Pope’s Morning Homily: “Ask Yourself: ‘Do I Ignore, Sadden the Holy Spirit?'”... from ZENIT of Roswell, Georgia, United States for Thursday, 6 October 2016Like
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Pope’s Morning Homily: “Ask Yourself: ‘Do I Ignore, Sadden the Holy Spirit?'” by Deborah Castellano Lubov
Pope Francis warned against Christian mediocrity, lukewarmness, and rigidity, during his morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta today, and has called for faithful to embrace the Spirit to help the Church go forward, reported Vatican Radio.The Jesuit Pontiff drew his inspiration from the readings of the day which speak of the Holy Spirit, the “great gift of the Father” and “the protagonist of this ‘going forward’ of the Church.” Without the Spirit, Francis warned, the Church would be “shut up within itself” and “fearful.”
3 Attitudes
In this morning’s homily, the Pope pointed out three attitudes that faithful can have with regard to the Spirit.
The first attitude, the Pontiff stressed, is the belief that one can be justified through the Law, and not by Jesus, “who makes sense of the Law,” those, he specified, who Saint Paul rebuked in the Galatians.
The Pope pointed out that these people were “too rigid,” and are the same kind of people who attack Jesus and who the Lord called “hypocrites.”
“And this attachment to the Law ignores the Holy Spirit. It does not grant that the redemption of Christ goes forward with the Holy Spirit. It ignores that: there is only the Law. It is true that there are the Commandments and we have to follow the Commandments; but always through the grace of this great gift that the Father has given us, His Son, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. And so the Law is understood.”
“But don’t reduce the Spirit and the Son to the Law,” Francis warned, noting, “This was the problem of these people: they ignored the Holy Spirit, and they did not know to go forward. Closed, closed in precepts: we have to do this, we have to do that. At times, it can happen that we fall into this temptation.”
Bewitching With Ideas
The Doctors of the Law, the Pope went on to say, “bewitch with ideas.”
“Because ideologies bewitch; and so Paul begins here: ‘O stupid Galatians, who has bewitched you?’ Those who preach with ideologies: It’s absolutely just! They bewitch: It’s all clear. But look, the revelation is not clear, eh? The revelation of God is discovered more and more each day, it is always on a journey.”
“Is it clear?” he asked. “Yes! It is crystal clear! It is Him, but we have to discover it along the way. And those who believe they have the whole truth in their hands are not [just] ignorant. Paul says more: [you are] ‘stupid’, because you have allowed yourselves to be bewitched.”
The second attitude, the Pope said, is grieving the Holy Spirit. He explained that this happens “when we do not allow Him to inspire us, to lead us forward in the Christian life,” when “we don’t let Him tell us, not with the theology of the Law, but with the liberty of the Spirit, what we should do.”
When this happens, the Pope suggested, we “become lukewarm,” fall into “Christian mediocrity,” because the Holy Spirit can no longer perform great works in us.
The third attitude, Francis said, on the other hand, is what we should embrace, namely “opening ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and let the Spirit carry us forward. That’s what the Apostles did, [with] the courage of the day of Pentecost. They lost their fear and opened themselves to the Holy Spirit.”
In order to understand and welcome the words of Jesus, the Pope said, “it is necessary to open oneself to the power of the Holy Spirit.”
When someone opens oneself to the Holy Spirit, the Pope said, “it is like a sail boat that allows itself to be moved by the wind and goes forward, forward, forward, and never stops.”
The Pope stressed that this occurs when we pray that we might be open to the Holy Spirit, and then encouraged faithful today to ask themselves some questions:
‘Do I ignore the Holy Spirit? And do I know that if I go to Sunday Mass, if I do this, if I do that, is it enough?’
Second, ‘Is my life a kind of half a life, lukewarm, that saddens the Holy Spirit, and doesn’t allow that power in me to carry me forward, to be open?’
Or finally, ‘Is my life a continual prayer to open myself to the Holy Spirit, so that He can carry me forward with the joy of the Gospel and make me understand the teaching of Jesus, the true doctrine, that does not bewitch, that does not make us stupid, but the true [teaching]?’
Asking these questions, the Pope explained, helps us understand where our weaknesses are, “those things that sadden Him; and it carries us forward, and also carrying forward the Name of Jesus to others and teaching the path of salvation.”
Pope Francis concluded, praying, “May the Lord give us this grace: to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, so that we will not become stupid, bewitched men and women who grieve the Holy Spirit.”
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Nowadays, We Need Things That Are Constructive, Pope Says by ZENIT Staff
From Vatican RadioPope Francis met with the directors of the ‘Gruppo Vodafone’ in a private audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Wednesday, telling them to ‘be constructive’ and make religious text available to more people.
The Fondazione Vodafone is promoting an initiative called ‘Instant Schools for Africa’, which aims to provide online educative resources to young people on the African continent.
Pope Francis expressed his appreciation of the initiative and said it promotes “a more inclusive and familial world capable of offering development opportunities to people in social groups at risk of exclusion”.
He suggested such initiatives should take care “to supply young people also with some notions of method, so that they learn not only to use instruments but to use them as instruments, becoming capable of using them more freely and critically”.
The Pope also expressed his desire that “among the resources offered to young people, there be access to the sacred texts of various religions in different languages. This would be a beautiful sign of attention to the religious dimension, so rooted in the African peoples, and of encouragement for interreligious dialogue.”
In conclusive off-the-cuff remarks, he added, “I really like what I’ve heard [about this project] – it’s constructive – and nowadays there is a need to be constructive, to do things which promote human advancement and not only to see bombs fall on innocent people, children, sick people, and entire cities. Build, and not destroy!”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Text of address: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-address-to-vodafone-foundation/
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Pope Recalls St. Gregory the Great in Calling Anglican Communion to Greater Unity by ZENIT Staff
In the church where in the 6th century, Pope St. Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine of Canterbury to evangelize England, Pope Francis celebrated vespers Wednesday evening with the participation of the archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby.The rite at St. Andrew and St. Gregory on Rome’s Caelian Hill formed part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the encounter between Blessed Paul VI and the then-archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, and the institution of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Before the ceremony the Pope and the archbishop signed a common declaration.
In his homily, the Pope quoted the prophet Ezekiel who describes God as a shepherd herding his scattered sheep, separated from each other “in the day of clouds and thick darkness.”
“The Lord seems thus, through the Prophet, to turn to us with a twofold message”, said Francis. “First, a message of unity: God, as Shepherd, desires the unity of His people, and He especially desires those appointed as Shepherds under Him to spend themselves in pursuit of unity. Second, the reason we are told of the divisions in the flock: in the days of clouds and thick darkness, we lost sight of the brother who stood beside us, we became unable to recognise and rejoice in our respective gifts and in the graces we’ve received. This happened because the darkness of incomprehension and suspicion and, overhead, the dark clouds of disagreements and disputes, gathered around us – often formed for historical and cultural reasons and not only for theological reasons”.
“But we have the firm belief that God loves to dwell among us, who are His flock and precious treasure”, he emphasised. “He is a tireless pastor Who continues to act, encouraging us to walk towards greater unity, which can only be achieved with the help of His grace. Therefore we remain confident, because in us, even though we are fragile earthen vessels, God loves to pour out his grace. He is convinced that we can move from darkness to light, from dispersion to unity, from wanting to plenitude. This path of communion is the path of all Christians and is your particular mission, for you are the shepherds of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission”.
“It is a great vocation, that of working as instruments of communion always and everywhere”, Francis observed. “This means promoting at the same time the unity of the Christian family and the unity of the human family. The two areas are not only not opposed but are mutually enriching. When, as disciples of Jesus, we offer our services jointly, each opening and the meeting, overcoming the temptation of closures and insulation, we work both at the same time when we work side-by-side, when we promote the unity of Christians as well as that of the human family. We recognise ourselves as brothers who belong to different traditions, but are driven by the same Gospel to undertake the same mission in the world. Then it would be always good, before embarking on any activity, for you to put these questions to yourselves: Why ought not we do this together with our Anglican brothers? Can we bear witness to Jesus by acting together with our Catholic brothers?”
The Pope stressed that it is in sharing the difficulties and joys of the ministry that we once again grow close to each other. “May God grant you to be promoters of a bold and real ecumenism, always on a journey in search of opening new paths, which will benefit in the first place that your brothers in the Provinces and the Episcopal Conferences”, he exclaimed. “This is always and above all a matter of following the example of the Lord, His pastoral methodology, of which the prophet Ezekiel reminds us: to seek out the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the wound, heal the sick. Only thus shall the scattered people be brought together”.
He went on to refer to our common journey in the footsteps of Christ the Good Shepherd, inspired by the pastoral staff of St. Gregory the Great, to symbolise the “great ecumenical significance of this meeting”, adding that “Pope Gregory, from this wellspring of mission, chose and sent St. Augustine of Canterbury and his monks to the Anglo-Saxon nations, inaugurating a great chapter in evangelisation, which is our common history, and binds us inseparably. Therefore it is right that this pastoral staff be a symbol of our shared journey of unity and mission”.
“At the centre of the curved part of the staff is represented the Risen Lamb. Thus, while reminding us of the will of the Lord to gather the flock and go in search of the lost sheep, the staff also seems to show us the central content of the love of God in Jesus crucified and risen, the Lamb sacrificed and living. It is love that penetrated the darkness of the sealed tomb, and opened the doors to the light of eternal life. The love of the Lamb victorious over sin and death is the true innovative message to carry together to those who are lost today, and to those who still do not have the joy of knowing the compassionate face and merciful embrace of the Good Shepherd. Our ministry consists in illuminating the darkness with this gentle light, with the meek power of love that conquers sin and overcomes death. We have the joy to recognise and celebrate the heart of the faith. Let us once again make that our centre and focus, without being distracted by that, which, enticing us to follow the spirit of the world, would detract from the original freshness of the Gospel. From there comes our shared responsibility, the one mission to serve God and humanity”.
Pope Francis concluded by observing that according to some authors, the pastoral staves often have a pointed tip at the other end, which may well suggest not only the vocation to guide and gather the sheep in the name of the Risen Christ, but also to prod those that tend to stand too close and shut in, urging them to get out. “The mission of the pastors is to help the flock entrusted to them, that it be always out-going, on the move to proclaim the joy of the Gospel; not closed in tight circles, in ecclesial ‘microclimates’ which would take us back to the days of clouds and thick darkness. Together we ask God for the grace to imitate the spirit and example of the great missionaries, through which the Holy Spirit has revitalised the Church, which is revived when she goes out of her own accord on the ways of the world to live and proclaim the Gospel. Let us remember what happened in Edinburgh, at the origins of the ecumenical movement: it was precisely the fire of mission that allowed us to begin to overcome the barriers and break down the fences that isolated us and made a common path unthinkable. Let us pray together for this: the Lord grant us that from here might arise a renewed élan for communion and mission”.
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On ZENIT’s web page:
Full text of homily: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-homily-at-vespers-with-leader-of-anglican-communion/
Common declaration: https://zenit.org/articles/common-declaration-made-by-pope-archbishop-of-canterbury/
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Young People to Be Heart of October ’18 Synod of Bishops by Deborah Castellano Lubov
“Young people, faith and vocational discernment” is the theme Pope Francis has selected for the XV General Assembly of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops taking place October 2018 in the Vatican.According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office this morning, the upcoming Synod’s theme is an “expression of the pastoral concern of the Church for young people, and is in continuity with what emerged from the recent synodal assemblies on the family and the contents of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Laetitia Amoris.”
Through this theme, the Church– the statement noted–wishes to “accompany youth in their existential path to maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they can discover their life plan and realize it with joy, opening the encounter with God and with men and actively participating in the building up the Church and society.”
As is customary, the Pope’s decision followed consultations with the episcopal conferences, the Eastern Catholic Churches and the Union of Superiors General. The Holy Father had also heard suggestions made by parents taking part in the last synodal assembly and the opinion of the XIV Ordinary Council.
The Synod of Bishops is an assembly of bishops from various regions of the world. On September 15, 1965, it was created by Pope Paul VI in order to respond to the desire of the fathers of the Second Vatican Council to keep alive the good spirit born of the conciliar experience.
General Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops may be ordinary and extraordinary. The Synods’ extraordinary assemblies address issues that require rapid resolution, and appoint fewer members, in order to facilitate rapid discussion of the issues.
The last Synod on the family received much media attention. Moreover, as explained on several occasions by Pope Francis, it was a journey that lasted two years, and its fruit was Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on the family Amoris Laetitia.
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Pope, Prelates in Meeting on Syria Cry Over Album of Children Who’ve Been Killed by ZENIT Staff
By Aid to the Church in Need Staff, with ZENIT***
This week, children at more than 2000 schools across Syria are drawing their images of peace and writing messages to the political decision-makers of the European Union and the United Nations under the motto “Peace for Children.” More than one million children are also signing a petition. This appeal for peace is a joint campaign sponsored by Catholic and Orthodox Christians in Syria, while all religious communities have been invited to take part.
Children of all Christian denominations in Damascus, Homs, Yabroud, Aleppo, Marmarita and Tartus are marking today as the Action Day for Peace. They are expressing their desire for peace through songs, dances, theatrical performances, prayers and other activities. Several children in Aleppo will also talk about their personal experiences.
Sister Annie Demerjian, one of the local organizers of the event, said: “When a child talks about losing his father, for example, we will follow it up by praying for all children in Syria who have lost parents or siblings.” The main ceremony will be held in Damascus Oct. 7 and will be attended by groups of 50-75 children from each of the major urban centers of Syria.
In addition, Syrian schoolchildren—also including many Muslims—are writing messages to the global community on balloons. These include such messages as “We want peace!”, “Give us our childhood!”, “We don’t want any more war!” and “We want to go to school!”
Thousands of children in Syria have been killed during the war. According to the Oxford Research Group, more than 11,500 children died in the first two years of the conflict alone. Half of the 11.4 million Syrians who have fled inside or outside of the country are underage minors. More than 2.1 million Syrian children are unable to attend school because of the war. Many children are severely traumatized. Children are frequent victims, not only of direct acts of war, but of abductions, torture and sexual exploitation.
Vatican Radio interviewed the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, Joseph Tobji, who spoke about a recent meeting he had with Pope Francis regarding the situation in Syria, and about how the Pope was deeply moved by the situation.
Vatican Radio reported: “Archbishop Tobji spoke of how he showed the Pope a Syrian flag signed by 1,000 young Syrian Catholics who attended a local youth day event in Aleppo, along with a photo album of their friends: children who have been killed during the war.
“The Maronite archbishop described how the Pope turned over the first page of the album, saw the photo, then saw the photos on the second and the third page, at which point, ‘his eyes filled with tears.’ ‘I too wept,’ confided Archbishop Tobji and ‘the cardinal who was standing by my side.'”
The children’s campaign for peace is an initiative of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Since the Syrian conflict began in March of 2011, ACN has been active in supporting the victims of the war and providing financial support, in particular for families who have lost their homes, have been forced to flee the country or have been displaced within the country.
Aid is primarily granted to projects that secure the immediate survival of the people, and especially of children and babies. A sizable amount of the financial aid is used to procure accommodations for what are in general large families with many children, to supply essential foods and medicines as well as baby formula and diapers, warm winter clothing and heating oil and electricity. The aid is also earmarked to ensure that children can attend school. The aid is provided directly to the families in need, irrespective of their religious affiliation, through a network Catholic bishops and local church structures. Since 2011, some $15M in grants has gone to the various projects in Syria.
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Human Person Isn’t an Obstacle to Development, Holy See Tells UN by ZENIT Staff
The challenges facing the globe are unparalleled since the Second World War, the Holy See’s delegation at the United Nations says, and in confronting them, the human person and his dignity and rights must be placed at the center, lest an approach is taken up that “views the human person as an obstacle to development or, even worse, as the cause of his or her own underdevelopment and neediness.”Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See, said this on Tuesday when he addressed the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Second Committee General Debate.
Here is the text of the address:
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Mr. Chair,
I would like to extend my delegation’s congratulations to you and the bureau on your election and assure you of the Holy See’s continued collaboration.
In the last eighteen months, the international community has seen Heads of State and Government gather in order to adopt the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and, a couple of weeks ago on September 19, the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. The hard work of translating these commitments into real and tangible results has already began, and must be fully supported so that the great promise to leave no one behind can be fulfilled.
These significant international commitments demonstrate a willingness among political leaders to come together to address global challenges. At the same time, however, there has been a continued breakdown of trust, as inequalities among and within countries have become even more gaping and the number of violent conflicts has increased, provoking the humanitarian crisis we are facing today, which is without parallel since the Second World War.
The Holy See believes that in addressing the interconnected challenges of environmental, economic and social development, a human-centered approach must form the foundation. The centrality of the human person and the promotion of the dignity and worth of all persons without distinction are fundamental in order to avoid a reductionist approach that views the human person as an obstacle to development or, even worse, as the cause of his or her own underdevelopment and neediness. As Pope Francis stated in his Address to the United Nations General Assembly last year, “The pillars of integral human development have a common foundation, which is the right to life” and more broadly “the right to existence of human nature itself.”
Integral human development therefore requires building macroeconomic policies capable of creating stable and forward-looking financial, commercial and economic growth to meet humanity’s basic needs. An integral human development model must be able to address the spiritual, social, environmental and physical needs of people. It is a model that cannot be imposed from the outside; rather it must be built from within communities and societies that invest in and provide the structures necessary to allow their members adequately to satisfy their basic needs such as food, housing, health care and work, and enjoy less tangible yet fundamental rights such as education, freedom of expression and religious freedom.
In his Address to the UN General Assembly, Pope Francis succinctly described integral human development this way: At its “minimum [it] has three names: lodging, labor and land; and one spiritual name; spiritual freedom, which includes religious freedom, the right to education and all other civil rights.”
Indeed, integral human development is more than the sum total of resources invested into development projects and their measurable material results; it includes as well those elements that, though at times intangible and imperceptible, are life transforming and truly contribute to greater human flourishing.
In order to bring about such integral human development, a renewed commitment to just and equitable mechanisms for global trade and multilateral financial assistance are necessary. Global interdependence is a reality in which human and financial resources and decisions are often far removed from those who consume or those who produce them. At its worst, such globalization can manifest itself in a “global indifference” to the needs of others. At its best, it expresses itself in global solidarity and commitment to meet our responsibilities toward those in need. The strength of international cooperation is based on the principle of one common humanity rooted in the equal dignity of all.
This recognition of global solidarity fosters greater social cohesion and harmony. Global solidarity means seeing others as more than mere neighbors, but as brothers and sisters. It thus requires ensuring that our global trade, financial and economic systems incorporate ethical and moral structures which recognize our responsibilities to our communities, locally and globally, and to our common home.
Mr. Chair,
In a couple of weeks, global leaders will gather in Quito for the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development. The dramatic changes in patterns of population settlements since the 1976 Habitat I have placed new and increasing challenges on families and communities working to adapt to new realities, in particular in mega urban settings. It is my delegation’s hope that Habitat III will provide an opportunity to address the challenges of housing and urbanization in a holistic, people-centered manner.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Common Declaration Made by Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury by ZENIT Staff
Wednesday evening, Pope Francis and the leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Justin Welby, signed a common declaration.Here is the text:
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Fifty years ago our predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey met in this city hallowed by the ministry and blood of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Subsequently, Pope John Paul II with Archbishop Robert Runcie, and later with Archbishop George Carey, and Pope Benedict XVI with Archbishop Rowan Williams, prayed together here in this Church of St. Gregory on the Caelian Hill from where Pope Gregory sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxon people. On pilgrimage to the tombs of these apostles and holy forebears, Catholics and Anglicans recognise that we are heirs of the treasure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the call to share that treasure with the whole world. We have received the Good News of Jesus Christ through the holy lives of men and women who preached the Gospel in word and deed and we have been commissioned, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to be Christ’s witnesses “to the ends of the earth”. We are united in the conviction that “the ends of the earth” today, is not only a geographical term, but a summons to take the saving message of the Gospel particularly to those on the margins and the peripheries of our societies.
In their historic meeting in 1966, Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey established the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission to pursue a serious theological dialogue which, “founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions, may lead to that unity in truth, for which Christ prayed”. Fifty years later we give thanks for the achievements of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, which has examined historically divisive doctrines from a fresh perspective of mutual respect and charity. Today we give thanks in particular for the documents of ARCIC II which will be appraised by us, and we await the findings of ARCIC III as it navigates new contexts and new challenges to our unity.
Fifty years ago our predecessors recognised the “serious obstacles” that stood in the way of a restoration of complete faith and sacramental life between us. Nevertheless, they set out undeterred, not knowing what steps could be taken along the way, but in fidelity to the Lord’s prayer that his disciples be one. Much progress has been made concerning many areas that have kept us apart. Yet new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us, particularly regarding the ordination of women and more recent questions regarding human sexuality. Behind these differences lies a perennial question about how authority is exercised in the Christian community. These are today some of the concerns that constitute serious obstacles to our full unity. While, like our predecessors, we ourselves do not yet see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred. In our trust and joy in the Holy Spirit we are confident that dialogue and engagement with one another will deepen our understanding and help us to discern the mind of Christ for his Church. We trust in God’s grace and providence, knowing that the Holy Spirit will open new doors and lead us into all truth.
These differences we have named cannot prevent us from recognising one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism. Nor should they ever hold us back from discovering and rejoicing in the deep Christian faith and holiness we find within each other’s traditions. These differences must not lead to a lessening of our ecumenical endeavours. Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper that all might be one is as imperative for His disciples today as it was at that moment of His impending passion, death and resurrection, and consequent birth of His Church. Nor should our differences come in the way of our common prayer: not only can we pray together, we must pray together, giving voice to our shared faith and joy in the Gospel of Christ, the ancient Creeds, and the power of God’s love, made present in the Holy Spirit, to overcome all sin and division. And so, with our predecessors, we urge our clergy and faithful not to neglect or undervalue that certain yet imperfect communion that we already share.
Wider and deeper than our differences are the faith that we share and our common joy in the Gospel. Christ prayed that His disciples may all be one, “so that the world might believe”. The longing for unity that we express in this Common Declaration is closely tied to the desire we share that men and women come to believe that God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to save the world from the evil that oppresses and diminishes the entire creation. Jesus gave His life in love, and rising from the dead overcame even death itself. Christians who have come to this faith, have encountered Jesus and the victory of His love in their own lives, and are impelled to share the joy of this Good News with others. Our ability to come together in praise and prayer to God and witness to the world rests on the confidence that we share a common faith and a substantial measure of agreement in faith.
The world must see us witnessing to this common faith in Jesus by acting together. We can, and must, work together to protect and preserve our common home: living, teaching and acting in ways that favour a speedy end to the environmental destruction that offends the Creator and degrades His creatures, and building individual and collective patterns of behaviour that foster a sustainable and integral development for the good of all. We can, and must, be united in a common cause to uphold and defend the dignity of all people. The human person is demeaned by personal and societal sin. In a culture of indifference, walls of estrangement isolate us from others, their struggles and their suffering, which also many of our brothers and sisters in Christ today endure. In a culture of waste, the lives of the most vulnerable in society are often marginalised and discarded. In a culture of hate we see unspeakable acts of violence, often justified by a distorted understanding of religious belief. Our Christian faith leads us to recognise the inestimable worth of every human life, and to honour it in acts of mercy by bringing education, healthcare, food, clean water and shelter and always seeking to resolve conflict and build peace. As disciples of Christ we hold human persons to be sacred, and as apostles of Christ we must be their advocates.
Fifty years ago Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey took as their inspiration the words of the apostle: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. Today, “those things which are behind” – the painful centuries of separation –have been partially healed by fifty years of friendship. We give thanks for the fifty years of the Anglican Centre in Rome dedicated to being a place of encounter and friendship. We have become partners and companions on our pilgrim journey, facing the same difficulties, and strengthening each other by learning to value the gifts which God has given to the other, and to receive them as our own in humility and gratitude.
We are impatient for progress that we might be fully united in proclaiming, in word and deed, the saving and healing gospel of Christ to all people. For this reason we take great encouragement from the meeting during these days of so many Catholic and Anglican bishops of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) who, on the basis of all that they have in common, which generations of ARCIC scholars have painstakingly unveiled, are eager to go forward in collaborative mission and witness to the “ends of the earth”. Today we rejoice to commission them and send them forth in pairs as the Lord sent out the seventy-two disciples. Let their ecumenical mission to those on the margins of society be a witness to all of us, and let the message go out from this holy place, as the Good News was sent out so many centuries ago, that Catholics and Anglicans will work together to give voice to our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to bring relief to the suffering, to bring peace where there is conflict, to bring dignity where it is denied and trampled upon.
In this Church of Saint Gregory the Great, we earnestly invoke the blessings of the Most Holy Trinity on the continuing work of ARCIC and IARCCUM, and on all those who pray for and contribute to the restoration of unity between us.
Rome, 5 October 2016
His Grace Justin Welby His Holiness Francis
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Pope’s Homily at Vespers With Leader of Anglican Communion by ZENIT Staff
Here is a Vatican translation of the homily Pope Francis gave Wednesday evening at a celebration of Vespers with the leader of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby.__
The Prophet Ezekiel uses a striking image to describe God: he is a shepherd who gathers his sheep scattered “on a day of clouds and thick darkness” (Ezek 34:12). The Lord, through the prophet, seems to be telling us two things this evening. This first has to do with unity. As a shepherd, God wants his people to be one, and he desires above all that pastors be completely committed to this. The second is about the cause of divisions within the flock. Amid clouds and darkness, we lose sight of the brother or sister at our side; we become incapable of seeing one another and rejoicing in each other’s gifts and blessings. The darkness of misunderstanding and suspicion deepens, together with the clouds of disagreement and controversy, often for reasons that are historical and cultural, and not simply theological.
Yet we have the firm certainty that God loves to dwell among us, his flock and his priceless possession. He is a shepherd who never tires (cf. Jn 5:17) of urging us to press forward towards greater unity, a unity that can be attained only with the help of his grace. Hence we remain confident, for although we are fragile earthen vessels (cf. 2 Cor 4:7), God constantly pours out his grace upon us. He is convinced that we can pass from darkness to light, from dispersal to unity, from insufficiency to fullness. This path of communion is the way of all Christians and it is your own particular mission as bishops of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission.
To work always and everywhere as instruments of communion is a great calling. It involves working for the unity of both the Christian family and the human family. These two goals are not only not opposed, but are mutually enriching. When, as disciples of Jesus, we serve together side by side, when we promote openness and encounter, and reject the temptation to narrow-mindedness and isolation, we are working both for the unity of Christians and for the unity of the human family. We acknowledge one another as brothers and sisters with different traditions but inspired by the same Gospel to undertake the same mission to the world. It would always be good, before beginning a particular activity to ask ourselves the following questions. Can we not do this together with our Anglican brothers and sisters? Can we not witness to Jesus by working together with our Catholic brothers and sisters?
By sharing tangibly in the difficulties and joys of the ministry, we again draw closer to one another. May God enable you to foster a courageous and authentic ecumenism, and to blaze new paths, above all for the benefit of your confreres in your provinces and episcopal conferences. We must always follow the example of the Lord himself, his pastoral method. As the Prophet Ezekiel has told us, this means going out in search of the lost sheep, bringing back the stray to the sheepfold, binding the wounds of those in pain, caring for the sick (cf. v. 16). Only in this way will those who are scattered be reunited.
In speaking of our common path as followers of Christ the Good Shepherd, I would like to start from the crozier or pastoral staff of Saint Gregory the Great. It can be a fine symbol of the profound ecumenical significance of this gathering. From this place, a wellspring of mission, Pope Gregory chose and sent forth Saint Augustine of Canterbury and his monks to the Anglo-Saxon peoples. He thus launched an important chapter of evangelization which is our common heritage and which binds us inseparably. It is fitting to see this pastoral staff as a shared symbol of our walking together towards unity and mission.
At the centre of its crook is an image of the Risen Lamb. While reminding us of the Lord’s desire to unite the flock and to seek out the lost sheep, the pastoral staff also evokes the heart of our proclamation: the love of God in the crucified and risen Christ, the Lamb who was sacrificed and now lives. This love penetrated the darkness of the sealed tomb and burst open its doors to admit the light of eternal life. The love of the Lamb who triumphed over sin and death is the truly good news that we must join in bringing to those who are lost or have not yet had the joy of knowing the compassionate face and merciful embrace of the Good Shepherd. Our ministry is that of dispelling the gloom with this kindly light, with the non-violent power of a Love that conquers sin and overcomes death. May we joyfully acknowledge and celebrate together the heart of our faith. May we focus on it ever anew, without letting ourselves be distracted from the eternal newness of the Gospel by forces that entice us to follow the spirit of the world. This is the source of our common responsibility, the one mission of serving the Lord and humanity.
Some writers have pointed out that the pastoral staff is typically pointed at its other end. This might lead us to conclude that it is not only a reminder of the call to guide and gather the flock in the name of the Crucified and Risen Lord, but also of the need to prod those sheep who huddle together too closely, and to urge them to move forward. The mission of shepherds is to help the sheep entrusted to them to go forth and actively proclaim the joy of the Gospel, not to remain huddled in closed circles, in ecclesial “micro-climates” which would bring us back to the days of clouds and thick darkness. Together let us ask God for the grace to imitate the spirit and example of the great missionaries, through whom the Holy Spirit revitalized the Church.
The Church is reinvigorated when she goes out of herself in order to practise and proclaim the Gospel on the byways of the world. We think of what happened in Edinburgh at the outset of the ecumenical movement. It was truly the fire of mission that made it possible to surmount barriers and tear down walls which kept us apart and made a common path unthinkable. Together let us pray for this intention.
May the Lord grant that from this place there may arise a renewed impetus towards communion and mission.© Copyright – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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Pope to Europe’s Bishops: Church Must Be More ‘Outgoing’ by ZENIT Staff
Pope Francis sent a message to Europe’s bishops in the lead-up to their plenary assembly, encouraging them to lead the Church in Europe to be more and more an “outgoing Church.” He also praised the European bishops for their contribution to “fraternal and ecclesial relations,” and the building up of the “two lungs” of the Church, the East and the West.Here is the text of the message, dated Sept. 26 and released today by the CCEE.
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To His Eminence Cardinal Péter Erdő
President of the Consilium Conferentiarum Episcoporum Europae
On the occasion of the forthcoming Plenary Assembly which will take place in the Principality of Monaco, I am delighted to send cordial greetings to the Presidents of Europe’s Bishops’ Conferences, with an assurance of my spiritual closeness. I wish to express my deep appreciation for the significant contribution which CCEE offers in the promotion of fraternal and ecclesial relations, which manifest the importance of communion and the joy of the faith. I encourage you to pursue with trust the path undertaken to provide a service to the peoples of the Continent, appreciating its “two lungs”, that of the East and that of the West. May your care enlighten the consciences of believers, offering them criteria for judgment and discernment, so as not to allow themselves to be led astray by a worldly culture.
I wish to express sincere thanks to you, Your Eminence, for the unselfish commitment given generously over ten years in guiding this meritorious ecclesial Body. You have been able to serve with meekness and foresight, putting evangelical charity before everything. Thank you for your pastoral zeal!
I assure you of my prayers so that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and of the Patron Saints Benedict, Cyril and Methodius, the Church in Europe may become more and more an “outgoing Church”, joyful proclaimer of the Gospel of mercy and witness of hope.
While I ask you to pray for me, I send my Apostolic Blessing to you, Your Eminence, and to the brother Bishops and their respective ecclesial communities.
Francis
From the Vatican, 26 September 2016
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Irish Bishops Conclude Autumn Meeting: Gearing Up for Family Meeting in 2018 by ZENIT Staff
The bishops of Ireland on Wednesday concluded their autumn general meeting. They discussed topics including the World Meeting of Families in 2018, the situation in Aleppo, child safeguarding and the Vatican’s day of prayer for survivors of sexual abuse, as well as more local issues.Here is the report:
Launch in Ireland of the World Meeting of Families 2018
Pope Francis asked that the 9th World Meeting of Families take place in Dublin from 22 to 26 August 2018. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin is its President and host, and last May the Holy Father chose “The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World” as the theme for the Dublin-based pastoral event. Held every three years, and coordinated by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, the World Meeting of Families is the largest gathering of Catholic families in the world and it celebrates family life and the Church’s commitment to support families.
On Saturday 22 October next, the co-chairs of the Council for Marriage and the Family of the Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, will formally launch preparations for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018. This formal launch will take place in the context of a day-long conference entitled “The Joy of Love, Amoris Laetitiaand the World Meeting of Families in Ireland” which will be held in DCU Saint Patrick’s Drumcondra Campus in Dublin. Representatives of dioceses and parishes from around the country, as well as various groups whose mission is to support the sacrament of marriage and offer pastoral outreach to families, will also be in attendance on 22 October.
The complementary themes of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortations Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) and Amoris Laetitia(The Joy of Love – on love in the family), and his apostolic encyclical Laudato Si’ (Praise Be – on care for our common home), are informing the content of the catechetical programme that will accompany the preparations for the World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018.
Protection of human life
Bishops reflected on the Prayer for Our Earth from Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’, an excerpt of which reads:
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
In this context, and mindful of the current public discussion regarding article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland, bishops discussed the sanctity of human life at all stages. Bishops said that a truly compassionate society promotes care and protection of all unborn human life and recognises the equal right to life of the mother. Bishops noted that this is precisely the purpose of article 40.3.3. Bishops also acknowledged, with gratitude, the challenging but important work of Cura, the crisis pregnancy agency of the Bishops’ Conference which marks forty years of service in 2017.
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. When we pray the Rosary we meditate on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and the life of the Holy Family. Guided by Pope Francis who has recommended the Rosary as a form of “spiritual medicine” saying, “it is good for your soul, for your whole life”, bishops invite families, parishes and religious congregations to pray the Rosary during October for the protection of human life from the moment of conception until natural death.
Trócaire’s work supporting the victims of violence in Aleppo
Bishops reflected on the shocking upsurge in violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo and noted the debate which took place yesterday in Dáil Éireann concerning this human catastrophe. Trócaire, the Bishops’ Conference overseas aid agency, is responding to the violence in Aleppo where the approximately 200,000 people living in the eastern half of the city have come under relentless attack.
Bishops echoed the call of Pope Francis who has said, “I appeal to the consciences of those responsible for the bombing that they must give a reckoning to God.” They discussed with great concern the high level of violence in Aleppo, in particular the deliberate targeting of civilian areas, including hospitals, where many people have been killed. Noting the powerful military assault on the homes of people who have already lived with a lack of medical care, water and food for several years, bishops expressed the need for full humanitarian access into the city. The opening of safe corridors would allow for the distribution of emergency aid to people trapped in the city.
Bishops encouraged the Government to utilise diplomatic channels and to ask UN Security Council members, including Russia, for a ceasefire and for humanitarian access. As the Gospel of Matthew tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Bishops prayed for a political solution to this war and for all the people of Syria that their suffering will soon be at an end and they can begin to rebuild their country.
Vocations
Bishops continued their discussion on a national vocations initiative beginning in 2017. Bishops agreed to establish a National Vocations Office to offer support, networking and training to vocation directors in Ireland, both on a regional and national level. As a shared central resource, the new office will act as a knowledge centre for best practice, as well as providing continuity of memory in relation to all vocations work. The mission of the National Vocations Office will be three-fold: to build a culture of vocation: to promote specific vocations; and, to support those who work in the pastoral care of vocations. It will nurture all vocations but will place a particular emphasis on priesthood, diaconate and religious life. To further inform the establishment of this office, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan will lead a delegation from Ireland, with members of the Council for Vocations of the Bishops’ Conference, to the International Congress on Priestly Vocations which will take place in Rome from 19 to 21 October.
Budget 2017
Ahead of next week’s debate on Budget 2017 by members of Oireachtas Éireann, bishops placed particular emphasis on the need for the budget to support families, in particular low income and single parent families and, in addition, the related issue of social housing and homelessness. In this regard bishops praised the pastoral work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the focus of its pre-budget submission.
In terms of families and specifically childcare, recent cuts to one parent family payment have reduced incomes of many lone parents in employment; and have made it more difficult for others to take up work, education or training.
According to Focus Ireland, 6,525 people are at present homeless in the State, while over 1,000 families, including 2,177 children, are accessing emergency accommodation. Almost 90,000 households currently qualify for social housing. A further stark reality is facing thousands of families, including children, who are fighting court orders for the repossession of their family home due to mortgage arrears. Many of these mortgages are now held by investment companies with little sympathy for the plight of the families involved. In addition, the unprecedented rising cost of privately rented property is rapidly forcing many out of this sector, and this burgeoning problem needs to be addressed with families in mind.
Bishops are asking legislators to prioritise the needs of low income families, and target resources towards social housing and the homeless in next week’s annual budgetary allocation of State resources.
Day of Prayer for the survivors and victims of sexual abuse
In response to the request of Pope Francis, bishops have asked the Council for Liturgy of the Bishops’ Conference to coordinate the preparation of liturgical resources for a dedicated Day of Prayer in Ireland for the survivors and victims of sexual abuse. The first Day of Prayer will take place on the first Friday of Lent, 3 March 2017.
Child safeguarding
Mr John Morgan and Ms Teresa Devlin, the chair and CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, apprised bishops of its ongoing work. The National Board will host a safeguarding conference in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly on 13 October. It will open with Mass in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, celebrated by Bishop Michael Smith of Meath. Mass will be followed by an opening address by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland. The theme of the conference is based on the two new safeguarding standards: ‘Care of the Complainant’ and ‘Care of the Respondent’. The conference will continue on 14 October with speakers focusing on key developments in safeguarding within the Church in Ireland.
Theme for Mission month 2016: ‘Every Christian is a missionary’
October is mission month and bishops welcomed this year’s mission message from Pope Francis: Missionary Church, Witness of Mercy. There are almost 1,200 Irish missionaries serving throughout the world. The theme for Mission month, and for World Mission Sunday on 23 October, is ‘Every Christian is a missionary’. This Jubilee Year of Mercy marks the 90th anniversary of the first World Missionary Day which was approved by Pope Pius XI in 1926 and organised by the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
On Saturday 22 October, on behalf of World Missions Ireland, Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel & Emly will lead the inaugural ‘Miles for Mission’ walk in Phoenix Park, Dublin, to raise funds for the Love and Hope Centre for people living with HIV/Aids in Nakuru, Kenya. Bishops ask the faithful to support the country-wide collection for our missionaries which will take place on World Mission Sunday on 22 October.
Mass and reception for the staff and for those who assist the agencies and commissions of the Bishops’ Conference
On the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Tuesday 4 October, bishops held a Mass and reception for the many women, men, priests and religious from around the country who assist in the various initiatives, councils, commissions and agencies of the Bishops’ Conference. Many of the five hundred people who assist the bishops in various areas of outreach were present, including those advising and assisting with pastoral care of the family, migrants, prisoners, and those with addictions; in social and international affairs; worship, pastoral renewal and faith development; communications; education and formation.
Speaking at the Mass, Archbishop Eamon Martin drew attention to the words which had inspired Saint Francis; “Go, and repair my Church”. Recalling Pope Francis’ choice of name for his pontificate, he observed the Holy Father’s commitment to the ideals and message of Saint Francis of Assisi – outreach to the poor, promotion of peace and care for the environment. Archbishop Eamon offered the key writings of Pope Francis: The Joy of the Gospel; Praise be; and The Joy of Love, as the perfect ‘manifesto’ for the work of renewal and new evangelisation in the Church in Ireland in the coming years. Archbishop Martin emphasised “the golden opportunity presented by preparation for the World Meeting of Families 2018 in Dublin for ongoing evaluation and review of the work of the Bishops’ Conference and its commissions.”
Appointments and retirements
Bishops welcomed the newest member of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe, who was ordained as bishop on 25 September in the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, Ennis.
Bishops expressed their heartfelt gratitude and prayerful good wishes to Bishop Martin Drennan, Bishop Emeritus of Galway; Bishop Séamus Freeman, Bishop Emeritus of Ossory; and to Bishop Liam MacDaid, Bishop Emeritus of Clogher, all of whom have retired recently due to ill-health. Bishops welcomed Monsignor Michael Ryan, the diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Ossory; Canon Michael McLaughlin, the diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Galway; and Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, the diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Clogher, to their meeting.
Bishops paid tribute to Ms Maura Hyland who will be retiring on 17 October as Director of Veritas, the publishing company of the Bishops’ Conference. Bishops warmly acknowledged Maura’s thirty-four years of selfless service to Veritas. This has been characterised by Maura’s love and deep knowledge of catechetics which has benefited tens of thousands of primary school pupils, teachers and parents through Veritas publications. Maura was the first lay director of Veritas and has worked tirelessly to see the company develop in accordance with the evangelising mandate for which it was established. On 27 September Mr Aidan Chester was appointed to succeed Maura as Director of Veritas, and bishops wished Mr Chester well in his new position.
Bishops welcomed the appointment this week of Dr Conn MacGabhann as the new Research Coordinator for the Council for Justice & Peace of the Bishops’ Conference. Dr MacGabhann replaces Dr Nicola Brady, and bishops wished Dr Brady well in her new role as general secretary of the Irish Council of Churches.
Bishop Edward Daly RIP
Bishops prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Bishop Edward Daly RIP, Bishop Emeritus of Derry, who died on 8 August.
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This morning, Pope Francis addressed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Primates of the Anglican Communion in the Vatican. In his remarks, the Pope remembered and stressed the impact of the historic encounter between Blessed Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey, 50 years ago, and reflected on the three themes–prayer, mission, and witness–as the foundations for how we can continue our common journey of fraternity.Below is the Vatican-provided text of the Pope’s address:
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Your Grace,
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for your presence. It is a beautiful sign of fraternity to see the Primates of so many Provinces of the Anglican Communion joining you here in Rome. We have solemnly celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the historic meeting between Blessed Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey. That meeting has produced many fruits: we need think only of the opening of the Anglican Centre in Rome, the appointment of the Archbishop’s permanent representative to the Holy See, and the start of our theological dialogue, represented by the volume containing five documents from the second phase of ARCIC (1982-2005). In sharing together these fruits, we remember that they come from a tree which has its roots in that meeting of fifty years ago.
Reflecting on our continuing common journey, three words come to mind: prayer, witness, mission.
Prayer: yesterday evening we celebrated Vespers, and this morning you prayed here at the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Let us never grow tired of asking the Lord together and insistently for the gift of unity.
Witness: these past fifty years of encounter and exchange, as well as reflection and common texts, speak to us of Christians who, for faith and with faith, have listened to one another and shared their time and energy. The conviction has grown that ecumenism is never an impoverishment, but a richness; the certainty has deepened that what the Spirit has sown in the other yields a common harvest. Let us treasure this inheritance and know that we are called each day to offer to the world, as Jesus asked, the witness of our love and unity (cf. Jn15:12; 17:21).
Mission: there is a time for everything (cf. Eccles 3:1) and now is the time in which the Lord challenges us, in a particular way, to go out from ourselves and our own environs, in order to bring his merciful love to a world thirsting for peace. Let us help one another to keep at the centre the demands of the Gospel and to spend ourselves concretely in this mission.
And to ask the grace of growing in prayer, in bearing witness and in going out in mission, may I invite you to pray together the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father…[Original text: Italian] [Vatican-provided text]
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Leader of US Bishops Visits Pope by ZENIT Staff
From Vatican Radio:Pope Francis today received in audience the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky.
Archbishop Kurtz was meeting the Holy Father in this Jubilee Year of Mercy and while the Church in the US has been heeding the Pope’s call to go out into the periphery and put the works of mercy into practice.
As part of the year Holy Doors around the world have been a primary focus for pilgrims and the Archdiocese of Louisville has been no exception, giving the faithful no less than 20 Holy Doors to pass through in a number its’ parishes.
Vatican Radio’s Lydia O’Kane spoke to Archbishop Kurtz to find out more about how his diocese has been entering into the spirit of the year and how young Americans have been inspired by it.
The Archbishop said the feedback he has been getting from his priests has been incredibly positive, especially with regards to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a key theme of the Jubilee Year. “… I think the Year of Mercy is what brought many of them (people) to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”
Another initiative in his diocese to promote the year has been a “passport”.
“Someone came up with this notion of a passport on acts of mercy and works of mercy,” he said. The idea is that people can experience doing good works throughout the year and have them stamped in a passport like document. There were also increased pastoral visits to the home over the last number of months in the diocese, which the Archbishop noted was spurred on by the Year of Mercy, and “our Holy Father asking that we go to the periphery, that we not wait for people to come into the Church but rather we go out into the home”.
One of the key events in this Extraordinary Holy Year was World Youth Day in Krakow which the Archbishop attended as a catechist. “Our Holy Father”, he said, “appealed to the idealism of young people, … and that whole notion of idealism that I think has characterized youth, I guess for time immemorial was tapped into by this Year of Mercy and that would be my fond hope that what has been begun, encounters with Jesus, both in receiving mercy and in sharing mercy will be continued especially in the local Church…”
The Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy ends on the 20th November, the Feast of Christ the King
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