SUMMARY:
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POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER
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ANGELUS: THE DANGER OF BECOMING “WATERED-DOWN” CHRISTIANS
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POPE'S APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CREATION
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AUDIENCES
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POPE
FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER
Vatican
City, 1 September 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer
intention for September is: “That the mentally disabled may receive
the love and help they need for a dignified life”.
His
intention for evangelisation is: “That Christians, inspired by the
Word of God, may serve the poor and suffering”.
ANGELUS:
THE DANGER OF BECOMING “WATERED-DOWN” CHRISTIANS
Vatican
City, 1 September 2014 (VIS) – At midday the Holy Father appeared
at the window of his study to pray the Angelus with the faithful
gathered in St. Peter's Square, and commented on the day's Gospel
reading in which Jesus, “after having confirmed that Peter and the
other eleven believed in Him as the Messiah and the Son of God, began
to explain to them that He had to go to Jerusalem where He would
suffer greatly, be killed, and rise again on the third day”. He
remarked, “It is a critical moment in which Jesus' and the
disciples' method of thinking emerges”.
Jesus
reproaches Peter – He puts him “back in line” because he does
not think “as God does, but as human beings do”, and without
realising that he is assuming the role of Satan, the tempter.
The
Apostle Paul also insists upon this theme in this Sunday's liturgy in
his Letter to the Romans, when he affirms that Christians must not
conform to this world without transforming it to discern the will of
God.
“In
effect”, he continued, “we Christians live in the world, fully
integrated in the social and cultural reality of our time, and it is
right that it is so; however, this carries the risk that we become
'worldly', that the salt loses its flavour, as Jesus would say; that
is, that the Christian is 'watered down', losing the inspiration of
newness that comes from the Lord and the Holy Spirit. Instead, they
should be the opposite: when the strength of the Gospel remains alive
in Christians, they can transform “mankind’s criteria of
judgement, determining values, points of interest, lines of thought,
sources of inspiration and models of life”, emphasised the Pope,
quoting Paul VI.
“It
is sad to meet Christians who are watered down, like wine; you cannot
tell whether they are Christians or worldly, like watered wine; it is
impossible to tell whether it is wine or water. It is sad to meet
Christians who are no longer the salt of the earth … because they
have committed themselves to the spirit of this world, that is, they
have become worldly. Therefore, it is necessary to renew oneself
continuously, to draw lymph from the Gospel … by reading and
meditating the Gospel every day, so the word of Jesus may always be
present in our life”, emphasised the Pontiff, reminding those
present always to carry a copy of the Gospel with their pockets or
handbags, and to read a passage every day.
Renewal
also comes from participation in Sunday Mass, “where we find the
Lord in the community, listening to His Word and receiving the
Eucharist which unites us to Him and one another”, as well as in
days of retreat and spiritual exercises.
He
concluded, “Thanks to these gifts from the Lord, we can conform not
to the world, but to Christ, and to follow Him on His path, the path
of 'losing one’s own life' in order to find it. offering it for
love and in love – and this involves sacrifice, even unto the cross
– to receive it again purified, freed of selfishness and from the
debt of death, full of eternity”.
POPE'S
APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CREATION
Vatican
City, 1 September 2014 (VIS) – After the Marian prayer, the Pope
greeted the many pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, and
remarked that on Monday 1 September the Day for the Protection of
Creation will be held in Italy. Organised by the Italian Episcopal
Conference, the theme this year will be “educating for the
protection of creation, for the health of our country and city”.
Francis
underlined the importance of the issue and launched an appeal for
“strength and commitment on the part of all – institutions,
associations and citizens – so that the life and health of people
may be protected, also respecting the environment and nature”.
He
also addressed a special greeting to the Catholic members of
parliament gathered in their fifth international meeting, encouraging
them to “live the delicate role of representatives of the people in
conformity with Gospel values”.
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 1 September 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father received in
audience:
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Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
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Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic nuncio in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and in Montenegro.
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Sixteen prelates of the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, on their
“ad limina” visit:
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Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua of Bamenda, with his auxiliary
Bishop Agapitus Enuyenyoh Nfon;
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Bishop Immanuel Bushu of Buea;
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Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo;
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Bishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Mamfe with Bishop emeritus Francis Teke
Lysinge;
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Archbishop Joseph Atanga of Bertoua, with Archbishop emeritus Roger
Pirenne;
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Bishop Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo of Batouri;
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Bishop Jan Ozga of Doume-Abong’Mbang;
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Bishop Eugeniusz Juretzko of Yokadouma;
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Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Douala, with Cardinal Christian Wiyghan
Tumi, Archbishop emeritus;
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Bishop Abraham Kome of Bafang;
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Bishop Dieudonne Watio of Bafoussam;
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Bishop of Jean-Bosco Ntep of Edea, apostolic administrator of Kribi.
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