A prayer for the new martyrs of the Palm Sunday massacre in Egypt

Source: Aleteia

O New Martyrs, slain at worship as we enter into our holiest days, you now number among the ancient holy ones. Before the throne of the Almighty, we beg you to keep us particularly in your prayers. Once again we are focused on the mysterious geography where humanity first came into being, and then into contact with the Reality of the One God — the lands where all will someday finally be revealed.

Today, we ponder why it is that our attention is continually turned to this region in gasping sorrow, all due to a malevolent force as old as Eden. We know that Christ Jesus is the Victor over death, and the Victor over evil, but we acknowledge that the victories come only by way of His Cross. O New Martyrs, you and the people of your region share in that Cross and we, in spirit, share it with you. In the presence of the Perfect Wisdom — the Holy, Mighty One who imparts all that is True, teach us to pray the words that will bring peace, if peace is possible, or to pray the words of pure worship, contrition and trust, if it is not.

Pray that we may learn how to become the peace we seek.

Pray that we may put aside all that is irrelevant to the moment and, looking forever to the East, prepare our spirits for the engagements into which we may be called, whether we live amid these places of ancient roads and portals, or in the most modern of dwellings.

Mary, the God-bearer, pray for us,
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us,
Saint John the Forerunner, pray for us,
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, pray for us,
Saints Mariam Baouardy and Marie-Alphonsine of Palestine, pray for us,
Blessed Charles de Foucauld, pray for us,

All Holy Men and Women, pray for us.
Amen, Amen.

Bumalik na raw sa kanyang tunay na tahanan sa Jerusalem ang tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo?!! Eh bakit di man lang nasusumpungan ng mga tao sa Jerusalem ang pinapangaral ni Felix Manalong "tunay" na Iglesia??

Bumalik na nga raw ang "TUNAY NA IGLESIA" ni Cristo sa Jerusalem, sabi ng INC™ ni Manalo pero bakit hanggang ngayon ay sa Pilipinas pa rin ang kanilang Central? Kung "BUMALIK" na nga ang "tunay" na Iglesia, DAPAT lamang na IBALIK sa JERUSALEM ang PANGKALAHATANG-PANGANGASIWA ng "tunay" na IGLESIA at HINDI DAPAT MANATILI sa Pilipinas!

Pero alam naman natin na PEKE ang Iglesia Ni Cristo® o ang INC™ kaya't di mailipat-lipat ang pangkalahatang pangangasiwa sa Jerusalem ay sapagkat ang INC™ ay TATAG ni FELIX MANALO sa Pilipinas at PAG-AARI po ito ng ANGKAN ng mga MANALO at di sila papayag na ilipat sa bansang di man sila Citizen, ang Korporasyong pag-aari ng mga Manalo!

"Brother Eduardo V. Manalo ... read the history of the Church Of Christ in Jerusalem ... then [he] proceeded with the homily, in which he expounded on the fulfillment of the prophesied return of God's people to their original abode, Jerusalem, as marked by the official registration of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in the city of Jerusalem in February of that year." [1996]
-PASUGO God's Message, February 2014, p. 7

"In 1994, the Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered in the city of Rome. This was followed by the Church's official registration in two other historic cities: Jerusalem in 1996, which marked the fulfillment of a prophesied return of the true Church to its original home; and Athens, Greece in 1997, which signaled the continuation of the Church's expansion in the Gentile lands.
PASUGO God's Message, April 2014, "The Iglesia Ni Cristo resettlement projects: Triumph after tragedy", pp. 28-31 (by Marlex C. Cantor)

"Other notable glimpses during Brother Eraño Manalo's stewardship of the Church were the official establishment of the local congregation of Rome in Italy on July 27, 1994, signifying the full restoration of the Church in Rome; the official establishment of the local congregation of Jerusalem in Israel on March 31, 1996, signifying the Church's return to its original home; and the official establishment of the local congregation of Athens in Greece on May 10, 1997, signifying the extension of the Gentile mission."
-PASUGO God's Message Special Centenial Issue, p. 17 (by Nicanor P. Tiosen)

"Most memorable of the expansion works of the Church is the establishment of the local congregation of the Church in Rome; in Jerusalem in Israel on March 31, 1996, signifying the Church's return to its original home; and in Athens, Greece on May 10, 1997, signifying the extension of the Gentile mission."
-PASUGO God's Message Special Centennial Issue, p. 11 (by Isaias T. Samson Jr.)

SEMANA SANTA NA: Bakit may Palaspas sa tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo?

Sa tuwing pagpasok ng Semana Santa sa tunay at nag-iisang Iglesia ni Cristo, ang mga Katoliko ay tumutungo sa Simbahan bitbit ang kanilang mga Palaspas kasama ng buong pamilya, nagsisimba, sumasamba at nagpupuri sa Diyos na si araw na ito ay pararangalan sa kanyang matagumpay na pagpasok sa Jerusalem!

Mababasa natin ito sa Banal na Kasulatan sa Mateo 21:1-10 kung saan si Jesus ay binigyan ng parangal at papuri sa kanyang pagpasok sa Lungsod ng Jerusalem.  

Ang mga tao, ay naglatag ng kanilang mga balabal sa daraanan ni Jesus, pumutol sila ng mga sanga ng olivo at iniwagayway kay Jesus bilang isang "Triumphant King".  Sigaw pa pa nila ay "Hosana sa anak ni David! Pinagpala ang naparirito sa ngalan ng Panginoon! Hosana sa kaitaasan!"

Upang lalo pa nating maunawaan ang kahalagahan ng Linggo ng Palaspas (Palm Sunday), narito ang 9 na mungkahi ng National Catholic Register para sa atinng mga tunay na kaanib ng tunay at nag-iisang Iglesia ni Cristo:

1. What is this day called? 

The day is called both "Palm Sunday" and "Passion Sunday." 

The first name comes from the fact that it commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when the crowd had palm branches (John 12:13). 

The second name comes from the fact that the narrative of the Passion is read on this Sunday (it otherwise wouldn't be read on a Sunday, since the next Sunday is about the Resurrection).

According to the main document on the celebration of the feasts connected with Easter, Paschales Solemnitatis:
Holy Week begins on "Passion (or Palm) Sunday" which joins the foretelling of Christ's regal triumph and the proclamation of the passion. The connection between both aspects of the Paschal Mystery should be shown and explained in the celebration and catechesis of this day.