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Media release: http://www.cccb.ca/news At the close of their 2008 Plenary Assembly which met in Cornwall, 22-26 September, the Bishops of Canada issued a pastoral letter, titled “Liberating Potential”, which invites all the faithful “to discover or rediscover,” the message of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, issued by Pope Paul VI in 1968.
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Medjugorje --    The Canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlaši?, OFM.
Bishops to the Rescue! www.catholiculture.org   And going a little further afield, Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno (Bosnia and Herzegovina) has clarified the status of the wayward Medjugorje priest, Fr. Tomislav Vlaši?. Fr. Vlaši? is the founder of an association called "Queen of Peace, Totally Yours -- Through Mary to Jesus

Excerpts from (Zenit.org)
Sarkozy: It's Crazy to Take Religion Out of Society
France's President Offers View of "Positive Secularism" PARIS, SEPT. 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- It would be crazy to relegate religion to only the private realm, and deprive society of the contributions of faith, says the president of France.
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Nicolas Sarkozy said this today in an address at the ceremony to welcome Benedict XVI to his country. The Pope is in Paris tonight, and will travel Saturday to Lourdes to participate in the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions there.

Rosary-Prayers Aiming to Break Record
ROME, SEPT. 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The founder of the Worldwide Rosary activity is ready to break a record and unite the largest group ever in praying the rosary

The Worldwide Rosary, scheduled for Oct. 4, the first Saturday of October, is in its eighth year. The first Worldwide Rosary, held in 1996, was offered as a gift to Pope John Paul II for the 50th anniversary of his priesthood.

Twenty countries participated, and in Mexico, home of the founder, the rosary was prayed in 2,600 locations. Since then, it has enjoyed growth, with 140 countries participating in 2000.

Guillermo Estévez, the founder of the initiative, invites communities to organize a rosary on the first Saturday of October, "either as a mass event, in a stadium or church, in the family or with friends, in order to join many rosaries being organized worldwide."

Estévez urges groups that will organize these rosaries to seek the approval and support of their bishops or parish priests, and to advertise the initiative on the radio, television, the Internet and through the press.--- --- -
Worldwide Rosary: www.churchforum.org/rosario/ingles/

CCCB Media release: http://www.cccb.ca/news -- Read more...
Bishops re-issue popular Scripture guide on line
05 September 2008 (CCCB – Ottawa)... Following numerous requests for copies of The Word of God in Scripture: How to read and interpret the Bible, stocks of the popular guide have run out. The Theology Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has decided to re-issue this text in digital format on the Conference website on the occasion of the Synod of Bishops on “The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church,” taking place this fall in Rome.

Excerpts from Zenit
St. Bernadette an Example Worth Following
Journalist and Author Shares Insight on Lourdes
COLOMBUS, Ohio, SEPT. 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The world today could learn a lot from visionary Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, said the author of a new book on the Marian apparitions to the French girl.

Elizabeth Ficocelli, journalist and author of "Lourdes: Font of Faith, Hope and Charity" (Paulist Press), added that she hopes Benedict XVI will highlight the example of the saint when he visits Lourdes this September.

Denver Bishops Say Biden Is Wrong, Too
Respond to "Flawed Moral Reasoning
DENVER, Colorado, SEPT. 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- NBC's "Meet the Press" has inadvertently become the stage for some Catholic politicians to display "flawed moral reasoning," according to the bishops of Denver.

In the second statement in two weeks responding to comments made by Catholic politicians on the Sunday morning program, Archbishop Charles Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James Conley of Denver are telling politicians "who describe themselves as Catholic," to begin to "act accordingly."
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"Modern biology knows exactly when human life begins," they explained, "at the moment of conception."

"Religion has nothing to do with it," the prelates continued. "People might argue when human 'personhood' begins -- though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions -- but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion."
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The statement continues: "If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselves as Catholic, need to act accordingly.

"We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us -- from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews -- fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens."

Archbishop Niederauer on Pelosi's Abortion Remarks
Toward a Resolution of These Differences in Truth and Charity and Peace
SAN FRANCISCO, California, SEPT. 5, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the response of Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco to recent comments of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on abortion, Catholic teaching on the beginning of life, and other life issues
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What of Catholics who find themselves questioning the teachings of the Church, or experiencing uncertainties and questions about them? The bishops answer, "Some Catholics may not fully understand the Church’s doctrinal and moral teachings on certain issues. They may have certain questions and even uncertainties. In situations of honest doubt and confusion, they are welcome to partake of Holy Communion, as long as they are striving to understand what the Church professes and to resolve confusion and doubt."

Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and my predecessor as Archbishop here in San Francisco, wrote in 2004: "No bishop is eager to forbid members of his flock from receiving the precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who invites us into communion with Himself and his Body, the Church, as grace and salvation." In that same year, the U.S. bishops acknowledged that pastoral sensitivity, and they endorsed the following approach to this question of denying Holy Communion: "Given the wide range of circumstances involved in arriving at a prudential judgment on a matter of this seriousness, we recognize that such decisions rest with the individual bishop in accord with the established canonical and pastoral principles. Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action. Nevertheless, we all share an unequivocal commitment to protect human life and dignity and to preach the Gospel in difficult times." From that statement I conclude that it is my responsibility as Archbishop to discern and decide, prayerfully, how best to approach this question as it may arise in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

History of Church Teaching on Abortion
US Bishops Issue Fact Sheet [2008-09-04]
WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 4, 2008 (Zenit.org).- (Excerpts) Here is a fact sheet issued by the U.S. episcopal conference's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, which clarifies the Church's constant teaching on abortion.

Pope Notes Secret to Effective Planet-Saving Says Key Is Recognizing Role of Creator
BRESSANONE, Italy, AUG. 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).(Excerpts)- Benedict XVI says initiatives to save the planet are only effective if they are based on the awareness that creation begins with God.
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"I think, therefore, that true and effective initiatives to prevent the waste and destruction of creation can be implemented and developed, understood and lived, only where creation is considered as beginning with God."

Finally, the Bishop of Rome encouraged his listeners to present the teachings of the faith in public, availing of prevailing concern for the future of the planet.

However, he added, the key is that "we ourselves find a new way of living, a discipline of making sacrifices, a discipline of the recognition of others to whom creation belongs as much as it belongs to us who may more easily make use of it; a discipline of responsibility with regard to the future of others and to our own future, because it is a responsibility in the eyes of the One who is our judge and as such is also redeemer but, truly, also our judge."

Cardinal: New Evangelization Needs Journalists
Calls Catholic Media "Instruments of Hope"
TORONTO, MAY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The New Evangelization needs journalists to penetrate the current media-driven society, says Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

In the closing address of the Catholic Media Convention 2008, the archbishop of Quebec added that the New Evangelization is "the greatest challenge facing the Church at the beginning of the new millennium."
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Cardinal Ouellet expressed enthusiasm about the media's potential: "One might even say that seeking and presenting the truth about humanity constitutes the highest vocation of social communication. Utilizing for this purpose the many refined and engaging techniques that the media have at their disposal is an exciting task."

He concluded asking for prayers not only for more vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and married life, but also vocations to the "noble calling of Catholic journalists, communicators and media agents."

Cardinal Ouellet's Address on the Media
TORONTO, MAY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The full text of the address that Cardinal Marc Ouellet delivered today to the Catholic Media Convention 2008 is available on the ZENIT Web site.

The theme of the congress, which ends today in Toronto, is "Proclaim it From the Rooftops." Cardinal Ouellet's talk is titled "The New Evangelization and the Mass Media.
Cardinal Ouellet's address: http://www.zenit.org/article-22748?l=english

Vatican Reaffirms: Women's Ordination Invalid
Decree Says Offense Incurs Automatic Excommunication
VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican's doctrinal congregation has decisively decreed that the ordination of women is invalid.

The general decree "On the Delict of Attempted Sacred Ordination of a Woman" was published today on the front page of L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. It states that the decree "comes into force immediately."

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith states in the brief text that it is acting to protect "the nature and validity of the sacrament of holy orders."

Papal Intention: for Quebec Event
VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's missionary prayer intention for June is for the success of the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec this month.

The Apostleship of Prayer announced the general intention chosen by the Pope, "That all Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ, in order to be able to communicate the strength of His love to every person they meet."

The Holy Father also chooses a missionary intention for each month. In June he will pray, "That the International Eucharistic Congress of Quebec in Canada may lead to an ever greater understanding that the Eucharist is the heart of the Church and the source of evangelization."

France Has New Marian Shrine
Shepherdess' Visions of Our Lady Approved by Church

LAUS, France, MAY 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- As pilgrims celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Marian shrine at Lourdes, the Church has officially recognized a new pilgrimage site in France.
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He noted that the local bishop, the episcopal conference and the Pope are all involved in the process.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has established that to proceed with verifying a supposed apparition, a report must compile, among other things, information on the observed facts of the case; an examination of the message, which cannot be against Christian faith; a medical-psychological diagnosis to guarantee the health and normalcy of the visionary and also to eliminate the possibility of hallucinations; the visionary's communion with the Church; spiritual fruits such as a return to the faith of those who have left, the morality and ecclesial nature of the message and its cooperation in the evangelization of the world; and possible miraculous cures.

The priest said that after meticulous examination of the facts surrounding alleged apparitions, the Church has "approved during the course of history 11 apparitions out of 295 proposals for review, among them, the 12th is that referring to Our Lady of Laus."

Religion Not Just a Private Affair, Affirms Pontiff
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).-

5th Marian Dogma Nothing New
Interview With Puerto Rico's Cardinal Aponte
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, MARCH 18, 2008 (Zenit.org)(Excerts).- By declaring Mary the Spiritual Mother of All Humanity, Benedict XVI wouldn't be saying anything new about her, only clarifying her role in salvation, says Cardinal Luis Aponte Martínez.

The Pope's homily on Palm Sunday to 50,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square:
Purifying Our Hearts in Order to Recognize God. www.catholicculture.org
A convert psychologist's advice on formation of conscience:
Conscience and the Obedience of Faith. www.catholicculture.org (Excerpts Only)
Conscience must be formed correctly A general comment made by those who have taken issue with Church teaching concerns their belief that they have a "right" to form and follow their own conscience. They use this paragraph from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support this belief:

But there are many other paragraphs that define what a well-formed conscience is; paragraph 1782 merely defends a person's right to be wrong. In other words, yes, "free will" allows you to follow your conscience; however, if your conscience is erroneously formed, you have simply exercised your right to make a mistake. Consider the very next paragraph in the Catechism:

What is the standard we should use, then? For Catholics, the answer is perfectly clear: the teachings of the Church, in concordance with Scripture, provide us with ample guidelines to correctly form our consciences and to behave in moral and upright ways. The problem for most people lies in accepting the authority of the Church to teach in that way, and in accepting the duty and responsibility of obedience to the faith.

Obedience and authority seem to be unfamiliar and unpopular concepts these days. In our secular lives, obedience to authority is not taken seriously in many cases; simply ask yourself if you always obey the speed limit. In the context of our faith, it seems obedience is even more misunderstood and maligned. Most people to whom I've mentioned the idea that we are called to be obedient to our bishops have reacted with incredulity: "You mean we're supposed to jump if he says jump?!" Well, yes, if his command relates to something clearly within his jurisdiction, and if it does not go against God's laws. According to canon law,

This is a bitter pill to swallow for some American Catholics, who perhaps envision a more democratic Church.

This lack of understanding of the obedience we owe to our bishops suggests that, while many of us are quick to assert that our faith is important to us, we don't fully grasp what "faith" means in the context of the Church. The Catechism pairs the words "faith" and "obedience" repeatedly:

Pope: Find God to Find One's True Self
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org) Excerpts.-Quoting two well-known phrases of Augustine -- "I believe in order to understand" and "I understand in order to believe" -- the Pope said the assertions "express the synthesis of this problem."
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"The presence of God in man is deep and at the same time mysterious," said the Holy Father. "Distance from God means distance from oneself."

"Because Augustine personally experienced this intellectual and spiritual journey, he managed to convey it in his writings with immediacy, depth and wisdom," said the Pontiff.

"A man who is distant from God is also distant from himself, estranged from himself, he can find himself only by meeting God," said Benedict XVI. "This path leads to himself, to his true self and identity."

The Pope added: "So Augustine found God and throughout his life experienced God to the point that this reality -- which was above all an encounter with a person, Jesus Christ -- changed his life, just as it changed the lives of so many men and women who have had the grace to meet him."

WEDNESDAY'S AUDIENCE On St. Augustine's Search for Truth "VATICAN CITY, JAN. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- "Faith and Reason Are the Two Forces That Lead Us to Knowledge

Benedict XVI's Lenten Address
( Excerpt ) 2. According to the teaching of the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, material goods bear a social value, according to the principle of their universal destination (cf. n. 2404)

Pope Says Prayer Got Ecumenical Wheels Turning
Benedict XVI: Ecumenical Cause Is Advancing

Pray Always, Trusting God Alone
Meditation for Day 2 of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Pope's Letter to Jesuits' 35th General Congregation
"Evangelization Demands a Total and Faithful Adhesion to the Word of God"
Papal Address to Finnish Ecumenical Delegation
"Christian Unity Is a Gift From Above"
Benedict XVI's Planned Lecture at La Sapienza
"The Truth Makes Us Good and Goodness Is True"

A Christless Christmas Is Senseless, Says Pope

News release: http://www.cccb.ca/news         Encyclical By Pope Benedict XVI
                                   Hope At The Heart Of Second Encyclical By Pope Benedict XVI
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The Golden Compass - Pullman’s work is about to bring millions of children into contact with the demonic. By volume three of the trilogy children are invited to join in a diabolical revolt against God, bishops, and priests. His Dark Materials are brilliant, alluring, and convincing. http://www.familylifecenter.net

On the Teachings of Aphraates - by Pope Benedict XVI
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- (Excerpts)
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Often in Aphraates’ teachings, Christian life is presented in a clear ascetic and spiritual dimension: Faith is its base, its foundation; it makes of man a temple where Christ himself lives. Faith therefore enables a true charity that is expressed in the love toward God and toward one’s neighbor.
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Dear brothers and sisters, to conclude, we return again to Aphraates' teaching on prayer. According to this ancient sage, prayer is achieved when Christ dwells in the heart of Christians, inviting them to a coherent commitment of charity toward their brethren. He writes:

"Give relief to those in distress, visit the ailing,
Be solicitous to the poor: This is prayer.
Prayer is good, and its works are beautiful.
Prayer is accepted when it gives relief to your neighbor.
Prayer is heard when it includes the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer is strong when it is full of God’s strength" (Exposition 4,14-16).

Archbishop Chaput on Citizenship and Evangelization
"We're Better Americans by Being More Truly Catholic"
NEW YORK, NOV. 3, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver delivered Oct. 26 at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talked is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't."
(Excerpts)
Ok. What society am I talking about? Our own country, of course, would broadly fit this description. But I'm not talking about us.

I've just outlined the conditions of the Mediterranean world at the time of Christ. We tend to idealize the ancients, to look back at Greece and Rome as an age of extraordinary achievements. And of course, it was. But it had another side as well.

We don't usually think of Plato and Aristotle endorsing abortion or infanticide as state policy. But they did. Hippocrates, the great medical pioneer, also famously created an abortion kit that included sharp blades for cutting up the fetus and a hook for ripping it from the womb. We rarely connect that with his Hippocratic Oath. But some years ago, archeologists discovered the remains of what appeared to be a Roman-era abortion or infanticide "clinic." It was a sewer filled with the bones of more than 100 infants.

If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to pick up a little book written about 10 years ago, "The Rise of Christianity" by the Baylor University scholar Rodney Stark. You'll find all of this history in its pages and more.
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Stark concludes that Christian success flowed from two things: first, Christian doctrine, and second, people being faithful to that doctrine. Stark writes: "An essential factor in the [Christian] religion's success was what Christians believed. ... And it was the way those doctrines took on actual flesh, the way they directed organizational actions and individual behavior, that led to the rise of Christianity."
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More to read --

NEW * HOLLYWOOD, California,
Movie Film Released Today "Bella" destined to have an extraordinary impact on people's lives

News release: http://www.cccb.ca/news. Day Two
The Catholic Bishops of Canada at their Plenary Assembly elected Most Reverend V. James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg, as their President.
A first in its history For the first time in its history of Plenary Assemblies, the Bishops of Canada invited a representative of the Muslim community to address them at the opening of their second day. It has become the custom that the Bishops invite a non-Catholic faith leader to share reflections.

In his address, Imam Dr. Zijad Delic, Executive Director of the Canadian Islamic Congress, focused on the numerous similarities between the two religions, in particular their common heritage of faith in the one God. He invited religious leaders to be disciples of reconciliation and understanding in a time of globalization. "As members of the human family, and as people of faith, Muslims and Catholics are to work for the common good, justice and solidarity," he said.

Quoting from the message of Pope John Paul II for the 2002 World Day of Peace, Imam Dr. Delic said that Muslims and Catholics must promote forgiveness. "It is an essential component of our relations, present and future, as suggested by Pope John Paul II. There cannot be peace without justice. Nor justice without forgiveness," he said.

The Muslim speaker concluded by recalling for the Bishops the importance of "an open door, an open hand, an open heart, an open mind and even in a certain sense an open creed."

Pray Rosary for Peace, Benedict XVI Urges ( Not from Zenit News ) - Pray the Rosary for Peace

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Pray Rosary for Peace, Benedict XVI Urges OCT. 7, 2007 (Zenit.org)

"This is something that Mary has also offered in various apparitions," the Pope explained today to the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the midday Angelus."I am thinking especially of her appearance at Fatima which took place 90 years ago," the Holy Father said from the window of his study. "To the three little shepherds, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, presenting herself as 'the Madonna of the Rosary,' she insistently recommended praying the rosary every day to bring an end to the war."

"We also desire to welcome the Virgin's maternal request, committing ourselves to saying the rosary with faith for peace in our families, in countries, and in the whole world," he added.On this day that the Church celebrates Our Lady of the Rosary, the World Day of the Rosary also takes place. That initiative began 11 years ago in Mexico, uniting millions of people on five continents to pray the rosary in public places.

The Pope explained, "[T]he rosary is a means given by the Virgin for contemplating Jesus and, meditating on his life, for loving and following him always more faithfully."

Confession Comeback -- Efforts to Stimulate Interest in Reconciliation
By Father John Flynn, L.C.ROME, OCT. 8, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Confession is undergoing a revival of sorts after a long period of neglect. There has been a spate of recent press articles on the sacrament of confession, or reconciliation, as it is often termed.

Apostles' Successors Teach True Faith, Pope Says --VATICAN CITY, MARCH 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- True Christian faith is not an invention of intellectuals, but the unique and universal doctrine taught by bishops as successors of the apostles, Benedict XVI says ( Excerpts ) ---"[The bishops] have taught nothing but the simple faith, which is also the true depth of the revelation of God," the Pope continued. He added: "Only this faith is apostolic, coming from the apostles, that is, from Jesus and from God.

"To adhere to this faith publicly taught by the apostles to their successors, Christians must observe what the bishops say. They must specifically consider the teaching of the Church of Rome, pre-eminent and ancient. This Church, because of its age, has the greatest apostolicity."

Pope's Study of Church Fathers Not Just for Catholics --In this interview with ZENIT, David Warner discusses how reading Church Fathers led to his return to the Catholic Church and offers some reflections on the Pope's teachings.

Media Council Focuses on Role of Laity (Zenit.org) --- (Excerpts) media and communications formation and training for seminary professors, seminarians, clergy, religious, lay people;

Please Note2 Bishops Note Errors in Daniel Maguire's Works - statement
Pu blic Correction- Publish Statement on Marquette University Professor
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. episcopal conference's Committee on Doctrine has published a statement declaring that the pamphlets published by a Marquette University professor "do not present authentic Catholic teaching."

The view presented in Daniel Maguire's two pamphlets on abortion, contraception and same-sex marriage "cross the legitimate lines of theological reflection and simply enter into the area of false teaching," the bishops' statement explained.

On Ecumenism ---- On Christian Unity Week

On Christian Unity Therefore listening to the God who speaks also implies a reciprocal listening, the dialogue between the Churches and the Ecclesial Communities. Honest and loyal dialogue is the typical and indispensable instrument in the quest for unity.

The Decree on Ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council emphasized that if Christians do not know each other reciprocally, progress on the path of communion is unthinkable. Indeed, in dialogue we listen and communicate; we confront one another and, with God's grace, it is possible to converge on his Word, accepting its demands that apply to all.

The Council Fathers did not expect listening and dialogue to be helpful for ecumenical progress alone, but they added a perspective which refers to the Catholic Church herself: "From such dialogue" the conciliar text states, "will emerge still more clearly what the situation of the Catholic Church really is" (Unitatis Redintegratio, n. 9).

On Christian Unity Week
"We Must Not Be Discouraged"
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 17, 2007 (Zenit.org). Excerpts -- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at today's general audience, dedicated to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held in most countries Jan. 18-25.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Tomorrow begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which I shall close personally in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls next Jan. 25, with the celebration of vespers, to which representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial communities of Rome have also been invited.

"Cardinal William Levada "Volume Compiles Doctrinal Congregation's Teachings
Documents Date From 1966-2005 VATICAN CITY, JAN. 10, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Documents published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since the Second Vatican Council to 2005 are now available in one volume.

                              May Every Moment Of Your Day Be Lived In Truth
When we the creature put ourselves above the Creator, we fall into the sin of pride. Every sin begins with a lie. The serpent says we can be like God and decide for ourselves objectively and arbitrarily.Genesis3:
                      Wherever good and evil meet, there is suffering ---------- Father Benedict Groeschel
              Pride alienates man from heaven, humility leads to heaven. St. Bridget -Sweden
              Where there is patience and humility, there is neither wrath nor disturbance. St. Francis-Assisi
              Humility is truth, truth is humility. St. Padre Pio.

The Profession of Faith Handed Down Through Peter and the Apostles.
The Apostles Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
                                I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son our Lord.
                                He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
                                He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried.
                                He descended to the dead.. The third day he arose again.
                                He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
                                He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
                                I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints,
                                he forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed Includes: We believe in one holy catholic apostolic Church
C.C.C.1064 Thus the Creed's final " AMEN " repeats and confirms it's first words: " I Believe."
May Your Creed Be For You As A Mirror Catechism of the CatholicChurch.1064 Look at yourself in it, to see if you believe everything you say you believe, and rejoice in your faith each day.647

"I BELIEVE "C.C.C.144 the Obedience Of Faith: To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to " hear or to listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is a model of such obedience offered by the Sacred Scripture. the Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment.

*** St. Francis de Sales - Patron of Journalists ***
St. Francis labored at the difficult and dangerous task of preaching to the Protestants of Chablais and effected the return of some 70,000 souls to the Catholic faith. In 1602 he became bishop of Genf. His zeal for souls is attested in 21,000 extant letters and 4,000 sermons which exemplify how he applied St. Paul's words: "I have become all things to all men." You may epitomize his character in two words, kindliness and lovable ness — virtues that were the secret of his success. Most widely known is the saint's Introduction to the Devout Life, which, with the Imitation of Christ, is rightly considered the finest outline of Christian perfection.

N E W ♥ PUBLIC STATEMENTS Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
For your information, Further to the recent vote in the House of Commons on the definition of marriage and same-sex unions, the President of the CCCB has written to the Prime Minister and to the heads of the opposition parties. Archbishop André Gaumond indicates there are many unanswered questions and so debate must continue. Letter: http://www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2415/1217/lang,eng/

Holy See Upholds Decree for "Call to Action"
Lincoln Bishop Had Warned of Excommunications
LINCOLN, Nebraska, DEC. 11, 2006 (Zenit.org).(Excerpt) - The Vatican has upheld a 1996 excommunication decree issued by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in relation to Call to Action and 11 other organizations, the Lincoln Diocese says.

A Nov. 24 letter from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, head of the Congregation for Bishops, confirmed that the Holy See agrees with Bishop Bruskewitz's ruling on the matter, according to the Southern Nebraska Register, the diocesan newspaper.

In early 1996, Bishop Bruskewitz received a letter notifying him that a local Call to Action (CTA) chapter had been formed in the Lincoln Diocese. Two weeks later, on March 19, the prelate issued a statement of extrasynodal legislation, which was published in the Southern Nebraska Register.

Citing Call to Action, Call to Action Nebraska and the other entities, Bishop Bruskewitz wrote, "Membership in these organizations or groups is always perilous to the Catholic faith and most often is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith."

Catholics who had such memberships were invited to remove themselves from the organizations and seek the sacrament of reconciliation so that they could return to full communion with the Catholic Church. Those who refused to do so within a month were automatically excommunicated.

Local CTA members objected to the bishop's instruction and appealed his decision, but Bishop Bruskewitz remained steadfast. "Parents have to tell children that they can't test everything in the medicine cabinet or drink everything under the sink," the bishop explained. "The Church is our mother and gives us these instructions as protection against dangers we might not perceive. … It is liberating, not enslaving."

Years of support
CTA Nebraska then appealed to the Holy See to reverse the legislation, but the appeal was rejected. The Vatican's response was no surprise to Bishop Bruskewitz. "I received nothing but 10 years of support from officials of the Holy See, including our previous Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and our current Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI," he said.

According to the Register, Cardinal Re in his letter stated: "The judgment of the Holy See is that the activities of 'Call to Action' in the course of these years are in contrast with the Catholic Faith. … Thus to be a member of this Association or to support it, is irreconcilable with a coherent living of the Catholic Faith."

SPIRITUALITY
Father Cantalamessa on the End of the World
Pontifical Household Preacher on Sunday's Gospel

ROME, NOV. 17, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday's liturgy.
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33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (b) Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32
The Gospel of the second to last Sunday of the liturgical year is the classic text on the end of the world. There has always been someone who has taken it upon themselves to wave this page of the Gospel in the face of their contemporaries and provoke psychosis and fear. My advice is to be calm and to not let yourself be in the least bit troubled by these visions of catastrophe.

Pope, Curia Aides Reaffirm Value of Priestly Celibacy
Special Meeting Stresses Need for Formation
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 16, 2006 (Zenit.org).- (Excerpts) Benedict XVI and his collaborators in the Roman Curia reaffirmed the importance of priestly celibacy, and stressed the need for a "human and Christian formation" for priests and seminarians
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"This morning, November 16, in the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father presided over one of the periodic meetings with heads of dicasteries of the Roman Curia to engage in a joint reflection. Participants in the meeting received detailed information on petitions for dispensation from the obligation of celibacy presented in recent years and on the possibility of readmission, to the exercise of the ministry, of priests who at present meet the conditions established by the Church. The value was reaffirmed of the option for priestly celibacy, according to the Catholic tradition, and the need was confirmed for a solid human and Christian formation for seminarians as well as for already ordained priests."

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: a Parish's Fuel
Interview With a Monsignor in Sicily
ROME, NOV. 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).-(Excerpts) The archpriest of one of the best-preserved historical centers of Sicily thinks that "the first thing that any parish should engage in is perpetual Eucharistic Adoration."

Monsignor Michele Placido Giordano, archpriest of Mistretta, has always promoted this type of prayer. In fact, the Church of the Most Holy Savior, in Mistretta, is one of only a handful of churches in Italy that has perpetual Eucharistic adoration.
On Nov. 9, Benedict XVI urged a rediscovery of this practice, when he met with participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses.

Media: Well Worth the Church's Effort

ROME, NOV. 4, 2006 (Zenit.org).-(Excerpts) Here is an adapted excerpt from an address that Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, gave at a meeting of new bishops Sept. 23. The meeting was at the Regina Apostolorum university.
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"The Bishop and the Communications Media"
My brother bishops:
It is truly a joy to be with you as you gather here in Rome at the beginning of your episcopate for a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Peter, for an encounter with our Holy Father, the successor of Peter, and for reflection on various themes which can have great importance in your own ministry as bishops. Naturally, as president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, I am delighted that your relationship with and use of the communications media form part of the reflections.

Frankly, I am convinced that communication is THE essential work of a bishop. Jesus has told us to teach all nations and we have been advised to preach from the housetops (perhaps now TO the housetops, since that is where the television antennae are normally located). Certainly, nothing can help our task of teaching and preaching more than the communications media, and sometimes nothing can complicate our responsibility to teach and preach more than the communications media. …

At the Second Vatican Council, - - -

What about Catholic media: Should we have them and, if so, what kind?
I should warn you that for about 25 years, before coming to Rome, I was associated with a diocesan newspaper in Philadelphia, my home diocese. … Thus, I am frankly prejudiced in favor of diocesan newspapers -- which, I am convinced, should be sources of information, formation, inspiration, continued Catholic education and reinforced Catholic identification.

There has been an accusation leveled against the Church that we tend to forget to continue to form people after they have graduated from Catholic schools or from religious education programs. The Catholic press in general and the diocesan newspaper in particular provide a means of continuing formation and education that cannot be matched by any other method -- not even adult education programs, which, in fact, the Catholic press cannot only publicize but also reinforce.

I am a firm believer in the axiom, "Scripta manent" -- "The written words remain" -- and Catholic newspapers provide authentic information and formation to which Catholics can make continuing reference.

By the way, many diocesan newspapers feature a weekly or at least periodic column by the bishop -- and, where that is a feature of the newspaper, it is often the most popular feature in the newspaper. People are really interested in what you have to say -- and, of course, it helps if you write well and briefly.

What about radio and television?
Your decision must be based on your assessment of the local or even national situation -- but, whatever you do, present quality Catholic programming, and do not have people think less of the Church because what they hear is lacking in quality production techniques.
* * *
As many of you know, in the United States and in Latin America and indeed in Europe, there is the Eternal Word Television Network -- a 24-hour religious programming service which had its origins in a cloistered convent in Alabama in the southern United States. The famous Mother Angelica also started an international radio station.
* * *
A new form of communication which offers tremendous possibilities, but also some difficulties, is the Internet. Many dioceses and even parishes have their own web sites. As you may know, the Vatican Web site is www.vatican.va. I am happy to report that it was I who got the .va domain for the Vatican to let people be assured that whatever messages came from that .va address were authentic. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who get seemingly Catholic Internet addresses and provide either misinformation or even pornography on those sites. You can be sure of whatever has a .va domain -- and, of course, you can have confidence in many other Catholic Web sites -- but the danger of usurpers and hackers can exist on some sites which wish to appear Catholic but are not. …

I should say a word about interviews. Sometimes, the media will "ambush" you, and it is important always to reflect in your manner and in your responses the example of Christ -- kind, clear and complete.

Never say anything you do not wish to see in print or hear on the air; if you do not know something or are not at liberty to say anything about the subject, say that; also try to become adept at using their question to give your answer. That is, you will have a point you wish to make which is related to the question they have asked; use their question to give your answer, because you may never have another opportunity to make the point you wish to make.

It is perhaps obvious to say that your responses should always be truthful in content and gracious in delivery. God is truth and God is love -- and we should reflect both in our witness to him both in prepared remarks and in our occasional responses to inquiries from the media.

Father Cantalamessa on Priorities -- ( Click to read the Full Story )
"So, never forget to pose this question to yourself: 'What are the important things in my life?' Put these things at the head of your agenda."
Pontifical Household Preacher on Sunday's Liturgical Readings
ROME, NOV. 3, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday's liturgy.
* * *
Love the Lord your God
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time (b)
Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34

(Zenit.org) (Excerpts) The danger is that we will systematically sacrifice the important things to pursue those that are urgent but often secondary.

How do we avoid this danger? A story will help us understand how. One day an old professor was asked to speak as an expert to some large North American corporations on personal time management. He decided to try an experiment. ( read article)
* * *
Then, with a friendly gesture the old professor bid farewell to his audience and left the room. To the "big rocks" mentioned by the professor -- health, family, friends -- we need to add two others, which are the biggest of all, the two greatest commandments: love God and your neighbor.

Truly, loving God, more than a commandment, is a privilege, a concession. If one day we find him, we will not cease to thank God for commanding us to love him and we will not desire to do anything else but cultivate this love.

Pope Recalls Padre Pio and His Works
"Faith in God and Scientific Research Cooperate"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 2, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Here is a Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 14 to a group of pilgrims connected with the charitable works of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.

The Prayer Groups have spread to parishes, convents and hospitals, and today the more than 3,000 groups are present on every continent. You, here today, are a representative crowd! That original response given to the appeal of the Pope has marked for ever the character of your "spiritual" network: your prayer, as the Statutes state, is "with the Church, through the Church and in the Church" (Preface), to live always in full adhesion to the Magisterium, in ready obedience to the Pope and to the Bishops, under the guidance of the presbyter appointed by the Bishop..

Cardinal McCarrick Shares Political Wisdom
Addresses Plenary Assembly of Canadian Bishops
CORNWALL, Ontario, OCT. 20, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Bishops in their role as pastors and leaders are called to show courage, clarity and love, says the retired archbishop of Washington, D.C.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick said this Tuesday when commenting on "involvement in public life and the social teaching of the Church" to the Canadian bishops' conference, gathered for its plenary assembly in Cornwall. The assembly ends today.

The cardinal said that the involvement of the Church in politics is a formidable task, especially when religious points of view appear to be banned from the public sphere, and a "secular religion" imposed. "This anti-religious construct makes no sense," stated the chairman of the U.S. bishops' Task Force on Catholics in Political Life. "Decisions that affect the national welfare of a nation cannot be arrived at without the use of ethical and moral principles and, at the very basis, these tend to come from religious values." Catholic social doctrine helps to shed light on this, though it "has no intention of giving the Church power over the state," said Cardinal McCarrick, 76.

"Even less is it an attempt to impose on those who do not share the faith ways of thinking and modes of conduct proper to the faith," he continued. "Its aim is to contribute, here and now, to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just and what is in accord with the nature of every human being." The Church's objective, he said, is the formation of the consciences of those involved in politics, and to stimulate action in response to the authentic requirements of justice.

Eucharistic Congress to Focus on 3 Themes
Gift, Covenant and Life of the World
OTTAWA, OCT. 18, 2006 (Zenit.org).(Excerpts)- The 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Canada will focus on the Eucharist as gift, covenant and life of the world, reported the archbishop of Quebec.
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Benedict XVI has told Cardinal Ouellet that he hopes to come to the closing ceremony on June 22, but the trip has not been officially confirmed.

Papal Address to Bishops of Western Canada
"The Human Need to Confront Sin Never Goes Away"
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 9, 2006 (Zenit.org).-(Excerpts Only) Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today to the bishops of the Western Catholic Conference of Canada, with whom he met on the occasion of their five-yearly visit to Rome.
* * *
Dear Brother Bishops,

"We should celebrate and rejoice ... he has come to life; he was lost and is found" (Lk 15:32). With fraternal affection I warmly welcome you, the Bishops of the Western Catholic Conference of Canada, and I thank Bishop Wiesner for the good wishes offered on your behalf. I warmly reciprocate them and assure you, and those entrusted to your pastoral care, of my prayers and solicitude. Your meeting with the Successor of Peter concludes the visits "ad limina Apostolorum" of the Canadian Bishops' Conference. Notwithstanding the increasingly secular climate within which you serve, your reports contain much from which you can draw encouragement. In particular, I have been heartened to note the zeal and generosity of your priests, the selfless dedication of the Religious present in your Dioceses and the increasing readiness among the laity to embolden their witness to Christ's truth and love in their homes, schools, places of work and in the public sphere.

Pope Points to Root of the Loss of Sense of Sin
Urges Canadian Bishops to Promote Sacrament of Penance
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 9, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The loss of the sense of sin stems from the loss of the sense of God, says Benedict XVI.

"Where God is excluded from the public forum," the Pope said, "the sense of offense against God -- the true sense of sin -- dissipates, just as when the absolute value of moral norms is relativized the categories of good or evil vanish, along with individual responsibility." The Holy Father made his observation today when addressing bishops from the Western Catholic Conference of Canada, who were making their five-yearly visit to the Vatican.

Benedict XVI continued: "When the need to seek forgiveness and the readiness to forgive are forgotten, in their place a disturbing culture of blame and litigiousness arises."

"This ugly phenomenon, however, can be dispelled," the Pope said. Then, referring to the Gospel parable of the prodigal son, he added: "Following the light of Christ's healing truth is to say with the father: 'My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours' and we must be glad 'because your brother ... who was lost ... is found.'" The Holy Father made these reflections based on the reports and personal meetings he had with the Canadian bishops.

Reconciliation
For Benedict XVI, recovery of the sense of sin is a pastoral priority, as it also implies recovery of the sense of God. "This pastoral priority reflects an eager hope that the faithful will experience God's boundless love as a call to deepen their ecclesial unity and overcome the division and fragmentation that so often wound today's families and communities," he added. The Pope recommended that the bishops promote the sacrament of reconciliation.

"While this sacrament is often considered with indifference, what it effects is precisely the fullness of healing for which we long," he assured. "A newfound appreciation of this sacrament will confirm that time spent in the confessional draws good from evil, restores life from death, and reveals anew the merciful face of the Father."

Arian Heresy Still Tempts, Says Cardinal Bertone
ROME, OCT. 9, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the new Vatican secretary of state, says that the Church continues to be tempted by the Arian heresy, the idea that Christ is not God.
***
"If Christ's divinity is doubted," the foundation of Christianity is doubted, he said.
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Pelagianism
However, according to the Vatican secretary of state, the Church not only faces the threat of Arianism, but also of a new Pelagianism, one of the worst heresies, which arose in the fifth century.

"This hinges on thinking that we can build a Church ourselves and in believing that it is possible to save ourselves, without the Lord's grace and help," he noted. "They are recurring dangers which appear successively in history."

These two challenges were addressed in the 2000 declaration "Dominus Iesus," signed by the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, in their capacity as prefect and secretary, respectively, of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Pope Warns Theologians to Not Seek Applause
In Homily, He Recommends Fidelity to Truth

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 6, 2006 (Zenit.org) (Excerpts Only) A theologian prostitutes himself when he subjects himself to the "dictatorship of common opinions," Benedict XVI told members of the International Theological Commission.

The Pope delivered that message today in a homily during a Mass he celebrated in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace for some 30 theologians of the commission.

"To speak to meet with applause, to speak oriented to what men want to hear, to speak obeying the dictatorship of common opinions, is considered a sort of prostitution of the word and of the soul," said the Holy Father quoting the First Letter of St. Peter.

The theologian needs a form of "chastity," which implies "not to be subjected to such standards, not to seek applause, but to seek obedience to the truth," the Pontiff said. Benedict XVI continued: "And I believe this is the fundamental virtue of the theologian, this discipline, even hard, of obedience to the truth, which makes us collaborators of the truth, a mouth of truth, so that we will not speak in this river of words of today, but that we are really purified and chaste through obedience to the truth, so that truth may speak in us."

Recalling an experience of St. Thomas Aquinas (1221-1274), the Holy Father explained: "In theology, God is not the object of our speech. This is our normal conception. In reality, God is not the object; God is the subject of theology."

Pope's Address to Bishops of Ontario
"Make God Visible in the Human Face of Jesus"
1. "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him" (1 John 4:16).

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 8, 2006 (Zenit.org).- ( Excerpts Only ) Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today in English and French to the bishops of Ontario, Canada, on the occasion of their five-yearly visit to Rome.
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St. John was also compelled to urge his communities to remain in that love. Already some had been weakened by the disputes and distractions which eventually lead to division.

Compendium of the Catechism Exceeds 100,000 Copies Sold

Pope Exhorts New Church Entities to Obedienc: Sees Them as "Sign of Beauty of Christ" VATICAN CITY, MAY 31, 2006 (Zenit.org) Excerpts- Benedict XVI wrote a message to express the Church's gratitude to the ecclesial movements and new communities and to call them to obedience and communion with the Pope and bishops. ***

*** At the same time, Benedict XVI thanked them "for the willingness you show in welcoming the operational guidelines, not only of Peter's Successor, but also of bishops in the various local Churches who, together with the Pope, are the custodians of truth and charity in unity."

"I trust in your ready obedience," he stated. "The movements must face all problems with sentiments of profound communion, in a spirit of adherence to legitimate pastors."

St. Faustina:: Humility and Obedience :
"Satan can even clothe himself in a cloak of humility, but he does not know how to wear the cloak of obedience and thus his evil designs will be disclosed."

Church Issues: When it comes right down to it, do people have issues with the Church or with Catholics ? Or do we have issues with Christ. "What's wrong is still wrong even if everyone is doing it, and what's right is still right even if no one is doing it."

                                                             On Apostolic Succession
                                Pope Benedict: Christ Present Via Apostolic Succession
                                "Greatest Guarantee of Perseverance in the Lord's Word"
VATICAN CITY, MAY 10, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Excerpts: Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's   address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to explain apostolic succession. In today's catechesis, we consider how the ministry of the apostles continues through their successors, the bishops. The apostles themselves appointed others to take their place and to carry on their work. St. Irenaeus, writing at the end of the second century, links the tradition handed down from the apostles to the historical succession of bishops in the Churches they established.

Irenaeus points in particular to the Church of Rome, founded by the Apostles Peter and Paul. The succession of bishops in this Church can be seen as the sure sign and criterion of the unbroken transmission of the apostolic faith. Consequently, he says, every Church throughout the world must be in accord with the Roman Church ["Adversus Haereses" III, 3, 2].

The Church's perseverance in the apostolic tradition is thus guaranteed by the continuity between the original community of the apostles and the College of Bishops. Through apostolic succession, the Holy Spirit makes the Risen Christ present to his Church in the ministry of those ordained to preach the Gospel, to celebrate the sacraments and to serve as loving shepherds of his flock.

                            Ring of truth
A brief overview of the latest articles by Pope Benedict XVI in which he refers to The Splendor of Truth. Pope Benedict emphasizes the importance of truth, love and service, in a spirit of collegiality to encourage and to recall the centrality of the Catholic faith in its authentic expression. - - -

- - - the first encyclical of Pope Benedict teaches the Word as Jesus taught, the Greatest Commandment is Love. ... God Is Love: John 1: 4:19 There is no fear in Love; perfect love drives out fear. So then love has not been made perfect by anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. John 1: 4:18- We love because God first loved us. --- ( Webmaster - R T M )

Papal Homily at Closing Mass of World Youth Day - 2005

New Age Seen Penetrating Catholic Circles
MADRID, Spain, JULY 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).Excerpt - New Age thinking has been penetrating Catholic realms, says an adviser to the Argentine bishops' conference.

José Baamonde established the Service for the Elucidation of Sects and New Religious Movements (SPES) Foundation, in 1989. He currently heads the foundation's documentation-and-research section.

In the context of a congress on "Psychological Manipulation, Sectarian Groups and Other Alternative Movements," which closed Saturday at Madrid's Autonomous University, Baamonde gave a lecture on "The Permeability of New Age in Religions."

According to the expert, a fundamental element of New Age is man's self-divinization, explained as follows: "God is within me; God and I are one same conscience; I am God."

Baamonde applied this process to the Silva Method of mind control, a typical practice of this new spirituality, which "is practiced even by some priests and nuns."
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New Age is "the great challenge of the present century for society," he added, because "it raises flags such as pacifism, universal brotherhood and ecology, which can hardly be challenged by the public of a society that increasingly lacks a true formation."
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In this connection, he recalled Pope John Paul II's words to a group of U.S. bishops in 1993: "At times New Age ideas make headway in preaching, catechesis, congresses and retreats, and thus succeed in influencing even practicing Catholics, who perhaps are not aware of the incompatibility of those ideas with the faith of the Church."

Alpha and omega
"It is manifest that the disorientation in regard to the topics included in the present study not only affects young people but also families, reinforcing the conviction of the importance of implementing family catechesis," Baamonde said.

He concluded: "New Age gains followers day by day with the final objective, they say, of erasing universal borders to achieve the creation of a supra-religion where man is the alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all things, thus achieving a caricature of religion: It is no longer man who is created in the image and likeness of God but God who is created in the image and likeness of man."

Well worth reading - SPIRITUALITY
Father Cantalamessa on Choosing the Twelve Apostles
Pontifical Household Preacher Comments on Sunday's Gospel

ROME, JUNE 10, 2005 (Zenit.org).- In his commentary on this Sunday's readings, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher of the Pontifical Household, discusses how Christ choose his apostles and founded the Church on the principle of service, not power.
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Matthew 9:36-10:8
He Chose the 12 and Sent Them

In this Sunday's Gospel Jesus "calls" to himself the Twelve and makes them "Apostles." Therefore he "sends" them to do what he did: to preach the kingdom, to take care of the sick, to free people from fear and demonic powers. He tells them: "Freely you received. Give freely."

That day Jesus decided to inaugurate the future structure of his Church. She would have a hierarchy, a government, namely, the men "called" by him and "sent" to continue his work. It is because of this that the Church is defined as "one, holy, catholic and apostolic," because it is founded on the Apostles.

But all these notions of harvest and laborers, flock and shepherds, governors and governed do not enjoy a good press today. We live in an atmosphere of democracy and equality among men. If someone must exercise authority he must do so, we think, in our name, in as much as we ourselves, with elections, confer the mandate on him. Hence the widespread rejection or disparagement of the hierarchy of the Church: Pope, bishops, priests.

One constantly runs into people, especially college and university students, who have invented their own Christianity. They have, at times, a notable religious sense, beautiful sentiments. They say that, if they wish to, they address God directly; however, they do not want to hear talk of the Church, of priests, of going to Mass and other such things. Their motto: "Christ yes, the Church no."

Undoubtedly the Church can and must be more democratic, that is, the laity should have a greater voice in the election of pastors and the way they exercise their function. But the Church cannot be reduced altogether to a democratically governed society, with decisions made from below. She is not something that men es