Nikolai Gogol: "There are certain words which are nearer and dearer to a man than any others. And it often happens that in some remote, god-forsaken corner of the country, in dome deserted spot, you unexpectantly meet a man whose warming words make you forget yourself and the impassability of the roads and the discomfort of the night's lodgings, the senselessness of the noisy contemporary world, and the deceitfulness of the illusions that lead mankind astray. And an evening spent in that way will be forever imprinted on your mind and your memory will retain everything: who was present and who sat in what place and what was in his hands- the walls, the corners, and every trifle in the room."

The Athanasian Creed

After the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed this would be the most well known. It is a beautiful explanation of the Trinity. I hold that the earlier versions and wording are more beautiful than newer translations that I have seen. Try for yourself.

Whosoever will be saved,
before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled,
without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholic Faith is this:
That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confounding the Persons,
nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,
another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible,
and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated,
but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty,
and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three
Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God,
and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord,
and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge
every Person by himself to be both God and Lord,
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say,
There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son,
neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons;
one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other;
none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons
are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid,
the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also
believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess,
that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;
and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man,
of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the
Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man,
yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead
into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance,
but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul
and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell,
rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father,
God Almighty, from whence he will come
to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies
and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life
everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully,
he cannot be saved.

I recieved this email today. I think that the sentiments are beautiful.


WITH A COMPLEMENTARY TWIST
I shall also lead you in a method of prayer that is different.
A twist, if you will. Below are two prayers. The first is for
the ladies. The second is for my fellow men. We shall
to the power of the marriage of Joseph and Mary.

So let us begin with the women reading this... in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...

"O Sweet Lady Saint Mary, you taught us how
to be a perfect woman and gave a broken world
the miracle of Jesus not by grasping for worldly
success, but instead, by offering your unconditional
"Yes" to Saint Gabriel and trusting in God's plan,
even though you did not foresee the suffering this
would bring you at the Crucifixion, or understand
how it could be. You did not even know that Joseph
was being prepared to be your husband. Your fiat
changed the world, right up to this very moment,
as I sit at my computer screen, or read this prayer
on a printed page. Woman to woman, I ask for your
Divine Spouse, the Holy Spirit, to plant the seed of
trust in my heart, despite all my fears of being hurt
and exposing myself to the cruelties or ignorance
of imperfect men. You completely trusted an imperfect
man, a husband born to Original Sin, Saint Joseph,
and today I ask you to go to Joseph, and ask him
to bring my intention, my miracle, before your
Son, and to begin granting it on this perfect day.
With you, with trembling heart, I echo throughout
time and eternity your perfect fiat: Let it be done
unto me according to thy word. Amen."

Men, please join me in this prayer:

"Dear Joseph, chaste spouse of Mary and heir
to the royal line of David, Patron of the Universal
Church, I address you today under your title of
Terror of Demons. One look from your calm gaze
strikes fear into any evil with designs upon my
life and my family. In order to imitate you in your
protection and provision for Mary and Jesus, I
ask you to adopt me, too, as you adopted Jesus.
Yes, bring me under your roof and share with me
your kingly confidence. See that my heart is good,
despite my sins, as your heart is good. In all things,
and in every thing, and in everything beyond every
thing, and as a man before another man, I ask for
your friendship and guidance for my intention.
Ask the Holy Trinity to grant my miracle, using
whatever supernatural and human means are
required. Make my virtue and holiness so like
yours that when women see me, they see you.
Let women feel you, hear you, and pray with you
when they feel, hear, and pray with me. Teach me,
as you taught Jesus, to learn that I must die to
every impurity, every selfish desire, and every
act of self-indulgence that harms the women
in my life. Let me die, and let Joseph live! Let
your powerful Heart of David triumph in my
life as husband and father beyond my wildest
dreams. Not only do I say Yes with you, I so so
with the full confidence of a man who has
been baptized into your holy family. Do not
delay. Now is the time for action. You, Joseph,
surely taught your son to pray the Our Father,
so with you, I pray to the Almighty Father: THY
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen."

Pause. Hmmnn. Thank you for praying with me.
I have a sense that many of you might want to
print out and bring these complementary prayers
to others, even beyond emailing this message to
your friends. Be my guest.

Received from Catholicity

Australia's National Anthemn (original version)

"The tune is generally regarded as uninspiring by comparison with "La Marseillaise", or "Land of Hope and Glory" (the English anthem with a tune borrowed from Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" march). "Advance Australia Fair" at least has the merit of being much easier to sing than "The Star Spangled Banner", and the lyrics do express some Australian self-beliefs and aspirations. Some ambiguity comes from the enduring popularity of "Waltzing Matilda", which is generally regarded as a much finer tune and has been part of the Australian imagination almost since its composition 120 years ago. However, Matilda's lyrics, detailing the exploits of an itinerant who steals a sheep and then drowns himself in an effort to avoid capture by the police and the local squatter, are regarded by some Australians as unsuitable as an expression of Australian values. "

Originally composed by Peter Dodds McCormick:
Australia's sons let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"


When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this youthful Commonwealth
Renowned of all the lands;
For loyal sons beyond the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"


There have been claims made of a "missing", "lost", or by implication - "censored", verse to Advance Australia Fair. This verse is rumored to have been dropped because of its non-politically correct Christian emphasis. However the truth is that this verse, although well written, was never part of the original song, or part of the official verion. It was created by an unknown person, and has been circulated widely.

The so called "missing" verse is:

With Christ our head and cornerstone,
We'll build our Nation's might.
Whose way and truth and light alone
Can guide our path aright.
Our lives, a sacrifice of love, reflect our Master's care.
With faces turned to heaven above, Advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia fair.


Information from : From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
And Genesis Networks