Speaking before the Marian Prayer in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis recalled Sunday’s Gospel from Luke, considered to be the chapter of Mercy. In these parables of the lost sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son the Pope explained that “Jesus wants to make us understand that God the Father is the first to have a welcoming and merciful attitude toward sinners.”The Pope added that all these parables express joy and rejoicing, not sadness and sorrow. Pope Francis underlined the Gospel reading gives hope, continuing, “there is no sin in which we have fallen, from which, by the grace of God, we cannot rise again; there is no individual beyond redemption, no one is beyond redemption, because God never ceases to want our good, even when we sin” Source: Vatican Radio
Pope Francis warned against a “false freedom” which has created “many new forms of slavery” during his Jubilee Audience in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday. The Holy Father’s catechesis focused on the word ‘redemption,’ which he said is “little used, but it is important because it points to the most radical liberation God is able to perform for us, for all humanity, and for the entirety of creation.” “It appears that the people of today no longer love to think of being liberated and saved by the intervention of God; in fact, people today are under the illusion that their liberty is a force with which to obtain all things…
Pope Francis says today’s society “is increasingly showing its need of mercy” and described Benedictine monasteries “as oases of spirituality” where people can obtain that mercy. The Pope’s comments came on Thursday during an address to participants of the International Congress of Benedictine Abbots and Abesses taking place in Rome. Pope Francis said when we talk of our world needing more mercy, this is not “a slogan or a recipe” but instead something that comes from the very heart of Christian life making that person “more attentive to the needy and showing solidarity with them.” This, he declared, is the concrete quality of the love that shows “the authenticity and credibility” of the Church’s message…
In May 2015, Pope Francis issued his second encyclical, namely the Encyclical Laudato Sì, On Care for our Common Home. Even though various Church leaders had spoken about environmental issues before, this is the first encyclical letter to specifically address concerns about the environment. The encyclical starts off with an environmental assessment, followed by a theological reflection on creation and an outline of the core causes of the ecological crisis…
On Thursday 8th September 2016, Solemn Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Episcopal Ordination of Mgr Carmel Zammit was held, at the Mdina Cathedral. At 9:15 a.m., His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, His Excellency Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, His Lordship Bishop Ralph Heskett and His Lordship Bishop-elect Carmel Zammit, left the Archbishop’s Palace on foot to the Mdina Cathedral. There, they were greeted by the Metropolitan Chapter and led to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for a short moment of prayer…
L-Erbgħa 7 ta’ Settembru 2016, wara nofsinhar, l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna u l-Isqof-elett Mons. Carmel Zammit laqgħu lil Cardinal Vincent Nichols, fl-Ajruport Internazzjonali ta’ Malta. Laqgħuh ukoll l-Isqof Ralph Heskett, l-On. José Herrera MP, u l-organizzaturi tal-Ordinazzjoni Episkopali ta’ Mons. Zammit.
On Thursday 8th September 2016, at 9:15 a.m., His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, His Excellency Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, His Lordship Bishop Ralph Heskett and His Lordship Bishop-elect Carmel Zammit, leave the Archbishop’s Palace on foot to the Mdina Cathedral. There, they will be greeted by the Metropolitan Chapter and led to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for a short moment of prayer. At 9:30 a.m., the Solemn Mass starts…
Pope Francis on Tuesday encouraged the President of the Vatican’s ‘Bambino Gesù’ pediatric hospital to continue to promote the institution’s good work and promised his personal contribution. In the course of a private audience with Mariella Enoc – at the head of the children’s hospital since February 2015 – the Pope assured her of his continuing support and said the hospital must evermore be a ‘great work of mercy’…
The Archbishop leads a Prayer Vigil for Bishop-elect Mgr Carmel Zammit
07/09/2016
On Tuesday 6th Spetember 2016, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna led a Prayer Vigil in preparation for the Episcopal Ordination of Mgr Carmel Zammit, Bishop-elect of Gibraltar. During the Prayer Vigil, the Archbishop blessed the Episcopal Insigna to be used during the Ordination Mass. The Prayer Vigil was held at Gudja Parish Church. Mgr Zammit was born and bred in Gudja, and resides there…
Pope Francis has released his videomessage accomplanying his monthly prayer intention: “That each may contribute to the common good and to the building of a society that places the human person at the center.” The text of the video message reads: “Humanity is experiencing a crisis that is not only economic and financial, but is also ecological, educational, moral, and human…
