Vatican update, Quote for September 23rd The things that we love tell us what we are. - St. Thomas Aquinas VATICAN DOSSIER Popes Morning Homily: Christian Life is Simple and Radical Listen to the Word of God and Put it into Practice Pope Nominates Members of International Theological Commission New and Incumbent Members Named for 5 Year Term Cardinal Mueller and SSPX Head Meet First Meeting at the Vatican Since Reconciliation Talks Collapsed in 2012 Pope Francis Message for 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees Migration movements call us to deepen and strengthen the values needed to guarantee peaceful coexistence between persons and cultures. Pope to Celebrate Bicentennial of Jesuit Restoration First Jesuit Pontiff to Preside at Mass at the Gesu in Rome WORLD FEATURES Black Mass Results in Thousands of Catholics Thanking God for Eucharist Oklahoma City Archbishop Joined by 3 More Prelates in Leading Procession Blackfriars Hall Offering New Scholarship Qualified Candidate Will Receive Funding to Study at Oxford for Second Undergraduate Degree English Bishop: We Must Promote Gospel of Life With Joy Bishop Mark Davies Urges Action to Protect Sanctity of Human and Family Life NEWS BRIEFS US Bishops Affirm Prayer Is Powerful Even in Face of Grave Mideast Problems 18 Bishops Return From Peace Pilgrimage, Meetings With Government and Religious Leaders Prince William Attends First Mass in Official Capacity Heir to the British Throne Has Ancestor Whose Cause for Canonization is Being Studied Archbishop of Singapore: Family Must Be Central to Overcome Secularization Archbishop William Goh Also Advocates Strengthening the Clergy, Forming the Laity Theme Chosen for Pope Francis Visit to the Philippines Gods Mercy and Compassion Will Be Focus of Papal Trip UK Ordinariate Holds Its First Ever Festival Event Was Resounding Success, May Take Place Annually LITURGY When to Wear a Dalmatic And More on the Liturgy of the Hours ROME REPORTS Card. 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He explained that being Christian is very simple, at times, it may seem complicate DOCUMENTS Statement From US Bishops After Peace Pilgrimage to Israel, Palestinian Territories The miracle we need is the transformation of human hearts so each side is less deaf to the concerns of the other VATICAN DOSSIER Popes Morning Homily: Christian Life is Simple and Radical Listen to the Word of God and Put it into Practice By Staff Reporter VATICAN CITY, September 23, 2014 (Zenit.org) - Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence on Tuesday morning. In remarks following the readings of the day, the Holy Father focused on the simplicity of the Christian life and the Gospel’s call to radical simplicity in life and action. Christ’s words had a “new” sound to them, as did the authority with which he spoke them – and this was why people followed him in such large numbers. Christ’s words had “the power of salvation” in them. Even so, there were those, who followed him “for the sake of convenience” only, without too much purity of heart, or perhaps with the desire to be “a little better” only. Pope Francis said that little has changed in two thousand years. Even today, many listen to Jesus as did the nine lepers of the Gospel who, “happy” with their newfound health, “forgot” the Lord, who had restored it to them: “Jesus continued to talk to people and loved the people and He loved the crowd, to the point that He says, ‘these who follow me, that immense crowd, are my mother and my brothers – that’s who they are’. He explains: ‘those who listen to the Word of God, put it into practice’. These are the two conditions in order to follow Jesus: to listen to the word of God, and to put it into practice. This is the Christian life – nothing more. Simple, simple. Maybe we’ve made it a little difficult, with many explanations that no one understands, but the Christian life is thus: listening to the Word of God and practicing it.” That is why – as described in the passage from the Gospel of Luke (8:19-21) that was read at Mass – Jesus replies to those who reported that her relatives were looking for him by saying, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” The point is not to hear casually, but to bend our ears – really to listen to the word of God, which we find in the Gospel – the pages of which need to be heard, and heeded, rather than merely read by rote “Listening to the Word of God,” said the Holy Father, “means reading it and then asking, ‘What does this say to me? How does this speak to my heart? What is God saying to me, with this word?” This, said Pope Francis, is a life-changing line of questioning: “Every time we do this – each time we open the Gospel and read a passage and ask ourselves: ‘Is God speaking to me with this? Is He saying something to me?’ – and if He is saying something, what is it that He is saying? This is [what it means] to listen to the Word of God: to listen with your ears and hear with your heart. Open your heart to the Word of God. The enemies of Jesus heard the word of Jesus, but were there in order to try to find a mistake, to make Him slip, so that He would lose His authority. They never asked themselves, though: ‘What is God saying to me in this Word?’ God not only speaks to all: yes, he does speak to all of us – but He also speaks to to every one of us – to each of us. The Gospel was written for each of us.” The Holy Father went on to say that putting into practice what we have heard is “is not easy” and that “it is easier to live a mellow life without worrying about the exigencies of the Word of God.” He went on to remind the gathered faithful that the Commandments and the Beatitudes are sure guides for anyone who would really attempt to understand the requirements the Gospel places on us and act accordingly – always counting on Jesus’ help. “[The Lord],” Pope Francis concluded, “ “is merciful and forgives all,” and waits for everyone, “because He is patient.”: “Jesus receives everyone, even those who go to hear the Word of God and then betray Him. Think of Judas. ‘Friend,’ He says, in that moment where Judas betrays him. The Lord is always sowing His word, and asks [us] only [to have] an open heart [with which] to listen and willingness to put it into practice. For this reason, then prayer today, which is that of the Psalm [119:35]: ‘Lead me Lord in the path of thy commandments,’ that is, the path of your Word, that I may learn with your guidance to put it into practice.” *** Vatican Radio Read it online | Forward to a Friend | Comment online Go to top Pope Nominates Members of International Theological Commission New and Incumbent Members Named for 5 Year Term By Staff Reporter VATICAN CITY, September 23, 2014 (Zenit.org) - Pope Francis has named the following as new members of the International Theological Commission, and has renewed others whose five year term had passed. The following will serve on the commission until 2019: - Father Serge-Thomas BONINO, O.P., Secretary General, France. - Father Terwase Henry AKAABIAM, Nigeria; - Sister Prudence ALLEN, R.S.M., USA; - Sister Alenka ARKO, of the Loyola Community, Russian Federation/Slovenia; - Mons. Antonio Luiz CATELAN FERREIRA, Brazil; - Mons. Piero CODA, Italy; - Father Lajos DOLHAI, Hungary; - Father Peter DUBOVSKÝ, S.J., Slovakia; - Father Mario Angel FLORES RAMOS, Mexico; - Father Carlos María GALLI, Argentina; - Father Krzysztof GÓŹDŹ, Poland; - Father Gaby Alfred HACHEM, Lebanon; - Professor Thomas KOLLAMPARAMPIL, C.M.I., India; - Father Koffi Messan Laurent KPOGO, Togo; - Father Oswaldo MARTÍNEZ MENDOZA, Colombia; - Professor Moira Mary McQUEEN, Canada - GB; - Father Karl-Heinz MENKE, Germany; - Father John Junyang PARK, Korea; - Father Bernard POTTIER, S.J., Belgium; - Father Javier PRADES LÓPEZ, Spain; - Professor Tracey ROWLAND, Australia; - Professor Héctor Gustavo SÁNCHEZ ROJAS, S.C.V., Peru; - Professor Marianne SCHLOSSER, Austria - Germany; - Father Nicholaus SEGEJA MHELA, Tanzania; - Father Pierangelo SEQUERI, Italy; - Father eljko TANJIĆ, Croatia; - Father Gerard Francisco P. TIMONER III, O.P., Philippines; - Father Gabino URIBARRI BILBAO, S.J., Spain; - Father Philippe VALLIN, France; - Father Thomas G. WEINANDY, O.F.M.Cap., USA. The Vatican also issued the following press release to accompany todays announcement: 1. The conclusion of the eighth five-year term This year the eighth five-year term of the International Theological Commission, which began with the pontifical appointment of its Members in June 2009, will conclude. As is known, the International Theological Commission, instituted by the Servant of God Paul VI on 11 April 1969, has the task of assisting the Holy See, and in particular the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in examining the most important and current doctrinal questions. The Commission is composed of theologians from various schools and nations, eminent for their scientific excellence and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church. The Members – no more than thirty in number – are appointed by the Holy Father ad quinquennium upon proposal by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and following consultation with the Episcopal Conferences. During the course of its history the Commission has published 27 documents, with the approval of its President. The Holy See wishes to express special gratitude for the competent and conscientious theological service provided by the Members of the Commission during the term that is about to draw to an end. Three documents have been published during this term: Theology today. Perspectives, Principles and Criteria (approved in 2011 and published in 2012); God the Trinity and the Unity of Humanity: Christian monotheism and its opposition to violence (approved in 2013 and published in 2014) and the more recent Sensus fidei in the life of the Church (approved and published in the current year 2014). In reality, the work of the Commission has been more extensive, as it has also offered valuable contributions on other issues on behalf of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the primary task of the Commission. 2. The appointment of Members for the ninth five-yearly term (2014-2019) On 26 July 2014, with the appointment by the Holy Father Francis of thirty new Members, the Commission began its ninth term. This will continue until 2019, which will also be a jubilee period for the Commission, which celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its institution on 11 April 2019. As usual, in view of the aforementioned appointments, during this last year extensive consultations have been carried out with Episcopal Conferences throughout the world, as well as the Synods of the oriental Eparchies. On the basis of the responses received, Cardinal Gerhard L. Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented to the Holy Father a preferential list of candidates. Taking these proposals into consideration, the Pope appointed the theologians who are to form the Commission, at the same time renewing the appointment of Fr. Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P. (France) as secretary general. With regard to the provenance of the Members, there is an increased number of extra-European appointees in the new composition of the Commission. As well as the 14 representatives of Europe (compared to 14 in the previous term) there are 5 from South America (previously 3), 4 from Asia (previously 4), 3 from Africa (previously 2), 3 from North America (previously 2) and 1 from Australia (previously 1). Furthermore, there is a notable increase in the contribution of female theologians. In the two previous terms, the Commission benefited from the presence of two renowned theologians, Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., (U.S.A.), and Professor Barbara Hallensleben (Switzerland, of German nationality). Five other female theologians have been appointed for the new term: Sister Prudence Allen, R.S.M., (U.S.A.), Sister Alenka Arko, Com. Loyola (Slovenia-Russia), Moira Mary McQuenn (G.B. – Canada), Tracey Rowland (Australia), Marianne Schlosser (Germany – Austria). Women now constitute 16% of the Commission’s members, a sign of growing female involvement in theological research. In 2014 it was also decided to further diversify the ecclesial provenance of the members, in relation to their religious status and the particular charisms they represent. At the first meeting, which will take place from 1 to 5 December in plenary session, the three themes to be considered over the coming years will be selected. The first meeting of the new members, which will take place in plenary session at the premises of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is traditionally held in the first week of Advent – from 1 to 5 December. The three themes to be considered by the Commission over the coming years will be selected. 3. New access to the Commissions web page (cti.va) on the Vatican website The International Theological Commission has renovated and enriched its page on the Vatican website (vatican.va), which offers all its documents in various languages, among the section of Commissions linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. All the documents published by the Comission are available for consultation, usually in ten or more languages. The Commission has now taken a further step to facilitate consultation while conserving all its documentation on the official site of the Holy See (vatican.va), by establishing a new link (cti.va). Referring to the initials of its Latin name, Commissio Theologica Internationalis, the new link has the advantage of being identical for various languages, such as Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Aside from offering a page dedicated to the Commission, the new link also offers the reader the possibility of selecting the language without returning to the Vatican homepage. It is hoped that this new and easier to use page will be a useful tool for stimulating dialogue by enabling an increasingly effective communication of the Commissions theological patrimony both within and beyond the Church. [Original text: Italian - Vatican working translation] Read it online | Forward to a Friend | Comment online Go to top
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:24:06 +0000
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