Jesus is the salvation for every person and every people 2014-12-25 Vatican Radio Urbi et Orbi Message of Pope Francis Thursday 25 December 2014 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy Christmas! Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, is born for us, born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, fulfilling the ancient prophecies. The Virgin’s name is Mary, the wife of Joseph. Humble people, full of hope in the goodness of God, are those who welcome Jesus and recognize him. And so the Holy Spirit enlightened the shepherds of Bethlehem, who hastened to the grotto and adored the Child. Then the Spirit led the elderly and humble couple Simeon and Anna into the temple of Jerusalem, and they recognized in Jesus the Messiah. “My eyes have seen your salvation”, Simeon exclaimed, “the salvation prepared by God in the sight of all peoples” (Lk 2:30). Yes, brothers and sisters, Jesus is the salvation for every person and for every people! Today I ask him, the Saviour of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution. May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world. May indifference be changed into closeness and rejection into hospitality, so that all who now are suffering may receive the necessary humanitarian help to overcome the rigours of winter, return to their countries and live with dignity. May the Lord open hearts to trust, and may he bestow his peace upon the whole Middle East, beginning with the land blessed by his birth, thereby sustaining the efforts of those committed effectively to dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. May Jesus, Saviour of the world, protect all who suffer in Ukraine, and grant that their beloved land may overcome tensions, conquer hatred and violence, and set out on a new journey of fraternity and reconciliation. May Christ the Saviour give peace to Nigeria, where [even in these hours] more blood is being shed and too many people are unjustly deprived of their possessions, held as hostages or killed. I invoke peace also on the other parts of the African continent, thinking especially of Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and various regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I beseech all who have political responsibility to commit themselves through dialogue to overcoming differences and to building a lasting, fraternal coexistence. May Jesus save the vast numbers of children who are victims of violence, made objects of trade and trafficking, or forced to become soldiers; children, so many abused children. May he give comfort to the families of the children killed in Pakistan last week. May he be close to all who suffer from illness, especially the victims of the Ebola epidemic, above all in Liberia, in Sierra Leone and in Guinea. As I thank all who are courageously dedicated to assisting the sick and their family members, I once more make an urgent appeal that the necessary assistance and treatment be provided. The Child Jesus. My thoughts turn to all those children today who are killed and ill-treated, be they infants killed in the womb, deprived of that generous love of their parents and then buried in the egoism of a culture that does not love life; be they children displaced due to war and persecution, abused and taken advantage of before our very eyes and our complicit silence. I think also of those infants massacred in bomb attacks, also those where the Son of God was born. Even today, their impotent silence cries out under the sword of so many Herods. On their blood stands the shadow of contemporary Herods. Truly there are so many tears this Christmas, together with the tears of the Infant Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit today enlighten our hearts, that we may recognize in the Infant Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, the salvation given by God to each one of us, to each man and woman and to all the peoples of the earth. May the power of Christ, which brings freedom and service, be felt in so many hearts afflicted by war, persecution and slavery. May this divine power, by its meekness, take away the hardness of heart of so many men and women immersed in worldliness and indifference, the globalization of indifference. May his redeeming strength transform arms into ploughshares, destruction into creativity, hatred into love and tenderness. Then we will be able to cry out with joy: “Our eyes have seen your salvation”. With these thoughts I wish you all a Happy Christmas! (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/jesus-is-the-salvation-for-every-person-and-every
Pope's Masses at Casa Santa Marta: 10 best quotes of the year 2014-12-26 He kicked off the year 2014...giving priests some advice. POPE FRANCIS January 13, 2014 "These "greasy” priests cause so much harm to the Church! Those who put their energies into artificial things, into vanity, or in a specific attitude and 'cute' type of language.” A lot of pilgrims dream about attending a Mass celebrated by the Pope himself...But Pope Francis warned them that the important thing is the Mass itself, not the person presiding over it. POPE FRANCIS February 10, 2014 "It’s a tourist stop, right? No! We are all here to take part in God's mystery.” One of the Pope's main themes is the Holy Spirit. Back in February, he explained why Christians should always be open to it. POPE FRANCIS February 20, 2014 "The Holy Spirit is a great worker, not a 'trade unionist.' He is a great worker, and He works in us, always. He does this work of explaining the mystery of Jesus, and of giving us this sense of Christ.” Along with the Holy Spirit, the Pope usually asks Christian to rejoice...And not to look as they were attending a lifelong funeral. POPE FRANCIS April 24, 2014 "And with a little sense of humor we can say that there are Christian bats who prefer the shadows to the light of the presence of the Lord." By May, the Islamic State had already caught the world's attention. Pope confessed he wept when he heard about Christians being crucified in Syria. POPE FRANCIS May 2, 2014 "In some countries, if you carry the Gospel, you can go to jail. You can't carry a cross, because you'll have to pay a fine. But still, the heart rejoices.” The family was also one the main topic's of the year. The Pope repeatedly asked Christian marriages to be open to life. POPE FRANCIS June 3, 2014 "It might be better – more comfortable – to have a dog and two cats. All the love is focused on the cats and the dog. Am I right or wrong here? Have you seen it? At the end of this marriage, comes old age and loneliness.” But without any doubt, the Pope's strongest words were addressed to all those who give in to corruption. POPE FRANCIS June 17, 2014 "As Christians, our duty is to pray for them and ask the Lord to give them the grace of penance, so that they don't die with a corrupt heart, because otherwise the dogs of hell will take their blood.” In July, Pope Francis celebrated a Mass, where a group of victims of sex abuses present. In the name of the Church, he begged their forgiveness. POPE FRANCIS July 7, 2014 "Before God and his people I express my sorrow for the sins and grave crimes of clerical sexual abuse committed against you. And I humbly ask forgiveness." The Pope's daily Masses are very well known for his examples...Pope Francis likes to take everyday's life situations to light up difficult ideas. POPE FRANCIS October 9, 2014 "There is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, they are persons, they are not some vague idea in the clouds. This God spray does not exist! The three persons exist!” The Pope usually explains that God inspires both unity and diversity in the Church. He also warned about the dangers that threat that harmony. POPE FRANCIS November 3, 2014 "We see that there are two worms that eat the fabric of the Church, weakening Her. Rivalry and vainglory go against this harmony, this agreement." The Pope's daily Masses help understand why Pope Francis sees himself as an average parish priest who must stay close to people. http://www.romereports.com/pg159634-pope-s-masses-at-casa-santa-marta-10-best-quotes-of-the-year-en
Pope Francis: Ask Stephen for gift of Christian coherence 2014-12-26 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Below, please find the complete text of Vatican Radio’s translation of Pope Francis’ Angelus address for the Feast of Saint Stephen, 26 December 2014. ANGELUS ADDRESS Dear brothers and sisters, Today the liturgy recalls the witness of Saint Stephen. Chosen by the Apostles, together with six others, for the diaconate of charity in the community of Jerusalem, he became the first martyr of the Church. With his martyrdom, Stephen honored the coming into the world of the King of kings, offering to Him the gift of his own life. And so he shows us how to live the fullness of the mystery of Christmas. The Gospel of this feast gives a part of Jesus’ discourse to his disciples in the moment in which He sends them on mission. Among other things, He says, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Mt 10:22). These words of the Lord do not disrupt the celebration of Christmas, but strip it of that false saccharine-sweetness that does not belong to it. It makes us understand that in the trials accepted on account of the faith, violence is overcome by love, death by life. To truly welcome Jesus in our existence, and to prolong the joy of the Holy Night, the path is precisely the one indicated in this Gospel: that is, to bear witness in humility, in silent service, without fear of going against the current, able to pay in person. And if not all are called, as Saint Stephen was, to shed their own blood, nonetheless, every Christian is called in every circumstance to be to live a life that is coherent with the faith he or she professes. Following the Gospel is certainly a demanding path, but those who travel it with fidelity and courage receive the gift promised by the Lord to men and women of good will. At Bethlehem, in fact, the angels announced to the shepherds, “on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Lk 2:14). This peace given by God is able to soothe the conscience of those who, through the trials of life, know to welcome the Word of God and observe it with perseverance to the end (cf. Mt 10:22). Today let us pray in a special way for all those who are discriminated against because of their witness to Christ. I want to say to each of them: If you carry this cross with love, you have entered into the mystery of Christmas, you are in the heart of Jesus and of the Church. Let us pray also that, thanks to the sacrifices of the martyrs of today, the commitment to recognize and concretely to ensure religious liberty — an inalienable right of every human person — would be strengthened in every part of the world. Dear brothers and sisters, I hope all of you will enjoy a peaceful Christmas feast. May Saint Stephen, Deacon and Proto-martyr, sustain on our daily path all of us, who hope to be crowned, in the end, in the festive assembly of the Saints in paradise. AFTER THE ANGELUS Dear brothers and sisters, I greet you in the joy of Christmas and I renew my best wishes for peace for all of you: peace in families, in parishes and religious communities, in movements, and in associations. I greet everyone named Stephen or Stephanie: Best wishes! In these past few weeks I have received so many Christmas greetings from Rome, and elsewhere. Because it is not possible for me to respond to each one, I want to express today my heartfelt thanks for all of them, especially for the gift of prayer. Thank you from the heart! May the Lord repay your generosity. And don’t forget: Christian coherence — that is, thinking, feeling, and living as a Christian. And not to think as a Christian and live like a pagan. Not that! Today let us ask Stephen for the gift of Christian coherence… And please, continue to pray for me. Don’t forget! Happy Feast Day, and have a good lunch. Arrivederci! (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-ask-stephen-for-gift-of-christian-coh
March 2014: Pope Francis becomes the first Pope to go to confession in public 2014-12-27 Lent began in March, the time in which the Church prepares for Holy Week. The Pope celebrated the Ash Wednesday Mass, where Cardinal Josef Tomko placed ashes on him. As in every Lenten season, the Pope held the traditional meeting with the priests of the diocese of Rome. Pope Francis once again surprised them when he revealed that he stole his confessors crucifix...at his wake! POPE FRANCIS March 6, 2014 "Right away, the thief in all of us come to mind. While I laid the flowers on his coffin, I took the crucifix from the rosary, about this size, I pulled gently and removed it. In that moment, I looked at him and said: 'Give me half of your mercy.'” Traditionally, the Pope also takes advanted of Lent to make his spiritual exercises with the Cardinals of the Curia. They arrived at a residence outside of Rome by bus and he was the first to step off. -How are you? -Very well. For five days there were no audiences nor meetings held. He sat down to pray with the rest of the cardinals. March also saw the first strong condemnation by the Pope against the mafia. During this meeting with families of innocent victims of the criminal organizations in Rome, Pope Francis heard the names of 800 innocent people who were murdered. After a powerful address, he called on members of the mafia to change their lives. POPE FRANCIS March 21, 2014 "Convert. You still have time to not end up in hell. That is what awaits you, if you continue down this path.” Lastly, March left a historical memory. During the penitential celebration in St. Peter's Basilica on March 28th, he approached a confessional. For the first time, the world saw a Pope ask forgiveness like any other Christian, kneeling in front of a priest. http://www.romereports.com/pg159654...e-first-pope-to-go-to-confession-in-public-en
Pope to meet large families on feast of the Holy Family 75 161 Print 2014-12-27 Vatican Radio Pope Francis will mark the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth on Sunday meeting some 7000 people belonging to large families of Italy. Before his midday ‘Angelus’ prayer from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he will meet the group in Vatican’s audience hall. The meeting with the Pope is being organized by Italy’s National Association of Large Families (ANFN), which is is marking its 10th anniversary with a national assembly on the theme, “The Family, Our Goal”, Dec. 26-28. The Italian Association of Large Families is a member of the European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC), which was constituted in 2004 and represents more than 50 million European citizens making up nearly 9 million large families. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Family, will celebrate a Mass for the families in the audience hall, before the meeting with the Pope. The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated in the Catholic Church on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year, or on Dec. 30. This year the feast falls on Dec. 28, when the Church also marks the feast of the Holy Innocents, in commemoration of the massacre of young male children in Bethlehem by King Herod, to avoid the loss of his throne to Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-to-meet-large-families-on-feast-of-the-holy-f
Pope at Angelus: my thoughts with those from missing plane 10 17 Print 2014-12-28 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Sunday that “his thoughts are with those on board the missing AirAsia plane that disappeared during a flight between Indonesia and Singapore.” He added he was also thinking of two separate accidents involving two merchant ships and a ferry in the Adriatic Sea. “I am close with my affection and prayer,” the Pope said, to the families and loved ones who are undergoing “these difficult situations with apprehension and suffering” and also to those involved in the rescue operations. His words of solidarity came at the end of his Angelus address on the feast of the Holy Family in which he spoke about how the light coming from the Holy Family encourages us to offer human warmth and where he also stressed the important role played by grandparents in the family setting. Pope Francis said the infant Jesus with his mother Mary and with St. Joseph are a shining example of mercy and salvation for the entire world. “This light which comes from the Holy Family encourages us to offer human warmth in those family situation in which, for various reasons, there is a lack of peace and harmony and forgiveness. Our concrete solidarity is just as present, especially when it comes to families who are undergoing difficult situations because of illness, lack of work, discrimination and the need to emigrate.” At that point, the Pope departed from his prepared text to urge all those present to pray in silence with him for families facing these difficulties and who lack understanding and unity. Jesus, he continued “is the person who brings the (young and old) generations closer together.” He is “the source of that love which unites family and people, overcoming every mistrust, isolation and distance.” Turning next to the role of grandparents, Pope Francis stressed “how important” their presence is within the family and society as a whole. “A good relationship between young and old people is a key element in the functioning of the civil and ecclesial community.” he said. And when we look at the elderly couple in the Bible, Simeon and Anna, let’s “give a round of applause to all the grandparents in the world.” The Pope explained how the message that comes from the Holy Family is a message of faith. “The family of Nazareth,” he said, “is holy because it is centered on Jesus” and when a family has faith it gives them the strength to face up to difficult situations, just as it did for Mary and Joseph. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-angelus-my-thoughts-with-those-from-missin
Pope to large families: You are a role model of solidarity and generosity 2014-12-29 The Pope welcomed more than 7,000 people who are part of large families, to the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. Children were seated along the steps of the hall, to get a closer look at Pope Francis. One of the kids, decided to skip protocol all together. Some had the chance to share their experiences with Pope Francis. "We weren't brave people, but we found the courage to embrace life's most beautiful adventure: The family. "We didn't go through a test before welcoming this gift. But we've always welcomed it and been grateful for it.” "Among us are mothers who are now in Heaven, because they refused medical treatments to save the child growing in their womb.” POPE FRANCIS "First of all, I want to ask you a question out of curiosity. What time did you wake up? At 6 a.m.? At 5 a.m? Aren't you tired? Well, with my speech, I will surely put you to sleep!” The Pope described large families as role models of solidarity and generosity, not just within the family, but for society as a whole. He thanked mothers and fathers for their courage, adding that he hoped public institutions would support them more. POPE FRANCIS "Each of your children is unique and will be one of a kind throughout history. When it's understood that each one of them was wanted by God, one becomes amazed by the miracle of having a child. A child changes your life! We've all seen how when men and women have a child, life changes. It becomes completely different.” The Pope didn't leave empty handed. Just moments after highlighting the importance of generosity, two children decided to give him the candy the Vatican had given them, at the start of the meeting. http://www.romereports.com/pg159703...a-role-model-of-solidarity-and-generosity--en
Pope Francis to visit Pompeii, Naples in March 2014-12-30 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will make a pastoral visit to Naples in the southern Italian region of Campania in March 2015. The Archbishop and pontifical delegate to the Virgin of the Rosary sanctuary in Pompeii, Tommaso Caputo says the Pope will begin his journey with a visit to the Marian shrine on March 21st. The Pope’s apostolic visit to the region of Campania will be his second in less than a year. The Holy Father made a pastoral trip to the city of Caserta, just north of Naples, in July 2014. In a note, Archbishop Caputo described Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Pompeii’s Marian shrine as “an event of extraordinary ecclesial importance.” “The filial and tender Marian devotion that the Pope continues to show is also at the root of the Church of Pompeii's strong commitment towards the humblest and neediest among us”, explained the prelate. “Today, more than ever before, the motivating forces of charity, intimately linked to the needs of justice and respect for the dignity of every person, are strongly felt. Aside from our joy for his visit, we hope that Pope Francis will show us the path to take to be even closer to and more united with our people”. St. John Paul II also visited Pompeii on 21 October 1979, during his visit to Naples, and he returned there on 7 October 2003 for the conclusion of the Year of the Rosary. Benedict XVI also visited the shrine, again during the month of the Rosary, in October 2008. (from Vatican Radio)
Pope Francis is getting beat up on some conservative news sites for recently endorsing the UN global warming agenda and carbon taxing. Does anyone have the real info on this? I did not research his actual statements. They are using it to claim the Pope is in line with a one world government. I know it is weak for them to take this one item and extrapolate it in that way, given his published positions on all relevant things in society, and how they do not point toward that end.
Pope Francis calls murder of Mexican priest "unjustifiable violence" 2014-12-30 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has expressed his “deep sadness” about the murder of Mexican priest, Father Gregorio López Gorostieta, who was murdered after preaching a sermon against organized crime, an act the Pope calld “unjustifiable violence”. In a telegram sent on the Holy Father’s behalf to Bishop Maximino Martinez Miranda, The Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin conveyed the Pope’s condolences to the entire ecclesial community of the Diocese of Altamirano. The telegram expressed the Pope’s “firm condemnation” of all such violence, and added the Holy Father urges all priests, and other missionaries, to continue in their mission despite the difficulties encountered, following the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-calls-murder-of-mexican-priest-unjust
Pope Francis’ message for 2015 World Day of the Sick 2014-12-30 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) The theme of Pope Francis’s message for the World Day of Sick being celebrated on 11 February 2015 is “I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame,” taken from the book of Job. Please find below the English translation of the full text of the Pope’s message: Sapientia Cordis “I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame” (Job 29:15) Dear Brothers and Sisters, On this, the twenty-third World Day of the Sick, begun by Saint John Paul II, I turn to all of you who are burdened by illness and are united in various ways to the flesh of the suffering Christ, as well as to you, professionals and volunteers in the field of health care. This year’s theme invites us to reflect on a phrase from the Book of Job: “I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame” (Job 29:15). I would like to consider this phrase from the perspective of “sapientia cordis” – the wisdom of the heart. 1. This “wisdom” is no theoretical, abstract knowledge, the product of reasoning. Rather, it is, as Saint James describes it in his Letter, “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity” (3:17). It is a way of seeing things infused by the Holy Spirit in the minds and the hearts of those who are sensitive to the sufferings of their brothers and sisters and who can see in them the image of God. So let us take up the prayer of the Psalmist: “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps 90:12). This “sapientia cordis”, which is a gift of God, is a compendium of the fruits of the World Day of the Sick. 2. Wisdom of the heart means serving our brothers and sisters. Job’s words: “I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame”, point to the service which this just man, who enjoyed a certain authority and a position of importance amongst the elders of his city, offered to those in need. His moral grandeur found expression in the help he gave to the poor who sought his help and in his care for orphans and widows (Job 29:12-13). Today too, how many Christians show, not by their words but by lives rooted in a genuine faith, that they are “eyes to the blind” and “feet to the lame”! They are close to the sick in need of constant care and help in washing, dressing and eating. This service, especially when it is protracted, can become tiring and burdensome. It is relatively easy to help someone for a few days but it is difficult to look after a person for months or even years, in some cases when he or she is no longer capable of expressing gratitude. And yet, what a great path of sanctification this is! In those difficult moments we can rely in a special way on the closeness of the Lord, and we become a special means of support for the Church’s mission. 3. Wisdom of the heart means being with our brothers and sisters. Time spent with the sick is holy time. It is a way of praising God who conforms us to the image of his Son, who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). Jesus himself said: “I am among you as one who serves” (Lk 22:27). With lively faith let us ask the Holy Spirit to grant us the grace to appreciate the value of our often unspoken willingness to spend time with these sisters and brothers who, thanks to our closeness and affection, feel more loved and comforted. How great a lie, on the other hand, lurks behind certain phrases which so insist on the importance of “quality of life” that they make people think that lives affected by grave illness are not worth living! 4. Wisdom of the heart means going forth from ourselves towards our brothers and sisters. Occasionally our world forgets the special value of time spent at the bedside of the sick, since we are in such a rush; caught up as we are in a frenzy of doing, of producing, we forget about giving ourselves freely, taking care of others, being responsible for others. Behind this attitude there is often a lukewarm faith which has forgotten the Lord’s words: “You did it unto me’ (Mt 25:40). For this reason, I would like once again to stress “the absolute priority of ‘going forth from ourselves toward our brothers and sisters’ as one of the two great commandments which ground every moral norm and as the clearest sign for discerning spiritual growth in response to God’s completely free gift” (Evangelii Gaudium, 179). The missionary nature of the Church is the wellspring of an “effective charity and a compassion which understands, assists and promotes” (ibid). 5. Wisdom of the heart means showing solidarity with our brothers and sisters while not judging them. Charity takes time. Time to care for the sick and time to visit them. Time to be at their side like Job’s friends: “And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13). Yet Job’s friends harboured a judgement against him: they thought that Job’s misfortune was a punishment from God for his sins. True charity is a sharing which does not judge, which does not demand the conversion of others; it is free of that false humility which, deep down, seeks praise and is self-satisfied about whatever good it does. Job’s experience of suffering finds its genuine response only in the cross of Jesus, the supreme act of God’s solidarity with us, completely free and abounding in mercy. This response of love to the drama of human pain, especially innocent suffering, remains for ever impressed on the body of the risen Christ; his glorious wounds are a scandal for faith but also the proof of faith (cf. Homily for the Canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II, 27 April 2014). Even when illness, loneliness and inability make it hard for us to reach out to others, the experience of suffering can become a privileged means of transmitting grace and a source for gaining and growing in sapientia cordis. We come to understand how Job, at the end of his experience, could say to God: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (42:5). People immersed in the mystery of suffering and pain, when they accept these in faith, can themselves become living witnesses of a faith capable of embracing suffering, even without being able to understand its full meaning. 6. I entrust this World Day of the Sick to the maternal protection of Mary, who conceived and gave birth to Wisdom incarnate: Jesus Christ, our Lord. O Mary, Seat of Wisdom, intercede as our Mother for all the sick and for those who care for them! Grant that, through our service of our suffering neighbours, and through the experience of suffering itself, we may receive and cultivate true wisdom of heart! With this prayer for all of you, I impart my Apostolic Blessing. (from Vatican Radio) http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-message-for-2015-world-day-of-the-sic
LIVE BROADCAST: Pope celebrates first Mass of 2015 2015-01-01 In his first Mass of the year, Pope Francis prays for peace under the theme 'Slaves no more, but Brothers and Sisters.' listen here : http://www.romereports.com/pg159735-live-broadcast-pope-celebrates-first-mass-of-2015-en
Homily for the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God 2015-01-01 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) On January 1, the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, Pope Francis celebrated Solemn Mass in the Basilica of Saint Peter. Below, please find the complete text of the Pope’s homily for the Mass: Today we are reminded of the words of blessing which Elizabeth spoke to the Virgin Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” (Lk 1:42-43). This blessing is in continuity with the priestly blessing which God had given to Moses to be passed on to Aaron and to all the people: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num 6:24-26). In celebrating the Solemnity of Mary the Most Holy Mother of God, the Church reminds us that Mary, more than anyone else, received this blessing. In her the blessing finds fulfilment, for no other creature has ever seen God’s face shine upon it as did Mary. She gave a human face to the eternal Word, so that all of us can contemplate him. In addition to contemplating God’s face, we can also praise him and glorify him, like the shepherds who came away from Bethlehem with a song of thanksgiving after seeing the Child and his young mother (cf. Lk 2:16). The two were together, just as they were together at Calvary, because Christ and his mother are inseparable: there is a very close relationship between them, as there is between every child and his or her mother. The flesh (caro) of Christ – which, as Tertullian says, is the hinge (cardo) of our salvation – was knit together in the womb of Mary (cf. Ps 139:13). This inseparability is also clear from the fact that Mary, chosen beforehand to be the Mother of the Redeemer, shared intimately in his entire mission, remaining at her Son’s side to the end on Calvary. Mary is so closely united to Jesus because she received from him the knowledge of the heart, the knowledge of faith, nourished by her experience as a mother and by her close relationship with her Son. The Blessed Virgin is the woman of faith who made room for God in her heart and in her plans; she is the believer capable of perceiving in the gift of her Son the coming of that “fullness of time”(Gal 4:4) in which God, by choosing the humble path of human existence, entered personally into the history of salvation. That is why Jesus cannot be understood without his Mother. Likewise inseparable are Christ and the Church; the salvation accomplished by Jesus cannot be understood without appreciating the motherhood of the Church. To separate Jesus from the Church would introduce an “absurd dichotomy”, as Blessed Paul VI wrote (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 16). It is not possible “to love Christ but without the Church, to listen to Christ but not the Church, to belong to Christ but outside the Church” (ibid.). For the Church is herself God’s great family, which brings Christ to us. Our faith is not an abstract doctrine or philosophy, but a vital and full relationship with a person: Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God who became man, was put to death, rose from the dead to save us, and is now living in our midst. Where can we encounter him? We encounter him in the Church. It is the Church which says today: “Behold the Lamb of God”; it is the Church, which proclaims him; it is in the Church that Jesus continues to accomplish his acts of grace which are the sacraments. This, the Church’s activity and mission, is an expression of her motherhood. For she is like a mother who tenderly holds Jesus and gives him to everyone with joy and generosity. No manifestation of Christ, even the most mystical, can ever be detached from the flesh and blood of the Church, from the historical concreteness of the Body of Christ. Without the Church, Jesus Christ ends up as an idea, a moral teaching, a feeling. Without the Church, our relationship with Christ would be at the mercy of our imagination, our interpretations, our moods. Dear brothers and sisters! Jesus Christ is the blessing for every man and woman, and for all of humanity. The Church, in giving us Jesus, offers us the fullness of the Lord’s blessing. This is precisely the mission of the people of God: to spread to all peoples God’s blessing made flesh in Jesus Christ. And Mary, the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus, the model of the pilgrim Church, is the one who opens the way to the Church’s motherhood and constantly sustains her maternal mission to all mankind. Mary’s tactful maternal witness has accompanied the Church from the beginning. She, the Mother of God, is also the Mother of the Church, and through the Church, the mother of all men and women, and of every people. May this gentle and loving Mother obtain for us the Lord’s blessing upon the entire human family. On this, the World Day of Peace, we especially implore her intercession that the Lord may grant peace in our day; peace in hearts, peace in families, peace among the nations. The message for the Day of Peace this year is “No Longer Slaves, but Brothers and Sisters”. All of us are called to be free, all are called to be sons and daughters, and each, according to his or her own responsibilities, is called to combat modern forms of enslavement. From every people, culture and religion, let us join our forces. May he guide and sustain us, who, in order to make us all brothers and sisters, became our servant. http://www.news.va/en/news/homily-for-the-solemnity-of-mary-the-mother-of-god
New Year's Eve is time for examination of conscience, pope says By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The end of one calendar year and the beginning of another is the perfect occasion to reflect on how well people have used the time and gifts God has given them -- especially how well people have helped the poor, Pope Francis said. While God is eternal, time is important even to him, Pope Francis said during a prayer service New Year's Eve in St. Peter's Basilica. "He wanted to reveal himself and save us in history," becoming human to demonstrate "his concrete love." Pope Francis gives the homily during a prayer service New Year's Eve in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (CNS/Paul Haring) As a strong winter wind blew outside, Pope Francis ended 2014 celebrating evening prayer with eucharistic adoration and Benediction, and the solemn singing of the "Te Deum," a hymn of praise for God's blessings. At the end of a year, like at the end of life, he said, the church teaches its members to make an examination of conscience, "remembering all that happened, thanking the Lord for all the good we received and were able to do and, at the same time, remembering where we were lacking and our sins. Give thanks and ask forgiveness." Speaking specifically as bishop of Rome to others who have the honor of living in the city and the responsibility of participating in its civic life, Pope Francis said Christians must have "the courage to proclaim in our city that the poor must be defended and that we do not need to defend ourselves from the poor, that the weak must be served and not used." Pope Francis made specific mention of the Rome corruption scandal that became public in early December; investigators claim millions of dollars' worth of public contracts were awarded for waste management, housing immigrants and other programs, but the services were never provided or were not at the levels called for by the contracts. "The serious incidents of corruption that recently emerged require a serious and conscious conversion of hearts for a spiritual and moral renewal," the pope said, "as well as for a renewed commitment to building a city marked by justice and solidarity where the poor, the weak and the marginalized are at the center of our concern and our daily action." While God created humanity to be his children, he said, original sin and its remnants continue to distance people from God, often making them slaves who follow "the voice of the Evil One." God sent Jesus to ransom sinners from their slavery, the pope said, which gives rise to an essential question in one's examination of conscience: "Do we live as children (of God) or as slaves?" "Do we live as people baptized in Christ, anointed by the Spirit, ransomed and free?" he asked. "Or do we live according to worldly logic: corrupt, doing what the devil wants us to believe is in our best interest?" Pope Francis told those gathered in the basilica that all people, even Christians, have "a tendency to resist freedom; we fear freedom and, paradoxically, we prefer slavery" although often people are not aware that that is what they are doing. "Freedom frightens us because it places time before us and, with it, the responsibility to live it well," he said. "A nostalgia for slavery nests in our hearts because it appears more reassuring than freedom, which is much riskier." Slavery focuses just on the moment, he said, making people forget their past, but also robbing them of hope for the future. "Slavery makes us believe that we cannot dream, fly or hope," the pope said. The end of a year, he said, is a reminder that there will be a "final hour" and all people will be judged, particularly on how they used their freedom and how they cared for the poor. When the poor and weak are cared for and helped to claim a place in society, they are "a treasure for the church and society," he said. "But when a society ignores the poor, persecutes them, criminalizes them" or forces them into a life of crime, "that society impoverishes itself" and "ceases to be Christian." After the prayer service, despite the cold, Pope Francis went into St. Peter's Square to pray before and view up close the Nativity scene. With hundreds of people huddled behind barricades, he spent about 20 minutes greeting the crowd, as well as offering a personal "Happy New Year" and handshake to the Italian police officers on duty. END http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1405427.htm
Pope: Without the Church, Christ is limited to an idea, a moral teaching or feeling 2015-01-02 The Pope started off 2015, by celebrating a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to mark the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In his homily, the Pope explained that Christ and his mother are inseparable, for it was Mary, he added that gave Jesus the knowledge of the heart and of faith. POPE FRANCIS "The two were together, just as they were together at Calvary, because Christ and His mother are inseparable. There is a very close relationship between them, as there is between every child and his or her mother.” Just like Christ and Mary are inseparable, the Pope explained that one cannot separate the Church from Christ. It's a contradiction, he said, for one to believe in Jesus but not in His Church. POPE FRANCIS "Without the Church, Jesus Christ is reduced to an idea, a moral teaching, a feeling. Without the Church our relationship with Christ would be at the mercy of our imagination, our interpretations, our moods.” Since the day coincides with the International Day for Peace, the Pope called on all Christians, and all people of good will, to do their part in the fight against modern day slavery. http://www.romereports.com/pg159752...ted-to-an-idea-a-moral-teaching-or-feeling-en
Pope's First Angelus of 2015: Peace is possible! 2015-01-02 "Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and Happy New Year.” This is how Pope Francis kicked off the first Angelus of 2015. With thousands of people out in St. Peter's Square, the Pope highlighted that New Years is the perfect time to reflect on one's life as a Christian, including their Baptism date. POPE FRANCIS "How many of you remember? Raise your hand. There are many...well not that many. For those of you who don't remember when you were Baptized, you now have a take home assignment. Find out the date and keep it close to your heart.” The Pope called on everyone to do their part to promote peace in their lives and ultimately in society. POPE FRANCIS "We are all called to fight against all types of slavery. We're called to build on fraternity. Every one of us, depending on our abilities. Remember, peace is possible.” At end of the Angelus the biggest ringing bell in the world, echoed from Rovereto, in northern Italy. The bell,was inaugurated back in 1925, after the First World War. It's a symbol meant to invoke peace. It was built with bronze from cannons that were donated from countries that fought in that war http://www.romereports.com/pg159745-pope-s-first-angelus-of-2015-peace-is-possible-en
Pope at Angelus: fix your gaze on Mary the Mother of God 60 218 Print 2015-01-01 Vatican Radio (Vatican Radio) In his Angelus address on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God - which is also observed as World Day of Peace - Pope Francis called on us "to fix our gaze of faith and of love on the Mother of Jesus." Below, please find the complete text of Pope Francis' address at the Angelus on Thursday: Dear brothers and sisters, On this first day of the year, in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, the Church invites us to fix our gaze of faith and of love on the Mother of Jesus. In her, the humble woman of Nazareth, “the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (Jn 1:14). Because of this it is impossible to separate contemplation of Jesus, the Word of life Who is made visible and tangible (cf. 1 Jn 1:1), from contemplation of Mary, who has given Him her love and her human flesh. Today we hear the words of the Apostle Paul: “God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4:4). That “born of a woman” speaks in an essential manner, and for this reason even more strongly, expresses the true humanity of the Son of God. As a Father of the Church, St Athanasius, affirms, “Our Saviour was truly man, and from that comes the salvation of all humanity” (Letter to Epictetus: PG 26). But St Paul also adds “born under the law” (Gal 4:4). With this expression he emphasizes that Christ has taken up the human condition, freeing it from the closed, legalistic mentality. In fact, the law deprived of grace becomes an insupportable yoke, and instead of being good for us it is bad for us. This, then, is the end for which God sent His Son to earth to become man: a finality of liberation; indeed, of regeneration. Of liberation, “to ransom those under the law” (v. 5); and the ransom occurred with the death of Christ on the Cross. But especially of regeneration: “so that we might receive adoption as sons” (v. 5). Incorporated in Him, men and women really become children of God. This amazing transition takes place in us with Baptism, which grafts us into Christ as living members, and inserts us into the Church. At the beginning of a new year, it is good to remember the day of our Baptism: we rediscover the gift received in that Sacrament which has regenerated us to new life – the divine life. And this through Mother Church, which has as a model Mother Mary. Thanks to Baptism we were introduced into communion with God and we are no longer at the mercy of evil and sin, but [rather] we receive the love, the tenderness, the mercy of the heavenly Father. This closeness of God to our existence gives us true peace, the divine gift that we want especially to implore today, the World Day of Peace. “No longer slaves, but brothers”: this is the Message of this Day. It is a message that involves all of us. We are all called to combat every form of slavery and to build fraternity — all of us, each one according to his or her own responsibility. To Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, we present our good intentions. We ask you to extend the mantle of your maternal protection over each and every one of us in the new year: “O Holy Mother of God despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin” (Sub tuum praesidium). After the Angelus: Dear brothers and sisters, I extend to all of you my heartfelt greetings, wishing you a happy and peaceful new year. I greet in particular the pilgrims from the Scandinavian countries and from Slovakia; the faithful of Asola, Catiglione delle Stiviere, Sccolongo, Sotto il Monte, Bonate Sotto, and Benevento; the young people from Andria and Castenuovo del Garda. A heartfelt greeting to the Sternsinger [“Star boys”] who have come from the diocese of Fulda in Germany. I thank all the Sternsinger in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for their commitment to go from house to house to proclaim the birth of the Lord and to collect offerings for needy children. Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr [German: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year]. I turn my thoughts to all those, in dioceses around the world, who have promotted moments of payer for peace. I recall in particular the national march that took place yesterday in Vicenca, and the “Pace in tutte le terre” [“Peace throughout the world”] demonstration promoted in Rome and in numerous cities around the world. In this moment we are joined with Rovereto, in Trentino, where you will find the great bell known as “Maria Dolens,” which was made in honour of the fallen in all the wars, and was blessed by Blessed Paul VI in 1965. In a little while we will hear the tolling of that bell, that expresses the hope that there will never again be wars, but always a desire for and a commitment to peace and brotherhood among peoples. [The tolling of the bells is heard on speakers in the Square, courtesy of CTV.] Happy New Year to everyone! May it be a year of peace in the tender embrace of the Lord and with the maternal protection of Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother. Please, do not forget to pray for me! Buon pranzo, and arrivederci! http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-angelus-fix-your-gaze-on-mary-the-mother-o
I thought this was great news, especially to see the surge in people retuning back to Confession. I know there has been some "angst" about Francis from many quarters, but in they end to see that people feel called back to the Church and the sacraments is just fantastic! We don't know what is ahead in 2015, but given that many on this site feel we are either in or are soon to enter the Storm, the Holy Father helping to lead the flock back might be very prophetic! http://www.christiantimes.com/artic...ngs.optimism.openness.in.the.church/50127.htm
List of new cardinals named by Pope Francis 2015-01-04 Pope Francis will "create" 20 new cardinals next February 14 at the Vatican. These are their names: 1 – Dominique Mamberti, Prefect Apostolic Signatura 2 – Manuel José Macário do Nascimento Clemente, Patriarch of Lisbon Portugal 3 – Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, C.M., Archbishop of Addis Abeba (Ethiopia). 4 – John Atcherley Dew, Archbishop of Wellington (New Zealand). 5 – Edoardo Menichelli, Archbishop of Ancona-Osimo (Italy). 6 – Pierre Nguyên Vn Nhon, Archbishop of Hà Nôi (Viêt Nam). 7 – Alberto Suárez Inda, Archbishop of Morelia (Mexico). 8 – Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon (Myanmar). 9 – Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailandia). 10 – Francesco Montenegro, Archbishop of Agrigento (Italy). 11 – Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., Archbishop of Montevideo (Uruguay). 12 – Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, Archbishop of Valladolid (Spagna). 13 – José Luis Lacunza Maestrojuán, O.A.R., Bishop of David (Panamá). 14 – Arlindo Gomes Furtado, Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Cape Verde). 15 – Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga (Tonga Islands). Among Archbishops Emeritus and former papal nuncio: 1 – José de Jesús Pimiento Rodríguez, Archbishops Emeritus of Manizales (Colombia). 2 – Luigi De Magistris, Arcivescovo titolare di Nova, Major Pro-Penitentiary Emeritus. 3 – Karl-Joseph Rauber, Apostolic Nuncio 4 – Luis Héctor Villalba, Archbishops Emeritus of Tucumán (Mexico). 5 – Júlio Duarte Langa, Archbishops Emeritus of Xai-Xai (Mozambique). http://www.romereports.com/pg159755-list-of-new-cardinals-named-by-pope-francis-en
Pope to visit Sri Lanka: A look at the role faith plays in the country's outlook on life 2015-01-04 As part of his first apostolic trip of 2015, Pope Francis will visit Sri Lanka from January 13-15 before heading off to the Phillipines for a few days. Sri Lanka has a population of roughly 20 million people, about 1 million is Catholic. In fact Christianity arrived in the midst of wars, disasters and even colonizations by the Portuguese, Dutch and British empires. FR. RUBAN FERNANDO Sri Lankan priest 1:50-2:00 2:50-3:13 "When the Portuguese came to our country, almost all the coastal area of Sri Lanka, we were converted into Catholicism. FLASH Afterwards, we were colonized by the Dutch. At that time the Sri Lankan Church underwent a lot of persecutions. Churches were demolished and the people were again taken from their faith, tortured, and a lot of people faced a lot of problems professing their faith publicly.” A priest from the 17th century, Blessed Joseph Vaz, who was a missionary priest from India had a key role in promoting the faith. He will be canonized by Pope Francis on January 14th, making him Sri Lanka's first saint. FR. RUBAN FERNANDO Sri Lankan priest "From him we received the faith. He came from India and he converted. He went on foot all throughout Sri Lanka and he converted a lot of people into Catholicism.” Despite years of wars and natural disasters like the tsunami that struck back in 2004, the country remained resilient, finding strength in faith. FR. RUBAN FERNANDO Sri Lankan priest "In the war, the only thing that the people sustained and brought back from their suffering is only the faith. When we asked people if they brought anything, they said 'No, we did not bring anything. We brought only the Bible, we brought only the rosary, we brought only the prayer book. That's enough for us, that's all that saved us.'” This will be the Sri Lanka's second papal visit. Saint John Paul II visited the country in 1995. http://www.romereports.com/pg159715...ith-plays-in-the-country-s-outlook-on-life-en
