Monthly Archives: April 2018

Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi Message: ‘We implore gifts of peace’

01/04/2018

  • After greeting the faithful and addressing an Easter message to them, Pope Francis named countries for whom “today we implore fruits of peace” in his “Urbi et Orbi” message:

    Syria: “whose people are worn down by an apparently endless war (…) that a swift end may be brought to the carnage in course.”

    The Holy Land, Yemen and the Middle East: “That dialogue and mutual respect may prevail over division and violence.”

    The continent of Africa, especially the South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “We invoke on this day fruits of hope for those who yearn for a more dignified life (…) in all those areas (…) deeply affected by hunger, endemic conflicts and terrorism.”

    The Korean peninsula: “We implore fruits of dialogue (…) that the discussions under way may advance harmony and peace within the region.”  

    The Ukraine: “We also beseech fruits of peace (…) that the steps taken to favour harmony may be consolidated, and facilitated by the humanitarian initiatives needed by its people.”

    Venezuela: “May that nation, by the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, find a just, peaceful and humane way to surmount quickly the political and humanitarian crises that grip it.”

    Source: Vatican News

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‘We want to become a youthful and energetic Church that is not bound to the sacristy’ – The Archbishop

The Archbishop presides over the Stational Mass of Easter Sunday

01/04/2018
  • Homily by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna 

  • St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
    1st April 2018

    The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the Gospels; it has sixteen chapters and it doesn’t really waste a lot of parchment. It does not include any narrative of the birth of Jesus and it starts immediately with the announcement of the Kingdom and the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan by John the Baptist, to whom this co cathedral is dedicated

    One of the most graphic images towards the beginning of the Gospel of Mark is the constant conflict and struggle between Jesus and the devil…

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The Church’s Youthfulness Renewed

An article by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna published on The Malta Independent on Sunday on Easter Sunday

01/04/2018

  • Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has as many fans as it has detractors. It was a controversial film that was seen by millions but that also created huge reactions. I remember Franco Zeffirelli criticising how violent the film was. But one thing that struck me in the film is a scene where Jesus is given the cross to carry, and a close-up of the face of Jesus follows with his words: “Behold I am making all things new”…

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L-Arċisqof f’Sibt il-Għid: “Illum tiġġedded iż-żgħożija tal-Knisja”

01/04/2018
  • L-omelija tal-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna

  • Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann, il-Belt Valletta
    31 ta’ Marzu 2018

    “Daħlu fil-qabar, u raw żagħżugħ bilqiegħda n-naħa tal-lemin, liebes libsa bajda” (Mk 16, 5). In-nisa twajba: Marija ta’ Magdala, Marija omm Ġakbu u Salomi, ma kinux qed jistennew din il-laqgħa ma’ raġel żagħżugħ.

    Hekk kif sebaħ l-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa, wara li kien għadda Sibt il-Għid, kienu qed jistennew li jaraw qabar b’ġebla kbira tgħattih u kellhom din il-problema: ‘Min se jgerrbilna l-ġebla mid-daħla tal-qabar?’ (v…

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Pope at Easter Vigil Mass: Break silence, overcome fear

01/04/2018

  • lso known as the “night of nights”, the Easter Vigil is really the climax of the Triduum celebrations. It is on this night that we commemorate, through poignant words and powerful symbols, the death and Resurrection of Jesus. True to that symbolism, the ceremony begins outside the church, in darkness – and in silence.

    Speechless before the Cross

    This silence is one with which we can all identify, said Pope Francis in his homily…

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The Gospel of Easter Sunday: 1st April

01/04/2018

  • Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord – Solemnity

    Saint John 20:1-9 

    On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

    So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 

    When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed…

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