(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a message, signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the Bishop of Castellaneta, Claudio Maniago on the occasion of the 67th National Liturgical Week in Italy which takes place in Gubbio.
Below is a Vatican Radio translation of the Message
Your Excellency,
On the occasion of the 67th National Liturgical Week, which this year takes place in Gubbio, in the mystical and calming scenery of Umbria, the Holy Father Pope Francis is happy to send good wishes to you, to the CAL collaborators and to all those taking part in the significant study days.
The choice of this place, inspired by the celebration of 1600 years of the Letter of Pope Innocent I to Decentius, Bishop of Gubbio (cf.. PL 20, 551-561), is particularly appropriate during the Holy Extraordinary Year of Mercy. In this document, in which the Roman Pontiff offered clarifying answers to questions posed by pastor eugubino, there is some interesting news about specific aspects and moments of the celebration of certain sacraments, at that precise moment in history. Among the many topics covered, one in particular is essential to our attention: the reconciliation of penitents in the Passover (cfr. C. VII, 10).
The National Liturgical Week has, therefore, decided to return to a theme already dealt with at other times, reflecting on “Liturgy as a place of Mercy”, with the explicit intention of offering, in the context of the Jubilee Year, a special contribution to the path of the Italian church. When we strive to live each liturgical event “with his eyes fixed on Jesus and his merciful face we can see the love of SS. Trinity (…). This love is now made visible and tangible in the whole life of Jesus (…). Everything about him speaks of mercy. Nothing in him is devoid of compassion “(Misericordiae Vultus, 8). These words bring to mind those of Pope Saint Leo the Great, who in a homily for the Ascension says: “What was visible [tangible] our redeemer has passed in the sacraments” (PL 54, 398). Such an approach helps to distinguish all the liturgy as a place where mercy is given and encountered, a place where the great mystery of reconciliation is made present, announced, celebrated and communicated. The specific celebrations of sacraments or sacramentals decline the only great gift of divine mercy according to the different circumstances of life.
The gift of Mercy, however, shines in a particular way in the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. It was reconciled to reconcile. The Father’s compassion cannot be locked in intimism and auto consolatory attitudes, because it proves powerful in renewing people and enables them to offer others the living experience of the same gift. Based on the belief that one is forgiven to forgive, it must a be witness of mercy in any environment, arousing a desire and capacity for forgiveness. This is a task to which we are called, especially in face of resentment in which too many people are locked up, which they need to rediscover the joy of inner peace and the sake of peace.
The rite of the sacrament of Penance should therefore be perceived as an expression of a “Church in output” as “door” not only to re-enter after you have moved away, but also “threshold” open to various suburbs of humanity ever more in need of compassion. In it, in fact, it takes place the encounter with re-creating the mercy of God from which come new men and women to preach the good life of the Gospel through a life reconciled and reconciling.
His Holiness hopes that the reflections and celebrations of the Liturgical Week will increasingly mature understanding as a source and summit of ecclesial and personal life which is full of mercy and compassion, because he was constantly formed at the school of the Gospel. He entrusts to the maternal intercession of Mary, Mater Misericordiae, the work and the expectations of the important national liturgical event and, while asking to pray for him and for your service to the Church, send heart to Your Excellency, the Bishop of Gubbio Mons . Mario Ceccobelli, prelates and priests present, to the speakers and participants a special Apostolic Blessing.
Uniting my personal good wishes, I take this opportunity to confirm my distinct esteem
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday said “life is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious and the goal to achieve is important: eternal salvation.” Speaking to pilgrims gathered for the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope focused on the theme of eternal salvation and referred to the day’s Gospel reading in which a man asks Jesus how many people will be saved. “It doesn’t matter how many,” the Pope noted, “but it is important that everyone knows which is the path that leads to salvation.” And the door to salvation lies in Jesus, he said, and we can cross the threshold of God’s mercy through love, and by overcoming pride, arrogance and sin. Below, please find a Vatican Radio translation of the Pope’s Angelus address: “Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Today’s Gospel passage invites us to meditate on the theme of salvation. The Evangelist Luke tells us that Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem and along the way is approached by a man who asks him this question: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23). Jesus does not give a direct answer, but takes the discussion to another level, with suggestive language that at first, the disciples don’t understand: “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter, but they will not succeed” (v.24 ). With the image of the door, He wants to explain to his listeners that it is not a question of numbers – how many people will be saved. It doesn’t matter how many, but it is important that everyone knows which is the path that leads to salvation: the door. To go along this path, one must pass through a door. But where is the door? What is it like? Who is the door? Jesus himself is the door (cf. Jn 10,9). He himself says it, ‘I am the door’ in John’s Gospel. He leads us in communion with the Father, where we find love, understanding and protection. But why is this door narrow? One can ask. Why is it narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive – no, but because it asks us to restrict and limit our pride and our fear, to open ourselves with humble and trusting heart to Him, recognizing ourselves as sinners, in need of his forgiveness. For this, it is narrow: to contain our pride, which bloats us. The door of God’s mercy is narrow but always wide open, wide open for everyone! God has no favorites, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. A door, that is narrow to restrict our pride and our fear. Open because God welcomes us without distinction. And the salvation that He gives us is an unceasing flow of mercy…which breaks down every barrier and opens up surprising perspectives of light and peace. The narrow but always open door: do not forget this. Narrow door, but always open. Jesus offers us today, once again, a pressing invitation to go to him, to cross the threshold of a full life, reconciled and happy. He waits for each of us, no matter what sin we have committed, no matter what! To embrace us, to offer us his forgiveness. He alone can transform our hearts, He alone can give full meaning to our existence, giving us true joy. Upon entering the door of Jesus, the door of faith and of the Gospel, we can leave behind worldly attitudes, bad habits, selfishness and the closing ourselves off. When there is contact with the love and mercy of God, there is real change. And our life is illuminated by the light of the Holy Spirit: an inextinguishable light!” Pope invites faithful to examine their consciences “I’d like to make you a proposal,” the Pope said to the pilgrims in the square, and invited them to think in silence for a moment about the things they have inside that prevent them from passing over the threshold: pride, arrogance, sin. “And then, let us think about that other door, the one open to God’s mercy and He is waiting on the other side to forgive us,” Francis added. “The Lord offers us many opportunities to save ourselves and to enter through the door of salvation,” the Pope continued. “This door is an opportunity that must not be wasted: we must not make an academic discourse of salvation, as did the man who questioned Jesus, but we must seize the opportunities for salvation. Because at a certain moment “the landlord got up and locked the door” (v.25), as mentioned in the Gospel. But if God is good and loves us, why does he close the door – he will close the door at a certain point? Because our life is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious and the goal to achieve is important: eternal salvation. To the Virgin Mary, Door of Heaven , we ask help so that we seize the opportunities that the Lord gives us to cross the threshold of faith and thus to enter into a wide road: it is the path of salvation that can accommodate all those who allow themselves to love and be loved (it: si lasciano coinvolgere dall’amore ). It is love which saves; the love that is already here on earth is a source of happiness to those who, in meekness, patience and justice, forget themselves and give themselves to others, especially the weakest.” (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers for the victims of Saturday’s bombing in southern Turkey. At least 50 people were killed and dozens wounded when a suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosives among people at a wedding party in the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep. Women and children were among those killed. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said it was likely that so-called Islamic State militants carried out the late-night attack. Speaking after the recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said, “Sad news has reached me about the bloody attack” that was carried out yesterday in “dear Turkey.” “Let us pray for the victims, for the dead and the injured, and we ask for the gift of peace for all,” the Pope said, leading pilgrims present in the square in the recitation of the Hail Mary prayer. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has named Cardinal Vinko Pulić, the Archbishop of Sarajevo, as his special envoy to a celebration taking place in Skopje, Macedonia, on 11 September 2016, at the conclusion of a special day of thanksgiving for the canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Mother Teresa, whose birth name was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, was born in Skopje in 1910, when the city was part of the Ottoman Empire. Beatified in 2003, she is scheduled to be canonized by Pope Francis at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square on 4 September.
Mother Teresa was an ethnic Albanian, but due to the conflicts in the Balkans in the first part of the 20th century – including the First World War – Skopje was under various jurisdictions, so she held at different times Ottoman, Serbian, and Yugoslavian citizenship. She became a citizen of her adoptive India in 1948.
Skopje is now the capital of the modern Republic of Macedonia, which declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
(from Vatican Radio)…
Bulletin for 8/21/2016