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Sunday, October 31, 2010

CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: SUN. OCT. 31, 2010


CATHOLIC NEWS WORLD: SUN. OCT. 31, 2010: HEADLINES-
VATICAN: POPE: JESUS SEEKS THE LOST WITH LOVE- EXCLUDES NO ONE -
EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: HALLOWEEN WINDOW CANDLE: JESUS IS THE LIGHT -
ASIA: SRI LANKA: CHURCH HOPES FOR PARDON OF HOUSEMAID -







VATICAN: POPE: JESUS SEEKS THE LOST WITH LOVE- EXCLUDES NO ONE
RADIO VATICANA REPORT: Commenting on this Sunday’s Gospel story of the call of the sinner, Zacchaeus, with the faithful gathered beneath his window in St Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI said God excludes no one, neither rich nor poor, Zacchaeus.God does not let himself be conditioned by our human prejudices, but sees in each one of us a soul to save – and he is especially attracted by those, who are considered to be lost and who so consider themselves to be.Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, has shown this immense mercy, which does not diminish the gravity of sin, but always aims to save the sinner, to offer him the chance for redemption, for conversion. Also at the Angelus, the Pope recalled the beatification in Romania on Saturday, of Bishop Bogdanffy Szilard, who was imprisoned, tortured and eventually martyred by Communists.“His testimony” - said Pope Benedict - now comforts those who in the present day are persecuted for the sake of the Gospel.After the Angelus, Pope Benedict greeted pilgrims in many languages, including English.I would now like to offer a word of greeting to all the English-speaking visitors presents at today’s Angelus prayer! In the liturgy of the word this morning, Our Lord tells us that he “has come to seek out and save those who were lost”. May we always know our need for God and embrace his will for us, in love and humility. May God abundantly bless you and your loved ones!
http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=435402
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 11:08 AM 0 comments





EUROPE: GREAT BRITAIN: HALLOWEEN WINDOW CANDLE: JESUS IS THE LIGHT

IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT: Christians in the UK have been invited to place lights in their windows tonight as a sign that they are followers of Christ. The initiative is called Night of Light and is the inspiration of Damian Stayne, the founder of the Catholic community, Cor et Lumen Christi. He explained: "The Night of Light is an international initiative to reclaim Halloween as a joyful Christian celebration. In many countries around the world children’s celebrations are being organised, as are prayer gatherings, with people putting a light in their window to visibly witness to neighbours and friends."He added: "The evening of 31st October is called Halloween ('All Hallows Eve') and is the vigil (beginning) of the Feast of All Saints - the feast in which Catholics celebrate the glory of God in His saints, the victory of light over darkness in the lives of God's holy ones in heaven. Jesus is the “Light of the World”. The saints lived by that light, and became a beacon in their own generation. Everyone is called by Jesus to live out this vocation - to be the “Light of the world” for others today."Making faith visibleArchbishop Vincent Nichols recently wrote in his Pastoral Letter to the diocese: "Making faith visible is so much a part of the invitation the Holy Father has extended to us all.’ Participating in the Night of Light is offered as one way of responding to that invitation.As participants are able, suggested key elements of the Night of Light include: Attending a vigil Mass for the Feast of All SaintsTaking part in a night of Adoration of the Blessed SacramentProviding treats and fun for children in celebration of All Saints and the Light of Christ; Placing a light in your window (safely) as a sign to passers-by that yours is a Christian household and Christ is your light.Wearing something white, such as a scarf. A sign of hopeAlthough the Night of Light has run previously, this year in partnership with the Home Mission Desk of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales it is being offered as a way of following up the Visit of the Holy Father to the UK.Bishop Kieran Conry (Arundel and Brighton), Chair of the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, said: "Halloween is now the biggest commercial festival after Christmas and Easter, and it is time we reminded Christians of what it really is. The celebration of feast days is an important part of our Catholic culture. On the evening of 31 October why not do something to make your faith respectfully seen and heard? Light a candle or display publicly another kind of light, for example, perhaps alongside animage of Christ. This could be a powerful way in which we can show people that we have hope in someone other than ourselves. The light will provoke questions and is a way that people can be signposted to goodness. I encourage everyone to participate."Additional ideas and resources to celebrate the night can be found on: http://www.nightoflight.org/oflight.org/It follows news that copies of the Pre-Raphaelite painter William Holman Hunt’s, ‘Light of the World’ have been given to every parish in England and Wales as part of the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the UK; a reflection sheet to be used with the image can be found at: http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/legacySOURCE http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=17019
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 11:06 AM 0 comments





ASIA: SRI LANKA: CHURCH HOPES FOR PARDON OF HOUSEMAID
UCAN REPORT:Sri Lankan Church workers, along with human rights activists and the state president, appeal to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to commute the death sentence imposed upon housemaid Rizana Nafeek.“Only His Royal Highness the King has the power to pardon her,” said Father George Sigamoney, Caritas Sri Lanka national director, who has campaigned justice for Nafeek’s case since 2007.The appeals come after the Saudi Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Nafeek’s parents against the death sentence imposed by a high court.Rizana Nafeek was sentenced to death last week after being declared guilty of killing a four-month-old baby of her Saudi employer in 2005.According to reports, 17-year–old Nafeek went to Saudi Arabia with a fake ID that put her age at 23 and was employed as a housemaid in 2005.Nafeek claimed the baby left under her care choked to death after she fed him, but her employers accused her of strangling the child.In his letter thanking Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for appealing to the King of Saudi regarding Nafeek’s case, Father Sigamoney also addressed the plight of Sri Lankan housemaids and urged to review labor rules to avoid tragedies such as Nafeek’s.“There should have some restrictions on foreign employment agencies who handle inexperienced housemaids who are not aware of the Middle East countries’ language, culture and laws,” the priest added.Sri Lanka receives over three billion US dollars every year from nearly 1.5 million Sri Lankan expatriate workers in the Middle East, a vast majority working as housemaids.
http://www.ucanews.com/2010/10/29/church-seeks-royal-pardon-for-housemaid/
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 11:04 AM 0 comments







AMERICA: CANADA: MASSES FOR LIFE PROJECT

SPECIAL TO JCE NEWS: Masses for Life ProjectDear Friends of Life,I invite you to join the Masses for Life Project which I, as a lay person have started this year.I hope to involve many people in this prayer movement for the protection of human life—especially that of unborn children. Every day they are being killed by abortion, and they have noright to life under Canadian Law.I will be accepting donations towardsstipends for Masses (the stipend for one announced Mass is twenty dollars.) The suggesteddonation is five dollars, although any amount is appreciated. The requested Masses for Pro-Lifeintentions will be celebrated mostly at St. Margaret’s.Each Mass will be announced in the bulletin when possible and all who have made donationswill be encouraged to participate in the Mass, our most powerful prayer.You may mail or deliver your May donation to me at any time throughout this month. Anyremaining money will be used towards the pamphlets distributed by Pro-Life counselors oppositethe 960 Lawrence Ave. W. abortuary in their outreach to the women who come there.Please pray that this initiative for Life will bear great fruit. Thank you for your assistance withthe Masses for Life Project.Sincerely,Clare KavanaghMasses for Life Project Director8 Quilter Rd. North York, ON M2N 6H1416 225 2091 / cvkavangh@sympatico.ca
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 11:01 AM 0 comments








AUSTRALIA: INVESTIGATION OF STUDENTS IN QUEENSLAND
Cath News report: Police in Queensland are investigating the case of 15 students who were suspended from Noosaville's St Teresa Catholic College over alleged marijuana use.A police spokeswoman said a drug-related incident at the college was reported to police on Tuesday afternoon but she was unable to confirm the number of students involved due to the complexity of the incident, reports The Courier-Mail."The CPIU will be investigating because there are children involved," she said.The school called in police and sent a letter home to parents after a number of students were allegedly found using marijuana.The Catholic Education Archdiocese of Brisbane confirmed in a statement that a number of students had been disciplined for drug use allegations."The police investigation is ongoing and no further comment will be made until its completion.'' http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=23987
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 11:00 AM 0 comments









AFRICA: IVORY COAST: ARCHBISHOP CALLS FOR REJECTION OF VIOLENCE
Agenzia Fides REPORT –Presidential elections: “no to violence, not to systematic lying,” says Archibishop of AbidjanIvory Coast is preparing to vote, after several postponements, for the new head of state. The presidential elections, which were supposed to have taken place in 2005, will be held Sunday, October 31. The main candidates are the incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo, Henri Konan Bédié, and Alassane Ouattara.On October 18, Archbishop Jean Pierre Kutwa, Archbishop of Abidjan, issued a message calling on Ivorians to "reject violence as a form of expression. If the electoral contest is legitimate, this can in no way lead to acts of vandalism."In the message sent to Fides, Archbishop Kutwa says he is concerned about the climate of tension fueled by some media campaigns, “every day we see an increased aggressiveness in the press.”The Archbishop of Abidjan then reminds journalists of their obligation to inform the public properly and not become tools of political struggle.The message also claims that "a certain political opinion and the media have often presented an erroneous profile of the politician and a superficial and dangerous image of his career. In effect, politics is often represented as a struggle undertaken to obtain, at any price, an honorable place, a source of considerable advantages. In this perspective, of course, all means are justified for reaching one's own goals."Faced with this situation, Archbishop Kutwa warns the faithful not to fall victim to provocations and speculation "when information is given, regardless of where it comes from, it is rarely neutral. The election periods are filled with rumors, tendentious interpretations of words and gestures. It is difficult to bring out the truth from these attempts of intoxication. However, only the truth frees man and makes him grow. Systematic lying in order to gain power makes man vulnerable."After acknowledging the efforts made by the Forces de Défense et de Sécurité (FDS, the National Armed Forces) and the Forces Armées des Forces Nouvelles (FAFN, who since 2002 control the north-west of the country) to create a joint command center to ensure the security of the elections, Archbishop Kutwa concludes by making an appeal to politicians to lead a political struggle through peaceful means thinking about the greater good of the nation and future generations. http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=27707&lan=eng
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 10:58 AM 0 comments







TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 31: ST. WOLFGANG
St. WolfgangBISHOPFeast: October 31Information:Feast Day:October 31Born:924 in SwabiaDied:31 October 994 at Pupping, Linz (modern Austria)Canonized:1052 by Pope Leo IXPatron of:apoplexy; carpenters and wood carvers; paralysis; stomach diseases; strokesBishop of Ratisbon (972-994), born about 934; died at the village of Pupping in upper Austria, 31 October, 994. The name Wolfgang is of early German origin. St. Wolfgang was one of the three brilliant stars of the tenth century, St. Ulrich, St. Conrad, and St. Wolfgang, which illuminated the early medieval period of Germany with the undying splendour of their acts and services. St. Wolfgang sprang from a family of Swabian counts of Pfullingen (Mon. Germ. His.: Script., X, 53). When seven years old he had an ecclesiastic as tutor at home; later he attended the celebrated monastic school on the Reichenau. Here he formed a strong friendship with Henry, brother of Bishop Poppo of Würzburg, whom he followed to Würzburg in order to attend at the cathedral school there the lectures of the noted Italian grammarian, Stephen of Novara. After Henry was made Archbishop of Trier in 956, he called his friend to Trier, where Wolfgang became a teacher in the cathedral school, and also laboured for the reform of the archdiocese, notwithstanding the enmity with which his efforts were met. Wolfgang's residence at Trier greatly influenced his monastic and ascetic tendencies, as here he came into connection with the great reformatory monastery of the tenth century, St. Maximin of Trier, where he made the acquaintance of Ramwold, the teacher of St. Adalbert of Prague. After the death (964) of Archbishop Henry of Trier, Wolfgang entered the Order of St. Benedict in the Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, Switzerland, and was ordained priest by St. Ulrich in 968.After their defeat in the battle of the Lechfeld (955), a victory gained with the aid of St. Ulrich, the heathen Magyars settled in ancient Pannonia. As long as they were not converted to Christianity they remained a constant menace to the empire. At the request of St. Ulrich, who clearly saw the danger, and at the desire of the Emperor Otto the Great, St. Wolfgang, according to the abbey annals, was "sent to Magyars" as the most suitable man to evangelize them. He was followed by other missionaries sent by Bishop Piligrim of Nassau, under whose jurisdiction the new missionary region came. After the death of Bishop Michael of Ratisbon (23 September, 972) Bishop Piligrim obtained from the emperor the appointment of Wolfgang as Bishop of Ratisbon (Christmas, 972). Wolfgang's services in this new position were of the highest importance, not only for the diocese, but also for the cause of civilization. As Bishop of Ratisbon, Wolfgang became the tutor of Emperor St. Henry II, who learned from him the principles which governed his saintly and energetic life. Poppe, son of Margrave Luitpold, Archbishop of Trier (1016), and Tagino, Archbishop of Magdeburg (1004-1012), also had him as their teacher.St. Wolfgang deserves credit for his disciplinary labours in his diocese. His main work in this respect was connected with the ancient and celebrated Abbey of St. Emmeram which he reformed by granting it once more abbots of its own, thus withdrawing it from the control of the bishops of Ratisbon, who for many years had been abbots in commendam, a condition of affairs that had been far from beneficial to the abbey and monastic life. In the Benedictine monk Ramwold, whom St. Wolfgang called from St. Maximin at Trier, St. Emmeram received a capable abbot (975). The saint also reformed the convents of Obermunster and Niedermunster at Ratisbon, chiefly by giving them as an example the convent of St. Paul, Mittelmunster, at Ratisbon, which he had founded in 983. He also co-operated in the reform of the ancient and celebrated Benedictine Abbey of Altach (Nieder-altach), which had been founded by the Agilolf dynasty, and which from that time took on new life. He showed genuine episcopal generosity in the liberal manner with which he met the views of the Emperor Otto II regarding the intended reduction in size of his diocese for the benefit of the new Diocese of Prague (975), to which St. Adalbert was appointed first bishop. As prince of the empire he performed his duties towards the emperor and the empire with the utmost scrupulousness and, like St. Ulrich, was one of the mainstays of the Ottonian policies. He took part in the various imperial Diets, and, in the autumn of 978, accompanied the Emperor Otto II on his campaign to Paris, and took part in the great Diet of Verona in June, 983.St. Wolfgang withdrew as a hermit to a solitary spot, now the Lake of St. Wolfgang, apparently on account of a political dispute, but probably in the course of a journey of inspection to the monastery of Mendsee which was under the direction of the bishops of Ratisbon. He was discovered by a hunter and brought back to Ratisbon. While travelling on the Danube to Pöchlarn in Lower Austria, he fell ill at the village of Pupping, which is between Efferding and the market town of Aschach near Linz, and at his request was carried into the chapel of St. Othmar at Pupping, where he died. His body was taken up the Danube by his friends Count Aribo of Andechs and Archbishop Hartwich of Salzburg to Ratisbon, and was solemnly buried in the crypt of St. Emmeram. Many miracles were performed at his grave; in 1052 he was canonized. Soon after his death many churches chose him as their patron saint, and various towns were named after him. In Christian art he has been especially honoured by the great medieval Tyrolese painter, Michael Pacher (1430-1498), who created an imperishable memorial of him, the high altar of St. Wolfgang. In the panel pictures which are now exhibited in the Old Pinakothek at Munich are depicted in an artistic manner the chief events in the saint's life. The oldest portrait of St. Wolfgang is a miniature, painted about the year 1100 in the celebrated Evangeliary of St. Emmeram, now in the library of the castle cathedral at Cracow. A fine modern picture by Schwind is in the Schak Gallery at Munich. This painting represents the legend of Wolfgang forcing the devil to help him to build a church. In other paintings he is generally depicted in episcopal dress, an axe in the right hand and the crozier in the left, or as a hermit in the wilderness being discovered by a hunter. The axe refers to an event in the life of the saint. After having selected a solitary spot in the wilderness, he prayed and then threw his axe into the thicket; the spot on which the axe fell he regarded as the place where God intended he should build his cell. This axe is still shown in the little market town of St. Wolfgang which sprang up on the spot of the old cell. At the request of the Abbey of St. Emmeram, the life of St. Wolfgang was written by Othlo, a Benedictine monk of St. Emmeram about 1050. This life is especially important for the early medieval history both of the Church and of civilization in Bavaria and Austria, and it forms the basis of all later accounts of the saint. The oldest and best manuscript of this "Life" is in the library of the Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland (manuscript No. 322), and has been printed with critical notes in "Mon. Germ. His.: Script.", IV, 524-542. It has also been printed in, "Acta SS.", II November, (Brussels, 1894), 529-537; "Acta SS. O. S. Ben.", V, 812-833; and in P.L., CXLVI, 395-422.ued to feed and defend his flock until it pleased the Supreme Pastor to recompense his fidelity and labors.
SOURCE http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/W/stwolfgang.asp
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 10:56 AM 0 comments









TODAY'S MASS READINGS: 31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
Wisdom 11: 22 - 2622Because the whole world before thee is like a speck that tips the scales, and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground.23But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things, and thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent.24For thou lovest all things that exist, and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made, for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it.25How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by thee have been preserved?26Thou sparest all things, for they are thine, O Lord who lovest the living.Wisdom 12: 1 - 21For thy immortal spirit is in all things.2Therefore thou dost correct little by little those who trespass, and dost remind and warn them of the things wherein they sin, that they may be freed from wickedness and put their trust in thee, O Lord.








Psalms 145: 1 - 2, 8 - 11, 13 - 141I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever.2Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.10All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O LORD, and all thy saints shall bless thee!11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and tell of thy power,13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.14The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.












2 Thessalonian 1: 11 - 1211To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by his power,12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren,2not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.









GOSPELLuke 19: 1 - 101He entered Jericho and was passing through.2And there was a man named Zacchae'us; he was a chief tax collector, and rich.3And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature.4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchae'us, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today."6So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."8And Zacchae'us stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."
Posted by JesusCaritasEst at 10:54 AM 0 comments