Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Fröhliche Weihnachten und Ein Gutes Neues Jahr

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon

Philippine lanterns

ST. LUIGI SCROSOPPI, Patron Saint of all Footballers

If you want to know how St. Luigi Scrosoppi became Patron Saint of all Footballers, please visit this link. Thank you very much.

ST. LUIGI SCROSOPPI , Patron Saint of Football Players

ST. LUIGI SCROSOPPI

(1804 - 1884)

Aloysius Dominic Scrosoppi (always known as Luigi) was born on the 4th of August 1804 in Udine,a city in the region of Friuli in the north of Italy. He grew up in a family atmosphere of faith and Christian charity. At twelve years of age he began preparing for the priesthood at the Udine diocesan seminary, and was ordained in 1827. At his side were his two brothers Charles and John Baptist, both of them also priests.

The wretchedly poor conditions during the 1800s in a Friuli devastated by famine, wars and pestilence were for Luigi an invitation to care for those most in need. With other priests and a group of young teachers he dedicated himself to gathering together and educating poor and abandoned girls from Udine and the surrounding countryside. To them he devoted all his material possessions, his energies and his affection. He did not spare himself, and when the situation called for it he went around begging; he relied on people's help, and above all, trusted in the Lord. In fact his whole life bears witness to his great trust in Divine Providence. Regarding the works of charity in which he was engaged, he wrote: "The providence of God, who prepares minds and hearts to undertake His works, was alone the foundation of this Institute... that loving tender Providence that never deserts those who trust in Him". He lost no opportunity in fostering this confidence in the girls he gathered together and in the young women devoted to their education. They came to be called "school mistresses" because they were skilled in sewing and embroidery but were also able to teach "reading, writing and arithmetic" as they used to say. They were women of different ages and backgrounds, and in each of them there matured the decision to place their lives in the hands of the Lord and to consecrate themselves to Him, serving Him in the family of the "outcast". On the evening of the 1st of February 1837, as a sign of their definitive decision, nine women put aside their possessions and chose to live their total dedication to Him in poverty. In this simple manner the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence, the religious family founded by Father Luigi, came into being. Others came to join the first group. Some were rich, others poor, some educated, others illiterate, some from the nobility, others of humble origins. In the house of Providence there was room for all and all become sisters.

The founder encouraged them to make sacrifices and urged them to take affectionate care of the girls, whom they were to regard as the "apple of their eyes". He said to them: "More than anything else, these daughters of the poor need to be educated in affection and to learn all that is necessary to live an honest life". And once again: "The weariness, persevering effort, constant work and the tiresome attention needed to assist and teach them should not cause you discouragement because you know you are doing all this for Jesus".

In the meantime, Luigi was reflecting on the need to make a more total consecration to the Lord. He was attracted by the ideal of poverty and universal brotherhood of St Francis of Assisi, but the events of his own life and of history led him to follow in the footsteps of St Philip Neri, the singer of joy and freedom, the saint of prayer, humility and pastoral charity. Luigi followed his "Oratorian" vocation in 1846, and at the mature age of 42 he became a son of St Philip. From him he learned that meekness and tenderhearted spirit which would make him ever more suited to the task of founder and father of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence.

Showing great regard and concern for the human development of the Sisters and their growth in holiness, he spared neither help, nor advice nor encouragement. He carefully watched over their vocation, putting their faith to the test so that they might grow strong. He condemned vanity, the desire to be noticed, and could be severe when he saw attitudes of hypocrisy and superficiality. Yet what paternal tenderness he showed in the face of frailty and the need to be understood, supported and consoled!

Gradually Father Luigi took on the fundamental traits of a spiritual life centred on Jesus Christ, loved and imitated in the humility and poverty of his incarnation in Bethlehem, in the simplicity of his working life at Nazareth, in his total immolation on the cross on Calvary, and in the silence of the Eucharist. And since Jesus had said: "Whatever you did to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to me", it is to them that every day Father Luigi devoted his life with the practical commitment to "seek first the kingdom of God and his justice" convinced that all the rest will be given according to the gospel promise.

All the works he set in motion during his life reflect this preferential option for the poorest, the lowliest, the abandoned. "I shall open twelve houses" - he prophesied - "before I die" and so it was. Twelve houses in which the Sisters of Providence devote themselves to a service that is humble, enterprising and joyful on behalf of young girls left helpless, of the poor, the sick and neglected, of the elderly left alone.

At the same time, however, deeply committed to doing good, Father Luigi did not limit himself to his own works, in which the Sisters collaborated with generous people ever ready to give them a helping hand. He willingly gave his spiritual and material assistance to other initiatives undertaken in Udine by people of good will. He supported all the activities of the Church and showed particular concern for the young men in the Udine seminary, especially the poorest of them.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, the different regions of Italy were being united. The political and military aspects of this unification resulted in a particularly difficult period for Udine and the whole of Friuli, which is on the frontier and at the cross roads between the north and south of Europe and between east and west. One of the consequences of the unification, which unfortunately took place in a climate of anticlericalism, was a decree suppressing the "House of the Orphans" and the Congregation of the Oratorian Fathers in Udine.

Father Luigi thus began a difficult struggle to save his work on behalf of the orphans. In this he succeeded, but he could do nothing to prevent the suppression of the Congregation of the Oratory. The unhappy political situation led to the destruction of the material structures of the Congregation of the Oratory in Udine but it did not succeed in preventing Father Luigi from remaining to the end a faithful disciple of St Philip.

Now an old man, but with his habitual openness of spirit, he understood that the time had come to hand over the reins to the Sisters, and this he did with tranquility and hope. At the same time he maintained contact with them all through his letters in which he strengthened the ties of affection and love, and in his paternal concern never tired of recommending community spirit and trust.

Through his deep union with God and his experience over many years Father Luigi had acquired a special spiritual wisdom and intuition which enabled him to read hearts: sometimes he even revealed the gift of knowledge about secret inner thoughts and situations which were known only to the person concerned.

At the end of 1883, as his strength began to decline, he was forced to give up all work, and he constantly suffered from a high fever. The illness took its inexorable course. He refold the Sisters not to be afraid "because it was God who raised up their religious family and made it grow and He it is who will see to its future".

When he knew the end was near, he wished to greet everyone. So he wrote his last words to the Sisters: "After my death, your Congregation will have many troubles, but afterwards it will have a new life. Charity! Charity! This is the spirit of your religious family: to save souls and to save them with Charity".

During the night of Thursday, the 3rd of April 1884, he finallywent to meet Jesus. The whole of Udine and the people of the surrounding countryside hastened to see him one last time and to beg his protection from heaven.

Through his efforts on behalf of the little ones, of the poor, of young people in difficulty, of those who are suffering, of all those living in trying circumstances, Father Luigi still continues today to show everyone the path of union with God, of compassion and of love, and is still ready to accompany the steps of those who entrust themselves to the Providence of God.

Sainthood

The likelihood of this last wish being respected was always remote. Miraculous cures through Luigi’s intercession were reported within days of the Saint’s death – one was the restoration to health of a dying child. Interestingly, the miracle which has secured the canonisation is in the same line as the earliest one recorded.

It happened in 1996, when Peter Changu Shitima, a young catechist from Zambia, was at home, dying from AIDS, a disease now endemic in many parts of Africa. Doctors had decided that nothing more could be done for the young man. One witness said: 'He could scarcely lift his legs, and had developed a serious case of peripheral neuritis. He could not stay in bed without help. He was a terminal AIDS patient and nothing could be done.' Peter’s parish began to pray to Blessed Luigi for him, as he was his favourite figure, one with whose charism he especially identified. On the night of October 9th, 1996, Peter dreamed of Luigi, and the following morning he woke up feeling completely better. One of the doctors involved in the case, Dr Pete de Toit, has said: 'I sent him home because he was a terminal patient, and he returned brimming with health.' The doctors agreed that there was no medical explanation for the cure, and the Pope recognised that what had happened was indeed a miracle. The necessary documents were signed by the Pope on July 1st, 2000, allowing the canonisation to proceed.

Canonisation: It should be added that Peter Changu is now a member of the Oratory of S. Philip at Oudtshoorn, South Africa, where he is studying to be a priest. He was present at the ceremony in Rome on June 10th, 2001. F. Paul Chavasse and B. Thomas Murphy represented the Birmingham Oratory at this important event.

St. Luigi’s feast will henceforth be kept on October 5th each year.

Source: www.vatican.va

Number 11

Last January 11, his birthday, was a lucky day according to the Feng Shui experts so many couples took their wedding at that day.

Jens must be aware with this number because of the following:

1. His date of birth: 01-11-1974
Day of birth: 11
Last two numbers of his year of birth: 7 & 4 (7+4=11)

2. His Name: JENS (4 letters), NOWOTNY (7 letters)
4+7=11

3. His two labels of his German footbal team's jerseys: 5 & 6
5+6=11

In the future, he should be careful with this date of his birthday when he reach 55: 01-11-2029

11th day of January, 1974 A. D.

Happy Birthday!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Maligayang Bati Sa Iyong Kaarawan!

Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

Jens' symbolic song

My Way

"My Way" is a song with lyrics written by Paul Anka and popularized by Frank Sinatra. The melody is based on a French song "Comme d'habitude" composed by Claude François and Jacques Revaux. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the original French by Claude François and Gilles Thibaut and Anka is credited as a co-composer of "My Way" because he largely re-wrote the song. "My Way" is often quoted as the most remade song in history.

Source: Wikipedia (en)

German National Football Team

My interest in German football team was gradually started when I watched final match of Germany and Brazil last 2002 FIFA World Cup at Yokohama, Japan. I remembered Ronaldo who made two goals that makes Brazil winner of that big game. The glorious Michael Ballack was there and even Oliver Kahn as the goalkeeper. Both countries worked together and nothing was to blame if one lost. After four years, 2006 FIFA World Cup was held and Germany and I immediately visited its official website to see all the players of German team. This was also the start of my deep knowing of Jens Nowotny.

The fact on my interest with this team is that my mother who took primary and secondary education in Catholic school which is run by the German nuns in Manila. Why were those nuns here in my country while the Philippines were colonized by Spain? After the Spain surrendered to the Americans and gave up its colonies, the US took the Philippines, together with Cuba, Puerto Rico and Guam, over and liberalize everything including the religion. That time, many Non-Spanish religious orders and congregations came to our country (During the Spanish era, only Spanish religious orders were allowed). In the subject of physical education, my mother had studied and played football but the German football was introduced.

Perhaps, I inherited this interest with Germany when it comes to football. If the Philippines entered the FIFA World Cup. I'll give my support but never drop German team.

Last June 27, I watched the match of Germany and England which was held at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa (10:00pm, Manila time) and was happy with their scores of 4-1, respectively. On July 3, there will a quarterfinal match of Germany and Argentina which will be held at Cape Town, South Africa.

Update (July 4; 9:41pm-Manila Time): I watched again the match between Germany and Argentina. Germany won with the goal of 4-0.

He will be 36 on January 11

Happy Birthday!

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Maligayang Kaarawan!

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fröhliche Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!

Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon!

JENS NOWOTNY: A Marian Devotee

The family that prays together stays together.
Fr. Patrick Peyton, Roman Catholic Family Rosary Crusade

September is a month of celebration of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a Mother of God, we should honor, adore and give praise because Jesus also honors her. She also help us to strengthen our faith by guiding us the path towards God with suffer and comfort. We should love and be thankful to her because she loves us as she loves his Son, Jesus Christ.

A Roman Catholic Jens Nowotny has a strong devotion to Mama Mary. His first-born child was named Mia, a Scandinavian, Dutch and German diminutive of Maria. Since he was a player of Bayer Leverkusen 04 and lived near Cologne, Cologne Cathedral is one of his churches where the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of its patrons.

Our Lady of Fatima

Jen's life is very prophetic especially in the field of football. His last appearance as a footballer in Dinamo Zagreb (blue is the color of its jersey and the color of the Virgin Mary) does not mean an end of his role in football. God has a greater plan for him by changing him another path. However, he will experience many trials including his life as a prerequisite of success of his job, service and mission in football but he has a strong integrity.

Most of the avid devotees of the Our Lady of Fatima die on the first Saturday of the month because it is a day of Our Lady aside from the 13th day of May and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

He played at the FIFA World Cup once in his whole life as a footballer with the competitor of his team: PORTUGAL

A Prayer to Mother for Jens Nowotny

Our Loving Mother,
In his enjoyable comfort and inevitable suffer,
In his glorious success and unexpected failure
in his field of football since the time of his childhood,
help him in guiding and lead him his way
to God through Jesus Christ.

Love and treat him as your child
as you love and treat your Son, Jesus;
Help him to open his humble heart
to get closer to God and have strong faith
by showing a sign that he feels he is loved and not neglected
and his fall and failures are overcome to continue his mission;

Love also his family
as you love your family with St. Joseph and Jesus;
Help them also to live with happy life
and have well-disciplined and educated children;
Enjoy listening their prayer that honors God and you
and send the graces to them as a reward from God.

Recommend him to be the instrument of God. Amen

Hail Mary, full of grace,
our Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and in
the hour of our death.
Amen.

Gegrüßet seist du, Maria, voll der Gnade,
der Herr ist mit dir.
Du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen,
und gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus.
Heilige Maria, Mutter Gottes,
bitte für uns Sünder jetzt und in der Stunde
unseres Todes.
Amen

Aba Ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasiya,
Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo.
Bukod kang pinagpala sa babaeng lahat
At pinagpala rin naman ang anak mong si Hesus.
Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos
Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan
Ngayon at kung kami'y mamamatay.
Amen

N O W O T N Y

Nowotny is the German spelling of the common Czech surname Novotny, also widespread in Austria and Germany. Novotny, however, is derived from Slavic novy which means "new"; originally a name for someone who was new to a village.

People with this surname:

Chris Nowotny - (1928 - 1989), a German photographer
Christa Maria Manley (née Nowotny) - mother of Princess Alexandra of Denmark
Eva Nowotny (1944- ) - Austrian professor and ambassador
Ewald Nowotny (1944- ) - Austrian economist and politician
Helga Nowotny - Austrian sociologist
Jens Nowotny (1974- ) - German football (soccer) player
Karl Anton Nowotny (1904–1978), Austrian ethnographer, academic and Mesoamericanist scholar
Stanley "Stan Robert Nowotny - (?), an Australian football player
Walter Nowotny (1920-1944), German fighter pilot, Luftwaffe ace during World War II

One of Jen's symbols

Because of his tough authority, here's the image of one of his symbols:

The Meaning of His Name

His name Jens, a Scandinavian origin, is a Danish form of JOHN which is derived from Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name Ιωαννης (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "Yahweh is gracious".

This name owes its popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered saints. The first was John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic who baptized at the Jordan Riverand was considered the forerunner of Jesus Christ. The second was the apostle John, who was long-lived apostle and loved by Christ. He also supposedly the author of the fourth Gospel and Revelation.

JENS NOWOTNY: A Devoted Lay Person of the Roman Catholic Church

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and those who believes in me shall never be thirsty."

John 6:35

Jens Nowotny, a Roman Catholic, have been a lay person before his time of his career as a professional footballer. Although he was a captain of Bayer Leverkusen 04, he attends Holy Mass (perhaps at the Cologne Cathedral) together with his family and we know he is the busiest player because of his position on that German club. Indeed, his wife is a very religious person. He encourages his co-players to give time to God like praying, reading the Bible and attending the Holy Mass. Even at Zagreb, Croatia, he never neglects to attenc when he became a part of Dinamo Zagreb. Perhaps, he had seen the young people participating the Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth organized by Taizé Community last 2006 at that place. Most of the participants are from the youth. When it comes to interview, he also uses biblical passage as his reference for sharing a moral lessons.

Even he is retired from his career, he is still serving God. He is still an active lay person by means of sharing his knowledge on football to make the people happy especially from the youth and promote peace and order.

JENS NOWOTNY: God-Fearing Person

Jens had knee injuries many times when he was playing with Bayer Leverkusen 04 and even Dinamo Zagreb. For me, he is one of the luckiest persons in the whole world because God really loves and never leaves him as a child. Many footballers and other sportsmen who have no time and even forget to attend for worship according to their religion because of their spending most of their time with their career feel or notice themselves they haven't received any consequence from and no fear of God and what will happen to themselves if they neglect their duties and responsibilities with their faith especially those who commit the glory of their career and with their championships. Moreover, God gave that kind of consequence for his mistakes in his career as a professional footballer rather than the heaviest punishment or ultimatum be given to the person who doesn't encounter any consequences while they were living in this world.

God has a big plan for him more than from his previous career in the future in the field of the sports of football.

The Artworks of Jens Nowotny

For several years of searching of images of his, I had been thinking how can he have some artistic images. However, I should have a purpose of creating these artworks.

I made these images as a tribute for him as a football player.

My YouTube for Jens

I made this video for him as a dedication when the his farewell game was held last October 7, 2007. Unexpectedly, my video has the most number of viewers in all Nowotny's video in YouTube.



Because of that number of viewers and to add more videos about him as our support, I made another video of this.

How Do I Know Jens Nowotny?

FIFA World Cup 2006...it was held at Germany.

Since I watched the FIFA World Cup 2002 which was held in Japan (together with South Korea) because they reached the final game for championship with Brazil, Germany national football team have become my favorite team though Filipinos are apathetic with this kind of sports. Hence, at that year, I opened the official website of this grandiose event to see the team again and know its player; surmising the profiles and details of theirs. Until I see the image at the left that is something unusual, a strong impact of Nowotny's image strike to me because of his sacrosanct smile. I become curious with his image a its start because of these reasons: something with kingship, something priestly, something prophetic.

Kingship
He looks as a courageous, brave, tough person. I think that he has iron fist and his commandment is a law. He has a sense of strong authority for me. Don't make aggressive, subversive, drastic altercations on him because he has a gun.

Priestly
As a footballer, he uses football to promote peace, order, morality and values of the life of the person. He does something to make the people happy especially the kids by letting himself to play with football. He loves to share all his knowledge in football.

As my first time to see his image, he looks like very religious person. He looks like a priest, or monk or even a saint. He, a Roman Catholic, also looks for me an active lay person of the Church. Furthermore, his wife, Michaela, is a very religious person.

Prophetic
I don't think on him a clairvoyant. However, their is something related with his career. The end of his career is a beginning of his new role in football. Football never drops him and he is not really fed up with that kind of sports. But, for me, he will have a great role become one of the most repsected person in the field of football in the future.

Insomuch that he is very good speaker and very passionate with the kids and youth, he is also good teacher for me. Moreover, for me, he looks like a professor or faculty member of the reputable university.