2016
Catholic Quote to SHARE by #StCyril of Jerusalem "Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence..."
Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of their own, even when the tongue is silent. For deeds prove the lover more than words. -- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
#PopeFrancis "God’s glory is revealed on the cross: it is love shines out and is spread" #NeoCatacumenal FULL TEXT - Video
In his address, the Holy Father focused on three words: unity, glory, and world.
Below is a Vatican Radio English translation of the Holy Father's prepared remarks:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
I'm glad to meet you and thank you for coming in such great numbers. I send a special greeting to those who are about to set off! You have accepted the call to evangelize: I bless the Lord for this, for the gift of the Way and for the gift of each of you. I would like to highlight three words that the Gospel has just handed you, as a mandate for the mission: unity, glory and world.
Unity. Jesus prays to the Father so that his (followers) be " brought to perfection as one” (Jn 17:23): he wants them to be "one" (v. 22), like Himself and the Father. It is his last request before the passion, the most heartfelt: that there be communion in the Church. Communion is essential. God’s and man’s enemy, the devil, is no match for the Gospel, cannot compete against the humble power of prayer and the Sacraments, but can do much harm to the Church by tempting our humanity. The devil provokes pride, being judgmental of others, he causes closures and divisions. He himself is "the divider" and often starts off by making us believe that we are good, perhaps better than others: thus the land is ready for the sowing of discord. It is the temptation of all communities and can it can insinuate itself even in the most beautiful charism.
You have received a great charism for the baptismal renewal of life. Every charism is a grace of God to intensify communion. But this charism can deteriorate if you close in or if you boast about it, when you want to distinguish yourselves from the others. So we have to safeguard it. How? Following the main path: of humble and obedient unity. If there is this, the Holy Spirit continues to operate, just as it did in Mary, who was open, humble and obedient. It is always necessary to keep an eye on the charism, cleaning out the eventual human excesses through the search for unity with all and obedience to the Church. This is how to breathe in the Church and with the Church; this is how to stay docile children of the "Holy Mother Hierarchical Church" with a "soul which is prepared and ready" for the mission (cf. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 353).
I stress this point: the Church is our Mother. Just as children carry, imprinted in their faces, a similarity to their mother, we all look like our Mother, the Church. After Baptism we no longer live as isolated individuals, but we have become men and women of communion, and we are called to be operators of communion in the world. Because Jesus not only founded the Church for us, but he founded us as Church. From her we are born again, she feeds us the Bread of life, from her we receive words of life, and we are forgiven and accompanied home. This is the fruitfulness of the Church, who is Mother: not an organization that seeks followers, or a group that goes ahead following the logic of its ideas, but a mother who transmits the life received from Jesus.
This fruitfulness is expressed through the ministry and the guidance of Pastors. The institution is in fact a charisma, because rooted in the same source, which is the Holy Spirit. He is the living water, but the water can continue to give birth only if the plant is well maintained and pruned. Quench your thirst from the fountain, the Spirit, and take care, with delicacy and respect, of the whole ecclesial body, especially the most fragile parts, because all grow together, harmonious and fruitful.
The second word is: glory. Before his Passion, Jesus foretells that He will be "glorified" on the cross: there his glory will appear (cf. Jn 17, 5). But it is a new glory: worldly glory manifests itself when one is important, admired, when one has assets and success. But God’s glory is revealed on the cross: it is love shines out and is spread. It is a paradoxical glory with clamour, no gain and no applause. This is the only glory that makes the Gospel fruitful. The Mother Church too is fruitful when it imitates the merciful love of God, that offers itself, it never imposes itself. It is humble, it’s like the rain on the earth, like the air we breathe, like a small seed that bears fruit in silence. Whoever proclaims that love can do so only with the same loving approach.
And the third word is world. "God so loved the world" that He sent Jesus (cf. Jn 3:16). He who loves does not stay away, but comes towards. God is not attracted by worldliness, in fact, He detests it; but He loves the world he has created, and He loves His children in the world, just as they are, wherever they live, even if they are "far away." Show the children the tender gaze of the Father and considered the realities you will encounter as a gift; become familiar with the cultures and the languages and respect local customs, recognizing the seeds of grace which the Spirit has already spread. Without yielding to the temptation to transplant acquired models, spread the news: "what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary” (Apost. Exhort. Evangelii Gaudium, 35). It is the good news that must always be in the forefront, otherwise faith risks becoming a cold and lifeless doctrine. To evangelize as families, experiencing unity and simplicity, is already a proclamation of life, a beautiful witness, for which I thank you so much. I accompany you and encourage you, and I ask you, please, do not forget to pray for me.
#BreakingNews Sister Sally Survivor of Massacre in Yemen tells her Story...May their blood bring Peace
Sole survivor of Yemen massacre, Sister Sally, describes martyrdom of her sisters
The superior of the Aden community has entrusted to a sister the dramatic story of the assault on the nursing home for the elderly and disabled. The sisters were killed because of their "fidelity" to their mission, by being found ready "to welcome their Spouse”. A blood sacrifice in the hope that it will bring about "shoots of peace for the Middle East and help stop Isis". The signed letter (PDF).
 
Aden (AsiaNews) - "Because of their loyalty, they found themselves in the right place at the right time, ready to welcome their Spouse." With these words, Sister Rio described the sacrifice of the Missionary sisters of Charity massacred in Aden, Yemen, on March 4 for "religious reasons". The nun recorded the dramatic testimony of Sister Sally, Superior of the home for the elderly and disabled attacked by the militants of the Islamic State (IS). The sole survivor, Sister Sally entrusted the story, the violence of the militias, of the attack to Sister Sister Rio.
The story was transcribed at a later date by a third nun, Sister Adriana, who published the text (which we publish below) and sent it out to the various religious communities in the United States.
In recent days, Msgr. Edward Rice, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, quoted several passages of the dramatic story of Sister Rio, praising the sacrifice made by the nuns for their faith and their service to others. A service that reflects the charism of the founder of the order, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Here, below, the dramatic story of the morning of the attack, recorded by the Missionaries of Charity and published by the National Catholic Register:
Sisters had Mass, breakfast as usual. As usual, Father stays back in chapel to say prayers, then to fix things around the compound. At 8:00am, the said apostolate prayer and all five went to home. At 8:30am: ISIS dressed in blue came in, killed the guard and driver.
5 young Ethiopian men (Christian) began running to tell the sisters ISIS was here to kill them. They were killed one by one. They tied them to trees, shot them in the head and smashed their heads.
The sisters ran 2 by 2 in different directions, as they have mens and ladies home. 4 working women were screaming, “Don’t kill the sisters! Don’t kill the sisters!” One was the cook for 15 years. They killed them as well.
They caught Sr. Judith and Sr. Reginette first, tied them up, shot them in the head and smashed their heads. When the sisters ran in different directions, the Superior ran to the convent to try to warn Father Tom.
They caught Sr. Anselm and Sr. Marguerite, tied them, shot them in the head and smashed their heads in the sand.
Meanwhile, the Superior could not get to the convent. It is not clear how many ISIS men were there.
She saw all the sisters and helpers killed. The ISIS men were already getting to the convent so she went into the refridgerator room, since the door was open. These ISIS men were everywhere, searching for her, as they knew there were 5. At least three times they came into the fridgerator room. She did not hide, but remained standing behind the door – they never saw her. This is miraculous.
Meanwhile, at the convent, Father had heard the screaming and consumed all the Hosts. He had no time to consume the large Host, so he threw the oil out of the sanctuary lamp and dissolved it in the water.
A neighbor saw them put Father Tom in their car. They did not find any trace of Father anywhere. All the religious articles were smashed and destroyed – Our Lady, crucifix, altar, tabernacle, lectionary stand – even their prayer books and Bibles.
At 10:00 or 10:15am: The ISIS men finished and left.
Sr. Sally came to get the bodies of the sisters. She got them all. She went to the patients to each one individually to see if they were OK. All were OK. Not one was hurt.
The son of the woman who was the cook (who was killed) was calling her on her cellphone. Since she was not answering, he called the police, and he went with the police there and found this great massacre. The police and the son arrived at about 10:30am.
The police tried to take Sr. Sally out of there — she refused to leave the people who were crying, “Don’t leave us; stay with us.” But the police forced her to go with them because the ISIS knew there were 5 sisters, and they were convinced they will not stop until they kill her too. So finally she had to leave. She took one set of clothes and the sisters’ bodies, and the police brought them to an international hospital called “Doctors Without Borders” for protection. As there was not enough room in the mortuary of that hospital for the sisters’ bodies, the police brought their bodies to a bigger hospital mortuary.
Sr. Sally told Sr. Rio she is so sad because she is alone and did not die with her sisters. Sr. Rio told her God wanted a witness and told her, “Who would have found the sisters’ bodies and who would ever tell us what happened? God wants us to know.”
Pope Francis had his secretary contact the Yemen Secretary of State very often – about once a week to check up on the sisters and reassure them of his closeness. Today, the Pope’s secretary sent the message: “I thank them — Little M.C. martyrs.” He said he is offering the 40-hour First Friday devotion for them.
Sr. Sally told Sr. Rio that Fr. Tom tells them every day, “Let us be ready for martyrdom.”
Sr. Judith — they were trying so hard to take her for senior course, but they were not able to get her out.
Sr. Reginette — they were trying to send her for junior course but could not get her out.
God wanted them there.
Aden is rich city – a port city. Aden wanted to be its own state, so they got ISIS in to help them fight against Yemen. So ISIS won for Aden. That was the war last year, with all the bombing. They won, so that is over, but ISIS won’t leave. They want to take over and exterminate any Christian presence. They did not kill the sisters in the war because they had no political reason to waste time on them. But now, they are the only Christian presence, and ISIS wants to get rid of all Christianity. So they are real martyrs — died because they are Christians. They could have died so many times in the war, but God wanted it to be clear they are martyrs for the faith.
Sr. Rio said Sr. Sally is fully surrendered. The police are trying to get her out because they will just keep after her until they kill her. She is fully surrendered and told Sr. Rio – whatever God wants. She said the other Muslims are so respectful of them. She said to pray that their blood will be the seeds for peace in the Middle East and to stop the ISIS.
She said that if they kidnapped Father Tom most probably they will wait 2 days, then ask in exchange for Father Tom either money or the release of their members held in prison.
Sr. Rio said they were so faithful – ISIS knew exactly when they leave and when to break in. And because of their faithfulness, they were in the right place at the right time and were ready when the Bridegroom came.
Sr. Adriana said she thinks the crushing of the heads has some evil connection with “She will crush head of the serpent,” some kind of mockery or evil meaning.
The sisters correct names:
Sister M. Sally, MC (Superior) Sister M. Anselm, MC (Bihar) Sister M. Marguerite, MC (Rwanda) Sister M. Judith, MC (Kenya) Sister M. Reginette, MC (Rwanda)
Shared from AsiaNewsIT
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Today's Mass Readings and Video : Friday March 18, 2016
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 255
Reading 1JER 20:10-13
I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
Responsorial PsalmPS 18:2-3A, 3BC-4, 5-6, 7
R. (see 7) In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
Verse Before The GospelSEE JN 6:63C, 68C
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
you have the words of everlasting life.
GospelJN 10:31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
Love them to the End - #ProLife Personal Witness why #Euthanasia needs to End - SHARE
Love them to the end. Euthanasia and assisted dying have come into the media lately as legislators have created laws that now permit the taking of Life before its natural end. However, is this what God intended? No, God wants us to love the fragile and the sick until their natural end.
by: Miriam Westen, MEd, MTh, MTS, PhD (stud), Director at Catholic News World
This is my story about my experiences with family members who I have cared for as they died. I have seen several die right before my eyes and have been ennobled by the experiences. Rather then promoting the evil of Euthanasia may these experiences help you care for your loved ones through sickness and health.
When I was a child my Grandmother from India lived with us for a few years. She was often sick but sometimes managed to walk to daily Mass and pray for the family. It was such an joy to see her smiling face as a child; she died later on back in India. My second experience with death occurred when my paternal Grandmother (Oma) born in Meppen, Germany moved in with us until her death. Oma (pictured right) was in her 90s and needed care. She had a nurse who visited regularly but she sometimes needed us to change her diapers and help her change her clothes. Although this might sound disgusting to some - I truly enjoyed having her with us. She was such a noble lady who raised 5 of her 6 children alone in Europe during the second World War. She herself born in 1901 grew up during the 1st World War in Germany. Oma always prayed the rosary and prayed for a happy death.
When I was a child my Grandmother from India lived with us for a few years. She was often sick but sometimes managed to walk to daily Mass and pray for the family. It was such an joy to see her smiling face as a child; she died later on back in India. My second experience with death occurred when my paternal Grandmother (Oma) born in Meppen, Germany moved in with us until her death. Oma (pictured right) was in her 90s and needed care. She had a nurse who visited regularly but she sometimes needed us to change her diapers and help her change her clothes. Although this might sound disgusting to some - I truly enjoyed having her with us. She was such a noble lady who raised 5 of her 6 children alone in Europe during the second World War. She herself born in 1901 grew up during the 1st World War in Germany. Oma always prayed the rosary and prayed for a happy death.
As she neared the end of her life and experienced the pain of the agony of death she was given heavy medication. When we knew death was imminent we called a priest to give her the Sacrament of the Sick and we prayed the Rosary around her. I held her as she died. Profound - this experience was so inexplicably beautiful.
Then I was called to take care of my Aunt's relatives in Wissen, Germany who were also terminally ill. I went with my Aunt and we lived in Germany as we cared for these elderly ladies and their home. This meant visiting them in their elderly care facility on a daily basis. We played games with them and spoke with them. Essentially we loved them during their time of pain. The palliative care home for these elderly people was filled with joy - the people were experiencing their second childhood as they prepared for their ultimate union with God in their heavenly homeland.
Soon after their deaths my Dad (pictured left) became terminally ill. He had been living with Cancer (Leukemia) for 11 years. Coping with this illness had negative physical and psychological effects on me also. My Dad had taught me so much; how to Pray, how to speak different languages, and above all to Love God. I remember being at his side during his numerous trips to the hospital sometimes with my university books at my side. Endless streams of tears seemed to flow from my eyes during the last 2 years. I prayed to God to keep him a bit longer with us. He saw the birth of his 10th grandchild and reached his 80th birthday when the Lord took him. I held him and prayed the rosary as he passed into the next life. This death shook the depths of my soul - but I realized that it was better for him.
Soon after this my Godmother Irmela(pictured below) was placed in a palliative care hospital in Toronto. She had also lived through the war in Germany and seen much suffering. When she was a teenager Russian soldiers came and violated the women of her area. Now she was confined to bed. In between university classes I took the street car to the hospital to visit her.
Near the end she could not even swallow and could only have a spray of water to moisten her lips. On the day of her death she was alone. I somehow knew she was going to die so I stayed with her all night in a chair beside her hospital bed. As I held her dying body I felt the agonies of death flow through her. I lay my head on her chest as I felt the last breath come through her parched lips.
During this time I was able to participate at the Vatican's Academy for Life's Conference in 2008 on Euthanasia which discussed this issue. Personally I have come to realize that prayer, patience, respect, and sacrifice are necessary when taking care of the dying. This might mean arranging the anointing of the sick, changing a diaper of one’s grandparent, and smiling at a sad face. Over all it seems that we should keep in mind that we are temples of the Holy Spirit and give each human the dignity it deserves as a child of God made in His Image.
Please SHARE this Article and Promote the Gift LIFE!
Near the end she could not even swallow and could only have a spray of water to moisten her lips. On the day of her death she was alone. I somehow knew she was going to die so I stayed with her all night in a chair beside her hospital bed. As I held her dying body I felt the agonies of death flow through her. I lay my head on her chest as I felt the last breath come through her parched lips.
During this time I was able to participate at the Vatican's Academy for Life's Conference in 2008 on Euthanasia which discussed this issue. Personally I have come to realize that prayer, patience, respect, and sacrifice are necessary when taking care of the dying. This might mean arranging the anointing of the sick, changing a diaper of one’s grandparent, and smiling at a sad face. Over all it seems that we should keep in mind that we are temples of the Holy Spirit and give each human the dignity it deserves as a child of God made in His Image.
Please SHARE this Article and Promote the Gift LIFE!
Saint March 18 : St. Cyril of Jerusalem : Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church,
 Information:
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BISHOP OF JERUSALEM, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
born about 315; died probably 18 March, 386. In the East his feast is observed on the 18th of March, in the West on the 18th or 20th. Little is known of his life. We gather information concerning him from his younger contemporaries, Epiphanius, Jerome, and Rufinus, as well as from the fifth-century historians, Socrates, Sozomen and Theodoret. Cyril himself gives us the date of his "Catecheses" as fully seventy years after the Emperor Probus, that is about 347, if he is exact. Constans (d. 350) was then still alive. Mader thinks Cyril was already bishop, but it is usually held that he was at this date only as a priest. St. Jerome relates (Chron. ad ann. 352) that Cyril had been ordained priest by St. Maximus, his predecessor, after whose death the episcopate was promised to Cyril by the metropolitan, Acacius of Caesarea, and the other Arian bishops, on condition that he should repudiate the ordination he had received from Maximus. He consented to minister as deacon only, and was rewarded for this impiety with the see. Maximus had consecrated Heraclius to succeed himself, but Cyril, by various frauds, degraded Heraclius to the priesthood. So says St. Jerome; but Socrates relates that Acacius drove out St. Maximus and substituted St. Cyril. A quarrel soon broke out between Cyril and Acacius, apparently on a question of precedence or jurisdiction. At Nicaea the metropolitan rights of Caesarea had been guarded, while a special dignity had been granted to Jerusalem. Yet St. Maximus had held a synod and had ordained bishops. This may have been as much as the cause of Acacius' enmity to him as his attachment to the Nicene formula. On the other hand, Cyril's correct Christology may have been the real though veiled ground of the hostility of Acacius to him. At all events, in 357 Acacius caused Cyril to be exiled on the charge of selling church furniture during a famine. Cyril took refuge with Silvanus, Bishop of Taraus. He appeared at the Council of Seleucia in 359, in which the Semi-Arian party was triumphant. Acacius was deposed and St. Cyril seems to have returned to his see. But the emperor was displeased at the turn of events, and, in 360, Cyril and other moderates were again driven out, and only returned at the accession of Julian in 361. In 367 a decree of Valens banished all the bishops who had been restored by Julian, and Cyril remained in exile until the death of the persecutor in 378. In 380, St. Gregory of Nyssa came to Jerusalem on the recommendation of a council held at Antioch in the preceding year. He found the Faith in accord with the truth, but the city a prey to parties and corrupt in morals. St. Cyril attended the great Council of Constantinople in 381, at which Theodosius had ordered the Nicene faith, now a law of the empire, to be promulgated. St. Cyril then formally accepted the homoousion; Socrates and Sozomen call this an act of repentance. Socrates gives 385 for St. Cyril's death, but St. Jerome tells us that St. Cyril lived eight years under Theodosius, that is, from January 379. |
SOURCE:EWTN
#PopeFrancis "These are the people who need your help, who are crying out for you..." #Harvard UN Students - FULL TEXT
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday addressed the participants of the Harvard World Model United Nations, reminding them the world’s problems always have a human face.
The Model UN is a four-day international relations simulation promoted by Harvard University for high school students from around the world.
Listen to Devin Watkins’ report:
In his address to this year’s Model UN participants, Pope Francis focused on their experience of diversity as a remedy for the world’s ills.
Reminding them of the value of international structures of cooperation and solidarity, the Holy Father said growth in wisdom is “not only for your own benefit, but for the good of your local communities and broader society.”
“The greatest benefit is your time together, your encounter with people from around the world, who represent not only our many contemporary challenges, but above all the rich diversity of talents and potential of the human family.”
The Pope said the participants’ diversity is itself the greatest testimony to the human face of the problems in the world.
“Behind every difficulty our world is facing, there are men and women, young and old, people just like you. There are families and individuals whose lives are daily shaped by struggles, who are trying to care for their children and provide not only for their future but also the basic necessities for today.”
The Holy Father went on to say, “In the end, our strength as a community, on every level of life and social organization, lies not so much in our learning and personal ability, but in the compassion we show for one another, in the care that we exercise especially for those who cannot care for themselves.”
Pope Francis concluded by reminding his audience of the commitment of the Catholic Church to those most in need, which takes Jesus as its model of service.
“I also hope that your experience has led you to see the commitment of the Catholic Church to serving the needs of the poor and refugees, to strengthening the family and communities, and to protecting the inalienable dignity and rights of each member of our human family.”
The official English translation of the Holy Father’s address is below:
Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants of the Harvard World Model United Nations
Paul VI Audience Hall
Thursday,17 March 2016
Dear Friends,
I am happy to welcome all of you to the Vatican, and I hope that your time in Rome has been beneficial, as you participate in the 2016 Harvard World Model United Nations. I am grateful to Joseph Hall, the General Secretary of your meeting, for his words offered on your behalf. I am especially pleased to know that your members represent so many nations and cultures and, therefore, reflect the rich diversity of our human family.
As university students, you are given in a particular way to the pursuit of truth and understanding, of growing in wisdom not only for your own benefit, but for the good of your local communities and broader society. I hope that this experience will lead you to appreciate the need for, and the value of, structures of cooperation and solidarity which have been forged by the international community over many years. These structures are especially effective when they are directed to the service of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our world. I pray that the United Nations, and each individual Member State, may always be ordered to such service and care.
The greatest benefit of your time together here in Rome, however, does not have to do with learning about diplomacy, institutional systems or organizations, however significant and worthy of your study these are. The greatest benefit is your time together, your encounter with people from around the world, who represent not only our many contemporary challenges, but above all the rich diversity of talents and potential of the human family.
The issues and challenges you discuss are not faceless. For each of you can articulate the hopes and dreams, the challenges and sufferings, which mark the people of your country. In these days, you will learn much from one another, and will remind each other that, behind every difficulty our world is facing, there are men and women, young and old, people just like you. There are families and individuals whose lives are daily shaped by struggles, who are trying to care for their children and provide not only for their future but also the basic necessities for today. So too, many of those affected by our world’s greatest problems of violence and intolerance have become refugees, tragically forced from their homes, and denied their land and their freedom.
These are the people who need your help, who are crying out for you to hear them, and who are supremely worthy of our every effort on behalf of justice, peace and solidarity. Saint Paul tells us that we are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (cf. Rom 12:15). In the end, our strength as a community, on every level of life and social organization, lies not so much in our learning and personal ability, but in the compassion we show for one another, in the care that we exercise especially for those who cannot care for themselves.
I also hope that your experience has led you to see the commitment of the Catholic Church to serving the needs of the poor and refugees, to strengthening the family and communities, and to protecting the inalienable dignity and rights of each member of our human family. We Christians believe that Jesus calls us to be servants of our brothers and sisters, who care for others regardless of their background or circumstances. This is not only a mark of Christians, however, but is a universal call, rooted in our common humanity.
Dear young friends, I assure you and your families of my prayers. May Almighty God bless you with the happiness he has promised to those who hunger and thirst for justice and work for peace.
Free Catholic Movie : St. Patrick The Irish Legend with Actor Pat Bergin
St. Patrick: The Irish Legend (2000) TV Movie - 100 min - Drama | Adventure | Fantasy - A young Christian boy's home area is attacked by invading Irish tribes. Taken captive, he is taken back to Ireland to become a slave. Enduring many hardships, he finds friends.
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Director: Robert Hughes Writers: Martin Duffy, Robert Hughes Stars: Patrick Bergin, Luke Griffin, Alan Bates |
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