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Reflections The Pope Meditation Liturgy Parish News

June 2015 (Year B) Vol. XIII No. 6

The Body and Blood of Christ — 7 June 2015 First Reading (Ex 24:3-8). This reading describes the solemn ratification by Moses and the people of the covenant God made with them on Mount Sinai. Second Reading (Heb 9:11-15). Through the redeeming work of Christ, God has entered into a new and eternal covenant with his people. Gospel (Mk 14:12-16.22-26). This describes the preparation and the celebration of the Passover meal Je-sus ate with his disciples the night before he died.

Eleventh Sunday of the Year — 14 June 2015 First Reading (Ezek 17:22-24). The prophet foretells the fall of Jerusalem. At the same time he tells of the establishment of a universal kingdom (by the Messiah). Second Reading (2 Cor 5:6-10). Since Paul’s priority at all times is to please the Lord, he has no fears of appearing before him. Gospel (Mk 4:26-34). Two parables about the steady growth of the Kingdom of God from insignificant beginnings, a growth brought about by God.

Twelfth Sunday of the Year — 21 June 2015 First Reading (Job 38:1.-11). God alone has mastery over the sea. Second Reading (2 Cor 5:14-17). Christ showed his love for us by dying for us. We are to imitate that love. Gospel (Mk 4:35-41). By calming a storm Jesus shows his divine power and his care for his disciples.

Thirteenth Sunday of the Year — 29 June 2015 First Reading (Wis 1:13-15;2:23-24). God did not make us for death but for life, here and hereafter. Second Reading ( 2 Cor 8:7.9.13-15). St. Paul is appealing to the Corinthians to contribute to a collection for the poor in the Church at Jerusalem. Gospel (Mk 5:21-43). Both of the miracles related here are signs of God’s power, restoring life and health through Jesus.

The Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception

Parish Bulletin

Liturgy - Relevant Websites: For meditation, prayer, spirituality — Bible, Prayer & Homiletic Resources (www.frtommylane.com) For devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament — Eucharist the Real Presence of Christ (www.therealpresence.org) For evangelization and life in the Spirit — Christ is the key (www.christkey.com) For Marian devotions and prayers — Immaculate Heart of Mary (www.immaculateheart.com) For prayers on line — It's PC to Pray - Sacred Space (www.sacredspace.ie) The Parish Bulletin is also available on the Cathedral website: www.cathedral.catholic.org.hk For Parish info., please contact : (852)2522-8212 or fax: (852)2521-7957 or email: cathedral@catholic.org.hk

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In the 18th and 19th centuries, northern and central France became fertile ground for the growth of devotions to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, both jointly and individually with figures such as Saint Louis de Montfort promoting Mariology and Saint Catherine Labouré's Miraculous Medal depicting the Heart of Jesus thorn-crowned and the Heart of Mary pierced with a sword.

The Miraculous Medal (1830) depicts the two Hearts together below a cross.

The Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary refers to the historical, theologi-cal and spiritual links in Catholic devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Devotions to the two hearts are key elements of Catholic teachings, and terms such as Holy Heart, Agonizing Heart and Compassionate Heart have also been used in devotions.

The joint devotion to the hearts was first formalized in the 17th century by Saint Jean Eudes who organized the scriptural, theological and liturgical sources relating to the devotions and obtained the approbation of the Church, shortly before to the visions of Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque. He wrote the Mass and Office proper to the feasts, composed various prayers and rosaries and wrote the first book on the topic.

The devotions, and the associated prayers, continued into the 20th century, e.g. in prayers by Saint Maximil-lian Kolbe which built on the Montfortean theme of "Jesus through Mary" and the reported messages of Our Lady of Fátima which stated that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be honored together with the Heart of Mary.

Popes supported the individual and joint devotions to the hearts through the centuries. Pope Pius XII conse-crated the human race to the Immaculate Heart on December 8, 1942. In 1944 he extended the feast to the universal Church and set its date of celebration on August 22. Because August 22 is now the feast of Queenship of Mary, the feast of the Immaculate heart is celebrated the day after the Sacred Heart.

In the 1956 encyclical Haurietis aquas, Pope Pius XII encouraged the joint devotion to the hearts. In the 1979 encyclical Redemptor hominis Pope John Paul II explained the theme of unity of Mary's Immaculate Heart with the Sacred Heart. In his Angelus address on September 15, 1985 Pope John Paul II coined the term The Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and in 1986 addressed the international conference on that topic held at Fátima, Portugal.

In Catholic teachings, the object of the devotion to the Heart of Mary is her physical Heart that burned so intensely with love for God. Because of the inherently close relationship of Mary and Jesus in the Catholic teachings on salvation, the Heart of Mary is associated with the Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart is viewed as the source of God's boundless love and charity, while the devotion to the Immaculate Heart stresses the na-ture of Mary's love and concern for all who call upon her.

Theologian Mark Miravalle explains the link between the two Hearts as follows: "As Mary is always the pure channel of grace, which flows from Jesus and to Jesus, her Immaculate Heart is the perfect channel to Christ's most Sacred Heart, source and symbol of the infinite love and charity of God." The two Hearts are linked by devotions, prayers and feasts. The Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Heart, which is on a Saturday, is celebrated the day after the Feast of the Sacred Heart which always falls on a Friday, 19 days after Pente-cost. Catholic devotional guides encourage the faithful to honor them together in celebration of God's gener-ous love. The link and the relationship between the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is also manifested in various Catholic prayers. The conclusion to the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Mary is an example:

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A third devotional element often associated with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is the Body and Blood of Christ represented in the Eucharist. In Catholic teachings, the Blood and Water flowing from the Heart of Jesus are signs of the seven sacraments, in particular the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. The view of the sacraments as gifts to the Church positions the Hearts as the primary channel of Christ's boundless love and Mary's endless compassion. As an example, the morning offering prayer to the Immaculate Heart relates it to both the Blood of Christ and Sacred Heart:

A website has been set up for the homilies of the late Fr. Denis J. Hanly, M.M. Every Sunday a recording of a homily by Fr. Hanly for that day’s Mass read-ings is uploaded to the site, fatherhanly.wordprss.com. Fr. Hanly was a Maryknoll Missioner who served at the Cathedral from 1997 to 1999 and served the Diocese of Hong Kong for over 37 years.

At the time of his 50th Jubilee in 2009, Father Hanly said: “Looking back over my life, I am overwhelmed and humbled by God’s gracious and gentle kindness to me, and the generous outpouring of love I have received from His people in service to them.”

Father Hanly’s homilies are filled with wisdom, kindness and hope. They can be used as a weekly meditation for all Catholics or a a kind and gentle introduction to the Church for those searching for a new way of life. They are also ideal for people who travel as the homilies can be accessed on computers or mobile phones any-where in the world. Thus, every Sunday, no matter where in the world they find themselves, they can listen to the next homily in the series, the website providing a thread of continuity in their lives, with a familiar, trusted voice, almost like an on-line parish. For those unable to attend church due to age or ill health, Fr. Hanly’s homilies can offer words of great comfort.

The homily for each week can be found at https://fatherhanly.wordpress.com/this-week/. For those wishing to start their journey with Father Hanley from the beginning, the series starts with Christ the King, Year A, and all homilies in the journey so far can be found at https://fatherhanly.wordpress.com/journey-with-father/.

This is a live site so not only are new homilies added every week, but more content and improvements are con-stantly being made, and people are very welcome to contact us at fatherhandly.wordpress.com@gmail.com.

My God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the Masses said throughout the world, joining with it the offering of my every thought, action and suffering of this day.

Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Beloved of the Father, Living Temple of the Holy Spirit, delight of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - I adore Thee and I love Thee, have pity on the dying. Mary conceived without sin, pray for us, who trust in Thee. Praised be the Agonizing Heart of Jesus! Praised be the Compassionate Heart of Mary!

O most merciful God, Who, for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the miserable, wast pleased that the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary should be most like in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Thy Son Jesus Christ; grant that we, who commemorate this most sweet and loving Heart, may by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin merit to be found according to the Heart of Jesus. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast Day: Saturday 13th June 2015

Feast Day: Friday 12th June 2015

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REFLECT IONS

PARISH NEWS

PRAYING FOR THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS ( JUNE 2015 )

Universal: That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.

Evangelization: That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life.

Lord, we thank you for having us as guests at the banquet of the Eucharist. Here we have listened to your word and eaten the food of eternal life. May we go forth from here nourished, honoured, blessed, humbled yet exalted. May we be so sure of our worth before you that the honours of this world will never ensnare us. And in your goodness grant us a place at the heavenly banquet.

THE POWER TO HEAL

Each of us is capable of doing some healing, because we have eyes that can see, ears that can hear, tongues that can speak, hands that can touch, and above all a heart that can love. Lord, make us instruments of your healing power. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. Amen.

THE SEED THAT GROWS BY ITSELF

On many an idle day have I grieved over lost time. But it is never lost, my Lord. You have taken every moment of my life in your own hands. Hidden in the heart of things you are nourishing seeds into sprouts, buds into blossoms, and ripening flowers into fruitfulness, I was tired and sleeping on my idle bed and imagining all work had ceased. In the morning I woke up and found my garden full with wonders of flowers.

PRAYER ~ BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

April 11, 2015 ~ Ferris Nalani

Baptism