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Pope’s Morning Homily: ‘Convert Every Day’ by Deborah Castellano Lubov
If we wish to be holy, we need to convert every day.
According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis explained this during his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, drawing from today’s reading from the First Letter of St. Peter, which he called “a small treatise on holiness.”
Francis stressed four elements are needed for us to be ‘holy’ in the everyday: conversion, courage, hope, and grace.
Conversion
Looking at the letter, the Pope emphasized that the conversion we are called to, signifies a continuous effort toward cleansing the heart.
“Conversion, every day,” Pope Francis clarified, does not mean one must beat oneself as penance for committing a wrong.
“No, no, no: small conversions… if you’re able to not speak ill of another, you’re on the right path to becoming saintly. It’s so easy! I know that you never speak ill of others, no? Little things … ‘I want to criticize a neighbor, a workmate’: bite your tongue a bit. The tongue will swell a bit, but your spirit will be holier on this journey. Nothing grand, mortification: no, it’s simple. The path to holiness is simple. Do not go back, but always moving forward, right? And with fortitude.”
Courage
Reflecting on the reading, Francis pointed out that holiness means “to walk in the presence of God without reproach:”
“Holiness is a journey; holiness cannot be bought. It can’t be sold. It cannot be given away. Holiness is a journey to God’s presence that I must make: no one else can do it in my name. I can pray for someone to be holy, but he’s the one who has to work towards [holiness], not me. Walk in God’s presence, in an impeccable way.”
Everyday holiness, he added, can be “anonymous,” but not timid, since, “The path to holiness takes courage.”
“Jesus’ Kingdom of Heaven,” the Pope stressed, is for “those who have the courage to go forward” and courage, he observed, is generated by hope, another element that leads to holiness. In encounters with Jesus, he noted, we obtain courage ‘that hopes.’
Hope, Grace
This journey’s third element, the Pope observed, appears in Peter’s words: “Put all your hope in that grace:”
“We cannot achieve holiness on our own,” the Pontiff said. “No, it is a grace. Being good, being saintly, going every day a little ‘step forward’ in the Christian life is a grace of God and we have to ask for it. Courage, a journey, a journey one must take with courage, with hope and with the willingness to receive this grace. And hope: the hope of the journey.”
During the homily, the Pope urged the faithful to read the “beautiful” chapter XI of the Letter to the Hebrews, which recounts the journey of “our forefathers, the first to be called by God,” including Abraham, who “went out without knowing where he was going. But with hope.'”
Interview With Grand Imam of al-Azhar by ZENIT Staff
Yesterday, after the audience in the Apostolic Palace, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Professor Ahmad Al-Tayyib, granted an interview to the Vatican media. It took place at the residence of the Eyptian ambassador to the Holy See, and two reporters from Vatican Radio participated: Fr. Jean-Pierre Yammine, head of the Arabic Section, and Cyprien Viet, from the French Section, along with Maurizio Fontana of L’Osservatore Romano. The interview was recorded in audio and video by Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre, and took place entirely in Arabic. It was translated into Italian by the Arabic Section of Vatican Radio.
1- John Paul II was the first Pope to visit the Grand Imam of al-Azhar during his visit to Egypt as part of the Great Jubilee of 2000. Today the Grand Imam is the first to visit the Pope in the Vatican on the occasion of the Jubilee of Mercy. What is the meaning of these important events?
In the name of Clement and Merciful God, I would first like to convey my thanks to His Holiness Pope Francis, for having welcomed me with my delegation from Al-Azhar, and for the warm welcome and affection reserved to me. Today we pay this visit as part of an Al-Azhar initiative, and the agreement between Al-Azhar and the Vatican to continue our holy mission, which is the mission of religions: “to make human beings joyful everywhere”. Al-Azhar has a dialogue, or rather a commission for interreligious dialogue with the Vatican, which was suspended in specific circumstances, but now those circumstances no longer exist, we resume the path of dialogue and hope that it will be better than before. And I am happy to be the first Sheikh of Al-Azhar to visit the Vatican and to sit alongside the Pope in an encounter of discussion and understanding.
2- A short while ago the Grand Imam met Pope Francis in the Vatican. What can we say about this encounter and the atmosphere in which it took place?
The first impression, which was very strong, is that this man is a man of peace, a man who follows the teaching of Christianity, which is a religion of love and peace, and following His Holiness we have seen that he is a man who respects other religions and shows consideration for their followers; he is man who also consecrates his life to serve the poor and the destitute, and who takes responsibility for people in general; he is an ascetic man, who has renounced the ephemeral pleasures of worldly life. All these are qualities that we share with him, and therefore we wish to encounter this man in order to work together for humanity in this vast field we have in common.
3- What are the duties of the great religious authorities and religious leaders in today’s world?
These responsibilities are heavy and grave at the same time, because we are aware, as we said also to His Holiness, that all the philosophies and modern social ideologies that have taken the lead of humanity, far from religion and far from heaven, have failed to make man happy or to take him far from wars and bloodshed. I believe that the moment has arrived for the representatives of the Divine Religions to participate strongly and in a concrete way to give humanity a new direction, towards mercy and peace, so that humanity can avoid the great crisis we are suffering now. Man without religion constitutes a danger to his fellow man, and I believe that people now, in the twenty-first century, have started to look around and to seek out wise guides to lead them in the right direction. And all this has led us to this meeting and this discussion, and to the agreement to begin to take a step in the right direction.
4- The University of Al-Azhar is engaged in important work in renewing scholastic texts. Can you tell us something about this project?
Yes, we renew them in the sense that we clarify the Muslim concepts that have been deviated by those who use violence and terrorism, and by armed movements that claim to work for peace. We have identified these erroneous concepts, and we have offered this as part of a curriculum to our students in middle and high schools, we have shown them the deviant side and the deviant understanding, and at the same time we have tried to make our students understand the correct concepts, from which these extremists and terrorists have deviated. We have established a world observatory, that monitors in eight languages the material disseminated by these extremist movements, and the distorted ideas that deviate youth. And today this material is corrected and then translated into other languages. Through the “Home of the Egyptian Family” – which reunites Muslims with all the Christian confessions in Egypt, and is a joint project between Al-Azhar and the Churches – we seek to offer an answer to those who take opportunities and wait in ambush to sow disorder, divisions and conflicts between Christians and Muslims. We also have the Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, and this Council sends peace delegations to the various world capitals and carries out important activity in favour of peace and to promote genuine Islam. We held in the past, around a year ago, a conference in Florence, right here in Italy, on the theme “East and West”, or rather “The Collaboration between East and West”. In addition, we receive at Al-Azhar imams from mosques in Europe, as part of a two-month programme offering formation in dialogue, exposing erroneous concepts and dealing with the integration of Muslims in European societies and nations, so that they may be a resource for the security, prosperity and strength of those countries.
5- The Middle East is experiencing great difficulties. What messages would you like to give us in this regard, on the occasion of this visit to the Vatican?
Certainly. I come from the Middle East where I live and I suffer, along with others, the consequences of the rivers of blood and cadavers, and there is no logical reason for this catastrophe that we are living day and night. Certainly there are internal and external motivations, whose convergence has inflamed these wars. Today I am in the heart of Europe and I would like to make the most of my presence in this institution, so great for Catholics – the Vatican – to launch an appeal to the entire world so that it can unite and close ranks to confront and put an end to terrorism, because I believe that if this terrorism is neglected, the price will be paid not only in the east; both east and west could suffer together, as we have seen. Therefore this is my appeal to the world and to the free men of the world: to come to an agreement immediately and to intervene to put an end to these rivers of blood. Allow me to say something in this declaration: yes, terrorism exists, but Islam has nothing to do with this terrorism, and this applies to Ulama Muslims and to Christians and Muslims in the East. And those who kill Muslims, and who also kill Christians, have misunderstood the texts of Islam either intentionally or by negligence. A year ago Al-Azhar held a General Conference for Ulama Muslims, Sunni and Shiite, and invited the leaders of the Eastern Churches, of various religions and confessions, and even the Yazidi sent a representative to this conference under the aegis of Al-Azhar. Among the most salient points of the joint declaration, it was said that Islam and Christianity have nothing to do with those who kill, and we asked the West not to confuse this deviant and misled group with Muslims. We said with one voice, Muslims and Christians, that we are the masters of this land and we are partners, and each one of us has a right to this land. We have rejected forced emigration, slavery and the trade in women in the name of Islam. Here I would like to say that the issue must not be presented as persecution of Christians in the East, but on the contrary there are more Muslim than Christian victims, and we all suffer this catastrophe together. In summary, I would like to conclude on this matter by saying that we must not blame religions because of the deviations of some of their followers, because in every religion there exists a deviant faction that raises the flag of religion to kill in its name.
6- Before concluding, would you like to add anything?
I again express my heartfelt thanks, my appreciation and my hope – that I will carry with me – of working together, Muslims and Christians, Al-Azhar and the Vatican, to relieve human beings wherever they are, regardless of their religion and belief, and to save them from destructive wars, poverty, ignorance and disease.
[Working translation from the Italian translation of the Arabic original]
Dublin World Meeting of Families Scheduled for Aug. 22-26, 2018 by Sergio Mora
The next World Meeting of Families, planned for August 22-26, 2018, in Dublin with the theme “The Gospel of the Family, Joy of the World,” was presented today in the Vatican press office, by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin.
It will be the first World Meeting of Families after the Synods on the Family and the release of Amoris Laetitia, the document that will be the “magna carta” of the 2018 meeting.
Monsignor Paglia pointed out the importance of reflection on Amoris Laetita in keeping with the different cultural contexts, because the Holy Father’s exhortation is not “simply an updating of family pastoral ministry,” but “a new way of living in the Church” and of “realizing that love that makes joyful the life of the People of God, of families and of society.”
He stressed that it is important to make the initiative known, not only in Ireland but throughout the world, so that all families can participate in some way. In regard to participation, he said that several thousand people are expected in the first three days of the Congress and many more for the weekend.
Monsignor Paglia indicated that the Congress will be an invitation to Europe and to the world to find strength and missionary energy “on discovering the vocation and mission of the family.”
It will also be “an invitation to choose the ‘we’ of the family, as an answer to the need of love that every man and woman has.” Likewise, that the political and civil society may find that “family spirit” that makes it possible to address “the individualist dimension that sadly is increasingly affecting religious and civil realities throughout the world.”
He concluded thanking the Church in Ireland for its commitment and added that it will be a decisive meeting for families and for the whole Church, whether Irish, European or of the whole world.
For his part, the Archbishop of Dublin recalled that the 2018 event in the city of which he is Archbishop, was announced in Philadelphia during the last World Meeting of Families and that, in last year’s Synod on the Family, Pope Francis said: “Remember that Dublin begins today.”
Archbishop Martin also pointed out that the Holy Father sees the 9thMeeting not as something isolated but as part of a process of discernment, support and encouragement of families. The Dublin event is “of the whole Church, with the hope that it is a decisive stage for the implementation of the fruits of the Synodal process and of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia,” and also a decisive stage in the ecclesiastical renewal that has begun in the country.
Sprinkling by a Deacon or Lay Minister by Fr. Edward McNamara
Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: I have a question regarding the sprinkling rite. In the case of the infirmity of the priest celebrant of a Mass at which the sprinkling rite is to be used, may the actual sprinkling — not the prayers before and after — be carried out by a deacon or even an acolyte or other lay minister? — G.S., Washington, D.C.
A: Along with this question our reader also sent in some preliminary research on the topic which we will use as part of the reply.
For those using the extraordinary form of the Roman rite the rule is quite clear. Although the “Asperges rite” does not form part of the Mass, and the priest wears the cope not the chasuble, “the celebrant of the Mass that follows, and not another priest, performs the “Asperges” (Fortescue-O’Connell-Reid, “The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described,” 2003, page 108).
In this form there would be no question of a deacon or lay person performing the sprinkling as this was considered integral to the blessing which was reserved to the priest.
With regard to the sprinkling rite in the Novus Ordo Mass, in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), No. 51, we read:
“From time to time on Sundays, especially in Easter Time, instead of the customary Penitential Act, the blessing and sprinkling of water may take place as a reminder of Baptism.” (“Die dominica, praesertim tempore paschali, loco consueti actus paenitentialis, quandoque fieri potest benedictio et aspersio aquae in memoriam baptismi.”)
In the Roman Missal, Appendix II, Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of Water, 1, we read:
“On Sundays, especially in Easter Time, the blessing and sprinkling of water as a memorial of Baptism may take place from time to time in all churches and chapels, even in Masses anticipated on Saturdayevenings. If this rite is celebrated during Mass, it takes the place of the usual Penitential Act at the beginning of Mass.” (“Huiusmodi ritus locum tenet actus poenitentialis initio Missae peragendi.”)
In the quote from GIRM, No. 51, the English has “the customary Penitential Act,” and the Missal has “the usual Penitential Act,” though in the latter text there does not seem to be a Latin original for the qualifier “usual.” The way I read it, the English texts do not make it clear whether the sprinkling rite is simply another form of the Penitential Act (but not the “customary” or “usual” one), or an outright substitution for the Penitential Act.
What commentaries I have found say this: “Asperges is the older name for the Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of Water, now an option at the beginning of Sunday Mass, replacing the Penitential Act” (Driscoll and Joncas, “Order of Mass,“ 2011). And this:
“This rite is not a penitential act like the pre-Vatican II Asperges; rather, it is a joyful memorial of the baptism that gives admission to the eucharistic banquet…. If the assembly is sufficiently large or spread out to warrant it, the deacon might also sprinkle them (although the rubrics are silent about this)” (Kwatera, “Liturgical Ministry of Deacons,“ 2005).
Our reader then adds:
“This last quote raises the issue that is the subject of my question.
“I looked for analogous situations. In the third form of the Penitential Act, while the priest gives the introduction and the absolution, the invocations themselves are said by the priest, deacon, ‘or another minister’ (Roman Missal, Order of Mass, 6.). This would seem to be a close analogue to a deacon or another minister sprinkling water between the priest’s introductory and closing prayer, even if the sprinkling rite is a form of the Penitential Act.
“In the blessing and distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday as well, there seems to be a similar situation. The Roman Missal says that on that day, ‘The Penitential Act is omitted, and the Distribution of Ashes takes its place.’ In this clear replacement for the Penitential Act, the Book of Blessings (U.S. adaptation), No. 1659, says: ‘This rite may be celebrated by a priest or deacon who may be assisted by lay ministers in the distribution of the ashes. The blessing of the ashes, however, is reserved to a priest or deacon.’ Again, the prayers are not in question, only the distribution of ashes, or, in the case of the sprinkling rite, the aspersion of holy water.
“My own conclusion is that in the sprinkling rite, even if it is a form of the Penitential Act, the sprinkling itself can be done by someone other than the priest celebrant, who in any case would say the opening and closing prayers.”
I wonder why this reader even bothered to ask me, as he seems more than able to maneuver through the jungle of liturgical norms.
However, as providence would have it, I had the privilege of being among the priest concelebrants at Pope Francis’ Mass of Pentecost on May 15 in St. Peter’s Basilica. This Mass began with the rite of sprinkling. At the moment of the sprinkling, the Holy Father remained at the chair and sprinkled those immediately around him and, somewhat symbolically, the concelebrants who were at a certain distance. Meanwhile, however, several deacons processed down the aisles of the basilica sprinkling the people.
While the practice of papal Masses cannot always be extended to other situations, I think that this practice at least makes it clear that deacons can assist in the sprinkling if there is sufficient reason for doing so. It must be remembered that deacons in the ordinary form can now perform many blessings which were previously reserved to the priest alone. In many Eastern Churches deacons may not impart any blessings whatsoever.
- I do not think that the deacon could replace the priest entirely. If a priest is infirm and has difficulty moving, he can sprinkle from the chair, and then the deacon or another priest could walk down the aisles to sprinkle the people.
- I do not believe that this could be extended to laypeople in the context of Mass. The above-mentioned quotes from the GIRM and the appendix make it clear that the sprinkling rite takes place within Mass, and not outside of it as in the extraordinary form. The rite of sprinkling is a continuation of the rite of blessing and forms an integral part of it. Therefore those who cannot bless the water would not be able to complete the rite.
After all, even when the priest does move around the church, the holy water does not reach a sizable part of the assembly. They nonetheless benefit from all the spiritual goods of the rite.
Finally, I would also say that the same texts show that the rite replaces the penitential rite but is not itself a penitential rite. If this were so, it would be simply another alternative penitential rite and, rather than printing it in an appendix, it would fall naturally alongside the other penitential formulas. Therefore it replaces the penitential rite as happens in several other ritual situations such as when the Divine Office is united to Mass.
* * *
Follow-up: Ministries of Lector and Acolyte
In the wake of our May 3 piece on ministries a Nebraska reader asked: “If an acolyte is reposing the Blessed Sacrament after a time of exposition, can he say the invocation and prayer normally done by the priest or deacon (i.e., everything except the Benediction itself), or should he only do the parts normally done by all, the hymn and Divine Praises?”
The prayers and songs that are used during exposition are not strictly liturgical, but are rather acts of popular piety. Therefore any layperson, and not just an instituted acolyte, may use them.
It is true that in some places it is customary for the priest or deacon to recite some prayers or litanies immediately before intoning the “Tantum Ergo” before Benediction. But in fact such prayers and litanies can be used at any moment of the exposition and can be directed or guided by anyone.
In consequence, wherever this custom exists, it is possible to recite these prayers before reserving the Blessed Sacrament.
It would not be correct, however, to sing the “Tantum Ergo” and its accompanying prayer as this is tied up with the rite of incensing before Benediction and its use could cause confusion.
Some other Eucharistic hymn, or the recitation or singing of the Divine Praises, may accompany the simple reservation.
* * *
Readers may send questions to zenit.liturgy@gmail.com. Please put the word “Liturgy” in the subject field. The text should include your initials, your city and your state, province or country. Father McNamara can only answer a small selection of the great number of questions that arrive.
Cardinal Parolin to Humanitarian Summit: Human Dignity Transcends Politics by Kathleen Naab
On Monday, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin addressed the first World Humanitarian Summit and spoke at a round-table discussion, emphasizing that human dignity has to be at the heart of every response to the world’s difficulties.
The two-day summit was convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and held in Istanbul, Turkey. Pope Francis sent Cardinal Parolin to lead the Holy See’s top-level delegation at the event.
In his address he emphasised Pope Francis’ support for the idea of convening this First World Humanitarian Summit, “hoping that it may succeed in its goal of placing the person and human dignity at the heart of every humanitarian response, in a common commitment, which can decisively eliminate the culture of waste and disregard for human life, so that no one will be neglected or forgotten, and that no further lives will be sacrificed due to the lack of resources and, above all, the lack of political will.”
“The human person should be the aim of any and every humanitarian action. This transcends politics and is ipso facto indispensable, even, and especially, in cases of disasters and conflicts. In our highly interconnected world, the use of force and armed conflicts affect, in different ways, all nations and peoples. No one is spared. A culture of dialogue and cooperation should be the norm in dealing with the world’s difficulties. Heavy reliance on military intervention and selfish economic policies is short-sighted, counter-productive and never the right solution for these challenges.
“Genocide, deliberate attacks against civilians, violence and rape of women and children, destruction of cultural patrimony are certainly the poison of criminal thoughts, but such ideas begin in human hearts and minds. Hence, prevention requires education and changes in formational models that will inculcate respect for the human person, especially the weakest and most fragile. Political leaders have a special responsibility to translate it into concrete actions and policies.
“Prevention of armed conflicts is possible. It is not a dream, nor an illusion. Regions enjoying peace, security and an absence of armed conflicts are proof of this claim. At important junctures in history, great leaders have made prophetic decisions, based on a deep sense and value of the dignity of the human person. By doing so, they have offered their nations the opportunity to build durable and inclusive communities, and have paved the way to a better future for everyone”.
Cardinal Parolin ended his speech by reiterating that “the Holy See is doing its part to build a real and concrete fraternity, among peoples and nations.”
Leadership
The cardinal also participated at a round table dedicated to the theme “Political leadership to prevent and end conflicts.”
In the debate, attended by Ban Ki-Moon, the cardinal stressed that “in our troubled world rippling with dormant and sweeping conflicts, nothing is more important than preventing and ending hostilities. Wisdom recognises that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’. Survivors of the death and destruction, massive displacements and destitution that these conflicts cause cry out for urgent action.”
He continued, “The Holy See is firmly convinced of the fundamentally inhumane nature of war and of the urgent necessity to prevent and to end armed conflicts and violence among peoples and States, in a way that is respectful of the common ethical principles that bind all members of the human family and constitute the bedrock for all human or humanitarian actions.”
He said that we “must no longer primarily rely on military solutions; but rather invest in development, which is essential to durable peace and security. Indeed, building durable peace and security means pursuing integral human development as well as addressing the root causes of conflict.”
Highlighting that the Holy See has long embraced this vision, he reaffirmed the following commitments:
The Holy See is committed to fostering, through “informal and formal diplomacy”, a culture of peace, active solidarity and full respect for inherent human dignity, built also on dynamic interreligious dialogue, ever convinced that religions must be a positive force in preventing and ending conflicts.
The Holy See is committed to employing its resources to encourageschools and social institutions to educate for peace and inclusive societies, which are essential to prevent conflicts.
The Holy See is committed to contributing to the collective work to prevent humanitarian crises in which disarmament can play a significant role in ensuring a peaceful coexistence among Nations, as well as social cohesion within them; it will never tire working towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, banning antipersonnel mines and cluster munitions, as well as preventing the expansion and deployment of new weapons systems such as lethal autonomous weapons systems.
Finally, citing Pope Francis’ address to popular movements in Bolivia last July, he said, “The Holy See believes that the primary commitment and goal of the international community must be the prevention of conflicts, by investing in sustainable and integral development that leaves no one behind, no matter how small, so as to have no family without lodging, no rural worker without land, no labourer without rights, no people without sovereignty, no individual without dignity, no child without childhood, no young person without a future, no elderly person without a venerable old age.”
“Having articulated the immense challenge before us”, he concluded, “the Holy See remains committed to doing its part to save lives and spare future generations from the scourges of war.”
World Meetings of Families: Background and FAQ by ZENIT Staff
This q-and-a is provided by the Irish bishops’ conference, in the context of today’s announcement of the dates and theme of the World Meeting of Families to be held in Dublin in August of 2018.
What is the World Meeting of Families?
In 1994 Pope Saint John Paul II asked the Pontifical Council for the Family to establish the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) as an international event of prayer, catechesis, and celebration that draws participants from around the globe. Held at three year intervals, the WMOF seeks to strengthen the bonds between families and to witness to the crucial importance of marriage and the family to all of society. It fosters the process of accompaniment of families in their mission. It also fosters gestures of solidarity for families in difficulties.
Where is the World Meeting of Families held?
The World Meeting of Families was first celebrated in Rome in 1994. Since then Meetings have been hosted in Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); Philadelphia (2015); and now Dublin (2018). The principal events of the World Meeting of Families 2018 will be held in Dublin but events will also take place in other centres around Ireland.
When will the Dublin WMOF be held and what will be the theme?
Pope Francis has decided that the Dublin WMOF will be held from 22 to 26 August 2018, and has chosen the theme: “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World.”
The theme aims to take up the inspiration of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia on The Joy of Love, which was the fruit of a Synodal Process taking place in the Church since shortly after Pope Francis’ election.
Why is the theme of the family central to the ministry of Pope Francis?
Shortly after his election, Pope Francis began a process of reflection within the Church right across the world on the family. He announced the holding of two sessions of the Synod of Bishops: one on the situation of families across the world and the other on how to respond to the challenges facing family life. Pope Francis recently published a wide ranging document as a fruit of that process, entitled Amoris Laetitia, on love in the family.
Pope Francis has said this on the central place of the family for the Church and for society:
· The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.
· The experience of love in families is a perennial source of strength for the life of the Church.
· The family is like a factory of hope.
· God likes most to knock on the doors of families and to find families that are united, that love each other and who raise their children in view of creating a society of truth, goodness and beauty.
How will the WMOF be celebrated?
The actual Meeting will begin with a major Conference which will last for three days at which international speakers will address the challenges of the family. Married couples will witness to the contribution of the family to the Church and to society. Each day will open with a major talk followed by break-out groups on a wide range of theological, spiritual, social and scientific questions on the place of the family in today’s word, and will conclude with Mass. On the evening of Saturday 25 August a larger function of testimonies will be held to celebrate the place of the family in the Church. A final Mass will conclude the Meeting on the early afternoon of Sunday 26 August.
Will Pope Francis attend the WMOF?
It is too early to know if Pope Francis will attend the WMOF. His programme is normally announced just a few months prior to any event. The Pope has expressed his desire to attend and such a visit of the Pope would bring great joy to Irish Catholics and others. But the final decision will depend on many other factors. Given the age of Pope Francis, a possible visit of the Pope in 2018 would inevitably have a more restricted programme than that of the papal visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979.
Who will organise the World Meeting of Families 2018?
The World Meeting of Families will be organized jointly by the Pontifical Council for the Family and by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, as bishop of the host diocese. The planning will involve teams of women and men, clergy, religious and lay, from all over Ireland. A Committee of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has been set up to oversee fundraising for the event.
In preparation for the meeting a programme of pastoral preparation centered on the family will take place across Ireland, especially during 2017. It is hoped that alongside the events gestures of solidarity will be fostered, such as for example a Pope Francis Fund for Homelessness.
Cardinal Tagle to Caritas Youth: Come to Poland WYD by ZENIT Staff
Caritas president Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has launched a video invitation to young people who work for Caritas organisations around the world to attend World Youth Day in Poland.
Pope Francis will join an estimated 2 million young people in Krakow for WYD from 25-31st July. The theme of WYD 2016 is: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’ (Mt 5:7).
In the one-minute clip in which young supporters of Caritas in Poland also appear, Cardinal Tagle says, “History tells us that young people are the beating heart of society. This is true of the Church, it is also true of the service of charity that Caritas stands for.
“We need your energy, passion, idealism and dedication to put love into action – a love that serves, a love that will transform the face of humanity.”
An event is planned on 27th July in which Cardinal Tagle will meet the young people of Caritas in Krakow.
US Bishops Release Newest Marriage Promotion Video by ZENIT Staff
The U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage has released the next video in the series highlighting the unique meaning of marriage.
Entitled Made for Freedom, the newly released video features experts in various fields as well as personal stories illustrating the importance of marriage to society and the necessity for people to have the freedom to express their beliefs about marriage.
“Made for Freedom is designed to invite discussion about the importance of marriage and religious freedom in our society,” said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the Subcommittee. “Now that the institution of marriage has been redefined in civil law, it is even more important for all members of the Church to witness to the truth about marriage in the public square. We must have courage and act with conviction, knowing that authentic marriage is a gift to be treasured.”
Made for Freedom is part of an educational initiative entitled Marriage: Unique for a Reason which seeks to assist Catholics and all people of good will to understand the unique gift of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
The first and second videos in the series are Made for Each Other and Made for Life, and there is a video in Spanish entitled El Matrimonio: hecho para el amor y la vida.
- Each video can serve as a discussion-starter and resource for clergy, catechists, teachers, and other leaders. These resources are available online at www.marriageuniqueforareason.org and are for purchase through www.usccbpublishing.org.
Kabankalan Bishop Named to Bacolod by ZENIT Staff
Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Patricio A. Buzon, S.D.B., of Kabankalan, Philippines, as bishop of Bacolod.
He succeeds Bishop Vicente M. Navarra, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
Patricio Buzon was born in 1950 in San Nicolas and professed with the Salesians in 1967. He was ordained in 1976. He was named the bishop of Kabankalan in 2002.
Bacolod has a population of some 1.4 million, with more than one million Catholics. They are served by just 160 priests and 345 religious.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s Intervention at Presentation of Upcoming World Meeting of Families by ZENIT Staff
Below is the Vatican-provided intervention of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland, given today at a Vatican press conference to present the World Meeting of Families. The meeting will be held August 22-26, 2018, in Dublin on the theme “The Gospel of the Family, Joy for the World.”
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As Archbishop Paglia noted, the World Meeting of Families which will be held in Dublin from 22 to 26 August 2018 belongs intimately within an ecclesial process which had been initiated by Pope Francis almost immediately after his election. It is significant that Pope Francis chose the family as the theme of the first Synod of Bishops of his Pontificate and that he launched a new methodology for the Synod which would involve consultation with families. That process is on-going.
It is interesting that Saint Pope John Paul II also chose as the theme of his first Synod (1980) that of the Mission of the Family in the Contemporary World. At the recent Synod I had to consider myself as a veteran having been one of the very few who attended in different capacities the Synod of 1980 and those of 2014 and 2015.
The choice of Dublin for the IX World Meeting of Families was announced in Philadelphia. Not long afterwards I came to Rome for the 2015 Synod and as I was entering the Synod Hall on the first morning Pope Francis said to me: “Remember, Dublin begins today”
In Pope Francis’ mind, the IX World Meeting of Families in Dublin is not an isolated event. It belongs within a process of discernment and encouragement, of accompaniment and animation of families. It belongs within a programme of renewal of the Church’s pastoral concern and pastoral care for the family and for families. The 2018 World Meeting will be held in Dublin, but it is an event of the entire Church. Hopefully it will be an important milestone in the application of the fruits of the Synodal process and of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Letitia.
The Meeting will be a significant event for the Church in Ireland and for Irish families. Ireland – despite what many think – has a strong family culture. It is a young country. The proportion of the population under 15 years of age is 21.6% and those over 60 is 16.9%, as compared for example with Italy there are twice as many people over 60 than under 15. Ireland has a much higher marriage rate than Italy and a much lower incidence of divorce. The fertility index in Ireland is 2 whereas in Italy it is 1.4, well below replacement level.
That said, Ireland is a very open country and is open to all the pressures of Western secular culture regarding marriage and the family. The theme chosen for the World Meeting of Families thus wishes to stress the role of the family within society and the contribution of families to the overall health and stability of society.
There are indeed many families in Ireland who struggle a precarious economic situations. There is a housing crisis. The Church’s catechetical programmes regarding marriage and the family need a complete overhaul in line with what Amoris Laetitia sets out.
The Dublin Meeting, thus, will be prepared for by a process of catechesis – based on the Apostolic Exhortation – which will take place right across the Church in Ireland during 2017. It is hoped that something of that Catechetical process will be shared with other Churches around the World, especially in Europe where we share many of the same challenges. The Dublin World Meeting of Families, more than earlier Meetings, should be a world event even in its preparation.
The family is not just the object of the attention of the Church. The Synods of Bishops stressed the vital role of families as real protagonists of renewal and of the transmission of the faith to the coming generations. Families do this through being active participants in the ministry of the Church. They do it above all though the authenticity of their daily life in the family and in the home. Spouses witness to God’s tender love through their own mutual love and through the care and formation of their children. The World Meeting of Families must be an occasion to encourage and sustain families in this task.
It is not easy to be a parent in today’s world. Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation contains much that can inspire and accompany parents.Amoris Laetitia contains much beautiful advice on the education of children. In the face of the many challenges of a changing culture of marriage and the family, the Church is called to accompany families in a new way and to enable families to experience more profoundly the joy of living the Gospel of the family.
It is also vital that Church and society commit themselves to enabling families to experience that joy more fully through appropriate political, social and economic measures which support families and help remove burdens which families face.
The World Meeting of Families in Dublin will hopefully be a festival of witness to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. The vocation of Christian couples, supported by the Sacrament of Marriage, is a call to witness to that love and to experience the joy of bringing the love of Jesus to those who are troubled and challenged.[Origina text: Italian] [Vatican-provided translation]
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