Through the Bible, God offer's His thoughts on a variety of life issues, in particular the notion of 'fellowship' is pertinent to any Young Adult group. However, perceptions about fellowship have become warped in its biblical meaning, we view fellowship through fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have real fellowship.
Last August 18th the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Saint Alberto Hurtado. This feast is important in Latin America and particularly in Chile, when thousands of people (15000 this year), mostly young people, walk 8 kms to the Sanctuary and Grave of St Alberto, located in the heart of Santiago. In Chile, that day is known as the “Day of Solidarity”, because that was probably his main legacy.
St Alberto was born in Vina del Mar, Chile in 1901. He became a Jesuit priest after studying Law. He died very young, at the age of 51. The people who were alive at that time say that at the moment of his death, a big cloud with the shape of a Cross was alone in the sky. He was canonized in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.
August 1st the feast day of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, proclaimed the ‘Doctor of the Church,’ the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or the ‘Redemptorists’ was also an Italian Bishop, theologian, spiritual writer, moralist, missionary and a great propagator for Mariology.
Born, Alphonsus Mary Antony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de' Liguori on September 27th, 1696 in Marianella near Naples, St Alphonsus was the first born of seven children belonging to a Neapolitan nobility (however, his family’s line of decent became impoverished.)
Sometimes we only concentrate on ‘celebrity’ Saints, we often hear about their lives, their teachings, books and quotations, however what about the lesser known Saints? I mean they are Saints too, and have a dedicated feast day to their name?
July 23rd, the feast day of a woman called Birgitta Birgersdotter, now St Bridget of Sweden, the Patroness of Sweden. It was the first time I have ever heard of such a Saint, why was I interested? Well because she was married with children, but she still became a Saint!
In the gospel of John, Jesus said 'I give you a new commandment; love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, every one will know that you are my disciples.'
This simple message to 'LOVE,' can easily be felt through the eyes of parents holding their new born baby, you feel their unconditional love. In baptism, the parents sign of faith is passed on to the baby, as true disciples of Jesus.
Who in their right mind would carry a larger than life size wooden cross across the highlands of Scotland?
You will be surprised, there is always a group of 20 to 30 people who do this every year during holy week in Easter. It may sound daunting at first but once you have done it, you really want to keep doing it every year.
