(Vatican Radio) This year’s Carl Sagan Medal, presenter by the American Astronomical Society (AAS), has been awarded to Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, of the Vatican Observatory.
The Division for Planetary Sciences of the AAS, upon announcing the award, said Consolmagno “occupies a unique position within our profession as a credible spokesperson for scientific honesty within the context of religious belief.”
The AAS made a special note of his book “Turn Left at Orion,” which “has had an enormous impact on the amateur astronomy community, engendering public support for astronomy.”
“As a Jesuit Brother, Guy has become the voice of the juxtaposition of planetary science and astronomy with Christian belief, a rational spokesperson who can convey exceptionally well how religion and science can co-exist for believers,” the AAS wrote.
This award will be presented to Brother Consolmagno at the 46th annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences in Tucson, Arizona, in November. The Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, operated by the Vatican Observatory, is located nearby, in southeastern Arizona’s Pinaleno Mountains near Mount Graham.
Elizabeth Ficocelli is a talented writer and one of her recent books is no exception. Therese, Faustina and Bernadette: Three Saints Who Challenged My Faith, Gave Me Hope, and Taught Me How to Love
These are three saints I knew a good amount about and so biography-wise I did not expect to learn much from this book. If this was all this book was about then it would have just been an nice introduction to these three saints. Where this book shines is where the author describes how she has incorporated these saints in her daily life. She describes how these saints became important to her during various stages in life as both examples and intercessors.
The book starts off with Elizabeth Ficocelli telling a bit of her conversion story and her entry into the professional world with an advertising firm. The initial excitement and the difficulties and then the series of events leading her to a deeper conversion. Throughout the book the waypoints on the path to holiness is illustrated with the struggles and how specifically these three saints helped her out.
I found the book to be obviously aimed at the women’s market, yet I enjoyed it thoroughly. The examples she gives in the book are nothing abstract, but something we can all find in the struggles in our life regarding how to fully live the faith. Very worthwhile.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 23 June to 12 July 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Angelus
Homilies
Messages
Motu Proprio
Speeches
- 5 July 2014 – Meeting with the world of labour and industry in the Great Hall of the University of Molise in Campobasso
- 5 July 2014 – Meeting with the young people of the Dioceses of Abruzzo and Molise (Piazzale del Santuario di Castelpetroso)
- 5 July 2014 – Meeting with all the citizens and proclamation of the Celestinian Jubilee Year (Piazza della Cattedrale di Isernia)
- 5 July 2014 – Meeting with the detainees in the local prison of Isernia
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
Papal Tweets
- “With God, nothing is lost; but without him, everything is lost.” @pontifex, 8 April 2014
- “Do not be afraid to cast yourselves into the arms of God; whatever he asks of you, he will repay a hundredfold.” @pontifex, 10 April 2014
- “The World Cup allowed people from different countries and religions to come together. May sport always promote the culture of encounter.” @pontifex, 12 April 2014
This looks pretty cool.
The Ignatius Pew Missal is an annual subscription-based worship aid intended for Roman Catholic parishes. Available to pre-order now for a special introductory price of $3.50 when you order 50+ missals!
Its purpose is simple: to provide worshipers with a liturgical resource that is consistent with the directives of the Church and accessible to the average parishioner, especially in regards to music.
This is done in two ways: by using simple plainsong melodies for the Entrance and Communion antiphons, so that a cantor, choir, and even a congregation can easily sing them, and by selecting hymns and songs which, combined, provide a repertoire of sacred songs that is fitting for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, yet accessible for the average parish.
Visit www.PewMissal.com to see samples and learn more about the Ignatius Pew Missal.
Still there is something wrong with the cover art. Don’t they know that for parish missal’s that the cover art is suppose to be abstract and barely recognizable as representing religious themes. They really need to take the Draw Me! course.
The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge has issued a statement decrying a decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court that could compel a local priest to testify in court about confessions he might have received. The alleged confessions, according to legal documents, were made to the priest by a minor girl regarding possible sexual abuse perpetrated by another church parishioner.
The statement, published Monday (July 7) on the diocese’s website, said forcing such testimony “attacks the seal of confession,” a sacrament that “cuts to the core of the Catholic faith.”
The statement refers to a lawsuit naming the Rev. Jeff Bayhi and the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge as defendants and compels Bayhi to testify whether or not there were confessions “and, if so, what the contents of any such confessions were.”
“A foundational doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church for thousands of years mandates that the seal of confession is absolute and inviolable,” the statement says. ”The position of the Diocese of Baton Rouge and Fr. Bayhi is that the Supreme Court of Louisiana has run afoul of the constitutional rights of both the Church and the priest, more particularly, has violated the Establishment Clause and the separation of Church and State under the first amendment.”
The state high court’s decision, rendered in May of this year, demands that a hearing be held in 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, where the suit originated, to determine whether or not a confession was made. It reverses an earlier decision by the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals dismissing the original lawsuit filed against Bayhi and the diocese.
The case stems from a claim by parents of a minor that their daughter confessed to Bayhi during the sacrament of reconciliation that she engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with grown man who also attended their church. Court documents indicate the child was 12 years old at the time of the alleged sexual abuse.
A criminal investigation by East Feliciana Sheriff’s Office into the alleged sexual abuse was ongoing when the accused church member died suddenly in February 2009 of a heart attack.
The civil lawsuit in question, filed five months later in July 2009, names the late sexual abuse suspect, as well as Bayhi and the Baton Rouge diocese, as defendants. The suit seeks damages suffered as a result of the sexual abuse, noting that abuse continued following the alleged confessions.
Source: NOLA.com:
Maybe the Louisiana Supreme Court thought the case involved Anglicans and not Catholics. From a story a week ago.
ANGLICAN ministers told during confession about serious crimes such as child sexual abuse shouldn’t be obliged to keep them secret, the church has declared.
THE ruling means ministers are only obliged to keep serious offences secret if “reasonably satisfied” they have already been reported to police.
Representatives of the Anglican Church of Australia approved the amendment on Wednesday at the church’s national parliament in Adelaide.
The legislation also covers other serious offences, including domestic violence.
Sydney barrister Garth Blake, who proposed the amendment, said it would ensure the church did not “act as a cloak” for offenders.
However, the legislation will only become active once adopted by individual dioceses.
Originally published as Confession not all confidential: Anglicans
Really we need to send copies of I Confess to members of their court.
Oh and yes I linked to this story primarly as an excuse to create the above graphic.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 19 June to 3 July 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Angelus
General Audiences
Homilies
- 19 June 2014 – Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
- 21 June 2014 – Holy Mass in Piana di Sibari
- 27 June 2014 – Homily prepared by Pope Francis for the visit to the Gemelli Hospital of Rome and read by Cardinal Angelo Scola on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Messages
- 30 June 2014 – Message to Dutch young people on the occasion of the National Catholic Youth Festival [Abbey of Mariënkroon in Nieuwkuijk, 28–29 June 2014]
- 1 July 2014 – Message signed by the Secretary of State to the President of the Conference on anti-personnel landmines [Maputo, Mozambique]
Speeches
+ 17 June 2014 – To members of the “Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura”
+ 21 June 2014 – Visit to the Penitentiary of Castrovillari (Cosenza)
+ 21 June 2014 – Meeting with diocesan priests in the Cathedral (Cassano all’Jonio)
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
Papal Tweets
- “Jesus, help us to love God as Father and our neighbour as ourselve” @pontifex, 30 June 2014
- “To live as true children of God means to love our neighbour and to be close to those who are lonely and in difficulty.” @pontifex, 1 July 2014
- “Dear young people, do not give up your dreams of a more just world!” @pontifex, 3 July 2014
Other
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 7 to 29 June 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Speeches
- 7 June 2014 – To members of the sports association for the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Sports Center
- 15 June 2014 – To the Saint Egidio Community
- 16 June 2014 – To participants in Rome’s diocesan conference entitled: “A People who generates its children, communities and families in the great stages of Christian initiation”
- 26 June 2014 – To Members of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (R.O.A.C.O.)
- 26 June 2014 – To Participants in the Summer Course of the Vatican Observatory
- 28 June 2014 – To a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
- 23 June 2014 – No one can judge
- 24 June 2014 – Preaching the baptism of conversion
- 26 June 2014 – Those who speak without authority
- 27 June 2014 – God’s lullaby
Papal Tweets
- “Let us pray for the Christian communities in the Middle East, that they may continue to live in the land where Christianity was born.” @pontifex, 23 June 2014
- “How I wish everyone had decent work! It is essential for human dignity.” @pontifex, 24 June 2014
- “The family is essential to sustaining human and social development.” @pontifex, 26 June 2014
- “In the face of life’s difficulties, let us ask the Lord for the strength to remain joyful witnesses to our faith.”@pontifex, 27 June 2014
- “To be friends with God means to pray with simplicity, like children talking to their parents.” @pontifex, 28 June 2014
- “May Saints Peter and Paul bless the city of Rome and the entire pilgrim Church throughout the world.” @pontifex, 29 June 2014
Roman Curia
This document is also available in multiple e-book formats for Kindle, Nook, iOS, along with PDF. Download via Brandon Vogt’s site. The Vatican has given permission to Bishop’s conferences to make this available with permission and specifically the U.S.C.C.B. has given permission to Brandon Vogt in this case.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 30 May to 20 June 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Angelus
General Audiences
Letters
Homilies
Speeches
- 5 June 2014 – To participants in the meeting sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, “The Church and Gypsies: to Announce the Gospel in the Peripheries”
- 7 June 2014 – Phone call of Pope Francis to a group of participants in the 36th annual pilgrimage from Macerata to Loreto
- 12 June 2014 – Video Message of Pope Francis on the occasion of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
- 14 June 2014 – To the National Confederation of the “Misericordie d’Italia” on the occasion of the anniversary of its meeting with Pope John Paul II on 14 June 1986
- 16 June 2014 – To His Grace Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and his Entourage
- 16 June 2014 – To participants in the Conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace on “Impact Investing for the Poor”
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
- 16 June 2014 – When the poor end up paying
- 20 June 2014 – Treasure Hunt
- 17 June 2014 – Sinners with white gloves
Papal Tweets
- “May the Lord bless the family and strengthen it in this moment of crisis.” @pontifex, 16 June 2014
- “Sometimes we cast the elderly aside, but they are a precious treasure: to cast them aside is an injustice and an irreparable loss.” @pontifex, 17 June 2014
- “There is never a reason to lose hope. Jesus says: “I am with you until the end of the world”.” @pontifex, 19 June 2014
- “There is so much indifference in the face of suffering. May we overcome indifference with concrete acts of charity.” @pontifex, 20 June 2014
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 18 to 14 June 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Regina Caeli
General Audiences
Homilies
Messages
Speeches
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
- 9 June 2014 – The Christian’s identity card
- 12 June 2014 – When hatred kills
- 13 June 2014 – In a tiny whispering sound
Papal Tweets
- “I ask all people of good will to join us today in praying for peace in the Middle East. #weprayforpeace” @pontifex, 8 April 2014
- “May we never talk about others behind their backs, but speak to them openly about what we think.” @pontifex, 9 April 2014
- “Let us pray for all victims of sexual violence in conflict, and those working to end this crime. #TimeToAct” @pontifex, 10 April 2014
- “I wish everyone a wonderful World Cup, played in a spirit of true fraternity.” @pontifex, 12 April 2014
- “May we not resist the Holy Spirit but allow him to work in our lives, so that he can renew us, the Church and the world.” @pontifex, 13 April 2014
- “We run the risk of forgetting the suffering which doesn’t affect us personally. May we respond to it, and may we pray for peace in Syria.” @pontifex, 14 April 2014
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 19 May to 7 June 2014.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s The Weekly Francis. Jimmy Akin came up with this idea when he started “The Weekly Benedict” and I have taken over curation of it.
Regina Caeli
General Audiences
Homilies
Speeches
- 19 May 2014 – To the 66th General Assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference held 19–22 May
- 30 May 2014 – Address to Charity Workers in Syria
- 31 May 2014 – Recitation of the Holy Rosary for the conclusion of the Marian month of May
- 1 June 2014 – To participants in the 37th National Convocation of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit
- 2 June 2014 – To the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Zimbabwe on their “ad Limina” visit
- 5 June 2014 – To His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
- 2 June 2014 – Three loves for one wedding
- 3 June 2014 – The good lawyer
- 5 June 2014 – A house that’s not for rent
- 6 June 2014 – You never forget your first love
Papal Tweets
- “At times we can be self-absorbed. Lord, help us to open our hearts to others and to serve those who are most vulnerable.” @pontifex, 2 June 2014
- “Thank you to all teachers: educating is an important mission, which draws young people to what is good, beautiful and true.” @pontifex, 3 June 2014
- “Like the Good Samaritan, may we not be ashamed of touching the wounds of those who suffer, but try to heal them with concrete acts of love.” @pontifex, 5 June 2014
- “Peace is a gift of God, but requires our efforts. Let us be people of peace in prayer and deed. #weprayforpeace” @pontifex, 6 June 2014
- “Prayer is all-powerful. Let us use it to bring peace to the Middle East and peace to the world. #weprayforpeace” @pontifex, 7 June 2014