CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: TUES. NOV. 3, 2009

CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: TUES. NOV. 3, 2009: HEADLINES-

VATICAN: AUTHENTIC DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION -

AMERICA: PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICIAL RESIGNS DUE TO PRO-LIFE VIDEO-

EUROPE: SPAIN: 4TH INTERNATION PRO-LIFE CONGRESS NOV. 6-8-
AFRICA: SOUTH AFRICA: NEW OPENESS TO FIGHT DISEASE -
ASIA: MALAYSIA: LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR CELEBRATE CANONIZATION-
AUSTRALIA: CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY CONVENTION IN 2010-

VATICAN

AUTHENTIC DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION -

VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2009 (VIS) - This morning the Holy Father received the Letters of Credence of Nikola Ivanov Kaludov, the new ambassador of Bulgaria to the Holy See. At the beginning of his address the Pope told the ambassador, whose country joined the European Union in 2007, that "countries must not sacrifice their own cultural identity in the process of constructing Europe. Quite the opposite, they must find the means to produce good fruits that enrich the entire community. ... Bulgaria undoubtedly plays an important role in creating serene relations among neighbour States, and in the defence and promotion of human rights", he said. Speaking then of the concern expressed by the Bulgarian diplomat for the common good of peoples, Benedict XVI said "this cannot be limited to the frontiers of the European continent; rather, it is necessary to create the conditions for an appropriate form of globalisation". Recalling then his recent Encyclical "Caritas in veritate", the Holy Father pointed out that "it is vital for development not to be limited exclusively to economic domination, but that it take account of the integrity of the human person. Human beings must be measured not by what they possess, but by the extension of their being in accordance with the capacities of their nature. This principle finds its ultimate justification in the creative love of God, which fully reveals the Divine Word. In this context, in order for the development of mankind and society to be authentic, it must necessarily have a spiritual dimension". Benedict XVI drew attention to the fact that "the Christian culture which profoundly impregnates" the Bulgarian people "is not just a treasure of the past to be conserved, but testimony to a truly promising future which protects human beings from the temptations that always threaten to make them forget their own greatness, the unity of the human race and the requirement for solidarity that such unity implies". Dialogue with the many religious communities present in Bulgaria, in order "to be sincere and constructive", said the Pope, "requires mutual understanding and respect. For its part the Catholic community", he concluded, "wishes to open generously to everyone and to work with everyone. This finds concrete expression in its social work which it does not wish to reserve exclusively for the benefit of its own members".CD/LETTERS OF CREDENCE/BULGARIA:KALUDOV VIS 091103 (400)

NOTE ON CELIBACY FOR ANGLICANS ENTERING CATHOLIC CHURCH VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2009 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. today released the following English-language declaration concerning speculations about the celibacy issue in the forthcoming Apostolic Constitution regarding personal ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church. There has been widespread speculation, based on supposedly knowledgeable remarks by an Italian correspondent Andrea Tornielli, that the delay in publication of the Apostolic Constitution regarding Personal Ordinariates for Anglicans entering into full communion with the Catholic Church, announced on 20 October 2009 by Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is due to more than 'technical' reasons. According to this speculation, there is a serious substantial issue at the basis of the delay, namely, disagreement about whether celibacy will be the norm for the future clergy of the provision. Cardinal Levada offered the following comments on this speculation: "Had I been asked I would happily have clarified any doubt about my remarks at the press conference. There is no substance to such speculation. No one at the Vatican has mentioned any such issue to me. The delay is purely technical in the sense of ensuring consistency in canonical language and references. The translation issues are secondary; the decision to delay publication in order to wait for the 'official' Latin text to be published in 'Acta Apostolicae Sedis' was made some time ago. "The drafts prepared by the working group, and submitted for study and approval through the usual process followed by the Congregation, have all included the following statement, currently Article VI of the Constitution: "1. Those who ministered as Anglican deacons, priests, or bishops, and who fulfil the requisites established by canon law and are not impeded by irregularities or other impediments may be accepted by the Ordinary as candidates for Holy Orders in the Catholic Church. In the case of married ministers, the norms established in the Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI 'Sacerdotalis coelibatus', n. 42 and in the Statement "In June" are to be observed. Unmarried ministers must submit to the norm of clerical celibacy of canon 277, para 1 of the Code of Canon Law. "2. The Ordinary, in full observance of the discipline of celibate clergy in the Latin Church, as a rule ('pro regula') will admit only celibate men to the order of presbyter. He may also petition the Roman Pontiff, as a derogation from canon 277, para 1, for the admission of married men to the order of presbyter on a case by case basis, according to objective criteria approved by the Holy See. "This article is to be understood as consistent with the current practice of the Church, in which married former Anglican ministers may be admitted to priestly ministry in the Catholic Church on a case by case basis. With regard to future seminarians, it was considered purely speculative whether there might be some cases in which a dispensation from the celibacy rule might be petitioned. For this reason, objective criteria about any such possibilities (e.g. married seminarians already in preparation) are to be developed jointly by the Personal Ordinariate and the Episcopal Conference, and submitted for approval of the Holy See". Cardinal Levada said he anticipates the technical work on the Constitution and Norms will be completed by the end of the first week of November.OP/CELIBACY ANGLICANS/LOMBARDI:LEVADA VIS 091103 (570)

AUDIENCES VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2009 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences: - Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. - Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. - Cardinal Agostino Vallini, His Holiness' vicar general for the diocese of Rome. - His Royal Highness the Prince of Hohenzollern, accompanied by his family.AP/.../... VIS 091103 (70)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2009 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, presented by Bishop Hector Manuel Rivera Perez, upon having reached the age limit.RE/.../RIVERA VIS 091103 (50)

SAINTLINESS IS THE BEST SERVICE TO OFFER OUR FELLOW MAN VATICAN CITY, 1 NOV 2009 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus today, Solemnity of All Saints, Benedict XVI recalled that this feast "invites the pilgrim Church on earth to enjoy a foretaste of the endless feast of the heavenly community, and to revive hope in eternal life". Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father pointed out that "this year marks fourteen centuries since the Pantheon - one of the most ancient and famous of Roman monuments - was consecrated for Christian worship and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all Martyrs. ... Subsequently the celebration of all martyrs was extended to all saints". "In this Year for Priests", he went on, "I particularly wish to recall and venerate priest saints, both those the Church has canonised proposing them as an examples of spiritual and pastoral values, and those - far more numerous - whose saintliness is known to the Lord". Referring then to tomorrow's commemoration of All Souls Day, the Pope invited people "to live this moment in an authentic Christian spirit; in other words, in the light that comes from the Paschal mystery. Christ died and rose again, opening our way to the house of the Father, the Kingdom of life and peace. "Thus, as we visit cemeteries, let us remember that only the mortal remains of our loved ones lie there in the tombs awaiting the final resurrection. Their souls - as Scripture says - are already 'in the hands of God'. And so the most appropriate and effective way to honour them is to pray for them, offering acts of faith, hope and charity". The Pope also spoke of the communion of the saints, explaining that it "is a reality that gives a different dimension to all of our life. We are not alone! We are part of a spiritual 'company' in which profound solidarity reigns. The good of each individual brings advantage to everyone and, vice versa, shared happiness irradiates upon individuals. This is a mystery which, in some way, we can already experience in this world, in the family, in friendship, and especially in the spiritual community of the Church". After praying the Angelus Benedict XVI recalled that ten years ago, on 31 October 1999, the World Lutheran Federation and the Catholic Church signed their Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Something John Paul II described as "a milestone on the not easy path of recomposing full unity among Christians". That document, to which the World Methodist Council adhered in 2006, enshrines "an agreement between Lutherans and Catholics on fundamental truths of the doctrine of justification, truths that lead to the very heart of the Gospel and to the essential questions of our lives. God listens to and redeems us; our lives are inscribed within the horizon of grace, they are guided by a merciful God Who forgives our sin and calls us to a new life, following His Son. We live in the grace of God and are called to respond to His gift; all this frees us from fear and gives us hope and courage in a world full of uncertainty, disquiet and suffering". "My heartfelt hope is that this anniversary may help us to advance along the path towards the full and visible unity of all Christ's disciples", said the Pope. Finally, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in various languages, inviting them "to follow joyfully in Christ's footsteps, moulding yourselves to His image and being obedient in all to the will of the Father. Do not be afraid to be saints! It is the best service you can offer to your brothers and sisters".ANG/SAINTS SOULS JUSTIFICATION/... VIS 091103 (620)

POPE PRAYS FOR THE DEAD IN THE VATICAN GROTTOES VATICAN CITY, 2 NOV 2009 (VIS) - This afternoon, as is traditional on All Souls Day, the Holy Father went down to the Vatican Grottoes to pray privately for the Popes buried there, and for all the deceased..../PRAYER DEAD/... VIS 091103 (50)

PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS IN THE ERA OF GLOBALISATION VATICAN CITY, 3 NOV 2009 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office the Sixth World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees was presented. The event - due to be held in the Vatican from 9 to 12 November - has as its theme: "A pastoral response to the phenomenon of migration in the era of globalisation. Five years after the Instruction 'Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi'". The press conference was attended by Archbishops Antonio Maria Veglio and Agostino Marchetto, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, and by Msgr. Novatus Rugambwa, under secretary of the same dicastery. "Globalisation", said Archbishop Veglio, "has created a new labour market and, consequently, forced many to emigrate, also in order to flee from poverty, misery, natural catastrophes and local and international conflicts, as well as from political or religious persecution. This has opened markets to international intervention, but it has not torn down the walls of national boundaries to allow the free circulation of people, even with due respect for the sovereignty of States and their constitutional charters, safeguarding legality and security". "Specific pastoral care in relation to migrants is summarised in the value of welcome. This must be shown to people of various nationalities, ethnicity and religion and helps to make the authentic face of the Church visible. For such a pastoral care to be effective, co-operation between the migrants' Churches of origin, transit and arrival is fundamental". "The present globalised world", he concluded, "calls the Church to face, day by day, the causes of migration and the consequences it has in the lives of migrants and local people. The Church is close to migrants, especially to the victims of human trafficking, to refugees, to asylum seekers, and to the people who undergo the drama of human mobility. She is called to defend their cause in various contexts, also through collaboration in promoting adequate laws, at the local and international levels, that favour proper integration". For his part, Archbishop Marchetto outlined the programme of the forthcoming congress, which will begin at 8 a.m. on 9 November with Mass in the Vatican Basilica presided by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. During the opening session the participants will be received in audience by the Holy Father, while the afternoon of the first day will be dedicated to the theme of population movements, both as cause and effect of globalisation. The morning of 10 November will be devoted to the question of youth pastoral care among migrants and refugees, and co-operation with Churches of origin and arrival. The afternoon of 10 November and the morning of 11 November will be dedicated to the subject of dialogue and collaboration as they relate to the theme of the congress. Also on 11 November attention will turn to the questions of the "needs and challenges of ecumenical and inter-religious co-operation in the current situation of migrants and refugees (experience of the ecclesial movements)", and "co-operation between the Church and civil institutions for the wellbeing of migrants and refugees". The afternoon of the same day will see a round table discussion on "the pastoral care of migrants and refugees in prison and in detention camps". The day will conclude with the Festival of Peoples. The congress will come to a close on 12 November with the presentation of the final document. Msgr. Rugambwa's remarks focused on the participants in the congress who will number 320 and include members and consultors of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, delegates from episcopal commissions on all continents, members of religious congregations and institutes, ecclesial associations and movements. Four fraternal delegates are also due to participate, from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Anglican Communion, the World Council of Churches, and the World Lutheran Federation. Msgr. Rugambwa also announced that the congress will be attended by the director general of the International Organisation for Migration, and by representatives from the UN High Commission for Refugees and from the International Labour Office. Delegates from international Catholic organisations such as Caritas Internationalis have also been invited to attend.OP/MIGRANTS CONGRESS/VEGLIO VIS 091103 (710)

AMERICA

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICIAL RESIGNS AFTER SEEING PRO-LIFE VIDEO

Catholic Online reports that a former Texas Planned Parenthood Official said she began to feel uncomfortable with Planned Parenthood's business philosophy after the organization, suffering from the economic downturn, told her to try to bring more abortions in the door.
BRYAN, Texas (LifeSiteNews.com) - The director of the Texas Planned Parenthood abortion mill where the 40 Days for Life campaign began has resigned, saying she experienced a conversion after watching an ultrasound video of a child being killed by abortion. "I just thought I can't do this anymore, and it was just like a flash that hit me and I thought that's it," said Abby Johnson in an interview with local news network KBTX 3. Johnson had been affiliated with Bryan's Planned Parenthood facility for eight years, and worked as its director for two. She said she began to feel uncomfortable with Planned Parenthood's business philosophy after the organization, suffering from the economic downturn, told her to try to bring more abortions in the door. "The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that," said Johnson. But the turning point for Johnson was reportedly when she witnessed an actual ultrasound image of an abortion being performed on an unborn child. "I feel so pure in heart. I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me anymore," said Johnson. "And that's how I know that this conversion was a spiritual conversion." Johnson resigned on October 6th, near the beginning of Bryan's sixth annual 40 Days for Life campaign, and she has since joined up with the nearby Coalition for Life to begin praying near her old workplace. Coalition for Life is the local group that began 40 Days for Life, the national prayer and fasting campaign that was ongoing at the time of Johnson's resignation. "This is by far the most amazing thing that has happened to the Coalition for Life throughout its entire history ... we thank God!" wrote Coalition for Life director Shawn Carney, who has been working with Johnson since her resignation, on the group's website. 40 Days for Life national director David Bereit said that Johnson's "amazing conversion demonstrates the importance of a constant, peaceful prayer presence in front of abortion facilities." "From that first campaign in 2004, we've prayed for Abby - and for all abortion workers - that they would come to see what abortion really is, and that they would leave the deadly business. In this case, those prayers have been answered," said Bereit. "We are so proud of Abby's courage to leave the abortion industry and publicly announce her reasons for leaving." The story is receiving broad attention after it was posted on the Drudge Report website today. Planned Parenthood reacted with legal action on Friday by filing for a temporary restraining order, seeking to prevent Johnson and the Coalition for Life from disclosing confidential information. "We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff; however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary," said Planned Parenthood in a statement. A hearing for the restraining order has been set for November 10. Johnson is one of eight abortion industry workers who left their jobs during the fifth coordinated 40 Days for Life campaign that concluded yesterday in 212 cities. She was the highest-ranking of the eight. Others who quit their clinic jobs included nurses, office staffers and security personnel. In addition, a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Kalispell, Montana announced that it will close its doors on November 20, citing a decline in business as the reason for the closure. That clinic was the site of a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil this past spring. - - -LifeSiteNews.com is a non-profit Internet service dedicated to issues of culture, life, and family. It was launched in September 1997. LifeSiteNews Daily News reports and information pages are used by numerous organizations and publications, educators, professionals and political, religious and life and family organization leaders and grassroots people across North America and internationally. (SOURCE: http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=34748

EUROPE

SPAIN: 4TH INTERNATION PRO-LIFE CONGRESS NOV. 6-8

CNA reports that the fourth International Pro-life Congress will take place from November 6-8 in Zaragoza, Spain featuring speakers from 14 different countries including the U.S., Canada, Uganda, Cuba and France. Organizers expect 1,000 participants to attend from Spain and around the world.
According to organizers, the Congress aims at both raising social awareness in support of women with unexpected pregnancies and defending the life of the unborn. Speakers hail from various countries including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Uganda, Chile, Cuba, Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Sweden, Italy, France and Spain.
The opening address will be delivered by Professor Jutta Burggraf from the University of Navarre, and closing remarks will be given by John Smeaton, director of the U.K.-based, pro-life Society for the Protection of Unborn Children.
The Congress will also feature a presentation by Martin Ssempa, an active promoter of abstinence in the fight against AIDs.
Scheduled events
On the evening of November 7, Dr. Juan Luis Alcazar Zambrano from the University Clinic of Navarre will give a presentation titled, “Life in Real Time,” which will focus on the three-dimensional ultrasound technology and will allow attendees to get a glimpse of life in the womb.
A forum will also be held featuring an address by psychiatrist Dr. Jose Maria Semelas on post-abortion stress syndrome. Following Dr. Semelas, presentations will be given on new pro-life books and audiovisual materials. Special guests will also share their testimonies of coping with the pain of abortion.
Later that night, one million candles will be lit along a two and a half mile stretch of downtown Zaragoza to represent the 1.5 million babies who have died in Spain because of abortion. The first candle will be lit by one of the organizers of Madrid's October 17 March for Life.
More information on the Congress can be found at: http://www.zaragoza2009.org/

(SOURCE: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17562

AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA: NEW OPENESS TO FIGHT DISEASE

CISA reports that Church leaders welcomed new government openness about HIV/AIDS and crime in South Africa during a National Church Leaders Consultation held here October 27 and promised to work together among themselves and the government.The church leaders of South Africa enthusiastically participated in a frank and open discussion with Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, and National Commissioner of Police, Bheki Cele, where they described the meeting as honest and refreshing.According to a statement issued at the end of the meeting, Dr Motsoaledi described HIV/AIDS as a “scourge bedeviling the nation”. The minister said HIV/AIDS antenatal prevalence had approached 45 percent in some districts and mortality had also increased.Focusing on pregnant women, child mortality and general mortality, the minister called for a new zeal in dealing with the disease.Quoting statistics from a number of sources, he showed that South Africa needed a mass mobilization for testing, treatment rollout and prevention. He asked the Church communities to increase their efforts at building a healthier, more caring society.Church leaders appreciated his openness and realism as a refreshing new direction from Government. “His candour in calling HIV/AIDS a ‘big monster of which everyone had some part but no one had the whole picture of’ was seen as encouraging,” the statement said. “I am putting my head on the block. We are going to reduce crime in South Africa,” said National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, promising that by working together, South Africans would reduce crime.As part of a rigorous discussion, he urged church leaders to take charge of strengthening the morals and ethics of the people in their church communities.He also urged a greater focus on the family. “Let us all say that it is good to do good everyday,” the police commissioner said.Pre-empting being questioned on the ‘shoot to kill’ issue, the commissioner stated that the phrase has been coined by the media and not by any official.“What government is saying is SA police should not die in the hands of thugs, SA citizens should not die at the hands of thugs. Section 49 says ‘an arrester has a right to defend the citizen and himself if under threat and has a right to use deadly force.’ I will not retreat on this statement,” he said.The commissioner added, “We must take back our peace and security- the thugs must be made to fear the law- the situation in our country is abnormal and this calls for abnormal responses. I will not kiss anyone.”The National Church Leaders consultation takes place twice a year and involves most of the heads of Christian denominations and Church leaders in South Africa. The consultation is a discussion forum on matters affecting the South African community. (SOURCE: http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/story.asp?ID=4216

ASIA

MALAYSIA: LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR CELEBRATE CANONIZATION

UCAN reports that the Little Sisters of the Poor have completed a new building at their home for the elderly here in time to celebrate the canonization of the congregation's founder.

Two Little Sisters of the Poor nuns interactingwith elderly residents at their new facility in Penang
The home's 40 or so residents are reveling in their more comfortable rooms and surroundings.
"It is like paradise here. I have shelter, food and they take care of my medical fees too. If I were still outside, I don't know what would happen to me," said Lee Yung Kuan, 85, a resident.
The old building had been in service for almost 60 years since the home was founded. The new building can accommodate 70 residents in double bedrooms.
The residents completed their move to the new wing on Oct. 24, less than two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI canonized Jeanne Jugan, the congregation's founder, at the Vatican.
The sisters in Penang combined the celebrations of both events with a thanksgiving Mass led by Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of Penang at Holy Spirit Cathedral.
Sister Charlotte Mary, who heads the nuns here, says there are 12 nuns working at the Penang home along with 21 lay staff members and many volunteers.
Volunteer doctors visit the home every week to treat the residents. The elderly people also take part in singing sessions, the game of Lotto twice a month, outings and visits to church.

Residents at the new building which isspacious and has more comfortable rooms
The residents are mostly poor people introduced to the home by Catholics, or who come to the home themselves. They pay no fees.
There had been an earlier celebration of the canonization in the sisters' second Malaysian facility, the St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly, in the capital, Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 17.
"The universal Church celebrates the canonization of Jeanne Jugan," said Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur during a special Mass. "Millions of people have been inspired (by the nun)," Archbishop Pakiam was reported by "Herald," the Malaysian Catholic newspaper as saying.
"The sisters have spent 170 years dedicating themselves to the elderly -- there is peace and serenity in their homes. These are the fruits of this redemption."
The Little Sisters of the Poor congregation was founded after Sister Jeanne Jugan took an elderly, blind and paralyzed woman into her own home in France in 1839. "Jeanne adopted her as her own mother," Archbishop Pakiam said during the celebratory Mass.
"This was the humble start and inspiration that still draws thousands to join her in the mission" of serving the less fortunate, he said.
The congregation first came to Malaysia in 1952, setting up the home in Penang. It established the Kuala Lumpur home in 1965.
(SOURCE: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/11/03/home-for-elderly-celebrates-nuns-canonization-new-building/

AUSTRALIA

CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY CONVENTION IN 2010

Cath News reports that the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is inviting youth leaders from across the country to attend a Youth Ministry Convention in 2010, to draw them together for dialogue, network and exchange of ideas.
This event organised by the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life and will be held at ACU National St Patrick's Campus in Melbourne from October 1-3, 2010, with the World Youth Day theme of that year, "Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?" (Mk 10:17), according to a media statement.
Some 30 workshop options, performers, a youth ministry expo and a conference dinner are being planned.
"As we continue to discover the graces from World Youth Day 2008 ... we must carry on gathering, sharing and reflecting on ways of proclaiming the message of the Jesus Christ," said Bishop Joseph Grech, the Bishops' Delegate for Youth.
"The Convention will offer formation, networking and spiritual nourishment for those who minister with young people."
The event is another strategy provided by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which earlier this year launched "Anointed and Sent: an Australian Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry".
"This is a unique opportunity to draw together a cross section of those engaged in youth ministry in Australia and to deepen our understanding of this vision," said Malcolm Hart, Senior Youth Ministry Projects Officer with the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life. (SOURCE: http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=17439

TODAY'S SAINT

St. Martin de Porres
DOMINICAN MYSTIC
Feast: November 3
Information:
Feast Day:
November 3
Born:
December 9, 1579, Lima, Peru
Died:
November 3, 1639, Lima, Peru
Canonized:
May 6, 1962 by Pope John XXIII
Major Shrine:
Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima, Peru
Patron of:
black people, hair stylists, innkeepers, mixed-race people, Peru, poor people, public education, public health, public schools, race relations, social justice, state schools, television, Peruvian Naval Aviators

He was born in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish knight, John de Porres, and a freed Panamanian slave named Anna. In 1594, Martin became a Dominican lay brother in Lima and served in various menial offices. Outside of the monastery he became known for his care of the poor and the sick. Martin founded an orphanage and ministered to African slaves brought to Lima. He was aided by St. Rose of Lima, who respected his penances and labors. Martin experienced many mystical gifts, including bilocation and aerial flights. When he was dying in Rosary Convent on November 3, the viceroy, the count of Chichon, knelt by his bed, seeking Martin's blessing. Martin, who is the patron of interracial justice, was canonized by Blessed Pope John XXIII (r. 1958-1963) in 1962. (SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/M/stmartindeporres.asp

TODAY'S GOSPEL

Luke 14: 15 - 24
15
When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
16
But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many;
17
and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, `Come; for all is now ready.'
18
But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, `I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.'
19
And another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.'
20
And another said, `I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
21
So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, `Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.'
22
And the servant said, `Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
23
And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
24
For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"