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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 39
DATE 26-02-2014
Summary:
- ANOINTING OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS HUMAN SUFFERING
- APPEAL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA
- ST. GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE
- HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD QUESTIONNAIRE
ON THE FAMILY
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
___________________________________________________________
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS HUMAN SUFFERING
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis continued his
catechesis on the Sacraments by speaking today about the anointing of the
sick, “which allows us to touch with our hands God's compassion for
mankind”. He explained that
in the past it was referred to as “extreme unction” as it was
intended as spiritual consolation when death was imminent. “Speaking of
the anointing of the sick helps us to broaden our view of the experience of
illness and suffering, in
the horizon of God's mercy”.
The parable of the Good Samaritan clearly expresses the mystery that is
celebrated by this Sacrament. “The Samaritan consoles the man who
suffers at the side of the road, tending to his wounds with oil and wine. The
oil recalls that which is
blessed by the Bishop every year, in the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday,
precisely for the anointing of the sick. The wine, instead, is a sign of
Christ's love and grace, which flow from His gift of His life for us. The Pope
explained that the sick person
is finally entrusted to “the Church, the Christian community”, to
whom “every day the Lord Jesus entrusts those who are afflicted, in body
and spirit, so that we may continue to lavish upon them, without measure, all
His love and His
salvation”.
“This mandate is confirmed explicitly and precisely in the Epistle of
St. James, in which he says, 'Is any among you sick? Let him call upon the
elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the
Lord'”, continued the Holy Father. “It is therefore a practice
that was already in evidence at the time of the Apostles. Indeed, Jesus had
taught his disciples to have His same predilection for the sick and the
suffering, and transmitted to
them the capacity and the task of continuing to give consolation and peace in
His name … through the special grace of this Sacrament. However, this
must not lead us to search obsessively for miracles or allow us the
presumption of always being
able to be healed; it gives us the assurance of Jesus' closeness to the sick
and the elderly – as all those above the age of 65 are able to receive
this Sacrament – as it is Jesus Himself Who comes towards them”.
“But when someone is sick and we say, 'Let's call the priest to come',
it makes us think that it may bring bad luck, or perhaps the patient will be
afraid”, he continued, speaking off the cuff. “There is perhaps
the idea that when one
is sick and the priest arrives, he will be followed by the undertaker. But
this is not true! The priest comes to help the sick or the elderly, which is
why the visit is so important. It is necessary to call the priest to the home
of the sick and to say:
'come, anoint him, bless him'. It is Jesus Himself Who arrives to console the
sick, to give him strength, to give him hope, to help him; also to forgive his
sins. And this is beautiful! And we must not think of this as a taboo, because
it is always good
to know that in moments of pain or sickness we are not alone; the priest and
those who are present during the anointing of the sick represent, indeed, the
entire Christian community who, as a single body, gathers around those who
suffer and their relatives, encouraging their faith and hope, and supporting
them with prayer and brotherly warmth. But the greatest comfort derives from
the fact that it is the Lord Jesus Himself who is made present in the
Sacrament; He takes us by the
hand and reminds us that we now belong to Him and that nothing – not
even sickness or death – can ever separate us from Him”.
“Are we afraid of the habit of calling the priest to give this Sacrament
to the sick – I don't mean in the case of influenza that lasts three or
four days, but rather a serious illness – and to the elderly, so that
they can find the
strength from Jesus to go on?” asked the Pope, and concluded by urging
those present: “Let's do this”.
___________________________________________________________
APPEAL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Following today's catechesis the
Pope commented on the events of recent days in Venezuela, and made an appeal
for the cessation of violence and hostilities. He expressed his hope that
“that the entire
Venezuelan population, beginning with political and institutional leaders,
will take steps to ensure national reconciliation, through mutual forgiveness
and sincere dialogue, respecting truth and justice, and able to face real
issues for the common
good”.
The Holy Father gave the assurance of his prayers, in particular for those who
have lost their lives in the clashes, and their families, and invited the
faithful to raise prayers to God for the maternal intercession of Our Lady of
Coromoto so that the
country might once more find peace and harmony.
___________________________________________________________
ST. GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – In his greetings in various
languages, the Pope mentioned that in two days' time the World Rare Diseases
Day will be celebrated, and he addressed the participants in the congress that
is to take place on the
day. “I hope that patients and their families will be adequately
supported on their difficult journey, at both a medical and a legislative
level”.
Pope Francis greeted, among others, participants in the SIGNIS World Congress,
the directors of the Polish radio who are meeting in Rome during these days
for their spiritual exercises, pilgrims from Iraq and Lebanon, and the
Legionaries of Christ who
have completed their General Chapter.
Before concluding, he commented that tomorrow is the liturgical memory of St.
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, “whose example helps you, dear young
people, to be enthusiastic disciples of Jesus, who inspires you, dear sick
people, to offer your
suffering in union with those of Christ; and stimulates you, dear newly-weds,
to make the Gospel the fundamental rule of your married life”.
___________________________________________________________
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD QUESTIONNAIRE ON
THE FAMILY
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Ordinary Council of the Synod
of Bishops met on 24 and 25 February to discuss the results of the enquiry
opened in November 2013 with the distribution of a questionnaire on themes
relating to the family
to episcopal conferences around the world. There has been a very high
percentage of responses, and observations from individuals and groups from all
over the world have been added.
On the afternoon of 24 February the Council was presided over by the Holy
Father Francis, who also emphasised in this way the importance he attributes
to both the Synod structure as an expression of episcopal collegiality and the
theme that will be
considered by the upcoming Extraordinary Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary
Assembly of 2015.
The draft synthesis of the answers received was unanimously appreciated. It
enables the voice of the Church to be heard in all her components and in a
variety of contexts and situations, both with regard to the urgency of
proclaiming the Gospel of the
family with renewed zeal, and in relation to the challenges and difficulties
connected with family life and the crises it may face.
The observations made during the discussion will be considered in the drafting
of the Instrumentum laboris from which the work of the Synod will proceed. The
unitary character of the two stages expected for synodal reflection on the
family, so that at
the end of the Ordinary Synod proposals will be presented to the Holy Father,
on the basis of which he will prepare his Apostolic Exhortation.
The Ordinary Council was attended by the relator general, Cardinal Peter Erdo,
archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special secretary,
Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto.
During the meeting the Holy Father blessed the new wing of the seat of the
Secretariat General along with the Chapel and new offices.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed
Msgr. Jose Carlos de Souza Campos as bishop of Divinopolis (area 8,824,
population 780,000, Catholics 668,000, priests 101, religious 117), Brazil.
The bishop-elect was born in
Itauna, Brazil in 1968 and was ordained a priest in 1993. He holds a
licentiate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University,
and has held a number of pastoral roles, including priest of the parishes of
“Senhor Bom Jesus”
in Pedra do Indaia, “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” in Divinopolis,
“Nossa Senhora de Fatima” in Itauna and “Sant'Ana” in
Itauna; professor of philosophy in the “Sao Jose” diocesan
seminary, administrator of the
“Sao Judas Tadeu” parish in Divinopolis, and vicar general of the
diocese of Divinopolis. He has also served as representative of priests, and
member of the council of formators, the presbyteral council and the college
of
consultors, and professor of religious anthropology and fundamental theology
in various study centres. He is currently administrator of the diocese of
Divinopolis and priest of the Cathedral.
___________________________________________________________
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va
Il servizio del VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta
elettronica che ne hanno fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo
non si desidera continuare a riceverlo, si prega di visitare nostra pagina
dinizio:
http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
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VISnews140226
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 39DATE 26-02-2014
Summary: - ANOINTING OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT
OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS
HUMAN SUFFERING - APPEAL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA -
ST. GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE - HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE
FAMILY - OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS HUMAN
SUFFERING
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis continued his
catechesis on the Sacraments by speaking today about the anointing of the
sick, “which allows us to touch with our hands God's compassion for
mankind”. He explained
that in the past it was referred to as “extreme unction” as it was
intended as spiritual consolation when death was imminent. “Speaking of
the anointing of the sick helps us to broaden our view of the experience of
illness and
suffering, in the horizon of God's mercy”.
The parable of the Good Samaritan clearly expresses the mystery that is
celebrated by this Sacrament. “The Samaritan consoles the man who
suffers at the side of the road, tending to his wounds with oil and wine. The
oil recalls that which is
blessed by the Bishop every year, in the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday,
precisely for the anointing of the sick. The wine, instead, is a sign of
Christ's love and grace, which flow from His gift of His life for us. The Pope
explained that the sick person
is finally entrusted to “the Church, the Christian community”, to
whom “every day the Lord Jesus entrusts those who are afflicted, in body
and spirit, so that we may continue to lavish upon them, without measure, all
His love and His
salvation”.
“This mandate is confirmed explicitly and precisely in the Epistle of
St. James, in which he says, 'Is any among you sick? Let him call upon the
elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the
Lord'”, continued the Holy Father. “It is therefore a practice
that was already in evidence at the time of the Apostles. Indeed, Jesus had
taught his disciples to have His same predilection for the sick and the
suffering, and transmitted to
them the capacity and the task of continuing to give consolation and peace in
His name … through the special grace of this Sacrament. However, this
must not lead us to search obsessively for miracles or allow us the
presumption of always being
able to be healed; it gives us the assurance of Jesus' closeness to the sick
and the elderly – as all those above the age of 65 are able to receive
this Sacrament – as it is Jesus Himself Who comes towards
them”.
“But when someone is sick and we say, 'Let's call the priest to
come', it makes us think that it may bring bad luck, or perhaps the patient
will be afraid”, he continued, speaking off the cuff. “There is
perhaps the idea that when
one is sick and the priest arrives, he will be followed by the undertaker. But
this is not true! The priest comes to help the sick or the elderly, which is
why the visit is so important. It is necessary to call the priest to the home
of the sick and to
say: 'come, anoint him, bless him'. It is Jesus Himself Who arrives to console
the sick, to give him strength, to give him hope, to help him; also to forgive
his sins. And this is beautiful! And we must not think of this as a taboo,
because it is always
good to know that in moments of pain or sickness we are not alone; the priest
and those who are present during the anointing of the sick represent, indeed,
the entire Christian community who, as a single
body, gathers around those who suffer and their relatives, encouraging their
faith and hope, and supporting them with prayer and brotherly warmth. But the
greatest comfort derives from the fact that it is the Lord Jesus Himself who
is made present in
the Sacrament; He takes us by the hand and reminds us that we now belong to
Him and that nothing – not even sickness or death – can ever
separate us from Him”.
“Are we afraid of the habit of calling the priest to give this
Sacrament to the sick – I don't mean in the case of influenza that lasts
three or four days, but rather a serious illness – and to the elderly,
so that they can find the
strength from Jesus to go on?” asked the Pope, and concluded by urging
those present: “Let's do this”.
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Following today's catechesis
the Pope commented on the events of recent days in Venezuela, and made an
appeal for the cessation of violence and hostilities. He expressed his hope
that “that the
entire Venezuelan population, beginning with political and institutional
leaders, will take steps to ensure national reconciliation, through mutual
forgiveness and sincere dialogue, respecting truth and justice, and able to
face real issues for the
common good”.
The Holy Father gave the assurance of his prayers, in particular for those
who have lost their lives in the clashes, and their families, and invited the
faithful to raise prayers to God for the maternal intercession of Our Lady of
Coromoto so that
the country might once more find peace and harmony.
ST. GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – In his greetings in various
languages, the Pope mentioned that in two days' time the World Rare Diseases
Day will be celebrated, and he addressed the participants in the congress that
is to take place on
the day. “I hope that patients and their families will be adequately
supported on their difficult journey, at both a medical and a legislative
level”.
Pope Francis greeted, among others, participants in the SIGNIS World
Congress, the directors of the Polish radio who are meeting in Rome during
these days for their spiritual exercises, pilgrims from Iraq and Lebanon, and
the Legionaries of Christ
who have completed their General Chapter.
Before concluding, he commented that tomorrow is the liturgical memory of
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, “whose example helps you, dear young
people, to be enthusiastic disciples of Jesus, who inspires you, dear sick
people, to offer your
suffering in union with those of Christ; and stimulates you, dear newly-weds,
to make the Gospel the fundamental rule of your married life”.
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD QUESTIONNAIRE
ON THE FAMILY
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Ordinary Council of the
Synod of Bishops met on 24 and 25 February to discuss the results of the
enquiry opened in November 2013 with the distribution of a questionnaire on
themes relating to the
family to episcopal conferences around the world. There has been a very high
percentage of responses, and observations from individuals and groups from all
over the world have been added.
On the afternoon of 24 February the Council was presided over by the Holy
Father Francis, who also emphasised in this way the importance he attributes
to both the Synod structure as an expression of episcopal collegiality and the
theme that will be
considered by the upcoming Extraordinary Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary
Assembly of 2015.
The draft synthesis of the answers received was unanimously appreciated. It
enables the voice of the Church to be heard in all her components and in a
variety of contexts and situations, both with regard to the urgency of
proclaiming the Gospel of
the family with renewed zeal, and in relation to the challenges and
difficulties connected with family life and the crises it may face.
The observations made during the discussion will be considered in the
drafting of the Instrumentum laboris from which the work of the Synod will
proceed. The unitary character of the two stages expected for synodal
reflection on the family, so that
at the end of the Ordinary Synod proposals will be presented to the Holy
Father, on the basis of which he will prepare his Apostolic Exhortation.
The Ordinary Council was attended by the relator general, Cardinal Peter
Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special secretary,
Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto.
During the meeting the Holy Father blessed the new wing of the seat of the
Secretariat General along with the Chapel and new offices.
Vatican City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed
Msgr. Jose Carlos de Souza Campos as bishop of Divinopolis (area 8,824,
population 780,000, Catholics 668,000, priests 101, religious 117), Brazil.
The bishop-elect was born
in Itauna, Brazil in 1968 and was ordained a priest in 1993. He holds a
licentiate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University,
and has held a number of pastoral roles, including priest of the parishes of
“Senhor Bom
Jesus” in Pedra do Indaia, “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” in
Divinopolis, “Nossa Senhora de Fatima” in Itauna and
“Sant'Ana” in Itauna; professor of philosophy in the “Sao
Jose” diocesan seminary,
administrator of the “Sao Judas Tadeu” parish in Divinopolis, and
vicar general of the diocese of Divinopolis. He has also served as
representative of priests, and member of the council of formators, the
presbyteral council and the
college of consultors, and professor of religious anthropology and fundamental
theology in various study centres. He is currently administrator of the
diocese of Divinopolis and priest of the Cathedral.
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va Il servizio
del VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta elettronica che
ne hanno
fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo non si desidera continuare a
riceverlo, si prega di visitare nostra pagina dinizio: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/v
s/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
