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The Good News of St Matthew Catholic Parish

On November 24^th, 2012 we learned that the Holy Father in his new book Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives states that the Christian Calendar is based on a miscalculation, and Jesus was born several years earlier than commonly believed. The calculation of the beginning-based on the birth of Jesus-was made by Dionysius Exiguus or referred to by his friends as Dennis the Small, a 6^th Century Monk from Eastern Europe who is best known as the inventor of the Anno Domini {AD} era, which is used to number the years of both the Gregorian Calendar and the Julian Calendar.

                With his latest book, which explores the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Benedict completed his trilogy. His first book was about the public ministry of Jesus, and the second about his death.

                In the new book, the Pope decries that many see God as limiting their freedom, “God himself is constantly regarded as a limitation placed on our freedom, that must be set aside if man is ever to be completely himself,” he writes, adding “God, with his truth stands in opposition to man’s manifold lies, self seeking and his pride. God is love.”

                Pope Benedict stresses on the uniqueness of Mary’s “virgin birth”. “Perhaps one could say that humanity’s silent and confused dreams of a new beginning came true in this event-in a reality such that only God could create.”

                Monsignor Philip Whitmore, the English translator, said the Pope intends to bring out the “inner meaning” of the Gospel descriptions of Jesus’ birth and childhood.

                “The pope helps us to understand the world where Jesus was born. Caesar brought peace to the Roman Empire, but this tiny child brought something much more wonderful: God’s peace, eternal life, and end to sin and death. “Anyone who’s wondering why Christmas came to be such a great celebration in the West can find the answer right here. The Pope explains how the birth of Jesus changed history forever. [3]

                The Pope also states that contrary to popular belief and legend there were no oxen, horses, sheep or cattle in the manger where Jesus was born. [4]

                We are constantly learning more about ancient human history too.  A University of Toronto team of anthropologists recently found evidence that human ancestors used stone tipped weapons for hunting animals 500,000 years ago or 200,000 years earlier than previously thought. [5]

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Jesus Loves You Always! No Matter What!