The third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday.” It comes from the first word of the “Entrance antiphon” or “Introit” of the Mass. “Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice,” and the text of the antiphon is from Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!” It appears in a shorter form in today’s second reading: “Rejoice always.” More on this later.
Fr. Rif'at Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, has made the following press statement titled, "This is Why His Majesty King Abdullah II is Heading to the Vatican". The statement is in reaction to the impending visit of His Majesty King Abdullah II to the Vatican, on Tuesday, December 19, where discussions will cover the developments related to Jerusalem, after the United States’ decision to recognise the city as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there:
President Donald J. Trump’s declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is problematic, to say the least. It is more pragmatic than principled, more political than ideological or religious, and more of a reward to his supporters at home than a wise decision based on a deep appreciation of the history and spirit of Jerusalem.
When a house has no master living in it, it becomes dark, vile and contemptible, choked with filth and disgusting refuse. So too is a soul which has lost its master, who once rejoiced there with his angels. This soul is darkened with sin, its desires are degraded, and it knows nothing but shame.
The Primate of the Maronite Church reports never-released details of his meetings with King Salman, Prince Bin Salman and Lebanese Premier Hariri. And he dampens rumors about the alleged Saudi project of founding a center for inter-religious dialogue in his own nation.
"In Chad, in the 1970s, relations between Christians and Muslims were excellent. The Islamic faithful were very open to dialogue and made their children attend Catholic schools. Mixed marriages were routine, as it was working together in peace. Then, this serene climate has been compromised by a civil war and the intervention of Arab countries: in recent years, emissaries of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries have arrived here in the northern region of the Country.
Sister Margherita Marin, the nun who found John Paul I dead, “There were three sheets of paper, I remember a Gospel quotation”
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I followed up with sorrow--as well as with others who love Jerusalem, the Holy City--the announcement made by US President Donald Trump to move his country's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and consequently his recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in a unilateral step which undermines all international resolutions with regard to the final settlement. Furthermore, his announcement jeopardizes the peaceful nature of Jerusalem which serves as a crucible for all the believers.
Benny, seminarian in the Saint James Vicariate, writes for us about a very important subject during Advent.
Many times, as modern people, we feel that life pulls us in all kinds of directions and bombards us with so many different commitments that at the end, even if we wanted to, we will not even have time to devote ourselves to God.
This question is very important and we should stop a minute to think about the root of the problem and what possible solution can be found.
During the Christmas tree celebration in Beit Sahour on Saturday December 9. 2017, Patriarch Michel Sabbah said : "Whatever the great of this world and the lords of war say or decide, they said: Jerusalem is their capital, all Palestine is theirs, and no place for us in Jerusalem, neither in our land. With all that, we will not lose our joy. We will remain in our land, we will remain in Jerusalem, capital of our prayers and of our daily life, whatever they say and decide."
Following is the text of his address:
