LET US PRAY FOR THE DEPARTED SOULS!
All Soul's Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance for friends and loved ones who have passed away. This comes from the ancient Pagan Festival of the Dead, which celebrated the Pagan belief that the souls of the dead would return for a meal with the family. Candles in the window would guide the souls back home, and another place was set at the table. Children would come through the village, asking for food to be offered symbolically to the dead, then donated to feed the hungry.
The day purposely follows All Saint's Day in order to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. It is celebrated with masses and festivities in honor of the dead. While the Feast of All Saints is a day to remember the glories of Heaven and those there, the Feast of All Souls reminds us of our obligations to live holy lives and that there will be purification of the souls of those destined for Heaven.
The Christian holiday of All Soul's Day pays respect and remembers the souls of all friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven. The living pray on behalf of Christians who are in purgatory, the state in the afterlife where souls are purified before proceeding to heaven. Souls in purgatory, who are members of the church just like living Christians, must suffer so that they can be purged of their sins. It is a time to pray for their souls that they may be received into heaven.
Upon death, it is believed that souls have not yet been cleansed of sin. Praying for souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven. Through prayer and good works, living members of the church may help their departed friends and family. There are three Requiem Masses that are said by the clergy to assist the souls from Purgatory to Heaven: one for the celebrant, one for the departed, and one for the Pope. In visions, during the Requiem Mass for the departed soul, it has been shown several times in Jeevan Dham that Angels come down from Heaven praising God over the dead person’s coffin, a beam of light enlightens the coffin, the coffin of the dead opens up and the soul, now bright white, stands up and is lifted up to heaven by the angels.
The traditions of the Feast of All Souls began independently of the Feast of All Saints. The Feast of All Souls owes its beginning to seventh century monks who decided to offer the mass on the day after Pentecost for their deceased community members. In the late tenth century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny chose to move their mass for their dead to November 2, the day after the Feast of all Saints. This custom spread and in the thirteenth century, Rome put the feast on the calendar of the entire Church. The date remained November 2 so that all in the Communion of the Saints might be celebrated together.
Traditional Catholics still honor customs related to the relief of the souls suffering in purgatory. One custom is for persons to pray six Our Fathers, Hail Mary's and Glory Be's for the intentions of the Pope in a church, and thereby, receive a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory. This action may be repeated for another soul, by leaving the church and re-entering it to repeat the prayers. Many go to the cemetery to pray for the departed souls of their dear ones, light candles and sprinkle flowers, keep bouquets, garlands or wreaths around the dead ‘s burial place.
All Soul's Day lives on today, particularly in Mexico, where All Hallows' Eve, All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day are collectively observed as "Los Dias de los Muertos" (The Days of the Dead). First and foremost, the Days of the Dead is a time when families fondly remember the deceased. But it is also a time marked by festivities, including spectacular parades of skeletons and ghouls.
On
the occasion of the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Nov.21)
Apocryphal writings (mainly the Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal
Gospel, the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary)
relate that St.Joachim and St.Anna brought their three-year old daughter
Mary from Nazareth to the temple in Jerusalem, (a distance of some 80
miles) in fulfilment of their vow, so that she might be educated there
by the holy women, together with other girls, consecrated to God’s
service.
The Feast of the Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary originated in Syria,
the home of the apocrypha, and was introduced in the West during the time
that the Popes were at Avignon. The birth of Mary was obtained by the
fervent prayers of Joachim and Anna in their advanced age. As Joachim
belonged to the royal family of David, so Anna is supposed to have been
a descendant of the priestly family of Aaron; thus Christ the Eternal
King and Priest sprang from both a royal and priestly family.
Our Lady revealed to St.Elizabeth of Hungary how she was determined, as
a little girl ‘to have only God for her father and often meditated
on how she might please Him most.’ She ardently desired an increase
in grace and virtue, so that she might merit to become a servant, to be
a happy virgin who was, before long, to become the mother of the long
awaited Messiah. It was the virtues of humility, charity and obediene
which she practised particularly in the temple, as she herself once confided
to St. Bridget.
St.Alphonsus urges us to imitate Our Lady by becoming detached from all
earthly things, even our lawful detachment to parents, and so to ‘present
ourselves today to Mary without reserve.’
PERSONALITY PROFILE:
JOHN THE BAPTIST
There is no getting around it - JOHN THE BAPTIST was unique. He wore odd clothes and ate strange food and preached an unusual message to the Judeans who went out to the wastelands to see him.
But John did not aim at uniqueness for its own sake. Instead, he aimed at obedience. He knew he had a specific role to play in the world- announcing the coming of the Saviour- and he put all his energies into this task. Luke tells us that John was in the wilderness when God’s word of direction came to him. John was ready and waiting. The angel who had announced John’s birth to Zechariah had made it clear this child was to be a Nazirite- one set apart for God’s service. John remained faithful to that calling.
This wild-looking man had no power or position in the Jewish political system, but he spoke with almost irresistible authority. People were moved by his words because he spoke the truth, challenging them to turn from their sins and baptizing them as a symbol of repentance. They responded by the hundreds. But even as people crowded to him, he pointed beyond himself, never forgetting that his main role was to announce the coming of the Saviour.
The words of repentance (Luke 3:3-18) that moved many to repentance goaded others to resistance and resentment. John even challenged Herod to admit his sin (Luke 3:19-20). Herodias, the woman Herod had married illegally, decided to get rid off this wilderness preacher. Although she was able to have him killed, she was not able to stop his message. The one John had announced was already on the move. John had accomplished his mission.
God has given each of us a purpose for living, and we can trust him to guide us. John did not have the complete Bible as we know it today, but he focussed his life on the truth he knew from the available Old Testament Scriptures. Likewise, we can discover in God’s Word the truths He wants us to know. And as these truths work in us, others will be drawn to Him. God can use you in a way He can use no one else. Let Him know your willingness to follow Him today.Strengths and Accomplishments:
The God-appointed messenger to announce the arrival of Jesus.
Lessons from his life:
God does not guarantee an easy or safe life to those who serve Him.
Vital Statistics:
Where: Judaea.
Key verse:
"I assure you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the most insignificant person in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!"(Matthew 11:11)
Mentioned in :
John’s story is told in all four Gospels. His coming was predicted in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 4:5; and he is mentioned in Acts 1:5, 22; 10:37; 11:16; 13:24-25; 18:25; 19:3-4
IX.TEACHINGS OF JESUS
Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount because Jesus gave it on a hillside near Capernaum. This “sermon” probably covered several days of preaching. In it, Jesus proclaimed His attitude toward the law. Position, authority, and money are not important in His Kingdom -what matters is faithful obedience from the heart. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and religious legalistic leaders of the day. It called them back to the messages of the old Testament prophets, who, like Jesus, taught that heartfelt obedience is more important than legalistic observance. Jesus redefined the law with His teachings and said, “ Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” He redefined the teachings concerning:
1) Love for enemies,
2) Adultery,
3) Anger,
4) Retaliation,
5) Oaths, and
6) Divorce..
You have to: a)Find these passages (Chapter and verse nos.)redefining the Old Testament teachings, b) the corresponding Old Testament teachings, and c) arrange them in the order in which they are found in the Gospel. |
Answers to Last month’s
Quiz VIII.GOSPEL ACCOUNTS FOUND ONLY IN MATTHEW |
| Send Your Answers to: Rules to be followed: Thanks for taking the Quiz! Good Luck! |
|
A) GOD TEACHES THE ILLITERATE
TO READ HIS WORD!
Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
I,
Amika (age – 40 years), never went to school for studies and so
remained an illiterate all these years of my life. I have been coming
here at Jeevan Dham for the last 2 years and I had this wish to learn
to read and write. I wanted to read the prayer book ‘Naya Jeevan’
which I bought with a hope that someone may read it for me since I was
uneducated. Besides, my job profile also required me to do calculations
and some written work with numbers. But I never counted anything and as
a result mistakes and blunders followed and there was a danger of losing
my job. I begged and prayed to God to teach me anyhow to read and write.
My Lord heard my prayers very soon. Slowly and slowly I started distinguishing
numbers and writing them down after counting without anybody’s help.
At home, my Lord used to teach me how to write the Hindi alphabets correctly.
I used to see numbers and alphabets written on my room walls. I can now
read the hindi prayer book ‘Naya Jeevan’ little by little
and can make all calculations for my boss. It really feels good to learn
at such an age and that too from the Universal Teacher, my God. Today,
I have come here to give my wonderful witness before all my brothers and
sisters in Christ. Praise the Lord! Alleluia!
Amika, Ballabgarh
"If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord will
lavish her upon you."(Sirach1:26)
B) I GOT RID OF 35
YEAR-OLD ALCOHOLISM & SMOKING!
Peace and Happiness restored in my family at last!
Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
"Show me someone who drinks too much,
who has to try out some new drink, and I will show you someone miserable
and sorry for himself, always causing trouble and always complaining.
His eyes are bloodshot, and he has bruises that could have been avoided.
Don’t let wine tempt you, even though it is rich
red, though it sparkles in the cup, and it goes down smoothly. The next
morning you will feel as if you had been bitten by a poisonous snake.
Weird sights will appear before your eyes, and you will not be able to
think or speak clearly. You will feel as if you were out on the ocean,
sea-sick, swinging high up in the rigging of a tossing ship."I must
have been hit," you will say; "I must have been beaten up, but
I don’t remember it. Why can't I wake up? I need another drink."
(Proverbs 23:29-35)
These words from the Holy Bible describe the
wretched and disgraceful condition of a drunkard whose stubborn addiction
leads to his fall before the eyes of men and God. His addiction destroys
peace and love in his family besides ruining his health and gradually
closing his control over his senses, words and actions.
Ram Sahay (age-60years) too was in this
pitiful condition for the past 35 years. He used to be in an alcoholic
stupor round the clock each day. Everyday he used to drink two large whiskies
at home sitting idly the whole day. Moreover, he used to smoke about 2-3
packets of cigarettes daily. He was afraid of none, neither did he have
any respect for anyone, or obey anyone. Afraid of the dishonour of the
whole family, his wife and brother brought for him crates of alcohol (desi
sharab- strong alcohol with no dilution) and placed a bottle and a glass
full of whisky on the table in front of him. Only after he had enough
of it and gone to sleep late at night, they could have their dinner at
ease. The house had become more like a hell as they lost their peace of
mind. They were very much worried, depressed and frightened about what
would happen to him if he continued for long his drunken state.
They took him to several hospitals and Ram Sahay never objected to go
wherever they took him. He was admitted in AIIMS (All India Institute
of Medical Science), Safdarjung Hospital and few other private hospitals
in Delhi but everywhere he found a way out to get a bottle of alcohol
and drink it within the ward. They had spent more than a total of 2 lakhs
on his treatment but in vain.
At last, someone in his neighbourhood, told them about the miracles happening
at Jeevan Dham and assured them that he would be able to get rid of his
bad habit by attending the prayer meeting held there every Sunday. The
following Sunday they came here along with Ram Sahay. But Ram Sahay had
also brought his bottle and packets of cigarettes with him. And he was
drunk too. When he was told that he would not be allowed to take his bottle
or cigarettes inside the premises, he broke the bottle and emptied his
pocket in his rage. Then he came inside and sat down along with others
and listened to the Word of God. Miraculously, the Word of God entered
him, melted his strong heart and changed his apathetic mind that same
day. He realized his mistakes as he got back his senses.
When he reached back home, he broke
all the whisky bottles and threw away all the cigarette packets too. Henceforth,
he stopped drinking and smoking completely. What medicine and treatments
could not do for him for more than three decades, the Word of God did
for him within a few hours, without any pain and at no cost. Praise the
Lord, for He is merciful, loving and good. Ram Sahay kept on coming here
regularly to listen to the Word of God every Sunday, which has transformed
his life and outlook, his habits and attitude. Now, his wife sits with
him happily to eat together on time. He neither drinks nor allows any
drunkard to enter his house. Today, Ram Sahay came to give his exceptional
witness before all the believers and praised God for giving him a new
life.
RamSahay,
New Delhi.
C)THE WORD OF GOD JOINS BROKEN BONES - ALL OF THESE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR HANDS DURING THE PRAYER SESSION!
E-mail us your petitions to: justcallanthony@yahoo.com |
IMPORTANT TIMINGS DAILY MORNING PRAYER :  On
Weekdays from 9:00a.m. to 11:00p.m. 24-HOUR Adoration is going on
everyday ROUND-THE-CLOCK for over the last 1 year. You too can join
us in prayer anytime. HOLY MASS : On Fridays: morning 10:00 a.m. On Sundays: evening 6:30 p.m. |
WELCOME TO JEEVAN DHAM Are you … worried & burdened? Are you … depressed? Are you … sick or weak? Do you … feel the absence of peace & love in your life? Are you … grappling with a lot of problems in your life? Then visit this place chosen by God & see for yourselves all the incredible miracles happening here.This place is ‘JEEVAN DHAM’. Believe in God and attend the prayer session held every Sunday at St.Anthony’s School (ground), Sec-9, Faridabad from morning 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. organized with the grace of Almighty God by ‘Jeevan Dham’- H.no.696/ Sec-22, Faridabad. Obtain invaluable graces & heavenly blessings & witness the miraculous healings performed by Him. |
| WELCOME TO
JEEVAN DHAM! Scriptural references in DIVYA JYOTI are from the New Revised Standard Version (© Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)1989 |
||
| Edited
and Published by Anthony. JEEVANDHAM, 696/22. Faridabad -121005,
Haryana, INDIA Ph: 91-0129-2231126, 9350128560 |
||
|
|
||