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Month: November 2017

General Audience: Holy Mass is the prayer "par excellence"

Reading: Luke 11,1-4
[1] He was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” [2]He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. [3] Give us each day our daily bread [4] and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”
(Vatican Radio) At his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis resumed his catechesis on the Holy Mass.
The Mass, the Pope said, is prayer – or rather, it is “the prayer par excellence , the highest, the most sublime, and at the same time, the most ‘concrete’ … it is an encounter with the Lord.”
“But what is prayer, really?” Pope Francis asked. “it is first of all dialogue, a relationship with God.” Man, he continued, “was created as a being in personal relationship with God, who finds his full realization only in the encounter with His Creator.”
God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is Himself “a perfect relationship of love that is unity.” Because we are created in “the image and likeness of God,” we too are called to enter into a perfect relationship of love. And it is the Mass, the Eucharist, that is “the privileged moment to be with Christ, and, through Him, with God and with our brothers.”
But dialogue also means knowing how to remain silent, in the presence of the other. The Holy Father emphasized the importance of moments of silence when we go to Mass – the liturgy, he said, is not a time for chatting, but a time to recollect ourselves, to prepare our hearts for the encounter with Jesus.
Jesus Himself often went off to “a place apart” in order to pray; and His disciples, seeing His intimate relationship with the Father, asked Him how to pray. “Jesus says that the first thing necessary for prayer” is to be able to call God “Father.” Pope Francis said, “If I cannot say ‘Father’ to God, I can’t pray. We have to learn to say ‘Father,’ that is, to put ourselves into His presence with filial confidence.”
In this sense, he continued, we must be like children, able to entrust ourselves entirely to God, as children do with their parents. And, like children, we must also have a sense of wonder, we must “allow ourselves to be surprised.” When we speak to God in prayer, the Pope said, it is not talking to God “like parrots.” Instead it means “entrusting ourselves and opening our hearts to allow ourselves to wonder.” The encounter with God in Mass, he said, “is always a living encounter, it is not a meeting in a museum.”
Pope Francis recalled the Gospel account of Nicodemus’ meeting with Jesus. In their encounter, Jesus spoke about the need to be born again. But how is this possible, the Pope asked? “This is a fundamental question of our faith,” he said, “and this is the desire of every true believer: the desire to be reborn, the joy of beginning anew.” Pope Francis asked his audience, “Do we have this desire? Does each one of us have the desire to always be reborn in order to encounter the Lord? Do you have this desire?”
In fact, the Pope concluded, “the Lord surprises us by showing us that He loves us even in our weakness.” In the Mass, in our encounter with Jesus, “the Lord encounters our fragility in order to bring us back to our first calling: that of being in the image and likeness of God.” This, Pope Francis said, “is the environment of the Eucharist, this is the prayer.”
(from Vatican Radio)…

Pope at General Audience: English Summary

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday told the faithful that at every Mass we encounter God in his Word and in the body and blood of Christ.
His catecheses, which is part of a new series of reflections focussing on the Sacraments, was delivered before the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience .
Please find below the English Summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis:  
Dear Brothers and Sisters:  In this new series of catecheses on the Eucharist, we begin by reflecting on the fact that the Mass is first and foremost a prayer, indeed the prayer par excellence.  For at every Mass we encounter God in his word and in the body and blood of Christ.  Made in God’s image and likeness, we were made to know him, to love and to serve him.  In prayer, we experience God’s closeness and love; we speak to him, but we also learn to listen to his voice speaking in our hearts.  Jesus himself teaches us, as he did his disciples, how to pray.  From him we learn to call God our Father, to trust in his love, and to be constantly surprised by the signs of that love.  When Jesus speaks of our need to be “reborn” (cf. Jn 3:15), he is in fact inviting us to accept his gift of new life in the Spirit.  By his sacrifice on the cross, he has atoned for all our sins and enabled us to make a new beginning, to lead a truly spiritual life.  In our encounter with him in prayer, and above all in the Eucharist, we experience the consolation of his presence, the grace of his forgiveness and the joy of his invitation to live fully our vocation as God’s beloved children.
(from Vatican Radio)…

Vatican announces initaitives for first World Day of Poor

(Vatican Radio) This Sunday, November 19th marks the first World Day of the Poor , which Pope Francis called for at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation on Tuesday announced a number of special events that are taking place throughout the week to highlight this annual initiative.
Listen to Philippa Hitchen’s report:

On Sunday morning in St Peter’s Basilica, some four thousand poor and needy people, accompanied by volunteers from Italy, France, Spain, Brussels, Luxembourg and Poland will take part in a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.
Following the Eucharist, 1.500 of the visitors will be invited to lunch in the adjacent Paul VI Hall, while the other 2.500 guests will be taken to lunch in some of the Catholic colleges, seminaries and charitable organisations in the vicinity of the Vatican.
Festive lunch in Paul VI Hall
Those dining in the Paul VI Hall will be served a meal of gnocchi with tomato sauce and veal stew with vegetables, plus tiramisu and coffee for desert, all prepared by papal chef Sergio Dussin from Bassano del Grappa in Italy’s northern Veneto region.
The Vatican police band and a children’s choir will provide background music for the festive lunch, which has been organised in collaboration with a number of local charity organisations and parishes.
Prayer vigil at St Lawrence Basilica
On the previous evening, Saturday 18th at 8pm, there will also be a prayer vigil in the ancient Rome Basilica of St Lawrence to remember volunteers all over the world who offer their services in support of the poor and marginalized.
Throughout the week of the 13th to 19th November, meanwhile, a mobile clinic has been set up just in front of St Peter’s Square offering free specialized medical services between the hours of 9am and 4pm.
Free medical services
A special booklet marking this first World Day of the Poor has also been published in six languages as a pastoral aid for dioceses and parishes worldwide who wish to take part in this important initiative.
(from Vatican Radio)…

Card. Parolin urges US Bishops to work for a more just and inclusive society

(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin has urged US Bishops to continue their prophetic witness in the face of the challenges facing the nation.
The Vatican Secretary of State’s words came as he travelled to the United States to join celebrations for the 100th anniversary of their episcopal conference and for the opening of their plenary assembly . 
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni :

To the Bishops gathered for Mass on Sunday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Cardinal Pietro Parolin reflected on the liturgical reading of the day and said “May the fire of God’s love inspire you as a body to make wise decisions free of all partisan spirit.”
This year’s plenary marks the centenary of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that was founded in 1917 as the National Catholic War Council.
The conference, Parolin said, “originated in a Spirit-filled and wise response to the human suffering and displacement of the First World War.” 
He noted that it is rooted in the care of American bishops for those who were “forced from their homes and came to the new world in search of security and a new life”.
Parolin recalled this history as, he said, “the Church in the US seeks to provide healing, comfort, and hope to new waves of migrants and refugees.”
He urged the bishops to provide a prophetic witness and “to be a source of wisdom and strength” and he praised the charitable institutions of the American Church.
The Cardinal also looked forward to a series of meetings which are being held to assess and improve Hispanic ministry in the US noting that it is a way to “foster that heightened sense of missionary discipleship which Pope Francis considers the heart of the new evangelization.”
“In the century prior to the founding of your conference, the challenge facing the Church in this country was to foster communion in an immigrant Church to integrate the diversity of peoples, languages, and cultures in the one faith, and to inculcate a sense of responsible citizenship and concern for the common good” he said.
Cardinal Parolin said the Catholic community is now called to work for a more just and inclusive society “by dispelling the shadows of polarization, divisiveness, and societal breakdown by the pure light of the gospel.” 
He praised the bishops for defending the right to life of the unborn and for their concern for ensuring access to health care as well as for their contribution to the discussion of important social issues and political debates, in particular concerning issues that involve “the defense of moral values and the rights of the poor, the elderly, the vulnerable, and those who have no voice.”
Parolin concluded mentioning the importance of pastoral care and giving thanks for the Spirit’s gift of wisdom shown in the bishops’ conference, and prayed that that they “ make keep the lamp of faith burning brightly.”
The US Bishops assembly meetings are scheduled to continue through Wednesday.
(from Vatican Radio)…

Programme of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Peru and Chile released

(Vatican Radio) The Vatican has released the details of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Peru and Chile, due to take place from the 15th to 22 January 2018.
Please find below the full programme:
 
Monday January 15, 2018
 
ROME-SANTIAGO
 
08:00 Departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Santiago
 
20:10 Arrival at Santiago International Airport
 
            WELCOME CEREMONY
 
21:00 Arrival of the Holy Father at the Apostolic Nunciature
 
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
 
SANTIAGO
 
08:20 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the Palacio de la Moneda
 
         Speech of the Holy Father
 
09:00 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT in the Salon Azul of the Palacio de la Moneda
 
 10:30 Holy Mass in Parque O’Higgins
 
          Homily of the Holy Father
 
 16:00 Short VISIT TO THE SANTIAGO WOMEN’S PENITENTIAL CENTER
 
            Greetings from the Holy Father
 
 17:15 MEETING WITH PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS, AND SEMINARIANS in the Cathedral of Santiago
 
             Speech of the Holy Father
 
 18:15 MEETING WITH BISHOPS in the Sacristy of the Cathedral
 
          Greetings from the Holy Father
 
 19:15 PRIVATE VISIT TO THE SANCTUARY by San Alberto Hurtado, SJ
 
          Private meeting with the priests of the Society of Jesus
 
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
 
SANTIAGO-TEMUCO-SANTIAGO
08:00 Departure by plane from Santiago airport to Temuco
 
10:30 HOLY MASS in Maquehue Airport
Homily of the Holy Father
 
12:45 Lunch with archaeologists in the “Madre de la Santa Cruz” house
15:30 Departure by plane from Temuco airport to Santiago
17:00 Arrival at Santiago Airport
 
17:30 MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
   Speech of the Holy Father
 
 18:30 Transfer by car to the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
 
19:00 VISIT TO PONTIFICIAL CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF CHILE
 
          Speech of the Holy Father
 
Thursday 18 January 2018
 
SANTIAGO-IQUIQUE-LIMA
 
 08:05 Departure by plane from Santiago airport to Iquique
 
 10:35 Arrival at Iquique International Airport
 
 11:30 HOLY MASS in Campus Lobito
 
         Homily of the Holy Father
 
 14:00 Lunch with Oblate Fathers
 
16:45 Arrival at Iquique Airport
 
      FAREWELL  CEREMONY
 
 17:05 Departure  from Iquique airport to Lima
 
 PERU
 
Thursday 18 January 2018
 
SANTIAGO-IQUIQUE-LIMA
 
17:20 Arrival at Lima Airport
 
         WELCOME CEREMONY
 
Friday, January 19, 2018
 
LIMA-PUERTO MALDONADO-LIMA
 
 08:30 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY and the DIPLOMATIC CORPS in the Courtyard of Honor
 
           Speech of the Holy Father
 
09:00 COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT in the Salon of the Ambassadors at the Palacio de Gobierno
 
 09:55 Departure by plane from Lima to Puerto Maldonado
 
 11:45 Arrival at Puerto Maldonado Airport
 
 12:00 MEETING WITH THE AMAZON PEOPLE in the Coliseo Regional Madre de Dios
 
       Speech of the Holy Father
 
13:15 Lunch with representatives of the Amazonian people
 
 15:45 VISIT TO HOGAR HOUSE
 
          Greetings from the Holy Father
 
 16:50 Departure by plane to Lima
 
 18:40 Arrival at Lima airport
 
 19:00 Private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus in the church of San Pedro
 
 Saturday 20 January 2018
 
LIMA-TRUJILLO-LIMA
 
 07:40 Departure by plane to Trujillo
 
09:10 Arrival at Trujillo airport
 
 10:00 HOLY MASS
 
           Homily of the Holy Father
 
 12:15 Visit in  Pope mobile to the district “Buenos Aires”
 
15:00 Short visit to the Cathedral
 
15:30 MEETING WITH PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS, SEMINARIANS in SS. Carlos AND Marcelo College
 
           Speech of the Holy Father
 
 16:45 MARIAN CELEBRATION in the Plaza de Armas
 
          Speech of the Holy Father
 
 18:15 Departure by plane to Lima
 
 19:40 Arrival at Lima airport
 
Sunday, January 21, 2018
 
LIMA-ROME
 
09:15 PRAYER WITH CONTEMPLATIVE RELIGIOUS in the Sanctuary of the Señor de los Milagros
 
           Homily of the Holy Father
 
 10:30 PRAYER TO RELIQUES OF PERUVIAN SAINTS in the Cathedral of Lima
 
             Prayer of the Holy Father
 
 10:50 MEETING WITH BISHOPS in the Archbishop’s Palace
 
          Speech of the Holy Father
 
12:00 ANGELUS in the Plaza de Armas
 
          Angelus of the Holy Father
 
12:30 Lunch and Prayer in Apostolic Nunciature
 
16:15 Holy Mass in the Air Base “Las Palmas”
 
           Homily of the Holy Father
 
 18:30 Arrive at the airport
 
      FAREWELL CEREMONY
 
18:45 Departure by plane to Rome / Ciampino
 
Monday, January 22, 2018
 
ROME
(from Vatican Radio)…