Pope Francis: 'Person of the Year'

2013-12-11 Vatican Radio Pope Francis has been named Time Magazine's ‘Person of the Year’ for 2013. He is the third Roman Pontiff to receive this honour after John XXIII in 1962 and John Paul II in 1994. The Head of the Holy See’s Press Office, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, issued the following statement: “The decision didn’t come as...

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Pope Francis: Friday homily focuses on scandal of preaching

Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the Vatican this Friday morning, focusing his remarks on the attitude of some Christians who seem to be “allergic” to preachers and overly critical of those who proclaim the Gospel, suggesting that they are often afraid of letting the Holy Spirit into their...

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Communion of Saints; Praying through Mary

Praying through Mary is not expressly written in the Bible, it is rather an outcome of a mature understanding of the "Communion of Saints". We the Church believe, as taught by St Paul, that "we are one body, one Spirit in Christ". To the mind of the Church, this has a certain literalness in terms of religious actions. So that when you do good, the...

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Points to take in about the Blessed Trinity

1. There are only 3 Persons in God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.2. They possess equal Power and Majesty; Co-eternal (none existed before the other, none is more powerful)3. God is in constant work inside and outside Him. (Work here means "Activity" not Labour)4. The Work within (Called: OPERA AD INTRA) is Father eternally begetting the Son, and...

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Proof of the Immaculate Conception

A good sister asked for "evidence" for the validity of the immaculate conception dogma.We briefly Explained:Evidence is simply that God dwells in the holiest of places and if he ever came into the womb of Mary (which he did), he must have prepared it free from every stain of sin. Her womb, like heaven became unstained with even the slightest taint...

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Answer to a Protestant on Absolution of Sins by Priests

 The Priest Forgives sins through the Power of Christ acting in him; he is a sharer in the Divinity of Christ. You say i have spoken abomination? I tell you, you yourself do not understand the meaning of Sacaramental Power. At baptism, a human being acts in the Name of Christ and His Church in infusing divine life in an infant. You say the...

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Eucharistic Miracle Siena, Italy -- 1730

The second Eucharistic miracle of Siena has roots in the 13th century when special services and festivities were introduced in honor of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. These observances became traditional and were still conducted at the time of the miracle. So it was that on August 14, 1730, during devotions for the vigil...

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Cardinal Bartolucci dies age 96

Pope Francis has sent the following telegram of condolence to the family of Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, who died today at 96 years of age. He was a former director of the Sistine Chapel Choir who was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of 20 November 2010. “Upon receiving the news of the death of the venerated Cardinal...

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First contribution of 150,000 dollars for aid to the Phipippines

Pope Francis, through the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” has decided to send an aid contribution of 150,000 dollars to assist the population of the Philippines, devastated by the passage of the typhoon Haiyan which violently struck the country this weekend, in particular affecting the islands of Leyte and Samar and causing, according to unconfirmed...

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Pope Francis: heartfelt solidarity with those affected by Philippines typhoon

Pope Francis has sent a telegram of condolence to the President of the Philippines, expressing his solidarity with those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.  The typhoon, one of the worst on record, is feared to have killed as many as 10.000 people on Leyte island, which bore the brunt of the storm. Please find below the full text of the telegram,...

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Pope Francis: the Holy Spirit renews our lives

 In his Mass on Saturday morning at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said being Christian “does not mean doing things, but allowing oneself to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.” The Pope emphasised that even in the life of the Church there are “ancient structures” to be renewed without fear. “New wine in new wineskins.” In his homily, Pope...

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Encyclical Letter Lumen Fidei of the Supreme Pontiff Francis

ENCYCLICAL LETTERLUMEN FIDEIOF THE SUPREME PONTIFFFRANCISTO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONSCONSECRATED PERSONSAND THE LAY FAITHFULON FAITH 1. The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: "I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes...

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