This Lent, the Pope has a message for lapsed Catholics: It's never too late Rome, Italy, Feb 27, 2015 / 06:02 am (EWTN News/CNA).- Fallen away Catholics are being invited to “come home” this Lent through a worldwide initiative led by Pope Francis, which points to confession as a primary way to experience God's merciful embrace.
Strange...i understood this had nothing to do with the Pope. The local Bishop was getting called by parishoners about the homeless man. He would go to church twice a day. I guess he was a well known parishoner...who would lead others to the faith. But maybe he did need papal approval. Brother al
It specifically mentions the Pope made the final decision. "The Pope personally allowed him he be buried at the Teutonic cemetery, which is located between St. Peter's Basilica and Paul VI Hall. It's a centuries-old graveyard, and Herteller will rest among princes and knights. He is the first homeless person buried there. Herteller was a friend of Archbishop Americo Ciani. And so Ciani asked the Pope if his friend could be buried in that cemetery. After Pope Francis consented, the archbishop chaired the funeral."
The Pope is back in the Vatican, after a weeklong spiritual retreat 2015-02-27 The Pope's weeklong Lenten Spiritual retreat, along with the Roman Curia, came to a close. Carmelite Father Bruno Secondin gave the closing remarks. "Hopefully the light of the cosmos can find the small cosmos of our souls. May it find room, a warm welcome and may it renew the truth we've come to know.” During the five day retreat, the Pope mostly sat among the rest of the Curia, but he did make it a point to thank Father Secondin for leading the retreat. POPE FRANCIS "It's not easy to give spiritual exercises to priests. We're all a bit complicated, but you've managed to sow among us. May the Lord allow these seeds you've planted, to grow.” Amid applause, the Pope left the retreat center in the Casa Divin Maestro in the town of Ariccia. Then, he boarded the bus with everyone else, to make his way back to the Vatican. This marks the Pope's second Lenten retreat as Pontiff. Along with him, members of the Roman Curia also took part, to dedicate a week to prayer and reflection. http://www.romereports.com/pg160517...vatican-after-a-weeklong-spiritual-retreat-en
Pope Francis at the close of the Spiritual Exercises - With a piece of Elijah's mantle 10 9 Print 2015-02-27 L’Osservatore Romano The meditations this morning, Friday 27 February, in Ariccia were the last of the Spiritual Exercises in which the Pontiff and members of the Roman Curia participated. Meditations were led by Carmelite, Fr Bruno Secondin, in the chapel of the House of Divin Maesto belonging to the Pauline Fathers. At the end of his reflection Friday morning, Pope Francis wanted to thank the preacher. “On behalf of everyone, myself included,” the Pope said, “ I would like to thank the Father, for his work with us in the exercises. It isn't easy to lead priests in exercises! We are all a little complicated, but you managed to do some sowing. May the Lord make these seeds that you gave us grow. And I wish for myself and I wish for us all that we may leave here with a little piece of Elijah's mantle, in our hands and in our hearts. Thank you, Father”. The last stop of the itinerary of reflection and prayer proposed by Fr Secondin was centered on the biblical narrative in the Second Book of Kings (2:1-14) which describes Elijah's final farewell to his disciples and to Elisha, his ascent in the chariot of fire and the start of the mission of Elisha, who disrobes himself and puts on the mantle of his master and, on the River Jordan, he is recognized as the true heir of the prophet. It is an intense story, filled with tenderness, in which the characteristic hardness of Elijah melts a little. The Prophet learns in some way learns – and we too should learn, Fr Secondin suggested “to offer embraces of hope and tenderness” - from his disciple who is affectionate and patient. http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-the-close-of-the-spiritual-exercis
Pope: Jesus reveals himself, as the perfect icon of the Father 8 41 Print 2015-03-01 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Before the Angelus the Pope recalled Sunday’s Gospel on the Transfiguration in which Jesus "is at the peak of his public ministry. The Holy Father explained that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, where the prophecies of the 'Servant of God' will be fulfilled. The crowds, he added, facing the prospect of a Messiah that does not fit their earthly expectations, abandoned him. They thought that the Messiah would be a liberator of his country from Roman rule. Listen Peter, James and John, said Pope Francis, witness Jesus on a high mountain, immersed in prayer, and transfigured before them: his face and his whole person radiated a brilliant light. Jesus, "reveals himself, added the Pope, as the perfect icon of the Father, the irradiation of his glory. He is the fulfilment of Revelation. The instruction for the disciples and for us, noted the Pope is this: 'Listen to him!' Listen to Jesus. He is the Saviour: follow him. Jesus' journey always leads us to happiness. In conclusion, the Holy Father said that "With Peter, James and John", "we also climb the Mount of Transfiguration and stop in contemplation of the face of Jesus, to receive the message and translate it into our lives, because we too can be transfigured by love. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-jesus-reveals-himself-as-the-perfect-icon-of
Pope at Santa Marta: Judge not 37 44 Print 2015-03-02 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) It is easy to judge others, but we can only progress on our Christian journey in life if we are capable of judging ourselves first, said Pope Francis at Monday morning Mass in Casa Santa Marta. The readings of the day focused on the subject of mercy. The Pope, recalling that "we are all sinners" - not "in theory" but in reality – said that the ability to judge oneself is "a Christian virtue, indeed more than a virtue", it is the first step for those who want to be Christian: “We are all masters, professors of self-justification: ‘No it wasn’t me, it’s not my fault, maybe yes, but not so much…that’s not the way it is…’. We all have an alibi to explain away our shortcomings, our sins, and we are often to put on a face that says "I do not know," a face that says ‘I didn’t do it, maybe someone else did’ an innocent face. This is no way to lead a Christian life”. "It’s easier to blame others" - observed the Pope - but "something strange happens if we try to behave differently: "If we begin to look at the things we are capable of doing, at first we “feel bad, we feel disgust ", yet this in turn "gives us peace and makes us healthy”. Pope Francis continued, “when I feel envy in my heart and I know that this envy is capable of speaking ill of others and morally assassinating them”, this is “the wisdom of judging oneself”. "If we do not learn this first step in life, we will never, never be able to take other steps on the road of our Christian life, of our spiritual life": “The first step is to judge ourselves. Without saying anything out loud. Between you and your conscience. Walking down the street, I pass by a prison and say: "Well, they deserve it" - "Yet do you know that if it weren’t for the grace of God you would be there? Did you ever think that you are capable of doing the things that they have done, even worse?” This is what judging yourself means, not hiding from the roots of sin that are in all of us, the many things we are capable of doing, even if we cannot seen them”. The Pope stressed another virtue: Shame before God, in a kind of dialogue in which we recognize the shame of our sin and the greatness of God's mercy: "To You, Lord, our God, mercy and forgiveness. Shame on me and to You mercy and forgiveness". This Lent, it would do us all good to have this dialogue with the Lord: self-accusation. Let us ask for mercy. In the Gospel Jesus is clear: "Be merciful as your Father is merciful". When one learns to accuse oneself first then we are merciful to others: "But, who am I to judge, if I am able to do things that are worse?". The phrase: "Who am I to judge another?" obeys Jesus’ exhortation: "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven". Instead, it highlights - "how we like to judge others, to speak ill of them”. "May the Lord, in this Lent - said the Pontiff - give us the grace to learn to judge ourselves" in the knowledge that we are capable "of the most evil things" and say, "Have mercy on me, Lord, help me to be ashamed and grant me mercy, so I may be merciful to others". (from Vatican Radio)
Pope Francis denounces the “intolerable brutality”of ISIS 2015-03-02 Speaking to 50,000 pilgrims during his weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis called on the crowd to pray for victims of violence in Iraq and Syria. POPE FRANCIS "Let us pray for those brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq who suffer because of their faith ... We pray in silence." A concerned Pope Francis said it is necessary to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East with persistent messages of encouragement. POPE FRANCIS "We don't forget them, moreover, we are close to them. We pray constantly for the earliest possible end to the intolerable brutality that victimizes them." Pope Francis also called for an end to the violence in Venezuela. Anti-government protests have raged for days. Tension has increased since the death of a 14-year-old boy during the demonstrations. The Pope said he prays for him and that violence will give way to productive dialogue. POPE FRANCIS "I ask everyone to reject violence and respect the dignity of each person and the sacrality of human life. I invite the country to return to non-violent methods." It was the second Sunday of Lent, the day the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus. That was a moment of glory before Jesus had to pass through Calvary. The Pope recommended that in moments of difficulty, Christians should remember this Gospel story. With it, Jesus wanted to send a message of hope to his disciples. http://www.romereports.com/pg160531-pope-francis-denounces-the-oeintolerable-brutalityof-isis-en
http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Vatican.php?id=11759 Satanism, Pompeii and the Rosary – a bizarre tale surrounds Francis' next trip Rome, Italy, Mar 03, 2015 / 10:08 am (EWTN News/CNA).- Later this month Pope Francis will head to Pompeii: a city which lays claim to the curious story of a former Satanist priest – now on the way to sainthood – and his miracle-working Marian devotion.
Pope's Weekly General Audience: Respect the elderly. Learn from them, care for them 2015-03-04 (-ONLY VIDEO-) In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis reflected on the need to respect the elderly. In a culture that's fixated on youth, efficiency and productivity, the Pope said older generations should not be forgotten or set aside. Quoting the Bible, the Pope said, the elderly are not a burden, but rather a 'storehouse of wisdom.' SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In our catechesis on the family, we now reflect on the importance of the elderly. Nowadays people tend to live longer, yet often our societies not only fail to make room for the elderly, but even consider them a burden. The quality of a society can be judged by the way it includes its older members. This is a particular challenge for our Western societies, marked on the one hand by aging populations and on the other by a cult of youth, efficiency and profit which tends to discard everything not considered productive or useful. Because of their vulnerability and their special needs, our elderly, above all those who are alone or ill, call for particular attention and care. Rather than a burden, they are, as the Bible tells us, a storehouse of wisdom (Sir 8:9). The Church has always accompanied the elderly with gratitude and affection, making them feel accepted and fully a part of the community. Without such solidarity between generations, the life of society is impoverished. In showing concern for our elderly, we strengthen the social fabric and ensure the future of our young. Speaker: I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, including those from Great Britain, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Korea and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I cordially invoke joy and peace in the Lord Jesus. God bless you all! http://www.romereports.com/pg160557...-the-elderly-learn-from-them-care-for-them-en
Pope Francis: Support justice, go where the wounds of humanity are 2015-03-03 During his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis spoke about forgiveness and false hypocrisy. He said our souls are cleaned of sins by "doing good.” POPE FRANCIS "'Learn to do right!' That is, the path of doing good. 'And how do I do good?' It’s simple! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Pope Francis said that God always forgives generously and that Jesus "preferred sinners a thousand times” to those who fake their holiness. FULL POPE HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "'But how can I convert?' By learning to do right!Conversion. You cannot remove the filth of the heart as you would remove a stain: we go to the dry cleaner and leave cleansed ... This filth is removed by 'doing': taking a different path, a different path from that of evil. 'Learn to do right!', That is, the path of doing good. And how do I do good? It’s simple! 'Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.' Remember that in Israel the poorest and most needy were orphans and widows: do justice to them, go there to the wounds of humanity, where there is so much pain ... And by doing so, by doing good, you will cleanse your heart.” "If you do this, if you take this path to which I invite you - the Lord tells us - 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' It is an exaggeration, the Lord exaggerates: but it is the truth! The Lord gives us the gift of His forgiveness. The Lord forgives generously. 'I forgive you this much, then we'll see about the rest....' No, no! The Lord always forgives everything! Everything! But if you want to be forgiven, you must set out on the path of doing good. This is the gift!'” "We are all clever and always find a path that is not right, to seem more virtuous than we are: it is the path of hypocrisy. They pretend to convert, but their heart is a lie: they are liars! It 'a lie ... Their heart does not belong to the Lord; their heart belongs to the father of all lies, Satan. And this is fake holiness. Jesus preferred sinners a thousand times to these. Why? Because sinners told the truth about themselves. 'Get away from me, Lord, I am a sinner!' Peter once said. One of those hypocrites never says that! 'Thank you Lord, that I am not a sinner, that I am righteous ... In the second week of Lent we have these three words to think about, to ponder: the invitation to conversion; the gift that the Lord will give us, which is great forgiveness, a great forgiveness; and the trap that is, pretending to convert, while choosing the path of hypocrisy.” http://www.romereports.com/pg160549...ustice-go-where-the-wounds-of-humanity-are-en
Pope Francis: Charism of unity anchored in Eucharist 8 16 Print 2015-03-04 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) In the Paul VI Audience Hall before his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis met with the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement. Founded in Italy in 1943 by Chiara Lubich, the Focolare, also known as the Work of Mary, is an ecclesial movement that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. Since 1977, a number of Bishops who desired to live out the spirituality of communion promoted by Focolare, have gathered together as the Bishop Friends of the Movement. The Bishop Friends regular meetings at international and regional levels. In his address to the Bishops, Pope Francis called to mind the theme of their current meeting: “The Eucharist, Mystery of Communion.” He said, “the charism of unity proper to the Work of Mary is strongly anchored in the Eucharist, which gives it its Christian and ecclesial character.” It is the work of the Bishop to gather the community “around the Eucharist, around the double table of the Word and of the Bread of Life.” This, the Pope said, “is our service, and it is a fundamental one.” Pope Francis said, “the Bishop is the principle of unity in the Church, but this does not take place without the Eucharist: the Bishop does not gather the people around his own person or his own ideas, but around Christ present in His Word and in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood.” When the Bishop is conformed to Christ, “nourished with faith in Christ the living Bread,” he is “is urged on by his love to give his life for the brothers and sisters, to go out, to go to meet those who are marginalized and despised.” The Holy Father had special words of greeting for those Bishops present who had come from “the blood-soaked lands” of Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine. “In the suffering you have lived with your people,” he said, “you experience the strength that comes from the Eucharistic Jesus, the strength of going forward united in faith and hope.” He assured the Bishops the Church is united to them in the daily celebration of the Mass. Concluding his address, Pope Francis encouraged the Bishops to carry on their “commitment in favour of the ecumenical journey and inter-religious dialogue” and thanked them for the contributions they make “to a greater communion between the various ecclesial movements.” Below please find the full text of the Pope’s address to the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement: Dear brothers, I welcome you, and I thank Cardinal Kovithavanij for his introduction. And I thank the President and Co-President of the Focolare Movement for their presence. You have brought together in Rome the friendship with this Movement and an interest in the “spirituality of communion.” In particular, in these days your reflection has centred on the theme of “The Eucharist, Mystery of Communion.” In effect, the charism of unity proper to the Work of Mary is strongly anchored in the Eucharist, which gives it its Christian and ecclesial character. Without the Eucharist, unity would lose its divine pole of attraction, and would be reduced to simply human, psychological, sociological feeling and dynamic. Instead, the Eucharist guarantees that at the centre there is Christ, and there is His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to move our steps and our initiatives of encounter and of communion. The Apostle Paul writes: “Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Cor 10:17). As Bishops, we gather the communities around the Eucharist, the double table of the Word and of the Bread of Life. This is our service, and it is fundamental. The Bishop is the principle of unity in the Church, but this does not take place without the Eucharist: the Bishop does not gather the people around his own person or his own ideas, but around Christ present in His Word and in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. And in the school of Jesus, the Good Shepherd made Himself the Lamb sacrificed and risen, the Bishop gathers the sheep entrusted to him with the offering of his life, himself taking on a form of Eucharistic existence. And so the Bishop, conformed to Christ, becomes a living Gospel, becomes Bread broken for the life of many with his preaching and his witness. He who is nourished with faith in Christ the living Bread is urged on by his love to give his life for the brothers and sisters, to go out, to go to meet those who are marginalized and despised. In a particular way I thank you, Brothers, who come from the blood-soaked lands of Syria and of Iraq, and also of Ukraine. In the suffering you have lived with your people, you experience the strength that comes from the Eucharistic Jesus, the strength of going forward united in faith and hope. In the daily celebration of the Mass we are united to you, we pray for you offering the Sacrifice of Christ; and from it the many initiatives of solidarity in favour of your Churches gain their strength and significance. Dear Brothers, I encourage you to carry on your commitment in favour of the ecumenical journey and inter-religious dialogue. And I thank you for the contribution you make to a greater communion between the various ecclesial movements. May the Lord bless you and the Madonna protect you. Let us pray for one another. I thank you for your prayers. (from Vatican Radio)
Pope: A Bishop should not have a community gather around his ideas, but those of Christ 2015-03-04 Pope Francis met with the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement. Their annual meeting is taking place in Castel Gandolfo, so they came to Rome on Wednesday to hear directly from the Pope. CARD. FRANCIS XAVIER KRIENGSAK Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) "We have 60 Bishops from 35 countries taking part. What we're working on, is deepening the understanding and mystery of the Eucharist.” The Pope started off his meeting with a few jokes, especially since Castel Gandolfo is about an hour away from Rome and the meeting took place bright and early. POPE FRANCIS "I asked the Cardinal, 'where are you all staying? He responded, in Castel Gandolfo. Then I asked him, 'Well, what time did you wake up?” The Pope then reflected on the role of a Bishop not just within the Church, but also in presenting the Eucharist. He explained that a Bishop should not have people gather around his ideas or his persona, but rather around Christ, who is found in the Eucharist. This, he explained, is the strongest link of unity. POPE FRANCIS "Without the Eucharist, unity eventually loses its divine attraction. It would be reduced to a feeling and a human dynamic of psychology and sociology.” He added, that Just like Jesus, Bishops should also be willing to sacrifice themselves for their flock. More than anything they should be a uniting factor in the Church. Among those present was the Armenian Bishop of Damascus, who thanked the Pope for naming St. Gregory of Narek as a new Doctor of the Catholic Church. Thank you for naming St. Greogry. It was time! http://www.romereports.com/pg160565...ather-around-his-ideas-but-those-of-christ-en
Pope: Ignoring the elderly is not only ugly...it is also a sin 2015-03-04 Pope Francis started of his weekly general audience on the popemobile, blessing crowds and making his way along St. Peter's Square, surrounded by cameras. In his weekly catechesis he reflected on the need to respect and care for the elderly. Despite their physical limits, he said, they should not be forgotten or set aside. POPE FRANICS "It's ugly to see the elderly being discarded. It's ugly and it's a sin.” Quoting the Bible, he described the elderly as a storehouse of wisdom and not a burden. The Pope even shared a personal anecdote of his time back in Argentina, when he visited an elderly home. POPE FRANCIS "I asked a woman, 'Do your children visit you? She said, 'Yes, yes, they do.' When was the last time they came? I remember one woman in particular. She said, 'For Christmas.' We were in August! Eight months without a visit from her children. Eight months of being abandoned! This is a deadly sin. Understood?” Using strong words, he said that a society that doesn't have room for its elders carries the virus of death. When families set aside the old, he added, it's often a reflection of one's own fears. POPE FRANCIS "We are accustomed to setting people aside. It's a way to remove our growing fears of weakness and vulnerability. But doing so only increases the anguish the elderly feel, for not being cared after and for being abandoned.” Given that people are living longer and couples are having less children, caring for the elderly, he added, needs to be addressed by families and society. He then reminded the youth to respect their elders, adding that one day, they too, will grow old. http://www.romereports.com/pg160563-pope-ignoring-the-elderly-is-not-only-ugly-it-is-also-a-sin-en
Pope Francis: worldliness blinds us to the needs of the poor 15 17 Print 2015-03-05 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Worldliness darkens the soul, making it unable to see the poor who live next to us with all their wounds: this was the message, in brief, that Pope Francis had for the faithful gathered for Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican on Thursday morning. Click below to hear our report Commenting on the parable of the rich man, a man dressed “in purple and fine linen,” who “every day gave lavish banquets,” the Pope said that we never hear ill spoken of this man, we are not told that he was a bad man. In fact, “He was, perhaps, a religious man, in its own way: he prayed, perhaps, a few prayers and two or three times a year definitely went to the temple to make the sacrifices and gave large offerings to the priests, and they – with their clerical pusillanimity – gave him to sit in the place of honor.” They did not notice the poor beggar at his door, Lazarus, hungry, full of sores, which were the evidence of his grave need. Pope Francis went on to describe the situation of the rich man: “When he went about town, we might imagine his car with tinted windows so as not [to be] seen from without – who knows – but definitely, yes, his soul, the eyes of his soul were darkened so that he could not see out. He saw only into his life, and did not realize what had happened to [himself]. He was not bad: he was sick, sick with worldliness – and worldliness transforms souls It transforms souls, makes them lose consciousness of reality. Worldly souls live in an artificial world, one of their making. Worldliness anesthetizes the soul. This is why the worldly man was not able to see reality.” The reality is that many poor people are living right in our midst: “So many people are there, who bear so many difficulties in life, who live in great difficulty: but if I have the worldly heart, never will understand that. It is impossible for one with a worldly heart to comprehend the needs and the neediness of others. With a worldly heart you can go to church, you can pray, you can do so many things. But Jesus, at the Last Supper, in the prayer to the Father, what did He pray? ‘But please, Father, keep these disciples from falling into the world, from falling into worldliness.’ Worldliness is a subtle sin – it is more than a sin – it is a sinful state of soul.” The Holy Father went on to discuss the two judgments given in the story: a curse for the man who trusts in the world and a blessing for those who trust in the Lord. The rich man turns his heart away from God, “his soul is empty,” a “salt and desolate land,” for, “the worldly, truth be told, are alone with their selfishness.” The worldly have “a heart that is sick, so attached to this worldly way of life that it could only be healed with great difficulty.” The Pope underlined that, while the poor man had a name, Lazarus, the rich man in the account does not. “[The rich man] had no name, because the worldly lose their name. They are just one of the crowd affluent, who do not need anything. The worldly lose their name.” In the parable, the rich man dies, and when he finds himself in torment in hell, and asks Abraham to send someone from the dead to warn family members still living. Abraham, however, replies that if they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead. The Pope says that the worldly want extraordinary manifestations, yet, “in the Church all is clear, Jesus spoke clearly: [His] is the way.” In the end, though, there is a word of consolation: “When the poor worldly man, in torment, asks that Lazarus be sent with a little water to help him, how does Abraham respond? Abraham is the figure of God the Father. How does He respond? ‘Son, remember…’ The worldly have lost their name: we too, if we have a worldly heart, will have lost our name. We are not orphans, however: until the end, until the last moment there is the confidence that we have a Father who awaits us. Let us entrust ourselves to Him. ‘Son,’ he says: ‘son’, in the midst of that worldliness; ‘son.’ We are not orphans.” (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-worldliness-blinds-us-to-the-needs-of
Pope: Worldliness darkens the soul 2015-03-05 In his Thursday morning Mass, Pope Francis talked about so called 'worldliness.' Reflecting on the day's reading, he explained that being obsessed with materialism blocks people from lending a helping hand. POPE FRANCIS "Worldliness transforms the soul. It makes people lose touch with reality. They live in an artificial world that they made up. Worldliness numbs the soul. That's why [in today's reading] the worldly man couldn't see reality.” The Pope then added that falling into the traps of worldliness can be even worse than committing a sin, because it leads to a darkened soul. SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S HOMILY: (Source: Vatican Radio) When he went about town, we might imagine his car with tinted windows so as not [to be] seen from without – who knows – but definitely, yes, his soul, the eyes of his soul were darkened so that he could not see out. He saw only into his life, and did not realize what had happened to [himself]. He was not bad: he was sick, sick with worldliness – and worldliness transforms souls It transforms souls, makes them lose consciousness of reality. Worldly souls live in an artificial world, one of their making. Worldliness anesthetizes the soul. This is why the worldly man was not able to see reality.” "So many people are there, who bear so many difficulties in life, who live in great difficulty: but if I have the worldly heart, never will understand that. It is impossible for one with a worldly heart to comprehend the needs and the neediness of others. With a worldly heart you can go to church, you can pray, you can do so many things. But Jesus, at the Last Supper, in the prayer to the Father, what did He pray? ‘But please, Father, keep these disciples from falling into the world, from falling into worldliness.’ Worldliness is a subtle sin – it is more than a sin – it is a sinful state of soul.” "When the poor worldly man, in torment, asks that Lazarus be sent with a little water to help him, how does Abraham respond? Abraham is the figure of God the Father. How does He respond? ‘Son, remember…’ The worldly have lost their name: we too, if we have a worldly heart, will have lost our name. We are not orphans, however: until the end, until the last moment there is the confidence that we have a Father who awaits us. Let us entrust ourselves to Him. ‘Son,’ he says: ‘son’, in the midst of that worldliness; ‘son.’ We are not orphans.” http://www.romereports.com/pg160575-pope-worldliness-darkens-the-soul--en
Pope Francis sends condolences on death of US Cardinal Egan 66 279 Print 2015-03-06 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a telegram expressing his sadness for the death of Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, who died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at the age of 82. Please find below the full text of the Pope’s telegram addressed to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and underneath a brief biography of the late Cardinal Egan: “Having learned with sadness of the death of Cardinal Edward M. Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, I offer heartfelt condolences to you and to the faithful of the Archdiocese. I join you in commending the late Cardinal’s noble soul to God, the Father of mercies, with gratitude for his years of episcopal ministry among Christ’s flock in Bridgeport and New York, his distinguished service to the Apostolic See, and his expert contribution to the revision of the Church's law in the years following the Second Vatican Council. To all assembled in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for the Mass of Christian Burial, and to all those who mourn Cardinal Egan in the sure hope of the Resurrection, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and peace in the Lord.” FRANCIS PP. Cardinal Egan was born on April 2, 1932, in Oak Park, Illinois and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on December 15, 1957. Cardinal Egan was consecrated a bishop in 1985. From 1985 – 1988, Cardinal Egan served as Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar for Education of the Archdiocese of New York. In 1988 he was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport by Pope John Paul II. In the year 2000, he was appointed Archbishop of New York and made a cardinal in 2001. He retired in 2009. Cardinal Egan’s death brings the number of cardinals in the College of Cardinals down to 226. (from Vatican Radio)
Pope Francis addresses members of the Neocatechumenal Way 28 300 Print 2015-03-06 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received in audience on Friday (March 6th) members of the Catholic missionary movement, the Neocatechumenal Way, and thanked them for the great benefit they bring to the Church. Please find below a translation into English of the Pope’s address to the Neocatechumenal members: Dear brothers and sisters, Peter's task is to confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith. So you too have wanted with this gesture to ask the Successor of Peter to confirm your call, to support your mission, to bless your charism. And I want to confirm your call, support your mission and bless your charism. I’m doing that not because I’ve been paid to: No! (laughs) I’m doing it because I want to. You will go forth in the name of Christ into the world to bring His Gospel: Christ will precede, Christ will accompany and Christ will fulfill the salvation of which you are bearers! Together with you I greet all the Cardinals and Bishops who accompany you today and who in their dioceses support your mission. In particular I greet the initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Argüello and Carmen Hernández, with Father Mario Pezzi: I also would like to express my appreciation and my encouragement for the great benefit they bring to the Church through the Way. I always say that the Neocatechumenal Way does great good in the Church. As Kiko said, our meeting today is a missionary commissioning, in obedience to what Christ asked us: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. And I am particularly glad that this mission is carried out thanks to Christian families, united in a community, who have the mission to give witness to our faith that attract people to the beauty of the Gospel, in the words of Christ: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples"(cf. Jn 13:34), and "be one and the world may believe" (cf. Jn 17:21). These communities, called by the Bishops, are formed by a priest and four or five families, with children including grown-up ones, and are a "missio ad gentes", with a mandate to evangelize non-Christians. Non-Christians who’ve never heard about Jesus Christ and the many non-Christians who’ve forgotten who Jesus Christ was, who is Jesus Christ: baptized non-Christians but who have forgotten their faith because of secularization, worldliness and many other things. Re-awaken that faith! So, even before words, it is your witness of life that manifests the heart of Christ's revelation: that God loves man to the point of laying down His life for us and that he was raised by the Father to give us the grace to give our lives for others. Today’s world badly needs this great message. How much solitude, how much suffering, how much distance from God in the many peripheries of Europe and America, and in many cities of Asia! Today, in every latitude, humanity greatly needs to hear that God loves us and that love is possible! These Christian communities, thanks to you missionary families, have the essential task of making this message visible. And what is this message? “Christ is risen, Christ lives. Christ lives amongst us”” You have received the strength to leave everything behind and set off for distant lands through a process of Christian initiation, experienced and lived in small communities, where you have rediscovered the immense riches of your Baptism. This is the Neocatechumenal Way, a true gift of Providence to the Church of our time, as my predecessors have already stated; especially St. John Paul II when he said: "I recognize the Neocatechumenal Way as an itinerary of Catholic formation, valid for society and for our times" (Epist. Whenever, August 30, 1990: AAS 82 [1990], 1515). The Way is based on the three dimensions of the Church which are the Word, Liturgy and Community. So obedient and constant listening to the Word of God; the Eucharistic celebration in small community after the first Vespers of Sunday, the family celebration of lauds on Sunday with all the children gathered round and sharing their faith with other brothers and sisters are at the origin of the many gifts the Lord has given to you as well as the many vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. It is a great consolation to see all of this, because it confirms that the Spirit of God is alive and active in His Church, even today, and that He meets the needs of modern man. On several occasions I have insisted that the Church has to move from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry (cf. ibid., N. Evangelii gaudium, 15). How often, within the Church, do we keep Jesus inside and don’t let him out. …. How often! This is the most important thing to do if we do not want the waters to stagnate within the Church. For years now the Way has been undertaking these missio ad gentes among non-Christians, for an implantatio Ecclesiae, a new presence of the Church, where the Church does not exist or is no longer able to reach people. "How much joy you give us with your presence and your activity!" - said Blessed Pope Paul VI during the very first audience with you (May 8, 1974: Teachings of Pope Paul VI, XII [1974], 407). I also make these words my own and encourage you to move forward, entrusting you to the Blessed Virgin Mary who inspired the Neocatechumenal Way. May she intercede for you with her divine Son. My dearly beloved, may the Lord accompany you. Go forth, with my Blessing. (from Vatican Radio)
Glen, I hope you are able to help me on this. Seeing you have a section dedicated to Holy Father Francis. We have been informed through our Bishop Philip Egan in Portsmouth UK that Holy Father has asked for a day of prayer from 13th March to 14th March 2015. That is 24 hours of prayer. We are doing this. I am not very good at sharing things correctly, and Janet Glasson in pelianito stblogs is asking about this. I don't think the USA, Canada Bishops have shared Holy Fathers request with their diocese. Being a slow reader and about to go to Holy Mass, it would take me all day to read back through this topic to check if you have posted about this. Sorry. Would you be able to throw some light so I can share with peli.
Julia, I have researched this, and you are correct, there is no notice here in America or North America. I have found several local church bulletins in the UK that do mention it ,but none here. (example : http://st-edmunds-church.org.uk/Newsletter, 1st March 2015.pdf
