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Spiritual pilgrimage during pope's trip to Turkey
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a spiritual pilgrimage with Pope Benedict XVI as he travels to Turkey November 28 to December 1.
Knights, their families, and all Catholics are being asked to pray daily for the pope during the trip. The Knights will pray for the pope's intentions beginning November 26.
In addition, the Knights of Columbus will print and distribute cards with a special prayer written by the order's chaplain, Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport. The prayer is available online at www.kofc.org.
Those joining the spiritual pilgrimage are asked to say the prayer each day during the pope's trip. The prayer asks that the pope's visit will bring about "deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox and those who profess Islam." |
God's kingdom: Gained through love, suffering
No matter where we human beings gather these days, from the loudest sports event to the solemn quiet of a prayer service, one or more cell phones clang or chirp a few musical notes.
As an owner of one of these useful and sometimes irritating inventions, I try to practice the adage that "silence is golden" and set my phone to silent in a gathering.
But it would be different during this particular Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults meeting; my cell phone would wait in the deep recesses of my purse with its ringer ready to interrupt at any given moment. It is not an ordinary night.
Christ the King
(Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006)
Daniel 7:13-14
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Revelation 1:5-8
John 18:33b-37
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As we prepared for the meeting, the RCIA team and I were remembering Linda and Darwyn, who became Catholic two years ago.
When they walked into our meeting room for the first time, we knew they were a special couple. Theirs is a story of love, commitment, and courage, rooted in the love of God and the joy of becoming Catholic. Now, two years later, we knew that our friend Linda soon would be leaving.
Yesterday when I held her hand, I knew that our lighthearted conversations in the midst of her suffering were over. "I love you" were the only words left to say. All that remained were her long final hours of pain and the ultimate comprehension of family and friends that Sister Death, as St. Francis described it, would soon arrive.
Minutes before I was going to direct our RCIA participants to break into small groups, the muffled tolling of my cell phone sent a signal that really did not require an answer. Knowing looks circulated among our team. When I checked the message, I learned what we all knew: Linda had passed into the glory of God.
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Reflection question
When was a time that you were acutely aware that God's kingdom reaches beyond our earthly existence? When, in the midst of someone's suffering, have you used "I love you" as the only appropriate words?
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The readings for Sunday echo an intrinsic longing for justice, peace, and an end to human suffering. Although some in society would say that the cosmic figures described in the Book of Daniel, Revelation, and John's Gospel were written to scare us into submission, we know they are signs that God loves us. Jesus is the witness to the glory of God - the faithful witness who has overcome death itself.
This column is presented in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.
(Faith Alive! is now on a separate page.)
This week's readings
Week of Nov. 26 - Dec. 2, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Thirty-Fourth or Last Sunday in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
Reading I: Dn 7:13-14
Reading II: Rev 1:5-8
Gospel: Jn 18:33b-37
Monday, November 27, 2006
Reading I: Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5
Gospel: Lk 21:1-4
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Reading I: Rev 14:14-19
Gospel: Lk 21:5-11
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Reading I: Rev 15:1-4
Gospel: Lk 21:12-19
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Reading I: Rom 10:9-18
Gospel: Mt 4:18-22
Friday, December 1, 2006
Reading I: Rev 20:1-4, 11--21:2
Gospel: Lk 21:29-33
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Reading I: Rev 22:1-7
Gospel: Lk 21:34-36
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Pope's Prayer Intentions
November General Intention
The end of terrorism: That, everywhere in the world, an end be put to all forms of terrorism.
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November Mission Intention
African development: That through the effort of believers, together with the forces of society, the new and old chains which prevent the development of the African Continent may be broken.
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Prayer for St. Raphael Cathedral
O God,
Whose word is like fire,
who spoke to Your servant Moses in the burning bush;
who led Your people Israel out of bondage
with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night:
hear Your people as we call upon You
in both need and gratitude.
May the Cathedral fire purify Your Church
in the Diocese of Madison
so that our hearts may burn with the knowledge
that Your Church is built upon the bedrock
of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the intercession of Saint Raphael,
Your messenger of healing,
in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,
and with our Bishop, Robert C. Morlino,
may we find comfort in our affliction
and the courage to proclaim
the Good News of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Amen.
For more prayer resources visit the Office of Worship's Web page at www.straphael.org/~office_of_worship/
(Click on the link on the main page.)
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