CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD : SPECIAL RIP NELSON MANDELA

2013

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Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday paid tribute to Nelson Mandela expressing his hope that the late President's example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and common good at the forefront of their political aspirations.

The Pope's words came in a telegramme of condolences that he sent to the South African President, Jacob Zuma.

Please find below the full text of the telegramme:

It was with sadness that I learned of the death of former President Nelson Mandela, and I send prayerful condolences to all the Mandela family, to the members of the Government and to all the people of South Africa. In commending the soul of the deceased to the infinite mercy of Almighty God, I ask the Lord to console and strengthen all who mourn his loss. Paying tribute to the steadfast commitment shown by Nelson Mandela in promoting the human dignity of all the nation’s citizens and in forging a new South Africa built on the firm foundations of non-violence, reconciliation and truth, I pray that the late President’s example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and the common good at the forefront of their political aspirations. With these sentiments, I invoke upon all the people of South Africa divine gifts of peace and prosperity.
FRANCISCUS PP.
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ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY RELEASE: Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,

RIP NELSON MANDELA - 1918 - 2013 - FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA - TRIBUTE FILM - POPE'S CONDOLENCES

POPE FRANCIS "...IT'S CERTAIN OF THE FACT THAT GOD, IN HIS OWN WAY AND HIS OWN TIME, WILL ANSWER..." 

"...ESPECIALLY THE HOLY EUCHARIST, PREPARES US FOR THE REUNION OF OUR BODIES AND SOULS IN HEAVEN" POPE

NEW VATICAN COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS

TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 6: ST. NICHOLAS

TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRI. DEC. 6, 2013

Nelson Mandela was without any doubt one of the greatest men of the 20th Century, according to the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.

The former anti-apartheid leader and South African president died (Dec. 5) today in his home. He was 95.

"He will long be remembered not simply because he led his people to freedom after decades of servitude under the 'apartheid' regime, but because the victory was peaceful and because he forgave those who had imprisoned him for 27 years," His Eminence said.

"Nelson Mandela will be greatly missed. May he now rest in peace."

This morning at 8.45.am AEDT, South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed the news that Nelson Mandela had died.

"Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rohila Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. Our nation has lost its greatest son," an emotional President Zuma said in a live television address.

From Prisoner to President

After a six month battle with a persistent lung infection, Nelson Mandela died at his home in Johannesburg surrounded by family.

The former much-loved leader had a long history of lung problems after contracting tuberculosis during his 27 years behind bars on South Africa's Robben Island and later in Pollsmoor prison, Cape Town before being transferred to Victor Verster prison from where he was finally released in 1990.

Finally a free man, the Nobel Peace Prize winner led the African National Congress in negotiations with South Africa's white minority rulers which culminated in the first multi-racial elections of 1994.

Cardinal Pell was present at these historic elections and vividly remembers the long queues of black Africans waiting patiently for hours to vote for the first time in their lives.

Nelson Mandela - a man who took history is his hands

As head of Caritas Australia at the time, His Eminence was part of the delegation of observers sent from Australia at the invitation of the South African Justice and Peace Council.

"One voter I was asked to help in Cape Town where I was appointed as an observer was an old man who was illiterate. When I asked him what party he wanted to support, he replied simply: Mandela," Cardinal Pell says.

During this time in South Africa, His Eminence met with Catholic priests who had visited Mandela during his years in prison and who had described him as a wonderful and remarkable human being.

In 1995, a year after his election as South Africa's first black president, Mandela established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to hear the crimes and violations of human rights under the apartheid regime, and the following year he inaugurated the new democratic constitution.

"The simple fact of his existence and his example acted as a deterrent to those who were tempted to oppress minorities," Cardinal Pell says.

Today tributes to Nelson Mandela and the inspiration of his life have dominated newscasts and the media worldwide.

Mandela's last major public appearance on the world stage- the 2010 World Cup

"Nelson Mandela was truly a great man," Australian PM Tony Abbott said this morning. "He was one of the great figures of Africa, arguably one of the great figures of the last century and the father of the modern South Africa."

Although the Australian PM and the former South African president never met, Mr Abbott said he had read Mandela's book, "A Walk to Freedom" which revealed someone who suffered but rather than being embittered had been ennobled through that suffering.

Former Australian PM, Malcolm Fraser who met Mandela during the turbulent years when South Africa was fighting to free itself from the bonds of "apartheid," an era when blacks had no say in their future and were not permitted to vote, says of all the people he has met, Nelson Mandela was by far the greatest.

"I do not know anyone who could stand near to him. In the pages of history, there would be few who would stand as an equal. Respect, concern, compassion a belief in the best of our natures as human beings was central to the way Mandela approached every problem. He was central to the process of change in South Africa. He unified the disparate groups within South Africa. Even the tribal leaders, such as Chief Buthelezi of the Zulus, followed Mandela."

Among the many world leaders who have also paid tribute to South Africa's charismatic former leader was US President Barak Obama. Calling Mandela "a man who took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice" President Obama said his own historic journey to the White House as America's first black president had been inspired by Mandela.

"Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example set by Nelson Mandela. And so long as I live, I will do what I can to learn from him."

Mandela in 1964

On hearing the news, British PM David Cameron said "a great light has gone out" while UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon called Mandela "a giant for justice."

Born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mvezo, Nelson Mandela was the first in his family to attend school. Hardworking and a good student he attended a Wesleyan boarding school. Moving to Johannesburg, he joined a liberal Jewish law firm and at night, studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree by correspondence.

By 1942 he had his BA and had enrolled at Wiwatersand University and began his studies for a law degree. The only black student on campus, Mandela suffered many slights, indignities and blatant humiliations. But he insists there was also generosity and many of the whites whom he befriended during this time would later play important roles in the nation's struggle for freedom.

While still in his early 20s, Mandela joined the then outlawed African National Congress and began marching in protests against the racism and cruelty of South Africa's Afrikaner government.

By 1952 he had become one of the four deputy presidents of the movement and was being courted by the Communist party. The Communists saw the ANC's struggle as one of class, unlike Mandela who believed the battle was one of race. Mandela's strong Christian faith also put him at odds with the Communists who do not believe in religion.

But his link to the Communists was nevertheless used by the Afrikaner Government to arrest Mandela and 21 others at the height of what became known as the "defiance campaign." Under South Africa's Suppression of Communist Act, a court sentenced Mandela and the others to nine months hard labour.

Determined to bring freedom and rights to black South Africans, Mandela's activism increased and by 1961 he was commander-in-chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the banned ANC and the following year underwent military training in Algeria and Ethiopia.

Arrested in 1962, Mandela's long incarceration began. An initial five year sentence became a life sentence after new sabotage charges were brought. At his trial, he used the court to deliver a speech that became the manifesto and inspiration for South Africa's anti-apartheid movement.

"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to his struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society. It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Released 27 years later on 11 February 1990, Mandela embarked on negotiations with the newly-elected Afrikaans President de Klerk to end South Africa's long and ugly era of racist white minority rule.

Under Apartheid, which is Afrikaans for apartness, blacks were separated from whites whether on public transport, at schools, on beaches, in shops, in housing or public swimming pools and toilets.

The negotiations resulted in South Africa's first multi-racial elections. For this extraordinary and far reaching achievement, Nelson Mandela and President de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Elected President of the new South Africa, Mandela said his intention was to establish a "rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world."
"We should thank God for him and the then President de Klerk who created a free South Africa," Cardinal Pell said.

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POPE FRANCIS "...IT'S CERTAIN OF THE FACT THAT GOD, IN HIS OWN WAY AND HIS OWN TIME, WILL ANSWER..."

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis spoke on the theme of prayer on Thursday, saying when we pray it’s a bit like annoying God so that he listens to us. His remarks came during his homily at the morning mass in the Santa Marta guesthouse. 


Speaking at Mass, Pope Francis said "prayer has two attitudes: it’s needy and at the same time it’s certain of the fact that God, in his own way and his own time, will answer our need." A person who prays, he continued, "doesn’t fear disturbing God and nourishes a blind faith in His love." The Pope recalled how Jesus himself taught us to pray like the annoying friend who begs for food at midnight or like the widow with the corrupt judge. Another example he quoted was the gospel account of how the lepers approached Jesus, saying to him, “if you want, you can cure us.”

“Maybe this sounds strange,” the Pope said, “but praying is a bit like annoying God so that he listens to us. He stressed the importance of praying with insistence and not giving up after the first few attempts. “Jesus said “ask” but he also said to us, “Knock at the door” and he or she who knocks at the door makes a noise, disturbs or annoys.” 

Therefore, Pope Francis continued, “prayer is insisting to the point of annoyance but also with an unshakeable certainty.” Just like the blind people in the Gospel who asked Jesus to be healed and when he asked them if they believed he could cure them, they assured him they did. The Pope concluding by saying that Jesus feels our need when we pray and also feels that we are certain of his help and that we’re speaking the truth about ourselves. 
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"...ESPECIALLY THE HOLY EUCHARIST, PREPARES US FOR THE REUNION OF OUR BODIES AND SOULS IN HEAVEN" POPE

RADIO VATICANA REPORT: December 04, 2013 - Pope Francis held his weekly general audience on Wednesday, continuing his catechesis of last week on the resurrection of the body. The public meeting is an opportunity for pilgrims and tourists visiting Rome to see and hear the Pope, and also receive his blessing. The general audience of Dec. 4 was held in the open, in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. It began with aides reading a passage from the Gospel of John, in several languages.


Basing himself on the scripture passage, Pope Francis delivered his main discourse in Italian - summaries of which were read out by aides in various languages, including in English.   But first, the aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English-speaking pilgrims.

… Dear Brothers and Sisters: we return to our reflection on “the resurrection of the body”, as we look at three aspects of the relationship between Christ’s resurrection and our own. First, the Gospel reveals to us that our faith in the resurrection is bound to the person of Jesus Christ, who himself said “I am the resurrection and the life”. Like us in all things but sin, Christ gathers us to himself so that we may accompany him in his journey back to the Father. The Risen Christ gives his disciples the Holy Spirit as a pledge of communion with God which has its fullness in eternity. The anticipation of eternal life is the source and reason for our hope. If cultivated and protected, it illuminates our lives as persons and communities. Second, Christ rose in his glorified body. Through Christ, our bodies will also be glorified and reunited with our souls at the resurrection. Therefore, our experience of the Risen Christ in the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, prepares us for the reunion of our bodies and souls in heaven. Third, while Jesus will resurrect us at the end of time, even now he wishes us to share in his resurrection. Through Baptism, we are inserted into his death and resurrection and begin to experience new life. The seed of eternity is planted within us. Hence, the image of eternity is imprinted on us and calls us to respect the lives of all people, especially those who suffer. In this way, we can experience the closeness of the Reign of God, towards which we all journey together. 

… I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Denmark, Australia and the United States. Upon you and your families I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace! (BLESSING)
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NEW VATICAN COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS

(Vatican Radio) At the briefing on Thursday morning, 5 December, at 1 p.m., alongside the Director of the Holy See Press Office, there participated Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, member of the Council of Cardinals, who gave the following Declaration:

“Continuing decisively along the lines undertaken by Pope Benedict XVI, and accepting a proposal presented by the Council of Cardinals, the Holy Father has decided to establish a specific Commission for the protection of minors, with the aim of advising Pope Francis on the Holy See’s commitment to the protection of children and in pastoral care for victims of abuse. Specifically, the Commission will:

1. Study present programmes in place for the protection of children.
2. Formulate suggestions for new initiatives on the part of the Curia, in collaboration with bishops, Episcopal conferences, religious superiors and conferences of religious superiors.
3. Indicate the names of persons suited to the systematic implementation of these new initiatives, including lay persons, religious and priests with responsibilities for the safety of children, in relations with the victims, in mental health, in the application of the law, etc.

The composition and competences of the Commission will be indicated shortly, with more details from the Holy Father in an appropriate document.”

Cardinal O’Malley then quoted some of the lines of action proposed by the Commission under constitution.
* * *
The meetings will conclude tomorrow afternoon, completing the review of the different Congregations of the Roman Curia initiated during these recent days. The next round of meetings is scheduled for the 17, 18 and 19 February, preceding the Consistory of the College of Cardinals due to take place on the 20 and 21 of the same month, and the Consistory for the Creation of new cardinals on 22 February, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, and the solemn Concelebration of Sunday 23. In addition, the meeting of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops is scheduled to take place in the days immediately after (24-25 February).

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TODAY'S SAINT: DEC. 6: ST. NICHOLAS

St. Nicholas

BISHOP, PATRON OF CHILDREN

Feast: December 6 (Image source: Google)

Information: Feast Day: December 6 Born: 270, Patara, Lycia Died: 6 December 343, Myra, Lycia Major Shrine: Basilica di San Nicola, Bari, Italy. Patron of: Children, sailors, fishermen, merchants, the falsely accused, pawnbrokers, prostitutes, repentant thieves, many cities. The great veneration with which this saint has been honoured, both in the Greek and Latin churches for many ages, and the great number of altars and churches which have been everywhere erected in his memory, are proofs of his extraordinary sanctity and of the glory which he enjoys with God. The Emperor Justinian built a church in his honour at Constantinople, in the quarter called Blaquernae, about the year 430, and he was titular saint of four churches in Constantanople. All accounts agree that he was a native of Patara, in Lycia. We are told that in his infancy he observed the fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays, refusing to suck the breasts on those days. Happy are they who, from their infancy and innocent age, are inured to the exercises of devotion, penance, and perfect obedience. St. Nicholas increased his fervour in these and all other virtues with his years, especially when he had devoted himself to a religious life in the monastery of Holy Sion, near Myra, of which house he was made abbot by the archbishop, its founder. Charity in comforting and relieving the distressed seemed his characteristical virtue. Amongst many other instances, it is related that when three young virgins were exposed through distress to the danger of falling into vicious courses, he, for three successive nights, conveyed to them through the window a competent sum of money for a fortune for one of them, so that they were all portioned and afterwards happily married. Lycia was a large ancient province of Asia, in which St. Paul had planted the faith. Myra, the capital, three miles from Patara and from the sea, was an archiepiscopal see, founded by St. Nicander, of so great dignity that in later ages, thirty-six suffragan bishoprics were subject to it. This metropolitan church falling vacant, the holy abbot Nicholas was chosen archbishop, and in that exalted station became famous by his extraordinary piety and zeal, and an incredible number of stupendous miracles. The Greek histories of his life agree that he suffered imprisonment for the faith, and made a glorious confession in the latter part of the persecution raised by Diocletian: and that he was present at the great council of Nice, and there condemned Arianism. The silence of other authors make many justly suspect these circumstances. The history of the translation of his relics place his death in 342. He died at Myra and was buried in his own cathedral. The relics of St. Nicholas were kept with great honour at Myra, till they were translated into Italy. Certain merchants of Bari, a seaport in the kingdom of Naples situated on the Adriatic Gulf, sailed in three ships to the coast of Lycia; and watching an opportunity when no Mohammedans were near the place, went to the church in which the relics of St. Nicholas were kept, which stood in a desert place three miles from the sea, and was guarded by a small community of monks. They broke open the marble coffin in which the sacred bones lay, and carried them off to their ships; the inhabitants, upon the alarm given, pursued them to the shore with horrible outcries, but the Europeans were got safe on board. They landed at Bari on the 9th of May 1087, and the sacred treasure was deposited by the archbishop in the Church of St. Stephen. On the first day, thirty persons were cured of various distempers, imploring the intercession of St. Nicholas, and from that time the tomb of St. Nicholas of Bari has been famous for pilgrimages. The authentic history of this translation, written by John, at that time archdeacon of Bari, by order of the archbishop, is extant in Surius. SOURCE http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/N/stnicholas.asp

TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRI. DEC. 6, 2013

Friday of the First Week of Advent
Lectionary: 179

Reading 1              IS 29:17-24

Thus says the Lord GOD:
But a very little while,
and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,
and the orchard be regarded as a forest!
On that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book;
And out of gloom and darkness,
the eyes of the blind shall see.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the tyrant will be no more
and the arrogant will have gone;
All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,
those whose mere word condemns a man,
Who ensnare his defender at the gate,
and leave the just man with an empty claim.
Therefore thus says the LORD,
the God of the house of Jacob,
who redeemed Abraham:
Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of,
nor shall his face grow pale.
When his children see
the work of my hands in his midst,
They shall keep my name holy;
they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob,
and be in awe of the God of Israel.
Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding,
and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

Responsorial Psalm                                      PS 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel                      MT 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

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