Heavenly - Inspired

Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

2011-11-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Read more:http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm#ixzz1cigDZdfL

Sinulog Festival Novena Mass Schedule 2011

2011-01-06T02:38:00.000-08:00

A novena is the reciting of powerful prayers and devotions for a special request over nine consecutive days and it will always be part of every fiesta celebration in the Philippines, especially for the country’s largest and grandest fiesta, the Sinulog Festival. Carrying the theme, “Becoming Witnesses of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace through the Devotion to Senor Sto. Nino”, here is the schedule of masses for the 445th Fiesta Señor this Sinulog 2011:

Regular Routine Novena/Masses Schedule

5:30 am – City Parishes / Barangays
7:00 am – Business Sectors
8:30 am – Basic Education – Private Schools
10:00 am – Parishes: District & Vicariate
11:30 am – Business Sectors
1:00 pm – Government Offices: City & Provincial
2:30 pm – Basic Education – Public by Districts
4:00 pm – Colleges
5:30 pm – Universities
7:00 pm - Archdiocesan Organizations, Movement & Communities

FIRST DAY OF NOVENA: January 06, 2011 (Thursday)

Dawn Procession – WALK WITH JESUS

4:00 am – Assembly Time – (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 am – FOOT PENITENTIAL PROCESSION (Fuente Osmeña – Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño)

Please bring with you rosaries, candles & statues/images of the Santo Niño.

5:30 am – FIRST MASS – INSTALLATION OF HERMANO & HERMANA MAYORES 2011

SECOND DAY OF NOVENA January 07, 2011 (Friday)

2:30 pm – Opening Salvo Sinulog Foundation

8:30 pm – Senior Citizen’s Night

THIRD DAY OF NOVENA January 08, 2011 (SATURDAY)

8:30 pm – Barangay Night/Halad Sa Barangay

FOURTH DAY OF NOVENA January 09, 2011 (SUNDAY)

8:30 am – Children’s Mass W/ Colegio del Sto. Niño

FIFTH DAY OF NOVENA January 10, 2011 (MONDAY)

7:OO pm – Mass for the Environment.

NINTH DAY OF NOVENA January 14, 2011 (FRIDAY)

Dawn Procession – WALK WITH MARY

4:00 am – Assembly Time – (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 am – Foot Penitential Procession (Fuente Osmeña – Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño)

Please bring with you rosaries, candle & statues/images of the Santo Niño.

5:30 am – Holy Mass and Novena

7:00 am – Misa de Translacion

(Motorcade proceeds to the National Shrine of St. Joseph, Mandaue City)

1 – 2 pm – District Teachers Traditional Halad

8:30 pm – Re-enactment of the first Wedding.

VESPERAS January 15, 2011 ( SATURDAY)

5:30 am – Visayan Mass

7:00 am – Mass for the OFW Families

7:00 am – FLUVIAL PROCESSION – Route: Ouano Wharf, Mactan Bridge, Lapu-Lapu, Pasil, Pier 1
9:30 am – Re-enactment of the arrival of the image.
10:00 am – Re-enactment of the Mass and Baptism
1:00 pm – Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image (Procession Route to be posted soon)
6:00 pm – Pontifical Mass

FIESTA SENOR DAY January 16, 2011 (SUNDAY)

4:00 am – Mañanita Mass

6:00 am - Pontifical Mass with his Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, D.D

8:30 am - Augustinian Recollect Communities
10:00 am – Cebuano Mass
11:30 am – English Mass
1:00 pm – Cebuano Mass
2:20 pm - Cebuano Mass
4:00 pm – Cebuano Mass
5:30 pm – English Mass
7:00 pm – English mass

THANKSGIVING MASS January 17, 2011 (MONDAY)

5:00 am – Cebuano Mass

6:00 am – Cebuano Mass

7:00 am - English Mass
8:00 am – Mass for the OFW’S
10:00 am – Thanksgiving Mass w/ San Nicolas Parish
2:00 pm - Thanksgiving Mass – Sinulog Foundation
4:00 pm – Requiem Mass for the Deceased Devotess
5:30 pm – Healing Mass for the Sick and the Aged

HUBO January 21, 2011 (FRIDAY)

4:00 am – “HUBO MASS”

6:00 am – Cebuano Mass

7:00 am - English Mass
8:00 am – English Mass
9:00 am – Cebuano Mass
10:00 am - Cebuano Mass
11:00 am - Cebuano Mass
12:00 nn – English Mass
1:00 pm – Cebuano Mass
2:00 pm – English Mass
3:00 pm – Cebuano Mass
4:00 pm – Cebuano Mass
5:00 pm – English Mass
6:00 pm – English Mass

7:00 pm – English Mass

* reposted from cebudaily.com... Thank you!

♥ VIVA PIT SENYOR!!! ♥

2011 SINULOG Festival Schedule

2011-01-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

Sinulog is the biggest & grandest festival of the Philippines.

Below is the Official Sinulog 2011 Schedule of Activities - reposted from their official website.

Sinulog 2011 Schedule of Activities (Fuente Osmena, January 2-31, 2011)
Dec 01 – Jan 31, 2011	Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Blvd.
December 11, 2010	Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall
December 15, 2010	Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City
January 2-30, 2011	1st Sinulog Softball Cup
Janaury 2, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog Fun Run Sinulog Musicfest (Band Competition) Presentation of contestants and announcement of 6 finalists Sinulog Best Dance Crew announcement and presentation of 6 finalists

January 06, 2011 (Thursday)	Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus
4:00 AM	Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña
4:30 AM	Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño
5:30 AM	Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2011

January 07, 2011 (Friday)	Sinulog 2011 Kick Off
	Sinulog Photo Exhibits through the years @SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, MCIAA
2:00PM	Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño)
3:00 PM	Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)
7:00 PM	Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña featuring Mandaue City Children’s Choir, Dancesports Team Cebu and Dance Troupes from Cebu’s schools and universities
7:30 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Presentation, Fuente Osmeña
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Streen Party Bands

January 8, 2011 (Saturday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) DepEd, Cebu Province
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:30 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 9, 2011 (Sunday)	Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan
4:00 AM	Cebu City 2011 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com
8:00 AM	1st Sinulog Football Cup at the USC Talamban Football Field
1:00 PM	Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center
2:00 PM	Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center
4:30 PM	Awarding of Winners
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 10, 2011 (Monday)
6:30 PM	Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11, 2011 (Tuesday)
6:30 PM	Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Jose-Recoletos and Cebu Institute of Technology
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 12, 2011 (Wednesday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of Southern Philippines-Foundation and Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology
7:00 PM	Ms. Cebu 2011 Coronation Night, Waterfront Lahug Hotel
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 13, 2011 (Thursday)
9:00 AM	Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)
10 AM – 3:00 PM	Photo Shoot Sinulog Festival Queen , SM City Entertainment Plaza
7:00 PM	Sinulog Festival Queen Parade of Costumes @ SM Northwing Lobby
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Cebu City Division
6:00 PM	Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
8:00 PM	Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 14, 2011 (Friday)	Visual Merchandising Contest (Dept. Stores and Malls)
4:00 AM	Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño
7:00 AM	Misa de Translacion (Motorcade)
9:00 AM	Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent / Floats / Higante / Puppteers) @ Cebu City Sports Center Gym
6:30 PM	Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos
7:30 P.M	Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum
7:30 P.M	Sinulog Festival Queen 2011, Cebu City Sports Center
8:00 PM	Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)
9:00 PM	Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 15, 2011 (Saturday)
6:00 AM	Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
8:00 AM	Vibration and Big Bike Rally by Vmax Owners Group
9:00 AM	Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon Basilica del Sto. Niño
2:00 PM	Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño
7:00 PM	Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu
7:00 PM	Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia
8:00 PM	Gala – Passionata a Cultural Heritage Celebration in Honor of Sto. Niño de Cebu @ SM Cinema I
8:00 PM	Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu
8:00 PM	Handumanan Concert, USP-F Theater for the Performing Arts

January 16, 2011 (Sunday)	SINULOG GRAND PARADE
4:00 AM	Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño
6:00 AM	Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
9:00 AM	Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off
7:00 PM	Grand Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center
7:30 PM	Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña

January 17, 2011 (Monday)
1:00 PM	Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center

January 21, 2011 (Friday)	“HUBO”
4:00 AM	“HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño

January 29, 2011 (Saturday)
1:00 P.M	Screening of Finaslists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest
6:00 P.M	Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu 1st Sinulat Awards, Sinulog Literary Awards for Short Story Writing, Poetry, and Essay Writing @ SM City Cebu

January 31 – Feb. 10, 2011	Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ‘10 @SM City Cebu

A Blessed New Year everyone!

2010-12-29T22:01:00.000-08:00

… P E A C E …
… H O P E …
… F A I T H …
… L O V E …
… J O Y …
♥

Sto. Niño Gugma Ko

2009-01-13T19:11:00.000-08:00

Santos nga Ginoo
Sa tanan panahon
Ikaw ang among hari
Kagahapon ug karon

Sa tanan nga katuigan
Pagadaygon ka
Walay tupong ang pagmahal
Nga gihatag Mo

Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Senior Sto. Niño
O, daghang salamat sa kaayo Mo
Daygon sa kanunay ug simbahon Ka gayud
Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Gugma Ko

Hari sa kalipay
Hari nga gamay
Hatagan unta kami’g luna
Diha sa dughan mo
Hari nga gamhanan
Hari sa tanan
Walay tupong ang pagmahal
Nga gihatag Mo

Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Senior Sto. Niño
O, daghang salamat sa kaayo Mo
Daygon sa kanunay ug simbahon Ka gayud
Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Gugmaa Ko

Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Senior Sto. Niño
O, daghang salamat sa kaayo Mo
Daygon sa kanunay ug simbahon Ka gayud
Sto. Niño
Sto. Niño
Gugma Ko

Bato Balani Sa Gugma ( Gozos )

2009-01-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

GOZOS
Batobalani sa gugma,
Sa daan tawo palanga.

Tubag:
KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA
NGA KANIMO NANGILABA

Dinhi sa siudad sa Sugbo
ang matahum larawan.
sa unang mga misionero,
sa usang balay hipalgan.
Kanila ikaw nagpakita
gikan da sa imong gugma.

Tubag:
KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA
NGA KANIMO NANGILABA

Giludhan ikaw gisingba
niadtong mga kaparian
sa tanan nga katawhan
sa mga ponoan nila:
kay sa pagtan-aw kanimo
Kristianos sila nahimo.

Tubag:
KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA
NGA KANIMO NANGILABA

Ang simbahan gipatindog
niadtong mga tawhana,
aron ang larawan nimo
dunay usang puluyanan.
ug didto gihangyo nila
nga kaluyan nimo sila.

Tubag:
KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA
NGA KANIMO NANGILABA

Nangayo kami kanimo
nga ang matahum mong larawan,
sa sulud sa kalag namo
makahimong puluyanan,
kay sa tanan kinahanglan
ikaw ang among dalangpan.

Tubag:
KANAMO MALOOY KA UNTA
NGA KANIMO NANGILABA

Sinulog's Novena Mass Schedule

2009-01-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

Novena Masses	Jan. 8-16, 17-18, 19 & 23, 2009
Theme: “ Growing together in grace with Señor Sto. Niño”

Day 1 - January 8, Thursday	Opening Salvo - Walk with Jesus
4:00 a.m.	Assembly - Fuente Osmeña
4:30 a.m.	Penitential foot procession, Jones Ave. Colon - Basilica
5:30 a.m.	Holy Mass ( Rev. Fr. Rodolfo A. Bugna, O.S.A and the Augustinian Community) - Installation fof Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2009

Day 2 - January 9, Friday
Mass schedule:
5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m.– 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Day 3 - January 10, Saturday
Mass schedule:
5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Day 4 - January 11, Sunday
Mass schedule:
5 -5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.– 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.

Day 5 - January 12, Monday
Mass schedule:
5 -5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.

Day 6 - January 13, Tuesday
Mass schedule:
5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Day 7 - January 14, Wednesday
Mass schedule:
5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Day 8 - January 15, Thursday
Mass schedule:
5:30 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Day 9 - January 16, Friday
4:00 a.m. mass
Assembly area: Fuente Osmeña
5:30 a.m.	Dawn Rosarians mass
7:00 a.m.	Misa de Tranaslacion
8:30 a.m.	with Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, O.S.A Prior, San Agustin Center of Studies VA SRA Quezon City
10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.	District teachers traditional halad
Other masses: 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

January 17, Saturday	Vesperas
5:30 a.m.	with Most Rev. Jesus Tuquib, D.D Visayan Mass
7:00 a.m.	with Most Rev. Patrick A. Buzon, SDB. D.D English Mass Mass for the OFW families
	Fluvial procession
9:00 a.m.	Re-enactment of the first mass and baptism
1:30 p.m.	Solemn foot procession of the Miraculous Image
6:00 p.m.	Pontifical mass
8:00 p.m.	Religious “Sinulog to Sr. Sto. Niño Pit Señor One hour Dancing to the beat of the drums with candles

January 18, Sunday	Fiesta Señor Day
4:00 a.m.	Mañanita mass
6:00 a.m.	Solemn Pontifical
Other masses: 8:30 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Fiesta Señor 2009 January 19, Monday	Thanksgiving Day
5:00 a.m.	Cebuano - High Mass
6:00 a.m.	Cebuano - High Mass
7:00 a.m.	English - High Mass
8:00 a.m.	Mass for the OFW’s
10:00 a.m.	Thanksgiving mass
2:00 p.m.	Thanksgiving mass
4:00 p.m.	Rwquiem mass for the deceased members of the devotees and Cofradia del Sto. Niño
4:00 p.m.	Motorcade of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Basilica del Sto. Niño back to Guadalupe Shrine
5:30 p.m.	Healing mass for the sick and the aged

Fiesta Señor 2009, January 23, Friday
4:00 a.m.	Hubo mass
Other masses: 6:00 a.m. — 7:00 a.m. — 8:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. — 10:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. — 1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/blogs/sinulog/2009/01/08/novena-mass-schedule/

History of Sinulog

2009-01-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

On April 7, 1521, the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan arrived and planted the cross on the shores of Cebu, claiming the territory in the name of the King of Spain. He presented the image of the child Jesus, the Santo Niño, as baptismal gift to Hara Amihan, wife of Rajah Humabon. Hara Amihan was later named, Queen Juana in honor of Juana, mother of Carlos I. Along with the rulers of the island, some 800 natives were also baptized to the Christian faith. At the moment of receiving the image, it was said that Queen Juana danced with joy bearing the image of the child Jesus. With the other natives following her example, this moment was regarded as the first Sinulog.

This event is frequently used as basis for most Sinulog dances, which dramatize the coming of the Spaniards and the presentation of the Santo Niño to the Queen. A popular theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Niño in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits.

Background of Sinulog

2009-01-08T22:37:00.000-08:00

The word Sinulog comes from the Cebuano adverb sulog which is "like water current movement," which describes the forward-backward movement of the Sinulog dance. The dance consists of two steps forward and one step backward, done to the sound of drums. The dance is categorized into Sinulog-base, Free-Interpretation. Candle vendors at the Basilica continue to perform the traditional version of the dance when lighting a candle for the customer, usually accompanied by songs in the native language.

The Sinulog dance steps were believed to originate from Rajah Humabon's adviser, Baladhay. It was during Humabon's grief when Baladhay was driven sick. He then ordered his native tribe to bring Baladhay into a chapel where the Santo Niño was enthroned. Moments later, surprisingly, Baldhay was heard shouting, and was found dancing with outmost alertness. Baladhay was questioned as to whether why was he awake, and was shouting. Baladhay explained that he found a small child, pointing to the image of the Santo Niño, on top of him, and trying to wake him up. He, at great astonishment, scared the child away by shouting but couldn't explain why he was dancing the movements of the river. Up to this day, the two-steps forward, and the one-step backward movement dance is still used by the Santo Niño devotees believing that it was the Santo Niño's choice to have Baladhay dance what the holy child wants them to dance.

Sinulog Festival

2009-01-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

The country’s biggest, and grandest festival. Sinulog festival is the country’s biggest pageantry of sights, sounds and colors as it honors and pays homage to the patron saint of Cebu , the child Jesus — Sr. Sto. Niño. One of the most widely known festivals in the Philippines, and one of the most colorful too. On the 3rd Sunday of January in the city of Cebu, Sinulog is held in honor of the Santo NiNo, or the infant Jesus. The patron saint of the whole Cebu. It is a celebration of dance rituals to remember the recognition of Christianity from their paganism.
The participants move to the sound of the beat of drums and gongs, clothed in bright-colored costumes, in preparation for the ceremony which the country boasts to be one of the most colorful festivals being celebrated.
Sinulog lasts for 9 days, and on the 9th day, it ends with the Sinulog Grand Parade. From the wharf of Mandaue City to the wharf of Cebu City, the Santo NiNo being carried on a pump boat, in a vast decoration of various flowers and candles, the Fluvial Procession, a water parade at dawn, is observed the day before the parade. A re-enactment of Catholic Baptizing of Cebu is one of the highlights, as the parade ends at the Basilica. Due to the huge population of Cebu, the formal procession takes place by people who gather to join from all over the city in this religious event, lasts for hours.
And on the feast day, given by the Cardinal with the assistance of few numbers of bishops of Cebu, a Pontifical Mass is held at the Basilica. It is a habit that the majority of the Cebu's population would flock to the Basilica, attending the mass, and a parade takes place right after.

THE THREE KINGS

2009-01-02T23:45:00.000-08:00

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Three Kings came riding from far away,

Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;

Three Wise Men out of the East were they,

And they travelled by night and they slept by day,

For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.

The star was so beautiful, large and clear,

That all the other stars of the sky

Became a white mist in the atmosphere,

And by this they knew that the coming was near

Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy.

Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,

Three caskets of gold with golden keys;

Their robes were of crimson silk with rows

Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,

Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees.

And so the Three Kings rode into the West,

Through the dusk of the night, over hill and dell,

And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast,

And sometimes talked, as they paused to rest,

With the people they met at some wayside well.

"Of the child that is born," said Baltasar,"

Good people, I pray you, tell us the news;

For we in the East have seen his star,

And have ridden fast, and have ridden far,

To find and worship the King of the Jews."

And the people answered, "You ask in vain;

We know of no King but Herod the Great!"

They thought the Wise Men were men insane,

As they spurred their horses across the plain,

Like riders in haste, who cannot wait.

And when they came to Jerusalem,

Herod the Great, who had heard this thing,

Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them;

And said, "Go down unto Bethlehem,

And bring me tidings of this new king."

So they rode away; and the star stood still,

The only one in the grey of morn;

Yes, it stopped --it stood still of its own free will,

Right over Bethlehem on the hill,

The city of David, where Christ was born.

And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard,

Through the silent street, till their horses turned

And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard;

But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred,

And only a light in the stable burned.

And cradled there in the scented hay,

In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,

The little child in the manger lay,

The child, that would be king one day

Of a kingdom not human, but divine.

His mother Mary of Nazareth

Sat watching beside his place of rest,

Watching the even flow of his breath,

For the joy of life and the terror of death

Were mingled together in her breast.

They laid their offerings at his feet:

The gold was their tribute to a King,

The frankincense, with its odor sweet,

Was for the Priest, the Paraclete,

The myrrh for the body's burying.

And the mother wondered and bowed her head,

And sat as still as a statue of stone;

Her heart was troubled yet comforted,

Remembering what the Angel had said

Of an endless reign and of David's throne.

Then the Kings rode out of the city gate,

With a clatter of hoofs in proud array;

But they went not back to Herod the Great,

For they knew his malice and feared his hate,

And returned to their homes by another way.

Source: http://www.allthingschristmas.com/stories/ThreeKings.html

The Life and Ministry of Jesus

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Meaning: Salvation, or “the Lord is salvation,” “the Lord Saves.”
“Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua which was originally Hoshea (Oshea) (Num. 13:8, 16 - the King James Version of the Bible spells it “Oshea”), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua (Num. 13:16; 1 Chr. 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed the form Jeshua, from which came the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to denote the object of his mission, to save. An angel told Joseph (his foster-father), “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

JESUS CHRIST - Je'sus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To distinguish him from others with the same name, he is spoken of as “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 18:7), and “Jesus the son of Joseph” (John 6:42).
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods, (1) his private life, till he was about thirty years of age; and (2) his public life, which lasted about three years.

In the “fulness of time” he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter (Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:23; compare John 7:42). His birth was announced to shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to see him who was born “King of the Jews,” bringing gifts with them (Matt. 2:1-12). Herod's cruel jealousy led to Joseph's flight into Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they waited till the death of this king (Matt. 2:13-23), when they returned and settled in Nazareth, in Lower Galilee (2:23; compare Luke 4:16; John 1:46, etc.). At the age of twelve years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents. There, in the temple, “in the midst of the doctors,” all that heard him were “astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:41, etc.).
Eighteen years pass during which we have no record, except that he returned to Nazareth and “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). [Some have claimed that during this period, Jesus went to India and learned from Hindu Gurus? Is this true?]
He entered his public ministry when he was about thirty years of age. It is generally believed to have lasted about three years. Each of these years had particular features of its own.

source: www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/jesus.html

Why should Christmas matter?

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By His fulfillment of prophecy, we are reminded that Jesus Christ is the center of God’s plan for the world.
His resurrection from the dead is further confirmation that Jesus is God’s Son who will deliver on every promise. Jesus in the stable is not a fable. And because the message of Christmas is true, the implications are enormous for you.
It means that God the Son, in love, came to fulfill the meaning of his name, which is “The Lord Saves!” In other words, as one modern writer name him, he is “God to the Rescue!” By Jesus’s death on the cross he paid for your sins and mine. By his resurrection he has opened the way to heaven to all who receive him by faith.
Jesus said, “He who [that is, “whoever”] has the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). By receiving Jesus into your life you also are made a child of God (John 1:14), receive the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:46), and become a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your future becomes a life of discovery of His gracious plan for you (Ephesians 1:18f).
A long time ago he was born in a manger. But he wishes to be born within your heart today (Revelation 3:20). This Christmas season receive the greatest gift that can ever be given. Open your heart and let the One who was born in a stable in humility, died on a cross in love, and rose from the dead in power, enter in!
Have you accepted the most precious gift he has for you? You can right now.

Author: Gary Jensen

Source: http://www.christiananswers.net/

The True Meaning of Christmas

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The historic record of the birth of Christ can be found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20.Unlike any other baby, the one born that night in Bethlehem was unique in all of history. He was not created by a human father and mother. He had a heavenly pre-existence (John 1:1-3, 14). He is God, the Son—Creator of the universe (Philippians 2:5-11). This is why Christmas is called the incarnation, a word which means “in the flesh.” In the birth of Jesus, the eternal, all-powerful and all-knowing Creator came to earth in the flesh.
Why would God do such a thing? Why would he come as a baby, instead of appearing in power and majesty? Why make himself a true man and live among us, when he knew full well how terribly he would be treated?
It was LOVE! It was necessary, if you are to be saved!