Visitation of Relic of Padre Pio from the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio, Batangas, Philippines

The Diocese of Penang are privileged to have with us the relic of Padre Pio from the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio in Batangas, Philippines from the 11th – 17th July 2024. This relic will be visiting the parishes in the Diocese of Penang in the month of July. Sharing with you the schedule of the visits in each parish for your kind veneration.

💡Minor Basilica of St. Anne - 11 July (Thursday), 7pm

*Source: 4th Point, 39th Notification in the Diocese of Penang

Know the time of your visitation

What enables us to live in peace and harmony with our families, neighbors, local communities, and the wider community of peoples and nations? 

The Father in heaven sent his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to reconcile us with God and to unite us with one another in a bond of peace and mutual love. 

Jesus' earthly ministry centers and culminates in Jerusalem, which Scripture describes as the holy city, the throne of the Lord (Jeremiah 3:17);and the place which God chose for his name to dwell there (1 Kings 11:13; 2 Kings 21:4; 2 Kings 23:27); and the holy mountain upon which God has set his king (Psalm 2:6). Jerusalem derives its name from the word "salem" which mean "peace". The temple in Jerusalem was a constant reminder to the people of God's presence with them. 

Tears of mourning and sorrow over sin and refusal to believe in God 

When Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the multitude of homes surrounding the holy temple, he wept over it because it inhabitants did not "know the things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42). As he poured out his heart to the Father in heaven, Jesus shed tears of sorrow, grief, and mourning for his people. He knew that he would soon pour out his blood for the people of Jerusalem and for the whole world as well. 

Why does Jesus weep and lament over the city of Jerusalem? Throughout its history, many of the rulers and inhabitants - because of their pride and unbelief - had rejected the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Now they refuse to listen to Jesus who comes as their Messiah - whom God has anointed to be their Savior and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). 

Jesus is our only hope - the only one who can save us and the world 

Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem was a gracious visitation of God's anointed Son and King to his holy city. Jerusalem's lack of faith and rejection of the Messiah, however, leads to its eventual downfall and destruction by the Romans in 70 A.D. Jesus' lamentation and prophecy echoes the lamentation of Jeremiah who prophesied the first destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. Jeremiah's prayer of lamentation offered a prophetic word of hope, deliverance, and restoration:

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies are new every morning ...For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men" (Lamentations 3:21-22, 31-32).

Jesus is the hope of the world because he is the only one who can truly reconcile us with God and with one another. Through his death and resurrection Jesus breaks down the walls of hostility and division by reconciling us with God. He gives us his Holy Spirit both to purify us and restore us as a holy people of God. Through Jesus Christ we become living temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God has visited his people in the past and he continues to visit us through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit. Do you recognize God's gracious visitation of healing and restoration today?

God judges, pardons, heals, and restores us to new life 

When God visits his people he comes to establish peace and justice by rooting out our enemies - the world (which stands in opposition to God), the flesh (our own sinful cravings and inordinate desires), and the devil (who is Satan, the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning - John 8:44) who enslave us to fear and pride, rebellion and hatred, envy and covetousness, strife and violence, and every form of evil and wrong-doing. That is why God both judges and purifies his people - to lead us from our sinful ways to his way of justice, peace, love, and holiness. God actively works among his people to teach us his ways and to save us from the destruction of our own pride and sin and from Satan's snares and lies. 

Are God's judgments unjust or unloving? Scripture tells us that "when God's judgments are revealed in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9). To pronounce judgment on sin is much less harsh than what will happen if those who sin are not warned to repent. The Lord in his mercy gives us grace and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a moment, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. Do you accept the grace to turn away from sin and to walk in God's way of peace and holiness? 

Lord Jesus, you have visited and redeemed your people. May I not miss the grace of your visitation today as you move to bring your people into greater righteousness and holiness of life. Purify my heart and mind that I may I understand your ways and conform my life more fully to your will.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

The feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 31 May. Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth shortly after the Annunciation, whom God had blessed with a son in her old age. She greeted her cousin Elizabeth, and at the sound of her voice, John the Baptist quickened in his mother's womb and leapt for joy. In virtue of Mary's salutation, Saint John received the grace of the Divine Spirit which sanctified him: 'When the Blessed Virgin saluted Elizabeth, the voice of the salutation, entering her ears, descended to the child, and by its virtue he received the Holy Spirit.' Saint John the Baptist was cleansed from sin in his mother's womb. It reminds us of the joy of the Blessed Virgin in bearing our Saviour, Jesus. Mary's charity is not less in the present than at the time of her Visitation. She ever eager now to promote the happiness and console the sorrows of those who come to her for help. Mary’s service for Elizabeth by her visit remains a model for the Christian who wishes to meet Christ in daily life. God speaks to us through others. We come to know God and his saving plan through people in the Christian community. Mary’s faith, which is praised by Elizabeth, draws her to the dignity of being the Mother of Jesus and still greater to being a true disciple of the Lord. Faith was not easier for her than for us.

Mary is the Treasurer of all Divine Graces; 

therefore, 

whoever desires Graces must have recourse to Mary; 

and he who has recourse to Mary 

may be certain of obtaining the Graces he desires.

Almighty ever-living God, who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray, that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer

Vouchsafe, O Lord, we beseech Thee, unto us Thy servants the gift of Thy heavenly grace, that, as in the childbirth of the Blessed Virgin our salvation began, so from the votive solemnity of her visitation we may obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Luke 1:39-56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

53 He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

“This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death; first when Mary, arising in haste to go to visit Elizabeth, is greeted by her as blessed because of her belief in the promise of salvation and the precursor leaped with joy in the womb of his mother.” as stated in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) , #57, of the Second Vatican Council.

Friday, May 31, 2013
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

Reading 1

Zephaniah 3: 14 - 18
14	Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15	The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more.
16	On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak.
17	The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing
18	as on a day of festival. "I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.

or

Romans 12: 9 - 16
9	Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
10	love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
11	Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.
12	Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13	Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
14	Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15	Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16	Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

Psalm

Isaiah 12: 2 - 6
2	"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
3	With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4	And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted.
5	"Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth.
6	Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Gospel

Luke 1: 39 - 56 (view above)