VATICAN CITY, 24 JUL 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Holy Father, written in Latin and dated 30 June, in which he appoints Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, as his special envoy to celebrations marking the fourth centenary of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou of the Mikmaq People, due to be held on Chapel Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, on 1 August.
Cardinal Ouellet, who when news of the appointment was made public was still archbishop of Quebec, Canada, will be accompanied on his mission by Fr. Robert McNeil, episcopal vicar to the Mikmaq, and by Fr. Douglas J. Murphy of Holy Rosary parish. Msgr. Luca Lorusso, nunciature counsellor, will also form part of the mission.
BXVI-LETTER/ VIS 20100726 (140)
Monday, July 26, 2010
ANGELUS: THOSE WHO PRAY ARE NEVER ALONE
VATICAN CITY, 25 JUL 2010 (VIS) - At midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered there.
The Pope commented on today's Gospel reading in which the disciples ask Christ to teach them how to pray. "Jesus raised no objections, He used no strange or esoteric formulae but with great simplicity said: 'When you pray, say: Father ... And he taught them the Our Father".
"These are the first words of Sacred Scripture we learn as children. They are impressed in the memory, they mould our lives, they accompany us unto our last breath", said Benedict XVI. "This prayer also comprehends and expresses the material and spiritual requirements of human beings. ... And precisely because of our everyday needs and difficulties, Jesus exhorts us forcefully: ... 'Ask and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you'.
"This is not a request for our own desires to be satisfied, but for our friendship with God to be kept alive", the Pope added. "This was the experience of the ancient Desert Fathers, and of contemplative people in all times who, through prayer, became friends of God". In this context he quoted words of St. Teresa of Avila who encouraged her nuns to "beseech God to deliver us from these perils for ever and to keep us from all evil! And although our desire for this may not be perfect, let us strive to make the petition. What does it cost us to ask it, since we ask it of One Who is so powerful?"
"Each time we pray the Our Father", the Pope concluded, "our voice mingles with the voice of the Church, because one who prays is never alone. ... May the Virgin Mary help us rediscover the beauty and profundity of Christian prayer".
ANG/ VIS 20100726 (330)
The Pope commented on today's Gospel reading in which the disciples ask Christ to teach them how to pray. "Jesus raised no objections, He used no strange or esoteric formulae but with great simplicity said: 'When you pray, say: Father ... And he taught them the Our Father".
"These are the first words of Sacred Scripture we learn as children. They are impressed in the memory, they mould our lives, they accompany us unto our last breath", said Benedict XVI. "This prayer also comprehends and expresses the material and spiritual requirements of human beings. ... And precisely because of our everyday needs and difficulties, Jesus exhorts us forcefully: ... 'Ask and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you'.
"This is not a request for our own desires to be satisfied, but for our friendship with God to be kept alive", the Pope added. "This was the experience of the ancient Desert Fathers, and of contemplative people in all times who, through prayer, became friends of God". In this context he quoted words of St. Teresa of Avila who encouraged her nuns to "beseech God to deliver us from these perils for ever and to keep us from all evil! And although our desire for this may not be perfect, let us strive to make the petition. What does it cost us to ask it, since we ask it of One Who is so powerful?"
"Each time we pray the Our Father", the Pope concluded, "our voice mingles with the voice of the Church, because one who prays is never alone. ... May the Virgin Mary help us rediscover the beauty and profundity of Christian prayer".
PRAYERS FOR DUISBURG VICTIMS, VISIT TO SANTIAGO
VATICAN CITY, 25 JUL 2010 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today, the Pope expressed his sorrow over "the tragedy of Duisburg, Germany, where many young people were among the victims. I commend the dead, the injured and their relatives to the Lord in my prayers", he said.
Turning then to address Spanish-speaking faithful, Benedict XVI mentioned the Feast of James the Apostle, who has been "venerated since time immemorial at Compostela" and whose cult is "so deeply rooted in your countries. In this Compostela Holy Year", the Pope went on, "I too hope to go there to join pilgrims in the month of November, on a trip during which I will also visit Barcelona. Following the footsteps of St. James, let us continue the journey of our lives while bearing constant witness of faith, hope and charity".
ANG/ VIS 20100726 (150)
Turning then to address Spanish-speaking faithful, Benedict XVI mentioned the Feast of James the Apostle, who has been "venerated since time immemorial at Compostela" and whose cult is "so deeply rooted in your countries. In this Compostela Holy Year", the Pope went on, "I too hope to go there to join pilgrims in the month of November, on a trip during which I will also visit Barcelona. Following the footsteps of St. James, let us continue the journey of our lives while bearing constant witness of faith, hope and charity".
ANG/ VIS 20100726 (150)
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
VATICAN CITY, 24 JUL 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed as members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, penitentiary major of the Apostolic Penitentiary; Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and Bishop Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota.
NA/ VIS 20100726 (60)
NA/ VIS 20100726 (60)