His was a Church of saints set against the powers of evil: first Soviet communism, then the civilization of money, sex, and the “liberty that enslaves.” An assessment by an historian of the papacy, Giovanni Maria VianArticle
by Sandro Magister
==========================
ROMA, April 3, 2005 – He was the last anti-modern pope. He was extremely modern in style, this man who was such a master of the media limelight and its languages. But he was an unyielding enemy of the spirit of the times. For him they were apocalyptic times, in the sense of revelatory times. In the Holy Year of 2000, that great Jubilee that was his very own brainchild, he presented the cosmic drama he wanted to show the world on stage between Fatima and the Colosseum. It was the drama of a modern Babylon that persecutes Christian martyrs. And this martyred but still living pope was at the head of the army of saints.
...
In June 1991 John Paul II returned to his native Poland for the fourth time. The Wall had fallen, the soviet empire was in pieces. But the pope refused to celebrate. On the contrary, he had never before shown such angry with his compatriots. He gave a number of impromptu speeches, and from these words that were not recorded in writing, that were not filtered through diplomacy, his real thoughts burst forth. For example these, transcribed from an unofficial speech in Wloclwec:
“Giving in to desire, to sex, to consumption: that is the Europeanism that some supporters of our entry into Europe think we should accept. But we mustn’t become part of that Europe. We were the ones who created Europe, and with much more effort than those who claim exclusive rights to Europeanism. What is their criterion? Freedom. But which freedom? The freedom to take the life of an unborn child? Brothers and sisters, I protest against this concept of Europe held by the West. And this message must be shouted loudly from this land of martyrs. Europe is waiting for redemption. The world needs a redeemed Europe.”
Sunday, April 03, 2005
John Paul II, 1978-2005: The Last Anti-modern Pope
"I am happy and you should be happy too..."
...."Do not weep. Let us pray together with joy."
This was said by the Holy Father near his end, by dictating a message to his secretary. He urged his friends and associates not to cry for him. As a priest was relating this to us in his homily, he was nearly overcome with tears, as was I...The fifth Pope of my lifetime has passed - and Pope John Paul has been our Holy Father for over half of my lifetime.
Holy Father, we miss you!
Pope's Body Lies in State at Vatican
In this picture released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope John Paul II is seen lying in state in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican, Sunday, April 3, 2005.
This was said by the Holy Father near his end, by dictating a message to his secretary. He urged his friends and associates not to cry for him. As a priest was relating this to us in his homily, he was nearly overcome with tears, as was I...The fifth Pope of my lifetime has passed - and Pope John Paul has been our Holy Father for over half of my lifetime.
Holy Father, we miss you!
Pope's Body Lies in State at Vatican
In this picture released by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope John Paul II is seen lying in state in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican, Sunday, April 3, 2005.
Gospel for Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
From: John 20:19-31
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." [20] When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." [22] And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."
[26] Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." [28] Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
*******************
Commentary:
19-20. Jesus appears to the Apostles on the evening of the day of which He rose. He presents Himself in their midst without any need for the doors to be opened, by using the qualities of His glorified body; but in order to dispel any impression that He is only a spirit He shows them His hands and His side: there is no longer any doubt about its being Jesus Himself, about His being truly risen from the dead. He greets them twice using the words of greeting customary among the Jews, with the same tenderness as He previously used put into this salutation. These friendly words dispel the fear and shame the Apostles must have been feeling at behaving so disloyally during His passion: He has created the normal atmosphere of intimacy, and now He will endow them with transcendental powers.
21. Pope Leo XIII explained how Christ transferred His own mission to the Apostles: "What did He wish in regard to the Church founded, or about to be founded? This: to transmit to it the same mission and the same mandate which He had received from the Father, that they should be perpetuated. This He clearly resolved to do: this He actually did. `As the Father hath sent Me, even so I send you' (John 20:21). `As Thou didst send Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world' (John 17:18). [...] When about to ascend into Heaven, He sends His Apostles in virtue of the same power by which He had been sent from the Father; and He charges them to spread abroad and propagate His teachings (cf. Matthew 28:18), so that those obeying the Apostles might be saved, and those disobeying should perish (cf. Mark 16:16). [...] Hence He commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and piously kept as if it were His own: `He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me' (Luke 10:16). Wherefore the Apostles are ambassadors of Christ as He is the ambassador of the Father" ([Pope] Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum"). In this mission the bishops are the successors of the Apostles: "Christ sent the Apostles as He Himself had been sent by the Father, and then through the Apostles made their successors, the bishops, sharers in His consecration and mission. The function of the bishops' ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ" (Vatican II, "Presbyterorum Ordinis", 2).
22-23. The Church has always understood--and has in fact defined--that Jesus Christ here conferred on the Apostles authority to forgive sins, a power which is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. "The Lord then especially instituted the Sacrament of Penance when, after being risen from the dead, He breathed upon His disciples and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit...' The consensus of all the Fathers has always acknowledged that by this action so sublime and words so clear the power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to the Apostles and their lawful successors for reconciling the faithful who have fallen after Baptism" (Council of Trent, "De Paenitentia", Chapter 1).
The Sacrament of Penance is the most sublime __expression of God's love and mercy towards men, described so vividly in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (cf. Luke 15:11-32). The Lord always awaits us, with His arms wide open, waiting for us to repent--and then He will forgive us and restore us to the dignity of being His sons.
The Popes have consistently recommended Christians to have regular recourse to this Sacrament: "For a constant and speedy advancement in the path of virtue we highly recommend the pious practice of frequent Confession, introduced by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; for by this means we grow in a true knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility, bad habits are uprooted, spiritual negligence and apathy are prevented, the conscience is purified and the will strengthened, salutary spiritual direction is obtained, and grace is increased by the efficacy of the Sacrament itself" ([Pope] Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis").
24-28. Thomas' doubting moves our Lord to give him special proof that His risen body is quite real. By so doing He bolsters the faith of those who would later on find faith in Him. "Surely you do not think", [Pope] St. Gregory the Great comments, "that is was a pure accident that the chosen disciple was missing; who on his return was told about the appearance and on hearing about it doubted; doubting, so that he might touch and believe by touching? It was not an accident; God arranged that it should happen. His clemency acted in this wonderful way so that through the doubting disciple touching the wounds in His Master's body, our own wounds of incredulity might be healed. [...] And so the disciple, doubting and touching, was changed into a witness of the truth of the Resurrection" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 26, 7).
Thomas' reply is not simply an exclamation: it is an assertion, an admirable act of faith in the divinity of Christ: "My Lord and my God!" These words are an ejaculatory prayer often used by Christians, especially as an act of faith in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist.
29. [Pope] St. Gregory the Great explains these words of our Lord as follows: "By St. Paul saying `faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen' (Hebrews 11:1), it becomes clear that faith has to do with things which are not seen, for those which are seen are no longer the object of faith, but rather of experience. Well then, why is Thomas told, when he saw and touched, `Because you have seen, you have believed?' Because he saw one thing, and believed another. It is certain that mortal man cannot see divinity; therefore, he saw the man and recognized Him as God, saying, `My Lord and my God.' In conclusion: seeing, he believed, because contemplating that real man he exclaimed that He was God, whom he could not see" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 27, 8).
Like everyone else Thomas needed the grace of God to believe, but in addition to this grace he was given an exceptional proof; his faith would have had more merit had he accepted the testimony of the other Apostles. Revealed truths are normally transmitted by word, by the testimony of other people who, sent by Christ and aided by the Holy Spirit, preach the deposit of faith (cf. Mark 16:15-16). "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes from the preaching of Christ" (Romans 10:17). The preaching of the Gospel, therefore, carries with it sufficient guarantees of credibility, and by accepting that preaching man "offers the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals, willingly assenting to the revelation given" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 5).
"What follows pleases us greatly: `Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.' For undoubtedly it is we who are meant, who confess with our soul Him whom we have not seen in the flesh. It refers to us, provided we live in accordance with the faith, for only he truly believes who practices what the believes" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 26, 9).
30-31. This is a kind of first epilogue or conclusion to the Gospel of St. John. The more common opinion is that he added Chapter 21 later, which covers such important events as the triple confession of St. Peter, confirmation of his primacy and our Lord's prophecy about the death of the beloved disciple. These verses sum up the inspired writer's whole purpose in writing his Gospel--to have men believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ announced by the prophets in the Old Testament, the Son of God, so that by believing this saving truth, which is the core of Revelation, they might already begin to partake of eternal life (cf. John 1:12, 2:23; 3:18; 14:13; 15:16; 16:23-26).
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
[19] On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." [20] When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." [22] And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
[24] Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe."
[26] Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." [27] Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." [28] Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!" [29] Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
*******************
Commentary:
19-20. Jesus appears to the Apostles on the evening of the day of which He rose. He presents Himself in their midst without any need for the doors to be opened, by using the qualities of His glorified body; but in order to dispel any impression that He is only a spirit He shows them His hands and His side: there is no longer any doubt about its being Jesus Himself, about His being truly risen from the dead. He greets them twice using the words of greeting customary among the Jews, with the same tenderness as He previously used put into this salutation. These friendly words dispel the fear and shame the Apostles must have been feeling at behaving so disloyally during His passion: He has created the normal atmosphere of intimacy, and now He will endow them with transcendental powers.
21. Pope Leo XIII explained how Christ transferred His own mission to the Apostles: "What did He wish in regard to the Church founded, or about to be founded? This: to transmit to it the same mission and the same mandate which He had received from the Father, that they should be perpetuated. This He clearly resolved to do: this He actually did. `As the Father hath sent Me, even so I send you' (John 20:21). `As Thou didst send Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world' (John 17:18). [...] When about to ascend into Heaven, He sends His Apostles in virtue of the same power by which He had been sent from the Father; and He charges them to spread abroad and propagate His teachings (cf. Matthew 28:18), so that those obeying the Apostles might be saved, and those disobeying should perish (cf. Mark 16:16). [...] Hence He commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and piously kept as if it were His own: `He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me' (Luke 10:16). Wherefore the Apostles are ambassadors of Christ as He is the ambassador of the Father" ([Pope] Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum"). In this mission the bishops are the successors of the Apostles: "Christ sent the Apostles as He Himself had been sent by the Father, and then through the Apostles made their successors, the bishops, sharers in His consecration and mission. The function of the bishops' ministry was handed over in a subordinate degree to priests so that they might be appointed in the order of the priesthood and be co-workers of the episcopal order for the proper fulfillment of the apostolic mission that had been entrusted to it by Christ" (Vatican II, "Presbyterorum Ordinis", 2).
22-23. The Church has always understood--and has in fact defined--that Jesus Christ here conferred on the Apostles authority to forgive sins, a power which is exercised in the Sacrament of Penance. "The Lord then especially instituted the Sacrament of Penance when, after being risen from the dead, He breathed upon His disciples and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit...' The consensus of all the Fathers has always acknowledged that by this action so sublime and words so clear the power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to the Apostles and their lawful successors for reconciling the faithful who have fallen after Baptism" (Council of Trent, "De Paenitentia", Chapter 1).
The Sacrament of Penance is the most sublime __expression of God's love and mercy towards men, described so vividly in Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (cf. Luke 15:11-32). The Lord always awaits us, with His arms wide open, waiting for us to repent--and then He will forgive us and restore us to the dignity of being His sons.
The Popes have consistently recommended Christians to have regular recourse to this Sacrament: "For a constant and speedy advancement in the path of virtue we highly recommend the pious practice of frequent Confession, introduced by the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; for by this means we grow in a true knowledge of ourselves and in Christian humility, bad habits are uprooted, spiritual negligence and apathy are prevented, the conscience is purified and the will strengthened, salutary spiritual direction is obtained, and grace is increased by the efficacy of the Sacrament itself" ([Pope] Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis").
24-28. Thomas' doubting moves our Lord to give him special proof that His risen body is quite real. By so doing He bolsters the faith of those who would later on find faith in Him. "Surely you do not think", [Pope] St. Gregory the Great comments, "that is was a pure accident that the chosen disciple was missing; who on his return was told about the appearance and on hearing about it doubted; doubting, so that he might touch and believe by touching? It was not an accident; God arranged that it should happen. His clemency acted in this wonderful way so that through the doubting disciple touching the wounds in His Master's body, our own wounds of incredulity might be healed. [...] And so the disciple, doubting and touching, was changed into a witness of the truth of the Resurrection" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 26, 7).
Thomas' reply is not simply an exclamation: it is an assertion, an admirable act of faith in the divinity of Christ: "My Lord and my God!" These words are an ejaculatory prayer often used by Christians, especially as an act of faith in the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Eucharist.
29. [Pope] St. Gregory the Great explains these words of our Lord as follows: "By St. Paul saying `faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen' (Hebrews 11:1), it becomes clear that faith has to do with things which are not seen, for those which are seen are no longer the object of faith, but rather of experience. Well then, why is Thomas told, when he saw and touched, `Because you have seen, you have believed?' Because he saw one thing, and believed another. It is certain that mortal man cannot see divinity; therefore, he saw the man and recognized Him as God, saying, `My Lord and my God.' In conclusion: seeing, he believed, because contemplating that real man he exclaimed that He was God, whom he could not see" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 27, 8).
Like everyone else Thomas needed the grace of God to believe, but in addition to this grace he was given an exceptional proof; his faith would have had more merit had he accepted the testimony of the other Apostles. Revealed truths are normally transmitted by word, by the testimony of other people who, sent by Christ and aided by the Holy Spirit, preach the deposit of faith (cf. Mark 16:15-16). "So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes from the preaching of Christ" (Romans 10:17). The preaching of the Gospel, therefore, carries with it sufficient guarantees of credibility, and by accepting that preaching man "offers the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals, willingly assenting to the revelation given" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 5).
"What follows pleases us greatly: `Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.' For undoubtedly it is we who are meant, who confess with our soul Him whom we have not seen in the flesh. It refers to us, provided we live in accordance with the faith, for only he truly believes who practices what the believes" ("In Evangelia Homiliae", 26, 9).
30-31. This is a kind of first epilogue or conclusion to the Gospel of St. John. The more common opinion is that he added Chapter 21 later, which covers such important events as the triple confession of St. Peter, confirmation of his primacy and our Lord's prophecy about the death of the beloved disciple. These verses sum up the inspired writer's whole purpose in writing his Gospel--to have men believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ announced by the prophets in the Old Testament, the Son of God, so that by believing this saving truth, which is the core of Revelation, they might already begin to partake of eternal life (cf. John 1:12, 2:23; 3:18; 14:13; 15:16; 16:23-26).
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
On the Vacancy of the Holy See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff
Promulgated by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, at Saint Peter's, on 22 February, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle, in the year 1996, the eighteenth of his Pontificate.
Universi Dominici Gregis
Universi Dominici Gregis
Some Updates-Msgr Albacete Talk Cancelled
I'm sorry to have to write this, but due to the Holy Father's death, Monsignor Albacete will not be in St Louis this weekend. He will not be available talk at SLU for the Campion Society.I received this earlier today before our beloved Holy Father's passing into eternity...
The tallk will most likely be resceduled for the next academic year.
I have not heard but I strongly suspect that Cardinal Arinze will be unable this weekend for the Gateway Liturgical Conference considering our great loss. The funeral of Pope John Paul II should be in 4-6 days.
As more information comes available, I will pass it on. May God bless Pope John Paul as he enters eternal beautitude...We tearfully mourn his departure, yet we must rejoice in his completing his journey and give thanks to God for His generous gift of blessing us for over 26 years with Pope John Paul II and his moral guidance.
The Holy Father Has Died
** Updated **
I just heard that the last word of the Holy Father was "Amen"...It was reported that he held the hand of his secretary, looked out the window, uttered "Amen"...and then died...
-----------------
Always quick to bring a smile to the people.
Always sharing Jesus and the Gospel to all.
A Shepherd, a Pastor of God's people.
A man of deep prayer and concern for humanity...
Good bye dear Papa...We miss you!
Our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, Successor of Peter.
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Peace, our dear Holy Father. May the love of the people you served so unselfishly surround and lift you as you rise, effortlessly, through the clouds. We rejoice. You are no longer suffering pain or discomfort, your journey is over and you will be rewarded with God's waiting embrace, and the open arms of Our Lady of Fatima for whom you had such special devotion. *
"Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
- John 11:25, 26
****************************
LITANY FOR THE DYING
Come to his assistance, ye Saints of God, come forth to meet him, ye Angels of the Lord; Receiving his soul: Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. May Christ receive you, who hath called you, and may the Angels bear you into Abraham's bosom.
R. Receiving his soul: Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
R. Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. Lord have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy.
V. Lord have mercy.
(Silently) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
V. From the gate of hell
R. Deliver his soul, O Lord.
V. May he rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto You.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with you spirit.
Let us pray
To You, O Lord, do we commend the soul of Your servant, John Paul II, that being dead to the world he may live unto You; and whatsoever sins he has committed through the frailty of his mortal nature, wash away by the pardon of Your most merciful love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
============================
NUNC dimittis servum tuum, Domine * Secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei * salutare tuum
Quod parasti * ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium, * Et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
NOW dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, * in peace, according to Thy word:
For mine own eyes hath seen * Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared * in the sight of all the peoples,
A light to reveal Thee to the nations * and the glory of Thy people Israel.
=============================
* Hat tip to MadIvan
I just heard that the last word of the Holy Father was "Amen"...It was reported that he held the hand of his secretary, looked out the window, uttered "Amen"...and then died...
-----------------
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment. He was 84.More...
The announcement came from papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls and was distributed to journalists via e-mail.
"The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST) in his private apartment. All the procedures outlined in the apostolic Constitution `Universi Dominici Gregis' that was written by John Paul II on Feb. 22, 1996, have been put in motion."
A Mass was scheduled for St. Peter's Square for Sunday morning.
Always quick to bring a smile to the people.
Always sharing Jesus and the Gospel to all.
A Shepherd, a Pastor of God's people.
A man of deep prayer and concern for humanity...
Good bye dear Papa...We miss you!
Our Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, Successor of Peter.
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Peace, our dear Holy Father. May the love of the people you served so unselfishly surround and lift you as you rise, effortlessly, through the clouds. We rejoice. You are no longer suffering pain or discomfort, your journey is over and you will be rewarded with God's waiting embrace, and the open arms of Our Lady of Fatima for whom you had such special devotion. *
"Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
- John 11:25, 26
****************************
LITANY FOR THE DYING
Come to his assistance, ye Saints of God, come forth to meet him, ye Angels of the Lord; Receiving his soul: Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. May Christ receive you, who hath called you, and may the Angels bear you into Abraham's bosom.
R. Receiving his soul: Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
R. Offering it in the sight of the Most High.
V. Lord have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy.
V. Lord have mercy.
(Silently) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
V. From the gate of hell
R. Deliver his soul, O Lord.
V. May he rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come unto You.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with you spirit.
Let us pray
To You, O Lord, do we commend the soul of Your servant, John Paul II, that being dead to the world he may live unto You; and whatsoever sins he has committed through the frailty of his mortal nature, wash away by the pardon of Your most merciful love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
============================
NUNC dimittis servum tuum, Domine * Secundum verbum tuum in pace:
Quia viderunt oculi mei * salutare tuum
Quod parasti * ante faciem omnium populorum:
Lumen ad revelationem gentium, * Et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
NOW dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, * in peace, according to Thy word:
For mine own eyes hath seen * Thy salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared * in the sight of all the peoples,
A light to reveal Thee to the nations * and the glory of Thy people Israel.
=============================
* Hat tip to MadIvan
The Holy Father's Latest Words
At 11:30 am of April 2nd Holy See Press Office Director Joaquín Navarro-Valls, held a briefing for accredited journalists in the press office to give them an update on the condition of the Holy Father John Paul II.
Following is the text read by Dr. Navarro-Valls:
“The following information is an update as of 9 this morning: The general, cardio-respiratory and metabolic conditions of the Holy Father are substantially unchanged and therefore are very serious. As of dawn this morning, the start of a compromised state of consciousness was observed. Mass was celebrated at 7:30 this morning in the presence of the Pope.
Last evening the Pope probably had in mind the young people whom he has met throughout the world during his pontificate. In fact, he seemed to be referring to them when, in his words, and repeated several times, he seemed to have said the following sentence: “I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you”...
Listen here
More updates...
Source.
TRADUZIONE IN LINGUA INGLESE
At 7 p.m. this evening Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration to journalists:
The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remain very serious.
In late morning a high fever developed.
When addressed by members of his household he responds correctly.
[00397-02.01] [Original text: Italian]
Gospel for Saturday Within the Octave of Easter
From: Mark 16:9-15
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene and to Two Disciples
[9] Now when He (Jesus) rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast our seven demons. [10] She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. [11] But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
[12] After this He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. [13]And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Jesus Appears to the Eleven. The Apostles' Mission
[14] Afterwards He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they sat at table; and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. [15] And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation."
************************
Commentary:
11-14. When reporting these first appearances of the risen Jesus, St. Mark stresses the disciples' disbelief and their reluctance to accept the fact of the Resurrection, even though Jesus foretold it (cf. Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). This resistance shown by the Apostles is a further guarantee of the truth of Jesus' resurrection; they were to be direct, specially-appointed witnesses to the risen Christ, yet they were reluctant to accept this role. They had personal, direct proof of the truth of the Resurrection.
However, our Lord will say: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29). In the Apostles' case, they needed, in addition to faith in the risen Christ, clear evidence of His resurrection, for they were to be the eye-witnesses, key witnesses who would proclaim it as an irrefutable fact. In this connection [Pope] St. Gregory the Great comments: "The reason why the disciples were slow to believe in the Resurrection was not so much due to their weakness as to our future firmness in the faith; what other purposes does this have (the very Resurrection being demonstrated by many arguments to those who were in doubt) than that our faith should be strengthened by their doubt?" ("In Evangelia Homilae", 16).
12. Our Lord's appearance to these two disciples is reported more fully by St. Luke (cf. 24:13-35).
15. This verse contains what is called the "universal apostolic mandate" (paralleled by Matthew 28:19-20 and Luke 24:46-48). This is an imperative command from Christ to His Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world. This same apostolic mission applies, especially to the Apostles' successors, the bishops in communion with Peter's successor, the Pope.
But this mission extends further: the whole "Church was founded to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth for the glory of God the Father, to make all men partakers in redemption and salvation....Every activity of the Mystical Body with this in view goes by the name of `apostolate'; the Church exercises it through all its members, though in various ways. In fact, the Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well. In the organism of a living body no member plays a purely passive part, sharing in the life of the body it shares at the same time in its activity. The same is true for the body of Christ, the Church: `the whole body achieves full growth in dependence on the full functioning of each part' (Ephesians 4:16). Between the members of this body there exists, further, such a unity and solidarity (cf. Ephesians 4:16) that a member who does not work at the growth of the body to the extent of his possibilities must be considered useless both to the Church and to himself.
"In the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in His name and by His power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical and kingly office of Christ; they have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole people of God" (Vatican II, "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 2).
It is true that God acts directly on each person's soul through grace, but it must also be said that it is Christ's will (expressed here and elsewhere) that men should be an instrument or vehicle of salvation for others.
Vatican II also teaches this: "On all Christians, accordingly, rests the noble obligation of working to bring all men throughout the whole world to hear and accept the divine message of salvation" ("ibid.", 3).
*****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene and to Two Disciples
[9] Now when He (Jesus) rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast our seven demons. [10] She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. [11] But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
[12] After this He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. [13]And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Jesus Appears to the Eleven. The Apostles' Mission
[14] Afterwards He appeared to the Eleven themselves as they sat at table; and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. [15] And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation."
************************
Commentary:
11-14. When reporting these first appearances of the risen Jesus, St. Mark stresses the disciples' disbelief and their reluctance to accept the fact of the Resurrection, even though Jesus foretold it (cf. Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34). This resistance shown by the Apostles is a further guarantee of the truth of Jesus' resurrection; they were to be direct, specially-appointed witnesses to the risen Christ, yet they were reluctant to accept this role. They had personal, direct proof of the truth of the Resurrection.
However, our Lord will say: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29). In the Apostles' case, they needed, in addition to faith in the risen Christ, clear evidence of His resurrection, for they were to be the eye-witnesses, key witnesses who would proclaim it as an irrefutable fact. In this connection [Pope] St. Gregory the Great comments: "The reason why the disciples were slow to believe in the Resurrection was not so much due to their weakness as to our future firmness in the faith; what other purposes does this have (the very Resurrection being demonstrated by many arguments to those who were in doubt) than that our faith should be strengthened by their doubt?" ("In Evangelia Homilae", 16).
12. Our Lord's appearance to these two disciples is reported more fully by St. Luke (cf. 24:13-35).
15. This verse contains what is called the "universal apostolic mandate" (paralleled by Matthew 28:19-20 and Luke 24:46-48). This is an imperative command from Christ to His Apostles to preach the Gospel to the whole world. This same apostolic mission applies, especially to the Apostles' successors, the bishops in communion with Peter's successor, the Pope.
But this mission extends further: the whole "Church was founded to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth for the glory of God the Father, to make all men partakers in redemption and salvation....Every activity of the Mystical Body with this in view goes by the name of `apostolate'; the Church exercises it through all its members, though in various ways. In fact, the Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well. In the organism of a living body no member plays a purely passive part, sharing in the life of the body it shares at the same time in its activity. The same is true for the body of Christ, the Church: `the whole body achieves full growth in dependence on the full functioning of each part' (Ephesians 4:16). Between the members of this body there exists, further, such a unity and solidarity (cf. Ephesians 4:16) that a member who does not work at the growth of the body to the extent of his possibilities must be considered useless both to the Church and to himself.
"In the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in His name and by His power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical and kingly office of Christ; they have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole people of God" (Vatican II, "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 2).
It is true that God acts directly on each person's soul through grace, but it must also be said that it is Christ's will (expressed here and elsewhere) that men should be an instrument or vehicle of salvation for others.
Vatican II also teaches this: "On all Christians, accordingly, rests the noble obligation of working to bring all men throughout the whole world to hear and accept the divine message of salvation" ("ibid.", 3).
*****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Friday, April 01, 2005
John Paul the Lawgiver
Dr. Ed Peters has an update to his "In Light of the Law", A Canon Lawyer's Blog
What Happens When a Pope Dies?
When a pope dies, a formal process begins that certifies his death, carries out his funeral, and ensures that the selection of his successor takes place according to the prescribed procedures. The busiest person during this period is the camerlengo, or papal chamberlain, who functions something like a chief of staff.More.
The camerlengo's first task is to certify that the pope is dead. Traditionally, this has included tapping the pope's forehead, perhaps with a little silver hammer, and calling him three times by his first name. No response means that the pope is dead, but more precise medical equipment may be used today.
Holy See Grieved by Terri Schiavo's Death
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 1, 2005 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See officially expressed its sadness over the death of the brain-damaged woman in Florida who died of starvation after her husband had her feeding tube removed.More.
On Thursday afternoon, Joaquín Navarro Valls, director of the Vatican press office, said that the circumstances surrounding Terri Schiavo’s death have "rightly upset consciences."
...
Cardinal Martino added that it was "an unjust sentence to death of an innocent, by one of the most inhuman and cruel forms, hunger and thirst."
Vatican Statement On Pope
Papal Updates
------------------------------
VATICAN CITY, APR 1 - At 6:30 this afternoon, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement to journalists:
"The general conditions and cardio-respiratory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened.
"A gradual worsening of arterial hypotension has been noted, and breathing has become shallow.
"The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency. The biological parameters are notably compromised.
"The Holy Father - with visible participation - entrusts himself to the continual prayers of those assisting him."
Source.
------------------------------
VATICAN CITY, APR 1 - At 6:30 this afternoon, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement to journalists:
"The general conditions and cardio-respiratory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened.
"A gradual worsening of arterial hypotension has been noted, and breathing has become shallow.
"The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency. The biological parameters are notably compromised.
"The Holy Father - with visible participation - entrusts himself to the continual prayers of those assisting him."
Source.
Pope's Condition Worsens, Organs `Compromised'
April 1 (Bloomberg) -- Pope John Paul II's health has worsened, with his breathing ``shallow'' and his biological functions ``notably compromised,'' the Vatican told reporters about 7 p.m. in Rome.Link.
The Pope's blood pressure is dropping, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a written statement. ``The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency,'' he said.
An unidentified top Vatican official denied that John Paul had died, after the Italian news agency ADNKronos said a brain monitor attached to the pope had gone flat, the Associated Press reported. The Vatican official said there is no such device in the pope's apartment.
John Paul, spiritual leader of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics, received the blessing for the dying after suffering heart failure and a high fever. The problems developed as the pope tried to recover from surgery Feb. 24 to relieve breathing problems.
Archbishop Angelo Comastri, the pope's vicar for Vatican City, led a crowd of more than 10,000 people gathered in Saint Peter's Square to recite the rosary. ``Jesus will open the door to the pope tonight,'' he said from the steps of Saint Peter's.
Cardinals to Gather
The world's cardinals, who will select John Paul II's successor, have been summoned to Rome, a sign that preparations are under way for a conclave, the secretive election procedure that must begin within three weeks of the pope's death.
Pope Clings to Life As His Health Worsens
14 minutes ago Europe - APSource.
By VICTOR L. SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II was clinging to life Friday as his condition deteriorated further. The Vatican said his breathing was shallow and his kidneys were failing after he suffered massive heart problems.
"The general conditions and cardio-respiratory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened," the Vatican said in a statement. "The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency."
Vatican announces new bishops as pope hovers near death
VATICAN CITY (AFP) - The Vatican announced the appointment of a swathe of new bishops and archbishops as well as four papal envoys as Pope John Paul II hovered near death.More.
The announcement, though made on Friday, bears the pope's signature, made at various times during March before the pontiff's health suddenly deteriorated.
The 12 appointments will have no bearing on the election of his successor as they do not involve any cardinals, who alone sit in the conclave that elects the next head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The fact that Pope John Paul II has chosen not to return to the hospital does not seem to be encouraging. I joined with all who pray for his recovery.
Cardinal Arinze Here Next Week for Liturgical Conference
The keynote speaker at next week’s sixth annual Gateway Liturgical Conference Downtown is not reticent about explaining to Catholics the reverence they should feel for the Eucharist.More.
"The Eucharist is the apex of a Catholic celebration," Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze said last year in clarifying the Vatican document, "Redemptionis Sacramentum (The Sacrament of Redemption)."
"The Eucharist is not our possession to be given to our friends, but, rather, it belongs to the Church and is a sign of faith held in common," Cardinal Arinze was quoted at that time.
...
Cardinal Arinze is participating in the St. Louis conference at the invitation of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke.
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