VATICAN: POPE: MESSAGE FOR END OF SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
AMERICA: USA: FAITHFUL WEAR CROSS AND CHAPLET FOR LENT
At 9 am today, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, in the Chapel Redemptoris Materof the Vatican Apostolic Palace, with the singing of Lauds and meditation final, ended the Spiritual Exercises in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.
The meditations were laid this year by Father François-Marie Léthel the Order of Discalced Carmelites, prelate secretary of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and professor at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum , and had as its theme: The light of Christ in the heart of Church - John Paul II's theology of the saints .
At the conclusion of the exercises, the Pope addressed some words to those present. (IMAGE SOURCE: RADIO VATICANA)
Soon after, in the Sala Clementina, the members of the Roman Curia were presented to Pope Benedict XVI's wishes for his feast day. The address was a tribute to the Pope by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals. The Holy Father concluded his meeting with his blessing.
We publish the following words that the Pope has addressed those present at the conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises in the Chapel Redemptoris Mater :
Dear Brothers,
Léthel dear Father,
the end of this process of reflection, meditation, prayer in the company of Saints Friends of Pope John Paul II, I would say with all my heart: Thank you, Father Léthel, for your safe driving, for the spiritual wealth that has given.Saints: She gave them to see how the stars in the firmament of history and, with your enthusiasm and your joy, you put us in the circle of these saints and showed us that just the Saints 'small' by Saints "large". We showed thatscientia fidei and the scientia amoris go together and complement each other, the reason that great and love go together, even the great love that sees more than one reason.
Providence has willed that these exercises will conclude with the Feast of St. Joseph, my personal patron saint and Patron of the Holy Church, a humble saint, a humble worker, who was made worthy to be Guardian of the Redeemer.
St. Joseph St. Matthew characterized with one word: "He was a right" and " dikaios "from" dike , "and in view of the Old Testament, as we find, for example, Psalm 1," right "is the man who is immersed in the Word of God, who lives in the Word of God, living the law not as a "yoke" but as "joy", he lives - we might say - the law as "Gospel."San Jose was right, was immersed in the Word of God written, transmitted in the wisdom of his people, and in doing so they had prepared and called to know the Incarnate Word - the Word came to us as a man - and destined to preserve, to protect this Incarnate Word, and this is his mission to always keep the Holy Church and Our Lord.
We entrust to his care at this time, please help us in our humble service. Let us go forward with courage under this protection. We are grateful for the humble Saints, pray to the Lord that makes us even in our humble service, and so the saints in the company of saints.
Once again, thank you, P. Léthel, for your inspiration. Thanks!
AMERICA: USA: FAITHFUL WEAR CROSS AND CHAPLET FOR LENT
 A chaplet with a crucifix fashioned on black cord. (CNS/Nancy Wiechec) |
The chaplet consists of a cross on a cord with seven sets of three knots each that is worn around the neck over one's clothing, visible for all of Lent.
Starting Ash Wednesday, parishioners wear the cross and pray seven Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes everyday for a specific member of the parish or community. On Good Friday, that cross is then given to that person.
During his time as a missionary in Venezuela, Father Statz noted that there was need for a visible sign of the cross.
"There was an evangelical church on almost every street corner," the Minnesota priest said in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service. He decided that a tradition where the cross could be seen by all would be good for both the faith of his parishioners and it would help to evangelize the barrios where he ministered.
The opportunity afforded by Ash Wednesday to visibly display the cross gave him the idea for what would later become the Lenten chaplet. "It's a good way to evangelize our own people and others in the barrios," he said. He views it a powerful tool in bringing the word of God to everyone.
Through the cross, "people are brought into the church," said Father Statz.
The Venezuelans assembled rosary-type crosses out of "wood and leaves" in such a manner that they could be worn for the whole of Lent. "The immediate response was very positive," the priest said.
After returning to the United States, Father Statz introduced the tradition to his own parish, Our Lady of the Angels in Sauk Centre, Minn. His parishioners were receptive to the practice and immediately adopted the idea. Since its introduction almost10 years ago, the local youth groups also have incorporated it into their fundraisers.
"We've done it since it started," said one parishioner, Maria Minette. "I like it a lot because it helps to focus on others during Lent."
"Sometimes we do it as a family and sometimes we do it individually," she said. Commenting on the effectiveness and the power of the cross, she added, "It's especially powerful for teens, for younger adults -- visually wearing the cross for the days of Lent and having people ask about it gives them a chance to talk about their faith."
The youth groups in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn., make the chaplets. "Each year we get a new crucifix and this year we had them blessed by (Pope) Benedict XVI," Father Statz said.
This tradition is used especially for the confirmation students, but the entire congregation is invited to participate. And the practice has started to spread to other churches in the area, including St. Paul's Parish, also in Sauk Centre.
"Sacramentals assist the sacraments -- they go with the liturgy and extend it. Some other parishes have picked up on it and benefited," Father Statz said.
The parishioners have been instrumental in the spreading of the tradition and in participating in the Lenten devotion. "I actually would like to see it spread farther," said Minette.
AFRICA: IVORY COAST: 30 MURDERED IN MARKET
“The presence of Burkinabé mercenaries in Ouattara's camp has not yet been verified by independent sources, but this accusation by Gbagbo is evidence of the break in relations between Gbagbo and the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaoré,” says the Fides source, who for security reasons prefers to remain anonymous. “The latter, having sponsored the agreements in Ouagadougou in 2007, was involved in the round of negotiations sponsored by the African Union to resolve the Ivorian crisis, triggered by Gbagbo's refusal to recognise Ouattara's victory in the second round of presidential elections in November 2010. As we all recall, in late February a delegation from the African Union went to Abidjan to meet with the protagonists in the crisis. Blaise Compaoré, who was part of the group of mediators, decided at the last minute not to travel to Côte d'Ivoire, officially for security reasons,” continues our source.
The situation is alarming, because while the rebels seem to advance closer to Ouattara to take over the district of Cocody, which houses many important buildings, Gbagbo is deploying militia groups to create roadblocks in the quarters of his supporters. According to UNOCI sources, there are defections in the security forces, who until now had remained loyal to Gbagbo, and whose morale is low because wages have not been paid. According to UNOCI, at least 100 soldiers have deserted and have become refugees in Liberia.
ASIA: PAKISTAN: CHURCH SUSPECTS CATHOLIC MURDERED IN PRISON
Pakistani Christians say that a Catholic businessman serving a life imprisonment for blasphemy was tortured and murdered and did not die of a heart attack as stated in a medical report.
The man was found dead in his prison cell.
“Qamar David might have fallen prey to an active hate campaign going on in the country on this issue by extremist groups,” the Catholic Bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace NCJP suggested in an update was circulated by email on March 15 the day David, 55, died in “mysterious circumstances” in a jail in Karachi.
David, a wealthy businessman, was arrested in 2006 for being in possession of a SIM phone used for sending derogatory messages insulting the Prophet Mohammad. Though another Muslim co-accused was acquitted for lack of evidence, the Catholic was given life imprisonment and fined 101,000 rupees (US$ 1,183) in 2010 under the blasphemy laws.
Clergy, Church activists and the family of the victim have slammed the initial findings of the doctors.
Reports said Qamar David’s lawyer Pervez Chaudhry maintained that the allegations were spurious, triggered by a business rivalry, and that the conviction was the result of pressure from local religious clerics and their supporters.
Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore presided over the funeral on March 17 at St. Joseph Church in Lahore, David’s native city. Women wailed as the coffin was placed in front of the altar. The mass remained tense as relatives scuffled with Catholic media and NCJP workers documenting the funeral.
Vicar General Father Andrew Nisari, in his address, asked congregation of more than 200 to be undeterred in their faith. “Another historic chapter has been added in our struggle against the fatal logic (referring to blasphemy laws). The persecution and discrimination, especially in finding jobs”, has frustrated our youth”, he pointed.
The incident is the latest in a series of blasphemy-related killings. Prayers are still being held around the country for Shahbaz Bhatti, the federal cabinet minister assassinated earlier this month for trying to amend the blasphemy laws.
The blasphemy laws give life imprisonment and death penalty to convicts of insulting to the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad respectively. Church groups, who condemned these legislations for decades, have now adopted a low profile in wake of recent killings.
http://www.ucanews.com/2011/03/18/church-says-blasphemer-was-murdered
EUROPE: EU RULES THAT SCHOOLS CAN DISPLAY CRUCIFIXES
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AUSTRALIA: DEATH OF VETERAN PRIEST FR. PIERCE
VETERAN PRIEST DIES
15 March 2011
Archdiocese of Canberra report: Fr Vince Pierse, who served in archdiocesan parishes for more than 45 years, has died. He was 91. Fr Pierse was living in retirement at Mount St Joseph’s Nursing Home, Young.
He served in the parishes of Goulburn, Young, Ardlethan, Gundagai, Bega, West Wyalong, Crookwell, North Goulburn, Binalong, Braidwood, Adelong, Bombala, Adaminaby and O’Connor between 1949 until his retirement in 1994. He is survived by his sister Vonnie and his brother Bill and their extended families.
A concelebrated Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul will be held at 11.30am on Friday, 18 March, at St Patrick’s Church, Gundagai.
http://www.cg.catholic.org.au/news/view_article.cfm?id=442&loadref=16
TODAY'S SAINT: MAR. 19 ST. JOSEPH
St. Joseph
SPOUSE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND FOSTER FATHER OF JESUS
Feast: March 19
| The glorious St. Joseph was lineally descended from the greatest kings of the tribe of Judah, and from the most illustrious of the ancient patriarchs; but his true glory consisted in his humility and virtue. The history of his life hath not been written by men; but his principal actions are recorded by the Holy Ghost himself God entrusted him with the education of his divine Son, manifested in the flesh. In this view he was espoused to the Virgin Mary. It is an evident mistake of some writers, that by a former wife he was the father of St. James the Less, and of the rest who are styled in the gospels the brothers of our Lord; for these were only cousin-germans to Christ, the sons of Mary, sister to the Blessed Virgin, wife of Alphaeus, who was living at the time of our Redeemer's crucifixion. St. Jerome assures us1 that St. Joseph always preserved his virgin chastity; and it is of faith that nothing contrary thereto ever took place with regard to his chaste spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was given her by heaven to be the protector of her chastity, to secure her from calumnies in the birth of the Son of God, and to assist her in his education, and in her journeys, fatigues, and persecutions. How great was the purity and sanctity of him who was chosen the guardian of the most spotless Virgin! This holy man seems, for a considerable time, to have been unacquainted that the great mystery of the Incarnation had been wrought in her by the Holy Ghost. Conscious, therefore, of his own chaste behaviour towards her, it could, not but raise a great concern in his breast to find that, notwithstanding the sanctity of her deportment, yet he might be well assured that she was with child. But being , as the scripture calls him, and consequently possessed of all virtues, especially of charity and mildness towards his neighbour, he was determined to leave her privately, without either condemning or accusing her, committing the whole cause to God. These, his perfect dispositions, were so acceptable to God, the lover of justice, charity, and peace, that before he put his design into execution he sent an angel from heaven, not to reprehend anything in his holy conduct, but to dissipate all his doubts and fears, by revealing to him this adorable mystery. How happy should we be if we were as tender in all that regards the reputation of our neighbor; as free from entertaining any injurious thought or suspicion, whatever certainty our conjectures or our senses may seem to rely on; and as guarded in our tongue! We commit these faults only because in our hearts we are devoid of that true charity and simplicity, whereof St. Joseph sets us so eminent an example on this occasion. |
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjoseph.asp#ixzz1H9SVNBZa
TODAY'S GOSPEL: MAR. 19: Matthew 1: 16- 24
16and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit;19and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.20But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit;21she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."24When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife,
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