CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: TUES. MAY 4, 2010: HEADLINES-
VATICAN. POPE: DENOUNCES ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ-
AFRICA: ZAMBIA: BISHOP CAUTIONS PARTIES TO SUPPORT FAMILY VALUES-
AMERICA: USA: FR. CORAPI WARNS LUKEWARM CATHOLICS-
ASIA: JAPAN: MGRS TAKAMI & MISUE ASK WORLD LEADERS TO STOP WEAPONS AT UN-
EUROPE: NEW VIDEO ENCOURAGES PRAYING FOR PRIESTS-
AUSTRALIA: SINGING PRIEST IS VERY POPULAR ON YOUTUBE-
VATICAN
POPE: DENOUNCES ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ
Radio Vaticana report. On Tuesday Pope Benedict XVI denounced renewed attacks against the Christian community in Iraq. A telegram written on his behalf by the Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone, was sent to Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa , the Syrian Archbishop of Mosul. It notes the Pope’s deep sadness at the “news of the tragic loss of life and injuries caused by the recent bomb attack near Mosul”.
The Holy Father was referring to a weekend bomb attack on a column of buses carrying Christian students from the village of Hamdaniya, 40 km east of Mosul, to University in the city.
Four people were killed and 171 injured, at least 17 seriously.
Pope Benedict XVI asks local Church leaders to convey his heartfelt condolences to those affected by this crime and to their families.
He reaffirms his spiritual closeness to the Christian communities of Iraq and renews his appeal to all men and women of good will to hold steadfast to the ways of peace and to repudiate all acts of violence which have caused so much suffering.
The Holy Father offers fervent prayers for the eternal repose of the victims and invokes Almighty God’s abundant gifts of strength and consolation upon those who are injured and mourning.
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=377286
AFRICA
ZAMBIA: BISHOP CAUTIONS PARTIES TO SUPPORT FAMILY VALUES
All Africa report: SOME church and civil society organisation have condemned donors and political parties that want to champion the exclusion of the Christian Nation clause in the Constitution opting for a secular state that will promote homosexuality and gay rights.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said it would be wrong for political parties and non governmental organisations to promote values that were alien to Zambian society for the sake of money.
Bishop Mususu was reacting to reports that some donors were funding some opposition political parties to support a secular State that would promote homosexuality.
"It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression," Bishop Mususu said.
He said Zambia should retain the Christian nation clause in the new constitution but it should not be included as a legal requirement.
"We should maintain the clause in our preamble so that we do not exclude other religions," he said.He said it would be wrong for organisations to champion immorality just because donors are funding them.
"In fact, civil society organisations should promote our culture as a country and strengthen our values. We must not support wrong things just because we are getting a dollar or people are supporting our project," he said.
And the Independent Churches of Zambia board Chairperson Reverend David Masupa said political parties that would receive the funds to promote the Secular state would be de-campaigning themselves.
"There is no way the opposition political parties will be using the secular clause to campaign. Christians are in the majority and they will just be de-campaigning themselves," he said.
Rev Masupa said the National Constitutional Conference unanimously adopted the Christian nation clause and that it would be wrong for some organisation to reverse the decision.
He said it is commonplace for countries to adopt a religion in the constitution.
He said Zambia is predominately a Christian nation.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201005050727.html
AMERICA
USA: FR. CORAPI WARNS LUKEWARM CATHOLICS
In a wide-ranging discourse, sponsored by the international Catholic businessmen's organization Legatus, Corapi called Christians to task for dropping the ball and losing the culture to "neo-pagan" elements.
"The unraveling of Christianity has led to the unraveling of the world," he explained. "We are at war [for souls], so we don't have the luxury to sit on our complacent rear ends."
Urging attendees to examine the current political climate, he said that "socialism is not in conformity with biblical teaching. Socialism doesn't profit the poor, but only brings poverty and misery. Socialism is about the seizure of power. It only brings everyone down to the lowest common denominator."
In his final segment, Fr. Corapi said that in all of his years as a priest, he's never seen such fear in people. "There's a lot of anxiety, a lack of trust in government, elected and appointed officials. There's a crisis of trust," he said. Then quoting from the Gospels of Mark and Luke, he advised "fear is useless; what is needed is trust."
Fr. Corapi's biography on his website states that his life experiences went "From small town boy to the Vietnam era US Army, from successful businessman in Las Vegas and Hollywood to drug addicted and homeless, to religious life and ordination to the priesthood by Pope John Paul II, to a life as a preacher of the Gospel who has reached millions." Corapi regularly appears on the EWTN television network.
Patrick Novecosky is Legatus Magazine's editor.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10050414.html
ASIA
JAPAN: MGRS TAKAMI & MISUE ASK WORLD LEADERS TO STOP WEAPONS AT UN
Asia News report: Mgrs Joseph Mitsuaki Takami and Joseph Atsumi Misue attend international review conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. At the assembly, they ask world leaders to stop the nuclear madness. The ‘Bombed Mary’ statue, which accompanied them, is on display in New York’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
New York (AsiaNews) – Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki and Bishop Joseph Atsumi Misue of Hiroshima appealed to world leader to realise the madness of atomic weapons. They did so by bringing the story of the one nation that experienced an atomic attack. Both clergymen travelled to New York for the 2010 review conference for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which opened on Monday with a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and which will close on 28 May. Both of them read a communiqué to the assembly, following the address by the permanent representative of the Holy See to the United Nations, Mgr Celestino Migliore. In it, they urged world leaders to “take a courageous step toward the total abolition of nuclear weapons”.
They went further, stating, “We as the bishops of the Catholic Church of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, demand that the president of the United States, the Japanese government and the leaders of other countries make utmost efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.”
On 9 August 1945, US B-29 Superfortress bomber Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, the second of its kind, bringing to an end the Second World War. Some 75,000 people died.
Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami was an unborn child in his mother's womb on that fateful day. “How sad and foolish it is to abuse the progress that humanity has made in the fields of science and technology in order to destroy lives as massively and swiftly as possible,” he said.
For the archbishop, the United States alone cannot be blamed for the tragic consequences of the bomb even if that country was responsible for dropping it. Every nation that loved or loves war, including Japan, is responsible. This is why, as it is thinks about the past, the world should advance together towards the future, abolish atomic weapons and build a world without wars.
The two prelates noted that the world has 20,000 nuclear weapons. That number must be reduced if we want to build a bomb-free world. Both men hope that the two international meetings held in April and May can lead world leaders to an agreement. Individual interests must be transcended in favour of a united world.
The “bombed Mary”, the partially destroyed statue of the Virgin Mary that was located by the main altar in Nagasaki cathedral, came with the two bishops. Made in Italy in 1930s, it was damaged when Urakami Cathedral was destroyed by the A-bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945.
For the 65th anniversary of that event, there is no more appropriate symbol that can underscore the importance of non-violence, Archbishop Takami said. In recent days, thousands of faithful have prayed before what is left of the two-metre statue in New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki-bishops-tell-UN,-no-more-atomic-bombs-18321.html
EUROPE:
NEW VIDEO ENCOURAGES PRAYING FOR PRIESTS
CNA report: An elderly priest enters a chapel with a Rosary in hand as a young woman is heard speaking about the incredible sacrifice of priests who give their lives to others. Thus begins May Feelings III, the latest chapter in a Youtube video series that encourages the Rosary during May, the month of Mary.
After the success of May Feelings I and II, the team from Belomasan Films now presents May Feelings III, which is an expression of gratitude and solidarity towards priests.
In an interview with CNA, the creators of these videos explained that the idea for the project began in 2007 in Madrid. After hearing a song by Elvis Presley titled, “The Miracle of the Rosary,” they wondered why a Protestant would have recorded a song dedicated to Mary.
“If Elvis as a Protestant paid homage to the Virgin Mary, we had to do something. That was the reason behind the idea to do something dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After thinking and thinking we realized there were only four days until the month of May, so knowing that the Virgin Mary loves it when the Rosary is prayed, we thought that a video on the Rosary would be something that would please her.”
The May Feelings team said the reaction to the videos has been surprising, with EWTN even broadcasting them on its programs: “Life on the Rock” and “Nuestra Fe en Vivo.”
“It would be bold on our part to try and quantify the importance of the Rosary,” they said. “In fact we think its importance is unquantifiable because of its infinite value. That is, the Virgin Mary expressly told us at Fatima to pray the Rosary.”
They continued, “the fact that the Mother of God has spoken about the praying of a particular prayer seems to us to be something to consider, don’t you think?” they asked.
As far as young people are concerned, the creators said, “We think it is something essential. At a time in which it seems young people are condemned to live in a world immersed in a crisis of values, in a dictatorship of relativism, more than ever we need a vision that puts God at the center of things.”
“As the great saints say, the best way to get to Jesus is through Mary. If this is true, doesn’t the recitation of the Holy Rosary acquire an even greater importance?”
The creators of May Feelings III said the purpose of the video is two-fold. “On the one hand, it is to confirm the marvelous reality of the existence of thousands and thousands of priests in the world who give their lives for the Church, especially at a time when society and the media seem to be continuously searching and searching for mistakes and loose ends. In this sense, we don’t want to get involved in the debate, we just want to put out a positive and optimistic message.”
On the other hand, they said, “We wanted to create a message aimed directly at priests to tell them, ‘Thank you,’ thank you for the work you do. We know that times are difficult right now but we want you to know that just as you do not leave us alone, we will not do so either. We believe the Church is precisely that, a communion of persons united in Christ, and now more than ever we must show that union, and what better way than doing so through prayer, with the intercession of the Virgin Mary through the recitation of the Holy Rosary.”
The video can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_7_VrAxu14
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/youtube_video_encourages_praying_the_rosary_for_priests/
AUSTRALIA
SINGING PRIEST IS VERY POPULAR ON YOUTUBE
Cath News report: Queensland priest Father Paul Kelly has become a YouTube sensation with songs he has written, sung and filmed.
Confessing that as a boy he was torn between being "either a priest or a sound technician", Fr Kelly, the parish priest of St Mary's in Maryborough, said he was chuffed to have found an outlet for combining his passions, according to a Courier Mail report.
"I've always been interested in sound, performance and music," he said. "I love rhythm and melody in songs and I love singing.
"I do sing in the church but nobody has actually used the hymn that I wrote yet (Faith, Hope, Love), so I don't know if it's actually too hard or not. It's based on a biblical text I set to music. But the parishioners are very supportive."
"I started writing music just as an amateur interest as audio plays," he said. "I was interested in film but couldn't afford a film camera so I just got things on to audio tape and recorded plays and edited them, but then they needed theme tunes so I had to write my own because of copyright."
So far Fr Kelly has uploaded his hymn as well as other songs called Quiet Time, Sleepy Pandas and City Living, which he recorded in Shanghai, Paris, London and Florence while on sabbatical three years ago.
Sometimes he enlisted help but most times he just held a camera in front of his face. "It was embarrassing with people staring while you're miming, but I just thought, 'I'm going to do this'," he said.
He writes his music by ear, humming the tune and words into a recorder before sending it off to an arranger. "To create a song that wasn't there is an amazing feeling," he said.
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=21119
TODAY´S SAINT
St. Godehard of Hildesheim
BISHOP
Feast: May 4
Information: Feast Day: May 4
Born: 960, Reichersdorf, Bavaria
Died: May 4, 1038
Canonized: 1131, Rheims by Innocent II
Patron of: ravelling merchants; invoked against fever, dropsy, childhood sicknesses, hailstones, the pain of childbirth, and gout; invoked by those in peril of the sea
He was a native of Bavaria, and abbot of Altaich, in that country, and reformed likewise the abbeys of Hersfeld, in Hesse, of Tergensee, in the diocese of Frisinguen, and of Chremsmunster, in that of Passaw. In 1021, the episcopal chair of Hildesheim falling vacant by the death of St. Bernward, St. Godard was compelled by St. Henry to take upon him that pastoral charge. The relief of the poor, both spiritual and temporal, was everywhere the first object of his attention. He died on the 4th of May, 1038, and was canonized by Innocent II in 1131. Many places in Germany acknowledge him patron, and several bear his name. See his life by Wolfhert, his disciple, in Henschenius, p. 501, and in Mabillon: and more at large, with long histories of miracles, among the writers of the history of the most illustrious house of Brunswick-Hanover, t. 2, p. 483. Several very devout epistles of St. Godard, or Godehard, are given us by Dom. Pez, in his Codex Diplomatico-Historico-Epistolaris, p. 133, &c.
SOURCE http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/G/stgodehardofhildesheim.asp
TODAY´S GOSPEL
John 14: 27 - 31
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27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
28 You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.
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