Pope Francis offers prayer, condolences after Colombia plane crash by Elise Harris

Pope Francis offers prayer, condolences after Colombia plane crash

by Elise Harris

After a plane crash in Colombia claimed the lives of 71 people, including the majority of Brazil’s up and coming Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team, Pope Francis has offered his prayer and solidarity for the victims and their families.

“Deeply distressed to learn of the sad news of the serious plane accident which has caused many victims,” Pope Francis “raises his prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased,” a Nov. 30 telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin read. 

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Vatican foundation exploring pros, cons of new technologies By Elise Harris

Vatican foundation exploring pros, cons of new technologies

By Elise Harris

Alongside the various technological advances booming throughout the world, the digital age has also brought with it questions as to exactly what effect these new technologies are having on the global market, particularly when it comes to jobs.

Pope Francis himself has brought up both the benefits as well as the concerns of technology on several occasions, including in his 2015 environmental encyclical, Laudato si'.

Weighing these pros and cons is one of tasks he has given particularly to the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, which will discuss the issue in a series of conferences to be held throughout the coming year. Continue Reading

We have to pray for both the living and the dead, Pope Francis says by Elise Harris

We have to pray for both the living and the dead, Pope Francis says

by Elise Harris

In his last set of catechesis on mercy, Pope Francis focused on the works of praying for the living and the dead, as well as burying the dead, insisting that since we are all part of one family in Christ, we must remember to pray constantly for one another.

When we say “I believe in the communion of Saints” while reciting the Nicene Creed, “it’s a mystery that expresses the beauty of the mercy that Jesus revealed to us...all, living and dead, we are in communion.”

This communion is “like a union: united in the community of the many who have received baptism,” he said, noting that since all of us by virtue of our same baptism “are the same family, united,” we must “pray for each other.”

Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for his general audience, concluding his catechesis on mercy. He began the series last fall as a lead-in to the Jubilee of Mercy, which closed Nov. 20. Continue Reading

Pope Francis meets Martin Scorsese, director of 'Silence,' at Vatican by Elise Harris

Pope Francis meets Martin Scorsese, director of 'Silence,' at Vatican

by Elise Harris

On Wednesday, Pope Francis added world famous director Martin Scorsese to the list of Hollywood stars he has welcomed for a private meeting in the Vatican, following an official Rome preview of Scorsese’s new film “Silence.”

Based on a Japanese historical fiction novel recounting Christian persecution in Japan during the 17th century, “Silence” will hit theaters in December and recounts the story of two Jesuit priests who travel to Japan in the midst of the violence to search for the missing mentor, played by Liam Neeson.

According to a Nov. 30 communique from the Vatican, Scorsese, his wife and their two children were present for the meeting with Pope Francis, alongside the film’s producer and his wife. Msgr. Dario Edoardo Vigano, Prefect of the Secretariat for Communications, accompanied the group.

Described in the communique as “very cordial,” the meeting lasted about 15 minutes. The Pope told his guests that he had read the 1966 novel “Silence,” written by Japanese author Shusaku Endo and which served as the inspiration for Scorsese’s new movie. Continue Reading

Here's what Pope Francis is doing for Christmas By Elise Harris

Here's what Pope Francis is doing for Christmas

By Elise Harris

While signs of bustling pilgrims who came for the Jubilee of Mercy are mostly gone, new signs of Christmas are springing up around St. Peter’s Basilica, including the construction of the large Nativity scene in the middle of the square, and the placement of a Christmas tree alongside it.

On Nov. 24, a massive 82-foot tree from the Dolomites arrived in St. Peter’s Square next to the large Nativity scene currently being built, which was donated to the Vatican by the Archdiocese of Malta and designed by local artists. Continue Reading

Pope mourns death of Fr Kolvenbach, former head of Jesuits By Elise Harris

Pope mourns death of Fr Kolvenbach, former head of Jesuits

By Elise Harris

After the death of Jesuit Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, former head of the order, over the weekend, Pope Francis has sent a letter to the Society praising the priest’s fidelity and offering prayers for the repose of his soul.

“Learning of the news of the holy death of Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach S.J., former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, I wish to express to you and to the entire Jesuit family my most sincere condolences,” the Pope said in a Nov. 28 letter.

Addressed to the current head of the Society, Fr. Arturo Sosa, the letter recalled the “integral fidelity” with which Fr. Kolvenbach served Christ and the Gospel, as well as his “generous commitment to exercising his ministry for the good of the Church.”

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What do we mean when we say Mary was “ever virgin”?

We as Catholics firmly believe that Mary is “ever virgin.”  The Catechism asserts, “The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church to confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity even in the act of giving birth to the Son of God made man” (#499).  Given this teaching, the perpetual virginity of Mary has traditionally been defended and examined in three parts:  Mary’s conception of Christ (virginitas ante partum); her giving birth to Christ (virginitas in partu); and her remaining a virgin after the birth of Christ (virginitas post partum).  This formulation was used by many of the early Church Fathers–  St. Augustine, St. Peter Chrysologus, Pope St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory Nazianzus, and St. Gregory Nyssa.  For example, the Catechism quotes St. Augustine’s elaboration:  Mary “remained a virgin in conceiving her Son, a virgin in giving birth to Him, a virgin in carrying Him, a virgin in nursing Him at her breast, always a virgin” (#510).Continue Reading

Mary: Ever Virgin

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Most Protestants claim that Mary bore children other than Jesus. To support their claim, these Protestants refer to the biblical passages which mention the "brethren of the Lord." As explained in the Catholic Answers tract Brethren of the Lord, neither the Gospel accounts nor the early Christians attest to the notion that Mary bore other children besides Jesus. The faithful knew, through the witness of Scripture and Tradition, that Jesus was Mary’s only child and that she remained a lifelong virgin. 

An important historical document which supports the teaching of Mary’s perpetual virginity is the Protoevangelium of James, which was written probably less than sixty years after the conclusion of Mary’s earthly life (around A.D. 120), when memories of her life were still vivid in the minds of many. Continue Reading

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary by Dr. Robert Schihl Fathers of the Church Church Fathers from at least the fourth century spoke of Mary as having remained a virgin throughout her life: Athanasius (Alexandria, 293-373); Epiphanius (Palestine, 315?-403); Jerome (Stridon, present day Yugoslavia, 345?-419); Augustine (Numidia, now Algeria, 354-430); Cyril (Alexandria, 376-444); and others. Continue Reading

1st Sunday of Advent Year A By Tobe Eze

1st Sunday of Advent Year A

FIRST READING

Isaiah 2:1—5

SECOND READING

Romans 13:11—14

GOSPEL

Matthew 24:37—44

THEME: IT WILL BE A SURPRISE TO US.

Advent as we all know is the preparation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The three readings are telling us about the coming of the Son of Man. The first reading tells us “In days to come, the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills”. The days of the Son of Man will glorify God. Coming of the Son of Man is no more coming in flesh but coming into our hearts, into our Spirits. When a recognized personnel wants to visit us, we prepare in a very big way. We try to please the person through what we prepare for the person. Let in the same way or even more than that prepare for the day of the Son of Man. Last Sunday we were shouting in the top of our voices proclaiming Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Continue Reading