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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The most extreme tornado outbreaks are mysteriously spawning many more twisters than they did decades ago, a new study claimed....
PARIS (AP) -- French President Francois Hollande announced Thursday that he would not seek a second term in next year's presidential election, saying he hoped to give his Socialist party a chance to win "against conservatism and extremism" by stepping aside....
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump headed out on a victory lap Thursday, appearing first in Indiana to salute workers at a factory where he says he saved hundreds of jobs from moving to Mexico and then in Ohio on the first stop of a "Thank You Tour" to honor supporters in states that helped him to his stunning victory....
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged the faithful to ask the Lord for help whenever they feel they may be resisting his grace.The Pope was speaking during his homily at morning Mass in Casa Santa Marta.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: Finding inspiration in the opening prayer of the day “May Your grace conquer the obstacles caused by our sins”, Pope Francis said each of us have obstacles in our hearts which resist God’s grace.He warned in particular against various types of obstacles [it. resistenze]:The ones he called ‘open obstacles’ that are born of good faith – like in Saul’s case when he resisted grace but was ‘convinced he was doing God’s will' before he was converted by Jesus.“Open obstacles are healthy” - the Pope said – “in the sense that they are open to the grace of conversion”. The most ‘dangerous’ obstacles according to Franci...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday encouraged the faithful to ask the Lord for help whenever they feel they may be resisting his grace.
The Pope was speaking during his homily at morning Mass in Casa Santa Marta.
Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni:
Finding inspiration in the opening prayer of the day “May Your grace conquer the obstacles caused by our sins”, Pope Francis said each of us have obstacles in our hearts which resist God’s grace.
He warned in particular against various types of obstacles [it. resistenze]:
The ones he called ‘open obstacles’ that are born of good faith – like in Saul’s case when he resisted grace but was ‘convinced he was doing God’s will' before he was converted by Jesus.
“Open obstacles are healthy” - the Pope said – “in the sense that they are open to the grace of conversion”.
The most ‘dangerous’ obstacles according to Francis are the hidden ones because they do not show themselves. Each of us, he said, have our own way of resisting grace but we must recognize it and allow the Lord to purify us. It’s the type of obstacle that Stephen accused the Doctors of Law of concealing whilst they wanted to appear as though they were in search of the glory of God. An accusation – the Pope said – that cost Stephen his life:
"We all have hidden obstacles; we must ask ourselves what is their nature. They always surface to stop a process of conversion. Always!”
But, the Pope said, in these cases we must passively and silently allow the process of change to take place.
“Think of when there is a process of change in an institution or in a family. I hear you say: 'But, there are obstacles… (…) Those kinds of obstacles are put there by the devil, to stop the Lord from going ahead.”
Francis then spoke of three types of hidden obstacles:
The obstacle of ‘empty words’ which he illustrated with the example provided by the Gospel reading of the day which reads “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven;” and by the Parable of the two sons sent by their father to work in the vineyard: the first says ‘no’ and then goes ahead and does the work, while the other says ‘yes’ and then doesn’t go:
“Saying yes, yes, diplomatically; but then it is 'no, no, no'. So many words” he said.
Saying yes – the Pope continued – so as not change anything is the ‘resistance of empty words.’
And then, he said, there is the “obstacle of words that justify": that’s when a person constantly justifies himself – he always finds a reason to oppose.
Too many excuses the Pope said do not exude the good “aroma of God”, but the “bad stink of the devil”.
He said a Christian has no need to justify himself: “He is justified by the Word of God". This kind of resistance he explained is a resistance of words which I use “to attempt to justify my position when I do not follow what the Lord is indicating”.
And then, he said, there's the obstacle of "accusatory words": when we accuse others so as not to look to ourselves. In this case too we are ‘resisting’ conversion and grace as illustrated by the Parable of the Pharisee and the publican.
So, Pope Francis concluded, there are not only the great historical actions of resistance as for example the Maginot Line or other such events, but those that "are inside our hearts every day.”
He said the resistance to grace is a good sign "because it shows that the Lord is working in us" and he invited us to make the obstacles fall in order to allow grace in.
Wherever the Lord is there is a cross, the Pope said, be it a small one or a large one, and it is resistance to the Cross, to the Lord, that ultimately brings redemption. So, when there are obstacles we must not be afraid but ask for the Lord’s help and acknowledge that we are all sinners.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December is for the End to Child-Soldiers: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. The Apostleship of Prayer has produced the Pope’s Video on this prayer intention.The full text of the Pope’s Video is below:In this world, which has developed the most sophisticated technologies, weapons are sold that end up in the hands of child soldiers. We must do everything possible so that the dignity of children may be respected, and end this form of slavery.Whoever you are, if you are moved as I am, I ask you to join in this prayer intention: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December is for the End to Child-Soldiers: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.
The Apostleship of Prayer has produced the Pope’s Video on this prayer intention.
The full text of the Pope’s Video is below:
In this world, which has developed the most sophisticated technologies, weapons are sold that end up in the hands of child soldiers.
We must do everything possible so that the dignity of children may be respected, and end this form of slavery.
Whoever you are, if you are moved as I am, I ask you to join in this prayer intention: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.
(Vatican Radio) On November 23, in the small Italian village of Massafra, a funeral Mass was offered for a young Italian girl, 10-year-old Paolina, who had died of a terrible illness.The Requiem Mass took place in the church of Saint Leopold Mandic,, with many parishioners present, including the local mayor.During the homily at the Mass, the pastor, Father Michele Quaranta read a letter sent to Paolina by Pope Francis. Paolina’s mother had written to the Holy Father to ask his blessing and his prayers for her daughter. Pope Francis had hoped to welcome to the young girl to the Vatican to meet her in person, but Paolina was already too sick to make the voyage.The full text of the Pope’s letter to Paolina can be read here: Dearest Paolina,Your photos are on my desk, because in your truly special gaze I see the light of goodness and of innocence. Thanks for sending them to me! Read this letter together with your and the kiss that I will give you now will be the kiss of th...
(Vatican Radio) On November 23, in the small Italian village of Massafra, a funeral Mass was offered for a young Italian girl, 10-year-old Paolina, who had died of a terrible illness.
The Requiem Mass took place in the church of Saint Leopold Mandic,, with many parishioners present, including the local mayor.
During the homily at the Mass, the pastor, Father Michele Quaranta read a letter sent to Paolina by Pope Francis. Paolina’s mother had written to the Holy Father to ask his blessing and his prayers for her daughter. Pope Francis had hoped to welcome to the young girl to the Vatican to meet her in person, but Paolina was already too sick to make the voyage.
The full text of the Pope’s letter to Paolina can be read here:
Dearest Paolina,
Your photos are on my desk, because in your truly special gaze I see the light of goodness and of innocence. Thanks for sending them to me! Read this letter together with your and the kiss that I will give you now will be the kiss of the Pope. I join my hands to yours and to those of all those who are praying for you. And so we will make a long chain that, I’m sure, will reach to heaven. But remember that the first link in this chain is you, because you have Jesus in your heart! Remember that! So speak to Him, tell Him about yourself, but also talk about your mom and dad who have so much need of help and comfort in the face of the very difficult steps they are facing. You will certainly be a very good girl by suggesting to Jesus what to do for them! Remember, too, to tell Him what He should do for me, too, while I remember the things He ought to do for you. I give you a very, very big hug, and I bless you, together with your parents and your loved ones, with all my heart.
Francis
Fatima, Portugal, Dec 1, 2016 / 06:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- For the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Pope Francis has decided to grant a plenary indulgence opportunity throughout the entire anniversary year, which began Nov. 27, 2016, and will end Nov. 26, 2017.The rector of the Fatima Shrine in Portugal, André Pereira, explained to CNA that the plenary indulgence can be obtained during the entire Jubilee Year. There are three ways of obtaining the indulgence, detailed in a statement on the shrine's website.To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrineThe first way is for “the faithful to make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration or prayer dedicated to the Virgin.”In addition, the faithful must...
Fatima, Portugal, Dec 1, 2016 / 06:32 am (CNA/EWTN News).- For the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Pope Francis has decided to grant a plenary indulgence opportunity throughout the entire anniversary year, which began Nov. 27, 2016, and will end Nov. 26, 2017.
The rector of the Fatima Shrine in Portugal, André Pereira, explained to CNA that the plenary indulgence can be obtained during the entire Jubilee Year. There are three ways of obtaining the indulgence, detailed in a statement on the shrine's website.
To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrine
The first way is for “the faithful to make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration or prayer dedicated to the Virgin.”
In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed, and invoke the Mother of God.
2. Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima
The second way applies to “the pious faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October (2017), and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary.”
Regarding this second way, the rector of the Fatima Shrine told CNA that the visit to the statue of the Virgin, “does not necessarily have to be only at Fatima or exclusively in Portugal,” but can be done anywhere in the world.
Those seeking an indulgence must also pray an Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.
3. The elderly and infirm
The third way to obtain a plenary indulgence applies to people who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around.
These individuals can pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017.
They also must “offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives.”
By Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Upholding the truth and moralvalues isn't easy, especially for young people, Pope Francis said."But with God's help and with the sincere will to dogood, every obstacle can be overcome," he told international students andthose who minister to them.Students studying abroad and about 100 campus ministers and representativesof bishops' conferences participated in the Fourth World Congress on thePastoral Care of International Students Nov. 28-Dec. 2. The congress wassponsored by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.Pope Francis said it was important that new generations alwaysbe inspired and guided to build a "healthier society," especiallywhen it comes to dealing with moral dilemmas.Today, "the moral challenges to be addressed are manyand it is not always easy to fight for affirming the truth and values,especially when one is young," he said, but it can be done with God's helpand honest intentions.He said he was pleased to see so many yo...
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Upholding the truth and moral values isn't easy, especially for young people, Pope Francis said.
"But with God's help and with the sincere will to do good, every obstacle can be overcome," he told international students and those who minister to them.
Students studying abroad and about 100 campus ministers and representatives of bishops' conferences participated in the Fourth World Congress on the Pastoral Care of International Students Nov. 28-Dec. 2. The congress was sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.
Pope Francis said it was important that new generations always be inspired and guided to build a "healthier society," especially when it comes to dealing with moral dilemmas.
Today, "the moral challenges to be addressed are many and it is not always easy to fight for affirming the truth and values, especially when one is young," he said, but it can be done with God's help and honest intentions.
He said he was pleased to see so many young students attending the congress because it showed that "challenges do not make you afraid, rather they drive you to work to build a more humane world. Never stop and don't get discouraged because Christ's Spirit will guide you if you listen to his voice."
Pursuing higher studies, especially abroad in a new social and cultural context, helps students and the communities that host them to broaden their horizons, become more tolerant and welcoming, build trust and spark a desire to work for the common good, he said.
The pope told educators and pastoral workers to help deepen foreign students' love for the Gospel and their desire to live it out concretely and share it with others.
By teaching how to think critically and to grow in Christian values, one forms young people who are "thirsty for truth and not power, ready to defend values and live mercy and charity -- fundamental foundations for a healthier society."
While the pope praised the benefits of getting an education abroad, he lamented "brain drain" -- that is, the "painful" lack of social or employment opportunities in poorer countries, which pushes bright students to "abandon their own nation."
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MALIBU, Calif. (AP) -- Minutes from the ocean views of Malibu mansions, a rancher has obtained a rare permit to fatally shoot a mountain lion killing livestock....
