Maronite CatholiC Chur Ch

Our Lady Of the Cedars, WOOdmead

tel: 011 804 1305Fax: 011 804 1306 email: maronite@netactive.co.za

Our Lady Of LebanOn, muLbartOn

tel: 011 432 5331Fax: 011 432 5312 email: maroniteoll@hotmail.com

Lebanese famiLy CLub

dediCated tO preserving Our Lebanese heritage thrOugh

famiLy days•famiLy trees •famiLy bOOks•famiLy Websites•famiLy heaLth•

tel: 011 804 1305 Fax: 08 66 66 5412 email: info@lebanesefamilyclub.co.za

Website:www.lebanesefamilyclub.co.za

Postal address:Po Box 76043, Wendywood, 2144

Office Hours:8:30-4:30, Mon - Fri. Family Club:editor:lauren Dos SantosSuperior:Fr. Badaoui habibM.l.M.

E d i t o r s : E l i s a F i n c a t i a n d Fa t h e r C h a r b e l H a b c h i

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w i t h o u t t h e Wo r d t h e r e i s n o B r e at h . T h e Wo r d

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e x p e r i e n c e d .

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t h e f i r e o f yo u r L ove ! M a k e u s j o y f u l w i t n e s s e s t o yo u r

h o p e i n t h e C h u r c h ! M ove u s b e yo n d o u r i d e o l o g i e s

t h a t d iv i d e a n d b l i n d u s . L o r d , s e n d u s yo u r S p i r i t ,

a n d r e n e w t h e f a c e o f t h e e a r t h . . . t h e f a c e o f o u r C h u r c h ,

t h e f a c e o f o u r l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s , o u r ow n f a c e s ,

o u r ow n h e a r t s .

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i n H i s m y s t e r i o u s , c o s m i c d a n c e . ~

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cons t i tute s the Church . That Holy F ire i s what trans forms a soc i e ty o f common fo lk into the myst i ca l Body o f Chr i s t - common fo lk who become partakers o f the d iv ine nature , a chosen peop le , a roya l pr ie s thood who are ca l l ed by God the Father , fa sh ioned by the Son , and rea l ized by the indwel l ing and f i l l ing o f the Holy Sp ir i t . That Holy F ire , which i s a t the same t ime a s ing le f lame but s e t ind iv idua l ly upon each person , i s the s ign

and rea l i ty o f sanct i f i cat ion in the present , and the per fec t ion o f theos i s in the ages to come .

You and I are inducted into that Day o f Pentecos t which never ends , f or Pentecos t i s the name o f th i s one

Chr i s t ian generat ion . At Pentecos t , the Las t Days began and wi l l on ly f in i sh when the Son o f Man returns in g lory . Every sacrament comple te ly ushers us into the myst i ca l Upper Room and immerses us in i t s Ho ly F ire . Through sacrament we commune with the Holy Tr in i ty . Through prayer the Holy Sp ir i t g ives ut terance wi th a

language that goes beyond human speech . Through f e l l owsh ip we pract i ce for Heaven in the New

Jerusa lem. Through the v ir tues we se t a s ide the darknes s and d iv i s ions o f the Tower o f Babe l , and we

enter into the sweet fami ly accord o f the "peace that pas se s a l l unders tanding "

(Ph i l ipp ians 4 . 7 )

(An Excerpt From His Eminence’s Archpastoral Letter For Pentecost 2008)

P E N T E C O S TT h e f i r e t h a t b l a z e d i n t h e U p p e r R o o m

w a s a s i g n o f t h e U n c r e a t e d E n e rg y , t h e G r a c e , o f t h e H o l y Tr i n i t y . T h e i n f i n i t e L o v e o f t h e T h re e

Pe r s o n s , O n e i n E s s e n c e , s p i l l s o u t i n v a s t p ro f u s i o n i n t o a n d b e y o n d t h e e n t i r e U n i v e r s e : a n d o n t h a t s p r i n g d a y i n

J e r u s a l e m , t h e H o l y S p i r i t g l o r i f i e d J e s u s C h r i s t i n t h e e v e r y d a y r e a l i t y o f c o m m o n w o m e n a n d m e n .

T h e f i r e i s t h a t g l o r y o f g r a c e : i t i s t h e l i g h t a n d l i f e o f t h e B o d y o f C h r i s t .

I t i s t h e g ro u n d o f b e l i e f , t h e s u b s t a n c e o f f a i t h . I t i s e t e r n a l l i f e t h a t

i s i n a u g u r a t e d i n t h e h e r e a n d n o w. I t i s w h a t t r a n s f o r m s f i s h e r m e n i n t o f i s h e r s o f m e n . I t i s w h a t a m p l i f i e s t h e l a n g u a g e o f m e n i n t o t h e G o s p e l

o f G o d .

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w a s a s i g n o f t h e U n c r e a t e d E n e rg y , t h e G r a c e , o f t h e H o l y Tr i n i t y . T h e i n f i n i t e L o v e o f t h e T h re e

Pe r s o n s , O n e i n E s s e n c e , s p i l l s o u t i n v a s t p ro f u s i o n i n t o a n d b e y o n d t h e e n t i r e U n i v e r s e : a n d o n t h a t s p r i n g d a y i n

J e r u s a l e m , t h e H o l y S p i r i t g l o r i f i e d J e s u s C h r i s t i n t h e e v e r y d a y r e a l i t y o f c o m m o n w o m e n a n d m e n .

T h e f i r e i s t h a t g l o r y o f g r a c e : i t i s t h e l i g h t a n d l i f e o f t h e B o d y o f C h r i s t .

I t i s t h e g ro u n d o f b e l i e f , t h e s u b s t a n c e o f f a i t h . I t i s e t e r n a l l i f e t h a t

i s i n a u g u r a t e d i n t h e h e r e a n d n o w. I t i s w h a t t r a n s f o r m s f i s h e r m e n i n t o f i s h e r s o f m e n . I t i s w h a t a m p l i f i e s t h e l a n g u a g e o f m e n i n t o t h e G o s p e l

o f G o d .

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D i v i n e M e r c y s t a t u e t o t h e c h u r c h .

Pe n t e c o s t ! !

We h e a r a b o u t t h e g i f t o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o t h e d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s . T h e s t o r y i s f i l l e d w i t h m e m o r a b l e d e t a i l s : s t ro n g , d r i v i n g w i n d s t h a t s h a k e t h e h o u s e w h e r e t h e d i s c i p l e s a r e s t a y i n g ; t o n g u e s o f f i r e t h a t s u d d e n l y a p p e a r ; t h e b o l d f e a r l e s s p r e a c h i n g o f d i s c i p l e s w h o h a d b e e n l o c k e d a w a y i n f e a r ; a f a m o u s s e r m o n d e l i v e r e d b y Pe t e r ; t h e c o n v e r s i o n o f 3 0 0 0 p e o p l e i n a s i n g l e d a y . T h e f i r s t

Pe n t e c o s t m u s t h a v e b e e n q u i t e a n e v e n t ! !

A l l o f t h e s e p o w e r f u l , a l m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r, e v e n t s a n d s i g n s a r e r e c o u n t e d a s p a r t o f t h a t f i r s t C h r i s t i a n Pe n t e c o s t . T h e H o l y S p i r i t w a s p o u re d o u t o n t h e

d i s c i p l e s , f i l l i n g t h e m w i t h t h e p r e s e n c e o f G o d a n d e m p o w e r i n g t h e m t o g i v e b o l d w i t n e s s t o t h e p r e s e n c e a n d p o w e r o f t h e R i s e n C h r i s t . I t w a s a m e m o r a b l e a n d

i m p re s s i v e b e g i n n i n g f o r t h e a p o s t o l i c p ro c l a m a t i o n o f t h e g o o d n e w s . Fo r u s t o d a y, t h o u g h , I s u s p e c t t h a t i t i s o f t e n m o re

d i f f i c u l t t o d e t e c t t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h i s H o l y S p i r i t . T h e S p i r i t o f G o d s e e m s t o m o v e i n q u i e t e r, m o re s u b t l e a n d g e n t l e w a y s i n o u r l i v e s . S o m e t i m e s t h e H o l y S p i r i t s e e m s s o m y s t e r i o u s t h a t i t i s a c h a l l e n g e f o r u s t o

d i s c e r n t h e S p i r i t ’ s p r e s e n c e a n d a c t i o n .

Yo u a n d I m a y l i s t e n t o t h e S c r i p t u r e r e a d i n g s f o r Pe n t e c o s t a n d w o n d e r w h a t t h e y m e a n t o u s t o d a y, i n M a y o f 2 0 0 7 . H o w d o w e d i s c o v e r t h e p r e s e n c e a n d a c t i o n o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t i n o u r l i v e s ? H o w d o w e g e t i n t o t o u c h w i t h t h i s S p i r i t o f G o d g i v e n

t o u s i n B a p t i s m a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d i n C o n f i r m a t i o n ? T h e s e a r e q u e s t i o n s t h a t a r e v e r y

i m p o r t a n t t o u s a t C a t h o l i c s o n C a l l , a s w e t r y t o h e l p y o u n g a d u l t s d i s c e r n t h e i r v o c a t i o n .

A s I t h o u g h t a b o u t t h e s e q u e s t i o n s , I r e - r e a d a p r a y e r t h a t i s t r a d i t i o n a l l y p a r t o f t h e l i t u rg y f o r t h i s f e a s t . I t i s t h e “ S e q u e n c e ” o f t h e M a s s f o r Pe n t e c o s t . I t w a s o r i g i n a l l y a h y m n , a n d i t i s o f t e n s u n g o r r e c i t e d b e f o r e t h e G o s p e l . I n t h i s p r a y e r

w e a s k t h a t t h e g i f t o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t b e r e n e w e d i n o u r l i v e s . I t i s a q u i t e b e a u t i f u l a n d c o m p e l l i n g p r a y e r :

C o m e H o l y S p i r i t a n d f ro m h e a v e n d i r e c t o n u s t h e r a y s o f y o u r l i g h t . C o m e Fa t h e r o f t h e p o o r ; c o m e g i v e r o f G o d ’ s g i f t s ; c o m e l i g h t o f o u r h e a r t s . K i n d l y Pa r a c l e t e , i n y o u r g r a c i o u s v i s i t t o o u r s o u l y o u b r i n g r e l i e f a n d c o n s o l a t i o n . I f i t i s w e a r y

w i t h t o i l , y o u b r i n g i t e a s e ; i n t h e h e a t o f t e m p t a t i o n , y o u r g r a c e c o o l s i t ; i f s o r ro w f u l , y o u r w o rd s c o n s o l e i t . L i g h t m o s t b l e s s e d , s h i n e o n t h e h e a r t s o f y o u r f a i t h f u l – e v e n i n t o t h e i r d a r k e s t c o r n e r s . … Wa s h c l e a n t h e s i n f u l s o u l , r a i n d o w n y o u r g r a c e o n t h e p a r c h e d s o u l a n d h e a l t h e i n j u r e d s o u l . S o f t e n t h e h a rd h e a r t , c h e r i s h a n d w a r m t h e i c e - c o l d h e a r t , a n d g i v e d i r e c t i o n t o t h e w a y w a rd . G i v e y o u r s e v e n h o l y g i f t s t o y o u r f a i t h f u l , f o r t h e i r t r u s t i s i n y o u . G i v e t h e m r e w a rd f o r

t h e i r v i r t u o u s a c t s ; g i v e t h e m a d e a t h t h a t e n s u re s s a l v a t i o n ; g i v e t h e m u n e n d i n g b l i s s . A m e n . A l l e l u i a .

H o w d o y o u a n d I d i s c o v e r t h e p r e s e n c e a n d a c t i o n o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t i n o u r v e r y o rd i n a r y , u n s p e c t a c u l a r l i v e s ? Pe rh a p s t h i s b e a u t i f u l p r a y e r o f f e r s u s s o m e h i n t s . T h e S p i r i t o f J e s u s m o v e s w i t h i n u s w h e n w e a r e w e a r y w i t h t o i l . I t m a y j u s t b e

t h a t w e a r e w e a r y w i t h t h e s e e m i n g l y e n d l e s s r o u t i n e o f w o r k a n d o t h e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h a t n e v e r l e t u p . T h e r e i s a l w a y s m o re t o b e d o n e . C o l l e g e s t u d e n t s

a r e o f t e n b o t h g o i n g t o s c h o o l a n d w o r k i n g a d e m a n d i n g j o b . Yo u n g a n d m i d d l e - a g e d c o u p l e s o f t e n m a n a g e h o u s e h o l d s w i t h b o t h s p o u s e s w o r k i n g o u t s i d e t h e h o m e . S o m e t i m e s i t i s t e m p t i n g j u s t t o “ p a c k i t a l l i n . ” Ye t w h e n w e a r e g i v e n t h e s t r e n g t h t o s t a y t h e c o u r s e a n o t h e r d a y, a n o t h e r w e e k , b e c a u s e w e a r e t r y i n g t o b e f a i t h f u l t o o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , t h e S p i r i t o f J e s u s i s a t w o r k i n o u r l i v e s . T h i s i s

t h e S p i r i t w h o g i v e s u s e n e rg y a n d i n i t i a t i v e t h a t w e d o n o t h a v e o n o u r o w n .

I n t h e h e a t o f t e m p t a t i o n , t h e g r a c e o f t h e S p i r i t c o o l s o u r s o u l s . E a c h o f u s a t t i m e s i s d r a w n t o w a rd a c t i o n s t h a t w o u l d m e a n b e i n g u n f a i t h f u l t o G o d a n d t o o t h e r s . We m a y b e l u r e d t o w a rd i n f i d e l i t y t o t h o s e t o w h o m w e a r e m o s t c l o s e l y c o m m i t t e d . I n t h o s e m o m e n t s , i t i s t h e h e l p o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t t h a t w e n e e d . W h e n w e a r e a b l e t o s t e p b a c k a n d r e a l i z e w h a t i t i s w e a r e a b o u t t o d o , w h e n

w e r e c o g n i z e t h e h a r m t h a t w e m a y c a u s e i f w e a c t i n a c e r t a i n w a y a n d a r e e m p o w e re d t o m a k e t h e r i g h t m o r a l c h o i c e , t h e r e t h e S p i r i t o f J e s u s i s a t w o r k

i n o u r l i v e s .

T h e Pe n t e c o s t S e q u e n c e t e l l s u s t h a t w h e n w e a r e s o r ro w f u l , t h e w o rd s o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t b r i n g u s c o n s o l a t i o n . I t m a y b e s o r ro w o v e r a d i s a p p o i n t m e n t a t s c h o o l o r i n a j o b . I t m a y e n t a i l g r i e f o v e r a r i f t i n a n i m p o r t a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p i n o u r l i v e s . I t m a y b e t h e d i s t a n c e w e f e e l f r o m a f a m i l y m e m b e r w e a r e t r y i n g t o l o v e o r t h e f e e l i n g s o f l o s s b e c a u s e o f t h e d e a t h o f a l o v e d o n e . T h e w o rd s o f t h e H o l y S p i r i t m a y w e l l b e s p o k e n t o u s t h ro u g h a n o t h e r p e r s o n , w h o s i m p l y a s s u r e s u s o f h e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d h e r p r e s e n c e w i t h u s a t t h a t m o m e n t . T h e “w o rd s ” o f

t h e H o l y S p i r i t m a y n o t e v e n b e s p o k e n w o rd s ; t h e y m a y b e c o m m u n i c a t e d s i m p l y t h ro u g h a l o v i n g e m b r a c e o r a c o m p a s s i o n a t e g l a n c e . B u t w h e n t h i s

h a p p e n s , w h e n w e a r e a b l e t o e x p e r i e n c e c o n s o l a t i o n e v e n i n t h e d a r k e s t t i m e s , w e c a n b e s u r e t h a t t h e H o l y S p i r i t i s a t w o r k .

I n t h i s p r a y e r, w e a s k t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o “ s o f t e n t h e h a rd h e a r t , c h e r i s h a n d w a r m t h e i c e - c o l d h e a r t . ” L e t ’ s f a c e i t – t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f l i f e h a s a w a y o f

h a rd e n i n g o u r h e a r t s . I t h a p p e n s t o a l l o f u s . We g ro w c o l d a n d h a rd e n e d t o w a rd t h o s e w h o h a v e h u r t u s , d i s a p p o i n t e d u s , o r w h o m w e j u s t c a n n o t s e e m t o

u n d e r s t a n d . A n d i t s e e m s a l o t e a s i e r j u s t t o s t a y t h a t w a y. We p ro t e c t o u r s e l v e s b y r e m a i n i n g c o l d a n d h a rd e n e d i n s i d e . B u t s o m e t i m e s w e f i n d o u r s e l v e s a b l e t o p r a y f o r t h a t p e r s o n w h o h a s h u r t u s , t o t a k e a s t e p c l o s e r t o f o rg i v i n g t h e m .

S o m e t i m e s w e m a k e t h e e f f o r t t o t r y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t p e r s o n w h o p e r p l e x e s u s , t o k e e p t h e d o o r o f o u r h e a r t s o p e n e v e n a l i t t l e . W h e n w e d o t h o s e t h i n g s , i t i s t h e

H o l y S p i r i t w h o i s p r e s e n t a n d a t w o r k i n o u r l i v e s .

We l o o k f o r d i r e c t i o n i n o u r l i v e s . We u n d e r t a k e t h e h a rd w o r k o f m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s a b o u t a c o l l e g e m a j o r, a c a r e e r p a t h , a p l a c e t o l i v e , m a r r i e d l i f e o r s i n g l e l i f e . O u r c u l t u r e i n s t r u c t s u s t o m a k e s u c h d e c i s i o n s p u re l y w i t h o u r o w n a d v a n t a g e i n m i n d – p u re l y o u t o f s e l f - i n t e r e s t . B u t t h e n w e r e a l i z e t h a t w e n e e d t o p r a y a b o u t t h e s e d e c i s i o n s , t o s e e k n o t j u s t o u r o w n i n t e r e s t s b u t t h e w i l l o f G o d . We b e g i n t o t h i n k o f o u r d e c i s i o n i n t e r m s o f v o c a t i o n – a c a l l f r o m t h e g o o d G o d w h o h a s g i v e n u s l i f e . We r e a l i z e t h a t t h i s i s a c a l l t o s e r v e a n d w e b e g i n t o c o n s i d e r t h e p a t h w a y s o f s e r v i c e t h a t a r e o p e n t o u s . E v e n t h o u g h G o d d o e s n o t u s u a l l y g i v e u s a “ s p i r i t u a l g l o b a l p o s i t i o n i n g s y s t e m ” t h a t t e l l s u s t h e p r e c i s e ro u t e t o t a k e , w h e n w e s i n c e r e l y l i s t e n f o r G o d ’ s c a l l w e c a n b e s u r e t h a t t h e H o l y S p i r i t i s a t w o r k i n o u r l i v e s a n d

t h a t w e w i l l d i s c o v e r w h e r e w e a r e m e a n t t o b e .

We m a y n o t s e e t o n g u e s o f f i r e o r f e e l t h e b u i l d i n g s h a k e b u t t h e H o l y S p i r i t i s i n d e e d p r e s e n t a n d a c t i v e i n o u r l i v e s . We n e e d o n l y t o b e i n t o u c h w i t h t h e

p r e s e n c e o f t h e S p i r i t . L e t u s l i s t e n f o r t h e S p i r i t t o d a y. A n d , a s w e c e l e b r a t e Pe n t e c o s t t h i s S u n d a y, y o u a n d I a r e i n v i t e d t o p r a y t h a t G o d r e k i n d l e t h e f i r e o f t h e S p i r i t i n o u r h e a r t s . We n e e d t h i s S p i r i t b e c a u s e e a c h o n e o f u s i s s o o f t e n w e a r y w i t h t o i l , g r i p p e d b y s o r ro w, s t r u g g l i n g w i t h t e m p t a t i o n , c o n f ro n t i n g o u r i c e - c o l d

h e a r t s , s e a r c h i n g f o r d i r e c t i o n . I t i s t h e g i f t o f t h e S p i r i t t h a t m a k e s u s G o d ’ s d a u g h t e r s a n d s o n s , c o n f i d e n t t o c a l l o n G o d a s Fa t h e r, t o a s k f o r w h a t w e n e e d . M o s t o f a l l , t h e H o l y S p i r i t d w e l l i n g w i t h i n r e m i n d s u s o f t h e d e p t h s o f G o d ’ s l o v e f o r u s , a l o v e b e y o n d a n y o f o u r i m a g i n i n g s . “C o m e , H o l y S p i r i t , a n d f ro m h e a v e n d i r e c t o n u s t h e r a y s o f y o u r l i g h t . C o m e , Fa t h e r o f t h e p o o r ; c o m e g i v e r o f G o d ’ s

g i f t s ; c o m e , l i g h t o f o u r h e a r t s . ”

R o b i n R y a n , C P

3 / 4 c u p u n s w e e t e n e d c o c o a 3 / 4 c u p a l l - p u r p o s e f l o u r

1 / 2 t e a s p o o n b a k i n g p o w d e r 1 / 2 t e a s p o o n s a l t

1 / 2 c u p u n s a l t e d b u t t e r, s o f t e n e d 1 c u p s u g a r

3 l a r g e e g g s , a t r o o m t e m p e r a t u r e 1 t e a s p o o n va n i l l a e x t r a c t

1 / 2 c u p s o u r c r e a m 1 1 / 2 c u p s m i l k c h o c o l a t e c h i p s

( 1 / 2 c u p o r 1 c u p i s f i n e a s w e l l )

C h o c o l a t e C u p c a k e s

w i t h W h i t e I c i n g

D i r e c t i o n s :S i f t t o g e t h e r c o c o a , f l o u r, b a k i n g p o w d e r a n d s a l t i n a m e d i u m b o w l ; s e t a s i d e

B e a t b u t t e r a n d s u g a r a t m e d i u m s p e e d w i t h a n e l e c t r i c m i x e r u n t i l l i g h t a n d f l u f f y. A d d e g g s , 1 a t a t i m e, b e a t i n g u n t i l w e l l b l e n d e d a f t e r e a c h a d d i t i o n . S t i r i n va n i l l a . A d d c o c o a m i x t u r e t o b u t t e r m i x t u r e a l t e r n a t e l y w i t h s o u r c r e a m ,

b e g i n n i n g a n d e n d i n g w i t h c o c o a m i x t u r e . B e a t a t l o w s p e e d u n t i l b l e n d e d a f t e r e a c h a d d i t i o n . S t i r i n c h o c o l a t e c h i p s . P u t 1 2 p a p e r b a k i n g c u p s i n a m u f f i n p a n . S p o o n b a t t e r e v e n l y i n t o c u p s , f i l l i n g a l l t h e w a y t o t h e t o p . B a k e a t 3 5 0 °

f o r 2 5 t o 3 0 m i n u t e s o r u n t i l a w o o d e n p i c k i n s e r t e d i n c e n t e r c o m e s o u t c l e a n . C o o l i n p a n 5 m i n u t e s . Th e n t r a n s f e r t o a w i r e r a c k , a n d c o o l 3 0 m i n u t e s

o r u n t i l c o m p l e t e l y c o o l . S p r e a d c u p c a k e s e v e n l y w i t h W h i t e Fr o s t i n g .

W h i t e Fr o s t i n g :1 / 2 c u p u n s a l t e d b u t t e r, s o f t e n e d

3 c u p s p o w d e r e d s u g a r 1 t e a s p o o n va n i l l a e x t r a c t

2 t o 3 T b s p . m i l k

P r e p a r a t i o n :B e a t b u t t e r w i t h a n e l e c t r i c m i x e r w i t h a p a d d l e a t t a c h m e n t a t m e d i u m - h i g h

s p e e d u n t i l c r e a m y. G r a d u a l l y b e a t i n s u g a r u n t i l s m o o t h . B e a t i n va n i l l a a n d 2 T b s p . m i l k , a d d i n g a d d i t i o n a l m i l k , i f n e c e s s a r y,

f o r d e s i r e d c o n s i s t e n c y.

C h o c o l a t e C u p c a k e s

w i t h W h i t e I c i n g

God does not

demand that we be per fec t be fore He wi l l

l ove us .Hes imply asks us to accept

His gu idance so that we can l earn from our

mis takesand grow in per fec t ion .

Humi l i ty , there fore , i s ac tua l ly a s ign o f great courage and deep sp ir i tua l

unders tanding . In humi l i ty there i s no f ear . In humi l i ty there i s no t imid i ty . In humi l i ty there i s on ly conf idence—

conf idence , not in the s e l f , but in God ’ s l ov ing protec t ion .

MISTAKES are . . .

* Messages that g ive us f eedback about l i f e ; * Interrupt ions that shou ld cause us

to re f l ec t and th ink ;* S ignpos t s that d irec t us to the r ight path ;

* Tes t s that push us toward greater matur i ty ;* Awakenings that keep us in the game menta l ly ;

* Keys that we can use to un lock the next door o f opportuni ty ;

* Exp lorat ions that l e t u s j ourney where we have never been be fore ;

* S tatements about our deve lopment and progres s .

Feas t o f S t P e t e r and S t Pau lO ho ly Apos t l e s , P e t e r and Pau l , I choose you th i s day and fo reve r t o be my spec i a l pa t rons and advoca t es . S a in t Pe t e r , P r ince o f the Apos t l e s , you a r e the Rock , upon wh i ch A lmigh ty God has bu i l t H i s Church ; S a in t Pau l , b ecause you a r e chosen by God as the Vesse l o f e l e c t i on and the P r each -e r o f t ru th i n the who l e wor ld . Ob ta in fo r me , I p ray you , l i v e l y f a i th , f i rm hope , and burn ing l ove ; comp le t e de tachment f rom myse l f , con tempt o f the wor ld , pa t i ence i n adve r s i t y , humi l i t y i n p rospe r i t y , a t t en t i on in p raye r , pur i t y o f hea r t , a r i gh t i n t en -t i on in a l l my works , d i l i g ence i n fu l f i l l i ng the du t i e s o f my s t a t e o f l i f e , cons tancy i n my r e so lu t i ons , r e s i gna t i on to the w i l l o f God and pe r seve rance i n the g race o f God even un to dea th ; tha t so , by means o f your i n t e r cess ion and your g lo r i ous mer i t s , I may be ab l e t o ove r come the t empta t i ons o f the wor ld , the f l e sh and the dev i l , and may be made wor thy to appea r be fo re the ch i e f and e t e rna l Shepherd o f sou l s , J e sus Chr i s t , Who w i th the Fa the r and the Ho ly Sp i r i t l i v e and r e i gn fo r end l e ss ages , t o en joy H i s p resence and l ove H im fo reve r .

Amen .

Pa in t ing by E l G reco - S t s Pe t e r and Pau l

S t a tue o f S t Pau l i n f ron t o f S t P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a i n Va t i c an C i t y , I t a l y

S t P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a

S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a a s pa in t ed by G iovann i Pao lo Pan in i

S t . P e t e r ' s i s the mos t r enowned work o f Rena i s sance a r ch i t e c tu re and r ema ins the l a rges t church in the wor ld . Wh i l e i t i s ne i the r the mothe r church o f the Ca tho l i c Church nor the Ca tho l i c Roman R i t e c a thedra l o f the D iocese o f Rome , S t . P e t e r ' s i s r ega rded as one o f the ho l i e s t Ca tho l i c s i t e s . I t has been desc r ibed a s "ho ld ing a un ique pos i t i on in the Chr i s t i an wor ld " and as " the g r ea t e s t o f a l l churches o f

Chr i s t endom" .

S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a i s one o f f our Papa l Bas i l i c a s o r Ma jo r

Bas i l i c a s o f Rome the o the r s be ing the Bas i l i c a o f S t . J ohn

La t e ran , S an ta Mar i a Magg io re and S t . P au l ou t s ide the Wa l l s . I t

i s the mos t p rominen t bu i ld ing i n the Va t i c an C i t y . I t s dome i s a

dominan t f ea tu re o f the sky l i ne o f Rome . P robab l y the l a rges t church in Chr i s t endom, i t cove r s an a r ea

o f 2 . 3 hec t a r es ( 5 . 7 a c r es ) . One o f the ho l i e s t s i t e s o f Chr i s t i an i t y i n

the Ca tho l i c T rad i t i on , i t i s t r ad i t i ona l l y the bur i a l s i t e o f i t s

t i t u l a r Sa in t Pe t e r , who was one o f the twe l ve apos t l e s o f J e sus and , a c co rd ing to Ca tho l i c T rad i t i on , a l so the f i r s t B i shop o f An t ioch and l a t e r f i r s t B i shop o f Rome ,

the f i r s t Pope . A l though the New Tes tament does no t ment ion Pe t e r ' s mar ty rdom in Rome ,

Ca tho l i c t r ad i t i on , based on the w r i t i ngs o f the Fa the r s

o f the Churchho lds tha t h i s t omb i s be low the

ba ldach in and a l t a r ; f o r t h i s r eason , many Popes

have , f rom the ea r l y y ea r s o f the Church ,

been bur i ed the re .

S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a f rom ponte Umber to I , on the T ibe r . The i con i c dome domina tes the sky l i ne o f Rome

Panorama o f S t . P e t e r ' s Square

Accord ing to t r ad i t i on , P e t e r ' s r ema ins were bur i ed jus t ou t s ide the C i r cus , on the Mons Va t i c anus a c ross the V i a Corne l i a f rom the

C i r cus , l e s s than 150 met res ( 490 f t ) f rom h i s p l a ce o f dea th . The V i a Corne l i a (wh i ch may have been known by ano the r name to the anc i en t Romans ) was a road wh i ch r an eas t - t o -wes t a l ong the nor th wa l l o f the C i r cus on l and now cove red by the sou the rn por t i ons o f the Bas i l i c a and Sa in t Pe t e r ' s

Square . P e t e r ' s g r ave was i n i t i a l l y marked s imp ly by a r ed rock , s ymbo l i c o f h i s name .

A sh r ine was bu i l t on th i s s i t e some yea r s l a t e r . A lmos t th ree hundred yea r s

l a t e r , O ld S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a was cons t ruc t ed ove r th i s s i t e .

C r epuscu l a r r ays a r e r egu l a r l y s een in S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a a t c e r t a in t imes

Anc i en t s t a tue o f S t . P e t e r i n S t . P e t e r ' s Bas i l i c a , Rome . Poss ib l y the work o f A tno l fo d i Camb io . Thought by some h i s to r i ans to be much o lde r .

F ron t o f the Bas i l i c a o f Sa in t Pau l Ou ts ide the Wa l l s

B a s i l i c a o f Sa in t Pau l

Papa l Bas i l i c a o f S t Pau l Ou ts ide the Wa l l s

The bas i l i c a was founded by the Roman Emperor Cons tan t ine I ove r the bur i a l p l a ce o f Sa in t

Pau l , where i t was sa id tha t , a f t e r the Apos t l e ' s execu t i on , h i s

f o l l owers e r ec t ed a memor i a l , c a l l ed a c e l l a

memor i ae . Th i s f i r s t ed i f i c e was expanded under Va l en t in i an I i n

the 370s .

Accord ing to t r ad i t i on , Pau l ’ s body was bur i ed two mi l e s away f rom the p l a ce o f h i s mar ty rdom, i n the s epu l ch ra l a r ea a l ong the Os t i ense Way , wh i ch was owned

by a Chr i s t i an woman named Luc ina . A t ropaeum was e r ec t ed on i t and qu i ck l y became a p l a ce

o f v ene ra t i on .

Cons tan t ine I e r e c t ed a bas i l i c a on the t ropaeum's s i t e , and the bas i l i c a was s i gn i f i c an t l y ex t ended by Theodos ius I f rom 386 , i n to wha t i s now known as Sa in t Pau l Ou ts ide the Wa l l s . Dur ing the 4 th c en tu ry , Pau l ' s r ema ins , e xc lud ing the head , we re moved in to a s a r cophagus . (Acco rd ing to church t r ad i t i on the head r e s t s a t the La t e ran . ) P au l ' s t omb i s be low a marb l e t ombs tone in the Bas i l i c a ' s c r yp t , a t 1 . 37 met res ( 4 . 5 f t ) be low the a l t a r . The tombs tone

bea r s the La t in i n sc r ip t i on PAULO APOSTOLO MART ( " t o Pau l the apos t l e and mar ty r " ) . The i nsc r ibed por t i on o f the tombs tone has th ree ho l e s , two square and one c i r cu l a r .

The c i r cu l a r ho l e i s connec t ed to the tomb by a p ipe l i ne , r e f l e c t ing the Roman cus tom o f pour ing pe r fumes ins ide the sa r cophagus , o r t o the p rac t i c e o f p rov id ing the bones o f the dead w i th l i ba t i ons . The sa r cophagus be low the tombs tone measures 2 . 55 met res ( 8 . 4 f t )

l ong , 1 . 25 met res ( 4 . 1 f t ) w ide and 0 .97 met res ( 3 . 2 f t ) h i gh .

B a s i l i c a o f Sa in t Pau l

Apse mosa i c ( 1220 ) . The apse mosa i c was made by Vene t i an a r t i s t s . Chr i s t i s f l anked by the Apos t l e s Pe t e r , P au l , Andrew and Luke .

In 61 A .D . Pau l a r r i v ed in Rome to undergo judgment . He re he was beheaded be tween 65 and 67 A .D . H i s body was bur i ed two mi l e s away f rom the p l a ce o f h i s mar ty rdom, i n the

s epu l ch ra l a r ea a l ong the Os t i ense Way , owned by a devou t Chr i s t i an woman named Luc ina , wh i ch was pa r t o f a p re - ex i s t en t bur i a l p l a ce . E ven though he was a Chr i s t i an , i t was

poss ib l e t o bury the Apos t l e Pau l i n a Roman nec ropo l i s , due to h i s Roman c i t i zensh ip . Shor t l y the rea f t e r , h i s t omb wou ld become a p l a ce o f worsh ip and vene ra t i on . Upon i t was e r ec t ed a c e l l a memor i ae o r t ropaeum, name ly a memor i a l , where dur ing the f i r s t c en tu r i e s

o f pe r secu t i on many o f the f a i th fu l and p i l g r ims wou ld go to p ray , d raw ing the s t r eng th necessa ry to c a r ry ou t the work o f evange l i za t i on o f th i s g r ea t m i s s iona ry

T h i s S u n d a y, 2 9 J u n e , t h e F e a s t o f S S P e t e r a n d P a u l , C h r i s t i a n s f r o m A n t i o c h , I s k e n d e r u n , M e r s i n a n d A d a n a w i l l b e a l l o w e d t o p r a y i n t h e a n c i e n t c a v e c h u r c h o f S t P e t e r i n A n t i o c h . T h e c h u r c h i s c u r r e n t l y u n d e r g o i n g m a j o r r e s t o r a t i o n w o r k a n d w i l l n o t b e o p e n i n g o f f i c i a l l y u n t i l n e x t m o n t h .

C a p u c h i n F r a n c i s c a n F a t h e r D o m e n i c o B e r t o g l i , w h o i s t h e l o c a l L a t i n R i t e C a t h o l i c p r i e s t , a n d e d i t o r o f t h e m a g a z i n e C h r o n i c l e o f A n t i o c h , s a i d : " T h e r e i s s t i l l m u c h w o r k t o d o . . . a n d t h e o f f i c i a l o p e n i n g i s o n J u l y 2 5 . O n t h e s a m e d a y, t h e n e w A r c h a e o l o g i c a l M u s e u m , n e a r b y w i l l a l s o o p e n " .

T h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e c a v e c h u r c h , w h i c h i s b u i l t i n t o t h e s i d e o f M o u n t S i l p i u s , h a s b e e n f u n d e d b y p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n s i n Tu r k e y. T h e m o s t c h a l l e n g i n g p a r t o f t h e w o r k i n v o l v e d t h e s a f e t y o f t h e c h u r c h a n d t h e e n t i r e a r e a . R e s t o r e d m o s a i c s h a v e b e e n c o v e r e d w i t h s h e e t s o f g l a s s a n d a c c e n t e d w i t h l i g h t i n g p a v e m e n t .

S i n c e 1 9 6 7 , t h a n k s t o P o p e P a u l V I , v i s i t o r s c a n g a i n a p l e n a r y i n d u l g e n c e b y m a k i n g a p i l g r i m a g e t o t h e h o l y c a v e , w h i c h i s t h e o n l y k n o w n r e m a i n s o f a n c i e n t C h r i s t i a n A n t i o c h , t h e ' Q u e e n o f t h e E a s t t h a t c o m p e t e d w i t h R o m e ' , A l e x a n d r i a , J e r u s a l e m a n d C o n s t a n t i n o p l e a t t h e t i m e o f P e n t a r c h y.

T h e c a v e c h u r c h s t i l l r e t a i n s m a n y o f t h e f e a t u r e s a d d e d b y t h e C r u s a d e r s , w h e n t h e y c o n q u e r e d A n t i o c h i n 1 0 9 8 . B u t t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e b u i l d i n g i s o l d e r t h a n t h a t - d a t i n g b e y o n d B y z a n t i u m . T h i s w a s a c h a p e l w h e r e C h r i s t i a n s m e t i n t i m e s o f p e r s e c u t i o n , i n t h e c i t y w h e r e t h e d i s c i p l e s o f J e s u s w e r e c a l l e d C h r i s t i a n s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , a n d w h e r e S t P e t e r w a s b i s h o p b e f o r e c o m i n g t o R o m e .

S o u r c e : F i d e s

Turkey : Anc ient cave church of St Peter in Ant ioch reopening

Inter ior of the cav e , w i t h altar .

Tunnel

Map of l evant

I t w a s h e r e t h a t S t . P e t e r w a s s e l e c t e d a s t h e “ f i r s t b i s h o p ” o f t h e c h u r c h o f A n t i o c h , a n d t h e t e r m “ C h r i s t i a n ” w a s f i r s t u s e d t o d e s c r i b e a d h e r e n t s t o t h e n e w r e l i g i o n , w h o w e r e p r o s e l y t i z e d f r o m b o t h t h e l a r g e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y a n d t h e e v e n l a r g e r n u m b e r o f G e n t i l e s .

History of Cave Church of St. Peter

T h i s c a v e i s w i d e l y b e l i e v e d t o h a v e b e e n d u g b y t h e A p o s t l e P e t e r h i m s e l f a s a p l a c e f o r t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y o f A n t i o c h t o m e e t , a n d t h u s t o b e t h e v e r y f i r s t C h r i s t i a n c h u r c h .

W h e t h e r o r n o t t h i s i s s o , S t . P e t e r ( a n d S t . P a u l ) d i d p r e a c h i n A n t i o c h a r o u n d 5 0 A D a n d a c h u r c h h a d b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d i n A n t i o c h b y a s e a r l y a s 4 0 A D .

A n t i o c h b e c a m e a m a j o r c e n t e r f o r p l a n n i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g t h e a p o s t l e s ' m i s s i o n a r y e f f o r t s , a n d i t w a s t h e b a s e f o r P a u l ' s e a r l i e s t m i s s i o n a r y j o u r n e y s . F a m o u s l y, i t w a s t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f A n t i o c h t h a t f i r s t c a l l e d J e s u s ' f o l l o w e r s " C h r i s t i a n s " ( A c t s 11 : 2 6 ) .

T h e a t t r a c t i v e s t o n e f a ç a d e o f t h e c h u r c h w a s b u i l t b y C r u s a d e r s , w h o i d e n t i f i e d t h e g r o t t o d u r i n g t h e i r r u l e o f A n t i o c h f r o m 1 0 9 8 t o 1 2 6 8 .

W h a t t o S e e a t C a v e C h u r c h o f S t . P e t e rT h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e g r o t t o c h u r c h i s a u s t e r e a n d s i m p l e . T h e o n l y p e r m a n e n t f u r n i s h i n g s a r e a s m a l l a l t a r , a s i n g l e s t a t u e , a n d a s t o n e t h r o n e . O n t h e w a l l s a r e t h e b a r e l y d i s c e r n i b l e r e m a i n s o f f r e s c o e s , a n d o n t h e f l o o r c a n b e s e e n s o m e t r a c e s o f m o s a i c s . I n t h e b a c k o f t h e c h u r c h i s a t u n n e l t h a t l e a d s i n t o t h e m o u n t a i n i n t e r i o r , p o p u l a r l y b e l i e v e d t o b e a m e a n s o f e s c a p e i n t i m e s o f p e r s e c u t i o n .

Wo r s h i p s e r v i c e s a r e s t i l l h e l d i n S t . P e t e r ' s G r o t t o , e s p e c i a l l y o n t h e F e a s t D a y o f

S t . P e t e r a n d S t . P a u l ( J u n e 2 9 ) a n d o n C h r i s t m a s .

S e e t h e C a v e C h u r c h o f S t . P e t e r P h o t o G a l l e r y f o r a v i r t u a l t o u r.

N e a r t h e c h u r c h i s t h e C h a r o n i o n , a s t o n e c a r v i n g f r o m H e l l e n i s t i c t i m e s .

T h e G r o t t o ( c a v e c h u r c h ) o f S t . P e t e r . T h e o n l y s u r v i v i n g C h r i s t i a n r e m n a n t i n A n t i o c h i s t h e G r o t t o ( c a v e c h u r c h ) s a i d t o b e o f S t . P e t e r . I t i s l o c a t e d 1 k i l o m e t e r d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e t o w n c e n t e r o n t h e S y r i a n r o a d . T h e g r o t t o i s a n a t u r a l h a l l o w i n t h e w e s t s l o p e s o f M o u n t S t a u r i s ( t h e m o u n t o f C r o s s , 2 9 2 m ) . T h e c a v e i s 9 , 5 m e t e r s w i d e , 1 3 m e t e r s d e e p , a n d a l i t t l e m o r e t h a n 7 m e t e r s h i g h . T h e c r u s a d e r s b u i l t t h e a r c h e s i n f r o n t o f t h e c a v e c r e a t i n g a n a v e a n d t w o a i s l e s . T h i s g r o t t o w a s t h e m e e t i n g p l a c e o f t h e f i r s t C h r i s t i a n s r o u n d P a u l , B a r n a b u s , M a r k , L u k e , P e t e r , a n d t h e f i r s t B i s h o p s o f t h e t o w n .

A b o v e t h e s m a l l e s p l a n a d e w h i c h c o v e r s t h e s i t e o f a n a n c i e n t C h r i s t i a n c e m e t e r y, r i s e s t h e f a c a d e b u i l t i n t h e l a s t c e n t u r y i n t h e o r i e n t a l s t y l e . T h r e e d o o r s o p e n i n t o t h e c a v e w h e r e t r a c e s o f t h e a n c i e n t m o s a i c f l o o r c a n s t i l l b e s e e n . A t t h e b a c k t h e r e i s a n i c h e w h i c h s i n c e 1 9 3 9 h a s c o n t a i n e d a w h i t e m a r b l e s t a t u e o f S t . P e t e r . T h e w a l l s o f t h e c a v e w e r e o n c e e n t i r e l y c o v e r e d w i t h f r e s c o e s , p a r t s o f w h i c h c a n s t i l l b e s e e n . I n 1 9 9 0 a s t o n e t h r o n e w a s p l a c e d b e h i n d t h e a l t a r .

A t t h e b a c k o f t h e c a v e , t o t h e l e f t , t h e r e i s a t u n n e l w h i c h u s e d t o b e a n e s c a p e r o u t e i n c a s e o f a n u n e x p e c t e d a t t a c k . To t h e r i g h t t h e r e i s s m a l l s p r i n g w h i c h f l o w s f r o m t h e r o c k . T h e w a t e r i s c o l l e c t e d i n a s m a l l b a s i n w h i c h c o u l d a l s o b e u s e d a s a f o n t .

To w a r d s 1 5 8 0 t h e M u s l i m s g a v e t h e c a v e t o t h e O r t h o d o x w h o u s e d i t u p u n t i l t h e m i d d l e o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y, a s a p l a c e o f w o r s h i p a n d a c e m e t e r y.

I n 1 5 8 6 t h e c a v e c a m e i n t o t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e F r e n c h c o n s u l a t A l e p p o w h o p r e s e n t e d i t t o t h e H o l y S e e t h r o u g h A p o s t o l i c D e l e g a t e i n S y r i a , M g r B r u n o n i , w h o g a v e i t i n t o t h e k e e p i n g o f t h e C a p u c h i n s w h o h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d t h e C a t h o l i c c h u r c h i n A n t i o c h s i n c e 1 8 4 6 .

P r i e s t w h o w i s h c a n c e l e b r a t e m a s s i n t h e g r o t t o e a c h S u n d a y, d u r i n g t h e p r i n c i p a l f e a s t s o f t h e l i t u r g i c a l y e a r ( i n c l u d i n g C h r i s t m a s m i d n i g h t m a s s ) , o n s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n s ( m a r r i a g e s ) a n d w h e n e v e r a g r o u p o f p i l g r i m s r e q u e s t s i t .

T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 2 5 , 2 0 1 3 P o p e F r a n c i s A W i t n e s s To A E u c h a r i s t i c M i r a c l e !

I n 1 9 9 6 i n t h e A r c h d i o c e s e o f B u e n o s A i r e s , A r g e n t i -n a , w h e n t h e p r e s e n t P o p e F r a n c i s w a s A u x i l i a r y B i s h o p u n d e r C a r d i n a l Q u a r r a c i n o , a n a m a z i n g E u c h a r i s t i c m i r a c l e t o o k p l a c e . H e h i m s e l f h a d i t p h o t o g r a p h e d a n d i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d t h e r e s u l t s a r e a s t o n i s h i n g . A t s e v e n o ’ c l o c k i n t h e e v e n i n g o n A u g u s t 1 8 , 1 9 9 6 , F r . A l e j a n d r o P e z e t w a s s a y i n g H o l y M a s s a t a C a t h o l i c c h u r c h i n t h e c o m m e r c i a l c e n t e r o f B u e n o s A i r e s . A s h e w a s f i n i s h i n g d i s t r i b u t i n g H o l y C o m m u n i o n , a w o m a n c a m e u p t o t e l l h i m t h a t s h e h a d f o u n d a d i s c a r d e d h o s t o n a c a n d l e h o l d e r a t t h e b a c k o f t h e c h u r c h . O n g o i n g t o t h e s p o t i n d i c a t e d , F r . A l e j a n d r o s a w t h e d e f i l e d H o s t . S i n c e h e w a s u n a b l e t o c o n s u m e i t , h e p l a c e d i t i n a c o n t a i n e r o f wa te r a n d p u t i t away i n t h e t a b e r n a c l e o f t h e c h a p e l o f t h e B l e s s e d S a c r a m e n t .

O n M o n d a y , A u g u s t 2 6 , u p o n o p e n i n g t h e t a b e r n a c l e , h e s a w t o h i s a m a z e m e n t t h a t t h e H o s t h a d t u r n e d i n t o a b l o o d y s u b s t a n c e . H e i n f o r m e d B i s h o p J o r g e B e r g o g l i o ( N o w P o p e F r a n c i s , A u x i l l a r y B i s h o p t h a t t i m e ) , w h o g a v e i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t t h e H o s t b e p r o f e s s i o n a l l y p h o t o g r a p h e d . T h e p h o t o s w e r e t a k e n o n S e p t e m b e r 6 . T h e y c l e a r l y s h o w t h a t t h e H o s t , w h i c h h a d b e c o m e a f r a g m e n t o f b l o o d i e d f l e s h , h a d g r o w n s i g n i f i c a n t -l y i n s i z e . F o r s e v e r a l y e a r s t h e H o s t r e m a i n e d i n t h e t a b e r n a c l e , t h e w h o l e a f f a i r b e i n g k e p t a s t r i c t s e c r e t . S i n c e t h e H o s t s u f f e r e d n o v i s i b l e d e c o m p o s i t i o n , C a r d i n a l B e r g o g l i o ( W h o b e c a m e A r c h b i s h o p b y t h a t t i m e ) d e c i d e d t o h a v e i t s c i e n t i f i c a l l y a n a l y z e d . .

O n O c t o b e r 5 , 1 9 9 9 , i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e C a r d i n a l ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , D r . C a s t a n o n t o o k a s a m p l e o f t h e b l o o d y f r a g m e n t a n d s e n t i t t o N e w Yo r k f o r a n a l y s i s . S i n c e h e d i d n o t w i s h t o p r e j u d i c e t h e s t u d y , h e p u r p o s e l y d i d n o t i n f o r m t h e t e a m o f s c i e n t i s t s o f i t s p r o v e n a n c e ( t h e s o u r c e o f s a m p l e w a s k e p t s e c r e t t o t h e s c i e n t i s t s ) . O n e o f t h e s e s c i e n t i s t s w a s D r . F r e d e r i c Z u g i b a , t h e w e l l - k n o w n c a r d i o l o g i s t a n d f o r e n s i c p a t h o l o g i s t . H e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a n a l y z e d s u b s t a n c e w a s r e a l f l e s h a n d b l o o d c o n t a i n i n g h u m a n D N A . Z u g i b a t e s t i f i e d t h a t , “ t h e a n a l y z e d m a t e r i a l i s a f r a g m e n t o f t h e h e a r t m u s c l e f o u n d i n t h e w a l l o f t h e l e f t v e n t r i c l e c l o s e t o t h e v a l v e s . T h i s m u s c l e i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n t r a c t i o n o f t h e h e a r t . I t s h o u l d b e b o r n e i n m i n d t h a t t h e l e f t c a r d i a c v e n t r i c l e p u m p s b l o o d t o a l l p a r t s o f t h e b o d y . T h e h e a r t m u s c l e i s i n a n i n f l a m m a t o r y c o n d i t i o n a n d c o n t a i n s a l a r g e n u m b e r o f w h i t e b l o o d c e l l s . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e h e a r t w a s a l i v e a t t h e t i m e t h e s a m p l e w a s t a k e n . I t i s m y c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e h e a r t w a s a l i v e , s i n c e w h i t e b l o o d c e l l s d i e o u t s i d e a l i v i n g o r g a n i s m . T h e y r e q u i r e a l i v i n g o r g a n i s m t o s u s t a i n t h e m . T h u s , t h e i r p r e s e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e h e a r t w a s a l i v e w h e n t h e s a m p l e w a s t a k e n . W h a t i s m o r e , t h e s e w h i t e b l o o d c e l l s h a d p e n e t r a t e d t h e t i s s u e , w h i c h f u r t h e r i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e h e a r t h a d b e e n u n d e r s e v e r e s t r e s s , a s i f t h e o w n e r h a d b e e n b e a t e n s e v e r e l y a b o u t t h e c h e s t . ”

E u c h a r i s t i c M i r a c l e o f B u e n o s A i r e s

Tw o A u s t r a l i a n s , j o u r n a l i s t M i k e W i l l e s e e a n d l a w y e r R o n Te s o r i e r o , w i t n e s s e d t h e s e t e s t s . K n o w i n g w h e r e s a m p l e h a d c o m e f r o m , t h e y w e r e d u m b f o u n d e d b y D r . Z u g i b a ’ s t e s t i m o n y . M i k e W i l l e s e e a s k e d t h e s c i e n t i s t h o w l o n g t h e w h i t e b l o o d c e l l s w o u l d h a v e r e m a i n e d a l i v e i f t h e y h a d c o m e f r o m a p i e c e o f h u m a n t i s s u e , w h i c h h a d b e e n k e p t i n w a t e r . T h e y w o u l d h a v e c e a s e d t o e x i s t i n a m a t t e r o f m i n u t e s , D r . Z u g i b a r e p l i e d . T h e j o u r n a l i s t t h e n t o l d t h e d o c t o r t h a t t h e s o u r c e o f t h e s a m p l e h a d f i r s t b e e n k e p t i n o r d i n a r y w a t e r f o r a m o n t h a n d t h e n f o r a n o t h e r t h r e e y e a r s i n a c o n t a i n e r o f d i s t i l l e d w a t e r ; o n l y t h e n h a d t h e s a m p l e b e e n t a k e n f o r a n a l y s i s . D r . Z u g i b a ’ s w a s a t a l o s s t o a c c o u n t f o r t h i s f a c t . T h e r e w a s n o w a y o f e x p l a i n i n g i t s c i e n t i f i c a l l y , h e s t a t e d . A l s o , D r . Z u g i b e p a s s i o n a t e -l y a s k e d , “ Yo u h a v e t o e x p l a i n o n e t h i n g t o m e , i f t h i s s a m p l e c a m e f r o m a p e r s o n w h o w a s d e a d , t h e n h o w c o u l d i t b e t h a t a s I w a s e x a m i n i n g i t t h e c e l l s o f t h e s a m p l e w e r e m o v i n g a n d b e a t i n g ? I f t h i s h e a r t c o m e s f r o m s o m e o n e w h o d i e d i n 1 9 9 6 , h o w c a n i t s t i l l b e a l i v e ?

T h e n d i d M i k e W i l l e s e e i n f o r m D r . Z u g i b a t h a t t h e a n a l y z e d s a m p l e c a m e f r o m a c o n s e c r a t e d H o s t ( w h i t e , u n l e a v e n e d b r e a d ) t h a t h a d m y s t e r i o u s l y t u r n e d i n t o b l o o d y h u m a n f l e s h . A m a z e d b y t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , D r . Z u g i b a r e p l i e d , “ H o w a n d w h y a c o n s e c r a t e d H o s t w o u l d c h a n g e i t s c h a r a c t e r a n d b e c o m e l i v i n g h u m a n f l e s h a n d b l o o d w i l l r e m a i n a n i n e x p l i c a b l e m y s t e r y t o s c i e n c e — a m y s t e r y t o t a l l y b e y o n d h e r c o m p e t e n c e . ” E u c h a r i s t i c M i r a c l e o f B u e n o s A i r e s

T h e n D o c t o r R i c a r d o C a s t a n o n G o m e z a r r a n g e d t o h a v e t h e l a b r e p o r t s f r o m t h e B u e n o s A i r e s m i r a c l e c o m p a r e d t o t h e l a b r e p o r t s f r o m t h e L a n c i a n o m i r a c l e , a g a i n w i t h o u t r e v e a l i n g t h e o r i g i n o f t h e t e s t s a m p l e s . T h e e x p e r t s m a k i n g t h e c o m p a r i s o n c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e t w o l a b r e p o r t s m u s t h a v e o r i g i n a t e d f r o m t e s t s a m p l e s o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e s a m e p e r s o n . T h e y f u r t h e r r e p o r t e d t h a t b o t h s a m p l e s r eve a l e d a n “A B ” p o s i t i ve b l o o d t y p e . T h ey a r e a l l c h a r a c t e r i s -t i c o f a m a n w h o w a s b o r n a n d l i v e d i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t r e g i o n .

O n l y f a i t h i n t h e e x t r a o r d i n a r y a c t i o n o f a G o d p r o v i d e s t h e r e a s o n a b l e a n s w e r — f a i t h i n a G o d , w h o w a n t s t o m a k e u s a w a r e t h a t H e i s t r u l y p r e s e n t i n t h e m y s t e r y o f t h e E u c h a r i s t . T h e E u c h a r i s t i c m i r a c l e i n B u e n o s A i r e s i s a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y s i g n a t t e s t e d t o b y s c i e n c e . T h r o u g h i t J e s u s d e s i r e s t o a r o u s e i n u s a l i v e l y f a i t h i n H i s r e a l p r e s e n c e i n t h e E u c h a r i s t . H e r e m i n d s u s t h a t H i s p r e s e n c e i s r e a l , a n d n o t s y m b o l i c . O n l y w i t h t h e e y e s o f f a i t h d o w e s e e H i m u n d e r a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e c o n s e c r a t e d b r e a d a n d w i n e . We d o n o t s e e H i m w i t h o u r b o d i l y e y e s , s i n c e H e i s p r e s e n t i n H i s g l o r i f i e d h u m a n i t y . I n t h e E u c h a r i s t J e s u s s e e s a n d l o v e s u s a n d d e s i r e s t o s a v e u s . ( A r c h b i s h o p B e r g o g l i o b e c a m e a C a r d i n a l i n 2 0 0 1 , t h i s m i r a c l e w a s p u b l i s h e d a f t e r m a n y r e s e a r c h e s , b y t h a t t i m e h e b e c a m e a C a r d i n a l , t h a t ' s w h y h e i s a d d r e s s e d a s c a r d i n a l i n t h i s p o s t ) A l s o w a t c h h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = A P z 1 v 8 o z 1 m s w h e r e D r . C a s t a n o n , A t h e i s t t u r n e d C a t h o l i c e x p l a i n s t h i s m i r a c l e !

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Ba p t i s M

Ba p t i s MN a m e o f c h i l d :

A l e s s a n d r o D e F r a n c aD a t e o f B a p t i s m :

1 5 J u n e 2 0 1 4

Ba p t i s M

Ba p t i s MN a m e o f c h i l d :

R o d r i g o M e n e z e sD a t e o f B a p t i s m :

0 8 J u n e 2 0 1 4

Ba p t i s MN a m e o f c h i l d :

G i a O g l eD a t e o f B a p t i s m :

2 1 J u n e 2 0 1 4

CongratUlations and blessings to the following members who were baptised or married:

O u r L a d y o f C e d a r s - Wo o d m e a d

BaptisMs & Weddings

Baptismsdate baby name parents name

01-Jun-14 Jordan James Cheketri Delon & Alexandra Cheketri

08-Jun-14 taylor Caitlyn miChael Keenan Michael & Kaylee Parr

14-Jun-14 lyle James hamaty Eric Tanios & Melanie Maureen Hamaty

15-Jun-14 adam Craig Zoghby Brandon Michael & Tamsyn Lee Zoghby

29-Jun-14 dino matteo sillato Nocholas & Meggan Sillato

Funerals † Antonio JoAquim-RosAs RolA: 17 August 1932 - 17 June 2014

† CAmillA BARBARA PeteR: 02 JAn 1919 - 24 Jun 2014

CongratUlations and blessings to the following members who were baptised or married:

O u r L a d y o f L e b a n o n - M u l b a r t o n

BaptisMs & Weddings

Funerals † CARmindA de sousA: 9 novemBeR 1938 - 2 June 2014 † Clive CheRRy: 22 oCtoBeR 1932 - 9 June 2014 † BeRnAdette dAvid: 25 mAy 1941 - 15 June 2014

Weddingsgroom and bride name (bride maiden surname) - Wedding dategrant Woods & staCey dos santos 14 June 2014

Baptismsdate baby name parents name

18 may 2014 JessiCa Chidalu iqWe Emmanuel & Henrietta Iqwe nee’: Gnemuo

18 may 2014 pablo nmaemeka oZokWelu Augustine & Agatha Ozokwelu nee’: Obi

18 may 2014 raphael manuel Vieira Jose’ & Lucia Vieira nee’: Sousa

24 may 2014 hannah eliZabeth sWartZ Alroy & Kerry - Lee Swartz nee’: Khan

24 may 2014 rafael dreW Johnson Corinne Johnson

31 may 2014 logan tyler sChikkerling John & Samantha Schikkerling nee’: Freedman

31 may 2014 adele Zieglinda Van der heuVel Louis & Ansie Van Der Heuvel nee’: Vorster

01 June 2014 luCho luis ferreira Armando & Cherie Ferreira nee’: White

01 June 2014 miCaela kuhn Jacqueline Kuhn

07 June 2014 tylan sChmidt Warren & Kim Schmidt nee’: Van Heerden

08 June 2014 rodrigo Jaime meneZes Roberto & Linda Menezes nee’: Dias

12 June 2014 melissa loWson Kim & Debbie Lowson nee’: Booysen

Baptismsdate baby name parents name

14 June 2014 sholan Celestian naidoo Jerome & Prevani Naidoo nee’: Ersuan

15 June 2014 alessandro manuel de franCa Joao & Patricia De Franca nee’: Da Silva

21 June 2014 gia ogle Fazil & Delene Ogle nee’: Stoffels

21 June 2014 alano CruZ da silVa Cipriano Carlos & Alexandra Cipriano nee’: Da Silva

22 June 2014 brayden ribeiro dos santos daVid Pedro & Janine David nee’: Ribeiro

22 June 2014 giabella auby Marc & Candace Auby nee’: Antao

28 June 2014 hilton keagan lumley Roy & Vania Lumley

29 June 2014 othandWayo dyonase Mandisa Dyonase

29 June 2014 odinakaChi agbakWuru Leo & Michelle Agbakwuru nee’: Guliwe

29 June 2014 miChael Chikaima unigWe Victor & Delphine Unigwe

29 June 2014 miChelle Chikamara unigWe Victor & Delphine Unigwe

29 June 2014 miChela pasqualina nassif Terence & Monica Nassif