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(Vatican Radio) The Papal preacher, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, delivered his third Advent Sermon on Friday to Pope Francis and members of the Roman Curia.As preacher to the Papal Household, Capucin Father Cantalamessa gives a meditation to the Pope, Cardinals, and members of the Roman Curia every Friday morning in Lent and Advent in the Apostolic Palace’s “Redemptoris Mater” Chapel.In the third Advent sermon, Fr. Cantalamessa continued his theme of the Holy Spirit’s action in the Church.Please find below the full text English translation of the Sermon: Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcapThird Sermon for Advent 2016 THE SOBER INTOXICATION OF THE SPIRIT 1. Two Kinds of IntoxicationOn the Monday after Pentecost in 1975 at the closing of the First World Congress of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Blessed Paul VI delivered an address to the ten thousand participants gathered in the St. Peter’s Basilica in which he defined the charismatic re...
(Vatican Radio) Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Archbishop Bernardito Auza delivered a statement to the UN Security Council Open Debate on Preventing catastrophe: A global agenda for stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors.In the statement the Archbishop reiterated the "Holy See’s constant and firm opposition to the production and use of weapons of mass destruction." He also noted that the Holy See "noted with "grave concern that technological advances in the destructive power of weapons systems produces ever more frightening catastrophes for innocent civilian populations."Below find Archbishop Auza's statement in EnglishThe Holy See is grateful that the Pr...
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See is urging all States that are members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to recognize human trafficking as one of the most heinous crimes and do all they can to eradicate it.The appeal was made by Monsignor Janusz Urganczyk, Permanent Vatican Observer to the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday during a meeting.He emphasized that “particular attention should be given to the eradication of this crime when it is committed against children, who are enslaved and fall prey to exploitation as child labourers or soldiers, fall into the criminal network of drug trafficking or into the mire of pornography; who are forced to flee from conflict and persecution, risking isolation and abandonment”.Monsignor Urganczyk also highlighted the fact that this bleak scenario is made even worse by the demand “even in the OSCE region which drives their exploitation and abuse”.Thus, he said: “the only way to stop the ...
Vatican Weekend for December 17, 2016 features a report on the surprisingly large number of lonely people who have nobody with whom to spend Christmas, the origins of the tradition of making nativity scenes and where you can find a relic of the Christ Child’s crib in Rome plus a reflection on the practice of making advent wreaths and their symbolism.Listen to this programme produced and presented by Susy Hodges:
Vatican Weekend for December 18, 2016 features our weekly reflections on the Sunday Gospel reading, “There’s More in the Sunday Gospel than Meets the Eye,” plus a reflection on the coming of Christmas with the intriguing title of “Mischief Makers.”Listen to this programme produced and presented by Veronica Scarisbrick:
(Vatican Radio) Birthday wishes have been pouring in from across the globe in celebration of Pope Francis’ 80th on Saturday, 17 December.Amongst those toasting to the Pope in an especially ‘personal’ way, are the impoverished residents of the villas miserias – or shanty towns - in Buenos Aires who always looked to the then Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio, as their pastor.Francis’ ‘right-hand-man’ in the field was Father ‘Pepe’ Di Paola, who continues to carry out his mission with the poorest of the poor in Argentina’s capital city. He spoke by telephone to Vatican Radio about Jorge Bergoglio and ‘his’ people.Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: First of all, Father Pepe says, I would like to wish Pope Francis the possibility of continuing to pursue his priestly vocation in solidarity and in communion with the poor and in deep union with the Church and the Gospel.“May he go ahead in his miss...
(Vatican Radio) Christians should look to the “great” John the Baptist as a model of humble witness to Jesus, as one who denies himself, even to the point of death, in order to point out the coming of the Son of God. That was Pope Francis’ message, during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, to Bishops and religious celebrating the 50th anniversary of their ordination, and to married couples celebrating the 50th anniversary of their wedding vows.John the Baptist, the witness who points to ChristThe Church’s liturgy turns once again, as it has in the past two days, to the figure of St John the Baptist, presented in the Gospel as the “witness.” His vocation, the Pope explained in his homily, is “to give witness to Jesus,” “to point out Jesus,” like a lamp with respect to the light:A lamp that points out where the light is, that bears witness to the light. He was the voice. He said of himself: “I am the voice that...
Krakow, Poland, Dec 16, 2016 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- (Editor's note: This article includes explicit descriptions of violence. Reader discretion is advised.)Christina Shabo was born under a tree in a refugee camp after her family fled bombing in their Iraqi hometown in 1991.Several of her relatives have been killed by the Islamic State – one whose body was chopped up and delivered to the family in pieces – and some continue to fight for their lives after suffering vicious attacks.However, rather than harboring an understandable hatred toward those persecuting her family and her people, she has decided instead to pray for ISIS and their conversion.“I asked Jesus for the grace to forgive every time I would pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. But instead of praying 'For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world,' I pray 'have mercy on ISIS and on the whole world.'”This is what Shabo, 25, said she has decided to...
Washington D.C., Dec 16, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- States cannot keep federal grants away from Planned Parenthood clinics, the Obama administration ruled on Wednesday in a move that critics say is a “parting gift to Big Abortion.”“The Obama administration, even in its waning hours, has chosen to put Planned Parenthood’s Big Abortion agenda ahead of women’s health and the right of states to decide how best to prioritize public health funding so that patients and the most comprehensive health providers come first,” Steven H. Aden, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom stated.The Department of Health and Human Services released final regulations “to increase access to affordable family planning and preventive services” under Title X grants Dec. 14. The new rule takes effect Jan. 18, two days before the inauguration of Donald Trump.Title X is a federal program that promotes “family planning” through grants to var...
SEATTLE (AP) -- Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and the rest of the Los Angeles Rams who will make up the foundation of the franchise as it moves forward from a tumultuous first season back in Southern California got an up-close look Thursday night at what they eventually must overcome....
