Holy Father canonizes five new saints

Vatican City, Oct 11, 2009 / (CNA).

Today, Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints in St. Peter’s Basilica, including Fr. Damian of Molokai. During his homily, the Holy Father noted that all of the saints followed the invitation of Christ: "Come, follow me!"

Speaking to the faithful packed in St. Peter’s Basilica this morning, the Pope described the invitation of Christ saying that he "invites his disciples to the total gift of their lives, without calculation and human self-interest, with a wholehearted faith in God."

This call, the Holy Father continued, is welcome by the saints who "place themselves in humble obedience" to follow the Lord.

They no longer focus on themselves, the Pope explained, but by their "logic of faith," they choose "to go against the trends of the time living according to the Gospel."

Benedict XVI then gave a brief description of each of the five newly-canonized saints: a bishop, a Trappist brother, two priests and a nun.

Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary, was committed to evangelization and support for the poor, defending the oppressed during the Russian occupation of Poland, and was sentenced to 20 years in exile in Jaroslaw on the Volga. "His gift of himself to God and man," the Holy Father said in Polish, was "full of confidence and love," and "becomes a shining example for the entire Church."

To those younger generations today who "are not satisfied with what they have," the Pontiff gave the example of Rafael Arnaiz Baron, who came from a wealthy family and was a bit "of a dreamer." He died when he was 27 years old, a Cistercian oblate, considered one of the greatest mystics of the twentieth century.

The Pontiff next spoke of Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary. Through his preaching, the saint spread his love of the Word of God and the Sacrament of Reconciliation among people especially the young.

Father Damian, the famous apostle of lepers, at 23 years of age left Flanders, Belgium to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii. "Not without fear and loathing," Pope Benedict underlined, "Father Damian made the choice to go on the island of Molokai in the service of lepers who were there, abandoned by all. So he exposed himself to the disease of which they suffered. With them he felt at home. The servant of the Word became a suffering servant, leper with the lepers, during the last four years of his life."

He continued, "To follow Christ, Father Damian not only left his homeland, but has also staked his health so he, as the word of Jesus announced in today's Gospel tells us, received eternal life."

The figure of Father Damian, Benedict XVI added, "teaches us to choose the good fight not those that lead to division, but those that gather us together in unity."

And finally, the Pope spoke of St. Mary of the Cross, of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and her "wonderful work to help the most vulnerable elderly." He noted that her initiatives and goals are "still valid today, given that many elderly people suffer from multiple poverty and loneliness, sometimes even being abandoned by their families."

The Pope concluded by inviting all present "to allow themselves to be attracted by the shining example of these saints, to be guided by their teachings so that our entire life becomes a hymn of praise to God's love."

Congolese hostage situation forces bishop to leave synod in Rome

Vatican City, Oct 10, 2009 / (CNA).

A Congolese bishop participating in the Synod for Africa in Rome has had to return home after several of his priests were taken hostage in an attack on a church in his archdiocese.

Archbishop of Bukavu François Xavier Rusengo told the Synod he had to return to the war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo because last Friday uniformed men burnt down one of his parishes, attacked priests and took others hostage.

The archdiocese had to pay a huge ransom for the hostages’ release, the Catholic Information Service for Africa (CISA) reports.

“Through these acts, it is the Church, remaining the only support for a terrorized, humiliated, exploited and dominated people who they would reduce to silence. Lord, may your will be done, may your kingdom of peace arrive,” Archbishop Rusengo said on Tuesday.

The synod issued a statement of solidarity with the archbishop and the Christians of Bukavu. The statement expressed hope that “reconciliation and the Good News of the Gospel” may be welcomed as the path to achieve conditions of human life founded on justice and reinforced by peace, “a gift from God.”

According to CISA, the synod also called on the Congolese government to do everything possible to restore a just order and to guarantee the peace necessary for a normal life.

DI BINTIOCHO DJADUMINGU SIKLO B

Promé Lektura : Sabiduria 7, 7-11
Salmo : Salmo 90, 12-17
Di dos Lektura : Hebreonan 4, 12-13
Evangelio : Marko 10, 17-30


E esena di e hòmber riku ku nos a skucha awe a laga nos, sin duda, ku un sentimentu di duele. Tabata un enkuentro kasi kasual, esun di e hòmber ku a kore bai kontra Kristu pa puntr’é: "Maestro, kiko mi mester hasi pa mi haña bida eterno?” Na promé momento, nos ta sinti nos mes konmoví pa e pregunta aki. Sinseridat i generosidat di e hòmber ei bon i honrado ta impreshoná nos den forma grato. Kristu ta kontest’é ku pa alkansá bida eterno mester kumpli ku mandamentunan di Dios, i E ta menshoná nan. E hòmber ta kontesta ku semper for di su hubentut ela tené su mes na nan. E ora ei Kristu ta mir’é ku amor i ta bis’é: "Un kos so bo falta. Bai i bende loke bo tin i duna hende pober e plaka i lo bo tin tesoro den shelu. Despues bin i sigui Mi". Pero ora e hòmber a tende e palabranan aki ela bira tristu i a kana bai, pasobra e tabatin hopi rikesa. Loke a kuminsá siendo un esena felis, a konkluí ku un final tristu. Di e hòmber riku ei evangelio no a ni sikiera a warda e nòmber. Tabata un vokashon frakasá, un potensial santu, un ehèmpel ku awe nos lo a proklamá, si su reakshon riba e invitashon di Señor tabata otro.

Pa ser kristian no ta sufisiente pa ta bon, honrado, den sentido di kumpli ku mandamentunan di Dios. Tin un dimenshon nobo, ku mester preokupá nos i ta e generosidat di e kurason na kua Kristu ta yama nos. Evangelio ta un vokashon eksigente ku no ta kumpli únikamente ku atené na mandamentu. Kristianismo ta poseé un dimenshon sosial, hopi bia ignorá, ora nos limitá nos mes na un simpel pietismo, fe komprondé komo simpel práktika di e debernan religioso. Awe nos mester puntra nos mes ku tur sinseridat: kon mi a yega na e bienesnan ku mi ta poseé i ki uso mi ta duna nan? Inhustisia di plaka ta sintá hopi biaha tantu den orígen komo den fin ku nos ta dun'é.

Despues di e esena e hòmber riku ku a alehá su mes tur tristu, Kristu ta pronunsiá un di e frasenan mas fuerte di e evangelio: "Ki difísil ta pa esnan ku tin rikesa drenta den e Reino di Dios". No tin resentimentu den e palabranan aki. Ni tampoko nan ta un yamada insensato pa un lucha di klase, sino un atvertensia serio pa duna rikesa su berdadero dimenshon sosial i kristian. Di akuerdo ku pensamentu di Kristu, na unda malisia esensial di plaka ta sinta? Dikon "ta mas fásil pa un kamel pasa dor di wowo di un angua ku pa un riku drenta den Reino di Dios"? Peliger di plaka ta ku fásilmente e ta hasi kurason di hende egoista, e ta hasié insensibel pa doló di otro, e ta hasi ku no ta preokupá mas pa suerte di otro, e ta priva hende di sentido di hustisia. Plaka ademas ta profundamente malu si a yega n’e a kosto di doló di e próhimo òf si e ta fruta di inhustisia òf eksplotashon. Si ami ta gosa di komodidat, si mi tin un bon kuenta di banko, pero si e ta a kosto di a paga insufisiente salario, mi no tin ningun derecho riba uso di e bienesnan ei. Den e kaso aki, ya no ta kestion di perfekshon, sino di hustisia pa duna bèk loke no ta pertenesé na mi. Pero, ken ta kapas di rekonosé ku nan rikesa ta fruta di un piká sosial? Mashá poko ta esnan ku tin e kurashi pa rekonosé esaki i pa aktua konforme tal konvikshon. Reakshon normal di e riku dilanti e palabranan aki di Kristu ta di ignorá nan, talbes sinti su mes tristu i den hopi kaso, di tilda esun ku ta proklamá e doktrina di Kristu relashoná ku rikesa komo ekstremista.

Rumannan, e hòmber riku a alehá su mes ku tristesa for di Kristu pasobra e tabata biba mashá mará na su rikesa. E no tabata mal hende, e tabata tené su mes na e mandamentunan, e tabata ke poseé Reino di Dios, pero e tabata katibu di su plaka. Kristu ke pa nos ta liber, pa nos sa di kompartí i duna, no pegá na bienesnan ku ta pasa. Awe, ku tur sinseridat di nos kurason, laga nos hasi nos mes e pregunta aki: Ami ta biba e disposishon interior aki di generosidat, di renunsia.... mi por kompartí mi poseshonnan ku otro. Laga nos siña biba manera e promé kristiannan, a lo ménos den spiritu, ku nan no tabata konsiderá nada komo kos propio, sino ku nan tabata poseé tur kos den komun. Solamente asina, siendo liber di paden, nos lo ta riba kaminda di e Reino di Dios i nos lo logra e berdadero pas di kurason.

God, not Obama will bring peace to the Middle East, says Jordanian bishop

Amman, Jordan, Oct 9, 2009 / (CNA).-

The Vicar of Jordan, Most Rev. Selim Sayegh, spoke to CNA in Amman last week about the tensions in the Middle East as well as the diminishing number of Christians in the area. He noted that Catholics can assist those struggling in the region by praying for peace because “true peace comes from the Lord,” not Obama, or Israeli/Palestinian leaders.

Sayegh, who has served Jordan as an auxiliary bishop for 27 years, addressed the plight of Christians in the Middle East, particularly the ones living in Iraq. He noted that the while the situation isn’t desperate, less Christians are living in the area than is considered ideal.

“Why,” the bishop asked, are not only Christians but also Muslims leaving the area? “All of them, they are looking for peace…they want peace for their children,” he answered.

“Once peace is established into these countries...no one would think about leaving.”

He zeroed in on Iraq asking why anyone would leave – it’s “one of the richest countries in the world,” however “there is no hope.”

When Iraqi Christian’s leave, they go to Jordan or Syria, the vicar explained. But, “for the most part, the Christians don’t intend to become established in Jordan,” but they only “stay until they can obtain a visa to the United States, Europe or Australia.”

“It’s a very sad situation,” the bishop lamented, explaining that many of the Iraqis were educated, economically well-off people in their country, but when they leave, all of a sudden, “poof, and they have nothing.”

Bishop Sayegh said that Catholics around the world can help improve the situation in the Middle East not only by being “good citizens,” but also by praying for peace.

“Pray for peace because true peace comes from the Lord, it doesn’t come from Obama or from Netanyahu or from Abu Mazen,” but rather from the “Lord of peace,” the bishop remarked.

Reflecting on Christians’ role in the peace process, Bishop Sayegh said that they have their place, but that they are called to play a role by living out the faith. “That’s why every day in our churches we pray for peace,” since God is the only one who is “able to change the hearts” and to “arrive at peace” in the region.

Vatican appreciates Obama receiving Nobel Peace Prize

Vatican City, Oct 9, 2009 / 12:59 pm (CNA).

The Vatican offered its appreciation today for President Barack Obama’s work for peace on the international level, following the announcement that the president the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi told L’Osservatore Romano that President Obama’s reception of the award “is greeted with appreciation by the Vatican” due to his efforts “to promote peace in the international arena, particularly in the recent effort in favor of the nuclear disarmament."

Fr. Lombardi also said that he hopes that the honor “may generate the expected results for the future of humanity.”

Reacting to the award, President Obama stated that it isn’t necessarily “a recognition of my own accomplishments,” but rather a “call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.”

Fox News reported that the award committee chose the President due to his work to reduce nuclear weapons, his commitment to easing tensions with the Middle East and his dedication to cooperation.

The chairman of the Norwegian committee charged with choosing the peace prize recipient, Thorbjoern Jagland, said that although the president’s initiatives have yet to bear fruit, “Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future.”

In his statement today, the president also said he does not feel that he deserves “to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize.”

Previous winners of the award include Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Theodore Roosevelt, Elie Wiesel and Jimmy Carter.

Pope and Youth against War

Pope tells young concert performers, 'never yield to the temptation of war'

Rome, Italy, Oct 9, 2009 / (CNA).

Pope Benedict XVI attended a concert on Thursday evening as part of commemorations for the 70th anniversary of World War II. The Holy Father prayed that "the recollection of those sad events be a warning, especially to the new generations, never to yield to the temptation of war," and pointed to the ecumenical movement as a means to held build a civilization of peace.

The concert, which was titled "Young People Against War (1939-2009)" took place yesterday evening in the Auditorium on Rome's Via della Conciliazione.

The musical celebration was played by the "InterRegionales Jugendsinfonie Orchester" and conducted by Jochem Hochstenbach. The programme included compositions by Gustav Mahler and Felix Mendelsshon-Bartholdy and texts by Johan Wolfgang Goethe, Heinrich Heine, Paul Celan and Berthold Brecht, as well as two poems by children imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, read by Michelle Breedt and Klaus Maria Brandauer.

Organizations that helped put the event together included the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism, the German embassy to the Holy See and the European "KulturForum" of Mainau.


Following the concert, Pope Benedict said that it was a joy for him to participate in the event and that the universal language of music is able to "encourage young people to build the future of the world together, drawing inspiration from the values of peace and the brotherhood of man."

Turning to the fact that it was the tragedy of World War II that occassioned the concert, the Pope called it "a terrible page of history steeped in violence and inhumanity which caused the death of millions of people, leaving the winners divided and Europe to be rebuilt. The war, instigated by National Socialism, affected many innocent peoples in Europe and on other continents, while with the drama of the Shoah it particularly affected the Jewish people, who were victims of a planned extermination."

And yet, the Pontiff noted, "calls for reason and peace were not lacking from many sides. Here in Rome, the heartfelt cry of my venerated predecessor Pius XII rang out. In his radio message of 24 August 1939 - on the very eve of the outbreak of war - he decisively proclaimed: 'nothing is lost with peace. Everything may be lost with war'. ... May the recollection of those sad events be a warning, especially to the new generations, never to yield to the temptation of war."

Pope Benedict then went on to mention the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, "an eloquent symbol of the end of the totalitarian Communist regimes of Eastern Europe," he said. "Europe and the entire world thirst for freedom and peace. Together we must build true civilisation, not founded on force but on the 'fruit of our victory over ourselves, over the powers of injustice, selfishness and hatred which can even go so far as to disfigure man.'"

"The ecumenical movement," he concluded, "can help to build [this civilization], working together with the Jews and with all believers. May God bless us and grant humankind the gift of peace."