Welcoming You!

Beloved Brothers and Sisters of the One Human Family,
The only studies which are worth accomplishing are those which lead to the realization of God, and of unity first with God and then with the self, and so with all. (Sufi Message Volume 9, The Unity of Religious Ideals, Unity and Uniformity, HIK) This site honors the wisdom of all those religious traditions that have illuminated the hearts and minds of humanity.

In loving service, Nuria

Advent Sunday, December 1st, 2013

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Roman 15:12-13).

The Western Christian church year begins with Advent (meaning coming or arrival) which is also a time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasts until Christmas Eve.

Advent has been celebrated since the 500's CE. For many centuries, it was a strict observance marked by penitence. Gradually, this time has become more joyful as Christ's coming is celebrated and preparations are made for his Second Coming.

Clergy typically wear royal purple or royal blue vestments during Advent. Many churches also include an advent wreath in their Advent services. The wreath consists of four candles (three purple and one rose) arranged in a circle of evergreen which symbolizes eternal life. The candles are lit progressively as follows:

First Sunday: one purple candle
Second Sunday: two purple candles
Third Sunday: two purple candles and the rose candle
Fourth Sunday: all four candles
The rose candle is also called the "Joy" candle and it comes out of the history of Advent.

The Advent fast was broken on the third Sunday in anticipation of the great event to come. Often a fifth white candle will be placed in the center of the circle. This is the Christ Candle, symbolizing Christ's birth, and it is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar

In loving service,

Nuria & Our Workers

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Navaratri, October 5th, 2013

Navaratri (nine nights) symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn.

Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhike l 

Sharanye trayambake gauri, Narayani namostute ll

Meaning: O Mother! You are the personification of all that is auspicious, You are the benevolent form of Lord Shiva, You bestow Divine energy and help people achieve Righteousness, wealth, fulfill desires and Liberation, You are worthy of being surrendered to. Three eyes adorn You. O Narayani Devi, I pay obeisance to You!

The Navaratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. During this vowed religious observance, a pot is installed (ghatasthapana) in a sanctified place at home. A lamp is kept lit in the pot for nine days. The pot symbolizes the universe. The uninterrupted lit lamp is the medium through which we worship the effulgent Adishakti, i.e. Sree Durgadevi. During Navaratri, the principle of Sree Durgadevi is more active in the atmosphere. When we understand the spiritual science behind the various rites that come under the worship of Sree Durgadevi, we become worthy of absorbing more of the Divine energy principle, thereby acquiring more of Her grace.*
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar

A wonderful discourse by Sri Swami Sivananda can be found at sivanandadlshq.org/religions/navaratri.htm

In loving service,

Nuria & Our Workers

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Michaelmas, St Michael's Day, 29th September

Painting, St. Michael c.1503-1504, by Raphael

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

St. Michael, the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th. The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar

In loving service,

Nuria & Our Workers

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Janamashtami, Krishna Jayanti, 10th August

The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, the most highly venerated God in the Hindu pantheon.

In the house of Vasudeva will the Supreme Lord, the original transcendental person, personally appear... Bhagavata Purana, 1.23

To most Hindus, Krishna is an avatar (incarnation) of the great god Vishnu. In the Bhagavad Gita he is the vehicle for the revelation of ultimate reality; at the other end of the spectrum he is known for his childhood pranks, erotic seductions and for inspiring the heady rapture of personal devotion.

According to the Bhagavata Purana, the province of Mathura was in the thrall of the tyrannical king Kansa, who was told that the eighth child of his cousin Devaki would be responsible for his death. Enraged, he was about to slay his cousin, when her husband Vasudeva intervened, promising to deliver all their children into Kansa’s hands, if only he would spare Devaki.

Kansa imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva, and murdered their first six offspring. The seventh, Balarama, was miraculously saved, and the eighth was Krishna, who was rescued and delivered into the hands of Vasudeva’s friends, the cow herders Nanda and Yashoda. He was born on the eighth day of the month of Shravan; the festival celebrating his birth, Janamashtami‡ (janam, ‘birth’, ashtami, ‘eighth’) is marked by fasts, prayers and the enactment of incidents from Krishna’s childhood, and is as eagerly anticipated as Christians look forward to the advent of Christmas.
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar

In loving service,

Nuria & Our Workers

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Assumption of Mary, 15th August

LANFRANCO, Giovanni, Italian painter (b. 1582, Parma, d. 1647, Roma)

Ancient Prayer to the Virgin Mary
We turn to you for protection,
holy Mother of God.
Listen to our prayers
and help us in our needs.
Save us from every danger,
glorious and blessed Virgin.

The doctrine of the Assumption, which teaches that at the end of her life, Mary, the mother of Christ, was taken body and soul (i.e. both physically and spiritually) into heaven to live with her son (Christ) for ever.

Human beings have to wait until the end of time for their bodily resurrection, but Mary's body was able to go straight to heaven because her soul hadn't been tainted by original sin.
Ref: BBC Interfaith Calendar

In loving service,

Nuria & Our Workers

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