From the Desk of Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach
God Bless You All

A Message from Father Nathan

My dearest people who are all close to my heart!
Lots of love, blessings, and prayers to you all.

The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

The Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul, or the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of these apostles – Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which will be observed on the 29th of June. The celebration is of ancient origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either of their deaths or of the translation of their relics.

Pillars of the church

Sts. Peter and Paul are pillars of the Church. They met for the first time in Antioch. Under the Emperor Nero’s Rome, they both died as martyrs, but not in the same year or on the same day. Simon Peter, or Simon the Rock, was unshakable.

That is not to say that he was without flaws: his great ideas often came to nothing. He wanted to walk on the water, but almost drowned; he was the last to abandon Jesus and the first to deny Him. What was unshakable in Him was his faith, which doesn’t come from flesh and blood, but from the Heavenly Father.

Hence, when he was given “the key to paradise”- the attribute of his authority and those of his successors who are destined to maintain the Church on the path of truth and unity. But St. Paul’s freedom was necessary to preserve the Holy Spirit in the Church, which continues to transform the world. Without individuality, faith can become too rigid and uniform. Yet, without St. Peter’s vigilance there would be no unity. So, this double patronage is necessary and cannot be relinquished.

The Roman Martyrdom (the official lists of solemnities, feasts, and other liturgical celebrations of the saint and martyrs) assigned June 29th as the feast day without thereby declaring that to be the day of their deaths.

St. Augustine of Hippo (late 4 th century) says in his Sermon 295:

“One day is assigned for the celebration of the martyrdom of the two apostles. But those two were one. Although their martyrdom occurred on different days, they were one”.

Thus, it is clear that the celebration if of ancient origin.

God bless you all.

With lots of love and blessing.

Ever at your service.

—Fr. Sahayanathan Nathan

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Past Messages from Father Nathan

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 13, 2023

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | August 13, 2023

Holy Days of Obligation | The Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains holy days of obligation this way:
Family needs or important social services can legitimately excuse the obligation of Sunday rest (specified in the Fourth Commandment). The faithful should see that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health {CCC 2185}.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 30 2023

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 30 2023

August 4th we celebrate the feast of St. John Vianney who is the patron saint of priests – a French priest, a renowned confessor with supernatural powers. Baptiste-Marie Vianney, also called Cure d’Ars, (born May 8, 1786, Dardillly, France—died August 4, 1859, Ars, canonized May 31, 1925, feast day August 4 (formerly August 9), a French priest who was renowned as a confessor and for his supernatural powers.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 23 2023

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | July 23 2023

Feast of Joachim and Anne | the parents of Jesus’ mother, Mary. On July 26 the Roman Catholic Church commemorates the parents of the Virgin Mary, Saints Joachim and Anne. The couple’s faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ.

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