RADIO VATICANA REPORT: Pope
Benedict XVI on Sunday appealed for continued commitment to achieving equitable
access to safe water resources adequate to the needs of all.
Speaking after the traditional Angelus prayer on the Sunday that marks the mid-way point of the season of Lent, and in the context of the close – on Saturday – of the VI World Water Forum in Marseille, as well as the World Water Day to be celebrated this coming Thursday, the Pope expressed hope that the success of these initiatives will promote the right to life and the nutrition of every human person, as well as a responsible use of the Earth’s resources in a manner ordered to the common good, in the present and into the future.
Before the Angelus, the focus of the Holy Father’s brief catechesis was the great period of penitential preparation for Easter, in which the Church now finds Herself. He called the Lenten season, “A journey with Jesus across the ‘desert’ - a time, that is, in which to listen more and more closely to the voice of God, and to unmask the temptations that speak within each of us.”
It was a theme to which the Holy Father returned in his remarks to English-speaking pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for today’s Angelus. This Sunday, we reach the mid-way point of our Lenten journey. As we continue on our way, we keep our eyes fixed upon our goal, when we will accompany our Lord on the path to Calvary, so as to rise with him to new life. May Christ, the light of the world, shine upon you and fill you with his blessings!
The Pope also had words of encouragement for a group of Italian workers facing the prospect of a mass-layoff, promising prayerful support to them and their families in the hope that a solution to their difficult situation might be found.
Finally, Pope Benedict asked all the faithful for prayers in support of his upcoming voyage to Mexico and Cuba. Speaking in Spanish, he entrusted the pilgrimage, “to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is so dearly known in those blessed lands under the names of Guadalupe and Charity.” SOURCE: http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=572477
Speaking after the traditional Angelus prayer on the Sunday that marks the mid-way point of the season of Lent, and in the context of the close – on Saturday – of the VI World Water Forum in Marseille, as well as the World Water Day to be celebrated this coming Thursday, the Pope expressed hope that the success of these initiatives will promote the right to life and the nutrition of every human person, as well as a responsible use of the Earth’s resources in a manner ordered to the common good, in the present and into the future.
Before the Angelus, the focus of the Holy Father’s brief catechesis was the great period of penitential preparation for Easter, in which the Church now finds Herself. He called the Lenten season, “A journey with Jesus across the ‘desert’ - a time, that is, in which to listen more and more closely to the voice of God, and to unmask the temptations that speak within each of us.”
It was a theme to which the Holy Father returned in his remarks to English-speaking pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for today’s Angelus. This Sunday, we reach the mid-way point of our Lenten journey. As we continue on our way, we keep our eyes fixed upon our goal, when we will accompany our Lord on the path to Calvary, so as to rise with him to new life. May Christ, the light of the world, shine upon you and fill you with his blessings!
The Pope also had words of encouragement for a group of Italian workers facing the prospect of a mass-layoff, promising prayerful support to them and their families in the hope that a solution to their difficult situation might be found.
Finally, Pope Benedict asked all the faithful for prayers in support of his upcoming voyage to Mexico and Cuba. Speaking in Spanish, he entrusted the pilgrimage, “to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is so dearly known in those blessed lands under the names of Guadalupe and Charity.” SOURCE: http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=572477
TOP 20 CATHOLIC WOMEN OF ALL TIME CONTINUED
Continued from March 8 is our
list of TOP CATHOLIC WOMEN.
11. ST. MARY
MAGDALENE lived during the 1st Century AD. She was one of the followers
of Jesus Christ. Her feast is celebrated on July 22. She is mentioned in the
Gospels as a repentant sinner who Jesus cleansed of 7 evil spirits. Mary
Magdalene was with Mary, the mother of Jesus, during his crucifixion and death.
She is a model of conversion from a life of sin to love of Jesus.
12. ST. HELENA,
mother of Constantine, live in the 200s-330 AD. She was wife of Emperor
Constantius and mother of Emperor Constantine. She converted to Christianity and
influenced her son's conversion. This began the acceptance of Christianity in
the Roman empire and the world. She had Churches built and discovered the relic
of the true Cross. Her feast is August 18. 13. ST. CATHERINE OF
SIENA, was born in Italy on March 25, 1347. She was the youngest of 24
children; to Lapa and Giacomo. She saw visions of Christ from an early age and
consecrated herself to Jesus at the age of 7. She became a Dominican Tertiary.
She lived in a small room in her parents house and cared for the sick, poor, and
sinners. She travelled and gave advice to many; including Pope Urban VI. She
suffered many ailments and offered them up for the Church in union with Christ.
She died on April 29, 1380 at the age of 33. Her feast April 30. 14. ST.
TERESA OF AVILA, was born in Spain, on March 28, 1515. She was 1 of 10
children to a wealthy businessman. She entered a Carmelite monastery in 1535.
She became very ill during these early years and almost died. Teresa began to
have great visions of Jesus. She began a reform of the Carmelites and founded a
new convent. Her writings on union with God; The Way of Perfection and
The Interior Castle are popular to this day. She died on Oct. 4, 1582.
Her feast day is Oct. 15. 
15. BL. KATERI
TEKAKWITHA, was born in Auriesville, New York, in 1656, to the Mohawk
tribe. Her mother died when she was 4 from Small Pox, which also disfigured the
face of Kateri. Kateri converted during her teen years and was baptised at the
age of 20. She moved to a Canadian colony; where she served the poor, sick and
elderly natives. Kateri had a devotion to the Eucharist. Kateri is known as the
"Lily of the Mohawks". She died on April 17, 1680. Her feast is July 14; and
will be canonized in Oct. 2012. Her dying words: “Jesos konoronkwa!” “Jesus, I
love you!” 
16. ST. HEDWIG,
duchess of Silesia. She was born in 1174, in Trebnitz, formerly part of Germany,
but now of Poland. Two of her brothers were bishops. At the age of 12 years she
was married to Henry I, Duke of Silesia. They had 7 children together and
founded religious institions. She took care of the poor, sick and sinners. She
died on October 15, 1243. Her feast is October 16. 17. ST.
MONICA was the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She was from Africa
and married to Patritius an official of Tagaste now Algieria, Africa. He was a
pagan and of ill temperment. They had 3 children. Through much prayer and
suffering on Monica's part, her husband was converted to Christianity before his
death. She then tried to convert her wayward son, Augustine, with prayers for 17
years. A bishop seeing her crying in prayer said to her "the child of those
tears shall never perish". He eventually converted and became a great Saint. She
died in 387 and her feast is on August 27.
18. ST. BERNADETTE
Soubirous, was born on January 7, 1844 in Lourdes, France. She was the
eldest of 5 children. They were a very poor family. She is known for her visions
of Our Lady of Lourdes, from February 11-July 16, 1858. Mary called herself the
"Immaculate Conception" during the visions. The healing waters of Lourdes that
sprung from the apparition site have produced many miraclous healings. Millions
continue to visit the Lourdes site. St. Bernadette's body has remained incorrupt
since death on April 16, 1879. Her feast is on April 16. 
19. ST. CLARE of
Assisi, was born on July 16, 1194. She was born in Assisi, Italy as
Chiara. Clare's father wanted her to marry; but at the age of 15 after hearing a
sermon of St. Francis she entered the Benedictines. She later founded an order
of religious called the Order of Poor Ladies which came to be known as
the Poor Clares. This is the 1st monastic order to have been founded by a woman.
She died on August 11, 1253. Her feast is on August 11. 20. ST. JOAN of
Arc, was born in 1412 in Eastern France. She was a peasant girl who
received visions to help the French army drive England out. She then led them
Joan was captured by the English and burned at the stake at age 19. She died on
May 30, 1431. She was canonized in 1920. Her feast is May 30. (IMAGES:
GOOGLE/BLOGS)
SEE PREVIOUS TOP
TEN http://jceworld.blogspot.com/2012/03/womens-day-top-10-catholic-women.html
AFRICA : RIP LEADER OF COPTIC CHURCH SHENOUDA III
SHENOUDA III, Patriarch of the
Coptic Church has died on Saturday at the age of 88. Shenouda III was battling
liver and lung problems for many years. He was known as "Baba Shenouda" and led
this Church for 40 years. He was born on August 3, 1923. Shenouda was born in
Asyut, Egypt and replaced Patriarch Cyril in 1971. He established relations with
the Vatican and met Pope John Paul II. The Coptic Church is the largest
Christian Church in the Middle East and has followers world-wide. A new Pope
will be chosen from the remaining 150 Bishops of the Council when they gather
for voting. For now the most senior Bishop will be interim leader. He will be
buried at Emba Bishoy monastery in Wadi Natroun. He tried to defend the
Christians during the violence that occurred there between other religious
groupings. There are approximately 80 million Copts in Egypt.
POPE BENEDICT XVI
CONDOLENCES:
On learning of the sad departure to God, our common
Father, of His Holiness Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria on the See of
Saint Mark the Evangelist, I wish to express to the members of the Holy Synod,
to the priests and all the faithful of all the Patriarchate, my most sincere
brotherly compassion. I recall with gratitude his commitment to Christian Unity,
his memorable visit to my predecessor Pope Paul VI, and their signing of the
Joint Declaration of Faith in the
Incarnation of the Son of God together in Rome,
on May 10, 1973, as well as his Cairo meeting with Pope John Paul II during the
Great Jubilee of the Incarnation, on February24, 2000. I can say how the
Catholic Church as a whole shares the grief that afflicts the Orthodox Copts,
and how she stands in fervent prayer asking that He, who is who is the
Resurrection and the Life, might welcome his faithful servant. May the God of
all mercy receive Pope Shenouda in His joy, His peace and light.
ASIA : INDIA : 2 ITALIANS KIDNAPPED IN ORISSA
ASIA NEWS
REPORT:
by Nirmala Carvalho
The news confirmed by Indian police, anda few hours after Italian Foreign Ministry. Only certainty is revolutionarygroup's demands for release of political prisoners are freed and an end to thehunt for Maoists. It would bethe first time that the Communists kidnap foreigners. Government representative to AsiaNews: "We are doing everything possible for their release."
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Two Italian tourists were abducted by a group of Maoists inOdisha, in the district of Kandhamal, in Orissa. In exchange for the release, the revolutionary groupwants the army to call off its operation against them and the government toopen up negotiations. The news was broadcast by NDTV television.
The Indian police hasconfirmed the fact happened last night, but said that there are no details fornow. An audio message from the highest local Maoist leader, Sabyasachi Panda,confirms the abduction and demands. The deadline to fulfill them isscheduled for tonight.
The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the kidnapping this morning. The news reports are somewhatconfused: it is said that Italian tourists were kidnapped while takingphotographs of tribal women bathing in an area prohibited by the rules of theState. It would be the first time the Maoists - who are fighting for theindependence of their regions, inhabited by ethnic minorities - have resortedto kidnapping foreigners. Kandhamaldistrict is where the 2008 pogrom against Christians took place, but theauthors of the killings were fundamentalists and Hindu nationalists,traditional enemies of the Maoists.
The only certain fact is the set of 13 demands that the Maoists havepresented to the government, similar to those made a year ago when theykidnapped a government representative of Malkangiri, R Vineel Krishna. The demands include the release ofpolitical prisoners and a halt to Operation Greenhunt against the Maoists.
Speaking to AsiaNews after police confirmation,the District Collector [representative of the local government] Pravakar RajeshPatil said that "the kidnapping of the tourists is a sad fact." Hepointed out that the Maoists kidnappers, usually, "communicate with themedia, they have their sources to make public their information and will notsend any official communication."
Patil believes that the Maoists are behind the kidnapping, although theinvolvement of others is not to be "100%" excluded.
"This - he added - is bad news for the tourism sector. But theMaoist problem exists. We do not know exactly the reasons and circumstances inwhich the Italian tourists were kidnapped. All efforts have been made at the highest level, we are on the job tosecure their release. "
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Orissa-Police:Two-Italian-tourists-taken-hostage-by-Maoists-24265.html
by Nirmala Carvalho
The news confirmed by Indian police, anda few hours after Italian Foreign Ministry. Only certainty is revolutionarygroup's demands for release of political prisoners are freed and an end to thehunt for Maoists. It would bethe first time that the Communists kidnap foreigners. Government representative to AsiaNews: "We are doing everything possible for their release."
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Two Italian tourists were abducted by a group of Maoists inOdisha, in the district of Kandhamal, in Orissa. In exchange for the release, the revolutionary groupwants the army to call off its operation against them and the government toopen up negotiations. The news was broadcast by NDTV television.
The Indian police hasconfirmed the fact happened last night, but said that there are no details fornow. An audio message from the highest local Maoist leader, Sabyasachi Panda,confirms the abduction and demands. The deadline to fulfill them isscheduled for tonight.
The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed the kidnapping this morning. The news reports are somewhatconfused: it is said that Italian tourists were kidnapped while takingphotographs of tribal women bathing in an area prohibited by the rules of theState. It would be the first time the Maoists - who are fighting for theindependence of their regions, inhabited by ethnic minorities - have resortedto kidnapping foreigners. Kandhamaldistrict is where the 2008 pogrom against Christians took place, but theauthors of the killings were fundamentalists and Hindu nationalists,traditional enemies of the Maoists.
The only certain fact is the set of 13 demands that the Maoists havepresented to the government, similar to those made a year ago when theykidnapped a government representative of Malkangiri, R Vineel Krishna. The demands include the release ofpolitical prisoners and a halt to Operation Greenhunt against the Maoists.
Speaking to AsiaNews after police confirmation,the District Collector [representative of the local government] Pravakar RajeshPatil said that "the kidnapping of the tourists is a sad fact." Hepointed out that the Maoists kidnappers, usually, "communicate with themedia, they have their sources to make public their information and will notsend any official communication."
Patil believes that the Maoists are behind the kidnapping, although theinvolvement of others is not to be "100%" excluded.
"This - he added - is bad news for the tourism sector. But theMaoist problem exists. We do not know exactly the reasons and circumstances inwhich the Italian tourists were kidnapped. All efforts have been made at the highest level, we are on the job tosecure their release. "
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Orissa-Police:Two-Italian-tourists-taken-hostage-by-Maoists-24265.html
EUROPE : SSPX STATEMENT NOT SUFFICIENT FOR VATICAN
CATHOLIC
HERALD REPORT:
By Mark
Greaves on Friday, 16 March 2012
Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of
the SSPX, ordains a priest in Econe, Switzerland (Photo: CNS)
The Holy See has said that a statement by the Society
of St Pius X (SSPX) is “not sufficient” to overcome the doctrinal problems that
keep it estranged from Rome.
In a communiqué published today the Holy See asked Bishop Bernard Fellay, the superior of the SSPX, to “clarify his position in order to be able to heal the existing rift, as is the desire of Pope Benedict XVI”.
The SSPX statement had been a response to a “doctrinal preamble” issued by the Vatican outlining principles that would form the basis of any further discussion between the SSPX and Rome. The preamble, issued in September, had come at the end of years of talks.
Last November Bishop Fellay said that the preamble needed changes before it could be accepted as the basis for reconciliation.
He said the preamble was “a document which can be clarified and modified, as the accompanying note points out. It is not a definitive text.
“The proposal that I will make in the next few days to the Roman authorities and their response in turn will enable us to evaluate our remaining options. And whatever the result of these talks may be, the final document that will have been accepted or rejected will be made public,” he said.
In its communiqué the Holy See said that the SSPX response had arrived in January.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/03/16/vatican-tells-sspx-your-response-is-not-good-enough/
In a communiqué published today the Holy See asked Bishop Bernard Fellay, the superior of the SSPX, to “clarify his position in order to be able to heal the existing rift, as is the desire of Pope Benedict XVI”.
The SSPX statement had been a response to a “doctrinal preamble” issued by the Vatican outlining principles that would form the basis of any further discussion between the SSPX and Rome. The preamble, issued in September, had come at the end of years of talks.
Last November Bishop Fellay said that the preamble needed changes before it could be accepted as the basis for reconciliation.
He said the preamble was “a document which can be clarified and modified, as the accompanying note points out. It is not a definitive text.
“The proposal that I will make in the next few days to the Roman authorities and their response in turn will enable us to evaluate our remaining options. And whatever the result of these talks may be, the final document that will have been accepted or rejected will be made public,” he said.
In its communiqué the Holy See said that the SSPX response had arrived in January.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/03/16/vatican-tells-sspx-your-response-is-not-good-enough/
AUSTRALIA : OVER 2000 STUDENTS AT ST. PATRICK DAY MASS
ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT:
| More than 2000 students at St Patrick's Day Mass |
 Friday 16 March 2012By David Ahern, Catholic Education Office Melbourne The St Patrick’s Day celebrations kicked off early for more than 2000 Catholic school students who attended a Mass in honour of the popular Irish saint yesterday. View gallery The celebration of the life of one of the Catholic Church’s most famous saints included a vibrant student procession into St Patrick’s Cathedral, with Catholic schools celebrating major milestones and new Catholic schools leading the parade, including St Francis of Assisi in Tarneit and St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre (FLC), North Melbourne. Two Irish pipers added colour to the occasion, as students in full school uniform and holding school flags marched proudly into the cathedral. Dignitaries at the Mass, which is always a major highlight during Catholic Education Week, included the Premier Ted Baillieu, the Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan and Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews. This year’s Catholic Education Week theme was ‘Throw Open the Doors — Let in the Light’. A mass choir involved students from St Gregory the Great Primary, Doncaster, Avila College, Mount Waverly, and St Kevin’s College, Toorak. The Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, was the main celebrant, assisted by priests from parishes throughout the Archdiocese. Many had an ear out for the rain following a heavy downpour during the Mass but thankfully the skies cleared for the concert in the Treasury Gardens. Students in their school groups wandered down to the usually tranquil gardens which came alive for the St Patrick’s Day Concert. Enjoying a picnic lunch on the lawns, students rocked to the sounds of the navy band and musical entertainment provided by students from four Catholic schools: Resurrection School, Keysborough, St Monica’s, Footscray, St Matthew’s, Fawkner North and Star of the Sea, Gardenvale. Executive Director of Catholic Education, Stephen Elder, said the Mass and the Concert were a wonderful opportunity for Catholic school students to celebrate their Catholic faith and the life of a great saint. “Saint Patrick was a great missionary in Ireland and his legacy lives on, not just for the many people of Irish heritage now living in Australia but for all Australians," he said. “Catholic Education Week has become one of the major events on the Catholic education calendar, and is a chance to acknowledge the work and wonderful achievements of our principals, teachers and students in Catholic schools." Photos by Timothy Burgess http://www.cam.org.au/melbourne-news/more-than-2000-students-at-st-patricks-day-mass.html |
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : SUN. MARCH 18, 2012 : 4TH SUN. LENT
4TH SUNDAY
IN LENT
John 3: 14 - 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S SAINT : MARCH 18 : ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
BISHOP OF JERUSALEM, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Feast: March 18
 Information:
|
|
Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church, born about
315; died probably 18 March, 386. In the East his feast is observed on the 18th
of March, in the West on the 18th or 20th. Little is known of his life. We
gather information concerning him from his younger contemporaries, Epiphanius,
Jerome, and Rufinus, as well as from the fifth-century historians, Socrates,
Sozomen and Theodoret. Cyril himself gives us the date of his "Catecheses" as
fully seventy years after the Emperor Probus, that is about 347, if he is exact.
Constans (d. 350) was then still alive. Mader thinks Cyril was already bishop,
but it is usually held that he was at this date only as a priest. St. Jerome
relates (Chron. ad ann. 352) that Cyril had been ordained priest by St. Maximus,
his predecessor, after whose death the episcopate was promised to Cyril by the
metropolitan, Acacius of Caesarea, and the other Arian bishops, on condition
that he should repudiate the ordination he had received from Maximus. He
consented to minister as deacon only, and was rewarded for this impiety with the
see. Maximus had consecrated Heraclius to succeed himself, but Cyril, by various
frauds, degraded Heraclius to the priesthood. So says St. Jerome; but Socrates
relates that Acacius drove out St. Maximus and substituted St. Cyril. A quarrel
soon broke out between Cyril and Acacius, apparently on a question of precedence
or jurisdiction. At Nicaea the metropolitan rights of Caesarea had been guarded,
while a special dignity had been granted to Jerusalem. Yet St. Maximus had held
a synod and had ordained bishops. This may have been as much as the cause of
Acacius' enmity to him as his attachment to the Nicene formula. On the other
hand, Cyril's correct Christology may have been the real though veiled ground of
the hostility of Acacius to him. At all events, in 357 Acacius caused Cyril to
be exiled on the charge of selling church furniture during a famine. Cyril took
refuge with Silvanus, Bishop of Taraus. He appeared at the Council of Seleucia
in 359, in which the Semi-Arian party was triumphant. Acacius was deposed and
St. Cyril seems to have returned to his see. But the emperor was displeased at
the turn of events, and, in 360, Cyril and other moderates were again driven
out, and only returned at the accession of Julian in 361. In 367 a decree of
Valens banished all the bishops who had been restored by Julian, and Cyril
remained in exile until the death of the persecutor in 378. In 380, St. Gregory
of Nyssa came to Jerusalem on the recommendation of a council held at Antioch in
the preceding year. He found the Faith in accord with the truth, but the city a
prey to parties and corrupt in morals. St. Cyril attended the great Council of
Constantinople in 381, at which Theodosius had ordered the Nicene faith, now a
law of the empire, to be promulgated. St. Cyril then formally accepted the
homoousion; Socrates and Sozomen call this an act of repentance. Socrates gives
385 for St. Cyril's death, but St. Jerome tells us that St. Cyril lived eight
years under Theodosius, that is, from January
379.
|
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/C/stcyrilofjerusalem.asp#ixzz1pTue7f76
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