Pope: Church Needs Creativity to Reach Digital Age

If the Church is going to fulfill its mission to proclaim the truth of Christ to all peoples, it must use its "creative intelligence" to overcome certain challenges of the digital age, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope reflected on the Church's constant search for better means to proclaim the Gospel on Saturday upon receiving in audience participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council of Culture, which took place last week in Rome. The theme considered at the plenary was "Culture of Communication and New Languages."

"A profound cultural transformation is under way," the Pontiff affirmed, "with new languages and new forms of communication" being developed.

"In this context," he added, "pastors and the faithful notice with concern certain difficulties in the communication of the evangelical message and the transmission of the faith within the ecclesial community itself."

The Holy Father acknowledged that it can be difficult to address men and women who are "distant from or indifferent to an experience of faith," and to whom the message of the Gospel arrives "in a way that has little effectiveness or attractiveness."

But, he recalled, the Church is the "recipient of the mission to communicate to all the nations the Gospel of salvation," and it "does not remain indifferent."

Source: Zenit

I am sure that our Holy Father would be rather pleased if he began to look through the wealth if information available through Catholic blogs and faithful Catholic websites. This blog in particular has been around since 2004 and has seen an influx not only in Catholic blogs but also an influx in quality Catholic blogs.

Similarly, it is fantastic to see the Church continue to spread the Faith through online catechism lessons. CatechismClass.com operates with the singular goal of being nothing short of the best online Catholic catechesis program in the world.  All actions of the company are ultimately directed to the purpose of saving souls.  In the words of the holy apostle Paul, “And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”  (Romans 10:14).  

Let us pray for a continued influx of evangelization using new technologies.

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Diaconate Ordination at Clear Creek Monastery

The New Liturgical Movement blog featured some stunning photographs of a recent (October 3, 2010) diaconate ordination at Clear Creek Monastery.  I wish to share some of these outstanding photos.  Remember - pray for vocations.

Source: NLM

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Zenit: Pope Points to Liturgy as Education on the Gospel

Benedict XVI is urging a greater appreciation of the liturgy as a source of education about the "good life of the Gospel."

The Pope made these statements in a letter sent to Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, on the occasion of the Plenary Assembly being held through Thursday in Assisi.

One focus of the assembly is the review of the Italian translation of the newest edition of the Roman Missal.

"The rites speak through their intrinsic rationality," the Pontiff noted, "and educate to a conscious, active and fruitful participation."

He continued, "The correspondence of the prayer of the Church (lex orandi) with the rule of the faith (lex credendi) molds the thought and the feelings of the Christian community, giving shape to the Church, Body of Christ and Temple of the Spirit."

"No human word can do without time, even when, as in the case of the liturgy, it constitutes a window that open beyond time," the Holy Father affirmed. "Hence, to give voice to a perennially valid reality calls for the wise balance of continuity and novelty, of tradition and actualization."

"The Missal itself is placed within this process," he added.

Source: Zenit

Image Source: A Missa Cantata in the Ancient Form of the Roman Liturgy, offered in the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Fr. Ervin Kovács

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Rorate Coeli

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.
Ne irascaris Domine, ne ultra memineris iniquitatis: ecce civitas Sancti facta est deserta: Sion deserta facta est: Jerusalem desolata est: domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae, ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Peccavimus, et facti sumus tamquam immundus nos, et cecidimus quasi folium universi: et iniquitates nostrae quasi ventus abstulerunt nos: abscondisti faciem tuam a nobis, et allisisti nos in manu iniquitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui, et mitte quem missurus es: emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae, de Petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion: ut auferat ipse iugum captivitatis nostrae.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus: cito veniet salus tua: quare maerore consumeris, quia innovavit te dolor? Salvabo te, noli timere, ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus, Sanctus Israel, Redemptor tuus.
Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Note: Rorate Coeli is an Advent Hymn

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Posts for November: Devotions for the Dead

In honor of the month of November being devoted to the poor souls in Purgatory, please see these posts for more information and devotions for this month. 

• Doctrine of Purgatory
• Prayer for Souls in Purgatory
• Susan Tassone on Purgatory
• Traditional Funeral Rites of the Supreme Pontiffs
• Catholic Devotions for the Dead
• Requiem Mass for a Deceased Pontiff
• Anglican Use Requiem Mass
• Requiem for His Royal Highness, King Louis XVI
• Prayer for the Holy Souls

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400th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Charles Borromeo

Today is the 400th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Charles Borromeo. Four hundred years ago he was canonized by Pope Paul V. Read my prior post on St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of seminarians. Let us pray for his intercession this day.

As We have already mentioned,[10] We are of the opinion that the shining example of Christ's soldiers has far greater value in the winning and sanctifying of souls than the words of profound treatises. We therefore gladly take this present opportunity to teach some very useful lessons from the consideration of the life of another holy pastor whom God raised up in more recent times and in the midst of trials very similar to those We are experiencing today. We refer to Saint Charles Borromeo, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church and Archbishop of Milan, whom Paul V, of holy memory, raised to the altar of the saints less than thirty years after his death. The words of Our Predecessor are to the point: "The Lord alone performs great wonders and in recent times He has accomplished marvelous things among Us. In His wonderful dispensation He has set a great light on the Apostolic rock when He singled Charles out of the heart of the Roman Church as the faithful priest and good servant to be a model for the pastors and their flock. He enlightened the whole Church from the light diffused by his holy works.

Encyclical of Pope Pius X promulgated on May 26, 1910.

Prayer:

Ever keep Thy Church, O Lord, we beseech Thee, under the abiding protection of St. Charles, Thy Confessor and Bishop: that as his watchful care over his flock won him glory, so his intercession may always make us fervent in Thy love. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Pope Benedict XVI Names 24 New Cardinals, including 4 Americans

After this consistory, the total number of cardinals will be 203, of which 121 are electors (less than 80 years old).

The new cardinals who qualify as electors are:

-- Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes

-- Patriarch Antonios Naguib of Alexandria of the Copts, Egypt

-- Archbishop Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum (on the right)

-- Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

-- Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, major penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary

-- Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature

-- Archbishop Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity

-- Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice chamberlain of Apostolic Chamber

-- Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy

-- Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See

-- Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture

-- Archbishop Medardo Joseph Mazombwe, retired archbishop of Lusaka, Zambia

-- Archbishop Raúl Eduardo Vela Chiriboga, retired archbishop of Quito, Ecuador

-- Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

-- Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo, Italy

-- Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington

-- Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, Brazil

-- Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz of Warsaw, Poland

-- Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don of Colombo, Sri Lanka

-- Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany

As well, the Pontiff elevated to the dignity of cardinal two prelates and two priests, who are over the age of 80 and are thus non-electors, for their "generosity and dedication in the service of the Church." These include:

-- Archbishop José Manuel Estepa Llaurens, retired archbishop of Spain's military

-- Bishop Elio Sgreccia, former president of the Pontifical Academy for Life

-- Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, former president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences

-- Monsignor Domenico Bartolucci, former director of the Pontifical Choir

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Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary 2010 Video

Slideshow of photos taken during the Solemn High Mass to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Titular Feast of the parish church in Blackfen.

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Rev. John Berg celebrates Mass at Church of St. William of York

The Very Rev John Berg, Superior General of the Fraternity of St Peter, was in Reading today to celebrate Mass at the church of St William of York, and bless the house occupied by the two Fraternity priests based there. This has recently been given canonical status as a FSSP residence by the local ordinary, Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth.









Images are from the Flickr Photostream of Joseph Shaw.

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Upcoming Canonization of Br. Andre

Zenit Reports:

A celebration of Catholicism in Canada is perhaps the best way to describe the events leading up to the canonization of Blessed Brother André Bessett on Sunday at St. Peter's in Rome.

As many as 5,000 Canadian Catholics are making the pilgrimage to Rome to attend the proclamation of Brother André as Canada's first native-born male saint, according to Eric Durocher, coordinator for English Pastoral Services for the Archdiocese of Montreal.

Additionally, the Archdiocese of Montreal has organized several events for the pilgrims that have chosen to celebrate the canonization of Brother André in the city where he served for most of his ministry.

St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, which was founded by Brother André in 1904, will be the central focus for activities before and during the canonization ceremonies. An all night prayer vigil will be held at the Oratory; uniting pilgrims in Rome and in Canada in prayerful reflection and celebration of Brother André’s spiritual life and heritage.

Throughout the overnight vigil, activities are planned in conjunction with the Congregation of the Holy Cross Fathers, the community to which St. André belonged, and the Archdiocese of Montreal. The events of the vigil will begin with a Lucenarium (candlelight prayer) followed with presentations of lectures on the life of Brother André by groups with which he was closely associated.

Night prayer in the style of the Monastery of Taizé is followed with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the celebration of lauds (morning prayer), and finally a procession from the tomb of Brother André to the Basilica of St. Joseph.

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