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The Scarce Commodity

Oh! Love, the talk of many
The longing of many
That boundless gift of God
Versely viewed, but sparsely practiced
The all-in-all of the commandments
Rare among human beings
Only manifest in principles
But not in actions

Do you know the form of love I mean?
That platonic and Christian love
Of sacrifice and self-denial
For the fulfillment and benefit of all
This type of love is rare
The love for a selfish desire
Supercedes sacrificial and selfless one
Due to misinterpretations cum misrepresentations.

“Give-and-take” galore of love
Seems to go deep into human fabrics
Genuine love has lost her strength
Because of this unfairness
We begin to talk about people
Because we lack this pre-requisite
This necessary commodity.

Love is the vital of all keys
Prayer is only knocking at heaven's door
Fasting is opening heaven's door
Love seen through charity and alms giving.
Is seeing God who is in heaven
No wonder it is biblically put
Whatever you do to the least of your brother
You do it unto the Lord.

Oh! Immoral of all men
Do not limit the love of God to yourself
Do you know that even all things
Will come and go under the universe?
It is only genuine love
That will stand the taste of time
Fading away all things under the sun
Summary of all licits, love is Oh! Love, the talk of many
The longing of many
That boundless gift of God
Versely viewed, but sparsely practiced
The all-in-all of the commandments
Rare among human beings
Only manifest in principles
But not in actions

Do you know the form of love I mean?
That platonic and Christian love
Of sacrifice and self-denial
For the fulfillment and benefit of all
This type of love is rare
The love for a selfish desire
Supercedes sacrificial and selfless one
Due to misinterpretations cum misrepresentations.

“Give-and-take” galore of love
Seems to go deep into human fabrics
Genuine love has lost her strength
Because of this unfairness
We begin to talk about people
Because we lack this pre-requisite
This necessary commodity.

Love is the vital of all keys
Prayer is only knocking at heaven's door
Fasting is opening heaven's door
Love seen through charity and alms giving.
Is seeing God who is in heaven
No wonder it is biblically put
Whatever you do to the least of your brother
You do it unto the Lord.

Oh! Immoral of all men
Do not limit the love of God to yourself
Do you know that even all things
Will come and go under the universe?
It is only genuine love
That will stand the taste of time
Fading away all things under the sun
Summary of all licits, love is Oh! Love, the talk of many
The longing of many
That boundless gift of God
Versely viewed, but sparsely practiced
The all-in-all of the commandments
Rare among human beings
Only manifest in principles
But not in actions

Do you know the form of love I mean?
That platonic and Christian love
Of sacrifice and self-denial
For the fulfillment and benefit of all
This type of love is rare
The love for a selfish desire
Supercedes sacrificial and selfless one
Due to misinterpretations cum misrepresentations.

“Give-and-take” galore of love
Seems to go deep into human fabrics
Genuine love has lost her strength
Because of this unfairness
We begin to talk about people
Because we lack this pre-requisite
This necessary commodity.

Love is the vital of all keys
Prayer is only knocking at heaven's door
Fasting is opening heaven's door
Love seen through charity and alms giving.
Is seeing God who is in heaven
No wonder it is biblically put
Whatever you do to the least of your brother
You do it unto the Lord.

Oh! Immoral of all men
Do not limit the love of God to yourself
Do you know that even all things
Will come and go under the universe?
It is only genuine love
That will stand the taste of time
Fading away all things under the sun
Summary of all licits, love is Oh! Love, the talk of many
The longing of many
That boundless gift of God
Versely viewed, but sparsely practiced
The all-in-all of the commandments
Rare among human beings
Only manifest in principles
But not in actions

Do you know the form of love I mean?
That platonic and Christian love
Of sacrifice and self-denial
For the fulfillment and benefit of all
This type of love is rare
The love for a selfish desire
Supercedes sacrificial and selfless one
Due to misinterpretations cum misrepresentations.

“Give-and-take” galore of love
Seems to go deep into human fabrics
Genuine love has lost her strength
Because of this unfairness
We begin to talk about people
Because we lack this pre-requisite
This necessary commodity.

Love is the vital of all keys
Prayer is only knocking at heaven's door
Fasting is opening heaven's door
Love seen through charity and alms giving.
Is seeing God who is in heaven
No wonder it is biblically put
Whatever you do to the least of your brother
You do it unto the Lord.

Oh! Immoral of all men
Do not limit the love of God to yourself
Do you know that even all things
Will come and go under the universe?
It is only genuine love
That will stand the taste of time
Fading away all things under the sun
Summary of all licits, love is.

By:
Christian Egwuonwu
Omega Obizi

Wisdom Of Great Thinkers

1. Pleasant words are as a honey-comb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16 24).
2. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6 13).
3. We cannot all be great, but we can attach ourselves to something that is great. (Harry Emerson Fosdick).
4. No habit has any real hold on you other than the hold you have for it.
(Gardner Hunting)
5. The deepest of human nature is the desire to be appreciated (William James)
6. There is no verbal vitamin more potent than praise (Frederick B. Harris)
7. The imagination governs the universe (Napoleon Bonaparte).
8. Suspicion always hunts the guilty mind; the thief doth fear each bush an officer. (Shakespeare)
9. Write it in your heart that everyday is the best day of the year.
(Raph Waldo Emerson).
10. Practice is everything. Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it. (Thomas Fuller).
11. Politeness is a small price to pay for the good-will and affection of others.
(Trothy Veck)
12. Can anybody remember when times were not hard and money not scarce?
(Ralph Walden Emerson).
13. The influence of custom is incalculable; dress a boy as man and he will at once change his conception of himself
(B. St. John).
14. Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way. (Aristotle)
15. Leisure is the time for doing something useful. (Nathaniel Howe).
16. Correction does much but encouragement does more. Encouragement after Censure is as the sun after a shower. (Goethe).
17. The easy way is to censure, the strong way is to overlook and praise. (Donald Laird).
18. As thy thoughts are so will they mind be also. (Marcus Aurelius).
19. Our faculties become dull and soon lose their power if they are not exercised.
(Orison S. Marden).
20. Do not try to destroy bad habits by force; make some good habits and they will destroy the others. (William Jones).
Wisdom of the thinkers
21. One day, I came across the words:
(a) Ascend the ladders of liberty,
(b) The Hill of harmony,
(c) The tree of triumph,
(d) The Rock of regard
I determined to make my life more pleasant.
(Joseph Anel) Mombasa Kenya)
22. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. (Solomon).
23. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
24. Do not complain because the rosebush has thorns. Rejoice that the thorn-bush bears roses.
(Arabian Proverb).
25. Count your blessings:
Now, if instead of wishing you could have this, that or the other, you just thought of all the things you do possess and always remembered to count your blessings, then you would be grateful for small mercies (Phylles C. Honebone).
26. What man says of others, will be said of him and what he wishes for others, he is wishing for himself.

27. Resist not evil, be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

28. Agree with thine adversary quickly.

29. Bless the past and forget it, bless the future knowing it has in store for you endless joys, but live fully in the NOW.

30. Whatever a man soweth, that shall he also receive.

31. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

32. Love of money is the root of all evils.

33. I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed but I am bound to live by the light I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong. (Abraham Lincoln).

34. A lie is difficult -its ways are full of complexity and buzzle -It needs other lies to keep it going. (Marie Corelli).

35. Keep thy heart (or imagination) with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.

36. “By your words you shall be justified, by your words you are condemned,” taught the Lord.

37. As a man imagines to be so he must be, for that is interred to the Nature joined by the supreme, that as one wishes to be so he must be.

38. Desire is a tremendous force, and must be directed in the right channels or chaos ensures.

39. What a man condemns in others he attracts to himself.

40. “Where there is an effect there is always a cause. There is no such thing as chance.”

41. Let not the man who wavers think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

42. God's plan for each man transcends the limitation of the reasoning mind and is always the square of life, containing health, wealth love and perfect self-expression

43. Sorrow and disappointment follow in the wake of deceit and subterfuge. The way of the transgressor is hard. No good thing will be withheld from him who walks in the right.

44. “Everyman who has accumulated great fortune has recognized the existence of the stream of life. It consists of one's thinking process. The negative emotions form the side which carries one down to poverty.”

45. Forgiveness is better than revenge; forgiveness is the sign of gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature.(Epictetus).

46. Clergymen and social workers have many difficulties, but none are so exhausting as the personal foibles of their parishioners and people. (Dr. May).

46. Desire is a tremendous force, and must be directed in the right channels or chaos ensues.
46. God's plan for each man transcends the limitation of the reasoning mind and is always the square of life, containing health, wealth, love and perfect self _expression.
46. Sorrow and disappointment follow on the wake of deceit and subterfuge.
46. The way of the transgressor is hard. No good thing will be withheld from him who walks in the right way.
46. Every man who has accumulated great fortune has recognized the existence of the stream of life. It consists of one's thinking process. The negative emotions from the side which carries one down to poverty.
46. Forgiveness is better than revenge; for forgiveness is a sign of gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature. (Epictetus).
46. For everything you have missed, you have gained something else.
46. Keep the great secret of youth to live in the present moment, and let the future and the past take care of themselves.
46. (Canon. P.A. Sheaham)
46. It is worth a thousand pounds a year to have the habit of looking on the bright side of things. (Samuel Johnson).
46. Manners are the happy ways of doing things; each one a stroke of genius or of love, now repeated and hardened into usage.
46. The kindly word that falls today may bear its fruit tomorrow.
46. (Mahtma Gandhi)
46. By changing our opinion of ourselves we can also change ourselves. (Mark Twain).
46. From the lowest dept,h there is a path to the loftiest height. (Carlyle).
46. The real men think and the real men do; they dream great dreams which they make come true; the real men work and the real men plan. And by helping themselves help their fellow men.
46. In planning your system, there are four items to be reckoned with (a) people (b) conduction (c) methods (d) your personality.
46. But of Morality:-
46. I find the doctors and the sages have different in all climes and ages, and two in fifty scarce agree as what is pure morality. (More)
46. Before going to sleep, we should, whatever our age, take mental path by clearing out all the cobwebs from the mind. Let our last thoughts be happy, inspiring and constructive, so that we wake physically and mentally refreshed.
46. All forms of vanity anger your neighbour and form hostility on your bread. (Dr. W.B. Wolfe). Start where you are with what your have, make something of it, never be satisfied. (George Washington Carver).
46. Think not as much of what thou hast not, as of what thou hast; of the things which thou hast, select the best and reflect how eagerly they would have been sought if thou hadst them not
46. (M. Aurelius)
46. It is great wisdom not to be rash in thy doings, nor to stand stiffly in thine own conceits. As also not believe everything which thou hearest, nor immediately to relate again to others what thou hast heard or dost believe. The more humble a man is in himself, the more subject unto God, the more wise and peaceful shall he be in all things.
46. (Thomas A. Kempis)
Wisdom does not show itself so much in precept as in life, in a firmness of mind and mastery of appetite. It teaches us to do as well as to talk, and to make our action and words all of a colour. (Seneca).

Complied by: Chief Sir G.O.A. Ubanii.

BEATIFICATION BEFORE THE RESURRECTION?

A Theological Survey Of The Church's Honour To The Faithful Departed

INTRODUCTION:

The month of November is significant in the Church. It begins with the Solemnity of ALL SAINTS who, in ecclesiastical parlance, also called “the Church Triumphant”. These are great mass of respectable men and women who did all they could to change themselves, to become like God, to obey God, to discipline themselves, to renounce the world.

As Benedict Groeschel would say, though we have seldom means of knowing at the time who God' saints are, yet after all is over we have; and then on looking back at what is past, perhaps after they are dead and gone, if we knew them, we may ask ourselves what power they had over us, whether they attracted us, influenced us, humbled us, whether they made our hearts burn within us.

The course of beatification of late Pope John II, who died on the second of April, 2005 began on the 28th of June barely three months after his death. As it is said, this is the earliest in the history of the Church. The usual practice had been from five years of demise. Considering his extra-ordinary exemplary life as true servant of Christ and of the church, nobody is in doubt that he deserves special recognition. Would this then warrant the speculation that he is already in the Kingdom of heaven? If so, how can one substantiate this and similar claims about the saints?

Protestants condemn the idea of venerating the Saints. They interpret this religious phenomenon as superfluous and even equate it with idolatry. For them, such recognition should be deferred till the last judgment, after the resurrection of the body, when Christ would come to separate the good from the bad and reward each person according to their deeds. Though in recent times, one is astonished to hear them inflate the divine rank. It is no longer three persons in one God; they have added a fourth person, in the person of 'John the divine' a divine name given to some Anglican Churches; for example, the very much publicized Anglican Church at Nkwere. One wonders which John is meant. Surely, it is not John the Baptist because he was well known as only a prophet. He would vehemently object if such mistake is made to divinze him since he humbly declared openly that he was not fit to undo the strap of Jesus' sandals (John 1,27).

In this investigation therefore, we shall try to establish that some of the faithful departed rest in the Lord immediately after death. In the course of our research, we shall first flash our minds back to the times when a lot of the dead were completely obscured. Next, we employ the knowledge of Scripture and tradition to establish the authenticity of the Church's practice. We will further state the criteria for effective recognition, and finally prove that the saints can also intercede for the living.

DEATH IN OBSCURITY:

A good apprehension of death is knowledge that developed gradually in the Old Testament. In the earliest texts, the belief was that the good already enjoy their reward in this life for their righteousness, while the wicked suffer for their evil deeds also in this world. There were no clear expressions about the lot of the dead, although there was belief in an after-life which was beheld with much fear and reservation. This could explain the reason for such texts that prayed God to prolong the earthly life in order not to loose a worshipper, as one can read in Psalm 6, 4f: “Yahweh, relent and save my life, rescue me because of your faithful love; for in death there is no remembrance of you; who could sing your praises in Sheol?

Leopold Sabourine, in his work on the Psalms, discovered in the early Jewish Eschatology, that of the main biblical period and hinted that it had little to say about life beyond the grave. “Truly, he says, when the individual dies he does not cease to exist, yet existence in the other world was imagined as but a shadow of life on earth”. In Sheol, all the dead descended to lead a colourless, diminished life, wrapped in silence (Ps. 31, 8; 115, 17) and darkness (Ps. 35, 6; 88, 7, 19; 143, 3). The realm of Sheol remained outside Yahweh's influence for quite a long time and was only gradually opened to His sovereignty, presumably more or less like the watery abyss, to which it is related. The psalmist imagined that the dwellers of sheol were gradually abandoned by God, of whom they lost all remembrance: “For among the dead no one remembers you; in the nether world who gives you thanks? (Ps. 6,6).

Although Sheol is often described as a function, its location was also considered, in the setting of Hebrew cosmology. In connection with the statement of Psalm 74, 15: “You released the springs and torrents; you brought dry land out of the primeval waters”. This led to the conclusion that “originally there was a watery chaos; the earth existed, but it was covered by the all-embracing ocean. Yahweh set up firmament to keep part of the ocean from pouring downwards. Below the firmament, dry land was created by driving the water off the earth (Ps. 104, 6-9; Gn. 1,9f). The world rested on pillars (Ps. 75, 4; Jb 9, 6) in the great deep beneath Ps. 24, 2; 136,6).

Sometimes, Sheol was regarded as lying directly below the surface of the ground (cf. Ps. 16, 31ff) but sometimes it was though that the way to it lay through the subterranean ocean (Ps. 18, 5f = 2 Sam 22, 5f; Jon 2, 3ff.). The seas of the world were joined to the great deep from which they were fed. The waters were forbidden by God to pass over their limits and to encroach upon dry land (Jb. 38, 8-11), but a certain amount of water was allowed to come up from the subterranean ocean through springs and fountains (Dt. 8, 7; cf. Gn. 49, 25).

These notions of biblical cosmology may help to explain why the psalmist speaks of sheol as an abysmal swamp (69, 3) a sort of quagmire (40, 3: 69, 15), to which leads a dark and slippery way (35, 6), through the gates of death (9, 14; 54, 13; 115, 8). For the same reason, it seems, they ask God to prevent their foot from slipping (66, 9; 94, 18; 121, 3), to the nether world (30, 4). With divine help their foot stands on level ground (26, 12; 27,11; 143, 10), high upon a rock (27,5;40,3;61,3;62,591,14), and their steps are made firm (37,23;40,3;66,9), while the wicked are set on a slippery road 97:3,18).

The relation of sheol to the abyss explains also that death, sheol's shepherd (49,15), leads its flock down (30,4;139,8) to the depths of the nether world (86,13;130;140,11 cf Dt. 32,22), into the depths of the earth (63,10;71,20;94,4;139,15), and that rescue from death means going up (30,4;86,13) from the depths of the sea (68,23;69,3,15;77,17).

The slow development of thought about the fate of the dead was shared by Otto Herman Pesch. He said that until recently, it was 'chic' to consider life after death as unimportant often for reasons derived from faith itself. Led on by Feuerbach, Marx and Freud, rationalist critics depicted life after death as a wishful projection for escaping hard realities. This caused Christians to avoid the theme.

The awareness that popular teaching on last things (even the Bible itself) was permeated with quaint imagery (eternally singing choirs of angels) caused “death” and the “hereafter” to be regarded as things of which nothing precise is known. Theology concentrated on world and society, keeping. Hope for life after death from disturbing the social equilibrium. Belief in the hereafter seemed to compromise faith and prevent it from solving the problems of life.

Prominent Christians were cited to discourage discussion of the hereafter, for example, Dietrich Bonhoeffer held that God is “the beyond” in this life. Teilhard de Chardin was made to say that it would be fine with him if everything ended with death. Until shortly before Christ, it was pointed out; Israel had been a great example of faith without a hope in life after death. Hence those who dwelt on the hereafter were suspected of suppressing obligations of faith in the interest of private 'soul' salvation.

This attitude is now past. Interest in death and the hereafter has revived even among theologians concerned with 'earthly' theology. Though Scripture statements usually deal with the salvation of all humanity, nevertheless, there are statements about the destiny of individuals. We shall now turn to scripture for this knowledge.

EVIDENCE OF SCRIPTURE THAT THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD:

A German Professor of Dogmatic Theology in the Ausburg University, Anton Ziegenaus, was confronted with questions about the validity of the Catholic Church's honour to the Saints in an academic discussion with P. Benno Mikocki. In view of the fact that Protestant Christians do not honour the Saints, the initial question was whether the Bible could be used to substantiate that the Saints are living with God. He was firm in his response that the Bible can be used to prove this.

TESTIMONY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:

From the year 2000 B.C., during the Maccabean period, when the pious Jews where persecuted and even killed because of their belief in the true God, the desire for continous earthly or bodily living which was in vogue in the earlier texts was abandoned. The faithful then longed for that life after death. Thus developed the conviction that: “The souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them… they will judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their King forever…those who are faithful will live with him in love”. (Wisdom 3, Iff.). One can read in the Book of Daniel such concrete expressions which suggest the beginning of honour to Saints: “Of those who are sleeping in the land of Dust, many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity” (Dan. 12,2).

That the faithful departed immediately live with God is implied in Ezra's question in 2 Esdras 7,75: “O Lord, show this also to thy servant: whether after death, as soon as everyone of us yields his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those times come when thou wilt renew the creation, or whether we shall be tormented at once? The answer is that torments and rewards will begin at once.

This response might have influenced the Protestants in their denial of the existence of the middle state, called 'purgatory' in dialogue between a great old protestant gentleman, Dr. Samuel Johnson and James Boswell on this matter. In one of his many arguments with Boswell he said in response to a question: “what do you think, Sir, of Purgatory, as believed by the Roman Catholics”? Johnson replied: Why, Sir, it is a very harmless doctrine. They are of opinion that the generality of mankind are neither so obstinately wicked as to deserve everlasting punishment, nor so good as to merit being admitted into the society of blessed spirits; and therefore that God is graciously pleased to allow a middle state, where they may be purified by certain degree of suffering. You see, Sir, there is nothing unreasonable in this”.

Whitely, in his Book, Theology of St. Paul, interpreted the context where the Saducees were contesting with Christ about the resurrection. According to him, Christ meant that the saints are living with God when he said in Mark 12,27 that God is not God of the dead, but of the living. Since the patriarchs were dead in the Sadducean view which Christ was concerned to deny, we are probably justified in supposing that in His own view, they were already alive, and though they had died, yet God has never ceased to hold them in life.

We can then observe stages of development in biblical thought; The late biblical view that there was no significant life after death. This was followed by the conviction expressed in Dan. 12,2 that at the last day some (or all in later writings) would be raised or recreated, and this belief developed in its turn to the faith that reward and punishments would follow immediately upon death as we saw above in 2 Esdras 7,75f.

TESTIMONY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED LIVE WITH GOD:

In Christianity, the lot of the faithful departed received a powerful impetus from the resurrection of Christ. The passages which naturally spring to mind in this connection are: Lk. 16, 32 ('Dives' and Lazarus), Lk 23, 43 (the penitent thief); Phil. 1,23 where St. Paul in a dilemma, preferred to die and be with Christ. This confidence that he would be with Christ immediately after death was re-affirmed in 2Cor 5,8. Acts 7,59 was Stephen's prayer as he was being stoned: “Lord Jesus, receive my soul”. These texts do not prove that the resurrection of the body takes place immediately after the individual death. Rather, that the deceased Christian continues to live with Christ in this transformed state in the condition of sleep.

As Whiteley would say, what we hope for beyond death is not something new, but the relevance of what is already present and known to faith. The coming Kingdom is here and our salvation is not something different from that Kingdom. Thus our hope is like lightening that enables us to see what is. We will experience eternal life as people with flesh and blood and not as pure spirits (c.f. 1 Cor 15; Phil. 3, 21). And this will be lived in community with others. When images fail we should find it enough to say with Paul, “we will be with the Lord” (2Cor 5,8).

The view of the deceased presupposed by the Parable of 'Dives' and Lazarus (Lk. 16,19-31) is that during the life-time of 'Dive’s five brother, that is, before any final judgment, Dives and Lazarus, so far from being unconscious, are aware of their own torment and joy, while Dives at least is aware of Lazarus' blessedness.

The periscope of the Penitent thief is more important for the thoughts of the N.T. The man's request in Lk. 23, 43 that Jesus should remember him when he comes into his Kingdom has been interpreted that he asked Jesus to remember him at the end of the world when he comes into his glory. Our Lord's response: “In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” 23,46 could be paraphrased: 'You ask me to remember you in the future, when I return in glory; I grant you more: this very day you shall have the (conscious) joy with me in being in Paradise.

TRADITION OF THE CHURCH

The veneration of Saints in the Church began with that of Martyrs and Saint Ignatius Bishop of Antioch was the first. His martyrdom took place on 20th of December, A.D. 107. After the destruction of Antioch by Saracens, his relics were removed to Rome, and placed in the Church of St. Clement where at the present day “they are venerated with great devotion.

CRITERIA FOR THE CHURCH'S RECOGNITION:

Prof. Anton Ziegenaus has highlighted principles led down by the Church for effective recognition of someone as Saint. Prominent among these are that the personal life of the person so honoured must be worthy of emulation, especially his love of prayer and sacraments, most especially, the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance. No wonder Protestants do not qualify since their ministers do not have valid ordination and so can not validly confer these sacraments. Another criterion for recognition is that the candidate must have identified himself with the less privileged, showing great love for the poor and handicapped, such as the financially handicapped, those suffering from sickness, the ignorant, etc. and must have demonstrated true love for the church, manifesting this through suffering in and for her. As St. Augustine once said, a man possesses the Holy Spirit in the measure in which he loves the Church; in this regard, Protestants’ chances are again greatly minimized since the extent of their love for the church is highly questionable. We should recall that they were excommunicated from the Church for insubordination.

THE INTERCESSORY ROLES OF THE SAINTS:

From the O.T. one notices the intercessory role of the holy ones.

In 2 Maccabees 15,12ff., the dead high-priest Onias and the prophet Jeremiah were presented as interceding in prayer for the faithful Jews. The context was when Nicanor in his unlimited boastfulness and pride, was planning to erect a general trophy with the spoils taken from Judas and his men. But Maccabaeus, firm in his confident conviction that the Lord would stand by him, urged his men not to be dismayed by the foreigner's attacks, but keeping in mind the help that had come to them from Heaven in the past, to be confident that this time too, victory would be theirs with the help of the Almighty.

Each one of them having been armed not so much with the safety given by shield and lance as with that confidence which springs from noble language, he encouraged them all by describing to them a convincing dream a vision, as it were. What he had seen was this: Onias, the former high-priest, that paragon of men, modest of bearing and gentle of manners, suitably eloquent and trained from boyhood in the practice of every virtue, was stretching out his hands and praying for the whole Jewish community. Next, there appeared a man equally remarkable for his great age and dignity and invested with a marvelous and impressive air of majesty. Onias began to speak: 'This is a man', he said, 'who loves his brothers and prays much for the people and the Holy city; Jeremiah, the prophet of God'.

Jeremiah then stretched out his right hand and presented Judas with a golden sword, saying as he gave it, 'Take this holy sword as a gift from God, with it you will shatter the enemy.

The above was evidence from the O.T. In the N.T., there could be questions about the relevance for another intercessor, when Christ is the mediator between God and man. In his intercessory role, Jesus Christ is the Saviour of humanity (cf. 1 Tim 2, 6). He wiped away the sin of the world (John 1, 29). As the second Adam (Rom 5, 19), He made amendment for the sin of the first Adam.

However, the salvation which came through Jesus Christ does not rule out the co-operation of other people. It rather makes it possible. In other words, there is no limitation in the salvation brought by Jesus. It rather manifests its strength the more in the sense that those who have benefited from it can also assist in extending the salvation to others. For this reason, the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from all stains of sin so that she could pronounce her unreserved willingness to co-operate by accepting the angel's message.

Therefore, Jesus' intercessory role (I John 2,11) does not automatically exclude the co-operation of others. His suffering did not, for example, rule out that other people should through their own individual suffering, assist in their own salvation and those of others (Col. 1,24). It therefore means that having been saved by Christ, man can also in love, through suffering and prayer, co-operate in the salvation of his fellow man.

CONCLUSION:

As St. Paul once said, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even death cannot (Rom 8,38). Furthermore, the above dialogue between Samuel Johnson and Boswell on purgatory implies that there are some people who could be considered worthy to join the blessed spirits in Heaven immediately after death).

A stanza from Common of the Pastors sums up the lot of the saints in these words:

“The Saints who toiled from place to place,
Spreading the Gospel of God's grace,
Now in their heavenly homeland dwell
With Christ, whom here they served so well”.

This stanza does not say that these saints were to wait until the resurrection before their sojourn with Christ.

By: Rev. Fr. Dr. Innocent Olekamma

Beyond Ideas - Rev. Fr. Felix Femi Ajakaye

The non qualification of Nigeria's national football team, otherwise known as Super Eagles, for 2006 World Cup in Germany has continued to generate debates here and there. Many Nigerian football enthusiasts are sad and frustrated. To such people, it is indeed unthinkable that Nigeria, the 'giant of Africa', will not be active participants at the Global Feast in Germany. In fact, even people who normally, do not have interest in football are not happy about this development. For them, the country's pride is at stake here. Why are we being denied to be where other notable countries, representing the world, gather to play ball and discuss politics every four years just because of this head to head nonsense. Maybe next time, it will be leg to leg. Nigeria, the Heartbeat of Africa, as the country is now known worldwide, courtesy of President Olusegun Obasanjo's promotion on the CNN, has to be given the chance to take its rightful place.

No matter what, no dull moment in Nigeria. Since the 'fall of the mighty', I have been hearing so many things, including where I play football on Saturdays. I heard some people discussing that the African Union, AU, would have to act quickly and take a bold decision on this all important issue by asking Angola to 'step aside' and allow Nigeria, the home country of the present Chairman of the AU and world renowned external peacemaker, Chief Aremu Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo, to lead the other four African representatives to Germany 2006.

“Is this how the Angolans want to pay us, Nigerians, their major contributors and supporters who participated actively in their struggle for independence in the 70s? One man asked angrily. Some people too are so bitter that they now begrudge Angola. They are wondering what impact Angola would make in Germany. According to them, the Palancas Negras of Angola will be seriously humiliated in Germany and they will bring shame to Africa. To avoid this scenario, therefore, Nigeria deserves to be in Germany, rather than being denied by the minnows, the Angolans. In their emotional outburst too, other people are blaming FIFA, the world football ruling body, for introducing the Head to-Head rule. If not, Nigeria would not have been in this mess. Good talk! Did we not know this before?

I even learnt that Chief Obasanjo is livid that our very dear Eagles did not qualify for the world Cup. I can understand this. Nigeria's qualification would have given us a unique opportunity not only to showcase our football wizardry, but to present the new democratic Nigeria under the good leadership of the newly installed 13th Balogun Owu. O ma se o! Anyway, there is always a next time. South Africa 2010 is just after Germany 2006. By the way, Nigeria too should have bided for the World Cup of 2010, and tagged it Nigeria Vision 2010 (what a sweet name) in honour of the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, the man who introduced Vision 2010.

Personally, I believe that whatever the situation one finds oneself; the best option is to look inwards and take stock. The person needs to look at his/her past, examine the present and prepare for the future. Undoubtedly, generally, here in Nigeria, things are being done haphazardly. Think of anything at all and be sincere with yourself. The list is inexhaustible: From security to education, economy to the provision of infrastructure. Even, the highly publicized war against corruption is not left out. A story is publicly proclaimed today, but, oftentimes, it dies a natural death. It may end up with the usual parlance, it's a family affair. It is a pity that only the helpless masses tend to become asses in this regard and must face the law to its logical conclusion. Perceived enemies are also included in this category. They are the ones who are sacrificed fully.

In any way, Nigerians tend to be experts in good and wonderful ideas. Unfortunately, the fundamental problem is how to go beyond these ideas and act. On the inability of the country to qualify for the Mundial, this is the time for all the stakeholders, Government, the Nigerian Football Association or Federation(?), Players, Supporters' Club, Sports Writers, Private Sector and other interest groups to have real summit on the development of sports (not just football) here in Nigeria. If this is not done now, it may lead to unpardonable disaster in future where there will be further pain and fury.

Nigeria is well know for not doing things at the right time because of the general attitude of anything goes and our fire brigade approach to life. This is noticeable in nearly all the spheres of our life. This is aptly summarized by Carlos Alberto, one of the Brazilian legends and a colleague of the great Pele (whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento). After the 1994 World Cup in the United States of America, where Nigeria appeared for the first time and dazzled the world with its performance, Alberto accepted to coach the Nigerian national side in 1995.

The Brazilian only stayed for few months due to the usual laisser-faire approach of the country's so-called sports administrators. He has this to say of his brief experience in Nigeria: “They (Nigeria) play good football, happy football. But their organization is very poor. In fact, they have no organization.” This is quoted from page 71 of a book, 'The Beautiful Team', written by Garry Jenkins on Pele and the 1970 Brazilians who won the 1970 World Cup for keeps. To date, Alberto's observation of a decade ago is still haunting us in the country.

Since History is no more taught in schools as in the past, how then can we relate today to yesterday for a successful tomorrow? In spite of this, let us go down the memory lane. After the last All Africa Games which Nigeria hosted in Abuja in 2003, we were at the Olympic Games in Greece last year and our athletes returned home without a single medal. Just this year again, Nigeria, with a population of about 120 Million, was at the World Athletics in Helsinki, Finland, Again, we did not win any medal. Thank God, the coach of the Flying eagles, Samson Siasia did not allow the lukewarm attitude of the NFA people to derail his plan. With his dogged determination to succeed and the preparedness of the players, the Flying Eagles won the silver at this year's Under-21 World Cup in Holland. There were praises for the coach and the team. Those who did not wish them well before the competition began to claim the credit.

Now, let us revisit our failure to scale through preliminaries for Germany 2006. Nigeria was in the same group with Algeria, Angola, Gabon, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Inevitably, Nigeria was expected to qualify easily. We proudly approached the whole issue lazily. To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail. On the other hand, from the onset, the Angolans were determined, disciplined and dedicated. Realizing their folly, like possessed people, the Nigerians began to gather themselves at the last minute, pretending to be serious contenders to the number one position of the group, walloping and whipping their opponents silly. It was now time to turn to God. Nigerians and 'miracles', God is not a magician. The Minister of football, sorry, Sports and Youth Development, Dr. Seidu Samaila Sambawa, the NFA Chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, individuals and groups began to urge Nigerians to pray and fast for the qualification of Nigeria.

The prayer point was for Angola to lose to or play draw with Rwanda in Kigali. Certain people, including sports writers and analysts who, I think should know better started saying that, since the beginning of the campaign Rwanda had not lost a game at home. Therefore, Angola was in for it, forgetting that football is not Mathematics. Some 'prophets' even claimed that they had seen vision that the coast was very clear for Nigeria's qualification. We shall hear them again. My wish is that we should learn from our mistake, prepare well for next year's African Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt. The rhythm of the Eagles' last two matches against Algeria and Zimbabwe must continue.

Anyway, all is now history. The 'small' Angola, by its qualification for Germany 2006 at the expense of 'big' Nigeria has shown that for true success, attitude is as important as ability. In spite of the fact that the Angolans did not possess the skills (ability), they had the right attitude. On our part, we had the skills, but we threw attitude to the refuse bin. We did not make hay while the sun was shining.

Come to think of it. The war ravaged Cote d'Ivoire also qualified despite their crisis Ghana is a practical reflection of a new life. They got the right attitude too and they are now reaping the fruits of hard work. Their flag will be hoisted in Germany. Also, Togo, coached by our own Stephen Keshi, sacked by his own Nigeria who did not appreciate his worth, will be in Germany. Congratulations to the 'Big Boss' and the other African representatives. I suggest that Keshi should be invited home by the Federal Government and be celebrated for being a worthy ambassador.

On our part in Nigeria, unless we stop chasing the shadows, face realities of life and be genuie in our sports administration, Nigeria will just be joining the crowd, rather than being a foremost nation. More than ever before, we need to be focused in order not to keep losing our identity. Enough of the 'festival' of blames. Let us have new orientation by putting the right people in the right places so that we will not be a daily laughing stock for others. Our dear country, Nigeria, should be more for positive and concrete things. This is why we have to harness our talents and work together as a team.

Let us go beyond ideas. This is the right time to translate our ideas into action. We must not allow the selfish and corrupt people in our midst to continue to hijack our country from us. The media too need to learn to celebrate people, no matter their status, for who they are, rather than for what they own or give. This is part of media development and community building. Actually, this can help to reduce corruption and crime. United we stand, divided we fall. God is our strength (cf. Philippians 4:13).

Rev. Fr. Felix Femi Ajakaye
Director of Social Communications
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Lagos

The Life and death of Sister Lucia, the last Visionary of Fatima

Sister Lucia, the last surviving witness of the three children to whom the Virgin Mary appeared at Fatima, Portugal in 1917 died on Sunday, 13th of February 2005 at the age of 97 at the Carmelife Convent of St. Teresa at Coimbra in Central Portugal, at 5.25 pm local time. Shortly before she died, Lucia reportedly read a fax sent to her by Pope John Paul II.

Sister Lucia was born on 30th of March, 1907 in a town near Fatima, called Aljustrel. In 1917 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her (then 10 years old) and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta on six occasion: May 13, June 13, July 13, August 19 (because the children were imprisoned by communist authorities on August 13), September 13 and October 13. during the apparitions, the Blessed Virgin told the children that if men did not stop offending God a second great war more terrible than the First World War which had just ended would begin during the reign of Pope Pius XI. Twenty two years later, World War II broke out in Europe. The Virgin Mary also predicted that Russia, unless converted, would spread atheistic communism throughout the world, causing wars and persecution of the Church. “The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will annihilated”. The children were also told of the calamities that would befall the world if men did not stop offending God, and what God asked men to do in order to avoid chastisements for sin (including, according to some accounts, tsunamis which would take hundreds of thousand of lives). During the October 13, 1917 apparitions, the Blessed Virgin performed an astonishing miracle before 70,000 witnesses (including atheists) when the sun “danced”, spun off multi-coloured light, and moved towards the earth.

In one of the apparitions our Lady told Lucia and her cousins that many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices for them. She said Francisco and Jacinta would soon leave the world for Heaven but that Lucia would remain in the world for some time because “God wishes to use you (Lucia) to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart”. Francisco and were beatified (next stage to confirming the Vatican's judgment that the visions are worthy of belief by Catholics.
The third “secret” of Fatima published by the Vatican in June, 2000 was a prediction of the attempt to assassinate Pope John Paul II. Asked in 1980 why the secret had not been released, Pope John Paul II told a German audience: “Because of the seriousness of its contents… We must be prepared to undergo great trials that will challenge us to be ready to give up even our lives,… to Christ and for Christ”. Through your prayers and mine, it is possible to alleviate this tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it as entrust ourselves to Christ and His Holy Mother and be attentive, very attentive to the prayer of the Rosary”.

For the Pope, the trial came on May 13, 1981 when a Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca fired gunshots at him in St. Peter's Square. The shooting took place on one of the anniversaries of the 1917 apparitions. In a sign of gratitude a year after the assassination attempt, the Pople has one of the 9mm bullets which Agca fired at him placed in the crown of the statue of our Lady at Fatima. “One hand fired the bullet and another (Our Lady's) guided it”, the Pope said of Agca's attempt to kill him.

As a young girl of 14 years, Lucia entered the college of Porto in northern Portugal, and in 1925 she moved to the Spanish town of Pontevedra, where she spent some months as a Postulant in the Institute of Saint Dorothy. In 1926, she went to the novitiate house of Tuy, where she made her novitiate and took her first profession of vows.

In 1946 she returned to Portugal and two years later entered the Carmelite convent of St. Teresa of Coimbra, by kind favour of Pope Pius XII, because the desire she had had for a long time to live in seclusion and solitude reawakened. And there, ever since, until her death she has been living a life of prayer and penance.

Sister Lucia was buried at the same Carmelite convent that had been her home since 1948. after one year, her body will be transferred to the Shrine of Fatima. The Holy Father sent Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Geneva, Italy to preside the Mass of the solemn obsequies for Sister Lucia. John Paul II sent, through Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the following message captioned “Called to the Eternal Dwelling of Heaven” to the Bishop of Coimbra, Albino Mamede Cleto to be read during the funeral of Sister Lucia:

“With profound emotion I learned that Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart, at the age of 97 years, was called by the heavenly Father to the eternal dwelling of heaven. She has thus reached the end to which she always aspired in prayer and in the silence of the convent.

The liturgy has reminded us in these days that death is the common heritage of the children of Adam, but at the same time it has assured us that Jesus, with the sacrifice of the cross, has opened to us the gates of immortal life. We recall these certainties of the faith at the moment we give our last farewell to this humble and devout Carmelite, who consecrated her life to Christ, Saviour of the world.

The visit of the Virgin Mary, which little Lucia received in Fatima together with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta in 1917, was for her the beginning of a singular mission to which she remained faithful until the end of her days. Sister Lucia leaves us an example of great fidelity to the Lord and of Joyful adherence to his divine will. I remember with emotion the various meetings I had with her and the bonds of spiritual friendship that, with the passing of time, were intensified. I have always felt supported by the daily gift of her prayer, especially in the harsh moments of trial and suffering. May the Lord reward her amply for the great and hidden service she has done to the Church.

I love to think that the one who has received Sister Lucia in the passing from earth to heaven has been precisely she whom she saw in Fatima so many years ago. May the Holy Virgin accompany the soul of this devoted daughter of hers to the happy encounter with the divine Spouse.

To you I entrust, Venerable Brother, the task of expressing to the nuns of the Carmel of Coimbra the certainty of my spiritual closeness, while, for their interior consolation in the moment of separation, I impart an affectionate blessing, which I extend to the families, to you, Venerable Brother, to Cardinal Tracisio Bertone, my special envoy, and to all the participants in the sacred rite of suffrage.”

Vatican, 14 February 2005 John Paul II
In a condolence letter, President Jorge Sampaio said that Luicia “was a symbol and a point of reference for so many people in the whole world.” Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira Silva of Leiria-Fatim told Radio Renascence, Portugal's main Catholic radio station, that Sister Lucia was exemplary for her “witness, vivacity, fidelity and courage.”

The bishop said that to the very end of her life she was concerned about “the problems of humanity” and dedicated her life to praying for “reconciliation, conversion and peace”.

The Father General of the Carmelite Order in his condolence message to the Mother Prioress and Community of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Coimbra, Portugal (where Sr. Lucia lived and died) said that Sr. Lucia live humbly and quietly in her community, combining a prayerful contemplative life with an intense letter-writing ministry, with which she comforted distressed people and encouraged her readers to believe and trust in God, always zealous in her devotion to Mary. “we are happy that Sr. Lucia has been our sister. Very happy that she lived the message of Fatima (the message of prayer, penance and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary) in such an ordinary human way with simplicity and sincerity”.

By: Dr. Michael Ogunu

For The Records: Vatican City

GEOGRAPHY
The Vatican City State is situated on the Vatican hill, on the right bank of the Tiber River, within the city of Rome.

GOVERNMENT
The pope has full legal, executive, and judicial powers. Executive power over the area is in the hands of a commission of cardinals appointed by the pope. The College of Cardinals is the pope's chief advisory body, and upon his death the cardinals elect his successor for life.

HISTORY
The Vatican City State, sovereign and independent, is the survivor of the papal states that in 1859 comprised an area of some 17,000 sq mi (44,030 sq km). During the struggle for Italian unification, from 1860 to 1870, most of this area became part of Italy. By an Italian law of May 13, 1871, the temporal power of the pope was abrogated, and the territory of the papacy was confined to the Vatican and Lateran palaces and the villa of Castel Gandolfo. The popes consistently refused to recognize this arrangement. The Lateran Treaty of Feb. 11, 1929, between the Vatican and the kingdom of Italy established the autonomy of the Holy See.

The first session of Ecumenical Council Vatican II was opened by John XXIII on Oct. 11, 1962, to plan and set policies for the modernization of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Paul VI continued the council, presiding over the last three sessions. Vatican II, as it is called, revolutionized some of the church's practices. Power was decentralized, giving bishops a larger role, the liturgy was vernacularized, and laymen were given a larger part in church affairs.

On Aug. 26, 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani was chosen by the College of Cardinals to succeed Paul VI, who had died of a heart attack on Aug. 6. The new pope took the name John Paul I. Only 33 days after his election, John Paul I died of a heart attack, ending the shortest reign in 373 years. On Oct. 16, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, 58, was chosen pope and took the name John Paul II. Pope John Paul II 5became the first Polish pope and the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century.

On May 13, 1981, a Turkish terrorist shot the pope in St. Peter's Square, the first assassination attempt against the pontiff in modern times. The pope later met and forgave him. On June 3, 1985, the Vatican and Italy ratified a new church-state treaty, known as a concordat, replacing the Lateran Pact of 1929. The new accord affirmed the independence of Vatican City but ended a number of privileges the Catholic Church had in Italy, including its status as the state religion.

On April 2, 2005, John Paul died. He was the third-longest reigning pope (26 years). A champion of the poor, many credit him with hastening the fall of communism in Poland and other eastern bloc countries. His vitality and charisma energized the world's 1 billion Catholics. His rule was characterized by conservatism regarding church doctrine, particularly on issues such as birth control, women's roles in the church, and homosexuality. The pope also remained circumspect about the U.S. church's sexual abuse scandals in 2002. He has was the Vatican's greatest ambassador, traveling to 129 countries. John Paul canonized 482 saints and beatified 1,338 people, believed to be more than all his predecessors combined.

On April 19, German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was named the new pope. Pope Benedict XVI is known as an accomplished scholar of theology and is considered an arch conservative in his religious views. He served as Pope John Paul II's closest associate and is expected to continue the policy of a “strong Rome” the church's power will not become more decentralized but remain firmly in the hands of Rome.

O SUCCESS!

1. A berbacious border- like
A toiling vogue
Your Vivacity Many long
Stridently they are
But, you silence them, O sister success.

2. How prestigious you are
With a lovely flower
Old and childish
To all and sundry
You bid farewell.

3. O Crowning issue
Of a Labour so sweaty
Eagle- like product
Of a long-period of brooding
O reaping fruit of one's toil

4. Like the dancing moon set afar
To the pretencious an ostentation
But when after you we run
Like the mirage so elusive
Swiftly you cloud you star.

5. In all endeavours of life
Be he the crowing throne
Be she the Veronica of biblical woman
You the endearing
To all who strive

6. O beautiful Narcissus
Many have heard your echo
For you their bestow
But even to raise your brow
Them, at arms length you keep.

7. Many have Herodized the innocent
Some have played Macbeth's part
Only that, their portal
You might darken
Even if it is for a moment.

8. All is after you
Even the devil in his mischief
Is up to the eye, to grasp you
You allowed few your bouquet
O success why silencing many?

9. Only those in insects- like
Can flee to grasp and suck
From you succulent breast
In you they remain and relax
Like a baby in his mother's arms

10. Up and down
You keep them all
Who toil minute to minute from birth
Their shackles of sweat on you
To shake your opulent hands, O success.

By: Emmanuela Ezeh