English > UOGCC Publications
Let us do works of worth for eternity (+german version)
Post date: 2019-03-26Autor: BCP
Let us do works which are of worth for eternity. Let us do them together with Jesus. Let us be with Him. This is of worth for eternity; otherwise it is good for nothing. We tend to do things for effect and desire the praise of others. More often than not we receive no praise but are rather beaten and persecuted and there is no effect – it seems to us that we just wasted our time, energy… You can say: “Well, that’s how things are, but You know, Lord, that I acted in faith.” And then it is of worth for eternity, and the fruit will come later.
The meaning of life and suffering (+german version)
Post date: 2019-02-13Autor: BCP
Let us always remember the words of Jesus who says that we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. True wisdom is to be mindful of death, judgment, eternity and the meaning of our life and suffering, which can be physical or spiritual. In the first place, Jesus wants us to deny our self, our pride, lies or our point of view and to accept the view of God. And if we can suffer for the sake of Christ, if we are humiliated, ridiculed or even if people spit in our face, we should be exceedingly glad. Unite to Jesus and offer it to Him as a sacrifice. This is the most important thing.
Christmas 2018, pastoral letter
Post date: 2018-12-25Autor: BCP
Dear brothers and sisters! The year has passed, not one minute will return. Again, we stand before the mystery of Christ’s birth to be spiritually united with Him. Before our spiritual sight a history unfolds, associated with the town of Bethlehem. The Holy Virgin and Saint Joseph came here all the way from Galilee for the census ordered by the Emperor Augustus. The child’s birth is approaching, and there is no place for them anywhere. The child is the promised Messiah, predicted by the prophets, and so long awaited by all mankind. They did not find a place in any house, in any shelter, except in the Bethlehem stable, where our Saviour was born, who is Christ the Lord!
What happens when man dies? (+german version)
Post date: 2018-11-13Autor: BCP
When man dies, the body remains lying where it is. Then it is taken to the morgue. But at the moment when man dies, the personal judgment of his soul takes place immediately. It awaits each one of us. We will encounter Christ face to face. At one moment our whole life will be screened, all our deeds, words, thoughts, both good and bad.
No one can escape death (+german version)
Post date: 2018-11-05Autor: BCP
What is human life? Nothing but toil, trouble, suffering and finally death. However, death is not the end. It is followed by eternity. We can see that our life is short and it is in the hands of God. It is a test of love whether we have chosen God, divine values and good or united to evil and the Evil One. So each of you decide your eternity during your life. Jesus has given us His Word, that we may live a responsible life and not lose eternal life. It is therefore foolishness to settle down on this earth. In the hour of death we must leave everything – our relationships to people, things… He lives wisely who is mindful of death.
One for all, all for one (+german version)
Post date: 2018-08-24Autor: BCP
Although the four musketeers were fighters of the world, fighting in unity against evil and against church hierarchy, there was a lot of sense in their motto, if correctly understood: One for all, all for one. Jesus is the One because He has already died for us, and He wants to build this unity in us all.
Forsake everything! (+german version)
Post date: 2018-08-20Autor: BCP
Our programme is the words of Jesus: “Launch out into the deep!” “Forsake everything!” “Follow Me!” We should put the word “forsake” into practice every day. Forsake your pleasure or your plan and accept My (Jesus’) plan and will.
Let us live this day, this very moment, by faith (+german version)
Post date: 2018-06-28Autor: BCP
Someone can say: “I will live a lukewarm life, which will not cost me much effort, and then I will go to purgatory.” But this is foolish. What costs pennies here on earth will cost thousands or millions in eternity. Only a fool would miss a chance to escape purgatory. We have a precious thing here on earth, which is called time. Let us redeem the time, transform it by faith.
God speaks to us...
Post date: 2018-05-23Autor: BCP
God speaks to us but the problem is that we are unable to hear Him. The problem is in our receiver. Our heart needs to be attuned to His voice. He wants to work through you, through your faith too. The weaker we are, the more trust we need to place in the Lord, because “when I am weak, then I am strong”. Jesus, I trust in You.
“Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you!”
Post date: 2018-03-18Autor: BCP
We can practise it until death. This is the Law and the Prophets (cf. Mat 7:12). You can write down concretely what you do not want others to do to you, and then stop and think if you do not do exactly the same to others, perhaps in a subtler form. How simple and topical for our everyday life!
The way of holiness is the way of purification
Post date: 2018-01-01Autor: BCP
The way of holiness is the way of purification. We need to be healed by Jesus, little by little, of all kinds of wounds or bad habits. This mostly concerns our soul. Suffering is usually spiritual rather than physical, but the various sufferings lead to deliverance and healing. We suffer, for example, when we face the truth about ourselves, our neighbours and the world. It is so simple and yet so disguised. In essence, we need to begin to live the Gospel to the full.
The putting off of the old self and the putting on of the new self begins in our mind
Post date: 2017-12-14Autor: BCP
The process of putting off the old self and putting on the new self begins in our mind! Human nature, without respecting the law of the Gospel, reacts in the same way in essence: envy towards others, rivalry, envy when someone has something better, when someone has spiritual gifts, or even when someone carries a cross, and on the other hand self-pity and sulkiness (both before God and people). This all takes the subtlest forms, but it is in essence our “self” which refuses to humble itself, to live in uncertainty, to obey God and to submit to Him.
What to do to let brotherly love abound
Post date: 2017-12-09Autor: BCP
To love means – to humble ourselves again and again, to accept our brother just as he is. His old self exploits us, is jealous of us, enslaves us. But the fact is that we are bound by the same bonds – chains, the only difference being that we easily see it in others but not in ourselves. This is humility: the faults and bad habits of my brother should be like a mirror to me. The old self is essentially the same in everyone, it only has different shades. I need to look at my brother by faith, i.e. to be aware that Jesus is in him, though hungry, thirsty and in prison. But the same is true about me. Jesus is in me too, hungry, thirsty and in prison. One can speak of a law of love which leads to healing and liberation.
Sow in faith
Post date: 2017-12-07Autor: BCP
The time you spend in the place where you are is predestined by God and will never return. What you sow in faith, you and others will reap once. Sow in faith, even if you do not see any results. Sow every day by accepting the situations you face rather than by being dispirited or overwhelmed by them. Accept them in faith and in union with Jesus – learn to abide with Him!
On the Day of Judgment our prayers will become manifest
Post date: 2017-11-30Autor: BCP
We should pray in such way as to pull down the strongholds of the forces of darkness and to lift up the mountains of demons in our territory, so that the Holy Spirit may descend, God may show His power, send His blessing, the kingdom of God may come into human souls, and a spiritual breakthrough and change may take place. When and how shall it come?! Let us leave it to the Lord; what we need to do is stand in faith and not doubt in prayer. Then on the Day of Judgment our prayers will become manifest – it will be revealed how we prayed.
The obedience of faith (video)
Post date: 2017-11-23Autor: BCP
The obedience of faith. + Elijah Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate
The obedience of faith
Post date: 2017-11-23Autor: BCP
What did the Prophet Elijah say when the fire of the Lord fell on Mount Carmel and consumed the burnt sacrifice? “I have done all these things at Your word.” Nothing more and nothing less. But we often want to add something, because we like it that way, or on the other hand we think that something is extreme. However, God wants us to learn obedience through small things; He teaches us to walk in the Spirit, to follow Christ. Jesus says: “Follow Me.” (Lk 5:27), and He also says: “Father, My food is to do Your will.”
Be ready! (+german version)
Post date: 2017-11-11Autor: BCP
Jesus says: “You must be ready, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.” This is the greatest wisdom – to be ready for death. For we do not know whether or not something bad will happen – we can develop cancer or have a car accident and launch into eternity. We know neither the day nor the hour. We do not know when we will meet our Lord face to face. But we must be mindful of it. We know that it will come. We must not delay our conversion. We must begin today, as God’s Word says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Let us act in the authority of God
Post date: 2017-11-07Autor: BCP
The greatest power is the almighty power of God. By His almighty power God created the whole universe out of nothing – millions of stars, our Earth... By the almighty power of God Christ was raised from death. And He gives us a share in this power; He gives us His authority – “in My name”.
Confess like Peter: “Lord, I have sinned!” (+german version)
Post date: 2017-10-29Autor: BCP
Let us confess like Peter: “Lord, I have sinned!” What was the encounter of Peter with the risen Jesus like? Why did Jesus not appear e.g. to John? Why did He appear to Peter who had betrayed Him, denied Him with an oath? Peter sinned out of weakness but he loved Jesus sincerely. And Jesus gave him a chance. Even if your sins are many, Jesus asks if you love Him and if you believe Him; if you believe that He died for you and took all your sins on Himself. That is the main thing.