Saturday 20th April 2024

Home » breaking » Recent Articles:

Pope Francis: Jesus Prays, Chooses, Is Close To His People

September 9, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: Jesus Prays, Chooses, Is Close To His People

Jesus is not a professor who speaks from the professor’s chair; rather, He goes among the people and lets them touch Him so that they can be healed. That was Pope Francis’ message at Mass this morning at Santa Marta. Commenting on the day’s Gospel, Pope Francis reflected on three moments in the life of Jesus. The first is prayer. Jesus “spent the night in prayer to God.” Jesus prays for us. “It seems a little strange,” the Pope said, “that He who came to give us salvation, who has the power, prays to the Father.” And He prayed often. “Jesus is the great intercessor”: “He stands before the Father in this moment, praying for us. And this should give…Continue Reading

Pope At Santa Marta: God Walks With Saints And Sinners

September 8, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope At Santa Marta: God Walks With Saints And Sinners

(Vatican Radio) On the day the Church celebrates the Nativity of Our Lady, Pope Francis dedicated his homily to Creation and God’s journey with us through history. He said when we read the Book of Genesis,  “there is the danger of thinking that God was a magician” who did things “with a magic wand.” But, he warned, “it was not so because, God made things and allowed them to proceed with internal, interior laws that He gave to each one, so that they could develop and arrive at fullness”.  “The Lord gave autonomy but not independence to the things of the universe”. “For God is not a magician, He is the Creator! But when on the sixth day, of that…Continue Reading

Pope Francis at Mass: Good News Brings Joy, Renewal

September 7, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis at Mass: Good News Brings Joy, Renewal

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican on Friday morning. In remarks to the gathered faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father reflected on the “newness” of the Gospel – as Good News, and as a bringer of New Things – that frees the person who believes it from slavery to automatic legalism, and opens the heart to the new commandment: love. The Gospel reading for Friday told the story of the Scribes, who badgered Jesus about the behavior of His disciples, by pointing out that they did not – as the disciples of John the Baptist regularly did – fast and offer prayers. The Lord would…Continue Reading

Pope Urges Dialogue Of Life To Counter Anti-Christian Violence In Africa

September 6, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Urges Dialogue Of Life To Counter Anti-Christian Violence In Africa

(Vatican Radio)  There is an urgent need to promote a dialogue of life with Muslims to discourage violence against Christians on the African continent, said Pope Francis Saturday in his address to the Bishops of Cameroon at the conclusion of their Ad Limina pilgrimage to the Holy See. Cameroon lies in west central Africa and is home to an estimated  4.25 million Catholics, or  26% of the population, spread throughout 24 Dioceses. It shares a border with Nigeria to the West and Chad and the Central African Republic to the east – a region that is experiencing increasing insecurity because of the Boko Haram Islamist threat. (Vatican Radio)  There is an urgent need to promote a dialogue of life with…Continue Reading

Pope: Recognize Your Sins And Be Transformed By Christ

September 5, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope: Recognize Your Sins And Be Transformed By Christ

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday reflected on the transforming grace of God’s Word and invited Christians to recognize their sins and let themselves be transformed by their encounter with Christ. The Pope was addressing the faithful gathered for morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta. During his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians which reads: “If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God”. Paul – he said – is telling us that it is the power of God’s Word that brings about a true change of heart,…Continue Reading

Pope Francis Issues Appeal to Save Italian Steelworkers’ Jobs

September 4, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis Issues Appeal to Save Italian Steelworkers’ Jobs

Vatican City, September 04, 2014 (Zenit.org) Staff Reporter Pope Francis on Wednesday made an appeal for hundreds of steelworkers who risk losing their jobs at ThyssenKrupp’s Acciai Speciali Terni (AST) stainless steel plant in Terni. In comments directed towards the Italian faithful after his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Father warned the German company that “you don’t play with employment”. ThyssenKrupp wants to cut 550 jobs at the plant in the central Umbria region as part of a restructuring programme. Last month, it accepted a government appeal to put the plan on hold so talks could take place after industrial action. “I express my deep concern for the grave situation that many families are experiencing in Terni because of the…Continue Reading

Pope Francis: The Church Is Our Mother, We Are Not Orphans

September 3, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis: The Church Is Our Mother, We Are Not Orphans

(Vatican Radio)  Tens of thousands gathered on a bright sunny day in St. Peter’s square for the weekly General Audience to hear Pope Francis reflect on the maternal nature of the Church.  He called her “a mother” who gives us “life in Christ,” and reminded the faithful she will never leave them “orphaned.” Pope Francis was continuing his series of reflections on how one does not become Christian autonomously, by oneself.  We are created and grow in the faith, he said, in this “great body which is the Church.” Below, please find the official English summary of the Pope’s remarks: Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our catecheses, we have often noted that we do not become a Christian on our…Continue Reading

Pope At Santa Marta: The Authority Of Christian Identity

September 2, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope At Santa Marta: The Authority Of Christian Identity

(Vatican Radio) A Christian’s authority comes from the Holy Spirit, not from human wisdom or degrees in theology, said Pope Francis at morning Mass Tuesday, as he explained that Christian identity is having the Spirit of Christ, not the “spirit of the world”. The people were astonished at Christ’s teaching because he spoke with authority. Inspired by the passage from the Gospel Pope dwelt on the nature of Our Lord’s authority and, as a consequence that of the Christian. He said that Jesus was “not a common preacher,” because his “authority” comes from the ‘”special anointing of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus, he said, is “the Son of God, anointed and sent” to “bring salvation, to bring freedom.” And some, he…Continue Reading

Pope at Santa Marta: Find The Living Jesus In The Gospel

September 1, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Pope at Santa Marta: Find The Living Jesus In The Gospel

(Vatican Radio) We need to proclaim the Gospel with humility not with ‘wise words’ because Jesus Himself is the power of the Word of God, and only those who have an open heart can receive Him said Pope Francis Monday morning, as he resumed his daily mass at Santa Marta after the summer break. Commenting on the readings of the day, the Pope explained what the Word of God is and how we should receive it. St. Paul reminds the Corinthians that does not proclaim the Gospel based on persuasive words of wisdom. “Paul says, ‘I did not come here to convince you with arguments, with words, or making a good impression… No. I chose another way, a different style.…Continue Reading

Slaughter of the Innocents . . . Sex-Selective Abortions in India

August 31, 2014 breaking Comments Off on Slaughter of the Innocents . . . Sex-Selective Abortions in India

Rome, August 31, 2014 (Zenit.org) Father John Flynn, LC The ratio of female to male infants continues to decline in India and a recent report by the United Nations warned that urgent action is needed to reverse the trend. The report, “‘Sex Ratios and Gender Biased Sex Selection: History, Debates and Future Directions,” was published by the organization UN Women. The ratio has gone from 976 girls to 1000 boys in 1961, to 927 girls in 2001, and to 918 girls in 2011. Estimates of how many deaths attributable to sex selective abortion and neglect of newborn girls vary widely, the report explained. One estimate for the period of 1981-2005 is ten million. More recent data, from the 2011 census, shows that in…Continue Reading