Our Lady of the Cedars of Mount Lebanon, Maronite Catholic Church

Dear friends and supporters,

I am reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea for assistance. Noursat USA is hosting a crucial Telethon this Sunday and Monday evening from Lebanon in an effort to keep their operations running. The struggle is real, and the need is urgent.

In the words of Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, "Let your light shine before others.” Said our Lord.

Tele Lumiere and Noursat, like many other institutions in Lebanon and the Middle East, is suffering tremendously and in danger of shutting down if it is not supported.

God entrusted Noursat into our hands, let us unite our hands and hearts to keep it shinning.

With prayers and thanksgiving.

Chorbishop sharbel Maroun

President of Noursat, USA

Thoughts on the Parish Priest.

If the priest preaches for more than ten minutes, we say: How very long-winded he is.

If his sermon is short, we say: He didn't prepare well enough.

If the parish's income is meager, we say: He is a failed businessman.
If he mentions money, we say: He is a slave to money.

If he owns a car, we say: He is worldly.
If he doesn't own a car, the parish feels embarrassed and considers him exaggerated.

If he is cheerful and joyful, we say: He is not serious.
If he is dignified and reserved, we say: He is not friendly.

If he collects donations and organizes activities, we say: He is draining the people.
If he doesn't do these things, we say: He is not sociable.

If he takes his time in confession to help the sinner, we say: He is too slow.
If he doesn't and acts quickly, we say: He is not a good guide.

If he starts his Mass on time, we say: His watch is wrong and he's in a rush.
If he is late for Mass, we say: He hinders and delays the congregation.

If he rearranges and organizes the church, we say: He is wasteful with money.
If he doesn't, we say: He is responsible for the lack of renewal and progress in the church.

If he is young, we say: He lacks experience.
If he is old, we say: He should retire.

16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'
19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."

(Matthew 11: 16-19)

Dear brothers and sisters, let us pray for our priests so that God may bless their path and guide them in their service. Let us refrain from criticizing them, as we do not want to bear the responsibility for our shortcomings.

Lebanese student scores the highest IQ ever!!!!
Live Love Lebanon 😍❤️🇱🇧

Lebanese student, Karim Al-Halabi scored the highest IQ of 285/ 300 in a test that included candidates from 113 countries
The second score was 260 / 300 by a Russian student
The third score was 240/300 by a Japanese student
And the fourth was 230/300 by a German student
Karim is reportedly a student at the Abei Public School in Mt Lebanon
According to Al Anbaa website . this is the highest score ever . The highest IQ scores that were formally ever recorded were 263/300 by Ainan Celeste Cawley and 250/ 300 by William James Sidis.
An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from a set of standardised tests or subtests designed to assess human intelligence . The abbreviation “IQ” was coined by the psychologist William Stern for the German term Intelligenzquotient, his term for a scoring method for intelligence tests at University of Breslau he advocated in a 1912 book.
Historically, IQ was a score obtained by dividing a person’s mental age score, obtained by administering an intelligence test, by the person’s chronological age, both expressed in terms of years and months. The resulting fraction (quotient) was multiplied by 100 to obtain the IQ score. For modern IQ tests, the raw score is transformed to a normal distribution with mean 100 and standard deviation 15. This results in approximately two-thirds of the population scoring between IQ 85 and IQ 115 and about 2.5 percent each above 130 and below 70.
Scores from intelligence tests are estimates of intelligence. Unlike, for example, distance and mass, a concrete measure of intelligence cannot be achieved given the abstract nature of the concept of “intelligence”. IQ scores have been shown to be associated with such factors as nutrition, parental socioeconomic status, morbidity and mortality, parental social status, and perinatal environment . While the heritability of IQ has been investigated for nearly a century, there is still debate about the significance of heritability estimates and the mechanisms of inheritance
IQ scores are used for educational placement, assessment of intellectual disability, and evaluating job applicants.
According to MTV Karim speaks seven languages that he learned on his own and wants to specialize I nuclear physics
“Needless to say that Karim Al-Halabi’s championship made all the Lebanese proud ” , Culture Minister Abbas Halabi was quoted as saying and presented Karim with a tablet computer .
This report is based on an Arabic articles by Al Anbaa website and another by MTV .

“My children, escape from gossip and adhere to silence, for the silent one is in the position of the angels with God. Life and death depend on the tongue, for if we gain our brother, we gain God, and if we stumble our brother, we err against Christ.”
(St. Anthony the Great)

Good bye Phoenix until we meet again next year 😍🙏🏻❤️
We just concluded our Annual Retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center, where Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas led us in a spiritually enriching experience. Alongside the clergy of the Eparchy our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, we were inspired by Bishop Kicanas's beautiful speeches and found renewed strength in our faith. The retreat culminated in a joyful barbecue, skillfully prepared by our dedicated priests. We are grateful for this time of reflection, fellowship, and growth, and look forward to sharing our insights with our parish community. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates from this uplifting and memorable retreat!

SCRIPTURE READING
A Reading from the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs 22: 1-11
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and high esteem, than gold and silver. Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all. The shrewd man perceives evil and hides, while simpletons continue on and suffer the penalty. The reward of humility and fear of the LORD is riches, honor and life. Thorns and snares are on the path of the crooked; he who would safeguard his life will shun them. Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. He who sows iniquity reaps calamity, and the rod destroys his labors. The kindly man will be blessed, for he gives of his sustenance to the poor. Expel the arrogant man and discord goes out; strife and insult cease. The LORD loves the pure of heart; the man of winning speech has the king for his friend.

Happy Saint Anthony the Great feast Eve!
May his prayers be with you.
صلاته معنا!

Anthony was born around 251 in Coma, today known as “Kuma Al Arouss.” His father and mother died when he was eighteen years old, and he was left with a sister whom he loved very much. One day he entered a church and heard a voice saying: “If you wish to be perfect, go sell all you have, give it to the poor and follow me.” He felt that these words were directed to him, so he went and sold all that he had. He gave his sister her share and the rest he gave to the poor. At twenty years of age he went to a hermit and became his disciple. He spent his days and great part of the night in prayer and manual labor and ate only one meal a day.
Anthony suffered a great deal from temptations, telling him to return to his sister and the world, and also from impure desires. With prayer and penance, he overcame them all.
For this reason, he became the patron saint of those who are tempted. After following the counsel of other religious, he decided to go into the desert by himself. The only food he took with him was a supply of bread for six months. Every six months a brother would visit him and bring him a supply of bread, dates and water. People became aware of his presence and began to visit him to ask for his blessing and receive counselling from him. He left this place and went to the edge of the Nile close to Fayoun and there he built monasteries, while he himself remained in the hermitage. He later became the superior of the monks. He visited the various monasteries and invited the monks to do penance and to observe the directives he gave them.
In 311 great persecution began against Christians. Anthony told his monks to pray as he went off to Alexandria. He wanted to offer his life for the Lord, but he soon realized that the daily martyrdom of life is precious in the eyes of God, so he returned to his hermitage.
Many people were coming to ask him for graces and miracles. Anthony began to fear that he would fall into pride, so he left without telling anyone and went into the desert to Thebes. To accomplish this he travelled with an Arab caravan. When he reached the point where he wished to stay, he thanked them and asked if on their way back they could bring him some food and seeds to plant. They promised they would do this and Anthony lived off the things he planted.
When the monks found Anthony, they insisted he return with them. His sister who had not seen him for fifty years, came to visit him along with many other religious who were living with her.
Soon after his return to the monastery, he requested his monks to allow him to return to Thebes in seclusion.
Anthony was well known for his miracles during his life; Anthansius and Heronimous speak of Anthony curing the sick and restoring sight to the blind.

When Anthony knew that the end of his life was coming, he called the two disciples that were close to him, Macarius and Amathas and asked them to bury his body in secret. He died on January 17, 356, at the age of 105.
The body of St. Anthony remained in his grave for 200 years. In 561, under the emperor Justinian, his bones were transferred solemnly to the Church of St. John the Baptist in Alexandria and later taken to Constantinople. Prince Jocelyn took Anthony’s remains to France and interred them in the Benedictine Abbey of la Motte St. Didices. His remains were transferred to the city of Arles, where they rest today.
Anthony is very popular among the Eastern Churches, especially in the Middle East. The monastery of St. Anthony still exists today and belongs to the monks of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who have revived the anchoritic life of St. Anthony.
(Maronite SYNAXARION)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This verse encourages believers to use their words to encourage and build others up, emphasizing the importance of watching what we say to avoid causing harm to others.

“Al Dayem Dayem” الدايم دايم

"Come to the Eternal, always awake, and never fall asleep,
The dough becomes yeast, and the tree bows to the Eternal."
"يلا عالدايم دايم وما يبقى حاد نايم، العجين بصير خمير وشجر يسجد للدايم"...
Many sayings are repeated by the people on the night of "Epiphany," during which Jesus Christ passes by to bless the homes. Candles are lit, doors and windows are left open, and dough is placed outside without yeast. The "Eternal" also blesses it, and it becomes yeast. Additionally, there is a tradition of burning a mulberry stick, a tree that is said not to have bowed before Jesus Christ.

Many customs and traditions accompany this important religious occasion, which is also said not to pass without baptizing the children.

On this night, everything is blessed, even the water that believers bring to the church for the priest to bless, which they then sprinkle throughout their homes for its sanctification. They also sprinkle it on the Christmas tree before raising it.
Epiphany in Lebanon has many social and spiritual symbols and traditions:
Making food and sweets for this occasion such as Ouwaymet, Zlabieh, Maacaroon, Moushabbak, made of dough submerged in deep frying oil and again into syrup (Atr). This was called “the blessing of the feast” which was a symbol of Christ, the bread of life, who was submerged in our world, the Jordon river, into suffering and death then rose again and ascended into heaven.
There are many spiritual traditions including:
 Christ will pass at midnight saying “El Dayem Dayem” which means His blessing and graces will always continue. People used to wait in prayer because the doors of heaven will open at midnight;
 The trees would bow to the passing Christ;
 Making yeast and hanging it outside in a cloth bag to be blessed by the passing Christ;
 Leaving a light on to welcome the passing Christ;
 Breaking a piece of glass to cast away evil spirits;
 Baptising the children on this feast;
 Taking water to the church to be blessed and be taken to the sick and sprinkled in the homes;
 and many more...

OLC Denho (Epiphany) Divine Liturgies Schedule:
Saturday January 7th at 9:00 am
Sunday, January 7th at 8:30am (Blessing of Epiphany Water)
and 11:00am.

Every evil is a sickness of soul, but virtue offers the cause of its health.
- St. Basil the Great -

Good morning! We're feeling blessed by God's grace today. Wishing everyone a wonderful morning!

My God and Savior Jesus the Beloved,
Forgive me for all the mistakes and errors that I have made,
whether in speech, action, or thought.
Lord, I want to change many things within me,
to change anything that does not please Your righteousness,
to change what saddens You in my behavior.
I want to be justified in Your presence
in every word and every action that comes from me,
but by my will alone, I cannot.
Help me, Jesus, to start a new year with You,
a year in which all my deeds are holy and sanctify You.
My God, You alone are the Knower of hearts and minds,
You alone know what is inside me, my thoughts and intentions,
and You know that I want to live with You with all my heart.
So help me, Jesus.
Amen...
I wish everyone a blessed, peaceful, and joyful year.
In the name of the Lord Jesus.

Only the simple-hearted truly understand the meaning of joy during Christmas, because they humble themselves to enter and discover the secret of the manger. As for the rest, they trade it for themselves. Their concern is to satisfy their empty hunger in the markets and at the fake banquets... and the holiday ends, so they begin to search for the shells of another holiday.

🙏🌹 30 Reasons for the Coming of Christ to Earth 🙏🌹

🙏🌹 1- To fulfill the will of the Father
"I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me" (John 6:38).

🙏🌹 2- To save humanity
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Timothy 1:15).

🙏🌹 3- To shine light in the darkness of the world
"I have come as a light into the world so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (John 12:46).

🙏🌹 4- To share in our humanity and destroy the works of the devil
"Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14-17).

🙏🌹 5- To bear witness to the truth
"For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose, I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice" (John 18:37).

🙏🌹 6- To declare the glory of God
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

🙏🌹 7- To give us eternal life
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (John 6:51).

🙏🌹 8- To be worshipped
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him" (Matthew 2:1-2).

🙏🌹 9- To bring us joy
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

🙏🌹 10- To teach us obedience and humility
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5-8).

🙏🌹 11- For the proclamation of the Gospel
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19).

🙏🌹 12- To call sinners to repentance
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17).

🙏🌹 13- To die for us
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

🙏🌹 14- To fulfill prophecies
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Luke 21:33).

🙏🌹 15- To declare God's love for humanity
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

🙏🌹 16- To lead sinners to repentance
"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance" (Luke 5:32).

🙏🌹 17- To die for us
"If a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).

🙏🌹 18- To save the lost
"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5).

🙏🌹 19- To teach us the meaning of service
"The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

🙏🌹 20- To give us his peace
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27).

🙏🌹 21- To wield the sword of the Spirit
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).

🙏🌹 22- To bind up the brokenhearted
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).

🙏🌹 23- To grant us adoption
"The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:17).

🙏🌹 24- To make us partners in the divine nature
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3-4).

🙏🌹 25- To rule over us
"And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:14).

🙏🌹 26- To sanctify human nature
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

🙏🌹 27- To be our High Priest
"For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).

🙏🌹 28- To be the second Adam and the greater one
"For as by the one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience, the many will be made righteous" (Romans 5:19).

🙏🌹 29- To quench our thirst for righteousness
"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14).

🙏🌹 30- To make us children of God
"Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me'" (John 8:42).

May these reasons deepen our understanding of the significance of Christ's coming to Earth. 🙏🌹

Amidst Bethlehem's streets, a weary pair,
Seeking shelter, found no room to spare.
Inn's threshold denied, they wandered on,
Till a stable's embrace became the dawn.

Humble manger, a cradle so bare,
Welcomed a child, wrapped with tender care.
Soft cries echoed, as night turned to morn,
Hope's gentle glow in a world forlorn.

In that quiet haven, love's light unfurled,
A miracle born to reshape the world.
No room in the inn, yet destiny's call,
A humble beginning, touching us all.

🎶✨ Our Children's Choir in their stunning red uniforms delivered pure magic on Thursday! 🎄 Relive the joy through these beautiful snapshots. 📸✨ 🎶

Behold our beautifully decorated Christmas tree adorned with the smiling 😊 faces of our beloved religious education children ❤️. Their joy and enthusiasm light up our parish, reminding us that they are the future of our church. May their presence inspire us to nurture, guide, and support them on their spiritual journey. Merry Christmas!

Verse of the day 🙏🏻❤️

Christmas schedule 2023

Stay committed to the church and all its teachings, and persevere in prayer without boredom. Honor our mother, the Virgin Mary, and arm yourselves with the rosary, for the name of Mary disperses darkness and crushes evil. Good evening.

Lord Jesus,

In the midst of my struggles, I turn to you seeking solace and strength. I feel the weight of the world pressing down on me, and I am weary. The burdens I carry are many, and I feel as though I am wandering through a desert, with no respite in sight.

Lord Jesus, fill me with the power of your holy spirit, and banish the consuming darkness of depression from my heart. Drive away the spirits of sadness, distress, and agony that haunt me. Lift me up from the depths of my weakness and infuse me with the strength to overcome this affliction.

Just as you healed the lepers, the paralyzed, and the blind, I beseech you to heal me and grant me your mercy. Illuminate my path with your divine light, and release me from the grip of depression that has plagued me and my ancestors. Heal the wounds of my past, and guide me on the journey to forgiveness, both for others and for myself.

Grant me the precious gifts of joy and faith, and fill me with your spirit, so that I may be lifted above the darkness that surrounds me. Remove the bandages of sadness that bind me, and replace them with the radiant cloak of your love and mercy.

With your grace, O Lord, I pray for liberation from this oppressive weight. May your spirit dwell within me, bringing peace, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose. Amen.

🍳🌟 What a delightful morning spent with our dedicated altar servers and talented Children’s Choir members! We came together for a special breakfast to express our gratitude for their commitment and hard work. Check out these heartwarming moments from our joyful gathering. Thank you for being a part of our parish family! 🎶🙏

قلبي مهيّا مغارة 🔆🎄 🌟ربي عملّي زيارة 🔆🎄
من شمسك نوّرني 🔆🎄 🌟وملّيني حرارة 🔆🎄
📸 Don't miss the magic in the making! Join us for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into our Christmas concert preparations today. Capture the joy of our Children’s Youth Choir and Adult Musicians as they rehearse for the big day on Thursday, December 21st at 7:00pm. Let's spread the excitement for the upcoming concert together! 🎶🎄

To remain kind and loving despite all the slaps you receive, this is the essence of Christian love.

"The clever one is the one who saves his soul."

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini, the Lebanese Maronite monk, on December 14th each year. Born Youssef Kassab in the village of Hardin in northern Lebanon in 1808, he entered the monastery school of Mar Antonios Qozhaya in 1816. At the age of 20, he heard the voice of the Lord, left everything for Christ, and joined the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great-Qozhaya in November 1828.

Taking the name Brother Nimatullah, he learned bookbinding and sewing, professed his monastic vows in 1830, and was ordained a priest in 1833. Known for virtues like asceticism, humility, and obedience, he took on administrative responsibilities, serving as the director of student brothers and later as the general administrator of the order.

Saint Nimatullah Al-Hardini passed away on December 14, 1858. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 10, 1998, and canonized on May 16, 2004. On his feast day, we ask Saint Nimatullah of Qannoubine to pray for the salvation of our souls, echoing his famous saying: "The clever one is the one who saves his soul."
صلاته معنا!

In the storms of life, God remains my unshakable fortress, my unwavering anchor of hope.