Vatican City, 18 February 2015 (VIS) – At the end of today’s general audience, the Pope greeted the faithful gathered in the square in various languages. He dedicated some special words to the Ukrainian bishops, currently in Rome on their “ad Limina” visit, and all the faithful accompanying them. “Слава Ісусу Христу! Praise be to…
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Vatican City, 18 February 2015 (VIS) – At the end of today’s general audience, the Pope greeted the faithful gathered in the square in various languages. He dedicated some special words to the Ukrainian bishops, currently in Rome on their “ad Limina” visit, and all the faithful accompanying them. “Слава Ісусу Христу! Praise be to Jesus Christ!”, said the Holy Father in Ukrainian. “I know that among the many intentions you bring to the Tombs of the Apostles there is the plea for peace in Ukraine. I carry the same wish in my heart and join in your prayer that lasting peace may come soon to your homeland”….
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will celebrate Mass for Ash Wednesday at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, marking the beginning of the season of Lent. Santa Sabina is the first of the traditional Lenten Station churches. Since the beginning of the thirteenth century, the church of Santa Sabina has been entrusted to the Dominican…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis will celebrate Mass for Ash Wednesday at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, marking the beginning of the season of Lent. Santa Sabina is the first of the traditional Lenten Station churches. Since the beginning of the thirteenth century, the church of Santa Sabina has been entrusted to the Dominican Order.
“We’re always very pleased that the Pope comes to Santa Sabina on Ash Wednesday, that Lent begins here for the Church,” said Father Vivian Boland, OP, a friar of the Irish Province. Father Boland is currently assigned to Santa Sabina, where he is an assistant to the Master of the Order.
Speaking with Vatican Radio, Father Boland spoke about some of the intentions the Dominican brothers will have for the Mass with Pope Francis. Listen:
Intentions
Father Boland said the community at Santa Sabina will be praying especially for “our Dominican brothers and sisters in situations of great difficulty.” He mentioned especially the Dominican family in Iraq, who “are enduring an ongoing Lent, they’re having a very difficult time. And we have them especially in our minds this Ash Wednesday.” Fr Boland also spoke about the Dominicans in Ukraine, in the Central African Republic, and in “other parts of the world where there’s violence and war.”
The Dominicans are also preparing for the 800th anniversary of the foundation of their Order, which was approved in 1216 by Pope Honorius II. Father Boland said the jubilee is “a time for renewal, for us to reflect on our lives, and to try to be humble, be truthful, and dedicate ourselves again to the mission of St. Dominic.”
Finally, Fr Boland noted that the Leonine Commission, established by Pope Leo XIII in 1880 to produce critical editions of the works of St Thomas Aquinas, has published a new volume containing the sermons of St Thomas. “We treasure these sermons of St Thomas,” Fr Boland said, “because they also give us another insight into his personality, into what he was like as a person, even more than his philosophical and theological writings do.” Fr Boland said the Dominicans hope to present that volume to the Pope when he comes to Santa Sabina.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has urged the international community to find peaceful solutions to the difficult situation in Libya. Speaking after the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope asked for prayers for our “Egyptian brothers who were killed in Libya three days ago for the mere fact of being Christians”. Pope Francis prayed…
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