CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: SAT. JUNE 19, 2010: HEADLINES-
VATICAN: POPE RECEIVES BRAZILIAN BISHOPS ASKS FOR ALL TO OPEN HEARTS-EUROPE: ITALY: ANDREA BOCELLI SUPPORTS LIFE WITH HIS VIDEO-
AFRICA: KENYA: ARCHBISHOP ADVISES NEW PRIESTS-
ASIA: INDONESIA: EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE TO CHURCHES-
AMERICA: USA: NEW BOOK ON EXORCISM BY FR. EUTENEUER OF HLI-
AUSTRALIA: BRISBANE DIOCESE TO HOST PRAY 2010 EVENT IN JULY-
VATICAN
POPE RECEIVES BRAZILIAN BISHOPS ASKS FOR ALL TO OPEN HEARTS
Radio Vaticana report- Pope Benedict XVI called bishops to a ‘saintly life’ in order to encourage the faithful to open their hearts to the Gospel that the same bishops preach. This morning the Pope received a group of Brazilian bishops from the region of Leste II, at the end of their ad Limina visit. Bishops from Brazil's 252 dioceses have spent most of 2009 and part of 2010 making their visits to Rome to speak to the Pope about the reality of the church in this vast nation. Saturday’s group represent the diocese from south east Brazil, led by Mgr. Walmor Oliveira de Azevedo, Archbishop of Belo Horizonte and regional Leste 2 president of the Brazilian Bishops Conference.
Speaking to them, Pope Benedict emphasized the importance of communion between the faithful and their pastors, and the importance of the "bond of unity, love and peace" that ties the Pope to the bishops. He concentrated on three main tasks of pastors, namely teaching, sanctifying and governing the people of God First, stressing that as teachers and doctors of the faith, the bishops are called to teach the truth with authentic courage.
Referring to his address at the 2007 Aparecida Conference the Pope said; “The Church has the great task of guarding and nourishing the faith of the People of God, and reminding the faithful”, that "by virtue of their Baptism they are called to be disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ. " Meanwhile, he also urged pastors to help the faithful "to discover the joy of faith," the joy of feeling loved personally by God”. “Believing” he continued, "lies primarily in abandoning oneself to God who knows and loves us personally." The Pope called for the Brazilian bishops to instill trust in the Lord in their own people, ensuring that faith is always "preserved, defended and transmitted in all its purity and integrity."
Pope Benedict went on to stress the crucial importance of the celebration of the sacraments and the Eucharist in particular for the bishops. "The task you have received to sanctify," he said, pushes you to be "promoters and leaders of prayer in the, human city, which is often restless, noisy and forgetful of God." We need to create "places and occasions of prayer" was his exhortation, where “you can hear God and experience the encounter with Jesus Christ”.
Finally, he turned his thoughts to the task of leading the Christian people, which requires bishops to promote the participation of all the faithful in the building up of the Church.
"Regarding the task of governance - he said - the bishop is called to administer and regulate the lives of the people of God" through rules, guidelines and recommendations. “This is an important function so that the diocesan community remains united within and continues on a path of sincere communion of faith, love and discipline with the Bishop of Rome and with the whole Church”. The government of a bishop, concluded Pope Benedict, "will be pastorally effective" only if it rests "on a moral authority, revealed in a saintly life." In fact, this alone will "encourage souls to welcome the Gospel he preaches in his Church, as well as the standards he sets for the good of the People of God."
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=401948
POPE OFFERS SORROW AT LOSS OF LIFE IN FRANCE
Radio Vaticana report: On Saturday Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone sent a telegram on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to the President of the French Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Vingt-Trois. In the telegram the Cardinal expresses the Pope’s pain at the loss of life and devastation in Southern France in the wake of last week’s storms.
The telegram states: “Aware of the severe weather that hit the Southeast and other regions of France, causing numerous casualties and extensive damage, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI sends his condolences to the bereaved and deepest sympathy to the people affected by this tragedy. He asks the Lord to welcome the deceased into His Kingdom of light, hoping that genuine solidarity will enable people affected by the floods to find brotherly support and assistance.Flash floods caused by torrential rain killed 19 people and left seven missing near France's Mediterranean coast, after the worst downpours the region has seen since 1827.
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=402041
EUROPE
ITALY: ANDREA BOCELLI SUPPORTS LIFE WITH HIS VIDEO
TO VIEW VIDEO CLICK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QfKCGTfn3o&feature=player_embedded
“Because of my personal convictions as a devout Catholic, I am not only fighting against something, I am fighting for something - and I am for life,” he told the Italian newspaper, Il Foglio. Bocelli said he wants his video “to help comfort those who are in difficult situations and who sometimes just need to feel that they are not alone. Life is hard, but we need to listen, we need to open our ears” to embrace them. Bocelli said he has been surprised by the calls he has received following the video. “I said those things a year and a half ago in a video message for Father Richard Frechette, a missionary who works with children in Haiti and deserves to have a book written just about him. I gave a concert to help him build the Home of the Angels and he asked me to say a few words of hope for mothers in difficult circumstances and I decided to tell the story of my birth.”
“I did so recounting the private experience of my mother without asking her permission, but she didn’t admonish me. I wasn’t ready for all the uproar it has created,” Bocelli said.
As a young boy, he continued, “I was very hyper and quite naïve.” He said he has loved music ever since he was a boy. “My mother tells me that I would cry whenever I heard a song, even through the wall from another room in the hospital. I would turn towards the sound and listen with glee.”
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/andrea-bocelli-clarifies-that-his-message-is-pro-life-not-merely-anti-abortion/
AFRICA
KENYA: ARCHBISHOP ADVISES NEW PRIESTS
All Africa report: Young priests should make use of their youthful priestly life to propagate the Christian message among the faithful effectively.
"Time is now to serve the Church effectively. You will not manage to do this when advanced age catches up with you as I have just discovered," stressed Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a'Nzeki, the retired archbishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Nairobi.
The archbishop, who retired from active pastoral service in 2006, was speaking at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Kangemi on the outskirts of Nairobi on Saturday, June 12, where he ordained three deacons to the priesthood.
The three newly ordained priests: Shete Wangila, Francis Njuguna and Stephen Nzioki were ordained for the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
Archbishop Ndingi, who was flanked by the Provincial Superior for Jesuits in Eastern African region, Fr Emmanuel Orobator and the Father-in-Charge of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Fr Michael Kyalo, urged the newly ordained priests to live a prayerful life.
"Make every effort to centralize prayers in all your pastoral service," advised the retired archbishop.
He also thanked the parents of the newly ordained for giving their children to the service of the Lord.
"This is no small gift to God," he remarked.
He urged the priests to reciprocate by being committed to the Lord's work.
Fr Orobator thanked the retired prelate for accepting to officiate the occasion.
"He is one person who has constantly followed the establishment and development of the Jesuits service in Kenya and the entire Eastern African region, comprising Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia," he stressed. http://allafrica.com/stories/201006170808.html
ASIA
INDONESIA: EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE TO CHURCHES
Asia News report: A parish priest told AsiaNews about the earthquake damage. It speaks of the quiet life of Christian communities in the area, often a few hours drive families away from cities
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - The parish church of St. Mary in Seru (Yapen Regency, Biak Island) suffered severe damage during the earthquake measuring 7.1 that struck Papua and other islands in the area on June 16. The parish priest Father Ignatius Widodo, Order of the Sacred Heart, told AsiaNews that "the church building currently can not be used any more." "It 's urgent - he explains - to determine with engineers the structural soundness to permit the use and eliminate the risk of collapsing altogether." Seru, capital of Yapen Regency is just a 30-minute flight with by airplane from the main island Biak. Biak is approximately 6 hours flight from Jakarta and two from the provincial capital Jayapura.Father Ignatius says that "the church of St Peter in the Waropen subdistrict was severely damaged." Waropen is the remotest area from Seru , it takes 2-3 hours on small boats through the rivers to reach it. "My congregation - continues the priest - in SP5 (Satuan Permukiman, a group of neighbouring houses) is only 5 families. In SP6 there are more than 20 Catholic families and some others are a group of neighbouring buildings belonging to local wood pulp industry”.
There is no electricity in Seru and basic essentials are scarce. Some aid has been brought by plane from Biak. "The residents hardest hit by earthquake are using a generator, because electrical systems were seriously damaged," said the priest, who explains that he can talk only through the solar battery of his mobile phone.
Many small Protestant churches have also suffered serious damages. The core of Seru is small, you can visit the entire town in just 10 minutes. But it is pretty and has a splendid view. Catholics and other Christians of the area are mainly migrants from other islands are, from Tanah Toraja in Central Sulewesi, Java, Kei Island in Southeast Maluku and elsewhere.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Papua-Islands-earthquake-hits-local-Churches-18726.html
AMERICA
USA: NEW BOOK ON EXORCISM BY FR. EUTENEUER OF HLI
Exorcism and the Church Militant
1. Why was this book written?
Are there any cautions about reading this book?
Can kids read the book?
It is unlikely that pre-high school children will get much out of the book given the maturity of the subject matter, but the book can be read fruitfully by teens interested in the subject and those wishing to become stronger in their faith. There are no graphic descriptions of evil in the book; the language is sober and simple and the concepts are straightforward. Furthermore, the first two chapters are not about exorcism per se and will be helpful to anyone of any age in understanding the nature of Christ and the power of demons. As with all books and materials in the information age, parents should use their good judgment in discerning whether or not their teenager is prepared to read this book.
What are some of the highlights of the book’s presentation?
Exorcism and the Church Militant is meant to educate its readers about a varied and complex subject, and to that end, it is meant to be very user-friendly to help the reader get the most out of it. (Please see the “Summary of the Contents” below.) It is not supposed to be read from front to back as a novel. Except for the last chapter and the appendices, the text is written in question and short-answer format to avoid lengthy explanations of difficult matters and to break the subjects down to their essential components. There are also nine Appendices and an extensive Bibliography which feature many ecclesiastical documents and theological commentaries which incarnate the wisdom of the Church’s long ages in “fighting the good fight” against the devil and his minions in daily life.
Summary of the Contents of Exorcism and the Church Militant:
o Pre-eminent Catholic preacher, Fr. John Corapi, wrote the Foreword to the book
o An Introduction explaining the Church Militant
o Total of 178 Questions and 9 Appendices including the full exorcism ritual of 1614 in three parts
o Extended Table of Contents for easy review of the material
o Detailed Index for easy reference of terms and research
o Each chapter except the last contains an Afterword which relates to the subject matter of the chapter and explains it from a pastoral perspective from the actual ministry of the author
o The seventh and last chapter contains a list of “Spiritual Resources for Busy People” to help priests and parents to learn more about the subjects addressed in the book and other related matters
o An extended Bibliography including relevant Church documents.
Where do I buy this book?
Directly through this website. Click here http://www.hli.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=655 to purchase Exorcism and the Church Militant.
Call 1-800-549-5433
Visit Ignatius press at http://www.ignatius.com/
If you don't see Exorcism and the Church Militant at your local Catholic book store, ask them to call 1-800-549-5433 and ask for the reseller's discount.
http://www.exorcismbook.com/
AUSTRALIA
BRISBANE DIOCESE TO HOST PRAY 2010 EVENT IN JULY
Cath News report: Brisbane Archdiocese's Pray 2010 is creating substantial interest in the final weeks before its July 7 kickoff, with more than 2100 registered for the event from July 7-10, including many from beyond Queensland.
"Prayer is not simply about set formulas; it's about understanding core beliefs and the reality that one can relate to God in many different ways," he said.
"Seeing how other people pray and learning some of those ways is often helpful because it's a learning experience that can free us.
"People can realise for the first time 'Oh, that's prayer', or 'Oh, you can do it that way', so it's often as much about clearing away the formula."
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=22012
TODAY´S SAINT
St. Romuald
ABBOT AND FOUNDER
Feast: June 19
Information: Feast Day: June 19
Born: 950 at Ravenna, Italy
Died: 19 June 1027 at Val-di-Castro, Italy
Born at Ravenna, probably about 950; died at Val-di-Castro, 19 June, 1027. St. Peter Damian, his first biographer, and almost all the Camaldolese writers assert that St. Romuald's age at his death was one hundred and twenty, and that therefore he was born about 907. This is disputed by most modern writers. Such a date not only results in a series of improbabilities with regard to events in the saint's life, but is also irreconcilable with known dates, and probably was determined from some mistaken inference by St. Peter Damian. In his youth Romuald indulged in the usual thoughtless and even vicious life of the tenth-century noble, yet felt greatly drawn to the eremetical life. At the age of twenty, struck with horror because his father had killed an enemy in a duel, he fled to the Abbey of San Apollinare-in-Classe and after some hesitation entered religion. San Apollinare had recently been reformed by St. Maieul of Cluny, but still was not strict enough in its observance to satisfy Romuald. His injudicious correction of the less zealous aroused such enmity against him that he applied for, and was readily granted, permission to retire to Venice, where he placed himself under the direction of a hermit named Marinus and lived a life of extraordinary severity. About 978, Pietro Orseolo I, Doge of Venice, who had obtained his office by acquiescence in the murder of his predecessor, began to suffer remorse for his crime. On the advice of Guarinus, Abbot of San Miguel-de-Cuxa, in Catalonia, and of Marinus and Romuald, he abandoned his office and relations, and fled to Cuxa, where he took the habit of St. Benedict, while Romuald and Marinus erected a hermitage close to the monastery. For five years the saint lived a life of great austerity, gathering round him a band of disciples. Then, hearing that his father, Sergius, who had become a monk, was tormented with doubts as to his vocation, he returned in haste to Italy, subjected Sergius to severe discipline, and so resolved his doubts. For the next thirty years St. Romuald seems to have wandered about Italy, founding many monasteries and hermitages. For some time he made Pereum his favourite resting place. In 1005 he went to Val-di- Castro for about two years, and left it, prophesying that he would return to die there alone and unaided. Again he wandered about Italy; then attempted to go to Hungary, but was prevented by persistent illness. In 1012 he appeared at Vallombrosa, whence he moved into the Diocese of Arezzo. Here, according to the legend, a certain Maldolus, who had seen a vision of monks in white garments ascending into Heaven, gave him some land, afterwards known as the Campus Maldoli, or Camaldoli. St. Romuald built on this land five cells for hermits, which, with the monastery at Fontebuono, built two years later, became the famous mother-house of the Camaldolese Order. In 1013 he retired to Monte-Sitria. In 1021 he went to Bifolco. Five years later he returned to Val-di-Castro where he died, as he had prophesied, alone in his cell. Many miracles were wrought at his tomb, over which an altar was allowed to be erected in 1032. In 1466 his body was found still incorrupt; it was translated to Fabriano in 1481. In 1595 Clement VIII fixed his feast on 7 Feb., the day of the translation of his relics, and extended its celebration to the whole Church. He is represented in art pointing to a ladder on which are monks ascending to Heaven.
[Note: By the Apostolic Constitution Calendarium Romanum, promulgated in 1969, the feast of St. Romuald was assigned, as an "Optional Memorial," to 19 June, the day of his death.]
http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/R/stromuald.asp
TODAY´S GOSPEL
Matthew 6: 24 - 34
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24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin;
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
