Monthly Archives: February 2009

Papa Luciani (John Paul I) and Pope Benedict

For all you trivia buffs: I will bet that you didn’t know Pope John Paul I once sent then Cardinal Ratzinger to Ecuador as his personal Legate.  The city of Guayaquil, Ecuador was hosting a Marian Congress in honor of … Continue reading

Posted in Popes | Comments Off on Papa Luciani (John Paul I) and Pope Benedict

Quotes for the Day

“Viewed superficially the cross appears as the tree of death, but to the one who views it in depth, the mystery of the cross shines forth as the tree of life because of Him who hung upon it.” — St. … Continue reading

Posted in Prayer and Meditation, Saints and Prophets | Comments Off on Quotes for the Day

Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ and Vatican Reform

An interesting article written by  Fr. Thomas Reese SJ about his ideas for Vatican reform can be found at: www.commonwealmagazine.org/article.php3?id_article=2200 I won’t try to summarize it here but leave it for you to read.  As Fr. Reese himself says at the end, … Continue reading

Posted in Ecclesiology | Comments Off on Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ and Vatican Reform

In Re: SSPX and the Church

From the Vatican Secretary of State, 4 February 2009 “In the wake of reactions provoked by the recent Decree from the Congregation for Bishops lifting the excommunication on the four prelates of the Society of St. Pius X, and with … Continue reading

Posted in Ecclesiology, Popes | Comments Off on In Re: SSPX and the Church

World Day of the Sick

The 17th World Day of the Sick will be 11 February 2009.  Each year, the Holy Father issues a message to the world to mark this occasion.  This year’s was released today from the Vatican City.  I would encourage you … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on World Day of the Sick

Current Events

If you have been keeping up on recent news you are aware of the admission by the Legionaires of Christ that their founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel, lived a double life, keeping a mistress and fathering a daughter, now twenty years … Continue reading

Posted in Ecclesiology, Ethics and Morality, Politics | Comments Off on Current Events

Psalm of the Day

We prayed this psalm in Morning Prayer today.  A lovely psalm for all deacons, and everyone else dedicated to service to the poor. Psalm 146 Praise the Lord, my soul I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing … Continue reading

Posted in Prayer and Meditation | Comments Off on Psalm of the Day

More On Williamson

La Repubblica, the daily newspaper of Rome, is reporting today that the Vatican’s Secretary of State has indicated that for Bishop Williamson to exercise his priestly office, he must retract his statements of denial of the Holocaust.  He also stated that … Continue reading

Posted in Popes | Comments Off on More On Williamson

Germany Weighs In on Pope’s Response to Williamson

Il Corriere della Sera, the Italian daily from Milan, is reporting today that Chancellor Merkel of Germany spoke somewhat critically of the Pope’s response to the ongoing controversy stirred up by Bishop Williamson of the Society of St. Pius X … Continue reading

Posted in Politics, Popes | Comments Off on Germany Weighs In on Pope’s Response to Williamson

Pope Benedict and Permanent Deacons

I was surfing through the archives of Radio Vaticana today, and came across the Pope’s words to the deacons of the diocese of Rome on February 18, 2006.  They were, in part, as follows: “Union with Christ, cultivated by prayer, … Continue reading

Posted in Deacons | Comments Off on Pope Benedict and Permanent Deacons

Attention Deacons!

St. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians has a verse that speaks to the heart of the diaconate. “We were so solicitous of you that we desired to give you not only the Gospel of God, but our very life, … Continue reading

Posted in Deacons, Scripture, Spirituality | Comments Off on Attention Deacons!