29 January 2017
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13
Psalm 145:6-10
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
The Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness

It is nothing bodily, nothing earthly, that this hunger, this thirst seeks for: but it desires to be satiated with the good food of righteousness, and wants to be admitted to all the deepest mysteries, and be filled with the Lord Himself. Happy the mind that craves this food and is eager for such drink: which it certainly would not seek for if it had never tasted of its sweetness. But hearing the Prophet’s spirit saying to him: taste and see that the Lord is sweet ; it has received some portion of sweetness from on high, and blazed out into love of the purest pleasure, so that spurning all things temporal, it is seized with the utmost eagerness for eating and drinking righteousness, and grasps the truth of that first commandment which says: You shall love the Lord your God out of all your heart, and out of all your mind, and out of all your strength : since to love God is nothing else but to love righteousness.
St. Leo the Great, Pope,  Sermon 95

Saints of the week
Tue 31 Saint John Bosco, Priest
Thu 2 The Presentation of the Lord Feast
Fri 3 Saint Ansgar (Oscar), Bishop  and Saint Blaise, Bishop, Martyr 
Sat 4 Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalm 111:4-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Gospel Mt 5:13-16

Psalter week IV

St. Blaise and the Blessing of the Throat

According to a tradition, Blaise was a physician at Sebaste (Today Turkey) before being raised to the Episcopal see. Around the beginning of the fourth century, he was put in prison during a persecution under Licinius and it was there that he performed the wonderful cure of a boy who was choking to death. Blaise suffered various forms of torture before being beheaded. In time, many miraculous cures began to be ascribed to the martyr causing the veneration of this Oriental Bishop to spread to Europe where he became one of the most popular Saints of the Middle Ages. Numberless churches and altars were dedicated to him.

This devotion is still with us today as “The Blessing of the throats” which is given on the saint’s feast. It consists of two candles, which are consecrated and then held by a priest over the throat of the people while the blessing is given: By the intercession of St. Blaise, may God preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil.
cf. Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Blaise

 NEWS

Al-Anon Group: Meets on Wednesdays at 3pm in the Parish Conference Room. Share with people who are dealing with family problems caused by drinking and learn about this program.

CARITAS PAPHOS:

• We need nοn-perishable food to be distributed to the poor in the Paphos area. Prayers and Donations welcome.
• Lifts to come to Holy Mass are greatly appreciated, let us know if there is extra room in your car and where you are coming from. Please contact Wendy Burdon: 99040294.

Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona 99 494140.

Fatima’s 100 Year Anniversary Pilgrimage: From Larnaca on the 27th May till 3rd June 2017. Price inclusive around euro 1,000.- More details to come. 

Mass Times HERE