A daily news service

August 8

Official presentation of the World Youth Encounter is announced

Rome, 8 (NE) Yesterday the Press Hall of the Holy See informed the means of communication that the presentation of the XV World Youth Encounter will take place on Friday, August 11. The presentation will take place in the Aula John Paul I of Press Hall in the Holy See at 11:30 a.m.

It was also announced that Cardinal James Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laiety, Cardinal Camillo Runi,I, General Vicar of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome, Bishop Cesare Nosiglia, President of the Italian Committee for the VI World Youth Encounter will participate, among other lecturers.

The atmosphere of preparation is intensely lived in the Eternal City, as the Holy Father has announced on Sunday, August 6. During the prayer of the Angelus he stated that "many young people are already in their way to Rome; I myself, here in Castelgandolfo, will have the joy to receive some."

The Pope also prayed that "this important event in the heart of the Jubilee be a great opportunity for the young people of the whole world to renew their generous adhesion to Jesus Christ."

Holy Father calls to encounter with Christ in the Jubilee

Castelgandolfo, 8 (NE) On Sunday the Pope met the pilgrims to pray the Angelus at the Pontifical Palace of Castelgandolfo. The encounter was transmitted by radio to St. Peter's Square.

The Pope recalled, in the context of the Feast of the Transfiguration, that "through the veil of his humanity, the Son of God revealed Himself, ´Light of light´." He also stated that the Great Jubilee of the Incarnation must be an opportunity to become closer to the Lord Jesus who comes to encounter us. "All the Jubilee manifestations," stated the Holy Father, "are privileged occasion for the faithful to find Him and renew the firm decision to cooperate in His universal plan of salvation."

Archbishop of Mexico: Homily on Transfiguration

Mexico City, 8 (NE) "Jesus wanted to transfigure himself, to transubstantiate Himself in the Eucharist, in order to become closer to us," stated Cardinal Archbishop Norberto Rivera of Mexico in his Sunday homily, commenting the passage of Christ's Transfiguration. The Cardinal explained that Christ appears to us men today as he appeared gloriously to his disciples in the Transfiguration. Having become one of us, "he invented the most vital form to stay with us human beings forever:" the Eucharist. In Mount Tabor the Father tells us: ´This is my beloved Son, listen to him´," said the Cardinal, and "in the Eucharist Christ tells us: "Take this and eat it, this is my body, this is my blood." The Cardinal also emphasized that just as Christ, after announcing his passion and death to the disciples, "makes them experiment the glory of resurrection," in the life of men there are also moments of bearing the cross that only receive their full meaning in the light of faith in the resurrection.

Abbot of Montecasino comments on ancient tradition of welcoming pilgrims

Rome, 8 (NE) Recently, the Abbot of Montecasino pointed out that the very ancient tradition of welcoming people who look for a time for reflection and prayer in the monasteries remains alive. In an interview granted to the Italian daily Avvenire, the Abbot, Father Bernardo D´Onorio, pointed out that the guests "seek the rest of the soul, peace and spiritual calmness".

Father D´Onorio, recalling the teaching of Saint Benedict, founder of Montecasino, that "the guest must be welcomed as Christ himself", explained that it is intended that "whoever passes some day into the monastery live all aspects of its monastic life, characterized by prayer and work".

Further on, he observed that "the stay in a monastery can be the first step of exploration into the vocational discernment. It is important not to exclude this possibility". At the same time he informed that it is rare that people stay in a monastery for curiosity or simply to enjoy a time of rest, but normally "whoever knocks on the door of a community is a person who is searching".

August 7

John Paul II recalls the "honored and unforgettable Paul VI"

Castelgandolfo, 7 (NE) Yesterday Pope John Paul II celebrated the Holy Mass of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. He specially recalled Pope Paul VI, who was called to the Father on August 6, 1978, 22 years ago. John Paul II stated that "while we approach the altar praying for the blessed soul of this Pontiff, we wish, as he and all disciples, to turn our eyes to the radiant face of the Son of God, so that we are illuminated by it." He also urged to participate from the Holy Mass "bearing in our hearts the always alive memory of the Servant of God Paul VI."

He then recalled that the Transfiguration calls us to "direct our gaze towards the face of the Son of God. The honored and unforgettable Paul VI always lived watching with the eyes of faith the adorable face of Christ, true God and true man. Let´s ask God," prayed the Pope, "for the intercession of Mary, Teacher of faith and contemplation, that we may welcome in us the light Christ's face, so that we are able to transmit it to those around us."

Protecting the family is a duty of the State, recalls the Archbishopric of Mexico

Mexico City, 7 (NE) Regarding the increasing number of divorces, the weekly magazine "Nuevo Criterio" from the Archbishopric of Mexico affirms that the protection of the integrity of the family is "a duty of the State." If it weren't so, the State wouldn't be safeguarding the good of the citizens, because "from its strengthening and health depends, more than from any other institution, the common good. Hence the destiny of the nucleus that forms the family "is not something indifferent, neutral or without importance".

Further on, analyzing some problems that originate familiar disintegration, the magazine affirms that a pernicious individualism increases. Associated to a false conception of freedom, it reduces reality to subjective criteria and finishes in irresponsible and selfish acts. It also mentions the existence of a mentality that reduces family to an arbitrary convention of the two parts: wife and husband with open duration and with no social consequences.

Catholics from Georgia express their faith after years of repression

Rome, 7 (NE) The Church in the Republic of Georgia, after several years of repression by the communist government, finally breaks its silence. An example of this is that Tzekhalpila, a small town in South Georgia with 1.500 inhabitants -all Catholics- can now freely profess and express the faith of the Church. A recent report published by the news agency MISNA, informs that the small church located in the center of Tzekhalpila was closed in 1937 during the Stalinist period and became a cheese deposit. In 1991 its doors were opened as a church again. Since then the people massively attend the Eucharistic celebration and other activities like the prayer of the Holy Rosary.

Archbishop of Buenos Aires highlights the holiness of life of Father Chaminade

Buenos Aires, 7 (NE) Recently, in a press conference, Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio, reflected over the message of holiness of Father William Joseph Chaminade, who will be raised to the altars by Pope John Paul II on September 3 of this Holy Year. Archbishop Bergoglio highlighted that Father Chaminade lived a holiness that "presents itself in a hidden, daily and silent way, only known to God. This sanctity supports the pilgrimage of God's people."

During the press conference, Elena Otero de Gaudino, gave her testimony about the miracle that opened the way to the beatification of the French priest. Mrs. Otero -after asking with a great spirit of faith the intercession of the future Blessed- was cured instantly, total and permanently from a tumor. Until 1995, the experts of the Medical Consultation of the Congregation to the Cause of the Saints determined that it was "impossible to explain this fact scientifically."

William Joseph Chaminade was born in 1761 in the village of Périgueux, in southwestern France. He was the fourteenth of fifteen children. He was ordained during the cruelest time of the religious persecution in the French Revolution and had to accomplish his ministry escaping from the guillotine. After an exile of three years in Zaragoza, he went back to France and founded the Immaculate Mary Congregation and two religious institutes in Burdeos.

August 5

Latin text of the new Roman Missal will be published soon

Vatican City, 5 (NE) The press office of the Holy See informed on Friday that in the following months the Latin text of the New Roman Missal will be published. The text is in charge of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The new edition will substitute the previous one published on 1970. According to the official communiqué it will differ from the former one in the addition of new saints to the calendar of liturgical celebrations and it will also include enrichments of various of the traditional prayers, specially those prayed in Easter. These add up to the changes announced on July 28 in the introductory part of the Missal, the "Institutio Generalis" or General Ordination of the Roman Missal. It was also informed that a ninth chapter on inculturation has also been added.

The text of the New Missal has been sent to the Bishop Conferences and Apostolic Nuncios so that they become informed about the changes and can prepare the necessary translations. These will receive their final approval by the Holy See.

"The Challenge of Technology. Beyond Icaro and Dedalo" was presented in Lima

Lima, 5 (NE) Yesterday the Life and Spirituality Institute (Vida y Espiritualidad), in association with the National Institute of Culture of Peru, presented the book "The Challenge of Technology. Beyond Icaro and Dedalo," written by the Peruvian intellectual Germán Doig Klinge. During the event, which was held in the main auditorium of the National Museum , three nationally recognized figures commented on the recent work.

Dr. Carlos del Río Cabrera, Ph.D., President of the Peruvian Association for Technological Development was the first one to speak. Then Dr. José Linares Gallo, General Director of the Superior Technological Institute Wernher von Braun, commented on the book. The last to comment was the President of the Commission on Ethics and Deonthology of the Medical Association of Peru, Dr. Patrick Wagner Grau.

Finally, the author of the work thanked the commentators for their cordial words and explained some of the central aspects of his investigation. He finished with words from John Paul II, "Today we are witnesses of the transformations caused by the sciences and the technologies as applied by human intelligence. But, at the same time that the technical instrument has a positive value, because it helps to exercise men's intelligent and responsible domination over the earth, also serious doubts and questions arise; because technology can get -and has got- to be alienating and manipulating. It has brought us to the point of needing to reject morally the presence of a certain ideology of technology, because it has imposed the primacy of the material over the spiritual, of things over the person, of technology over morality".

USA: Archbishop of Denver exhorts young people to conversion

Denver, 5 (NE) "The World Youth Meeting's pilgrimage is a pilgrimage to conversion," affirmed recently the Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, before over 400 young people of the archdiocese, gathered for two days in preparation for their trip to Rome. The activity, held in the John Paul II Center, was an occasion for the young people to share their expectations and have moments of prayer and adoration of the Eucharist. As in all the pilgrimages, this symbolizes externally what is happening internally, going from selfishness to holiness by opening your own hearts to God and His Church, said Archbishop Chaput to the young people. "The Lord wants you to change your hearts and your ways," he further emphasized.

Archbishop of Santiago remarks Church's position on the death penalty

Santiago, 5 (NE) Archbishop Francisco Javier Errázuriz of Santiago defended the Church's position in regard to death penalty before the Commission of the Constitution, Legislation and Justice of the Senate of Chile. With respect to the position of some groups in the parliament that ask for the application of the death penalty in cases of the rape of minors and homicide, the Archbishop of Santiago recommended serenity in the decisions.

Archbishop Errázuriz pointed out, after his participation, that "we must think about the value of human life, not only of the victim but of the aggressor, too. We ought to think if society has the right to terminate somebody's life, and if it has, in what conditions." As well, he pointed out that owing to the seriousness of the matter "we ought to reflect very calmly and to this reflection we wanted to contribute what the Catechism thinks."

August 4

7th International Youth Forum will take place in Rome

Rome, 4 (NE) The 7th International Youth Forum, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, will take place in Rome´s Casa Maria Mater Ecclesiae from August 12 to 15. The theme of the event will be: "I say it to everyone: Let us set out in the footsteps of Christ!" This phrase is taken from John Paul II´s Letter concerning pilgrimage to the places linked to the history of salvation.

Two representatives from each Bishop's Conference and delegates from Catholic youth groups, movements and associations are convoked to the Forum. Alongside them, 30 "observers", who accomplish apostolic work in youth pastoral will also attend. The Forum has been organized on occasion of the World Youth Encounter.

First Mass of the World Youth Encounter

Rome, 4 (NE) On Wednesday 2, in the seminary of Verone, was held the first official Mass of the World Youth Encounter whose main activities will take place on August 19 and 20 in Rome. Over 200 young people from countries affected by war took part in the Eucharistic celebration, uniting themselves in a prayer for world peace. As well they asked the young people to answer the challenge to live reconciliation.

The Mass was presided over by Monsignor Cesare Nosiglia, President of the Italian Commission for the World Youth Meeting. "Let's ask the Lord," he prayed during the celebration, "to give to the youth of the entire world the strength to believe in the good seed that He has placed inside our hearts: the seed of reconciliation, love and peace." He also reminded the young people that "the good seed is the Son of God and we, who are from the Kingdom, are called to follow the example of Christ who has won over evil with the weapons of forgiveness and love.

USA: Abolition of death penalty is requested in Illinois

Chicago, 4 (NE) A new step in the job of defending life was taken on Wednesday 2 by Director Bill Purcell, of the Chicago Archdiocesan Office for Peace and Justice, when he presented his testimony before the Governor's Commission of Illinois on Capital Punishment. "Cardinal George has praised Governor Ryan for his great courage in imposing a moratorium on the death penalty. Our Catholic faith moves us one step further - the abolition of capital punishment," said Purcell, who emphasized the sacred value of every human life, "even the life of someone who has violated the rights of others by taking a life. Pointing out that "increasing reliance on capital punishment is an assault on human dignity and therefore diminishes society as a whole", the official manifested his hope "that the Commission would provide Illinois with a new vision of justice" that would protect all life and demand the abolition of the death penalty.

"Mexico, recover your Catholic roots!" asks Cardinal Rivera

Mexico City, 4 (NE) Celebrating the XXV pilgrimage of the Assumption in the city of Aguascalientes, Cardinal Norberto Rivera effusively exhorted the people to recover their Catholic roots. Those projects that intended to take God out of the consciences and of public life have largely failed," he observed, "and now it's time to recover our true religiosity inherited from our ancestors, in the hostels, on the altars of the dead, on the altars of Dolores and also in the Corpus Christi".

In his homily, the Cardinal highlighted the fundamental union that exists between faith and the Mexican culture and how nowadays different kinds of life and messages out of the Gospel go "crumbling our national idiosyncrasy. And becoming less Christian we become less Mexican. Our truly Catholic roots," he continued, "have been getting obscured and going away from the memories of the men and women of today. That's why it's urgent to recover these Christian and eucharistic bases, recover our identity and our history and to be able to look at the future from them.

Further on the Archbishop of Mexico explained that in this recuperation process, it's fundamental to live the reconciliation, once that "city gets ill, sin becomes curled, consciences split and men don't realize they have the medicine within their reach".

August 3

Holy Father reflects on Trinitarian traces in creation

Vatican City, 3 (NE) Yesterday Pope John Paul II flew by helicopter from his residence at Castelgandolfo to the Vatican City, in order to gather with thousands of pilgrims at St. Peter´s Square for the General Audience. On this occasion the Pope reflected on "listening to the Word and the Spirit in the cosmic revelation."

The Pontiff stated that in the beauty of creation one can find the traces of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, because "even though it is truth that ´the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not three principles of creation, but only one´, it is also truth that ´each divine Person accomplishes this common work according to its personal properties."

Developing the topic of the Trinitarian traces of Creation, he stated that "our thought is specially directed to the Father, source of all being." He then noted that "if we consider the order that rules the cosmos and if we admire the wisdom with which the Father has created it, giving it laws that regulate existence, we spontaneously remit ourselves to the eternal Son, presented to us by Scripture as ´Eternal Word´ and Divine ´Wisdom´."

The Pope later explained that "in the light of Christian faith, we recognize the Holy Spirit in the dynamism that marks the relations between beings, within the macro cosmos and the micro cosmos. This dynamism is specially expressed wherever life is born and develops." To this the Pope added that "the Christian well knows that this evocation of the Spirit would be unacceptable if it is referred to a ´soul of the world´ in the pantheistic sense."

São Paulo will celebrate the Family Jubilee this Sunday

São Paulo, 3 (NE) This Sunday, from 2 p.m., the 'Santa Teresita' School will be converted into the seat of a big celebration of faith. Over a thousand families will be there with white flags to celebrate the Family Jubilee, which will have as the central moment the Mass celebrated by Monsignor Claudio Hummes, Archbishop of São Paulo, and concelebrated by the pastoral vicars and a large number of priests.

During the Eucharistic Celebration, there will be a special moment to bless the couples married between 25 and 50 years and another for the couples present to renew their matrimonial vows. After the liturgy, a band, a theatrical group, a young people's choreography and a ballet group, belonging to various parishes, will make a presentation to conclude the day.

USA: Life defense plan is promoted in Massachusetts

Denver, 2 (NE) "Supporting Life" is the name of a project recently proposed by the Massachusetts' Catholic Conference in the face of the increasingly important debate about assisted suicide and euthanasia. The Massachusetts Family Institute informed that it is a "strategic plan to take the gospel of life into the debate about assisted suicide and life ending topics". The project intends to unify the efforts of the four dioceses in Massachusetts, as well as their several agencies, institutions and parishes, and to cover some "key areas" like pastoral care, education, communications and politics. "In the heart of the plan there is a deep respect and reverence for life, recognizing that it is a gift from God", pointed out a spokesman of the Institute.

Costa Rica: Thousands in pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles

San José, 3 (NE) Today is the celebration of the patroness of Costa Rica, Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Our Lady of the Angels). Following a long lasting tradition, thousands of people gathered in a spirit of faith and sacrifice to walk to the Sanctuary to pray at the foot of "La Negrita", an affectionate name by which devoted people call the image. An intense rain fell in San José during the morning, but it didn't discourage the pilgrims and after several hours of walking they arrived in the afternoon to a sunny Cartago, the city that shelters the Marian sanctuary.

An important part of the celebration is the "dressing" of the image. It is yearly custom of the faithful to make dresses to give to the Lady of the Angels. This year the basilica's parish priest announced having received more than 30 dresses, with which the little stone image, 18 centimeters tall, will be dressed during the different activities.

August 2

Holy Father emphasizes evangelizing potentialities of tourism

Castelgandolfo, 2 (NE) John Paul II´s message for the World Tourism Day that will take place on September 27 of this Jubilee Year was made known yesterday. The text, dated July 29, was sent by the Holy Father to the President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of the Migrants and Itinerant People, Bishop Stephen Fumio Hamao. In the message the Pope states that "the celebration of the World Tourism Encounter is a useful opportunity to reflect on the possibilities tourism offers evangelization. This not only concerns," he added, "those who dedicate themselves professionally to tourism, or those who use part of their free time to travel, but also those who live in touristic places or belong to Christian communities that continuously are in contact with tourists or pilgrims." The Pope, reflecting of the topic chosen for this Jubilee celebration: "Technology and Nature: two challenges for tourism at the dawn of the 21st century, stated that "nature and technology are to privileged fields in which man can presently develop his potentialities, following the invitation of the Creator, who has entrusted the universe to his hands." He then also wished that "tourism may always be an occasion for fruitful encounters: encounter with God, Who shows his love and Providence in creation and human deeds; encounter with oneself, in the silence of reflection and listening to oneself; encounter with others, to build a serene together living between persons and peoples."

Pope John Paul II deplores violence in Spain

Castelgandolfo, 2 (NE) On Sunday, the Holy Father expressed his "deep pain" for the terrorist acts executed by the ETA armed organization in Spain, with special regret for the death of the Guipúzcoa's ex-civil-governor, Juan María Jáuregui, aged 49, who was murdered after coming back from spending some days in his home land. The ex-governor had been transferred three years ago to Chile owing to the threats he had received from the ETA. "I renew once again," said the Pope, "the strongest condemnation of these acts against the right to freedom and to life, pointing out again that no social or political idea or conception can be imposed by means of violence. I pray to the Lord that the beloved Spanish people shall always be able to enjoy a peaceful coexistence and social harmony." The Holy Father showed as well his "solidarity and closeness to the families of the victims" of the violence of the terrorist group, that since the truce collapsed in December has committed 15 attacks, causing 7 deaths and many wounded.

Buenos Aires: Course on genetics and human dignity

Buenos Aires, 2 (NE) The Superior Council of Catholic Education (CONSUDEC), an ecclesiastic organism subordinate to the Argentinean Episcopal Conference, has recently organized a course on the human genome. The course highlights specially the bioethical topic as well as the repercussion of genome research for the human person. One of the lecturers, a specialist on the subject, pointed out that in the area of genetics any false interpretation can lead to behaviors that attempt against human dignity and freedom. He also said that the investigation on the genome has effects which "are not exclusively scientific or medical. Applications affecting all aspects of people's lives arise from them". In the face of this, he remarked the importance of studying and teaching a correct bioethics, which has the respect for life as a fundamental principle and which is capable of harmonizing the use of biomedical sciences and their technologies with the human person's dignity, with relation to ethical values and principles.

"Let reconciliation mark our lives," asks Monsignor Berlié

Mexico City, 2 (NE) " Let everything we say and do be for reconciliation, and so we are able to receive mercy and grace from Our Father, God", said Monsignor Emilio Berlié, Archbishop of Yucatán, during his homily on Sunday. "We must be workers of agreement, forgers of communion and struggle hard for reconciliation". At the same time he that exhorted to "do everything possible to be reconciled and to reconcile the others" he recalled that reconciliation is above all a fundamental calling from Our Father, God, as well as a great invitation that Christ, Our Lord, makes to us". In addition he said, explaining the need to cooperate with this gift, "Let's have courage for reconciliation; let's arm ourselves with courage. Let's ask the Lord for strength for our reconciliation", so that "always our advice, our opinion, our appreciation be in order to reconcile . and if we have had difficulties with somebody, let us arm ourselves with courage and ask for forgiveness".

August 1

Holy Father highlights the participation of the movements in the new evangelization

Vatican City, 1 (NE) Pope John Paul II met many members of Cursillos de Cristiandad (Seminars of Christianity) celebrating their III World Ultreya last Saturday afternoon in the Saint Peter's Square. The Pontiff told them that "facing a culture that often denies even the existence of an objective Truth of universal value and that frequently lets itself sink in the moving sands of nihilism, the faithful must know how to clearly announce that Christ is the Path, the Truth and the Life."

On the Sunday before the Marian prayer of the Angelus, the Pope, remembering the previous day's event pointed out that "the new evangelization of adults is characteristic of the Seminars, as well as similar ecclesiastic movements. The Christian message is proposed by means of an intense spiritual life, capable of bringing about a rediscovery of the beauty of meeting Christ and being Church."

USA: Cardinal George urges living reconciliation

Chicago, 1 (NE) Writing for the last edition of the weekly newspaper "Catholic New World", Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, recalled the centrality of reconciliation in Christian life and in the history of the Church. The "ministry of reconciliation, personal and historical, defines the mission of the Church universal," stated the Cardinal. He also emphasized that "in the light of faith. revenge gives way to reconciliation. In Mexico," said Cardinal George," a new opportunity for historical reconciliation has opened up." Thus, after remembering the almost three hundred thousand dead due to the persecution of the Church in Mexico, he exhorted the faithful in Chicago to also live forgiveness and reconciliation in all their dimensions.

Congress about missionary vocations in Ecuador

Guayaquil, 1 (NE) "Young people, prophets of life and hope" is the topic of the first Youth Congress about Missionary Vocations to be held from the 1st to the 5th of August in Guayaquil. The Episcopal Conference, the Religious' Conference of Ecuador and the Pontifical Missionary Works are organizing the Congress that will congregate thousands of young people from the whole country.

As preparation for the Congress, the organizing team has presented a working document, which consists of studies on different topics related to youth apostolic activity in society. Several young men and women from many dioceses of the country have received the document to study and it is expected that the results of this work will be very helpful in the development of the Congress.

One of the national coordinating team members informed that the meeting will be "a great occasion for thousands of young people to proclaim, with Jesus, their hope and their commitment to build, by the light of the Gospel, an Ecuador full of life and happiness for all."

Portuguese young people prepare themselves for the meeting with the Pope

Lisbon, 1 (NE) Almost 300 young people of the diocese of Leiria-Fátima are preparing themselves intensely to take part in the Youth World Meeting in Rome. As preparation for the pilgrimage, the diocese organized two big meetings for the participants, the first in May and the second in July, in which the young people, in an atmosphere of communion and reflection, studied the catechesis proposed by the National Pastoral Department. The visit to the Marian Shrine of Lourdes is also a part of the preparation for the meeting with the Holy Father, in which the young people will make a brief stop to know the place of Our Lady's appearances to Saint Mary Bernadete Soubirous.

The Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, D. Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva, wanting accompany the entire preparation closely, will join the young people on the pilgrimage and will take the bus trip with them to the Holy City, where nearly four thousand Portuguese young people are expected.

The world youth meetings are held every two years and are presided over by the Pope. The first one was in Buenos Aires and the last one took place in Paris, two years ago. This year's meeting will have as its theme: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us".

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