Religion and Spirituality

The Catholic Church Standardize Mass

Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome

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Catholics attending church in the English-speaking world on Sunday; the first Sunday of Advent, heard a new version of Mass (liturgy). That’s because as of Sunday, churches across the globe are required to do the same mass.

These changes may cause some to use cheats sheets as their churches adopt a more formal translation of the original Latin service. But according to the Vatican, the changes were necessary to more accurately reflect the original Latin version, based on a principle called “formal equivalence.”

Thus, instead of saying Jesus “was born of the Virgin Mary,” Catholics will say he “was incarnate of the Virgin Mary.”

Instead of saying, “I have sinned through my own fault,” they will say, “I have greatly sinned,” and add, “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

Instead of saying Jesus is “one in being with the Father,” they will say that he was “consubstantial with the Father.” Consubstantial, which comes from the Latin word “consubstantialis,” which means: having the same substance or essential nature.

Some of the more noticeable changes for churchgoers include the much-used response “And also with you” being replaced by “And with your spirit.”

“It’s a historic moment in the life of the Church and the English-speaking world,” Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast told the Catholic Register earlier this month.

Prendergast was the Canadian representative on the Vox Clara Committee, formed to oversee the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

“The hope is that the higher register of the vocabulary and the restoration of biblical allusions will enrich our life of prayer, heightening reverence and making the liturgy more solemn, more beautiful,” Prendergast said.

The prayer that has undergone the most change is the Gloria, said Prendergast. “When translators translated it in the 1970s, they not only abbreviated it but they rearranged the wording,” he said.

What was lost in translation was the going overboard with praise of God, he said. “We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you” has now been added.

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How to cross the Jordan River in your life

The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan (il...

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Every one of us, at some point or another, goes through difficult times in our life. It’s like you have come to the Jordan River but cannot cross, because the river has overflows its banks. And all you can do is gaze yonder and imagine what life is like on the other side.

From your vantage point, you can see the lush green grass and the blooming flowers, fruits hanging from trees, cattle grazing, and men working, and women and children playing. Life is good on the other side, you thought to yourself. If only I could get yonder, my life would be better.

But did you ever stop and think that your stumbling block could have been a test from God? Sometimes it is not meant for you to overcome the adversary, until you are fully ready for the challenges ahead. You may have too many baggage that is weighting you down, or you may not be ready, physically, spiritually and mentally for the rough journey through the thorns and thistles. For “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

Still, you crossing the Jordan may not be in God’s plan. Moses did not cross. God gave him a glimpse of the promised land but that was it.  God told Moses to: “Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see” (Deuteronomy 3:27-28)

Whatever your situation, whether a den of hungry lions or a fiery furnace; or a swelling Jordan, God can deliver you. He is always there with an outstretched hand courting and begging you to cast your cares upon Him. He says in His words: “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6)

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What are you thankful for?

United States of America

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Lord, I am thankful for today. I thank you for your Son Jesus, who gave His life that I can live. You said in your Words: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Lord, I believe in Him, and I have committed myself to serve Him. The songwriter said:

“Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.”

Lord, I thank thee for the United States of America, and all its people. We are an exceptional nation of many different backgrounds, culture and ethnicity, political and religious persuasions. And even though our people have various religious, political and social views–we are still the greatest nation on earth. We never fail to lend a helping hand to anyone who will accept it. Many people around the world look to this great nation for help and inspiration.

Lord I thank you for our leaders, past and present. I thank you for our president and his cabinet and the different agencies of government. I thank you for the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive branch. Grant our leaders wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Prevent them from leaning on their own understanding. Remind them dear God, of your words in Proverbs 3:5-6: ” Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight. Guide their hands O God, and let them exercise wisdom in their judgement–just like Solomon did to settle the dispute between two mothers (1 Kings 3:16-28).

Lord, I commit this great nation into your care. I pray that you will speak to the hearts of our leaders and all people. Remind us one and all, what made this country great in the first place. History has shown that it was not the effort of any one ethnic group or political party, but it was a joint effort of all people. Remind us heavenly father that irrespective of our color class or creed, we are one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all… Thank you Lord.

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Happy Thanksgiving America

The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon G...

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Giving Thanks

by Author Unknown

Giving Thanks
For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman’s hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the “Land of the Free” –
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

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Religion: I Thank Thee O God

“I Thank Thee” is a beautiful Thanksgiving prayer. This Christian poem was originally written by Jane Crewdson (1860) as a prayer of thankfulness to God for all things in life, both the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet.

I Thank Thee

O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.

–Jane Crewdson (1860)

Psalm 95:1-6

1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

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