Category Archives: Popes

Update! Blessed John Paul II

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Vatican this morning has announced that Pope John Paul II will be beatified on May 1, 2011 (Divine Mercy Sunday) in a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI. Let us thank God for this wonderful pope who showed the … Continue reading →

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Blessed John Paul II

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Mr. Andrea Tornielli of the Italian newspaper, Il Giornale reported in yesterday’s edition that the bishops and cardinals of the Congregation of the Cause of the Saints met and officially approved the miraculous healing of the French nun who was … Continue reading →

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Blessed Pope John Paul II?

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Andrea Tornielli of the Italian newspaper Il Giornale reported yesterday that a second miraculous healing has been attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II and his beatification will be this year, maybe as early as April. Sister Marie … Continue reading →

Posted in Church News, Popes, Saints and Prophets | 2 Comments

Reflection for the Day

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I received this from an college friend of mine, who happens to be my insurance agent now. I believe he read it in the pope’s encyclical, Evangelium Vitae. “Man is called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the … Continue reading →

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The Pope’s Talk to the Roman Curia Yesterday

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father gave a talk to the Roman Curia yesterday, an annual event at Christmas time. He said a lot which I cannot summarize adequately in a blog post. You can read it in its entirety at:  http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/26594.php?index=26594&po_date=20.12.2010&lang=en I … Continue reading →

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Benedict XVI and the Diaconate

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father made a beautiful reference to the centrality of the diaconate to the life of the Church and to the life of Jesus Christ in his homily to the newly appointed cardinals two days ago. I am using … Continue reading →

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Purification of Reason

Posted on November 7, 2010 by Deacon Bob

On October 28, the Holy Father met with a number of Brazilian bishops making their ad limina visit.  His address was in Portuguese, a language I cannot read, but excerpts of it were published in English by Fides, the information … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on October 31, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“God excludes no one, neither the poor nor the rich. God does not let himself to be affected by human prejudice, but sees in each of us a soul to save and he is drawn in a special way to … Continue reading →

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To be a Missionary is not to be a Revolutionary

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father today, in his Angelus message at noon in Rome, made the following comment (my translation of the Italian original): “Missionary work is not to revolutionize the world, but transfigure it, drawing from the strength of Jesus Christ … Continue reading →

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Another “Just in Case” Posting

Posted on October 14, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Just in case you didn’t think you had a chance at sainthood because of some sin, weakness or failure, take a look at today’s feast day, St. Callistus. Callistus was a slave in the imperial household in Rome in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Popes, Saints and Prophets | 2 Comments

In Case You Thought You Didn’t Count…

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Deacon Bob

In a talk the Holy Father gave earlier today at the Special Assembly for the Mideast Synod of Bishops in Rome, he reflected on the Marian title of Theotokos, Mary the Mother of God, and her role in the divine … Continue reading →

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Quote for the Day

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” — Blessed Pope John XXIII

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The Dignity of the Worker

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York had some interesting things to say recently in the U.S. bishops’ annual Labor Day statement. “More than ever, the dignity of the worker is a foundation upon which we should measure … Continue reading →

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The Enduring Ministry of John Paul II

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I was visiting someone in the nursing home this morning and as I entered her room, I noticed a holy card with the image of John Paul II in chasuble, mitre and crozier, with hand outstretched in blessing. The woman … Continue reading →

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Attention Deacons!

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Here is a brief quote from Pope Benedict XVI from his address on May 21 to the Pontifical Mission Societies. “Preaching the Gospel is the call of God’s children to freedom, to the construction of an ever more just and … Continue reading →

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St. Gregory of Nyssa on Church Unity

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Deacon Bob

St. Gregory in today’s Office of Readings has some beautiful words on the unity of faith in the Christian community. Here is an excerpt (my translation from the Italian text I use): “But among all the words that he (Jesus) … Continue reading →

Posted in Popes, Saints and Prophets, Spirituality | 2 Comments

Nine Days that Changed the World

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Log on to:  www.ninedaysthatchangedtheworld.com It is a trailer for an upcoming movie on June 2-10, 1979, the nine days when Pope John Paul II went back to his native Poland, and the beginning of the end of the Iron Curtain … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Today is the 83rd birthday of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict.   Ad multos annos! May God strengthen the Bishop of Rome in his ministry as Shepherd of the Universal Church.

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On Being a Christian

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Deacon Gordon sent me a quote that I would like highlight.  Please read the first comment on yesterday’s “Quote of the Day”, or read on below. “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or lofty ideas, but the … Continue reading →

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War and Peace

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Pope Pius XII said on August 24, 1939, at the beginning of the Second World War, “Nothing is lost with peace, everything may be with war.” Gaudium et Spes, one of the documents of Vatican II said,  “Men in so … Continue reading →

Posted in General Interest, Politics, Popes | 2 Comments