SUMMARY:
-
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS HUMAN
SUFFERING
-
APPEAL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA
-
ST. GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE
-
HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE FAMILY
-
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
______________________________________
ANOINTING
OF THE SICK: SACRAMENT OF GOD'S COMPASSION TOWARDS HUMAN SUFFERING
Vatican
City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Pope Francis continued his
catechesis on the Sacraments by speaking today about the anointing of
the sick, “which allows us to touch with our hands God's compassion
for mankind”. He explained that in the past it was referred to as
“extreme unction” as it was intended as spiritual consolation
when death was imminent. “Speaking of the anointing of the sick
helps us to broaden our view of the experience of illness and
suffering, in the horizon of God's mercy”.
The
parable of the Good Samaritan clearly expresses the mystery that is
celebrated by this Sacrament. “The Samaritan consoles the man who
suffers at the side of the road, tending to his wounds with oil and
wine. The oil recalls that which is blessed by the Bishop every year,
in the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, precisely for the anointing of
the sick. The wine, instead, is a sign of Christ's love and grace,
which flow from His gift of His life for us. The Pope explained that
the sick person is finally entrusted to “the Church, the Christian
community”, to whom “every day the Lord Jesus entrusts those who
are afflicted, in body and spirit, so that we may continue to lavish
upon them, without measure, all His love and His salvation”.
“This
mandate is confirmed explicitly and precisely in the Epistle of St.
James, in which he says, 'Is any among you sick? Let him call upon
the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord'”, continued the Holy Father. “It
is therefore a practice that was already in evidence at the time of
the Apostles. Indeed, Jesus had taught his disciples to have His same
predilection for the sick and the suffering, and transmitted to them
the capacity and the task of continuing to give consolation and peace
in His name … through the special grace of this Sacrament. However,
this must not lead us to search obsessively for miracles or allow us
the presumption of always being able to be healed; it gives us the
assurance of Jesus' closeness to the sick and the elderly – as all
those above the age of 65 are able to receive this Sacrament – as
it is Jesus Himself Who comes towards them”.
“But
when someone is sick and we say, 'Let's call the priest to come', it
makes us think that it may bring bad luck, or perhaps the patient
will be afraid”, he continued, speaking off the cuff. “There is
perhaps the idea that when one is sick and the priest arrives, he
will be followed by the undertaker. But this is not true! The priest
comes to help the sick or the elderly, which is why the visit is so
important. It is necessary to call the priest to the home of the sick
and to say: 'come, anoint him, bless him'. It is Jesus Himself Who
arrives to console the sick, to give him strength, to give him hope,
to help him; also to forgive his sins. And this is beautiful! And we
must not think of this as a taboo, because it is always good to know
that in moments of pain or sickness we are not alone; the priest and
those who are present during the anointing of the sick represent,
indeed, the entire Christian community who, as a single body, gathers
around those who suffer and their relatives, encouraging their faith
and hope, and supporting them with prayer and brotherly warmth. But
the greatest comfort derives from the fact that it is the Lord Jesus
Himself who is made present in the Sacrament; He takes us by the hand
and reminds us that we now belong to Him and that nothing – not
even sickness or death – can ever separate us from Him”.
“Are
we afraid of the habit of calling the priest to give this Sacrament
to the sick – I don't mean in the case of influenza that lasts
three or four days, but rather a serious illness – and to the
elderly, so that they can find the strength from Jesus to go on?”
asked the Pope, and concluded by urging those present: “Let's do
this”.
APPEAL
FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA
Vatican
City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – Following today's catechesis the
Pope commented on the events of recent days in Venezuela, and made an
appeal for the cessation of violence and hostilities. He expressed
his hope that “that the entire Venezuelan population, beginning
with political and institutional leaders, will take steps to ensure
national reconciliation, through mutual forgiveness and sincere
dialogue, respecting truth and justice, and able to face real issues
for the common good”.
The
Holy Father gave the assurance of his prayers, in particular for
those who have lost their lives in the clashes, and their families,
and invited the faithful to raise prayers to God for the maternal
intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto so that the country might once
more find peace and harmony.
ST.
GABRIEL OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS, AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE
Vatican
City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – In his greetings in various
languages, the Pope mentioned that in two days' time the World Rare
Diseases Day will be celebrated, and he addressed the participants in
the congress that is to take place on the day. “I hope that
patients and their families will be adequately supported on their
difficult journey, at both a medical and a legislative level”.
Pope
Francis greeted, among others, participants in the SIGNIS World
Congress, the directors of the Polish radio who are meeting in Rome
during these days for their spiritual exercises, pilgrims from Iraq
and Lebanon, and the Legionaries of Christ who have completed their
General Chapter.
Before
concluding, he commented that tomorrow is the liturgical memory of
St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, “whose example helps you, dear
young people, to be enthusiastic disciples of Jesus, who inspires
you, dear sick people, to offer your suffering in union with those of
Christ; and stimulates you, dear newly-weds, to make the Gospel the
fundamental rule of your married life”.
HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES RESPOND TO THE SYNOD
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE FAMILY
Vatican
City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Ordinary Council of the Synod of
Bishops met on 24 and 25 February to discuss the results of the
enquiry opened in November 2013 with the distribution of a
questionnaire on themes relating to the family to episcopal
conferences around the world. There has been a very high percentage
of responses, and observations from individuals and groups from all
over the world have been added.
On
the afternoon of 24 February the Council was presided over by the
Holy Father Francis, who also emphasised in this way the importance
he attributes to both the Synod structure as an expression of
episcopal collegiality and the theme that will be considered by the
upcoming Extraordinary Assembly of 2014 and the Ordinary Assembly of
2015.
The
draft synthesis of the answers received was unanimously appreciated.
It enables the voice of the Church to be heard in all her components
and in a variety of contexts and situations, both with regard to the
urgency of proclaiming the Gospel of the family with renewed zeal,
and in relation to the challenges and difficulties connected with
family life and the crises it may face.
The
observations made during the discussion will be considered in the
drafting of the Instrumentum laboris from which the work of the Synod
will proceed. The unitary character of the two stages expected for
synodal reflection on the family, so that at the end of the Ordinary
Synod proposals will be presented to the Holy Father, on the basis of
which he will prepare his Apostolic Exhortation.
The
Ordinary Council was attended by the relator general, Cardinal Peter
Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, and the special
secretary, Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto.
During
the meeting the Holy Father blessed the new wing of the seat of the
Secretariat General along with the Chapel and new offices.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 26 February 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Msgr.
Jose Carlos de Souza Campos as bishop of Divinopolis (area 8,824,
population 780,000, Catholics 668,000, priests 101, religious 117),
Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Itauna, Brazil in 1968 and was
ordained a priest in 1993. He holds a licentiate in fundamental
theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and has held a
number of pastoral roles, including priest of the parishes of “Senhor
Bom Jesus” in Pedra do Indaia, “Nossa Senhora Aparecida” in
Divinopolis, “Nossa Senhora de Fatima” in Itauna and “Sant'Ana”
in Itauna; professor of philosophy in the “Sao Jose” diocesan
seminary, administrator of the “Sao Judas Tadeu” parish in
Divinopolis, and vicar general of the diocese of Divinopolis. He has
also served as representative of priests, and member of the council
of formators, the presbyteral council and the college of consultors,
and professor of religious anthropology and fundamental theology in
various study centres. He is currently administrator of the diocese
of Divinopolis and priest of the Cathedral.
You
can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The
news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used,
in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S.
-Vatican Information Service.
Copyright
© Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City
No comments:
Post a Comment