In the presentation, it was shown that bullying on the Internet is a new form   
   of violence, and the related issue of the time the internet subtracts from   
   family relations emerged. Alongside this there arose the question of   
   adolescents and young people living in a condition of being continually   
   "connected", a problem about which we all complain, and it was suggested that   
   this might have its origins precisely in parents not spending enough time with   
   them, and in not taking the time to listen to them. It was explained that   
   numerous sociological studies exist, examining the risks linked to the rapid   
   development of information and communication technology, a phenomenon that   
   requires parents to act as mediators of the technological experience for their   
   children. Therefore, there are examples that show that when family   
   relationships are positive it is more likely that the potential of social   
   networks lead to greater inter- and intra-generational cohesion, and where   
   family relationships are poor or conflictual, the social networks more easily   
   facilitate individualistic routes and forms of surrogate relationship. It was   
   also mentioned that, in the globalised world in which we live, it is   
   increasingly common for family members to live far from each other, and   
   therefore social networks may constitute an important vehicle for information   
   and entertainment. However, it is essential to remember that online connection   
   is accompanied by "real", offline relationships, and that we cannot live   
   alone, wrapped up in ourselves.   
    Faced with these situations, it was noted that the Church cannot be excluded:   
   emphasis was placed on the opportunities that the Web offers for   
   evangelisation or spiritual assistance, and the need for pastoral efforts in   
   the formation of families. In this way, Cardinal Turkson highlighted that the   
   Holy See, through the ratification of treaties on the rights of the Child,   
   expresses its constant concern for the well-being of children and their   
   families, in the hope that these agreements are able to guarantee the   
   protection of the rights and interests of children, whom St. John Paul II   
   described as a precious treasure, given to each generation as a challenge to   
   its wisdom and humanity.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Pope Francis pays homage to the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna   
    Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, the Solemnity of the   
   Immaculate Conception, the Holy Father went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major   
   to pray before the image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and then to Piazza di   
   Spagna where he carried out the traditional act of veneration of Mary   
   Immaculate. For the occasion, Francis composed and recited a prayer, the full   
   text of which is published below:   
    "Mary our Mother, today the People of God celebrate you and venerate you as   
   Immaculate, preserved forever from the stain of sin.   
    Accept the homage I offer you in the name of the Church in Rome and   
   throughout the world.   
    Knowing that you, who are our Mother, are totally free from sin, is of great   
   comfort to us.   
    Knowing that evil has no power over you, fills us with hope and strength in   
   the daily struggle we have to face against the threats of the evil one.   
    But we are not alone in this struggle, we are not orphans because Jesus,   
   before dying on the Cross, gave you to us as our Mother.   
    Even though we are sinners, we are still your children, children of the   
   Immaculate, called to that holiness that shines in you by the grace of God   
   since the beginning.   
    Inspired by this hope, today we invoke your maternal protection for us, our   
   families, this city and the whole world.   
    Through your intercession, may the power of God's love that preserved you   
   from original sin, free humanity from every form of spiritual and material   
   slavery and make God's plan of salvation be victorious in both hearts and in   
   history.   
    May grace prevail over pride in us too, your children.   
    May we become merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.   
    During this time leading to the celebration of Jesus' birth, teach us to go   
   against the flow: to strip ourselves, to be humble and giving, to listen and   
   be silent, to go out of ourselves, giving space to the beauty of God, source   
   of true joy.   
    Pray for us, our Immaculate Mother!".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Angelus: like Mary, welcome grace and correspond with faith   
    Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - "Everything is given freely by God, all   
   is grace, all is a gift of His love for us". This, said Pope Francis, is the   
   message of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, appearing at the window   
   of his study to pray the Angelus at midday with the faithful gathered in St.   
   Peter's Square.   
    The Holy Father explained that in the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel   
   called Mary "full of grace", since "in her there was no space for sin: God had   
   always chosen her as the mother of Jesus, and so He protected her from   
   original sin. Mary corresponds to this grace and abandons herself to it,   
   saying to the Angel, 'Be it done to me according to your word'. She does not   
   say 'I will do it according to your word', but rather, 'Be it done to me...'.   
   And the Word was made flesh in her womb. We too are asked to listen to God Who   
   speaks to us and to accept His will; according to the logic of the Gospel,   
   nothing is more active and fruitful than to listen and receive the Word of the   
   Lord".   
    The attitude of Mary of Nazareth "shows us that being comes before doing, and   
   we must let God act in order to truly become what He wants us to be. It is He   
   Who works so many marvels in us. Mary is receptive, but not passive. Just as,   
   at a physical level, she receives the power of the Holy Spirit but then gives   
   flesh and blood to the Son of God Who grows in her, she also receives grace   
   and corresponds with faith, on a spiritual level. This mystery of the   
   acceptance of grace, that in Mary by unique privilege was without the obstacle   
   of sin, is a possibility for all. ... As Mary is greeted by St. Elizabeth as   
   'blessed among women', so we too have always been 'blessed', that is, loved,   
   and therefore 'chosen first from the creation of the world to be holy and   
   immaculate'. Mary was preserved, whereas we have been saved thanks to baptism   
   and faith: all of us, however, Mary and ourselves, through Christ".   
    "Faced with love, faced with mercy, with the divine grace poured into our   
   hearts, just one consequence is imposed: gratuity. None of us can buy   
   salvation! Salvation is a gift freely given by the Lord, a free gift from God   
   who comes to us and abides in us. In the same way as we have received his gift   
   freely, so we are called to freely give, in imitation of Mary, who straight   
   after having received the Annunciation of the Angel, goes to share the gift of   
   her fertility with her relative Elizabeth. Because, if all has been given,   
   everything must be given again in turn. How? By letting the Holy Spirit make   
   of us a gift for others. The Spirit is a gift for us and we, through the   
   Spirit, must be a gift for others and enable the Holy Spirit to make us into   
   instruments of acceptance, instruments of reconciliation, instruments of   
   forgiveness".   
    "If our existence is allowed to be transformed by the Lord's grace, so that   
   the Lord's grace may transform us, we cannot keep for ourselves the light that   
   comes from His face, but must instead pass it on so that it may illuminate   
   others".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope lights the tallest Christmas tree in the world   
    Vatican City, 8 December 2014 (VIS) - Every year on this day in Gubbio, the   
   Italian city where St. Francis tamed the wolf, the tallest Christmas tree in   
   the world is lit up. Situated on the slopes of Mount Ingino, it is made up of   
   dots of light of different types: 250 green dots trace a silhouette more than   
   650 metres high, which contains more than 300 lights of various colours. It is   
   topped with a star of 1000 square metres, made up of 200 white lights. At dusk   
   yesterday, 7 December, the Holy Father illuminated the tree from the Vatican   
   using a tablet, and he greeted those in attendance in Gubbio.   
    "In switching on the light of the Nativity scene, we wish for the light of   
   Christ to be in us. A Christmas without light is not Christmas. Let there be   
   light in the soul, in the heart; let there be forgiveness to others; let there   
   be no hostilities, which are dark. Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus.   
   This is my wish for all of you, when you turn on the light of the crib.   
    "Many thanks for your gift, it is beautiful. Also I give to you my warmest   
   wishes, peace and happiness.   
    "If you have something dark in your soul, ask the Lord for forgiveness.   
   Christmas is a great opportunity to cleanse the soul. Do not fear, the priest   
   is merciful, forgiving all in the name of God, because God forgives everything.   
    "May there be light in your hearts, in your families, in your cities. And   
   now, with this wish, let us turn on the light.   
    "Blessed be God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Merry   
   Christmas and pray for me".   
      
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    Angelus: be messengers of God's consolation   
    Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father appeared at the window   
   of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace at midday today to pray the   
   Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian   
   prayer, Francis spoke about the second Sunday of Advent as a "wonderful time   
   that reawakens in us the expectation of Christ's return and the memory of his   
   historic coming. It is the Lord's invitation as expressed by the prophet   
   Isaiah: 'Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God'".   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)