'God is so great that he can become small. God is so powerful that he can make himself vulnerable and come to us as a defenceless child, so that we can love him.' From Pope Benedict XVI's homily delivered on Christmas Eve 2005.
- Christmas message from cardinal Pizzaballa
To all our readers, we wish you a Holy Christmas. We will return with news from Daily Compass on 27 December.
The United Kingdom: assisted suicide campaign an example of steered democracy
A skilful political manoeuvre by the government, an overwhelming Labour majority in Parliament and the full support of the media were not enough to ensure the rapid approval of the assisted suicide bill. It may now fail to pass the vote in the House of Lords.
The EU has bet 90 billion on Russia's defeat
The EU has frozen Russian financial assets in Europe indefinitely. Although this is a less drastic measure than the proposed seizure, it is still dangerous because we will only get that money back if Russia is defeated, which is not currently likely.
Africa celebrates Christmas between terrorist attacks and Christian testimony
In northern and central Nigeria, Burkina Faso and northern Mozambique, Christmas is a day when the risk of a jihadist attack is at its highest. Yet, the faithful risk their lives to persevere in their faith.
"The EU discriminated against FAFCE because we are pro-family"
"There has been a serious shift in attitude on the part of the European Commission. First, they claimed the family excludes; now, the family is excluded." Vincenzo Bassi, president of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe, which has been excluded from European funds because of its anti-gender stance, speaks to the Daily Compass.
A pregnant Madonna and thousands of ribbons symbolising the countless children saved from abortion. When Pope Leo inaugurated the unprecedented work, he also recalled this, breaking not only the mould, but also the mould of those bishops who looked with annoyance at the prayers for life in front of abortion clinics.
News of the conviction of Hong Kong Catholic publisher Jimmy Lai has been completely ignored by Vatican media outlets and the Holy See. This is yet another perverse consequence of the secret China-Vatican agreement: in the name of political expediency, Catholics are being left at the mercy of their persecutors.
- Jimmy Lai's conviction was the result of a sham trial, by Riccardo Cascioli
- DOSSIER: Jimmy Lai, a Catholic against the Power
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Is it Mary a model of the redeemed and nothing more? The dogmatic truth is different
In this article, Father Serafino Lanzetta, a professor of dogmatic theology at the Theological Faculty of Lugano, weighs in on the debate sparked by Mater Populi Fidelis. He refers back to the first great Mariological dispute, which was resolved at Ephesus. Today, as then, downplaying Mary's role leads to a misunderstanding of the truth about Christ.
- The full text of the document of the International Marian Association
Co-Redemptrix by participation: the forgotten principle
Mary's redemptive capacity is indeed within her, but not from her; it is shared. This is a key concept, expressed precisely by the concept of co-redemption, but carefully overlooked by Mater Populi Fidelis.
- All that's wrong in the Vatican Note
'Mary Co-Redemptrix': all that's wrong in the Vatican Note
The Daily Compass publishes the document by the Theological Commission of the International Marian Association, which clarifies the correct doctrine concerning the titles 'Mary Co-Redemptrix' and 'Mediatrix of all graces'. This document responds to the 'Note Mater Populi Fidelis' by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which caused confusion and disorientation among the faithful.
- RESPONSE TO MATER POPULI FIDELIS BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARIAN ASSOCIATION
They want us all to become 'forest families'
The story of Nathan Trevallion and Catherine Birmingham, in Italy, is paradoxical because they embody the lifestyle that the so-called 'green' tyranny wants for everyone: they are the only people who comply with the ecological footprint. However, they clash with another ideology, that of the omnipotent state.