miss Pilauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

pICCOla

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(The Altar at the St Eugenia Parish in Stockholm)




(Stockholm is built up ontop of approximately 14 islands.The view towards (not from) Slussen) lol!!

In Sweden, Catholics are the minorities. Mph! and the rest of the groups are either protestants,evangelicals, agnostics or Atheists etc. Catholicism was one of the earliest religion in Sweden but following the reformation, many consider it to be an alien religion.




Well, despite being the minority, Catholicism is growing very fast in Sweden where converts are being received frequently (Every week people are being baptised; yepeeeh!).




Nevertheless, for the migrants and visitors,language might be an issues-as it is to many of us- because in many parishes and the diocese, masses are being celebrated in Swedish. Luckily enough, in Stockholm,otherlanguage speakers, get at least one mass (Sunday of course hahahah) of their own languages; mostly English, French and Spanish. (I will have to research about other catholic churches outside stockholm! I promise One of the multinational parishes is St Eugenia at King's garden (kungsträdgardsgattan I hope the spellings are correct, let me check! Yap! correct indeed hahhhaah).



At St Eugenia, English masses are celebrated every Sunday at 18:00 pm. Of course it's presided by the holy confessions and holy rosary and
the litany of our blessed mother at her chapel. Being multinational, St Eugenia holds small communities
African group- Choir practice under the leadership of reverend sister Maurine
such as Philippine group and African group who from time to time have their own special masses normally,nce each month.




Last Saturday, the African group celebrated it's monthly mass where among other things, four members celebrated their birthdays as well. It was such a great event with good food after wards. yummy, yummy,
yummy!!




Many thanks to our God the almighty, our blessed mother and our chaplain!
We also thank all those who attended this superb event and we wish you all the best in your endeavours!
Let Christ's light shine upon you and those around you





Benedicta- Marie of the Eucharist (Sisters n' Friars Network)

"I have fallen in love with the Nazarene Carpenter"

For daily and weekly updates catch Sisters n' Friars http://piccola.blog.com/8

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Long time!

It's just that the other blog was under construction meanwhile this one went on vacation

lol contemplation kinder of thing


But we are backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk


Check it out soon