(Vatican Radio) A Christian community that lives in “harmony” is fruit of the Holy Spirit and should not be confused with “tranquility” that often is a hypocritical whitewashing of its contrasts and divisions. That’s the message conveyed by Pope Francis during his homily at Tuesday’s morning Mass celebrated in the Casa Santa Marta. A community united in Christ, the Pope said, is also a courageous community.
Listen to Tracey McClure’s report:
Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Pope Francis points to the one word that sums up the sentiments and lifestyle of the very first Christian community: harmony. Theirs is a life in communion, based on shared values and shared wealth for the benefit of all.
Harmony vs contrived coexistence
But, Pope Francis is careful to point out that the harmony which bound together the Church’s first Christians came as a gift of the Holy Spirit. It was not a man-made or contrived form of tranquil coexistence.
“We can negotiate some sort of peace … but harmony is an inner grace that only the Holy Spirit can grant. And these communities lived in harmony. And there are two signs of harmony: there is no one wanting, that is, everything was shared. In what sense? They had one heart, one soul, and no one considered as his own any property that belonged to him, but everything was shared in common amongst them. None of them was ever in need. The true ‘harmony’ of the Holy Spirit has a very strong relationship with money: money is the enemy of harmony; money is selfish.”
Proof of the first Christian community’s harmony, the Pope says, was shown in the fact that they freely gave of their own goods “so that others would not be in need.”
God and money: two “irreconcilable” masters
The Pope draws from the day’s reading the virtuous example of Barnabas who sells his field and gives the proceeds to the Apostles. And in contrast, Francis cites another passage from Acts: that of Ananias and Sapphira, a couple who sell their field and pretend to give the entire proceeds to the Apostles but who in fact, keep part of the money for themselves. That lie costs them dearly; both die on the spot.
God and money are two “irreconcilable” masters, Francis stresses. And, he warns against confusing “harmony” with “tranquility:”
“A community can be very tranquil…things are fine … But it is not harmonious. I once heard a wise thing from a bishop: ‘There is tranquility in the diocese. But if you touch on a certain problem – this problem or that problem – war breaks out.’ This is negotiated harmony, and this is not of the Spirit. Let’s say that it’s a hypocritical harmony like that of Ananias and Saphira and what they did.”
The Spirit, generosity and courage
Francis concludes, encouraging a re-reading of the Acts of the Apostles and their portrayal of the first Christians and their life together. “We will do well,” he says, to understand the importance of their fraternal generosity and how to bear witness to such a lifestyle in our daily lives.
“The harmony of the Holy Spirit grants us the generosity to possess nothing as our own, while there is someone in need.”
The harmony of the Holy Spirit, he adds, also fortifies us with courage. “‘With great power the Apostles bore witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all:’ namely, courage. When there is harmony in the Church, in the community, there is courage, the courage to bear witness to the Risen Lord.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Papal Basilica’s are coming to a cinema near you. For three days next week they will be the protagonists in a 3D film boasting previously unpublished images and hidden details in their art treasures
Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s report
For the first time, Rome’s four Papal Basilica’s are literally coming to the big screen.
For three days only from April 11 th to 13 th cinema audiences will be guided on a 3D tour of St Peter’s, St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul’s Outside the Walls.
During the 90 minute film entitled “St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome” experts will explain how these famous places of prayer have evolved over the centuries, illustrating the works of art they contain and the celebrated artists associated with them including, Giotto, Michelangelo and Bernini.
Thanks to the vast arsenal of technology employed, audiences will be able to see and appreciate the hidden details of the art treasures, such as Michelangelo’s signature on the Pietà.
In addition, cinema goers will be able to view unpublished images, thanks to the use of helicopters. And to complete this visual feast for the eye the power of 3D will put the viewer in the middle of the scene and in direct contact with the works of art.
One those featured in the film is the Director of the Vatican Museums Antonio Paolucci.
He says, “the production that SKY is doing is precious for people who think they know these monuments but in reality they don’t know them and they don’t see them, so it’s a kind of visual help.”
The film which will be distributed in over fifty countries including Italy, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Spain, is produced by the Vatican Television Center, and SKY 3D in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of heritage and culture.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the papal charitable office, will be organizing the distribution of funds raised in response to Pope Francis’ appeal for aid to the people of Ukraine.
Listen to this report by Tracey McClure:
The situation in the former Soviet state remains dramatic though the ongoing conflict between government forces and pro-Russia separatists has fallen off the collective radar.
Calling it a “worn out land,” on Sunday, Pope Francis appealed for an end to the conflict amid reports of fresh fighting. More than 9,000 people have been killed since clashes erupted in April 2014. 1.7 million people have been displaced – particularly in Crimea, annexed by Russia – and the eastern Donbass region.
Implementation of a deal agreed in Minsk last year and a lull in the violence had raised hopes that the conflict could be resolved soon.
Half a million people urgently need food and health authorities say more than double that number require urgent medical attention. Essential medicines, anesthesia and insulin are lacking and many operations are performed without anesthesia.
Drinking water is scarce for 1.3 million people and gas and electricity are only intermittently available.
Special collection for Ukraine 24 April
Pope Francis announced that a special collection for Ukraine will be taken up in churches across Europe on Sunday 24 April.
“This gesture of charity, beyond alleviating material suffering, expresses my personal closeness and the solidarity of the entire Church” he said. He expressed his profound hope that it may be of help to promote peace and the respect for rights.
About 10% of Ukraine’s mostly Orthodox population, Catholics in Ukraine have mobilized to assist their countrymen in need, regardless of background or creed. Proceeds from the Europe-wide collection will be distributed by the leaders of Ukraine’s various religious communities.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Secretariat for Communications announced an new web initiative on Monday: a dedicated office – DotCatholic – to inform and engage the worldwide virtual community with Catholic doctrine, preaching, and ethos.
Please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of the statement from the Secretariat, below
*****************************************
At the invitation of the Secretariat, of State of the Holy See, the Secretariat for Communications has established a Bureau called “DotCatholic” with the purpose of utilizing a generic Internet domain name (.catholic) of the first level, in order to share the teachings, the message and the values of the Catholic Church with the broader global community in Cyberspace.
The former director of Vatican Radio’s Information Technology department, Eng. Mauro Milita, has been named head of the new working group, which counts 7 IT technicians on its staff.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Press Office of the Holy See on Monday confirmed that Pope Francis met on Saturday, April 2, 2016, with the head of the dissident traditionalist Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX), Bishop Bernard Fellay.
The confirmation came through a one-sentence communiqué from the Press Office, saying, “The Press Office confirms that Saturday, 2 April, a meeting took place in the Vatican between Pope Francis and Bishop Bernard, Fellay, Superior General of the St. Pius X Fraternity.”
The SSPX, as it is commonly known, was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in order to preserve the centuries-old tradition of Catholic worship in the Latin Church.
In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated four bishops in defiance of explicit Papal dispositions and in violation of an agreement reached a short time before, under the terms of which Lefebvre would have been permitted to consecrate one bishop (in order to guarantee continuity of leadership within the controversial Society).
Since that time, the status of the SSPX has been canonically irregular: efforts to repair the relationship between the SSPX and Church leadership in Rome have continued despite recurrent difficulties.
(from Vatican Radio)…