DOCSLIB.ORG

News Letter ING. 41

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
News Letter ING. 41 N° 41 JANUARY 2016 info.oessh.va REFLECTIONS OF THE GRAND MASTER The Order in Union with the Universal Church JUBILEE OF MERCY: A NEW FUTURE OFFERED TO MANKIND II Miserando AN EXEMPLARY AGREEMENT THAT STIMULATES PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND V atque THE SAVING POWER OF FORGIVENESS VI eligendo Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium THE AUTUMN MEETING OF THE GRAND MAGISTERIUM VII t began on an ordinary Saturday “DO NOT HAGGLE WITH GOD” X evening as he headed to a party A REGIONAL MEETING HELD IN AUSTRALIA: with other student friends. En THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS A SHARED JOURNEY XI I THE GRAND MASTER’S VISITS TO MEMBERS route, something prompted him to OF THE ORDER AROUND THE WORLD XIII offer a prayer in the church he was A WOMAN DEEPLY COMMITTED IN THE ORDER passing. He entered and felt the BECOMES PART OFTHE GRAND MAGISTERIUM XIII need to go to confession: “And I WELCOME TO FATHER JOHN BRUCE BATEMAN, don’t know what happened, but I NEW SECRETARY OF THE GRAND MASTER XV came out different, changed. I returned home with the certainty of The Order and the Holy Land having to consecrate myself to the LIVING THE JUBILEE OF MERCY IN THE HOLY LAND XVI Lord.” WELCOMING THE PRINCE OF PEACE TODAY The words of Pope Francis in a IN THE HOLY LAND XVII recent interview, describing a simple JERUSALEM CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF unexpected moment that changed NOSTRA AETATE XVIII his life and ultimately, the world as well. “He has had mercy on me – The Life of the Lieutenancies (1) and he chose me!” It was a THE JOY OF THE INVESTITURE: A TESTIMONY moment filled with an FROM SLOVENIA XIX overwhelming personal awareness of God’s mercy – his compassion – GRAND MAGISTERIUM inviting us and urging us to OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER experience in our lives as well: “For OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM this reason I have proclaimed an 00120 VATICAN CITY Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a E-mail: [email protected] special time for the Church.” II N° 41 - JANUARY 2016 In turn, I urge every lieutenancy/section of us must take stock of the good things God to see it as its serious response to take full continues to do for us – unworthy as we are part in the Holy Year celebrations of its local – and in a return to the Sacrament of diocese. It would be appropriate for a Penance, ask His forgiveness for our misuse member to be specifically delegated in each of his many gifts. diocese to coordinate members’ What a great opportunity for spiritual participation as a group. renewal awaits each of us and our Order! Participation must begin with a spiritual experience of God’s mercy by each member. It needs not be AS dramatic as was the (1) “Miserando atque eligendo”: Pope Francis’ young Jorge Bergolio’s experience. Still, each motto. The Order in Union with the Universal Church Jubilee of Mercy: a new future offered to mankind Traditionally, every 25 years the Pope proclaims a holy year. The next one was scheduled for 2025… However, during the “24 Hours for the Lord” penitential celebration on Friday March 13, 2014, the Pope surprised us all: on the occasion of the second anniversary of his papacy, he announced an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. Opened on December 8, this event will go until November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. he Jubilee celebrates the 50th reference for understanding the meaning of anniversary of the closing of the what we experience during the Holy Year. TSecond Vatican Council, as the Year of “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” Faith (2012-2013) marked the 50th (Luke 6:36): each of us needs to personally anniversary of its opening. From Pope obey Christ’s call and live accordingly, Benedict XVI to Pope Francis, the Catholic together as a missionary people proclaiming Church speaks with one voice to proclaim God’s love and tenderness. In this the Gospel in a new language, as initiated by perspective, the Pope hopes that this Jubilee the Council Fathers and prompted by the is also occurring in local Churches, in a Holy Spirit a half century ago. decentralized manner, and that initiatives The address by Pope Paul VI, during the are complementary. Therefore, each diocese last general meeting of the Second Vatican has had the opportunity of opening a Door Council on December 7, 1965, giving the of Mercy, particularly in Marian Shrines. Good Samaritan as the model for the Regarding the Roman Calendar (see renewal of the Church, is an important www.im.va), in addition to the major III N° 41 - JANUARY 2016 December 8 was the 1,000th day of Pope Francis’ pontificate. On this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, there were many faithful present in St. Peter’s Square for the inauguration of the extraordinary Holy Year Mercy. The Mass included the Ave Maria of Lourdes, in an atmosphere of intense contemplation. After having passed through the Holy Door, the Holy Father was followed by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. This common step symbolized their profound unity at the service of a Church that is in dialogue with the world, 50 years after the close of the Second Vatican Council. events planned such as the one for spiritual conversion through gestures of volunteers actively involved in the works of forgiveness, support, help and love. This will mercy on September 4 or for detainees on also be an invitation to Judaism and Islam to November 6, the Pope plans to symbolically continue discussions on the common basis visit the “existential peripheries”, hoping of mercy. that bishops and priests will do the same Citing a compassionate and gracious God, throughout this Holy Year, to witness the slow to anger, abounding in love and IV N° 41 - JANUARY 2016 faithfulness (Exodus 34:6), the Hebrew Bible uses the word “rahamim”, which POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER evokes the maternal womb, the place FOR THE JUBILEE OF from which life comes. The Hebrew word “hesed” is also used in the MERCY scriptures to express other aspects of merciful love, faithfulness, kindness, Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly goodness and solidarity. Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. “Making space for the Lord so that Show us your face and we will be saved. he can come and change me” Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; The love of God is inexplicable, “it the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking is something that no theologian can happiness only in created things; explain. One can only feel and cry made Peter weep after his betrayal, with joy,” said the Holy Father during and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. a morning Mass, emphasizing the Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, Gospel of the day, which described the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: the healing of the royal official’s son. “If you knew the gift of God!” This man believed that Jesus had the power to heal his son and set out to You are the visible face of the invisible Father, find God. Faith means “creating a of the God who manifests his power above all space for love” that is the power of by forgiveness and mercy: God, Pope Francis added brightly: “it’s let the Church be your visible face in the world, the power of the one who loves me, its Lord risen and glorified. who is in love with me and who wants You willed that your ministers would also be clothed to rejoice with me.” “This is faith,” he in weakness concluded, “making space for the Lord in order that they may feel compassion so that he can come and change me”. for those in ignorance and error: We will first experience this in the let everyone who approaches them feel sacrament of reconciliation, in the sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. heart of all our tears, on the occasion of the Holy Year of Mercy, to then Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us become humble and joyful witnesses. with its anointing, During the great persecution of the so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace Christ’s Church in many countries from the Lord, from Pakistan to Nigeria through and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, Libya, Syria and Iraq, Saint Peter’s may bring good news to the poor, successor will feed his sheep in many proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, tribulations. May this Jubilee “bring and restore sight to the blind. comfort to every man and woman of our time,” as Pope Francis wants, We ask this through the intercession of Mary, recalling that “God forgives all, and Mother of Mercy, God forgives always.” (homily of you who live and reign with the Father March 13, 2015). and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Let us henceforth entrust this Year Amen. to the Mother of Mercy, “that she turn V N° 41 - JANUARY 2016 her gaze upon us and watch over our to abandon the pride that pushes us to journey: our penitential journey, our year- always be right, to love and forgive long journey with an open heart, to receive generously. As Pope Francis said in the Bull the indulgence of God, to receive the mercy of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of of God.” More broadly, we all have the Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus (no.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ISSUE No. III/2015
    3/2015 JUSTPAX p.1 NEWS √ Card. Peter K. A. Turkson at the High-Level Segment (COP 21) [ENG] √ Dr. Flaminia Giovanelli on Supporting the Victims of Crime through Restorative Dialogue[ENG] √ International Seminar “Beyond sustainable development: integral ecology” (Milan, 10 September, 2015) [ITA] JUSTPAX √ Laudato si’ and the Vocation of Agriculture: FAO (Rome 26 Octo- ber 2015) [ENG] √ Laudato si’ y ecología integral: Cardenal Peter K. A. Turkson al Foro Internacional “El cuidado de la casa común” - Querétaro, From the President México [ESP] ISSUE No. III/2015 Dear friends, Yes, the year 2015 has seen many difficult, sad and even disgusting moments. But in his Messa- ge for the World Day of Peace (1 January, 2016), Pope Francis recalls some events that should inspire us not to lose hope in our human ability, with the help of God’s grace, to overcome evil. They encourage us to com- bat resignation and indifference. These events include: * Fifty years ago, Vatican II published Gaudium et Spes. The Pastoral Constitution most eloquently expresses the Church’s sense of solidarity with the world: the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the follo- wers of Christ as well (§1). The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace celebrated the anniversary here in Ro- me (see article in bulletin). * The United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September, aims at ensuring a more dignified level of living for everyone, especially the poor, by the year 2030.
    [Show full text]
  • MONTLY MESSAGE N
    MONTLY MESSAGE n. 5 — 2017 Turin - Valdocco 24 May MARY URGES US TO BEAR WITNESS TO HER PRESENCE Our devotion to Mary Help of Christians, which we emphasize particularly in this month with the novena and the feast in her honour, commits us to witness her maternal presence to all those who are far from God or who are experiencing difficult trials such as war, illness or injustice. Through prayer and example, we are called to approach the hearts of those who are far from God and his grace. Mary Help of Christians is with us and intercedes for each of us, so that with love and courage we can witness the faith, and encourage people to look to her and consecrate themselves to her Immaculate Heart. She sends us in order that, like small lights in the world guided by her maternal love, we may shine clearly with full splendour. Prayer will help us, because prayer saves us and saves the world. She exhorts us not to be afraid to tell the truth, and not to be afraid to change ourselves and the world by spreading love, making her Son known and loved, so that love may reign in our lives: a love that is living, a love that attracts and a love that gives life. It is up to us to acknowledge it, live it and spread it. The aspect that characterizes our association is the popular dimension of the Salesian charism, which finds a typical expression in popular piety. The term "popular piety" designates those diverse cultic expressions of a private or community nature which, in the context of the Christian faith, are inspired predominantly not by the Sacred Liturgy but by forms deriving from a particular nation or people or from their culture.
    [Show full text]
  • Palliative Care Vs. Assisted Suicide
    PDF ME PLEASE. Thanks. BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH NEWARK, OHIO Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Liturgical Ministers Picture Directory: Thanks to all who signed up to Schedule Week of October 28th have your picture taken in the Picture Directory! 6:15 p.m., Tuesday, October 30th – Judy Healy (L), Volunteers (Servers) Stewardship: Thanks to Dr. Tom Fitzsimmons for 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 31th – Yvonne King addressing the parish at all the Masses last weekend (L), Chris Geiger, Fini Kaiser, Maria Geiger (Servers) in his role as the chair of the Finance Council. 9:00 a.m., Thursday, November 1st – Assigned (L), Deacon Patrick, Madison Hampton, Devin Gross I want to thank the parish for your continued generous (Servers) support of our offertory, capital campaign to pay for 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 1st – Donald Montell, the church restoration and rectory remodel, and for Yvonne King (L), Deacon Patrick, Violet Caton, your continued support of our Centennial Building Maria Geiger, Mark Jewett, Nicholas Richards Fund Collection which is helping us to pay down the (Servers) debt! 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 1st – Kathy Wilson, Thanks to all who have made plans to remember Scott Van Horn (L), Deacon Patrick, Sharon Van Horn, Chris Grieb, Michael Burger, Peggy Komada (EM), Blessed Sacrament in death as you are in life. Maria, Cecilia & Christopher Geiger, Zachary & Please contact the parish office if we can be of any Madison Hampton (Servers) assistance in getting the information you need to 9:00 a.m., Friday, November 2nd – Assigned (L), help remember Blessed Sacrament Church in your Deacon Patrick, Cecilia Geiger, Chris Geiger, estate plans.
    [Show full text]
  • File Allegato
    Being a Franciscan in the Digital Age. New Challenges, New Life MARTÍN CARBAJO NÚÑEZ © 2020 Martín Carbajo Núñez Original edition: CARBAJO NÚÑEZ M., Ser Franciscano en la era digi- tal. Los retos de la comunicación y de la ecología integral, Ed. Franciscana Arantzazu, Oñati 2020. F irst English edi tion: CARBAJO NÚÑEZ M., Being a Franciscan in the D igital Age. N ew Challenges, New Life, Tau Publish ing, Phoenix (AZ) 2021. Cover image: João Evódio III Contents Contents ............................................................................................ 1 Abbreviations ................................................................................... 7 Introduction ................................................................................... 13 I. A glorious history of service and self-giving ........................... 19 1. Revitalizing consecrated life today ......................................... 21 1.1. REDUCED TO JUST KEEPING AND ADMINISTERING ....................... 21 1.1.1. The danger of a certain immobility .................................... 22 1.1.2. The crowding-out effect ..................................................... 23 1.2. “BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND” ............... 25 1.2.1. To renew ourselves by theological virtues ......................... 25 1.2.2. Open to novelty and change ............................................... 27 1.2.3. “Let's start, brothers” .......................................................... 28 1.3. THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP ..............................................
    [Show full text]
  • L'o S S E Rvator E Romano
    Price € 1,00. Back issues € 2,00 L’O S S E RVATOR E ROMANO WEEKLY EDITION IN ENGLISH Unicuique suum Non praevalebunt Fiftieth year, number 11 (2488) Vatican City Friday, 17 March 2017 Francis visits the Santa Maddalena di Canossa Parish in Rome Awaiting the Resurrection The Pope for this time GI O VA N N I MARIA VIAN As the fifth year of his pontificate began, Pope Francis once again drew inspiration from the question of a child who, in one of Rome’s parishes, asked him to reflect on his papal service. The Pope replied in simple and radical terms: “Jesus chooses whom he wants to be Pope in this time; in another time he chooses another, and in another, an- other”. Immediately thereafter Fran- cis shared a confidence: “I like [be- ing Pope]; and I also enjoyed being a priest in a parish, the rector of a faculty and also a parish priest — I liked both callings very much. I also enjoyed doing Sunday school, chil- d re n ’s Mass.... I like this. Being a priest is something that I have al- ways enjoyed very much”. The Pontiff’s simple and straight- forward answer is striking because it On Sunday afternoon, 12 March, some of the beautiful moments of children in 2016. He also greeted allows the disarming sincerity of his the Second Sunday of Lent, the his life and also to share his fears. altar servers and priests of the 36th life to shine through. “What God Holy Father made a pastoral visit to He was also asked how they might Prefecture, to which the parish be- wants.
    [Show full text]
  • Mercy and Beyond: Pope Francis' Marian
    Mercy and Beyond: Pope Francis’ Marian “Program of Life” J O S E P H I N E L OMBARDI , P H .D. Associate Professor of Pastoral and Systematic Theology, S t . A u g u s tine’s Seminary Jesus said, “Follow me.”1 A commentary on the account of the conversion of St. Matthew, the tax collector, inspired the motto of Pope Francis: Miserando atque eligendo. These words are taken from a passage from the Venerable Bede, the histo- rian: Jesus therefore sees the tax collector, and since he sees by having mercy and by choosing, he says to him, “follow me,” suggesting mercy is rooted in clarity or spiritual sight. Recalling the original Latin of Bede’s commentary, Francis says that he likes to trans- late miserando with a gerund that doesn’t exist: “mercifying.” So mercifying and choosing describes the vision of Jesus, who gives the gift of mercy and chooses, and takes unto himself.2 Pope Francis recalls a similar moment in his own life when he experienced the tenderness of God’s mercy following a confession he made at the age of 17. Being touched by the mercy of God, he answered the call to religious life and made this motto a “program of life.”3 This is the same program encouraged by his predeces- sors, a program that calls for the rediscovery of mercy: God’s perfect, compassion- ate, generous, kind and forgiving love, whether one feels worthy of it or not. This rediscovery was launched by the private revelations of St. Faustina Kowlaska; made accessible by Pope Saint John Paul II, who at the beginning of his papacy said, “I consider this message of Divine Mercy my special task”4; reconfirmed by Pope Benedict XVI; and celebrated by Pope Francis.
    [Show full text]
  • Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez, O.C.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Venezuela, Died Friday Morning 8 January 2021 in Valera (Trujillo)
    N. 362 01 • 2021 Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez, O.C.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Venezuela, died Friday morning 8 January 2021 in Valera (Trujillo) ishop Azuaje was born in Maracaibo theological studies. He earned a doctorate on 19 October 1951 in a family of six in Moral Theology summa cum laude from Bbrothers. He first learned about the the Alfonsianum Academy in Rome in 1978. Discalced Carmelite order in 1966 through the Nearly 20 years later, he would return to nuns at Mérida, in the Venezuelan Andes. academic study and earn a diploma in spiritual Discerning his vocation to the Teresian theology in 1994 following a year of study at Carmel, Oswaldo Azuaje entered the novitiate the Universidad de la Mística, CITeS in Avila, program of the Province of Aragonia-Valenza, Spain. Spain at the Desert of las Palmas, in Castile. As is the case with every Discalced Carmelite He professed his first vows as a Discalced prelate, many years of rich and fruitful ministry Carmelite friar on 12 October 1968. followed, first in Costa Rica: Three years of philosophy studies followed • Formator-assistant to the Master of Novices in Zaragoza, and then Ajuaje pursued his and Master of Simple Professed (1978 and theology studies with the Discalced Carmelites, 1984), where he was the formator for another completing first-year theology (1971–1972) at future Discalced Carmelite bishop, Silvio José the historic Stella Maris seminary at Haifa, Báez, O.C.D. Israel and another three years (1972–1975) at • Professor at the Interdiocesan Seminary the Teresianum in Rome.
    [Show full text]
  • 'I Finally Found My Home'
    Race for Vocations Team members offer ‘beautiful witness’ of faith, page 14. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com May 18, 2018 Vol. LVIII, No. 31 75¢ ‘Selfie’ culture leads to alienation, departure from ‘I finally found my home’ reality, pope says ROME (CNS)—While taking selfies can be an occasion to capture treasured memories, it can also be a sign that young men and women are deprived of meaningful human interaction with others, Pope Francis said. Responding to questions on May 14 at a meeting with 1,700 priests and lay leaders of the Diocese of Rome gathered at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the pope said he realized the negative social implications of technology a few days earlier when Pope Francis he was greeting teens participating in a program of the international network of “Scholas Occurrentes.” “They were all there waiting for me,” he said. “When I arrived, they made noise, as young people do. I went to greet them and only a few gave their hand. The majority were with their cellphones [saying], ‘Photo, photo, photo. Selfie!’ “I saw that this is their reality, that is the real world, not human contact. And this is serious. They are ‘virtualized’ youths,” the pope said. “The world of virtual communication is a good thing, but when it becomes alienating, it makes you forget to shake hands.” Archbishop Angelo De Donatis, vicar of the Diocese of Rome, had asked Pope Francis about his impressions of the meeting in March in preparation for the upcoming meeting of the Synod of Bishops on “young people, faith and Catechumen Hannah Bach, vocational discernment,” and how the 18, is guided into the Church should respond to the needs of baptismal font at St.
    [Show full text]
  • Download/Fedora Content/Download/Ac:100224/C ONTENT/Econ 9495 757.Pdf Persson, T
    FONDAZIONE “CENTESIMUS ANNUS – PRO PONTIFICE” — 11 — © Copyright 2017 – Libreria Editrice Vaticana 00120 Città del Vaticano Tel. 06 69 88 10 32 – Fax 06 69 88 47 16 www.libreriaeditricevaticana.va www.vatican.va ISBN 978-88-209-8095-5 Inclusive Growth and Financial Reforms: Global Emergencies and the Search of the Common Good Edited by Giovanni Marseguerra Anna Maria Tarantola LIBRERIA EDITRICE VATICANA “CENTESIMUS ANNUS – PRO PONTIFICE” FOUNDATION Board of Directors SUGRANYES BICKEL Dr. Domingo (Chairman) BORGHESE KHEVENHUELLER Dr. Camilla (Vice Chairman) GONZI Dr. Lawrence LONGHI Dr. Gianluigi RICE Dr. James E. RUSCHE Dr. Thomas SANSONE Dr. Francesco TARANTOLA Dr. Anna Maria (Delegate of the Board for the Scientifi c Committee) VANNI D’ARCHIRAFI Dr. Francesco Comptrollers FRANCESCHI Dr. Giorgio PIZZINI Dr. Flavio PORFIRI Dr. Massimo Secretary General TILIACOS Dr. Eutimio Scientifi c Committee MARSEGUERRA Prof. Giovanni (Coordinator) PABST Prof. Adrian (Secretary) ABELA Prof. Andrew V. Ph.D BONNICI Prof. Josef COSTA Prof. Antonio Maria DEMBINSKI Prof. Paul ESTRADA Prof. Francis G. GARONNA Prof. Paolo GARVEY Prof. George E. GIOVANELLI Dr. Flaminia NOTHELLE-WILDFEUER Prof. Ursula PAMMOLLI Prof. Fabio PASTOR Prof. Alfredo PEZZANI Prof. Fabrizio ZANUSSI Prof. Krystof VOLUME’S ABSTRACT The book collects contributions presented and discussed during International Conferences and Consultations organ- ized by the “Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifi ce” Foundation (CAPPF) in the two-year period 2015 – 2016. In particular, articles here reported derive from two International Confer- ences held in the Vatican (“Rethinking Key Features of Eco- nomic and Social Life”, 25-27 May 2015, and “Business initiative in the fi ght against poverty. The Refugee Emergency, our Chal- lenge”, 12-14 May 2016) and an International Consultation held in Malta (“A Dialogue on Finance and the Common Good”, 29-30 January 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • Pope Francis Presents Bull of Indiction of Jubilee of Mercy
    Pope Francis presents Bull of Indiction of Jubilee of Mercy (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon proceeded with the presentation of the official Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, set to begin December 8. The bull is the fundamental document for the Holy Year that outlines the overall spirit and intentions for the Jubilee, as well as the spiritual fruits that are hoped for. It was read by Fr Leonardo Sapienza, Regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, in a ceremony by the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis then moved into the basilica to preside Vespers for Divine Mercy Sunday. The 28-page bull, titled “Misericordiae Vultus” or “The Face of Mercy” opens with the declaration, “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy. These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith.” Listen to the report by Laura Ieraci: In the document, Pope Francis says the Holy Year is “dedicated to living out in our daily lives the mercy” which God “constantly extends to all of us.” He explains the year will begin on December 8 to commemorate both the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, which called the Church to proclaim the Gospel to the world in new ways, bringing God’s mercy to everyone. - 1 - After the Holy Door of St Peter’s is open on December 8, the Holy Doors of the other papal basilicas will be opened in subsequent days. As well, as a sign of communion of the whole Church, the pope has requested that every diocese in the world open a similar “Door of Mercy” for the local celebrations of the Jubilee.
    [Show full text]
  • Pastoral Letter on the Reading of Amoris Laetitia In
    PASTORAL LETTER ON THE READING OF AMORIS LAETITIA IN LIGHT OF CHURCH TEACHING “A TRUE AND LIVING ICON” OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF PORTLAND, OREGON MOST REVEREND ALEXANDER K. SAMPLE TO THE PRIESTS, DEACONS, RELIGIOUS AND FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE “The couple that loves and begets life is a true, living icon … capable of revealing God the Creator and Savior.”1 With these words our Holy Father, Pope Francis, reminds us that married love is “a symbol of God’s inner life,” for the “triune God is a communion of love, and the family is its living reflection.”2 Of its very nature, marriage exists for the communion of life and love between spouses, ordered to the procreation and care of children, in an exclusive and permanent bond between one man and one woman. In this natural bond, existing even between unbaptized spouses, we are given “an image for understanding and describing the mystery of God himself.…”3 Christ our Lord elevated the natural bond of marriage to the dignity of a sacrament whereby the union of man and woman signifies the “union of Christ and the Church.”4 God, who is eternal and unchanging, gives marriage as a natural icon of himself; Christ elevates marriage into a sacrament signifying the permanent, indissoluble covenant with his people. Because the family is essential to the well-being of the world, the Church, and the spread of the Gospel, the world’s bishops gathered in the Synods of 2014 and 2015 to identify the real situation of marriages and families in the world today and to seek pastoral solutions for these challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • N. 362 01 • 2021 Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez, O.C.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Venezuela, Died Friday Morning 8 January 2021 in Valera (Trujillo)
    N. 362 01 • 2021 Cástor Oswaldo Azuaje Pérez, O.C.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Trujillo, Venezuela, died Friday morning 8 January 2021 in Valera (Trujillo) ishop Azuaje was born in Maracaibo on 19 October 1951 in a family of six brothers. He first learned about Bthe Discalced Carmelite order in 1966 through the nuns at Mérida, in the Venezuelan Andes. Discerning his vocation to the Teresian Carmel, Oswaldo Azuaje entered the novitiate program of the Province of Aragonia-Valenza, Spain at the Desert of las Palmas, in Castile. He professed his first vows as a Discalced Carmelite friar on 12 October 1968. Three years of philosophy studies followed in Zaragoza, and then Ajuaje pursued his theology studies with the Discalced Carmelites, completing first-year theology (1971–1972) at the historic Stella Maris seminary at Haifa, Israel and another three years (1972–1975) at the Teresianum in Rome. On 31 August 1974 Oswaldo Azuaje pronounced his solemn • Formator-assistant to the Master of Novices and Master vows; he was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 24 on of Simple Professed (1978 and 1984), where he was the Christmas Day, 25 December 1975 in Mérida, the city that formator for another future Discalced Carmelite bishop, was the cradle of his Carmelite vocation. Silvio José Báez, O.C.D. Azuaje returned to Rome to complete his theological • Professor at the Interdiocesan Seminary of Paso Ancho, studies. He earned a doctorate in Moral Theology summa San José, and at the Intercongregational Theological cum laude from the Alfonsianum Academy in Rome in Institute of Central America ITAC (1978 and 1984).
    [Show full text]