 VATICAN : POPE : SOCIAL NETWORKS - "OPEN THE DOOR" - AND OTHER NEWS AMERICA : USA : MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON DC EXPECTS MASS TURNOUT AUSTRALIA : ST. MACKILLOP 2ND PATRON OF AUSTRALIA AFRICA : MALI : MISSIONARY PRIEST WARNS OF FIGHTING TODAY'S SAINT : JAN. 24 : ST. FRANCIS DE SALES TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : THURS. JAN. 24, 2013 (Vatican Radio IMAGE SHARE )Read the full text of Pope Benedict's message for the 47th World Communications Day: Dear Brothers and Sisters, As the 2013 World Communications Day draws near, I would like to offer you some reflections on an increasingly important reality regarding the way in which people today communicate among themselves. I wish to consider the development of digital social networks which are helping to create a new “agora”, an open public square in which people share ideas, information and opinions, and in which new relationships and forms of community can come into being. These spaces, when engaged in a wise and balanced way, help to foster forms of dialogue and debate which, if conducted respectfully and with concern for privacy, responsibility and truthfulness, can reinforce the bonds of unity between individuals and effectively promote the harmony of the human family. The exchange of information can become true communication, links ripen into friendships, and connections facilitate communion. If the networks are called to realize this great potential, the people involved in them must make an effort to be authentic since, in these spaces, it is not only ideas and information that are shared, but ultimately our very selves. The development of social networks calls for commitment: people are engaged in building relationships and making friends, in looking for answers to their questions and being entertained, but also in finding intellectual stimulation and sharing knowledge and know-how. The networks are increasingly becoming part of the very fabric of society, inasmuch as they bring people together on the basis of these fundamental needs. Social networks are thus nourished by aspirations rooted in the human heart. The culture of social networks and the changes in the means and styles of communication pose demanding challenges to those who want to speak about truth and values. Often, as is also the case with other means of social communication, the significance and effectiveness of the various forms of expression appear to be determined more by their popularity than by their intrinsic importance and value. Popularity, for its part, is often linked to celebrity or to strategies of persuasion rather than to the logic of argumentation. At times the gentle voice of reason can be overwhelmed by the din of excessive information and it fails to attract attention which is given instead to those who express themselves in a more persuasive manner. The social media thus need the commitment of all who are conscious of the value of dialogue, reasoned debate and logical argumentation; of people who strive to cultivate forms of discourse and expression which appeal to the noblest aspirations of those engaged in the communication process. Dialogue and debate can also flourish and grow when we converse with and take seriously people whose ideas are different from our own. “Given the reality of cultural diversity, people need not only to accept the existence of the culture of others, but also to aspire to be enriched by it and to offer to it whatever they possess that is good, true and beautiful” (Address at the Meeting with the World of Culture, Bélem, Lisbon, 12 May 2010). The challenge facing social networks is how to be truly inclusive: thus they will benefit from the full participation of believers who desire to share the message of Jesus and the values of human dignity which his teaching promotes. Believers are increasingly aware that, unless the Good News is made known also in the digital world, it may be absent in the experience of many people for whom this existential space is important. The digital environment is not a parallel or purely virtual world, but is part of the daily experience of many people, especially the young. Social networks are the result of human interaction, but for their part they also reshape the dynamics of communication which builds relationships: a considered understanding of this environment is therefore the prerequisite for a significant presence there. The ability to employ the new languages is required, not just to keep up with the times, but precisely in order to enable the infinite richness of the Gospel to find forms of expression capable of reaching the minds and hearts of all. In the digital environment the written word is often accompanied by images and sounds. Effective communication, as in the parables of Jesus, must involve the imagination and the affectivity of those we wish to invite to an encounter with the mystery of God’s love. Besides, we know that Christian tradition has always been rich in signs and symbols: I think for example of the Cross, icons, images of the Virgin Mary, Christmas cribs, stained-glass windows and pictures in our churches. A significant part of mankind’s artistic heritage has been created by artists and musicians who sought to express the truths of the faith. In social networks, believers show their authenticity by sharing the profound source of their hope and joy: faith in the merciful and loving God revealed in Christ Jesus. This sharing consists not only in the explicit expression of their faith, but also in their witness, in the way in which they communicate “choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically” (Message for the 2011 World Communications Day). A particularly significant way of offering such witness will be through a willingness to give oneself to others by patiently and respectfully engaging their questions and their doubts as they advance in their search for the truth and the meaning of human existence. The growing dialogue in social networks about faith and belief confirms the importance and relevance of religion in public debate and in the life of society. For those who have accepted the gift of faith with an open heart, the most radical response to mankind’s questions about love, truth and the meaning of life – questions certainly not absent from social networks – are found in the person of Jesus Christ. It is natural for those who have faith to desire to share it, respectfully and tactfully, with those they meet in the digital forum. Ultimately, however, if our efforts to share the Gospel bring forth good fruit, it is always because of the power of the word of God itself to touch hearts, prior to any of our own efforts. Trust in the power of God’s work must always be greater than any confidence we place in human means. In the digital environment, too, where it is easy for heated and divisive voices to be raised and where sensationalism can at times prevail, we are called to attentive discernment. Let us recall in this regard that Elijah recognized the voice of God not in the great and strong wind, not in the earthquake or the fire, but in “a still, small voice” (1 Kg 19:11-12). We need to trust in the fact that the basic human desire to love and to be loved, and to find meaning and truth – a desire which God himself has placed in the heart of every man and woman – keeps our contemporaries ever open to what Blessed Cardinal Newman called the “kindly light” of faith. Social networks, as well as being a means of evangelization, can also be a factor in human development. As an example, in some geographical and cultural contexts where Christians feel isolated, social networks can reinforce their sense of real unity with the worldwide community of believers. The networks facilitate the sharing of spiritual and liturgical resources, helping people to pray with a greater sense of closeness to those who share the same faith. An authentic and interactive engagement with the questions and the doubts of those who are distant from the faith should make us feel the need to nourish, by prayer and reflection, our faith in the presence of God as well as our practical charity: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor 13:1). In the digital world there are social networks which offer our contemporaries opportunities for prayer, meditation and sharing the word of God. But these networks can also open the door to other dimensions of faith. Many people are actually discovering, precisely thanks to a contact initially made online, the importance of direct encounters, experiences of community and even pilgrimage, elements which are always important in the journey of faith. In our effort to make the Gospel present in the digital world, we can invite people to come together for prayer or liturgical celebrations in specific places such as churches and chapels. There should be no lack of coherence or unity in the expression of our faith and witness to the Gospel in whatever reality we are called to live, whether physical or digital. When we are present to others, in any way at all, we are called to make known the love of God to the furthest ends of the earth. I pray that God’s Spirit will accompany you and enlighten you always, and I cordially impart my blessing to all of you, that you may be true heralds and witnesses of the Gospel. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). From the Vatican, 24 January 2013, Feast of Saint Francis de Sales. TELEGRAM FOR THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JOZEF GLEMP Vatican City, 24 January 2013 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw, Poland for the death of Cardinal Jozef Glemp, archbishop of that archdiocese from 1981 to 2006. Cardinal Glemp died yesterday at the age of 83. Following are ample excerpts from his telegram. "'Caritati in iustitia'—for charity in justice—this episcopal motto accompanied him throughout his entire life and guided his way of thinking, of judging , of making decisions, and in offering guidelines of pastoral outreach. He was a 'just' man, in the spirit of St. Joseph, his patron, and those who, in biblical tradition, knew how to listen to the voice of God's call, addressed not just to them personally, but also to the communities to which they were sent. Such justice, full of humble obedience to God's will, was the basis of his deep love for God and man, which was his light, inspiration, and strength in the difficult ministry of leading the Church at a time when significant social and political transformations were affecting Poland and Europe." "The love of God and of Church and his concern for the life and dignity of every person made him an apostle of unity against division, of harmony in the face of confrontation, of the building of a happy future based on the past joyous and sorrowful experiences of the Church and the nation. Continuing the work of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, in constant communion with and spiritually connected to Pope John Paul II, he resolved many issues and problems in the political, social, and religious life of the Polish people with great prudence. Trusting in Divine Providence, he looked hopefully toward the new millennium into which he led the community of believers in Poland." "The last stage of his life was tried by suffering, which he endured with a serenity of spirit. Even in this test he remained a witness to trusting in the goodness and love of omnipotent God." "Personally, I always appreciated his sincere goodness, his simplicity, his openness, and his cordial dedication to the cause of the Church in Poland and in the world. Thus will he remain in my memory and my prayers. May the Lord welcome him in His glory." |
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SOCIAL MEDIA POSITIVELY Vatican City, 24 January 2013 (VIS) – Benedict XVI's message for the 47th World Communications Day was presented this morning in the Press Office of the Holy See. The Day, which will take place this year on Sunday, 12 May, has the theme of "Social Networks: Portals of Truth and Faith; New Spaces for Evangelisation". Participating in the presentation were Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of that same dicastery. "The message of this World Communications Day," said Archbishop Celli, "presents a positive assessment, though not a naive one for that matter, of social media. They are considered an opportunity for dialogue and debate and capable of strengthening the bonds of unity among people and effectively promoting the harmony of the human family. However, this positive character requires that one's actions be conducted with concern for privacy, with responsibility and dedication to the truth, and with authenticity, given that it has to do not only with information and knowledge but, essentially, with communicating a part of our very selves." "The social dynamic of the social media, it is appropriate to point out, lies within the even richer and more profound dynamic of the human heart's existential search. There is an interweaving of questions and answers that gives meaning to the human person's path. In this context, the Pope touches upon a delicate aspect of the matter when he speaks of the ocean of excessive information that overwhelms 'the gentle voice of reason'." "The theme of the Day speaks of new spaces for evangelisation: evangelisation that announces the Word, that proclaims Jesus Christ. In this regard we must remember what Benedict XVI wrote in his message for the World Communications Day in 2011, when he emphasized that it was not only an explicit expression of the Faith, but essentially, an effective witness 'in the way one communicates choices, preferences and judgements that are fully consistent with the Gospel, even when it is not spoken of specifically'." Following Archbishop Celli's address, Msgr. Tighe explained that "the Pope takes for granted the importance of the digital environment as a reality in the lives of many people. It is not some sort of parallel or merely virtual world but an existential environment where people live and move. It is a ‘continent’ where the Church must be present and where believers, if they are to be authentic in their presence, will seek to share with others the deepest source of their joy and hope, Jesus Christ. The forum created by the social networks allows us to share the truth that the Lord has passed to His Church, to listen to others, to learn about their cares and concerns, to understand who they are and for what they are searching." Likewise, the Holy Father "identifies some of the challenges that we must address if our presence is to be effective. We must become more fluent in the language of the social networks; a language that is born of the convergence of text, image and sound, a language that is characterized by brevity and that seeks to engage hearts and minds as well as the intellect. In this regard, the Pope reminds us to draw on our Christian heritage which is rich in signs, symbols and artistic expression. We need to remember a basic truth of communications: our witness – our actions and our patterns of behaviour – is often more eloquent than our words and proclamations in expressing who we are and what we believe. In the digital arena, the Pope suggests that our willingness to engage patiently and respectfully with the questions and doubts of those we encounter in the networks can be a powerful expression of our care and concern for them. Notwithstanding the challenges, we should always be hopeful." |
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COMMEMORATION OF GIOVANNI AGNELLI Vatican City, 24 January 2013 (VIS) – Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone ,S.D.B., sent a telegram in the Holy Father's name to Archbishop Cesare Nosiglia of Turin, Italy for the memorial Mass of Sen. Giovanni Agnelli, president of the Fiat automobile manufacturer, on the tenth anniversary of his death. In the text the Pope recalls the senator who, "over more than a half century, was the centre of national and international attention for his remarkable entrepreneurial skills" as well as "his Christian faith, which crowned a long and fruitful existence." |
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ACTS Vatican City, 24 January 2013 (VIS) – Today the Holy Father appointed as members of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology: Dr. Carlo Ebanista, associate professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology in the Humanities and Social Sciences faculty of the University of Molise, Italy and professor of Antiquities and Medieval Archaeology in the Arts and Philosophy department of the Federico II University in Naples, Italy; Dr. Emilio Marin, tenured professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of Split, Croatia and member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres of the Institut de France. |
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AMERICA : USA : MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON DC EXPECTS MASS TURNOUT
MARCH FOR LIFE RELEASE
March With Us
March for Life
Rally (January 25, 2013)
The location this year will be on
the National Mall between 7th & 9th Streets, the same place as last year.
The rally will begin at 12:00 PM and continue until about 1:30 PM, followed
immediately by the March. Please dispose of your trash properly. Use the
receptacles on the mall. If you can't find a receptacle, or if the receptacles
are full, please take your trash with you--do not leave it on top of, or on the
ground next to, a full trash can. Do not leave trash anywhere on the mall where
someone else will have to pick it up.
The March will begin immediately after the rally and follow its customary route up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill. If you are returning to the Hyatt Regency or Union Station upon completion of the March, please continue past the Supreme Court building, turn left on East Capitol Street and left again on 2nd Street. That will allow you to proceed to your destination without going against the flow of marchers who are still arriving at the Supreme Court. Please do not leave your signs, or trash of any kind, on the streets or anywhere along the route of the March. Take it with you to your destination and dispose of it properly.
Click here to view the route map for the March for Life. Bus captains, please be sure to print this map to take with you.
Youth Rally and Mass for Life, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington: Friday, January 25, 2013: Go to http://youthrallyandmassforlife.org.
MARCH FOR LIFE Exhibit Hall: The Exhibit Hall will be located on the lower lobby level of the Hyatt Regency hotel. The hours of operation are 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, January 24, 2013; and from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and approximately 3:00 PM (following the March) until 6:00 PM on Friday, January 25, 2013.
Tour Bus Information: The following links should answer most of your questions.
http://washington.org/planning/travel-professionals/dc-in-a-box/transportation/tour-bus-regulations
http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/info/charteredbuses.shtm
http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/info/trippermit.shtm
Subway and Public Transportation Information: http://www.wmata.com for general information and http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm for subway routes and stations. The closest Metro Stations to the Rally site are Smithsonian and L'Enfant Plaza.
The location this year will be on
the National Mall between 7th & 9th Streets, the same place as last year.
The rally will begin at 12:00 PM and continue until about 1:30 PM, followed
immediately by the March. Please dispose of your trash properly. Use the
receptacles on the mall. If you can't find a receptacle, or if the receptacles
are full, please take your trash with you--do not leave it on top of, or on the
ground next to, a full trash can. Do not leave trash anywhere on the mall where
someone else will have to pick it up. The March will begin immediately after the rally and follow its customary route up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill. If you are returning to the Hyatt Regency or Union Station upon completion of the March, please continue past the Supreme Court building, turn left on East Capitol Street and left again on 2nd Street. That will allow you to proceed to your destination without going against the flow of marchers who are still arriving at the Supreme Court. Please do not leave your signs, or trash of any kind, on the streets or anywhere along the route of the March. Take it with you to your destination and dispose of it properly.
Click here to view the route map for the March for Life. Bus captains, please be sure to print this map to take with you.
Hotel Reservations
Sorry, our hotel blocks are closed. We can add you to a waiting list in case additional rooms come available. Our rooms are at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, and at the Washington Court Hotel across the street from the Hyatt. The rate at both hotels is $173 plus tax for a total of $198.09 per night. We also have some information on other hotels in downtown Washington and in the Virginia suburbs. Hotels in the suburbs are located near subway lines and are significantly less expensive than downtown locations. Please send your inquiry to MarcherRooms@aol.com.Rose Dinner
The Rose Dinner will be held on the evening of January 25, 2013, the same day as the March for Life. Our keynote speaker will be announced as soon as possible. The social hour will begin at 6:00 PM and dinner will be served at 7:00 PM. More information will be posted on our website as soon as it becomes available. Tickets are $85. You can click on the Rose Dinner button in the upper left corner of the home page and follow the links to purchase tickets on line. On-line ticket sales will end mid-day on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $100.Youth Rally
The MARCH FOR LIFE Youth Rally will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency hotel, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A speakers schedule and additional information is posted at www.standtrue.com/mflyouthrally. Tickets are not required. There is no cost to participate.Law of Life Summit:
The Law of Life Summit "3" will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency hotel, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is being presented by Ave Maria School of Law in cooperation with the MARCH FOR LIFE Education and Defense Fund. There is no cost to participate but space is limited. Please register at www.LawLife.org.Youth Rally and Mass for Life, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington: Friday, January 25, 2013: Go to http://youthrallyandmassforlife.org.
March for Life Convention
Information will be posted on our website as it becomes available.MARCH FOR LIFE Exhibit Hall: The Exhibit Hall will be located on the lower lobby level of the Hyatt Regency hotel. The hours of operation are 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, January 24, 2013; and from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and approximately 3:00 PM (following the March) until 6:00 PM on Friday, January 25, 2013.
Tour Bus Information: The following links should answer most of your questions.
http://washington.org/planning/travel-professionals/dc-in-a-box/transportation/tour-bus-regulations
http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/info/charteredbuses.shtm
http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/info/trippermit.shtm
Subway and Public Transportation Information: http://www.wmata.com for general information and http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm for subway routes and stations. The closest Metro Stations to the Rally site are Smithsonian and L'Enfant Plaza.
The Inaugural Nellie Gray 5K (January 26, 2013)
The Inaugural MARCH FOR LIFE 5K will be held at 8:00 AM on Saturday, January 26, 2013 in West Potomac Park, Washington, DC. The event is hosted by the National LIFE Runners Team. Check out related events for more information.March for Life Annual Report Messages
Please download this form. You can place messages through the website, or by fax or mail. Deadline has been extended to January 3, 2013.National Prayer Vigil, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Thursday, January 24, 2013: Go to http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/national-prayer-vigil-for-life-schedule.cfmAUSTRALIA : ST. MACKILLOP 2ND PATRON OF AUSTRALIA
Catholic Communications, Sydney
Archdiocese,
24 Jan 2013
A formal
decree approving St Mary of the Cross MacKillop as second patron of Australia
has been received by Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference (ACBC).
The Pontifical Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Cañizares Llovera has issued the decree in response to a request from Archbishop Hart and the ACBC.
Although many Catholics and non-Catholics already consider St Mary of the Cross MacKillop a patron of Australia, the formal process was initiated by ACBC as further official recognition of the nation's first saint.
"In many ways, the process of officially naming her as a second patron was simply confirming what Australian Catholics already see, that the example and vision of Mary MacKillop is our modus operandi as a Church, particularly in our service of the poor and marginalised, and our commitment to Catholic education. This confirmation from the Holy See is most welcome", Archbishop Hart said this morning.
Since 1844, when Australians invoked the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians, the Holy Mother has been patron of Australia. Her title as Mary Help of Christians came about in the 16th Century when Pope Pius V included it in the Litany of Loreto. In 1815, Pope Pius VII proclaimed May 24 a feast day for Mary Help of Christians after returning to Rome after years in captivity imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Our
Lady Help of Christians remains a patron of Australia together with the
just-announced second patron, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
For many years St Francis Xavier and St Therese of Lisieux co-patrons of universal missions, were also patrons of Australia. But the patronage of both was removed when Australia ceased to be a mission country in 1976.
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the congregation co-founded by St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with Father Julian Tenison Woods, are delighted at the decree from the Holy See.
"This is another important honour for Australia's first saint," says Sister Anne Derwin, Congregational leader of the Sisters of St Joseph and expressed her pleasure and gratitude at the news.
"We realise since her canonisation in October 2010 many,
many Australians have come to admire and appreciate her strong dedication to
people in society, especially the most vulnerable, that they have a fair deal,
that children receive education and love, and that every person is recognised
and valued", she says. "We are all delighted and hope that Mary's values of
generosity, inclusion, kindness, commitment and reliance on God's Providence and
Goodness, become the hallmarks of our country."
24 Jan 2013
Australia's new co-aptron.
The Pontifical Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Cañizares Llovera has issued the decree in response to a request from Archbishop Hart and the ACBC.
Although many Catholics and non-Catholics already consider St Mary of the Cross MacKillop a patron of Australia, the formal process was initiated by ACBC as further official recognition of the nation's first saint.
"In many ways, the process of officially naming her as a second patron was simply confirming what Australian Catholics already see, that the example and vision of Mary MacKillop is our modus operandi as a Church, particularly in our service of the poor and marginalised, and our commitment to Catholic education. This confirmation from the Holy See is most welcome", Archbishop Hart said this morning.
Since 1844, when Australians invoked the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians, the Holy Mother has been patron of Australia. Her title as Mary Help of Christians came about in the 16th Century when Pope Pius V included it in the Litany of Loreto. In 1815, Pope Pius VII proclaimed May 24 a feast day for Mary Help of Christians after returning to Rome after years in captivity imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
St Mary of the Cross Mackillop
For many years St Francis Xavier and St Therese of Lisieux co-patrons of universal missions, were also patrons of Australia. But the patronage of both was removed when Australia ceased to be a mission country in 1976.
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the congregation co-founded by St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with Father Julian Tenison Woods, are delighted at the decree from the Holy See.
"This is another important honour for Australia's first saint," says Sister Anne Derwin, Congregational leader of the Sisters of St Joseph and expressed her pleasure and gratitude at the news.
Our Lady Help of Christians patron of Australia
since 1844
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
AFRICA : MALI : MISSIONARY PRIEST WARNS OF FIGHTING
CISA NEWS REPORT
BAMAKO, January 22, 2013
(CISA) -A missionary priest in Mali ministering to displaced people has
described their desperate struggle to flee fighting and Islamist extremism as
violence intensifies in key parts of the country.
In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need, Fr Zacharie Sorgho described the events that led to the liberation of the strategically important town of Diabaly on Thursday January 18.
Fr Sorgho, whose parish of Nioro du Sahel in north-west Mali has welcomed people fleeing the conflict, said: “One morning, there was an armed assault [by Islamist rebels] in the city of Konna… and other southern cities. This created a great fear in the city and everyone was in a state of confusion. People were fleeing and there were cries of despair.”
Fr Sorgho praised the intervention of French troops who were crucial to the liberation of the city. “After intense fighting, Konna was freed from the hands of the jihadist Muslims. But then they attacked the town of Diabaly and took it. They used people as human shields.”
The priest related how Islamists had confiscated mobile phones, preventing people from communicating with the outside world, and mingled with residents, stopping the French and Malian soldiers from conducting targeted strikes against them.
“After intense fighting, the city of Diabaly was retaken by French and Malian soldiers. Everyone is rejoicing.”
Describing the background of the conflict, he said: “For a long time rebel groups in northern Mali imposed their laws and spread terror among the northern people by amputating hands, giving strokes of the lash, committing sexual violence against women and girls, and so forth.
“The misery was great and the media spoke about the situation every day, but nothing was done at either national or international level. Rebel groups and Islamists thought they were already victors and masters of the country. They really want to impose laws and apply Shari‘a throughout the country.”
It is estimated that up to 400,000 people have fled from northern Mali or other conflict areas.
Fr Sorgho said: “We have welcomed those displaced by the war. Many people had already fled – following the attacks of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal – and they had found refuge in our area on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. So far a number of families have welcomed these refugees as guests and helped them. But, with multiple air strikes and armed interventions, we are seeing many more people coming to us. They are taking their children and parents and fleeing the conflict in the north. Many have come to us with nothing – except a backpack containing a few personal items.”
In 2011 Aid to the Church in Need gave more than £135,000 (€160,000) to help projects in Mali and is preparing to send emergency help for refugees in the Diocese of Mopti, in the centre of the country, where thousands of displaced persons have gathered.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need, Fr Zacharie Sorgho described the events that led to the liberation of the strategically important town of Diabaly on Thursday January 18.
Fr Sorgho, whose parish of Nioro du Sahel in north-west Mali has welcomed people fleeing the conflict, said: “One morning, there was an armed assault [by Islamist rebels] in the city of Konna… and other southern cities. This created a great fear in the city and everyone was in a state of confusion. People were fleeing and there were cries of despair.”
Fr Sorgho praised the intervention of French troops who were crucial to the liberation of the city. “After intense fighting, Konna was freed from the hands of the jihadist Muslims. But then they attacked the town of Diabaly and took it. They used people as human shields.”
The priest related how Islamists had confiscated mobile phones, preventing people from communicating with the outside world, and mingled with residents, stopping the French and Malian soldiers from conducting targeted strikes against them.
“After intense fighting, the city of Diabaly was retaken by French and Malian soldiers. Everyone is rejoicing.”
Describing the background of the conflict, he said: “For a long time rebel groups in northern Mali imposed their laws and spread terror among the northern people by amputating hands, giving strokes of the lash, committing sexual violence against women and girls, and so forth.
“The misery was great and the media spoke about the situation every day, but nothing was done at either national or international level. Rebel groups and Islamists thought they were already victors and masters of the country. They really want to impose laws and apply Shari‘a throughout the country.”
It is estimated that up to 400,000 people have fled from northern Mali or other conflict areas.
Fr Sorgho said: “We have welcomed those displaced by the war. Many people had already fled – following the attacks of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal – and they had found refuge in our area on the border of Mauritania and Senegal. So far a number of families have welcomed these refugees as guests and helped them. But, with multiple air strikes and armed interventions, we are seeing many more people coming to us. They are taking their children and parents and fleeing the conflict in the north. Many have come to us with nothing – except a backpack containing a few personal items.”
In 2011 Aid to the Church in Need gave more than £135,000 (€160,000) to help projects in Mali and is preparing to send emergency help for refugees in the Diocese of Mopti, in the centre of the country, where thousands of displaced persons have gathered.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : THURS. JAN. 24, 2013
Mark 3: 7 - 12 | |
| 7 | Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed; also from Judea |
| 8 | and Jerusalem and Idume'a and from beyond the Jordan and from about Tyre and Sidon a great multitude, hearing all that he did, came to him. |
| 9 | And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; |
| 10 | for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. |
| 11 | And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." |
| 12 | And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. |
TODAY'S SAINT : JAN. 24 : ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
St. Francis de Sales
BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
Feast: January 24
 Information:
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Bishop of Geneva, Doctor of the Universal Church; born at
Thorens, in the Duchy of Savoy, 21 August, 1567; died at Lyons, 28 December,
1622. His father, Francois de Sales de Boisy, and his mother, Francoise de
Sionnaz, belonged to old Savoyard aristocratic families. The future saint was
the eldest of six brothers. His father intended him for the magistracy and sent
him at an early age to the colleges of La Roche and Annecy. From 1583 till 1588
he studied rhetoric and humanities at the college of Clermont, Paris, under the
care of the Jesuits. While there he began a course of theology. After a terrible
and prolonged temptation to despair, caused by the discussions of the
theologians of the day on the question of predestination, from which he was
suddenly freed as he knelt before a miraculous image of Our Lady at St.
Etienne-des-Gres, he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to the
Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1588 he studied law at Padua, where the Jesuit Father
Possevin was his spiritual director. He received his diploma of doctorate from
the famous Pancirola in 1592. Having been admitted as a lawyer before the senate
of Chambery, he was about to be appointed senator. His father had selected one
of the noblest heiresses of Savoy to be the partner of his future life, but
Francis declared his intention of embracing the ecclesiastical life. A sharp
struggle ensued. His father would not consent to see his expectations thwarted.
Then Claude de Granier, Bishop of Geneva, obtained for Francis, on his own
initiative, the position of Provost of the Chapter of Geneva, a post in the
patronage of the pope. It was the highest office in the diocese, M. de Boisy
yielded and Francis received Holy Orders (1593).
From the time of the Reformation the seat of the Bishopric of Geneva had been fixed at Annecy. There with apostolic zeal, the new provost devoted himself to preaching, hearing confessions, and the other work of his ministry. In the following year (1594) he volunteered to evangelize Le Chablais, where the Genevans had imposed the Reformed Faith, and which had just been restored to the Duchy of Savoy. He made his headquarters in the fortress of Allinges. Risking his life, he journeyed through the entire district, preaching constantly; by dint of zeal, learning, kindness and holiness he at last obtained a hearing. He then settled in Thonon, the chief town. He confuted the preachers sent by Geneva to oppose him; he converted the syndic and several prominent Calvinists. At the request of the pope, Clement VIII, he went to Geneva to interview Theodore Beza, who was called the Patriarch of the Reformation. The latter received him kindly and seemed for a while shaken, but had not the courage to take the final steps. A large part of the inhabitants of Le Chablais returned to the true fold (1597 and 1598). Claude de Granier then chose Francis as his coadjutor, in spite of his refusal, and sent him to Rome (1599).
Pope Clement VIII ratified the choice; but he wished to
examine the candidate personally, in presence of the Sacred College. The
improvised examination was a triumph for Francis. "Drink, my son", said the Pope
to him. "from your cistern, and from your living wellspring; may your waters
issue forth, and may they become public fountains where the world may quench its
thirst." The prophesy was to be realized. On his return from Rome the religious
affairs of the territory of Gex, a dependency of France, necessitated his going
to Paris. There the coadjutor formed an intimate friendship with Cardinal de
Berulle, Antoine Deshayes, secretary of Henry IV, and Henry IV himself, who
wished "to make a third in this fair friendship" (
On the death of Claude de Granier, Francis was consecrated
Bishop of Geneva (1602). His first step was to institute catechetical
instructions for the faithful, both young and old. He made prudent regulations
for the guidance of his clergy. He carefully visited the parishes scattered
through the rugged mountains of his diocese. He reformed the religious
communities. His goodness, patience and mildness became proverbial. He had an
intense love for the poor, especially those who were of respectable family. His
food was plain, his dress and his household simple. He completely dispensed with
superfluities and lived with the greatest economy, in order to be able to
provide more abundantly for the wants of the needy. He heard confessions, gave
advice, and preached incessantly. He wrote innumerable letters (mainly letters
of direction) and found time to publish the numerous works mentioned below.
Together with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, he founded (1607) the Institute of
the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, for young girls and widows who, feeling
themselves called to the religious life, have not sufficient strength, or lack
inclination, for the corporal austerities of the great orders. His zeal extended
beyond the limits of his own diocese. He delivered the Lent and Advent
discourses which are still famous—those at Dijon (1604), where he first met the
Baroness de Chantal; at Chambery (1606); at Grenoble (1616, 1617, 1618), where
he converted the Marechal de Lesdiguieres. During his last stay in Paris
(November, 1618, to September, 1619) he had to go into the pulpit each day to
satisfy the pious wishes of those who thronged to hear him. "Never", said they,
"have such holy, such apostolic sermons been preached." He came into contact
here with all the distinguished ecclesiastics of the day, and in particular with
St. Vincent de Paul. His friends tried energetically to induce him to remain in
France, offering him first the wealthy Abbey of Ste. Genevieve and then the
coadjutor-bishopric of Paris, but he refused all to return to Annecy.
In 1622 he had to accompany the Court of Savoy into France.
At Lyons he insisted on occupying a small, poorly furnished room in a house
belonging to the gardener of the Visitation Convent. There, on 27 December, he
was seized with apoplexy. He received the last sacraments and made his
profession of faith, repeating constantly the words: "God's will be done! Jesus,
my God and my all!" He died next day, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
Immense crowds flocked to visit his remains, which the people of Lyons were
anxious to keep in their city. With much difficulty his body was brought back to
Annecy, but his heart was left at Lyons. A great number of wonderful favours
have been obtained at his tomb in the Visitation Convent of Annecy. His heart,
at the time of the French Revolution, was carried by the Visitation nuns from
Lyons to Venice, where it is venerated to-day. St. Francis de Sales was
beatified in 1661, and canonized by Alexander VII in 1665; he was proclaimed
Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX, in 1877.
The following is a list of the principal works of the holy
Doctor: (1) "Controversies", leaflets which the zealous missioner scattered
among the inhabitants of Le Chablais in the beginning, when t hese people did
not venture to come and hear him preach. They form a complete proof of the
Catholic Faith. In the first part, the author defends the authority of the
Church, and in the second and third parts, the rules of faith, which were not
observed by the heretical ministers. The primacy of St. Peter is amply
vindicated. (2) "Defense of the Standard of the Cross", a demonstration of the
virtue of the True Cross; of the Crucifix; of the Sign of the Cross; an
explanation of the Veneration of the Cross. (3) "An Introduction to the Devout
Life", a work intended to lead "Philothea", the soul living in the world, into
the paths of devotion, that is to say, of true and solid piety. Every one should
strive to become pious, and "it is an error, it is even a heresy", to hold that
piety is incompatible with any state of life. In the first part the author helps
the soul to free itself from all inclination to, or affection for, sin; in the
second, he teaches it how to be united to God by prayer and the sacraments; in
the third, he exercises it in the practice of virtue; in the fourth, he
strengthens it against temptation; in the fifth, he teaches it how to form its
resolutions and to persevere. The "Introduction", which is a masterpiece of
psychology, practical morality, and common sense, was translated into nearly
every language even in the lifetime of the author, and it has since gone through
innumerable editions. (4) "Treatise on the Love of God", an authoritative work
which reflects perfectly the mind and heart of Francis de Sales as a great
genius and a great saint. It contains twelve books. The first four give us a
history, or rather explain the theory, of Divine love, its birth in the soul,
its growth, its perfection, and its decay and annihilation; the fifth book shows
that this love is twofold—the love of complacency and the love of benevolence;
the sixth and seventh treat of
Migne (5 vols., quarto) and Vives (12 vols., octavo, Paris)
have edited the works of St. Francis de Sales. But the edition which we may call
definitive was published at Annecy in 1892, by the English Benedictine, Dom
Mackey: a work remarkable for its typographical execution, the brilliant
criticism that settles the text, the large quantity of hitherto unedited matter,
and the interesting study accompanying each volume. Dom Mackey published twelve
volumes. Father Navatel, S.J., is continuing the work. We may give here a brief
resume of the spiritual teaching contained in these works, of which the Church
has said: "The writings of Francis de Sales, filled with celestial doctrine are
a bright light in the Church, pointing out to souls an easy and safe way to
arrive at the perfection of a Christian life." (Breviarium Romanum, 29 January,
lect. VI.)
There are two elements in the spiritual life: first, a
struggle against our lower nature; secondly, union of our wills with God, in
other words, penance and love. St. Francis de Sales looks chiefly to love. Not
that he neglects penance, which is absolutely necessary, but he wishes it to be
practised from a motive of love. He requires mortification of the senses, but he
relies first on mortification of the mind, the will, and the heart. This
interior mortification he requires to be unceasing and always accompanied by
love. The end to be realized is a life of loving, simple, generous, and constant
fidelity to the will of God, which is nothing else than our present duty. The
model proposed is Christ, whom we must ever keep before our eyes. "You will
study His countenance, and perform your actions as He did" (Introd., 2nd part,
ch. i). The practical means of arriving at this perfection are: remembrance of
the presence of God, filial prayer, a right intention in all our actions, and
frequent recourse to God by pious and confiding ejaculations and interior
aspirations.
Besides the Institute of the Visitation, which he founded,
the nineteenth century has seen associations of the secular clergy and pious
laymen, and several religious congregations, formed under the patronage of the
holy Doctor. Among them we may mention the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales,
of Annecy; the Salesians, founded at Turin by the Venerable Don Bosco, specially
devoted to the Christian and technical education of the children of the poorer
classes; the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, established at Troyes (France) by
Father Brisson, who try to realize in the religious and priestly life the spirit
of the holy Doctor, such as we have described it, and such as he bequeathed it
to the nuns of the Visitation.
Transcribed by Frank O'Leary |
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/F/stfrancisdesales.asp#ixzz1kU8XCZ9e
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