Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for August is: “That all those who are going through moments of inner difficulty and trial may find in Christ the light and support which leads them to discover authentic happiness.”
  His mission intention is: “That the Church in China may bear witness to ever greater inner cohesion and […]

This famous founder of the Jesuits was born in 1491. He was from a Spanish noble family. As a boy, he was sent to be a page at the royal court. There he lived on the desire to someday become a great soldier and marry a beautiful lady. Later, he did, indeed, win honor for […]

(VIS) - Following today’s Angelus at Castelgandolfo, the Pope made an appeal for the liberation of 22 Korean hostages held in Afghanistan since July 19.
  “There is a growing practice among armed groups to use innocent people to achieve their own particular ends. This is a serious violation of human dignity that contrasts with all […]

The Holy Father:
 - Accepted the resignation from the office of almoner of His Holiness, presented by Archbishop Oscar Rizzato, upon having reached the age limit.
 - Appointed Archbishop Felix del Blanco Prieto, apostolic nuncio to Malta and to Libya, as almoner of His Holiness.
 - Appointed Fr. Bernabe de Jesus Sagastume Lemus O.F.M. Cap., provincial vice-minister of […]

Peter was born in the small town of Imola, Italy. He lived in the fifth century. Bishop Cornelius of Imola educated him and ordained him a deacon. Even as a boy, Peter understood that a person is truly great only if he can control his passions and put on the spirit of Christ.
When the archbishop […]

Four priests have been arrested and detained for refusing to join the Patriotic Association, the government body that oversees religious practice in the country.
Three of the priests were arrested July 24, at the home of Catholic faithful in the Ximeng region of Inner Mongolia, the Cardinal Kung Foundation reported.
Father Liang Aijun, 35, Father Wang Zhong, […]

Write Condoleezza Rice After Mission Trip to Area
The plight of Iraqi refugees is dire and calls for increased U.S. assistance, said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.
In a July 26 letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Cardinal McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, D.C., and Bishop DiMarzio of Brooklyn, New York, voiced […]

Calls Disarmament an Urgent Task
Benedict XVI urged nuclear disarmament, suggesting that resources thus saved could be used to help the poor.
The Pope said this today before praying the midday Angelus with crowds gathered at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Rome.
His address recalled the 50th anniversary of the founding […]

Benedict XVI says he had great enthusiasm during the Second Vatican Council, but acknowledges the difficulties the Church has faced since those years.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi recounted the Pope’s words during the most recent edition of the Vatican Television program “Octava Dies.” The Vatican spokesman was commenting on the Holy Father’s question-and-answer session last Tuesday […]

Saint Martha

July 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. They lived in the little town of Bethany near Jerusalem. They were dear friends of Jesus, and he often came to visit them. In fact, the Gospel tells us: “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary and Lazarus.” It was St. Martha who lovingly served the Lord […]

“Be a true spouse of the Truth”

Most beloved father in our dear Christ Jesus. I Catherine, a minister and servant of the servants of Jesus Christ write you in his precious blood. I desire that you become a true spouse of the Truth himself, that you follow him and love him.
I see no way of […]

Stability

July 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Statutes of the Carthusian Order 
Book 3, Chapter 30
Stability
  1 A monk’s surrender of himself to God will not be really perfect unless he faithfully persevere in that intention all the days of his life - as, indeed, at solemn Profession, he freely promised to do. Since this is an irrevocable commitment, before making it, he should first sit […]

The Holy Father appointed Bishop Vicente Jimenez Zamora of Osma-Soria, Spain as bishop of Santander (area 5,527, population 562,309, Catholics 548,574, priests 484, permanent deacons 2, religious 1,095), Spain.

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Saint Botvid

July 28, 2007 | 1 Comment

Botvid was born in Sweden. He lived near the end of the eleventh century. The young man was brought up a pagan. But when he went to England, he became a Christian. Although he was not a priest, he felt a great desire to spread the Gospel message. He wanted to share Christianity with his […]

Praises Christians Nourished by Their Faith
Catholic families that are nourished and penetrated by faith are particularly beautiful proclamations of the Gospel today, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with 400 priests of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso, in the Church of St. Justina Martyr in Auronzo di Cadore, near […]

Says Acknowledging God Will Help Youth Find Meaning
Benedict XVI says youth will find meaning in their lives if they acknowledge the existence of their Creator. And, he affirms, the theory of evolution does not require denying God.
The Pope said this Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with 400 priests of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso, […]

The former spokesman for the Archdiocese of Dublin has been elected to the third seat in the Irish Senate.
Ronan Mullen, 36, a first-time candidate, and well-known pro-life media commentator and barrister, pulled off what the Irish Times reported to be a “sensational upset.”
Mullen, campaigning on family and community issues, pulled in support from a broad […]

Egypt’s most senior Muslim cleric has agreed to help protect Orthodox churches under Turkish occupation since 1974 in the island republic.
Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, the grand imam of Egypt, told Chrysostomos II, Orthodox archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, that he would support the primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus to help prevent […]

Pontifical Household Preacher Comments on Sunday’s Readings
Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday’s liturgy.
* * *
Jesus at Prayer
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Genesis 18:20-21, 23-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13
Sunday’s Gospel begins with these words: “Jesus was praying in a certain place, […]

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO MEMBERS OF THE BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF PUERTO RICO ON THEIR “AD LIMINA” VISIT
Saturday, 30 June 2007
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
I receive you with great joy, Pastors of God’s pilgrim Church in Puerto Rico, who have come to Rome on your ad limina visit to strengthen the deep bonds […]

Pantaleon came from Nicomedia, near the Black Sea, in Asia. He lived in the fourth century. He was such a famous doctor that Emperor Galerius Maximian chose him for his personal doctor. There, at the wicked, pagan court, Pantaleon got into trouble. He was a Christian, but little by little, he let the bad example […]

When the storm rages around you there is naturally turmoil on the surface.
Often we allow this to result in us loosing our true focus.
As a result our spiritual progress suffers.
A crisis becomes so dominant we can think of and consider nothing else.
Our true and lasting life however is not on the surface.
Christ promised that He […]

Says This Is a Proclamation of the Faith
Benedict XVI says that evangelization in today’s world implies following the example of the first Christians and combining proclamation with dialogue.
The Pope said this Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with 400 priests of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso, in the Church of St. Justina Martyr in Auronzo […]

Calls This Capacity the Person’s Majesty
The task of the Church is to develop the human person’s God-given ability to listen to the voice of truth, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with 400 priests of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso, in the Church of St. Justina Martyr in Auronzo […]

Justice Has Risen, Says Bulgarian Prelate
Bulgarian bishops expressed their satisfaction at the liberation of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who were accused of intentionally infecting Libyan children with the virus that causes AIDS.
The six health care workers were freed Tuesday thanks to an international negotiation. Though they had been found guilty and condemned […]

An Islamic leader condemned recent Muslim protests against a conference planned by the Carmelite Prayer Center.
Syafi’i Maarif, head of the Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second largest Islamic organization, said that police must protect everyone’s right to express their religious faith. The Carmelite center, named Lembah Karmel Cikanyere, in Cianjur Regency, West Java, was forced to postpone an […]

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO CARD. JEAN-PIERRE RICARD PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SCOUT CAMP
To His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard,
Archbishop of Bordeaux
President of the Bishops’ Conference of France
The first of August 2007 will mark the 100th anniversary of the […]

by St. Vincent de Lerins
I have continually given the greatest pains and diligence to inquiring, from the greatest possible number of men outstanding in holiness and in doctrine, how I can secure a type of fixed and, as it were, general, guiding principle for distinguishing the true Catholic Faith from the degraded falsehoods of heresy.And […]

(VIS) - Benedict XVI’s Message for 23rd World Youth Day, due to be held in Sydney, Australia from July 15 to 20, 2008, has as its theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts of the Apostles 1, 8).
  The Message is dated […]

St. Anne and St. Joachim are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They spent their lives worshiping God and doing good. They had one great sorrow, however: God had not sent them any children. For years and years, Anne had begged the Lord to give her a child. She promised to consecrate the baby […]

The Messengers of Peace Association, a nongovernmental organization started by Father Ángel García, took the toys to hospitals, orphanages, schools in refugee camps, and various other parts of the country, the Fides news agency reported. Father García said: “Children are the most innocent victims of any war or conflict and they are the ones who […]

Calls for a Return to Creator’s Design
People know that marriage is for life, and the key to reversing the divorce trend is to recuperate the ability to listen to nature, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with 400 priests of the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso, in the Church of […]

The secretary of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation emphasized again that the dicastery’s recent document on the doctrine of the Church is an aid to ecumenism.
Salesian Archbishop Angelo Amato of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith spoke with journalists Tuesday in Spain, before giving a conference on Benedict XVI’s book, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
The archbishop […]

Benedict XVI Recalled Saint’s Christocentric Identity
Benedict XVI gave St. Francis back to us, in his original truth and in his ever-relevant message, said Cardinal Attilio Nicora.
Cardinal Nicora, legate for the two papal basilicas in Assisi, wrote this in the preface of a compilation of discourses given by the Pope in Assisi last June 17.
The Holy […]

Benedict XVI has extended the duties of Bishop Vincent Cadieux, making him the leader of the Diocese of Hearst. He will continue as bishop of Moosonee. The Vatican press office announced today that Bishop Cadieux, 67, will govern the two dioceses united “in persona Episcopi.” Hearst has a population of 27,908 Catholics, served by 22 […]

(VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was a telegram of condolence sent, in the Pope’s name, by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. for Sunday’s road accident near Grenoble, France in which 26 Polish pilgrims, returning from the Shrine of Our lady of Salette, lost their lives.
  In the telegram, addressed to Archbishop Zygmunt […]

The Holy Father appointed Bishop Vincent Cadieux O.M.I. of Moosonee, Canada as bishop of Hearst (area 108,830, population 36,681, Catholics 27,908, priests 22, permanent deacons 2, religious 7), Canada. Bishop Cadieux will remain as bishop of Moosonee, governing the two circumscriptions united “in persona Episcopi.”

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Yesterday Benedict XVI met with clergy from the Italian dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso in the church of St. Justina, Martyr, in Auronzo, near Lorenzago di Cadore where he is spending a few weeks holiday.
  During the meeting, which was reserved for priests only, the Pope replied to ten questions concerning “the problem of forming […]

James was a fisherman like his father Zebedee and his brother John. He was on his father’s boat mending his nets when the Lord passed by. Jesus called each of them, James and John, to become fishers of men, to join him in spreading the Good News. Zebedee watched as his two sons left the […]

Holds Q-and-A Session With Italian Clergy 
Benedict XVI, responding to a priest’s question about divorced and remarried couples, says there is a need to reconcile mercy and truth.
The Pope said this today when meeting with some 400 priests from the dioceses of Belluno-Feltre and Treviso.
Ten priests from the dioceses were able to ask the Pontiff questions […]

Bill in Victoria Calls for Decriminalization
The bishops of Victoria sent a letter to the state’s Parliament calling on it to reject efforts to decriminalize abortion.
Candy Broad, a member of the upper house, is introducing a bill that would allow women unfettered access to early-term abortion services.
The state of Victoria, located in southeastern Australia, has one […]

Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir warned that the “inflexibility and obstinacy” of Lebanese politicians’ might lead to the country’s downfall. Political difficulties continue to plague Lebanon, still recovering from last July’s war between Israel and Hezbollah, hindering much of the needed rebuilding. The 34-day conflict killed more than 1,200 Lebanese and more than 150 Israelis, while displacing […]

These two brothers were born toward the end of the tenth century. They were sons of St. Vladimir of Kiev, the first Christian prince in Russia. Their father had had many wives before he became a Christian. Afterwards, he had lived as Jesus teaches us in the Gospel. Boris and Gleb were his sons by […]

A conference titled “At the Side of the Dying Person” will bring experts to the Vatican to consider orientations for accompanying people in their last moments of life. The Pontifical Academy for Life is organizing the two-day conference, which will be held in February. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council for Health […]

Benedict XVI thanked a group of Seattle firefighters, in Lorenzago di Cadore to assist local forest rangers during the Pope’s stay in the region.
The Pope was on his way to Mirabello Castle on Sunday when he stopped today at the Church of Our Lady of Defense, on the outskirts of Lorenzago di Cadore. 
The Holy Father thanked […]

Says Presidential Attacks Against Church a Smoke Screen
Archbishop Ovidio Pérez Morales says Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s attacks against clergy are a “sort of presidential custom,” and nothing more than a “smoke screen to hide something very serious.”
The archbishop, president of the Venezuelan bishops’ plenary council, responded Thursday to another barrage of attacks against the clergy, […]

26 Polish Pilgrims Dead, 14 Seriously Injured
Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard sent condolences to the bishops of Poland after a bus accident killed 26 Polish pilgrims in an Alpine Pass in southeast France.
The 47 pilgrims, accompanied by a guide and two drivers, were leaving the Shrine of Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette on Sunday when their bus crashed through a barrier […]

CELEBRATION OF FIRST VESPERS
OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Your Eminences,
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At this First Vespers of the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, let us commemorate with gratitude these two […]

The U.S. bishops have asked to meet with Republican members of the House of Representatives to discuss a “responsible transition” to end the war in Iraq. This request comes after the conference of U.S. bishops agreed last week to meet with a group of Catholic House Democrats. It accompanies the continued call for congress and […]

(VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, at the end of a concert of mountain choirs offered in his honor by the diocese of Belluno-Feltre at the castle of Mirabello (Italy), the Holy Father gave a short address.
  “Song is an expression of love”, the Holy Father said, citing St. Augustine. ” I have heard this great love […]

Handy Little Chart

July 23, 2007 | 1 Comment

HANDY LITTLE CHART
(God has a positive answer)
YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES
You say: “It’s impossible”
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: “I’m too tired”
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: “Nobody really loves me”
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: “I can’t go on”
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II […]

Calls It Training for Life
Benedict XVI says that choral singing is an authentic education in life and peace, and an exercise in the “hearing of the heart.”
The Pope said this Friday following a concert in his honor performed by Alpine choirs at the Castle of Mirabello, near where he is vacationing until July 27.
“Training in […]

The God Debate Heats Up
By Father John Flynn, L.C.
The attack against religion started by Richard Dawkins in his book “The God Delusion” shows no sign of letting up. In recent months a number of emulators have published books that continue the polemic.
In “God: The Failed Hypothesis,” Victor J. Stenger purports to provide a sort of […]

Offers Advice to Newly Elected Officials in Philippines
To seek the common good requires that we set aside differences and focus on resolving them with civility and candor, said Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.
Cardinal Vidal, archbishop of Cebu, offered this advice during a Mass attended by newly elected officials of different cities and municipalities in his archdiocese, Asia […]

On War

July 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today before reciting the midday Angelus in the Piazza Calvi of Lorenzago di Cadore, near the spot where the Pope is vacationing in northern Italy.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
In these days of rest that, thanks be to God, I am passing here in Cadore, […]

Just a couple of writings that express Christian spirituality in such beautiful ways:
“We are told that gentleness is the summing-up of all the Christian
virtues: it consists, above all, of patience and kindness; of respect
and love for souls, indeed for all animate being, since one who is
gentle is gentle towards all living things. And this, because […]

Mary Magdalene was from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee. Some people identify her as a well-known sinner when she first saw Our Lord. It seems that she was very beautiful and very proud. But after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus went to supper at the home […]

Latin:
Ave verum corpus, natum
De Maria Virgine,
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine,
Cujus latus perforatum
Unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
In mortis examine.
English:
Hail the true body, born
of the Virgin Mary:
You who truly suffered and were sacrificed
on the cross for the sake of man.
From whose pierced flank
flowed water and blood:
Be a foretaste for us
in the trial of death.
Listen to […]

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