THE ART OF THE CHURCH
Beginning With Moses
To begin with Moses means to begin with the first five Books of the Tanakh---Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament. Well ’twas Jesus Our Lord who did this. He went through all the books of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms and explained to His disciples all the passages of the Scriptures that referred to Himself. St. Luke records that Jesus Our Lord did this on two separate occasions, so my question is “Why do we not have an exact copy of all that Jesus Our Lord said to them on these two occasions after He rose from the dead?” Did what Jesus say to them take several hours or by a special infusion of knowledge did He simply ‘open up their minds’ and teach them in that manner?
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In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. Now the earth was a formless wasteland and void, and there was darkness… And the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters |
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And God said: “Let there be light.” And there was light… In the Divine Image He created them, male and female, He made them. They were naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed. |
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In the New Beginning, in the 6th month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a virgin betrothed. “You are to conceive and bear a son,” he said to her.
“But how can this come about---I am a virgin?” “The Holy Spirit of God that hovered over the waters at the beginning will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. Hence, the holy offspring to be born will be called Holy, the Light of the world, the Son of God, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Emmanuel.” And the Word that was with God in the Beginning, the Word that was God, the Word through whom all things came to be, took flesh and lived among us and we saw His glory! |
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The Serpent was the most cunning of all the beasts that the Lord had made. It asked the woman, “Did God really say…?” And the eyes of both of them were opened. They hid themselves and so it was: Dead was born on a flaming day. Ashes, Ashes, we all fall down. |
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Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other You and THE WOMAN." The offspring of Satan and the woman’s offspring, Jesus, will be enemies. You will lie in wait for His heel and He will crush your head. Dying, you destroyed our death; Rising, you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. |
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And the Lord God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood calls out to me from the ground.” And Cain like Adam, like Eve, went out from the presence of the Lord and did dwell East of Eden, in the land of Nod. |
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Caiaphas, the high priest, tore his clothes and said of Jesus, “He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?” They answered, “He deserves to die.” You have drawn near to the blood of Christ that calls out more insistently than the blood of Abel: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” |
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Now the wickedness of man increased upon the face of the earth and God said, “I regret having made him. I will rid the earth of my own creation. I will destroy everything with breath in its nose except for…Noah.” Noah was a good man. Noah walked with God. |
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Water Stories
In the beginning, the Holy Spirit of God breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all Holiness. The waters of the great flood made the end of sin, and a new beginning of goodness. Moses led Israel through the waters of the Red Sea, an image of God’s holy people set free from sin by Baptism. Water and blood flowed from the side of Christ; the New Adam, as He hung upon the cross. From the wounded side of Christ, the new Adam, God forms the Church, the Bride of Christ---Water for Baptism, blood for Holy Communion. The waters broke on the day of your birth and broke again when you were born again in Baptism. If anyone is in Christ, he is a New Creation.
In the beginning, the Holy Spirit of God breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all Holiness. The waters of the great flood made the end of sin, and a new beginning of goodness. Moses led Israel through the waters of the Red Sea, an image of God’s holy people set free from sin by Baptism. Water and blood flowed from the side of Christ; the New Adam, as He hung upon the cross. From the wounded side of Christ, the new Adam, God forms the Church, the Bride of Christ---Water for Baptism, blood for Holy Communion. The waters broke on the day of your birth and broke again when you were born again in Baptism. If anyone is in Christ, he is a New Creation.
Anointing with Chrism
When you came out of the waters of Baptism like Christ rising from the dead or Jonah from the belly of the fish, the priest anointed you with the oil of Chrism as Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King.
When you came out of the waters of Baptism like Christ rising from the dead or Jonah from the belly of the fish, the priest anointed you with the oil of Chrism as Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King.
You are a priest---at every Mass you offer yourself with Jesus to God the Father. You are a prophet---you are to witness to Christ by all you say and do. You are a King---you are to reign with Christ forever and ever.
“But the Lord provided a big fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” See Jonah 1:17.
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.’” See Matthew 12:38-40.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
“But the Lord provided a big fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” See Jonah 1:17.
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, ‘Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.’ But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.’” See Matthew 12:38-40.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
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God said to Abraham: “Kill me your son!” A mountain, fire, wood for the sacrifice, a ram, its head caught in a thorn bush. “Do not raise your hand against the boy,” the angel said. Do not harm him. |
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God’s son! Again a mountain, same mountain, wood, a cross, the Lamb of God, his head caught in a thorn bush. God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for the sake of us all. |
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Moses, the parting of the Red Sea, the Manna, water from the rock, the commandments. The lifting up of the serpents, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so was Jesus lifted up on the cross.” Moses, 120 years old when he died, eye undimmed, full of vigor. |
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A chariot of fire, horses of fire, coming between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah went up to heaven in the whirlwind. Enoch also vanished because God took him, Mary also was taken up, Moses too. Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and they were talking with Him. |
The Conversion of Saint Paul
“Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for a letter to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ He said, ‘Who are you sir?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.’” See Acts 9:1-6.
Saul would become Paul, the apostle to the gentiles. He spent the rest of his life proclaiming the Word, suffering martyrdom by beheading in Rome.
“Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for a letter to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ He said, ‘Who are you sir?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.’” See Acts 9:1-6.
Saul would become Paul, the apostle to the gentiles. He spent the rest of his life proclaiming the Word, suffering martyrdom by beheading in Rome.
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter
St. Peter was martyred between AD 64 and AD 68 in Rome. He was sentenced to be crucified in Nero’s Circus at the foot of Vatican Hill. He was crucified upside down because he felt himself unworthy to be crucified upright as Jesus was.
During the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, human remains were found which were thought to be those of St. Peter. In 1968 Pope Pius VI declared that the bones were most likely those of the Apostle Peter, the first Pope of the Catholic Church.
St. Peter was martyred between AD 64 and AD 68 in Rome. He was sentenced to be crucified in Nero’s Circus at the foot of Vatican Hill. He was crucified upside down because he felt himself unworthy to be crucified upright as Jesus was.
During the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, human remains were found which were thought to be those of St. Peter. In 1968 Pope Pius VI declared that the bones were most likely those of the Apostle Peter, the first Pope of the Catholic Church.
The Stained Glass Window
For many parts of the Bible the question: “Did it happen?” is the wrong question. The right question is: “What does it mean?” Take for instance, the story of Jonah being swallowed by the big fish. Did it happen? I’ve no idea. Now ask the question: What does it mean? Jonah and the big fish is a prophetic story pointing to the Resurrection of Jesus. Just as Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the big fish and was spit out, so did Jesus spend three days and nights in the belly of the earth and on the third day rose again.
For many parts of the Bible the question: “Did it happen?” is the wrong question. The right question is: “What does it mean?” Take for instance, the story of Jonah being swallowed by the big fish. Did it happen? I’ve no idea. Now ask the question: What does it mean? Jonah and the big fish is a prophetic story pointing to the Resurrection of Jesus. Just as Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the big fish and was spit out, so did Jesus spend three days and nights in the belly of the earth and on the third day rose again.
“Now, Jonah must have been a bad man. He must have been a sinner, ‘cause when the whale got him down, he didn’t like his dinner.” - Louis Armstrong
The Moses Lifting Up the Serpent Window
During their stay in the Sinai Desert, the people of God complained against God and Moses. God causes seraph serpents to come out and bite the people so that many of them died. Moses interceded with God who said to him: “Make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole and whoever looks on the bronze serpent will get well.”
Now apply the question: What does it mean? You and I have been bitten by the serpent. To sin is to be bitten by the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan. Who saves us---Jesus. At one stage Jesus said: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert---so I must be lifted up on the cross, and when I am lifted up, I will draw all mankind to myself.” So Moses’ bronze serpent lifted up on a pole is pointing to Jesus being lifted up on the cross. By turning to Jesus, we are saved. If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heat that God raised Him from the dead, You will be saved.
The Abraham - Isaac Window
God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” On their way to Mt. Mariah, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father,” he said. “Yes, my son?” he replied. “Look,” he said, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answers, “My son, the Lord Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering,” not revealing to his son that he is to be the victim.
God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” On their way to Mt. Mariah, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father,” he said. “Yes, my son?” he replied. “Look,” he said, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answers, “My son, the Lord Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering,” not revealing to his son that he is to be the victim.
On the mountain, Abraham binds his son, lays him on the altar and is about to kill him when an angel of the Lord stops him. Abraham turns around and sees a ram with its horns caught in the thorn bush, and this ram he offered instead of his son. Again the question: What does it mean? This, too, like Moses’ bronze serpent, is pointing to Calvary. God spared Abraham’s son but did not spare His own Son, offering Him up for the sake of us all. Even the ram with its horns caught in the thorn bush points to Jesus’ crown of thorns. The book of Chronicles identifies Mt. Mariah as the mountain of Jerusalem where Solomon built his temple. Abraham is thus the first to worship there, and Jesus offers Himself to God from this very same mountain, which is now called Mt. Calvary or the Place of the Skull.
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Ask of me what you will and I will give it to you. Solomon said to the Lord: “Give your servant an understanding heart that I might know right from wrong.” …and all Israel came to hear of the Judgment of Israel. |
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The Apostles and Mary, continuous prayer, and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages. Everyone in Jerusalem was amazed at hearing them preach in their own language about the marvels of God. |
And now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
There are four corners to my bed,
there are four angEls over head.
One to watch, One to pray; Two to lead my soul away.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless the bed that I lay on.
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4 Living Creatures
Both Ezekiel 1:5 and John in Revelation 4:5 saw four living creatures around the throne of The ALL Holy God. Even though they were angels, they were of human form. Each had the face of a man, an eagle, a bull and a lion. These 4 angels are responsible for directing the physical world and were covered with eyes, front and back.
“Four” symbolizes the universe, and their many eyes symbolize God’s all-knowing and all-caring. The figures of lion, bull, man and eagle suggest all that is noble (the lion, king of beasts), strongest (strong as a bull), swiftest (as in swift like an eagle), and wisest (as in wise like a man). These four creatures give glory to God.
Since Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, France (130 - 200 AD), these four creatures have been used as symbols of the four gospel writers. Generally the man is assigned to Matthew’s gospel because he traces the human genealogy of Jesus: this one begat this one, who begat this one, etc. The lion is assigned to Mark because he shows you a very noble, powerful Jesus doing wonderful miracles---Jesus: the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
The ox is assigned to Luke because he shows you a very compassionate Jesus carrying the burdens of the people---the ox is a beast of burden. And finally John is assigned the eagle because the eagle looks into the brightness of the sun and John peered into the very brightness of God. If you look up over the altar at Queen of Peace, images of these four living creatures are painted on the metal plates that hold the roof trusses together.
The ox is assigned to Luke because he shows you a very compassionate Jesus carrying the burdens of the people---the ox is a beast of burden. And finally John is assigned the eagle because the eagle looks into the brightness of the sun and John peered into the very brightness of God. If you look up over the altar at Queen of Peace, images of these four living creatures are painted on the metal plates that hold the roof trusses together.
Bethlehem of Judea
The House of Bread, Stalks of Wheat, a manger, a feeding box, unless you eat my flesh (John 6:53), Shepherds, sheep, Mary’s little lamb in a feeding box, Joseph: man of dreams, wise men, Orientals, foreigners.
The House of Bread, Stalks of Wheat, a manger, a feeding box, unless you eat my flesh (John 6:53), Shepherds, sheep, Mary’s little lamb in a feeding box, Joseph: man of dreams, wise men, Orientals, foreigners.
Gold: He will be king! Over His head on the cross I.N.R.I. (Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews). Frankincense: He will be priest, the offering of Himself, a sweet smelling sacrifice. Myrrh: an embalming agent, He will be victim for our sins.
The Bag Lady’s Cross
Just by looking at her, you could tell that she wasn’t “all there.” Even in the intense heat of the Florida summer, she was dressed for a northern winter. She walked the streets of Cocoa-Rockledge picking up trash from the streets that, “the sane people” had dumped there. Everybody called her Willie, and everybody said she was shell-shocked during World War II; but who knows for certain.
Then came the day that friends of mine found her wandering the streets of Cocoa-Rockledge carrying something wrapped up in a piece of industrial plastic. Big tears were rolling down her face. In Willie’s “not all there mind,” something tragic had happened. When my friends peeled back the plastic, “The Cross” pictured here was inside. Willie found it in a dumpster where she had gone to put the trash that sane people had dumped on the streets. Willie was driven wild with grief and could not be consoled until my friends said, “Do you remember Father O’Doherty?” She did. “We’ll give the Cross to him” and somehow Willie was consoled. This Cross hangs in the Mary Chapel behind the ambo. It used to be the Altar Cross when the parish hall was our main sanctuary.
Memorial Garden
Because God has chosen to call our brother/sister from this life to Himself, we commit his/her body to the earth, for we are dust and unto dust we shall return. But the Lord Jesus Christ will change our mortal bodies to like His in glory for He is Risen, the First-born from the dead.
The cremated remains of more than 70 people are buried in our Memorial Garden.
Stations of the Cross Outside of the Church
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Heavenly Worship 4 Living Creatures 24 Elders An Immense Number of Angels Singing |
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The Book of Revelation describes a vision of Heavenly worship.
In the center and around the throne itself were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind. The first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third animal had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. Each of the four animals had six wings and had eyes all the way around as well as inside; and day and night they never stopped singing: “Holy, Holy, Holy Then, I heard the sound of an immense number of angels gathered round the throne and the animals and the elders; there were ten thousand times ten thousand of them and thousands upon thousands, shouting, “The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.” Then I heard all the living things in creation---everything that lives in the air, and on the ground, and under the ground, and in the sea, crying, “To the One who is sitting on the throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honor, glory and power, for ever and ever.” And the four animals said, “Amen,” and the 24 elders prostrated themselves to worship.
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Look now at these pictures of the 16 windows from our clerestory. While we could not represent an immense number of angels, we put eight angels with censers. Eight is the symbol of infinity. Each angel has a burning censer, and so from each angel’s hand the smoke of incense goes up in the presence of God and with it the prayers of the saints.
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Notice how at Mass at the end of the preface, we say, “We join with the angels and saints singing Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.” The word “Holy” is written 32 times throughout the stained glass. You might notice, too, there are burning spinning wheels throughout the windows. These represent “the Seraphim.” The Seraphim are the angels known as the “burning ones.” The fires of heaven are hotter than the fires of hell.
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The 24 Elders So who are the twenty-four elders around the throne of God? The twenty-four elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles of the Lamb who are the new Israel. On the pillars of Queen of Peace Church, you will see 12 coats of arms. On each coat of arms an apostle of Jesus and one of the 12 tribes of Israel is represented. All in all, the artwork in our church is designed to imitate the heavenly liturgy described in Chapter 4 and 5 of the Book of Revelation. Revelation 21:10-14 21:10 He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 21:11 It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. 21:12 It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, (the names) of the twelve tribes of the Israelities. 21:13 There were three gates facing last, three north, three south, and three west. 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. |
Revelation 19:11-21
The King of Kings: When I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was called “Faithful and True.” He judges and wages war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He had a name inscribed that no one knows except himself. He wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God. The armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses and wearing clean white linen. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty. He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead. “Come here. Gather for God’s great feast, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military officers, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all, free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshipped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
The King of Kings: When I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was called “Faithful and True.” He judges and wages war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He had a name inscribed that no one knows except himself. He wore a cloak that had been dipped in blood, and his name was called the Word of God. The armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses and wearing clean white linen. Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty. He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead. “Come here. Gather for God’s great feast, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military officers, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all, free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. The beast was caught and with it the false prophet who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshipped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
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Doors to the Sacred Baptism - Born Again - The Parting of Waters |
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Bless me Father, for I have sinned… John 20:19-23 Confession - Absolution |
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Noah, the Flood, the Ark, the Red Sea, Moses, the Passover Lamb, Water and Blood from Christ’s side, no longer two but one flesh and there was you. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. |
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On the Cross of Calvary, Jesus Our Lord offered once for all the perfect sacrifice for sin. It is this sacrifice that is made present at every Mass.
Our fathers ate manna in the desert, but they died nonetheless. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Our fathers ate manna in the desert, but they died nonetheless. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
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Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel All are invited to spend at least one hour a week here, remembering what Jesus said during His agony in the garden, “Could you not watch one hour with Me?” Brother/Sister, “Bow low here and don’t ever be fascinated by anyone or anything but Jesus Christ. You will be saved from all illusions in life if you come before His presence.” |
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“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth with be loosed in heaven.’” See Matthew 16:15-19.
And who do you say that I am?
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You have been chosen before the world began to be holy, to be blameless in His sight; to be full of love. |
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For the sake |
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The Heavenly Jerusalem Our representation of the heavenly Jerusalem is perhaps our most unrealistic piece of art. How can anyone describe or make visible that which is invisible? How can anyone describe heaven when scripture has it: “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it even entered into the heart of men what things God has prepared for those who love Him.” |
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Salvation is from the Jews
Notice the Star of David and the Crossed keys on our sign. Everything we have comes to us from God through the Jews, His Chosen People. Remember Jesus saying to us: “I came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” Remember, too, when Jesus went up the mountain with Peter, James and John and was transfigured before them---who appeared with Jesus? Moses, representing the Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Elijah, representing the Prophets. |
Why the Crossed Keys? Jesus founded His church on the twelve Apostles, “You are Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church and I will give to you the Keys of the Kingdom of God. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound also in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed also in Heaven.” Jesus went on to promise that the gates of hell would never prevail against the Church. See Matthew 16:13-20.
