Dec

8

Synod Propositions 21-25

December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Here are translations of the synodal propositions 21-25, which were submitted to Benedict XVI at the end of the world Synod of Bishops on the “Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church,” held in October at the Vatican.
* * *
Proposition 21
Word of God and small communities
The synod recommends the formation of [...]

Dec

8

Protecting Europe’s Cultural and Spiritual Heritage

December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Made public today was a Message from the Pope to Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, presidents respectively of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, and the Pontifical Council for Culture, for the occasion of a day of study promoted by their two dicasteries on the theme: “Dialogue between Cultures [...]

Dec

8

Mary Helps Christin Become the Soul of the World

December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Early this afternoon, the Holy Father travelled to Rome’s Piazza di Spagna to pay his traditional homage at the statue of Mary Immaculate.
Before arriving in the square, the Holy Father stopped briefly at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity to greet the Dominican Friars and the members of the Via Condotti [...]

Dec

8

Immaculate Conception: Victory Over Original Sin

December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment

At midday today, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with 40,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square below.
Today’s solemnity, said the Pope, “reminds us of two fundamental truths of our faith: original sin, … and the victory over that sin [...]

Dec

8

Immaculate Conception of Mary

December 8, 2008 | 1 Comment

Our first parents offended God by sinning seriously. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, every baby is born into the world with original sin. We are all children of our first parents. Therefore, we all inherit their sin. This sin in us is called original sin.
But the Blessed Virgin Mary was given a [...]