Wheelchair and Disabled Catholics Can Also Be Apostles by Melvyn Brown

Celebration of Corpus Christi in Calcutta

This Sunday afternoon 22 November was special. It was an encounter of Calcutta’s Catholic faithful and the celebration of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) on the massive grounds of St. Xavier’s College on Park Street. Roughly 3 thousand Catholics met from across the city and suburbs, seeking to give exposure of the Christian faith at a time when the world crisis in barbarism and Christian ‘genocide’ is spilling out of the Middle East.

Archbishop Thomas D’Souza led the opening prayers, blessed the huge crowds of people, parish groups, association members and several lay leaders. In his remarks, the Bishop took a moment to speak about the coming Year of Mercy.

The Corpus Christi procession was organized by The Catholic Association of Bengal.

Calendars for the year 2016 were available presented by the Calcutta Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services; and Pro-life prayer cards were given out by the Ambassadors For Jesus under direction of Founder Melvyn Brown who also gave cards announcing the coming Year of Mercy (8 December 2015 – 20 November 2016).

Event Reported by: Melvyn Brown, ABTI(London)

Photos Courtesy: Anji D'Cruze

Easter Message from Melvyn Brown

EASTER: THE TRIUMPHANT CELEBRATION

The Resurrection of Jesus is an accepted truth. No one has been able to ride it out as it has a hallowed place in the light of all faiths as it is The Light. We celebrate Easter as the one and only richly endowed jewel in the vibrant soul of all Christian believers.
 The gifts of redemption and salvation from sin is a direct response to the greatest self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered for all humans, for all time to come. Easter is central to the Word of God. To suffer and die in Christ, we share in his God-centered life.
Jesus accepted the will of his Father and was rewarded glorification. The five grains of incense at the Easter Vigil liturgy is remarkable. The candle represents the body of Christ. It is lit with the paschal fire and is a symbol of the risen, glorified body.
Believers at Easter partake in a mystical identification with Christ. The Gospels speak of two baptisms of Christ: the first at the river Jordan when John placed his hands. The second was the passion, “ I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed.” Lk.12:50. In the Gospel of Mark, “the baptism with which I must be baptized” Mk. 10:38. At Easter we celebrate the triumph of the body of Christ. Happy Easter.

 Happy Easter Wishes from Melvyn Brown

ASH WEDNESDAY BEGINS THE SEASON OF LENT BY MELVYN BROWN

Ash Wednesday begins a fresh liturgical period with a special prayer to help us discover our mission in life’s journey. This is possible during lent when we take upon ourselves three simple practices : to Fast , to Pray and to show Compassion to all God’s children.

Pope Benedict XVI recently highlighted the importance of fasting when he said, “ Fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it.”

Ash Wednesday is a time to recall and imitate the forty days when Jesus withdrew into the wilderness : a time of soul-searching , repentance and preparation for His passion leading up to Easter. From now on we will stay with Jesus through His divine ministry , His suffering in Holy Week , His Crucifixion and on Good Friday, His death. Finally, to rejoice in His Resurrection.

This is also a time to make a spiritual resolution.

In 2003 ,Pope John Paul 11 called for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace. The Holy Father went on to explain the reasons for his decision , to observe Ash Wednesday on March 5 of that year.

“It is a duty of believers , regardless of the religion to which they belong , to proclaim that we will never be able to be happy if we are against one another. The future of humanity will never be able to be assured by terrorism and the logic of war, “ said the late pope, who will be beatified on May 1 this year.

Pope John Paul 11 told Catholics, “ to dedicate with special intensity Ash Wednesday to prayer and fasting for the cause of peace … “ He went on to say, “In every Marian shrine an ardent prayer for Peace will be raised to heaven with the praying of the holy rosary. “

Jonah’s call to the people of Nineveh was to repent and to announce a fast. ( 3.9 ). God heard their prayer and spared them.

This year , 2011, Ash Wednesday will be on the 9^th March and it will draw us nearer to Jesus and closer to our faith. The rosary can be the common invocation throughout the season of lent , remembering the ‘ Sorrowful mysteries’ each time in prayer. May this be the spiritual resolution we take upon ourselves.

Ash Wednesday initiates the period of lent. From the start of the Holy Season we prepare ourselves in the mystery of redemption.

The Church has picked the readings for each Sunday in Lent starting with Ash Wednesday (Ps. 51:3-4, 5-6. Mat 6: 1-6,16-18.) Ash Wednesday renews the faith ,the baptismal promises affirmed. The origin of Lent was a preparatory time for Easter when the people of God rededicates themselves to Him.

The Readings for each Sunday in Lent will be given in my writings .