tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50030443093028499812024-03-18T19:37:39.202-05:00abitadeaconreflections, updates and homilies from Deacon Mike Talbot inspired by the following words from my ordination: Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach...Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.comBlogger21525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-42452895075966987172024-03-18T19:22:00.005-05:002024-03-18T19:22:46.255-05:00For St. Joseph Feast Day: The Litany of St. Joseph<p> </p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 27.2px; margin: 8px 0px 14px; text-align: center;">THE LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH</h2><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD_I47w6Jqie3HajkQBzpUpAv3Yw22vhVBHzuXTRIw2yNr7P01qReZXe9nBhBc5f7SwsAaws3lB6erCeEOi0bWx1yBUg0WdUhCcQyWWMReKfh8KAfpVETIJoA0tPl3TadqOrSAq-8I-IyVXPZT4lrgL4U0VH9yYzmFK1MO1J4q6nABF1aeXXOWxuWbVXLP" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="456" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD_I47w6Jqie3HajkQBzpUpAv3Yw22vhVBHzuXTRIw2yNr7P01qReZXe9nBhBc5f7SwsAaws3lB6erCeEOi0bWx1yBUg0WdUhCcQyWWMReKfh8KAfpVETIJoA0tPl3TadqOrSAq-8I-IyVXPZT4lrgL4U0VH9yYzmFK1MO1J4q6nABF1aeXXOWxuWbVXLP" width="311" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Lord, have mercy. <br /><i>Christ, have mercy</i>. <br />Lord, have mercy. <br />Christ, hear us. <br /><i>Christ, graciously hear us. </i><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>God, the Father of Heaven, <i>have mercy on us. </i><br />God the Son, Redeemer of the world, <i>have mercy on us. </i><br />God the Holy Spirit, <i>have mercy on us. </i><br />Holy Trinity, One God, <i>have mercy on us. </i><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Holy Mary, <i>pray for us</i> (after each line) <br />Saint Joseph, <br />Renowned offspring of David, <br />Light of Patriarchs, <br />Spouse of the Mother of God, <br />Chaste guardian of the Virgin, <br />Foster-father of the Son of God, <br />Diligent protector of Christ, <br />Head of the Holy Family, <br />Joseph most just, <br />Joseph most chaste, <br />Joseph most prudent, <br />Joseph most strong, <br />Joseph most obedient, <br />Joseph most faithful, <br />Mirror of patience, <br />Lover of poverty, <br />Model of artisans, <br />Glory of home life, <br />Guardian of virgins, <br />Pillar of families, <br />Solace of the wretched, Hope of the sick, <br />Patron of the dying, <br />Terror of demons, <br />Protector of Holy Church, <br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, <br /><i>Spare us, O Lord. </i><br />Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, <br /><i>Graciously hear us, O Lord. </i><br />Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, <br /><i>Have mercy on us. </i><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>V. He made him the lord of His house: <br />R. And ruler of all His substance. <br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b>Let us pray. <br />O God, who in Thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thine own most holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven, whom we reverence as our defender on earth: who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.</b></p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-16703297267911381182024-03-18T19:13:00.006-05:002024-03-18T19:13:49.832-05:00Foster Father of Jesus, beloved spouse of Mary, patron of the universal Church, Tuesday's Saint of the Day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Joseph</h1><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Feastday:</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> March 19</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Patron:</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travelers, immigrants, and a happy death</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Death: 18</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVdNiX3dCVOYiDEVbbKu-Cp-d4cH17_ls2RV-Anj3_XAU1_fEnhvQnP9xEkSBlyF_vR2VrBYlPFqJj1TpM6Qd8ubZzqtITS09s4HMn_7dEjht4F5DhYCHJS86sdxWyY0cNXkO5Kko0SWvnxPCgE2IqxNXwKIkw5zZsklFEgUC2n-UORYwkV8G8uvzqjRGm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVdNiX3dCVOYiDEVbbKu-Cp-d4cH17_ls2RV-Anj3_XAU1_fEnhvQnP9xEkSBlyF_vR2VrBYlPFqJj1TpM6Qd8ubZzqtITS09s4HMn_7dEjht4F5DhYCHJS86sdxWyY0cNXkO5Kko0SWvnxPCgE2IqxNXwKIkw5zZsklFEgUC2n-UORYwkV8G8uvzqjRGm" width="145" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Everything we know about the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus comes from Scripture and that has seemed too little for those who made up legends about him.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We know he was a carpenter, a working man, for the skeptical Nazarenes ask about Jesus, "Is this not the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55). He wasn't rich for when he took Jesus to the Temple to be circumcised and Mary to be purified he offered the sacrifice of two turtledoves or a pair of pigeons, allowed only for those who could not afford a lamb (Luke 2:24).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Despite his humble work and means, Joseph came from a royal lineage. Luke and Matthew disagree some about the details of Joseph's genealogy but they both mark his descent from David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). Indeed the angel who first tells Joseph about Jesus greets him as "son of David," a royal title used also for Jesus.</p><div id="media-18807" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><p class="text-center" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 30px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://www.catholic.org/prayers/novenas/novena.php?id=1" style="background-color: #337ab7; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(46, 109, 164); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-decoration-line: none; text-wrap: nowrap; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Novena for Workers, the Unemployed and Underemployed</span></a></p></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We know Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. When he discovered Mary was pregnant after they had been betrothed, he knew the child was not his but was as yet unaware that she was carrying the Son of God. He knew women accused of adultery could be stoned to death, so he resolved to send her away quietly to not expose her to shame or cruelty. However, when an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him, 20 "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins," he did as the angel told him and took Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:19-25).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">When the angel came again to tell him that his family was in danger, he immediately left everything he owned, all his family and friends, and fled to a strange country with his young wife and the baby. He waited in Egypt without question until the angel told him it was safe to go back (Matthew 2:13-23).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We know Joseph loved Jesus. His one concern was for the safety of this child entrusted to him. Not only did he leave his home to protect Jesus, but upon his return settled in the obscure town of Nazareth out of fear for his life. When Jesus stayed in the Temple we are told Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him (Luke 2:48). We also know that Joseph treated Jesus as his own son for over and over the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We know Joseph respected God. He followed God's commands in handling the situation with Mary and going to Jerusalem to have Jesus circumcised and Mary purified after Jesus' birth. We are told that he took his family to Jerusalem every year for Passover, something that could not have been easy for a working man.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus' public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph probably had died before Jesus entered public ministry.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Apocryphal Date for Joseph's birth is 90 BC in Bethlehem and the Apocryphal Date of his death is July 20, AD 18 in Nazareth.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Joseph is the patron saint of the dying because, assuming he died before Jesus' public life, he died with Jesus and Mary close to him, the way we all would like to leave this earth.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Joseph is also patron saint of the Universal Church, families, fathers, expectant mothers (pregnant women), travelers, immigrants, house sellers and buyers, craftsmen, engineers, and working people in general.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We celebrate two feast days for Joseph: March 19 for Joseph the Husband of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker. March 19 has been the most commonly celebrated feast day for Joseph, and it wasn't until 1955 that Pope Pius XII established the Feast of "St. Joseph the Worker" to be celebrated on May 1. This is also May Day (International Workers' Day) and believed to reflect Joseph's status as the patron of workers.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Many places and churches all over the world are named after St. Joseph, including the Spanish form, San Jose, which is the most commonly named place in the world. Joseph is considered by many to also be the patron saint of the New World; of the countries China, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Peru, Vietnam; of the regions Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, Sicily; and of several main cities and dioceses.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">In art, Joseph is typically portrayed as an older man, with grey hair and a beard, often balding, sometimes appearing frail and a marginal figure next to Mary and Jesus, if not entirely in the background. Some statues of Joseph show his staff topped with flowers. St. Joseph is shown with the attributes of a carpenter's square or tools, the infant Jesus, his lily blossomed staff, two turtle doves, or a spikenard.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">There is much we still wish we could know about Joseph -- exactly where and when he was born, how he spent his days, exactly when and how he died. But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge: who he was -- "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18).</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">In His Footsteps:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Prayer:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Enjoy additional prayers to St Joseph... <a href="https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?s=26" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">click here</a></p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-34922445240645846162024-03-17T21:04:00.000-05:002024-03-17T21:04:28.594-05:00Monday Saint of the Day<p> </p><p><br /></p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Cyril of Jerusalem</h1><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZG7db4JlsIlNneIeOl5jK1ZmFLVP35v9ysbF7mqhKX1SKlkD_OuX_WC5Ba76Z_xjE2c_TveFvVOrK7fNVYO8qpTMJuDUbL4HqOOABpLtj1ki6wxTTnQovvxVjthQIkHrV8zg-2nqnzGXFnwI6GJjOmOVTJhRB_8HMFIbljDGvkPU44xsms7D2rkJM-G2y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZG7db4JlsIlNneIeOl5jK1ZmFLVP35v9ysbF7mqhKX1SKlkD_OuX_WC5Ba76Z_xjE2c_TveFvVOrK7fNVYO8qpTMJuDUbL4HqOOABpLtj1ki6wxTTnQovvxVjthQIkHrV8zg-2nqnzGXFnwI6GJjOmOVTJhRB_8HMFIbljDGvkPU44xsms7D2rkJM-G2y" width="243" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">"Make your fold with the sheep; flee from the wolves: depart not from the Church," Cyril admonished catechumens surrounded by heresy. These were prophetic words for Cyril was to be hounded by enemies and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5695" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">heretics</a> for most of his life, and although they could exile him from his <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3874" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">diocese</a> he never left his beloved Church.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Cyril's <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">life</a> began a few years before <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1055" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Arianism</a> (the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5695" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">heresy</a> that <a href="https://www.catholic.org/clife/jesus" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Jesus</a> was not divine or one in being with the Father) and he lived to see its suppression and condemnation at the end of his life. In between he was the victim of many of the power struggles that took place.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">We know little about Cyril's early life. Historians estimate he was born about 315 and that he was brought up in Jerusalem. He speaks about the appearance of the sites of the Nativity and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5850" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Holy Sepulchre</a> before they were "improved" by human hands as if he were a witness. All we know of his <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4568" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">family</a> were that his <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8984" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">parents</a> were probably Christians and he seemed to care for them a great deal. He exhorted catechumens to honor <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8984" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">parents</a> "for however much we may repay them, yet we can never be to them what they as <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8984" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">parents</a> have been to us." We know he also had a sister and a nephew, Gelasius, who became a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishop</a> and a saint.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">He speaks as one who belonged to a group called the Solitaries. These were men who lived in their own houses in the cities but practiced a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">life</a> of complete chastity, ascetism, and service.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">After being ordained a deacon and then a priest, his <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishop</a> Saint Maximus respected him enough to put him in charge of the instruction of catechumens. We still have these catechetical lectures of Cyril's that were written down by someone in the congregation. When speaking of so many mysteries, Cyril anticipated the question, "But some one <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12332" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">will</a> say, If the Divine <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11137" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">substance</a> is incomprehensible, why then do you discourse of these things? So then, because I cannot drink up all the river, am I not even to take in moderation what is expedient for me? Because with eyes so constituted as mine I cannot take in all the sun, am I not even to look upon it enough to satisfy my wants? Or again, because I have entered into a great garden, and cannot eat all the supply of fruits, would you have me go away altogether hungry?.. I am attempting now to glorify the Lord, but not to describe him, knowing nevertheless that I shall fall short of glorifying <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5217" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">God</a> worthily, yet deeming it a work of piety even to attempt it at all."</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">When Maximus died, Cyril was consecrated as <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishop</a> of Jerusalem. Because he was supported by the Arian <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishop</a> of Caesarea, Acacius, the orthodox criticized the appointment and the Arians thought they had a friend. Both factions were wrong, but Cyril wound up in the middle.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">When a famine hit Jerusalem, the poor turned to Cyril for help. Cyril, seeing the poor starving to death and having no money, sold some of the goods of the churches. This was something that other saints including Ambrose and Augustine had done and it probably saved many lives. There were rumors, however, that some of the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12014" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">vestments</a> wound up as <a href="https://www.catholic.org/shopping/?category=5" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">clothing</a> for actors.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Actually, the initial <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2693" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">cause</a> of the falling out between <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> and Cyril was territory not beliefs. As <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishop</a> of Caesarea, <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=89" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacia</a> had authority over all the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> of Palestine. Cyril argued that his authority did not include <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6304" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Jerusalem</a> because <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6304" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Jerusalem</a> was an "apostolic see" -- one of the original sees set up by the apostles. When Cyril did not appear at councils that <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> called, <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> accused him of selling <a href="https://www.catholic.org/shopping/?category=4" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">church goods</a> to raise money and had him banished.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Cyril stayed in <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11313" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Tarsus</a> while waiting for an appeal. Constantius called a council where the appeal was supposed to take place. The council consisted of orthodox, Arians, and semi-Arian bishops. When <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> and his faction saw that Cyril and other exiled orthodox <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> were attending, they demanded that the persecuted <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> leave. <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> walked out when the demand was not met. The other <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> prevailed on Cyril and the others to give in to this point because they didn't want <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> to have <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9875" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">reason</a> to deny the validity of the council. <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> returned but left again for <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5257" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">good</a> when his <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3481" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">creed</a> was rejected -- and refused to come back even to give testimony against his enemy Cyril. The result of the council was the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> and the other Arian <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> were condemned. There's no final judgment on Cyril's case but it was probably thrown out when <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> refused to testify and Cyril returned to Jerusalem.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">This was not the end of Cyril's troubles because <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> carried his story to the emperor -- embellishing it with details that it was a gift of the emperor's that was sold to a dancer who died wearing the robe. This brought about a new <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11213" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">synod</a> run by <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> who now had him banished again on the basis of what some <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1918" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">bishops</a> of <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11313" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Tarsus</a> had done while Cyril was there.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">This exile lasted until Julian became emperor and recalled all exiled bishops, orthodox or Arian. Some said this was to exacerbate tension in the Church and increase his imperial power. So Cyril returned to Jerusalem. When <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=91" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Acacius</a> died, each faction nominated their own replacement for Caesarea. Cyril appointed his nephew Gelasius -- which may seem like nepotism, except that all orthodox sources spoke of Gelasius' holiness. A year later both Cyril and Gelasius were driven out of Palestine again as the new emperor's consul reversed Julian's ruling.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Eleven years later, Cyril was allowed to go back to find a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6304" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Jerusalem</a> destroyed by <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5695" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">heresy</a> and strife. He was never able to put things completely right. He did attend the Council at <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3297" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Constantinople</a> in 381 where the Nicene <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3481" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Creed</a> and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8801" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">orthodoxy</a> triumphed and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1055" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Arianism</a> was finally condemned. Cyril received <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6550" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">justice</a> at the same Council who cleared him of all previous rumors and commended him for fighting "a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5257" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">good</a> fight in various places against the Arians."</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Cyril had eight years of peace in <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6304" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Jerusalem</a> before he died in 386, at about seventy years old.</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-86283023192775559132024-03-17T12:51:00.005-05:002024-03-17T12:51:36.134-05:00Pope recalls the importance of Holy Week<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Videomessage of Pope Francis to the Confraternities of Mérida, Spain" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2024/marzo/16/Videomessaggio-Papa-2.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/multimedia/2024/marzo/16/Videomessaggio-Papa-2.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="Videomessage of Pope Francis to the Confraternities of Mérida, Spain" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">Videomessage of Pope Francis to the Confraternities of Mérida, Spain </span></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Holy Week "" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Calendario-liturgico.settimana-santa.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Holy Week ""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">HOLY WEEK</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pope Francis"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.papa-francesco.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pope Francis""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">POPE FRANCIS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Video Message"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.videomessaggio.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Video Message""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">VIDEO MESSAGE</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Spain"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Europa.spagna.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Spain""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">SPAIN</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Catholic Church"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Chiesa.chiesa-cattolica.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Catholic Church""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">CATHOLIC CHURCH</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope recalls importance of Holy Week in leaving lasting mark on our lives</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">In a video message to the Confraternities of Mérida, Spain, Pope Francis recalls how Holy Week is "a time of grace" to be dedicated to prayer and to our brothers and sisters most in need.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Adriana Masotti</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Mérida is one of Spain's most renowned cities for its ancient Roman monuments, so much so that it is called the "Spanish Rome." Founded as a colony by soldiers of Augustus in 25 B.C., its historic center boasts the Arch of Trajan, the Roman Bridge, the Temple of Diana, and a Roman Amphitheater, among others sites. And it is around these places that religious processions, parades and the Stations of the Cross are held during Holy Week.<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Spiritual closness with Mérida <br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In the video message addressed to the many local Confraternities that promote the religious events, the Pope observed that very few cities can experience the days that changed the history of humanity in settings with more than two thousand years of antiquity, contemporary with the time of the Lord's Passion. </p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Assuring all in Mérida of his spiritual closeness, the Pope said he will remember them in a special way when he leads the Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum as they participate in it at the Roman Amphitheater of Mérida with faithful from around the world.<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Holy Week's indelible mark<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Pope recalled how the Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz is celebrating a special year, the Eulalian Jubilee Year, which honors St. Eulalia, the young martyr who helped make Mérida the cradle of Christianity in Spain and the destination of pilgrimages throughout history. </p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Addressing the Confraternities who prepare the Holy Week celebrations, he encouraged them to ensure that the experience of Holy Week "leaves an indelible and permanent mark" on those who participate, reminding them that the re-enactment of Jesus' Passion "is not a spectacle, but a proclamation of our salvation" and "for this reason it must leave its mark." </p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Love of God and neighbour<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It is especially important during Holy Week to spend time devoted to prayer, listening to the Word of God, following the example of the Good Samaritan caring for our wounded sisters and brothers. Quoting from his <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/lent/documents/20231203-messaggio-quaresima2024.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lenten Message for this year</u></span></a>, the Pope said, "Love of God and love of neighbour are one love...In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Opening our hearts to others<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Holy Week marks "a time of grace that the Lord gives us so that we may open the doors of our hearts" and our communities, the Pope recalls, and going out to meet Jesus and others, also to bring the light and joy of our faith. He encouraged everyone to go forth with love and with God's tenderness, respect and patience, "knowing that we offer our hands, our feet, our hearts, but that it is God who guides us and shows us the way." </p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Prayer for families and those in need<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pope Francis concludes his message to the Fraternities of the ancient Spanish city with a special thought for families "who have a loved one who is ill," for those who are alone, for those experiencing economic hardship, and finally for young people who can offer their talents now and in the future for the Fraternities of Mérida.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-66354834655112282592024-03-17T12:47:00.008-05:002024-03-17T12:47:54.875-05:00Pope offers prayers after the Angelus<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="After the prime minister pledged to step down, an uneasy quiet in Haiti capital" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="After the prime minister pledged to step down, an uneasy quiet in Haiti capital" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">After the prime minister pledged to step down, an uneasy quiet in Haiti capital </span></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Haiti"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.America-centrale.Haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Haiti""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">HAITI</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pope Francis"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.papa-francesco.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pope Francis""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">POPE FRANCIS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Appeal"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.cultura-e-societa.Attualita.appello.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Appeal""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">APPEAL</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Syria"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Asia.Siria.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Syria""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">SYRIA</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Palestine"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Asia.palestina.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Palestine""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">PALESTINE</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Israel"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Asia.israele.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Israel""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">ISRAEL</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Ukraine"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Europa.ucraina.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Ukraine""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">UKRAINE</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">During the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis expresses satisfaction over the release of a teacher and four of six religious kidnapped in Haiti. He appeals for the release of those still held, and he offers prayers for war-torn Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, South Sudan, and Syria.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Vatican News</span></p><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><aside class="article__readmore" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 30px 15px;"><div class="teaser--labelEvidence teaser teaser--type-audio audioInside " style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 6px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: 259px; margin: 11.6667px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: transform 222ms ease 0s, box-shadow 222ms ease 0s; width: 236px; will-change: transform, box-shadow;"><article style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="teaser__labelWrapper" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; left: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; top: 0px; width: 236px;"><div class="teaser__label" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; height: 35px; margin: 0px; min-width: 50px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 236px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(204, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline-block; height: 35px; line-height: 35px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 10px; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: uppercase; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 236px; z-index: 1;">READ ALSO</span></div></div><div class="teaser__contentWrapper" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/four-kidnapped-religious-and-a-teacher-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Four kidnapped religious men and a teacher released in Haiti "><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" media="(min-width: 340px)" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><img alt="Four kidnapped religious men and a teacher released in Haiti " class="initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-height: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 236px; will-change: opacity;" /></a><div class="teaser__info" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; position: relative; width: 236px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 7px; order: 2; padding: 0px;">11/03/2024</span><div class="vn_social_inline_share_toolbox" data-description="" data-media="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/10/13/1710073066499.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" data-title="Four kidnapped religious men and a teacher released in Haiti " data-url="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/four-kidnapped-religious-and-a-teacher-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; max-height: 55px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 10px 10px; width: 236px;"><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/four-kidnapped-religious-and-a-teacher-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Four kidnapped religious men and a teacher released in Haiti ">Four kidnapped religious men and a teacher released in Haiti</a></h2></div></article></div></aside></div><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Addressing the crowds in Saint Peter's Square during Sunday's Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his relief over the freeing almost a week ago of a teacher and four of six religious following their kidnapping in Haiti. Two remain in captivity, and the Pope appealed for their release as soon as possible, as well as for all those still held in the "beloved country, so fraught with violence." The six religious, members of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, were kidnapped last 23 February.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Unite for the common good<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Pope called on all political and social leaders in Hait to abandon narrow interests and "engage in a spirit of solidarity in the pursuit of the common good, supporting a peaceful transition to a country that, with the help of the international community, may be equipped with solid institutions capable of restoring order and tranquillity among its citizens."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Pray for war-torn peoples</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pope Francis also asked everyone to continue praying for the war-torn populations of Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, and South Sudan. And he recalled the people of Syria, asking that we not forget their plight as the nation there "has suffered greatly for a long time because of war."</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-82266265776865053052024-03-17T12:44:00.002-05:002024-03-17T12:44:05.807-05:00Papal Sunday Angelus Address 03.17.2024<p> </p><div class="mediaContent__inner" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="embed-container" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 420.75px; position: relative;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-11="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-6="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-7781034_9="true" id="831163687" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bvX31-Lh5Z8?wmode=opaque&rel=0&autohide=1&showinfo=0&wmode=transparent&modestbranding=1&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.vaticannews.va&start=&end=" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Angelus"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.angelus.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Angelus""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">ANGELUS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Gospel""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">GOSPEL</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Gift, forgiveness are the essence of God’s glory, Pope says at Angelus</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope Francis reflects on the Gospel of the Fifth Sunday of Lent during his weekly Angelus address.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Christopher Wells</span></p><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><aside class="article__readmore" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 30px 15px;"><div class="teaser--labelEvidence teaser teaser--type-article " style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 6px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; height: 259px; margin: 11.6667px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; transition: transform 222ms ease 0s, box-shadow 222ms ease 0s; width: 236px; will-change: transform, box-shadow;"><article style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="teaser__labelWrapper" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; left: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; top: 0px; width: 236px;"><div class="teaser__label" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; height: 35px; margin: 0px; min-width: 50px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 236px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(204, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; display: inline-block; height: 35px; line-height: 35px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 10px; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-transform: uppercase; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 236px; z-index: 1;">READ ALSO</span></div></div><div class="teaser__contentWrapper" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-expresses-relief-over-kidnapped-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held"><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" media="(min-width: 340px)" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><source data-original-set="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" srcset="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></source><img alt="Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held" class="initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; max-height: 100%; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 236px; will-change: opacity;" /></a><div class="teaser__info" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 10px; position: relative; width: 236px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 7px; order: 2; padding: 0px;">17/03/2024</span><div class="vn_social_inline_share_toolbox" data-description="" data-media="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/reuters/2024/03/12/23/1710281562575.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.500.281.jpeg" data-title="Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held" data-url="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-expresses-relief-over-kidnapped-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; max-height: 55px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 10px 10px; width: 236px;"><a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-expresses-relief-over-kidnapped-released-in-haiti.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held">Pope expresses relief over kidnapped released in Haiti, prays for those still held</a></h2></div></article></div></aside></div><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">On the Cross, we see the glory of Jesus and of the Father, Pope Francis reminded the faithful at the Sunday Angelus. <br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2024/documents/20240317-angelus.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Reflecting on the Gospel</u></span></a> for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father explained that Jesus “wants to tell us that glory, for God, does not correspond to human success, fame, or popularity… For God, glory is about loving to the point of giving one’s life.”<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">This, the Pope continued, happened in a definitive way on the Cross, “where Jesus unfolded God’s love to the fullest, fully revealing the face of mercy, giving life, and forgiving those who crucified Him.”</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Gift and forgiveness, the essence of God's glory</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Pope went on to say that from the Cross, Jesus teaches us that “gift and forgiveness are the essence of God’s glory. And they are the way of life for us.”<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">This implies a standard that differs from the criteria for worldly glory, Pope Francis said. But “worldly glory” he added, “passes away and leaves no joy in the heart; nor does it lead to the good of all, but to division, discord, and envy.”<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis invited everyone to ask themselves, “What is the glory I desire for myself, for my life, that I dream for my future?” Is it worldly glory? Or is it, “the way of gift and forgiveness, the way of Christ Crucified, the way of one who does not tire of giving, confident that this bears witness to God in the world and makes the beauty of life shine? For when we give and forgive, God’s glory shines in us.”<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Holy Father concluded his Angelus reflection with the prayer that the Virgin Mary, “who followed Jesus with faith in the hour of the Passion,” might “help us to be living reflections of God’s love.”</p></div></article>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-66692524673852436712024-03-16T19:56:00.004-05:002024-03-16T19:56:30.179-05:00Perhaps the most celebrated Saint among all the Catholic Saints<p> </p><p><br /></p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Patrick</h1><p><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Feastday:</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> March 17</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Patron:</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> of Ireland</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Birth: 387</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Death: 461</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA-XUE5txObn3mQo4mWP-9vd7YaxCzxZlqw7S0nQRSE4uh-phIOk7FQIc95-dfcs5JZLz89IPEEZBofzbDzGVvF1v9pLg359G36XrsEkVYOKpkdIIRZJ3YjUzGYr7ukT2yNAuJhsDsfSnCJnCNYPP4IWvZEnqQtWV6wJD8lNHEpj7KFAi6xfVrIceUhLJo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA-XUE5txObn3mQo4mWP-9vd7YaxCzxZlqw7S0nQRSE4uh-phIOk7FQIc95-dfcs5JZLz89IPEEZBofzbDzGVvF1v9pLg359G36XrsEkVYOKpkdIIRZJ3YjUzGYr7ukT2yNAuJhsDsfSnCJnCNYPP4IWvZEnqQtWV6wJD8lNHEpj7KFAi6xfVrIceUhLJo" width="139" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Confession</i>. In <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Confession</i>, he wrote:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and was reunited with his family.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">A few years after returning home, Patrick saw a vision he described in his memoir:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">"I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: 'The Voice of the Irish.' As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea-and they cried out, as with one voice: 'We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.'"</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">The vision prompted his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the Bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years, and was later ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to Ireland.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Patrick arrived in Slane, Ireland on March 25, 433. There are several legends about what happened next, with the most prominent claiming he met the chieftan of one of the druid tribes, who tried to kill him. After an intervention from God, Patrick was able to convert the chieftain and preach the Gospel throughout Ireland. There, he converted many people -eventually thousands - and he began building churches across the country.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity and entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick's message.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">He died at Saul, where he had built the first Irish church. He is believed to be buried in Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. His grave was marked in 1990 with a granite stone.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">In His Footsteps:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. So complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission, he feared nothing -not even death.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">"The Breastplate," Patrick's poem of faith and trust in God:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">"Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."</p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Patrick</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-65925679208077603342024-03-15T20:38:00.005-05:002024-03-15T20:38:36.454-05:00Saturday Saint of the Day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Abban</h1><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPnbfri149IYetj94Gv5VbDi0ejT6FBqtzJ9RVhKjQVaFtA1HABXC7U_vWCywnj-j03R0yafn3INdsOlxU93KM97OyQMhlkhrKzNvp48LnfsZ3vIR0DToQlgfZHSiAp3KeGKRdBNXAv8HpoSzdljdH1oRXAk2zaOsxfxcbQJnYgsaJh23Uhlc9Gi1wWS7f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="250" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPnbfri149IYetj94Gv5VbDi0ejT6FBqtzJ9RVhKjQVaFtA1HABXC7U_vWCywnj-j03R0yafn3INdsOlxU93KM97OyQMhlkhrKzNvp48LnfsZ3vIR0DToQlgfZHSiAp3KeGKRdBNXAv8HpoSzdljdH1oRXAk2zaOsxfxcbQJnYgsaJh23Uhlc9Gi1wWS7f" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Abbot and Irish missionary. An Irish prince, Abban was the son of King Cormac of Leinster. He is listed as the nephew of St. Ibar. Abban founded many churches in the old district of Ui Cennselaigh, in modern County Wexford and Ferns. His main monastery is Magheranoidhe, in Adamstown, Ireland. This monastery's fame is attributed in some records to another Abban, that of New Ross. Abban is also associated with Kill-Abban </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=19" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Abbey</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> in Leinster, serving as </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=22" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">abbot</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> there until March 16, 620. He is revered in Adamstown, which was once called Abbanstown.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;"></p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Abban</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-53978160597594099582024-03-15T09:33:00.000-05:002024-03-15T09:33:30.499-05:00Preaching to the Pope again; Cardinal Cantalamessa<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="2024.03.15 Predica di Quaresima" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2024/03/15/2024-03-15-predica-di-quaresima/1710491264649.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2024/03/15/2024-03-15-predica-di-quaresima/1710491264649.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="2024.03.15 Predica di Quaresima" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">2024.03.15 Predica di Quaresima (Vatican Media)</span></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">VATICAN</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Roman Curia"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Vaticano.Curia-Romana.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Roman Curia""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">ROMAN CURIA</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Cardinals"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Cardinali.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Cardinals""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">CARDINALS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Lent"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Calendario-liturgico.quaresima.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Lent""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">LENT</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Cardinal Cantalamessa’s fourth Lenten sermon: I am the resurrection and the life</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher of the Papal Household, delivers his fourth Lenten sermon to the Roman Curia, in the presence of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Today he looks at Jesus’ self-revelation: “I am the resurrection and the life”.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Sr. Francine-Marie Cooper</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In his fourth sermon for the Roman Curia, Cardinal Cantalamessa continued his meditations on the “I Am” sayings of Jesus.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Today he looked more closely at the word from chapter 11 of John’s Gospel, “I am the resurrection and the life”.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He summarized the teaching of this chapter, saying: “the resurrection of Lazarus causes the death of Jesus; the death of Jesus causes the resurrection of all who believe in Him!”</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Cardinal outlines how Jesus revealed to Martha that the resurrection He was referring to was different to that which she had come to know and understand.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He was not speaking of the resurrection at the end of time, but a resurrection that begins here and now.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Cardinal Cantalamessa explained, “Jesus can say ‘I am the resurrection’ because He is the Risen One!”</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">The historical fact of the resurrection</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He described how many non-believers reproach believers for not being able to be objective, “since faith imposes on them, from the start, the conclusion they must arrive at”.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He argues that these non-believers actually do the same as they start with the assumption that God does not exist.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">And yet, he continues, “no event in antiquity is supported by as many first-hand testimonies as this one. Some of them date back to personalities of the intellectual caliber of Saul of Tarsus who had previously fiercely fought against this belief”.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Having reaffirmed the historical fact of the Resurrection of Christ, the Cardinal then took a look at the deeper meaning of Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life”.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Living hope</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Using the Apostles as an example, Cardinal Cantalamessa pointed out that “hope” was the key component of their experience.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">St. Peter starts his first Letter by praising God, who “in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt 1: 3-4).</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Cardinal contemplated “what a surge of hope could produce in our spiritual life”, comparing us to the cripple who was healed by the apostles and began “jumping and praising God” (Acts 3:1–9).</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He continued to explain that the presence of hope changes everything, “even when externally nothing changes”. Hope is an anchor and a sail; it keeps us secure and is a driving force that encourages us to move forward.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Hope where there is no hope</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cardinal Cantalamessa said that tribulation “leads us to hope only in God. It leads to that state of perfection that consists in hoping when there seems to be no hope (Rom 4:18)”.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">“Such was Mary’s hope under the cross”, he added, and explained that popular “piety is not wrong when it invokes Mary with the title of <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mater Spei</i>, mother of hope”.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He reassured his listeners that, “God does not promise to remove the reasons for weariness and exhaustion, but he gives hope”. And he continued, “It is really like putting on wings.”</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Cardinal concluded his sermon with the words of the Apostle Paul:</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13)”.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-28162528202088139922024-03-14T14:05:00.004-05:002024-03-14T14:05:28.172-05:00Friday also a Papal Saint day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">Pope St Zachary</h1><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMfiCaD1-G2df411mCfeusHtAu_FvxoUtPsWiYVHHx-NCUYZER0y12PeCRiDe-n2u-GSVp_gxhQx66e8yrNmJadUmL9MFA2FpHIVms_5JorhKPhWeGnfG2DD3q2rdXmkKm5sg8qwnrJK1E07JiJwoiUn9DeeXlsJ6Spcl9-29h9Ik4M4vFpJ5issw828PU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMfiCaD1-G2df411mCfeusHtAu_FvxoUtPsWiYVHHx-NCUYZER0y12PeCRiDe-n2u-GSVp_gxhQx66e8yrNmJadUmL9MFA2FpHIVms_5JorhKPhWeGnfG2DD3q2rdXmkKm5sg8qwnrJK1E07JiJwoiUn9DeeXlsJ6Spcl9-29h9Ik4M4vFpJ5issw828PU" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Pope Zachary, whose reign spanned from 741 to 752, emerged as a pivotal figure in the annals of papal history, renowned for his diplomatic acumen, theological scholarship, and steadfast devotion to the Church. Hailing from a Greek family in Calabria, Zachary ascended to the papal throne amidst tumultuous times, navigating complex political landscapes and spearheading critical reforms within the Church.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Zachary's ascent to the papacy was swift and unanimous, following the death of his predecessor Gregory III in November 741. Described by his biographer in the "Liber Pontificalis" as a man of gentle demeanor and charitable spirit, Zachary wasted no time in asserting his authority and vision for the Church. His early actions underscored a commitment to reconciliation and dialogue, as evidenced by his outreach to Constantinople, despite the ongoing schisms and power struggles within the Byzantine Empire.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">The political landscape of Zachary's era was fraught with peril, particularly concerning the looming threat posed by the Lombards, led by King Luitprand. Undeterred by the imminent danger, Zachary embarked on a diplomatic mission to Terni, where he successfully negotiated the return of Roman territories seized by the Lombards. His efforts culminated in the signing of a truce, securing peace and stability for the Roman Duchy for two decades.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Zachary's diplomatic prowess was further showcased in his intervention to prevent a Lombard incursion into the territory of Ravenna. Journeying to Pavia, he successfully persuaded King Luitprand to abandon his military campaign, thereby averting a potential conflict. His deft handling of diplomatic affairs earned him respect and admiration, not only among his contemporaries but also among future generations.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Beyond his diplomatic endeavors, Zachary was a champion of ecclesiastical reform and theological scholarship. Under his leadership, a synod convened in Rome in 743, issuing decrees aimed at upholding church discipline and addressing theological controversies, such as impediments to marriage and the veneration of images. Zachary's close collaboration with Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans, exemplified his commitment to fostering unity and doctrinal orthodoxy within the Church.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Zachary's legacy also extended to acts of benevolence and charity. He dedicated himself to the restoration of churches in Rome, making generous contributions and providing regular alms to the poor. His compassion extended even to the plight of enslaved Christians, as he intervened to prevent their sale to Saracen merchants in Africa.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">In the realm of theological scholarship, Zachary's translation of the Dialogues of Gregory the Great into Greek contributed to the dissemination of Christian teachings in the East, furthering the reach and influence of the Roman Church.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Upon his death in March 752, Pope Zachary left behind a legacy of leadership, diplomacy, and compassion. His tenure as pontiff served as a beacon of stability and enlightenment during a turbulent era in Church history, earning him a place of honor and reverence among the successors of Saint Peter.</p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about Pope Zachary</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-68837777169385035332024-03-14T14:00:00.003-05:002024-03-14T14:00:26.401-05:00Friday Saint of the Day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Louise de Marillac</h1><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3h6DbSHYYA7Kh7cMWTnNWXYuk3Omr6PKaRHUnahPGYONRHigrEQAGbvWfS5V54R7IR_xfJqFz1xymk_5Q2TzZRtFgbyg7ImQcfMZequZVtvvpeUaB9DhbN0i5wzKTh7GovI2qmgRJukLStLwBedSmpGcQRiC7FpVPoHNQjOy5cDAHWsFYWGxf0DU9gapz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3h6DbSHYYA7Kh7cMWTnNWXYuk3Omr6PKaRHUnahPGYONRHigrEQAGbvWfS5V54R7IR_xfJqFz1xymk_5Q2TzZRtFgbyg7ImQcfMZequZVtvvpeUaB9DhbN0i5wzKTh7GovI2qmgRJukLStLwBedSmpGcQRiC7FpVPoHNQjOy5cDAHWsFYWGxf0DU9gapz" width="199" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Louise de Marillac was born probably at Ferrieres-en-Brie near Meux, France, on August 12, 1591. She was educated by the Dominican </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8582" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">nuns</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> at Poissy. She desired to become a nun but on the advice of her confessor, she married Antony LeGras, an official in the Queen's service, in 1613. After Antony's death in 1625, she met </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1992" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">St. Vincent</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> de Paul, who became her spiritual adviser. She devoted the rest of her </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">life</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> to working with him. She helped direct his Ladies of Charity in their work of caring for the sick, the poor, and the neglected. In 1633 she set up a training center, of which she was Directress in her own home, for candidates seeking to help in her work. This was the beginning of the Sisters (or Daughters, as Vincent preferred) of Charity of </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=326" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">St. Vincent de Paul</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> (though it was not formally approved until 1655). She took her </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12157" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">vows</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> in 1634 and attracted great </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=4" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">numbers</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> of candidates. She wrote a rule for the community, and in 1642, Vincent allowed four of the members to take vows. Formal approval placed the community under Vincent and his Congregation of the Missions, with Louise as Superior. She traveled all over </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4817" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">France</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> establishing her Sisters in hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions. By the </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11571" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">time</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> of her death in </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8987" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">Paris</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> on March 15, the Congregation had more than forty houses in France. Since then they have spread all over the world. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934, and was declared Patroness of Social Workers by Pope </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6375" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">John XXIII</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> in 1960. Her </span><a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration-line: none;">feast day</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> is March 15th.</span></p><div class="panel panel-danger spacer-large" style="background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 204, 209); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0px 1px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 20px 0px;"><div class="panel-body" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 15px;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Louise de Marillac</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-52008829191172485912024-03-14T12:36:00.004-05:002024-03-14T12:36:34.012-05:00Pope to beatify a priest and 15 nuns all martyred during World War II<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; 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box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Eastern Churches""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">EASTERN CHURCHES</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope recognizes martyrdom of priest, 15 nuns killed during World War II</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope Francis authorizes the promulgation of several decrees recognizing the martyrdom of a priest guillotined in Nazi Germany and 15 German-born nuns killed in the Soviet Union, as well as miracles attributed to three Venerables.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Vatican News</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Among the soon-to-be Beatified are 16 martyrs, killed out of hatred for the faith under Nazism and Soviet communism. The group includes a priest guillotined in Nazi Germany and 15 nuns of German origin killed by soldiers of the Red Army or who died in concentration camps in Soviet Russia.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">On Thursday, Pope Francis met with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of the decrees related to 25 Catholic women and men.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The decrees include recognition of the martyrdom of 15 German-born women religious who were serving in Poland during the invasion by the Red Army.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Sr. Christophora Klomfass and her 14 companions of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr (CSC) died in 1945.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The nuns were killed out of hatred for the faith by Soviet soldiers, enduring rape, torture, and death due to hardship, maltreatment, or diseases in concentration camps in Soviet Russia. As a fierce sign of contempt for the Christian faith, their tormentors often cut and tore their religious clothing.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">A priest for peace and ecumenism during Hitler's time</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fr. Max Josef Metzger, a German diocesan priest and founder of the Secular Institute <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Societas Christi Regis</i>, was killed on April 17, 1944, in Nazi Germany.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The priest was active in pacifist and ecumenical movements, and in 1917 he founded the Universal Peace League of the White Cross. Ten years later, he participated as a Catholic observer at the Lausanne Assembly, which gave rise to the Ecumenical Council of Churches.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Upon the rise of Nazism, he spoke out openly against Hitler. He was first arrested in 1939 and a second time in 1943.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Sentenced to death, he was guillotined on April 17, 1944, in the Brandenburg-Görden prison. He was aware that his commitment to peace and ecumenism, as well as his refusal of the Nazi regime in the name of Christ, could cost him his life.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">The other future Beatified</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pope Francis also recognized miracles attributed to the intercession of three Venerables, clearing the way for their beatification.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Among the future new Beatified is also the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Stephane Douayhy, Lebanese, who lived in the 17th century (1630-1704). He performed an intense work of assistance to the poor and in favor of ecumenical dialogue between East and West.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope also cleared the way for the beatification of Venerable José Torres Padilla, a Spanish diocesan priest, co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (1811-1878), and Venerable Camillo Costa de Beauregard, a French diocesan priest (1841-1910), nicknamed the "father of orphans" for founding the Le Bocage orphanage in Chambery.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Seven new Venerables</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The seven new venerables are:</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Geervaghese Thomas Panickaruveetil Mar Ivanios, Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, founder in 1919 of the Congregations of the Order of the Imitation of Christ Bethany Ashram and the Sisters of the Imitation of Christ Bethany Madhom, a pioneer of ecumenism in India and first bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Brazilian Fr. Liberio Rodrigues Moreira, (1884-1980) who spent his life for the sick and the poor and lived with deep Christian spirit the trials of life, tireless adorer of the Eucharist;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Professed layman Antonio Tomičić, (1901-1981) a Croatian of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, who during the years of communism, when wearing religious signs in public provoked ridicule and hostility, never took off his habit, enduring public insults and persevering, with firm trust in the Lord, in his quest for the needs of the brothers;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Italian laywoman and mother Maddalena Frescobaldi Capponi, (1771-1839) founder of the Congregation of the Passionist Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Maria Alfinda Hawthorne, (1851-1926) founder of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Rose of Lima, born in the mid-19th century to a Protestant family in the US state of Massachusetts and became Catholic in Europe along with her husband, from whom she separated due to his alcoholism, then dedicating herself to the service of Christ in cancer patients;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Angelina Pirini, (1922-1940) lay leader of the parish Catholic Action in Celle di Sala di Cesenatico in Emilia Romagna died in 1940;</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">- Elisabetta Jacobucci, (1858-1939) professed sister of the Institute of the Alcantarine Franciscan Tertiaries, lived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. She was always willing to accept the most humble tasks, and managed to combine the ascetic aspect of the contemplation of the Passion with an intense charitable apostolate for orphans and the elderly.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-68552236305236270722024-03-14T11:47:00.000-05:002024-03-14T11:47:13.343-05:00Why not get an update on the Synod on Synodality; next steps<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="File photo of Pope Francis receiving Cardinal Mario Grech in the Vatican" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2020/10/29/11/1603965833112.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2020/10/29/11/1603965833112.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="File photo of Pope Francis receiving Cardinal Mario Grech in the Vatican" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">File photo of Pope Francis receiving Cardinal Mario Grech in the Vatican (Vatican Media)</span></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pope Francis"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.papa-francesco.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; 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text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">SYNOD</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Synodality"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.sinodalita.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Synodality""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">SYNODALITY</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope Francis indicates ten themes for Synod Study Groups</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope Francis sends a letter to Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, and outlines ten discussion points that Study Groups will examine ahead of the second Synod session in October 2024.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Deborah Castellano Lubov</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In light of the <a href="https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/assembly/synthesis/english/2023.10.28-ENG-Synthesis-Report.pdf" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Synthesis Report</a>, approved at the conclusion of the First Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, on October 28, 2023, Pope Francis has indicated ten themes that Synod Study Groups will consider ahead of synodal discussions in October.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Holy Father listed the discussion topics in a letter addressed to Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Synod, which was published on Thursday.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">At the same time, the Holy See Press Office held a press conference to illustrate two new documents from the General Secretariat. The first document is entitled "How to be a synodal Church in mission? Five perspectives to deepen theologically in view of the Second Session," whereas the second is "Study groups on questions arising in the First Session of the 16<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">th</span> Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to deepen in collaboration with the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In the letter to Cardinal Grech, the Pope said the Synthesis Report "enumerates many important theological issues, all of which are to varying degrees related to the synodal renewal of the Church and not without juridical and pastoral repercussions."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"These issues, by their very nature," he observed, "require in-depth study."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Study Groups to examine issues</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"As it will not be possible to carry out this study in the time of the Second Session," which will take place on October 2-27, 2024, the Pope said, "I am arranging for them to be assigned to specific Study Groups, so that they may be properly examined."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"This," he said, "will be one of the fruits of the Synod process launched on October 9, 2021." The Holy Father also recalled that this consultation will be done in the spirit of his <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2024/documents/20240216-chirografo-collaborazione.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">16 February chirograph</a>, in which he disposed that "the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia shall cooperate, 'according to their respective specific competencies, in the work of the General Secretariat of the Synod' by setting up Study Groups that will initiate, with a synodal method, the in-depth study of some of the themes that emerged in the First Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The General Secretariat of the Synod, in agreement with the competent Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, the Pope said, is entrusted with constituting such Study Groups.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Considering experiences</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"They are also to do so in a way," he explained, that "calls Pastors and Experts from all Continents to be part of them and taking into consideration not only the studies that already exist, but also the most relevant experiences taking place in the People of God gathered in the local Churches."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"It is important that the aforementioned Study Groups," he said, "work according to an authentically synodal method," requesting that Cardinal Grech act as "guarantor."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">All of this, the Holy Father suggested, "will enable the Assembly, in its Second Session, to focus more easily on the general theme that I assigned to it at the time, and which can now be summarized in the question: 'How to be a synodal Church in mission?'"</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope said the Study Groups will offer an initial report of their activities at the Second Session and will aim, if possible, to conclude their mandate by June 2025.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Ten themes for Study Groups</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"After giving all matters due consideration," wrote Pope Francis, "I direct that the Groups in question address the topics listed below in summary form, in the light of the contents of the Synthesis Report."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The ten themes, the Pope delineated, are the following:</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">1. Some aspects of the relationship between the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Latin Church (SR 6)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">2. Listening to the Cry of the Poor (SR 4 and 16)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">3. The mission in the digital environment (SR 17)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">4. The revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in a missionary synodal perspective (SR 11)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">5. Some theological and canonical matters regarding specific ministerial forms (SR 8 and 9)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">6. The revision, in a synodal missionary perspective, of the documents touching on the relationship between Bishops, consecrated life, and ecclesial associations (SR 10)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">7. Some aspects of the person and ministry of the Bishop (criteria for selecting candidates to Episcopacy, judicial function of the Bishops, nature and course of ad limina Apostolorum visits) from a missionary synodal perspective (SR 12 and 13)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">8. The role of Papal Representatives in a missionary synodal perspective (SR 13)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">9. Theological criteria and synodal methodologies for shared discernment of controversial doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues (SR 15)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">10. The reception of the fruits of the ecumenical journey in ecclesial practices (SR 7)</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The General Secretariat of the Synod, Pope Francis reiterated, has the task to prepare, "the outline of the work to specify the mandate of the groups, in the light of my indications." </p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis concluded by thanking Cardinal Grech for the work accomplished thus far, and reassuring "all those who generously collaborate in this ongoing journey" of his blessing and accompaniment.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-77922574247427782342024-03-14T09:58:00.000-05:002024-03-14T09:58:08.062-05:00Pope Francis says not resigning but if he did, would not be called Pope-Emeritus<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Pope Francis waves as he arrives at a weekly General Audience" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2023/12/13/2023-12-13-udienza-generale/1702456715962.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2023/12/13/2023-12-13-udienza-generale/1702456715962.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="Pope Francis waves as he arrives at a weekly General Audience" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">Pope Francis waves as he arrives at a weekly General Audience (Vatican Media)</span></figure><div class="article__meta audioInside" data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pope Francis"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.papa-francesco.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pope Francis""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">POPE FRANCIS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Book"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.cultura-e-societa.Cultura.libro.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Book""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">BOOK</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope: ‘I’m not considering resigning but would be ‘bishop emeritus of Rome’</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">In an autobiography hitting bookshelves on March 19, Pope Francis shares his childhood memories during Argentina’s dictatorship, thoughts on his ministry as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and his belief that serving the most vulnerable is “what every man or woman of God should do.”</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Vatican News</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Italian newspaper “<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Corriere della Sera</i>” releases several passages from Pope Francis’ autobiographical book entitled "Life. My Story in History," written with Vatican journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, set to be released on March 19 by HarperCollins.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In the passages released on Thursday, the Pope clarified that were he to resign, he would not choose to be called “Pope Emeritus” but simply “Bishop Emeritus of Rome."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In that case, he would live in the Basilica of St. Mary Major “to return to being a confessor and bring communion to the sick.”</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope clarified this possible scenario in case of his resignation, which, however, he emphasized, "is a distant hypothesis" because there are no "so serious reasons" to consider this possibility, which he said he never considers, "despite moments of difficulty."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">There are no "conditions for a resignation," according to Pope Francis, unless "a serious physical impediment" arose, in which case a "letter of resignation" deposited in the Secretariat of State signed by Bergoglio at the beginning of his pontificate would apply.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He added that the possibility remains remote, since the Pope "is in good health and, God willing, there are many projects still to be realized."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">The generational genocide in Argentina</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The book spans over 300 pages and covers all aspects of Pope Francis's life, from his relationship with his family, especially with his grandparents, their emigration to Argentina in 1929, a "little derailment" during his seminary period, and World War II with its dramatic atomic epilogue.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"The use of atomic energy for war purposes is a crime against humanity, our dignity, and any future possibility in our common home," said the Pope, posing the heavy question of how one can claim to be a "champion of peace and justice while building new weapons of war."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The pages traverse the history of the Argentine dictatorship, the deep connections that Jorge Mario Bergoglio had with those who did not survive it, his commitment to sheltering young people at risk during General Jorge Rafael Videla's regime, and the failed attempt to save his influential teacher, Esther.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">What happened in Argentina "was a generational genocide," wrote the Pope, who also addressed accusations of being somehow complicit with the dictatorship, refuted by the evidence of his opposition to "those atrocities."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis wrote about Esther, a "true communist," an atheist "but respectful" who "never attacked faith. She taught me so much about politics."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">This memory provided the Pope an opportunity, once again, to repeat that "talking about the poor does not automatically make you a communist" since "the poor are the flag of the Gospel and are in Jesus' heart," and that "in Christian communities, property was shared: this is not communism, this is pure Christianity!"</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Defense of human life</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The book continued through the Pope’s staunch defense of human life, "from conception to death," where abortion "is murder," performed by "hired killers, hitmen!", calling the practice of surrogacy "inhumane."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The book also includes a chapter on soccer, Bergoglio's passion, writing about Maradona and his vow "to no longer watch TV."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The pages cover his time spent in Cordoba, leading to the Pope's reflection on mistakes "made because of my authoritarian attitude, to the extent of being accused of being ultraconservative. It was a period of purification. I was very closed in myself, a bit depressed."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Relationship with Pope Benedict XVI</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the subsequent conclave, and his election as Pope, with the choice of the name Francis, are another chapter in the autobiography.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis described his pain at seeing "the figure of the Pope Emeritus 'instrumentalized,' with ideological and political purposes by unscrupulous people," and the consequent "controversies" that "in ten years have not been lacking and have hurt both of us."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"Life. My Story in History" covers the period of the pandemic, recalls appeals about the wealth of cultures and differences of peoples inherent in the European Union. He expressed his hope that such an appeal will be heard by Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, "so that he understands that there is always so much need for unity," as well as from Brussels "which seems to want to standardize everything, which should respect Hungarian uniqueness."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In the book, Pope Francis touched on topics dear to him, such as the protection of creation, and addressed young people, asking them to "make noise," because "time is running out, we don't have much left to save the planet."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Church that Pope Francis imagines is a "mother Church, which embraces and welcomes everyone, even those who feel wrong and who have been judged by us in the past," thinking of homosexuals or transsexuals "who seek the Lord and have instead been rejected or expelled."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope repeated his yes to "blessings for irregular couples," because everyone is loved by God, "especially sinners. And if some brother bishops decide not to follow this path, it does not mean that this is the antechamber of a schism, because the doctrine of the Church is not questioned."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Homosexuality and civil unions</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While homosexual marriage remains impossible, he said, this is not the case for civil unions, because "it is right that these people who live the gift of love can have legal coverage like everyone else."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">As in other moments, Pope Francis's words are an encouragement to make people who are often marginalized within the Church feel at home, "especially those who have received baptism and are in all respects part of the people of God. And those who have not received baptism and wish to receive it, or who wish to act as godfathers or godmothers, please, let them be welcomed."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope did not hide the wounds caused by those who believe he "is destroying the papacy."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Even if there is "always someone trying to hinder reform, who would like to remain stuck in the times of the Pope-king," he said, the fact remains that "the Vatican is the last absolute monarchy in Europe, and that often inside here, reasoning and court maneuvers are made, but these schemes must be definitively abandoned."</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-73293638545747222242024-03-13T17:24:00.005-05:002024-03-13T17:24:36.037-05:00Thursday Saint of the Day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Mathilda</h1><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsmeeanfJxse3UYjwWlQIVqlTCe0kTa9k-uDXqbKXjR6mP6lrrUrdKei0V0ewiDuStPMowltYKcV719NLbQBboGdtTDdHF74h64dgT_vYectD6lbDi6jCuW5tXfgkMPJz5gcETYUn51WhEfsW9ptcFHDoATrv2WIATR-auCNVx2hmVLeMDPmgft5NccOB3" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsmeeanfJxse3UYjwWlQIVqlTCe0kTa9k-uDXqbKXjR6mP6lrrUrdKei0V0ewiDuStPMowltYKcV719NLbQBboGdtTDdHF74h64dgT_vYectD6lbDi6jCuW5tXfgkMPJz5gcETYUn51WhEfsW9ptcFHDoATrv2WIATR-auCNVx2hmVLeMDPmgft5NccOB3" width="136" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">St. Mathilda was the daughter of Theodoric, a Saxon Count. At an early age she was placed in the monastery of Erfurt under the care of Maud, her grandmother, who was <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=18" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Abbess</a> of the monastery which she had entered after the death of her husband. Here <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=804" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">St. Mathilda</a> learned needlework and acquired the love of labor, <a href="https://www.catholic.org/prayers" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">prayer</a> and spiritual reading. She remained in the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=3328" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">convent</a> until her <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=8984" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">parents</a> gave her in marriage, in 913, to Henry "the Fowler," so called from his fondness for hawking. He became Duke in 916 on the death of his father, and in 919 he was chosen to succeed Conrad as King of Germany. The pious Queen adorned the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11541" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">throne</a> by her many virtues. She visited and comforted the sick and the afflicted, instructed the ignorant, succored prisoners, and endeavored to convert sinners, and her husband concurred with her in her pious undertakings. After twenty-three years of married <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">life</a> King Henry died, in 936. No sooner had he expired than she had a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/prayers/mass.php" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Mass</a> offered up for the repose of his soul, and from that moment she renounced all worldly pomp. Of her three sons, Otho afterward became Emperor, Henry was Duke of Bavaria, and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=575" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">St. Bruno</a> edified the Church as <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=1015" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Archbishop</a> of Cologne. Otho became King of <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5104" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">Germany</a> in 937, and in 962 he was crowned Emperor at Rome. In the contest between her two sons, Otho and Henry, for the crown which was elective, the Queen favored the former, a fault she expiated by great suffering, for both these sons subjected her to a long and cruel persecution. She died in 968. Her <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">feast day</a> is March 14th.</p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Mathilda</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-1057682993777494712024-03-13T11:30:00.003-05:002024-03-13T11:30:32.140-05:00Judge shuts down Texas Attorney General assault on Catholic shelter called Annunciation House<h1 class="lg:-mr-[8.333%]" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: var(--font-primary); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: 0.015em; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px -65.8281px 0.625em 0px; word-break: break-word;">Court blocks Texas Attorney General’s move to shut Catholic migrant shelter</h1><div class="mb-6" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1.5rem;"><div class="flex items-center justify-between flex-wrap -m-2" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: space-between; margin: -0.5rem;"><div class="p-2" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.5rem;"><div class="font-secondary text-heading-5 border-b border-b-bg-shade-2" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border-bottom-color: var(--color-bg-shade-2); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-secondary); font-size: var(--font-size-h5);"><div class="flex items-end relative z-0" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: flex-end; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><img alt="John Lavenburg" class="h-11 w-[55px] mr-3 aspect-[5/4] object-contain object-bottom" height="44" loading="lazy" src="https://cruxnow.com/images/authors/john-lavenburg-small.svg" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; aspect-ratio: 5 / 4; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 2.75rem; margin-right: 0.75rem; max-width: 100%; object-fit: contain; object-position: center bottom; vertical-align: middle; width: 55px;" width="55" /><div class="flex flex-col shrink-0 -mt-1.5 mx-0 mb-0 text-p" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--color-p); display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-shrink: 0; margin: -0.375rem 0px 0px;"><div class="flex flex-wrap -m-1 pb-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; margin: -0.25rem; padding-bottom: 0.25rem;"><div class="p-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.25rem;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">By </span><a class="whitespace-nowrap relative z-10" href="https://cruxnow.com/author/jlavenburg" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; text-wrap: nowrap; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s; z-index: 10;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">John Lavenburg</span></a></div><div class="p-1 ml-2 text-medium-grey flex items-center dark:text-p" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--medium-grey); display: flex; margin-left: 0.5rem; padding: 0.25rem;"><ul class="flex -m-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; list-style: none; margin: -0.25rem; padding: 0px;"><li class="p-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0.25rem;"><a aria-label="Twitter" class="flex items-center text-p hover:text-accent" href="https://twitter.com/JohnLavenburg" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank"><svg class="w-auto h-4" fill="currentColor" height="1em" stroke-width="0" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 512 512" width="1em" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z"></path></svg></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="flex flex-wrap -m-1 pb-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; 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box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.25rem;"><time datetime="2024-03-13T09:07:15" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Mar 13, 2024</time></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJvYV_ptQrWs77WNUbwSmY95Vc0rZ1StIIEpWPYV09sT4MiFudZf5BKdkCg4Qq3U6-ARhe-V_tAizbbCxI_f_pVmmT7AyJqenTs4-KOVpCICe6dA9dhYi_3NRXCP88Lydrb-kOCHOdHmVGSRgeEEy35qoSZ91mhC7JN8ZJcmW7gN0k8195J_BGX9-u9BX" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="828" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJvYV_ptQrWs77WNUbwSmY95Vc0rZ1StIIEpWPYV09sT4MiFudZf5BKdkCg4Qq3U6-ARhe-V_tAizbbCxI_f_pVmmT7AyJqenTs4-KOVpCICe6dA9dhYi_3NRXCP88Lydrb-kOCHOdHmVGSRgeEEy35qoSZ91mhC7JN8ZJcmW7gN0k8195J_BGX9-u9BX" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #212121; font-family: __Domine_3662cf, __Domine_Fallback_3662cf, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">Migrant parents including Iris, from Honduras, left, Gustavo, from Guatemala, standing in green, Wilson Romero, from Honduras, standing, and Christian, from Honduras, seated in gray, socialize outside the Annunciation House, Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. (Credit: Matt York/AP.)</span><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">NEW YORK – A district judge in Texas has temporarily blocked an attempt by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to shut down a Catholic migrant shelter in El Paso, allowing the shelter to operate as normal while the standard civil process plays out.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Paxton announced his lawsuit against the shelter, Annunciation House, which has operated in El Paso since 1978, on Feb. 20. Paxton sought to revoke the shelter’s registration to operate in the state, alleging that it “engaged in legal violations such as facilitating illegal entry to the United States, alien harboring, human smuggling, and operating a stash house.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In response, Annunciation House called Paxton’s claims “unfounded,” and his attempt to shut the organization down “illegal, immoral and anti-faith.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">On March 10, El Paso District Judge Francisco Dominguez questioned Paxton’s intentions.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“The Attorney General’s efforts to run roughshod over Annunciation House, without regard to due process or fair play, call into question the true motivation for the Attorney General’s attempt to prevent Annunciation House from providing the humanitarian and social services that it provides,” El Paso District Judge Francisco Dominguez wrote in a March 10 order, obtained by <em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Crux</em>.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“There is a real and credible concern that the attempt to prevent Annunciation House from conducting business in Texas was predetermined,” Dominguez continued.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">The case between Paxton and Annunciation House boils down to Paxton demanding Annunciation House provide him records related to the violations he alleges, and Annunciation House refusing to do so. Paxton then sued to shut the shelter down. Meanwhile, Annunciation House asked the courts to decide what documents Paxton can legally access.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Per Dominguez’s order, the dispute between the sides will now follow standard civil proceedings, and until it is resolved Annunciation House can maintain its status as a non-profit entity in the State of Texas. No further dates for the case have been set.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">The attorney representing Annunciation House said they are pleased with the court’s decision.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“We’re very pleased with the Court’s ruling regarding Annunciation House. The Court demands that standard civil procedures be followed, which will mean a fair and orderly process for determining what documents the law allows the Attorney General to see,” Jerome Wesevich, the Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid’s lead counsel on the case said in a March 11 statement.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“Annunciation House needs to collect sensitive information, including health information, concerning its guests, and it is imperative for the safety and well-being of the community that the releasing of this sensitive information be handled with care and the law in mind,” Wesevich continued.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Attorney Robb Farquharson, who is representing Paxton, did not respond to a <em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Crux</em> request for comment.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Dylan Corbett, the executive director of the Hope Border Institute, an El Paso-based humanitarian organization, told <em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Crux</em> that Dominguez’s order keyed in on the true intent of Paxton’s actions – “to intimidate, to sow chaos and to politicize the essential humanitarian work done in El Paso every day.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Corbett acknowledged, however, that the case is not over yet.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“That the court has stepped in provides a measure of due process and protection for Annunciation House,” Corbett said in a March 12 email. “But it doesn’t resolve key religious liberty concerns and we don’t know how far Paxton will go in attacking our community’s aid workers and migrant relief work.”</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-38173226844754901282024-03-13T11:12:00.006-05:002024-03-13T11:12:56.370-05:00Editorial: Pope Francis 11th anniversary of election to the papacy<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="File photo of Pope Francis at a weekly General Audience" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2023/10/25/2023-10-25-udienza-generale/1698223703791.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/srv/2023/10/25/2023-10-25-udienza-generale/1698223703791.JPG/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="File photo of Pope Francis at a weekly General Audience" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 30px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">File photo of Pope Francis at a weekly General Audience (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto)</span><a class="ac-connotation connotazione-editorial" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/tag/editorials.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(204, 0, 0, 0.8) 0%, rgba(204, 0, 0, 0.8) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; height: 30px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 7px 2px 2px 30px; position: absolute; text-decoration-line: none !important; text-transform: uppercase; width: 748px;">EDITORIAL</a></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">POPE</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pope Francis"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Papa.papa-francesco.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pope Francis""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">POPE FRANCIS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Anniversary"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.cultura-e-societa.Attualita.anniversario.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Anniversary""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">ANNIVERSARY</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Andrea Tornielli"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.istituzioni-e-persone.personalita.Andrea-Tornielli.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Andrea Tornielli""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">ANDREA TORNIELLI</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "War"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.cultura-e-societa.violenza-politica.guerra.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "War""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">WAR</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Peace"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.cultura-e-societa.Attualita.pace.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Peace""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">PEACE</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Mercy"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Chiesa.misericordia.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Mercy""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">MERCY</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Europe"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.paesi-e-luoghi.Europa.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Europe""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">EUROPE</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">With Peter, always</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Our Editorial Director reflects on the 11th anniversary of Pope Francis’ election to the papacy and his constant calls for the world to follow the path of mercy and peace.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Andrea Tornielli</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In the deafening silence of diplomacy, in a landscape marked by the increasingly evident absence of political initiative and leadership capable of betting on peace, while the world has begun a mad race to rearm, allocating sums that would suffice to ensure basic healthcare twice over for all the inhabitants of the earth and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the lone voice of Pope Francis continues to plead for weapons to be silenced and call for the courage to foster paths of peace.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope continues to call for a ceasefire in the Holy Land, where the ruthless massacre of October 7 carried out by Hamas terrorists was followed by the tragic carnage that continues to be perpetrated in Gaza.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He continues to call for weapons to fall silent in the tragic war that erupted in the heart of Christian Europe, in Ukraine destroyed and martyred by the bombings of the aggressor Russian army.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">He continues to invoke peace in other parts of the world where conflicts are fought with unspeakable violence, the forgotten conflicts that make up increasingly large pieces of a global conflict.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Bishop of Rome enters the twelfth year of his pontificate in a dark hour, with the fate of humanity at the mercy of rulers incapable of assessing the consequences of their decisions, who seem to surrender to the inevitability of war.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">With clarity and realism, he says that "he is stronger who sees the situation, who thinks of the people," that is, "who has the courage to negotiate," because "negotiating is a courageous word," of which one should not be ashamed.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis, challenging the misunderstandings of those both near and far, continues to place the sanctity of life at the centre of attention, expressing closeness to innocent victims and denouncing the dirty economic interests that move the strings of wars cloaked in hypocrisy.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">A quick look at these last eleven years of history makes clear the prophetic value of Peter's voice. The alarm, first raised two decades ago, about the third world war fought piecemeal.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The social encyclical <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Laudato si'</a></i> (2015) showed how climate change, migrations, wars, and an economy that kills are interconnected phenomena that can only be addressed through a global perspective.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The great encyclical on human fraternity (<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Fratelli tutti</a></i>, 2020) pointed the way to building a new world based on fraternity, once again removing any excuse for abusing the name of God to justify terrorism, hatred, and violence.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">There is also the constant reference in his magisterium to mercy, which weaves the entire fabric of a missionary pontificate.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In secularized, "liquid" societies that lack certain foundations, nothing can be taken for granted, and evangelization – teaches Pope Francis – begins anew from the essentials, as read in <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html" rel="external" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #cc0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Evangelii gaudium</a></i> (2013): “We have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal… The centrality of the kerygma calls for stressing those elements which are most needed today: it has to express God’s saving love which precedes any moral and religious obligation on our part; it should not impose the truth but appeal to freedom; it should be marked by joy, encouragement, liveliness and a harmonious balance which will not reduce preaching to a few doctrines which are at times more philosophical than evangelical. All this demands on the part of the evangelizer certain attitudes which foster openness to the message: approachability, readiness for dialogue, patience, a warmth and welcome which is non-judgmental.”</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The testimony of mercy, therefore, represents a fundamental element of this "saving love of God" which is "prior to moral and religious obligation."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">In other words, those who have not yet come into contact with the Christian reality, as Pope Benedict XVI had already lucidly observed in May 2010, will hardly be struck and fascinated by the affirmation of norms and moral obligations, by the insistence on prohibitions, by the meticulous lists of sins, by condemnations, or by nostalgic appeals to the values of the past.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">At the origin of welcome, closeness, tenderness, and accompaniment, at the origin of a Christian community capable of embracing and listening, there is the echo of mercy that has been experienced and that one seeks – despite a thousand limitations and failures – to return.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">If we read with these eyes the Pope's gestures, even those that have provoked in some the same scandalized reactions that Jesus' gestures provoked two thousand years ago, one discovers their profound evangelizing and missionary force.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-22978740798002524402024-03-13T11:09:00.010-05:002024-03-13T11:09:49.379-05:00Archdiocese of New Orleans to host one of the Eucharistic Processions ahead of the National Eucharistic Revival<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Cardo, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 46px;">The Eucharist: Body, blood, soul and divinity</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkNvkKteeR6eIv-9XSLN5yUcZ0fVVcu2IGFzKk_2rYBnX8nPgI0fDAd7j0Fw-boDilKtvKtB56HWNaCtwab_PbyDvwsXuEVQPK13brpEqXtvYOP_1IFeJF0c08fGQRh2UNRJojTIKnraTxoT58848ddRCXnxOEipNUjKeH1N_-Ir1ftGhbxOcphzL99ZKo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkNvkKteeR6eIv-9XSLN5yUcZ0fVVcu2IGFzKk_2rYBnX8nPgI0fDAd7j0Fw-boDilKtvKtB56HWNaCtwab_PbyDvwsXuEVQPK13brpEqXtvYOP_1IFeJF0c08fGQRh2UNRJojTIKnraTxoT58848ddRCXnxOEipNUjKeH1N_-Ir1ftGhbxOcphzL99ZKo" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong><em>Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond<br />Archdiocese of New Orleans</em></strong><br /><br /><strong>The Archdiocese of New Orleans has a special connection to the 10th National Eucharistic Congress, which will be held in Indianapolis July 17-21. You weren’t born yet, but the 8th National Eucharistic Congress was held in New Orleans in 1938.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;">Yes! I remember as a student reading about the 8th National Eucharistic Congress at City Park Stadium, and one of the striking things to me is that there has been only one other National Eucharistic Congress since then, and that was in 1941 in St. Paul. That’s 83 years ago! When the bishops of the United States voted in 2021 to make plans for a three-year eucharistic revival, we were dealing with a sobering reality. A Pew Research Center study in 2019 indicated that only about a third of the people who describe themselves as Catholic believe that the Eucharist is the true body and blood of Jesus Christ. Among Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week, about 6 in 10 believe Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Nevertheless, there have been other recent studies that are more optimistic. We hope the revival will be a time of healing for the entire country as well as an opportunity for the church to evangelize and rekindle the understanding of the sacrament of the Eucharist.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong>Wasn’t the archdiocese ahead of the rest of the country in focusing on the power of the Eucharist?</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;">Actually, we were about a year ahead! We designated 2021 as the Year of the Eucharist, and we offered regional eucharistic gatherings that included homilies, talks, sacred music, and praise and worship music and adoration. I think our Year of the Eucharist was very successful in raising awareness of our Catholic belief that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and that Jesus Christ – body, blood, soul and divinity – is truly present in the Eucharist. We’re delighted to join with the rest of the country this summer in proclaiming that same message. I think our parishes are doing a great job continuing their devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. We are encouraging parishes and schools and individual families to attend the congress in Indianapolis because there will be amazing talks and liturgies and ways for people to adore the Eucharist. Anyone who might be interested in attending can call Christopher O’Neill, who is the director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life, at (504) 861-6243 or coneill@arch-no.org. The congress organizers also have a well-resourced website at www.eucharisticcongress.org.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong>One of the features leading up to the congress will be four eucharistic processions in different parts of the country, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans will be included.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;">Yes. We are very excited that our city has been chosen to host one of the eucharistic processions in June, several weeks prior to the congress. The southern arm of the pilgrimage will be named after St. Juan Diego, who had a great devotion to the Eucharist. He made his own little pilgrimage every day, rising before dawn and walking 15 miles to Mass. The St. Juan Diego pilgrimage will depart from the tip of Texas in Brownsville, go through Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ), wind around the Gulf of Mexico and pass through New Orleans and the southeastern part of the United States on its way to Indianapolis. We plan to celebrate Mass on Sunday, June 9, at 9 a.m. at St. Louis Cathedral and then have a procession around Jackson Square following Mass. Also, on Friday, June 7, there will be a eucharistic procession from Notre Dame Seminary to St. Rita Church a few blocks away, where we will have music performed by The Vigil Project and also have opportunities for confession and adoration.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;"><strong>What are some of the historical tidbits you picked up about the 8th National Eucharistic Congress in New Orleans?</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 1em 0px;">We know that preparations for the Congress were made many months in advance. Archbishop Rummel gave several lectures, and the cathedral was renovated. There were even temporary altars set up for visiting clergy in hotel lobbies and at the Municipal Auditorium. One of the huge projects of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women was collecting donations, including jewels, to create a monstrance that held the consecrated Eucharist. We all know of Tad Gormley Stadium as a football and track field, but it was turned into a huge outdoor church. At the beginning of the first Mass, Pope Pius XI addressed the crowd from Rome with a six-minute speech via short-wave radio. The most memorable event was an 80,000-person, 2.7-mile procession from Canal and Salcedo streets – the intersection near Warren Easton High School – to the stadium. People who had homes along the route had been encouraged to plant flowers that would bloom in the papal colors – yellow and white. There was even a Goodyear blimp overhead! There were 32 school marching bands, and, at the end, Cardinal George Mundelein of Chicago, who was the delegate of Pope Pius XI, rode on a Mardi Gras-style float, kneeling before the monstrance. The procession took about five hours and ended with adoration of the Eucharist by the crowd waiting in the stadium.</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-70616210672067148692024-03-13T10:29:00.004-05:002024-03-13T10:29:09.789-05:00Papal General Audience 03.13.20241<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC5kw6VfRBSZ2gxJfPcnYNqVwQJnyNaPHAWOwZHt0S6mBJhNHG3EAffwyBUL0Te-sAuxhUzLxIvG00bpdkiqiH_y_r-xn7buP7H6Pystd04yp1oNSwJ92UvM7wG6hTaiUqUduiRRREfHlqnQ3JHhI9qURcQq5T48leL7fhjFS1Q0nEN8XZd96IP-Kc0cOw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC5kw6VfRBSZ2gxJfPcnYNqVwQJnyNaPHAWOwZHt0S6mBJhNHG3EAffwyBUL0Te-sAuxhUzLxIvG00bpdkiqiH_y_r-xn7buP7H6Pystd04yp1oNSwJ92UvM7wG6hTaiUqUduiRRREfHlqnQ3JHhI9qURcQq5T48leL7fhjFS1Q0nEN8XZd96IP-Kc0cOw" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.6px;">Pope Francis at General Audience</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Pope at Audience: We can acquire virtue through God's grace</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechetical series on virtues and vices, this week turning to virtue in general and encouraging the faithful to acquire it through the Lord's grace.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Deborah Castellano Lubov</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"May we all rediscover and practise virtue," <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pope Francis urged during his weekly General Audience on Wednesday morning in the Vatican.</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">At the start of Audience, the Holy Father explained he would have an assistant, Father Pierluigi Giroli from the Vatican Secretariat of State, read for him, since he still has "a bit of a cold."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">This week, the Pope continued his catechetical series on vices and virtues. After a number of months dedicated to the vices, he transitioned this week to a discussion of virtue.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Rediscovering, practising virtue</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The human heart, the Pope acknowledged, "can indulge evil passions" and "pay heed to harmful temptations disguised in persuasive garb," but, he reminded the faithful, we "can also oppose all of this."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The human being, the Holy Father said, is made for goodness, stressing that "this truly fulfils" us.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Being aware of our innate inclination for what is good, he suggested, enables us to possess certain permanent dispositions.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"In these dramatic times of ours in which we often have to come to terms with the worst of humanity," Pope Francis said, virtue "should be rediscovered and practised by all."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"In a distorted world, we must remember the form in which we were shaped," the Pope said, namely in "the image of God, that is forever imprinted upon us."</p></div><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Defining virtue</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"But how can we define the concept of virtue?" the Holy Father pondered.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Pope recalled that the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers us a precise and concise definition of virtue as a "habitual and firm disposition to do the good” (no. 1803).</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Therefore, he noted, virtue is not some "improvised" or "somewhat random good that falls from heaven sporadically."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">While acknowledging that even criminals have performed good deeds, which "are inscribed in the “book of God,” the Holy Father said, "virtue is something else."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"It is," he clarified, "a goodness that stems from a slow maturation of the person, to the point of becoming an inner characteristic."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Calling virtue "a <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">habitus </i>of freedom," the Pope argued that "if we are free in every act," and we have the tendency to choose the good, this is virtue.</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">How to acquire virtue</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Pope recognized that understanding how to acquire virtue is "not simple," but complex.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"For the Christian, the first aid," he insisted, "is God’s grace." Indeed, he stressed, the Holy Spirit acts in we who have been baptized, working in our soul to lead it to a virtuous life.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"How many Christians," he marveled, "have reached holiness through tears, finding they could not overcome some of their weaknesses! But they experienced that God completed that work of good that, for them, was only a sketch."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Grace, he said, always precedes our moral commitment.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">"Moreover," Pope Francis continued, "we must never forget the very rich lesson from the wisdom of the ancients, which tells us that virtue grows and can be cultivated. And for this to happen, the first gift to ask of the Spirit is precisely wisdom."</p><h2 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-weight: 500; margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Good will and open-mindedness</h2><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The human being, the Pope noted, is not "a free territory for the conquest of pleasures, emotions, instincts, passions," that does not have the ability "to do anything against these forces, at times chaotic, that dwell within."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Rather, he stressed, we can exercise open-mindedness, a type of wisdom that enables us to "learn from mistakes in order to direct life well," as well as use our good will, "which enables one to choose the good."</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">Pope Francis concluded by encouraging faithful to embrace our journey through the virtues, in a "serene universe that is challenging," but "decisive for our happiness."</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-49445512007481340492024-03-12T17:08:00.007-05:002024-03-12T17:08:58.745-05:00Wednesday Saints of the Day<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Roderic and Salomon</h1><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizdI45BBT8m7RGSr1CH3hRu-SAigHhCWLrtI8UF9P2YdpeBP80MerfzbGO-vdK7JrVFYOfluwZZUFCK10IHu_BBYYUBYMBlp843Dntm3kSSyjSxRFtKR17T90wIqF8vRb9xKtlFaeRW1QNHVI81uga9Ic34RmX5zfbW3WC9iQki5xD4aCcohxJAqt7eeSj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizdI45BBT8m7RGSr1CH3hRu-SAigHhCWLrtI8UF9P2YdpeBP80MerfzbGO-vdK7JrVFYOfluwZZUFCK10IHu_BBYYUBYMBlp843Dntm3kSSyjSxRFtKR17T90wIqF8vRb9xKtlFaeRW1QNHVI81uga9Ic34RmX5zfbW3WC9iQki5xD4aCcohxJAqt7eeSj" width="144" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Martyrs of Spain. Roderic, also called Rudericus and Rodrigo, was a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9622" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">priest</a> at Cabra who was assaulted by his two brothers, one a Muslim and the other a lapsed Catholic. He was denounced by the Muslim brother and imprisoned for falling away from the Islamic faith. Roderic proclaimed that he had always been a Christian, but was charged with apostasy. In prison, he met Salomon, a <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7463" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">man</a> under the same charge. They were beheaded at Cordoba after a long period of imprisonment.</p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Roderic and Salomon</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-78812544284861121732024-03-12T11:31:00.005-05:002024-03-12T11:31:37.778-05:00Parolin clarifies for the Pope: negotiation is not surrender<p> </p><figure class="article__image" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 420.75px 0px 0px; position: relative;"><picture style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="Cardinal Pietro Parolin" class="cq-dd-image initial loaded" data-original="/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/ansa/2024/03/11/22/1710193974286.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" data-was-processed="true" src="https://www.vaticannews.va/content/dam/vaticannews/agenzie/images/ansa/2024/03/11/22/1710193974286.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.cropped.750.422.jpeg" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; left: 0px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: opacity 222ms ease 0s; width: 748px; will-change: opacity;" title="Cardinal Pietro Parolin" /></picture><span class="didascalia_img" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 0%, rgba(33, 33, 36, 0.7) 100%); background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; left: 0px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px; padding: 0.625em 0.5em; position: absolute; width: 748px;">Cardinal Pietro Parolin (ANSA)</span></figure><div class="article__meta " data-mediatype="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 30px; padding: 25px 30px 0px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><div class="article-category" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">VATICAN</div><ul class="article-tag" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); 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box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pope Francis""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">POPE FRANCIS</span></a></li><li style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 3px; padding: 0px;"><a aria-label="TagList for "Pietro Parolin"" href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/taglist.chiesa-e-religioni.Cardinali.card-pietro-parolin.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; display: block; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 10px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" title="TagList for "Pietro Parolin""><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; z-index: 1;">PIETRO PAROLIN</span></a></li></ul></div><h1 class="article__title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl"; font-size: 42px; letter-spacing: -0.7px; line-height: 46px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Parolin: For the Pope, negotiation is not surrender, but a condition for just and lasting peace</h1><div class="article__subTitle" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; width: 748px;">Following Pope Francis' interview on the war in Ukraine with Radio Télévision Suisse, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin discusses the issue with the Italian newspaper 'Corriere della Sera', saying there is a risk of nuclear escalation.</div><div class="title__separator" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(240, 240, 240); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 30px 25px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="article__text" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #373737; font-family: "Museo Sans Cyrl", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 30px; position: relative; width: 748px;"><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By Vatican News</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">We publish the full text of an interview given to Gian Guido Vecchi by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, published on Tuesday in the Italian newspaper <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Corriere della Sera</i>.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Q: Your Eminence, it is clear that the Pope is calling for negotiation rather than surrender. But why address only one of the two parties, Ukraine, and not Russia? And isn’t there a risk that invoking the "defeat" of the aggressed party as motivation for negotiation is counterproductive?</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">As the director of the Holy See Press Office said, citing the Holy Father’s words on February 25 of last year, the Pope's appeal is that “conditions be created for a diplomatic solution in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace.”</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">It is obvious that responsibility for the creation of such conditions does not fall solely on one of the parties but on both, and the first condition seems to me to be precisely putting an end to the aggression.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">One must never forget context, which in this case is a question that was addressed to the Pope. He, in response, spoke of negotiation and, in particular, the courage to negotiate, which is never a surrender.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Holy See pursues this line and continues to call for a ceasefire—and it should be the aggressors who cease fire first—and then the opening of negotiations. The Holy Father explains that negotiating is not weakness but strength. It is not surrender, but courage.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">And he tells us that we must have greater consideration for human life, for the hundreds of thousands of human lives that have been sacrificed in this war in the heart of Europe. These are words that apply to Ukraine as well as to the Holy Land and to the other conflicts that afflict the world.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Q: Is a diplomatic solution still a possibility?<br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span>Since these are decisions that depend on human will, there always remains the possibility of reaching a diplomatic solution.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The war unleashed against Ukraine is not the result of an uncontrollable natural disaster but solely of human freedom. The same human free will that caused this tragedy also has the possibility and the responsibility to take steps to end it, and pave the way for a diplomatic solution.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Q: Is the Holy See concerned about escalation? This is something you yourself have mentioned, saying that "the hypothesis of involvement of Western countries" is a frightening one.</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The Holy See is concerned about the risk of a widening of the war. The escalation of the conflict, the outbreak of new armed clashes, and the arms race are dramatic and disturbing signs in this regard.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The widening of the war would mean new suffering, new mourning, new victims, and new destruction, adding to what the Ukrainian people, especially children, women, the elderly, and civilians, are now experiencing firsthand, paying the all-too-high price of this unjust war.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Q: Pope Francis has also spoken about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, evoking the "responsibility" of both parties. What do these two situations have in common?</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The two situations certainly have in common the fact that they have dangerously widened beyond any acceptable limit, that they cannot be resolved, that they have repercussions in different countries, and that no solution can be found without serious negotiation.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">I am concerned about the hatred they are generating. When will wounds this deep ever be healed?</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Q: On the subject of escalation, the Pope has spoken several times about the danger of a nuclear conflict, saying, "All it takes is one incident.” Is this the Holy See’s underlying fear? An "incident" like in Sarajevo in 1914?</span></p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">The risk of a fatal ‘drift’ towards nuclear war is a real one. Just look at how regularly certain government representatives resort to this sort of threat. I can only hope that this is strategic propaganda rather than a 'warning' of something truly possible.</p><p style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; margin: 0px; padding: 30px 0px 0px;">As for the "underlying fear" of the Holy See, I believe it is more that the various actors in this tragic situation may become even more entrenched in their own interests, not doing what they can to achieve a just and stable peace.</p></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-77686059973640406532024-03-12T11:29:00.005-05:002024-03-12T11:29:23.678-05:00Ukrainians and many others irritated with Pope Francis comment about white flag<p> </p><h1 class="lg:-mr-[8.333%]" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: var(--font-primary); font-size: 2.5rem; letter-spacing: 0.015em; line-height: 1.35; margin: 0px -65.8281px 0.625em 0px; word-break: break-word;">Pope faces civil, ecclesial backlash for Ukraine ‘white flag’ remarks</h1><div class="flex flex-wrap -m-1 pb-1" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; 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--tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0.25rem;"><time datetime="2024-03-11T10:01:47" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Mar 11, 2024</time></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmggvtK6heiONM1RHXKd6cYLSQBkYQQK2McHMn3CsfkMSalN_OgSG8SVM6vvO5x8y8vSAAYj2XvJY_FBfnKSdqBgTzhvnQzfiEzplwhA5EtM6IjTETEND9DxjRTrnT2L8_5JdwgrWdosVpF0QM04k6XgXsrATKmqbMfgqWMEpgvDfIvtKm897_7F312q7d" style="margin-left: 1em; 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font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">ROME – After Pope Francis made remarks in a recent interview implying that Ukraine ought to raise a “white flag” and open negotiations in its ongoing war with Russia, his remarks were met with fierce backlash from both Ukrainian civil and ecclesial authorities.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Speaking while making a visit to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish of Saint George in New York, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) said in response to the pope’s remarks, “in Ukraine no one has the possibility of surrendering.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“Ukraine is wounded but undefeated. Ukraine is exhausted but remains standing,” Major Archbishop is Sviatoslav Shevchuk said, telling those who are skeptical about Ukraine’s ability to continue resisting Russia’s military offensive to “come to Ukraine and see!”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Similarly, the Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See said that “it is very important to be consistent.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“When we speak about a third world war, which we have now, it is necessary to learn from the second war: did anyone then seriously talk about negotiating peace with Hitler and the white flag to satisfy him?” the embassy said.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">The lesson to be learned, then, they said, is “if we want to end the war, we must do everything to kill the Dragon!”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">On Saturday, a new papal interview was published on Swiss broadcaster RSI that was recorded Feb. 2, and which is expected to be broadcast in full on March 20 as part of a new cultural program.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">During the interview, Pope Francis made waves when asked about the debate between those who say Ukraine ought to raise a “white flag” and surrender as it has not been able to overcome Russia forces, and those who argue that doing so would legitimize Russia’s actions.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In response, Francis said he believes “the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate,” he said, noting that many countries, including Turkey, have voiced a willingness to mediate.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">The pope’s remarks were the first time he had used the term “white flag” or “defeated” in reference to the Ukraine war, sparking immediate blowback from Ukrainian authorities and allies who have supported Ukraine for past two years, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In response to the pope’s remarks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba authored a post on social media platform X saying Ukraine’s flag “is yellow and blue.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“This is our flag with which we live, die and conquer. We will never raise other flags,” he said, and voiced gratitude to Pope Francis for his continual prayers for peace in Ukraine, saying he still hopes the pope will be able to visit Ukraine to support local Catholics and those impacted by the war.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Kremlin spokesman Maria Zakharova spoke to Italian media following the pope’s remarks, saying the pontiff was not speaking to Kyiv, but to the West, which she said is using Ukraine as “an instrument” of its “ambitions.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“The way I see it, the pope is asking the West to put aside its ambitions and admit that it was wrong,” she said, saying, “every expert, every diplomat today understands” that the situation in Ukraine “is at a dead end” and that many countries and international leaders have asked for negotiations.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni attempted to smooth things over after the backlash, issuing a statement Saturday saying the term “white flag” had been used by the interviewer, and that Pope Francis had simply repeated it “to indicate a cessation of hostilities and a truce reached with the courage of negotiations.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“His hope is a diplomatic solution for a just and lasting peace,” Bruni said.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">However, Pope Francis has also faced pressure from his own flock and from other Christians for the remarks.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">The Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy called the pope’s remarks “shocking, embarrassing, and deeply offensive.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Similarly, in a March 10 statement, the bishops of the Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who are currently meeting in the United States, also weighed in, voicing concern but appearing to offer the pontiff the benefit of the doubt.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In their statement, the synod noted that the pope’s remark about the “white flag,” according to Bruni, was a summons to negotiation and not surrender, and that Francis had also spoken of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In this sense, they said Ukrainian citizens are “wounded yet unbroken, tired yet resilient.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“Ukrainians cannot surrender because surrender means death. The intentions of Putin and Russia are clear and explicit. The aims are not those of one individual,” they said, saying 70 percent of Russian citizen are “clear and explicit” in their support for “the genocidal war against Ukraine.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">Both the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate and its patriarch, Kirill, they said, support the war and back Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">For Putin, they said, “there is no such thing as Ukraine, Ukrainian history, language, and independent Ukrainian Church life. All matters Ukrainian are ideological constructs, fit to be eradicated…The ideology of Ukrainian identity, according to Putin, is ‘Nazi.’”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“By calling all Ukrainians (who refuse to be Russians and accept Russian rule) ‘Nazis,’ Putin dehumanizes them,” they said, saying Ukrainians are seen as a people “to be annihilated, killed,” and that alleged war crimes in cities such as Bucha, Irpin and Izium prove it.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">They also argued that Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory has led to “the eradication of the Ukrainian Catholic Church” and of an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as the suppression of other religious traditions and institutions that do not support “Russian hegemony.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“Ukrainians will continue to defend themselves. They feel they have no choice. Recent history has demonstrated that with Putin there will be no true negotiations,” they said, noting that Ukraine in 1994 negotiated away its nuclear arsenal, at the time the third largest in the world, and in return received guarantees of territorial integrity.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">However, that memorandum, signed by Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom, they said, “is not worth the paper on which it was written. So it will be with any agreement ‘negotiated’ with Putin’s Russia.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">In light of suggestions from Pope Francis and other world leaders that Ukraine open itself to negotiations, the synod said that regardless of these calls, “Ukrainians will continue to defend freedom and dignity to achieve a peace that is just.”</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212121; font-family: __Open_Sans_af7b73, __Open_Sans_Fallback_af7b73, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; hyphens: none; line-height: 1.75; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 75ch; word-break: break-word;">“They believe in freedom and God-given human dignity. They believe in truth, God’s truth. They are convinced that God’s truth will prevail,” they said.</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-52503764312061832302024-03-11T17:38:00.004-05:002024-03-11T17:38:49.390-05:00Saint of the Day for Tuesday<p> </p><h1 class="page-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 44.2px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 20px; text-align: center;">St. Seraphina</h1><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWs_uyMXwWthqBm4QQuaFXGyT8b6rI-QC7UiurWf_2UzO_J44ySb7EdtftT2oxBUa_zoCNOwQ-9kPN7MxWUHnm7HvtzVIO7h8gBqsCzIWUztPM6YBcvuyQYpoGvSeRr-CmjLjt9hl8KwTriIHLXuvLKMRdU7MvEMPJ0DrRuzy-Q0N7O5-OPLPk_vJNYsbT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="250" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWs_uyMXwWthqBm4QQuaFXGyT8b6rI-QC7UiurWf_2UzO_J44ySb7EdtftT2oxBUa_zoCNOwQ-9kPN7MxWUHnm7HvtzVIO7h8gBqsCzIWUztPM6YBcvuyQYpoGvSeRr-CmjLjt9hl8KwTriIHLXuvLKMRdU7MvEMPJ0DrRuzy-Q0N7O5-OPLPk_vJNYsbT" width="100" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 30px 0px 10px;">Seraphina was born in San Gimignano, Italy, to a poor family. She was known for her self denial and <a href="https://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=51" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">acts</a> of <a href="https://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=4" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">penance</a> as a young girl. A mysterious illness left this beautiful girl unattractive; her eyes, feet, and hands became deformed and eventually Seraphina was paralyzed. Her mother and father both died while she was young. She was devoted to St. Gregory the Great. She died on the feast of St. Gregory, exactly as she had been warned by Gregory in a dream. Seraphina was a very helpful child around the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4568" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">family</a> home. She did many of the chores and helped her mother spin and sew. Her <a href="https://www.catholic.org/saints/f_day/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration-line: none;">feast day</a> is March 12.</p><p></p><div class="hidden-print" id="saintNextPrevContent" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"><ul class="pager" style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 20px 0px; padding-left: 0px; text-align: center;"><li class="previous" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"></li></ul></div><p></p><div class="hidden-print spacer-large" id="saintWiki" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 20px 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div id="wiki_content" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a class="btn btn-danger" id="wikiReadMore" style="background-color: #d9534f; background-image: none; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(212, 63, 58); box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.42857; margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 6px 12px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; touch-action: manipulation; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;">Continue reading about St. Seraphina</a><a name="wiki" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #fd1b14; text-decoration: none;"></a><div id="wikiInfo" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div></div>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-25738501735990836792024-03-11T12:19:00.003-05:002024-03-11T12:19:51.636-05:00The role of faith, religious belief in society and beyond<p> </p><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">Survey shows faith influences views on some, not all, social issues</h1><div><p class="entry-meta" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><img class="avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-66wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-66 photo " data-del="avatar" height="66" src="https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CNS-logo-240-opt-1-100x100.jpg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; float: left; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 1rem 0px 0px;" width="66" /><span class="alignleft" style="box-sizing: inherit; float: left;"><time class="entry-time" style="box-sizing: inherit;">March 11, 2024</time><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />By <span class="entry-author" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><a class="entry-author-link" href="https://catholicreview.org/author/carol-glatz/" rel="author" style="background-color: inherit; box-sizing: inherit; color: #989898; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Carol Glatz</a></span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span class="post-label-after-by-line" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Catholic News Service</span></span></p></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">ROME (CNS) — A survey of attitudes among young people in eight countries about religious beliefs, prayer and social issues found that while about 25 percent identified as being atheist or agnostic, believers and non-believers were very likely to both agree about the severity of environmental problems and the danger of political corruption in the world.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">Religious belief did play a role in attitudes on several other social issues, the survey said; for example, atheists tended to support the legalization of prostitution and surrogacy, while Catholics were more likely to reject the death penalty and the justification of war compared to people of other religions and atheists.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">Results of the survey, titled, “Young People: Expectations, Ideals, Beliefs,” were released Feb. 29 by the Footprints Research Group of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome together with seven other universities around the world.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">The group said it wanted to look at young people from an international point of view since the vast majority of research on young people usually takes place on a national level. And it wanted a “broad perspective” from a Christian anthropological view about their values, the reasons for their decisions, their religious practices and perceptions of the church.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">The survey with 37 questions was conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom from Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, 2023. It sampled at least 600 young people from each of the eight countries for a total of 4,889 individuals between the ages of 18 and 29. The margin of error was plus or minus 1.4 percentage points.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">About 73 percent of those surveyed said they believe in God while 8 percent were “searching to believe in God,” it said.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">However, the majority of those surveyed agreed on a sliding scale that “it isn’t necessary to believe in God to have good values,” with the highest number of people disagreeing with that statement being young people in Kenya and the Philippines.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">At least three-quarters of those surveyed believe sin exists and that parents should pass religion on to their children. Those in sharpest disagreement to both statements were in Spain and the U.K.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">Of those who said they stopped believing in God, the majority said it happened during middle school and high school.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">The two most frequent reasons for no longer believing in God were feeling God was a “psychological refuge” or “substitute” for what cannot be explained or understood, and knowing a lot of “bad” believers, leading them “to understand that religion doesn’t help people to be better.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">Regular attendance at religious services and frequent daily prayer were highest among young people in Kenya and the Philippines.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">“With regard to Mass attendance, many young Catholics defend their position that denies the correlation between going to Mass and being a good Christian,” according to a press release by the pontifical university. Those who reported not attending Mass regularly and 69 percent of those who said they do “share the belief that being a good Christian is not necessarily contingent upon Mass attendance.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">Out of five options to describe “what aspects make for an authentic ecclesial community,” the two most frequent responses were “Charity: The community serves those most in need,” and “The close friendships through which people get to know and help each other,” according to the survey results.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; font-family: "gill sans nova", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 26px; padding: 0px;">The option, “Fidelity to the magisterium of the church: priests and catechists teach the doctrine of the church,” scored third or fourth in importance for every country except Mexico where it came in second, but close in score to “friendships” and activities offered.</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5003044309302849981.post-20690568446142613022024-03-11T12:13:00.008-05:002024-03-11T12:13:49.950-05:00Catholic group hosting big prayer service so "Catholics" can pray for Trump<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 40px;">New combative faith group to host 'Catholic prayer' for Trump at Mar-a-Lago</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;">BY BRIAN FRAGA</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;">NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYv7WhhE8N2CWwcWQ8456BrbYg8bzSKc8F5sn8LYkEkpNR-1SYQ953zela6XRCFGJ2JH9LIcwrpeytH8HD8M746e2KDs7niKqNIB_dd49NNQOLxoDXymdAK59U_9y6FO6JKLDvR4j_mzSWGTZ29aQlT1ZgiN1RG2TdxYpsQvHN5jZUXY3aBwqAYgF2CHeG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYv7WhhE8N2CWwcWQ8456BrbYg8bzSKc8F5sn8LYkEkpNR-1SYQ953zela6XRCFGJ2JH9LIcwrpeytH8HD8M746e2KDs7niKqNIB_dd49NNQOLxoDXymdAK59U_9y6FO6JKLDvR4j_mzSWGTZ29aQlT1ZgiN1RG2TdxYpsQvHN5jZUXY3aBwqAYgF2CHeG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A view of the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida (Wikimedia Commons/Jud McCranie)</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Forming allegiances with so-called "alt-right" political leaders and promoting an unapologetic blend of Catholic doctrine and nationalism, a small nonprofit organization incorporated less than two years ago in Arizona has made a quick, outsized impact in the arena of Catholic political engagement.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Under the leadership of John Yep, a 39-year-old former Phoenix diocesan official who has said he spent 14 years discerning priesthood with the Legionaries of Christ, over the past year the group Catholics for Catholics has launched an aggressive multimedia operation consisting of blogs, podcasts and newsletters, while helping to organize <a href="https://cforc.com/2023/07/rosary-rally-for-ohio-children/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">rallies</a> around the country that have drawn thousands of people.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Now in the midst of a presidential election year, Catholics for Catholics is poised to make its biggest splash yet by hosting a "<a href="https://twitter.com/CforCatholics/status/1760783248895226008/photo/1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Catholic Prayer for Trump</a>" event at Mar-a-Lago, the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, that former President Donald Trump owns and has made his official residence since leaving the White House in 2021.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Advertised as a $1,000-a-ticket black-tie event, the dinner program on March 19 features a speaker lineup of heavyweights on the political far right, such as Roger Stone, the conservative activist and self-described "dirty trickster," and retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who served briefly as Trump's national security adviser.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Other well-known speakers include the far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec; Tim Ballard, the former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad; and Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ" and, more recently, Ballard in the 2023 film "Sound of Freedom."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Yep also hopes that Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump will attend the event.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn_T-SLDl00" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Feb. 29 video</a> promoting the Mar-a-Lago gathering, Yep introduced a letter inviting the Trumps to address the "group of Catholic leaders" and others who will gather for the event on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The event's organizers are invoking St. Joseph's patronage of "the vast campaign of the Church against world Communism" that Pope Pius XI bestowed on the saint in his 1937 encyclical <em><a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19370319_divini-redemptoris.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Divini Redemptoris</a></em> ("On Atheistic Communism").</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Reading from the letter, Yep said Trump was "the rightful winner" of the 2020 presidential election, echoing the former president's falsehoods that the election was "stolen" from him. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Also highlighting the importance of the "Catholic vote" in national elections, Yep said the event will make an "overdue bold proclamation" that Trump is "the only Catholic option for 2024."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In a brief email exchange, Catholics for Catholics requested and received a list of written questions from NCR, but did not respond to the questions before this story was published.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Steve Millies, a public theology professor and director of the Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, told NCR that the event at Mar-a-Lago appears intended to boost Catholics for Catholics' profile and stimulate its fundraising "in order to keep pressing a message about what it means to be a Catholic in public spaces."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"This doesn't have much to do with Catholicism, except for branding, in the sense of trying to redefine the word in such a way that it stimulates partisan outrage," said Millies, who wrote the 2018 book <em><a href="https://litpress.org/Products/4467/Good-Intentions" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters' Road from </a></em><a href="https://litpress.org/Products/4467/Good-Intentions" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Roe</a><em><a href="https://litpress.org/Products/4467/Good-Intentions" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank"> to Trump</a></em>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Led by Yep, who served as the Arizona state director for the pro-Trump political nonprofit <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/catholicvote-organization-endorses-trump-presidential-primary" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">CatholicVote</a> during the 2020 elections, Catholics for Catholics has achieved a remarkable level of notoriety and influence in Catholic political circles since its incorporation in September 2022.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h928gSzQAE" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">November 2022 podcast interview</a>, Yep said the nonprofit had an audacious goal to "reclaim" the word Catholic, as it applies to politics and public life. "To take it back, to own it," he said.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Catholics for Catholics was one of the lead organizers in the <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/firebrand-texas-bishop-strickland-lead-procession-protest-la-dodgers" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">June 2023 rally</a> outside Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium that drew thousands of Catholics who protested the team's decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a LGBTQ drag group that uses Catholic symbols in what some say is a mocking fashion.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Several notable conservative political figures spoke at Catholics for Catholics' official kickoff event in October 2022, including Flynn and Steve Bannon, the former Trump aide and current host of the right-wing podcast War Room. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Also speaking at that event was <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/altman-controversial-wisconsin-priest-still-speaking-out-despite-limits-bishop" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Fr. James Altman</a>, the outspoken renegade priest from the La Crosse, Wisconsin, diocese whose bishop removed him from active ministry in 2021. According to <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/873122835/202343199349210039/full" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">federal tax filings</a>, Yep served as treasurer and secretary in 2022 for Blood of Martyrs, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that promotes Altman's preaching.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Blake Masters, an Arizona Republican, also spoke at the group's kickoff event while he was running for the U.S. Senate in 2022. Masters, who is Catholic, made headlines that year for promoting conspiracy theories and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republican-senate-candidates-promote-replacement-theory" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">accusing</a> Democrats of trying to flood the nation with millions of immigrants "to change the demographics of our country."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Flynn and Caviezel meanwhile have espoused positions linked to QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory and political movement that believes an international cabal of Satanic, cannibalistic child molesters are operating a global child sex trafficking ring. In 2016, Posobiec, who is Catholic, amplified the QAnon-adjacent "<a href="https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/07/07/theres-nothing-you-can-do-legacy-pizzagate" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Pizzagate</a>" conspiracy about a nonexistent Democratic sex dungeon operating below a Washington, D.C., eatery.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In addition to speaking at QAnon-linked conferences and promoting its ideology, some of the listed speakers at Mar-a-Lago have been engulfed in recent political and ethical scandals. In 2023, Ballard left Operation Underground Rescue amid accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denies. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also <a href="https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-denounces-claims-made-by-tim-ballard/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">denounced </a>Ballard, accusing him of "morally unacceptable conduct" for allegedly using a church leader's name for personal gain.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Also set to address the audience at the Mar-a-Lago event are pro-life activists Terry Beatley and Patricia Sandoval; Catholic chastity speaker Jason Evert, who <a href="https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/speakers" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">will be leading breakout sessions</a> at this summer's National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis; and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/pastor-pawlowski-sentence-blockade-covid-1.6970456" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">Artur Pawlowski</a>, a Polish Canadian evangelical street preacher and political activist who clashed with Canadian authorities because of his protests of public health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Contributing to the event's political tone as a speaker will be Thomas Homan, a former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Trump administration. Homan was an <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/09/trump-administration-family-separation-policy-immigration/670604/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">early outspoken proponent</a> of the administration's controversial policy to separate migrant children from their parents. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Also set to speak is Steve Friend, a former FBI special agent and self-described whistleblower on the bureau's investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. Friend and another agent were stripped of their security clearances because their conduct in the case raised concerns about their allegiance to the United States, a <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-witnesses-undermined-jan-6-cases-conspiracy-theories-fbi-says-rcna85095" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">bureau official wrote</a> in a May 2023 letter to Congress.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Millies said that "extraecclesial" groups like Catholics for Catholics have been distorting the church's teachings on political participation for years.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"The whole thing here is an extremely partisan and frankly suspicious effort to bring together people who don't give a good impression of the Catholic faith, in order to promote a political candidate under the name of Catholicism," he said.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"Because all of this is so well-funded and so visible, it goes a long way to create an impression for people in the pews for what they are supposed to do, and it's very hard for bishops and pastors to get this same kind of amplification to correct that," Millies said.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">The most recent publicly available tax filing <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/920522951/202303199349210120/full" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">shows</a> that Catholics for Catholics generated almost $200,000 in total contributions in the final months of 2022. The filing does not show who donated. Incorporated as a 501(c)(4) "social welfare organization" that can endorse political candidates as long as politics is not the organization's primary activity, Catholics for Catholics is not required to disclose the identities of its donors. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">That apparent <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-political-dark-money-groups-501c4-tax-regulation" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">loophole</a> in the federal tax code has led to an increase in recent years of similar nonprofits being used as "dark money" vehicles to advance candidates and political initiatives without directly contributing to a candidate's campaign.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"What we're seeing here is very disturbing," Millies said. "This is about selling an alt-right conspiracy theory version of Catholicism that was once restricted to the fringes and could be ignored. But money is now streamlining this ideology into our pews, and it will not be without an effect on politics, or the church."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In 2023, Catholics for Catholics <a href="https://cforc.com/bishop-strickland-publishes-new-book-for-advent-and-christmas/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">published a book</a> of pastoral letters authored by Bishop Joseph Strickland, whom the Vatican <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/pope-francis-axes-firebrand-texas-bishop-strickland-darling-right-wing-twitter" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">removed</a> in November 2023 from leadership of the Tyler, Texas, diocese following an investigation into the bishop's leadership and management style. The group says the proceeds from sales of the volume will support both their activities and also Strickland's ministry of offering "guidance and wisdom for all who seek to deepen their faith."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"All this is being done very much despite the church," Millies said. "I don't have any sense, apart from Strickland and a few outliers, that there's any other bishop in the world who is endorsing this version of Catholicism."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In a <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-arizona-bishops-attempt-to-cancel-faithful-catholics-wednesday-november-2/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #2969ae;" target="_blank">November 2022 interview</a> with Lifesite, a right-wing Catholic outlet, Yep said he and like-minded believers were tired of bishops advising Catholics to "vote their conscience" instead of presenting the "correct Catholic choice" for them to support at the ballot box. Yep equated the bishops' nonpartisan approach with an unacceptable "plague of silence."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"If they don't do it, then we gotta do it ourselves," said Yep, who added that his group would not relent in its outspoken advocacy to tell Catholics who they should vote for on Election Day.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">"We're not going anywhere," Yep said. "We're here to stay.</p>Deacon Mike Talbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04446285691200851749noreply@blogger.com0