by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 18, 2022 | a current event, Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Ecumenical Dialogue, Fellowship Opportunity, Pope Francis, Prayer Intentions, United in Christ
During the Angelus Pope Francis recalls this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 18 to 25 January and invites everyone to offer up their struggles and suffering in favor of Christian unity. By Vatican News staff writer Pope Francis has invited everyone to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from 18 to 25 January, which this year focuses on a theme relating the experience of the Magi, who came from the East to Bethlehem to worship the Messiah King: “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him.” Pope to close Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with vespers The Pope said that in a similar way, Christians of diverse backgrounds and traditions “are pilgrims on our way to full unity” who come closer to our goal when keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus. The Pope encouraged us to pray for Christian unity and also offer up our struggles and suffering. The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has published resource materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity available to all. Source: Pope: May we all join in Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Vatican...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Accompaniment, Pope Francis
Pope Francis sends a brief letter to Rome-based journalist Javier Martínez Brocal who recently photographed the Pope leaving a record store, and encourages reporters to fulfill their journalistic vocation even if it makes others uncomfortable. By Salvatore Cernuzio “What I miss most in this Diocese is not being able to ‘wander the streets,’ as I did in Buenos Aires, walking from one parish to another.” Pope Francis made this remark in a letter to Spanish journalist Javier Martínez Brocal, the director of the Rome-based news website Rome Reports. On 11 January, the reporter was passing through Rome’s Pantheon area and saw the Pope leaving “Stereosound,” a record store whose owners he has known since his days as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The black and white photo of the Pope exiting the “disc-store of the Pantheon” – as local Romans call the locale – carrying a classical music record given to him by the owner of the store, Letizia Giostra, and her daughter Tiziana, went viral on social networks within minutes. Pope pays surprise visit to Rome record shop ‘Bad timing’ The Pope himself saw the photo and thanked Brocal for this “noble” post. At the same time, he...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | a current event, Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Ethics, Justice, Moral Responsibility, Pope Francis, Social Commitment
Pope Francis on Friday received in audience a group of French entrepreneurs. He spoke to them about how to implement the Gospel values in their businesses. By Robin Gomes Pope Francis “finds it very beautiful and courageous that, in today’s world often marked by individualism, indifference and even marginalization of the most vulnerable people, some entrepreneurs and business leaders have at heart the service of all, not just the interests of individuals or restricted circles”. He made the remark to a delegation of some 90 French business men and women who are in Rome for a pilgrimage on the theme of the common good. To help them in the challenge of the common good, he spoke to them about two pairs of concepts based on the Gospel values: ideal and reality, and authority and service. These concepts seem always to be in tension, but the Christian, with the help of grace, can unify them in his or her life. The ideal and reality He pointed out that a Christian often experiences a ‘collision’ between the ideal he or she dreams of and the reality he or she encounters. Just like the Virgin Mary, who had to give birth...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Catechesis, Children, Devotion to Mary, Parenting, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
At the weekly General Audience, Pope Francis reflects on the fatherhood of St. Joseph, and prays that all children might enjoy the bond of paternal love, even if through the praiseworthy practice of adoption. By Devin Watkins Pope Francis continued his catechesis series on St. Joseph at the Wednesday General Audience, focusing his remarks on his role as the father of Jesus. The Pope noted that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew present Joseph as the “foster-father of Jesus” and not as his biological one. The evangelist Matthew avoids the term “father of” in his genealogy, while Luke said he was the father of Jesus, “as was supposed”. Venerable practice of adoption Pope Francis recalled that the practice of adoption was much more common in ancient times in the East than it is in our own societies. He gave the example of the requirement in ancient Israel for a man to marry the widowed wife of his deceased brother, if he died without a male heir (Dt 25:5-6). In this case, the legal father of the firstborn son from such a union would be the deceased man, ensuring both an heir for the deceased and the preservation of his estate....
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Accompaniment, Catechesis, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family, Work and Prayer
In his catechesis at the General Audience focusing on Saint Joseph, Pope Francis looks at Joseph’s life as a worker, and says the dignity of labour is essential for our human development and our growth in holiness. By Vatican News staff writer In his catechesis, Pope Francis looked at how the evangelists Matthew and Mark refer to Joseph as a “carpenter”, from the Greek term tekton, which referred to a generic qualification of those working as woodworkers and craftsmen in construction. He pointed out how it was a hard job, requiring strength but not generating great earnings. Looking at Saint Joseph helps remind us of all workers today, especially those who do grueling work in mines and certain factories, the Pope pointed out. He especially recalled those who are exploited and children who are “forced to work and those who rummage among the trash in search of something useful to trade.” This reality also brings to mind those who are out of a job and suffering greatly because of it, especially families struggling to survive, he added. “In these times of pandemic, many people have lost their jobs — and some, crushed by an unbearable burden, reached the point of...
by SrDeniseSickinger | Jan 14, 2022 | Accompaniment, Catechesis, Devotion to Mary, Family MInistry, Marriage and the Family, Pope Francis, St. Joseph, The Holy Family
Pope Francis grants an interview to Vatican Media on being parents during the Covid-19 pandemic and the witness of Saint Joseph, calling him an example of strength and tenderness for today’s fathers. By Andrea Monda and Alessandro Gisotti The Special Year dedicated to Saint Joseph ended 8 December 2021, but Pope Francis’ attention and love for this Saint have not ended and indeed are further strengthened in the Catecheses which he has been devoting to the figure of the Patron of the universal Church, since 17 November. On our part, L’Osservatore Romano [in Italian] has published a monthly feature throughout 2021 which was also covered by the Vatican News website, on Patris corde, focusing on each chapter of the Apostolic Letter on Saint Joseph. This feature which dealt with fathers, but also with children and mothers in an ideal dialogue with the Bridegroom of Mary, prompted in us the desire to discuss with the Pope the theme of paternity and its various aspects, challenges and complexities. The following interview thus resulted in Pope Francis answering our questions, showing all his love for families, his closeness to those experiencing suffering, and the Church’s embrace of the fathers and mothers who today have to...
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