St. Dominic St. Dominic was born in 1170 in Spain. His father was Felix Guzman and mother Blessed Joan of Aza. He was named after the saint Dominic of Silos. He joined in the congregation of St. Augustine and did social work. He founded a congregation of “the Order of Preachers” popularly called the Dominicans (Friar Preachers). He abstained from meat and was wearing only meanest clothes. He also lived in very inconvenient and worst accommodations. He walked with barefoot in the villages. It is also believed that the Holy Mary appeared to St. Dominic and asked him to preach the Rosary throughout the world and also told him that reciting rosary is the best way to get the grace of God. Hence Rosary of Mary is the foundation of the Dominican Order. He died on August 6, 1221. He is the patron saint of Astronomers. #faith #saint #Catholic #bible #patron #patronage #world #astronaut #astrology #astronomer #church #dominican

St. Dominic St. Dominic was born in 1170 in Spain. His father was Felix Guzman and mother Blessed Joan of Aza. He was named after the saint Dominic of Silos. He joined in the congregation of St. Augustine and did social work. He founded a congregation of “the Order of Preachers” popularly called the Dominicans (Friar Preachers). He abstained from meat and was wearing only meanest clothes. He also lived in very inconvenient and worst accommodations. He walked with barefoot in the villages. It is also believed that the Holy Mary appeared to St. Dominic and asked him to preach the Rosary throughout the world and also told him that reciting rosary is the best way to get the grace of God. Hence Rosary of Mary is the foundation of the Dominican Order. He died on August 6, 1221. He is the patron saint of Astronomers. #faith #saint #Catholic #bible #patron #patronage #world #astronaut #astrology #astronomer #church #dominican

#rosary #SureshDungdung

📖 Today's Gospel 18 June 2026 · Thursday 11th Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 6:7–15 Jesus said to His disciples: "When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Then Jesus taught them to pray: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." And then Jesus added something that demands our full attention: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ✨ Reflection Notice what Jesus does not teach. He does not give a complicated formula. He does not require perfect words. He does not ask us to impress God. Instead, He teaches a simple prayer that has sustained Christians for two thousand years. Seven simple petitions. Praise. Trust. Daily bread. Forgiveness. Protection. Everything we truly need. This prayer has been prayed in cathedrals and cottages, in monasteries and mission fields, in times of joy and in moments of great suffering. Yet one line stands at the center: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus is not teaching that we earn God's forgiveness. Rather, He reveals that those who receive God's mercy are called to extend that same mercy to others. Forgiveness is not pretending the wound never happened. It is choosing not to let the wound have the final word. A heart that clings to resentment struggles to open itself fully to the mercy God desires to give. When we release our grip on bitterness, we make room for God's healing grace. That is not weakness. It is freedom. 💡 Context — Important This prayer comes immediately after Jesus' teaching on prayer in secret from yesterday's Gospel. It is given as the model for all Christian prayer. In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Our Father (Pater Noster) is prayed at every Mass, forms a central part of the Rosary, and remains the most universally known prayer in Christianity. It is the only prayer recorded in Scripture that Jesus explicitly taught His disciples to pray. 💡 Truths to Remember • God already knows what we need — prayer is relationship, not persuasion • "Daily bread" teaches us to trust God one day at a time • Forgiveness given and forgiveness received are deeply connected • This prayer is simple enough for a child and deep enough for a lifetime • Praying it sincerely changes the one who prays it 🙏 Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. 💬 Is there someone you have been finding difficult to forgive? Pray the Our Father slowly today, and ask God for the grace to release them. #DailyGospel #Matthew6 #OurFather #RiseWithTheWord

Visitation The feast of Visitation is for the celebration of the visit of Blessed Virgin Mary's visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth at Hebron, south of Jerusalem, who at that time conceived John the Baptist. This visit is explained in the Gospel of Luke (1:39\-45). This is the second joyful mystery of the Rosary. The distance from Nazareth to Hebron was about 100 miles. After announcing the divine conception of Jesus by the grace of God's spirit to the Holy Mary, the arch\-angel also told Holy Mary that Elizabeth, a woman considered as baron also conceived in her old age and that it was her sixth month. The visit was not only for the purpose of helping a relative but the main purpose was to bring divine grace to Elizabeth and her still born child, John the Baptist. Here Holy Mary exercised her function as the \'mediatrix\', i.e. a mediator between God and man, to bring God's grace to men. When the Holy Mary greeted Elizabeth, the child in her womb leaped with exaltation. Elizabeth also filled with Holy Spirit also greeted and praised Holy Mary \'Blessed are you among the women\'. Holy Mary fully aware that she was the mother of the Son of God humbled herself by visiting Elizabeth and helping her in her pregnancy for about three months. This feast was first celebrated by the Franciscan Order in the year 1263 on the recommendation of Saint Bonaventure. The celebration date of this feast was fixed on May 31 by pope Paul\-VI in the year 1969. #Mary #motherMary #Jesus'smother #MotherofChurch #faith #Catholic #service #care #love #sympathy #wayforpeace

Soon after Damasus was made supreme pontiff, the rites of Babylon began to come to the front. The worship of the Virgin Mary was set up in AD 381. All the outstanding festivals of the Roman Catholic Church are of Babylonian origin. Easter is not a Christian name; it means Ishtar , one of the titles of the Babylonian queen of heaven, whose worship by the children of Israel was such an abomination in the sight of God. The decree for the observance of Easter and Lent was given in AD 519. The rosary is of pagan origin. There is no warrant in the Word of God for the use of the sign of the cross. It had its origin in the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians. It came from the letter T , the initial name of Tammuz, and was used in the Babylonian mysteries for the same magic purposes as the Romish church now employs it. Celibacy, the tonsure, and the order of monks and nuns have no warrant or authority from Scripture. The nuns are nothing more than an imitation of the vestal virgins of pagan Rome.

Many people use the terms Catholic and Christian interchangeably, but some traditions argue that they are not identical in belief and practice. At the center of this discussion is how closely teachings align with the life and words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Shared Foundations Both Catholicism and broader Christianity affirm core beliefs: * Jesus Christ is the Son of God * His death and resurrection bring salvation * Faith in Him is essential Because of this, Catholics are often identified as Christians in a general sense. Points of Disagreement However, some Christian groups argue that Catholic Church has developed doctrines and practices that diverge from biblical teachings. 1. Authority and Tradition Catholicism places authority not only in Scripture but also in church tradition and leadership (such as the Pope). In contrast, many Christians hold to *sola scriptura*—the belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority. 2. Use of Images and Statues Critics argue that the use of statues, icons, and veneration of saints resembles idol worship, which they believe contradicts biblical commandments against graven images. 3. Titles in Faith Some point to passages such as “call no man father” (Matthew 23:9) and question the Catholic practice of calling priests “Father,” viewing it as inconsistent with Jesus’ teaching. 4. Repetitive Prayer Catholic prayers like the rosary are sometimes seen by critics as repetitive, which they associate with warnings from Jesus against “vain repetitions” in prayer. 5. Mediation and Intercession Catholicism teaches that saints and Mary can intercede in prayer. Other Christians insist that Jesus Christ alone is the mediator between God and humanity. The Core Argument From this perspective, the distinction is not about belief in Jesus’ death and resurrection, but about how faith is practiced and expressed*. Critics claim that adding traditions or doctrines not explicitly grounded in Scripture can lead away from the original teachings of Christ. A Note on Perspective It is important to recognize that Catholics themselves firmly identify as Christians and interpret these practices differently—seeing them as consistent with biblical faith rather than contradictory. --- Conclusion The debate over whether Catholicism and Christianity are the same ultimately comes down to differing views on authority, interpretation of Scripture, and religious practice. Understanding these distinctions requires examining both Scripture and tradition, as well as acknowledging that sincere believers exist on both sides of the discussion.