2013
POPE FRANCIS CALLS CARLO MARTINI "PROPHET OF PEACE"
NOVENA FOR NATIVITY OF VIRGIN MARY - DAY 1 - PLENARY INDULGENCE
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRI. AUG. 29, 2013
Vatican Radio REPORT: Pope Francis on Friday met with Father Carlo Casalone , provincial of the Society of Jesus for Italy, who was accompanying members of the "Fondazione Carlo Maria Martini" on the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of the famous Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, who died on August 31, 2012. The foundation was established to preserve his legacy.
During the brief meeting, Pope Francis recounted his memories of the late Cardinal, in particular his address on faith and justice during the 1974 General Congregation of the Jesuits.
Pope Francis called him a prophet of peace, and encouraged the Foundation in its work, recalling the duty of children to their fathers. He called Cardinal Martine a father in the Church, not only for his diocese, but for countless people.
“We, at the ends of the world,” said Pope Francis, “received from him a great contribution to biblical knowledge, but also because of his spirituality and life of faith, were nourished by the Word of God.”
SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
During the brief meeting, Pope Francis recounted his memories of the late Cardinal, in particular his address on faith and justice during the 1974 General Congregation of the Jesuits.
Pope Francis called him a prophet of peace, and encouraged the Foundation in its work, recalling the duty of children to their fathers. He called Cardinal Martine a father in the Church, not only for his diocese, but for countless people.
“We, at the ends of the world,” said Pope Francis, “received from him a great contribution to biblical knowledge, but also because of his spirituality and life of faith, were nourished by the Word of God.”
SHARED FROM RADIO VATICANA
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN SYRIA
Agenzia Fides REPORT - A week of prayer for peace in Syria begins today, August 30, and will last until September 6 in the 17 countries where the work of pontifical right "Aid to the Church in Need" (ACS) is present. As explained in a note sent to Fides by the French office of ACS, the week was scheduled for October, but recent events have anticipated the week: "We cannot wait. The time to pray for peace for Syrian people is now. Our brothers and sisters in Syria need it more than ever", explains the note. The campaign, which includes a specific Daily intention, joins the incessant prayer for peace and to avoid a military intervention on behalf of Western countries, that continues in all the Christian communities in Syria, as amply documented by Fides Agency (see Fides 29/08/2013) .
The prayer released by ACS and destined to the faithful around the world, invokes God for "a peaceful future for Syria, based on justice for all" and reads: "God of mercy, hear the cry of the Syrian people, comfort those who are suffering because of the violence, console those who mourn their dead, convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, protect those who are committed to peace. God of hope, inspire leaders to choose peace instead of violence and to seek reconciliation with their enemies". (PA)
The prayer released by ACS and destined to the faithful around the world, invokes God for "a peaceful future for Syria, based on justice for all" and reads: "God of mercy, hear the cry of the Syrian people, comfort those who are suffering because of the violence, console those who mourn their dead, convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, protect those who are committed to peace. God of hope, inspire leaders to choose peace instead of violence and to seek reconciliation with their enemies". (PA)
A FOSTER FATHER'S STORY - A REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA
periences of Mark's Life
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
30 Aug 2013
30 Aug 2013
Many children of all ages will delight spending time with their fathers on Sunday
Father's Day was celebrated a few days early this week when four-year-old Katie's pre-school held a cupcake afternoon for Dads. Sydney businessman Mark* had no intention of missing such an important occasion and taking time off work, joined in the fun with Katie and all the other dads and their kids.
"Katie loves pre-school and has made some great friends there," he says and proudly recounts how his daughter can already write her own name, count up to 10 and is showing a real talent for drawing.
"Her motor skills are really good," he says.
The father of 12-year-old Caitlin as well as Dad to outgoing young Katie, Mark makes no distinction between his two daughters. As far as he's concerned they are both his girls, and with unconditional love, humour, laughter, kindness, commonsense, the ability to listen and when needed, to step in when one of them crosses the line, he is raising them to become strong, independent well-educated young women.
Mark's wife Melissa is equally devoted to her daughters and has created a warm, stable and happy family home where they are both thriving and growing in confidence and ability.
For Katie home has not always been this secure or this stable. Her birth parents may have loved her, but their ability to care for her and their other three children put Katie, her twin sisters and her older brother's emotional and physical wellbeing at risk.
"Most parents love their kids very much but for complex and different reasons find they are unable to take care of them," says Andree Borc, CatholicCare's Manager for the Professional Support of Children.
While every effort is made to return children in out-of-home care to their biological parent or parents, when this is not possible, kinship alternatives are examined to find out if they can be cared for by aunts or uncles or grandparents, she says.
But in some cases this may not be an option and for Katie and her siblings, the NSW Children's Court ultimately decided the four youngsters should be placed into permanent out of home care with dedicated and committed foster families.
Which is how Mark and Melissa became Katie's "Mum" and "Dad" and how two other families who are also part of CatholicCare's foster family program, took over as loving parents to Katie's twin sisters and her eight-year-old brother.
Like Katie, who is the youngest of the four, the children will remain in foster permanent care with the same families until they turn 18.
"But we hope she'll stay much longer than that and that Katie will be part of our lives for the rest of her life as well as ours," Mark says.
While three different families are now raising the four youngsters, the children see each other on a regular basis.
"We were all together to celebrate Katie's brother's eighth birthday this month and we get together for days out as often as possible to ensure Katie and her brother and twin sisters can share their lives and grow up together as part of one big extended family," Mark says.
CatholicCare, the welfare agency arm of the Archdiocese of Sydney, has more than 84 dedicated foster families across Sydney who provide out of home care to vulnerable children. Some of these children who range in age from babies and toddlers to teenagers are in need of emergency or temporary care. Other foster families offer mid-term care of a year or so while others such as Mark and Melissa offer permanent care to youngsters like Katie, raising them from childhood through to adulthood.
Foster fathers as important as mothers when it comes to out-of-home care
Trained by CatholicCare, closely monitored and supported, these families not only open their homes to children in need but their hearts as well.
Although most of us think in terms of foster mothers, Andree Borc points out the role played by fathers in out of home care is equally important. A significant number of children in foster care come from dysfunctional or broken homes or single mother households where they have had few if any strong and reliable male role models, she says.
But foster families don't only need a strong supportive Dad but a Dad who is as committed to foster care as his wife.
"There has to be a dual commitment and the couple's own children should be involved in the decision as well," Andree says pointing out that it is not enough that the mother in the household wants to do this and that everyone in the family has to be on side."
Mark agrees with her and his advice to any family thinking of becoming an out of home carer to a foster child or children to consider the decision very carefully first and to find out all the information they can.
"This must be an educated decision with everyone in the family consulted," he advises.
The family should also discuss whether they will offer emergency and temporary care, short to mid term care or like he and Melissa offer to take on foster care of a child or children on a long-term permanent basis.
Katie joined Mark's family on 29 June 2012, three weeks and one day after her third birthday and the 14 months since her new Dad insists "have been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my life."
Despite this, Mark and Melissa's decision to become a CatholicCare foster family came about more by accident than design.
"After we had Caitlin, my wife experienced a couple of complications which meant we could have no more children of our own. We'd always wanted more children so in 2006 we put our names down at CatholicCare to adopt a baby. After five years of waiting, there was a change in foster care with permanent out of home care approved for certain children to ensure long term stability and to stop them being bounced from family to family. We put out names into the CatholicCare foster family pool as well," he says.
The idea of adopting a baby had long since given way to a young boy or girl to love, care for and raise as their own.
"We were in our 30s when we put our names down to adopt and in our 40s when Katie arrived and I think the fact she was three years old, if anything was a help," he says,pointing out that she was not only almost toilet trained but there were no broken nights of bottle feeds every four hours or the other challenges of a newborn.
Since her arrival, Katie has brought joy to the entire family, he says and has developed a great relationship with her big sister Caitlin."The two girls get on really well together but like all siblings, one moment they're schmoozing and cuddling and best of mates and the next arguing and disagreeing over something and pushing one another away," he says laughing.
Children of foster parents frequently form strong relationships with the new addition to the family
Next year Katie will follow in Caitlin's footsteps with a faith based education, first as a student at the local parish primary school and then at the area's Catholic high school.
Katie's transition into her new family has been remarkably smooth, doubtless helped by the fact Melissa took a year off work to care for her new daughter as well as the continuing relationship with the little girl's twin sister and elder brother. But her evident happiness, constant laughter and curiosity is also due in a large part to her Dad who is immensely proud of his two daughters and their achievements.
But while Mark is a devoted Dad to his girls, don't think for a moment he's a push over.
"I've ended up as the family disciplinarian," he says explaining that the role fell to him because at a height of six foot one and a big deep voice "I can pull them into line a bit more easily when they need it."
This Sunday Mark will spend Father's Day with his own father, his father in law, together with Melissa and the couple's two large extended families. And front and centre of the celebrations will be outgoing Katie and her adored big sister Caitlin.
To find out more about CatholicCare's foster family programs call 02 8709 9333 or log on to www.fosterkids.com.au
Katie's name and Mark and Melissa's surnames have not been given to protect their privacy.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
RIP IRISH POET SEAMUS HEANEY - NOBEL PRIZE WINNER
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT
|
The Nobel Prize winning Irish poet and playwright Seamus Heaney died today, after a short illness. Heaney won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995 and has been described as Ireland's greatest writer since Yeats. He was 74 years old.
Born in April 1939, in Co Derry, Northern Ireland, Seamus was the eldest of nine children. He is survived by his wife Marie, and children Christopher, Michael and Catherine Ann. His family have requested privacy at this time.
Heaney was educated at St Columb's College in Derry, a Catholic boarding school, and later at Queen's University Belfast, before making his home in Dublin. During his career he held prestigious posts at Oxford University and at Harvard in the US. He was an honorary fellow at Trinity College Dublin and last year was bestowed with the Seamus Heaney Professorship in Irish Writing at the university, which he described as a great honour.
His world-renowned poetry first came to public attention in the mid-1960s with his first major collection, Death Of a Naturalist, published in 1966. As the troubles took hold later that decade, his experiences were seen through the darkened mood of his work. His childhood and youth also played out in the poetry he wrote in later years. In December 2011, he donated his personal literary notes to the National Library of Ireland, joining the ranks of Irish literary master James Joyce and fellow Nobel winner WB Yeats.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh, and a former president of Saint Columb's College, said in his tribute today: "We were all quietly ambushed by sadness at the announcement today of the death of Seamus Heaney RIP, Ireland's foremost poet. Honoured on the world stage, our Nobel Laureate was always at heart a quiet Irish man who wrote our story without rhetoric. In his work he observed ordinary country people going about their ordinary lives.
"His father, his mother, his aunts, his neighbours were Seamus's quiet heroes as he became ours. Anthologised for primary and secondary students for decades, his poetry excavated the past and found coordinates for the present. He saw history as our story - the story of ordinary humankind.
"Seamus Heaney was a poet of compassion, a great teacher and a gentle man in every sense. My prayers today are with his beloved wife Marie, his sons Christopher, Michael and his daughter Catherine Anne.
May he rest in peace.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis"
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
2013
NOVENA FOR NATIVITY OF VIRGIN MARY - DAY 1 - PLENARY INDULGENCE
To all faithful Christians who, in private or public, in church or in their own houses, shall keep any of the following Novenas, in preparation for the principal feasts of most holy Mary, Pope Pius VII., at the prayer of several holy persons, granted, by Rescripts issued through his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, Aug. 4 and Nov. 24, 1808, and Jan. 11, 1800 (all of which are kept in the Segretaria of the Vicariate) -
i. An indulgence of 300 days, daily.ii. A plenary indulgence to all who shall assist at these Novenas every day, and who shall afterwards, either on the Feast-day itself, to which each Novena respectively has reference, or on some one day in its Octave, after Confession and Communion, pray to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin ac cording to the pious intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF OUR LADY’S NATIVITY.
(Beginning Aug. 30.)
Veni Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus.
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
TRANSLATION.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast taught the hearts of Thy faithful people by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant us in the same Spirit to relish what is right, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
Most holy Mary, Elect One, predestined from all eternity by the Most Holy Trinity to be Mother of the only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, foretold by the Prophets, expected by the Patriarchs, desired by all nations, Sanctuary and living Temple of the Holy Ghost, Sun without stain, conceived free from original sin, Mistress of Heaven and of Earth, Queen of angels:- humbly prostrate at thy feet we give thee our homage, rejoicing that the year has brought round again the memory of thy most happy Nativity; and we pray thee with all our hearts to vouchsafe in thy goodness now to come down again and be reborn spiritually in our souls, that, led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness, they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart.
i. So now whilst we say nine angelic salutations, we will direct our thoughts to the nine months which thou didst pass enclosed in thy mother’s womb; celebrating at the same time thy descent from the royal house of David, and how thou didst come forth to the light of heaven with high honour from the womb of holy Anna, thy most happy mother.
Ave Maria.
ii. We hail thee, heavenly Babe, white Dove of purity; who in spite of the serpent wast conceived free from original sin.
Ave Maria.
iii. We hail thee, bright Morn; who, forerunner of the Heavenly Sun of Justice, didst bring the first light to earth.
Ave Maria.
iv. We hail thee, Elect; who, like the untarnished Sun, didst burst forth in the dark night of sin.
Ave Maria.
v. We hail thee, beauteous Moon; who didst shed light upon a world wrapt in the darkness of idolatry.
Ave Maria.
vi. We hail thee, dread Warrior-Queen; who, in thyself a host, didst put to flight all hell.
Ave Maria.
vii. We hail thee, fair Soul of Mary; who from eternity wast possessed by God and God alone.
Ave Maria.
viii. We hail thee, dear Child, and we humbly venerate thy most holy infant body, the sacred swaddling-clothes wherewith they bound thee, the sacred crib wherein they laid thee, and we bless the hour and the day when thou wast born.
Ave Maria.
ix. We hail thee, much-loved Infant, adorned with every virtue immeasurably above all saints, and therefore worthy Mother of the Saviour of the world; who, having been made fruitful by the Holy Spirit, didst bring forth the Word Incarnate.
Ave Maria.
PRAYER
O most lovely Infant, who by thy holy birth hast comforted the world, made glad the heavens, struck terror into hell, brought help to the fallen, consolation to the sad, salvation to the weak, joy to all men living; we entreat thee, with the most fervent love and gratitude, to be spiritually reborn in our souls by means of thy most holy love; renew our spirits to thy service, rekindle in our hearts the fire of charity, bid all the virtues blossom there, that so we may find more and more favour in thy gracious eyes. Mary! be thou our Mary, and may we feel the saving power of thy sweetest name; may it ever be our comfort to call on that name in all our troubles; may it be our hope in dangers, our shield in temptation, and our last utterance in death. Sit nomen Mariae mel in ore, melos in aure, et jubilus in corde. Amen. Let the name of Mary be honey in the mouth, melody in the ear, joy in the heart. Amen.
V. Nativitas tua, Dei Genitrix Virgo.
R. Gaudium annuntiavit universo mundo.
Oremus.
Famulis tuis, quaesumus Domine, coelestis gratiae munus impertire: ut quibus Beata Virginis partus extitit salutis exordium, nativitatis ejus votiva solemnitas pacis tribuat incrementum.
Oremus.
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.
TRANSLATION.
V. Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God.
R. Hath brought joy to the whole world.
Let us pray.
Grant to us Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace; that to all those for whom the delivery of the Blessed Virgin was the beginning of salvation, this her votive festival may give increase of peace. Through, &c.
Let us pray.
O God, who hast taught the hearts of Thy faithful people by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant us in the same Spirit to relish what is right, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
TODAY'S SAINT: AUG. 30: ST. PAMMACHIUS, DIED 409
St. Pammachius, Roman Senator and builder of the Church of SS John and Paul.
Feast: August 30
Information: Feast Day: August 30
Born: 340
Died: 409 at Rome
Roman senator, d. about 409. In youth he frequented the schools of rehetoric with St. Jerome. In 385 he married Paulina, second daughter of St. Paula. He was probably among the viri genere optimi religione præclari, who in 390 denounced Jovinian to Pope St. Siricius (Ambrose, Ep. xli). When he attacked St. Jerorme's book against Jovinian for prudential reasons, Jerome wrote him two letters (Epp. xlviii-ix, ed. Vallarsi) thanking him; the first, vindicating the book, was probably intended for publication. On Paulina's death in 397, Pammachius became a monk, that is, put on a religious habit and gave himself up to works of charity (Jerome, Ep. lxvi; Paulinus of Nola, Ep. xiii). In 399 Pammachius and Oceanus wrote to St. Jerome asking him to translate Origen's "De Principiis", and repudiate the insinuation of Rufinus that St. Jerome was of one mind with himself with regard to Origen. St. Jerome replied the following year (Epp. lxxxiii-iv). In 401 Pammachius was thanked by St. Augustine (Ep. lviii) for a letter he wrote to the people of Numidia, where he owned property, exhorting them to abandon the Donatist schism. Many of St. Jerome's commentaries on Scripture were dedicated to Pammachius. After his wife's death Pammachius built in conjunction with St. Fabiola (Jerome, Epp. lxvi, lxxvii), a hospice at Porto, at the mouth of the Tiber, for poor strangers. The site has been excavated, and the excavations have disclosed the plan and the arrangement of this only building of its kind. Rooms and halls for the sick and poor were grouped around it (Frothingham, "The Monuments of Christian Rome," p. 49). The church of SS. John and Paul was founded either by Pammachius or his father. It was anciently known first as the Titulus Bizantis, and then as the Titulus Pammachii. The feast of Pammachius is kept on 30 August.
SOURCE http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/P/stpammachius.asp
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRI. AUG. 29, 2013
Friday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 429
Reading 1 1 THES 4:1-8
Brothers and sisters,
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,
as you received from us
how you should conduct yourselves to please God–
and as you are conducting yourselves–
you do so even more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness:
that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself
in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion
as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother or sister in this matter,
for the Lord is an avenger in all these things,
as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this,
disregards not a human being but God,
who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Responsorial Psalm PS 97:1 AND 2B, 5-6, 10, 11-12
R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD loves those who hate evil;
he guards the lives of his faithful ones;
from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Light dawns for the just;
and gladness, for the upright of heart.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
Gospel MT 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
No comments:
Post a Comment