Subject: VISnews 111209
Organization: VIS
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
TWENTY FIRST YEAR - N. 216
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2011
SUMMARY 8 - 9 DECEMBER:
- Pope's Three Wishes for Christmas
- The Pope Entrusts Suffering to Mary, Mother of Redemption
- Church Need Fear Only the Sin of Her Members
- Accord Between the Holy See and Mozambique
- Other Pontifical Acts
___________________________________________________________
POPE'S THREE WISHES FOR CHRISTMAS
VATICAN CITY, 9 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Late Wednesday afternoon, 7 December,
thanks to a "tablet" connected to the power grid, Benedict XVI lit the
largest Christmas tree in the world from the papal apartments. This
electronic "tree" is located in the Italian town of Gubbio. Before flipping
the switch he addressed a few words - by television - to those attending the
ceremony.
"Before lighting the tree", he said, "I would like to express three
wishes. This Christmas tree is formed on the slopes of Mt. Ingino at whose
summit is found the basilica of Gubbio's patron saint, St. Ubaldo. When we
look at it our eyes are lifted up, raised toward the sky, toward the world
of God".
"My first wish, therefore, is that our gaze, that of our minds and our
hearts, not rest only on the horizon of this world, on its material things,
but that it in some way, like this tree that tends upward, be directed
toward God. God never forgets us but He also asks that we don't forget Him".
"The Gospel recounts that, on the holy night of Christ's birth, a light
enveloped the shepherds, announcing a great joy to them: the birth of Jesus,
the one who brings us light, or better, the One who is the true light that
illuminates all. The great tree that I will light up shortly overlooks the
city of Gubbio and will illuminate the darkness of the night with its
light".
"My second wish is that we recall that we also need a light to illumine
the path of our lives and to give us hope, especially in this time in which
we feel so greatly the weight of difficulties, of problems, of suffering,
and it seems that we are enshrouded in a veil of darkness. But what light
can truly illuminate our hearts and give us a firm and sure hope? It is the
Child whom we contemplate on Christmas, in a poor and humble manger, because
He is the Lord who draws near to each of us and asks that we reeceive Him
anew in our lives, asks us to want Him, to trust in Him, to feel His
presence, that He is accompanying us, sustaining us, and helping us".
"But this great tree is formed of many lights. My final wish is that each
of us contribute something of that light to the spheres in which we live:
our families, our jobs, our neighbourhoods, towns, and cities. That each of
us be a light for those who are at our sides; that we leave aside the
selfishness that, so often, closes our hearts and leads us to think only of
ourselves; that we may pay greater attention to others, that we may love
them more. Any small gesture of goodness is like one of the lights of this
great tree: together with other lights it illuminates the darkness of the
night, even of the darkest night".
BXVI/ VIS
20111207 (490)
THE POPE ENTRUSTS SUFFERING TO MARY, MOTHER OF REDEMPTION
VATICAN CITY, 9 DEC 2011 (VIS) - On midday on the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study in
the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the pilgrims and
faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Before the Marian prayer the Pope recalled that blessed Pope Pius IX, in
his Apostolic Letter Ineffabilis Deus of 1854, affirmed that Maria "'by the
special grace and privilege of omnipotent God and in view of the merits of
Jesus Christ as the saviour of mankind, remained immune from any stain of
original sin'. This truth of faith is found in the Archangel Gabriel's words
to her: "Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you."' The phrase "full
of grace" indicates the glorious work of the love of God, which restores to
us our life and liberty, lost in sin, through his only Son incarnate, dead
and resurrected".
"Therefore, since the 2nd century in the East and in the West", continued
the Holy Father, "the Church has invoked and celebrated the Virgin whose
acceptance brought heaven closer to earth, generating God and nourishing our
lives".
"We too are recipients of this 'fullness of grace', which it is our duty
to enable to flourish in our lives, since 'the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ', writes St. Paul, 'has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in
the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of
the world to be holy and blameless ... He destined us for adoption as his
children through Jesus Christ'. We receive this gift through the Church, on
the day of our Baptism. In this regard, St. Hildegard of Bingen writes, 'The
Church is, therefore, the virgin mother of all Christians. It is the secret
strength of the Holy Spirit that conceives and gives birth to them, offering
them to God so they might be called children of God'", concluded the Pope.
Following the Angelus, Benedict XVI greeted the members of Italian
Catholic Action who, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception renew their
adherence to this association, and stated that Catholic Action is "a school
of sanctity and evangelisation: I wish it every success in its educative and
apostolic commitment".
He also greeted the Spanish-speaking pilgrims present, urging them to
entrust to "the Mother of Redemption ... the intentions and wishes inspired
in us during Advent, remembering the needs and suffering of those who are
deprived of their freedom, are without work, or are experiencing moments of
difficulty or pain".
ANG/ VIS
20111209 (431)
CHURCH NEED FEAR ONLY THE SIN OF HER MEMBERS
VATICAN CITY, 9 DEC 2011 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, on the Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception, Benedict XVI made his way to Piazza di Spagna in
Rome for the traditional act of veneration of the image of the Virgin Mary
on the column situated in front of the Embassy of Spain to the Holy See.
During his journey, the Holy Father stopped briefly at the Church of the
Most Holy Trinity, where he greeted the members of the Via Condotti
Storeowners Association. Once in the square, the Pope began by offering a
prayer, followed by a reading from the Revelation of St. John, a homily and
the offering of a floral tribute to the image of the Virgin.
In his homily, the Pope explained that the text from the Revelation, which
speaks of a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon at her feet and a
garland of twelve stars upon her head, refers both to the Virgin and to the
Church. In part, "the woman of the Apocalypse is Mary ... the symbol of the
luminous robe clearly expressed a condition referring to Mary in all her
being: She is 'full of grace', filled with the love of God".
The moon beneath her feet symbolises death: "Mary is fully linked to the
victory of Jesus Christ, her Son, over sin and death... just as death has no
power over Christ resurrected, so by the grace and singular privilege of
omnipotent God, Mary overcomes death. This is made manifest in the two great
mysteries of her existence: at the beginning, the conception without
original sin, the mystery we celebrate today; and at the end, her assumption
in body and soul in Heaven".
The garland of twelve stars "represents the twelve tribes of Israel, and
indicates that Mary is at the centre among the people of God, in full
communion with the saints. And thus, this image ... brings us to the second
grand interpretation of the celestial sign of the "woman clothed with the
sun": as well as representing the Virgin, this sign indicates the Church.
She is with child, in the sense that she carries Christ in her womb and will
give birth to him on earth ... and it is precisely for this reason, that She
carries Christ, that the Church meets the opposition of a fierce adversary,
represented by a dragon which seeks to destroy the son, but in vain as
Jesus, through death and resurrection, ascends to God. Therefore the dragon,
defeated once and for all in heaven, turns to attack the woman - the Church
- in the desert of earth. But in every age the light and strength of God
have supported the Church ... and thus, through all the trials She
encounters over time and all over the world, the Church suffers persecution
but is always victorious".
The only evil that the Church must fear is that sin of Her members. While
indeed Mary was Immaculate, free of any stain of sin, the Church is holy but
at the same time marked by our sins. Therefore the People of God, as
pilgrims throughout time, turn to their celestial Mother and seek Her help;
they ask that She might accompany them on their path of faith, that She
might encourage them in their commitment to Christian life and sustain their
hopes. We need this support, especially in this difficult moment for Italy,
for Europe, and for many parts of the world. Mary helps us to see that there
is light beyond the mantle of fog that appears to obscure reality.
BXVI-HOMAGE/ VIS 20111209
(604)
ACCORD BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND MOZAMBIQUE
VATICAN CITY, 9 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Secretariat of State today published a
communique regarding the signing of an agreement between the Holy See and
the Republic of Mozambique, which took place on 7 December at the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the latter African country.
The communique states that "the agreement, the first of its type signed by
a southern African country, consolidates the existing links of friendship
and collaboration between the two Parties. It is composed of a Preamble and
twenty-three Articles, which regulate various aspects, including the
juridical status of the Catholic church in Mozambique, the recognition of
academic qualifications and canonical marriage, and the fiscal regime".
The Accord was signed on the part of the Holy See by Archbishop Antonio
Arcari, Apostolic Nuncio in Mozambique, and on the part of the Republic of
Mozambique, by Dr Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi, Minister for Foreign Affairs
and Cooperation.
SS/ VIS
20111209 (160)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 9 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Msgr. Nunzio Galantino, as bishop of the diocese of Cassano
all'Jonio (area 1,311, population 107,600, Catholics 106,000, priests 87,
permanent deacons 3, religious 77), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in
Cerignola, Italy in 1948 and ordained a priest in 1972. From 1972 to 1977 he
was Vice-Rector of the Seminary of Foggia and Assistant of Catholic Action
(Youth); from 1974 to 1977 he was a Professor at the Pontifical Regional
Seminary of Benevento; from 1977 he was a Priest in San Francesco d'Assisi
in Cerignola; Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Care; Episcopal Vicar for Culture
and Continuing Education; from 1977 he was Professor of Anthropology at the
Faculty of Theology for Southern Italy; from 2004 he was Head of National
Service for the Higher Study of Theology and Religious Science at the C.E.I.
He has until now served as Priest of the parish of San Francesco d'Assisi in
Cerignola, and Episcopal Vicar for Culture and Continuing Education.
- Appointed Msgr. Jeremiah Madimetja Masela, Apostolic Administrator sede
vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, as bishop of the diocese of Polokwane
(area 69,533, population 2,624,000, Catholics 93,500, priests 28, permanent
deacons 7, religious 52), South Africa. He succeeds Bishop Mogale Paul
Nkumishe, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the
Holy Father accepted, in accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of
Canon Law.
- Appointed Bishop Benedito Araujo, Co-adjutor of the diocese of
Guajara-Mirim, Brazil, as bishop of the same diocese (area 89,700,
population 233,000, Catholics 140,000, priests 21, permanent deacons 1,
religious 63). He succeeds Bishop Geraldo Verdier, whose resignation from
the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, in
accordance with canon 401 para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.
NER:RE/ VIS 20111209 (291)
_____________________________________________
For further information and research of documents visit:
www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va
VIS english (text format) sends its news service only to those who have
requested it. If you no longer wish to receive the service, visit the
following link and click on calcel. Don't forget to select language and text
format:
http://press.catholica.va/news_services/press/vis/englinde.php
COPYRIGHT: The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service
may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
|
