Negative conclusion forthcoming on Medjugorje; not yet confirmed by the Pope

CDF reaches negative judgment on Medjugorje, Italian journalists report

Catholic World News - June 25, 2015

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has reached a negative conclusion regarding the authenticity of the reported Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, according to Italian media reports. The CDF reportedly held a feria quarta meeting on June 24, at which the prelates discussed the findings of a special papal commission that had investigated the Medjugorje phenomenon. According to several Italian journalists—notably Vatican-watcher Gianluca Barile—the CDF agreed with that commission’s finding that there is no evidence of supernatural activity at Medjugorje. The CDF’s conclusions will now be presented to Pope Francis, who will make the final judgment on the subject. If the reports are accurate, and the Pope confirms a negative verdict regarding the Medjugorje phenomenon, that decision will have a heavy impact on thousands of Catholics who have developed a special devotion to the site. The CDF, according to the Italian media reports, has essentially supported the judgment rendered in 1991 by the bishops of what was then Yugoslavia. The CDF will reportedly recommend that pastors should not sponsor or support events that presume the reality of the visions claimed by the Medjugorje “seers.” However, the CDF will reportedly urge recognition of Medjugorje as a special “place of prayer,” in light of the numerous reports of intense spiritual experiences enjoyed by visitors there. Pilgrimages to Medjugorje will not be forbidden, provided that they do not center on the alleged apparitions. Earlier this month, Pope Francis told journalists that the Vatican is “close to coming to a decision” regarding Medjugorje. He said that he was awaiting a report from the CDF, and “then the results will be communicated."

- See more at: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=25356#sthash.HRw4qbRV.dpuf.

Pope reminds us to listen more, speak less

Pope’s Morning Homily: A True Prophet Knows How to Listen

Warns of ‘Pseudo-Prophets’ Who Do Not Practice What They Preach 

    

Vatican City State, June 25, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Junno Arocho Esteves              

 

“To do, to listen and to speak: these are the three signs of a true prophet.”

This was the main theme of Pope Francis’ homily today at Casa Santa Marta. According to Vatican Radio, the Holy Father reflected on the Gospel of St. Matthew, in which Jesus warns of “pseudo-prophets.”

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers’”, Jesus says.

The Pope said that there are three main criteria to distinguish true prophets from 'pseudo-prophets'; from true preachers of the Gospel and from "those who preach a Gospel that is not a Gospel.”

The three criteria, he said, were speaking, doing and listening. Referring to Jesus’ words that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven”, the Pope said that despite their ability to speak, they lack the ability to practice what they preach and to listen.

“When Jesus warns the people to watch out for the ‘pseudo-prophets’, he says: ‘By their fruits, you will know them’”, the Pope said. “And here, from their behavior: so many words, they speak, they do wonders, they do great things but do not have their hearts open to listen to the Word of God, they fear the silence of the World of God and these are the ‘pseudo-Christians’, the ‘pseudo-pastors’. It is true, they do good things, it’s true, but they lack the rock.”

This rock, he explained, is “the rock of the love of God, the rock of the Word of God. Without it, they cannot prophecy or build on solid foundation based on God: only on themselves.”

The 78 year old Pontiff invited the faithful to remember the three criteria as a way of discerning between a true and a false prophet.

“One that knows how to listen and from listening, with the strength of word of another and not from their own, can remain balanced. Though they may be a humble person, that does not seem important, but how many of these great ones there are in the Church! How many great bishops, how many great priests, how many great faithful who know how to listening and from listening, they act.”

The Pope noted the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta who knew how to listen in the midst of silence.”

Concluding his homily, Pope Francis called on the faithful to follow the examples of these “great ones” who remained firm in the love of Christ.

“May the weakness of Jesus, who though strong made himself weak to make us strong, accompany us in this celebration and teach us to listen and to act from listening, not from our words,” he said.

Founded monasteries in the Benedictine tradition

St. William of Vercelli

Facts

Feastday: June 25
Patron of Irpinia
Birth: 1085
Death: 1142

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William of Vercelli, Saint 1085-1142. founder, born in Vercelli Italy he was brought up as an orphan became a hermit on Monte Vergine, Italy after a pilgrimage to Compostella and attracted so many followers that a monastery was buillt. By 1119 his followers were united in the Benedictine congregation, the Hermits of Monte Vergine (Williamites) which he headed. The austerity of his rule led to dissension among his monks to restore peace he left and was taken under the protection of Roger I of Naples who built a monastery for him in Salerno. He founded monasteries through out Naples, and died at the Guglielmo monastery near Nusco Italy. He is also called William of Monte Vergine. Feast day June 25.

Pope Francis shares about family wounds

General Audience: On Family Wounds

“Everything is connected together in the family: when its spirit is wounded in some point, the infection contaminates everyone."

    

Vatican City State, June 24, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter              

 

Here is a ZENIT translation of the Pope’s address at the general audience held this morning in St. Peter’s Square.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!

In the last catecheses we spoke about the family that lives the frailties of the human condition: poverty, sickness, death. Today, instead, we reflect on the wounds that are opened in fact within the family’s coexistence. When, that is, harm is done in the family itself -- a most awful thing!

We are well aware that no moments are lacking in any family history in which the intimacy of dearest affections is offended by the behavior of its members. Words and actions (and omissions!) that, instead of expressing love, subtract or, even worse still, mortify it. When these wounds, which are still remediable, are neglected, they worsen: they are transformed into arrogance, hostility, contempt. And at a certain point they can become profound lacerations, which divide husband and wife, and induce to seeking understanding, support and consolation elsewhere. However, often these “supports” do not think of the good of the family.

The deprivation of conjugal love spreads resentment in relations, and often the break-up falls on the children.

See, the children. I would like to reflect somewhat on this point. Notwithstanding our seemingly evolved sensibility, and all our refined psychological analyses, I wonder if we are not also anesthetized in regard to the wounds of children’s soul. The more one tries to compensate with presents and little snacks, all the more the sense is lost of the most painful and profound wounds of the soul. We talk a lot about behavioral disturbances, psychic health, the child’s well-being, of anxiety of parents and children ... but do we yet know what a wound of the soul is? Do we feel the weight of the mountain that crushes the soul of a child, in families in which there is bad treatment and harm is done, to the point of breaking the bond of conjugal fidelity? In our choices -- mistaken choices, for example -- how much weight does the soul of the children have? When adults lose their head, when each one thinks only of him/herself, when father and mother harm one another, the soul of the child suffers much, he experiences a sense of desperation. And they are wounds that leave their mark for the whole of life.

Everything is connected together in the family: when its spirit is wounded in some point, the infection contaminates everyone. And when a man and a woman, who committed themselves to be “one flesh” and to form a family, think obsessively of their own needs of freedom and gratification, this distortion profoundly damages the heart and life of the children. So many times children hide to cry by themselves. We must understand this well. Husband and wife are one flesh, but their children are flesh of their flesh. If we think of the harshness with which Jesus admonishes adults not to scandalize the little ones -- we heard the passage of the Gospel -- (cf. Matthew 18:6), we can also understand better his word on the grave responsibility to protect the conjugal bond that begins the human family (cf. Matthew 19:6-9). When man and woman have become one flesh, all the wounds and all the abandonments of the father and the mother affect the living flesh of the children.

On the other hand, it is true that there are cases in which separation is inevitable. Sometimes it can even become morally necessary, when in fact it is a question of removing the weaker spouse, or little children, from the gravest wounds caused by arrogance and violence, humiliation and exploitation, estrangement and indifference.

Not lacking, thank God, are those that, sustained by faith and love of the children, witnesses their fidelity to a bond in which they believed, although it seems impossible to revive. Not all those who are separated, however, feel this vocation. Not all recognize, in solitude, an appeal of the Lord addressed to them. We find around us different families in so-called irregular situations -- I don’t like this word -- and we ask ourselves many questions. How can we help them? How can we support them? How can we support them so that the children do not become hostages of the father or of the mother?

Let us ask the Lord for great faith, to look at reality with God’s gaze; and a great charity, to approach persons with his merciful heart.

[Original text: Italian]

[Translation by ZENIT]

* * *

Speaker:

Dear Brothers and Sisters: We know well that every family on occasion suffers moments when one family member offends another. Through our words, actions, or omissions, instead of expressing love for our spouse or children, we can sometimes diminish or demean that love. Hiding these hurts only deepens such wounds, leading to anger and friction between loved ones. If these wounds are particularly deep, they can even lead a spouse to search for understanding elsewhere, to the detriment of the family, especially children. Being one flesh, any wounds that spouses suffer are shared by their children, born of their flesh. When we remember how Jesus warned adults not to scandalize little ones (cf. Mt 18:6), we better understand the vital responsibility to maintain and protect the bond of marriage which is the foundation of the human family. We thank God that although these wounds may lead some to separation, even then many men and women remain true to their conjugal bond, sustained by faith and by love for their children. For those who enter into so-called irregular situations, we must reflect on how best to help and accompany them in their lives. Let us ask the Lord for a strong faith to see with his eyes the reality of family life, and for a deep love to approach all families with his merciful heart.

Pope Francis (In Italian):

I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Sweden, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, the Islands of the Bahamas, Canada and the United States. May Jesus Christ heal every wound present in the life of your families, and may he make you witnesses of his mercy and love. May God bless you all!

* * *

Having just returned from Turin, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Turin and Piedmont for their warm hospitality. I thank particularly His Excellency Monsignor Cesare Nosiglia, Archbishop of Turin, the priests, the consecrated persons, all the Bishops of Piedmont for their earnest participation. A special thought goes to the sick of the Cottolengo, who with the offer of their sufferings sustain the life of the Church. I thank from my heart the numerous young people for their daring, their witness and their desire to live the values of the Gospel. I would likewise like to thank the civil authorities, the Forces of Order, the volunteers, the Associations, the Movements, the regional, provincial and communal administrations, the world of work and all the persons that contributed to the realization of my visit, on the occasion of the exposition of the Shroud and of the bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco. Dear people of Turin, I truly felt at home, embraced by your affection and your hospitality. May the Lord bless you all and your beautiful city.

I give a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking faithful. I am happy to receive the pilgrimage of the Dioceses of Gorizia, led by the Bishop, Monsignor Carlo Roberto Redaelli; the members of the Faith and Light Association; and the Mixed Working Group between the Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Council of Churches. I greet the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood; the “Little Daughters of Saint Joseph” Congregation; the Orione Lay Movement; the Italian Beekeepers Federation and the Pilgrims of the Via Francigena. I greet the parish groups, in particular the faithful of Mazzarino, Martinengo and Pignola. I hope that this meeting will nourish the faith of all, give new impetus to hope and render charity fruitful.

I give a special greeting to young people, the sick and newlyweds. Today we celebrate the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Dear young people, in particular you, the Confirmation candidates of Saluzzo, and you of the “Saint Francis” Youth Movement of Piazza Armerina, may the evangelical radicalism of the Precursor drive you to make courageous choices for the good; dear sick, may his strength sustain you in carrying the cross in spiritual union with the heart of Christ; dear newlyweds, may his bond with the Lamb help you to unite your family in love.

[Translation by ZENIT]

He prepared the way of the Lord; cousin and baptizer of Jesus, he was martyrd preaching truth

St. John the Baptist

Facts

Feastday: June 24

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John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. He was probably born at Ain-Karim southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel had told Zachary that his wife would bear a child even though she was an old woman. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea until about A.D. 27. When he was thirty, he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan against the evils of the times and called men to penance and baptism "for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand". He attracted large crowds, and when Christ came to him, John recognized Him as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, "It is I who need baptism from You". When Christ left to preach in Galilee, John continued preaching in the Jordan valley. Fearful of his great power with the people, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Perea and Galilee, had him arrested and imprisoned at Machaerus Fortress on the Dead Sea when John denounced his adultrous and incestuous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half brother Philip. John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother. John inspired many of his followers to follow Christ when he designated Him "the Lamb of God," among them Andrew and John, who came to know Christ through John's preaching. John is presented in the New Testament as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the precursor of the Messiah. His feast day is June 24th and the feast for his beheading is August 29th.

Successor of Blessed Mother Teresa has died

Sister Nirmala, former head of Missionaries of Charity, dies in India

 

Missionaries of Charity participate in prayer vigil at St. Peter's Square, June 19, 2015. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

By Antonio Anup Gonsalves

Kolkata, India, Jun 23, 2015 / 11:30 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholics around the world are mourning the death of Sister Nirmala Joshi, who passed away Tuesday. Sr. Nirmala had succeeded Blessed Teresa of Calcutta as superior general of the Missionaries of Charity, serving in that capacity from 1997 to 2009.

Sr. Nirmala, who was 81, had suffered ill health for some years, and was hospitalized and then brought home a few days ago, dying at a Missionaries of Charity home in Kolkata in the early hours of June 23.

“All people in India and especially the Archdiocese of Calcutta is saddened with this great loss of Sr. Nirmala Joshi, who was very close and dear to us,” Fr. Dominic Gomes, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, told CNA.

“She was simple, humble and emanated a strong spirituality of faith,” Fr. Gomes added. “Her exemplary life was an inspiration to the younger generation in the congregation and to people around the world.”

The body of Sr. Nirmala is lying in state at St John's Church in Kolkata's Sealdah district, and will be taken to the Missionaries of Charity's Mother House in Kolkata tomorrow. The funeral Mass will be said at 4 pm local time on Wednesday, and then interred at St. Johns cemetery.

Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta, who had visited Sr. Nirmala a fortnight ago when she had regained consciousness, has expressed his deep sadness and grief at her death, saying, 'she was a great soul.”

He praised her work, noting that “she never talked about herself; she was more about how to support peace, to be helpful to the poor … she had a deep union with Jesus and she was a gentle apostle of peace until the end.”

Sr. Nirmala was in born in 1934 in Ranchi, capital of what is now India's Jharkhand state, to a Hindu brahmin family from Nepal who were serving the British during colonial rule. Her given name was Kusum, meaning “flower,” and she was the eldest sibling among eight girls and two boys. Her early education was at Christian schools.

She was inspired by Mother Teresa's humanitarian work, and was baptized. She later entered the Missionaries of Charity and took the name Nirmala, meaning “purity” in Sanskrit. She completed a master's degree in political science, and studied law as well. In the 1970s, she became head of the congregation's contemplative wing.

Sr. Nirmala was elected as superior general of the congregation just a few months before Mother Teresa's death in 1997, and pursued the founder's cause for beatification.

During the Missionaries of Charity's general chapter in 2009 she declined to remain head of the congregation, given her health issues. She was succeeded by Sr. Mary Prema Pierick, who remains superior general.

The Indian government has recognized her work for the poor and for peace, granting her the Padma Vibhushan, the nation's second highest civilian award, in 2009.

Tributes and messages have started to flood social media praising her service to the poor.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi was quick to tweet, "Sister Nirmala's life was devoted to service, caring for the poor & underprivileged. Saddened by her demise. May her soul rest in peace.”

The opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "Extremely saddened at the passing away of Sister Nirmala. She carried forward Mother Teresa's work with quiet dedication & dignity. She will be missed by the countless whose lives she touched."

The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee stated, “Saddened at the passing away of Sister Nirmala, who headed the Missionaries of Charity after Mother Teresa. Kolkata and the world will miss her.”

To the youth Pope Francis speaks of love, life, friends

Pope’s Off-the-Cuff Address to Youth of Turin

“How can I trust life? What can I do, how can I live a life that doesn’t destroy, that isn’t a life of destruction, a life that doesn’t dispose of people? How can I live a life that won’t disappoint me?”

    

Turin, June 22, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter              

 

Here is a ZENIT translation of the address Francis gave when he met with youngsters and young people gathered in Vittorio Square in Turin on Sunday evening.
After the greeting of two leaders, the large World Youth Day (WYD) Cross was received. Then, responding to the questions posed by three youths, Pope Francis gave an off-the-cuff address.
Here is a translation of the Holy Father’s extemporaneous address; the transcription was provided by the Vatican.
* * *
Thank you to Chiara, Sara and Luigi. Thank you because the questions are on the subject of the three words of John’s Gospel that we heard: love, life, friends. Three words that are intertwined in John’s text, and one explains the other: one cannot speak of life in the Gospel without speaking of love – if we speak of true life -- and one cannot speak of love without this transformation from servants to friends. And these three words are so important for life but all three have a common root: the desire to live. And I permit myself to recall here the words of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a youth like you: “To live, not to live poorly!” To live!
You know that it is awful to see a youth “still,” who lives, but he lives as  -- allow me the word – as a vegetable: he does things, but his life is not a life that moves, it is still. But know that it makes me very sad at heart to see young people retire at 20! Yes, they grow old soon ... Therefore, when Chiara asked that question on love: what makes a youth not retire is the desire to love, the desire to give what is most beautiful of man, and that God has, which is most beautiful, because the definition that John gives of God is “God is love.” And when a youth loves, lives, grows, he does not retire. He grows, grows, grows and gives.
But what is love? “Is it the soap opera, Father? What we see in TV novels?” Some think that that is love. It is so good to speak of love, very beautiful, beautiful, beautiful things can be said. However, love has two axes on which it pivots, and if a person, a youth doesn’t have these two axes -- these two dimensions of love -- it’s not love. First of all, love is more in works than in words: love is concrete. Two hours ago I spoke to the Salesian Family of the concreteness of its vocation – And I see that they feel themselves young because they are here in front! They feel young! Love is concrete, it is more in works than in words. It’s not love just to say: “I love you, I love all people.” No. What do you do for love? Love gives itself. Think that God began to speak of love when he was involved with his people, when He chose his people, He made a Covenant with his people, He saved his people, He forgave so many times -- God has so much patience! -- He did, He did gestures of love, works of love.
And the second dimension, the second axis on which love pivots is that love always communicates itself, that is, love listens and responds, love is made in dialogue, in communion: it communicates itself. Love is neither deaf nor mute, it communicates. These two dimensions are very useful to understand what love is, which is not a romantic sentiment of the moment or a story, no. It’s concrete, it’s in the works. And it communicates itself, that is, it is always in dialogue.
So Chiara, I will answer your question: “Often we feel disappointed in love. In what does the greatness of Jesus’ love consist? How can we experience his love?” And now, I know that you are good and will permit me to speak sincerely. I don’t want to be a moralist but I would like to say a word that does not please, an unpopular word. Sometimes the Pope must also risk things to say the truth. Love is in the works, in communicating, but love is very respectful of persons, it does not use persons, that is, love is chaste. And to you young people in this world, in this hedonistic world, in this world where only pleasure gets publicity, having a good time, having a beautiful life, I tell you: be chaste, be chaste.
All of us in life have gone through moments in which this virtue was very difficult, but it is in fact the way of genuine love, of a love that is able to give life, which does not seek to use the other for one’s own pleasure. It is a love that considers the life of the other person sacred: “I respect you, I don’t want to use you, I don’t want to use you.” It’s not easy. We all know the difficulties in surmounting the “easy” and hedonistic conception of love. Forgive me if I say something you didn’t expect, but I ask you: make the effort to live love chastely.
And from this we draw a consequence: if love is respectful, if love is in works, if love is in communicating, love sacrifices itself for others. Look at the love of parents, of so many mothers, of so many fathers who in the morning arrive at work tired because they haven’t slept well to look after their sick child – this is love! This is respect. This is not having a good time. This is – we go to another key word – this is “service.” Love is service. It is to serve others. When after the washing of the feet Jesus explained the gesture to the Apostles, he taught that we are made to serve one another, and if I say that I love but don’t serve the other, don’t help the other, don’t make him go forward, don’t sacrifice myself for him, this isn’t love. You have carried the Cross [the WYD Cross]: there is the sign of love. That history of love of God involved in works and dialogue, with respect, with forgiveness, with patience during so many centuries of history with His people, ends there -- his Son on the Cross, the greatest service, which is to give one’s life, to sacrifice oneself, to help others. It’s not easy to speak of love, it’s not easy to live love. However, with these things that I have answered, Chiara, I think I’ve helped you in something, in the questions you asked me. I don’t know, I hope they will be useful to you.
And thanks to you, Sara, passionate about theater. Thank you. “I think of Jesus’ words: To give one’s life.” We spoke about this now. “Often we breathe a sense of mistrust in life.” Yes, because there are situations that make us think: “But, is it worthwhile to live like this? What can I expect from this life?” We think, in this way, of wars. Sometimes I have said that we are living the Third World War, but in pieces. In pieces: there is war in Europe, there is war in Africa, there is war in the Middle East, there is war in other countries ... But, can I have confidence in such a life? Can I trust the world leaders? When I go to give my vote for a candidate, can I trust that he won’t lead my country into war? If you only trust men, you have lost!
It makes me think one thing: people, leaders, entrepreneurs that call themselves Christians, and produce arms! This gives some mistrust: they call themselves Christians! “No, no, Father, I don’t produce them, no, no .... I only have my savings, my investments in arms factories.” Ah! And why? “Because the interest is somewhat higher ...” And a double face is also a current coin today: to say something and do another. Hypocrisy ...l But let’s see what happened in the last century: in ’14, ’15, in ’15 in fact. There was that great tragedy in Armenia. So many died. I don’t know the figure: more than a million certainly. But where were the great powers of the time? Were they looking elsewhere? Why? Because they were interested in war: their war! And those that died were persons, second class human beings. Then, in the 30s and 40s the tragedy of the Shoah. The great powers had photographs of the railroad lines that took trains to the concentration camps, such as Auschwitz, to kill the Jews, and also Christians, also the Roma, also homosexuals, to kill them there. But tell me, why didn’t they bomb that? Interest! And shortly after, almost contemporaneously, were the lager in Russia: Stalin ... How many Christians suffered, were killed! The great powers divided Europe among themselves as a cake. So many years had to pass before arriving at “certain” freedom. It’s that hypocrisy of speaking of peace and producing arms, and even selling arms to this one who is at war with that one, and to that one who is at war with this one!
I understand what you say about mistrust in life, also today when we are living in the throwaway culture, because whatever is not of economic usefulness is discarded. Children are disposed of, because they are not developed or because they are killed before they are born; the elderly are disposed of, because they are not useful or are left there, to die, a sort of hidden euthanasia, and they are not helped to live; and now young people are disposed of: think of that 40% of young people who are without work. It is in fact a rejection! But why? Why are man and woman not at the center of the global economic system, as God wants, but the god of money. And everything is done for money.
In Spanish, there is a good saying that says: “the monkey dances for money.” I translate: For money, the monkey also dances. And thus, with this disposable culture, can one trust life? -- with that sense of challenge that widens, widens, widens? A youth who can’t study, who hasn’t work, who has the shame of not feeling worthy because he doesn’t have work, doesn’t earn his life. But how many times these young people end in addictions? How many times do they commit suicide? The statistics on the suicides of young people are not well known. Or how often these young people go to fight with terrorists, at least to do something, for an ideal. I understand this challenge. And because of this Jesus told us not to put our security in riches, in worldly powers. How can I trust life? What can I do, how can I live a life that doesn’t destroy, that isn’t a life of destruction, a life that doesn’t dispose of people? How can I live a life that won’t disappoint me?
And I pass to answer Luigi’s question: he spoke of a project of sharing, namely of connection, of construction. We must go ahead with our plans of construction, and this life doesn’t disappoint. If you get involved there, in a project of construction, of help – we think of street children, of migrants, of so many in need, but not only to give them to eat one day, two days, but to promote them with education, with unity in the joy of the Oratories and so many things, but things that build, then that sense of mistrust in life recedes, goes away. What must I do for this? Not retire too soon. Do. Do. And I’ll say a word: to go against the current, to go against the current. For you, young people, who are living this economic situation, which is also cultural, hedonistic, consumerist with “soap bubble” values, with such values one doesn’t go forward. Do constructive things, even if they are small, but which bring us together, which bring us together with our ideals: this is the best antidote against this mistrust of life, against this culture that only offers you pleasure: to have a good time, to have money and not think of other things.
Thank you for the questions. To you, Luigi, I have answered you in part, no? Go against the current, namely, be courageous and creative, be creative. Last summer I received, one afternoon -- it was August ... Rome was dead -- a group of boys and girls had spoken to me on the telephone who were camping in several cities of Italy, and they came to me -- I told them to come -- but poor things, all dirty, tired ... but joyful! Because they had done something “against the current!”
So often advertising wants to convince us that this is good, that that is good, and it makes us believe that they are “diamonds”; but be careful, we are sold glass! And we must go against this, not be naive. Not buy filth that we are told are diamonds.
And to end, I would like to repeat Pier Giorgio Frassati’s word: if you want to do something good in life, live, don’t live poorly. Live!
But you are intelligent and will surely say to me: “But, Father, you speak this way because you are in the Vatican, have so many Monsignors there that do your work, you are tranquil and don’t know what everyday life is ...” Yes, someone could think so. The secret is to understand well where one lives. On this earth – and I also said this to the Salesian Family -- at the end of the 19^th century there were bad conditions for the growth of youth: there was full Masonry, even the Church couldn’t do anything, there were priest haters, there were also Satanists ... It was one of the worst moments and one of the worst places of the history of Italy. However, if you would like to do a good task at home, go to see how many men and women Saints were born at that time. Why? Because they realized that they had to go against the current in relation to the culture, to that way of living. Reality, live the reality. And if this reality is glass and not diamonds, I look for the reality against the current and I make my reality, but something that is of service to others. Think of your Saints of this land, what they did!
And thank you, thank you, thank you so much! Always love, life, friends. However, these words can only be lived by “going out”: always going out to take something. If you stay still, you won’t do anything in life and you will ruin your own.
I forgot to tell you that I will now deliver the written address. I knew your questions, and I wrote something on your questions; but it’s not what I said, this came to me from my heart; and I give the address to the one in charge, and you make it public [he handed the sheets to the priest in charge of youth pastoral care]. There are so many university students here, but be careful of believing that the University is only to study with the head: to be a University student also means to go out, to go out in service, to the poor especially! Thank you.
[Original text: Italian]
[Translation by ZENIT]

Rome, in Italy, in Europe sees a million march to defend traditional marriage and oppose gender ideology

Pete Baklinski Follow Pete

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Mon Jun 22, 2015

Hundreds of thousands rally in Rome to defend natural family and protect kids from gender theory

Pete Baklinski  

 

By Pete Baklinski

 

ROME, June 22, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Rome on Saturday to protest the imposition of ‘gender ideology’ in schools and to condemn an Italian Senate bill that proposes to give same-sex partners equivalent rights as married couples.
“We rally to defend our children from gender theory introduced in the schools, that damages the innocence and the healthy development of children, to defend the natural family from the assault to which it is constantly subjected by our Parliament, to defend the right of parents to educate their children, and to promote the right of every child to grow up with a father and a mother,” rally organizer and long-time Italian pro-family activist Toni Brandi told LifeSiteNews.
Participants taking part in what organizers called a “family day” packed to overflowing the Piazza San Giovanni in front of the St. John Lateran Basilica.
"We are a million," organizers said from the stage, reported Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera. While Zenit in Italian has reported a million demonstrators, other news sources such as Breitbart puts the number at half a million, while mainstream media puts the number even lower. Event organizer and Catholic leader Kiko Argüello of the Neocatechumenal Way believes there were even more than a million.
The grassroots-led rally is all the more remarkable in its overwhelming numbers in that it was announced at the beginning of June and received no prior media attention. By Sunday, reports of the rally became front page news in all of Italy’s major newspapers. The rally is even more remarkable in that a similar rally held last year only drew about 600 people.
Participants, many of them families with children, held banners that stated: “The family will save the world" and "Let's defend our children.”
“No to gender ideology, no to ideological colonization of our children in the schools, no to the [Senate] bill Cirinnà and gay ‘marriage,’ rally organizers stated in a press release. “The natural family alone is the necessary and fundamental cell of society.”
Brandi told LifeSiteNews that despite Pope Francis’ condemnation of gender ideology on at least four separate occasions, only a handful of Catholic bishops lent their support to the rally.
Organizers say the event was a total success.
“The Piazza was filled with light and truth, without anything homophobic or discriminatory. The families of Italy have come with enormous sacrifices to Rome and have raised their voice to be heard,” the organizers stated in a press release after the event.
"It was a large group of people and families in defense of the family, moved by love for our children,” said Mario Adinolfi, director of La Croce and founder of “Voglio la Mamma” [I need Mama].
Concluded organizers: “It was a family day with a million smiling faces, all crammed, crowded together, under the sun and in the rain, without losing their smiles. Young and old parents, grandparents and grandchildren, children of all ages, even toddlers in prams, all say in unison to those who work in those hallowed halls of power: ‘Hey, we are here! You can not ignore us.’”

Despite two marriages, she remained a perpetual virgin for the faith

St. Ethelreda (Audrey)

 

Facts

Feastday: June 23
Death: 679

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Around 640, there was an English princess named Ethelreda, but she was known as Audrey. She married once, but was widowed after three years, and it was said that the marriage was never consummated. She had taken a perpetual vow of virginity, but married again, this time for reasons of state. Her young husband soon grew tired of living as brother and sister and began to make advances on her. She continually refused. He eventually attempted to bribe the local bishop, Saint Wilfrid of York, to release Audrey from her vows.
Saint Wilfrid refused, and helped Audrey escape. She fled south, with her husband following. They reached a promontory known as Colbert's Head, where a heaven sent seven day high tide separated the two. Eventually, Audrey's husband left and married someone more willing, while Audrey took the veil, and founded the great abbey of Ely, where she lived an austere life. She eventually died of an enormous and unsightly tumor on her neck, which she gratefully accepted as Divine retribution for all the necklaces she had worn in her early years. Throughout the Middle Ages, a festival, "St. Audrey's Fair", was held at Ely on her feast day. The exceptional shodiness of the merchandise, especially the neckerchiefs, contributed to the English language the word "tawdry", a corruption of "Saint Audrey."