The Transfiguration of Our Lord – 6 August

The Transfiguration of Our Lord – 6 August Sermon on the Transfiguration (Excerpt)by Father Prosper Gueranger (1805 – 1875) This Transfiguration of the Son of Man, this manifestation of His Glory, lasted but a few moments – His mission was not on Thabor, it was humiliation and suffering in Jerusalem. He, therefore, withdrew into Himself, the brightness He had allowed to transpire and, when He…

NOVENA in Honour of and preparation for, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord – Day Eight – 4 August

Explanation of this Novena here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/announcing-a-novena-in-honour-of-the-transfiguration-of-our-lord/

The Revelation of Christ’s Divine Glory

Eighth Day:  Our Courage in Your Shining Face!

The Transfiguration of the Lord is one shining moment in the life of the apostles that prepares them for the trials ahead.   Peter, James and John experience the glory in the mountain of Transfiguration. This is a foretaste of the glory that will be theirs in the Father’s kingdom and it will help them survive with courage the “terrible” days when Jesus undergoes His passion and death and when they themselves are persecuted in His name.

Let us Pray:

O Christ, upon the mountaintop You let the light of Your face shine over Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John. Shine Your Face upon Your Church, that we may persevered with courage and zeal to live for the glory of Your Kingdom. We ask You too to bless Your people who call on Your name, as they strive to reach You in Your kingdom of light and life. Amen

NOVENA Transfiguration of our Lord – Day Seven – 3 August

Explanation of this Novena here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/announcing-a-novena-in-honour-of-the-transfiguration-of-our-lord/

The Revelation of Christ’s Divine Glory

Seventh Day:  Honour and Worship as we await Your second coming

Without the Risen Christ, Transfiguration has no meaning. It would appear to be just futile show without a happy ending. But the Resurrection confirms the glory that was shown during the transfiguration and which rightly belongs to Jesus. The glory will be manifested eventually in His second coming for the last judgment.

Let us Pray:

O Christ, You gave light to the world when the glory of the Creator shone over You. You predicted Your coming Glory in the Resurrection and the Holy Eucharist, the eternal promise You made to us all, to remain with us until the end of time. We pray for all men and women of good will that they walk in Your light, as we worship You in the Holy Mass and await Your second coming. Amen

NOVENA in Honour of and preparation for, the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord – Day Six – 2 August

Explanation of this Novena here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/07/25/announcing-a-novena-in-honour-of-the-transfiguration-of-our-lord/

The Revelation of Christ’s Divine Glory

Sixth Day: Equipping us for Service and Endurance

The value of the vision and the accompanying glory is its gift of equipping us for service and endurance. No one can stay on the mountaintop of Tabor forever, for there are responsibilities in the valley. Christ fulfilled His life’s work not in the glory but in the valley and it was there He was truly and completely the Messiah.

Let us Pray: O Christ our Lord, You took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves and there you equipped them, by Your glory, with understanding and courage for the journey ahead. We pray for ourselves, that we may come to be transfigured and prepared, for service to You, Your Holy Church and our neighbour and be equipped with endurance to complete our mission and to look forward in hope of being transfigured at the last day. Amen

ANNOUNCING A NOVENA in Honour of the Transfiguration of our Lord BEGINNING – 28 JULY 

The Revelation of Christ’s Divine Glory

The feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ celebrates the revelation of Christ’s divine glory on Mount Tabor in Galilee (Matthew 17:1-6; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:28-36).   After revealing to His disciples that He would be put to death in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21), Christ, along with Saints Peter, James, and John, went up the mountain. There, Saint Matthew writes, “he was transfigured before them.

And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.”

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION Date: 6 August 

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION The brightness with which He shone on Mount Tabor was not something added to Christ but the manifestation of His true divine nature and a forecast of His Resurrection.   For Peter, James and John, it was also a glimpse of the glories of Heaven and of the resurrected body promised to all Christians.

When Christ was transfigured, two others appeared with Him:  Moses, representing the Old Testament Law, and Elijah, representing the prophets. Thus Christ, Who stood between the two and spoke with them, appeared to the disciples as the fulfillment of both the Law and the prophets.

At Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, the voice of God the Father was heard to proclaim that “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). During the Transfiguration, God the Father pronounced the same words (Matthew 17:5).

Despite the importance of this event, the Feast of the Transfiguration was not among the earliest of feasts celebrated by Christians.   It was first celebrated in Asia starting in the fourth or fifth century and spread throughout the Christian East in the centuries following.   The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that it wasn’t commonly celebrated in the West until the tenth century. Pope Callixtus III elevated the Transfiguration to a feast of the universal Church and established August 6 as the date of its celebration.

The Novena is often prayed as a Community after Benediction for 9 days, however, if our parish is not offering this Novena, we too can pray it on our own, to assist in preparing for this great revelation of our Lord and to help us obtain the great realisation and joy which Peter, James and John experienced.

Let us Pray!