Connect with us

Religion

“Blessed Tansi needs one more miracle” – Cardinal Arinze.

Published

on

 

Yesterday evening we had the pleasure of visiting Cardinal Arinze at his Vatican residence. Although he is not going to the conclave, everyone will admit that this is indeed a busy time for all the Cardinals. All the more reason we were grateful that he spared some of his precious time to receive us.

Father Ken Amadi, priest of Abuja archdiocese and doctoral student at Notre Dame University, is working on his dissertation research focusing on the history and development of thanksgiving rituals in the post-Vatican II Catholic liturgy.

Given Cardinal Arinze pedigree as a pre-Vatican II and post-Vatican II ecclesiastic as well as his former role as Prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (2002-2008), he seemed the go-to person for Father Ken’s research exploration.

The Cardinal started by confessing that he has limited knowledge on the subject matter but ended up bringing deep historical, theological, and cultural perspectives to bear on Father Ken’s inquiries, leading Ken to conclude that the wisdom shared by the Cardinal is such that “one cannot find in any book.”

When we commented about the impeccable Latin diction with which he led the second part of Eucharistic Prayer III at Pope Francis’ funeral Mass last Saturday, he smiled and said, “There’s no mystery about it; I simply read what the text says.”

He explained that he had that role at the Pope’s funeral Mass by virtue of his rank as a Cardinal Bishop and in virtue of seniority – 3rd most senior after the Dean and Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals. As some people who watched the funeral Mass might have noticed, the presider was the Dean of the College (Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re), while the other two concelebrants were the Vice Dean (Cardinal Leonardi Sandri) and Cardinal Arinze, who is the Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni. When Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as Pope in April 2005, he personally relinquished his titular see as Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni to Cardinal Arinze who until that time had been a Cardinal Deacon.

Father Kris asked the Cardinal why our elder brother Blessed Tansi has not yet been canonized. Contrary to popular perceptions among some Catholics and non-Catholics in Nigeria that Tansi’s canonization is being delayed for racial reasons (“Because he is a black man”), Cardinal Arinze explained that Tansi needs “one more miracle” to be canonized. “We almost got one, but when the scientific experts analyzed it, it didn’t meet the criteria.” He concluded: “We have to pray for one miracle. The British waited so long for Cardinal Newman before the miracles came. John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta had so many miracles.”

Cardinal Arinze gave us gifts of some of his published pastoral writings, a Rosary each, and a sticker of Blessed Tansi. After blessing us, he shared some brief thoughts about the dire political and economic situation in Nigeria: “The pain in our country, the priests can contribute a little at least to reduce the pain and give the people some minimum hope. The politicians are a sad group. But we keep on praying. We have only one Nigeria. We haven’t another one.”

Credit: Omokugbo Ojeifo, 2025

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Religion

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis Spotted Ushering At Shiloh 2025 (Video)

Published

on

A viral video captures Delta State Governor, Sheriff Francis carrying out ushering duries at the ongoing Shiloh 2025.

‎It would be recalled that Shiloh 2025 commenced on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, and will wrap up on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

In the video, which has sparked mixed reactions online, the governor is seen in a suit as he carries out ushering duties.

‎ However, a young man in a suit is spotted behind him while the choir sings on.

Reactions Trailing Below……
‎Nna Aguwa remarked, “So people are still moved by this act ? So if i stand in as an usher i will automatically be a wonderful person . No be today them dey show us well dedicated usher and pastors wey be kingpins”.

Pamela kin, “So can’t he be an usher again what’s so special about him wey him no fit be conductor”.

Elder Ajayi, “The difference he could make as a governor matters most don’t forget Judas was a leading Apostle before he fell”.

‎David Gladys, “So waiting come happen ? He knows d benefits of serving God and that’s why he’s doing it I no see any big deal way make bloggers carry am way God dey bless am for his service in his presence”.

Continue Reading

Politics

N1.4 Trillion not enough to get me into politics – Bishop Oyedepo reveals

Published

on

The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.

He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.

Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

 

He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.

In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?

“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”

The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.

He added, “The world is groaning in darkness, but as written in Romans 8:19, the whole world is waiting for the earnest manifestation of the sons of God.”

According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.

 

Continue Reading

Religion

Adeboye explains why he no longer employs female secretaries

Published

on

Adeboye

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has shed light on why he no longer employs female secretaries, linking the decision to his desire to avoid situations that could jeopardise his spiritual focus.

The 83-year-old spoke on the subject during his sermon titled “Jonah Must Go” on day two of the Holy Ghost Congress 2025 at the Redemption Camp, Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The church uploaded the sermon on its YouTube page on Tuesday.

Adeboye recalled that he once had a female secretary while serving at Ebute Metta in Lagos State, but decided to dismiss her when he moved to the camp, believing the change was necessary for his spiritual discipline.

He said he made the choice because he wanted the “Jonah” in his life to depart.

Adeboye said: “From the moment I got to this campground, from the moment I got to a stage where at night I still have to work, I ceased to have a female secretary. Some people think it is gender discrimination. I know myself. I know who I was before Jesus saved my soul.

“I see the possibility of being left alone at night with the opposite sex. Oh, but if you are to get a secretary like the last one I had, she was a wonderful child of God.

“She was my secretary at Ebute Metta. Wonderful lady. True child of the living God. And when I arrived, I knew I would still be in the office at 3 a.m. And I could imagine, after a long day’s work, everybody finally sees the last visitor. And then my secretary comes at 2 a.m.

“’We are through now, sir. Is there any way I can help you? Like, you know, a cup of tea to relax?’ Jonah must go.”

He also shared examples involving two RCCG pastors whom he advised to dismiss their female secretaries. According to him, one pastor obeyed and later became “a great man of God,” while the other ignored the advice and eventually strayed.

“There is one of my sons here. A great man of God. When he started, his ministry was tiny. He came to me from the north. He said, ‘Daddy, I have a problem.’ I said, ‘What’s your problem?’ He said, ‘I always feel excited when it is Monday.’ ‘What’s the problem with that?’ He said, ‘Because I’ll be going to the office on Monday.’ I said, ‘Yeah, what’s the problem?’ He said, ‘The reason I feel excited about going to the office on Monday is that I want to see my secretary again.’

“He said, ‘What should I do? What’s wrong? What prayer?’ I said, ‘Prayer? As soon as you get home, sack her. Pay whatever you have to pay.’ He said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He got back to the office the following Monday. And told the girl, ‘Thank you very much. We’ll pay you this much for notice. But you, you cease to be my secretary from today.’ She erupted. Not that I blame her.

“I know where you are coming from. You’ve gone to visit that stupid man you call your father. My son says, ‘Call him stupid. Just go.’ Today, he is a great man of God. Why? Because Jonah had gone,” he said.

The cleric explained that the second pastor, who once led an RCCG church in the United States, was later relieved of his position after refusing to dismiss his secretary. The pastor eventually married the secretary and started his own ministry.

“I had another son, who was pastoring one of our big churches in America. And I had some things. So I brought him here. I told him, ‘Sack that secretary.’

“He said, ‘You’re joking, sir. We’re not talking about Nigeria. We’re talking about America.’ I said, ‘Is that so? Sack her.’ He said, ‘No way.’ Well, at the end of the day, we had to relieve him. The husband of the secretary was cross with me.

“Took a harsh decision. Only for him to discover. I think four out of the five children the woman had belonged to a former pastor. And it didn’t end there. It wasn’t long before the lady chased the pastor out. And became the owner of the pastor. God has mercy on pastors. Anything that can truncate your destiny.”

Addressing the congregation, Adeboye urged Christians to sever ties that do not aid their spiritual growth, adding that ending such relationships may also help the other party.

“When you look at the parable of Jonah. You may begin to say, ‘If I cut off this relationship. If I throw Jonah into the ocean…’ Leave the rest to God. The God of all flesh. Until they threw Jonah into the sea. He wasn’t going to where God wanted him to go. Leave the rest to the God of all flesh,” Adeboye said.

Continue Reading

Trending