After our visit to the National Museum yesterday, we decided to drop by the Museum Shop to buy some souvenirs. There are books, jewelries, accessories, post cards, home decorations and lots of interesting items.  I collect post cards and these definitely caught my attention :

I bought two sets of these beautiful post cards, one set for my personal collection and the second one, to be sent back home.

A woman of many sins, Mary Magdalene’s soul has been touched at the house of Simon the Pharisee. The beautiful courtesan weeps at the feet of Jesus as she anoints Him with her tears of sorrow and the fragrant ointment. Jesus looks at her lovingly, “Go in peace,” He say’s, “your sins are forgiven and  your faith has saved you.” (Luke 7:36-50) Jesus anointed Mary Magdalene with the message of peace. Mary Magdalene had these words indelibly written on her heart as she followed Jesus throughout his ministry.

Three years  later, our Lord is crucified , and we find Mary Magdalene at the foot of the Cross, with His mother Mary, and the beloved disciple John. She hears  the last words of Christ, is present at His burial, and witnesses His Resurrection.  All this has been faithfully recorded in the gospel so that we may remember and venerate Saint Mary Magdalene.

When we freely forgive others who have hurt us, our angel brings us a special blessing of love from God.

Eileen Elias Freeman - The Angel’s Little Instruction Book

Martha burdened with much serving , came to him and said,” Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving ? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing, Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Luke 10:40-42

The vocation of the Catholic physician consists in transmitting Christ’s healing love as a good Samaritan, says Cardinal Javier Lozano Baragan.

The president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry said this in an in-depth analysis published by the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.

Being a Catholic physician “involves proximity and special intimacy with God, and at the same time  represents  an opening-up and being a complete gift to others,” Cardinal Lozano Barragan said.

Father Giancarlo Bossi, the Italian missionary priest who was kidnapped in the Philippines June 10, was released July 19.

The PIME missionary was set free on Thursday evening on a roadside near Karumatan, a predominantly Muslim town in the southern Philippines. He reported that he has been treated well, and never felt that his life was in danger.

The fifth release in J.K. Rowling’s durable franchise - - “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (Warner Bros.) - - is scarcely less fresh than the very first, thanks to the ongoing quality of production and employing different directors for recent installments in the series.

Seven weeks after Pope Benedict XVI praised Vatican civil servants for their work in “our little state, from the most visible to the most hidden,” the state unveiled its own Web site.

The site -www.vaticanstate.va-is linked to and works closely with the Vatican’s main Web site, www.vatican.va, but provides more information about the offices that  help run the state, as opposed to the church.

Catholics worldwide will celebrate the feast of St.Patrick two days earlier next year after the Vatican gave permission to move the feast day to avoid conflict with Holy Week.

Traditionally, St. Patrick and all things Irish are celebrated March 17. However, in 2008, March 17 falls on the Monday of Holy Week and according to the church law, the days of Holy Week and Easter rank above all others, so the solemnity must be moved to another date.

What Can One Person Do ?

1. Don’t over-consume. Repair. Reuse. Recycle

2. Save energy. Replace burnt-out light bulbs with those most energy efficient.

3. Conserve water. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving; water the lawn after sunset.

4. Take public transportation, car pool, bike or walk, to and from work.

5. Don’t litter anywhere: on a street or a beach, in a park or  a theater.

6. Keep it down. Avoid noise pollution.

7. Vote: support public transportation, environmental issues. etc.

8. Encourage children to be good stewards through example and community cooperation.

- Christopher News Note #434