SUMMARY:
- MESSAGE
FOR THE 450TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CARMELITE REFORM
- BLESSED
ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
- THE
CHURCH MUST PREACH TRUTH AND JUSTICE
- POPE
RECALLS ST. BONAVENTURE ON HIS FEAST DAY
-
AUDIENCES
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
MESSAGE
FOR THE 450TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CARMELITE REFORM
Vatican
City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI has sent a message to Bishop
Jesus Garcia Burillo of Avila, Spain, to mark the 450th anniversary
of the foundation of the Monastery of St. Joseph and the beginning of
the Carmelite reform by St. Teresa of Avila. The message, ample
extracts of which are given below, is dated 16 July.
"The
reform of the Carmelite Order, the anniversary of which fills us with
inner joy, arose from prayer and tends towards prayer. In promoting a
radical return to the original Rule and abandoning the mitigated
Rule, St. Teresa of Jesus sought to create a form of life which
favoured a personal encounter with the Lord, finding 'a place where
we can be alone and look upon Him present within us. Nor need we feel
strange in the presence of so kind a Guest'".
"St.
Teresa presented a new way of being Carmelite in a world which was
also new. Those were 'difficult times' in which, according to that
Mistress of the spirit, ... 'the world is on fire. Men try to condemn
Christ once again. They would raze His Church to the ground. No, my
sisters, this is no time to treat with God for things of little
importance'. Does this luminous and engaging call, written more than
four centuries ago by the mystic saint, not sound familiar in our own
times?"
"The
ultimate goal of Teresa's reform and the creation of new monasteries
in a world lacking spiritual values was to protect apostolic work
with prayer, proposing a form of evangelical life that would act as a
model for people seeking the path of perfection, on the basis of the
conviction that all authentic personal and ecclesial reform involves
an ever more faithful reproduction of the 'form' of Christ in our own
selves. ... Today too, as in the sixteenth century, in the midst of
rapid transformation, it is important that trusting prayer be the
heart of the apostolate, so that the the redeeming message of Jesus
Christ may sound our clearly and dynamically. It is urgently
important for the Word of life to resound harmoniously in peoples
souls, with sonorous and attractive notes".
"The
example of St. Teresa of Avila is of great help to us in this
exhilarating task. In her time the saint evangelised unhesitatingly,
showing tireless ardour, employing methods free from inertia and
using expressions bathed in light. This remains important in the
current time, when there is a pressing need for the baptised to renew
their hearts through individual prayer in which, following the
guidance of St. Teresa, they also focus on contemplation of Christ's
blessed humanity as the only way to reach the glory of God".
"The
power of Christ will lead to a redoubling of efforts to ensure that
the people of God recover their vigour in the only way possible: by
finding space within ourselves for the feelings of the Lord Jesus,
and in all circumstances seeking to live His Gospel to the full. This
means, above all, allowing the Holy Spirit to make us friends of the
Master and to mould us to Him. It also means accepting all His
mandates and adopting in ourselves criteria such as humility of
conduct, renunciation of the superfluous, not harming others and
acting with simplicity and humbleness of heart. Thus those around us
will perceive the joy that arises from our adherence to the Lord;
they will see that we put nothing before His love, and that we are
always ready to give reasons for our hope".
BLESSED
ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Vatican
City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - "Blessed are the peacemakers" is
the theme chosen by the Holy Father for the forty-sixth World Day of
Peace, which will fall on 1 January 2013, according to a communique
released today by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "The
annual Message of the Pope, in the complexity of the present time,
will encourage everyone to take responsibility with regard to
peace-building", the English-language communique reads.
"The
Message will embrace, therefore, the fullness and diversity of the
concept of peace, starting from the human being: inner peace and
outer peace; then, highlighting the anthropological emergency, the
nature and incidence of nihilism; and, at the same time, fundamental
rights, in the first place freedom of conscience, freedom of
expression, freedom of religion. The Message will offer, as well, an
ethical reflection on some measures the world is going to take to
contain the financial and economic crisis, the educational crisis,
the crisis of the institutions and politics, which is also - in many
cases - a worrying crisis of democracy.
"The
Message will also look at the fifteth Anniversary of Vatican Council
II and of the Encyclical Letter by Pope John XXIII, 'Pacem in
Terris', according to which the primacy is always for human dignity
and freedom, for the building of an earthly city to the service of
every person, without any discrimination, and directed to the common
good which is based on justice and true peace.
"'Blessed
are the peacemakers' will be the eighth Message of Pope Benedict XVI
for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace. Following are the
titles of the previous ones: 'In Truth, Peace' (2006), 'The Human
Person, Heart of Peace' (2007), 'The Human Family, a Community of
Peace' (2008), 'Fighting Poverty to Build Peace' (2009), 'If you want
to cultivate peace, protect creation' (2010), 'Religious Freedom, the
path to peace' (2011), 'Educating young people in justice and peace'
(2012)".
THE
CHURCH MUST PREACH TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Vatican
City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI visited the town
of Frascati, located near his summer residence of Castelgandolfo. In
1962 Blessed Pope John XXIII ordered that the pastoral care of the
diocese of Frascati be entrusted to a residential bishop, while the
title of that suburbicarian see be retained by a cardinal. The
current holder of the title is Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone S.D.B., who concelebrated Mass with the Holy Father. The
visit of Benedict XVI is the fourth visit by a Pontiff to that
diocese, following those made by John XXIII in 1959, Paul VI in 1963,
and John Paul II in 1980.
On
arrival, the Pope was greeted by Stefano Di Tommaso, mayor of
Frascati, and by Bishop Raffaello Martinelli. He then entered the
cathedral where he paused in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament
before celebrating Mass in the atrium of the building, which is
dedicated to St. Peter and overlooks a square of the same name.
Extracts
from the Holy Father's homily are given below:
"In
this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus takes the initiative to send the twelve
Apostles on a mission. ... The fact that Jesus calls certain
disciples to collaborate directly in His mission, is an expression of
one aspect His love: He does not disdain the help that other men can
contribute to His work, He knows their limits and weaknesses, but
does not despise them; indeed, He confers on them the dignity of
being His emissaries. Jesus sends them out two by two and gives them
instructions. ... The first instruction concerns the spirit of
detachment: the Apostles must not be attached to money and comforts.
Jesus warns the disciples that they will not always receive a
favourable welcome: at times they will be rejected, and may also be
persecuted. But that should not affect them: they must speak in the
name of Jesus and preach the Kingdom of God, without worrying about
success. They must leave the outcome in the hands of God.
"The
first reading presented the same perspective, showing us that often
God’s messengers are not well received. This is the case of the
prophet Amos (who) preached with great energy against injustice,
especially denouncing the abuses of the king and chiefs, abuses that
offend the Lord, and render acts of worship vain. ... But, whether
accepted or rejected, Amos continued to prophesy, preaching what God
says and not what people wanted to hear. This remains the mandate of
the Church: she does not preach what the powerful want to hear. Her
criterion is truth and justice, even if that garners no applause and
collides with human power".
"The
other very important indication of the Gospel is that the Twelve must
not be content to preach conversion: their preaching must be
accompanied, according to the instructions and example given by
Jesus, by the bodily and spiritual care of the sick. He speaks of the
concrete curing of diseases, ... of purifying the human mind, ... of
cleaning the eyes of the soul that are obscured by ideology and
therefore cannot see God, cannot see truth and justice. ... The
apostolic mission must always include two aspects: preaching the word
of God and manifesting His goodness with acts of charity, service and
dedication".
"The
Lord calls us all, distributing different gifts for different tasks
in the Church. He calls us to the priesthood and consecrated life,
and He calls us to marriage and commitment as lay people within the
Church and society. ... Two complementary paths that illuminate each
other, enrich each other and together enrich the community. ... The
Lord bountifully sows His gifts, He calls you to follow Him and to
continue His mission today".
"I
propose you intensely live the Year of Faith, which will begin in
October, fifty years from the opening of Vatican Council II. The
conciliar documents contain an enormous wealth for the formation of
new generations of Christians, for the formation of our
consciousness. Read them, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church
and rediscover the beauty of being Christians, of being Church and
enjoying the great 'we' that Jesus formed around Him, to evangelise
the world: the 'we' of the Church, never closed, but always open and
projected towards the proclamation of the Gospel".
POPE
RECALLS ST. BONAVENTURE ON HIS FEAST DAY
Vatican
City, 15 July 2012 (VIS) - At midday today, having returned from his
pastoral visit to Frascati, the Holy Father appeared on the balcony
overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of
Castelgandolfo to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered below.
"In
the liturgical calendar", he said, "15 July is the memory
of the Franciscan St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, Doctor of the
Church, the successor of St. Francis of Assisi at the head of the
Order of Friars Minor. He wrote the first biography of Francis, and
at the end of his life was also bishop of this diocese of Albano".
"The
whole life and theology of St. Bonaventure have Jesus Christ as their
core inspiration. This centrality of Christ is also to be found in
the second reading of today’s Mass, the famous hymn of the Letter
of Paul to the Ephesians, which begins: 'Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavens'. The Apostle then goes on to
show us how this blessing is realised in four passages all of which
begin with the same expression 'in Him', referring to Jesus Christ.
'In Him' the Father chose us before the creation of the world; 'in
Him' we are redeemed through His blood, 'in Him' we have become heirs
predestined to be 'the praise of his glory'; 'in Him' those who
believe in the Gospel receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. This hymn
contains the Pauline view of history, which St. Bonaventure helped to
spread in the Church: all of history is centred on Christ, Who is a
guarantee of novelty and renewal in every age. In Jesus, God has
spoken and given everything, but because He is an inexhaustible
treasure, the Holy Spirit never ceases to reveal and update His
mystery. Therefore, the work of Christ and the Church never
regresses, but always progresses".
After
praying the Angelus the Holy Father described the holidays as "a
favourable moment to reflect upon our lives, and to open our hearts
to other people and to God. I invite you to concern yourselves with
those who suffer solitude and abandonment, in the street, in their
own homes, in hospitals or in care homes. Do not hesitate to visit
them".
Finally
the Pope recalled the fact that today marks the liturgical memory of
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mother of God of the Scapular. "Blessed
John Paul II wore and loved the scapular", he said. "To all
his compatriots - in Poland, in the world and here in Castelgandolfo
- I express the hope that Mary, the best of mothers, may protect you
with her mantle in the struggle against evil, intercede in your
request for grace, and show you the path that leads to God".
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - This afternoon the Holy Father is
scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S.,
prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
On Sunday
15 July he received in audience Cardinal Fiorenzo Angelini, president
emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 16 July 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
-
Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of
Keewatin-Le Pas, Canada, presented by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie
O.M.I., in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon
Law, appointing Fr. William Stang O.M.I., vicar general, as apostolic
administrator "sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis" of
the same archdiocese.
- Erected
the new diocese of Udupi (area 3,500, population 1,445,240, Catholics
106,149, priests 86, religious 225) India, with territory taken from
the diocese of Mangalore, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan
church of Bangalore. He appointed Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of
Shimoga, India, as first bishop of the new diocese.
On
Saturday 14 July it was made public that the Holy Father appointed
Fr. Gregory Bittman, judicial vicar and chancellor of the archdiocese
of Edmonton, Canada, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese (area
81,151, population 1,589,080, Catholics 378,545, priests 175,
permanent deacons 20, religious 362). The bishop-elect was born in
Hamilton, Canada in 1961 and ordained a priest in 1996. He has worked
in pastoral care in a number of parishes.
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