MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 16, 2022 – Martes sa Ika – 20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

San Roque, manggagamot

Ebanghelyo: Mt 19:23-30

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo: mahirap makapasok ang mayaman sa Kaharian ng Langit. Oo, maniwala kayo, mas madali pa para sa isang kamelyo ang lumusot sa butas ng karayom kaysa pumasok ang isang mayaman sa Kaharian ng Langit.” Nang marinig ito ng mga alagad, namangha sila at sinabing: “Kung gayon eh, sino ang maliligtas?” Tinitigan sila ni Hesus at sumagot: “Imposible ito para sa tao; subalit sa Diyos, lahat ay posible.” Nagsalita si Pedro at sinabi: “Iniwan namin ang lahat para sumunod sa iyo: ano naman ang para sa amin?” “Talagang sinasabi ko sa inyong mga sumusunod sa akin: sa Araw ng Pagbabago, pag-upo ng Anak ng Tao sa kanyang trono nang buong kaluwalhatian, uupo rin kayo sa labindalawang tribu ng Israel. At ang mag-iwan ng mga tahanan, mga kapatid, ama at ina, mga anak o mga bukid alang-alang sa Pangalan ko, tatanggap siya ng sandaang beses at makakamit ang buhay na walang hanggan. May mga una ngayon na mahuhuli at may mga huli naman na mauuna.”

Pagninilay:

Wala bang mayaman na makakapasok sa kaharian ng langit? Ang sagot po, meron. Sa ating narinig na ebanghelyo—ang sabi ay mahirap makapasok, hindi wala makakapasok. Kung babalikan natin ang parabula ng isang mayamang hari at ni Lazaro kitang kita po kung bakit hindi nakapasok ang hari sa langit—bulag siya sa pangangailangan ni Lazaro. Kaya naman, crucial po iyon sa mga nakakatamasa ng masarap na buhay kaysa sa iba. Kaya nga ang madalas na sabi ay “As we grow in our standard of living, we should also increase our standard of giving.” Hindi naman masama kung magbibigay, sapagkat parte po iyon ng ating sakrispisyo bilang kapwa. Sa ikalawang bahagi po ng ebanghelyo tinanong ni Pedro si Hesus, pano naman kami na iniwan ang lahat para sa iyo? Tatanggap din kayo ng inyong gantimpla ani Hesus. Mga kapanalig bamagat tinawag tayo ng Diyos sa ibat ibang uri ng bokasyon at pamumuhay patuloy nawa tayong maglingkod sa bawat isa lalong-lalu na yaong kapus-palad at lubhang mahihirap. Marahil marami na hong pumasok sa langit dahil sila’y mayaman: mayaman sa material na bagay, gayundin nama’y mayaman sa malasakit at pagmamahal. Sikapin nawa natin na maglingkod ng walang inaantay na kapalit, pero patuloy na nananalig na ang Diyos hindi nakalilimot sa kanyang pangako. Amen.

Cl. Vinz Aurellano, SSP

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 16, 2022 - Tuesday of 20th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Stephen of Hungary l Saint Roch, healer

Gospel: Mt 19:23-30 

23Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich  person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier  for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who  is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard  this, they were greatly astounded and said, “Then who can be saved?”  26But Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but  for God all things are possible.” 27Then Peter said in reply, “Look,  we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”  28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things,  when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who  have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve  tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or  sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake,  will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. 30But many  who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” 

The Kingdom of heaven is not something to be enjoyed  only after death. It is an experience that begins while  living on this earth — a conscious choice on our part. We  “enter” the Kingdom of heaven when we trustfully surrender our  lives to God, letting God become our security here and now. What  we will enjoy at the end of earthly life is the fullness of this relationship  with God begun while living on this earth. Since material wealth can  be a source of security in this world, it offers a cheap and passing  alternative to putting one’s trust in God. Sadly, human beings easily  fall for this offer. Thus, material wealth competes with God and  becomes a block to entering the Kingdom of heaven. It stunts the  growth of a person’s relationship with God, making it difficult to turn  over one’s life completely to God. The situation looks like a dead end,  but Jesus gives us reason to hope when he says, “For human beings  this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

 Lord Jesus, grant that we may use earthly riches as wise stewards whose  only security is found in God. Amen.

SAN ROQUE or SAINT ROCK l PATRON OF BACHELORS, PILGRIMS, FALSELY ACCUSED AGAINST EPIDEMIC AND PROTECTOR OF DOGS

Feast Day - August 16

Our saint for today is San Roque, or St. Rock, also known as St. Rocco and a few similar names according to the countries where he is honored. Did you ever wonder why among all the saints, San Roque is among the few we call on for prayer and protection against today’s pandemic? It is because he was such a holy person that the Lord gave him the power to cure illnesses, particularly the plague.  St. Rock was such gifted by God to be a healer of serious diseases.

St. Rock was born in Montpellier, France in the year 1295. His father was a governor and his mother was descended from the nobility. His birth was miraculous, since his mother was barren, and she prayed to the Virgin Mary, in order to have a child. When the child was born, he had a red cross on his breast, a sign of God’s predilection, and he grew up with it. Surprisingly, even from infancy, the child was already strictly ascetic. He did not cry so much to seek his mother’s attention. When his mother fasted, as a devotional practice, the child would also fast, by sucking his mother’s milk only once during the day. And certainly, the child grew up to be a very virtuous and well-behaved boy.

Rock was 20 years old when his parents died, one after the other. Rock’s father, at his deathbed, ordained him to be the next governor, but he did not follow his father’s wish. He distributed his wealth to the poor and set out as a mendicant pilgrim to Rome. When he arrived Rome in 1316, the Black Death epidemic or Bubonic plague had just broken out. He volunteered to tend to the sick, not only in Rome but in other Italian provinces. Already, he was performing miracles: through his prayers, the Sign of the Cross, and the touch of his hand. In the long run, however, he also got ill and because he was poor and a stranger, he was expelled from the city of Rome. He went to a forest and built a small hut for himself made of leaves and twigs. Miraculously, a spring arose near his hut to supply him with water. Then a dog, who belonged to a certain nobleman, came every day to bring him some bread and food. The dog’s master, one day, followed his dog to see where it was bringing the food and discovered Rock in his hut. He became a friend of Rock and later a follower. Since Rock was still healing from the epidemic, he had a wound on his thigh. The dog would lick his wound and it got healed. This is why St. Rock is represented in art showing his wounded thigh and a dog beside him with bread in its mouth. · After sometime, Rock returned to Montpellier, still as a mendicant. Being poorly clad and begging for alms, he was accused as a spy. Unfortunately, he was imprisoned by his own uncle for five years, at the basement of their own mansion. Rock did not reveal his true identity because he shunned worldly glory. He spent those years in prayer and penance. Towards the end of those years of imprisonment, in 1327, he got sick and died. When the people saw the red cross on the breast of the dead body, they immediately recognized him as the son of the former governor. His relatives came to give him a fitting funeral. The people acknowledged him at once as a holy man and miraculous healings happened. Soon, a church was built in his honor and his fame spread throughout Europe and to other parts of the world. In the Philippines, there are about 80 churches with St. Rock as patron saint, not counting the barangay chapels that have him also as patron.

· St. Rock, your power was so great that through the Sign of the Cross and the touch of your hand you cured the many sick who came to you. Please come to our aid and deliver us from the present pandemic and from the many illnesses we are being afflicted with, and help us lead a holy life so that like you, we may enjoy God’s loving presence. Amen.”

ST. TARCISIUS l PATRON OF THE FIRST COMMUNICANTS AND OF THE ALTAR SERVERS

Feast Day - AUGUST 15

To give us inspiration today is a young saint called "The Boy Martyr of the Eucharist." He is popularly known as St. Tarcisius. Little is known about his background but tradition says he lived in the 3rd century, during the Christian persecution by the Roman Emperor Valerian. In those times. Christians who denied to offer sacrifices to idols and refused to give up their Christian belief were put in prison. Shortly afterwards they were martyred. They had an ardent desire to receive the Body of Christ before their martyrdom. So, their fellow Christians tried to secretly send them the Holy Eucharist. The story about Tarcisius is recorded in a poem written by Pope Damasus I who lived about a century later (366-384). The poem says that it was a custom during those times to entrust the bringing of the Holy Eucharist to the Christian prisoners to young boys, as the pagans would not suspect them as they would the priests and adults. Having been given this task, Tarcisius was met by the pagans on the Appian way and was asked to show them what he was carrying. Since he refused to expose what he had in his hands, they assaulted him, beating him with clubs and stones. Tarcisius continued to hide the Eucharist until he died. When the Christians took his dead body, they did not find any trace of Christ's Body neither in his clothing nor in his own body. Jesus miraculously disappeared. Tarcisius was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and later his body was transferred to the church of San Silvestro in Capite, Rome. He is venerated as a model for altar boys and as a great lover of the Eucharist. He is the patron of first communicants and of altar servers. His feast day is celebrated on August 15, but since in the Roman Calendar, the day is dedicated to the Assumption of the Mother of God, he is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.

Virtue: Faithful defender of the Eucharist, trustworthiness, courage.

O brave St. Tarcisius, you faithfully fulfilled your duty to defend the Body of Christ. Pray that we may follow your example by receiving Holy Communion with a clean and pure heart. Amen."

Reflection: Do I behave properly inside the church, aware that Jesus is present in the holy tabernacle? What kind of preparation do I make before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion?

ST. LOUIS IX l PATRON OF ARTS AND ARBITER OF EUROPE

Feast Day: August 25

“My son, I love you with the affection with which a mother is capable of but I would rather see you drop dead at my feet than you should ever commit one mortal sin.” Such was the great aspiration and desire of Queen-Mother Blanche for her son Louis, the future king of France so much so that he became a great saint afterwards. When Louis was grown up, there was a day that he did not recall such words. Louis was born in Poissy, France on April 25, 1214. When he was 12 years old, his father King Louis VIII died. He was crowned king and his mother was his Regent and ruled on his behalf. Louis possessed an exceptional personality. He had a sweet character, an even temper, uniform justice, tender piety and was vigilant in avoiding troubles. Above all, he lived a holy life, in imitation of his mother. When Louis was about 19 years old, his mother chose Margaret, Count of Provence to be his consort. They were married in Sens on May 27, 1234. Margaret was a faithful wife after his own heart and they were both inclined to piety and charity. The blessings of God descended upon this happy union. When Louis was 21, the reins of government was given to him. He continued, however, to consult his mother for any decisions he made. It is said that France enjoyed much peace and tranquility during his reign. He saw everyone, including the servants as brothers and sisters in Christ. His charitable works was not confined to his country, but it extended to other places in need. Due to his moral integrity and personal holiness and the manner he governed, he improved the fame of the French monarchy. France reached its economic and political peak. He tried to end the private wars and introduced the presumption of innocence to criminal procedures. He was often asked to be an arbiter to settle conflicts among the ruling powers of his time. He enjoyed a high prestige throughout Christendom and was one of the most notable and esteemed monarchs of the middle ages.King Louis faced several conflicts with some of the monarchs around him, but he won over them and added some provinces to his kingdom. In 1239, King Louis received from the Latin Emperor of Constantinople the preserved Holy Crown of Thorns of the Savior. A little later the Emperor also sent some religious relics, including a part of the True Cross of Jesus. To preserve these sacred relics, the king built an edifice in Paris, now known as Sainte Chapelle or Holy Chapel. While praying for recovery during a serious illness, he made a vow to help restore the Holy Land, North Africa and Egypt which were taken by the Muslims. He led the Seventh and Eighth Crusade but failed. He was captured during the Seventh Crusade and was able to return to France only by being ransomed. King Louis still led the Eighth Crusade but unfortunately died of dysentery in Tunis, North Africa on August 25, 1270 at the age of 56. His remains were brought to France and is venerated at the Basilica of St. Denis. His son, Philip III succeeded him. Louis was an ideal ruler and as king he was inspired by Christian zeal and Catholic devotion. For these, he was occasionally called the “monk king.” He was the only king of France who became a saint. King Louis was canonized on August 11, 1297, twenty-seven years after his death and his feast day is celebrated on August 25. “St. Louis, pray for us and teach us how to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.” What are the occasions and circumstances in my life which I must avoid so as not to commit sin?

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 15, 2022 - MONDAY

Solemnity of the Assumption  of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel: Lk 1:39-56 

39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town  in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and  greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child  leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  42and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and  blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to  me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard  the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.  45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of  what was spoken to her by the Lord.” 46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit  rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked with favor on the  lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will  call me blessed; 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me,  and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for those who fear him from  generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm;  he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has  brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the  lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich  away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of  his mercy, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to  Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 56And Mary remained with  her about three months and then returned to her home. 

Heaven is not only an after-death reality. It becomes  present on earth whenever someone allows God’s will  to reign supreme in one’s life and relationships. This is the  underlying truth in the petition in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father who  art in heaven… thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in  heaven.” Mary, by her faithfulness and obedience to God’s will, began  living heaven partially while still on earth. Her visit to her cousin  Elizabeth gives us a glimpse of her Spirit-directed life, especially her  sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of others, even at the cost  of sacrifice. The belief that Mary was assumed into heaven at the  conclusion of her earthly life speaks to us about the faithfulness of  the Father to whom she entrusted her life and who fulfilled her hope  for the fullness of that heaven that she began to live partially on earth.  This belief assures us, who are still on our earthly pilgrimage, that  our hopes too will not be disappointed. Lord Jesus, keep our wills aligned with God’s will, that we may begin to  experience heaven partially now, while yearning to enjoy its fullness at the  end of this life. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 15, 2022 – LUNES

Ika – 20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Lc 1:39-56

Nagmamadaling naglakbay si Maria papunta sa isang bayan sa mataas na lupain ng Juda. Pumasok siya roon sa bahay ni Zacarias at binati si Elizabeth. Nang marinig ni Elizabeth ang bati ni Maria, sumikad ang sanggol sa sinapupunan niya, at napuspos ng Espiritu Santo si Elizabeth at malakas siyang sumigaw at sinabi: “Lubos kang pinagpala sa kababaihan. Pinagpala rin ang bunga ng iyong sinapupunan! Sino nga ba naman ako’t naparito sa akin ang ina ng aking Panginoon? Nang umabot sa aking pandinig ang iyong pagbati, sumikad sa tuwa ang sanggol sa aking sinapupunan! Pinagpapala ang naniniwalang magaganap ang mga sinasabi sa kanya ng Panginoon.” At sinabi ni Maria: “Dinadakila ng aking kaluluwa ang Panginoon at nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas dahil isinaalang-alang niya ang balewalang utusan niya, at mula ngayon, ituturing akong mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi. Dakila nga ang ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan, banal ang kanyang Pangalan. Patuloy ang kanyang awa sa mga sali’t-salinlahi para sa mga may pitagan sa kanya. Ipinakita niya ang lakas ng kanyang bisig, ipinagtabuyan ang mga taong may mapagmataas na balak. “Pinatalsik niya sa luklukan ang mga makapangyarihan, itinampok naman ang mga balewala. Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom at itinaboy namang walang-wala ang mayayaman. Nilingap niya ang Israel na kanyang lingkod, inalala ang kanyang awa ayon sa ipinangako niya sa ating mga ninuno, kay Abraham at sa kanyang angkan magpakailanman.” Mga tatlong buwang nanatili si Mariang kasama ni Elizabeth at saka nagbalik sa kanyang bahay.

Pagninilay

Nagdadalang-Tao at nagdadalang-Diyos (Pagninilay sa Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat kay Maria sa langit) - Ang kapistahan ng pag-aakyat sa Mahal na Birheng Maria ay tunay na makabuluhan sa atin dahil sa pamamagitan nito’y ipinagdiriwang din natin ang ‘di matatawarang pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan, sapagkat nilayon Niyang ang isang taong tulad ni Maria ay mai-akyat sa langit. Ito’y nagpapatunay na si Maria ay isang ehemplo sa atin dahil sa kanyang tanang buhay, naka-sentro siya kay Hesus. Sa ebanghelyo, nailalahad kung paanong nagmamadaling tumungo si Maria sa Judea para batiin at tulungan ang kanyang pinsang si Elisabeth. Sa yugtong ito’y dala na ni Maria si Hesus sa kanyang sinapupunan. Si Maria ay nagdadalang tao at nagdadalang-Diyos! Isa itong panawagan sa ating lahat, na tulad ni Maria, maging bukas tayong tanggapin si Hesus, at magmadali din tayong ibahagi Siya sa mga taong nangangailangan ng Kanyang presensya. Sinundan ito ng pagbati ni Elisabeth na isang pagpapahayag ng katotohanang si Maria ay ang Ina ng Panginoon, at ang papuri ni Maria, ang kanyang Magnificat. Makikita natin na hindi nagsimula at nagtapos kay Maria ang kwento. Dala si Hesus, humayo siya at tumungo. Matapos ang pagbati ni Elisabeth, itinaas niya ang papuri at pasasalamat sa Diyos. Samakatwid, tunay ngang ehemplo si Maria para sa atin, sa aspeto ng pagiging bukas at tapat sa plano ng Diyos sa ating buhay. Sa ating pagninilay, bukas ba tayo sa pagtanggap, pagsunod at pagpapahayag ng presensya at pag-ibig ng Diyos sa ating buhay? Nawa’y sa ating paghayo, sa ating pagbati, at sa ating papuri, maging tulad tayo ni Maria na nagdadalang-Diyos! Bro. Romel A. Bautista,

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 14, 2022 – LINGGO

Ika – 20 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Lc 12:49-53

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Dumating ako upang maghagis ng apoy sa lupa, at ganoon na lamang ang pagnanais kong magliyab na sana ito! Ngunit dapat akong mabinyagan ng isang binyag, at ganoon na lamang ang pagkabalisa ko hanggang hindi ito nagaganap! Sa akala ba ninyo’y dumating ako para magbigay ng kapayapaan sa lupa? Hindi, sinasabi ko sa inyo, kundi paghihiwa-hiwalay! Sapagkat mula ngayo’y magkakahati-hati ang limang nasa isang sambayanan, tatlo laban sa dalawa at dalawa laban sa tatlo; magkakahati-hati sila; ama laban sa anak na lalaki at anak na lalaki laban sa ama, ina laban sa anak na babae at anak na babae laban sa ina, biyenang babae laban sa kanyang manugang na babae at manugang na babae laban sa biyenang babae.”

Pagninilay:

Ayaw ni Jesus na kapag mangangaral siya, pasok lang sa isang tenga at labas kaagad sa kabila. Hangad niya siyempre na pagnilayan ng madla ang bawat sasabihin niya tungkol sa paghahari ng Diyos. Sa ebanghelyo sinabi ni Jesus na apoy ang hudyat ng pagdating ng paghahari ng Diyos sa lupa. Sinabi rin niya na magdadala siya ng pagkakahati-hati sa lupa. Nagimbal ang mga nakarinig sa kanya. Kilala nila si Jesus na taong mapayapa, banayad magsalita at hindi gumagamit ng dahas. Ngunit bakit nagsasalita siya ng pagkakahati-hati? Hindi ba pakay niyang magkaisa lahat ng tao? At bakit magdadala siya ng apoy? Hindi sampu sampera ang pananampalataya sa Diyos. Kailangan tayong pumili, at kailangang panindigan natin ang pinipili nating ito. Kaya’t hindi madali ang pagsunod sa Diyos. Mayroong humahatak sa atin palayo sa paghahari ng Diyos. Maari tayong maging alipin ng kahambugan, katakawan, kalayawan sa katawan, ng galit, ng katakawan at katamaran. Ang mga kademonyohang ito ang kailangan nating sunugin sa ating sarili. Kailan nating iwaksi lahat ng humahadlang sa atin para makasunod kay Jesus.Ito ang trabaho ng apoy. Sinusunog ang marumi at bulok para maiwan ang sadyang mahalaga. Katulad ng pilak at ginto na lumilitaw lamang mula sa mga bato pagkatapos sunugin ng mahabang panahon. Sinabi rin ni Jesus na may binyag siyang tatanggapin. Ang binyag na ito ay ang pag-aalay niya ng buhay sa krus. Ang “binyag” na ito ang magiging simula ng muling pagkabuhay ng buong sangnilikha. Alam ni Jesus na hindi magiging madali ang binyag na ito. Hindi ito paglublob sa ilog ng Jordan o pagbuhos ng banal na tubig sa isang sanggol. Ito ang kusang-loob na pagbibigay ng buhay para ipaalam sa lahat kung gaano minahal ng Diyos ang tao. Totoong hindi madali. Katunayan nanaghoy si Jesus habang hindi pa naganap ito. Ngunit totoong hindi rin ito mahirap sapagkat sa dakong huli, batid ni Jesus na kasama niya ang Ama sa gagawin niyang pag-aalay. Sa gagawin niyang pagbibigay ng kanyang buhay. Fr. Paul, SSP

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 14, 2022 - Sunday  

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Lk 12:49-53 

Jesus said to his disciples, 49“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how  I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism with which to be  baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51Do you  think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but  rather division! 52From now on five in one household will be divided,  three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided: father  against son and son against father, mother against daughter and  daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law  and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 

The fire that Jesus yearns to ignite is the Holy Spirit, who  will renew the face of the earth. But in the mystery of  God’s plan, this transformative work of the Spirit will have to  be preceded by the sacrificial death of Jesus. This death is the baptism  that he speaks about. And because it is freely assumed in the name  of love, the Holy Spirit can turn the cruelty and inhumanity of the  crucifixion into a source of liberation and healing for the world. The  life of Jesus sets the pattern for the Holy Spirit’s continuing work of  transforming the face of the earth. In this pattern, glory is intertwined  with suffering and death; and new life is born at the cost of labor  pains. This pattern is a stumbling block for many and a cause of  division even in a household. Thus, Jesus’ way continues to be the  less traveled road today. 

Lord Jesus, grant that love may triumph over our fear of pain,  diminishment, loss. Let your Holy Spirit transform us into new creatures.  Amen.

FEASTDAY OF OUR LADY OF THE KNOCK...

What we need to know about this Feast.