A NEW SHEPHERD OF THE NEW MILLENIUM - POPE BENEDICT XVI

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of orthodoxy, was elected the new pope on Tuesday evening, April 19, in the first conclave of the new millenium. Praise the Lord! He chose the name Benedict XVI. Ratzinger, who turned 78 on Saturday, April 16, and was chosen the Catholic Church's 265th pontiff, went into the Vatican conclave as a leading candidate to succeed Pope John Paul II.

His Holiness emerged onto the balcony of St.Peter’s Basilica, where he waved to a wildly cheering crowd of tens of thousands and delivered his first blessing as pope. His words, as translated from Italian, were: “Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me - a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord,” he said. “I entrust myself to your prayers.” The flag-waving pilgrims chanted: “Viva il Papa!”, or “Long live the Pope!”. About 45 minutes before his first blessing, white smoke had poured from a Sistine Chapel chimney (at 5:49 p.m. local time) signalling the selection of a new pope. Suspense built as the throng waited for the symbolic ringing of bells, at which point the crowd broke into a roar of jubilation. The conclave of 115 cardinals had voted three times previously -- once Monday night (April18) and twice Tuesday morning -- before selecting the new pope.
Ratzinger, who turned 78 on April 16, the first German pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In the Vatican, he has been the driving force behind crackdowns on liberation theology, religious pluralism, challenges to traditional moral teachings on issues such as homosexuality, and dissent on such issues as women's ordination. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, nominated by Pope John Paul II on 25 November 1981 as the President of the Biblical Commission and Pontifical International Theological Commission, and later on November 2002 as Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16 April 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1951. He then spent several years teaching theology. Once elected by Pope Paul VI in March 1977 as the Archbishop of Munich, Germany, he was one of the most powerful men in the Vatican and was widely acknowledged as a leading theologian. Three months later, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope Paul VI in June 1977. He served for 20 years as John Paul II's chief theological adviser.

     Mother of the Redeemer, with great joy we call you blessed. In order to carry out His plan of salvation, God the Father chose you before the creation of the world. You believed in His love and obeyed His word.
The Son of God desired you for His Mother when He became man to save the human race. You received Him with ready obedience and undivided heart.
The Holy Spirit loved you as His mystical spouse and filled you with singular gifts.
You allowed yourself to be led by His hidden powerful action.
On the eve of the third Christian Millennium, we entrust to you the Church which acknowledges you and invokes you as Mother.
To you, Mother of human family and of the nations, we confidently entrust the whole humanity, with its hopes and fears. Do no let it lack the light of true wisdom. Guide its steps in the ways of peace. Enable all to meet Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Sustain us, O Virgin Mary, on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation. O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother of God and our Mother, Mary! — John Paul II.

APOSTOLIC VOYAGES:
Visits outside Italy (in 129 different nations) -104
Visits in Italy outside Rome - 146
Travelled a total of 1,247, 613 Kms. or 3.24 times the distance from earth to Moon.

PRINCIPAL DOCUMENTS:
14 Encyclicals, 14 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters, 30 Motu Proprio, 3,288 planned speeches, other letters, speeches, homilies and messages in hundreds, Books published- five: 1.‘Crossing the Threshold of Hope’ (Oct. 1994), 2. ‘Gift and Mystery’ (Nov. 1996), 3. Book on Poems -’Roman Triptych’ (Mar. 2003), 4. ‘Rise, Let us be on our Way’ (May 2004), 5. ‘Memory and Identity’ (Feb. 2005)

DECLARATION OF ‘BLESSED’ AND ‘SAINTS’:
Beatified 1338 believers and Canonised 482 saints.

CONSISTORIES:9 in which created 231 cardinals

EPISCOPAL ORDINATIONS: No. of Bishops Ordained : 321

BAPTISMS BY JOHN PAUL II: 1,501

SYNOD OF BISHOPS: 15

AUDIENCES AND MEETINGS:
With political figures: More than 1,600 of which 246 with Prime Ministers
General Audiences: 1,161 with a presence of more than 17,675,800 faithful from all over the world.

DEDICATED YEARS:
Holy Year of Redemption: 25 March 1983 - 22 April 1984
Marian Year: 7 June 1987 - 15 August 1988
Year of the Family: 26 December 1993 - 30 December 1994
1st Year of preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, dedicated to Jesus Christ [faith] 1997, 2nd Year dedicated to the Holy Spirit [hope]1998, 3rd Year dedicated to God the Father [charity] 1999
Great Jubilee of the Year 2000: 24 December 1999 - 6 January 2001
Year of the Rosary: 16 October 2002 - 31 October 2003
Year of the Eucharist: 17 October 2004 - 29 October 2005

LENGTH OF PONTIFICATE: 3rd longest- 26 years or 9,497 days from election. Became Youngest Pope at the age of 58.(16 October, 1978)

(Source: Vatican Website: http://www.vatican.va).

365-DAY BIBLE READING PLAN:

BIBLE READING PLAN FOR THE MONTH OF MAY:

THE DAY OF THE LORD BECOMES THE FESTIVAL OF MIRACLES IN JEEVAN DHAM

Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
All Praise, glory, thanks and honour to the Almighty Living God!
     He may be young or old, belonging to any religion or caste or creed, provided that he hears and follows the Divine Word of God at Jeevan Dham, will surely witness the presence of Jesus Christ here who promised, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) Jesus will never forsake anyone or let anyone go empty-handed. If anyone comes with a humble and a contrite heart and asks for any favour with faith, He will surely answer him/ her soon. It is their faith in Jesus Christ that all those who come here, experience the power of God, and the manifestation of His love, mercy and peace. We should never forget what Jesus had reminded Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) before raising Lazarus, His dear friend, back to life.
    St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The Scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”.” (Rom. 10:10-13)
     Every Sunday, as soon as the prayer service gets over, people rush to the stage to get blessings from the lady who leads the service and prays for them. Most of them surround the whole stage and wait for her to get God’s blessings on them and on the water or oil that they hold high in their hands. Then they form two queues: one for ladies and the other for gentlemen and wait until she lays her hand on their head and listens to their problems. But the more important thing to note here is the working of the invisible Spirit of God, the presence of Jesus Christ rather than the human medium which God uses for His work because all healings take place in the name of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God who rose from the dead and will remain forever with his believers to the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20) Healing of sickness from head ache to cancer, from joining of broken bones to restoration of eyesight and hearing, enabling the lame to walk without any support to the raising up of the dead back to life — All these miracles are happening even now in the third millennium just as they happened at the time of Jesus when He lived amongst us as a man several centuries ago. “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Time and place are never obstacles for God’s work because He is an omnipotent, omnipresent and almighty God.

On March 20, Palm Sunday, eyesight was restored to so many persons who were blind (some blind by birth), and hearing to many who were deaf (most of them with a broken ear-drum), ushering in a strong wave of faith and joy in the believers. While some were awestruck and speechless, others were praising God with their whole might because they witnessed the manifestation of the healing power of God. Given below are the snaps of those who got the gift of vision and hearing.

     On March 27, Easter Sunday a wonderful miracle happened when the life of a boy of seven, who had died out of sickness and weakness, was restored in the Holy name of Jesus. All those present felt the power of the Risen Lord who has made the insuperable promise, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26) Following is the witness of Suraj given by his mother Sabri Devi on the following Sunday.

    Suraj was already ill for several days and day-by-day he was becoming thinner and thinner. We were facing financial crisis and could not even provide him with the required nutrition. I brought him along with my younger daughter to Jeevan Dham on Sunday, March 27. When the prayer service got over his condition worsened, he became almost unconscious in my lap. I thought he was dead because I could not find any movement in his eyes or hands. I started screaming aloud. Some volunteers came rushing to me hearing my screams and noticed that Suraj was indeed dead. When the lady heard about this, she came close to me where I was sitting and looked at me pitifully. She along with the volunteers started praising God and praying for His mercy on my son. It was hard for me to pray for my dead son and I could not stop crying out in my distress. She spoke the name of “Jesus” into his ears twice and ordered him in the name of Jesus to get up. Miraculously, he opened up his eyes. She snatched a water bottle from someone’s hand and gave him water to drink. He stood up and looked at me in amazement as I was still crying aloud. Someone shook my head and shouted at me to open my eyes and look at my son, who was alive and standing in front of me. I sat speechless for a moment and could not believe my eyes. I gathered my son in my arms. I believe that only Jesus, who rose from the dead, could restore his life. Alleluia! All glory, praise and honour to my living God, my Saviour and my refuge.
Sabri Devi, Bihar
Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25)

32-YEAR OLD ARTHRITIS RID THROUGH PRAYERS!

Praise be to Jesus! Thanks be to Jesus!
    I was suffering from arthritis for the past 32 years. This disease started with a mild shoulder pain. The doctors could not diagnose the disease at that time and gave me painkillers. Slowly and gradually, all the joints in my body became stiff and painful. My neck, arms, and hands, back and legs all were affected. A doctor in an Ayurvedic Hospital diagnosed the disease and gave me the best treatment. But even after a year, I did not get any relief from pain. The doctor recommended me to take the medicine all through my life even though the disease could not be cured. I also went to the Safdarjung hospital and other private hospitals in New Delhi, but nowhere could I find any medicine to ease my pain or bring relief to the stiffness of my joints. By this time, I had become totally helpless, unable to walk without support, unable to work, unable to open my fist or raise my arms, and unable to stand up or sit down on my own. My life turned into a hell.
     Then my mother who had been coming here for the past 2 months, suggested me to attend the Sunday prayer service and assured me of relief and cure by taking the name of Jesus Christ. I came here for the first time 5 weeks back and felt better within a few hours. The stiffness in my legs were reduced to half that day and I could walk with some ease. The next Sunday, I could sit down and get up on my own. In the third week, I could open my fist as my finger joints loosened. I read the prayer book everyday and massaged my body with the oil which I got blessed from Jeevan Dham. Last week I could raise my arms and today I am able to walk without any support and uneasiness. The Almighty God touched me every Sunday and made me believe in the power of prayers and in the fruit of keeping faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.
Tej Singh(age-60 years), New Delhi

“So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens.”(Psalms 71:18-19)