Sunday 29 July 2012

Season of the Pentecost - 10th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

On the 10th Sunday of Pentecost, we read in Matthew 12:22-32 that Jesus wants the crowd to make a stark choice: are they with Him or against Him? That choice is one for us to make too. We have to live our Christianity to the full consecrating our lives and actions to God or we cannot call ourselves Christians. We cannot pick and choose the Christian teachings that suit us and obey them and ignore the teachings that do not please us. Our faith is a commitment and a lifestyle. Being Catholic is who we are; it is not an activity or an avocation.

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with Arabic translation.

Annual Fundraising Dinner- 13 October 2012
As you may be aware by now, our parish is holding a fundraising dinner on Saturday 13 October 2012 at St Charbel's Multi-Purpose Hall.

All funds raised from this event will go towards the launch of St Charbel's Nursing Home, a project that is greatly needed by our community. The project will also comprise a medical centre and other services.

Tickets for the dinner are $75 per person and they include dinner and drinks. Sponsorship packages are also available by contacting the Parish Office on 9740 0998.

Car Raffle- 2012 Ford Fiesta valued at $21,500
A raffle on a 2012 Ford Fiesta will also be drawn at the Fundraising Dinner. Raffle tickets are $5 each and are available outside the Church after masses and in the Parish Office.

We thank you for your support and ask the Lord to reward you with His blessings and graces.
I entrust you all to the love of God and wish you a blessed week! In God’s Love,

Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1019 Sunday 29/07/2012
Season of the Pentecost
10th Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 & Matthew 12: 22-32

 

'Anyone who is not with me is against me'
“Then they brought to him a blind and dumb demoniac; and he cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. All the people were astounded and said, 'Can this be the son of David?' But when the Pharisees heard this they said, 'The man drives out devils only through Beelzebul, the chief of the devils.'


Knowing what was in their minds he said to them, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin; and no town, no household divided against itself can last.

Now if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom last? And if it is through Beelzebul that I drive devils out, through whom do your own experts drive them out? They shall be your judges, then. But if it is through the Spirit of God that I drive out devils, then be sure that the kingdom of God has caught you unawares. 'Or again, how can anyone make his way into a strong man's house and plunder his property unless he has first tied up the strong man? Only then can he plunder his house. 'Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather in with me throws away. And so I tell you, every human sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And anyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but no one who speaks against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven either in this world or in the next.” Matthew 12: 22-32


Reflection of the week

“Whoever is not with me is against me”
In today’s Gospel Jesus faces the crowd with a stark choice - are you with me or are you against me? That choice is one for us to make too.
Today’s Gospel is about commitment, about taking sides, and about the obedience that is the test of that commitment. It is about recognising and accepting God’ work in us through the Holy Spirit.

Whose side are you on?
In today’s gospel the choice is addressed to the crowd at large. But it is in the end a choice which each one of us has to make for ourselves. There are many occasions when Jesus gently draws out from an individual a very simple confession of faith in him. It seems to be a necessary condition for the exercise of his power – again and again we hear the refrain, your faith has made you whole. Even now, as we come to him in our need, he makes it easy for us to say yes. And when we say: Lord, I believe, we discover that his love is indeed able to meet our need, in the healing of our troubled souls and bodies. Each one of us, in our own way and in our own time, needs to take that step. And most of us need a personal invitation.

Have you given your heart to the Lord Jesus?
Whether we are young or old, however much or little we may understand, Jesus still invites us to make that choice, to join his side, to accept his gentle rule. Yet what he seeks is not so much our submission as our love, for it is in the giving and receiving of that love that we discover that obedience is not a burden after all, but a gift and whoever hears and obey the word of God will be blessed.

What is the unpardonable sin of which Jesus warns?
The Holy Spirit is God’s final contact, God’s last attempt to reach man and save him from sin. The Holy Spirit is God in the world today showing us the great love and offering us God’s salvation. According to Jewish teaching the Spirit of God had two supreme functions.

First, the Holy Spirit brought God’s truth to men; the Holy Spirit was God’s instrument in helping us come to know God’s will for us. Second, the Holy Spirit enabled men to recognize and understand God’s truth.

Therefore, man needs the Holy Spirit both to receive and to recognize God’s truth. But the Pharisees had so long been blind and deaf to the guidance of God’s hand; they had insisted on their own way for so long; that they had come to a stage where they could not recognize God’s truth and goodness when they saw it.

They could look at God’s goodness and call it Satan’s evil. They could look on the Son of God and call Him the servant of the devil.

What is the sin against the Holy Spirit?
The sin against the Holy Spirit is the sin of so often and so consistently refusing God’s will that in the end we no longer even recognize it, even when it comes in all of its power.

The Holy Spirit is the last divine Agent through whom the Father intends to work for the salvation of the human race. His God-given work is to bring people to Christ, defend Christ, defend the truth of God's word in an unbelieving world. The work of the Holy Spirit is the last hope the world has. God will say no more to the world other than what the Holy Spirit has revealed in the Bible. The Holy Spirit does His work though the Bible.

This sin can be committed today in three ways. Blasphemy against the Spirit is possible by speaking against the Holy Spirit Himself, against His person, against His Divinity as the third Person in Godhead.. He may also be blasphemed by speaking against His work. He works among and with Christians. The Bible says, ”As many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God.” His work is to bring people to Christ and teach them how to live. We can also blaspheme the Spirit by speaking against His word. He directed and oversaw the writing of the entire Bible. Let no one doubt the truth of the Bible or the honesty of the apostles. Let men be careful what they say about the Bible, for what they say against the Bible they say against the Holy Spirit. If they speak against the Bible they are hindering His work, they are trying to destroy His influence in the world and that is blasphemy. Such people will not be forgiven either in this life or in the world to come. The most powerful way to hinder His work, to injure Him and to insult Him is to speak against the Bible.

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Saints Of The Week


31st July
the 350 Martyrs
Disciples of St Maroun
After the Council of Chalcedon, Syria was divided between those who upheld the Council and those who opposed it. The monastery of Saint Maron and those who gathered around it supported the declarations of the Council. Patriarch Severus, however, was the head of those who rejected the teaching of the Council that in the person of Christ there was both a human nature and a divine nature. Severus and his followers held that in Christ, the incarnate Word of God, there was but a single human-divine nature. In the year 517 a group of monks left the monastery of Saint Maron and went to the monastery of Saint Simon the Stylite near Alepo. The monks were arrested by a troop or partisons of the "one nature" of Christ who killed three hundred and fifty of the monks. Many of the monks who were wounded in the attack were able to escape. Alexander, the superior of the monastery of Saint Maron, and the superiors of the neighboring monasteries wrote to Pope Hormisdas in order to inform him of the events that had taken place.
The Pope responded on February 10, 518 and encouraged them to persevere in the Catholic faith and praised the faith of the martyred monks.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (20)
The Years of Difficulties (3)

Before Qannoubine, The monks lived in inaccessible and trackless mountain fastness and considered themselves happy if they were able to live in peace among their faithful people, treasuring the Christian teaching that had been handed down to them. They did not even have any fixed Patriarchal seat. They went from Yanuh down to Mayfuq, then to Lehfed, to Habil, back to Yanuh, to Kfifan, to Kfarhay, to Kafre, to Yanuh again, and to Hardine, and to Mayfuq again. Thirty-four Patriarchs resided in the region of Jbeil or Batroun, through the troubled times, they were:

John-Maron II, Gregory, Stephen, Mark, Eusebius, John, Joshua, David, Gregory, Theofelix, Joshua, Dumith, Isaac, John, Simon, Joseph El Gergessi (1110-1120), Peter (1121-1130), Gregory of Halate (1130-1141), Jacob of Ramate (1141-1151), John (1151 -1154), Peter (1154-1173), Peter of Lehfed (1173-1199), Jeremiah of Amshit (1199-1230), Daniel of Shamat (1230-1239), John of Jaje (1239-1245), Simon (1245-1277), Daniel of Hadshit (1278-1282), Jeremiah of Dmalsa (1282-1297), Simon (1297-1339), John (1339-1357), Gabriel of Hjula (1357-1367), John (1367- 1404), John of Jaje (1404-1445).

We note the tradition which includes the name of the village which the monk has come from and that before the 12th century they had no villages mentioned because it took a while for the community to settle down in properly formatted villages. The Maronite Monks still follow the tradition of linking the name of the Monk to the village that he came from.

The Sacred Valley
As one advances into the deep-cut valley of Kadisha, one is surrounded by mountains towering over the gorge, leaving only a patch of the sky visible over-head, it is all crag and mountain rock, soaring heights and plunging depths. It is a land still bearing the imprint of its Creator, and is a source of revelation and inspiration to action. If one looks down from the shoulder of one of the great mountains into the three-thousand-foot depths of the gorge below, one is over-whelmed by a sense of power, and one wants to seize some twisted tree- trunk or jutting crag so as not go falling into the vast space between plunging cliffs. One European traveler recounted how the Patriarch, like a second Moses risen from the pages of the Old Testament, guided his people from his austere re-treat among the rocks.

Our Lady of Kannoubine was where the Patriarch took refuge during the period of great hardship, which lasted 383 years, it was the seat of 24 Maronite Patriarchs from1440 to1823, they were: John of Jaj 1440-1445, Jacob of Hadeth1445-1468, Joseph of Hadeth 1468-1492, Symeon of Hadeth 1492-1524, Moussa Akari of Barida 1524-1567, Michael Rizzi of Bkoufa 1567-1581, Sarkis Rizzi of Bkoufa 1581-1596, Joseph Rizzi of Bkoufa 1596-1608, John Makhlouf of Ehden 1608-1633, George Omaira of Ehden 1633-1644, Jo-seph Halib of Akoura 1644-1648, John Bawab of Safra 1648-1656, George Riz-kallah of Bseb'el 1656- 1670, Stephen Douaihy of Ehden 1670-1704, Gabriel of Blaouza 1704-1705, Jacob Awad of Hasroun 1705-1733, Joseph Dergham Khazen of Ghosta 1733-1742, Symeon Awad of Hasroun 1743-1756, Toubia El Khazen of Bekaata Kanaan 1756-1766, Joseph Stephan of Ghosta 1766-1793, Michael Fadel of Beirut 1793-1795, Philip Gemayel of Bikfaya 1795-1796, Jo-seph Tyan of Beirut 1796-1808, John Helou of Ghosta 1808-1823.

All of those named above were God-fearing men, servants of their people. The valley stands witness to their holiness and the sincerity of their quest for God through austerity and frugality. People said of them, 'Their crosses are made of wood, but their hearts are made of gold.'

Next Sunday: The Years of Difficulties (4)
In Wadi Qannoubine (2)

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Saturday 21 July 2012

Season of the Pentecost - 9th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

Welcome to this week's edition of our weekly newsletter Kadishat! On the 9th Sunday of Pentecost, we read from Luke 4:14-21 about Jesus in the synagogue reading from Isaiah who foretold the coming of the Christ. This gospel tells us that Jesus has come for all humanity and especially for those who are forgotten. And similarly, Jesus sends us into the world for those who are less fortunate than us, physically and spiritually.

St Charbel's Feast Day- Thank you
Last Sunday, our parish celebrated the feast day of St Charbel. Our gratitude goes to all the volunteers who assisted throughout the week in cleaning the Church, preparing the traditional 'Hrisse' and all the other events that took place. May our Lord bless you and reward your generosity.

Guardians Meeting with Msgr John Esseff
As announced previously, last Wednesday (18 July), our parish was honoured to welcome Msgr John Esseff for a Guardians talk about 'The Healing Power of Confession'. Msgr Esseff spoke to over 500 people about the importance of forgiveness: forgiving ourselves and forgiving others. We thank him for joining us on the night and we thank all the people who attended. If you would like the DVD or audio of the talk, it is available through Parousia Media on 8730 8874.

Feast of St Elias- 20 July
Yesterday, the Church celebrated the Feast of St Elias (prophet Elijah). Elijah was a prophet of Israel during the reign of Ahab and his Sidonian wife Jezebel. During that time, the people of Israel turned away from the true and living God of their fathers and adored the false gods of Baal.
Elijah stood firm in his faith and is known for his zeal and love for the one true God.
May we, following his example, have a great zeal to defend our faith, repeating what Elijah said that our God is the true and living God.

I invite you all to click on this link with Arabic translation to view our parish newsletter for this week.

In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1018 Sunday 22/07/2012
Season of the Pentecost
9th Sundayy
Sunday’s Readings: 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21,6:1-10 & Luke 4: 14-21

He has anointed me to bring the good news
“Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone glorified him. He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, 'This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening” Luke 4: 14-21

Reflection of the week

The Mission
In today’s Gospel, we find the direction and scope of Jesus’ mission that will find its fulfillment in death and resurrection. This first sermon declares Jesus’ preference for the afflicted, the captives, the blind and the oppressed. At the opening of his public ministry Jesus is presented as the one who has a clear, personal preference for a certain group who can place its hope in Him because the acceptable time of favour has come for all the forgotten people.

Jesus’ mission is addressed to all nations (Luke 4:25-27). Jesus’ concern is a universal concern for the underprivileged and the outcast, a statement of commitment to social justice and reform, fostering outreach to all in peace.

As we read these words from Isaiah, we should remember that poverty, captivity, and blindness have both physical and spiritual dimensions. One can have an empty wallet, but another can have an empty soul. One can be a captive inside a jail cell, but many have demonstrated that it is possible to remain free even while in the most horrific confinement. Jesus gives to us a clear indication of the blindness. He came to take away the blindness to our spiritual condition. As the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, He is in reality empowering us to see for the first time our true spiritual condition.

Jesus expected us to have the same passion and love for the Gospel message and for mankind that He had, a passion and love so great that we would be willing to endure personal sacrifice and hardship. Jesus endured all kinds of insults and indignities for the Gospel's sake, because of His love and passion for mankind. How much personal sacrifice and hard-ship are we willing to endure for the Gospel's objective?

Our mission
We are called to live out that spirituality on a day to day basis as we encounter the poor, captives, the blind, and the oppressed. If we really are in the "today" of the Lord’s favor proclaimed by Jesus, then, indeed, "the eyes of all" are fixed on us. Words will not be enough. And our own strength will not be enough. The focus of Jesus' ministry was loving the unlovely and serving the undeserving. That is what Jesus would have us to do.

Today I believe the Lord is saying to us all: do not hesitate, do not be afraid to be a disciple of Jesus. When we preach the liberating message of Jesus Christ we are offering the words of life to the world. Our prophetic witness is an urgent and essential service not just to the Catholic community but to the whole human family.

Reach out
Reach out to the poor not only to help, but to motivate and inspire them to do what they can do for themselves and for the Church. In other words, we have to help them to realize their dignity and potentials, and to challenge them to contribute these to the Church and to society.

Ask yourself
When was the last time I brought the good news to the poor? When was the last time I proclaimed release to the captives? When did I help the blind to see? Have I freed those who are oppressed? 

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The Old Testament

The books of the Old Testament contain God’s promise of salvation which was entrusted to Abraham and then through Moses to the people of Israel. God is revealed as the only living and true God. Through the mouths of the Prophets he fore-told of the coming of Christ, the Redeemer of the Universe, and of the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. The books of the Old Testament are di-vinely inspired and as such retain an eternal value.

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Carry on Christ’s Mission

Jesus calls us to take the Good News into our world, to invite people to receive Christ into their hearts and lives. This is the mission we were given at our baptism. Let us pray for a sense of mission and the courage to make a Christ-like difference in the world.
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Saints Of The Week

St Nohra, Martyr
22 July 2012
Nouhra is particularly venerated in the churches of the East. He is believed to be the same person as the martyr called Lucien, who came from the city of Manhur in Persia. He traveled preaching the gospel and he suffered martyrdom at Batroun in Lebanon. His name means "Light" and for this reason he is the special patron of those who suffer from diseases of the eyes. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

Mary Magdalene
22nd July
Was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important female disciple in the movement of Jesus.

Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", [Lu 8:2] [Mk 16:9] sometimes interpreted as referring to complex illnesses. She became Jesus' close friend and most prominent during his last days, being present at the cross after the male disciples (excepting John the Beloved) had fled, and at his burial. She was the first person to see Jesus after his Resurrection, it has be recorded that she peached in France. May his prayers be with us. Amen

St Christina of Tyre, 
Martyr 24 July
The details of the life of St. Christina vary depending on which account of her life you read. However, the core text of these accounts is the same. We are told that she was born in the coastal city of Tyre (in modern day Lebanon) in the third century. With no mention of a mother or siblings, the focus of her early life is centered on her father, Urban. A wealthy man who sought to protect his daughter from any knowledge of Christianity, he used his ample means to have a huge tower constructed, and St. Christina was "reared within the confines of the tower without restricting her activities, yet assuring that she could never encounter a Christian or even hear of Christianity."

Although she had the best education possible in these circumstances and lacked nothing material, she soon grew weary of the tower. She derived her only comfort from her walks around the tower terrace, which enabled her to contemplate the wonders of creation and their beginnings.

God in His great mercy, seeing her yearning for the truth, sent His angel to her . . . and instructed her fully in the things of God.

Zealous in her newfound faith, she sold every-thing she had and gave it to the poor, and she began to evangelize the pagans around her. She suffered many tortures because of her faith - even having her breasts cut off and her tongue cut out. According to her Life, when her tongue was cut out she threw it in the face of the governor and he was blinded instantly! When she finally died in the year 234, she was laid to rest in a chapel erected by an uncle in her memory.

SAINT ANNE
Mother of the Blessed Virgin
25th July
Saint Anne, wife of Joachim, was advanced in years and her prayers for a child had not been answered. Once as she prayed beneath a laurel tree near her home in Galilee, an angel appeared to tell Anne that she would have a child. Anne promised to dedicate this child to God, and then Anne became the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The devotion of St. Anne was known in the East in the fifth century, but it was not diffused in the West until the thirteenth. The name Anne derives from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning “grace”.
The truth is that it was the parents of Mary who nurtured Mary, taught her, brought her up to be a worthy Mother of God. It was Saint Anne’s teaching that led her to respond to God's request with faith, "Let it be done to me as you will." It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was the faith that Mary learned from home that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand by the cross as her son was crucified and still believes.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (19)
The Years of Difficulties (2)

Never gave up hope
Few Churches have survived from this period, but they testify to the renewal of the mission in Jesus Christ, which began when he trod the soil of Lebanon. The priests administered the sacraments and preached the word of God. Despite the dangers they faced daily the Maronites did not loosely give up their faith or weaken their determination to survive, no matter what was thrown at them, they would not be assimilated. 

Not only did they openly and defiantly practice their Christianity but managed to keep contact with Rome throughout the difficult years.

The flee to Qannoubine
Pope Eugene IV (1431-47) invited the Maronite Patriarch to attend the Council of Florence in person, the Patriarch however, sent Fra Juan as his delegate, being motivated by concern about the risks of the voyage. Fra Juan had an audience with the Pope, at that time presiding the works of the Council, after which he returned to Lebanon bearing the Pallium.

'When the worthy friar reached Tripoli, there was a large crowd who came to greet him; unfortunately however, there were also soldiers sent by the governor to arrest him, the official in question being persuaded that the Christians had met in Florence to prepare the launching of another crusade against the Muslims of Syria. On learning of the envoy's misfortune, the Patriarch sent emissaries to reassure the governor about Fra Juan's intentions. 

After having pocketed a substantial bribe, the governor set his prisoner free after the latter had promised to return after completing his mission. Fra Juan made his way up to Our Lady of Mayfuk, which was then the seat of the Patriarch, and delivered him the Pallium together with a letter from Pope Eugene IV. But he then set off for Rome again, this time passing through Beirut and ignoring his earlier promise to the governor of Tripoli, who naturally enough flew into a rage and sent his soldiers to arrest both the Patriarch and other leading personalities. 

Finding nobody at the patriarchal residence, he plundered and set fire to the houses around and even killed a number of the local inhabitants. Those of his men who continued the search for the Patriarch destroyed the monastery, killing some of the monks and taking the others in chains to Tripoli. The Patriarch was obliged to leave the monastery of Mayfuk and from then on lived under the protection of Jacob, Mukaddam of Besharri.' (The Annals, 210).

When finally they found themselves in a situation, which knew no other solution, the Maronites had to move Patriarchal seat further into the mountain, the chosen place was the valley of Kadisha, Syriac or the Sacred Valley.



References
http://phoenicia.org. & http://www.opuslibani.org.lb/
Next Sunday: The Years of Difficulties (3) In Wadi Qannoubine

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Saturday 14 July 2012

Season of the Pentecost - 8th Sunday - St Charbel’s Feast Day

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

"The upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43)

This Sunday, our parish celebrates the feast of our patron saint, St Charbel. Looking at the life of this great saint, we see the greatness of God revealed through him. He lived a life of prayer and worship of God renouncing all material things and bearing his hardships with happiness. He was truly a "righteous who flourished like the palm tree and grew like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord." And over 100 years after his death in 1898, people continue to seek his intercession from all around the world.

We pray that, through the intercession of St Charbel, we may be granted the grace to live a holy life carrying Christ to all whom we encounter.

Reminder- Guardians Prayer with Msgr John Essef
This coming Wednesday 18 July at 8pm, our parishioners will have the privilege to hear Msgr John Esseff, a holy priest and former confessor to Blessed Mother Teresa, giving a talk at Guardians titled "The Healing Power of Confession".
Msgr Esseff was favoured by St. Padre Pio and thus has been blessed with distinctive charisms in the confessional. This is definitely a talk not to be missed! We hope to see you there!

Finally, I wish you all a Happy Feast Day! May you be blessed with many graces and spiritual gifts through the intercession of St Charbel!

I invite you all to click on this link to view our parish newsletter for this week with Arabic tranlation.

In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1017 Sunday 15/07/2012
Season of the Pentecost - 8th Sunday
St Charbel’s Feast Day
Feast day Readings: Romans 8: 28-39 & Matthew 13: 36-43

The upright will shine like the sun
“ Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable about the darnel in the field.' He said in reply, 'The sower of the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the Evil One; the enemy who sowed it, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of falling and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone who has ears should listen!.”
Matthew 13: 36-43

Reflection of the Week 

St Charbel
Many non-Catholics question the fact that Catholics venerate saints. The reason we honour the saints is that we wish to celebrate the triumphant grace of God in specific individuals who have fought the good fight, won the race and kept the faith (Timothy 4: 7) They have reached the end for which we were all created. What could deserve more praise and rejoicing than this? Today we celebrate the feast of one such saint, St. Charbel, the patron saint of our parish.

When we look at the life of St. Charbel we see how God's Spirit continually acts in its own manner, producing greatness from the most unlikely sources. From our worldly definition of greatness, we would not view St. Charbel as being great. In today's society, we tend to see people who have power and authority as being great, while those who practise humility are seen as being weak and downtrodden. 

Perhaps then, as people living in today's society, we, as Christians, have much to learn from the life of St. Charbel with regard to what constitutes greatness in the eyes of God. During St. Charbel's childhood, his peers ridiculed him for his spirituality but he did not let this obstacle stand in the way of his dream to achieve holiness. It should be the same for us too. We need to strive for goodness regardless of how difficult this can sometimes be. St. Charbel lived a life dedicated to prayer and worship of God. He cared little for the material things of this world and bore any hardships, which came his way in life with humility and acceptance. St. Charbel was exemplary for his politeness, obedience, honesty and humility as he lived out his monastic calling in the 

Lebanese Maronite Order.
An author by the name of Irene Campernowne in her book "The One and Only Me" writes: "When I was in Lebanon, I told some Lebanese friends that I loved a certain Lebanese proverb all my life. An old man living in his mountain village wrote it out in Arabic for me…The proverb in English is: 
"I will set my face to the wind and scatter my handful of seeds on high." 

My little contribution to life…is taken by the great wind of God and scattered where the wind wants to scatter it…we need not bother too much about that part. Seeds grow. But we must have the courage to keep ourselves facing the wind…Peace and joy and fulfilment come when we sow our seed, and sometimes we see the harvest. 

But even if we don't other people do and they are grateful. It is our gift to life and God.
This proverb could very well apply to the life of St. Charbel. As he went about his daily life, he would not have been aware of how the virtues he practised in his life were to have an impact on others, even to this day, nearly one hundred and six years after his death which occurred on the 24th of December, 1898 at the age of seventy. He is not a saint who can be easily forgotten for he was a true witness to Jesus seeing everything through Jesus' eyes and always being ready to repent and forgive others. He was always ready to listen to, and be guided by, the will of God and to interact with this will.

Through the life of St. Charbel, we can see that from infancy his life could be compared to a tiny seed that grew little by little, until it became an immense tree of the Kingdom, alive with the chatter of birds. (Mark 4:30-32). May we be inspired by the life of St. Charbel to keep on the path to holiness and not allow the temptations and materialism of this world to take us off the path to God. By the example of his life and by the grace of the Holy Spirit, may we be guided back on the right road, which leads to the eternal life which God our creator, desires for all of us.

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Prayer
May we, through the intercession of St. Charbel, 
be granted the grace, strength and courage 
to lead our lives as true followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
bringing His love to all those with whom we come in contact. 
Amen

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Saints of the Week: 

Saint Marina Nun of Qannoubine (8th C)
Maronite Feast Day: July 17.
Saint Marina of Qannoubine is also known as Saint Marina the Monk, sometimes known as Pelagia, Mary of Alexandria, Marinus, Marinos, or Marina the Syrian. She died in the sixth century and is considered a female Desert Father. Legend has it that her father, Eugene (Eugenius) wanted to become a monk so he took himself and his daughter disguised as a boy to the Monastery of Qannoubine in the Holy Valley in Lebanon. For seventeen years, she lived as a male monk named Marinus.

After this time, Marina was on a journey and stopped at an inn. The inn-keeper’s daughter desired her, thinking she was a man. When Marina refused her approaches, the inn-keeper’s daughter accused her of seduction. After she was accused of being the child’s father. Marina was dismissed from the monastery. She still did not reveal her identity and became a beggar at the monastery’s gates. Marina was forced to take custody of the child and was finally readmitted to the monastery with her "son." There, Marina performed the lowliest tasks and was forced also to perform severe penances. Her gender was finally revealed at her death. There her fellow monks lamented her, repented their own sin against her and revealed to everyone the false accusation which had destroyed the Monk Marinos' reputation. The mother of the child and her father, the main accusers, wept in repentance and asked forgiveness.

Elias (Elijah), Prophet (880 B.C.)
Maronite Feast Day: July 20
Elijah or Elias meaning "Yahweh is my God," was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BC. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, Christian Bible, and the Qur'an. According to the Books of Kings, Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into heaven in a chariot. In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," making him a harbinger of the Messiah.

The New Testament describes how both Jesus and John the Baptist are compared with Elijah, and on some occasions, thought by some to be manifesta-tions of Elijah, and Elijah appears with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Hermon.

Elijah is also a figure in various folk-loric traditions. In Bulgaria, he is known as "Elijah the Thunderer" and in folklore is held responsible for summer storms, hail, rain, thunder and dew.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (19)
The Years of Difficulties


During the thirteenth century, Lebanon knew some decades of relative peace. The Maronites were even able to undertake the construction of a number of Churches, an activity which Patriarch DOUAIHY recorded as follows: 'At that time, Christianity spread throughout the East and was openly proclaimed. Bronze bells were rung to summon the faithful to prayer and to the sacred services. 

Those who received the out-pourings of God's grace founded convents and built Churches, for the people yearned to serve the Almighty and to perform good deeds’. Father Basil of Besharri had three daughters: Mariam, Thecla, and Salomeh. Mariam constructed the shrine of St Saba in Besharri in Mount Lebanon; Salomeh, that of St Daniel in Hadath; and Thecla, that of St George in Bkerkasha as well as two churches in Koura..' (The Annals, 104)

What happened after the defeat of the Crusaders?
By 1291 the Crusaders were all but defeated, but the relationship that they had made with the Maronites was to endure. These Christians of Lebanon were most responsive to western influence and in the Latin states they were accorded the rights and privileges pertaining to Latin bourgeoisie including the right to own land. Some Maronites followed the Crusaders to Cyprus where their descendants make up a healthy Maronite community.

It is estimated that during the Crusades 50,000 Maronites fell in battle under the standard of the Cross.
After the departure of the Crusaders, the Maronites came under attack from the Mamlouks. They suffered every humiliation, while their Churches were set on fire, their villages plundered, and their vineyards destroyed.

”On Monday, the second day of Muharram, Akush Pasha, governor of Damascus, marched at the head of a military force into the mountains of Kesrouan. The soldiers invested these mountains and, having dismounted scaled the slopes from all sides.

”The governor invaded the hills, and his soldiers trampled underfoot a land whose inhabitants had believed it impregnable. The enemy occupied the heights, destroyed the villages, and wreaked havoc in the vineyards. They massacred the people and made prisoners of them. The mountains were left deserted.” (The Annals, 288)

The Patriarchs themselves had their share of the general misfortune, suffering as much as any. One was tortured, another harassed, another compelled to flee, another put on trial, and yet another burnt alive.
”In 1283 Patriarch Daniel of Hadshit in person led his men in their defence against the Mamlouk soldiery, after the latter had assaulted the Jubbeh of Bsharri. He succeeded in checking their advance before Ehden for forty days, and the Mamlouks captured Ehden only after they had seized the Patriarch by a ruse. ”In 1367, patriarch Gabriel was conveyed from Hjoula, his home district where he had taken refuge during the persecutions, down to Tripoli, where he was burnt alive at the stake. His tomb still stands in Bab el Ramel, at the gates of Tripoli.” ”In 1402, there was great hardship. Many of the dead remained without burial, many of which died of hunger. It was a tragedy without parallel.” (DOUAIHY, The Annals, 338).

References
http://phoenicia.org. & http://www.opuslibani.org.lb/
Next Sunday: The Years of Difficulties (2)
The peaceful message

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Saturday 7 July 2012

Season of the Pentecost - 7th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

Our parish is preparing to celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint, St Charbel. We prepare ourselves spiritually for this feast looking up to St Charbel who led the perfect life of a hermit detaching himself from the world so that the heroism of the monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience could triumph in his hermitage. May we learn from this Maronite saint to detach ourselves from earthly things and build treasures for us in heaven.

The full program of the feast week, as well as the readings for this week and much more information can be found in this week’s edition of Kadishat on the link below:

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with Arabic translations.

Guardians- 2 Upcoming Talks

Guardians, our fortnightly interactive English youth talks, have 2 very interesting talks coming up over the coming weeks. On Wednesday 11 July at 8pm, Guardians is hosting Eamonn Keane, who will be talking about ‘The Greens and The Destruction of Civilization’.

And on Wednesday 18 July 2012, our parish is honoured to host Msgr John Essef, former Confessor of Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta, to give a Guardians talk about ‘The Healing Power of Confession’. Msgr Essef joined us for youth mass on Sunday 1 July and touched many hearts and minds with his inspiring homily. Everybody is invited to attend this talk which will take place in the Church on Wednesday 18 July 2012 at 8pm.

I wish you all a blessed week, by the intercession of St Charbel, and I hope to see you all at the parish festivities and events over the coming week! In God’s Love,

Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1016 Sunday 06/07/2012
Season of the Pentecost
7th Sunday
Readings of this Sunday:2 Corinthians 3: 1-6 & Luke 10: 1-7

Laborers are few


“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting. And he said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to do his harvesting. Start off now, but look, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!" And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the laborer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.” Luke 10: 1-7

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Program for the Feast of St. Charbel 9-15 July 2012



Monday 9 July
6:00pm Evening prayer & Mass
(Reflection by Fr Dany Akiki)
7:00pm Eucharistic Adoration (Arabic)
8:00pm Eucharistic Adoration (English)


Tuesday 10 July
5:00pm St Charbel’s Sodality prayer and Holy Rosary
6:00pm Evening prayer & Mass with the Sodalities of the Maronite Diocese – (Reflection by Fr Milad Azzi)


Wednesday 11 July
6:00pm Evening prayer and Youth Mass
(Reflection by Fr Challita El Boustani)
8:00pm Guardians Talk:
“Greens and Destruction of Civilisation”


Thursday 12 July
6:00pm Evening prayer & Mass
(Reflection by Fr Elie Rahme)
7:00pm Screening of the movie “Charbel”


Friday 13 July
11:00am Rosa Mystica Mass
6:00pm Evening prayer & Mass
(Reflection by Fr Antoine Tarabay)
7:00pm Candlelit Procession of Saint Charbel


Saturday 14 July
5:30pm Solemn Mass
The Church doors remain open until midnight
7:00pm Traditional “Harisseh”


Sunday 15 July – Feast of St. Charbel
7:30am, 8:45am, 11:15am and 5:30pm Arabic



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Prayer:

God, infinitely Holy and Glorified through Your saints, You inspired Charbel, the saint monk, to lead the perfect life of a hermit. We thank You for granting him the blessing and the strength to detach himself from the world so that the heroism of the monastic virtues of poverty, obedience, and chastity, could triumph in his hermitage.
We beseech You to grant us the grace of loving and serving You, following his example.
Almighty God, Who has manifested the power of St. Charbel's intercession through his countless miracles and favours, grant us the graces we need through his intercession. Amen.

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Saints of the Week

Massabki Brothers, Martyrs (+1860)
Maronite Feast Day: July 10.
Many Christians lost their lives in the bitter fighting that occurred in Syria in 1860. Among those killed because of their faith were the three Massabki brothers who were all slaughtered on the same night, July 10 in Damascus for not denying their faith to the Muslims who attacked their village. The three brothers were Francis, Abdel, and Raphael. Altogether in their family there were four boys and two girls. Their father, Ne’meh was a man of faith who raised his family in a true Christian spirit.

Francis Ne’meh Massabki married and fathered three boys and five girls. He was tall and handsome, but humble and with a strong will. He was a generous man whose home was open to every-one, especially foreigners and pilgrims. Francis was a good businessman and was wealthy from his efforts. Before starting his day, he said his prayers and attended mass with his family. He offered his time and wealth to the service of the Church. He was popular in Lebanon through his work and generosity and he was announced when he traveled there from village to village by the ringing of the church bells.

Abdel Mohti Ne’meh Massabki was thin and slender. He preferred solitude. He lived with his wife and children in his brother Francis’ house and taught his children with faith and devotion. One of his students testified that Abdel Mohti would often repeat to them: “The Christian must always be ready to spill his blood for the love of Christ, and that man’s greatest joy is to receive the grace of martyrdom.” Abdel attended mass each day and was known to fast all of Lent. He observed all holy days and religious ceremonies and taught his children the psalms and religious chants. He tried business as a change from teaching but was not comfortable with his conscience about his work, and he dedicated the rest of his life to prayer and meditation.

Raphael Ne’meh Massabki was short and simple-hearted. He had a strong devotion to Mary and often asked for her help in his business dealings. He was humble and never married.

In their home in Damascus there was a time of religious unrest among the community which heightened on the night of July 9 and came to a dramatic conclusion the next day. The three brothers and many other Christians had locked themselves in the church to avoid the violence, but the trouble makers forced their way in and demanded that the brothers deny their faith. On behalf of his brothers, Francis is known to have said: “We do not fear the one who kills the body...a crown is prepared for us in heaven, we have our souls ... and we do not wish to lose them, we are Christians and we wish to die as Christians.” The loss of the Three Massabki Brothers is a tragic loss that will always be remembered.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (17)


Crusaders... 400 years before the Crusaders (4)

How can we explain the relations between the Crusaders and the Maronites?
The Maronites welcomed the arrival of the crusaders.

1) They considered them a saving grace for their existence in the middle East which is surrounded on all sides by the Islamic world.

2) The Crusaders themselves considered the presence of the Maronites in this part of the world a blessing. The Maronites had proved to be precious helpers to them, experienced soldiers, and fearless warriors. One can imagine the joy that the Christians of the Lebanese Mountain had, at the arrival of their fellow brothers in the same faith from the west. At that time the Maronites were the only Eastern community still allied to the Holy see after the schism between Rome and the orthodox.

3) It is with the Maronites help, the crusaders were able to find the way to Jerusalem and repossess it. A good number of Maronite soldiers were found among the French who attacked and took the Holy City on 15th July 1099.

4) Thanks to the Crusaders the Maronites were again more able to establish relations with the west. The relation between the Maronite’s Patriarchy and the Papacy in Rome was strengthened. Popes highly praised them, and sent them delegates and missionaries, and officially invoked the presence of their Patriarch to the Lateran Ecumenical Council.

5) The Crusaders highly appreciated the help of the Maronites in delivering the Holy Places, and favoured them. Official historians of the Crusades, had this to say about the Maronites: “a race of people who lived in Phoenicia …they were very strong people, they were great help to our Christians” ; “ Eastern Catholics …descending the mountains crying French! The French!.. These were the Maronites who had begun the Crusades some 400 years before, and who came enthusiastically to offer guides and fighters”. The Maronites were second only to the Europeans in the Crusader State.

6) Kings of the Latin countries wrote to them as if they were writing to their own people. The privileges of their Patriarchs were utterly respected.

7) In 1250, the Maronites assisted St Louis, King of France, who led the 8th and last crusade with 25000 men. The King wrote to the Maronites expressing his gratitude, love and admiration for their loyalty to the successors of St Peter. The King also granted France’s support to the Maronites.

Next Sunday: The Years of Difficulties

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Sunday 1 July 2012

Season of the Pentecost - 6th Sunday

Dear parishioners and friends of St Charbel’s Parish,

Welcome to this week’s edition of Kadishat, our weekly newsletter. I encourage you all to click on the link below the read Kadishat in which you will find our parish events, saints of the week, the history of the Maronites and reflections about this week’s readings and Gospel (Matthew 10:16-25) where Our Lord prepares His disciples for their mission in the world:

Please click here to download the full Kadishat newsletter with Arabic translation.

St Charbel’s Parish Annual Dinner- 13 October 2012
St Charbel’s Parish is holding its first Annual Parish Dinner on Saturday 13 October at St Charbel’s Multi-Purpose Hall. All funds raised will go towards the launching of St Charbel’s Nursing Home. We encourage you all to support this initiative as there is a big need for a nursing home for our community.

You are also encouraged to check the raffle tickets for the 2012 Ford Fiesta valued at $19,000. Tickets and raffle are available from the Parish Office on 9740 0998.

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
On Friday 29 June, the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. These two great Apostles are the solid rock on which the Church is built. Under God's providential guidance, Saints Peter and Paul were led to make Rome, sanctified by their martyrdom, the center of the Christian world whence should radiate the preaching of the Gospel.

St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in A.D. 66 or 67. He was buried on the hill of the Vatican where recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of the basilica of St. Peter's. St. Paul was beheaded in the via Ostia on the spot where now stands the basilica bearing his name. Down the centuries Christian people in their thousands have gone on pilgrimage to the tombs of these Apostles (catholicculture.org).

We ask the Lord, through the intercession of these great Apostles to obtain for us a lively faith, firm hope, and burning love so we may be able to overcome the temptations of the world and proclaim the Good News of Our Lord throughout the world.

In God’s Love,
Fr. Dr. Antoine Tarabay

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20th Year—Number 1015 Sunday 01/07/2012
Season of the Pentecost
6th Sunday
Readings of this Sunday:1 Corinthians 12: 12-13, 27-30 & Matthew 10: 16-25

Like sheep into the midst of wolves
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! ” Matthew 10: 16-25

Reflection of the Week

‘I am sending you’
In today’s Gospel Jesus clarifies the meaning of discipleship and sends his disciples to the world. Christ has a purpose for Christians to be in the world. Christians are "sent" to be a testimony to the world, to confront the powers of the world with the Gospel, for Christ's sake. The purpose of Christians in the world is to witness to Christ by character and by testimony.

Be wise like snakes and innocent like doves
Snakes have quick and correct perceptions and have the ability to sense danger approaching before that danger senses them. Snakes tend to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as easily. Snakes seem to be sly creatures that have the ability to sneak up on anybody at will. As Disciples we have to take an example of the wise serpent and use it for God's glory. 

At the same time we are wise we are to also be harmless as a dove. The dove is a global symbol of peace and purity and is not capable of doing harm. Christian people should have pure conscious and pure motives, walking with such integrity people immediately recognize our yes to be yes and our no to be mean no. A Christian who can stand up during dove hunting season (persecution) is one whose life is a picture of purity and integrity.

Jesus warns his disciples and warns us all
Jesus talks to his disciples about the world they will face. Some will come at them with hatred. They must be aware of the depth of that hatred, but not hate in return. 

Many will want to hurt them and will attack them; they must be aware of that danger but not fight back. 

In short, Jesus is saying don't allow your persecutors to get you to stoop to their level. Do not respond in kind to those who are doing evil. Do not become like the people who hate you. That is the hard part. It is not as difficult to be shrewd about what you are up against as it is to remain innocent through it all. To be smart about the situation is a lot easier than resisting the urge to become like the ones who want to do you harm.

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Vocations
We all have a vocation in life – 
to bring the love of Jesus to others. 

But there are some who will have a special call to the priesthood or religious life. 
In this time of so few vocations, perhaps many are not hearing and responding to God’s call. 
On the subject of vocations, the late Cardinal Basil Hume O.S.B. writes: 
"I never cease to be amazed and delighted by that most surprising of vocations, 
the call of Levi who became Matthew. 
He was a renegade and a greedy one. 
Everything was against him. 
Yet Our Lord called him, showing the total freedom God has. 
He does not call because he finds virtue; 
He calls and forms virtue in those he chooses. 

So a vocation is always a question of God’s choice. 
But somehow or other it is possible in practice to miss hearing that call. 
Many people I have known have dismissed from their minds the possibility of a vocation. 
“It’s not for me; I’m not good enough”
…A hundred and one reasons are given why people should 
close their minds to the possibility that God might be calling them."

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Saints of the Week: 

Gregory X, Pope & Saint (+1276)
Maronite Feast Day: July 1.
Pope Gregory X is a saint of the Catholic Church who was born in the north of Italy in the year 1210. The papal chair was vacant for three years due to a conflict among the cardinals before he was appointed pope. The appointment came as a surprise to him. At the time, he was engaged in the Crusade to Acre. His first papal decree was to send assistance to the crusaders, and at his final sermon he said, “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.” On his arrival at Rome his first act was to summon the council which met at the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 for the purpose of considering the East-West Schism, the condition of the Holy Land, and the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church.
From the very beginning of his pontificate Gregory sought to promote the interests of the Holy Land. Though his reign was short, he maintained peace through his passionate leadership.

Junipero Serra (USA)
Feast Day 01 July
Entered the Franciscan University at Palma, Spain at age 15, and joined the Order at age 17, taking the name Junipero after the friend of Saint Francis. Ordained in 1737, and taught philosophy and theology at the Lullian University.

In 1749, Serra was sent to the missionary territories of the west of North America. A mosquito bite he received early in his trip to the New World left one leg swollen; this and his asthma made walking a painful process for the rest of his life. In 1768 he took over missions in the Mexican provinces of Lower and Upper California, missions the Jesuits were forced to abandon by order of King Charles III. A tireless worker, Serra was largely responsible for the foundation and spread of the Church on the West Coast of the United States. Founded twenty-one missions, converted thousands of Native Americans, and trained many of them in European methods of agriculture, cattle husbandry, and crafts. Dedicated religious and missionary, penitent and austere in all areas of his life.

Blessed Junipero Serra is the namesake of the Serra Club, an international Catholic organization dedicated to the promotion of vocations, and the support of seminarians and religious novices. Many of his letters and other writings have survived, and the diary of his travels to the west was published in the early 20th century.

Iranaeus, Bishop and Martyr (+420)
Maronite Feast Day: July 3.
Little is known about the exact details of the life of this great martyr. He was born in the first half of the second century. He was bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, now Lyons, France. He is considered to be a Father of the Catholic Church and the first great theologian. As the first great Catholic theologian, he emphasised the traditional elements in the Church. He focused on Scripture, and tradition. Irenaeus wrote that the only way for Christians to retain unity was to humbly accept one doctrinal authority.

As the new bishop, he carried out his duty as pastor and missionary. He wrote many of his works in Greek and secured a place in classical Christian literature. Irenaeus of Lyons is perhaps the earliest of the Church Fathers to develop a thorough writing on the role of Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Church. Bishop Iranaeus used his great mind and talents to further the cause of Church through his writings and inspirational leadership.

St Maria Goretti, Confessor
Maronite Feast Day 06 July
Beautiful, pious farm girl, one of six children of Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini. In 1896 the family moved to Ferriere di Conca. Soon after, Maria's father died of malaria, and the family was forced to move onto the Serenelli farm to survive.

In 1902 at age twelve, Maria was attacked by 19 year old farm hand Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape the girl who fought, yelled that it was a sin, and that he would go to hell. He tried to choke her into submission, then stabbed her fourteen times. She survived in hospital for two days, forgave her attacker, asked God's forgiveness of him, and died holding a crucifix and medal of Our Lady. Counted as a martyr.

While in prison for his crime, Allessandro had a vision of Maria. He saw a garden where a young girl, dressed in white, gathered lilies. She smiled, came near him, and encouraged him to accept an armful of the lilies. As he took them, each lily transformed into a still white flame. Maria then disappeared. This vision of Maria led to Alessandro's conversion, and he later testified at her cause for beatification.

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The Maronites and Lebanon (16)
Crusaders... 400 years before the Crusaders

What do we understand by the crusades?

The Crusades were a military campaigns organised by the Christians of Europe to liberate the Holy Land, and in particular the Holy Sepulcher from the Mus-lims who had took hold of it.

In 936 the Muslims pillaged the relics of the Holy Sepulcher and set fire to it. In 1009 the Fatimate Governor of Egypt, Hakim, destroyed thousand of Churches there, including that of the Holy Sepulcher which the Christians had restored. It was a usual yearly parade that Christians from all over the world used to come to Jerusalem during the Holy week of Easter, carrying the cross and banners in the front. But in this particular year Hakim prohibited any such demonstrations, and had the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and other Holy places in Palestine and Egypt demolished stone by stone. By doing this, Hakim gained popularity in the Islamic world. 

The Christians western world was angry at these actions and reacted strongly. It organised a campaign to the East, in order to deliver the Holy Places and also to protect the Christians who where to be found in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine from the danger of the Muslims; hence the call of the crusaders!!
In all, there were 8 successive campaigns lasting from 1095 to 1291, and stretching over 196 years. 

The idea of Crusade inspired many Princes, Popes, and Bishops who urged their people to join these campaigns.

Next Sunday:
Crusaders ...400 years before
the Crusaders(3)
How can we explain the relations between the Crusaders and the Maronites?

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