In the night a Light is turned on
Life is this passage from darkness to light: a passage that we are all experiencing. A message has come to us, a piece of news: Christ has told us that life leads to God who is the Father. But if Christ is risen, life has a whole new meaning. Every day is Easter: because every day is a journey towards God; every day something old in us dies and we take a step towards life.
Saying yes to the love that redeemed the world
Who then is the Christian? The Christian is a person who lives by faith (cf. Rom 1:17), that is, who has regulated their entire existence on the only possibility opened up to him by Jesus Christ, obedient for us all even to the cross (cf. Phil 2:8): the possibility of participating in the obedient yes that redeems the world. The mystery of Christ passes into the Christian, who must have within him the Spirit of Christ that impels him to offer himself freely and unconditionally for the salvation of the world accepting serenely persecution and division.
We shed the tears that Judas did not want to
At the Eucharistic celebration, we return to this very question and it is God who awaits our response: a response of actions, gestures and decisions. Let us sincerely recognize that pride is the poison of human history from all time. However, for Jesus, Judas is still the long-awaited friend and lost son of the Father's heart.
Pain and indignation for the private masses forbidden in St. Peter's
Pain and indignation invade my heart to hear that they have forbidden private masses in St. Peter’s. It was the thing that strengthened my faith most every time I came to Rome. It is time to reduce the excessive power of the Secretariat of State. Let them make the Secretariat of State “a den of thieves”, But leave the devoted people of God alone!
The victor is the one who gives their life for others, not the one who takes it away
The path indicated by Christ shuns Power, it leads to the Cross, this is the triumph of God. Let’s imitate Mary’s behaviour; let us be humble and together with her follow the Lord on the way of the Cross. This is also where our victory lies.
Blessings for gays: Rome spake... but also didn’t
The intervention of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prohibiting blessings for homosexual couples has provoked reactions from bishops and theologians disappointed with Pope Francis. Some believe that the praxis will not change because doctrinally forbidden praxis are still being implemented despite the fact that they are forbidden. This is the result of a confused doctrine that tolerates the intolerable after having declared that it is intolerable.
St Joseph, the father to imitate
St Joseph's greatest glory lies in having served “directly the person and mission of Jesus through the exercise of his paternity”, as Redemptoris Custos teaches. Mary's spouse carried out his paternal role with a single purpose: to do the will of the heavenly Father. That is why fathers of all times have in him, the master of the interior life, their greatest model.
Blessing of gay unions: Vatican says "No", but a problem remains
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says no to the blessing of homosexual unions, but is somewhat ambiguous when it speaks of positive elements in these relationships. The statement it used needs clarification. Here's why....
Liturgy, an "investigation" into Cardinal Sarah's management gets underway
A raucous decision has been made inside the Vatican. An Apostolic Visitation has just began at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament which, until just three weeks ago, was headed by Cardinal Robert Sarah. This is the first time that a Vatican Congregation has been placed under investigation. This explains why Pope Francis accepted Sarah's resignation without appointing a successor right away. The Apostolic Visitor is Bishop Claudio Maniago, who has both a liberal vision of the liturgy and has faced accusations in the past of moral transgressions. The decision, whose motivation is still unknown, could also be linked to recent revised measures for Masses celebrated inside St. Peter's Basilica, directives which penalise the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Pope Frances’ visit, a ray of hope for Iraq
From the 5th to 8th March Pope Francis will be in Iraq, barring last-minute impediments. His trip brings him to a country still hostage to internal and international conflicts, and with a decimated and persecuted Christian community. The Pope has no magic wand but everyone is expecting him to pronounce words of truth and justice that hold the strength of the Word of God; a cry that calls the oppressors to conversion.
Get vaccinated or you’re fired: Vatican takes the lead
The Vatican has issued a decree on health emergencies that discriminates against workers who do not get vaccinated, with consequences up to and including dismissal. This decision is unjustifiable from a moral and legal point of view, because there is no state of necessity and there is no certainty about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines. A subsequent Vatican note to dampen the controversy does not change the substance of the measure.
The failure of the Vatican China-politik
The new measures for religious appointments that will come into force on May 1st in China, dictate how Catholic bishops are to be nominated, but totally ignores the recently renewed agreement with the Holy See. It is added confirmation that Vatican policy has failed. It’s a very serious blot on this pontificate and calls into question the concept of what is fidelity to the Church.
