WASHINGTON-The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, February 1, on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference and several Christian partners in support of a Texas law mandating health and safety standards protecting women who undergo abortions. Other groups joining the brief include the National Association of Evangelicals, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."
The brief noted that some abortion clinics have declared the standards too strict, although the standards are similar to those issued by the abortion industry. It added that abortion providers "should not be allowed to rely upon their own failure to comply with health and safety laws" as a reason to strike such laws down. The brief said the providers' resistance to such regulations is not in the best interests of women's health and safety. It also noted that over 40 years of precedent, including the Court's 1992 decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, reaffirms that states may regulate abortion to protect maternal life and health.
Full text of the brief is available online: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/Whole-Woman-s-Health-v-Hellerstedt.pdf
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Keywords: General Counsel, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Texas law abortion, amicus curia, National Association of Evangelicals, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, U.S. Supreme Court
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Catholic News 2
WASHINGTON-The Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, February 1, on behalf of USCCB, the Texas Catholic Conference and several Christian partners in support of a Texas law mandating health and safety standards protecting women who undergo abortions. Other groups joining the brief include the National Association of Evangelicals, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. The case is Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court."There is ample evidence in this case that hospital admitting privileges and ambulatory surgical center requirements protect women's lives and health," said the brief. "When such requirements are not enforced, abuses detrimental to women's lives and health arise."The brief noted that some abortion clinics have decla...
(Vatican Radio) On the last day of his pastoral visit to Mexico, Pope Francis on Wednesday visits inmates at a prison in Ciudad Juarez on the U.S.-Mexico border. Before heading back to Rome Wednesday evening, he will also meet people from the working world and celebrate Mass in the city located just across the border from El Paso. On Tuesday, the Holy Father visited Morelia in central Mexico where he celebrated Mass with religious, consecrated people and seminarians and later was greeted by tens of thousands of young people at the local stadium. Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi sj says the Pope has come to Mexico as “a messenger of mercy and of peace.” Even through his gestures and small actions, the Pope “was teaching love and demonstrating love and mercy of God… not only through his words,” adds Fr. Lombardi. In this way, continues the Vatican spokesman, the Pope “has contributed ...
(Vatican Radio) On the last day of his pastoral visit to Mexico, Pope Francis on Wednesday visits inmates at a prison in Ciudad Juarez on the U.S.-Mexico border. Before heading back to Rome Wednesday evening, he will also meet people from the working world and celebrate Mass in the city located just across the border from El Paso. On Tuesday, the Holy Father visited Morelia in central Mexico where he celebrated Mass with religious, consecrated people and seminarians and later was greeted by tens of thousands of young people at the local stadium.
Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi sj says the Pope has come to Mexico as “a messenger of mercy and of peace.” Even through his gestures and small actions, the Pope “was teaching love and demonstrating love and mercy of God… not only through his words,” adds Fr. Lombardi. In this way, continues the Vatican spokesman, the Pope “has contributed very much to the harmony and reconciliation of a society that has dramatic tensions and problems with violence and internal conflicts and disparities of situations in the society.”
Fr. Federico Lombardi speaks to Veronica Scarisbrick:
In an interview with Vatican Radio’s Veronica Scarisbrick, Fr. Lombardi notes that Pope Francis has made his mark in Mexico “in a very pastoral way, not as a politician, not as a person who comes with easy solutions for problems that are so incredibly difficult. But he demonstrates understanding for the situation, for the people and the temptations that they have: [the] discouragement [they feel] in this situation. And he encourages them, and he witnesses the love of God, and invites [them] to the profound devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe that is in the heart of Mexicans.”
Pope challenges Mexicans to put love, hope into practice
Pope Francis has also been challenging Mexicans to embrace this witness concretely, in their own lives, in their families and in society, Fr. Lombardi affirms: “I think he leaves to the Mexican people a treasure of hope – a horizon of hope for the future.” It was this message that the Pope stressed in a particular way to the young people he has encountered, “because they are the majority of the society and the future is concretely in their hands even if they have difficulties [in finding] their way in this society.”
Fr. Lombardi observes that one of the things that has impressed Pope Francis the most on this trip is “the love of the people [on the streets] for him.” For the Pope, theirs is a gratuitous, freely-given love: “they come to demonstrate spontaneously in the street to demonstrate sincerely that they love the Pope, the Church. That they desire to be a community which hopes [for] a better situation.” Pope Francis, Fr. Lombardi adds, is “grateful for the witness of love that he has received and he has tried to give his contribution to [the Mexican people] to overcome this historical, difficult moment.”
Moving moments
Fr. Lombardi admits that he personally, found two moments of the trip particularly moving: “the silent dialogue between the Pope and the Virgin of Guadalupe” in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the end of Saturday’s Mass in Mexico City. And the moment during Monday’s meeting with families in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, when a severely disabled child in a wheelchair was brought towards the Pope. The episode, Fr. Lombardi remarks, reminded him of the Gospel story “in which the people bring the paralytic to Jesus: the Pope has seen this and then came down from the podium to encounter this child and to bless him…. It was a very [special] moment: the witness of faith of the people bringing this sick young man to the Pope and the love of the Pope” who interrupted the testimonials of families “to go down where he sees this desire of blessing for a person that was in very, very particularly grave sickness.”
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has extended his condolences to the United Nations upon hearing of the death of the former United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali.The Egyptian diplomat, a Coptic Christian, died on Tuesday at the age of 93. He served as UN Secretary-General from 1 January 1992 – 31 December 1996.A telegram sent by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy Father was “saddened” to hear of Mr. Boutros-Ghali’s death, and extended the Pope’s “heartfelt condolences” to current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all those at the United Nations Organization.“Recalling Mr. Boutros-Ghali’s generous service to his country and to the international community, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers for the late Secretary-General’s eternal rest, and he invokes the divine blessings of peace and strength upon the members of his family and all who mourn his loss,” the ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has extended his condolences to the United Nations upon hearing of the death of the former United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
The Egyptian diplomat, a Coptic Christian, died on Tuesday at the age of 93. He served as UN Secretary-General from 1 January 1992 – 31 December 1996.
A telegram sent by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy Father was “saddened” to hear of Mr. Boutros-Ghali’s death, and extended the Pope’s “heartfelt condolences” to current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all those at the United Nations Organization.
“Recalling Mr. Boutros-Ghali’s generous service to his country and to the international community, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers for the late Secretary-General’s eternal rest, and he invokes the divine blessings of peace and strength upon the members of his family and all who mourn his loss,” the telegram reads.
The full text of the telegram is below
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of the United Nations
New York
His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the death of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and he extends heartfelt condolences to you and your colleagues at the United Nations Organization. Recalling Mr Boutros-Ghali’s generous service to his country and to the international community, His Holiness offers the assurance of his prayers for the late Secretary-General’s eternal rest, and he invokes the divine blessings of peace and strength upon the members of his family and all who mourn his loss.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
Zambia’s Bishop of Ndola Diocese, Dr. Alick Banda has used his Lenten message to call on politicians to reflect and see leadership as essentially an opportunity for service and sacrifice. “As we approach the forthcoming Tripartite General Elections and possibly a Constitutional Referendum, I wish to urge all our political competitors to “put into the deep” and to reflect on Mathew Chapter 4:1-11. The text gives us a background to understand leadership as service and sacrifice for the people of God who are entrusted to our care. Thus, those vying for positions of leadership at whatever level should not fall short of sacrifice and service for the betterment of our mother Zambia and the poor who are the majority of our country.”On 11 August, this year, Zambians are expected to vote in presidential and general elections. The Bishop has also invited the electorate in Zambia to use their vote prudently.“For the electorate, let us also...
Zambia’s Bishop of Ndola Diocese, Dr. Alick Banda has used his Lenten message to call on politicians to reflect and see leadership as essentially an opportunity for service and sacrifice.
“As we approach the forthcoming Tripartite General Elections and possibly a Constitutional Referendum, I wish to urge all our political competitors to “put into the deep” and to reflect on Mathew Chapter 4:1-11. The text gives us a background to understand leadership as service and sacrifice for the people of God who are entrusted to our care. Thus, those vying for positions of leadership at whatever level should not fall short of sacrifice and service for the betterment of our mother Zambia and the poor who are the majority of our country.”
On 11 August, this year, Zambians are expected to vote in presidential and general elections. The Bishop has also invited the electorate in Zambia to use their vote prudently.
“For the electorate, let us also equally “put into the deep” and examine what we see, what we hear and experience. Enough are the promises that bridges will be built where there are no rivers. That there is light at the end of the tunnel when basic indicators have not changed. Enough are professional politicians who have been to all political clubs and have so far only exhibited politics of the belly. They failed us in the past and what guarantee do we have now that they will do any better?” Bishop Banda challenged.
With regard to growing political violence in the country that is perpetuated by party cadres, Bishop Banda has called on politicians to be peaceful and desist from inciting violence.
“I call upon the political contestants to endeavour to pursue the will of God in the promotion of justice, peace, reconciliation and unity amongst our people of diverse cultural, tribal, religious and political persuasions. We should be concerned not to incite hateful speech and hooliganism,” Bishop Banda said.
The Catholic Church all over the world over is marking six weeks of Lent. This is a period used as a preparation for the great feast of Easter. During these six weeks of Lent, the Church encourages the faithful to be more prayerful, make the extra effort to be more charitable towards others, read Scripture, fast and give alms.
(Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va)
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See said on Tuesday the international community should respond to the Zika virus with “due vigilance,” but the “way forward should not be dictated by panic,” and condemned recent statements by some UN officials calling for countries to liberalize abortion laws in response to the virus.The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, was speaking during a briefing on Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.“We are deeply concerned by the recent call by some government officials, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the liberalization of abortion laws and access to abortifacients as a means to prevent the birth of children with birth defects,” Archbishop Auza said.“Not only is increased access to abortion and abortifacients an illegitimate response to this crisis, but since it t...
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See said on Tuesday the international community should respond to the Zika virus with “due vigilance,” but the “way forward should not be dictated by panic,” and condemned recent statements by some UN officials calling for countries to liberalize abortion laws in response to the virus.
The Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, was speaking during a briefing on Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
“We are deeply concerned by the recent call by some government officials, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the liberalization of abortion laws and access to abortifacients as a means to prevent the birth of children with birth defects,” Archbishop Auza said.
“Not only is increased access to abortion and abortifacients an illegitimate response to this crisis, but since it terminates the life of a child it is fundamentally not preventative,” he continued.
“Regardless of the connection to the Zika virus, it is a fact of human existence that some children develop conditions like microcephaly, and that these children deserve to be protected and cared for throughout their lives, in accordance with our obligation to safeguard all human life, healthy and disabled, with equal commitment, leaving no one behind,” Archbishop Auza said.
The full remarks by Archbishop Auza are below.
Intervention of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations
during the interactive discussion following the Briefing on the Zika virus,
convened by the President of the Economic and Social Council
16 February 2016
Mr. President, my delegation would like to thank you for organizing today’s briefing and to thank representatives from the WHO, Pan-American Health Organization and the CDC for their informative and timely presentations.
Mr. President,
It is with profound concern for the people of Latin America, and for the world, that my delegation takes the floor today. Containing and combatting the spread of the Zika virus and the resulting health emergency is not only a major challenge to governments in Latin America, but also for the entire international community, which stands in solidarity with the affected. We are encouraged by the WHO and the Pan American Health Organization’s commitment to fighting this international public health emergency, and urge all governments, in conjunction with the UN system, to make every effort to help the region stop the spread of the virus and to provide those already infected with adequate treatment and access to necessary health care services.
We would like to call attention to the poor and the vulnerable, especially the elderly, children, and the disabled who may be both at greater risk of contracting the virus and least likely to have immediate access to preventative tools, information and medical treatment. They need our utmost attention and we must be sure not to leave them behind.
In the context of this virus, pregnant mothers and their unborn children are also among the ranks of the most vulnerable. The suggested link between Zika and birth defects represents an exceedingly grave concern, which merits concerted action by the international community. More research is needed to determine a connection between the virus and microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. It is clear from the current research and information that, thankfully, not all pregnant women who contract the virus place their children at risk of having birth defects. Moreover, to date, transmission of the virus has been verified principally through mosquito bites and only rarely from mother to child.(1) Though there have been suggestions that the disease can be transmitted sexually, these rare reports have yet to be medically confirmed.
Because of the scarcity of conclusive scientific evidence up to this point, and the dramatic consequences for human life, it follows that the way forward should not be dictated by panic but due vigilance.
Given the potential implications for pregnancy and for the spread of the disease, it is clear that part of an effective response should involve the promotion of abstinence.
To be clear, there is need for a comprehensive solution that focuses on access to information, preventative treatment, and necessary health-care services, especially in the context of maternal and child health.
Mr. President,
In this regard, we are deeply concerned by the recent call by some government officials, as well as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the liberalization of abortion laws and access to abortifacients as a means to prevent the birth of children with birth defects.
Not only is increased access to abortion and abortifacients an illegitimate response to this crisis, but since it terminates the life of a child it is fundamentally not preventative. Instead, the promotion of such a radical policy is the confirmation of a failure of the international community to stop the spread of the disease and to develop and provide the medical treatment pregnant women and their children need, to avoid the development of birth defects or to mitigate their effects and carry the pregnancy to term.
It must be emphasized that a diagnosis of microcephaly in a child should not warrant a death sentence. Recently a Brazilian journalist born with microcephaly, Ana Carolina Caceres, has spoken out against the misinformation and fear surrounding the condition that is leading some to think that those with microcephaly, like Ana Carolina, are better off not living than living and contributing to our society as she does. Let us keep Ana Carolina and her testimony in mind as we deliberate upon the proper way to respond to the crisis. Regardless of the connection to the Zika virus, it is a fact of human existence that some children develop conditions like microcephaly, and that these children deserve to be protected and cared for throughout their lives, in accordance with our obligation to safeguard all human life, healthy and disabled, with equal commitment, leaving no one behind.
(1) http://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Dieter Bernd Scholz, from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Chinhoyi, in Zimbabwe, in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law and has appointed Archbishop Robert Cristopher Ndlovu, the Archbishop of Harare, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chinonyi (sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis) Bishop Dieter Bernd Scholz was born on the 2 June 1938 in Berlin, Germany. In 1958, he was professed as a member of the Society of Jesus and he was ordained priest in 1969 aged 31 years.He was appointed the Bishop of Chinhoyi Diocese which is in the northeast of Zim. on 6 April 2006 and he was ordained on 2 September that same year.Bishop Scholz, a Jesuit, has lived and worked in Zimbabwe for more than 40 years.
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Dieter Bernd Scholz, from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Chinhoyi, in Zimbabwe, in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law and has appointed Archbishop Robert Cristopher Ndlovu, the Archbishop of Harare, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chinonyi (sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis)
Bishop Dieter Bernd Scholz was born on the 2 June 1938 in Berlin, Germany. In 1958, he was professed as a member of the Society of Jesus and he was ordained priest in 1969 aged 31 years.
He was appointed the Bishop of Chinhoyi Diocese which is in the northeast of Zim. on 6 April 2006 and he was ordained on 2 September that same year.
Bishop Scholz, a Jesuit, has lived and worked in Zimbabwe for more than 40 years.
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, on Tuesday made a visit to the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, considered Sunni Islam’s most prestigious institution of learning. He was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, Archbishop Bruno Musarò.The delegation was received by Dr. Abbas Shuman, who is the Deputy of Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam.A statement released by the PCID said the meeting took place in “an atmosphere of great cordiality”, and the parties discussed the need for a resumption of dialogue between the two institutions, “as called for by Pope Francis and several persons of good will.”The statement added the parties “agreed on the importance of continuing and strengthening this dialogue for the good of humanity.”Bishop Ayuso also delivered a letter from Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for I...
(Vatican Radio) The Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID), Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, on Tuesday made a visit to the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, considered Sunni Islam’s most prestigious institution of learning. He was accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, Archbishop Bruno Musarò.
The delegation was received by Dr. Abbas Shuman, who is the Deputy of Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayyib, the Grand Imam.
A statement released by the PCID said the meeting took place in “an atmosphere of great cordiality”, and the parties discussed the need for a resumption of dialogue between the two institutions, “as called for by Pope Francis and several persons of good will.”
The statement added the parties “agreed on the importance of continuing and strengthening this dialogue for the good of humanity.”
Bishop Ayuso also delivered a letter from Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in which he expressed his readiness to receive the Grand Imam and to accompany him officially in an audience with Pope Francis.
The statement also said the PCID thanked those who “helped with the success” of the visit to Al-Azhar University, and added it “hopes that it will lead to a fruitful collaboration.”
The University suspended talks with the Vatican in 2011.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico City on Tuesday night, after a long day in Mexico’s Michoacán state.It was the Holy Father’s final night in the Nunciature, since on Wednesday he travels to Ciudad Juarez in the north, and, from there, fly back to Rome.As has been the case every night during his stay in Mexico, hundreds of people were waiting to greet the Holy Father.“Thank you for your kindness in waiting. How many hours have you been here?” Pope Francis asked them.“May God reward you for this…May God reward you for this love,” he added.Pope Francis also prayed for the sick, asking God to help, strengthen, and heal them.“Know that Jesus always accompanies you, forever, " he said. “Jesus helps carry our sorrows…trust in that.”Pope Francis concluded with a recitation of the Hail Mary, and requests for prayers for himself, before wishing everyone a restful night.T...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature in Mexico City on Tuesday night, after a long day in Mexico’s Michoacán state.
It was the Holy Father’s final night in the Nunciature, since on Wednesday he travels to Ciudad Juarez in the north, and, from there, fly back to Rome.
As has been the case every night during his stay in Mexico, hundreds of people were waiting to greet the Holy Father.
“Thank you for your kindness in waiting. How many hours have you been here?” Pope Francis asked them.
“May God reward you for this…May God reward you for this love,” he added.
Pope Francis also prayed for the sick, asking God to help, strengthen, and heal them.
“Know that Jesus always accompanies you, forever, " he said. “Jesus helps carry our sorrows…trust in that.”
Pope Francis concluded with a recitation of the Hail Mary, and requests for prayers for himself, before wishing everyone a restful night.
The Holy Father asked then, as usual, "pray for me that I need. Now let us pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe, to ask his blessing. "
After praying the Hail Mary with all those present, the pope blessed them and wished them "good night passing, to rest."
Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 17, 2016 / 06:11 am (CNA).- When Pope Francis made a surprise stop at a cloistered monastery Sunday morning, he received a gift from the nuns who live there: a large bouquet of white roses.But was there more to this gesture than meets the eye?A year ago when Pope Francis travelled to the Philippines, he revealed that before each trip or when he has a concern, he asks for a rose from Saint Therese of Lisieux. He has a special devotion for the saint.“When I don’t know how things are going to go, I have the custom of asking Saint Therese of the Child Jesus to take the problem into her hands and send me a rose,” the pontiff explained to journalists in January 2015.There’s a special story behind the roses he received in Mexico.His visit to the monastery was not on the agenda, and the nuns there were not expecting him. The visit’s organizers gave just a few minutes’ notice to the nuns of the Visitation Order of Holy Mary. They d...
Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 17, 2016 / 06:11 am (CNA).- When Pope Francis made a surprise stop at a cloistered monastery Sunday morning, he received a gift from the nuns who live there: a large bouquet of white roses.
But was there more to this gesture than meets the eye?
A year ago when Pope Francis travelled to the Philippines, he revealed that before each trip or when he has a concern, he asks for a rose from Saint Therese of Lisieux. He has a special devotion for the saint.
“When I don’t know how things are going to go, I have the custom of asking Saint Therese of the Child Jesus to take the problem into her hands and send me a rose,” the pontiff explained to journalists in January 2015.
There’s a special story behind the roses he received in Mexico.
His visit to the monastery was not on the agenda, and the nuns there were not expecting him. The visit’s organizers gave just a few minutes’ notice to the nuns of the Visitation Order of Holy Mary. They did not know that he would stop to greet them as he passed by their convent on his way to Ecatepec.
There are 50 nuns of various ages who live at the monastery. The last time they left the monastery was to vote in the Mexican general elections. In 2002, when Saint John Paul II visited the country, he passed by the monastery as well but he did not stop. The nuns thought that the same thing would happen again.
“It was really something exceptional because we never leave the cloister,” one of the nuns told CNA by phone. She requested anonymity out of respect for the cloister.
“It was a very great grace to have the pope’s visit at our monastery door. The people told us that he had left the nunciature. They let us know he would be coming down the street and the security staff told us that if we would like to, we should open the doors just in case.”
The nun continued, explaining that the community “had not prepared anything for greeting the Pope. One of the people who comes to daily Mass brought us white roses that day. People are always coming to give us things, and we were going to place them before Our Lord.”
“At that moment, our mother superior just happened to have those roses in her hand, and when there she was right in front of the Pope, she just spontaneously gave them to him.”
El #PapaEnMex detiene el papamóvil para recibir un ramo de rosas blancas de manos de estas religiosas https://t.co/hftFpvdu30
— ACI Prensa (@aciprensa) February 14, 2016
The religious did not know about the story of the Pope and the roses of Saint Therese of Lisieux. They were surprised to hear of it.
The Pope spent several minutes greeting all the religious.
“He told the mother superior that it was a great blessing that we were giving our lives (to God) and praying for the Church and for him,” the nun reported.
Pope Francis blessed the most elderly sisters. Then he went up to the novices.
“He told them to learn from the older ones and to be faithful. Then he told us not to forget to pray for him and he gave us his blessing,” the nun told CNA.
She sees the providential encounter with the Pope as a confirmation of her vocation.
“It’s worth it to sacrifice your life, not to be involved in the things of the world, to sacrifice yourself in the cloister. The Pope stopped to see us, he invited us to value our lives, our tradition as contemplative nuns. He exhorted us to be faithful.”
She said the Pope’s unexpected visit “obliges us much more to pray, to be constant in our prayer.” She said it encouraged the nuns to give themselves “day after day, in our hidden life so the Church may have life and bless our Holy Father.”
There are 90 Visitation monasteries in the whole world, with eight convents in Mexico. Or all the cloistered religious in the country, their order has the most novices.
“When the pope left, we returned to our cloister and gathered together to sing a Te Deum in thanksgiving for this visit. We prayed a Salve Regina for the pope’s visit to Mexico. We sang a Magnificat for the blessing this means for our order, and even though he came to just this monastery, the blessing is for all of our communities.”
The order of the Visitation of Holy Mary is a religious institute of contemplative life founded by Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane Francis de Chantal in 1610 in France.
BATTAMBANG, Cambodia (AP) -- Between bites of spicy Cambodian curry and fried fish with rice, Angelina Jolie Pitt explains how this tiny country with a tumultuous past changed the course of her life....
BATTAMBANG, Cambodia (AP) -- Between bites of spicy Cambodian curry and fried fish with rice, Angelina Jolie Pitt explains how this tiny country with a tumultuous past changed the course of her life....
