This burning fire

The Leonine Prayers

2012-01-27T20:49:00.000Z

... Prayers after Low Mass which were prescribed by Pope Leo XIII who composed the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel, and were reinforced by Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII to pray for the conversion of Russia. These prayers were in effect until after Vatican II. A decade later Paul VI said, "satan has entered the sanctuary." Could the elimination of these powerful prayers with a ten year indulgence have played a huge part in allowing the devil such easy access? The answer is obvious.
More at http://www.dailycatholic.org/leonine.htm

Pictures:

Bettmann/ Corbis

Francesco De Federicis Alinari Archives/ Florence Alinari via Getty Images/ Life

With thanks to Musings to a Pertinacious Papist.

Golden cobblestones remember victims of the Nazi Holocaust

2012-01-27T18:27:00.000Z

Euthanasia must always be prohibited

2012-01-27T18:21:00.000Z

Council of Europe votes that euthanasia must always be prohibited

..."intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit, must always be prohibited." - let's hope that it may, in the future, be applied to the unborn people also, since they are dependent human beings.

Read it at Protect the Pope.

Priests need prayer

2012-01-27T17:01:00.000Z

The initiative of Polish Catholics to strengthen priesthood ministry.

Vespers at St. Paul Outside the Walls

2012-01-25T20:58:00.000Z

The conversion of St. Paul

2012-01-25T12:50:00.000Z

And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.
And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him, stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.
And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.
And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.

World Day of Communications

2012-01-24T19:20:00.000Z

The Angelus - 22.1.12 II

2012-01-22T17:08:00.002Z

The Angelus - 22.1.12 I

2012-01-22T16:54:00.002Z

Pope: Christian unity comes from God, but requires our daily commitment

Pope invites large turn-out for Vespers of January 25 in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for the conclusion of the Week for Christian unity. Best wishes to the peoples of the Far East for the Lunar New Year.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The visible unity of all Christians is always the work of above, of God, a work that requires the humility to recognize our weakness and to welcome the gift. However, to use an expression frequently expressed by Blessed Pope John Paul II, every gift becomes commitment. The unity that comes from God requires, therefore, our daily commitment to be open to one another in love” is the message of Benedict XVI in his reflection before the Sunday Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square.

The pope wanted to devote his own short address to unity, as this Sunday falls during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25), inviting everyone to participate in "large numbers" in the vespers that will be held on the 25th in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where representatives of other Christian Churches will also be present.

Benedict XVI also briefly commented on this year's theme: "All shall be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor 15.51-58). "We are called - he said - to contemplate Christ's victory over sin and death, his resurrection as an event that transforms those who believe in Him and opens them up to an incorruptible and immortal life. Recognizing and accepting the transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ, sustains Christians in their search for full unity. "

This year, the theme and reflection for the week was chosen and prepared by a Polish group. "The words of the aforementioned theme - explained the pope - have a particular resonance and relevance for Poland. Over the centuries, Polish Christians have spontaneously understood a spiritual dimension in their desire for freedom and have realized that the true victory can only come if accompanied by a profound inner transformation. They remind us that our search for unity can be conducted in a realistic way if the change takes place primarily in ourselves if we allow God to act, if we allow ourselves to be transformed to the image of Christ, if we enter into new life in Christ, which is the real victory . The visible unity of all Christians is always the work that comes from above, from God, which requires humility to recognize our weakness and to accept the gift".

"For many decades - he added - the Week of Prayer for Christian unity is a central element in the ecumenical activity of the Church. The time we devote to prayer for the full communion of the disciples of Christ will enable us to understand more deeply how we can be transformed by his victory, the power of his resurrection. "

Recalling the appointment of January 25 in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Benedict XVI concluded: "I invite you in great numbers to this encounter so that together we can renew our liturgical prayer to the Lord, source of unity. We entrust this from the outset, with filial confidence, to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. "

After the Marian prayer, the pontiff expressed his best wishes to the peoples of the Far East who tomorrow will celebrate the Lunar New Year, which this year is under the sign of the Dragon. "In these days - he said - various countries of the Far East will celebrate the Lunar New Year with joy. In the present world situation of economic and social crisis, for all those people I hope that the new year is marked by justice and peace, bringing relief to those who suffer, and that especially young people, with their enthusiasm, ideals and drive, can offer new hope to the world. "

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-Christian-unity-comes-from-God,-but-requires-our-daily-commitment-23763.html
Picture: Getty Images/ Daylife

On St. Agnes Day

2012-01-21T17:25:00.001Z

The Neocathecumenal Way Audience II

2012-01-20T16:34:00.013Z

The Pope, the Neo-Catechumenal Way and New Evangelisation

This Friday, Pope Benedict XVI not only approved the celebrations contained in the Catechetical Directory of the lay movement the Neo-Catechumenal Way, but in a special audience with 7 thousand of its members, he sent out seventeen new "ad gentes" missions drawn from the global movement to bring the Gospel to those countries where it has never been announced, and others where it has been forgotten.

Each mission is made up of three or four large families, members of the Neo-Catechumenal Way who, accompanied by a priest. In short, their task is to kick start the new evangelisation. Twelve missions will go to Europe, four to America and one to Africa.

The Holy Father's told the 7 thousand strong audience Friday "Over these decades of life of the Way, your firm commitment has been to proclaim the Gospel of the risen Christ, ... often abandoning personal and material security. ... Bringing Christ to mankind and mankind to Christ is what animates all evangelising work. You achieve this on a path which helps those who have already been baptised to rediscover the beauty of the life of faith, the joy of being Christian. ... We know that this is not always easy. Sometimes you find yourselves in places in which a first announcement of the Gospel is needed: the 'missio ad gentes'. At other times you are present in areas which, though they have known Christ, have become indifferent to the faith, areas in which laicism has eclipsed the sense of God and obscured Christian values. May your commitment and witness be as a leaven which - patiently, respecting times and with 'sensus Ecclesia' - causes the dough to rise”.

The Papal audience also marked the publication Friday of a decree approving the celebrations contained in the Catechetical Directory of the Neo-Catechumenal Way.

Pope Benedict commented on the decree in his address, saying although "not strictly liturgical” they “are part of the itinerary of growth in the faith. This is a further element showing you that the Church accompanies you attentively and with patient discernment, that she understands your richness but also looks to the communion and harmony of the entire 'Corpus Ecclesiae'”.

"Precisely in order to foment a renewal of the richness of sacramental life among people who have distanced themselves from the Church, or who have not received adequate formation, the members of the Neo-Catechumenal Way can celebrate the Sunday Eucharist in small communities".

"Yet even during the journey it is important not to separate oneself from the parish community, and particularly in the celebration of the Eucharist which is the true place of universal unity, where the Lord embraces us in our various states of spiritual maturity and unites us in the one bread that makes us one body".

The text of the decree published today reads:

"By a decree of 11 May 2008 the Pontifical Council for the Laity gave definitive approval to the Statutes of the Neo-Catechumenal Way. Subsequently, following due consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, by a decree of 26 December 2010, the council gave approval to the publication of the Catechetical Directory as a valid and binding instrument for the catechesis of the Neo-Catechumenal Way.

"Now, pursuant to articles 131 and 133 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Apostolic Constitution 'Pastor Bonus' on the Roman Curia, the Pontifical Council for the Laity, having received the 'nulla osta' of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, grants approval to those celebrations contained in the Catechetical Directory of the Neo-Catechumenal Way which are not, by their nature, already regulated by the liturgical books of the Church".

http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=556311

Picture: AFP/ Osseravatore Romano

The Neocathecumenal Way Audience I

2012-01-20T16:15:00.000Z

AFP/ Andreas Solaro/ Profimedia

The Vatican this morning

2012-01-20T16:10:00.000Z

Cloudy, the Vatican, this morning. The Neocathecumenal Audience was under way.

Today's Martyrs in China

2012-01-18T20:44:00.000Z

Appeal: Bishops and priests disappeared or in prison, home for the Chinese New Year
by Bernardo Cervellera

During the Year of the Dragon, AsiaNews asks President Hu Jintao and ambassador Ding Wei for the release of three bishops and six Chinese priests who have disappeared in police custody or are in forced labour camps.

Rome (AsiaNews) - In a letter to President Hu Jintao and the Chinese ambassador in Italy, AsiaNews has decided to ask for the release of three bishops and of six priests who have disappeared in police custody or are detained in prison without trial. Their release could be a gesture of friendship and hope for Catholics and human rights activists, as well as a sign of true hope for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

In just a few days, on January 23, the world of the Far East celebrates the Lunar New Year: we will enter the Year of the Dragon, a very positive year that promises many fruits. In China, hundreds of millions of people will travel to join their families: the dawn of the New Year is always celebrated by strengthening the bonds of family and friendships which help to face the future with an even more positive outlook.

For this reason, we ask that for these three bishops and six priests to be restored to their families and their communities.

They were never charged with any crime; given the opportunity of a trial or convicted by a court. And yet they have been interred in forced labour camps or were seized by the police of a country that is a member of the UN Security Council and that has signed the Charter of Human Rights.
AsiaNews has decided to send a letter to the Chinese ambassador in Italy, the Hon. Ding Wei, who in recent days has admirably and diligently taken great care in serving the Chinese community in Italy, particularly after the tragic event of the barbaric killing of Zhou Zheng and small infant Joy.

Having wept and prayed with him for the family of Zhou, we ask the Hon. Ding for a little of this diligence and care towards the bishops and priests who have disappeared and been imprisoned unjustly, who are also his countrymen and our brothers.

Here is a list of bishops and priests in prison, or disappeared:

Bishops and priests who have disappeared in police custody
Msgr. James Su Zhimin underground bishop of Baoding (Hebei)Msgr. Su, nearly 80 years of age, was arrested by police on October 8, 1997. The charge that led to his arrest has never been revealed, nor whether a trial took place, while place of his detention is unknown. In November 2003 he was discovered by chance at a hospital in Baoding, surrounded by policemen. After a brief and hurried visit from relatives, he once again disappeared in police custody and to this day there has been no more information on his whereabouts.
Before his last arrest, Msgr. Su Zhimin spent at least 26 years on and off in prison or forced labour camps, branded as "counter-revolutionary" just because, since the 1950s, he always refused to join the Patriotic Association, which wants to build a national Church independent of the pope. In 1996 - from a hidden location because he was sought by the authorities – he was able to distribute an open letter calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights and religious freedom of the people. In all, has already spent 40 years in captivity.

Msgr Cosma Shi Enxiang, underground bishop of Yixian (Hebei)Bishop Shi, 90, was arrested April 13 the 2001, which was Good Friday. Nothing is known of him, although his family and the faithful continue to ask the police for at least some news of his wellbeing.
Msgr. Shi Enxiang has suffered long periods of prison from 1957 until 1980, was forced into hard labour, first on a farm in Heilongjiang, then as a miner in coal mines in Shanxi. He was arrested again for three years in 1983, followed by three years of house arrest. In 1989 – following the establishment of the Episcopal Conference of underground bishops – he was arrested once again and was only released in 1993, until his last arrest in 2001. In all, he has already spent 51 years in prison.

Fr. Joseph Lu Genjun, vicar general of the underground diocese of Baoding (Hebei)He disappeared in police custody February 17, 2006. Fr. Lu, who belongs to the underground Church, was arrested in February 2006 along with another priest and a friend whom he met at the train station in Baoding. The other priest was transferred to the Xushui prison (Hebei) and later released. Instead, to date no-one knows where Fr. Lu is imprisoned.
In December 2008, his parishioners asked the government for his release, even if only temporary, to be close to his dying parents and attend their funeral. But even this act of filial piety, which is of great importance in Chinese culture, was denied him.
Fr. Lu has suffered years of imprisonment and other violence. In 1998, Palm Sunday, he was jailed for a short period (perhaps to keep him from celebrating Masses during Holy Week). In 2001 he was sentenced to three years of "re-education through labour" (forced labour camps), accused of having conducted illegal missionary activities that undermine social order because he did not adhere to the Patriotic Association. He was released in 2003.
In May 2004 he was arrested along with another priest, shortly before giving a lecture on natural methods of birth control and moral theology. The two were kept for several days in Dingzhou prison, near Anguita (Hebei).

Fr. Zhang Jianlin, underground priest of the diocese of Xuanhua (Hebei)Fr. Zhang was taken away by staff of the Religious Affairs Bureau on 22 June 2011. Up to now no-one knows where he is being held.
In July 2009, Fr. Zhang had been taken away by police and placed under house arrest in a courtyard attached to the building of a government office. He had been given permission to receive visitors, but was been subjected to heavy physical and psychological tactics to force him to support the Council of Chinese Bishops (not recognized by the Holy See) and to join the Patriotic Association. After seven months of detention he was released, but was kept under constant control, he could not move freely, and was forbidden to practice his ministry
In 2008 he was arrested in Nanjing, for trying to go to the Marian shrine of Sheshan on May 24 and participate in the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, convoked by Pope Benedict XVI. Brought back to Hebei, he served a period of detention in Xuanhua.

Fr. Cui Tai, underground priest of the diocese of Xuanhua (Hebei)Fr. Cui disappeared in police custody June 22, 2011. That day some personalities of the government’s Religious Affairs Bureau dragged him away and since then he has disappeared without trace.
He had often been arrested and then released. During his periods of detention, he suffered hunger and his health has drastically deteriorated. In 1993, undergoing a sentence of three years in prison, was beaten and lost two teeth.
In 2001, due to an accident, the police discovered his identity as a priest and detained him in an isolated place in the mountains, forcing him to undergo political sessions and brainwashing. He was later released, but could never freely carry out his ministry, being under constant surveillance.

Bishops and priests who are detained or imprisoned
Fr. Liu Honggen, underground priest of the diocese of Baoding (Hebei)Fr. Liu and eight other priests were arrested in the village of Xinanzuo (Qingyuan County, Hebei), 27 December 2006. He is currently detained in the prison of Qingyuan

Fr. Ma Wuyong, underground priest of the diocese of Baoding (Hebei)Fr. Ma and 8 other priests were arrested in August 2004 in the village of Suijiazhuang (Quyang County, Hebei). The priests had gathered to celebrate their first year of ordination. At least 20 police cars arrived at the place carrying out a door to door search and arrest them. Fr. Ma is currently held in a prison in Qingyuan.
Before the Chinese New Year 2006, Fr. Ma was temporarily released from prison. He was re-arrested a month later, after attending the funeral of a priest of Baoding, Fr. Chen Baidu.

Fr. Wang Chengli, underground priest of the Diocese of Heze (Shandong)On 25 August 2011, Fr. Wang, 48, was sentenced to two and a half years of "re-education through labor" (forced labour) probably because he refused to join the Patriotic Association. To serve his sentence, the priest was transferred from Dongming prison to Jining concentration camp, over 150 miles from his county.

Msgr. Wu Qinjing, official bishop of the diocese of Zhouzhi (Shaanxi)Since November 2007 the government has forced this young bishop to remain imprisoned in the minor seminary in Xian and limits his activities. Bishop Wu was secretly ordained as a bishop of the official diocese of Zhouzhi, but without the permission of the local Patriotic Association. For this reason, since his ordination was made public (May 2006), the government has blocked all of his activities and has kidnapped him, forcing him to memorize the "Regulations on Religious Affairs". He is forbidden to carry the Episcopal insignia or carry out any activities as a bishop. He is still under house arrest at the seminary in Xian.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Appeal:-Bishops-and-priests-disappeared-or-in-prison,-home-for-the-Chinese-New-Year-23704.html

Today's Audience - 18.1.12

2012-01-18T16:52:00.001Z

Pope: Christian unity for "a common response to the spiritual hunger of our times."

Benedict XVI dedicates his general audience to the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. On the fundamental truths of faith, " unite us much more than divide us. But divisions remain, and also cover various practical and ethical issues, causing confusion and mistrust. " The achievement of full unity "demands that we allow ourselves to be transformed in an ever more perfect image of Christ."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The search for unity among Christians "is not an accessory", it "belongs to the very essence of the Christian community", "it is the responsibility of the whole Church, of all baptized, who must nourish the partial communion that exists between them, until full unity is achieved"," waiting for the glorious day when we can proclaim the Gospel together and celebrate the sacraments "and give" a common response to the spiritual hunger of our times. "

Benedict XVI dedicated his reflection for the general audience today to the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, underlining the essentiality of asking God for "that extraordinary gift evoked by Jesus himself at the Last Supper, 'that we all be one so that the world may believe. '"

To the more than eight thousand people present in the Paul VI at the Vatican, the Pope recalled that "the initiative of the Week was introduced in 1908 by Father Paul Wattson, founder of an Anglican religious community that later became part of the Catholic Church. The initiative received the blessing of Pope St. Pius X and was later promoted by Pope Benedict XV, who encouraged the celebration throughout the Catholic Church. "

The Second Vatican Council gave a new impulse to the prayer for unity that "increases our awareness of the fact that the unity towards which we strive can not only be the result of our efforts, but that it is a gift from above."

Each year the theme of the week is chosen by an ecumenical group of a different region of the world. This year it was chosen by representatives of the Catholic Church and the Polish Ecumenical Council. The theme is taken from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians: "All shall be changed by the victory of Jesus Christ our Lord."

"The particular history of the Polish nation, which experienced a period of democratic life and religious freedom in the sixteenth century, in recent centuries has been marked by invasions and defeats, but also by the constant struggle against oppression and thirst for freedom. All this has led the ecumenical group to reflect more deeply on the true meaning of victory and defeat. "

"Compared to victory meant in terms of triumphalism, Christ suggests a very different way: his victory was not one of power and force. For he says: 'If one wants to be first, be last of all and servant of all'. Christ spoke of a victory through suffering, love, service to others, mutual help, new hope and practical relief given to the last, the forgotten, the rejected. For all Christians, the highest expression of that humble service is Jesus Christ himself, who makes the total gift of himself, his the victory of love over death on the Cross. "

The words of Saint Paul, the Pope added, indicate that the achievement of full unity "demands that we allow ourselves to be transformed to an ever more perfect image of Christ. The unity for which we pray requires an interior conversion, both in communion and personnel. It is not just a question of cordiality and cooperation, we must strengthen our faith in God. "

For this reason, "the prayer for unity should not limited to this week, but must become an integral part of the life of prayer, of all Christians in any place and at any time, especially when people of different traditions meet and work together for the victory in Christ, over all that is sin, evil, injustice, violation of human dignity. "

Since the modern ecumenical movement was born, in fact, "there has always been a clear awareness that the lack of unity among Christians prevents a more effective announcement of the Gospel, because it destroys or endangers our credibility." "Certainly, - said the Pope - as regards the fundamental truths of the faith, much more unites us than divides us. But divisions remain, and also cover various practical and ethical issues, causing confusion and mistrust, weakening our ability to convey the saving word of Christ ".

"It is a great challenge for new evangelization, which may be more fruitful if all Christians proclaim together the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and give a joint response to the spiritual hunger of our times."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-Christian-unity-for-a-common-response-to-the-spiritual-hunger-of-our-times.-23730.html

Picture: AFP / Tiziana Fabi/ Profimedia

News.va

2012-01-18T09:33:00.000Z

Vatican pleased news website is popular

By David Kerr

Vatican City, Jan 17, 2012 / 01:45 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Social Communications says it is very happy with new figures that show over 10,000 people are using its online news site every day.

“I think that for an initiative that is only a few months old these results are really quite positive,” said Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the communications council, in a Jan. 13 interview with CNA. The site, http://www.news.va/, went live in June 2011.

“For example, at Christmas we were having over 16,000 visitors a day, and according to the research, 52 percent of those were new visitors to the site.”

Archbishop Celli also revealed that visitors to the page come from 180 different countries, with many people favoring the live streaming site for papal events.

The Vatican’s news site already operates in English, Spanish and Italian, but it is expanding to other languages. Archbishop Celli said that the site will begin offering news in French this month and in February it will go live in Portuguese.

“So in less than one year we’re having news.va in the five main languages that are used today,” he said.

The Vatican’s news portal was launched by Pope Benedict XVI in June 2011. With the tap of an iPad, the Pope sent a message on Twitter that said, “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI.”

The site brought together all the Vatican’s communication outlets into one online location for the first time ever. That list includes Fides News Agency, the newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy See Press Office, the Vatican Information Service, Vatican Radio and the Vatican television service, CTV. However, each news source still maintains its own independent website.

Archbishop Celli briefed Pope Benedict on the latest developments with the new venture during a 20-minute audience on Jan. 13. The two also discussed other projects being carried out by the pontifical council.

“I usually see him every year, as it is my duty to keep the Holy Father informed as to what we are doing and to receive from him advice and to know exactly what he wants from us,” he said.

The archbishop recalled how the Pope expressed “his deep conviction about the value of communication in the Church of today,” with a particular view towards the beginning of the Year of Faith in October 2012.

Archbishop Celli explained that the Pontifical Council for Social Communications has various projects in preparation for the Year of Faith, although he is keeping tight lipped about them at the moment.

“I will keep you informed. Thank you. God bless,” he said with a smile.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-pleased-its-news-website-is-popular/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29&utm_term=daily+news

Today's Audience - 11.1.12

2012-01-11T17:33:00.000Z

Pope: in the Eucharist, Jesus gives of himself so that our life is not lost

Continuing the cycle of catechesis "as Jesus prayed," Benedict XVI dedicates the general audience to the Last Supper. The gestures and words of Jesus. By participating in the Eucharist, "we live in an extraordinary way the prayer that Jesus has made and continually makes for each one of us so that evil, which we all encounter in life, does not act in us or vanquish the transforming power of the death and resurrection of Christ. "

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Participating in the Eucharist " we live in an extraordinary way the prayer that Jesus has made and continually makes for each one of us so that evil, which we all encounter in life, does not act in us or win", "so that our life is not lost, despite our weakness and unfaithfulness. " Continuing his reflections on Christ’s prayer, Benedict XVI today spoke to eight thousand people who attended the general audience at the Vatican, about the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

The General Audience was marked by the festive presence of some circus acrobats who performed with for the Pope

In his speech, he described the Last Supper as a "especially impressive" and "emotional” moment, where Jesus bids farewell to his friends." Mark says that from the start of the journey to Jerusalem "he began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many things," "be killed and after three days rise again."

At that time, the life of the people of Israel "was marked by the approach of Easter, that is by the memory of the liberation of the people." The Last Supper is inserted into this context but in a totally new context: "Jesus looks towards his passion, death and resurrection, being fully aware of it. He wants to live this supper with his disciples, with a totally different character from other special feasts; it is his banquet, to which he brings something totally new: himself. In this way, Jesus celebrated the Passover, anticipating his cross and his resurrection. "

The "core" of this dinner "are the gestures of the breaking of bread, distributing it among his disciples and the sharing of the cup of wine with the words that accompany them, and in the context of prayer into which they are inserted: it is the institution of the Eucharist ".

In the Gospel stories, said the Pope, Paul and Luke speak of Eucharist / thanksgiving: 'He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them', Mark and Matthew, however, emphasize the aspect of eulogy / blessing 'he took bread and said the blessing, broke it and gave it to them. '"

The two different Greek words indicate the two intrinsic and complementary directions of this prayer. There is "the thanks and praise" that rises to God for the gift received: in the Last Supper this is the bread and wine. "This prayer of praise and thanksgiving, which rises to God, returns as a blessing, the gift that descends from God and enriches it. Giving thanks, praising God becomes thus becomes a blessing, and the offering given to God Almighty blesses man in return. The words of institution are placed in the context of prayer; in them praise and the blessing becomes a blessing and transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus

Before the words "are the gestures: that of the breaking of the bread and offering of the wine. He who breaks the bread and passed the cup is above all the head of the household, who welcomes his family to his table, but these gestures are also those of hospitality, welcoming to the friendly communion of the foreigner, who is not part of the house. These same gestures, in the meal in which Jesus took leave of his friends, take on a whole new depth: He gives a visible sign of welcome to the table in which God gifts himself. Jesus in the bread and wine offers and communicates Himself. "

Jesus knows that his life is about to be taken away through the torment of the cross. "With the gift of bread and wine offered at the Last Supper, Jesus anticipated his death and resurrection realizing what he had said in the speech of the Good Shepherd:" I give my life to take it up again. No one takes it from me: I give it myself. I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again. This is the command I received from my Father. " He offers his life in advance that will be taken from him and thus transforms his violent death into a free act of giving of oneself to others and for others. The violence becomes an active, free and redemptive sacrifice. "

Looking at the actions and words of Jesus, "we clearly see that the constant and intimate relationship with the Father is the place where he realises the gesture of leaving his own, and each of us, the sacrament of love."

Luke offers another element, that "allows us to see the depth of the moving prayer of Jesus for his friends that night, his attention to each. Starting from the prayer of thanksgiving and blessing, Jesus comes to the gift of the Eucharist, the gift of Himself, and, while as he is gifting it the decisive, sacramental reality he turns to Peter, "and says:" Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat; But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, once converted, will strengthen your brothers. " The prayer of Jesus, when the his disciples are put to the test, strengthens their weakness, their efforts to understand the way of God through the paschal mystery of death and resurrection, anticipated in the offering of bread and wine . The Eucharist is food for the pilgrims that becomes strength for those who are tired, exhausted and disoriented. And this prayer is especially for Peter, so that, once converted, he confirmed the brethren in the faith. The Evangelist Luke recalls that it was Jesus' gaze that sought the face of Peter when after he had denied his master three times, to give him the strength to continue his journey behind Him. "

Participating in the Eucharist, the Pope concluded, "we live in an extraordinary way the prayer that Jesus has made and continually makes for each one of us so that evil, which we all encounter in life, does not act in us or vanquish the transforming power of the death and Resurrection of Christ. " We ask the Lord that "our participation in his Eucharist, which is essential for Christian life, may always be the highest point of all our prayers. We ask that, in deep communion with his own offering to the Father, we too can transform our crosses into free and responsible sacrifice, of love for God and our brethren. "

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-in-the-Eucharist,-Jesus-gives-of-himself-so-that-our-life-is-not-lost-23668.html

Picture: Reuters

The next portuguese Cardinal

2012-01-10T17:35:00.000Z

Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro

Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary

He will be elevated to Cardinal on 18.2.12. May Our Lord help him being a good Cardinal.

The other Portuguese Cardinals:

José Cardinal Saraiva Martins, C.M.F.

Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

José da Cruz Cardinal Policarpo

Patriarch of Lisboa {Lisbon}

Audience to the Diplomatic Corps II

2012-01-09T20:07:00.000Z

Stefano Carofei-Pool/Getty Image

Audience to the Diplomatic Corps I

2012-01-09T20:02:00.001Z

Pope Benedict: the financial crisis and religious freedom at the heart of the Pope's discourse to diplomats

2012-01-09 Vatican Radio

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday received in audience the members of the diplomatic corps who are accredited to the Holy See and pronounced his annual "State of the World" address.

Here is the full text:

Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is always a particular pleasure for me to receive you, the distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, in the splendid setting of this Sala Regia, and personally to offer you my cordial good wishes for the New Year. Before all else, I thank your Dean, Ambassador Alejandro Valladares Lanza, and the Vice-Dean, Ambassador Jean-Claude Michel, for the respectful sentiments which they expressed on your behalf, and I offer a special greeting to all those taking part in our meeting for the first time. Through you my good wishes extend to all the nations which you represent and with which the Holy See maintains diplomatic relations. It is a joy for us that Malaysia joined this community in the past year. The dialogue which you maintain with the Holy See favours the exchange of views and information, as well as cooperation in areas of common interest which are bilateral or multilateral in nature. Your presence today evokes the important contribution which the Church makes to your societies in areas such as education, health care and social services. A sign of the cooperation existing between the Catholic Church and States is seen in the Accords reached in 2011 with Azerbaijan, Montenegro and Mozambique. The first has already been ratified; I trust that this will also be the case with the two others, and that those currently under negotiation will soon be concluded. The Holy See also desires to establish a fruitful dialogue with international and regional organizations, and in this context I note with satisfaction that the member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have accepted the appointment of an Apostolic Nuncio accredited to that organization. Nor can I fail to mention that last December the Holy See strengthened its longstanding cooperation with the International Organization for Migration by becoming a full member. This is a sign of the commitment of the Holy See and the Catholic Church, alongside the international community, in the search for suitable solutions to this phenomenon which presents a number of aspects ranging from the safeguarding of the dignity of persons to concern for the common good of both the communities which receive them and those from which they come.

More at http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-the-financial-crisis-and-religious-f

Picture: Pier Paulo Cito/ AP/ Pool/ Profimedia

St. Andre Bessette Feast Day

2012-01-06T18:51:00.000Z

When Alfred Bessette came to the Holy Cross Brothers in 1870, he carried with him a note from his pastor saying, "I am sending you a saint." The Brothers found that difficult to believe. Chronic stomach pains had made it impossible for Alfred to hold a job very long and since he was a boy he had wandered from shop to shop, farm to farm, in his native Canada and in the United States, staying only until his employers found out how little work he could do. The Holy Cross Brothers were teachers and, at 25, Alfred still did not know how to read and write. It seemed as if Alfred approached the religious order out of desperation, not vocation.

Alfred was desperate, but he was also prayerful and deeply devoted to God and Saint Joseph. He may have had no place left to go, but he believed that was because this was the place he felt he should have been all along.

The Holy Cross Brothers took him into the novitiate but soon found out what others had learned -- as hard as Alfred, now Brother Andre, wanted to work, he simply wasn't strong enough. They asked him to leave the order, but Andre, out of desperation again, appealed to a visiting bishop who promised him that Andre would stay and take his vows.

After his vows, Brother Andre was sent to Notre Dame College in Montreal (a school for boys age seven to twelve) as a porter. There his responsibilities were to answer the door, to welcome guests, find the people they were visiting, wake up those in the school, and deliver mail. Brother Andre joked later, "At the end of my novitiate, my superiors showed me the door, and I stayed there for forty years."

More at http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=18

St. Joan of Arc was born 600 years ago

2012-01-06T18:47:00.000Z

May her example inspires us and gives us courage in the fight.

The Epiphany in the Vatican - I

2012-01-06T12:56:00.005Z

The great star that leads us on, is Christ himself.

The Pope's Homily: Dear Brothers and Sisters! The Epiphany is a feast of light. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Is 60:1). With these words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church describes the content of the feast. He who is the true light, and by whom we too are made to be light, has indeed come into the world. He gives us the power to become children of God (cf. Jn 1:9,12). The journey of the wise men from the East is, for the liturgy, just the beginning of a great procession that continues throughout history. With the Magi, humanity’s pilgrimage to Jesus Christ begins – to the God who was born in a stable, who died on the Cross and who, having risen from the dead, remains with us always, until the consummation of the world (cf. Mt 28:20).

More at http://www.news.va/en/news/the-great-star-that-leads-us-on-is-christ-himself
Picture: GABRIEL BOUYS/ AFP/ Getty Images/ Daylife

The Epiphany in the Vatican - II

2012-01-06T12:56:00.003Z

GABRIEL BOUYS/ AFP/ Getty Images/ Daylife

Thanks be to God for this man

2012-01-05T14:35:00.001Z

Read it at LINEN ON THE HEDGEROW .

Today's Audience - 4.1.12

2012-01-04T17:14:00.000Z

Pope: Christmas time spurs each of us to witness "the light that comes"

In the first general audience of the New Year, Benedict XVI illustrates the meaning of the days from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, the "hiddenness of God" in human nature to its manifestation. Time of joy, "our wonder to see how God is close to us, how he acts in history" and of light, "but above all it is our accepting the Child so that his feelings, his thoughts, his actions become our feelings, our thoughts, our actions. "
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Christmas season - which runs from December 24 to January 6, is marked by our " our amazement to see how God is close to us, how he acts in history " and joy, "because the Lord was born." Celebrating Christmas means "stopping to contemplate that Child, the mystery of God who becomes man in poverty, but above all it is our accepting the Child so that his feelings, his thoughts, his actions become our feelings, our thoughts, our actions. "

The first general audience of Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 was dedicated to the Christmas season. It is '"a short period of time, but full of mysteries and celebrations gathered around Christmas and Epiphany."

To the eight thousand people present in the Paul VI audience hall at the Vatican, Benedict XVI addressed his best wishes for the New Year and highlighted how Christmas recalls a "historical fact", a time when "the hiddenness of God is manifested in the human condition "while the Epiphany" is His manifestation, the appearance of God in humanity itself. " An "manifestation" - which is the meaning of the Greek word epiphany - that is expressed in a variety of events, in particular the "Adoration of the Magi, who recognize Jesus as the messiah," the baptism in the River Jordan "with the voice of God "which shows the sonship of Jesus and the Wedding at Cana, with the first miracle.

"What is the first reaction to this extraordinary event of God becoming man? The first reaction can only be joy, rejoice because the Lord was born. " "This is the climate that opens the Gospel." "Joy and wonder of seeing how God is at hand, how He acts in history", "contemplating the face of that Child, because we know that is the face of God. We are finally sure that God is good, who lowers Himself to us so that he can raise us up to Himself. "

"The texts of the liturgy of this time are filled with wonder and joy," "Christmas is the point where heaven and earth are united": "the far, that seems so very distant, became close, the unreachable became reachable" .

Theology and spirituality speak of the "wonderful exchange between divinity and humanity." "The first act of exchange is this humanity of Christ. The Word took on our humanity. " The second act is "in our real and intimate participation in the divine nature of the Word."

"God comes so close to share in our own birth." "Thus the dream of humanity is realized, realized in an unexpected way, not in the greatness of man that can not become God, but in the love of God who became man."

Another aspect that characterizes Christmas is light. "When the angel appears to shepherds, Luke says that the glory of the Lord shone around them". Jesus "the Word made flesh, is the true light that comes into the world: the liturgy of Christmas is filled with light." In the solemnity of the Epiphany, the Church presents a passage from Isaiah, "Arise, cloth yourself in light because your light has come".

"The invitation 'arise, shine', renewed during the feast of the Epiphany is a call to the Church, the community of Christ, but also to each one of us, an invitation to have an even more vivid sense of mission and responsibility towards the world to witness and bring the new light of the Gospel.''

''The Church - the Pope said after quoting the Constitution Lumen Gentium of Vatican II – is not the light, but receives the light of Christ, it welcomes it to be enlightened, and spread it in all its splendor and this must also be for our personal life. " Celebrating Christmas, in short "is to manifest the joy, the novelty, the light that this birth has brought into our lives and ourselves to be the bearers of this joy."
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-Christmas-time-spurs-each-of-us-to-witness-the-light-that-comes-23608.html

Image by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

The Holy Name of Jesus

2012-01-03T19:27:00.001Z

That in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.

What does IHS stand for? The meaning of the Holy Name of Jesus .

Christmas time at the Vatican

2012-01-02T15:17:00.000Z

24.12.11

Getty Images/ Daylife

Getty Images/ Daylife

25.12.11

Getty Images/ Daylife

AP/ Daylife

31.12.11

Reuters/ Daylife

Reuters/ Daylife

1.1.12

AP/ Daylife

Getty Images/ Daylife

St. Thomas Becket Day

2011-12-29T14:57:00.002Z

Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury, born at London, 21 December, 1118 (?); died at Canterbury, 29 December, 1170. St. Thomas was born of parents who, coming from Normandy, had settled in England some years previously. No reliance can be placed upon the legend that his mother was a Saracen. In after life his humble birth was made the subject of spiteful comment, though his parents were not peasants, but people of some mark, and from his earliest years their son had been well taught and had associated with gentlefolk. He learned to read at Merton Abbey and then studied in Paris. On leaving school he employed himself in secretarial work, first with Sir Richer de l'Aigle and then with his kinsman, Osbert Huitdeniers, who was "Justiciar" of London. Somewhere about the year 1141, under circumstances that are variously related, he entered the service of Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, and in that household he won his master's favour and eventually became the most trusted of all his clerks. A description embodied in the Icelandic Saga and derived probably from Robert of Cricklade gives a vivid portrait of him at this period.

To look upon he was slim of growth and pale of hue, with dark hair, a long nose, and a straightly featured face. Blithe of countenance was he, winning and loveable in his conversation, frank of speech in his discourses, but slightly stuttering in his talk, so keen of discernment and understanding that he could always make difficult questions plain after a wise manner.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14676a.htm

Place where St.Thomas was killed in Canterbury Cathedral.

Images
http://oreald.com/picture1968.html
http://www.redbubble.com/people/bobculshaw/works/4493488-shrine-to-saint-thomas-becket

Cuba: For More Than 2,500, a Reprieve Before Pope’s Visit

2011-12-28T11:39:00.001Z

By REUTERS
Published: December 27, 2011

More than 2,500 Cuban prisoners have been released in recent days under a New Year’s amnesty announced before a visit this spring by Pope Benedict XVI, a local human rights group said Tuesday in Havana. President Raúl Castro said Friday that the ruling Council of State had granted amnesty to more than 2,900 common prisoners, although not all were immediately released. Mr. Castro said that the amnesty was a “humanitarian gesture” and that the council had also “taken into account” the coming papal visit and requests by, among others, top Roman Catholic Church officials in Cuba and relatives of the prisoners. Elizardo Sánchez, director of the independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights, said his group applauded the releases, “but really it is a limited gesture as we calculate there are between 70,000 and 80,000 Cubans in prison.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weOw5gTXBf4&feature=related

New research from ENEA on the sacred Linen kept in Turin marco tosatti

2011-12-19T14:00:00.005Z

marco tosatti
rome

Enea, the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, has published a report on five years of experiments conducted in the ENEA center of Frascati on the “shroud-like coloring of linen fabrics by far ultraviolet radiation”. “Simply put: we tried to understand how the Shroud of Turin was imprinted by an image so special that it constitutes its charm, and poses a great and very radical challenge, "to identify the physical and chemical processes capable of generating a color similar to that of the image on the Shroud. "

In the following article will see how this research developed (the complete version can be found at this link: opac.bologna.enea.it/RT/2011/2011_14_ENEA.pdf ).

Scientists (Di Lazzaro, Murra, Santoni, Nichelatti and Baldacchini) start from the last (and only) comprehensive interdisciplinary exam of the sheet, completed in 1978 by a team of American scientists from Sturp (Shroud of Turin Research Project). A starting point which all too often those who write about and dissect the Shroud prefer not to take into account, in spite what is evidenced by available information verified by an accurate control on “peer reviewed” journals, that is, approved by other scientists in objective and independent ways. The Enea report, with a lot of fair play and almost "en passant", very clearly refutes the hypothesis that the Shroud of Turin might be the work of a medieval forger. The hypothesis was supported – against many weighted arguments – by the results of the disputable and probably biased - C14 measurements; a test whose credibility has been rendered very fragile not only by objective difficulties (the possibility that the fabric is contaminated is very high, especially since its historical journey is only partially known), but also from proven factual errors of calculation and the inability to obtain “raw data” from the laboratories for the necessary controls. In spite of repeated requests. An omission which in itself can throw a heavy shadow over the scientific accuracy of the episode.

The report notes: “The double image (front and back) of a scourged and crucified man, barely visible on the linen cloth of the Shroud of Turin has many physical and chemical characteristics that are so particular that the staining which is identical in all its facets, would be impossible to obtain today in a laboratory, as discussed in numerous articles listed in the references. This inability to repeat (and therefore falsify) the image on the Shroud makes it impossible to formulate a reliable hypothesis on how the impression was made.

The Angelus - 18.12.11

2011-12-19T13:23:00.001Z

The visit to the Rebibbia prison

2011-12-19T13:19:00.001Z

Vespers II

2011-12-16T12:19:00.004Z

From Telepace.

Vespers I

2011-12-16T12:10:00.002Z

The Pope's visit to Cuba

2011-12-16T11:48:00.001Z

Cardinal says Pope's visit to Cuba will be a special grace

Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2011 / 02:04 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino of Havana voiced anticipation over Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to Cuba in March of 2012.

“The Pope’s visit is always a special grace like John Paul II’s was. I am sure Benedict XVI’s visit will be also,” he told CNA after a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 12.

During the Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Benedict announced his intention to visit Cuba and Mexico before Easter of 2012. He said he would travel to both countries “to proclaim the Word of Christ there and to and convince people that this is the time to evangelize with strong faith, living hope and burning charity.”

Pope Benedict will be the second pontiff to visit Cuba after the historic visit by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The Pope will arrive in Cuba during improving relations between the Castro government and the Church through the mediation of the Spanish government. More than 100 political prisoners were released in 2010 and 2011 and allowed to travel to Spain.

Relations are also improved thanks to a visit in June of 2010 by the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

While the process for releasing the political prisoners was met with some criticism by Cuban dissidents, many analysts consider the move to be a positive signal.

“I am very happy that the Pope is coming to Cuba, and we are waiting for him,” Cardinal Ortega told CNA. Vatican sources say the Pope will tentatively travel to Cuba March 26-28 and then return to Rome.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-says-popes-visit-to-cuba-will-be-a-special-grace/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29&utm_term=daily+news

Pope ends individual speeches to new Vatican ambassadors

2011-12-16T11:44:00.000Z

By David Kerr

Vatican City, Dec 15, 2011 / 03:53 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI will no longer give a speech to new foreign ambassadors to the Holy See as has been is custom up until now, but he will continue to meet them personally when they are appointed.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., explained the changes to the media Dec. 15. He said the move was being made for “reasons of simplicity and consistency with current diplomatic practice,” and that it should not be seen as a reflection of the 84-year-old Pope’s health.

It is diplomatic protocol for new ambassadors to submit a formal “letter of credence” to the head of state asking for diplomatic accreditation. It is at these ceremonies that speeches are sometimes exchanged.

Fr. Lombardi explained that the practice of the Pope addressing new ambassadors is a recent innovation that “did not exist as such, apart from a few exceptional occasions, such as during Second World War,” until the pontificate of Pope Paul VI 1965-78.

Prior to Pope Paul VI, said Fr. Lombardi, these speeches “were written texts that were exchanged and then published, but were not actually pronounced.” This is still the custom in many countries, he said, describing the Vatican practice as “a peculiarity of the Holy See in recent years.”

He also observed that under Pope Paul VI there were “about 90” ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, whereas “today there are about 180, almost twice that.”

What is essential, he said, is for the new ambassador to meet the Pope in person and present his letters of credence, so that the two are known to each other.

Papal speeches to ambassadors often give the pontiff an opportunity to address the people of a particular nation. Fr. Lombardi said that will still be done in the future “with specific messages for certain occasions or in circumstances of particular importance,” such as national holidays or major anniversaries.

In fact, Pope Benedict met with 11 new non-resident ambassadors to the Holy See today. He addressed them collectively, which Fr. Lombardi said would be less likely to happen if they were maintaining a mission in Rome. For resident ambassadors, the Pope would most likely meet with them one-on-one, the Vatican spokesman explained.

In his remarks to the new diplomats, the Pope stressed the need for international solidarity.

“We are all responsible for one another,” he told the group gathered in the Apostolic Palace, “therefore it is important to maintain a positive vision of solidarity because it is the driving force of integral human development.” This solidarity, he said, was also “inter-generational,” having its roots in the family.

Today’s changes to ambassadorial audiences with the Pope come at the end of a year in which Pope Benedict also replaced one-on-one meetings with individual bishops on “ad limina” visits to Rome with more prolonged group discussions.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-ends-individual-speeches-to-new-vatican-ambassadors/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29&utm_term=daily+news

Today's Audience - 14.12.11 II

2011-12-14T18:45:00.002Z

The Vatican today

2011-12-14T12:24:00.002Z

After the papal Audience.

Priestly Ordinations 2011

2011-12-14T11:30:00.001Z

I just found this video on Facebook. It is really beautiful!

Today's Audience - 14.12.11 I

2011-12-14T11:13:00.005Z

Gaudete Sunday

2011-12-11T19:36:00.000Z

CTV/RV

Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images

Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

Immaculate Conception II

2011-12-09T17:42:00.002Z

Immaculate Conception I

2011-12-09T17:41:00.000Z

From the transmission of Telepace and CTV.

Today's Audience - 7.12.11 I

2011-12-07T17:26:00.000Z

Today is General Audience Day

2011-12-07T11:18:00.000Z

The General Audience is being held indors because is cold now. The tree is up and the Nativity Scene is being made.
I can't wait to know the message of the Pope and the pictures.

The Christmas Tree in the Vatican II

2011-12-05T13:11:00.002Z

The Christmas Tree in the Vatican I

2011-12-02T20:21:00.003Z

Pope to Italian Caritas: be a sign of Christ Charity

2011-11-24T17:26:00.002Z

VATICAN CITY, 24 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received participants in a meeting organised by Italian Caritas to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. In his address, the Pope recalled how Caritas "has an important role to play in educating communities, families and civil society, where the Church is called to shed her light. This involves taking responsibility for educating people to the good life of the Gospel, and that life is good only if it includes the witness of charity".

"Never abandon this educational role, even when the journey becomes difficult and your efforts seem to bear no fruit. Undertake your duties while remaining faithful to the Church and respecting the identity of your institutions, using the instruments that history has given you and those which 'the inventiveness of charity' - as Blessed John Paul II said - will suggest to you in the future".

"A work of charity speaks of God, it announces a hope and induces us to ask questions". Such works "are born of the faith. They are works of the Church, expressions of her concern for those who suffer most. They are educational acts because they help the poor to grow in dignity, Christian communities to follow Christ and civil society to shoulder its obligations. Let us recall the teaching of Vatican Council II: 'demands of justice [must] be satisfied lest the giving of what is due in justice be represented as the offering of a charitable gift'. The Church's humble and concrete service does not seek to substitute, even less to assuage, collective and civil conscience, but accompanies them with a spirit of sincere collaboration, and with due concern for autonomy and subsidiarity".

"Charity requires an open mind", the Holy Father went on. "Responding to need means not only giving bread to the hungry, but also asking ourselves about the reasons for their hunger, using the gaze of Jesus Who could see the profound truth of the people around Him. In this perspective, our modern times are calling you to ask yourselves about the way you work for charity. Our thoughts cannot but go to the vast world of migration. Natural calamities and wars often create emergencies. The global economic crisis is a another sign of the times which calls for the courage of fraternity. The gap between the north and south of the world, and the wounded human dignity of so many people, call for a charity able to expand in concentric circles from the small economic systems to the great. Increasing poverty, the weakening of families, and the uncertainty faced by the young all point to the risk of diminishing hope.

"Humankind needs not only benefactors", the Pope added, "but also humble practical people who, like Jesus, stand alongside their brothers and sisters and share their fatigue. In a word, humanity is looking for signs of hope. The source of our hope is in the Lord. This is why we need Caritas, not to delegate it with the responsibility for charitable service, but for it to be a sign of Christ's charity, a sign that brings hope".

http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/11/pope-to-italian-caritas-be-sign-of.html

Image from Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

Today's Audience - 23.11.11

2011-11-23T17:40:00.002Z

Pope: the African Church, the bearer of hope in a world that is hungry and thirsty for justice
Looking back at the stages of his trip to Benin at the general audience, Benedict XVI says that he found "a freshness in their yes to life, a freshness of religious awareness and of hope, a perception of reality in its totality with God and not reduced to a positivism which eventually extinguishes hope".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - To be bearers of hope in every aspect of the Church and society in "a world that is hungry and thirsty for justice”, this is the task Benedict XVI sees entrusted to joy, love for life with a vision that "is not reduced to a positivism which eventually extinguishes hope," which he found in Benin, on his second trip to an' Africa that "in recent months" has shown a "burning desire for freedom and justice."

Benedict XVI retraced the visit step by step with the eight thousand people present in the Paul VI for the general audience today: from his arrival, Friday 18, to his departure, Sunday 20, with its focal points of the celebration of 150 years of evangelization of Benin and the delivery of the apostolic exhortation Africae Munus, the Pope’s views on the analysis and proposals advanced by the Synod for Africa held in the Vatican in October 2009.

The journey, as a whole, was "a great appeal to Africa, to direct every effort to proclaiming the Gospel to those who still do not know", and the Christian communities "called to renew faith within themselves," " to become joyful instruments of divine wealth "," each bringing their own moral wealth to the common good "to be instruments of justice, peace and reconciliation.

"This spirit of reconciliation is essential, of course, on the civil level and requires an openness to the hope that animates the sociopolitical and economic life of the continent, as I was able underline in the meeting with the political institutions, the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of Religions".

On that occasion the Pope Benedict “ stressed the need to build a society in which relations between ethnic groups and religions are characterized by dialogue and harmony. I invited all – he continued - to be true sowers of hope in every situation and environment”. As for Christians, "they are men of hope, who must always have the best interests of their brothers and sisters at heart."

The Pope then recalled the Sunday Mass celebrated in Cotonou, an "extraordinary moment of prayer and celebration of faith which was attended by thousands of people from Benin and other African countries, old and young: a wonderful testimony of how faith manages draws together the generations and can meet the challenges of each season of life. "

It was also the occasion for the handing over of the Apostolic Exhortation to the presidents of African episcopal conferences of the, to meditate on and "live fully, to respond effectively to the challenging task of evangelizing the pilgrim Church in the Third Millennium", capable of becoming a builder of "communion , peace and solidarity "."The Africans responded with enthusiasm to the Pope, and on their faces, in their ardent faith, belief in their adherence to the Gospel of life I once again recognized signs of hope and comfort for the great continent of Africa. "

Ultimately, the Pope in Africa found " a freshness in their yes to life, a freshness of religious awareness and of hope, a perception of reality in its totality with God and not reduced to a positivism which eventually extinguishes hope. All of this speaks of the presence on that continent of a reservoir of life and vitality for the future, on which we can count, on which the Church can rely".

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-the-African-Church,-the-bearer-of-hope-in-a-world-that-is-hungry-and-thirsty-for-justice-23256.html

Image by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

New Jersey's 'Nurses of Conscience'

2011-11-18T10:21:00.001Z

Daily News

New Jersey's 'Nurses of Conscience'

Congressman Chris Smith urges the University of Medicine and Dentistry to allow health-care professionals to opt out of abortions.

NEWARK, N.J. — The head of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus warned that a university hospital in his state is in violation of federal and state conscience-protection laws.

And the attorney for 12 nurses suing the hospital vowed to fight a new policy that requires all nurses to train for and assist in abortions.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Matt Bowman, legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, joined some of the 12 nurses at a press conference yesterday, Nov. 14, outside of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, N.J.

The nurses are suing the University of Medicine and Dentistry after a change in policy requires them to participate in abortions. Previously, nurses had the option to participate or not.

The plaintiffs in the case, Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, make up the majority of the 16 nurses who work in the hospital’s same-day surgery unit, where abortions are performed. They pointed out at the press conference that they come from a variety of faith traditions but all are opposed to abortion on religious and moral grounds.

One, Fe Vinoya, a nurse for 21 years, said she and her fellow plaintiffs “have dedicated our lives to helping patients.”

“We all have the same conviction that we do not want to help in the killing that happens in abortion,” she said.
Vinoya, a native of the Philippines, identifies herself as Christian and pro-life.

“Our managers told us very clearly that all same-day surgery unit nurses must immediately begin training in and assisting abortion patients, including all aspects of those patients’ care during their visit,” she said. “They did this in spite of our repeated effort to tell them we had religious and moral objections. They said very clearly that if we did not assist we would face termination.”

LEGAL ACTION AGAINST INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE POPE'S IMAGE

2011-11-18T10:12:00.004Z

VATICAN CITY, 17 NOV 2011 (VIS) - Made public today was the following communique from the Secretariat of State concerning a commercial advertising campaign which makes inappropriate use of an image of the Holy Father.

"The Secretariat of State has authorised its lawyers to initiate actions, in Italy and elsewhere, to prevent the circulation, via the mass media and in other ways, of a photomontage used in a Benetton advertising campaign in which the Holy Father appears in a way considered to be harmful, not only to the dignity of the Pope and the Catholic Church, but also to the sensibility of believers".

On the same subject, Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. released the following declaration yesterday afternoon.

"We cannot but express a resolute protest at the entirely unacceptable use of a manipulated image of the Holy Father, used as part of a publicity campaign which has commercial ends.

"It is a serious lack of respect for the Pope, an affront to the feelings of the faithful and an evident demonstration of how, in the field of advertising, the most elemental rules of respect for others can be broken in order to attract attention by provocation.

"The Secretariat of State is examining the steps that may be taken with the competent authorities in order to guarantee adequate protection for the figure of the Holy Father".

From http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/11/declaration-on-inappropriate-use-of.html

Today's Audience - 9.11.11 II

2011-11-09T19:31:00.000Z

Today's Audience - 9.11.11 I

2011-11-09T18:50:00.001Z

Pope: prayer and solidarity with the countries affected by floods

Appeal of Benedict XVI for Southeast Asia and Latin America. In his general audience he comments on Psalm 119: We are all called to make God the center of our existence. May priests rediscover the beauty and fullness of celibacy.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - We are all called to make God "and his holy will" the center of our existence, especially priests, who are "called to live the Lord and His Word without other securities having him as a source of life. In this light we can understand the free choice of celibacy for the kingdom of heaven, to be rediscovered in all its beauty and in its fullness. " The call to radicality of the Gospel was made today by Benedict XVI in his address before 20 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience.

An audience which also gave the Pope occasion to speak of those regions of the world "from Central America to Southeast Asia" affected by "floods, and landslides which have caused countless deaths, missing, homeless. Once again - added the Pope - I wish to express my closeness to all those who suffer from these natural disasters, and call for prayer for the victims and their families as well as solidarity, so that the institutions and people of good will work together with a generous spirit, to assist the thousands of people tried by such disasters. "

Earlier, in his address to those present, continuing his series of reflections on the Psalms, Benedict XVI spoke today of Psalm 119, a "very special, unique" prayer, both in length, and above all because the literary style is a reflection on the beauty and the importance of the Torah, the law, the Word of God. This is the "part" assigned to the Psalmist, that is his "legacy" and his "happiness": "to him as to the Levites the word of God was given as part of his inheritance. "

The law, he explained must be understood in its broadest and most complete sense, as "teaching, instruction, a life guide; the Torah is the revelation of the Word of God who speaks to man and provokes man's response of trustful obedience and generous love. And love for the Word of God pervades this Psalm, which celebrates its beauty, its saving power, its ability to give joy and life. Because the law of God is not heavy yoke of slavery, but a gift of grace which makes us free and leads to happiness. "

Everything is born from the Word, "that must be intimately preserved, so that we may mediate on it and love it, just like Mary who, in her heart, safeguarded and pondered on the words that were addressed to her and the wonderful events in which God is revealed, asking for her assent of faith. And if our Psalm begins in the first verses proclaiming blessed is he who walks in the Law of the Lord and he who keeps his teachings, once again it is the Virgin Mary, who completes the perfect picture of the believer described by the Psalmist. "

Divine law, concluded the Pope, "the object of passionate love of the Psalmist and of every believer, is a source of life. The desire to understand it, to observe it, to direct our whole being in accordance with it is the characteristic of the just and faithful to the Lord, who meditates upon it day and night "it is a law, that of God, to keep in our heart."

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-prayer-and-solidarity-with-the-countries-affected-by-floods-23127.html

Image: Gabriel Bouys/ AFP/ Profimedia

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity: Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity

2011-11-08T21:17:00.000Z

O my God, Trinity whom I adore; help me to forget myself entirely that I may be established in You as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing trouble my peace or make me leave You, O my Unchanging One, but may each minute carry me further into the depths of Your mystery. Give peace to my soul; make it Your heaven, Your beloved dwelling and Your resting place. May I never leave You there alone but be wholly present, my faith wholly vigilant, wholly adoring, and wholly surrendered to Your creative Action.

O my beloved Christ, crucified by love, I wish to be a bride for Your Heart; I wish to cover You with glory; I wish to love You...even unto death! But I feel my weakness, and I ask You to "clothe me with Yourself," to identify my soul with all the movements of Your Soul, to overwhelm me, to possess me, to substitute yourself for me that my life may be but a radiance of Your Life. Come into me as Adorer, as Restorer, as Savior.

O Eternal Word, Word of my God, I want to spend my life in listening to You, to become wholly teachable that I may learn all from You. Then, through all nights, all voids, all helplessness, I want to gaze on You always and remain in Your great light. O my beloved Star, so fascinate me that I may not withdraw from Your radiance.

O consuming Fire, Spirit of Love, "come upon me," and create in my soul a kind of incarnation of the Word: that I may be another humanity for Him in which He can renew His whole Mystery. And You, O Father, bend lovingly over Your poor little crature; "cover her with Your shadow," seeing in her only the "Beloved in whom You are well pleased."

O my Three, my All, my Beatitude, infinite Solitude, Immensity in which I lose myself, I surrender myself to You as Your prey. Bury Yourself in me that I may bury myself in You until I depart to contemplate in Your light the abyss of Your greatness.

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ste46001.htm

On being catholic - or not

2011-11-08T15:43:00.001Z

Survey: Religious identity slips among U.S. Catholics

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

Updated 10/25/2011 10:59 AM An overwhelming majority, 88%, say "how a person lives is more important than whether he or she is Catholic," according to Catholics in America: Persistence and change in the Catholic landscape. The survey is part of ongoing research by teams of sociologists led by Catholic University sociologist William D'Antonio.

The survey, a comprehensive look at the beliefs and practices of 1,442 U.S. Catholic adults, also finds that 86% say "you can disagree with aspects of church teachings and still remain loyal to the church." [???] Only about 30% support the "teaching authority claimed by the Vatican."

And 40% say you can be a good Catholic without believing that in Mass, the bread and wine really become the body and blood of Christ [???]— a core doctrine of Catholicism.

That could reflect the decline in Mass attendance. The survey finds it's fallen from 44% attending at least once a week in 1987 to 31% in 2011, while those who attend less than monthly rose from 26% to 47%.

When asked why they don't go to Mass more often, 40% say they are simply not very religious.

This is the fifth such national survey conducted by D'Antonio since 1987. The surveys, published in The National Catholic Reporter, provide information about demographics, beliefs and practices in American Catholic life.

The church's opposition to the death penalty, same-sex marriage and permitting priests to marry "has not persuaded a majority of Catholics," [!!!]says Tom Roberts, editor of the National Catholic Reporter and author of a new book on Catholic community life, The Emerging Church.

More than half of Catholics, including those most highly committed to the church in their personal practices, say it's their own moral views, not those of church leaders, that matter, says survey co-author Michele Dillon, chair of the sociology department at the University of New Hampshire. "They see this as their church and they won't be exiled because there is a doctrine they disagree with.

The sexual abuse scandal, which exploded in the USA in 2002, has hurt church leaders' political credibility at least somewhat say 83% and 77% say it has hurt priests' ability to meet parishioners' spiritual or pastoral needs. Only 29% say the bishops have done a good or excellent job in handling the issue.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-10-24/catholic-religious-identity-survey/50891152/1

........

This is not happening only in the USA. In Portugal, for instance, most people say, and truly think, that they are catholics, when they don't even have the fainthest idea of what is to be a real Catholic. They don't believe, when they know it, in the Law of God, let alone the Law of the Church. It's too difficult to go through the narrow door, the world gives everything, so they think. So the offer that the demon tried to make to Our Lord in the desert is accepted by most people now. Each person chooses its own way but is really painful to see Our Lord's Precious Blood so wasted.

Mass at St. Peter's

2011-11-05T12:21:00.001Z

On the 3 of November.

Vincenzo Pinto/ AFP/ Getty Images

Remember, remember the 5th of November

2011-11-05T09:56:00.000Z

On Guy Fawkes, at the Mad Monarchist.

Pope celebrates Mass for cardinals and bishops that died in the past year

2011-11-03T13:07:00.002Z

On All Souls Day

2011-11-03T13:06:00.000Z

Before Pope Pius XII .

AFP/ Osservatore Romano/ Profimedia

Pope Benedict XVI receives bishops of Angola and Sao Tomé

2011-10-29T15:59:00.000Z

Pope Benedict XVI received the bishops of Angola and Sao Tomé on Saturday, who are here in Rome for their ad limina visits. In greeting the bishops, the Holy Father recalled his March, 2009 visit to Luanda, during which he said he was able to celebrate Jesus Christ in the midst of a people who never tire of seeking to love and serve with generosity and joy. Pope Benedict also used the occasion to explain that his recent decision to proclaim the Year of Faith from October 2012 to November 2013, was so that the whole Church might demonstrate to all a more beautiful and credible face, that the face of the Lord might show through the Church more clearly.

At the heart of the Holy Father’s remarks to the bishops, however, was a threefold warning and encouragement for the bishops: against the temptations of the spirit of the age and mores of society, and for the strength to be authentic witnesses to the Gospel, especially as regards the basic structure and life of the family – noting that the bishops have made marriage and family as the pastoral priorities of their current three-year cycle of pastoral initiatives. The Pope called on the bishops to help couples acquire the necessary human and spiritual maturity to take their mission as Christian spouses and parents responsibly, reminding them that their spousal love should be lived as it is: unique and indissoluble as the covenant between Christ and his Church. “This precious treasure,” said Pope Benedict, “is to be safeguarded at all costs.”

The second major area of concern for the Holy Father was the danger, especially among the recently baptised, of a heart still divided between Christianity and African traditional religions. Noting that many people do not hesitate to resort to practices incompatible with Christian faith and morals in order to deal with life’s trials, the Pope Benedict condemned as abominable the practice of witchcraft, which often leads to the marginalization and even murder of children and the elderly. “Mindful that human life is sacred in all its phases and situations,” he said, “continue, dear bishops, to raise your voice in favor of their victims.”

Finally, the Holy Father mentioned the tangible remnants of tribalism in the attitudes of ethnic communities that tend to be closed, and not to accept people from other parts of the nation. The Pope expressed his appreciation to those of the bishops who accepted a pastoral mission outside the confines of their language or regional group, and he thanked the priests and the people who welcomed and helped them. Then, offering affectionate greetings to all the members of their local Churches, and entrusting the whole Church in Angola and Sao Tomé to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Pope Benedict imparted his Apostolic Blessing.

Assisi

2011-10-27T09:08:00.000Z

Just look at this humility! The Pope! Not in the papal car as he should be, but in a bus, together with other people, in the middle of other religious leaders, as if he was one of them! But he is not, he is the Pope, he is the leader of the Catholic Church!

Alberto Pizzoli/ AFP/ Profimedia

On the Eve of Assisi

2011-10-26T15:59:00.000Z

The Pope today in the Paul VI audience hall.

More at http://www.news.va/en/news/assisi-2011-pope-benedict-that-peace-reign-in-th-2

Picture

AFP/ Filippo de Monteforte

The Vatican Railway Station: off to Assisi

2011-10-26T15:55:00.000Z

2011-10-26 Vatican Radio

The Vatican Railway Station is usually quite a dull place, mainly used for good trains. But on Thursday 27th October an exceptional air of excitement will pervade the air and a splash of colour will invade the platform .

Benedict XVI will board a train there which will make its way to the Umbrian hill top town of Assisi where Saint Francis once lived and prayed.
But not just Benedict , with him the various delegations of different religions who will attend the 2011 “Pilgrims of truth, pilgrims of peace”,pilgrimage. Among them Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and other representatives of different religious traditions. Hence the colourful picture I mentioned or rather imagined.

This railway came into being through the signing of the Lateran Pacts when the Pope of the time Pius XI, founder of our radio station, was able to reach an agreement with the Italian State to set up iup a Vatican railway . Although by the way he himself never travelled on it.

Curiously an earlier Pope, Pius IX often travelled by train across the Papal States. Naturally before the loss of temporal power in 1870.

So the first Pope to use this railway station for passenger traffic was Pope John XXIII on the occasion of a pilgrimage to Loreto and Assisi on the 4th October 1962 “ to ask for heavenly help”, on the eve of the inaugural date of the Second Vatican Council. It would begin a week later .

Of course it has since been used as a passenger train first by Blessed John Paul II , the first occasion time being in November 1979 , and on another occasion on a pilgrimage to Assisi on the 24th January 2002 and then by our present Pope . He too has used it on many an occasion , so Thursday’s train ride will not mark a first.

Point of fact , the Vatican Railway Station and line sounds a bit exaggerated. It’s only one branch line in the Vatican and 180 metres long; by British standard that’s around 197 yards. So not even as long as Saint Peter’s Basilica which is a good deal more!

Of course it’s connected to the Italian Railway system and the link up with Rome outside the gates is a bit longer, roughly 150 metres taken up in great part by a long travertine viaduct which anyone in Rome can spy . One which goes by the wonderful name of ‘Gelsomino’, meaning Jasmine!

If you happen to be curious about the entrance from Rome to the Vatican, it’s through a massive iron gate in the Vatican Walls which is only opened when a train is expected, no little barriers there for trains that as I mentioned earlier are mainly goods trains. After all the Vatican needs plenty of supplies as there are shops there. In fact the station itself has been turned into a shop ! A pity in my opinion for such a lovely station in the typical 1930’s architecture with a fountain in front .

I'm Veronica Scarisbrick .

http://www.news.va/en/news/the-vatican-railway-station-off-to-assisi

The Canonizations - 23.10.11

2011-10-23T12:43:00.000Z

Reuters

Pope: On World Mission Sunday, three new saints who loved God and neighbor

Benedict XVI canonized Msgr.Guido Maria Conforti, founder of the Xaverian Missionaries, Don Luigi Guanella, founder of the Servants of Charity and the Daughters of Our Lady of Providence, who serve the disabled; Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph. All three have testified "passionate love for God and neighbor." Before the Angelus, the Pope asks for prayers for the meeting in Assisi on 27 October.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Thanksgiving" and "prayer" but also "praise of the Lord" for the coincidence of 85th World Mission Sunday, "an annual event that aims to awaken enthusiasm for and commitment to mission," with the announcement of three new saints who were an "eloquent sign" of "a passionate love for God…and neighbor."

These were Benedict XVI’s words during his homily at the Mass for the canonization of three saints: Guido Maria Conforti (1865-1931), archbishop-bishop of Parma, founder of the Pious Society of St. Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (Xaverian Missionaries) ; Louis Guanella (1842-1915), priest, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity and the Institute of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, dedicated to the care and education of disabled people; Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro (1837-1905) , founder of the Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph.

The Pope focused primarily on the Gospel message of the day (Matthew 22:34-40) where Jesus speaks of the "similarity" of the first commandment, to love God with all our heart and loving our neighbor as ourselves. "Jesus - explained the pope - suggests that love of neighbor is as important as love of God In fact the visible sign that the Christian can show the world to witness God's love is love of for his brothers and sisters'. He added: "How providential is then the fact that today the Church should indicate to all members three new saints who allowed themselves to be transformed by divine love, which marked their entire existence. In different situations and with different charisms, they loved the Lord with all their heart and their neighbor as themselves "so as to become a model for all believers" (1 Thess 1.7). "

Guido Maria Conforti, "since .... he was a boy, had to overcome the opposition of his father to enter the seminary, he displayed strength of character to follow the will of God, in his complete response to Caritas Christi, in his contemplation of the Crucified, which drew him. He felt a strong urge to proclaim this love with those who had not yet received the announcement, and the motto 'Caritas Christi urget nos' (cf. 2 Cor 5.14) summarizes the program of the missionary Institute to which he, having just turned thirty, gave life: a religious family placed entirely at the service of evangelization, under the patronage of the great apostle of the East St. Francis Xavier. "

"He, in first place, testified and experienced what he then taught his missionaries, namely, that perfection consists in doing God's will, on the model of Jesus Crucified. Saint Guido Maria Conforti kept his inner gaze fixed on the cross, which drew him softly to Him, by contemplating him it he saw the horizon of the world open up before him, he saw the 'urgent 'desire, hidden in the heart of every man, to receive and to welcome the announcement of the only love that saves. "

In St. Luigi Guanella, said the Pope, God "gave us a prophet and an apostle of charity. In his testimony, so full of humanity and care for the least, we recognize a luminous sign of God's presence and beneficial action: the God - as echoed in the first reading - who protects the stranger, the widow, the orphan, the poor who must give a pledge of his cloak, the only cover that has at night (cf. Ex 22.20 to 26). May this new saint of charity for all, especially for members of the congregations he founded, be a model of a deep and fruitful synthesis between contemplation and action, as he himself lived and practiced".

Of St. Bonifacia Rodriguez de Castro, the Pope recalls that she began her mission through work, just like St. Paul who worked and evangelized. "This is how the Servants of St. Joseph were born, in the humility and simplicity of the Gospel, which in the house of Nazareth is presented as a school of Christian life."

"Mother Bonifacia, who dedicated herself with great joy to the apostolate and began to receive the first fruits of her efforts, also lives this experience of abandonment and rejection of her disciples, and in that learning a new dimension of discipleship: the Cross. She embraces it with endurance that gives hope by offering her life for the unity of the work that was born of her hands. "

"We commend ourselves to her intercession and ask God for all workers, especially those who carry out the most modest jobs which are sometimes not appreciated enough, that in their daily work see the friendly hand of God and bear witness to his love, turning their fatigue into a song of praise to the Creator

"Let us be drawn - concluded the Pope - by their examples, let us be guided by their teachings, so that our whole existence becomes a witness of authentic love for God and neighbor."

Before the conclusion of the Mass, during the Angelus prayer, Benedict XVI wanted to greet those present and give an "encouragement to the members of the institutions" founded by three new saints.

He then asked everyone to pray to the Virgin for the meeting in Assisi on 27 October, attended by leaders of world religions and non-religious personalities in search of peace.

"To the Virgin Mary - said the pope - who guides the disciples of Christ on the path of holiness, we now turn in prayer. We entrust the Day of reflection dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world to her intercession: a pilgrimage to Assisi, 25 years since that convened by Blessed John Paul II. "

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-On-World-Mission-Sunday,-three-new-saints-who-loved-God-and-neighbor-22987.html

100 years ago - Wedding of Archduke Karl of Austria and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma

2011-10-21T13:29:00.001Z

Born August 17, 1887, in the Castle of Persenbeug in the region of Lower Austria, his parents were the Archduke Otto and Princess Maria Josephine of Saxony, daughter of the last King of Saxony. Emperor Francis Joseph I was Charles’ Great Uncle.

Charles was given an expressly Catholic education and the prayers of a group of persons accompanied him from childhood, since a stigmatic nun prophesied that he would undergo great suffering and attacks would be made against him. That is how the “League of prayer of the Emperor Charles for the peace of the peoples” originated after his death. In 1963 it became a prayer community ecclesiastically recognized.

A deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began to grow in Charles. He turned to prayer before making any important decisions.

On the 21st of October, 1911, he married Princess Zita of Bourbon and Parma. The couple was blessed with eight children during the ten years of their happy and exemplary married life. Charles still declared to Zita on his deathbed: “I’ll love you forever.”

Charles became heir to the throne of the Austro‑Hungarian Empire on June 28, 1914, following the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand.

And more at http://nobility.org/2011/10/20/october-21/? utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NobilityAndAnalogousTraditionalElites+%28Nobility+and+Analogous+Traditional+Elites%29

Today's Audience - 19.10.11

2011-10-19T15:00:00.001Z

Pope: God's kindness is forever, the "star of hope" even in the darkest hours of life
During the general audience, Benedict XVI speaks of Psalm 136, which is a thanksgiving for God's intervention in the history and lives of everyone. God who "after the dark days of Nazi and Communist persecution " delivered us, He is "faithful" and desires the salvation of all his creatures.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Just as when "after the dark days of Nazi and Communist persecution" God delivered us, so He is the "star of hope" for the personal story of the salvation of each one of us. We must always "remember the things he has done in our life and if today I am in the dark night of my soul tomorrow he will free me because His mercy is everlasting, His love endures forever. " "Having the memory of the goodness of the Lord becomes hope, even in darkness memory leads to hope."

This is the lesson we learn from Psalm 136, illustrated today by Benedict XVI to 30 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience.

"It is a psalm called the Great Hallel, which sings of the goodness of God and his wonders in the history of the people of Israel", it "summarizes the whole history of salvation of which the Old Testament bears witness" it is "a solemn prayer of thanksgiving traditionally sung at the end of the Passover meal and was probably sung by Jesus at the end of the Last Supper, before going to the Garden of Olives and Golgotha. "

"Along the psalm God’s intervention throughout the history of mankind is sung," "the help and constant providence of God for his people and every creature", "we celebrate the Lord who does great wonders." "The beginning is the creation with which God manifests Himself in all His goodness and beauty."

Then " the feast of Easter is immediately mentioned, when speaking of God's intervention in history and the liberation from slavery": "we are in the original moment in the history of Israel, God has intervened forcefully to free his people." But it is not over, there is the fear of the pursuing Egyptians and the obstacle of the sea: "the power of the Lord who wins the danger of natural and military forces of man" is shown, "the mighty hand of the Lord is revealed in all its saving power: the oppressor is overwhelmed by the water while the people of Israel pass".

The stay in the desert shows that "his love endures forever", it is a time in which Israel experiences difficulties, but lives "guided by the Lord with filial confidence." A time when "the Lord as the shepherd of Psalm 23 for 40 years has led his people, educated and loved them, leading them to the promised land, defeating the enemies who wanted to prevent them from attaining salvation."

"In the celebration of the Lord’s love the land that the people should live on as a legacy is mentioned," "a right of property which refers to the paternal patrimony." "One of the characteristics of God is giving. Now the wandering life, of living in tents is over for Israel, a period of happy stability of living in houses, and planting vines has begun".

And in two thousand years, the goodness of God has always accompanied the history of the Church too. Stressing that one of the prerogatives of God is to "gift" the Psalm ends with "the invitation to praise God, the God who created and enters into human history to bring salvation to all." One who "fills the universe with his presence for good, caring for life and giving bread ", "the invisible power of the Lord sung in the Psalms is revealed in the smallness of the bread, the" bread of life ", the Eucharist, that accompanies us in our lives as believers, "anticipating the joy of the final messianic banquet in heaven."

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-God's-kindness-is-forever,-the-star-of-hope-even-in-the-darkest-hours-of-life-22954.html

Image by Evandeo Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

Calling the Pope "nazi"

2011-10-18T15:02:00.042Z

Sarandon calls pope “Nazi”; ADL calls for apology

Anti-Defamation League calls on Sarandon to apologize for “disturbing, deeply offensive and completely uncalled for attack on the good name of Pope Benedict XVI.”

by Steven D. Greydanus

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 6:08 AM

Memo to Susan Sarandon, vis-a-vis your “Nazi pope” comments this weekend:

Joseph Ratzinger was a victim of the Nazi horror.

When he was a young boy his family was forced to relocate due to his father’s outspoken criticism of the Nazis. Surreptitiously listening to Allied radio broadcasts behind closed doors and drawn curtains—strictly forbidden, of course—Ratzinger and his family learned what was really happening in the war, contrary to German propaganda.

At 14 Ratzinger was briefly conscripted into the Hitler Youth—membership was compulsory—but he refused to attend meetings.

At seminary, a Nazi professor urged him to attend the Hitler Youth just once to get documentation for a tuition reduction—but when he saw Ratzinger’s unwillingness to go even once, he relented and helped Ratzinger get the reduction without attending even once. Eventually Ratzinger was able to get a dispensation from Hitler Youth activities by arguing that it was incompatible with his pre-seminary life.

In 1943, while in seminary, he was conscripted into an antiaircraft unit, but eventually deserted, ending the war as a POW.

In a Jerusalem Post article defending Ratzinger against the slur of Nazi complicity, Sam Ser wrote:

As prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith, Ratzinger played an instrumental role in the Vatican’s revolutionary reconciliation with the Jews under John Paul II. He personally prepared Memory and Reconciliation, the 2000 document outlining the church’s historical “errors” in its treatment of Jews. And as president of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, Ratzinger oversaw the preparation of The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible, a milestone theological explanation for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus.

Jewish support for Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, has been considerable. Rabbi Israel Singer, vice president of the World Jewish Congress, called the newly elected pope “an old friend in new white robes,” adding,

“He was the one who gave the theological underpinnings to the gestures of Pope John Paul. He has already thought through the theological implications of what he says.”

***

Hindus critical of Susan Sarandon for branding Pope 'Nazi'

Nevada (US), Oct 18 : Hindus are critical of Oscar winner Hollywood star Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking), 65, for reportedly labeling His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as a Nazi.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this comment against a fellow religious leader was unnecessary, unacceptable and uncalled for. Apology to hurt Roman Catholic community would help, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Sarandon should be spreading love and not making hateful comments about the biggest religious leader of the world who headed Roman Catholic Church with about 1.17 billion adherents, Zed argued.

http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-89657.html

***

Sarandon also drew strong criticism from the Jewish community.

"Ms. Sarandon may have her differences with the Catholic Church, but that is no excuse for throwing around Nazi analogies. Such words are hateful, vindictive and only serve to diminish the true history and meaning of the Holocaust," The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which fights anti-Semitism, said in a statement while also calling on Sarandon to issue an apology to the Catholic community.

Today's Audience - 12.10.11

2011-10-12T16:09:00.001Z

Pope calls for respect for the rights of all in Egypt, especially minorities
Appeal of Benedict XVI who was "deeply saddened" by events in Cairo, "attempts to undermine peaceful coexistence." Support the efforts of the civil and religious authorities "for a society based on justice”. In his general audience, he comments on Psalm 126, which reminds us that, even in the midst of pain, "God is always present."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In Egypt, the rights of all must be respected, especially minorities. This was the appeal launched by Benedict XVI, at the end of his general audience during which he said he was "deeply saddened by the violence perpetrated in Cairo last Sunday," and expressed his support for "the efforts of Egyptian authorities, civil and religious, in favour of a society which respects the human rights of everyone, and especially minorities, to the benefit of national unity. " The Pope said he was close to the "pain of the families of the victims and the entire Egyptian people, torn by attempts to undermine the peaceful coexistence between its communities, which is important to preserve, especially in this time of transition." "I urge the faithful - he concluded - to pray that society may enjoy a true peace based on justice, freedom and respect for the dignity of every citizen."

Earlier in his catechesis, the Pope illustrated that even though our history is marked by "pain, uncertainty, moments of crisis" it is "a history of salvation," because in our history and our lives "God is already present. " This was the lesson that Benedict XVI outlined from a reading of Psalm 126, of which he spoke today, his series on prayer.

Benedict XVI described the prayer as "festive, in the joy that sings the wonders of God": "The Lord has done great things for us." It is the memory of the "exhilarating experience of salvation," "when the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion." It starts from a situation of suffering and need in which God works salvation and "restores" things as to even better than they were before.

This is what happens to the people of Israel returning to their homeland from Babylonian exile. It was the end of their deportation to a foreign land. "The fall of Jerusalem and the deportation had been a devastating experience for the chosen people. On the political and social level, but also on a religious one: the loss of the promised land, the destruction of the temple, the end of the Davidic dynasty" are perceived as a failure of the divine promises, "the people of the alliance painfully question a God that seems to have abandoned them".

"Their return indicates the new-found friendship with God," "the experience of his mercy." "We should look more often - the Pope said – how throughout the events of our life the Lord has protected us, we must be mindful of the good things that the Lord gives us, we are always attentive to the problems and difficulties and often do not perceive the beautiful things given to us by the Lord. Instead by focusing on the good things received, the memory of the good, helps us in our darkest hours. "

This, "celebration of the joy of a restored fate," in first part of the Psalm, in the second part, appears as something yet to be built, " this contradiction is explained with the difficult return home, which leads once more to the request for divine intervention ". "The consoling experience of liberation from Babylon is still incomplete, it has already taken place, but is not yet fulfilled, pending a full implementation, this is the reason for particular images that refer to the reality of life and death, redemption, joy, tears and distress.

There is "the experience that is renewed every year in the agricultural world: the difficulty of sowing and the joy of the harvest, you sow what could you throw into bread, you throw the seed but do not know where it will fall, if the birds will eat it , if it will take root, if it will become an ear of corn". "Throwing the seed is an act of trust that the farmer repeats year after year, he sows the seed and when the fields are filled with a harvest here is the joy”.

"The exile to Babylon is like pain and other situations of crisis, the apparent distance from God, but in the New Testament, the message becomes clearer: the believer through silence and the pain is like a grain of wheat, like the woman who endures the pains of childbirth in order to arrive at a new life: we must always remain open to hope and steadfast in our faith in God. "At http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope-calls-for-respect-for-the-rights-of-all-in-Egypt,-especially-minorities-22887.html

Pic. by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

Pastoral visit to Calabria II

2011-10-09T21:47:00.002Z

Images from Telepace transmission.

Pastoral visit to Calabria I

2011-10-09T18:01:00.000Z

Pope Benedict: no future without charity

2011-10-09 Vatican Radio

This Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI denounced a “vicious” criminality that wounds the social fabric of the Italian region of Calabria and called on Catholics to take strength and courage from their faith, to overcome the obstacles of injustice, to care more for each other and the common good.

The Holy Father was on a one day pastoral visit to the diocese of Lamezia Terme and Serra San Bruno, which lies in the heartland of the region home to the infamous Ndrangeta mafia. Calabria is Italy’s southernmost region, and one of its’ poorest and least developed with an unemployment rate touching 27%. The setting for Sunday’s mass was particularly poignant, a disused plastics factory, one of the many empty warehouses in the industrial complex just outside the town.

Welcoming Pope Benedict Sunday, Mayor Gianni Speranza spoke of a land of “extraordinary potential and resources” but also of “unacceptable unemployment, and dramatic injustice and violence”. He said “We cannot allow the dominion of the mafia and organised crime to grow stronger, or healthy industries be taken over by illegality”. “Your presence”, the Mayor concluded “gives courage and a voice to all of those who so desperately need it”.

In his homily Pope Benedict responded “never give in to the temptations of pessimism and retreat in on yourselves. Rely on the resources of your faith and your human capacities; strive to grow in the ability to collaborate, to take care of each other and the public good”.

More at http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-no-future-without-charity

Today's Audience - 5.10.11

2011-10-05T16:52:00.002Z

Pope: Even in the "valley of darkness," God is always close to his flock

At the general audience, Benedict XVI says Psalm 23 3 speaks ill of "confidence" in the Lord who is the Shepherd who "knows his sheep one by one, calls them by name, treasures them, is ready to defend them, so nothing is lacking them ". Appeals for the peoples of the Horn of Africa, where "every day people die from disease and lack of food, water."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - As "difficult, long or tortuous as the paths our lives may appear”, even in the desert "against the scorching sun rationalism," if we follow our shepherd "we will be safe", "completely abandoning ourselves to His hands" we will reach and abide in His tent receive His hospitality and live with Him in joy without end.

This is the meaning of one of the most "familiar and universally loved" Psalms, Psalm 23 which begins "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want", to which Benedict XVI dedicated his address to the 30 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience.

The gathering also saw a fresh Papal appeal for “prayers and practical help" for the peoples of the Horn of Afrca affected by drought, especially for the children who "die every day from disease and lack of food, water."

Earlier in his speech, the Pope had said prayer "always implies an act of faith" to a God who is good and merciful. In the psalm, which Benedict XVI spoke of today there is "a reference to sheep, the shepherd knows his sheep one by one, calls them by name, holds them as a valuable asset, is ready to defend them, they lack nothing" if he a with them. The sheep are "calm and confident because the place is safe, the water is fresh and the shepherd is with them."

The Psalm refers to "a largely desert land, beaten by the scorching sun, where the semi-nomadic Middle Eastern shepherd lives with his flock in the parched plains that stretch around the villages. But the shepherd knows where to find fresh grass and water, essential for life, he knows where the oasis is that brings refreshment to the soul and where we can replenish our strength and renew our energy to continue our journey".

As the psalm says, "God leads towards 'green pastures' and 'still waters', where everything is abundant, everything is given abundantly. If the Lord is the shepherd, even in the desert, a place of absence and death, there is still the certainty of the radical presence of life, so much so, that we can say, "I shall not want." The pastor, in fact, has the welfare of his flock at heart, he adjusts to their pace and this own needs to those of his flock, he goes and lives with them, guiding them along the 'right' paths, that is right for them, careful of their needs and not his own. The safety of his flock is his priority and he obeys this in guiding it. "

And if the flock moves after sundown, "when visibility becomes uncertain, it is normal that the sheep are restless, there is a risk of stumbling, of being left behind or getting lost, and there is also the fear of possible attackers”. This is the valley of "darkness", defined by the Hebrew phrase that evokes the darkness of death. "Yet, the psalmist goes safely, without fear, because he knows that the Lord is with him." He has an "unshakable faith", "the nearness of God transforms reality, the dark valley loses all danger, it is emptied of all threat”.

In the second part of the psalm, we are still in the desert, and we are in the tent where the Lord welcomes "with the signs of a generous and attentive hospitality. The divine host prepares the food”, "it is a gesture of sharing not only food but also life, an offering of communion and friendship that creates ties and expresses solidarity. And then there is the generous gift of scented oil for the head, which relieves the burning of the desert sun, refreshes and soothes the skin and raises the spirit with its fragrance. Finally, the filled cup adds a note of celebration, with its fine wine, shared with abundant generosity. Food, oil and wine are the gifts that bring joy and give life because they go beyond what is strictly necessary and express the gratitude and the abundance of love. "

The enemies "can only look on, unable to intervene because what they considered their prey has been taken to safety, has become a sacred, untouchable guest. When God opens his tent to greet us, nothing can harm us. "

"Then, when the traveller continues his journey divine protection is prolonged and accompanies him." But it is a journey that takes on a new meaning, and becomes a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Lord, the holy place where the psalmist wants to "live" forever and where he also wants to "return".

The images in this psalm, the Pope added, "have accompanied the history and religious experience of the people of Israel," but "is in the Lord Jesus that all the evocative power of our Psalm reaches completeness, finds fullness of meaning: Jesus is the 'Good Shepherd' who goes in search of the lost sheep, who knows his sheep and gives his life for them, he is the path, the right path that leads to life, the light that illuminates the dark valley and vanquishes all our fear. He is the generous host who welcomes us and keeps us safe from our enemies preparing the banquet of his body and his blood and the final messianic banquet in Heaven. "

From http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-Even-in-the-valley-of-darkness,-God-is-always-close-to-his-flock-22821.html

Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia
Telepace

Today's Angelus - On the day of the Guardian Angels

2011-10-02T14:28:00.001Z

Angels exist because God takes care of mankind

These were the Pope's words during his first Angelus in St. Peter's Square following his return from Castel Gandolfo. "Those who have authority in the Church have a big responsibility"

The Pope reminded us of "the great responsibility of everyone in every era who is called to work in the vineyard of the Lord, especially if they hold a role of authority," and the necessity to renew our "complete faith in Christ."

This was said before the recital of the Angelus from the window of his studio in St. Peter's square. In fact, yesterday afternoon Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican from Castel Gandolfo after the summer period.

Pope Ratzinger commented on a passage from chapter 21 in Matthew's gospel, and "the particularly severe admonition of Jesus to the chief priests and the elders of the people. The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

"Christ, he underlined, is "the stone that the builders rejected because they judged it an enemy of the law and dangerous for public order, but He, rejected and crucified, was risen and became the corner stone on which the foundation of every human existence and of the entire world could rest safely."

The Christian God accepts being humbled, ending on the cross, but he is a just God, who punishes sinners when necessary. The Pope made it clear, before the Angelus recited from the window of his studio in St Peter's square, commenting on the Gospel of St Matthew's passage in the vineyards. "God," he said, "gave himself unto us, and agreed to undergo the unfathomable mystery of weakness and manifest his omnipotence in his faithfulness to a design of love that, in the end, must include the just punishment of sinners."

“Angels do exist, guardian angels exist and they manifest the presence of God who is always close to man.” The Pope said before the recital of the Angelus at the window of his studio in St. Peter's square, remembering that the Church dedicates this Sunday to guardian angels."

And he reminds us of the supplications to the Virgin Mary in Pompeii, so that the world may be free from evil.

- "Dear Friends", the Pope said, "the Lord is always with us and working in the story of mankind and he gives us the unique company of the presence of his Angels whom today the Church venerates as Guardians, that is, ministers of the divine here to care for every man. From birth until the time of death," he added, "human life is surrounded by their constant protection. And the Angels form a circle," around the Madonna who, "in the first Sunday of October" "from the shrine in Pompeii" for "the whole world" receives supplications "so that evil may be overcome and God's goodness revealed in its entirety."

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/news/detail/articolo/benedetto-xvi-benedict-xvi-benedicto-xvi-8630/

Day of the Guardian Angels

2011-10-02T13:06:00.000Z

Angels are servants and messengers from God. "Angel" in Greek means messenger. In unseen ways the angels help us on our earthly pilgrimage by assisting us in work and study, helping us in temptation and protecting us from physical danger.

The idea that each soul has assigned to it a personal guardian angel has been long accepted by the Church and is a truth of our faith. From the Gospel of today's liturgy we read: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father" (Matthew 18:10). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' is a truth of faith (328)." From our birth until our death, man is surrounded by the protection and intercession of angels, particularly our guardian angel: "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (336)." The Church thanks God for our helpers, the angels, particularly on this feast day and September 29 which is the feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael, archangels. Today's feast appeared in Spain during the sixteenth century. It was extended to the universal Church and made obligatory in 1670.

"Be alert in your every action as one should be who is accompanied by angels in all your ways, for that mission has been enjoined upon them. In whatever lodging, in whatever nook or corner you may find yourself, cherish a reverence for your guardian angel. In his presence do not dare to do anything you would not do in mine. Or do you doubt his presence because you do not see him? Would it really help if you did hear him, or touch him, or smell him? Remember, there are realities whose existence has not been proven by mere sight.

"Brethren, we will love God's angels with a most affectionate love; for they will be our heavenly co-heirs some day, these spirits who now are sent by the Father to be our protectors and our guides. With such bodyguards, what are we to fear? They can neither be subdued nor deceived; nor is there any possibility at all that they should go astray who are to guard us in all our ways. They are trustworthy, they are intelligent, they are strong — why, then, do we tremble? We need only to follow them, remain close to them, and we will dwell in the protection of the Most High God. So as often as you sense the approach of any grave temptation or some crushing sorrow hangs over you, invoke your protector, your leader, your helper in every situation. Call out to him and say: Lord, save us, we are perishing." — St. Bernard

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2008-10-02

With thanks to
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Universal-Church/205032372848050

On the day of "my" dear Archangels

2011-09-29T16:04:00.000Z

Thank you so much, my dear friends, for all the help and protection you have been giving me, all these years.

Today's Audience - 28.9.11

2011-09-28T14:24:00.000Z

Pope: in Germany I confirmed that indeed "where there is God the is a future"
At the general audience, Benedict XVI retraces the steps of his visit to Germany. God is not a danger to democracy and freedom. Just as religion requires freedom, so freedom needs religion. In the Bundestag I exposed the "foundation of law and free State of law, that is, the measure of all law, inscribed by the Creator in the very being of His creation."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Confirmation that "where there is God, there is a future", that God is not a danger to democracy and freedom, and that as religion needs freedom, so too freedom needs religion, sharing "the joy of being Catholic," seeing that "faith in my native German has a young face, it is alive, it has a future": this is Benedict XVI summary of his visit to Germany from 22 to 25 of this month, retraced by the same Pope in his address to over 20 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience.

"Intense and wonderful days", "a great celebration of faith", an opportunity to "meet and speak to the people of God", but also an opportunity, at the Bundestag, the German Parliament, to "expose the foundation of law and free State of law, that is, the measure of all law, inscribed by the Creator in the very being of His creation. Therefore we must broaden our concept of nature, understanding it not only as a set of functions but beyond this as the language of the Creator to help us discern right from wrong".

Again during the Berlin leg of the visit, Benedict XVI recalls the meeting with representatives of the Jewish community, with whom "highlighted the fruits achieved thus far in the dialogue between the Catholic Church and Judaism in Germany” and the meeting with members of the Muslim community, “agreeing with them about the importance of religious freedom for the peaceful development of humanity".

The stage in Thuringia, the "land of the Protestant Reformation", was particularly dedicated to ecumenism. In Erfurt, the city where Martin Luther entered the Augustinian community and was ordained a priest, the Pope was "very pleased" with the meeting of the Council of Reformed Protestant Churches in Germany: "a cordial meeting that, in dialogue and in prayer, drew us more deeply towards Christ. We have again seen the importance of our common witness of faith in Jesus Christ in today's world which often ignores God or has no interest in Him. Our common efforts in the path towards full unity are necessary, but we are always well aware that neither the faith or unity so longed for are a product of our own. A faith created by ourselves is of no value, and true unity is rather a gift from God "," only Christ can give us this unity, and we will be ever more united in the extent to which we return to Him and allow ourselves to be transformed by Him ".

Benedict XVI described the celebration of vespers at the Marian shrine of Etzelsbach as “particularly moving”, a region that "always remained Catholic throughout the various vicissitudes of history" whose inhabitants "have courageously opposed the dictatorships of Nazism and communism."

In Erfurt, reminding patrons saints of Thuringia and "the shining example of the faithful who witnessed to the Gospel during the totalitarian regimes, I invited the faithful to be the saints of today, good witnesses of Christ, and to help build our society . In fact, they have always been saints and people imbued with the love of Christ to really transform the world". During the visit to Erfurt, Benedict XVI also had occasion to "meet some victims of sexual abuse by clergymen, whom I wanted to assure of my sorrow and my closeness to their suffering."

Of Freiburg, the Pope recalled the "very festive reception" and the prayer vigil with thousands of young people. "I was happy to see that faith in my native German has a young face, it is alive and has a future”. "I transmitted flame of the Paschal candle, symbol of light that is Christ, to the young people exhorting them: You are the light of the world. I repeated to them that the Pope is confident in the active collaboration of the youth; with the grace of Christ, they are able to bring the fire of God’s love to the world. "

Again in Freiburg, Benedict XVI met with the seminarians, "I wanted to show them the beauty and grandeur of their calling from the Lord" and representatives of the Orthodox Churches "to whom we Catholics feel very close. In fact, it is from this broad commonality that the common task to be leaven for the renewal of our society is derived. "

And finally in the great celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday at the Freiburg airport his thanks to volunteers from the charitable initiatives of the German Church. "I recalled that their valuable service will always be fruitful when it is born of an authentic faith and lives in union with the bishops and the Pope, in union with the Church. Finally, before my return, I talked to a thousand Catholics involved in the Church and in society, suggesting some reflections on the action of the Church in a secularized society, on the invitation to be free from material and political burdens to reflect God more transparently".

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-in-Germany-I-confirmed-that-indeed-where-there-is-God-the-is-a-future-22762.html

Picture by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

The Pope's Homilies in Germany

2011-09-27T09:12:00.000Z

Pope’s homily at Mass in Erfurt

Pope’s address to Germany’s Orthodox leaders

Pope’s address to young Germans

The Pope’s homily at Vespers

Pope’s homily at Mass in Freiburg

Pope’s speech to lay Catholics in Freiburg

Thanks to Catholic Herald.

The Pope in Germany - 23.9.11

2011-09-23T10:19:00.000Z

Peter Steffen/ AFP/ Profimedia

The Pope in Germay - 22.9.11

2011-09-23T10:02:00.004Z

Pope Warns Against Religious Apathy

On German Visit, Pontiff Addresses Falling Church Influence, as He Is Met With Reverence and Protests

By LAURA STEVENS

BERLIN—Pope Benedict XVI warned against the growing apathy toward religion in his homeland on the first day of his first state visit to Germany that has drawn both the faithful and angry protesters.

Pope Benedict, with Ms. Merkel, arrived in Berlin Thursday, where he began a four-day visit to his native land.

"We are witnessing a growing indifference to religion in society, which considers the issue of truth as something of an obstacle in its decision-making, and instead gives priority to utilitarian considerations," Pope Benedict said after meeting with German President Christian Wulff. "Religion is one of these foundations for a successful social life."

Germans are struggling with challenges to church membership. Tens of thousands of people have left the German church this year, according to the German Bishops' Conference, though Catholics still account for roughly 30% of the country's roughly 80 million population. Some critics say aspects of the church are seen as outdated, including its disapproval of homosexuality and a limited role for women in leadership.

Additionally, though many here take pride in the pope's German roots, a recent sex-abuse scandal involving clergy has damaged the Catholic Church's standing in the country. Hundreds of sex-abuse allegations surfaced last year, prompting a series of investigations.

The pope celebrated an evening Mass Thursday in Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium, where he was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd estimated at 60,000 and a sea of yellow Vatican flags. Some senior German politicians, including Chancellor Angela Merkel, who isn't Catholic, also attended.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Germany late Thursday on his first state visit to a homeland still reeling from a clergy sex-abuse scandal that has fueled an exodus from the church. Laura Stevens on Lunch Break reports from Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

"It's an important experience for Berlin," said Julius Schantz, 64 years old, a Catholic who came hours before the Mass to make sure he was on time.

The pope also is scheduled to visit Erfurt and Freiburg during his four-day visit.

In his speech to parliament, he focused on the lessons to be learned from Germany's role in World War II and the place he hopes God will play in the country going forward.

Germans "have seen how power became divorced from right, how power opposed right and crushed it, so that the state became an instrument for destroying right—a highly organized band of robbers, capable of threatening the whole world and driving it to the edge of the abyss," he said. "To serve right and to fight against the dominion of wrong is and remains the fundamental task of the politician."

Hundreds of demonstrators, meanwhile, marched through Berlin's city center Thursday afternoon to protest the visit by the pope, who was archbishop of Munich and Freising from 1977 to 1982. Several adults who say they were abused by clergy members as children held a small rally at Brandenburg Gate, urging the pope and other church members to take firm steps to prevent further cases.

The pope is expected to meet privately with abuse victims during his visit, but he didn't address the issue publicly on Thursday.

The pope, who was elected in 2005, has made a central goal of his papacy reversing the decline of Catholic influence in Europe. But so far it has been a challenge, as clergy child sex-abuse scandals across Europe shake the church.

Still, the pope's visit has drawn an emotional response from the faithful across the country.

Mr. Schantz said that the scandal wouldn't drive him from the church and is seen by most Catholics as a surmountable problem that will not have a long-term effect.

"I can understand that there are protesters here, but in Berlin there are always protesters," he said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904563904576586990291569826.html?mod=wsj_india_main

Picture by Alessia Giuliani/ CPP/ Polaris/ Profimedia

It's the same complaint: the abuse of children damage the Church and the role of women. Thye should see better the good of the Church and not to keep reapeting the same old music.

The Holy Name of Mary

2011-09-12T10:23:00.000Z

O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of Her devout clients!
St. Anthony of Lisbon

12.September - Feast Day

http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/marys-name.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10673b.htm

Ancona II

2011-09-11T16:30:00.003Z

From Telepace.

The Pope in Ancona I

2011-09-11T14:05:00.001Z

By Vincenzo Pinto/ AFP/ Profimedia

The Angelus - 11.9.11

2011-09-11T14:02:00.002Z

The True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

2011-09-09T10:04:00.000Z

Even Demons Believe and Tremble – A Story about the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

But let the record show that one day, almost 15 years ago, it was made quite plain to me that I held in my hands the Lord of Glory, the King of heaven and earth, the just Judge, and Ruler of the kings of the earth. Is the Lord truly present in the Eucharist? You’d better believe it, even demons believe that!

At http://blog.adw.org/2011/09/even-demons-believe-and-tremble-a-story-about-the-true-presence-of-jesus-in-the-eucharist/

Today's Audience - 7.9.11

2011-09-07T10:09:00.001Z

From Telepace.

Today's Audience - 31.8.11

2011-08-31T15:39:00.000Z

Pope: works of art can lead us to God

During the general audience, Benedict XVI highlights how before a sculpture, a painting, a poem or a song we can perceive something that is not only matter, "but something bigger, something that speaks, capable touching the heart, of communicating a message, of elevating the soul”. "How many times, then, can artistic expressions be occasions to remind us of God, to help our prayer or the conversion of the heart".

Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – Works of art are one of the “channels” that that can lead to God, because art "is like an open door to the infinite, to a beauty and a truth that goes beyond the ordinary. A work of art can open the eyes of the mind and heart, carrying him aloft. "

Benedict XVI returned today to touch on one of the themes dear to him, that of beauty as a path that leads to God. Speaking to five thousand people present in Castel Gandolfo for the general audience, the Pope said that "perhaps sometimes, before a sculpture, a painting, a few verses of a poem or a song, you have experienced deep within an intimate emotion, a sense of joy, that is to have clearly perceived that in front of you there was not only matter, a piece of marble or bronze, a painted canvas, a series of letters or a combination of sounds, but something bigger, something that speaks, capable of touching the heart, of communicating a message; elevating the soul. "

"The work of art is the fruit of human creativity, which questions the visible reality, trying to discover its deep meaning and to communicate it through the language of shapes, colours, sounds." The work of art, in short, "is an open door on the infinite," which "opens the eyes of the mind, of the heart."

"One example of this is when we visit a Gothic cathedral; we are enraptured by the vertical lines that shoot up towards the sky and draw our eyes and our spirits upwards, while at the same time, we feel small, and yet eager for fullness ... Or when we enter a Romanesque church: we are spontaneously invited to recollection and prayer. We feel as if the faith of generations were enclosed in these splendid buildings. Or, when we hear a piece of sacred music that vibrates the strings of our heart, our soul expands and helped to turn to God. A concert of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, in Munich, directed by Leonard Bernstein, again comes to my mind. After the last piece of music, one of the Cantate, I felt, not by reasoning, but in my heart, that what I heard had conveyed something of the faith of the great composer to me and pressed me to praise and thank the Lord ... ... ".

"But how many times - he added – have paintings or frescoes, the fruit of the faith of the artist, in their forms, their colours, in their light, encouraged us to direct our thoughts to God and nourish in us the desire to draw from the source of all beauty. What a great artist, Marc Chagall, wrote remains true, that for centuries painters have dipped their paintbrush in that coloured alphabet that is the Bible. How many times, then can artistic expressions be occasions to remind us of God, to help our prayer or for the conversion of the heart! Paul Claudel, a poet, playwright, and French diplomat, in the Basilica of Notre Dame in Paris, in 1886, while he was listening to the singing of the Magnificat at Christmas Mass, felt God's presence. He had not entered the church for reasons of faith, but to in search of arguments against Christians, and instead the grace of God worked in his heart".

For everyone, even in today, the Pope's invitation remains valid, "to rediscover the importance of this path for prayer, for our living relationship with God. The cities and towns all over the world preserve works of art that express the faith and remind us of our relationship with God. Visiting places of art, it is not only an occasion for cultural enrichment, but above all it can be a moment of grace, an encouragement to strengthen our relationship and our dialogue with the Lord, to stop and contemplate, in the transition from simple external reality to a deeper reality, the ray of beauty that strikes us, that almost wounds us in our inner selves and invites us to rise towards God. "
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-works-of-art-can-lead-us-to-God-22507.html

Picture by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

About the heresy in Austria

2011-08-26T15:14:00.000Z

At Mundabor's blog.
He is being quite hard on Cardinal Schönborn but he has his reasons for that.

Here is the Call for Disobedience.
When they talk about "remarried people" they don't mean widows, they mean people that are still legitimately married, and that decided to have a registered cohabitation with somebody else - calling to that "marriage".

More priests

2011-08-26T13:32:00.000Z

Record number of Dallas seminarians is answer to prayers

Dallas, Texas, Aug 26, 2011 / 06:14 am (CNA).- The Diocese of Dallas has a record number of 19 new seminarians, Bishop Kevin Farrell announced recently.

“Indeed the Holy Spirit has been working through parents, priests and our vocations staff to bring about this blessing for our diocese. The prayers of many have been answered,” the Bishop of Dallas said on his blog Aug. 19.

The number is an increase from last year, when 11 men entered seminary. Fifteen of the new seminarians come from the Diocese of Dallas.

“It is great to have some good news to report these days and a record number of 19 new seminarians is certainly good news,” Bishop Farrell said.

There are now 70 seminarians studying for the diocese, an increase from 56 in 2010.

Twelve of the new aspirants to the priesthood will attend Holy Trinity Seminary, two will go to St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston and two will attend Assumption Seminary in San Antonio.

Two more will attend seminary in Mexico City, while one will attend Pope John XXIII Seminary in Massachusetts, which is intended for older seminarians.

According to 2008 statistics on the diocese’s website, the Diocese of Dallas has an estimated Catholic population of 1.1 million out of a population of 3.7 million. However, only around 560,000 are registered in a parish. There are about 175 priests in the diocese, about 61 of whom are diocesan. They help serve 67 parishes.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/record-number-of-dallas-seminarians-is-answer-to-prayers/

Thanks God!

I hope they will be good ones.

Does an all-male sanctuary foster vocations to the priesthood?

2011-08-25T16:26:00.000Z

Father Z. is asking bloggers to post a link to this poll.
Here I am.

And here is the poll.

Today's Audience - 24.8.11

2011-08-24T14:02:00.001Z

Pope Benedict XVI announces upcoming WYD themes

The theme of next year’s World Youth Day to be celebrated by local Churches is: "Always be joyful in the Lord!", taken from the Letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (4:4), while World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro will have as its motto the Lord’s command at the end of the Gospel according to St Matthew: "Go and make disciples of all nations" (cf. Mt 28:19).

Pope Benedict XVI announced the themes during his weekly General Audience in Castel Gandolfo.

Before announcing the themes of the upcoming World Youth Day celebrations to pilgrims gathered this Wednesday in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castel Gandolfo for his weekly General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI looked back on recently completed visit to Madrid for World Youth Day.

Speaking to the faithful at the Papal Summer residence in the hills outside Rome, Pope Benedict reminisced about 4-day trip to Spain, during which he met with seminarians and young women religious, young university professors, young people with disabilities, and young volunteers, along with over a million young people from every part of the globe who heard the Pope’s call for “resolute, but prudent” witness to Christ’s Gospel for the transformation of societies and the salvation of the world, on Thursday shortly after his arrival, and again at the concluding Mass on Sunday.

“The gathering at Madrid was,” he said, “a stupendous manifestation of faith for Spain and for the whole world.”

The Pope went on to greet pilgrims in many languages, including English:I warmly greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors here today. Having just returned from Madrid, I greet affectionately the young people present, especially those who were with me for the unforgettable celebration of World Youth Day. I also welcome those present from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and the United States. May God bless all of you and remain with you for ever!

World Youth Day in Rio is scheduled to take place from July 8^th to July 13^th, 2013.

http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/EN1/articolo.asp?c=514966

Picture by Tiziana Fabi/ AFP/ Profimedia

The Queenship of Mary

2011-08-22T15:34:00.001Z

You may read it at Catholic Culture.

Madrid - JMJ

2011-08-21T18:15:00.001Z

21.8.11
From El País.

The protests against the Pope

2011-08-19T13:42:00.000Z

I don't see how a million extra tourists in Spain could be in any way an economic burden for the central and regional governments. It's putting Spain in the spotlight - and this time not because of our poor economic situation or unemployment rate.

I was in town when the protests were happening - and from what I saw the focus was on religion, rather than the cost of the visit.

Most of the placards I saw were against the Pope or Christian beliefs. People were shouting harsh things at the pilgrims, referring to the Pope as a "Nazi". They were also flying communist and Republican flags.

I saw two gay men trying to provoke a priest by kissing and taunting him.

I am an atheist but I expect people to respect those with faith. By tradition and by majority, Spain is Catholic. A lot of our culture is based on religion.

In a way it is not surprising. I feel that the youth movements such as the indignants have been radicalised by those with anti-religious feelings.

The Socialist Party, which has been in the government for the past seven years, has had a very clear anti-Christian agenda.

This has created an even wider division in society as we are told to negate our religious culture and tradition for the sake of "modernity".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14582213

The travels of the Pope

2011-08-18T10:58:00.001Z

As published by El Mondo.es
But they forgot to mention Angola - the Pope went there also.

It begins today!

2011-08-18T09:41:00.001Z

The Pope in Italy boarding to Spain.

AFP/ El Mundo

Today's Audience - 17.8.11

2011-08-17T20:13:00.000Z

Pope: pray and accompany me spiritually to Madrid for WYD

At the general audience in Castel Gandolfo, Benedict XVI that tomorrow he will join the gathering of young people in Spain. He urges the faithful to find time every day to "nourish their spiritual life and contact with God."
Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI today called on the faithful to 'spiritually'' join him in ''prayer'' at the World Youth Day being held in Madrid and during his journey to the Spanish capital, which he will begin tomorrow. The pope called the WYD ''an important ecclesial event.'' ''Tomorrow I will go to Madrid, where I will have the joy of meeting many young people gathered there for the XXVI World Youth Day,'' the pope said, greeting the Italian-speaking pilgrims at the end of the general audience in the courtyard of his Castel Gandolfo residence. ''I ask you to join me spiritually in prayer in this important ecclesial event,'' said the pontiff, who also thanked the faithful for their intentions. It will be the third WYD for Pope Ratzinger with the Cologne edition, in August 2005, just months after his election, and that of Sydney in July 2008.

In the brief summer audience, Benedict XVI urged the faithful to find time during their day to meditate on the ''the mysteries of the faith''and ''think'' about what the Lord tells us in today's life. And this in a time when ''we are preoccupied with many activities, commitments, concerns, problems'', ''without a moment to stop and nourish our spiritual life and contact with God''. Mental prayer, the pontiff recalled ''is a crucial element on our path to Heaven.'' Benedict XVI recalled a word used by St. Augustine and St. Bonaventure, that of “mulling over” the meaning of “the mysteries of God” so they may be continuously resonate within us '' so that they become '' familiar'' and “sustain and nourish us”.

"Heaven is our destination, we can all get to heaven: the question is how,'' he said. Meditation ''means creating within us a state of meditation, inner silence, to reflect, absorb the mysteries of our faith and what God does in us, and not just things that come and go''. This ''rumination'' Ratzinger said, ''can be done in various ways.'' Taking the example of ''a short passage of Scripture - he listed - especially the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of the Apostles. Or a page of an spiritual author who makes the reality of God in our day closer and more present, perhaps taking advice from our confessor or spiritual director: Reading and reflecting on what we have read, focusing on it, trying to understand what he says to us, what he says today, and open our hearts to what the Lord wants to tell us and teach us.'' ''The Holy Rosary is a prayer of meditation,'' he concluded.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-pray-and-accompany-me-spiritually-to-Madrid-for-WYD-22383.html

Assumption of Our Lady - The Angelus

2011-08-15T14:55:00.000Z

Jesus, the new Adam, and Mary, the new Eve, finally defeat the enemy, pope says on Assumption Day
On the feast day of the Assumption, Benedict XVI stresses the victory of Christ over “inner and physical death”. We too seek to “live as we too had risen, bringing the light of goodness to the darkness of evil”. Eastern and Western Christians are united in the celebration.
Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – Today’s was a special Angelus on the day of Mary’s assumption into heaven. In his reflection before the Marian prayer, Benedict XVI especially stressed the meaning of victory over “inner and physical” death, which faith communicates to the world. “Our forefathers were defeated by the evil one,” the pope said. However, “in the fullness of the times, Jesus, the new Adam, and Mary, the new Eve, finally defeated the enemy. Yes, with Jesus’ victory over evil, inner and physical death are also defeated. Mary was the first to take into her arms the child Jesus, Son of God. Now she is the first one to stand next to Him in the Glory of Heaven.”

“What we celebrate today is a great mystery,” he added,” a mystery of hope and joy for us all. In Mary, we see the goal towards which walk all those who have tided their life to Jesus, who know how to follow as Mary did. This feast thus speaks about our future, it tells us that we too shall stand alongside Jesus in God’s joy, it invites us to have courage, and believe that the power of the Resurrection of Christ can work through us and make us men and women who each day seek to live as it we too had risen, bringing the light of goodness in the darkness of evil that exists in the world.”

Benedict XVI, who this morning celebrated Mass in the church of Castel Gandolfo, also explained that the Assumption is celebrated by both Eastern and Western Christians and that the dogma, proclaimed by Pius XII in 1950, was believed from the early centuries of the Church.

“In the East,” he said, “it is still called the ‘Dormition of the Virgin’. In an ancient mosaic in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, which is inspired by the Eastern icon of the ‘Dormitio’, we can see the Apostles, warned by the Angels of the early demise of the Mother of Jesus, gathered around the Virgin’s bed. In the centre, Jesus is holding a baby girl, Mary, who has reversed to ‘childhood’ for the Kingdom, led by the Lord to heaven.”

“In today’s liturgy from St Luke, we read, ‘During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah (Lk, 1:39). In those days, Mary quickly made her way from Galilee to a town near Jerusalem, to visit her cousin Elisabeth. Today, we see her walk towards God’s mountain and enter the celestial Jerusalem, “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars (Ap, 12:1)”.

For the occasion, the traditional tapestry with the Risen Jesus, which serves as background to the pope when he appears on the balcony in Castel Gandolfo, was replaced by the tapestry with Mary carried in glory by the angels.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Jesus,-the-new-Adam,-and-Mary,-the-new-Eve,-finally-defeat-the-enemy,-pope-says-on-Assumption-Day-22366.html

Image by Evandro Inetti/ Zumapress/ Profimedia

Assumption of Our Lady

2011-08-15T11:24:00.000Z

Blessed be God.

Fr. Kolbe

2011-08-14T19:43:00.000Z

I keep calling him only Fr. Kolbe because it was that way that I knew him when I was a child and, since then, I always liked him so much.

The german bishops

2011-08-13T18:46:00.001Z

The German Episcopal Conference expressed to the Pope his disagreement on the memorandum on reforms proposed some time ago.

At http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/germania-german-alemania-6900/