Pope Francis

[grace-land]

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-says-worlds-many-conflicts-amount-piecemeal-world-104917232.html 


I believe the Pope has a good point. 

Agree.      

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-war-is-madness-which-brings-destructi

Pope Francis: War is "madness" which brings destruction
2014-09-13 Vatican Radio

 
Below is the full text of the prepared homily of Pope Francis

Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis
to the Military Cemetery of Redipuglia
(13 September 2014)

After experiencing the beauty of travelling throughout this region, where men and women work and raise their families, where children play and the elderly dream… I now find myself here, in this place, able to say only one thing: War is madness.

Whereas God carries forward the work of creation, and we men and women are called to participate in his work, war destroys.  It also ruins the most beautiful work of his hands: human beings.  War ruins everything, even the bonds between brothers.  War is irrational; its only plan is to bring destruction: it seeks to grow by destroying.

Greed, intolerance, the lust for power…. These motives underlie the decision to go to war, and they are too often justified by an ideology; but first there is a distorted passion or impulse.  Ideology is presented as a justification and when there is no ideology, there is the response of Cain: “What does it matter to me?  Am I my brother’s keeper?” (cf. Gen 4:9).  War does not look directly at anyone, be they elderly, children, mothers, fathers…. “What does it matter to me?”

Above the entrance to this cemetery, there hangs in the air those ironic words of war, “What does it matter to me?”  Each one of the dead buried here had their own plans, their own dreams… but their lives were cut short.  Humanity said, “What does it matter to me?”

Even today, after the second failure of another world war, perhaps one can speak of a third war, one fought piecemeal, with crimes, massacres, destruction…

In all honesty, the front page of newspapers ought to carry the headline, “What does it matter to me?”  Cain would say, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

This attitude is the exact opposite of what Jesus asks of us in the Gospel.  We have heard: he is in the least of his brothers; he, the King, the Judge of the world, he is the one who hungers, who thirsts, he is the stranger, the one who is sick, the prisoner… The one who cares for his brother or sister enters into the joy of the Lord; the one who does not do so, however, who by his omissions says, “What does it matter to me?”, remains excluded.

Here lie many victims.  Today, we remember them.  There are tears, there is sadness.  From this place we remember all the victims of every war.

Today, too, the victims are many…  How is this possible?  It is so because in today’s world, behind the scenes, there are interests, geopolitical strategies, lust for money and power, and there is the manufacture and sale of arms, which seem to be so important!

And these plotters of terrorism, these schemers of conflicts, just like arms dealers, have engraved in their hearts, “What does it matter to me?”

It is the task of the wise to recognize errors, to feel pain, to repent, to beg for pardon and to cry.       

With this “What does it matter to me?” in their hearts, the merchants of war perhaps have made a great deal of money, but their corrupted hearts have lost the capacity to cry.  That “What does it matter to me?” prevents the tears.  Cain did not cry.  The shadow of Cain hangs over us today in this cemetery.  It is seen here.  It is seen from 1914 right up to our own time.  It is seen even in the present.

With the heart of a son, a brother, a father, I ask each of you, indeed for all of us, to have a conversion of heart: to move on from “What does it matter to me?”, to tears: for each one of the fallen of this “senseless massacre”, for all the victims of the mindless wars, in every age.  Humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep.

[seahorse]

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-says-worlds-many-conflicts-amount-piecemeal-world-104917232.html 


I believe the Pope has a good point. 

Agree.      

  Hi grace-land & monkeys:

 I am pleased the pope is shaking things up a little    he will not snow us. God Bless him.
 I hope he scares everyone, everyday, that this not OK.  It is his job. 

Thank-you, grace-land, for keeping us Monkeys and guest, up to the minute information. 

[grace-land]

You're welcome, seahorse.  Don't hesitate to post another article that you like or find interesting.  I think Pope Francis will continue to surprise us with his style of leadership and teaching the gospel message.  Bless him.

[grace-land]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/09/13/Media-Reports-Distort-Meaning-of-Papal-Wedding-Ceremony

Media Reports Distort Meaning of Papal Wedding Ceremony
14 Sep 2014, 3:10 PM PDT

A host of media outlets have shown surprise that Pope Francis would officiate the wedding ceremony of couples with a sinful past.

On August 29, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis would be celebrating the wedding ceremony of 20 couples in St. Peter’s Basilica on September 14. This will be his first time officiating the marriage ceremony as pope, something his immediate predecessor never did. The event will take place just over two weeks before the Vatican will begin a formal summit to study the question of contemporary marriage.

The diocese of Rome, which is organizing the ceremony, said the 20 couples being married range in age from those in their mid-20s to those in their 50s and include “those who are already living together, those who already have children, those who met in church.” One of the women getting married, for instance, has a grown-up daughter from a previous relationship and will marry a man who was previously married but obtained an annulment.

Some in the media have said that Francis’ decision to marry couples who are living in sin is a sign of his desire for a church that cares less about morals than it does about the conversion of souls. Others expressed shock at the situation of some of the couples, as if Francis were condoning their prior choices by marrying them. Yet another announced that Francis will be wedding couples in "irregular" partnerships.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-marriage-is-not-fiction-christs-love

Pope Francis: Marriage is not fiction, Christ's love sustains couples
2014-09-14 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) To the simple strains of a harp, twenty grooms made their way up the central nave of St Peter’s Basilica with their mothers, followed by twenty brides dressed in white accompanied by their fathers.

All of the couples were from the diocese of Rome and had come to be married, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, by the Pope himself.

In his Homily, which preceded the Rite of Marriage, the Holy Father, taking his cue from the morning’s readings offered a real or non-fictional, as he called it, view of married life.

He said, that in the first reading from the Book of Numbers, we can imagine families led by Moses journeying through the desert. Families he noted, “are the first place in which we are formed as persons and, at the same time, the “bricks” for the building up of society.”

But just like in Sunday’s liturgy, families and indeed spouses, the Pope said, can become “impatient on their journey of conjugal and family life.

“The hardship of the journey he added, causes them to” experience interior weariness; they lose the flavour of matrimony and they cease to draw water from the well of the Sacrament.  Daily life becomes burdensome, even “nauseating”.”

Pope Francis explained that the cure for those couples who have succumbed to the dangerous temptation of discouragement, infidelity, weakness, and  abandonment, is the love of Christ.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-for-feast-of-the-exaltation-of

Pope Francis: Homily for Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
2014-09-14 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis marked the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sunday with Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s basilica during which he presided over the Sacrament of Marriage of twenty couples.

Below please find the official text of the Holy Father’s homily:
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-angelus-why-exalt-the-cross

Pope at Angelus: Why exalt the Cross?
2014-09-14 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) “Why do Christians exalt the Cross of Christ?” asked Pope Francis of pilgrims and tourists Sunday who had gathered beneath the window of his study for the midday Angelus.  Because, he told them, that Cross on which Christ was nailed “is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world”. It’s not just any cross, it is the source of our salvation.

And today – on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – the Pope said we should pray for Christians who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. “This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them”.

The Pope also warned against considering the cross a sign "magic": "The Holy Cross .... is not a sign of 'magic'! Belief in the Cross of Jesus involves following Him on his path. Thus Christians collaborate in His work of salvation by accepting together with Him sacrifice, suffering, even death for the love of God and neighbor".

Below a Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Fathers reflections before the Angelus prayer:
 

[grace-land]

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-announces-feast-days-of-newly-canonized-pontiffs

Vatican Announces Feast Days of Newly Canonized Pontiffs
St. John XXIII on Oct. 11th, St. John Paul II on Oct. 22nd
Vatican City,  September 12, 2014

The Feast Days of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II will be on October 11th and October 22nd respectively, the Vatican has announced.

In a decree published in today’s edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican said Pope Francis had approved putting the saints on the Church’s general Roman calendar of feast days in light of "countless requests from every part of the world.” The decree, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, stated they will be optional and not obligatory memorials.
 

[Sister]

grace-land, just wanted to share my giggle of the morning.
Read a headline of the Pope officiating at the wedding of 20 couples.
The headline read something like "Pope Officiating at Wedding of 20 New Couples"

new versus old -- 
new versus used -- 

I know what they were trying to say . . . just struck me as funny.

[Sister]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-angelus-why-exalt-the-cross

Pope at Angelus: Why exalt the Cross?
2014-09-14 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) “Why do Christians exalt the Cross of Christ?” asked Pope Francis of pilgrims and tourists Sunday who had gathered beneath the window of his study for the midday Angelus.  Because, he told them, that Cross on which Christ was nailed “is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world”. It’s not just any cross, it is the source of our salvation.

And today – on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – the Pope said we should pray for Christians who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. “This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them”.

The Pope also warned against considering the cross a sign "magic": "The Holy Cross .... is not a sign of 'magic'! Belief in the Cross of Jesus involves following Him on his path. Thus Christians collaborate in His work of salvation by accepting together with Him sacrifice, suffering, even death for the love of God and neighbor".

Below a Vatican Radio translation of the Holy Fathers reflections before the Angelus prayer:
 

BBM
I think he was referring to the United States!  JMO

[grace-land]

grace-land, just wanted to share my giggle of the morning.
Read a headline of the Pope officiating at the wedding of 20 couples.
The headline read something like "Pope Officiating at Wedding of 20 New Couples"

new versus old -- 
new versus used -- 

I know what they were trying to say . . . just struck me as funny.

 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/no-scandal-here-how-the-20-couples-married-by-pope-francis-were-legit-45669/

No scandal here: How the 20 couples married by Pope Francis were legit

Vatican City, Sep 15, 2014 / 05:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ witnessing of marriages between Catholics who cohabited or who have had annulments is not a change, but is part of the Church’s effort to bring people to Jesus Christ, said two experts on Christian marriage.

“I think there is a perception out there, especially in some media circles, that Pope Francis is trying to undermine what the Church has taught and what the Church has practiced,” Catholic University of America moral theology professor John Grabowski told CNA Sept. 15.
 
“I see absolutely no evidence of that. When he’s pressed on issues concerning the Church’s teaching on marriage, on sexuality, he is very firm, saying he is ‘a son of the Church’,” Grabowski continued. “What he wants to do is simply put the Church’s focus on mercy, on an encounter with Christ as the heart of its life.”

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-at-santa-marta-learning-from-our-lady-of-sorr

Pope at Santa Marta: Learning from Our Lady of Sorrows
2014-09-15 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis marked the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows during Monday morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, with a reflection on how Mary learned, obeyed and suffered at the foot of the Cross.

The Holy Father said that in the liturgy of the day first we are shown the glorious Cross, then the meek ​​and humble Mother. In the Letter to the Hebrews, "Paul emphasizes three strong words": he says that Jesus "learned, obeyed and suffered". "It’s the opposite of what had happened to our father Adam, who did not want to learn what the Lord commanded, who did not want to suffer, or obey." Instead, even though Jesus is God, He "is annihilated, He humbled Himself and became a servant. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus":

"Jesus came into the world to learn how to be a man, and by being a man, walk with men. He came into the world to obey, and He obeyed. But he learned this obedience from suffering. Adam left Paradise with a promise, a promise that lasted for so many centuries. Today, through this obedience, this self-abnegation, this humiliation, through Jesus, that promise becomes hope. And the people of God walk with sure hope. Even the Mother, 'the New Eve', as Paul himself calls her, in order to participate in her Son’s journey, learned, suffered and obeyed. And thus she becomes Mother”.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/16/pope_at_santa_marta_closeness_and_compassion/1106615

Pope at Santa Marta: Closeness and compassion
16/09/2014

(Vatican Radio) Beautiful homilies are useless if you are not close to the people, if you do not suffer with the people and do not give hope, they are vanity: This was Pope Francis’ reflection Tuesday morning during Mass in Santa Marta, the day on which the Church remembers the Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, bishop martyrs.

The Gospel of the day speaks of Jesus approaching a funeral procession: a widow of Nain lost her only son. The Pope said that not only does the Lord perform the miracle of bringing her son back to life, he does something more, he is close to her. "God – the people say - visited his people." When God visits "there is something more, there is something new", "it means that His presence is especially there". Jesus is close.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-to-albania-full-schedule

Pope Francis to Albania: Full schedule
2014-08-01 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has announced the schedule for Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage to Albania, set for 21 September 2014. It will be the second visit of a Pope to Albania, after Pope St John Paul II’s visit to the country in 1993.

Pope Francis trip will begin with a welcoming ceremony at Tirana’s “Mother Teresa” international airport, where he will be greeted by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. From the airport the Pope will travel to the Presidential Palace where he will pay a courtesy visit to the President, Bujar Nishani. Afterwards he will address representatives of the civil authorities.

The high point of the Voyage will be the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Mother Teresa Square, followed by the recitation of the Angelus. After Mass, the Holy Father will meet with the Bishops of Albania for lunch at the Apostolic Nunciature.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/the-council-of-9-meets-with-pope-francis-in-vatica

The "Council of 9" meets with Pope Francis in Vatican
2014-09-16 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) The sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis began on Monday morning at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

The Cardinals and the Pope are scheduled to continue their meeting until September 17.

The Council of Cardinals was instituted by Pope Francis to assist in the governance of the universal Church and to draw up a plan for the revision of the apostolic constitution “Pastor bonus” on the Roman Curia.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/appointments-to-the-ior-board-of-superintendence-f

Appointments to the IOR Board of Superintendence finalised

Vatican City, 16 September 2014 (VIS) – The Commission of Cardinals for the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) has appointed Mauricio Larrain (Chile) and Carlo Salvatori (Italy) as members of the IOR Board of Superintendence, according to a press release published by the Institute today.

On the occasion of the nomination Cardinal Santos Abril y Castello, President of the IOR’s Supervisory Commission of Cardinals, said: “The IOR is looking forward to working with these two new board members who will add significant financial experience and global perspective at a time when the role of IOR is being reinforced and confirmed to meet the objectives of the Holy Father.” With these appointments, the IOR Board of Superintendence is now complete. Besides Mauricio Larrain and Carlo Salvatori, it is composed of Mr. Jean-Baptiste de Franssu (France), President of the Board, Mr. Clemens Boersig (Germany), Prof. Mary Ann Glendon (USA) and Sir Michael Hintze (UK), who assumed office on 9 July 2014. In addition to these six lay members of the Board, Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, Secretary-General of the Secretariat for the Economy, serves as its non-voting Secretary.
 

[Sister]

http://www.news.va/en/news/the-council-of-9-meets-with-pope-francis-in-vatica

The "Council of 9" meets with Pope Francis in Vatican
2014-09-16 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) The sixth meeting of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis began on Monday morning at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

The Cardinals and the Pope are scheduled to continue their meeting until September 17.

The Council of Cardinals was instituted by Pope Francis to assist in the governance of the universal Church and to draw up a plan for the revision of the apostolic constitution “Pastor bonus” on the Roman Curia.
 

grace-land, is there significance in the different colors of the Cardinals?  I tried to look it up and found nothing.
 

[grace-land]

Sister,

All cardinals wear red.  The person in the photo (bottom center) is not a cardinal.  Since he is wearing purple, he is a bishop.
And, of course, the pope gets to wear white.