Friday, December 1, 2006
Novena to the Immaculate Conception: Day Two


PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION


O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

Day Two

O Mary, ever blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Queen of angels and of saints, we salute you with the most profound veneration and filial devotion as we contemplate your holy Immaculate Conception, We thank you for your maternal protection and for the many blessings that we have received through your wondrous mercy and most powerful intercession. In all our necessities we have recourse to you with unbounded confidence. O Mother of Mercy, we beseech you now to hear our prayer and to obtain for us of your Divine Son the favor that we so earnestly request in this novena...

(State your intention here...)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
Amen.
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Thursday, November 30, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI visits the Blue Mosque


Today Pope Benedict XVI also visited the Blue Mosque in Turkey becoming only the second Pope (following Pope John Paul ll) to enter a mosque. In the first photo below, Pope Benedict XVI offers a gift to Istanbul's Grand Mufti Mustafa Cagrici. I hope that this meeting will calm tensions with the Muslim community around the world. I long for the day when all peoples shall unite to praise the One True God in the Catholic Church.

According to the Catholic News Agency, Pope Benedict XVI told the Grand Mufti “this visit will help us together to find the ways, the paths to peace for the good of mankind.”

Photos:


REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool
 


REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (TURKEY)
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Pope Benedict XVI visits Aya Sofya

Today Pope Benedict XVI visited the sixth century Byzantine monument St. Sofia (Aya Sofya), which was once a Church in the Byzantine Era that was converted to a mosque by the Ottman Empire. Today it is a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Photo of Pope Benedict XVI blessing a child as he visits the museum:


Tolga Adanali/Pool/Reuters
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Pope Benedict XVI joins in Divine Liturgy and Signs Declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I

Today Pope Benedict XVI joined Patriarch Bartholomew I to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the feastday of St. Andrew. This was the promise that brought the two leaders together. I am also extremely hopeful that the Orthodox Church will soon move to full Communion with Rome.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI and Patriarch Bartholomew I signed a joint declaration, which should help move the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church closer to full Communion. While it didn't break new ecumenical ground, it did underline their dedication to further ecumenical work.

The Declaration:

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
(Ps 117:24)

This fraternal encounter which brings us together, Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, is God’s work, and in a certain sense his gift. We give thanks to the Author of all that is good, who allows us once again, in prayer and in dialogue, to express the joy we feel as brothers and to renew our commitment to move towards full communion. This commitment comes from the Lord’s will and from our responsibility as Pastors in the Church of Christ. May our meeting be a sign and an encouragement for all of us to share the same sentiments and the same attitudes of fraternity, cooperation and communion in charity and truth. The Holy Spirit will help us to prepare the great day of the re-establishment of full unity, whenever and however God wills it. Then we shall truly be able to rejoice and be glad.

1. We have recalled with thankfulness the meetings of our venerable predecessors, blessed by the Lord, who showed the world the urgent need for unity and traced sure paths for attaining it, through dialogue, prayer and the daily life of the Church. Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I went as pilgrims to Jerusalem, to the very place where Jesus Christ died and rose again for the salvation of the world, and they also met again, here in the Phanar and in Rome. They left us a common declaration which retains all its value; it emphasizes that true dialogue in charity must sustain and inspire all relations between individuals and between Churches, that it “must be rooted in a total fidelity to the one Lord Jesus Christ and in mutual respect for their own traditions” (Tomos Agapis, 195). Nor have we forgotten the reciprocal visits of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and His Holiness Dimitrios I. It was during the visit of Pope John Paul II, his first ecumenical visit, that the creation of the Mixed Commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was announced. This Commission met with the aim of declaring and re-establishing full communion.

As far as relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople are concerned, we cannot fail to recall the solemn ecclesial act effacing the memory of the ancient anathemas which for centuries has had and still has a negative effect on relations between our Churches. We have not yet drawn from this act all the positive consequences which can flow from it in our progress towards full unity, to which the mixed Commission is called to make an important contribution. We exhort our faithful to take an active part in this process, through prayer and through significant gestures.

2. At the time of the plenary session of the mixed Commission for theological dialogue, which was recently held in Belgrade through the generous hospitality of the Serbian Orthodox Church, we expressed our profound joy at the resumption of the theological dialogue. This had been interrupted for several years because of various difficulties, but now the Commission has been able to work afresh in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. In treating the topic “Conciliarity and Authority in the Church” at local, regional and universal levels, the Commission undertook a phase of study on the ecclesiological and canonical consequence of the sacramental nature of the Church. This will permit us to address some of the principal questions that are still unresolved. We are committed to offer unceasing support, as in the past, to the work entrusted to this Commission and we accompany its members with our prayers.

3. As Pastors, we have first of all reflected on the mission to proclaim the Gospel in today’s world. This mission, “Go, make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), is today more timely and necessary than ever, even in traditionally Christian countries. Moreover, we cannot ignore the increase of secularization, relativism, even nihilism, especially in the Western world. All this calls for a renewed and powerful proclamation of the Gospel, adapted to the cultures of our time. Our traditions represent for us a patrimony which must be continually shared, proposed, and interpreted anew. This is why we must strengthen our cooperation and our common witness before the world.

4. We have viewed positively the process that has led to the formation of the European Union. Those engaged in this great project should not fail to take into consideration all aspects affecting the inalienable rights of the human person, especially religious freedom, a witness and guarantor of respect for all other freedoms. In every step towards unification, minorities must be protected, with their cultural traditions and the distinguishing features of their religion. In Europe, while remaining open to other religions and to their cultural contributions, we must unite our efforts to preserve Christian roots, traditions and values, to ensure respect for history, and thus to contribute to the European culture of the future and to the quality of human relations at every level. In this context, how could we not evoke the very ancient witnesses and the illustrious Christian heritage of the land in which our meeting is taking place, beginning with what the Acts of the Apostles tells us in evoking the figure of Saint Paul, Apostle of the Gentiles? In this land, the Gospel message and the cultural tradition of the ancient world met. This link, which has contributed so much to the Christian heritage that we share, remains timely and will bear more fruit in the future for evangelization and for our unity.

5. Our concern extends to those parts of today’s world where Christians live and to the difficulties they have to face, particularly poverty, wars and terrorism, but equally to various forms of exploitation of the poor, of migrants, women and children. We are called to work together to promote respect for the rights of every human being, created in the image and likeness of God, and to foster economic, social and cultural development. Our theological and ethical traditions can offer a solid basis for a united approach in preaching and action. Above all, we wish to affirm that killing innocent people in God’s name is an offence against him and against human dignity. We must all commit ourselves to the renewed service of humanity and the defence of human life, every human life.

We take profoundly to heart the cause of peace in the Middle East, where our Lord lived, suffered, died and rose again, and where a great multitude of our Christian brethren have lived for centuries. We fervently hope that peace will be re-established in that region, that respectful coexistence will be strengthened between the different peoples that live there, between the Churches and between the different religions found there. To this end, we encourage the establishment of closer relationships between Christians, and of an authentic and honest interreligious dialogue, with a view to combating every form of violence and discrimination.

6. At present, in the face of the great threats to the natural environment, we want to express our concern at the negative consequences for humanity and for the whole of creation which can result from economic and technological progress that does not know its limits. As religious leaders, we consider it one of our duties to encourage and to support all efforts made to protect God’s creation, and to bequeath to future generations a world in which they will be able to live.

7. Finally, our thoughts turn towards all of you, the faithful of our Churches throughout the world, Bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, lay men and women engaged in ecclesial service, and all the baptized. In Christ we greet other Christians, assuring them of our prayers and our openness to dialogue and cooperation. In the words of the Apostle of the Gentiles, we greet all of you: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 1:2).

 From the Phanar, 30 November 2006

Photos:


REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool


Patrick Hertzog/Pool/Reuters


Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
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Begin Novena to the Immaculate Conception



PRAYER TO THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION


O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

Day One

O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...

(State your intention here...)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
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Feast of St. Andrew


Today is the Feastday of St. Andrew the Apostle, and today is the day to begin the St. Andrew Christmas Novena.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Mass in Ephesus

AP Photo/Cem Oksuzl

Today Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Ephesus, near Selcuk, Turkey. Ephesus is the ancient city where St. Paul preached, St. John the Evangelist lived the final days of his life, and an ecumenical council was held in 431 AD. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated it at the shrine of Meryem Ana Evi called "Mary's House," the place where the Most Blessed Virgin Mary lived the last years of her earthly life with St. John the Apostle before she was assumed into Heaven. Due to security measures, only around 250 people were present in the congregation.
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Pope Benedict XVI Meets With Patriarch Bartholomew I

Today His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI met His Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The Holy Father's visit was to help heal divisions following the break between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in 1054 AD. However, unlike protestants, the Orthodox Church also has a valid priesthood and therefore, valid Sacraments. In reality, only Baptism and Marriage are truly authentic Sacraments in some protestant churches.

Follow up: See the declaration issued at the end of this meeting

Photos:



REUTERS/Ecumenical Patriarchate (TURKEY)
 



REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (TURKEY)
 



REUTERS/Ecumenical Patriarchate (TURKEY)
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Schedule of Pope's Trip to Turkey


REUTERS/Patrick Hertzog/Pool

This is a schedule of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey from November 28, 2006 - December 1, 2006. Please join in the Catholic Blogsphere's prayers for the Pope.

November 28:
  • 9 a.m. Departure from Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport of Rome/Fiumicino to Ankara
  • 1 p.m. Arrival at Esemboga International Airport in Turkey
  • Visit to the Atatürk Mausoleum
  • Welcome ceremony and courtesy visit to the President of the Republic
  • Meeting with the Vice Prime Minister
  • Meeting with the President of Religious Affairs (Address of the Holy Father)
  • Meeting with the Diplomatic Corps (Address of the Holy Father)
November 29:
November 30:
Demcember 1:
  • Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Homily by the Holy Father)
  • Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Istanbul
  • 1:15 p.m. Departure from the Airport of Istanbul to Rome
  • 3:45 p.m. Arrival at the Airport of Ciampino in Rome
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Please pray for someone for me

Update: Everything went great!!!

Tomorrow my mother will be going through a minor surgery. It should be very short and quick. Please, however, pray for this person for me. I greatly appreciate the prayers of others.
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