Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church January 5-6, 2019 THE MAGI Oftentimes, the English translations of the Bible use the word "astrologers" for "magi." In Greek, the original language of the Gospel, the word magos (magoi, plural) has four meanings: (1) a member of the priestly class of ancient Persia, where astrology and astronomy were prominent in Biblical times; (2) one who had occult knowledge and power, and was adept at dream interpretation, astrology, fortune-telling, divination and spiritual mediation; (3) a magician; or (4) a charlatan, who preyed upon people using the before-mentioned practices. From these possible definitions and the description provided in the gospel, the Magi were probably Persian priest-astrologers who could interpret the stars, particularly the significance of the star that proclaimed the birth of the Messiah. (Even the ancient historian Herodotus (d. 5th century B.C.) would attest to the astrological prowess of the priestly class of Persia.) More importantly, the visit of the Magi fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament: Balaam prophesied about the coming Messiah marked by a star: "I see him, though not now; I behold him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob and a staff shall rise from Israel..." (Nm 24:17). Psalm 72 speaks of how the Gentiles will come to worship the Messiah: "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts, the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him" (Ps 72:10-11). Isaiah also prophesied the gifts: "Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord" (Is 60:6). St. Matthew recorded that the Magi brought three gifts, each also having a prophetic meaning: gold, the gift for a king; frankincense, the gift for a priest; and myrrh a burial ointment, a gift for one who would die. St. Irenaeus (d. 202) in his Adversus haereses offered the following interpretation for the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh respectively: King, God and Suffering Redeemer as well as virtue, prayer and suffering. Traditionally, we think of the three Magi as the three kings. We usually have the three kings in our nativity sets. We even sing, "We three kings of orient are..." Here the three gifts, Psalm 72 and the rising star in the East converge to render the Magi as three kings traveling from the East. Actually, the earliest tradition is inconsistent as to the QUOTE OF THE WEEK Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die. Saint Peter Chrysologus Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor Fr. David Fisher, Weekend Assistant Fr. Richard Cannuli, Weekend Assistant Mrs. Zeina Topalian, Religious Education Director Address: 1013 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 Office: 215-389-2000 Hall Reservations: 215-334-1884 Evening Emergency Number: 215-952-0712 or 561-371-5316 Website: www.saintmaron.org Church Office: saintmaronphiladelphia@hotmail.com Instagram Page: @saintmaronphiladelphia Facebook Page: Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church of Philadelphia OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.
number of the Magi. The Eastern tradition favored twelve Magi. In the West, several of the early Church fathers including Origen, St. Leo the Great and St. Maximus of Turin accepted three Magi. Early Christian painting in Rome found at the cemetery of Sts. Peter and Marcellinus depicts two magi and at the cemetery of St. Domitilla, four. Since the seventh century in the Western Church, the Magi have been identified as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. A work called the Excerpta et Collectanea attributed to St. Bede (d. 735) wrote, "The magi were the ones who gave gifts to the Lord. The first is said to have been Melchior, an old man with white hair and a long beard... who offered gold to the Lord as to a king. The second, Caspar by name, young and beardless and ruddy complexioned... honored Him as God by his gift of incense, an oblation worthy of divinity. The third, blackskinned and heavily bearded, named Balthasar... by his gift of myrrh testified to the Son of Man who was to die." An excerpt from a Medieval saints calendar printed in Cologne read, "Having undergone many trials and fatigues for the Gospel, the three wise men met at Sewa (Sebaste in Armenia) in A.D. 54 to celebrate the feast of Christmas. Thereupon, after the celebration of Mass, they died: St. Melchior on Jan. 1, aged 116; St. Balthasar on Jan. 6, aged 112; and St. Caspar on Jan. 11, aged 109." The Roman Martyrology also lists these dates as the Magi's respective feast days. Emperor Zeno brought the relics of the Magi from Persia to Constantinople in 490. Relics (whether the same or others) appeared in Milan much later and were kept at the Basilica of St. Eustorgius. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, who plundered Italy, took the relics to Cologne in 1162, where they remain secure to this day in a beautiful reliquary housed in the Cathedral. Even though some mystery remains to the identity of the Magi, the Church respects their act of worship: The Council of Trent, when underscoring the reverence that must be given to the Holy Eucharist, decreed, "The faithful of Christ venerate this most holy sacrament with the worship of latria which is due to the true God... For in this sacrament we believe that the same God is present whom the eternal Father brought into the world, saying of Him, 'Let all God's angels worship Him.' It is the same God whom the Magi fell down and worshiped, and finally, the same God whom the apostles adored in Galilee as Scripture says" (Decree on the Most Holy Eucharist, 5). As we celebrate Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany, we too must be mindful of our duty to adore our Lord through prayer, worship and self-sacrificing good works. St. Gregory Nazianzen (d. 389) preached, "Let us remain on in adoration; and to Him, who, in order to save us, humbled Himself to such a degree of poverty as to receive our body, let us offer not only incense, gold and myrrh..., but also spiritual gifts, more sublime than those which can be seen with the eyes" (Oratio, 19). https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/cult ure/catholic-contributions/the-magi.html FR. VINCENT OUT OF TOWN FOR CLERGY RETREAT Fr. Vincent will be at the annual clergy retreat January 6-15, as per the directive of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. Daily Liturgies will resume on Monday, January 21. You may call the office during the time I am away or for emergencies you may call my cell or Fr. David at 614-313-6073. Please keep our Bishop and clergy in your prayers. CHOOSE LIFE DIVINE LITURGY In memory of the millions of unborn children due to abortion and in union with the Pro-Life March in Washington, DC, a special Divine Liturgy will be held on Thursday, January 17, at 6:00 PM. Please join me to pray for the souls of the voiceless victims of abortion. PARISH COUNCIL MEETING There will be a parish council meeting on Monday, January 21, at 6:30 PM. Please mark your calendars. If you are unable to attend please contact Fr. Vincent via email. Thank you in advance for your dedication. FINANCE COUNCIL MEETING There will be a finance council meeting on Wednesday, January 30, at 7:00 PM. Please mark your calendars for this important meeting. It is very important that all attend. If there is a conflict please let Fr. Vincent know. Thank you for your dedication. SAINT MARON NOVENA Beginning Friday, February 1, we will have the Saint Maron Novena. Divine Liturgies will be scheduled during the week at 6:30 PM, and the novena will follow immediately after the Saturday and Sunday Divine Liturgies. A schedule will be posted next week. I hope all of you will be able to join us in giving honor to our patron saint. SAINT MARON FEAST DAY PONTIFICAL LITURGY AND HAFLI Please mark your calendars for February 9, the feast day of our founder Saint Maron. Bishop Gregory Mansour will join us for a Pontifical Divine Liturgy at 6:00 PM, followed by our Saint Maron Feast Day Halfi, in the Church hall. Tickets will go on sale on January 6, 2019. Adults will be $45.00 per person, children 12 and under will be $20.00 and children 3 and under will be free. Lebanese food, music, dancing and cash bar will be available. Hope to see all of you there. CONFESSION Please know that confession is available before liturgies. You may also call to set up an appointment. MEN S CLUB NEWS Congratulations to Paul Semaan and Khalil Raie as they were nominated to lead the Men s Club. Their first activity will be the Superbowl party, to be held in the Church Hall, on February 3. More details will be forthcoming. This party will be open to the entire community. We wish this club all the success in fostering unity and the love of Christ. Mabrook!
DIVINE LITURGIES Saturday, January 5, 2019 @ 6:00 PM, (Feast of St. John Neumann) liturgy is being offered for the souls of Guiseppi, Rosa, and Lucy Cavallaro requested by Marie Manino and Family. May their souls rest in peace. Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 11:00 AM, (Feast of the Epiphany) liturgy is being offered for the soul of Joseph Tavani requested by Suzanne and Deebeanne Tavani. May his soul rest in peace. Saturday, January 12, 2019, @ 6:00 PM, (Council of Trent 1545) liturgy is being offered for the soul of Carmen Marrone requested by Frank and Ritamarie Oliviere. May his soul rest in peace. Sunday, January 13, 2019 @ 11:00 AM, liturgy is offered for the soul of Antoinette Abou Jaoude requested by Ziad and Rania Bou Jaoude and family. May her soul rest in peace. Liturgy is being offered for the soul of Carmen Marrone requested by Patty Impo. May his soul rest in peace. UPCOMING EVENTS Super Bowl Party hosted by the Men s Club, Sunday, February 3, in the Church Hall. This is open to all parishioners. Details to follow. Saint Maron s Feast Day Hafli, Saturday, February 9, 2019, 7:00 PM. BIBLE STUDY Fr. David will have bible study on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at 7:00 PM in the Church hall. We welcome Fr. David back and pray that his health continues to get better every day. MYO UP-COMING RETREATS The Regional MYO retreats have been announced for our region. There are two retreats scheduled as follows: February 15-16, St. Anthony in Lawrence, MA, will have an MYO Lenten Lock-Up retreat.participants are being asked to bring a sleeping bag or air mattress as they will all be sleeping at the Church hall. Bathrooms will be available. The program includes guest speakers, games, spiritual reflection, confessions, Liturgy, and food. The cost is $50.00 per person. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, JANUARY 18. March 9, Our Lady Star of the East in Pleasantville, NJ, will have an MYO/MYA Regional Lenten Retreat Day. It will begin at 11:00 AM and conclude at 8:00 PM. The program will include icebreakers, activities and games, meals and snacks, prayer and Divine Liturgy, presentations and small group discussions, adoration and confession, and talks by Bishop Gregory, Fr. Simon Hajj, and Fr. Vincent. Fr. Kamil and his community have always been wonderful hosts. The cost is $25.00 per person. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8. CARE WORKER JOB OPPORTUNITY A job opportunity for a woman who speaks Arabic to care for elderly woman who has Alzheimer s five afternoons a week from 3PM-Midnight. If she is able to sleep there, that would be good as well. Please respond to Naseem at 856-424-2036 or 856-770-4500. MARCH FOR LIFE 2019 The Maronite Vigil for Life and March for Life will be held in Washington, DC, January 17 and 18, at Our Lady of Lebanon Church. March for Life is a yearly event which I have had the honor to participate in numerous times. It is a time to speak for all of the voices that are never heard and to meet thousands of women who have regretted their decision in terminating their pregnancy by means of abortion. Walter Danker will be heading a delegation of adults and children to attend this important day in the life of the Church. There will be many activities, prayer services, and talks by Bishop Gregory and many others. The details are included in this bulletin. It is my hope that we can organize a nice delegation to attend this event. Thousands of youth from across the United States attend this event. It will be a great experience for them and for you. There will be more planning in the near future but I encourage you all to mark your calendars and to plan on attending the Maronite Vigil and March for Life. IN OUR PRAYERS Please keep in your prayers Bassam Isawi, Kevin Khoury, Mirta Ruiz, Tina Grassi, Rita Impo, Lisa and Henry Schaffer, Christina Valotta, Jade Kellam, Marion Thomas Branca, Francesca Impo, Raja Kaldany, Lucy DiLuce, Cat Niven Glaze, Laurent Chidiac, Tom Hart, John Hart, Fadi Jaber, Alexis Carine, Albert Anderson, Sr., Joseph Realdine, Benjamin Uzzo, Emily Stone, Roseann Anthony, Elaine Nader, Amelia Habib, Suzanne Haney, Lisa Alestra, John Nader, Chucky Simon, Mary Fetterman, Aminee Skaf, Yasmine Myers, Joey Gdowick,
Francis Joseph Kerns, Samer Chokeir, Kathy Newman, Rita Arrigale, Helen Freedenberg, Maryann Bratton, Renee Sahar, Sister Nahida Al Sawa, Rose De Jesse, James Cordisio, Stacey Fuentes, Debbie Freedenberg, Noel Andjuhar, Eddie Gussin, Angel Salerno, Dennis McGiney, and Bonnie Sabatini. We ask Almighty God to bless them with good health so that they may join us in the Church and give glory and thanksgiving to God. Please notify the Church office of any family member who is ill so that we may remember them in our daily prayers and on our altar of intentions. WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR December 29-30, 2018 Collection $ 1,478.00 Christmas Collection$ 2,165.00 Donation $ 1,000.00 Coffee Hour $ 48.00 Total: $ 4,691.00
Saint Maron Maronite Catholic Church First Reading Titus 2:11-15, 3:1-7 January 5-6, 2019 A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus. Your blessing father Brothers and Sisters: The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Praise be to God always. فصل من رسالة القد يس بولس إلى طيطس يا إخو ت ي إ ن ن ع م ة هللا ق د ظ ه ر ت خ الصا ل ج م يع الن اس ات الع ال م ي ة ن اب ذ ين الك ف ر والش ه و ى وه ي ت ؤ د ب ن ا ل ن ح ي ا في الد ه ر الح اض ر ب ر ز ان ة وب ر وت ق و م ن ت ظ ر ين الر ج اء الس ع يد وظ ه ور م ج د إ له ن ا وم خ ل ص ن ا الع ظ يم ي س وع الم س يح ن ف سه ع ن ا ل ي ف ت د ي ن ا م ن ك ل إ ث م وي ط ه ر ن ا ل ن ف س ه ش ع ب ا خ اص ا غ ي ور ا على األ ع م ال الص ال ح ة. ت ك ل م ب هذ ه ال ذي ب ذ ل ي س ت ه ن ب ك أ ح د. ذ ك ر ه م أ ن ي خ ض ع وا ل لر ئ اس ات والس الط ين وي ط يع وه م وو ب خ ب ك ل س ل ط ان. وال ع ظ ب ه ا األ م ور و ص ال ح وال ي ج د ف وا على أ ح د وي ك ون وا غ ي ر م م اح ك ين ح ل م اء م ظ ه ر ين ك ل ود اع ة م س ت ع د ين ل ك ل ع م ل وي ك ون وا م س ت ع ب د ين ل ش ه وات ول ذ ات ش ت ى س ال ك ين في الش ر ل ج ميع الن اس. ف ن ح ن أ ي ض ا ك ن ا م ن ق ب ل أ غب ي اء ع اق ين ض ال ين هللا م خ ل ص ن ا وم ح ب ت ه ل لب ش ر خ ل ص ن ا ال ب أ ع م ا ل والح س د م م ق وت ين م ب غ ض ين ب ع ض ن ا ب ع ض ا. ولك ن لم ا ت ج ل ى ل ط ف ب غ س ل الم يالد الث اني وت ج د يد الر وح الق د س ال ذي أ ف اض ه هللا ع لين ا ب غ ز ار ة ب ي س وع و ف ق ر ح م ت ه ب ر ع م ل ن اه ا ب ل ار ث ين ص ن ا. و ف ق ا ل ر ج اء الح ياة األ ب د ي ة. الم س يح م خ ل فإ ذا ت ب ر ر ن ا ب ن ع م ت ه ن ص ير و والتسبيح هلل دائما.
Gospel Reading Saint Luke 3:15-22 The Apostle Writes: As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. This is the truth. Peace be with you. إنجيل من الق د يس فيم ا كان الش ع ب ي نت ظ ر والج م يع ي ت س اء ل ون في ق ل وب ه م ع ن ي وح ن ا ل ع ل ه ه و الم س يح أ ج اب ي وح ن ا ق ائ ال ل ه م أ ج م ع ين: ه و ي ع م د ك م ب الر وح الق د س ى م ن ي م ن ل س ت أ ه ال أ ن أ ح ل ر ب اط ح ذ ائ ه. " أ ن ا أ ع م د ك م ب الم اء وي أ تي م ن ه و أ ق و ال أ خ ر ى والن ار. في ي د ه الم ذ ر ى ي ن ق ي ب ه ا ب ي د ر ه في ج م ع الق م ح في أ ه ر ائ ه وأ م ا الت ب ن ف ي ح ر ق ه ب ن ار ال ت ط ف أ". وب أ ق و ك ثير ة كان ي وح ن ا ي ع ظ الش ع ب وي ب ش ر ه م. لك ن ه ير ود س رئ يس الر ب ع وق د كان ي وح ن ا ي و ب خ ه م ن أ ج ل ه ير ود ي ا ٱم ر أ ة لوقا ص ن ع ها أ خ يه وم ن أ ج ل ك ل الش ر ور ال تي الش ع ب ك ل ه وٱع ت م د ي س وع أ ي ض ا وكان ي ص ل ي ٱنف ت ح ت الس م اء و ت م ن الس م اء ي ق ول: ح م ام ة وج اء ص حق ا واألمان لجميعكم. ز اد على ت ل ك الش ر ور ك ل ه ا أ ن ه أ لق ى ي وح ن ا في الس ج ن. ولم ا ٱع ت م د ص ور ة ج س دي ة م ث ل و ن ز ل ع ل ي ه الر وح الق د س في " أ ن ت ه و ٱب ن ي الح ب يب ب ك ر ض يت ".