The pope said...
From the Vatican Information Service:
"I am pleased to welcome you and your family to the Vatican and to receive the cordial greetings which you bring from President Bush," said the Holy Father. "The American people have always cherished the fundamental values of freedom, justice and equality. In a world marked by conflict, injustice and division, the human family needs to foster these values in its search for unity, peace and respect for the dignity of all. I encourage you and your fellow citizens to work, at home and abroad, for the growth of international cooperation and solidarity in the service of that peace which is the deepest aspiration of all men and women. Upon you and all the American people I cordially invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God."
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Monday, January 26, 2004
Pope Addresses Alarming Shortage of French Priests
From the Vatican Information Service:
Pope John Paul met with French bishops
this morning from the provinces of Toulouse and Montpellier as they conclude
their "ad limina" visit, and focused his talk to them on their concerns for
the future of the clergy in France "and the especially alarming situation
your country is going through" with the low number of priests and priestly
vocations.
He told the prelates that he "easily understands how you can feel
demoralized in the face of this situation, . but I invite you to hope and to
an ever more resolute commitment in favor of the priesthood." He noted that
"the crisis the Church is going through is in large part due to the
repercussions . of social changes, new forms of behavior, the loss of moral
and religious values and a widespread consumeristic attitude."
The Pope urged the bishops to clarify and then communicate the image of
a priest as a man whose sees the priesthood as "great and beautiful" and
demonstrates "enthusiasm for the mission of the Church." A priest's calling
is to serve his fellow man and it is here that he will find "joy and
equilibrium."
A risk for priests in modern society, said the Holy Father, is that "of
neglecting their spiritual life or allowing it to become weak. . The heavier
the burden, the more important it is to be close to the Lord in order to
find in Him the grace necessary for their pastoral service and their welcome
by the faithful."
He asked the bishops to be close to their priests and priests to be close
to each other "in order to develop their priestly fraternity and pastoral
collaborations." Priests must have a healthy, active community life in order
to sustain each other in their ministry and in problem solving.
"Participation in a priestly association is a precious aid" in this regard.
John Paul II then spoke of the "essential dimension" of priestly life,
"celibacy and chastity," saying this is a much misunderstood concept and too
often is seen as an "impediment" to service. "I invite priests to be
diligent in the face of worldly seductions and to regularly make an
examination of conscience in order to live ever more deeply in fidelity to
their commitment which conforms them to Christ, chaste and totally dedicated
to the Father." Young priests must be accompanied, he said, and suggested
having them accompanied by older, wiser priests and perhaps even
"appropriate psychological and spiritual aids."
"Growing de-Christianization is the major challenge at the moment," the
Holy Father said in concluding remarks, "and I ask you to underscore this,
mobilizing all the priests of your diocese in this regard." What is urgent
is "the evangelization of a world that not only does not know the basic
aspects of Christian dogma, . but has in great part lost even the memory of
the cultural elements of Christianity."
Pope John Paul met with French bishops
this morning from the provinces of Toulouse and Montpellier as they conclude
their "ad limina" visit, and focused his talk to them on their concerns for
the future of the clergy in France "and the especially alarming situation
your country is going through" with the low number of priests and priestly
vocations.
He told the prelates that he "easily understands how you can feel
demoralized in the face of this situation, . but I invite you to hope and to
an ever more resolute commitment in favor of the priesthood." He noted that
"the crisis the Church is going through is in large part due to the
repercussions . of social changes, new forms of behavior, the loss of moral
and religious values and a widespread consumeristic attitude."
The Pope urged the bishops to clarify and then communicate the image of
a priest as a man whose sees the priesthood as "great and beautiful" and
demonstrates "enthusiasm for the mission of the Church." A priest's calling
is to serve his fellow man and it is here that he will find "joy and
equilibrium."
A risk for priests in modern society, said the Holy Father, is that "of
neglecting their spiritual life or allowing it to become weak. . The heavier
the burden, the more important it is to be close to the Lord in order to
find in Him the grace necessary for their pastoral service and their welcome
by the faithful."
He asked the bishops to be close to their priests and priests to be close
to each other "in order to develop their priestly fraternity and pastoral
collaborations." Priests must have a healthy, active community life in order
to sustain each other in their ministry and in problem solving.
"Participation in a priestly association is a precious aid" in this regard.
John Paul II then spoke of the "essential dimension" of priestly life,
"celibacy and chastity," saying this is a much misunderstood concept and too
often is seen as an "impediment" to service. "I invite priests to be
diligent in the face of worldly seductions and to regularly make an
examination of conscience in order to live ever more deeply in fidelity to
their commitment which conforms them to Christ, chaste and totally dedicated
to the Father." Young priests must be accompanied, he said, and suggested
having them accompanied by older, wiser priests and perhaps even
"appropriate psychological and spiritual aids."
"Growing de-Christianization is the major challenge at the moment," the
Holy Father said in concluding remarks, "and I ask you to underscore this,
mobilizing all the priests of your diocese in this regard." What is urgent
is "the evangelization of a world that not only does not know the basic
aspects of Christian dogma, . but has in great part lost even the memory of
the cultural elements of Christianity."
Update on Father Benedict
From Father Glenn:
"Holy Mass was offered in Father's room this morning. He was reported to look well. For the first time he was propped up a bit. Since be cannot receive Holy Communion as yet, Fr. John touched the Sacred Host to his lips. No doubt, this is the longest period in which Father has not received the Holy Eucharist. Yet, he is now living the Eucharistic mystery by being a sacrifice of praise, broken and poured out. The graces given for him and for all he holds in his heart will be extraordinary - and perhaps already experienced.
Tomorrow (today), the operation on Father's right arm. "
"Holy Mass was offered in Father's room this morning. He was reported to look well. For the first time he was propped up a bit. Since be cannot receive Holy Communion as yet, Fr. John touched the Sacred Host to his lips. No doubt, this is the longest period in which Father has not received the Holy Eucharist. Yet, he is now living the Eucharistic mystery by being a sacrifice of praise, broken and poured out. The graces given for him and for all he holds in his heart will be extraordinary - and perhaps already experienced.
Tomorrow (today), the operation on Father's right arm. "
Effects of Fast Food on You
A film about what eating at a fast food restaurant can do to you in just a month. I would only add that when I'm being good and exercising daily, if I have a meal at any fast food restaurant I can feel its effects for the rest of the day.
From Entertainment News - Film records effects of eating only McDonald's for a month:
"It is called Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Portions and it is a sometimes comic but serious look at America's addiction to fast food.
Spurlock, a tall New Yorker of usually cast-iron constitution, made himself the guinea pig in this dogged investigation into the effects of fast food on the body. He ate only at McDonald's for a month - three meals, every day - and took a camera crew along to record it. If a server offered to super-size his order, he was obliged to accept - and to ingest everything, gherkins and all.
Neither Spurlock, 33, nor the three doctors who agreed to monitor his health during the experiment were prepared for the degree of ruin it would wreak on his body. Within days, he was vomiting up his burgers and battling with headaches and depression. And his sex drive vanished.
When Spurlock had finished, his liver, overwhelmed by saturated fats, had virtually turned to pate. 'The liver test was the most shocking thing,' said Dr Daryl Isaacs, who joined the team to watch over him. 'It became very, very abnormal.'
Spurlock put on nearly 12kg over the period and his cholesterol level leapt from a respectable 165 to 230. He told the New York Post: 'I got desperately ill. My face was splotchy and I had this huge gut, which I've never had in my life ... It was amazing - and really frightening.' And his girlfriend, a vegan chef? 'She was completely disgusted by me,' he said. "
From Entertainment News - Film records effects of eating only McDonald's for a month:
"It is called Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Portions and it is a sometimes comic but serious look at America's addiction to fast food.
Spurlock, a tall New Yorker of usually cast-iron constitution, made himself the guinea pig in this dogged investigation into the effects of fast food on the body. He ate only at McDonald's for a month - three meals, every day - and took a camera crew along to record it. If a server offered to super-size his order, he was obliged to accept - and to ingest everything, gherkins and all.
Neither Spurlock, 33, nor the three doctors who agreed to monitor his health during the experiment were prepared for the degree of ruin it would wreak on his body. Within days, he was vomiting up his burgers and battling with headaches and depression. And his sex drive vanished.
When Spurlock had finished, his liver, overwhelmed by saturated fats, had virtually turned to pate. 'The liver test was the most shocking thing,' said Dr Daryl Isaacs, who joined the team to watch over him. 'It became very, very abnormal.'
Spurlock put on nearly 12kg over the period and his cholesterol level leapt from a respectable 165 to 230. He told the New York Post: 'I got desperately ill. My face was splotchy and I had this huge gut, which I've never had in my life ... It was amazing - and really frightening.' And his girlfriend, a vegan chef? 'She was completely disgusted by me,' he said. "
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Latest Update on Father Benedict
From Letter Father Glenn:
"I just got off the phone with Fr. Sylvester. The operation, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed until Monday. Not because of any problem with Father, but probably because of another emergency. Father is still awake and engaged. Father Sylvester told me Father was 'annoyed' when he heard his surgery was postponed! Come on, Fr. B., you relax, we pray, and you'll be out of bed before you know it!
I was also told he was presented with his religious habit with its wooden rosary; both will be close by beckoning him to better health. The relics are now suspended in a plastic bag near his head so he can see them and seek the intercession of his friends. Someone sent a relic of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, Fr. Benedict's namesake. My God, it's getting crowded in that room - just like Fr. B. likes it! "
"I just got off the phone with Fr. Sylvester. The operation, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed until Monday. Not because of any problem with Father, but probably because of another emergency. Father is still awake and engaged. Father Sylvester told me Father was 'annoyed' when he heard his surgery was postponed! Come on, Fr. B., you relax, we pray, and you'll be out of bed before you know it!
I was also told he was presented with his religious habit with its wooden rosary; both will be close by beckoning him to better health. The relics are now suspended in a plastic bag near his head so he can see them and seek the intercession of his friends. Someone sent a relic of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, Fr. Benedict's namesake. My God, it's getting crowded in that room - just like Fr. B. likes it! "
Saturday, January 24, 2004
The Book that Inspired the Gibson Movie "The Passion of the Christ"
Hint: It wasn't the Gospels. I took some heat for mentioning this over on Amy's blog the other day. Some said "you haven't seen the movie, so how do you know Anne Catherine Emmerich's revelations were the inspiration behind the movie?" Well lo and behold, today I get an email from the "fans of the Passion" web site and here is what it says (from the email, not the website linked above):
WHAT BOOK INSPIRED MEL GIBSON?
Mel Gibson was inspired to make the film because of a book that he accidentally stumbled upon. The book is called "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ." To find out more about the book and to order it, please visit our website. We even have an audio quote of him talking about the book and how he first came to think about making the film over 10 years ago:
If you have never read the book, no need to buy it, you can read it online. It is very moving. If you are not Catholic, you are in for a surprise. Because you are going to find that Jesus clearly starts the Catholic Church in these revelations. Let me quote a piece to give you a sample from the beginning of the Passion from the account of the Last Supper as Our Lord revealed it to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich:
Jesus gave his Apostles some private instructions; he told them how they were to preserve the Blessed Sacrament in memory of him, even to the end of the world; he taught them the necessary forms for making use of and communicating it, and in what manner they were, by degrees, to teach and publish this mystery; finally he told them when they were to receive what remained of the consecrated Elements, when to give some to the Blessed Virgin, and how to consecrate, themselves, after he should have sent them the Divine Comforter. He then spoke concerning the priesthood, the sacred unction, and the preparation of the Chrism and HolyOils.* He had there three boxes, two of which contained a mixture of oil and balm. He taught them how to make this mixture, what parts of the body were to be anointed with them, and upon what occasions. I remember, among other things, that he mentioned a case in which the Holy Eucharist could not be administered; perhaps what he said had reference to Extreme Unction, for my recollections on this point are not very clear. He spoke of different kinds of anointing, and in particular of that of kings, and he said that even wicked kings who were anointed, derived from it especial powers. He put ointment and oil in the empty box, and mixed them together, but I cannot say for certain whether it was at this moment, or at the time of the consecration of the bread, that he blessed the oil.
*It was not without surprise that the editor, some years after these things had been related by Sister Emmerich, read, in the Latin edition of the Roman Catechism (Mayence, Muller), in reference to the Sacrament of Confirmation, that, according to the tradition of the holy Pope Fabian, Jesus taught his Apostles in what manner they were to prepare the Holy Chrism, after the institution of the Blessed Sacrament. The Pope says expressly, in the 54th paragraph of his Second Epistle to the Bishops of the East: ' Our predecessors received from the Apostles and delivered to us that our Saviour Jesus Christ, after having made the Last Supper with his Apostles and washed their feet, taught them how to prepare the Holy Chrism. '
WHAT BOOK INSPIRED MEL GIBSON?
Mel Gibson was inspired to make the film because of a book that he accidentally stumbled upon. The book is called "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ." To find out more about the book and to order it, please visit our website. We even have an audio quote of him talking about the book and how he first came to think about making the film over 10 years ago:
If you have never read the book, no need to buy it, you can read it online. It is very moving. If you are not Catholic, you are in for a surprise. Because you are going to find that Jesus clearly starts the Catholic Church in these revelations. Let me quote a piece to give you a sample from the beginning of the Passion from the account of the Last Supper as Our Lord revealed it to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich:
Jesus gave his Apostles some private instructions; he told them how they were to preserve the Blessed Sacrament in memory of him, even to the end of the world; he taught them the necessary forms for making use of and communicating it, and in what manner they were, by degrees, to teach and publish this mystery; finally he told them when they were to receive what remained of the consecrated Elements, when to give some to the Blessed Virgin, and how to consecrate, themselves, after he should have sent them the Divine Comforter. He then spoke concerning the priesthood, the sacred unction, and the preparation of the Chrism and HolyOils.* He had there three boxes, two of which contained a mixture of oil and balm. He taught them how to make this mixture, what parts of the body were to be anointed with them, and upon what occasions. I remember, among other things, that he mentioned a case in which the Holy Eucharist could not be administered; perhaps what he said had reference to Extreme Unction, for my recollections on this point are not very clear. He spoke of different kinds of anointing, and in particular of that of kings, and he said that even wicked kings who were anointed, derived from it especial powers. He put ointment and oil in the empty box, and mixed them together, but I cannot say for certain whether it was at this moment, or at the time of the consecration of the bread, that he blessed the oil.
*It was not without surprise that the editor, some years after these things had been related by Sister Emmerich, read, in the Latin edition of the Roman Catechism (Mayence, Muller), in reference to the Sacrament of Confirmation, that, according to the tradition of the holy Pope Fabian, Jesus taught his Apostles in what manner they were to prepare the Holy Chrism, after the institution of the Blessed Sacrament. The Pope says expressly, in the 54th paragraph of his Second Epistle to the Bishops of the East: ' Our predecessors received from the Apostles and delivered to us that our Saviour Jesus Christ, after having made the Last Supper with his Apostles and washed their feet, taught them how to prepare the Holy Chrism. '
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