AMERICA: NEXT WORLD YOUTH DAY-2013- IN BRAZIL- RIO DE JANEIRO
EUROPE: 1 MILLION WYD PILGRIMS TRAVEL BY LAND/SEA/AIR
AUSTRALIA: CARDINAL PELL GATHERS WITH WYD PILGRIMS
ASIA: INDIA: CATHOLIC CHURCH ATTACKED- DESECRATED
AFRICA: BURUNDI: GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MARIAN SHRINE- MUGERA
TODAY'S GOSPEL: AUG. 17: Matthew 20: 1- 16
TODAY'S SAINT: AUG. 17: ST. HYACINTH
At 10.30 am today, in the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father Benedict XVI met with the faithful and pilgrims gathered for the General Audience on Wednesday. (IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA)
In his speech in Italian the Pope continued his catechesis on prayer, has focused his attention on meditation.
The Holy Father addressed a greeting in several languages to groups of pilgrims.
The audience concluded with the singing of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters,
we are still in the light of the Feast of the Assumption, which - as I said - is a festival of hope. Mary has come to Paradise and this is our target: we can all get to heaven. The question is how. Mary is reached; Ella - says the Gospel - is "she who believed in what the Lord has said" ( Luke 1.45). So Mary, he believed, was entrusted to God, joined with her in the will of the Lord, and so it was just in the way direct route, the road to Paradise.Believe, trust the Lord, will enter her: this is essential to address.
Today I would not speak on this journey of faith, but only on one small aspect of the life of prayer is the life of the contact with God, that is meditation. And what is meditation? It means "remember" what God has done and do not forget all his benefits (cf. Ps 103, 2b). Often we see only the negative things, we must keep in our memory, even the good things, the gifts that God has given us, to be attentive to positive signs coming from God and to remember these. So, we are talking about a type of prayer in the Christian tradition is called "mental prayer". We usually know the prayer with words, of course, the mind and heart must be present in this prayer, but today we speak of a meditation that is not of words, but it is a contact of mind with the heart of God and Mary here a model is very real. The Evangelist Luke repeats several times, that Mary "on his part, kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" (2.19 cf 2.51 b). Guardian does not forget, she is attentive to all that the Lord has said and done, and meditate, that makes contact with different things, explores in his heart.
She, therefore, that "believed" the Angel, and has made instrument for the Eternal Word incarnate of the Most could, he also received in his heart the wondrous miracle of the human-divine birth, he has meditated, has focused on reflection on what God was doing in her, to accept the will of God in his life and respond. The mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God and of Mary's motherhood is so great as to require a process of internalization is not just a physical thing that God works in you, but it is something that requires internalization by Mary, who seeks to deepen the understanding, to interpret their meaning, to understand the implications and implications. So, day after day, in the silence of ordinary life, Mary continued to treasure in his heart the next wonderful event that has been witness to the ultimate test of the Cross and the glory of the Resurrection. Mary lived her life fully, his daily duties, his mission as a mother, but was able to maintain itself an inner space to reflect on the word and the will of God, of what was happening in her, on the mysteries of his life Son.
In our time we are preoccupied with many activities and commitments, concerns, problems, often we tend to fill all the spaces of the day, without a moment to stop and reflect and nourish the spiritual life, contact with God teaches us how Mary need to find in our days, with all activities, to recollect moments in silence and meditate on what the Lord wants to teach, how is present and acts in the world and in our lives: being able to pause for a moment and meditate. St. Augustine likens meditation on the mysteries of God to the assimilation of food and uses a verb that occurs throughout the Christian tradition: "chewing" the mysteries of God that should be continually made to resound in ourselves because we become family, guide the our lives, as it is nourished with the food they need to support us. And St. Bonaventure, referring to the words of Sacred Scripture says that "always go to them to fix ruminated application with ardent soul" ( Coll. Hex In , ed. Quaracchi 1934, p. 218). Meditation then is creating in us a state of meditation, inner silence, to reflect, absorb the mysteries of our faith and what God does in us, and not just the things that come and go. We can do this "rumination" in various ways, taking, for example, a short passage of Scripture, especially the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of the Apostles, or a page of an author of spirituality that brings us closer and makes it more mind the reality of God in our day, perhaps taking advice from her confessor or spiritual director, read and reflect on what we have read, focusing on it, trying to understand, to understand what he tells me what to say today , to open our hearts to what the Lord wants to tell us and teach us. The Holy Rosary is a prayer of meditation: repeating the Hail Mary we are invited to rethink and reflect on the mystery that we proclaimed. But we also dwell on some intense spiritual experience, of words that have remained in taking part in Sunday. So you see, there are many ways to meditate, and so to make contact with God and get closer to God and, thus, to go to Paradise.
Dear friends, the endurance to give time to God is a key element in spiritual growth, the Lord Himself will give us a taste of his mysteries, his words, his presence and action, to hear how good it is when God talks to us and we will understand more deeply what we want from me. In the end this is the purpose of meditation, relying increasingly in the hands of God, with faith and love, in making sure that only his will in the end we are really happy.
[01168-01.01] [Original text: Italian]
Chers amis francophones, je vous accueille avec joie. Je salue particulièrement les Pèlerins venus du Burkina Faso.Bienvenue! Je vous invite à votre confier pèlerinage à la Vierge Marie de venons dont nous celebrate the Assumption auprès de son Fils. Que Dieu vous tous benissa!
I offer a cordial welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors here today, Especially Those from Malta, South Korea, Nigeria and Canada. Through the intercession of Our Lady, Whose we Assumption Celebrated on Wednesday, May You and Your loved ones draw ever closer to her Son Jesus. Upon all of you I invoke God's abundant blessings!
Ganz herzlich Grüße ich die Pilger und Besucher aus den Ländern deutscher Sprache. Freu ich mich, dass ihr gekommen seid hierher nach Castel Gandolfo, und Wünsche euch einen Aufenthalt frohen. Gottes Segen euch auf allen beautiful Euren Wegen.
Cordial saludo a los de lengua española Peregrinos, venidos de España y otros países Latinoamericanos Mexico City. I support que vuestra oración y en el Viaje acompanied Apostólico que mañana a España emprendo.Muchas gracias y que Dios os Bendigo.
Amados Peregrinos de Língua portuguesa, bem-vindos home! Com Saúde e Alegria todos os great Afet vieram que desejo de Encontro com or successors, or de Pedro. Desco sobre a minha Bencao Vos, vossas familias and comunidades. Obrigado!
Witam pielgrzymów Serdecznie Polskich. Prosze was modlitwę or w mojej podróży na intencji spotkanie z w młodzieżą Madrycie. Niece Bedz pochwalony Chrystus Jezus!
[I greet the pilgrims from Poland. Please pray for my trip to Madrid on the occasion of World Youth Day.Praised be Jesus Christ!]
Nuoširdžiai sveikinu lietuvius maldininkus, Vilniaus ypač katalikiškosios mokyklos "Versme" mokytojus, ir linkiu jiems sėkmingai vykdyti svarbų jaunimo ugdymo darbo.
[I address a cordial greeting to the pilgrims from Lithuania, in particular the teachers of the Catholic school "Versme" Vilnius, appreciated and encourage them in their formative action.]
I cordially greet the Italian-speaking pilgrims, especially the Poor Sisters of Mary the Crowned SS.ma, who are celebrating their Chapter. We thank you all for your presence, I encourage you to continue your faithful Christian witness in society.
Tomorrow, as you know, I will go to Madrid, where I will have the joy of meeting many young people gathered there for the XXVI World Youth Day. We ask you to join spiritually with prayer in this important ecclesial event.Thank you for your prayers. Thanks!
After the Blessing
Thanks to you all, good day!
AMERICA: NEXT WORLD YOUTH DAY-2013- IN BRAZIL- RIO DE JANEIRO
This event will be in 2013.
EUROPE: 1 MILLION WYD PILGRIMS TRAVEL BY LAND/SEA/AIR
WYD MADRID11.COM REPORT: Traveling on a Sail Boat or sharing a car ride in order to protect the environment …All are good options for the journey to WYD
Madrid, August 16, 2011 – The more than 1 million youth that will arrive in Madrid to attend World Youth Day, will travel from their places of origin by land, sea and air. Any option is a good one, in order to attend this very special meeting with the Pope. Furthermore, for those that cannot be physically present, the United States has launched a virtual pilgrimage site.
600 Kilometers on Foot
Arriving on foot will be a group of young “Catalanes” from the parish of “St. Teresita del Niño Jesus”, from the suburb of “Gracia” in Barcelona. This group is composed of 131 girls and boys between the ages of 16 to 25, two priests accompany them. They left Barcelona on the 22 of July, and will soon arrive in Madrid, after traveling on foot for more than 600 kilometers.
Part of the group from Barcelona that are walking towards Madrid
The chosen route was not the shortest, but the one that took them through small towns and villages, where they were able to give testimony of their unity with the Pope. “In the villages we were welcomed very warmly, and with great joy they gave us lodging,” commented Elena Trius. Elena tells us that they always carry a crucifix with them, as an anecdote she shares “a truck driver asked us to stop so he could kiss it”.
They have passed thru, Zaragoza, La Almunia de Doña Godina, (7,800 inhabitants), El Frasno, (477 inhabitants), La Muela, (5,000 inhabitants), Fuentes de Ebro, (3,700 inhabitants), and in these days they will pass through Calatayud.
This idea emerged at WYD in Sydney, in 2008, in thanksgiving to Benedict XVI, for picking Spain as his next meeting point with the youth. The youth from this parish that traveled to Australia thought that WYD Madrid 2011 demanded a similar effort. Each day they chronicle their journey on their blog:
www.madrid2011mola.blogspot.com
Sophie and Julien, have offered three spaces in their car,
so that other pilgrims can travel to WYD
100% Natural
Many are those that have chosen to travel to Madrid via the roads and highways. Some have decided to contribute to the care of the environment by sharing a car or a bus. These youth were able to connect through the web site, “web de carpooling de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud”.
For example, Sophie Winkel, a young girl from France, who will travel from Valencia to Madrid, with her boyfriend, and three Argentinians. This connection was made possible through the official carpooling website.
“I thought it was a really good idea, since we were only two people and we had three empty seats in our car. I am aware of the problems concerning the environment, but I also liked the idea of meeting other pilgrims from different countries, I think it’s the best way of traveling to World Youth Day” commented Sophie.
In a Sailboat, an Airplane or a Virtual Pilgrimage
The United States has launched a WYD Virtual Pilgrimage site,
for those that will not be able to travel to Madrid
A group of 14 youth from France will arrive by sea. They are from the diocese of Cambrai, and they will make the journey on a sailboat. The “Star of the Sea” began its journey on the 5th of August from “Hendaya” and will finish in “Castor Urdiales” in Cantabria. Another group is traveling parallel to them through the “Camino de Santiago”.
Each day they chronicle their journey on their blog: http://jeunes.cathocambrai.com/page-46143.html
En avión llegarán peregrinos de todos los lugares del mundo pero cabe destacar que es la primera Jornada Mundial de la Juventud que contará con la presencia de una delegación que volará desde la Isla de Pascua (Chile), una isla en medio de Pacífico. Para la ocasión han organizado un vuelo especial en el que viajarán los cerca de 20 jóvenes que se han unido a esta peregrinación.
Pilgrims will arrive from all corners of the world by plane, but we must point out that this is the first WYD that will count with a delegation from Easter Island (Chile), an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. For the occasion they have organized a special flight making it possible for the more than 20 youths to attend WYD.
As a novelty, for this occasion, those youths that will not be able to travel physically to WYD, will have the opportunity to make a virtual pilgrimage and partake in WYD from their home. This has been made possible, thanks to the initiative of the United States Conference of Bishops.
On the page www.virtualworldyouthday.org each user can create his own Avatar, then send it on a virtual pilgrimage, there are more than 4,143 already registered from countries as far away as Zambia, Syria, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, among many others. In addition the participants may also go on Facebook and view videos directly from Madrid, follow the Twitter feeds and blog, and download pictures and videos of all the WYD events.
http://www.madrid11.com/en/noticias/1581-a-la-jornada-mundial-por-tierra-mar-y-aire
AUSTRALIA: CARDINAL PELL GATHERS WITH WYD PILGRIMS
Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
17 Aug 2011
Cardinal Pell gave the Blessing
At noon yesterday, 4000 young pilgrims from Australia joined the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell for a very True Blue Aussie launch of World Youth Day 2011.
Also attending the Australian Gathering were 24 of Australia's Catholic bishops and more than 300 of our priests and seminarians who have also travelled to Spain for WYD11.
Held at Madrid's famous entertainment venue, the Palacio de Deportes de la Communidad stadium, the Australians marked their arrival in Spain for the week long event with a two hour celebration of music, song and prayer.
Kari Groenveveld from Brisbane and Jack O'Sullivan from Melbourne, two of the more than 1.5 million young people from every corner of the globe who are making a pilgrimage to Madrid for WYD11, acted as MCs at the all-Australian event, which also featured two of Australia's popular musicians, Gary Pinto and Father Robert Galea.
For many there, one of the highlights of the Gathering came when Fr Robert Galea performed the special tribute song he wrote in honour of Bishop Joe Grech of Sandhurst, who died suddenly late last year and is very much missed by all who knew him.
Indigenous dancers perform at the Australian Gathering
The two hour Australian Gathering also included performances by a group of Indigenous dancers and musicians with 21-year-old Mitch Firth giving a solo performance on the didgeridoo. A member of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Mitch - or "Didge" as he is nicknamed by his mates - was one of the Indigenous dancers who performed as part of dramatic re-enactment of The Stations of the Cross at Darling Harbour during World Youth Day in Sydney three years ago. He also was one of the Indigenous dancers and musicians who performed in Rome last year as part of the celebrations during the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Welcoming the young pilgrims to Madrid, Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) urged them to take full advantage of the upcoming week of prayer and reflection.
Bishop Christopher Prowse, Bishop of Sale (Victoria) also spoke and told the joyful young Australians that it was "up to them to respond to the call of the Church in Australia."
During the two-hour Australian Gathering at the Palacio, testimonies from pilgrims were also heard. These including a moving account from Cheryl Fernandez, a member of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Catholic Youth Services and CYS co-ordinator for the Randwick-Botany Deanery.
Australian flags waved above the crowd during two
hours of music, song and prayer
Prior to arriving in Madrid, Cheryl had been on an unforgettable pilgrimage where she and other WYD young people had followed the pathways of the ancent prophets across Egypt and the Sinai Desert before entering the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
She spoke in detail of the experience and also of climbing the rugged and extremely steep Mt Sinai in the early hours of the morning so she could join the other pilgrims and be at the summit as dawn broke across the desert. Admitting she was extremely nervous as she mounted a camel and was led with others also riding camels up the almost sheer slopes of the sacred Mountain, she said that her fears were calmed when the words of Christ came to her. "Do not be afraid," He said.
Cheryl exhorted all the other pilgrims present at the Australian Gathering to take every advantage of the upcoming week where they will have the opportunity to meet other young people from every corner of the globe and to deepen their faith through prayer and reflection.
As the almost 4000-strong group of Australians waved flags and joined in the singing, the euphoria and joy swept the entire auditorium.
The final blessing was given by the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell who later described the Australian Gathering as "absolutely fantastic" and a "great mix of music, song and prayer."
The enthusiasm, pride of faith and joy felt by the pilgrims continued as they poured into Madrid's streets and prepared for the open air Mass in the Plaza de Celebes at 8 pm (4 am AEST) which was celebrated by the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, and marked the official opening of World Youth Day 2011.
Photography by Alphonsus Fok & Grace Lu (VIDEO OF AUSTRALIA GATHERING)
ASIA: INDIA: CATHOLIC CHURCH ATTACKED- DESECRATED
Pune (AsiaNews/Agencies) – St Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church in Pune’s Warje Malwadi neighbourhood was attacked on Monday. Overnight, someone entered the building and desecrated it: insulting graffiti were scribbled on the walls, religious paintings were defaced and part of the tabernacle was set on fire. Copies of the Bible and prayer books were ripped, pages strewn across the floor.
This is the first incident of its kind involving Pune’s Syro-Malankar community. Traditionally, the community has lived in peace with other religious groups, providing education, social and medical services to all.
Mgr Thomas Dabre, bishop of Pune and Mgr Jacob Mar Barnabas, as well as the Pune Catholic Association and the broader Catholic community have condemned the act. They also appealed to the state of Maharashtra to bring the culprits to justice.
Yesterday, Fr Varghese Valikodath, the priest in charge of St Mary’s Parish church, celebrated a Mass to purify the building. The faithful and local priests participated in great number to the service.
More than 3,000 attacks have been recorded against Indian Catholic churches in the past few years. Last Saturday, the glass protecting an image of Christ in St Anthony’s Catholic Church in Vashicherry, Alapuzhka, in Kerala, was also smashed, the second attack this month.
AFRICA: BURUNDI: GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MARIAN SHRINE- MUGERA
The celebration, as stated in a note sent to Fides by don Lambert Niciteretse, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Burundi, was attended by the Bishops of the Country, the Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi, hundreds of priests, religious men and women and thousands of faithful. The Burundi government was represented by the Second Vice-President of the Republic.
Thousands of faithful from all eight dioceses in Burundi made a pilgrimage to Mugera and most of them attended the prayer Vigil, during which many received the sacrament of reconciliation.
The Mass began at 10 and was presided by Mgr. Simon Ntamwana, Archbishop of Gitega.
In his homily Mgr. Grevais Banshimiyubusa, Bishop of Ngozi and President of the Episcopal Conference of Burundi, recalled the role that Mary had for our salvation and emphasized that if we take refuge under her protection, we will have the peace that comes from Her Son, Jesus Christ.
The Archbishop of Gitega further explained that the Church of Burundi chose to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Shrine of Mugera, to commemorate the consecration of Burundi to the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, in 1961. At that time the Country was preparing for independence and the change of the political system frightened the inhabitants of the Country. To avoid Burundi falling into violence, the Bishops wrote, on June 3, 1961, a pastoral letter inviting the faithful to gather on Mount Mugera on August 15 at the Marian shrine, to consecrate Burundi to the Mother of God, Queen of Peace.
Since then, Mugera became the first Marian shrine of Burundi. Every year thousands of pilgrims go there on pilgrimage, and God has granted many graces through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.
At the beginning of the Mass the message sent by His Exc. Mgr.Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples was read, which states that the consecration to the Virgin is the expression of the growing faith of the Church of Burundi , of her desire to take refuge under the protection of the Mother of Heaven and to be guided through Her by Her Son Jesus Christ.
The jubilee year will end on August 15, 2012. (L.M.)
TODAY'S SAINT: AUG. 17: ST. HYACINTH
St. Hyacinth
DOMINICAN MISSIONARY
Feast: August 17
| Dominican, called the Apostle of the North, son of Eustachius Konski of the noble family of Odrowaz; born 1185 at the castle of Lanka, at Kamin, in Silesia, Poland (now Prussia); died 15 August, 1257, at Cracow. Feast, 16 Aug. A near relative of Saint Ceslaus, he made his studies at Cracow, Prague, and Bologna, and at the latter place merited the title of Doctor of Law and Divinity. On his return to Poland he was given a prebend at Sandomir. He subsequently accompanied his uncle Ivo Konski, the Bishop of Cracow, to Rome, where he met St. Dominic, and was one of the first to receive at his hands (at Santa Sabina, 1220) the habit of the newly established Order of Friars Preachers. After his novitiate he made his religious profession, and was made superior of the little band of missionaries sent to Poland to preach. On the way he was able to establish a convent of his order at Friesach in Carinthia. In Poland the new preachers were favourably received and their sermons were productive of much good. Hyacinth founded communities at Sandomir, Cracow, and at Plocko on the Vistula in Moravia. He extended his missionary work through Prussia, Pomerania, and Lithuania; then crossing the Baltic Sea he preached in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. He came into Lower or Red Russia, establishing a community at Lemberg and at Haletz on the Mester; proceeded into Muscovy, and founded a convent at Dieff, and came as far as the shores of the Black Sea. He then returned to Cracow, which he had made the centre of his operations. On the morning of 15 August he attended Matins and Mass, received the last sacraments, and died a saintly death. God glorified His servant by numberless miracles, the record of which fills many folio pages of the Acta SS., August, III, 309. He was canonized by Pope Clement VIII in 1594. A portion of his relics is at the Dominican church in Paris. |
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/H/sthyacinth.asp#ixzz1VI6IIsHK
TODAY'S GOSPEL: AUG. 17: Matthew 20: 1- 16
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;4and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went.5Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?'7They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.'8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.11And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder,12saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'13But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?14Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you.15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?'16So the last will be first, and the first last."
