* Original message posted in: VATICAN.   
   * Crossposted in: IN_CATHOLIC.   
   VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
      
   TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 169   
   ENGLISH   
   WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2010   
      
   SUMMARY:   
      
   - Matilda of Hackeborn: Liturgy and Spirituality   
   - Prayers for Nigeria and Haiti, Beginning of Marian Month   
   - Theme for World Day of Social Communications   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   MATILDA OF HACKEBORN: LITURGY AND SPIRITUALITY   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 29 SEP 2010 (VIS) - St. Matilda of Hackeborn (1241/1242 -   
   1298), one of the outstanding figures of the German convent of Helfta, was   
   the subject of the Holy Father's catechesis during his general audience,   
   which took place this morning in St. Peter's Square.   
      
     Matilda was daughter of the barons of Hackeborn. At an early age she   
   entered the convent of Helfta where her sister, St. Gertrude, was abbess for   
   forty years. Gertrude gave "a particular imprint to the spirituality of the   
   convent, causing it to flourish as a centre of mysticism and culture, a   
   place of scientific and theological education". The nuns of Helfta enjoyed   
   "a high level of intellectual learning which enabled them to cultivate a   
   spirituality founded on Sacred Scripture, the liturgy and patristic   
   tradition, and on the Rule and spirituality of the Cistercians".   
      
     The main source for Matilda's life is a book written by her sister and   
   entitled "The Book of Special Grace", in which she is described as   
   possessing exalted natural and spiritual qualities such as "science,   
   intelligence, knowledge of human literature, and a voice of great beauty".   
      
     While still very young Matilda became the head of the convent school of   
   Helfta, and later director of the choir and mistress of novices. She also   
   possessed "the divine gift of mystic contemplation" and was "a teacher of   
   faithful doctrine and great humility, a counsellor, a consoler and a guide   
   in discernment". For this reason "many people, within the convent but also   
   from elsewhere, ... testified that this holy virgin had freed them from   
   their sufferings and that they had never known such consolation as they had   
   with her", said Benedict XVI.   
      
     "During her long life in the convent, Matilda was afflicted by continuous   
   and intense suffering, to which she added her own great penance for the   
   conversion of sinners. In this way she shared in the Lord's passion until   
   the end of her life.   
      
     "Prayer and contemplation", the Pope added. "were the vital 'humus' of her   
   life. It was there that her revelations, her teachings, her service to   
   others, and her journey in faith and love had their roots and their context.   
   ... Of the liturgical prayers, Matilda gave particular emphasis to the   
   canonical hours, and to the celebration of Mass especially Holy Communion.   
   ... Her visions, her teachings, and the events of her life are described   
   with expressions evocative of liturgical and biblical language. Thus do we   
   come to appreciate her profound knowledge of Sacred Scripture, which was her   
   daily bread".   
      
     This saint, "allowing herself to be guided by Sacred Scripture and   
   nourished by the Eucharistic bread, followed a path of intimate union with   
   the Lord, always maintaining complete fidelity to the Christ. For us too,   
   this is a powerful call to intensify our friendship with the Lord,   
   especially through daily prayer and attentive, faithful and active   
   participation in Mass. The liturgy is a great school of spirituality", the   
   Pope concluded.   
   AG/                                                                     VIS   
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   PRAYERS FOR NIGERIA AND HAITI, BEGINNING OF MARIAN MONTH   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 29 SEP 2010 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience,   
   the Pope mentioned "the grave humanitarian crisis which has recently struck   
   northern Nigeria, where some two million people have been forced to flee   
   their homes because of severe flooding. To all those affected I express my   
   spiritual closeness and I assure them of my prayers", he said.   
      
     He then addressed some remarks to a group of pilgrims from Haiti assuring   
   them of his continuing "prayers to God to bring Haitians relief in their   
   misery".   
      
     Noting then that Friday marks the beginning of the Marian month of   
   October, he encouraged the faithful "to learn from the Virgin of Nazareth   
   always to be ready to fulfil the will of God".   
   AG/                                                                     VIS   
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   THEME FOR WORLD DAY OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 29 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was the theme chosen by   
   the Pope for the forty-fifth World Day of Social Communications: "Truth,   
   proclamation and authenticity of life in the digital age". His Message for   
   the Day will be published on 24 January 2011, feast of St. Francis of Sales,   
   patron of journalists.   
      
     An English-language note released by the Pontifical Council for Social   
   Communications explains that the theme is "to be understood as focusing on   
   the human person who is at the heart of all communicative processes. Even in   
   an age that is largely dominated, and at times conditioned, by new   
   technologies, the value of personal witness remains essential.   
      
     "To approach the truth and to take on the task of sharing it", the note   
   adds, "requires the 'guarantee' of an authenticity of life from those who   
   work in the media, and especially from Catholic journalists; an authenticity   
   of life that is no less required in a digital age.   
      
     "Technology, on its own, cannot establish or enhance a communicator's   
   credibility, nor can it serve as a source of the values which guide   
   communication. The truth must remain the firm and unchanging point of   
   reference of new media and the digital world, opening up new horizons of   
   information and knowledge. Ideally, it is the pursuit of truth which   
   constitutes the fundamental objective of all those who work in the media".   
   CCS/                                                                    VIS   
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    - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3)    
   --- timEd/2 1.10.y2k+   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS-Meridian, MS-bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)