Zenit News and CCCB Updates -P lease Scroll Down
Vatican Web Page Dedicated to Justice and Peace www.justpax.it
--- On the Revolution of Love ---
ALL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS VIDEOS - 2008
AVAILABLE AT http://www.ecdq.tv/en/list/
Zenit News and
CCCB
Updates -P lease
Scroll Down
Vatican
Web Page
Dedicated to Justice and
Peace www.justpax.it
---
On the
Revolution of Love ---
ALL
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS VIDEOS - 2008
AVAILABLE AT
http://www.ecdq.tv/en/list/
Faith In The Public Square
Please check for Conference Talk-
click
- St Andrews
Cathedral
for talks by Archbishop Charles Chaput from Denver Colorado - and Bishop
Corriveau from Nelson B.C.
A call for all humanity to be awakened to our call to Holiness and the right to
life, from conception to natural death. This is a gift from God to every
individual as we are unique in the sight of God, even if you do not believe. God
gave us the breath of life because he loves us so much, and He will always be at
our side. Always - always - just ask Him to care for you.
God Bless.
(RTM - website)
|
|
DOCUMENT
Pope's Address to Doctrine Congregation
"Natural Moral Law Is Neither Exclusively Nor Mainly Confessional"
[ 2010-01-22]
**** ( Excerpts Only ) The natural moral law is neither exclusively
nor mainly confessional, even if the Christian Revelation and the fulfillment of
Man in the mystery of Christ fully illumines and develops its doctrine. As the
Catechism of the Catholic Church says, it "states the first and essential
precepts which govern the moral life" (No. 1955).
Established in human nature itself and accessible to every rational creature,
the natural moral law thus determines the basis for initiating dialogue with all
who seek the truth and, more generally, with civil and secular society. This
law, engraved in every human being's heart, touches on one of the essential
problems of reflection on law and likewise challenges the conscience and
responsibility of legislators. ****
Women Seen as
Essential to Church
Flaminia Giovanelli Reflects on New Post ROME, JAN. 22, 2010 (Zenit.org).-
Even though the role of women in the Church isn't the most visible, it is
essential, says the first female undersecretary of the Pontifical Council of
Justice and Peace.
The timing of the cardinal's apology—coming soon after Cardinal Schönborn met in a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI—lends weight to the report by an Italian Catholic web site (translated on the Catholic Light site) that the Holy Father was also unhappy about the publicity generated by Cardinal Schönborn’s visit.
Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
(Excerpts from Zenit)
On
Hope for 2010
"History Has Meaning Because It Is 'Inhabited' by the Wisdom of God"
[2010-01-12]
Papal Address to Diplomatic Corps
"To Cultivate Peace, One Must Protect Creation" [2010-01-11]
Pope's Homily for Feast of Mary, Mother of God
"The First to See the Face of God Made Man" [2010-01-10]
New!
USCCB
-
http://www.usccb.org/healthcare
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The nation's Catholic bishops have
activated nearly 19,000 churches across the country to stand up to efforts in
Congress to force Americans to pay for abortions under a government-run health
care bill. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' effort could
have a dramatic effect
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.
********
*******
Benedict XVI Is Latest YouTube
St
click here
(Zenit.org)
Vatican channel on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/vatican
Pope Gives Thumbs Up to Vatican Initiative
U.S.
Bishops Renew Resolve on Health Care Reform
Laud House Decision, Prepare to Work With Senate
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
As the U.S. bishops closed the first session of their fall general assembly
today, the president introduced an item not on the agenda, but "critical:" the
country's health care reform. *** The statement, dated Nov.
17, thanked those congress members who voted against including the federal
funding of abortion in the health care reform plan of the House of
Representatives. *** The bishop underlined the conference's desire to look
for a "principled position" that will continue a law to prevent the use of
taxpayer money for abortion. "Killing a child in the womb
is not health care," he stated.
Cardinal
George: Time to Move Beyond Clergy Scandals
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 16, 2009 (Zenit.org)
.- The U.S. bishops' conference president is urging his fellow prelates to move
beyond the clergy abuse scandals of the past, and look to build unity within the
Church. *** He affirmed that
"without ordained priests, the Church would be deprived of the Eucharist."
New!
Benedict
XVI: Entire Universe Will Pass Away
ROME, NOV. 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).-Benedict
XVI is reminding Christians that creation is finite and passing, but that God's
word remains forever and raises us to eternal life as well.
New!
An
Atheist Defends Religion
ROME, NOV. 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
The atheists' offensive has in its turn given rise to numerous books defending
God and organized religion. An interesting turn in the debate comes from a book
just published by someone who does not believe in God, but still defends
religion.
On the Holy Spirit and the Church
"The Church Is Unceasingly Formed and Guided by the Spirit of the Lord"
[2009-05-31]
Pontiff Promoting Eucharistic Adoration
Says It Brings About Transformation
Pope Gives Task to Youth: Evangelize the Net
Addresses "Digital Generation" in Communications Message
A Believe-It-or-Not Cancer Drug
Cell Adam Is Successful, Natural, Ethical By Edward Pentin
ROME, JAN. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- (Excerpts) Imagine a medicine that has a staggering 75%
success rate in treating cancer, and yet is a natural and ethical product, owned
by a nonprofit company headed by devout Catholics.
Too good to be true? That's what I thought. The medical world is not short of
bogus cancer "cures." Treatment for the disease is a multi-billion dollar
industry that has led to questionable or unproven methods springing up
throughout the world.
***
Dalgarno felt it was "truly God's work," not only because it could help counter
the push toward euthanasia, but also because their products are less expensive,
less dangerous and more ethical. Embryonic stem cell research plays no part in
this medicine.
"We put our work daily under the protection of Our Lady," says Dalgarno,
"knowing she is guiding our work and the 'mission in the health field' that we
feel called to."
Like the Good News, this does seem too good to be true, but perhaps that just shows that this drug really does have the Divine hand behind it.
More details on CellAdam and Biostemworld's other nature-based disease
prevention products can be found at:
http://biostemworld.com/portal/
* * *
Edward Pentin is a freelance writer living in Rome. He can be reached at:
epentin@zenit.org.
©
PETRUS: the
daily on-line on the apostolate of Benedict XVI.
This item 8688 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
****
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 Only ) The
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with its letter
prot. 144/1985-27164 of 30 May 2008, has authorized me as the local Bishop of
the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno to inform the diocesan community of the canonical
status of Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, the founder of the association
"Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji — po Mariji k Isusu"
— (Queen of Peace, totally Yours — Through Mary to Jesus).
The letter signed by the Secretary of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Angelo Amato, states the following: --- read
more--The
Canonical status of Rev. Father Tomislav Vlaši?, OFM.-
***
This regards the fact that the same Congregation of the Holy See applied
ecclesiastical sanctions against Rev. Father Tomislav Vlašić, through a Decree
of the Congregation (prot. 144/1985) of 25 January 2008, signed by Cardinal
William Levada, Prefect, and by Archbishop Angelo Amato, Secretary of the
Congregation along with the "Concordat cum originali" of 30 January 2008,
verified by Msgr. John Kennedy, Official of the Congregation.
The Decree was handed over to Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić in the General Curia of the OFM in Rome on 16 February 2008 and the notification was co-signed by the Minister General of the Franciscan Minor Order, Father José R. Carballo, the Ordinary of Fr. Vlaši?.
The Decree of the Congregation mentions that Rev.
Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, a cleric of the Franciscan Minor Order — the founder of the
association 'Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji — po Mariji k Isusu' and who
is involved in the "phenomenon Medjugorje" — has been reported to the
Congregation "for the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of
consciences, suspected mysticism, disobedience towards legitimately issued
orders and charges contra sextum."
***
Excerpts from
(Zenit.org)
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.
***
"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."
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.
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
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
*
*
*
www. ewtn. com
- Q & A -
Ask a question ? -
reform catholic church
Apparitions / Private Revelations
http://www.ewtn.com/expert
New!
updated
E W T N
information:
(Permission
granted)
www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/luisa_piccarreta.htm
L atest
status of the Cause from the Archbishop of Trani - April 2007
*
*
*
Posted for informational
purposes only - non promotional.
An Urgent Warning:
It is good to be aware of these things.
(Webmaster)
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)
******
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.
******.
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).
Pray Rosary for Peace, Benedict XVI Urges
(
Not from
Zenit News ) -
Pray the Rosary for Peace
)
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."
| Army of Mary incurs excommunications - 12 September 2007 |
|
|
| Media release: www.cccb.ca | |
|
( Excerpts )
The “Community of the Lady of All Nations”, better
known as the Army of Mary,
has forced Catholic Church authorities to sanction this group which has
its headquarters in the Archdiocese of Quebec City.
|
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.
On Ecumenism
----
On Christian Unity Week
"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.
|
NOW THAT'S GOD!! Don't tell GOD how Big your storm is. Tell the storm how Big your GOD is, in Truth and Love. ♥ |
*** 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.
Catholic Media Can Help
Promote
The
Wisdom
Of Church
Teachings
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.
* * *
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
* * *
"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.
* * *
"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.
Democracy Needs Truth, Says Vatican Aide
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.
***
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.
***
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.
****
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 )
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."
***
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."
***
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.
* * *
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 establish on their own initiative, for their good. If the
Church was only this, there would no longer be any need for her; the state or a
philanthropic society would suffice!
The Church is Christ's institution. Her authority does not come from
the consensus of men; it is a gift from above. Because of this, even
in the most democratic form we might desire for the Church, she will always
be about authority and apostolic service. This is not, or should never be,
about superiority and power, but about "free" service, the giving of one's life
for the flock, as Jesus said when speaking of the good shepherd.
What keeps some people alienated from the institutional Church are, in
the majority of cases, the defects, inconsistencies and errors of the
leaders: inquisitions, prosecutions, incorrect use of power and money, scandals.
All these things are, sadly, true, though often exaggerated and regarded outside
any historical context. We priests are the first ones to be conscious of our
misery and inconsistency, and to suffer because of it.
The Church's ministers are "chosen among men" and are subject to the temptations
and weaknesses of all men. Jesus did not intend to found a society of the
perfect. The Son of God -- said Scottish writer Bruce Marshall -- came into
this world and, as the good carpenter he became in Joseph's school, gathered the
most twisted and knotty boards he found and built a boat with them -- the Church
-- which, despite everything, has withstood the sea for 2,000 years!
Priests "clothed in weakness" have an advantage: They are more prepared to be
compassionate of others, to not be surprised by any sin or misery, to be, in a
word, merciful, which is perhaps a priest's most beautiful quality.
Perhaps,
too, precisely because of this, Jesus placed Simon Peter, who denied him three
times, at the head of the apostles: he had to learn to forgive "seventy times
seven."
Scottish Cardinal Warns Against Homosexual Parenting
Would Harm Children, Raise Status of Same-Sex Couples
EDINBURGH, Scotland, JUNE 10, 2005 (Zenit.org)
Excerpts- Allowing same-sex partners to adopt children
would not be in the best interest of Scotland, or its children, says the
archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, commenting on a proposal made by Scotland's Adoption
Policy Review Group to allow unmarried and same sex couples to adopt, said today
in a press release that the policy is "clearly not in the best
interests of children."
"The proposals to permit homosexual couples to adopt are contrary to the common
good," the cardinal added. "Such a measure would distort the understanding of
the family, cause harm to children and promote the status of homosexual
relationships.
"The demands for parental rights for homosexual partners are more
to do with fulfilling their wish for status rather than meeting needs of
children. It is the view of the Catholic Church that to place children in such a
situation is to put them in an environment that is not conducive to their full
human development."
***
The cardinal continued: "This is gravely immoral and in open contradiction to
the principle, recognized in the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child, that the best interests of the child, as the
weaker and more vulnerable party, are to be the paramount consideration in every
case."
N
E
W
♥ Catholic Media Can Help
Promote
The
Wisdom
Of Church
Teachings
John Paul II
made a strong appeal Dec. 3, 2004 to Catholic Newspapers.
People need sources of
information on the Catholic Church that are complete and
authentic," he said.
"Catholics
must be constantly updated on the teaching of the Church and on the
way it adapts in our life of today." ...
John Paul II on various occasions and
again on Jan. 23, 2005, says
modern technology can be used for good,
for spreading the truth of our salvation in Jesus Christ, and for fostering
harmony and reconciliation,"...
In reference to articles below a continuing appeal goes out for the
media to give sources of trustworthy, complete and authentic information.
Reliable sources can be accessed to ensure Catholic information is complete and authentic
as John Paul II requests. Bishop's of the Diocese are familiar with media and
organizations who are submissive to the teachings of the Church and guided by
Church authorities.
Can.300.
No initiative can lay claim to the
title 'catholic' without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authorities,
in accordance with Can.312.
Can.223-2.
Ecclesiastical authority is entitled to regulate, in view of the common good,
the exercise of rights which are proper to Christ's faithful.
Can 305 -1
All associations of
Christ’s faithful are subject to supervision of competent ecclesiastic
authority. This authority is to ensure
that integrity of faith and morals is maintained in them and that abuses in
ecclesiastical discipline do not creep in.”
Can. 209. Faithful are bound to preserve communion with the Church at all times.
To be in full communion with
the Catholic Church we must give consent and adhere to all teachings of the
Church, reaffirmed with Vatican II and
confirmed by John Paul II.
As Catholic's we believe in apostolic succession, which means
Bishop's are God's representatives on earth. Christ's
faithful are to be submissive in obedience to what the
Bishops office demands of him as guardian of the faith
entrusted to him. The principle is that we must obey lawful authority
in all things but sin.
More Specific Reference Listed on Request -
- - -
More
to come
( Webmaster R .T. M )
Committed to Truth
When the media's commitment to truth is
defective, then people's judgments and conduct are likewise
defective.
(Zenit.org)
However, "the media must also demonstrate
its commitment to truth,"
given the profound influence it exercises, as for many people, "the
search for truth is linked to what they see in the media,"
(Zenit.org)
Some so-called Catholic media are really anti-Catholic. Others are bent on showing how you can disagree
with the magisterium and still be Catholic -- that's such a waste of energy.
(Zenit.org)
Source Of References Used Above:
John
Paul II Makes Appeal to Catholic Newspapers
VATICAN
CITY, DEC. 3, 2004 (Zenit.org)
(Excerpts)To
be agents of the "civilization of love,"
People need sources of information on the Catholic Church that are complete and
authentic," he said. "Catholics must be
constantly updated on the teaching of the Church and on the
way it adapts in our life of today."
JAN. 23, 2004 (Zenit.org.)
Some so-called Catholic media are really anti-Catholic.
Others are bent on showing how you can disagree
with the magisterium and still be Catholic -- that's such a waste of energy.
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 24, 2005 (Zenit.org)
In Message for 2005 World Communications Day
"Modern
technology places at our disposal unprecedented possibilities for good, for
spreading the truth of our salvation in Jesus Christ, and for fostering harmony
and reconciliation," the Pope writes in the message.
FEB. 25, 2005 (Zenit.org)
However, "the media must also
demonstrate its commitment to truth," given the profound influence it
exercises, as for many people, "the search for truth is linked to what they
see in the media," they said.
Use of
Media Urged in Evangelization
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 28, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
Exc. Using the media to spread
the Gospel message isn't an option for believers, a missionary told a
Vatican-organized symposium. ...
"To evangelize through the media is not something merely optional but an
imperative," said Father Gerardo Pastor, when addressing a congress on "The
Church and the Media: An Unlimited Future."
Be Not
Afraid of Media, Urges Editor
Advice From a French Journalist at Vatican Symposium
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 28, 2005 (Zenit.org).-Exc.
The Church has nothing to hide, says a French editor at a recent Vatican
symposium on the media.....
"Although the sacred must be preserved, in all else the Church has nothing to
hide," explained Franz-Oliver Giesbert, editor of the French weekly Le Point.
Click
line to view -
What Catholic Media
Should Be
Interview: JAN.
23, 2004
Zenit.org. (Excerpts)
Catholic media should be responsible for supporting the renewal
of the Church and communicating hope to the faithful, says the publisher of
a leading weekly newspaper. ...
Q: What is the mission of Catholic media in general?
The mission of the Catholic media is to promote
the new evangelization.
Helping Catholics to apply the riches of their faith and the wisdom
of the Church's teaching in order to understand, evaluate and engage
the emerging secular culture poses quite a challenge.
There are lights and shadows. That's life! Some
so-called Catholic media are really anti-Catholic. Others are bent on showing how you can disagree
with the magisterium and still be Catholic -- that's such a waste of energy.
But the most important mission is for the Good News to be communicated. If that doesn't happen, all the investigative stories are just a dead end.
Catholic media can have a
disproportionate impact on the culture, precisely because of the one they
ultimately represent:
Jesus Christ, "the powerful one. " Truth
and grace are more powerful than any sophisticated media manipulation.
What is the single most important element that
Catholic editors and writers need to
remember in their job?
That Christ has
won the victory over evil. It doesn't mean turning a blind eye to abuses and
failures in the Church. But it does mean speaking the truth in charity, not
in anger or resentment. It also means not giving in to the too-human
temptation of confusing professionalism with cynicism.
True Catholic media
are permeated with hope and communicate hope. As St. Augustine said,
"We are
Easter people and Alleluia is our song."
Church and
Media Seen as Colleagues, Not Foes
Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta Speaks in Rome
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 27, 2005 (Zenit.org)
Excerpts- A
former president of the U.S. bishops' conference says "the Church and the
media must regard one another as colleagues, rather than adversaries, in
seeking to serve and improve society."
"The media, for
its part, must also seek proper Church authorities as spokesmen for the Church,
both universally and locally,"
Archbishop Gregory continued: "As members of the
Church, we must also realize that when we fail to participate in the efforts of
the media within our communities, we inevitably create a vacuum that is usually
filled by people who lack the knowledge or the authority to represent the
Church.
"The media must have a passion in its pursuit of truth. Truth involves not only
the facts, but also the circumstances that surround factual reality," he said.
"The Church expects the media to be fair, principled and balanced in carrying
out its mission."
Media Urged to
Be Committed to Truth and Human Dignity
FEB. 25, 2005 (Zenit.org).
Excerpts. A press conference Feb.
16, at the conclusion of the meeting, was attended by, among others, Bishop
William Skyland and Archbishop Brendan O'Brien, presidents of the U.S. and
Canadian bishops' conferences, respectively.
The media should be guided by the principles of
human dignity and truth,
and not lead to the "dehumanization" of society, say
the bishops of the Americas.
During the working sessions, the prelates acknowledged that the media is
"a gift of God"
and
"great wealth for humanity," said a statement issued by the Latin American
bishops' council, CELAM.
However, "the media must also demonstrate its
commitment to truth,"
given the profound influence it exercises,
as for many people, "the search for truth is linked
to what they see in the media," they said.
"When the media's commitment to truth is defective,
then people's judgments and conduct are likewise defective. For this reason, the
Church feels especially committed to seeing that the media defends ethical
imperatives," explained the prelates.
Considering "the great demands that weigh on communicators," the prelates
reflected on their obligation to be pastors
to "Catholics working in
the media: to support them in their faith, to help them to be witnesses of
Christ in their world, to offer them the possibility to know the Church well and
to acquire good ethical formation."
Pope Urges Church to
Rethink Its Attitude Toward Media
Publishes Apostolic Letter "The Rapid Development"
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
( Excerpts)
John Paul II
in a new apostolic letter calls the entire Church to a pastoral and cultural
"revision" of its presence in and attitude toward the media.
......
"In the same way, it is important to assure that media professionals receive the
necessary formation and pastoral attention to confront the particular tensions
and ethical dilemmas that arise in their daily work," he writes. "Often these
men and women 'sincerely desire to know and practice what is ethically and
morally just,' and look to the Church for guidance and support.
......
"Such is the importance of the mass media that, fifteen years ago, I considered
it inopportune to leave their use completely up to the initiatives of
individuals or small groups, and suggested that they be decisively inserted into
pastoral programs."
Vatican Notification on "Jesus
Symbol of God"
ROME, FEB. 20, 2005 (Zenit.org).-
The text of the Vatican notification warning about the 1999 book
by Jesuit Father Roger Haight, is posted
www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=66594.
OCT
2004 YEAR
OF THE
EUCHARIST
OCT 2005
Join Us
As We Celebrate Mass (The Eucharist) When Heaven Unites With Earth
" That We May All Be One In The
Father"
|
We Are
All Children Of God - He Is The Vine - We Are The Branches
|
Year
of the Eucharist a Time of Encounter, Says Pope
Tells of Event's Focus on Christ
John Paul II hopes that the Year of the Eucharist will be a
time of encounter with Christ for believers and nonbelievers alike.
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org)
Cardinal Pell on
True and False
Conscience
Synopsis of a Talk on Newman and a Drama CHICAGO, FEB. 10, 2005 (Zenit.org)
excerpts.
Australian Cardinal George Pell delivered an address to members of the Lumen
Christi Institute at the University of Chicago last fall, on the
"primacy of truth" and the
"primacy of conscience."
ZENIT offers this synopsis of the
Sydney archbishop's speech.
Cardinal John Newman's view of conscience is far from that usually held by those
who speak of "primacy of conscience" today. Newman believes a good
Catholic conscience can never accept a position of
dissent against central Church teaching. Moral truth is the key to conscience,
and this is very difficult to deny coherently.
This specifically Catholic view rejects the mistaken primacy of conscience
doctrine and clearly asserts the primacy of truth. The Pope writes: "In any
event, it is always from the truth that the dignity of conscience derives. In
the case of the correct conscience,
it is a question of the objective truth
received by man; in the case of the erroneous
conscience, it is a question of what man,
mistakenly, subjectively considers to be true. It is never
acceptable to confuse a 'subjective' error about moral good with the 'objective'
truth rationally proposed to man in virtue of his end, or to make the moral
value of an act performed with a true and correct conscience equivalent to the
moral value of an act performed by following the judgment of an erroneous
conscience" ("Veritatis Splendor," 63).
The point is that no one -- at least, no Christian -- believes conscience simply asserts the first thing that comes into our heads. Conscience looks for real answers to our questions; and where can it look except to the truth? But then the value of conscience surely lies not in conscience itself but in the objective truth to which conscience looks for answers. It is the truth that is primary, and it is from the truth that conscience takes its value.
Nonetheless, a false notion of conscience has helped to carry many away from Catholic practice and indeed from Catholic faith. If there are two opposing versions of conscience, and there are, this is the obverse side to Newman's claim that true conscience helps us to recognize the One True God. A debased notion of conscience, a barely concealed enthusiasm for autonomy disguised as an appeal to the primacy of conscience, weakens our sense of obligation, damages our purity of heart, and makes it harder and harder to see God.
CONSCIENCE -
Catholic Theologian - Fr.William
Most
The late Fr. William G. Most was one of the
most distinguished Catholic teachers, theologians and Scripture scholars of our
time. His long teaching career, extending well over 50 years, was marked by
unswerving fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church, theological brilliance,
and an ability to communicate clearly to layman and professional alike.
www.catholicculture.org
Is conscience a small still voice, the voice of God? Not exactly. If it were the voice of God, there could never be an error - but errors are far from rare. Rather, conscience is a judgment of reason on the morality of acts to be done here and now, or acts done.
God is involved in the sense spoken of in Jer 31:33:
"I will write my law on their hearts". This is echoed in Romans 2:15, where St.
Paul says of the gentiles who do not know revealed law: "They show the work of
the law written on their hearts".
Modern anthropology shows that primitive people have a remarkable knowledge of the basic things in the moral law. However, this can be blotted out by bad customs of the tribe, or by faulty instruction in schools, e. g, when the children are taught "Values Clarification" which says that if something feels good, it is good, or by such things as proportionalism, which says there are no moral absolutes, no act is good or bad by its nature: we must consider, they say, the intentions and circumstances. Intention, they say, can make any act morally permitted. These views of course are strongly condemned by the Encyclical Veritatis splendor of Oct 5, 1993.
So, there are some things wrong by their very nature. Aristotle, who thought morality depended on a golden mean, e.g., courage is a middle position between rashness and timidity, yet said that there are things to which the mean does not apply: murder, adultery, theft (Ethics 2. 6).
So conscience, since it is a judgment of reason, and not the voice of God, can err. There are two kinds of errors, vincible, and invincible. Vincible error is that which can and should be avoided or corrected. Invincible at least practically cannot.
To avoid error, conscience must follow the teachings of the Church. Vatican II did not change this. In Constitution on Divine Revelation §10: "The task of authoritatively interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on [Scripture or Tradition] has been entrusted exclusively to the living Magisterium of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ." This does not clash with what is said on the Declaration on Religious Liberty §3: "A man should not be forced to act against his conscience. Nor should he be prevented from acting according to his conscience, especially in religious matters." But that declaration has in mind force from the civil state. It taught there is religious liberty - which does not mean a right to be wrong, but just a right not to be jailed etc. for wrong religious beliefs. This does not change what was said in On Revelation § 10, just cited, for the On Revelation text does not refer to force by the state but to divinely protected teaching from the Church, which operates by the authority of Christ. In fact even the Declaration on Religious Liberty § 1 says: "It [this document or council] leaves untouched traditional Catholic doctrine about the obligations of men and societies towards the one true Church." This really calls for an established Church, supported by the State -not however in such a way that the State prohibits other religions.
So a man should follow his conscience, but before that point, he has a strict moral obligation to align his conscience with the law of God as taught by the Catholic Church under divine protection. He may not say: "But I think differently, my conscience tells me something else". To such a one we quote Mt. 18:15-17, which tells us that when a Christian does wrong, we should first correct him privately, then, if need be, with the help of two or three witnesses. But then finally, call in the church: "If he will not hear the Church, let him be to you as a pagan and a publican." The man in question may not appeal to his conscience. He has the obligation to line that up with the teaching of the Church. If he refuses, then we treat him like a pagan and a publican, not like a Catholic who is just exercising his rights. For the Catholic Church is not a democracy, in which the authorities must dialogue with persons. Yes, all should be done in a pastoral and kindly way. But when all is done, the bottom line is: he must accept the teaching of the Church. Hence the Epistle to Titus says (3:10): "After one or two warnings, avoid a heretical man." The word heretical here is not yet as technical term: it means anyone who holds false doctrine and refuses to hear the Church. He is to be considered as Mt 18:17 says, as a pagan and a publican.
Suppose a man wanted to call himself a Mason, but broke with basic Masonic teachings. He would not be a real Mason at all. Similarly, one who does not follow the above teachings of the Catholic Church, especially that in On Revelation §10 really should not call himself/herself Catholic, but Protestant. For Protestants follow private interpretation, each one decides for himself. Catholics follow the Church.
Suppose a man get a false notion that it is mortally sinful to eat a banana? We should of course try to correct his thinking. If we cannot, and if after that he eats a banana, he is guilty of mortal sin, not because eating a banana is mortal sin, but because of his bad faith.
May we turn this around as it were and say that if a man cannot be convinced
that something, e.g., contraception, is sinful, he is justified? Not
objectively. Subjectively if he cannot be brought to see the truth, he may not
contract the formal guilt for contracepting. This, sadly, can happen today, when
there has been and is so much false teaching even by priests and bishops on this
matter and other things too. But no priest may knowingly give Holy Communion
etc. to such a one, if his sin is publicly known. (Eucharist may be refused only
to public sinners, not to those who sin outside of public). Nor may we tell him:
If you think it is all right, it is all right. Cf. Leviticus 4, where several
cases are given in which a person violates the law of God without knowing he is
doing something wrong at the time of acting. When he finds out, he is obliged to
offer a sacrifice to make up for even unwitting violation. God punished Pharao
and his household severely for the fact that the King, in good faith, took the
wife of Abraham: Genesis 12:17.
FEB.14 2005
Webmaster Promoting Fidelity To Church Teachings
In regard to a program
( "Heaven's Key to
Peace"
one-hour documentary which
explains how the world can achieve lasting world peace.)
aired on Vision TV-
Dec. 8- 2004
The webmaster
of this site is posting some information that was not clarified by the promoters
of the documentary. Thank you, to Vision
TV for your commitment and gracious words of encouragement.
The documentary
promoted (via email) contained this paragraph.
"You
can honor Our Lady on The Feast of Her Immaculate Conception (and the 150th
Anniversary of the Solemn Proclamation of this Dogma of Catholic Faith) by
watching this all-important national TV viewing."
The
promotion of the program certainly appeared it would
be a Catholic program. Though
it leads one to believe that it is an authentic Catholic program, Fr. Gruner's
views are not a true representation of the Catholic faith.
Until the program was viewed it was not indicated that it would lead into anti Papal promotion
by portraying that the Pope is, to put it mildly, suppressing truth about
Fatima.
RE: INFORMATION:
Fr. Gruner and Fátima Crusader
Click
on line to view full article.
(www.ewtn.com)
(Excerpts)
A
suspended Canadian priest
owns and publishes the
Fátima Crusade
and Catholic Family News,
which express a critical view of the post-conciliar changes in the
Church, especially in matters of the liturgy. In
recent years
Catholic Family News
( The Remnant and other small Catholic papers ) has also
become very critical of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II in matters such as
ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.
Again, it is not just the implementation of Vatican II in these areas,
but the very direction the Council and the post-conciliar popes have taken. This
criticism reached its zenith in 2000 with the publication of
We Resist You to Your Face, the
"You" being Pope John Paul II. Co-sponsors of this document include
Catholic Family News and
The Remnant, and traditionalist
authors Marian Horvat and Atila Sinke Guimarăes. This resistance is intended to
restore the Traditional Catholic Faith, as they understand it, by
resisting what they see as novelties and innovations in the governance of the
Church since Vatican II and in particular under the present Pope.
However, the doctrine of the Ordinary Magisterium,
that of Papal Primacy in all matters of governance, the obligation of religious
assent and obedience to non-infallible teaching (Lumen
gentium 25), the concurrence of the apostolic college of the bishops
(both at the Council and since) to the whole body of conciliar teaching and
policies, together with the acceptance of the overwhelming majority of orthodox
clergy, theologians and laity, argue in favor of the teachings and their
application. This does not mean that in a particular cases the
specific application is not debatable. However, it is the rejection of the whole
conciliar direction, not just its abuses or particular applications, which does
not seem legitimate. While I do not question the good will of those who have,
what they see, as the best interests of the Church and souls at heart, I
disagree profoundly with their conclusions, as well as the manner of giving
fraternal correction to the Holy Father.
(Material such as this is often put into
Churches without permission, thereby leaving a false perception that it is
Catholic literature approved by authorities, often times to be lead away from the
Holy Catholic Apostolic Church and the Gospel teachings of Jesus
Christ our Redeemer.) -
R.T.M
Re: Gruner's Fatima Website Review:
(
Excerpts taken form review by
www.catholiculture.org )
Review expressed concern
of promoted Links: Caution
- Danger (
Fidelity)
Gruner's Fatima website promotes links that reflect a
continuing rejection of the liturgical reforms of the last three Popes as well
as some of the work of the Second Vatican Council.
Example(s) appears the web site is to undermine the authority of the Church. Many of
the sections link non-Catholic or secular sites. This does not conform to their
claim to be 100% Catholic
Gruner's site is Linked to
Society of Saint Pius X
- Danger - External
links to sites that support the Feeneyite and/or the Lefebvrite position. ( This
is a schismatic group)
Following is a description taken from their own home page:
The priests of the Society of Saint Pius X
celebrate only the Traditional Latin Mass and actively oppose the liberal
changes which have been undermining and destroying the Catholic Church since the
Second Vatican Council.
Vision TV
airs program
"Heaven's Key to
Peace
A documentary
by Nicholas Gruner, promoted through email.
"You
can honor Our Lady on The Feast of Her Immaculate Conception (and the 150th
Anniversary of the Solemn Proclamation of this Dogma of Catholic Faith) by
watching this all-important national TV viewing."
Your research and comments, however, have put the program in a new light. We have shared your concerns with the purchaser of the airtime and have yet to receive satisfactory answers. Please be assured that "Heaven's Key to Peace" will not be re-broadcast on Vision TV, unless we are provided with assurances that the purchase and use of our airtime is in compliance with the letter and spirit of all aspects of our Code of Ethics.
We thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention. It is often through feedback from viewers that we are able to improve our broadcast standards and we appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise with us.
Best regards,
VisionTV
Audience
Relations
NEW:
♥
How Ecclesial Movements Fit In With Parishes
Interview With Professor Arturo Cattaneo
- posted below -
Highlights Only
ROME, JAN. 9, 2005 (Zenit.org).- At its plenary assembly in November,
the Pontifical Council for the Laity reflected on the need "to rediscover
the true face of the parish." The topic of the relationship
between the parish and ecclesial movements was presented by Father Arturo
Cattaneo, professor of canon law in Venice, and of ecclesiology in Rome and
Lugano.
Q: Ecclesial movements continue to grow. Will they
eventually replace parishes?
Father Cattaneo: No, because the parish will always play a fundamental and
irreplaceable role.
It is, as John Paul II has said, the ultimate presence of the Church in a
territory and, in a certain sense, the Church itself, close to the homes of its
sons and daughters. Because of this, one must think of
the parish as the "common home of the faithful," the "first place of the
incarnation of the Gospels"; it cannot be replaced with movements.
.......
The ecclesiastical authority, which approves the statutes, and watches
over the activity of these movements, is the competent entity to avoid their
becoming a parallel Church.....
Nevertheless, the parish priest must be careful that the movement to which we belong does not monopolize the parish's activities and that no one is discriminated against....
In this perspective, the enrichment the parish receives from
the apostolic vitality of movements is appreciated. Monsignor Renato Corti, vice
president of the Italian episcopal conference, observed recently that to
"underline the great and urgent task of evangelization will
make us all more sensitive to the unity of the mission, and will give us the
courage to take the necessary steps toward conversion." .....
Father Cattaneo: The freedom of the faithful certainly finds its
intrinsic limit in the obligation to maintain the communion of the Church and
therefore its unity.....
Mention must also be made of the spirit of service, which will lead members of movements to be happy to support the initiatives of the bishop and parish priest, according to the characteristics of the charism itself.
NEW:
♥
2004 - Year of the
Eucharist - 2005
Proclaimed by
POPE JOHN PAUL II
-October 17, 2004 ( Web Editor R.T.M.)
Canadian pilgrims attended the Eucharistic celebration of the 26th
anniversary of his pontificate and the opening of the Year of The Eucharist.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus and the
celebration. Among them were twenty four pilgrims from British Columbia and
Alberta. The group of pilgrim's with their
Spiritual Director Monsignor Luterbach also participated in the
evening Eucharistic Celebration. The Holy Father
presided at the
celebration to mark the start of
the Year of the Eucharist in conjunction
with the ending of International Eucharistic Congress held in
Guadalajara Mexico.
As Pope John Paul passed down
the aisle of St. Peter's Basilica pictures were taken by the group who were
within touching distance of the Holy Father. Shouts of " Papa, Papa " and
shouts of joy rose from the enthusiastic pilgrims who filled the Basilica. The
Swiss Guards preceded Pope John Paul as he gave his Papal Blessing while exiting
the Basilica. An estimate of one thousand clergy, including Cardinals, followed
in procession leaving pilgrims with a rekindled fire of living faith, filled
with love for Christ and His Church.
Zenit News Agency translated the address given by the Holy Father at the
noon Angelus, as well as the Papal address given at the Mass.( Access to the complete
documents from Zenit below.)
Rome: Vatican City - St Peters Basilica
Pope John Paul II -
October 17 2004
Opening
of the year of the Eucharist - Photos R.T.M
Proclaims
2004 - Year of the
Eucharist - 2005
He
is with us! " Thy Will Be Done"
October 2004 -- R.T.M
Webmaster
Together let us invoke the Queen of Peace and
renew our commitment to the service of reconciliation, dialogue and solidarity.
John Paul II
- Grotto of the
Apparitions to the basilica of Lourdes In this way we shall merit the happiness
which the Lord has promised to the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)
(Zenit.org)
Excerpts
LOURDES, France, AUG. 16, 2004
John Paul II hopes that the Year of the
Eucharist will be a time of encounter with Christ for believers and nonbelievers
alike.
Year of the Eucharist a Time of
Encounter, Says Pope
Tells of Event's Focus on Christ VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org)(Excerpts).-
John Paul II hopes that the Year of the Eucharist will be a time of encounter
with Christ for believers and nonbelievers alike.
.
Pope
Points to Eucharist as a Response to "Longing for Life"
A Congress Ends, and a Year Begins
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
John Paul II opened the Year of the Eucharist, presenting Jesus as the response
to the longing for life that rises from a world threatened by shadows.
At 26th Anniversary,
John Paul II Entrusts Ministry to God
Grateful for Congratulatory Messages
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
John Paul II put the future of his ministry in God's hands when expressing
gratitude for the thousands of congratulatory messages he received on the 26th
anniversary of his pontificate.
ANGELUS
Before the Start of Year
of the Eucharist
A Time of Intense Encounter With Christ, Says John Paul II
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
Here is a translation of the address John Paul II gave today when praying the
midday Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Year of the Eucharist a Time of
Encounter, Says Pope
Tells of Event's Focus on Christ
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org)(Excerpts).-
John Paul II hopes that the Year of the Eucharist will be a time of encounter
with Christ for believers and nonbelievers alike.
The Pope expressed this today when praying the midday Angelus with thousands of
people gathered in St. Peter's Square. Many were on hand to congratulate him on
the 26th anniversary of his pontificate, which he marked a day earlier.
"I wish to
express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who, on the occasion of the
anniversary of my election to the Chair of Peter, sent me their good wishes and
assured me of their prayers," he said today before praying the Angelus with the
crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"I pray to the Lord to comfort each one with the abundance of his gifts, I
commend myself to him and invoke, through the intercession of the Most Holy
Virgin, his constant help for the fruitful exercise of my ministry in the
Church," he added.
Then he added: "Thank you very much!" The people responded with loud cries of
congratulations. Hours later, John Paul II was to preside at a Mass in St.
Peter's Basilica to mark the start of the Year of the Eucharist.
DOCUMENTS
- OCTOBER 17, 2004
Papal Address for the Close of
Eucharistic Congress
Linked Via TV to Guadalajara
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
Here is a translation of the address John Paul II delivered today from St.
Peter's Basilica, via television, to the faithful in Guadalajara, Mexico. The
latter were participating in the closure of the International Eucharistic
Congress.
* * *
1. "Know that I am with you always, to the
close of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
Gathered before the Eucharist, we feel with particular intensity at this
moment the truth of Christ's promise:
He
is with us!
7 - Conclusions of International
Eucharistic Congress
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, OCT. 19, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
John Paul II's legate to the International Eucharistic Congress held in
Guadalajara presented seven conclusions of the meeting.
The proposals, which are also recommendations to live the Year of the Eucharist,
summarized the ideas that arose from the prior theological pastoral symposium,
catecheses, and reflections of the various linguistic groups.
The document that condenses the conclusions of the linguistic groups was
presented and approved in a general assembly last Saturday. Cardinal Jozef Tomko,
the papal legate, presented these conclusions:
1. It is urgent to emphasize the importance of Sunday Mass, central part of the
congress.
2. The feast and procession of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ)
must be emphasized again.
3. Eucharistic adoration in all its forms must be revalued, including nocturnal
adoration.
4. Emphasize the importance of frequent and worthy Communion, coupled with the
sacrament of reconciliation.
5. Encourage the spirit of mission, which stems from the Eucharist.
6. Share one's table and Mass with the poor, in the service of charity. Combine
spiritual commitment with the need of the poor.
7. Renew faith, sacrifice, communion and service in the Eucharist, as a sign for
the Catholic Church and the world.
ROME, NOV. 3, 2004 (Zenit.org).(Excerpts)-
Nov. 21 will mark 40 years since the promulgation by Pope Paul VI of the Second
Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution, "Lumen Gentium."
To better understand the way in which this document was written,
ZENIT interviewed Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, who collaborated day by day in the
drafting of the document.
Q: Today, many see Vatican II as a confrontation between conservatives and
progressives. What is your opinion?
Father Gumpel: The press exerted strong pressure on the council. It is true that
some favored traditional and others very advanced positions, but each case must
be assessed individually.
Some council experts and some bishops gave the press unilateral reports. The
media quoted them without taking into account or knowing that there were other
positions, and this exerted much influence on public opinion.
The Second Vatican Council is the first in which
the mass media was admitted, and this is something that has been underestimated.
The press office did not assess sufficiently the influence of the press in
leading public opinion in a direction that did not correspond to the truth of
the discussion.
The criteria of selection of the media were oriented to sensationalism; they did
not understand how a council develops or how the Church discusses.
The press was not much interested in knowing the doctrine of the Council of
Trent, of Vatican I, of the magisterium of Pius XII. They were only interested
in things that could spread scandal and sensationalism and so they created an
absolutely unreal situation.
Moreover, we were in the middle of the '60s. They were stormy times and the
media wished to give the idea that the Church was adapting itself increasingly
to what was happening in society. So those who defended positions that were not
very orthodox had the support of the press.
Song:
Pray the
Rosary for Peace
Devotion to Mary Should
Bring One Closer to God, Says Pope
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 9, 2004 (Zenit.org).(Excerpts)-John
Paul II encouraged pastors to form the faithful in such a way that popular
devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary will lead to an encounter with God.
"This devotion will help to consolidate the bonds of communion
with pastors of the Church of Christ, addressing the disintegration of the
faith, so many times fomented by the proselytism of sects," the
Pope said.
Pope
John Paul II's pastoral visit to Lourdes on Aug. 14-15
Used with permission
THE
WORLD
SEEN
FROM
ROME
LOURDES, France, AUG. 16, 2004 (Zenit.org)
Excerpts - Here is a translation of the address John Paul II delivered at
the start of the torch procession Saturday night at the Grotto of the
Apparitions to the basilica of Lourdes.
1. When the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette in the Grotto at Massabielle, she began a dialogue between Heaven and earth
which has lasted through time and continues to this day.
2. To you, dear brothers and sisters, I entrust a
particular intention for our prayer this evening: join me in imploring the
Virgin Mary to obtain for our world the longed-for gift of peace. May forgiveness and brotherly love take root in human
hearts. May everyone see in his
neighbor not an enemy to be fought, but a brother
to be accepted and loved, so that we may join in
building a better world.
3. Together let us invoke the Queen of
Peace and renew our commitment to the service of reconciliation, dialogue and
solidarity. In this way we shall merit the
happiness which the Lord has promised to the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
***
***
***
Queen of Heaven and Earth, we ask your intercession
on all children's prayer groups, past and present.
www.mary-modelofchurch.net
Link
To
The Rosary Around The World
To Pledge a Rosary or
a Prayer For Peace Email: rosary4peace@telus.net
Song:Pray the
Rosary for Peace
Bishops Reminded of Media's
Role in Evangelization
Archbishop Foley Addresses Seminar in Rome
ROME, SEPT. 7, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican official told bishops that the work of evangelization
requires effective use of the media. Archbishop John Foley, president of the
Pontifical Council for Social Communications, delivered that message today at a
seminar attended by French-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking bishops with fewer
than five years of ordination, the Vatican Information Service reported.
Specifically, the archbishop stressed that all dioceses should have a pastoral
plan for communications. He told the new bishops that "the effective use of the
media is essential for evangelization and for the episcopal ministry in today's
world."
"Listening to the Good News of Jesus Christ is the most important type of
communication that human beings can receive," Archbishop Foley
said. "Therefore, our first responsibility is
precisely to communicate this news in the most effective way possible."
"How can we communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ?"
he asked. "Obviously with good example, ... through
the preaching and teaching of the basic truths of the faith, knowledge of the
Bible, and by helping people to pray."
"We communicate the Good News of Christ through the
positive work that the Church does in his name," and through the
media, he added.
Recalling the 1992 pastoral instruction "Aetatis Novae" on communication,
Archbishop Foley said that this
document "suggests that a pastoral plan for communication be developed in
each diocese and that communication be part of pastoral plans."
The archbishop referred to radio and television programs and Catholic
publications and said they should be of high quality.
"That mark of high quality," he added,
"must come from our authenticity, our credibility as representatives of the
Gospel of Christ."
History of the Holy House of Loreto,
New Saints for the Church
Marvelli and Suriano Members of Catholic Action
Rome Notes:
by Delia Gallagher (SEPT.
2, 2004 Excerpts
www.zenit.org
)
This Sunday, Sept. 5, the Pope will make his fifth visit to Loreto, site of the
house in which the Holy Family once lived, to beatify three new blesseds of the
Church.
The house in question is the one from Nazareth,
where Mary was born and raised, and pronounced her “fiat” to the Angel Gabriel’s
announcement. It is also considered the According to Catholic tradition it was “transported by the
angels” around 1291 from Palestine to Dalmatia, Croatia, and is now found at
Loreto, on the eastern Italian coast.
The story of the house is not one of doctrine, of course, but of long and
venerable tradition.
The original house in Nazareth lay protected for many years in an underground
crypt thanks to Constantine, who, in 312, built the first Basilica over the holy
spot. It remained a place of peaceful pilgrimage through the beginning of the
crusades (in 1219 St. Francis of Assisi visited). Defeated in 1291, Christians
were forced to withdraw from the Holy Land and destruction of the house by the
Turks seemed imminent.
It is then, in May 1291, that the house appeared in a field in Tersatto,
Dalmatia, most likely brought by Christians fleeing the Holy Land. It remained
in Dalmatia for three years until it was again “transported” across the sea to
Italy, first to an area near Lecanati and finally to its last home a few miles
away in Loreto.
Whether it is the original house is disputed. However the dimensions of the
house, 31 feet by 13 feet, seem to match those in Nazareth and the materials
used for its walls are similar to those used in Nazareth and very dissimilar to
Italian building materials.
Like the Icon of Kazan, however, the importance of the house lies
less in its authenticity than in its history.
It has been a place of pilgrimage for over 2,000 of the Church’s most celebrated
members: St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri, St. Francis
de Sales, St. John Capistrano, St. Clement Hofbauer, St. Alphonsus de Liguori,
St. Louis de Montfort, St. John Bosco, St. Thérčse, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Mother
Cabrini and St. Gianna Beretta Molla.
At the Vatican, Our Lady of Loreto is credited for
restoring health to Popes Pius II, Paul II and Pius IX. More than fifty Popes
have testified to the authenticity of the house at Loreto and in 1669 the Litany
of Loreto was approved for use in the Mass, one of only five approved public
litanies.
Many in the English-speaking world will have heard of, if not been educated by,
Loreto Sisters. Interestingly, the Loreto Sisters were formed in Ireland, not
Italy, by Irish IBVM (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary founded by
Englishwoman Mary Ward) nun, Frances Mary Teresa Ball (1794-1861) who
established an IBVM house in 1822 in Dublin and called it Loreto House. The
Loreto Sisters, now numbering more than one thousand, have houses and schools on
6 continents and in 16 countries including Australia, the United States, Canada,
England, India, Mauritius, and Gibraltar.
Not surprisingly, Our Lady of Loreto, known as the
“flying house,” is the patron saint of aviators.
***
Both Pina Suriano and Alberto Marvelli were members of the
Catholic Action lay movement, founded in 1868 under Pope Pius IX.
The movement is the largest lay Catholic organization in Italy (over 400,000
members) and has branches in nearly 50 countries throughout the world, all of
whom will be represented at Loreto this week. (Catholic Action, though active in
some parishes in the United States, is not organized at the episcopal level
there and so there is no U.S. delegation to Loreto).
***
Pope John Paul II’s support for Catholic Action is connected to
his unceasing call to lay people to “have the courage of the future.”
“The Pope speaks of a new season for the Church,” said H.E. Msgr. Stanislaw
Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, co-sponsor of the
Congress in Loreto, “Catholic Action is among the protagonists of this new
season.”
Whether through Catholic Action or any number of the many other Catholic lay
movements, Pope John Paul II encourages lay people, and particularly youth to
become involved in the future of the Church.
“There are many indications which cause one to hope in the kairos of a new
springtime for the Gospel!” the Pope said on Tuesday, Aug. 31 in a message to
the participants at Loreto.
“All faithful lay people can be involved in this
important work if they are aware of their own baptismal vocation and of the
three duties which it imparts – priestly, prophetic and regal. Trusting in the
grace of God and strengthened by a living sense of belonging to the Church as
a ‘house and school of communion,’ lay people are prepared to listen to the
teaching and directives of their pastors in order to be efficient
collaborators with them in the building of the ecclesial community of which they
are a part.”
*** Readers may contact Delia
Gallagher at delia@zenit.org.
“The Church Needs Catholic Action!”
Exhorts John Paul II
Sends Message to International Congress
VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 3, 2004 (Excerpts -
Zenit.org).- John Paul II told
Catholic Action to relaunch its organization with the "humble and courageous
decision to begin afresh from Christ," in a message sent to their first
international congress.
Italian Catholic Action, in cooperation with the Pontifical Council for the
Laity, headed by Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, organized the First International
Congress on Catholic Action currently being held in Rome and Loreto from Aug.
31-Sept. 5.
The theme is inspired by the Pope himself who addressed the following words to
Catholic Action in an
address to representatives of Italian Catholic Action in 2002: "Duc in Altum,
Catholic Action, Have the Courage of the Future!"
John Paul II will bring the meeting to a close on Sunday, Sept. 5, in the Marian
shrine of Loreto, where he will raise to the altar three great promoters of
Catholic Action: young lay Italians Alberto Marvelli and Pina Suriano, and
Catalan priest Pere Tarres i Claret.
Far from being an arbitrary choice, to "have the courage of the future" is an
"attitude" which "gathers consistency and impetus from the memory of the
precious gift that Catholic Action has been since its birth," the Pope
explained.
Catholic Action "has been a force of growth, structure, and stimulation of that
contemporary current of promotion of the laity that found solemn confirmation in
Vatican Council II," the Holy Father said.
In fact, "in it generations of faithful matured
their own vocations in the course of Christian formation which has led them
to the full awareness of their own co-responsibility in building the Church,
stimulating apostolic impulse in all realms of life," he
continued. "Today I must repeat once again: the Church needs Catholic Action!"
John Paul II emphasized.
Catholic Action "has always been, and must still be today a
place of formation for the faithful who, enlightened by the social doctrine of
the Church, are committed in the front line in the defense of
the sacred gift of life, in safeguarding the dignity of the human person, in
implementing educational freedom, in the promotion of the real meaning of
marriage and the family, in the exercise of charity towards the neediest, in the
quest for peace and justice in the application of the principles of subsidiarity
and solidarity in different social situations that interact among themselves."
However, this "great responsibility"
calls for an “awareness of being sustained by the
omnipresent strength of the Spirit," he emphasized.
***Catholic Action dates back to 1867, the year when two youths
established the Italian Catholic Youth Society, adopting as their program the
motto "Prayer, Action, Sacrifice."
Pope Pius IX approved the association in 1868. It was established with its
present name and structure by Pope Pius XI in 1931
God Alone Is Sufficient for Us, Says John Paul
II
Comments on Psalm 15(16) at General Audience
VATICAN CITY, JULY 28, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
God is the human being's only good, said John Paul II as he offered a meditation
on a Psalm that rejects idolatry. John Paul II referred to a commentary of St.
Augustine on the Psalm: "The Psalmist does not say: O God give me heritage! What
will you give me as heritage?"
"He says instead: Everything that you give me
besides yourself is vile. You yourself be my heritage. It is you whom I love ...
to hope for God from God, to be filled of God by God. He is sufficient, besides
him nothing can satisfy you," the Pope said.
If God is all that a person can have, then outside of God there is only death,
the Pontiff explained. In this connection, one can say
that "intimacy" with God ensures "victory over death."
*
*
*
REFLECTIONS
ON SHARING A PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT -
Webmaster (R.T.M)
“You did not choose Me,
I chose You, and I commission you to go out and bear fruit”
( John 15:16 )
Discernment: The
definition of discernment in the Webster Dictionary : to take time, to ponder, to have clear insight, or
keen judgement. When speaking of spiritual discernment
( usually in prayer) it also includes invoking the Holy Spirit for guidance especially in the
Spirit of wisdom and truth. In learning and discerning the teachings of the Church we are assured of
authenticity, when teachings are in harmony with the Word of God
- the Bible and the Magisterium. - The Catechism
of The Catholic Church.
The Catechism
of The Catholic Church
is an excellent guideline and resource to rekindle our knowledge of what the
Church teaches.
(cf. Catechesi Tradendae
)
Guidelines
are given that we may more fully understand the path that God desires us to
follow. Perhaps by sharing this information which was gained through spiritual
direction and prayer, the process of discernment can strengthen our spiritual
journey.
Every catechist
should be able to apply to himself the mysterious words of Jesus.
" My teaching is not mine, but His who sent Me."
(cf.
Catechesi Tradendae )
When
exposed to teachings that are opinions or views, we do well to go to the
Catechism for reference in discerning the authenticity of those teachings .
Areas that the
Church approaches with discernment and great caution are apparitions and private
revelations. Because of the possibility of human error in receiving and
transmitting messages, the Church follows
certain procedures
in the discerning process. (
It is evident that there can be three
sources: good spirit, evil spirit, auto-suggestion. -
Discernment of
Private Revelation)
(- cf.
Fr. William G. Most)
Errors have been detected regarding
the accurate transmission of visions by many of
the great saints, such as Joan of Arc who had a vision in which she believed she
would be saved from being burned at the stakes. Discernment is essential
and prudence is advised when private revelations have not been given
official recognition by the Church. When to much focus is centered on private revelation and
predictions of future events it may cause us to be distracted from God, who alone can lead us to the
fullness of truth. As Pope John
Paul II says in the article above
July
28, 2004
-
God is sufficient for us, beside Him nothing can satisfy us.
Further authenticity can be
assured when we remain in fidelity to the Pope, the bishops and the clergy who are endowed with the authority of
Christ. They represent Christ on earth, as teachers and guardians of the faith.
C.C.C. # 888
-
415 They are "heralds of the faith, who draw new disciples to Christ; they are
authentic teachers" of the apostolic faith " endowed with the authority of the
Christ" C.C.C.
# 888-891-
418
When the Church through
its supreme Majisterium propose a doctrine " for belief as divinely revealed,"
419
and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions " must be adhered to
with the obedience of faith."
The Magisterium
or the teachings of the Church are endowed with the authority of Christ. Christ
is the same yesterday - today - and tomorrow. It does well to remember,
the past cannot be changed - the present is a gift from God - and
the future is reserved for God alone. On our journey to attain holiness we do best to
keep our minds and hearts focused on Jesus. Today is the time to be open
to
sanctified grace, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but at the present moment.
St. Francis gave these words in wisdom "
Sanctify yourself and others will be sanctified."
*
*
*
The Past:
Cannot be changed.
The Present:
Is a gift from God.
The Future:
Is for God alone.
Webmaster -
(R.T.M.)
Information on Discernment of Private Revelation,
scroll toward the bottom of this page.
Astrology,
Psychics and Other Fortune-Telling
(www.ewtn.com)
Theologian Colin Donovan
STL
(Excerpts)
The practice of trying to divine the future,
whether by directly occult means such as calling up spirits (divination,
properly speaking), asking questions of spirits (e.g. a Ouiji Board) or by
"reading it" in cards, numbers, the stars etc., is forbidden by the First
Commandment. The future is known to God alone,
who is its Master. Besides being illicit means to gain knowledge (the dead, the
spirits, occult powers), such practices suggest that man is not, by means of
free-will, a cooperator with God in determining his future.
The use of these grievously sinful
practices can lead to a fatalistic perspective on
life, in which the person feels bound to the judgments of psychics, readers and
other third parties, rather than his God-given reason and knowledge of the moral
law.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
has this to say on these matters.
2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it.
Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL
In Catholic FAQ's
Question:
What is meant by the reference:
To be united to
the bishops who are in communion with the Pope?
View
complete article:
http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?Pgnu=1&Pg=Forum12&recnu=11&number=399032
Answer:
On the face of it, all Catholic Bishops are in
communion with the Pope, namely, all those who were ordained Bishops with the
Pope’s approval. They are under his jurisdiction, and by their position in the
Church, acknowledge him as their visible head. A Bishop may cease to be in
communion with the Pope if he commits an excommunicable offense, (as did
Archbishop Lefebvre, when he ordained Bishops contrary to Rome’s instruction).
We are speaking now of visible communion. In this sense, a Bishop is
either in communion with the Pope, or he is not.
The principle is that we must
obey lawful authority in all things but sin.
( Excerpts taken from - EWTN
- QUESTIONS - Ask The Experts)
Eucharistic
Prayer for the Celebrant(s) Alone?
And More on Lectors at Mass -
ROME, JULY 6, 2004 (Zenit.org).
Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.
Q: In an earlier reply you mentioned that only the priest should say or sing the
final doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer. This leads to a further question --
one perhaps not so much of liturgy in the narrow sense as of theology of the
sacraments: Why has the Eucharistic Prayer always been reserved to the
celebrant/concelebrants? It is worded in first person plural, and so it might
seem appropriate for everyone to join in, as in the Credo? Complete text can be
viewed - www.zenit.org
A.
This ecclesial dimension helps us grasp the reason why the
Eucharistic Prayer is reserved to the priest. The
celebrant, in saying the Eucharistic Prayer, is acting at the same time in the
person of the Church and in the person of Christ.
In acting in the person of the Church he
does not simply represent the actual assembly, but the entire Church.
In acting in the person of Christ the priest makes it possible for the present
assembly to exercise the common priesthood of the faithful and thus to unite
themselves in heart and mind to Christ, as he offers his perfect sacrifice to
the Father and who allows us to share in this sacrifice.
In the first place, it would obscure the reality of
ecclesial communion by reducing the prayer to an act of those who happen to be
present and not an act of the whole Church. The Church not only extends beyond
all political frontiers but breaks the bonds of space and time so as to enter
into the realm of the communion of saints
Finally, the common recitation might also bring us to forget that since
both the common priesthood and its exercise is a gift of grace. We are not equal
partners with Christ but beneficiaries of his love.
These are not the only reasons, and the theme merits more than one treatises.
My only hope is that I have not committed a sin of
presumption in trying to do justice to such a mystery, not only by
treating it so briefly, but in trying to explain it in the first place.
Calls It a "Work of Justice"
Dioceses Must Fill Need for Catechesis,
Says Cardinal Castrillón
VATICAN CITY, JULY 29, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
The faithful have a right to sound catechesis, and
it is up to parishes and diocesan movements in communion with the bishop to
provide such instruction, says a Vatican official.
When opening the European Catechetical Conference, Cardinal Darío Castrillón
Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, referred to the plea of many
Catholics who want to learn more about the faith. The Vatican dicastery
organized the conference.
"The parishes and the new ecclesial movements present in the local Church
will be real communities of faith if they maintain direct catechetical relations
with all the faithful of that portion of the People of God entrusted to their
bishop, collaborating with him," the cardinal said.
"Catechesis is not simply one more activity among the many endeavors of the
diocese in evangelization, but represents a unique and fundamental 'work
of justice,'" he added.
Consequently, the cardinal said that "the supplication that Paul heard in the
vision of Macedonia, 'Help us,'" must always resound in the heart and mind of
every priest and catechist.
The challenge of catechesis, he added, cannot be properly
addressed today if the duty to proclaim the truth in the "new 'areopagi'"
is not emphasized.
These "areopagi" are "the world of politics and economics, the world of art in
all its diversified and noble expression, the world of communication and of
scientific research, the world of computer science," the Vatican prefect
explained.
He added: "All available honest and congruent means" must be used
"to resolve that break between the Gospel and culture which generates
serious damages in civil society and the Church."
Redemptionis Sacramentum
http://www.catholicculture.org
/docs/doc_view.cfm?RecNum=6067
A Matter of Helping, Not Hindering, the Faith
In short, the Instruction should give rise
to healthy curiosity and generous acceptance in the Church, so that we may
contemplate with renewed wonder this great mystery of our faith and foster
the appropriate Eucharistic behavior and attitudes.
Author:
Angelo Amato, S.D.B
(Excerpts)
Description:
In this Commentary on the Instruction 'Redemptionis
Sacramentum' Angelo Amato says that, "Arbitrary treatment of the liturgy
not only distorts the celebration but gives rise to uncertainty in
[full
text]
Categories:Issues >
Scandals>Catholicism > Sacraments>Persons
> Popes>Catholicism > Liturgy
Larger Work: L'Osservatore Romano
Publisher & Date: Vatican, June
23, 2004
From a doctrinal viewpoint, the
Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum is a follow up to the Encyclical
Ecclesia de Eucharistia (cf. n. 2).1 In the Holy Father's
Encyclical, as well as giving us a most exalted lesson on the Eucharist as the
mystery of the faith that continuously nourishes and builds the Church in
history, he does not fail to refer several times to the shadows and abuses that
obscure sound faith and Catholic teaching on this sacrament
(cf. Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 10; Redemptionis Sacramentum, n.
6).
Harmony between the 'lex orandi' and the 'lex credendi'
Arbitrary treatment of the liturgy not only distorts the celebration but
gives rise to uncertainty in matters of doctrine and perplexity and scandal on
the part of the People of God (cf. Redemptionis Sacramentum, n. 11).
In fact, rather than being expressions of freedom, abuses on the contrary reveal
a superficial knowledge or even ignorance of the great biblical and ecclesial
tradition concerning the Eucharist.
The Instruction instead seeks to
further true freedom, the freedom to do what is worthy and right in the
celebration of this sacrament.
Because of this intrinsic bond between the profession and the
celebration of the faith, the faithful have the right to demand of pastors "that
the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass be celebrated for them in an integral manner,
according to the entire doctrine of the Church's Magisterium" (Redemptionis
Sacramentum, n. 12).
In the Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, the Holy
Father stated:
"I consider it my duty... to, appeal urgently that the liturgical norms for the celebration of the Eucharist be observed with great fidelity. These norms are a concrete expression of the authentically ecclesial nature of the Eucharist; this is their deepest meaning. Liturgy is never anyone's private property, be it of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated....
"Our time, too, calls for a renewed awareness and appreciation of liturgical norms as a reflection of, and a witness to, the one universal Church made present in every celebration of the Eucharist. Priests who faithfully celebrate Mass according to the liturgical norms, and communities which conform to those norms, quietly but eloquently demonstrate their love for the Church....
"No one is permitted to undervalue the mystery entrusted to our hands: it is too great for anyone to feel free to treat it lightly and with disregard for its sacredness and its universality" (n. 52). These assertions sum up in the best possible way the doctrinal significance of the Instruction: the liturgical norms are a tangible expression of the ecclesiality of the Eucharist.
Reception of the Instruction as an ecclesial event
"Moreover, it is precisely in its doctrinal effectiveness that we discover the profoundly pastoral character of the Document, whose acceptance thus becomes a favorable opportunity for formation, catechesis and evangelization".5
Therefore, acceptance of the Instruction must not end at the initial phase, but it must become an ecclesial event of communion and formation.
The Bishops, priests and lay faithful should not, therefore, accept the immediate opinions made at a first glance. They must be patient and take the time to read, assimilate and properly digest the content of the Instruction.
In short, the Instruction should give
rise to healthy curiosity and generous acceptance in the Church, so that we may
contemplate with renewed wonder this great mystery of our faith and foster the
appropriate Eucharistic behavior and attitudes.
*
*
Instruction
Redemptionis Sacramentum
(Excerpt) zenit.org
Date: 2004-04-23
Vatican document requested by John Paul II and
written by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, in
collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
[23] The faithful "should cling to the
Bishop as the Church does to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ does to the
Father, so that all may be in harmonious unity, and that they may abound to the
glory of God".
Words of St. Ignatius of Antioch.
(cf. Faith of The Early Fathers Vol.I ).
"Let us be careful then if we would be
submissive to God, not to oppose the Bishop."
As the successors of
St. Peter, Pope John Paul II together with appointed Bishops are shepherds and
guardian of the Holy Catholic Apostolic Church which was instituted by Jesus
Christ. To participate in building the Kingdom of God, may we as laity journey
together with our shepherds, that there may be unity in both body and in spirit.( R.T.M )
C.C.C #100 - The
task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to
the Majesterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the Bishops in
communion with him. ***
NEW:
♥
New Document:
Luisa Piccarreta: A Compilation
www.catholicculture.org
The purpose of this compilation is to provide information on the
visionary Luisa Piccarreta, her writings and on the Kingdom of the Divine Will
movement. Possibly due to bad translations, noted theologians, including Fr.
William Most and Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., have found that the underlying
premises of Luisa's writings are not consistent with the magisterial teaching of
the Roman Catholic Church. Presently her writings are being studied by the
Church.
Latest Official Information about Luisa Piccarreta ( Excerpt taken form the document)
(
In 1998 the now retired Archbishop of
Trani, Carmelo Cassati, ordered the
suspension in the United States
of Divine Will Conferences, because of the controversies noted
earlier)
As for the status of the writings with the Holy See, the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirmed the following in a letter to
EWTN of 4 October 2003,
The writings of Luisa Piccarreta have not been judged by this Dicastery: as such they enjoy neither the official approbation, nor the official condemnation, of this Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In fact, they are currently being studied, by reason of competence, by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, after this Servant of God, independently of the content of her writings, received the nihil obstat of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding her cause for beatification.
As such, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith makes, at this time, no pronouncement on the writings in question.
Articles about the Writings of Luisa Piccareta
Is Luisa Piccarreta's Kingdom of the Divine Will Catholic?
Decree Placing Works of Luisa Piccarreta on the Index
The Kingdom of the Divine Will
Letter to Divine Will Proponents
Contested Will
More information
Catholic
Apologetics Website
-
Moratorium
Update - Cause of Luisa Piccarreta Suspended by the Vatican
July-Dec. 2003
Written interview with Archbishop Cassati.
More information can be found on the
Catholic
Apologetics
DECREE of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy
Office Condemning and Placing on the Index of Certain Books
Author:
Holy Office
Description:
By this decree of August 31, 1938, the Holy Office condemned and
placed on the Index of Forbidden Books three works of Luisa Piccarreta
concerning the Divine Will. The original Latin follows the [full
text]
Categories:
Issues > Heresies
Publisher & Date:
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, t. 30, 1938, p.
318., August 31, Given in
Rome at the Palace of the Holy Office, August 31, 1938. Romulus Pantanetti,
Notary of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office
Note: In
its edition of September 11, 1938, L'Osservatore Romano noted that "the
three books covered by this decree would not have ordinarily merited particular
consideration, in view of their small size and limited weight. But they were
condemned because they represent a false and dangerous mysticism which is
frequent in our days. The principal subject of the writings of Luisa Piccarreta
is the Divine Will, conceived in an exaggerated and erroneous manner and
presented in language and terminology superabounding with inexactitudes and
extravagances. The small volumes in question have already appeared in numerous
editions and have been translated into other languages.... For this reason it
was opportune to put the faithful on their guard."
Letter to
Divine Will Proponents from Archbishop Carmelo Cassati
(January
22, 1998)
to the Authorized Promoters of
The Kingdom of the Divine Will
(cf. excerpts below)
On the 28th of November 1994 I wrote a
letter "To Whom it may concern." In this letter, I presented Mr. Thomas Fahy and
Mr. & Mrs. Miguel Machado "as persons worthy of our trust to gather information,
objects, writings, or any other things, which may be inherent to promoting this
Cause (of Beatification), as well as monetary offerings."
Afterwards I wrote other letters "To Whom it may concern" to Bishops of many
parts of the world for each one of you as trustworthy persons, and as authorized
promoters to speak about Luisa. Unfortunately, when dealing with things
concerning our faith, enthusiasm is not enough. Reflection is also necessary.
Perhaps, without realizing it, we are hurting the very same Cause of
Beatification of Luisa.
This is because, if it is true that: "private revelation may not add anything
essentially new to Public Revelation, though it may extend what the Church
already holds by means of a definable development of doctrine, it is the task of
those who explain her doctrine to others (including her authorized promoters) to
reconcile it with the teaching of the Church. Poor or exaggerated explanations
of her writings have already scandalized some faithful, who then attribute the
error to the Servant of God" (William G. Bilton to Arthur & Joanne Kirby, April
04, 1997).
To insist a lot with conferences and propaganda on Luisa can be dangerous for
the Cause because, before the Church pronounces itself in her regard, a true
"cult" to Luisa could develop, and this would in no way be in harmony with the
tradition of the Church.
America is very far away and the Bishop
responsible for the Cause cannot know what is being said in Luisa's name.
You can keep the conferences you have already been committed to, but after them
you must stop your activity both concerning conferences and printed matter.
I thank you for what you have done in Luisa's name and I bless you.
(Signed) + Carmelo Cassati
*
*
*
In 1998 the now retired Archbishop
of Trani, Carmelo Cassati, ordered the suspension in the United States of Divine
Will Conferences, because of the controversies noted earlier. *Note*
A Web Site advertising conferences are now using "New and Divine
Holiness" in promotions.
*
*
*
Note* This specific article in small print is posted in awareness to caution
viewers to the possible content of New Age material.
A web site promoting Divine Will
transmission portrays -The Big Dipper - Masters and Enlightened Ones (etc):
Who are the Great Ones who transmit Divine Will?
The Great Beings who transmit Divine Will have been called "Ray Lords,
Great Ones, or Custodians," for they act as custodians of the Divine Will of
God/Goddess, All-That-Is, and convey these energies into our solar system and
into the earth. They bring humanity the energy of Divine Will.
THAT
WEB SITE WILL NOT BE
PROMOTED OR POSTED.
NEW AGE
Holy See Commission Readies
Guidelines on "New Age"
Vatican and World Experts Meet in Rome
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 14, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The
Holy See is studying the answers given by local Churches in regard to New Age
and is preparing a document of guidelines for bishops on the subject.
The International Consultation on New Age, being held in Rome, was convoked by a
commission of various Vatican bodies on "Sects and New Religious Movements," a
Vatican press statement reports.
Members of the commission include representatives of the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples, of the pontifical councils for Promoting Christian
Unity, for Culture, and for Interreligious Dialogue.
The study is a follow-up to the February 2003 publication of a provisional
report entitled "Jesus Christ the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian
Reflection on the 'New Age.'"
That text explained that the "New Age is not, properly speaking, a religion, but
it is interested in what is called 'divine.' The essence of New Age is the loose
association of the various activities, ideas and people that might validly
attract the term."
The statement reveals that preparation for the meeting was based on the answers
of the episcopal conferences to a questionnaire sent to them when that document
was presented.
In addition to the representatives of the four Vatican organizations, some 20
experts, selected by episcopal conferences worldwide, are attending the
three-day meeting that ends Wednesday.
The meeting is addressing two issues that are particularly worrying to the
experts, the statement clarifies: The two are the "discernment of the
psychological techniques promoted by the New Age, and a profound comparison
between the New Age's answers and those offered by Christian spirituality."
Finally, Vatican sources revealed that the meeting seeks to "present some
pointers for pastoral reflection on the New Age as a proposal for the
episcopate." The last plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture, held in Rome
from March 11-13, indirectly addressed the issue of reflection on the present
"challenge of unbelief and of religious indifference."
THE
WORLD SEEN FROM ROME
VATICAN DOSSIER - ZENIT
Media Need to Be Used for
Gospel, Says John Paul II
Urges Moves to Counter Unethical Use of Social Communications
VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2004 (Zenit.org).(Excerpts)-
John Paul II appealed to all the faithful to be conscious of the importance of
the Catholic media in the "cultural atmosphere in which we all live."
The Pope encouraged the Church's involvement in the media when he
received in audience today the general assembly of the Italian bishops'
conference, which a day earlier approved a directory entitled "Communication and
Mission."
"We know well the penetrating influence that the media exercises today on
ways of thinking and on behavior, personal and collective, orienting toward a
view of life that, unfortunately, often tends to corrode fundamental ethical
values, in particular, those that affect the family," the Holy Father said.
"The means of communication are presented to be used also for different ends and
results, contributing in a notable way to the affirmation of positive models of
life and to the very spread of the Gospel," he added.
Vatican Document Targets Abuses Against
Eucharist
Reiterates and Explains Key Norms for Worthy Celebration and
Reception
For complete
document scroll down
-click on: instruction
The Diocesan Bishop, High Priest of his Flock [19-25]
The Conference of Bishops [26-28]
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).-
A new Vatican instruction on the Eucharist takes pains to emphasize that the
Blessed Sacrament "is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat it
according to his own whim." The Vatican press office today presented the
instruction "'Redemptionis Sacramentum': On Certain Matters to Be Observed
or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy Eucharist."
The 70-page document was written at the request of John Paul II by the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, in collaboration with
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The preamble explains that the instruction is not a "compendium of norms" on
the Eucharist, but rather tries to take up "some elements of the liturgical
normative previously enunciated and established, which continue to be valid,
to reinforce the profound meaning of the liturgical norms" (No. 2).
In his encyclical "Eucharistia de Ecclesia," published last year, the Pope
announced this document to offer "dispositions of a juridical nature," as
"no one is permitted to undervalue the mystery entrusted to our hands" with
the Eucharist (No. 52).
On several occasions, the document repeats the spirit of this expression:
"The Mystery of the Eucharist is too great for anyone to permit himself to
treat it according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal
ordering would be obscured" (No. 11, see No. 8).
When presenting the
instruction today, Cardinal Francis Arinze,
prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, explained
that the Church must give clear norms as otherwise each priest would
celebrate Mass in his own way.
The cardinal added that the instruction is intended to avoid "abuses" that
take place, which at times "threaten the validity of the sacrament."
"All abuses regarding the Holy Eucharist are not of the same weight," he
said. "Some threaten to make the sacrament invalid. Some are manifestations
of deficiency in Eucharistic faith. Others contribute to confusion among the
people of God and to growing desacralization of Eucharistic celebrations.
They are not banal."
In fact, the document does not give new norms, but "specifies" them, the
cardinal said at the press conference. The novelty is "especially in the
spirit," as it seeks to motivate these norms with an "attitude of faith and
reverence for the Eucharist."
The first of the document's eight chapters focuses on "The Regulation of the
Sacred Liturgy," and explains the role of the Apostolic See, the diocesan
bishop, the episcopal conference, priests and deacons in the regulation of
the liturgy.
No. 24 states: "It is the right of the Christian people themselves that
their diocesan Bishop should take care to prevent the occurrence of abuses
in ecclesiastical discipline, especially as regards the ministry of the
Word, the celebration of the Sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God
and devotion to the saints."
The second chapter addresses "The Participation of the Lay Christian
Faithful in the Eucharistic Celebration," and seeks to avoid the
"clericalization" of the laity, an idea on which the Holy See has insisted
for years.
"The community that gathers for the celebration of the Eucharist absolutely
requires an ordained Priest, who presides over it so that it may truly be a
Eucharistic convocation," No. 42 explains. "Accordingly, terms such as
'celebrating community' or 'celebrating assembly' … and similar terms should
not be used injudiciously."
The instruction affirms in No. 47 that "It is altogether laudable to
maintain the noble custom by which boys or youths, customarily termed
servers, provide service of the altar after the manner of acolytes, and
receive catechesis regarding their function in accordance with their power
of comprehension. Nor should it be forgotten that a great number of sacred
ministers over the course of the centuries have come from among boys such as
these."
"Girls or women may also be admitted to this service of the altar, at the
discretion of the diocesan Bishop and in observance of the established
norms," it adds.
The third chapter illustrates "The Proper Celebration of the Mass," to
remind the faithful of the fundamental norms necessary for the validity of
the sacrament, as the "bread" that "must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and
recently made," and the wine "fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not
mixed with other substances."
"The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass
and is a part of the Liturgy itself, should ordinarily be given by the
Priest celebrant himself," No. 64 states. "He may entrust it to a
concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a
Deacon, but never to a layperson."
"It is strictly to be considered an abuse to introduce into the celebration
of Holy Mass elements that are contrary to the prescriptions of the
liturgical books and taken from the rites of other religions," No. 79
clarifies.
Chapter 4, on "Holy Communion," confirms "The Church's custom shows that it
is necessary for each person to examine himself at depth and that anyone who
is conscious of grave sin should not celebrate or receive the Body of the
Lord without prior sacramental confession, except for grave reason when the
possibility of confession is lacking; in this case he will remember that he
is bound by the obligation of making an act of perfect contrition, which
includes the intention to confess as soon as possible," No. 81 states.
The fifth chapter addresses "Certain Others Matters Concerning the
Eucharist." No. 112 states: "Except in the case of celebrations of the Mass
that are scheduled by the ecclesiastical authorities to take place in the
language of the people, Priests are always and everywhere permitted to
celebrate Mass in Latin."
Regarding the sacred vessels, No. 117 states in part: "Reprobated,
therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common
vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or
which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass,
earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily. This norm is to be
applied even as regards metals and other materials that easily rust or
deteriorate."
On priestly vestments, it says that "the vestment proper to the priest
celebrant at Mass is the chasuble, worn over the alb and stole. Likewise the
Priest, in putting on the chasuble according to the rubrics, is not to omit
the stole."
No. 142 says: "A faculty is given in the Roman Missal for the Priest
concelebrants at Mass other than the principal concelebrant (who should
always put on a chasuble of the prescribed color), for a just reason such as
a large number of concelebrants or a lack of vestments, to omit the
chasuble, using the stole over the alb."
"The Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic Worship Outside
Mass," is the title of the sixth chapter, which in No. 130 states: "It
should also be borne in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated
species for a sacrilegious purpose or casting them away are 'graviora
delicta,' the absolution of which is reserved to the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith."
The seventh chapter, dedicated to the "Extraordinary Functions of the Lay
Faithful," states in No. 153 that it is "never licit for laypersons to
assume the role or the vesture of a Priest or a Deacon or other similar such
vesture."
No. 151 recalls that "Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to
the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the
Liturgy."
No. 158 states: "the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer
Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is
prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when
the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very
celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged."
Grave offenses ("graviora delicta") against the holiness of the sacrament
are addressed in the eighth chapter entitled "Remedies." They are:
"a) taking away or retaining the consecrated species for sacrilegious ends,
or throwing them away;
"b) the attempted celebration of the liturgical action of the Eucharistic
Sacrifice or the simulation of the same;
"c) the forbidden concelebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice with ministers
of Ecclesial Communities that do not have the apostolic succession nor
acknowledge the sacramental dignity of priestly Ordination;
"d) the consecration for sacrilegious ends of one matter without the other
in the celebration of the Eucharist or even of both outside the celebration
of the Eucharist."
No. 184 says: "Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of
Christ's faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical
abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in
law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.
It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be
submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in
truth and charity."
Private Revelations
St. John of the Cross, a Doctor of the Church and one of the greatest of mystic theologians, who had had so many special favors himself, is very severe with persons who desire to be the recipients of visions and revelations. He never wearies of repeating that the proximate means of union with God in this life is the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. True growth consists in intensified love, which is founded on faith and hope. Now although St. John encourages everyone to aim at infused contemplation, even though relatively few attain it, he strongly reproves anyone who desires to be the recipient of a vision or revelation. They desire to see; faith holds on without seeing.
St. Teresa of Avila, who herself had an abundance of visions, takes a similar stand. She admits that great profit can be had from such things when they are genuine and are received in the proper spirit. Yet she says (Interior Castle 6. 9): "I will only warn you that, when you learn or hear that God is granting souls these graces, you must never beg or desire Him to lead you by this road. Even if you think it is a very good one... there are certain reasons why such a course is not wise."
She then goes on at length to explain her reasons: First, such a desire shows a lack of humility; second, one thereby leaves self open to "great peril because the devil has only to see a door left a bit ajar to enter"; third, the danger of auto-suggestion: "When a person has a great desire for something, he convinces himself that he is seeing or hearing what he desires." Fourth, it is presumption for one to want to choose his own path, as only the Lord knows which path is best for us. Fifth, very heavy trials usually go with these favors: could we be sure of being able to bear them? Sixth, "you may well find that the very thing from which you had expected gain will bring you loss."
She then adds that there are also other reasons, and continues with some wholesome advice that one can become very holy without this sort of thing: "There are many holy people who have never known what it is to receive a favor of this sort, and there are others who receive such favors even though they are not holy." We think of the frightening words of Our Lord in Mt. 7.22-23. Speaking of the last day, He said: "Many will say to me on that day: "Lord , Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out devils in your name, and work many miracles in your name? And then I will tell them: I never knew you. Depart from me you workers of iniquity." St. Teresa adds: "It is true that to have these favors must be a very great help towards attaining a high degree of perfection in the virtues; but one who has attained the virtues at the cost of his own work has earned much more merit."
It is, then, a sad mistake to center one's spiritual life about recounting and hoping for special revelations. Yes, we do well to follow those that have been approved by the Church, such as Lourdes and Fatima (the the Church does not require belief in any private revelation). But even there, they should not be the center of our spiritual lives except in so far as they are an exhortation to what the Gospel already calls for. Thus the three requests of Fatima are all just repetitions of what general theology provides: 1) Penance: which in the Gospel sense, means moral reform and reparation for sin; 2) Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: this is merely the natural conclusion of learning what our Father's plan is, of His approach to us in which He has given her an all-pervading role; and 3) The Rosary, consisting mostly of lines from the Gospel, plus prayers composed by the Church.
Apparitions and the Spiritual Life
Since there is today so great a number of alleged apparitions of Our Lady, and since so many become so attached to them as to almost center their spiritual lives about them, it is good to consider some principles about visions and revelations.
First, these things are definitely not part of the core of the spiritual life. St. John of the Cross, the Mystical Doctor, is very hard on these things. He goes so far as to tell souls that if a vision comes, they should at first not accept, to hold off and consider its authenticity only if it comes again. The reason he gives is this: faith holds on without seeing proof; those who want visions want to see, not to believe without seeing (cf. Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Spiritual Life II, 575-88 and Poulain, The Graces of Interior Prayer, 299-399).
Authority of the Church
We distinguish two kinds of actions by the local bishops of places of alleged apparitions:
1) a decision that it is or is not authentic. Since the Church herself has no providential protection in the area of private revelations, the bishop could be in error. We are not obliged to believe him, or even the Pope himself in such a case.
2) an order to all not to go in pilgrimage to the place of the supposed visions. This is a different matter, it is an exercise of authority, which the local bishop does have. Therefore if there are violations of this order, and yet visions seem to continue, we may be absolutely certain that the visions are false. Our Lady or the Saints will never appear to promote disobedience. Even if there seem to be benefits to the devotion of people, we must still obey. And we need to recall how demanding the Church is of proof for alleged miracles. At Lourdes, after thousands of seeming miracles, the Church has checked and approved only a little over 60 cases since the start of that shrine.
The objection will be raised: The Church was so slow in approving Fatima, and so people lost so many graces while waiting. We reply: They lost nothing at all. Visions are not like sacraments, which produce their effect by their own power (that is, the power of Christ working through them) in those who do not place an obstacle. One of the most approved series of visions are those of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary. On one occasion, He had told her to do something, but her Superior did not approve. When He came again, she asked Him about this, and He replied: "Therefore not only do I desire that you should do what your Superior commands, but also that you should do nothing of all that I order without their consent. I love obedience, and without it no one can please me" (Autobiography of St. Margaret Mary # 47).
We can understand this: He Himself redeemed the world precisely by obedience (Cf. Rom 5:19). Without obedience His sacrifice would have been empty externalism, the kind God reproved in the ancient Jews in Isaiah 29:13: "This people honors me with their lips, but heir heart is far from me." Lumen gentium # 3 says "by His obedience He brought about redemption." So there is no grace to be had by disobeying. To wait will not entail any loss at all; rather, God's favor will be upon those who obey.
If the local bishop does not approve, it is not good to say: let us wait for Rome to speak. Normally Rome respects the local bishop, and is highly unlikely to reverse his decision. Even if Rome did reverse it, we would have no guarantee, for, as we said, the providential protection promised to the Church does not cover private revelations.
PRINCIPLES FOR DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS
What kind of Spirit is at work when someone receives a vision, a revelation, or a more routine favor? To determine this is called the discernment of spirits. It is of great importance to find the right answer. It is evident that there can be three sources: good spirit, evil spirit, auto-suggestion.
Poulain, Graces of Interior Prayer, p. 322, thinks that at least three fourths of the revelations given to those who have not reached high sanctity are illusions. And there are many cases known of illusions even in canonized saints. So St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross are quite prudent their advice concerning privately revelations (which we have already seen). We think also of the words of Our Lord (Jn 20:29): "More blessed are they who have not seen and have believed."
[In what follows, the numerous examples given by the author have been somewhat reduced in the interest of brevity.]
Five causes of error in revelations
(1) Faulty interpretation of visions by the recipient.
St. John of the Cross warns about this in Ascent of Mount Carmel II. 19. Thus St. Joan of Arc in prison had a revelation that she would be delivered by a great victory--it was her martyrdom, which she did not suspect.
Prophecies of punishment, and promises of special favors should be considered as conditional. E.g., the Scapular promise should not be taken to refer to mere physical wearing of the Scapular: it must be, as Pius XII said, the outward sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that is really lived. If it is used this way then even if the vision of St. Simon Stock might not be true, the promise will be fulfilled, as we explained earlier.
2. Visions of the life and death of Christ, or other historic scenes, must be understood to be approximate only.
Thus some saw Jesus with three nails, some with four. Blessed Veronica of Binasco saw the whole life of Christ, and so did St. Frances of Rome and Catherine Emmerich. The Bollandists, Jesuit experts in studying the lives of the Saints, tell us there are many historical errors in these.
NOTE: Pope John XXIII, ordered The Poem of the Man God put on the index, on Dec. 16, 1960. The Index is now abolished, but Cardinal Ratzinger in a letter of Jan 31, 1985 wrote:..."The Index of forbidden books keeps all of its moral authority and therefore the distribution and recommendation of the work is considered improper when its condemnation was not made lightly but with the most serious motivation of neutralizing the harm which such publication could inflict on the more unwary faithful." So the Pontifical Imprimatur claimed for it is bogus.
3. Human action may mingle with the divine action.
St. Catherine Labouré foretold many events correctly, but failed on others. It is especially easy for this to happen with ideas that appeal to our own desires or fit with preconceived ideas. Benedict XIV (Heroic Virtue III. 14. p. 404) said: "The revelations of some holy women canonized by the Apostolic See whose saying and writings in rapture and derived from rapture are filled with errors."
4. A true revelation may later be altered involuntarily by the recipient.
This happens especially with intellectual locutions which need to be translated into words. Again, God may seem to promise a cure without saying if it is total or partial, sudden or slow, or even physical or moral. Again if a revelation is received in an instant, but it takes long to write it all down. St. Bridget admits such a thing in her own case.
5. Secretaries may alter without intending to do so.
The accuracy of the text is disputed in the works of Mary of Agreda, Catherine Emmerich, and Mary Lataste. It has been shown that 32 passages from the latter have been taken word for word from St. Thomas' Summa Theologiae.
Similarly, compilers sometimes modify them. The first edition of Catherine Emmerich had St. James the Elder present at the death of the Blessed Virgin. When it was seen that this was incompatible with Acts of Apostles, it was dropped from later editions.
Five Causes of False Revelations
1. Pure bad faith, fakery.
Magdalen of the Cross was a Franciscan of Cordova, born in 1487, who entered a convent at age of 17. From the age of 5 the devil appeared to her as various Saints, led her to desire to be considered a saint. At 13 he said who he was, offered an agreement: he would spread her reputation for holiness, and give her at least 30 years of pleasures. She agreed, and it all came true--ecstasies, levitation, prophecies, simulated stigmata. At door of death she confessed. Exorcism was needed.
2. Overactive imagination.
We said above that human faculties may mingle with the divine action. Someone may imagine a saint is near him. He may imagine intellectual locutions. Cf. St. John of Cross, Ascent II. 29. St. Teresa said (Interior Castle 6.6) that if one has once had a real vision, he will recognize the deception.
Hallucinations can come from excess in abstinence, fasting, and vigils.
3. Illusion in thinking one remembers things that never happened.
Some may imagine they have had visions. Some invent stories and convince themselves--in good faith. Some relate trips to far lands where they have never been. The line between imagination and reality is dim in young children--something similar can happen later too. This is not rare. If a spiritual director finds his advice has little effect, there is reason for seeing illusion. Some make false charges in courts in this way.
4. The Devil may give false visions or revelations.
We saw this in the case of Magdalen of the Cross.
5. Predictions by falsifiers.
Some make these at first for their own amusement, then find they have a tiger by the tail. St. Bonaventure (De profectu religiosorum III. 76) said he was fed up with such things, on the troubles of the Church and the end of the world. During the great Western Schism at end of 14th century, there were many holy mortified men who had false revelations, and even thought they would be the pope. At fifth Lateran Council in 1516 Leo X had to publish an order prohibiting preachers from giving public prophecies. There were many during the French Revolution, clear and in detail on the past, vague on the future.
In 19th century there was an epidemic of prophecy especially on "the great Pope and the great King" inspired by the 17th century commentary on the Apocalypse by Ven. Holzhauser. Pius IX in an Allocution of April 9, 1872 said: "I do not give much belief to prophecies, because those especially that have come recently do not deserve to be read."
What degree of certainty or probability is possible?
1. When God so wills, He can give full certainty to the recipient. We who are not the recipients can also be sure of revelations given to another, e.g. , the OT prophets, for they furnished certain signs of their mission. This can be done by miracles worked in a framework in which a tie is made between the miracle and the claim.
2. Beyond this area, probability is the most that is attainable. We need then to work with various signs. We should: (a) Get detailed information on the person to whom the revelation seems to have been made; and on what facts seem to have been revealed.
Often we must work by exclusion, i.e. , show that it comes not from the devil, nor from the human mind. But psychology still cannot give full replies on some things that seem supernormal operations of the human mind: hypnotism, somnambulism, telepathy, thought-reading, etc. For data on the uncertainties of psychology see Richard M. Restak, [Neurologist in Washington D. C. ] "See no Evil. The Neurological defense would blame violence on the damaged brain" in The Sciences, July/August 1992, pp. 16- 21.
3. Inquiries to be made about the alleged recipient:
(1) If the person is canonized, the Church has already checked--but canonization does not guarantee the truth of any supposed revelation given to the Saint.
(2) If not canonized: (a) What are the natural qualities or defects, physical, intellectual, and moral. Is he sincere, cool-headed, of sound judgment, of perfect mental equilibrium. Or is his mind weakened by poor health, vigils, fasts etc.
(b) Degree of education of the recipient--what books he has read, what information he may have picked up from other more learned persons. Much care is needed. Some say that Mary of Agreda was an ignorant girl. But she could read, knew the Bible well, and Cardinal Gotti showed several of her revelations were borrowed from a 15th century book, The Raptures of Blessed Amadeus. And she admits the help of theologians. Yet she said, in exaggeration: "No human mind could have imagined this work" (III, # 789).
(c) What virtues does the person have? What was his general level before and after the alleged revelation? If a great advance in holiness is seen, and it seems to have come from the revelation, there is good probability for the revelations. We think of the Fatima children. But if the seer has stayed at the ordinary level of virtue, the visions come under some suspicion, for would God use extraordinary means to lead to a merely ordinary state of holiness? Exception: God might use an ordinary person to help others. The message of Fatima for example would have ample justification even if the children had not become holy: this message God wanted given to the world. And the three things asked for are theologically sound and called for independently of any revelation.
(d) We need to watch out for the work of satan--he may really promote good things for a while, provided that in the long run he gains. The revelations of Necedah, Wi. seemed to have good fruits, yet were false. Rosaries were said to change to gold. Similarly for Bayside. But disobedience showed them false.
St. Margaret Mary was told by Our Lord: (Autobiography, # 57):"Listen, My Daughter, and do not lightly believe and trust every spirit, for satan is angry and will try to deceive you. So do nothing without the approval of those who guide you. Being thus under the authority of obedience, his efforts against you will be in vain, for he has no power over the obedient."
Sometimes satan urges people to immoderate penances, so that they will in time give up. He may make contemplatives desire the active life, or vice versa. Blessed Jordan of Saxony, second General of the Dominicans, contracted a high fever. He had a prior skilled in medicine who told him to sleep on a soft bed. But satan appeared to Jordan in the night and rebuked his self-indulgence. Jordan gave into this two nights. But the third night Jordan saw that he should obey his doctor, and so did. Jordan had previously put himself under obedience to the doctor.
(e) Humility is a major key. Satan has the greatest horror of it. (Cf. the above words of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary.) Yet satan can lead a person to false humility. Pride shows in contempt for others, in an independent spirit as to the Superior and the spiritual director, in obstinacy in opinions, in refusal to submit to examinations (cf. Teresa Neumann), in anger. It shows too in desiring to publish the graces the person thinks he has received--when it is not necessary. Humility leads to wanting to hide them, except in cases of real usefulness.
(f) Has the person claimed revelations before? Made predictions that were not fulfilled? If there was no reason to suppose the failed predictions were conditional, then they will seem not of divine origin.
(g) Has the recipient suffered great trials before or after the revelation, such as sicknesses, contradictions, lack of success. Extraordinary graces are very likely to bring great trials, as St. Teresa of Avila remarked, (cited above), in Interior Castle 6. 9. It is specially likely that the recipient will encounter skepticism or hostility. Bl. Juliana of Liege was chosen by God to establish the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. Visions on it began two years after her entering the novitiate at age 16 in 1208. Only 22 years later did she dare to submit her project to some learned theologians, who approved it, but her enemies got revenge by pillaging her convent. In 1256 the Bishop of Liege established the Feast in one parish in his diocese, but died the same year. The convent was again pillaged. She was calumniated, forced to leave the convent, wandered during the last 20 years of her life, and died at age 66 after fruitless work for 50 years. Finally Pope Urban IV established the feast a century after the start of the revelations.
Yet not always do such things happen. St. Catherine Labouré had early success with the Miraculous Medal.
(h) Has the recipient been fearful of deception, open to Superiors or Director, and never desired revelations? St. Teresa of Avila was told in a vision to found a reformed Carmelite house, but yet did nothing until she had consulted four advisors (Autobiography 32). Mary of Agreda is quite the opposite. St. Ignatius in his rules for first Week, 13, says satan tries to keep the person from being open. St. Monica as St. Augustine reports desired revelations about his coming marriage; they were false (Confessions 6. 13). So if a revelation has been desired that alone makes it doubtful. This is especially so if answers of pure curiosity are desired or answers to scholastic questions. Mary of Agreda was imprudent here, and was encouraged in imprudence by her confessors.
(i) It is probably good to employ the testimony of expert psychologists as to ecstatic states etc. However, psychology is not so solid and exact a science that absolute trust should be placed in their results.
Further Points to be Checked
1. Do we have an entirely authentic text? Some things have been suppressed or corrected in some cases. There may also have been additions.
2. Is the teaching in full accord with the teachings of the Church and with the certain conclusions of history and of science? If free from all errors, this need not prove it is of divine origin. But also, since there can be mixtures in private revelations, one false teaching need not lead us to conclude that all points are false.
3. Is there a revelation of the vices and sins of others? This does not always prove a revelation is false, but calls for careful checking. Some Saints have had a knowledge of the secrets of hearts, which helped in reforming souls: St. Joseph of Cupertino, St Catherine of Siena, St. John Vianney. St. John of the Cross, in Ascent II. 26 warns that satan at times will make false revelations of the sins of others. Further, sometimes seeming knowledge is only the result of imagination.
4. Is the information useful for salvation of souls? If it is merely to satisfy curiosity it is unlikely to be of divine origin. Some seeming seers act like mediums, give information on births, marriages, legal processes, diseases, political events etc. God does not run an Inquiry Office. Some are very clever at observing and can work with little things. Seances often push furniture about and cause vibrations in musical instruments etc. God does not do these things. Also suspect are revelations that merely give truisms.
A large abundance of revelations taken alone does not disprove. We have cases like this in St. Bridget, St. Gertrude, St. Frances of Rome, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Margaret Mary, St. Ignatius and others.
5. Is all in accord with the dignity and gravity of the Divine Majesty? Some alleged revelations descend into vulgar speech. If there is neurotic exaltation and crowds weeping over their sins as at revivals, it is at least suspect. Satan at times appears taking repulsive shapes. On the other hand, St. Frances of Rome once saw 6 devils in the form of 6 beautiful doves--when she saw through it, they changed to crows and tried to harm her. Satan at times takes on the appearance of Christ Himself.
6. Are there sentiments or peace of disquiet? St. Ignatius considers this sign important. The good Spirit may cause momentary disquiet, but then brings peace. It is the opposite with satan. But the peace alone will not prove the words are divine.
7. Revelations to direct princes or clergy are suspect: Mary of Agreda kept up correspondence with Philip IV of Spain for 20 years. The King divided his sheets of paper into two columns so she could comment in the opposite column. But the comments are mostly commonplace, with general advice anyone could have given. She had no comments on the King's relaxed morality and his culpable carelessness on things for which he was responsible.
Summary
We might sum up the characteristics thus:
1) Signs of the spirit of God: fits with teaching of Church; serious; gives light to the soul, docility, discretion: no hurriedness or exaggerations; humble thoughts; confidence in God, rightness of intention, patience in suffering, self-denial, sincerity and simplicity in conduct, no attachments not even to the gifts, great desire to imitate Christ in all things (a very strong sign), gentleness, kindness;
2) Signs of the evil spirit:
the opposite of the above--spirit of
falseness or lie, suggestion of useless things, curious things, impertinent
things, darkness, restlessness in the soul, a bold,
obstinate spirit, many
indiscretions, pride, lack of hope, disobedience, vanity, self-satisfaction,
impatience, rebellion of the passions, hypocrisy, pretense, attachment to
earthly things, forgetfulness of Christ and of imitating him, a false
charity including bitter zeal, indiscretion.
Excerpted and adapted from Theology 523: Our Lady in Doctrine and
Devotion, by Father William G. Most. Copyright (c) 1994 William G. Most.
MEDJUGORJEAugust 8 2004
-
In response to
a request on
information
about Medjugorje
Medjugorje: 20 Years Later, the Questions Linger
MEDJUGORJE
www.ewtn.com
[This answer is not intended as an exhaustive history, an
attempt to settle allegations or open questions, much less to judge the
authenticity of the apparitions.] Answered by Colin B.
Donovan, STL
History. On June 24, 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia (today, Bosnia-Herzegovina), began to experience phenomena which they alleged to be apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This apparition had a message of peace for the world, as well as a call to conversion, prayer and fasting. It also entrusted to the children secret messages about events to be fulfilled in the future. These "secrets," confided individually to different visionaries, have not been revealed to the public. The apparitions themselves have continued almost daily since 1981, with some of the now young adults continuing to experience them regularly (those who have not yet received all the secrets intended for them) and others not. Originally they occurred on a hilltop near the town where a large Cross commemorating the Redemption exists. They have since occurred in many other places, including the parish church, St. James, and wherever the visionaries happen to be located at the time of the apparition.
Ecclesiastical Evaluation. The initial, informal, response of the Bishop Zanic of Mostar, in whose diocese Medjugorje is found, is said to have been favorable. However, it is alleged that comments attributed to the vision that was critical of the secular clergy and himself convinced him the visions could not be authentic. He nonetheless established a commission in 1982, comprised of theologians, scientific experts and religious superiors to investigate the Medjugorje events. Its three year study produced a vote from two members of the commission in favor of supernaturality, one that it was authentic initially but no longer so, one abstention and eleven votes that nothing supernatural was occurring there. Letter of Bishop Zanic
In April 1991 the following declaration was made by the Bishops' Conference of the former Yugoslavia:
The bishops, from the very beginning, have been following the events of Medjugorje through the Bishop of the diocese [Mostar], the Bishop's Commission and the Commission of the Bishops Conference of Yugoslavia on Medjugorje.
On the basis of the investigations so far it can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations. [emphasis added]
However, the numerous gatherings of the faithful from different parts of the world, who come to Medjugorje, prompted both by motives of belief and various other motives, require the attention and pastoral care in the first place of the diocesan bishop and with him of the other bishops also, so that in Medjugorje and in everything connected with it a healthy devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary may be promoted in accordance with the teaching of the Church.
For this purpose the bishops will issue specially suitable liturgical-pastoral directives. Likewise, through their Commission they will continue to keep up with and investigate the entire event in Medjugorje.
From the point of view of an ecclesiastical evaluation the status of Medjugorje has not changed since this 1991 declaration. The Holy See has allowed this status to remain as it is. Responding to bishops on the matter it simply repeats the aforementioned decision. However, a response from the Secretary of the Doctrinal Congregation, Archbishop Bertone, to a French bishop in 1996 precipitated a flurry of reports that Medjugorje was off-limits to Catholics. In August 1996 the Director of the Holy See's Press Office, Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, stated:
You cannot say people cannot go there until it has been proven false. This has not been said, so anyone can go if they want.
...When one reads what Archbishop Bertone wrote, one could get the impression that from now on everything is forbidden, no possibility [for Catholics to travel to Medjugorje] ... nothing has changed, nothing new has been said.
...The problem is if you systematically organize pilgrimages, organize them with the bishop and the Church, you are giving a canonical sanction to the facts of Medjugorje. This is different from people going in a group who bring a priest with them in order to go to confession.
...Has the church or the Vatican said no [to Catholics visiting Medjugorje]? NO. ... The difference, in the terms of canon law, is that an official pilgrimage, organized by the diocese with the bishop, is a way of giving a juridical sanction to the facts; you are saying this is true. News Report.
More recently in a letter to the Bishop of St. Denis, Archbishop Bertone commented on a statement by the current Bishop of Mostar that the alleged apparitions were not simply lacking evidence of supernaturality but were in fact NOT supernatural (i.e. definitively so). He stated:
The main thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10, 1991: "On the basis of the investigations so far, it can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations." Since the division of Yugoslavia into different independent nations it would now pertain to the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and to make any new pronouncements that might be called for.
What Bishop Peric said in his letter to the Secretary General of FamilleChretienne, declaring: "My conviction and my position is not only non constat de supernaturalitate, but likewise, constat de non supernaturalitate of the apparitions or revelations in Medjugorje", should be considered the expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place, but which is and remains his personal opinion.
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they are permitted on condition that they are not regarded as an authentication of events still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church. Letter to Bishop Aubrey
Mystical Phenomena. The presence of remarkable phenomena is for many sufficient evidence of the validity of an alleged apparition. For others the judgment by local Church authority that there is no evidence of supernaturality at a site suggests fraud, mental illness or the demonic. The Church for her part, however, takes great care before affirming the certain supernaturality or non-supernaturality of phenomena, as the Roman statements given above show. There are likewise few examples of outright condemnation. When they do occur it is usually on the basis of doctrine which is contrary to the faith.
The reasons for such caution are rooted in the Church's common teaching. St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross both assert that as a general rule mystical phenomena (whether in the lives of saints or in apparitions) are the work of the angels. Unless God Himself needs to act to immediately produce an effect (such as to create out of nothing or to infuse sanctifying grace into the soul), He works through creaturely instruments. Thus the intellectual lights granted in contemplative prayer, the visions and locutions of private revelations, the levitations of the saints, the ecstasies of mystics and visionaries, and most external phenomena associated with mysticism, are produced by the angelic nature. Since both good and evil spirits possess the angelic nature the presence of such phenomena alone is an equivocal sign of authenticity. This means that a great deal of unexplained phenomena can occur without indicating positively that the event is from God. This is why the Church looks, among other things, for evident supernaturality, that is, for effects beyond the ability of men or angels which can be attributed to God alone.
Theologians remain divided in judging which phenomena fall clearly into the category of strict supernaturality. However, the practice of the Church in the canonization process of recognizing as miraculous those cures which meet certain strict criteria is a standard that has been applied in approving apparitions, as well (e.g. Lourdes, Beauraing, Banneux). At Fátima the Miracle of Sun likewise fell into the category of a natural prodigy. It is clear, however, that the phenomena which many laity have experienced in connection with alleged apparitions in our days, and which they consider to be proof that they are authentic, do not in fact rise to the level of evident supernaturality. Angelic or demonic activity would be sufficient to explain them. Without a proof of the supernatural order there is little likelihood of the Church affirming an apparition as authentic.
In the case of Medjugorje the commissions found that nothing directly connected with the apparition met this strict standard. As the earlier quoted statements show, the Church remains open to new evidence of supernaturality should it occur and has not judged that Medjugorje is NOT supernatural, much less condemned it.
What the Church has forbidden. From the statements given to date by ecclesiastical authorities it is clear that no one holding an office in the Church (bishop, pastor, rector, chaplain or other) may by virtue of that office lend official sanction to activities which tend to assert the supernaturality of Medjugorje, that is, to contradict the decisions made by competent local authority. Those statements speak only of pilgrimages organized under official auspices; however, common sense tells us that a conference or other activity sponsored by a diocese, parish or other Catholic institution would also be prohibited. Likewise, there could not be public veneration (cultus) of the Blessed Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Medjugorje, since this would suggest the certainty of her appearing there. The title Queen of Peace, however, is already part of the patrimony of the Church.
The Yugoslavian statement speaks of liturgical-pastoral directives which may be developed. Catholics would be obliged to obey whatever positive or negative directives the Bishops' Conference or the local bishop issued regarding the site.
Although an assent of Catholic faith may not be given to revelations thus approved, still, an assent of human faith, made according to the rules of prudence, is due them; for according to these rules such revelations are probable and worthy of pious credence. [Benedict XIV, De Serv. Dei Beatif.]
This means that once a private revelation has achieved Papal approbation it is unreasonable, i.e. imprudent but not against the faith, to not accept it as authentic. The contrary would also be true. If Rome judged a private revelation to not be supernatural, the reasonable person would be satisfied with that conclusion. Would they sin if they did not accept it? They might sin by imprudence, rash judgement or the like, but not against the faith or the obedience they owed the Holy Father. Catholics must always, however, following the external precepts imposed by the Church in such matters, that is, what they may or may not do, as opposed to what they think.
What the Church permits. As the already cited statements note, Catholics may go to Medjugorje. Such pilgrimages may even include priests acting as chaplains, as opposed to officially sponsoring them. Also, the Church has not suppressed discussion of Medjugorje, therefore, it is allowed. Common sense, however, says that Catholics on both sides of the Medjugorje issue should exercise prudence and charity in speaking of others who believe differently. Medjugorje is not a litmus test of orthodoxy, though every Catholic will have a moral obligation to accept the judgement of Rome, in the manner Pope Benedict explained, should it ever be rendered.
St. Augustine probably gave the simpliest and most helpful rule for all matters of the Church's life when he said (in my paraphrase): Answered by Colin B. Donovan, STL
In necessary things unity,
in undecided things freedom,
and in all things charity
Did Apparitions Aim to Prepare Rwanda for the Worst?
VATICAN CITY, JULY 3, 2001 (Zenit.org).- Why did the Virgin Mary appear in a Rwandan village?
This is a key question in the wake of a declaration of Bishop Augustine Misago of Gikongoro, which was published by the Vatican and which confirmed the veracity of the Kibeho visionaries in the 1980s.
Stefano De Fiores, a member of the International Pontifical Marian Academy, responded to this question in an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire, and underlined the common elements of the Virgin's revelations in Rwanda with those of other places.
The apparitions were a "call to prayer, conversion and fasting; but, above all, a message of reconciliation," De Fiores said.
He noted that the diocesan approval of the apparitions in Rwanda does not change Catholic theology.
"Jesus, is Revelation," De Fiores said. "To go beyond would be very dangerous. As St. Thomas said, apparitions must be understood in the realm of charisms, especially that of prophecy, offered for moral behavior and the spiritual life."
He added: "The list of truths is not enlarged, but the Church and community are given a push, to prepare for times to come that might be difficult."
Rwanda in 1994 suffered a genocide, in which government-orchestrated massacres left more than 500,000 people dead, most of them Tutsis or politically moderate Hutus.
