Christ is Born!

"Dear Brothers and Sisters, how great a gift it is to be part of a communion which is open to everyone! It is the communion of the Most Holy Trinity, from whose heart Emmanuel, Jesus, “God with us”, came into the world. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, let us contemplate, filled with wonder and gratitude, this mystery of love and light! Happy Christmas to all!"

Pope Benedict XVI Christmas 2009




Still, still, still
"Salzburger Volkslieder" Salzburg, 1819

Still, still, still,Weil's Kindlein schlafen will.
Die Englein tun schön jubilieren,
Bei dem Kripplein musizieren.
Still, still, still,Weil's Kindlein schlafen will.

Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,Mein liebes Kindlein schlaf!
Maria tut dich niedersingen
Und ihr treues Herz darbringen.
Schlaf, schlaf, schlaf,Mein liebes Kindlein schlaf!

Groß, groß, großDie Lieb ist übergroß!
Gott hat den Himmelsthron verlassen
Und muss reisen auf der Straßen.
Groß, groß, großDie Lieb' ist übergroß.

Wir, wir, wir,Tun rufen all zu dir:
Tu uns des Himmels Reich aufschließen,
Wenn wir einmal sterben müssen.
Wir, wir, wir,Wir rufen all zu dir.

Still, still, still From Salzburg, 1819
Literal English translation -

Still, still, still,'
Cause baby wants to sleep.
The angels jubilate beautifully,
By the manger making music.
Still, still, still,'Cause baby wants to sleep.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
My dear babe sleep!
Maria sings you a lullaby
And brings you her true heart.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,My dear babe sleep!

Great, great, great,
The love is more than great!
God has left his throne
And must go by road.
Great, great, great,The love is more than great.

We, we, we,
All do call out to you:
Open heaven's realm to us,
If we must die one day.
We, we, we,We all call out to you.


Manger Scene from St. Ignatius Church, San Francisco, photo by Hector Vasquez

Radiant Beams from Thy Holy Face

Silent Night, Holy Night, Son of God, Love's Pure Light

Radiant Beams from Thy Holy Face

With the Dawn of Redeeming Grace

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth

Show Us Your Face O Lord and We Shall Be Saved

"How real Christ is, how terribly real, when He confronts us in one of our brothers in distress"

taken from Voice From the Desert, by Albert Peyriguere, (1883-1959) Sheed and Ward, New York, 1967

Faithful Witness

"Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds , and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.
'I am the Alpha and the Omega' says the Lord God, 'the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.'" Revelation 1:5-8

Second Reading from the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

The apostle John saw and believed. May we too believe and persevere in our faith in Christ all our days.

Lord of Heaven and Earth

"Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf."

Hebrews 9:24

Influential American Journalist in Rome States: I have been to Manoppello to See...the Holy Face!

The knowledgeable and influential American journalist Robert Moynihan, based in Rome, has written an article published on the Zenit website http://www.zenit.org/article-27424?l=english
regarding the Holy Shroud of Turin in which he also says that he has been to Manoppello to see the Holy Face. Under the heading "Veil of Veronica" he speaks in general terms of the transparency of the Holy Face and the fact that "some think" it is even more amazing than the Holy Shroud and that it is connected to the moment of Jesus' resurrection.

both photos courtesy of Paul Badde

Guardian Angels and the Holy Face

Pope Benedict XVI in Manoppello on Sept. 1, 2006
together with Fr. Pfeiffer, S.J., Paul Badde and Sr. Blandina - may their guardian angels ever surround them.



The Holy Face in Procession - May 2005


October 2, the feast of the Guardian Angels. How much the angels have done for the protection of the Holy Face! St. Michael himself stands guard in Manoppello. And surrounding the cloth of the Holy Face how beautiful are the angels on the silver frame representing the myriads who lovingly watch and pray. And the angels who send inspiration to today's apostles of the Holy Face, seemingly in impeccable German!