To Kill in the Name of God Is Satanic,’ Says Pope... from ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States for Wednesday, 14 September 2016

To Kill in the Name of God Is Satanic,’ Says Pope... from ZENIT in Roswell, Georgia, United States for Wednesday, 14 September 2016
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‘To Kill in the Name of God Is Satanic,’ Says Pope by Deborah Castellano Lubov

“To kill in the name of God is satanic.”
Pope Francis made this strong statement as he celebrated his morning Mass today in memory of Father Jacques Hamel, before his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Eucharistic celebration was filmed and broadcast live by the Vatican Television Center.
Yesterday, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, announced this Mass for the martyred 86-year-old priest, killed by an Islamic terrorist, noting it would be a “gesture as a sign of closeness to Father Jacques Hamel and his family and the whole community of Rouen.”
Eighty pilgrims of the French diocese, together with Bishop Monsignor Dominique Lebrun of Rouen attended today’s Mass for Fr. Hamel who suffered a martyr’s death on July 26, in the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, where he was pastor. There, two men armed with knives entered and took him, two nuns, and two faithful hostage. They subsequently killed Fr. Hamel, by cutting his throat, and seriously wounded another.
During this morning’s homily, Francis recalled that today marks the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Speaking on this mystery, the Pontiff reflected how Fr. Hamel, like Christ, was obedient unto death.
The Holy Father reminded those present how Jesus was the first martyr, and ever since, the Church has had many martyrs, but today more than ever.
“Today, there are Christians martyred, tortured, slaughtered, because they do not deny Jesus Christ,” he said.
In this history of martyrdom, he noted, we arrive at that of Father Jacques, who is part of this chain of martyrs.
“This cruelty that asks for apostasy is – let’s say the word – satanic,” he said, noting, “How much I would like that all the confessions would say: to kill in the name of God is satanic.”
Father Jacques Hamel was slaughtered, just as he was celebrating the Sacrifice of Christ. “A good, meek man, who always was trying to make peace, was assassinated, as if he were a criminal.”
“This is the thread of satanic persecution,” Francis said, observing, “In the midst of the difficult time that he lived in the midst of this tragedy he saw coming, he did not lose the clarity of accusing and say the name of the assassination: ‘Go away, Satan!’”
At the funeral Mass for Father Hamel, the archbishop of Rouen recalled that Father Hamel tried to push away his attacker, saying twice, “Go away, Satan.”
“May this example of courage, along with the martyrdom of his life, to empty himself to help others,” Pope Francis prayed, “help us to move forward without fear. We must pray, eh! He is a martyr, the martyrs are blessed … We must pray he gives us brotherhood, meekness, peace.”
Moreover, the Pope prayed that Father Hamel intercedes that the faithful might have “the courage to tell the truth: that to kill in the name of God is satanic.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Pope’s Homily (Full Text): https://zenit.org/articles/popes-homily-at-morning-mass-in-fr-hamels-memory/
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Focus on Non-Essentials Brings Exhaustion, Warns Pope by Kathleen Naab

Sometimes we go through life tired and overwhelmed, Pope Francis admits, but perhaps our exhaustion comes from putting too much trust in expendable things, and distancing ourselves from what really matters.
The Pope suggested this today at the general audience, as he reflected on the passage from Matthew’s Gospel, which contains Jesus’ promise:“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. […] Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
After a consideration of these promises — offered as imperatives: come, take up, learn — and of the poor and weak who rely on God’s mercy alone, the Pope turned his thoughts to the pilgrims in the Square.
“Dear brothers and sisters, for us too there are moments of tiredness and disappointment,” he said, inviting us in those moments to “remember these words of the Lord, which give us so much consolation.”
Warning that sometimes “our exhaustion is caused by having put our trust in things that are not essential, because we have distanced ourselves from what is really valuable in life,” he said that God “teaches us not to be afraid to follow Him, because the hope we place in Him will not be disappointed.”
We are called to learn to receive his mercy, Francis continued, and to be instruments of mercy for others.
“When we feel ourselves in need of forgiveness, of consolation, let us learn to be merciful with others,” he said.
Joy and courage
Pope Francis said that in keeping our gaze on Christ, we see “what a long way we still have to go.”
But, he said, “at the same time, He infuses in us the joy of knowing that we are walking with Him and we are never alone – courage, therefore, courage!”
Don’t let the joy of being Christ’s disciples be robbed from you, he said. And in your sinfulness, “Let the Lord look at you. Open your heart, feel His look upon you, His mercy, and your heart will be filled with joy, with the joy of forgiveness, if you come close and ask for forgiveness.”
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Full text: https://zenit.org/articles/general-audience-on-the-invitations-to-those-who-labor-and-are-heavy-laden/
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FEATURE: Bishop of Rouen to Zenit: Despite Fear, French Catholics Have Courage by Deborah Castellano Lubov

In the face of fear, French Catholics are being courageous, still going to Mass and recalling St. John Paul II’s words to not be afraid.
This morning, the bishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, expressed this following a Mass that Pope Francis celebrated at Casa Santa Marta in memory of a priest murdered by adherents of ISIS, in the small Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
Eighty pilgrims of the French diocese, together with Bishop Monsignor Dominique Lebrun of Rouen, attended today’s Mass for Fr. Jacques Hamel who suffered a martyr’s death on July 26, while he was celebrating Mass. In his church, two men armed with knives entered and took him, two nuns, and two of the faithful hostage. They subsequently killed Fr. Hamel by cutting his throat, and seriously wounded another of the hostages.
During this morning’s homily, which was delivered in Italian and translated into French, Pope Francis recalled that today marks the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Speaking on this mystery, the Pontiff reflected how Fr. Hamel, like Christ, was obedient unto death.
Stressing that “to kill in the name of God is satanic,” the Pope also prayed that Father Hamel’s courageous example gives the faithful courage, too.
After the Mass, Bishop Lebrun met a group of journalists in the Holy See Press Office and gave a brief intervention in French. Also Fr. Hamel’s sister and two parishioners from the martyred priest’s church were present.
When asked by ZENIT if the French faithful, especially in his diocese, are fearful to go to church, or if priests are nervous to celebrate, the bishop replied, “Yes. There is fear. Absolutely.”
The French bishop recalled a meeting with the vicars of the diocese, saying they all told him that they receive calls from people who still wonder “if there is Mass, if you can go, if there is some risk.”
“But,” he continued, “there are more people now and that makes me very reflective on the words of Jesus that John Paul II often repeated: ‘Do not be afraid.'”
“I do not believe that Jesus said ‘It is stupid to be afraid,’ or ‘There is no reason to be afraid.’ No, he says, ‘Have the courage to not be afraid,'” Bishop Lebrun said.
The bishop reminded the journalists that Pope Francis himself has taught us this morning on martyrdom and has given the French faithful the advice to be courageous.
Bishop Lebrun concluded, saying: “So yes, I would say that psychologically, there is fear, but at the deepest level of the soul, there is more strength.”
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on ZENIT’s Web page:
Pope Celebrates Mass in Fr. Hamel’s Memory: https://zenit.org/articles/pope-to-kill-in-the-name-of-god-is-satanic/
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Pope to Youth: As Summer Ends, Take Time to Pray by ZENIT Staff

Pope Francis offered his own back-to-school message today at the end of the general audience, in his traditional greetings to youth, the sick, and newlyweds.
Noting today’s feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Pope said to young people: “As you return to the regular rhythms of life after the summer holidays, strengthen your dialogue with God as well, spreading his light and his peace.”
To those suffering illness, Pope Francis said, “Find comfort in the Cross of the Lord Jesus, who continues His work of redemption in the life of every man.”
Newlyweds were invited to “Make the effort to maintain a constant relationship with Christ crucified, that your love might be the more true, fruitful and lasting.”
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General Audience: On the Invitations to Those Who Labor and Are Heavy Laden by ZENIT Staff

Here is a ZENIT translation of the address Pope Francis gave at this morning’s general audience.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
During this Jubilee, we have reflected many times on the fact that Jesus expresses Himself with unique tenderness, a sign of the presence and goodness of God. Today, we reflect on a moving passage of the Gospel (cf. Matthew 11:28-30), in which Jesus says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. […] Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (vv. 28-29). The Lord’s invitation is surprising: He calls to follow him simple people, who are burdened by a difficult life; He calls persons to follow him who have so many needs and He promises them that in Him they will find rest and relief. The invitation is addressed in an imperative way: “come to me,” “take up my yoke” and learn from me.” If only all leaders of the world could say this! Let us try to understand the meaning of these expressions.
The first imperative is “Come to me.” Turning to those who are exhausted and oppressed, Jesus presents himself as the Servant of the Lord described in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. The passage of Isaiah states thus: “The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary” (50:4). To these wearied of life, the Gospel puts side by side the poor (cf. Matthew 11:5) and the little ones (cf. Matthew 18:6). They are those who cannot count on their own means, or on important friendships. They can only trust in God. Conscious of their humble and miserable condition, they know they depend on the Lord’s mercy, expecting from Him the only help possible. In Jesus’ invitation they finally find the answer to their waiting: by becoming His disciples they receive the promise of finding rest for their whole life. A promise that at the end of the Gospel is extended to all people: “Go therefore – Jesus says to the Apostles – and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). By receiving the invitation to celebrate this Year of Grace of the Jubilee, pilgrims throughout the world cross the Door of Mercy open in Cathedrals, in Shrines, in so many churches of the world, in hospitals, in prisons. Why do they cross this Door of Mercy? To find Jesus; to find Jesus’ friendship; to find the rest that only Jesus gives. This path expresses the conversion of every disciple who decides to follow Jesus. And conversion consists always in discovering the Lord’s mercy. It is infinite and inexhaustible: great is the Lord’s mercy! Therefore, by crossing the Holy Door we profess “that love is present in the world and that this love is more powerful than every sort of evil, in which man, humanity, the world are involved” (John Paul II, Encyclical Dives in Misericordia, 7).
The second imperative says: “Take my yoke.” In the context of the Covenant, the biblical tradition uses the image of the yoke to indicate the close bond that links the people to God and, consequently, submission to His will expressed in the Law. In controversy with the scribes and Doctors of the Law, Jesus puts His yoke on the disciples, in which the Law finds its fulfilment. He wishes to teach them that they will discover God’s will through His person: through Jesus, not through laws and cold prescriptions which Jesus Himself condemns. Suffice it to read Matthew’s chapter 23. He is at the center of their relation with God; He is in the heart of the relations between the disciples and places Himself as fulcrum of each one’s life. Thus, by receiving “Jesus’ yoke” every disciple enters into communion with Him and is rendered a participant in the mystery of His cross and of His destiny of salvation.
Ensuing is the third imperative: “Learn from me.” Jesus projects to His disciples a path of knowledge and of imitation. Jesus is not a teacher who imposes on others with severity burdens that He does not carry: this was the accusation He made to the Doctors of the Law. He addresses the humble and little ones, the poor and the needy because He Himself made Himself little and humble. He understands the poor and the suffering because He Himself is poor and tried by sorrows. Jesus did not follow an easy way to save humanity; on the contrary, his path was painful and difficult. As the Letter to the Philippians reminds: “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” (2:8). The yoke that the poor and the oppressed bear is the same yoke that He bore before them: therefore, it is a light yoke. He bore on His back the pains and sins of the whole of humanity. Therefore, for the disciple to receive Jesus’ yoke means to receive His revelation and to accept it: in Him God’s mercy took on men’s poverties, thus giving all the possibility of salvation. But why is Jesus capable of saying these things? Because He made Himself everything to all, close to all, to the poorest! He was a Pastor among the people, among the poor: He worked the whole day with them; Jesus was not a prince. It is bad for the Church when the Pastors become princes, far from the people, far from the poorest: this is not Jesus’ spirit. Jesus reproaches these Pastors, and of them Jesus said to the people: “do what they say, but not what they do.”
Dear brothers and sisters, for us too there are moments of tiredness and disappointment. Then let us remember these words of the Lord, which give us so much consolation and make us understand if we are putting our strength at the service of the good. In fact, sometimes our exhaustion is caused by having put our trust in things that are not essential, because we have distanced ourselves from what is really valuable in life. The Lord teaches us not to be afraid to follow Him, because the hope we place in Him will not be disappointed. Therefore, we are called to learn from Him what it means to live of mercy, to be instruments of mercy. To live of mercy, to be instruments of mercy: to live of mercy and to feel oneself needy of Jesus’ mercy, and when we feel ourselves in need of forgiveness, of consolation, let us learn to be merciful with others. By keeping our gaze fixed on the Son of God we understand what a long way we still have to go but, at the same time, He infuses in us the joy of knowing that we are walking with Him and we are never alone – courage, therefore, courage! Let us not have taken from us the joy of being disciples of the Lord. “But Father, I am a sinner, what can I do?” “Let the Lord look at you, open your heart, feel His look upon you, His mercy, and your heart will be filled with joy, with the joy of forgiveness, if you come close and ask for forgiveness.” Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of the hope of living this life together with Him and with the strength of His consolation. Thank you.[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
Greeting in Italian
A warm welcome to Italian-speaking pilgrims!
I am happy to receive the faithful of the Diocese of Lugano, accompanied by the Bishop, Monsignor Valerio Lazzeri, and the Urbanite Poor Clares from several countries: may the Jubilee pilgrimage you are living be an occasion to grow in the love of God so that your communities are places in which one experiences mercy towards one’s neighbor.
I greet the parish groups, especially the faithful of Acerra and Cento, the 8th of October 2001 Foundation and the Bio-media Group of Milan.
Finally, a thought goes to young people, the sick and newlyweds. Today we are celebrating the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Dear young people, in taking up again your usual activities after the holidays, reinforce also your dialogue with God, spreading His light and His peace; dear sick, find comfort in the cross of the Lord Jesus, who continues His work of redemption in the life of every man; and you, dear newlyweds, make an effort to maintain a constant relation with Christ crucified, so that your love is ever more true, fruitful and lasting.[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
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Vatican Spokesman: C9 Is Discussing the Naming of Bishops by ZENIT Staff

This morning, Greg Burke, the director of the Vatican press office, held a briefing on the 16th meeting of the Council of Cardinals with Pope Francis:
The Council of Cardinals met with the Holy Father for three days:Monday the 12th, Tuesday the 13th and Wednesday the 14th of September. All the members of the Council were present except Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, who was absent due to pastoral commitments. Pope Francis was absent this morning due to the General Audience.
On Monday and Tuesday the Cardinals concelebrated Holy Mass with the Pope.
The meetings were held in the morning from 9 to 12:30 and in the afternoon from 4:30 to 7:00 pm and they were dedicated to a great extent to further considerations on the way in which the Curia’s various discasteries can serve the Church’s mission better. In particular, this time attention was focused on the Congregations for the Clergy, for Bishops, for Catholic Education and on the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, was present for a session, referring both to the work of the Congregation as well as to that of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The Cardinals reflected at length on the spiritual and pastoral profile necessary for a Bishop today. Then they addressed the topic of the Holy See’s diplomatic service, and of the formation and tasks of Apostolic Nuncios, with special attention to their great responsibility in the choice of candidates to the Episcopate.
The Council studied the subject of the “diakonia of justice” and also an ample dossier on the role of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
The Cardinal Counsellors then examined the last steps already taken in the process of reform, especially with the institution of the new Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development. The Secretariat for Communication handed a dossier to the Cardinals on the reform’s progress in the sector, and of the next steps, as projected.
Finally, the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, Cardinal George Pell, referred to the latest developments of the Dicastery and Cardinal Sean O’Malley illustrated the novelties of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, presided over by him.
The next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will take place on the 12th, 13th and 14th of December 2016.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
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English Summary of Pope’s General Audience by ZENIT Staff

Here is the Vatican-provided English-language summary of Pope Francis’ General Audience this morning in St. Peter’s Square:
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Speaker: Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catecheses during this Holy Year of Mercy, we have reflected on the tenderness of Jesus. Today we hear the Lord calling the discouraged, the poor and the little ones to himself, all who – unable to count on powerful connections – can rely solely on God (Mt 11:28-30). In their powerlessness, they trust in God’s mercy; they come to Jesus who is their only help. In this Jubilee Year pilgrims around the world have been crossing the threshold of a Holy Door of mercy as they seek conversion. In approaching the Lord’s inexhaustible mercy, we will discover his “easy yoke”: Jesus who bears the burdens and needs of humanity shows us the way to salvation. And by participating in his sufferings, we come to know the will of God for us, we find true rest in him, and are able to share in his plan of salvation. Jesus invites us also to learn from his service of the poor and of all who suffer. When we are tired or despondent, let us not be afraid; for our hope in Christ will never be confounded. Let us therefore come to Christ, trust in him, rest in him and joyously serve him.
Speaker: I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada and the United States of America. On this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I pray that all may find new life in Jesus. May God bless you![Original text: English] [Vatican-provided text]
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Pope’s Homily at Morning Mass in Fr Hamel’s Memory by ZENIT Staff

Below is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ homily during the Mass he celebrated this morning in memory of Father Jacques Hamel, before his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Eucharistic celebration was filmed and broadcast live by the Vatican Television Center:
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Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Jesus Christ. We understand that it is a mystery.
This mystery of annihilation, of closeness to us. Being in the condition of God, Paul says, [Jesus] does not hold on to a privilege of being like God, but emptied Himself, taking on the condition of servant, becoming similar to human beings. He humbled himself, and was obedient unto death, even until death on a Cross.
This is the mystery of Christ. This is a mystery. That is martyrdom for the salvation of men.
Jesus Christ is the first martyr, the first One Who gives his life for us. And from this mystery of Christ, begins the whole history of Christian martyrdom, from the early centuries until today.
The early Christians confessed Christ by paying with their lives. The early Christians who were asked to confess other gods, to say that ‘our god is true and not yours,’ when they refused to do this, were crucified. This story is repeated through today. Today, in the Church, there are more martyrs than martyred Christians in the past.
Today, there are Christians martyred, tortured, slaughtered, because they do not deny Jesus Christ.
In this history, we get to our Father Jaques: he is part of this chain of martyrs. Christians who today suffer in prison, with death, torture, for not denying Jesus Christ, show precisely the cruelty of this persecution. This cruelty that asks for apostasy is – let’s say the word – satanic.
How much I would like that all the confessions would say: to kill in the name of God is satanic.
Father Jacques Hamel was slaughtered on the cross, just as he was celebrating the Sacrifice of Christ. A good, meek man, of brotherhood, who always was trying to make peace, was assassinated, as if he were a criminal. This is the thread of satanic persecution, but there is one thing of this man who has accepted his martyrdom there, that makes me think so much about the martyrdom of Christ on the altar. One thing that makes me think so much …
In the midst of the difficult time that he lived in the midst of this tragedy he saw coming, he did not lose the clarity of accusing and say the name of the assassination. And he clearly said: “Go away, Satan!”
He gave his life to not deny Jesus, gave his life in the same way Jesus [does] on the altar. And from there, he accused the author of persecution: “Go away, Satan!”.
May this example of courage, along with the martyrdom of his life to empty himself to help others, help us to move forward without fear. We must pray, eh! He is a martyr, the martyrs are blessed … We must pray he gives us brotherhood, meekness, peace, and even the courage to tell the truth: to kill in the name of God is satanic.[Original text: Italian] [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]
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