MESSAGE FOR THE 450TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CARMELITE
REFORM Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has sent a message to
Bishop Jesus Garcia Burillo of Avila, Spain, to mark the 450th anniversary of
the foundation of the Monastery of St. Joseph and the beginning of the Carmelite
reform by St. Teresa of Avila. The message, ample extracts of which are given
below, is dated 16 July.
"The reform of the Carmelite Order, the anniversary of which fills us with inner joy, arose from prayer and tends towards prayer. In promoting a radical return to the original Rule and abandoning the mitigated Rule, St. Teresa of Jesus sought to create a form of life which favoured a personal encounter with the Lord, finding 'a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us. Nor need we feel strange in the presence of so kind a Guest'".
"St. Teresa presented a new way of being Carmelite in a world which was also new. Those were 'difficult times' in which, according to that Mistress of the spirit, ... 'the world is on fire. Men try to condemn Christ once again. They would raze His Church to the ground. No, my sisters, this is no time to treat with God for things of little importance'. Does this luminous and engaging call, written more than four centuries ago by the mystic saint, not sound familiar in our own times?"
"The ultimate goal of Teresa's reform and the creation of new monasteries in a world lacking spiritual values was to protect apostolic work with prayer, proposing a form of evangelical life that would act as a model for people seeking the path of perfection, on the basis of the conviction that all authentic personal and ecclesial reform involves an ever more faithful reproduction of the 'form' of Christ in our own selves. ... Today too, as in the sixteenth century, in the midst of rapid transformation, it is important that trusting prayer be the heart of the apostolate, so that the the redeeming message of Jesus Christ may sound our clearly and dynamically. It is urgently important for the Word of life to resound harmoniously in peoples souls, with sonorous and attractive notes".
"The example of St. Teresa of Avila is of great help to us in this exhilarating task. In her time the saint evangelised unhesitatingly, showing tireless ardour, employing methods free from inertia and using expressions bathed in light. This remains important in the current time, when there is a pressing need for the baptised to renew their hearts through individual prayer in which, following the guidance of St. Teresa, they also focus on contemplation of Christ's blessed humanity as the only way to reach the glory of God".
"The power of Christ will lead to a redoubling of efforts to ensure that the people of God recover their vigour in the only way possible: by finding space within ourselves for the feelings of the Lord Jesus, and in all circumstances seeking to live His Gospel to the full. This means, above all, allowing the Holy Spirit to make us friends of the Master and to mould us to Him. It also means accepting all His mandates and adopting in ourselves criteria such as humility of conduct, renunciation of the superfluous, not harming others and acting with simplicity and humbleness of heart. Thus those around us will perceive the joy that arises from our adherence to the Lord; they will see that we put nothing before His love, and that we are always ready to give reasons for our hope".
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - "Blessed are the peacemakers" is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for the forty-sixth World Day of Peace, which will fall on 1 January 2013, according to a communique released today by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "The annual Message of the Pope, in the complexity of the present time, will encourage everyone to take responsibility with regard to peace-building", the English-language communique reads.
"The Message will embrace, therefore, the fullness and diversity of the concept of peace, starting from the human being: inner peace and outer peace; then, highlighting the anthropological emergency, the nature and incidence of nihilism; and, at the same time, fundamental rights, in the first place freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of religion. The Message will offer, as well, an ethical reflection on some measures the world is going to take to contain the financial and economic crisis, the educational crisis, the crisis of the institutions and politics, which is also - in many cases - a worrying crisis of democracy.
"The Message will also look at the fifteth Anniversary of Vatican Council II and of the Encyclical Letter by Pope John XXIII, 'Pacem in Terris', according to which the primacy is always for human dignity and freedom, for the building of an earthly city to the service of every person, without any discrimination, and directed to the common good which is based on justice and true peace.
"'Blessed are the peacemakers' will be the eighth Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace. Following are the titles of the previous ones: 'In Truth, Peace' (2006), 'The Human Person, Heart of Peace' (2007), 'The Human Family, a Community of Peace' (2008), 'Fighting Poverty to Build Peace' (2009), 'If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation' (2010), 'Religious Freedom, the path to peace' (2011), 'Educating young people in justice and peace' (2012)".
THE CHURCH MUST PREACH TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Vatican City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI visited the town of Frascati, located near his summer residence of Castelgandolfo. In 1962 Blessed Pope John XXIII ordered that the pastoral care of the diocese of Frascati be entrusted to a residential bishop, while the title of that suburbicarian see be retained by a cardinal. The current holder of the title is Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., who concelebrated Mass with the Holy Father. The visit of Benedict XVI is the fourth visit by a Pontiff to that diocese, following those made by John XXIII in 1959, Paul VI in 1963, and John Paul II in 1980.
On arrival, the Pope was greeted by Stefano Di Tommaso, mayor of Frascati, and by Bishop Raffaello Martinelli. He then entered the cathedral where he paused in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament before celebrating Mass in the atrium of the building, which is dedicated to St. Peter and overlooks a square of the same name.
Extracts from the Holy Father's homily are given below:
"In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus takes the initiative to send the twelve Apostles on a mission. ... The fact that Jesus calls certain disciples to collaborate directly in His mission, is an expression of one aspect His love: He does not disdain the help that other men can contribute to His work, He knows their limits and weaknesses, but does not despise them; indeed, He confers on them the dignity of being His emissaries. Jesus sends them out two by two and gives them instructions. ... The first instruction concerns the spirit of detachment: the Apostles must not be attached to money and comforts. Jesus warns the disciples that they will not always receive a favourable welcome: at times they will be rejected, and may also be persecuted. But that should not affect them: they must speak in the name of Jesus and preach the Kingdom of God, without worrying about success. They must leave the outcome in the hands of God.
"The first reading presented the same perspective, showing us that often God’s messengers are not well received. This is the case of the prophet Amos (who) preached with great energy against injustice, especially denouncing the abuses of the king and chiefs, abuses that offend the Lord, and render acts of worship vain. ... But, whether accepted or rejected, Amos continued to prophesy, preaching what God says and not what people wanted to hear. This remains the mandate of the Church: she does not preach what the powerful want to hear. Her criterion is truth and justice, even if that garners no applause and collides with human power".
"The other very important indication of the Gospel is that the Twelve must not be content to preach conversion: their preaching must be accompanied, according to the instructions and example given by Jesus, by the bodily and spiritual care of the sick. He speaks of the concrete curing of diseases, ... of purifying the human mind, ... of cleaning the eyes of the soul that are obscured by ideology and therefore cannot see God, cannot see truth and justice. ... The apostolic mission must always include two aspects: preaching the word of God and manifesting His goodness with acts of charity, service and dedication".
"The Lord calls us all, distributing different gifts for different tasks in the Church. He calls us to the priesthood and consecrated life, and He calls us to marriage and commitment as lay people within the Church and society. ... Two complementary paths that illuminate each other, enrich each other and together enrich the community. ... The Lord bountifully sows His gifts, He calls you to follow Him and to continue His mission today".
"I propose you intensely live the Year of Faith, which will begin in October, fifty years from the opening of Vatican Council II. The conciliar documents contain an enormous wealth for the formation of new generations of Christians, for the formation of our consciousness. Read them, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and rediscover the beauty of being Christians, of being Church and enjoying the great 'we' that Jesus formed around Him, to evangelise the world: the 'we' of the Church, never closed, but always open and projected towards the proclamation of the Gospel".
POPE RECALLS ST. BONAVENTURE ON HIS FEAST DAY
Vatican City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - At midday today, having returned from his pastoral visit to Frascati, the Holy Father appeared on the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered below.
"In the liturgical calendar", he said, "15 July is the memory of the Franciscan St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, Doctor of the Church, the successor of St. Francis of Assisi at the head of the Order of Friars Minor. He wrote the first biography of Francis, and at the end of his life was also bishop of this diocese of Albano".
"The whole life and theology of St. Bonaventure have Jesus Christ as their core inspiration. This centrality of Christ is also to be found in the second reading of today’s Mass, the famous hymn of the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, which begins: 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens'. The Apostle then goes on to show us how this blessing is realised in four passages all of which begin with the same expression 'in Him', referring to Jesus Christ. 'In Him' the Father chose us before the creation of the world; 'in Him' we are redeemed through His blood, 'in Him' we have become heirs predestined to be 'the praise of his glory'; 'in Him' those who believe in the Gospel receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. This hymn contains the Pauline view of history, which St. Bonaventure helped to spread inthe Church: all of history is centred on Christ, Who is a guarantee of novelty and renewal in every age. In Jesus, God has spoken and given everything, but because He is an inexhaustible treasure, the Holy Spirit never ceases to reveal and update His mystery. Therefore, the work of Christ and the Church never regresses, but always progresses".
After praying the Angelus the Holy Father described the holidays as "a favourable moment to reflect upon our lives, and to open our hearts to other people and to God. I invite you to concern yourselves with those who suffer solitude and abandonment, in the street, in their own homes, in hospitals or in care homes. Do not hesitate to visit them".
Finally the Pope recalled the fact that today marks the liturgical memory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of God of the Scapular. "Blessed John Paul II wore and loved the scapular", he said. "To all his compatriots - in Poland, in the world and here in Castelgandolfo - I express the hope that Mary, the best of mothers, may protect you with her mantle in the struggle against evil, intercede in your request for grace, and show you the path that leads to God".
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - This afternoon the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
On Sunday 15 July he received in audience Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, Canada, presented by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie O.M.I., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, appointing Fr. William Stang O.M.I., vicar general, as apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the same archdiocese.
- Erected the new diocese of Udupi (area 3,500, population 1,445,240, Catholics 106,149, priests 86, religious 225) India, with territory taken from the diocese of Mangalore, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Bangalore. He appointed Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Shimoga, India, as first bishop of the new diocese.
On Saturday 14 July it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Gregory Bittman, judicial vicar and chancellor of the archdiocese of Edmonton, Canada, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 81,151, population 1,589,080, Catholics 378,545, priests 175, permanent deacons 20, religious 362). The bishop-elect was born in Hamilton, Canada in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1996. He has worked in pastoral care in a number of parishes.
"The reform of the Carmelite Order, the anniversary of which fills us with inner joy, arose from prayer and tends towards prayer. In promoting a radical return to the original Rule and abandoning the mitigated Rule, St. Teresa of Jesus sought to create a form of life which favoured a personal encounter with the Lord, finding 'a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us. Nor need we feel strange in the presence of so kind a Guest'".
"St. Teresa presented a new way of being Carmelite in a world which was also new. Those were 'difficult times' in which, according to that Mistress of the spirit, ... 'the world is on fire. Men try to condemn Christ once again. They would raze His Church to the ground. No, my sisters, this is no time to treat with God for things of little importance'. Does this luminous and engaging call, written more than four centuries ago by the mystic saint, not sound familiar in our own times?"
"The ultimate goal of Teresa's reform and the creation of new monasteries in a world lacking spiritual values was to protect apostolic work with prayer, proposing a form of evangelical life that would act as a model for people seeking the path of perfection, on the basis of the conviction that all authentic personal and ecclesial reform involves an ever more faithful reproduction of the 'form' of Christ in our own selves. ... Today too, as in the sixteenth century, in the midst of rapid transformation, it is important that trusting prayer be the heart of the apostolate, so that the the redeeming message of Jesus Christ may sound our clearly and dynamically. It is urgently important for the Word of life to resound harmoniously in peoples souls, with sonorous and attractive notes".
"The example of St. Teresa of Avila is of great help to us in this exhilarating task. In her time the saint evangelised unhesitatingly, showing tireless ardour, employing methods free from inertia and using expressions bathed in light. This remains important in the current time, when there is a pressing need for the baptised to renew their hearts through individual prayer in which, following the guidance of St. Teresa, they also focus on contemplation of Christ's blessed humanity as the only way to reach the glory of God".
"The power of Christ will lead to a redoubling of efforts to ensure that the people of God recover their vigour in the only way possible: by finding space within ourselves for the feelings of the Lord Jesus, and in all circumstances seeking to live His Gospel to the full. This means, above all, allowing the Holy Spirit to make us friends of the Master and to mould us to Him. It also means accepting all His mandates and adopting in ourselves criteria such as humility of conduct, renunciation of the superfluous, not harming others and acting with simplicity and humbleness of heart. Thus those around us will perceive the joy that arises from our adherence to the Lord; they will see that we put nothing before His love, and that we are always ready to give reasons for our hope".
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - "Blessed are the peacemakers" is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for the forty-sixth World Day of Peace, which will fall on 1 January 2013, according to a communique released today by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "The annual Message of the Pope, in the complexity of the present time, will encourage everyone to take responsibility with regard to peace-building", the English-language communique reads.
"The Message will embrace, therefore, the fullness and diversity of the concept of peace, starting from the human being: inner peace and outer peace; then, highlighting the anthropological emergency, the nature and incidence of nihilism; and, at the same time, fundamental rights, in the first place freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of religion. The Message will offer, as well, an ethical reflection on some measures the world is going to take to contain the financial and economic crisis, the educational crisis, the crisis of the institutions and politics, which is also - in many cases - a worrying crisis of democracy.
"The Message will also look at the fifteth Anniversary of Vatican Council II and of the Encyclical Letter by Pope John XXIII, 'Pacem in Terris', according to which the primacy is always for human dignity and freedom, for the building of an earthly city to the service of every person, without any discrimination, and directed to the common good which is based on justice and true peace.
"'Blessed are the peacemakers' will be the eighth Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace. Following are the titles of the previous ones: 'In Truth, Peace' (2006), 'The Human Person, Heart of Peace' (2007), 'The Human Family, a Community of Peace' (2008), 'Fighting Poverty to Build Peace' (2009), 'If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation' (2010), 'Religious Freedom, the path to peace' (2011), 'Educating young people in justice and peace' (2012)".
THE CHURCH MUST PREACH TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Vatican City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI visited the town of Frascati, located near his summer residence of Castelgandolfo. In 1962 Blessed Pope John XXIII ordered that the pastoral care of the diocese of Frascati be entrusted to a residential bishop, while the title of that suburbicarian see be retained by a cardinal. The current holder of the title is Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., who concelebrated Mass with the Holy Father. The visit of Benedict XVI is the fourth visit by a Pontiff to that diocese, following those made by John XXIII in 1959, Paul VI in 1963, and John Paul II in 1980.
On arrival, the Pope was greeted by Stefano Di Tommaso, mayor of Frascati, and by Bishop Raffaello Martinelli. He then entered the cathedral where he paused in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament before celebrating Mass in the atrium of the building, which is dedicated to St. Peter and overlooks a square of the same name.
Extracts from the Holy Father's homily are given below:
"In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus takes the initiative to send the twelve Apostles on a mission. ... The fact that Jesus calls certain disciples to collaborate directly in His mission, is an expression of one aspect His love: He does not disdain the help that other men can contribute to His work, He knows their limits and weaknesses, but does not despise them; indeed, He confers on them the dignity of being His emissaries. Jesus sends them out two by two and gives them instructions. ... The first instruction concerns the spirit of detachment: the Apostles must not be attached to money and comforts. Jesus warns the disciples that they will not always receive a favourable welcome: at times they will be rejected, and may also be persecuted. But that should not affect them: they must speak in the name of Jesus and preach the Kingdom of God, without worrying about success. They must leave the outcome in the hands of God.
"The first reading presented the same perspective, showing us that often God’s messengers are not well received. This is the case of the prophet Amos (who) preached with great energy against injustice, especially denouncing the abuses of the king and chiefs, abuses that offend the Lord, and render acts of worship vain. ... But, whether accepted or rejected, Amos continued to prophesy, preaching what God says and not what people wanted to hear. This remains the mandate of the Church: she does not preach what the powerful want to hear. Her criterion is truth and justice, even if that garners no applause and collides with human power".
"The other very important indication of the Gospel is that the Twelve must not be content to preach conversion: their preaching must be accompanied, according to the instructions and example given by Jesus, by the bodily and spiritual care of the sick. He speaks of the concrete curing of diseases, ... of purifying the human mind, ... of cleaning the eyes of the soul that are obscured by ideology and therefore cannot see God, cannot see truth and justice. ... The apostolic mission must always include two aspects: preaching the word of God and manifesting His goodness with acts of charity, service and dedication".
"The Lord calls us all, distributing different gifts for different tasks in the Church. He calls us to the priesthood and consecrated life, and He calls us to marriage and commitment as lay people within the Church and society. ... Two complementary paths that illuminate each other, enrich each other and together enrich the community. ... The Lord bountifully sows His gifts, He calls you to follow Him and to continue His mission today".
"I propose you intensely live the Year of Faith, which will begin in October, fifty years from the opening of Vatican Council II. The conciliar documents contain an enormous wealth for the formation of new generations of Christians, for the formation of our consciousness. Read them, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and rediscover the beauty of being Christians, of being Church and enjoying the great 'we' that Jesus formed around Him, to evangelise the world: the 'we' of the Church, never closed, but always open and projected towards the proclamation of the Gospel".
POPE RECALLS ST. BONAVENTURE ON HIS FEAST DAY
Vatican City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - At midday today, having returned from his pastoral visit to Frascati, the Holy Father appeared on the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered below.
"In the liturgical calendar", he said, "15 July is the memory of the Franciscan St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, Doctor of the Church, the successor of St. Francis of Assisi at the head of the Order of Friars Minor. He wrote the first biography of Francis, and at the end of his life was also bishop of this diocese of Albano".
"The whole life and theology of St. Bonaventure have Jesus Christ as their core inspiration. This centrality of Christ is also to be found in the second reading of today’s Mass, the famous hymn of the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, which begins: 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens'. The Apostle then goes on to show us how this blessing is realised in four passages all of which begin with the same expression 'in Him', referring to Jesus Christ. 'In Him' the Father chose us before the creation of the world; 'in Him' we are redeemed through His blood, 'in Him' we have become heirs predestined to be 'the praise of his glory'; 'in Him' those who believe in the Gospel receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. This hymn contains the Pauline view of history, which St. Bonaventure helped to spread inthe Church: all of history is centred on Christ, Who is a guarantee of novelty and renewal in every age. In Jesus, God has spoken and given everything, but because He is an inexhaustible treasure, the Holy Spirit never ceases to reveal and update His mystery. Therefore, the work of Christ and the Church never regresses, but always progresses".
After praying the Angelus the Holy Father described the holidays as "a favourable moment to reflect upon our lives, and to open our hearts to other people and to God. I invite you to concern yourselves with those who suffer solitude and abandonment, in the street, in their own homes, in hospitals or in care homes. Do not hesitate to visit them".
Finally the Pope recalled the fact that today marks the liturgical memory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of God of the Scapular. "Blessed John Paul II wore and loved the scapular", he said. "To all his compatriots - in Poland, in the world and here in Castelgandolfo - I express the hope that Mary, the best of mothers, may protect you with her mantle in the struggle against evil, intercede in your request for grace, and show you the path that leads to God".
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - This afternoon the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
On Sunday 15 July he received in audience Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, Canada, presented by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie O.M.I., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law, appointing Fr. William Stang O.M.I., vicar general, as apostolic administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of the same archdiocese.
- Erected the new diocese of Udupi (area 3,500, population 1,445,240, Catholics 106,149, priests 86, religious 225) India, with territory taken from the diocese of Mangalore, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Bangalore. He appointed Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Shimoga, India, as first bishop of the new diocese.
On Saturday 14 July it was made public that the Holy Father appointed Fr. Gregory Bittman, judicial vicar and chancellor of the archdiocese of Edmonton, Canada, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area 81,151, population 1,589,080, Catholics 378,545, priests 175, permanent deacons 20, religious 362). The bishop-elect was born in Hamilton, Canada in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1996. He has worked in pastoral care in a number of parishes.
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ASIA : VIETNAM : OVER 10000 AT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM MARCH
ASIA NEW REPORT:
by J. B. An Dang
Banners and slogans demanding religious freedom and accusing the authorities of attacks against the faithful and sacred objects. A Catholic lawyer escapes arrest. A journalist wounded by a knife in attack. Solidarity and prayer for all the churches in Vietnam. Military deployed in front of the bishop's house.
Vinh (AsiaNews) - More than 10 thousand Catholics marched yesterday in different areas of the diocese of Vinh to demand respect for religious freedom against threats and violence of the government. On the eve of the marches, to intimidate the Catholics, the authorities deployed tanks outside the bishop's residence, with patrols by gangs of thugs and soldiers.
In a letter dated July 10, sent to cardinals and bishops from all over Vietnam, the diocese of Vinh asked for solidarity for the violence suffered by the faithful of Con Coung: "Recently - says the message - the Catholics of the diocese of Vinh, in Nghe An province (northwest), have suffered persecution because of their faith. The attack on 1 July was the tip of the iceberg of a series of violent attacks against Catholics in the region. On that day, the local government mobilized large numbers of police, army, militia thugs to disrupt and physically attack the priests and faithful. They have occupied the Con Coung chapel, desecrated the sacred space, destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary. "
The diocese asked for the spiritual support and solidarity of other dioceses, and announced a huge protest yesterday, Sunday, July 15. They called for an end to the persecution and unwarranted attacks of propaganda and defamation against Catholics in the state media.
Yesterday, prays were said for the faithful of Vinh throughout the dioceses of Vietnam. There were marches and sit-ins in the diocese of a Lộc Thủy, Yên Hòa, Cẩm Trường, Mành Sơn, Thanh Dạ, Sơn Trang, Xuân An, Đồng Lam, Bột Đà and Quang Lãng. Catholics carried Vatican flags, placards and banners with slogans such as "religious freedom is a right", "we are determined to protect the Church"; "we protest against the authorities Con Coung that destroyed the statue of the Virgin Mary."
What is new is the fact that the government's attempts to intimidate the faithful on the eve of the marches failed to stop the protest.
Saturday morning at least three armoured cars, equipped with weapons, were stationed outside the residence of the bishop of Vinh. The police in the provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An were put on alert, patrolling the streets of the towns of the diocese, together with groups of thugs paid by the government who surrounded the church and made threats.
In previous days, "An Ninh Thu Do" newspaper ("The security of capital," published by Hanoi Police) had threatened to detain Le Quoc Quan, a Catholic activist in Vinh. Le Quoc Quan is a very famous lawyer in the country, who has often defended human rights and the rights of the Church. Saturday morning, the day before the Vinh march, the police raided his office and tried to drag him to the police station, but the attempt failed thanks to the intervention of the lawyer's friends and neighbours.
Another Catholic, the prominent journalist JB Nguyen Huu Vinh, who last year was almost beaten to death in Dong Chiem, was attacked by thugs in his home on 8 July, suffering knife wounds to his back and arm.
Saturday and Sunday, police blocked the ferries between Lam Dong and Quan Lang, to block the flow of the faithful to meeting places for the marches.
Despite all these plans and threats, thousands of Catholics set out Saturday night, walking for miles along highway no. 1 to arrive at places for meetings designated.
Yesterday all the marches were peaceful except in Bot Da where thugs and police disrupted Mass.
Many young people have accused the government of "showing the military because they fear the strength of the Catholics." Atri accuse Hanoi of using the same methods now in China for suppressing religious freedom.
(with the collaboration of Br. Paul)
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
by J. B. An Dang
Banners and slogans demanding religious freedom and accusing the authorities of attacks against the faithful and sacred objects. A Catholic lawyer escapes arrest. A journalist wounded by a knife in attack. Solidarity and prayer for all the churches in Vietnam. Military deployed in front of the bishop's house.
_0716_-_Marcia.jpg)
Vinh (AsiaNews) - More than 10 thousand Catholics marched yesterday in different areas of the diocese of Vinh to demand respect for religious freedom against threats and violence of the government. On the eve of the marches, to intimidate the Catholics, the authorities deployed tanks outside the bishop's residence, with patrols by gangs of thugs and soldiers.
In a letter dated July 10, sent to cardinals and bishops from all over Vietnam, the diocese of Vinh asked for solidarity for the violence suffered by the faithful of Con Coung: "Recently - says the message - the Catholics of the diocese of Vinh, in Nghe An province (northwest), have suffered persecution because of their faith. The attack on 1 July was the tip of the iceberg of a series of violent attacks against Catholics in the region. On that day, the local government mobilized large numbers of police, army, militia thugs to disrupt and physically attack the priests and faithful. They have occupied the Con Coung chapel, desecrated the sacred space, destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary. "
The diocese asked for the spiritual support and solidarity of other dioceses, and announced a huge protest yesterday, Sunday, July 15. They called for an end to the persecution and unwarranted attacks of propaganda and defamation against Catholics in the state media.
Yesterday, prays were said for the faithful of Vinh throughout the dioceses of Vietnam. There were marches and sit-ins in the diocese of a Lộc Thủy, Yên Hòa, Cẩm Trường, Mành Sơn, Thanh Dạ, Sơn Trang, Xuân An, Đồng Lam, Bột Đà and Quang Lãng. Catholics carried Vatican flags, placards and banners with slogans such as "religious freedom is a right", "we are determined to protect the Church"; "we protest against the authorities Con Coung that destroyed the statue of the Virgin Mary."
What is new is the fact that the government's attempts to intimidate the faithful on the eve of the marches failed to stop the protest.
Saturday morning at least three armoured cars, equipped with weapons, were stationed outside the residence of the bishop of Vinh. The police in the provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An were put on alert, patrolling the streets of the towns of the diocese, together with groups of thugs paid by the government who surrounded the church and made threats.
In previous days, "An Ninh Thu Do" newspaper ("The security of capital," published by Hanoi Police) had threatened to detain Le Quoc Quan, a Catholic activist in Vinh. Le Quoc Quan is a very famous lawyer in the country, who has often defended human rights and the rights of the Church. Saturday morning, the day before the Vinh march, the police raided his office and tried to drag him to the police station, but the attempt failed thanks to the intervention of the lawyer's friends and neighbours.
Another Catholic, the prominent journalist JB Nguyen Huu Vinh, who last year was almost beaten to death in Dong Chiem, was attacked by thugs in his home on 8 July, suffering knife wounds to his back and arm.
Saturday and Sunday, police blocked the ferries between Lam Dong and Quan Lang, to block the flow of the faithful to meeting places for the marches.
Despite all these plans and threats, thousands of Catholics set out Saturday night, walking for miles along highway no. 1 to arrive at places for meetings designated.
Yesterday all the marches were peaceful except in Bot Da where thugs and police disrupted Mass.
Many young people have accused the government of "showing the military because they fear the strength of the Catholics." Atri accuse Hanoi of using the same methods now in China for suppressing religious freedom.
(with the collaboration of Br. Paul)
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
AUSTRALIA : CELEBRATING FEAST DY OF ST. PETER
ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT:
Wednesday 11 July 2012
By Connie Skinner
PARISHIONERS
of St Peter Apostle Mission Parish, Hoppers Crossing, celebrated the feast day
of our parish patron saint with an inaugural Parish Feast Day Mass on Sunday 1
July.
Although the weather was cold and wet outside, inside the church there was a sense of warmth and faithful reverence as we gathered as a parish community, to praise and thank God for the gift our our patron, the great, St Peter the Apostle.
The glorious voices of our Parish Choir headed by Mr Michael Lapina, led the congregation in song throughout the Mass.
The entrance procession was a colourful display of the 25 Parish Groups, which have been established over the years to meet parishioners’ needs. A member of each group carried a banner or symbol representing the work they do in the parish. These banners and symbols are now displayed along the walls of the church.
The Liturgy for the Mass celebrated the spirit that has encouraged parishioners to actively seek to live out Jesus’ call to love and serve one another, since the foundation of the Parish in the 1970s, .
Many
volunteers at St Peter’s give of their talent and time to pursue the mission
given to St Peter our patron to feed the sheep, and fulfil our baptismal promise
to live as Catholics not just by word but by action.
Bishop Vincent Long was the principal celebrant for the occasion. He was also joined by seven concelebrating priests: Fr. Domenic De Giorgio, Fr. Barry Tobin, Fr Donald Lorensz, Fr Duncan Lorensz, Fr. Fabio Alberto, Fr Sebastian Mappilaparambil and Fr Pius Kodakkathanath.
In his homily Bishop Long spoke with great admiration for St Peter, “the rock” on which Christ built His Church. He said that while St Peter was not perfect, and at times was crippled by fear, once he faced his fears, trusted in the Lord and was touched by the Holy Spirit everything changed.
The procession of gifts were brought forward by two pioneer parishioners, Mrs Bernice Steinhauer and Mr Bill Coghlan representing the past generations of parishioners, and Michael, Alex and Brianna Lapina, representing the future of our Parish.
Following
the Mass, parishioners celebrated with a light luncheon in the Parish Hall.
Bishop Long attended the luncheon with the parishioners and watched the
entertainment provided by the children of St Peter Apostle Primary School and
the Youth of our Parish.
It was a very special day for all!
St Peter Apostle Parish Prayer
God our Father,
We thank you for our parish of St. Peter Apostle.
Baptised we are gifted and called to show your unconditional love for all your people.
We gather to praise and worship you and are nourished by the Word and the Eucharist for our faith journey.
Be with us as we strive to see the face of Christ in all we meet,
and may we share our unique gifts in love and service as we grow together as one.
Amen.
Saint Mary of the Cross: Pray for us.
Saint Peter Apostle: Guide and unite us in our parish.
Photos by Reno Demicoli
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
Wednesday 11 July 2012
By Connie Skinner
PARISHIONERS
of St Peter Apostle Mission Parish, Hoppers Crossing, celebrated the feast day
of our parish patron saint with an inaugural Parish Feast Day Mass on Sunday 1
July.Although the weather was cold and wet outside, inside the church there was a sense of warmth and faithful reverence as we gathered as a parish community, to praise and thank God for the gift our our patron, the great, St Peter the Apostle.
The glorious voices of our Parish Choir headed by Mr Michael Lapina, led the congregation in song throughout the Mass.
The entrance procession was a colourful display of the 25 Parish Groups, which have been established over the years to meet parishioners’ needs. A member of each group carried a banner or symbol representing the work they do in the parish. These banners and symbols are now displayed along the walls of the church.
The Liturgy for the Mass celebrated the spirit that has encouraged parishioners to actively seek to live out Jesus’ call to love and serve one another, since the foundation of the Parish in the 1970s, .
Many
volunteers at St Peter’s give of their talent and time to pursue the mission
given to St Peter our patron to feed the sheep, and fulfil our baptismal promise
to live as Catholics not just by word but by action.Bishop Vincent Long was the principal celebrant for the occasion. He was also joined by seven concelebrating priests: Fr. Domenic De Giorgio, Fr. Barry Tobin, Fr Donald Lorensz, Fr Duncan Lorensz, Fr. Fabio Alberto, Fr Sebastian Mappilaparambil and Fr Pius Kodakkathanath.
In his homily Bishop Long spoke with great admiration for St Peter, “the rock” on which Christ built His Church. He said that while St Peter was not perfect, and at times was crippled by fear, once he faced his fears, trusted in the Lord and was touched by the Holy Spirit everything changed.
The procession of gifts were brought forward by two pioneer parishioners, Mrs Bernice Steinhauer and Mr Bill Coghlan representing the past generations of parishioners, and Michael, Alex and Brianna Lapina, representing the future of our Parish.
Following
the Mass, parishioners celebrated with a light luncheon in the Parish Hall.
Bishop Long attended the luncheon with the parishioners and watched the
entertainment provided by the children of St Peter Apostle Primary School and
the Youth of our Parish.It was a very special day for all!
St Peter Apostle Parish Prayer
God our Father,
We thank you for our parish of St. Peter Apostle.
Baptised we are gifted and called to show your unconditional love for all your people.
We gather to praise and worship you and are nourished by the Word and the Eucharist for our faith journey.
Be with us as we strive to see the face of Christ in all we meet,
and may we share our unique gifts in love and service as we grow together as one.
Amen.
Saint Mary of the Cross: Pray for us.
Saint Peter Apostle: Guide and unite us in our parish.
Photos by Reno Demicoli
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
AFRICA : ETHIOPIA : MOTHER TERESA PATRONESS OF PREFECTURE
Agenzia Fides REPORT– On Saturday, July 14 in Goba, a
city in south-central Ethiopia in the area of Bale, in the Region of Oromia,
about 446 km south-east of Addis Ababa, Father Angelo Antolini, OFM Cap.,
Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Ethiopia, recently appointed the
first Apostolic Prefect of the newly-born Prefecture of Robe (see Fides
13/02/2012), celebrated the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the house of
the Missionaries of Charity, also known as the Sisters of Mother Teresa.
According to what was reported by the neo Prefect to Fides, "the event is of
particular importance as the foundation stone of this house was carried out by
Mother Teresa herself. In addition to first sisters, the future Blessed of
Calcutta brought the priest Abba Abraha Baraki, who is still there. Thanks to
her, not only the first house of the Missionaries of Charity was founded, but
the Catholic Church herself was born in this vast region of Bale, predominantly
Muslim."
"That first stone - continues Fr Angelo - has brought many good fruits of holiness and service to thousands of the poorest of the poor, and the birth, in this jubilee year, of the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe." The celebration of the Eucharist in the chapel of the nuns was attended by guests of the house and the faithful of Goba and Robe, as well as many Missionaries of Charity from other communities, with their Provincial Superior. Also a group of 25 Spanish volunteers with their priest, who are collaborating with the sisters for a month. "At the end of the Eucharist - said the Capuchin missionary - I have officially proclaimed the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta patron of the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe. During the celebration, the powerful Spirit of the Lord among the poor and the sick, once again was present and we were full of joy. We were so happy that we had lunch with hundreds of poor people." (AP) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2012)
"That first stone - continues Fr Angelo - has brought many good fruits of holiness and service to thousands of the poorest of the poor, and the birth, in this jubilee year, of the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe." The celebration of the Eucharist in the chapel of the nuns was attended by guests of the house and the faithful of Goba and Robe, as well as many Missionaries of Charity from other communities, with their Provincial Superior. Also a group of 25 Spanish volunteers with their priest, who are collaborating with the sisters for a month. "At the end of the Eucharist - said the Capuchin missionary - I have officially proclaimed the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta patron of the Apostolic Prefecture of Robe. During the celebration, the powerful Spirit of the Lord among the poor and the sick, once again was present and we were full of joy. We were so happy that we had lunch with hundreds of poor people." (AP) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2012)
EUROPE : OLYMPICS - ATHLETES TO RECEIVE FREE BIBLES
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT:
Athletes taking part in the 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games will have access to free copies of the Bible and Scripture
portions, thanks to an initiative by Bible Society.
Available as a gift in the Olympic Village Religious Services Centre will be around 3,000 copies of commemorative English-language Scriptures. There will also be nearly 1,000 copies of Bibles and New Testaments available in a variety of other languages through partnerships with national Bible Societies around the globe.
The Bibles provided in English will be ‘The Sports Good News Bible’ and ‘The Sports Good News Gospel of Luke’. Both contain specially commissioned articles written to help sportspeople consider the relationships between sport and faith.
David Willson, CEO of More Than Gold, said: "At past Olympics and other major sports events I’ve seen athletes deeply grateful for the free gift of a Bible. Bible Society are to be highly commended for their support in making such gifts possible."
In order to meet the anticipated demand, Bible Society has launched a special appeal as part of its ‘Bible: Body & Soul’ initiative for 2012. Those wishing to give in support of this initiative should go to www.biblesociety.org.uk/2012
Matthew van Duyvenbode, Head of Advocacy at Bible Society said: "The Bible offers words of deep consolation, inspiration and challenge, themes which resonate with athletes from around the world. Having the opportunity to offer the scriptures in a format accessible for sports people is a strong statement that the Bible belongs at the heart of every aspect of life.’ Bible Society Group Chief Executive, James Catford, said: : The achievements we gain on the outside are driven by the people we are on the inside – that’s what we discover in the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus written by Luke and found within the Christian Scriptures."
Source: More Than Gold
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
|
Available as a gift in the Olympic Village Religious Services Centre will be around 3,000 copies of commemorative English-language Scriptures. There will also be nearly 1,000 copies of Bibles and New Testaments available in a variety of other languages through partnerships with national Bible Societies around the globe.
The Bibles provided in English will be ‘The Sports Good News Bible’ and ‘The Sports Good News Gospel of Luke’. Both contain specially commissioned articles written to help sportspeople consider the relationships between sport and faith.
David Willson, CEO of More Than Gold, said: "At past Olympics and other major sports events I’ve seen athletes deeply grateful for the free gift of a Bible. Bible Society are to be highly commended for their support in making such gifts possible."
In order to meet the anticipated demand, Bible Society has launched a special appeal as part of its ‘Bible: Body & Soul’ initiative for 2012. Those wishing to give in support of this initiative should go to www.biblesociety.org.uk/2012
Matthew van Duyvenbode, Head of Advocacy at Bible Society said: "The Bible offers words of deep consolation, inspiration and challenge, themes which resonate with athletes from around the world. Having the opportunity to offer the scriptures in a format accessible for sports people is a strong statement that the Bible belongs at the heart of every aspect of life.’ Bible Society Group Chief Executive, James Catford, said: : The achievements we gain on the outside are driven by the people we are on the inside – that’s what we discover in the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus written by Luke and found within the Christian Scriptures."
Source: More Than Gold
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : MONDAY JULY 16, 2012
| Matthew
10: 34 - 42
| |
| 34 | "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. |
| 35 | For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; |
| 36 | and a man's foes will be those of his own household. |
| 37 | He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; |
| 38 | and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. |
| 39 | He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. |
| 40 | "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. |
| 41 | He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. |
| 42 | And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." |
| Matthew
11: 1
| |
| 1 | And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. |
TODAY'S SAINT: JULY 16: OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Feast: July 16
 Information:
|
This feast was instituted by the Carmelites between 1376 and 1386
under the title "Commemoratio B. Marif Virg. duplex" to celebrate the victory of
their order over its enemies on obtaining the approbation of its name and
constitution from Honorius III on 30 Jan., 1226 (see Colvenerius, "Kal. Mar.",
30 Jan. "Summa Aurea", III, 737). The feast was assigned to 16 July, because on
that date in 1251, according to Carmelite traditions, the scapular was given by
the Blessed Virgin to St. Simon Stock; it was first approved by Sixtus V in
1587. After Cardinal Bellarmine had examined the Carmelite traditions in 1609,
it was declared the patronal feast of the order, and is now celebrated in the
Carmelite calendar as a major double of the first class with a vigil and a
privileged octave (like the octave of Epiphany, admitting only a double of the
first class) under the title "Commemoratio solemnis B.V.M. de Monte Carmelo". By
a privilege given by Clement X in 1672, some Carmelite monasteries keep the
feast on the Sunday after 16 July, or on some other Sunday in July. In the
seventeenth century the feast was adopted by several dioceses in the south of
Italy, although its celebration, outside of Carmelite churches, was prohibited
in 1628 by a decree contra abusus. On 21 Nov., 1674, however, it was first
granted by Clement X to Spain and its colonies, in 1675 to Austria, in 1679 to
Portugal and its colonies, and in 1725 to the Papal States of the Church, on 24
Sept., 1726, it was extended to the entire Latin Church by Benedict XIII. The
lessons contain the legend of the scapular; the promise of the Sabbatine
privilege was inserted into the lessons by Paul V about 1614. The Greeks of
southern Italy and the Catholic Chaldeans have adopted this feast of the
"Vestment of the Blessed Virgin Mary". The object of the feast is the special
predilection of Mary for those who profess themselves her servants by wearing
her scapular.
|
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/O/ourladyofmountcarmel.asp#ixzz1SHWhSka7
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