ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 106

MONDAY 2 JUNE 2003

Feast of SS. Marcellinus and Peter

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------
• On World Communications Day
------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Says Media Professionals Are Called to Be "Agents of Peace"
------------------------------------------------------------
• Christian Values Are Stimulus for New Europe, Says Pope
------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Highlights Conditions for a Peaceful Future
------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Trip to Bosnia Confirmed
------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Law Meets With Pope
------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Colasuonno Dies; Helped Forge Relations With Russia
------------------------------------------------------------
• Audit of U.S. Diocesan Policies to Begin
------------------------------------------------------------
• Bush Calls John Paul II "One of the Greatest Moral Leaders of Our Time"
------------------------------------------------------------
• L'Osservatore Romano Encourages Changes to Euro-Constitution
------------------------------------------------------------
• Cause Under Way for Italian Who Helped Save Jews From Nazis
------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

On World Communications Day

"Media Professionals Called to Be Agents of Peace," Says Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul II's
address today to the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square before the praying of
the Regina Caeli at midday.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. This Sunday, the solemnity of the Lord's Ascension is being celebrated in
many countries. Forty days after Easter -- we read in the Gospel -- Jesus led
the Apostles "out as far as Bethany and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven"
(Luke 24:50-51). The ascension is the final moment of Christ's "Pasch," which
John the Evangelist describes, precisely, as a passage "out of this world to the
Father" (John 13:1).

He wishes to lead the whole of humanity to the one heavenly Father. "I will go
and prepare a place for you," he told his disciples during the Last Supper, "...
so that where I am you may be also" (John 14:3). May today's feast awaken in our
hearts the desire for heaven, our eternal homeland.

2. Today, moreover, is the World Communications Day, whose theme is "The Means
of Social Communication at the Service of Authentic Peace, in the Light of
'Pacem in Terris.'"

Forty years after the publication of the historic encyclical of Blessed Pope
John XXIII, it is all the more important to reflect on the role of the mass
media in the construction of a peaceful world, founded on truth, justice, love
and liberty. Indeed, may the means of social communication make a valid
contribution to peace, pulling down the barriers of mistrust, encouraging
understanding and mutual respect, and, in addition, fostering reconciliation and
mercy. It is, therefore, in virtue of their vocation and of their profession
that mass media professionals are also called to be agents of peace.

3. May Mary Most Holy, Star of Evangelization, protect and assist all those who
work in the field of social communication, especially at the service of the
Gospel and the Church. Likewise, may Mary, Queen of Heaven, help all of us to
live with our gaze constantly turned to Christ, who today ascends triumphant
into the glory of Paradise.

"Regina Caeli ..."

* * *

John Paul II Says Media Professionals Are Called to Be "Agents of Peace"

On World Communications Day

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says the mass media must
be means to promote peace, and communicators are called to be agents of
reconciliation.

Addressing several thousand pilgrims gathered today in St. Peter's Square before
the praying of the Regina Caeli, the Pope noted that it was World Communications
Day.

On this occasion, at the Pope's request, the theme of the World Day was "The
Means of Social Communication at the Service of Authentic Peace, in the Light of
'Pacem in Terris,'" in commemoration of John XXIII's 1963 encyclical.

In the current world situation, it "is all the more important to reflect on the
role of the mass media in the construction of a peaceful world, founded on
truth, justice, love and liberty," said John Paul II.

"Indeed, may the means of social communication make a valid contribution to
peace, pulling down the barriers of mistrust, encouraging understanding and
mutual respect and, in addition, fostering reconciliation and mercy," he said.

The Holy Father emphasized that it is "in virtue of their vocation and of their
profession that mass media professionals are also called to be agents of peace."

The Pope concluded by hoping that the feast of the Ascension, which was
celebrated today in many countries, may awaken in believers "the desire for
heaven, our eternal homeland."

* * *

Christian Values Are Stimulus for New Europe, Says Pope

Receives Pilgrims From France Celebrating St. Yves' 7th Centenary

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A day after the Vatican expressed
surprise over the absence of any reference to Christianity in the draft Preamble
of the European Constitution, John Paul II invited Christians to cooperate
actively with their values in the construction of the new Europe.

The Pope made this invitation Saturday to a group of some 100 French pilgrims
from Brittany, led by Bishop Lucien Fruchaud of Saint-Brieuc and Treguier, who
were in Rome to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the death of St. Yves, in
many countries, patron of lawyers, judges, and notaries.

Yves de Helori (1253-1303), according to tradition an ecclesiastical judge,
resigned his post in order not to betray his conscience given the impositions of
French King Philip IV. The saint spent the rest of his life defending the poor
and preaching the Gospel.

"The values proposed by St. Ives continue to be a powerful stimulus for our
time, particularly in the Europe that is being constructed," the Pope said in
his address.

"Servant of justice, St. Yves invites men of good will to construct a world of
peace, founded on respect for law and the service of truth," he said.

In order to "defend the poor, this lawyer encourages people and nations to live
in solidarity and equity, which will guarantee the rights of the weakest, whose
inalienable dignity must be fully recognized," the Pope said.

He added: "May the example and life of St. Yves serve to invite Christians to
contribute actively to the construction of Europe, community of destinies in
which all are called to work so that love and truth will meet, and justice and
peace will embrace."

* * *

John Paul II Highlights Conditions for a Peaceful Future

Including Human Rights, Disarmament and Respect for the Environment

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II repeated the cry "War
never again!" and called for disarmament, the promotion of human rights,
development and respect for the environment.

The Pope made his plea today when he received the credentials of Gunkatsu Kano,
the new Japanese ambassador to the Vatican. Kano, 61, a career diplomat, had
been ambassador in Colombia.

"Through the painful vision of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, your country continues to
be a living witness of the tragedies of the 20th century," the Pope said. He
invited his audience to hear once again Pope Paul VI's famous expression at the
United Nations on Oct. 4, 1965: "War never again!"

"The latter puts in danger the very future of humanity," John Paul II said. He
urged the continuation of "the progressive, balanced and controlled elimination
of weapons of mass destruction, as well as of nuclear nonproliferation and
disarmament."

The Holy Father also mentioned the need "to prevent potential aggressions, but
without these measures being detrimental to the fundamental needs of the
civilian populations affected, which at times are condemned to poverty and
despair."

The "culture of peace" the Pope said, must be founded "on respect of human life
and the primacy of the right in its dimension of justice and equity, oriented
toward the patient construction of peaceful coexistence among nations and the
promotion of the common good."

Because of this, "the question of peace cannot be separated from the question of
human dignity and human rights," he said.

This calls for economic cooperation with "poor countries so that they will
become agents of their own development," he added.

Lastly, this objective calls for due importance to be given to the problems of
the environment and man's role in creation, the Pope said.

"To care for creation is a moral duty for all men, as the will of the Creator is
that man be worthy of his vocation, governing nature as a responsible
administrator and not as a merciless exploiter," he said. "It also means to
leave a habitable earth to future generations."


* * *

Papal Trip to Bosnia Confirmed

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican press office confirmed that
John Paul II on June 22 will visit Banja Luka, a city in Republika Srpska, the
ethnic Serb part of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Pope's 101st international trip will last about 13 hours. He will leave Rome
at 8:14 a.m. and return at 9 p.m., the press office said today.

The key moment of the visit will be the beatification of Ivan Merz (1896-1928).

Born in Banja Luka, Merz was a consecrated layman, philosopher and theologian
who dedicated himself to the education of youth in the ambit of Catholic Action.
He played a key role in the liturgical movement among Croatian Catholics. John
Paul II will visit Croatia from June 5-9.


* * *

Cardinal Law Meets With Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II received in audience
Cardinal Bernard Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston, the Vatican press office
reported.

The cardinal, who is chaplain of the Sisters of Mercy of Alma Convent in
Clinton, Maryland, has been in Rome for the past few days. He still holds posts
in some Vatican organizations, following his resignation as archbishop of
Boston. He met the Pope on Saturday.

Cardinal Law is a member of the Council of Cardinals for the study of
organizational and financial problems of the Vatican, and of nine other Vatican
congregations and councils.

On Dec. 13, John Paul II accepted Cardinal Law's resignation, in the wake of
reports of scandals by priests in the Boston Archdiocese.

* * *

Cardinal Colasuonno Dies; Helped Forge Relations With Russia

Nuncio Fostered Rebirth of Church in Former Soviet Lands

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Francesco Colasuonno, one of
the architects of diplomatic relations between Russia and the Vatican, died
Saturday. He was 78.

John Paul II appointed him in March 1990 as the Vatican's official
representative to the Soviet Union, with the rank of apostolic nuncio.

The nuncio was familiar with the situation in the Communist countries. He had
been appointed nuncio in Yugoslavia in 1985, and the Pope had sent him on
special missions to Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Sofia and Warsaw.

During Archbishop Colasuonno's four years of diplomatic service in Moscow, he
also helped foster the rebirth of the Catholic Church in former Soviet
territories.

He traveled throughout the post-Soviet republics, contacting the small Catholic
communities that had maintained their fidelity to the Pope during 70 years of
repression.

When he arrived in Vladivostok, for example, not knowing how to contact the
Catholics, he simply walked the streets wearing his cassock so that people would
see him. Today, in that city of the Far East, the Catholic Church has been
reborn.

On Nov. 12, 1994, Archbishop Colasuonno was named apostolic nuncio in Italy, and
was thus spared the tensions that have arisen with the Russian Orthodox Church.
John Paul II made him a cardinal on Feb. 12, 1998. The cardinal was nuncio
emeritus to Italy at the time of his death.

When learning of his death, the Pope sent two telegrams, one to Archbishop
Francesco Cacucci of Bari, and the other to Teresa Colasuonno, the cardinal's
sister, to underline the service to the Church carried out by Cardinal
Colasuonno, especially in Eastern Europe.

Francesco Colasuonno was born in 1925 in Grumo, in the Bari Archdiocese. His
funeral services will be presided over on Monday in his birthplace by Cardinal
Achille Silvestrini, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.

The College of Cardinals now has 167 members, including 111 electors under age
80 who could vote in a conclave for a new pope.


* * *

Audit of U.S. Diocesan Policies to Begin

WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- An audit of diocesan policies
dealing with the problem of sexual abuse of children and young people by clergy
will begin this month, the U.S. bishops' conference says.

The audit will be conducted by the Gavin Group of Boston, headed by William
Gavin, a compliance auditor formally with the FBI.

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the
bishops' conference in June 2002, established an Office for Child and Youth
Protection. One of the duties of this office is to produce "an annual public
report on the progress made in implementing the standards in this Charter."

To facilitate an audit of the 195 Catholic dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of
the Eastern Catholic Church) in the United States, the bishops' conference
engaged the Gavin Group as consultants.

More than 50 auditors were trained May 19-22 to do on-site audits of the
compliance of dioceses with the standards of the charter. The auditors will
operate in teams of two, and no auditor will be permitted to audit his own
diocese if he or she is a Catholic. The audit does not include an evaluation of
the dioceses' pre-charter policies or actions.

The plan is to audit about 11 dioceses a week between late June and late
October. The reports will be forwarded to the Office for Child and Youth
Protection, which will begin drawing up the overall report.


* * *

Bush Calls John Paul II "One of the Greatest Moral Leaders of Our Time"

Statements in Krakow on the Eve of Colin Powell's Visit to the Vatican

KRAKOW, Poland, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- U.S. President George W. Bush
described John Paul II as "one of the greatest moral leaders of our time," on
the eve of Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to the Vatican.

On Saturday, while visiting Krakow, the city of which Karol Wojtyla was
archbishop, the U.S. president said amid applause: "At Wawel Cathedral in 1978,
a Polish cardinal began his journey to a conclave in Rome, and entered history
as Pope John Paul II -- one of the greatest moral leaders of our time."

Further on in his speech, delivered at Wawel Royal Castle, Bush added: "Through
the years of the Second World War, another legacy of the 20th century was
unfolding, here in this city of Krakow."

"A young seminarian, Karol Wojtyla, saw the swastika flag flying over the
ramparts of Wawel Castle," Bush said. "He shared the suffering of his people and
was put into forced labor. From this priest's experience and faith came a
vision: that every person must be treated with dignity, because every person is
known and loved by God."

"In time, this man's vision and this man's courage would bring fear to tyrants
and freedom to his beloved country, and liberation to half a continent," the
president added. "To this very hour, Pope John Paul II speaks for the dignity of
every life and expresses the highest aspirations of the culture we share."

Bush is in Europe for the Group of Eight nations summit in Evian, France. Colin
Powell will be received in audience on Monday by John Paul II to speak about the
renewal of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as about the
Mideast in general, in the wake of the Iraqi war.

The U.S. secretary of state is expected to report on the provisions of the
application of the "road map" toward peace, supported by the United States,
Russia, Europe and the United Nations.

During the visit, there will also be discussions on the process of
reconstruction and pacification of Iraq after the war, which Rome and Washington
disagreed over.

Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum,"
celebrated Mass today in Baghdad's cathedral. He is in Iraq at the request of
the Pope, to coordinate Catholics' contribution to the country's reconstruction.


* * *

L'Osservatore Romano Encourages Changes to Euro-Constitution

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican's semiofficial newspaper
encouraged proposals that would include a reference to Christianity in the
future European Constitution.

In its June 1 Italian edition, L'Osservatore Romano published a front-page
article applauding the suggestions to the European Convention by members of the
European Popular Party and by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini.

Fini, who represents the Italian government in the convention, signed an
amendment requesting "the insertion of the Judeo-Christian religious heritage"
among the values that inspire the European Union.

L'Osservatore Romano stated that the draft Preamble "is surprising, not so much
for what it contains" -- it refers to the Greco-Roman heritage and the
Enlightenment -- "but for what it omits and denies."

"In the present form, the draft Preamble delineates a Europe deprived of one of
the most authentic roots of its history," namely, Christianity, the paper said.
"The hope still remains that the persistent petitions to amend the text will be
accepted."


* * *

Cause Under Way for Italian Who Helped Save Jews From Nazis

Process for Odoardo Focherini Is Introduced at the Diocesan Level

CARPI, Italy, JUNE 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The cause of beatification is under way
for Odoardo Focherini, who helped to save 105 Jews from Nazi deportation during
World War II.

Focherini (1907-1944) was administrative director of the Italian newspaper
Avvenire, a post he filled from 1937 onward. At the time, the newspaper's
director was Raimondo Manzini, author of fiery debates against Fascism.

In 1938, Focherini hired Jewish journalist Giacomo Lampronti for Avvenire, who
had been fired from his previous job as a result of the racial laws. Lampronti
was also hired, in 1942, at the request of Manzini, to whom Cardinal Pietro
Boetto of Genoa had entrusted, for their protection, a number of Polish Jews
traveling in an International Red Cross train.

From October 1943 onward, Focherini's main occupation was to save Jews from
deportation. As anti-Jewish laws became more severe, and racial deportations got
under way, Focherini organized, with the cooperation of other people, an
efficient network for the expatriation to Switzerland of more than 100 Jews.

Focherini's method was to make contact with families, obtain documents from the
synagogues, seek financial support, and provide false documentation to
endangered Jews.

On March 11, 1944, Focherini was arrested by the Nazis in a hospital while he
was caring for a sick Jew. Isolated in the Flossenbürg camp, Focherini was later
sent to the Hersbruck camp, where inmates worked from 3:30 a.m. until the
afternoon. Whoever could not keep pace was sent to the crematory.

Suffering from an untreated leg wound, Focherini died at 37 on Dec. 27, 1944.

Before dying, he dictated a letter to a friend named Olivelli: "My seven
children … I would like to see them before dying. ... However, O Lord, accept
this sacrifice also and You protect them, together with my wife, my parents, and
all my loved ones."

He added: "I state that I die in the most pure Roman, apostolic, Catholic faith,
and in full submission to the Will of God, offering my life in holocaust for my
diocese, for Catholic Action, for the Pope, and for the return of peace to the
world."

"I beg you to tell my wife that I have always been faithful to her, that she has
always been in my thoughts, and that I have always loved her intensely," he
said.

In his memory, the Union of Jewish Communities in Italy gave him a golden medal
in 1955. Yad Vashem, the Israeli national authority for the Remembrance of the
Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust, proclaimed him "Righteous Among the
Nations."

The cause of beatification was introduced Saturday in the Diocese of Carpi.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers.  Some links require Realplayer a software program
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Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English 		 • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish  • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video)  • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over  • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library 	 • Life On The Rock (Video)
•  The Journey Home (Video)  • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060203.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>


* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 107

TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2003

Feast of SS. Charles Lwanga and Companions

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Address to New Israeli Ambassador to the Vatican
------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope and Colin Powell Discuss Iraq, Africa and the Holy Land
------------------------------------------------------------
• Mary and the Dialogue With Judaism
------------------------------------------------------------
• Troubled Rwanda Has a New Marian Shrine
------------------------------------------------------------
• Archbishop of Calcutta on Catholics' Opposition to Anti-Conversion Bill
------------------------------------------------------------
• Pakistani Province Adopts Islamic Law
------------------------------------------------------------
• Christian Leaders Discuss Environment While Sailing the Baltic
------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II's Address to New Israeli Ambassador to the Vatican

Calls for 2 Sovereign States in Holy Land

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered today when receiving the letters of credence of Oded Ben-Hur, the new
Israeli ambassador to the Holy See.


Mr Ambassador,

I am pleased to welcome you to the Vatican and to accept the Letters of Credence
appointing you Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of
Israel to the Holy See. Your presence here today is a testimony to our common
desire to work together to build a world of peace and security, not only in
Israel and the Middle East, but in every part of the globe, for all peoples
everywhere. This is a task which we undertake not alone but with the whole
international community: indeed, perhaps unlike any time in the past, the entire
human family today feels the urgent need to overcome violence and terror, to
expunge intolerance and fanaticism, to usher in an era of justice,
reconciliation and harmony among individuals, groups and nations.

This need is probably nowhere more acutely felt than in the Holy Land. There is
absolutely no question that peoples and nations have the inherent right to live
in security. This right, however, entails a corresponding duty: to respect the
right of others. Therefore, just as violence and terror can never be an
acceptable means for making political statements, neither can retaliation ever
lead to a just and lasting peace. Acts of terrorism are always to be condemned
as true crimes against humanity (cf. Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace,
4). Every State has the undeniable right to defend itself against terrorism, but
this right must always be exercised with respect for moral and legal limits in
its ends and means (cf. ibid., 5).

Like other members of the international community, and fully supporting the role
and efforts of the larger family of nations in helping to resolve the crisis in
the Middle East, the Holy See is convinced that the present conflict will be
resolved only when there are two independent and sovereign States. As I said
earlier this year to the Diplomatic Corps: "Two peoples, Israeli and
Palestinian, are called to live side-by-side, equally free and sovereign, in
mutual respect" (Speech to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, 13
January 2003, 4). It is essential that both parties give clear signs of their
determined commitment to bring this peaceful coexistence about. By doing so, a
priceless contribution will be made towards the building of a relationship of
mutual trust and cooperation. In this context, I am pleased to note the Israeli
Government's recent vote in support of the peace process: for all involved in
that process, the Government's position is a positive sign of hope and
encouragement.

Of course, the many issues and difficulties raised by this crisis must be dealt
with in a fair and effective manner. Questions concerning Palestinian refugees
and Israeli settlements, for example, or the problem of setting territorial
boundaries and defining the status of the most sacred places of the City of
Jerusalem, need to be the subject of open dialogue and sincere negotiation. By
no means should a decision be made unilaterally. Rather, respect, mutual
understanding and solidarity demand that the path of dialogue never be
abandoned. Nor should real or apparent failures lead the partners in dialogue
and negotiation to be discouraged. On the contrary, it is precisely in such
circumstances that "it is all the more necessary that they should consent to
begin again ceaselessly to propose true dialogue, by removing obstacles and by
eliminating the defects of dialogue". In this way, they will walk together the
path "which leads to peace, with all its demands and conditions" (Message for
the 1983 World Day of Peace, 5).

Mr Ambassador, as you have noted, it was ten years ago that the Fundamental
Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel was signed. It is this
Agreement that paved the way for the subsequent establishment of full diplomatic
relations between us and which continues to guide us in our dialogue and mutual
exchange of positions regarding many issues of importance to both of us. The
fact that we have been able to reach an accord on the full recognition of the
legal personality of the Church's institutions is a source of satisfaction, and
I am pleased that an accord also appears close at hand regarding related fiscal
and economic matters. Along these same lines, I am confident that we shall be
successful in drawing up useful guidelines for future cultural exchanges between
us as well.

I would further express the fervent hope that this climate of cooperation and
friendship will allow us to deal effectively with other difficulties that the
Catholic faithful in the Holy Land face on a daily basis. Many of these
problems, such as access to Christian shrines and holy sites, the isolation and
suffering of Christian communities, the dwindling of the Christian population
due to emigration, are in some way connected to the current conflict, but that
should not discourage us from seeking possible remedies now, from working now to
meet these challenges. I am confident that the Catholic Church will be able to
continue to promote good will among peoples and to advance the dignity of the
human person in her schools and educational programs, and through her charitable
and social institutions. Overcoming the difficulties mentioned above will serve
not only to enhance the contribution that the Catholic Church makes to Israeli
society, but will also strengthen the guarantees of religious freedom in your
country. This in turn will reinforce the feelings of equality between citizens,
and each individual, inspired by his own spiritual convictions, will thus be
better enabled to build up society as a common home shared by all.

Three years ago, during my Jubilee Year pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I remarked
that "real peace in the Middle East will come only as a result of mutual
understanding and respect between all the peoples of the region: Jews,
Christians and Muslims. In this perspective, my pilgrimage is a pilgrimage of
hope: the hope that the 21st century will lead to a new solidarity among the
peoples of the world, in the conviction that development, justice and peace will
not be attained unless they are attained by all" (Visit to Israeli President
Ezer Weizman, 23 March 2000). It is precisely this hope and this concept of
solidarity that must ever inspire all men and women -- in the Holy Land and
elsewhere -- in working for a new world order based on harmonious relations and
effective cooperation between peoples. This is mankind's task for the new
millennium, this is the only way to ensure a future of promise and light for
all.

Your Excellency, I ask you kindly to convey to the President, Prime Minister,
Government and People of the State of Israel the assurance of my prayers for the
nation, especially at this critical moment in its history. I am certain that
your term of service as representative to the Holy See will do much to
strengthen the bonds of understanding and friendship between us. Wishing you
every success in your mission, and assuring you of the full cooperation of the
various offices of the Roman Curia in the fulfillment of your high duties, I
cordially invoke upon you, your fellow citizens and all the peoples of the Holy
Land an abundance of divine blessings.


* * *

Pope and Colin Powell Discuss Iraq, Africa and the Holy Land

U.S. Secretary of State Visits Vatican

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The reconstruction of Iraq, peace in
the Holy Land, and the woes of Africa were the focus U.S. Secretary of State
Colin Powell's audience with John Paul II.

Vatican Radio described it as an important meeting, "the first at the highest
level between the Holy See and an exponent of the White House," since the end of
the Iraqi war, on which Rome and Washington differed.

Following his meeting today with the Holy Father, which lasted slightly less
than half an hour, the U.S. secretary of state met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano,
Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary
for relations with states.

The director of the Vatican press office, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, said that above
all the discussions were centered on the "material and political reconstruction
of Iraq."

The emphasis was on "the cooperation of the international community, with
special attention to be given to fundamental rights, such as the right of
religious liberty."

Discussions were also held on "the new prospects for peace opened by the 'road
map' in the Holy Land and the whole region," Navarro-Valls added.

Thanks to this plan for the peace process, supported by the United States,
Europe, Russia and the United Nations, it is hoped that "the two states,
Israelis and Palestinian, will finally be able to enjoy the same security and
the same sovereignty," the press office director said.

There was also "an exchange of opinions on the situation in Africa and, in
particular, on the struggle against epidemic diseases, in which the different
aid and charitable institutions of the Catholic Church have always
participated," the Vatican spokesman continued.

The meeting between John Paul II and Colin Powell was held in "a truly cordial
atmosphere," Navarro-Valls told Vatican Radio.

"In a certain sense, words were heard that were pronounced a few days ago by
President Bush when speaking of the Pope in Krakow, Poland, when he said that he
is one of the most important leaders in the world" today, Navarro-Valls said.


* * *

Mary and the Dialogue With Judaism

Archbishop Gioia Highlights Common Roots of Judaism and Christianity

ROME, JUNE 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The descendants of Abraham and the followers of
Christ have much in common, notes a Vatican official.

"'Mary' and 'Jesus' are expressions of the oldest Judaic biblical tradition,"
said Archbishop Francesco Gioia, president of the Pilgrimages to the See of
Peter. "The common roots between the descendants of Abraham and the followers of
Christ are greater than the differences and divergences."

The archbishop was addressing the role of the Blessed Virgin in the dialogue
with Judaism. He deals with the issue in the book "Mary, Mother of the Word,
Model of Dialogue Between Religions," published by Città Nuova.

"If the contemporary Judaic tradition was circumscribed to Christ and
immediately after, harking back to the common origins, the possibilities for
agreement would be multiplied," the archbishop says.

"The God of Jesus is the same God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, 'the God
of our fathers,'" he observes. "For this reason, the usual expression: 'We all
have the same God,' is valid without a single reservation, both for the children
of Israel as well as for the followers of Christ. Sinai is the sacred mountain
and Jerusalem the holy city for one and all."

For these reasons, "existing differences should be subordinated to the many
points that unite to justify not only the dialogue, but to establish an
atmosphere of friendship. Deep down, in the declaration 'Nostra Aetate,' Vatican
Council II, after underlining Mary's Hebrew roots, attributed a new title to
her, calling her 'Exalted Daughter of Zion' ('Lumen Gentium,' 55)."

In regard to the dialogue and, specifically, the figure of Mary, Archbishop
Gioia maintains that "the dialogue between Christians and Jews up to now has
concentrated on the figure of the Messiah, making only a few allusions to Mary."

"In reality, Judaism is also overcoming the controversial phase, noted in the
course of history, and that of silence, which for centuries has surrounded the
Hebrew woman called Myriam," he notes. "Avital Wohlmann, for example, professor
at the University of Jerusalem, 'accepts Mary as Jewish and rejects her as
Christian.'"

"It is hoped, however, that Judaism will emerge from this situation," the
archbishop says.

He continues: "An interesting testimony in this respect comes from Lea Sestieri
Scazzocchio, a Jewish author who sees in Mary the 'Daughter of Israel,' the
'religious woman without fault,' the 'virtuous and consecrated woman' who 'sings
for Israel.'

"In one of her works, Lea Sestieri concludes writing: 'Mary, a Jewish mother
therefore? Without a doubt: in the faith, in the tragic sorrow faced with the
death of her son; but also in the great messianic hope.'"

Archbishop Gioia concludes: "Pointing out to the faithful the heroic example of
Edith Stein, the holy Carmelite victim of Nazi ferocity in Auschwitz, John Paul
II said: 'Jews and Christians cannot forget their singular brotherhood, which
sinks its roots in the providential plan of God, which accompanies their
history. Mary, Daughter of Zion and Mother of the Church, pray for us!'"

* * *

Troubled Rwanda Has a New Marian Shrine

Apparitions in Kibeho Foreshadowed the 1990s Genocide

KIBEHO, Rwanda, JUNE 2, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- A land long accustomed to war
now has a new Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows.

"I exhort you to pray fervently that this Kibeho Shrine may become a place from
which there will arise a people of Rwanda renewed in faith, thirsting for love
for their God, determined to forget the sad past of fratricidal war," said
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples, on Saturday, when consecrating the shrine.

The shrine in Kibeho, a place of pilgrimage for Catholics in Rwanda and
neighboring countries, is where the Blessed Virgin appeared several times in
1981 and later years.

Present at the Mass were the bishops of Rwanda; the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop
Salvatore Pennacchio; civil and local authorities; numerous priests; religious;
and pastoral workers.

The young visionaries say that when the Blessed Virgin appeared she introduced
herself as Nyina wa Jambo, Mother of the Word, and she called for prayer,
fasting and conversion of heart.

Only once did Our Lady show the young people a horrible scene: a river of blood,
people killing each other, abandoned corpses, no one to bury them. This
terrifying vision was later related to the genocide which disrupted this central
African republic in 1994-1995. Kibeho was one of the worst affected areas.

"The sacrifice of thousands of people killed inside and around the old church
building, cries loudly to all of us and calls us to take a new path, the path of
peace, of reciprocal forgiveness for the blows inflicted, and of
reconciliation," Cardinal Sepe said in his homily.

"A true people of God cannot harbor feelings of hatred, division, revenge, which
are foreign to God and to his love," he said.

The prefect went on to recall the commandment of love which Jesus gave to his
disciples and he urged Rwandans to welcome God in their hearts: "From the home
of your heart he wishes to sanctify your life, bless your families, inspire you
to work for the common good of all, to spread in this nation Gospel values on
which to build a human and religious social life worthy of his Name."

Cardinal Sepe spoke of the many pilgrimages made to this shrine from various
parts of Africa, and the conversions of many pilgrims who return to the faith.

"Every pilgrim who comes to Kibeho," he said, "and is reconciled with God and
man, must become a builder of a new humanity, builder of a new Rwandan people,
ever more faithful to God."


* * *

Archbishop of Calcutta on Catholics' Opposition to Anti-Conversion Bill

Hindu Fundamentalists Making Life Difficult

ROME, JUNE 2, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Calcutta knows
about persecution of the Church.

In an interview with the Fides news service he talked about the difficult
situation of Indian Christians, who constitute a little more than 2% of a
population of 1 billion. He said Christians are concerned about Hindu
fundamentalist groups inspired by ideological nationalism.

"These groups hinder our mission to spread the Good News: the Gospel, the Word
of Salvation, Jesus Christ, is for all Indians," Archbishop Sirkar said.

"Although not all Hindus are fundamentalists, many fear conversions," he said.
"Their idea of conversion is that by means of social service Christians draw
people, lure them, to make the number of Christians increase. But this attitude
of fear is unreasonable, because the conscience of every individual must be
free.

"We have held meetings to explain conversion from the Christian point of view,
and this helped many Hindus understand our position. However, they complain that
other Christians engage in proselytism, especially Protestant groups which
continue to spread and build churches regardless of the situation."

"This is why fundamentalists tend to group all Christians together and start
persecution," the archbishop lamented. "Some states such as Gujarat, Uttar
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have approved an anti-conversion bill and this example is
spreading to other states of the federation."

The Church strives to overcome fundamentalism, Archbishop Sirkar explained.

"As the Catholic bishops' conference, we have expressed opposition to this bill
in an official statement, in which we call for respect for the freedom of
conscience and fundamental rights of every individual," he said.

"We pray that God will help people understand the spirit of our work and we pray
for our persecutors that they may come to understand and accept the Word of
God," he added. "We also strive to make progress in peace building, ecumenism
and interreligious dialogue with Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs.

"With all these religions we have meetings to discuss means of spreading peace
and harmony through better mutual knowledge and understanding. We want every
person to be free and happy."

Speaking of the situation in the Archdiocese of Calcutta, where there are
150,000 Catholics, the archbishop added: "To spread God's love, it is important
to provide good formation for clergy and laity."

"Our archdiocese is well organized with 35 parishes engaged in various pastoral
and social services," he said. "Unfortunately, we have only 72 priests, and so
we are working hard among our young people to encourage vocations. Last year we
enrolled 22 new minor seminarians.

"We work closely with our catechists who are the Church's arms: They reach the
hearts of children and adults. It is very important to ensure proper formation
for catechists. Every parish has at least two of them."

One of the greatest treasures of the Catholic community in Calcutta is the
experience and heritage of Mother Teresa.

Archbishop Sirkar continued: "To understand the spirit of Mother Teresa we have
to understand her love for the Eucharist. Her spirituality was totally
eucharistic. The Eucharist is the starting point for every Catholic because it
is the source of joy and peace.

"The Eucharist taught Mother Teresa and it teaches all of us how to sacrifice
ourselves for others, how to become children of God. Mother Teresa was able to
serve the poor, thanks to the Eucharist, and her courage to speak to everyone,
Hindus, Muslims, atheists, came from the Eucharist. This is the great heritage
left us by Mother Teresa!"

Preparations proceed for the beatification of Mother Teresa on Oct. 19 in Rome.

"The organizing committee is at work," the archbishop said. "Celebrations here
in Calcutta will continue after the beatification to conclude on Nov. 9 with a
solemn Mass in the presence of civil and religious authorities from all over
India.

"Today Mother Teresa is a global mother; she belongs to the whole Church, the
whole world. This is the work of God who is saving the world. It is up to us to
discern God's intervention in human history."


* * *

Pakistani Province Adopts Islamic Law

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, JUNE 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Parliament of Pakistan's
Northwest Frontier Province approved a law introducing Shariah, or Islamic law,
in this region bordering Afghanistan.

The Parliament approved the law by unanimity today, after amendments by
opposition parities were withdrawn, news agencies reported.

The measure, which must be signed by Governor Sayed Iftikhar Hussain Shah in
order to become law -- this is considered a mere formality -- makes Islamic law
the supreme legal reference in the provincial courts, and provides for the
Islamization of education, the economy and the judicial system.

* * *

Christian Leaders Discuss Environment While Sailing the Baltic

GDANSK, Poland, JUNE 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Science, religion and the environment
were the topics that gathered Christian leaders, scientists and politicians in
the fifth symposium organized by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
of Constantinople.

The meeting, backed by Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, is
being held aboard a ship which, on this occasion, is sailing on the Baltic Sea,
whose beauty has been devastated by abuses, Vatican Radio reported.

The ship, which left from Gdansk this afternoon, will make stopovers in Tallinn,
Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden, where
the journey will end on June 8, with the liturgy of Pentecost, in the city's
Lutheran cathedral.

The ship is accommodating 250 symposium participants, including theologians,
scientists and politicians. Among the participants are Patriarch Bartholomew I
and Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity.

This year's symposium, entitled "The Baltic Sea: Common Heritage, Shared
Responsibility," will address issues such as man's responsibility in the
governance of the environment; sustainable development and national, regional
and global policies; and the relation between the environment, globalization and
social inequality.

Similar symposiums were organized in past years by the Patriarchate of
Constantinople, on the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Danube and the Adriatic
Sea.

The last symposium, held last June, ended with the Venice Declaration, signed at
the same via a satellite connection by John Paul II, who was in the Vatican, and
Bartholomew I, who was in Venice.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available =

to you, our fine subscribers.  Some links require Realplayer a software
program that allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as=

well as listen to live radio.  The software is free.  To obtain your free c=
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Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

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• Live EWTN TV - English 		 • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish  • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video)  • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over  • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library 	 • Life On The Rock (Video)
•  The Journey Home (Video)  • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060303.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, a=
nd
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an
investigation into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her=

cause and to perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in he=
r
honor. It has continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore =

Cardinal McCarrick, and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop
of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of
Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of=

her investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free
monthly newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the =

tract about the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Cat=
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e
promises of the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.


Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>


<http://www.clairval.com>


10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>


* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offe=
r
you the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparat=
ion
for all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation=
  of
the whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offe=
r
you the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in
reparation for all the sins committed against you and for the conversion an=
d
salvation of the whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches
unity among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until t=
hey
reach full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to=
  her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always =

be safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There=
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ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far =

left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then =

click on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numer=
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ge;
(4) or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the lo=
ng
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.  =


__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 108

WEDNESDAY 4 JUNE 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Address to a Group of Indian Bishops
------------------------------------------------------------
• Ecumenism Is Among Topics Awaiting the Pope in Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------
• HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE
------------------------------------------------------------
• Trip Will Keep John Paul II Moving Around Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------
• Serbia-Montenegro Leader Invites Pope to Visit Federation
------------------------------------------------------------
• Church Offering Coordinated Aid to Help Rebuild Iraq
------------------------------------------------------------
• Relief Efforts Under Way for Bunia, Congo
------------------------------------------------------------
• Berlin's "Kirchentag" Gives a Boost to Ecumenism
------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Papal Address to a Group of Indian Bishops

"Church Must Never Relinquish Task of Evangelization," He Says

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered today to a second group of Latin-rite bishops of India, who were
ending their five-yearly visit "ad limina."

Your Eminence,

Dear Brother Bishops,

1. In the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, I warmly welcome you, the second group
of Latin Rite Bishops of India, on the occasion of your Visit Ad Limina
Apostolorum. In a particular way, I greet Archbishop Viruthakulangara, and I
thank him for the good wishes he has conveyed on behalf of the Bishops, clergy,
Religious and lay faithful of the Provinces of Bombay, Nagpur, Verapoly, the
newly created Province of Gandhinagar and the Archdiocese of Goa-Damao. I pray
that through the intercession of the Apostles Peter and Paul the Catholic Church
in India will continue fearlessly to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

On the subcontinent, and especially in the regions of Kerala and Goa, the saving
message of Christ has been heard for many centuries. Recently, the Church
celebrated the 450th Anniversary of the death of the zealous missionary Saint
Francis Xavier, one in the long line of faith-filled men, like Saint Thomas the
Apostle, who gave their lives for the evangelization of Asia. Saint Francis
teaches us the importance of forgetting our own desires and human plans and of
giving ourselves entirely to God’s will (cf. Office of Readings for the Feast of
Saint Francis Xavier). It is my hope that the life and work of this Patron of
the Orient will stir in the Indian people a desire to give of themselves more
completely to the will of the Father.

2. Christ continues to make your Dioceses fertile ground for his harvest of
faith. "Just as the great dialogue of love between God and man was prepared for
by the Spirit and accomplished on Asian soil in the Mystery of Christ, so the
dialogue between the Savior and the peoples of the continent continues today by
the same Holy Spirit at work in the Church" (Ecclesia in Asia, 18). During my
Pastoral Visits to India, I have been impressed by the many expressions of
Christianity in your nation. The presence of the Latin and Oriental Traditions
in such close proximity is a great source of strength and vitality for the
Church. At times, the relationship can be a challenge to your communities, as
you strive to work together to find concrete ways of ministering to God’s
people. As I mentioned to the Syro-Malabar Bishops from your country, it is
important to persevere in strengthening bonds with your Brother Bishops of the
Oriental Rites through an efficacious inter-ritual dialogue in order to overcome
any misunderstandings which may occasionally arise. This is especially the case
in spheres concerning evangelization and the pastoral care of Oriental Catholics
in India (cf. Ecclesia in Asia, 27).

Since Christ has placed you as shepherds of his flock, you are called in a
special way to foster mutual dialogue and understanding between Catholics and
the other Christian communities. The Apostle Paul encourages us all to "walk as
children of the light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and
right and true" (Eph 5:8-9). As Bishops, it is your obligation not only to walk
in that light but to help illumine the path of all Christ’s followers, leading
them towards an ever more complete spiritual solidarity.

3. It is very encouraging to see the impressive numbers of religious and
diocesan vocations in your Provinces, and the high percentage of faithful who
attend Sunday Mass. Even though your local Churches may be materially poor,
especially when compared to other Christian communities, they are rich in human
resources. This is clearly evidenced in the many basic Christian communities,
lay movements and associations which play such a vital role in the ecclesial
life of your regions. Notwithstanding these positive signs, your Dioceses are
also faced with challenges. The negative influences of the mass media,
secularism, materialism and consumerism, compounded by the false promises of a
few fundamentalist groups, have lured some Catholics into giving up their faith.
Sadly, even some members of the clergy have, at times, been attracted by empty
promises of money, comfort and power.

When facing these problems one is tempted to ask the same question which the
disciples put to Peter soon after Pentecost: "What must we do?" (Acts 2:37) In
this regard, it is consoling to see many of your Dioceses answering the question
by Synods and pastoral planning, confronting problems in a serious manner and
thereby avoiding possible future crises. As I said in my Apostolic Letter Novo
Millennio Ineunte, pastoral initiatives must always include the four Christian
pillars of holiness, prayer, the sacraments and the word of God (cf. 30-41),
always keeping in mind that "it is not therefore a matter of inventing a new
program. The program already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in
the living Tradition, it is the same as ever" (ibid., 29).

4. Effective pastoral planning must be contextualized in such a way that it
addresses the special problems created by modern society. Like many other
countries, India finds itself caught in the movement towards a culture of death,
as seen for example in the menacing threats directed towards unborn children,
especially unborn girls. Brother Bishops, I encourage you to remain vigilant in
your efforts to preach fearlessly the consistent teaching of the Church
regarding the inviolable right to life of every innocent human being. Concerted
efforts to curb the culture of death necessitate the involvement of the entire
Catholic community. Accordingly, any strategy in this regard must include
individuals, families, movements and associations committed to building "a
society in which the dignity of each person is recognized and protected and the
lives of all are defended and enhanced" (Evangelium Vitae, 90).

Globalization has also challenged traditional customs and ethics. This is
clearly seen in attempts to impose upon Asian society morally unacceptable types
of family planning and reproductive health measures. At the same time, an
incorrect understanding of the moral law has led many people to justify immoral
sexual activity under the guise of freedom, which in turn has resulted in a
commonplace acceptance of the contraceptive mentality (cf. Familiaris Consortio,
6). The consequences of such irresponsible activity not only threaten the
institution of the family but also contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS, which
is reaching epidemic proportions in parts of your country. The response of the
Church in India must be to continue to promote the sanctity of married life, and
the "innate language that expresses the total self-giving of husband and wife"
(cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2370). The Church is called to proclaim
that true love is Christian love, and Christian love is chaste love. I encourage
you to support programs of education which emphasize the Church’s teaching in
this regard.

At the same time, efforts which respect the dignity and rights of women must be
made to guarantee that at all levels of Indian society a "new feminism" is
promoted. This will "reject the temptation of ‘male domination’, in order to
acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of
society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation" (cf.
Evangelium Vitae, 99).

5. At the beginning of this talk, I spoke of Saint Francis Xavier, who did so
much for the spread of Christianity in India. He possessed the ability to
minister successfully in a non-Christian environment. I pray that the Church in
India will, in imitation of him, respectfully yet courageously proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not an easy task, especially in areas where
people experience animosity, discrimination and even violence because of their
religious convictions or tribal affiliation. These difficulties are exacerbated
by the increased activity of a few Hindu fundamentalist groups which are
creating suspicion of the Church and other religions. Unfortunately, in some
regions the State authorities have yielded to the pressures of these extremists
and have passed unjust anti-conversion laws, prohibiting free exercise of the
natural right to religious freedom, or withdrawing State support for those in
scheduled castes who have chosen to convert to Christianity.

In spite of the grave difficulties and suffering this has caused, the Church in
India must never relinquish her fundamental task of evangelization. It is my
hope that you, dear Brother Bishops, together with the faithful, will continue
to engage local leaders of other religious beliefs in an interreligious dialogue
which ensures greater mutual understanding and cooperation. Likewise, you must
maintain a substantive dialogue with local and national authorities to ensure
that India continues to promote and protect the basic human rights of all its
citizens. An integral part of such a democracy "which truly serves the good of
individuals and peoples is respect for religious freedom, for this is the right
which touches on the individual’s most private and sovereign interior freedom"
(cf. Address to the New Ambassador of India, 13 December 2002).

6. "'As the Father has sent me, even so I send you' (cf. Jn 20:21). From the
perpetuation of the sacrifice of the Cross and her communion with the body and
blood of Christ in the Eucharist, the Church draws the spiritual power needed to
carry out her mission" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 22). Dear Brothers in the Lord:
as you return to your local Churches after this visit to the tombs of the
Blessed Apostles, I hope that, filled with "spiritual power", you will have
renewed your desire to participate ever more fully in the Church’s mission which
"stands in continuity with the mission of Christ" (cf. ibid.).

In this year of the Rosary, I pray that, through the intercession of our Blessed
Lady, the Holy Spirit will confirm you, the clergy, Religious and faithful of
your Dioceses in "the gift of God that is within you" (2 Tim 1:6), and I
cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the Lord.


* * *

Ecumenism Is Among Topics Awaiting the Pope in Croatia

Visit Comes as Country Looks Toward Entry Into European Union

ZAGREB, Croatia, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II will visit Croatia "to
give the Church in the country guidelines at the beginning of the new
millennium," says the president of the Croatian bishops' conference.

Archbishop Josip Bozanic told Vatican Radio that the Croatian episcopate has
organized the June 5-9 papal visit around the theme "The Family, Way of the
Church and of the People."

The call of the baptized to holiness, ecumenism, the relation between faith and
culture, the new evangelization, and the Marian dimension of the Church are
other topics that will characterize the Pope's third visit to Croatia in 10
years.

In the first visit "of 1994, he came as an angel of peace; in the second, four
years later, he beatified Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac," the archbishop said.

This time, the Pope's visit might be significant in terms of Croatia's entry to
the European Union. Croatia, "especially [its] youth, is very open to Europe. We
feel ourselves within Europe, we are in Europe," Archbishop Bozanic said.

This new reality also has repercussions in the Croatian Catholic Church's
relations with the rest of the churches of the continent.

In fact, the country is participating in Central Europe's Catholic project
"Katholikentag." The project "is made up of eight countries: Poland, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
Croatia," Archbishop Bozanic noted.

The presidents of those countries' episcopal conferences met here last week. The
meeting concluded that "the Churches in these countries must always ask
themselves what they can do together and how this union, this communion, that
Europe expects, can be demonstrated," the archbishop said.

The highlight of the "Katholikentag," or Congress of Catholics, will be the
"peoples' pilgrimages" that take place next May 22-23 at the Mariazell Shrine in
Austria. The Pope has been invited to that event.

* * *

HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for
the month of June is: "That the faithful who hold positions of responsibility in
public life, following the teachings of the Gospel and the principles of the
social doctrine of the Church, may defend and promote the respect of human
values in every situation."

His missionary intention is: "That the Christians of India who belong to various
traditions may be drawn to offer together a testimony of full  unity and
communion in the one Spirit which guides them."

* * *

Trip Will Keep John Paul II Moving Around Croatia

Beatification Planned in Dubrovnik

ZAGREB, Croatia, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II will undertake his
third apostolic trip to Croatia from June 5-9, visiting the dioceses of
Dubrovnik and Djakovo-Srijem and the archdioceses of Rijeka and Zadar.

Each day of his trip, the 100th outside Italy, the Pope will preside over a
liturgical celebration with the faithful. Virtually all the liturgies will be in
Croatian. The theme of the celebrations is "The Family, Way of the Church and
the People."

The Holy Father will leave from Rome's airport for Rijeka at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
A welcome ceremony will be held when he lands.

That same afternoon, the Pope will meet with the Croatian president in the
archdiocesan seminary of Rijeka.

On Friday, the Pontiff will travel to the coastal city of Dubrovnik, where he
will celebrate Mass and beatify Marija Petkovic (1892-1966), founder of the
Franciscan Congregation of Daughters of Mercy, in Port Square.

On Saturday, John Paul II will go to Osijek, where he will celebrate Mass at
10:45 a.m. In the afternoon, he will make a private visit to the Cathedral of
Djakovo, and then fly to Rijeka.

On Sunday, the Pope will preside over a Mass in Rijeka. He will meet with
Croatia's bishops at 1 p.m. at the archdiocesan seminary and later, in the same
place, with the Croatian Prime Minister.

The Holy Father also will make a private visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of
Trsat in Rijeka.

On Monday, before traveling to Zadar, John Paul II will celebrate a private Mass
in the archdiocesan seminary of Rijeka. In Zadar, he will deliver the homily
during a celebration of Word, before going to Zadar's airport for a farewell
ceremony, scheduled for 12:45 p.m.

Of Croatia's 4.3 million people, 80.9% are Catholic. Orthodox constitute 15% of
the population, Sunni Muslims 1.5%, Protestants 0.7%, and other religions 2.2%.

There are 15 dioceses in Croatia, with 1,554 parishes and 23 pastoral centers.
The country has 27 bishops, 1,444 diocesan priests, 816 priests religious, and
2,260 seminarians. There are 3,436 professed religious, 69 lay members of
secular institutes, and 1,610 catechists.


* * *

Serbia-Montenegro Leader Invites Pope to Visit Federation

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The president of Serbia and Montenegro
invited John Paul II to visit his federation, and asked his support to
accelerate the integration of the two Balkan republics in the European Union.

President Svetozar Marovic, who met today with Vatican Secretary of State
Cardinal Angelo Sodano following an audience with the Pope, confirmed his
invitation to John Paul II during a press conference.

The president highlighted for journalists the importance of ecumenical dialogue
for the future of Europe, a conclusion also reached over the past year during
meetings between delegations of the Vatican and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Marovic has headed the union of the two states since March, a union that was
sanctioned a month earlier, in keeping with the March 2002 agreements that put a
halt to Montenegro's secessionist aspirations.

The new federation of Serbia and Montenegro, with 10.5 million inhabitants, has
replaced the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which arose after the dissolution
of the federation with the independence of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina
and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

* * *

Church Offering Coordinated Aid to Help Rebuild Iraq

Papal Envoy Completes His Trip

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- At the end of his visit to Iraq, John
Paul II's special envoy said that Catholic relief groups worldwide will offer a
coordinated contribution to the country's reconstruction.

Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum,"
who ended a five-day visit to Iraq on Monday, said in a statement published
today that the areas of greatest need are food, housing, health and education.

The German archbishop said that he went to Iraq to express, above all, the
Pope's "spiritual closeness" to "those who have gone through sorrowful
consequences of the war in these past months."

"Cor Unum" sources told ZENIT that the archbishop took along to Iraq a
substantial donation from the Pope for the country's reconstruction.

Together with Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the apostolic nuncio in Iraq,
Archbishop Cordes celebrated the Eucharist on three occasions with the Catholics
of the country: on May 29 in Baghdad, on May 31 in Mosul in the Chaldean rite,
and on June 1 in the Syrian Catholic rite.

During his stay, the archbishop held numerous meetings, particularly two
encounters with more than 10 Catholic bishops. He also met with various bishops
of other Christian confessions in Baghdad and Mosul, and also with the civil
authority; the director general of the United Nations Development Program,
Francis Dubois; the mayor of Mosul; and some diplomatic representatives.

The archbishop also visited some religious congregations and the respective
charitable institutions they administer, including St. Raphael's Hospital, the
home of Mother Teresa's sisters, and an institution for young girls in Mosul.

"Every one has expressed gratitude to the Holy Father for his tireless
commitment to the people of Iraq and to peace," Archbishop Cordes said.

"Having experienced a great spirit of communion and collaboration among
Christians in Iraq, I have assured them that I will refer these sentiments of
profound recognition to His Holiness," he added.

The president of "Cor Unum," whose objective is to promote and coordinate the
work of Catholic charitable organizations worldwide, verified "personally the
necessities of the country in view of a plan of aid which will involve the
Catholic humanitarian organizations."

"They have already identified some sectors of intervention, such as emergency
aid in food, housing, health and education," he said. "Many Catholic aid
agencies are intending to take charge, together with other institutions, of
these necessities."

Quoting the "Declaration of the Patriarchs and the Bishops of Iraq" of April 29,
Archbishop Cordes affirmed "the contribution that the Catholic Church could make
for a future in which the religious, cultural, social and political rights of
all are acknowledged," and, in particular, where Christians have "the right to
profess freely their own faith."


* * *

Relief Efforts Under Way for Bunia, Congo

KINSHASA, Congo, JUNE 3, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- Caritas-Congo sent eight tons
of medicines to the troubled town of Bunia, thanks to contributions from
Caritas-Germany and Ireland's Trócaire.

Bunia, located in the Ituri region, has been the scene of recent fighting
between Hema and Lendu militias. Many people have fled their homes.

The diocesan Caritas is caring for 40,000 people at the Muhito center, 12
kilometers (7 miles) north of the city.

To help Bunia's inhabitants, the Catholic Church in the Congo has undertaken an
effort of solidarity. Caritas-Goma has launched a campaign to aid Bunia.

For its part, Caritas-Développement of Kinshasa will send a mission to Ituri as
soon as possible to reinforce local aid structures.

Following the precarious truce of May 27, some residents are returning to the
city.

Caritas-Congo said in a statement: "At present minimal conditions of security
exist for humanitarian personnel to come to Bunia, while awaiting the U.N.
Security Council's decision to deploy, as soon as possible, an international
force to maintain peace in Ituri."


* * *

Berlin's "Kirchentag" Gives a Boost to Ecumenism

5 Days of Conferences, Talks and Prayer Attract Young People

BERLIN, JUNE 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Over 200,000 people gathered in Republic
Square to pray together, at the close of the "Oecumenische Kirchentag," the
first ecumenical congress of the German churches.

Promoted jointly by Catholics and Protestants with the motto "Be a Blessing for
the World," the five-day event served as the context for more than 1,000
activities, including round-table talks, conferences, shows, times of prayer,
and spiritual meetings. It closed Sunday.

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity, was impressed by the number of young people who attended.

"There is the hope and will to cooperate, to come closer, to learn from one
another," he told Vatican Radio. "The impression of this 'Kirchentag' is very
positive and I think it gives a strong impetus to the future of ecumenism."

Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the Catholic bishops' conference, also noted
the important presence of youth, who comprised about 40% of the participants.

"It was a worthwhile undertaking: a really successful 'Kirchentag,'" Cardinal
Lehmann observed, adding that he hoped the meeting would "accelerate ecumenism,"
the Italian newspaper Avvenire reported.

For Lutheran Manfred Kock, president of the council of the EKD, an organization
of the German Protestant churches, the "Kirchentag" is a "historic event in the
life of our churches."

In fact, the participants "have given a positive sign for greater communion
among themselves and for the cohesion of our society," Kock said. An opening-day
session attracted 400,000 people.

"I have the impression that [...] the ecumenical dialogue, as Cardinal Kasper
has emphasized, has reached a certain maturity; which after a springtime of
ecumenism has not now reached winter, as many say, but summer, namely, the
period in which things are maturing, perhaps in a slower way," said Joachim
Schwind, director of the review Neue Stadt.

"One detects a need to return to the spiritual roots; that it is not enough to
engage in ecumenism with activities or initiatives, but there must be a return
to Christ himself, to Christian life, to the life of mutual love," Schwind
added.

Perhaps "the most important message of the 'Kirchentag,' which has had a strong
repercussion in society and the media, has been the proof of the existence of a
modern, alive, attractive, serene and joyful Christianity, which manifests a
profound, human joy," he concluded.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
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•  The Journey Home (Video)  • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
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* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060403.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
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AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

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Our Father Movie
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* * *

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* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
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and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

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21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
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10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>


* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
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This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 109

THURSDAY 5 JUNE 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------
• Focus on the Lesson of John XXIII, 40 Years After His Death
------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope Nears Trip to Croatia With "Great Hope"
------------------------------------------------------------
• Holiness Is the Only Missionary Strategy, Pope Says to Friars Minor
------------------------------------------------------------
• ATTENTION TO QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM
------------------------------------------------------------
• Ethics, Not Just Economics, Should Guide Market, Says Vatican Official
------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
------------------------------------------------------------
• Croatia's Maria Petkovic Aided the Poor
------------------------------------------------------------
• "Special Olympics" Athletes Get Papal Greeting
------------------------------------------------------------
• Catholics in Iraq Facing Persecution, Says Missionary
------------------------------------------------------------
• Pakistan's Christians Wary of Province's Introduction of Islamic Law
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• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Focus on the Lesson of John XXIII, 40 Years After His Death

"Joy Is in Profound and Constant Communion With God"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul's
address at today's general audience, dedicated to the memory of Pope John XXIII.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. It is now 40 years since the beloved and venerated Pope John XXIII died, whom
I had the joy of proclaiming blessed, together with Pius IX, on Sept. 3 of the
year 2000.

My thoughts turn spontaneously to Monday, June 3, 1963: to that afternoon, when
the faithful of Rome and pilgrims gathered in the thousands in St. Peter's
Square, to be as close as possible to the beloved Father and Pastor who, after a
long and painful illness, was leaving this world.

At 7 p.m., in the courtyard of the Vatican basilica, the pro-vicar of Rome,
Cardinal Luigi Traglia, began the holy Mass, while [the Pope] from his bed,
which had become an altar, consummated his spiritual sacrifice, the sacrifice of
his whole life.

From a very crowded St. Peter's Square, there arose a unanimous prayer of the
Church to heaven. One seems to be reliving those moments of intense emotion: the
gaze of the whole of humanity was turned toward the window of the third floor of
the Apostolic Palace. The end of that Mass coincided with the death of the Good
Pope.

2. "This bed is an altar; the altar needs a victim: Here I am, ready. I offer my
life for the Church, for the continuation of the ecumenical council, for peace
in the world, for Christian unity" ("Addresses, Messages, Conversations of the
Holy Father John XXIII," V, p. 618).

"Ecce adsum!" Here I am, ready! Throughout his life, the serene thought of death
accompanied Pope John who, at the hour of farewell, looked upon the future and
the expectations of the People of God and of the world. With an emotional voice,
he affirmed that the secret of his priesthood was in the crucifix, always
jealously kept in front of his bed. "In the long and frequent nocturnal
conversations," he observed, "the thought of the redemption of the world seemed
to me more urgent than ever." "Those open arms," he added, "say that he died for
all, for all; no one is denied his love, his forgiveness" (ibid., 618).

It is not difficult to perceive in these brief words the meaning of his priestly
ministry, entirely dedicated to making known and loved "that which is worth most
in life: blessed Jesus Christ: his holy Church, his Gospel" (ibid., 612). Until
the end this longing palpitated in him. "My earthly life is ending," Blessed
John XXIII concluded, "but Christ lives and the Church continues her task;
souls, souls: 'ut unum sint, ut unum sint' ..." (ibid., 619).

3. Less than two months earlier, on April 11, John XXIII had published the most
famous document of his magisterium: the encyclical "Pacem in Terris," which I
have had the occasion to recall several times this year. The whole life of this
unforgettable Pontiff was a testimony of peace. His pontificate was revealed as
a lofty prophecy of peace, which found in "Pacem in Terris" its perfect
expression, almost a public and universal testament.

"Every believer, in this our world," he wrote, "must be a spark of light, a
center of love, a vivifying ferment in the dough: He will be so to the degree
that, in his innermost being, he lives in communion with God. In fact, there can
be no peace among men if there is no peace in each one of them" (Part V: "Acta
Apostolicae Sedis" (AAS), LV [1963], p. 302).

To be a spark of light one must live in permanent contact with God. My venerated
predecessor, who has left a mark on history, also reminds men of the third
millennium that the secret of peace and joy is in profound and constant
communion with God. The Heart of the Redeemer is the source of love and peace,
of hope and joy.

Our memory of the beloved Pope John is thus transformed into a prayer: May he
intercede in paradise so that we too, like him, may confess at the end of our
life, that we have only sought Christ and his Gospel.

May Mary -- whom he loved to invoke with the beautiful ejaculation, "Mater mea,
fiducia mea!" -- help us to persevere by word and example in the commitment to
witness to peace in order to contribute to the construction of the civilization
of love.


* * *

Pope Nears Trip to Croatia With "Great Hope"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- On his 100th apostolic trip abroad,
John Paul II hopes to confirm the faith of Croatia's Catholics, who suffered
under Communist persecution.

The Pope told the 20,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for today's
general audience that he would set out Thursday on this third trip to Croatia
"with great hope."

He described the country as a "land marked by the testimony of intrepid
disciples of the Gospel."

From Thursday till Monday the Pontiff will visit Krk Island, as well as the
cities of Rijeka, Dubrovnik, Osijek, Djakovo and Zadar. In Dubrovnik he will
beatify Marija Petkovic, founder of the Franciscan Congregation of Daughters of
Mercy.

"The objective is to confirm in the faith the brothers and sisters of the
community, who during the times of religious persecution remained faithful to
Christ, and are not afraid to face the challenges of the present moment to
continue to proclaim it with courage," the Holy Father said.

"In these 13 years since their regained independence, they have consolidated
ecclesial structures and are now increasingly dedicated to an incisive
evangelizing action," the Pope added.

John Paul II requested prayers so that his visit would contribute to "a renewed
spring of faith and civil progress." About 80.9% of Croatia's 4.3 million
inhabitants are Catholic.

* * *

Holiness Is the Only Missionary Strategy, Pope Says to Friars Minor

Message to the Order's General Chapter

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II thanked the Franciscan
Friars Minor for their missionary service to the Church and invited them to "a
more incisive apostolic action in today's world," in his message to their
general chapter.

Religious, superiors and representatives of the order are meeting until June 21
in the Portiuncula of Assisi, where St. Francis himself gathered his religious
in chapter. The friars are focusing on the topic "Fraternity in Mission."

Addressing this topic, the Pope said in his message that "all programs of
evangelization" must highlight "the primacy of the interior life and holiness,"
"prophetic testimony of the Kingdom of Heaven."

"This implies an incessant tension to holiness," he said. "It is important that
the order preserve its own missionary style, characterized by poverty and
fraternal life, animated by the spirit of contemplation and the sincere quest
for justice, peace and respect of creation."

"At the same time," the Holy Father added, "it is indispensable that each one of
its members and all the fraternities collaborate in building the one Church of
Christ, in accord and full communion with the pastors of the local Christian
communities."

With "a renewed spirit of obedience" and "a sincere desire for ecclesial
communion," the Pope reminded the friars that the sole objective of any
apostolic work is "the salvation of souls."

"The salvation of souls," the Pope reminded the friars, led St. Francis of
Assisi "to promote the dignity and rights of the person" and "to defend the
safeguarding of creation."

"To speak of a missionary thrust seems a bit unrealistic also for your order, if
one considers the decrease in the number of its members and the increase in the
average age that has been verified in these years," he observed.

However, instead of "causing discouragement," the Pope said, this "should lead,
on one hand, to intensifying prayer, so that the owner of the harvest will send
laborers to his harvest and, on the other hand, to seek new pastoral and
vocational strategies."

"Promote and support vocations with prayer and the testimony of life, trusting
in God," he recommended.

In this connection, John Paul II reminded the friars that "the great attraction
exercised by Francis and Clare of Assisi among youth must be used to propose
also to the generations of the third millennium a more profound reflection on
the essential values of life, which find their synthesis in the response that
each one is invited to give to God's call, in particular, when the latter calls
for the total giving of oneself and of one's energies to the cause of the
Kingdom."

The Order of Friars Minor numbers 16,642 religious, including 11,116 priests.

* * *

ATTENTION TO QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 2003 (VIS) - Today at 1 p.m. Msgr. Piero Monni, Holy See
permanent observer to the World Tourism Organization, gave a speech during the
70th Session of the Executive Committee of the WTO which is taking place from
June 3-4 in Madrid, Spain.

   Msgr. Monni affirmed that "today development in the tourism sector requires
more institutional and programmatic transparency. This is necessary so as to
match long term policies to the relative base infrastructures. On the other
hand, an increase in the quality of services and accommodations by private
investors is desirable."

   "This is because," he continued, "it seems impossible that globalization only
takes into consideration the economic aspect of tourism and is not accompanied
by a globalization of solidarity. It is also for this  reason that the
transformation of the World Tourism Organization into a United Nations
Specialized Institution is desirable."

   The permanent observer to the WTO indicated that "the means to confer
continuity and harmonious development in the field of tourism is by planning
specific and targeted policies; together with paying constant attention  to
'quality' and 'excellence' in this field. In this way, the growing need for
professional tour operators and managers becomes apparent. The  educational
sector in tourism should represent an essential and fundamental step in  all of
the mentioned operative programs."

* * *

Ethics, Not Just Economics, Should Guide Market, Says Vatican Official

Archbishop Martino Highlights Giuseppe Toniolo's Views

ROME, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Ethics makes a difference, even in economics, a
Vatican official says.

Archbishop Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace, expressed this conviction Saturday when honoring the memory of Giuseppe
Toniolo (1845-1918), professor of political economy.

The archbishop regards Toniolo as one of the most outstanding Catholic laymen of
his day. Toniolo's cause of beatification is under way.

Addressing a congress in Treviso, Italy, Archbishop Martino highlighted
Toniolo's particular contribution to the solution of the social problem.

Toniolo rejected both the individualism of the capitalist system as well as the
collectivism of the socialist. Instead, he was committed to the creation of
corporations of businessmen and workers, with their own organizations,
recognized by the state.

Among the lessons left by Toniolo, the archbishop emphasized the proposal for a
"solidaristic human group," sharing common values, where "work is better,
expenses are lower, wastage is reduced, and efficiency increased."

Another of Toniolo's important lessons is that the market must be regulated by
ethical, not just economic, principles.

"There are collective and qualitative needs that cannot be satisfied by its
mechanisms; there are important human needs that escape its logic; there are
goods that, by their very nature, cannot and must not be sold or bought," he
said.

The archbishop concluded by saying that "a healthy social conflict has never
been condemned by the social doctrine of the Church, which sees in it a factor
of progress, when it is not violent or ideological."


* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 4, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Jose Geraldo da Cruz, A.A., provincial superior of the
Augustinian Fathers of the Assumption, as bishop of Juazeiro (area 56,649,
population 419,674, Catholics 350,000, priests 18, religious 29), Brazil. The
bishop-elect was born in 1941 in Muriae, Brazil and was ordained a priest in
1969. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the
same diocese presented by Bishop Jose Rodrigues de Souza, C.S.S.R., upon having
reached the age limit.

- Appointed Fr. Oscar Fernandez Guillen, of the clergy of the archdiocese of San
Jose, Costa Rica, as bishop of Puntarenas (area 3,910, population 180,380,
Catholics 161,200, priests 26, religious 24), Costa Rica. The bishop-elect was
born in San Rafael de Oreamuno, Costa Rica in 1949 and  was ordained a priest in
1977.

- Appointed Bishop Milton Antonio dos Santos, S.D.B., of Corumba, Brazil, as
coadjutor bishop of Cuiaba (area 24,542, population 800,000, Catholics 700,000,
priests 61, religious 193), Brazil.

* * *

Croatia's Maria Petkovic Aided the Poor

Founder of Congregation Will Be Beatified

ZAGREB, Croatia, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- On Friday in Dubrovnik the Pope will
beatify Maria Petkovic, a religious who was profoundly given to mercy and
assistance to the needy.

Maria of Jesus Crucified Petkovic was born on Dec. 10, 1892, in Kurcula Island.
She was the sixth of eight children of Anthony and Maria Petkovic.

The young Maria felt the suffering, hunger and poverty of the people and, as a
child, she decided to protect the poor, "the Lord's chosen and loved brothers,"
as she would call them.

This desire, coupled with the instructions of Bishop Josip Marcelic of
Dubrovnik, led her to found, on the feast of the Annunciation in 1919, the
religious community dedicated "to the education and instruction of the feminine
youth of the place."

In 1928, inspired by the rule of the Third Order of St. Francis, Bishop Marcelic
instituted canonically the religious community of diocesan right. The Daughters
of Mercy received papal recognition and the approval of its constitutions on
Dec. 6, 1956.

Maria of Jesus Crucified Petkovic seemed happiest when she was with the poor and
the excluded. She said she saw the face of the suffering Jesus in them.

Until her death in Rome on July 9, 1966, she never tired of exhorting her
religious sisters to show, by their behavior and sacrifice, that they incarnated
the love, goodness and mercy of God.

The Daughters of Mercy have 429 women religious in 12 countries of Europe and
America. Their work includes education, care of the elderly and sick,
development of missions, and ecumenical dialogue.


* * *

"Special Olympics" Athletes Get Papal Greeting

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II personally greeted a group
of handicapped athletes who will participate in the "Special Olympics" World
Summer Games.

At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope addressed
the handicapped present, many of whom were from the institutes of Don Orione's
work, and said he hoped that that event would "constitute for each one a
providential occasion to reaffirm their fervent adherence to Christ and his
Gospel."

The Special Olympics will be held June 21-29 in Dublin, Ireland, with the
participation of 7,000 athletes, 3,000 trainers and official delegates, and
28,000 relatives and friends.

The 166 international delegations will take part in 21 sports. And 30,000
volunteers will assist.


* * *

Catholics in Iraq Facing Persecution, Says Missionary

Spanish Priest Tells of a "Lawless" Baghdad

MADRID, Spain, JUNE 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Catholics in Iraq are feeling
persecuted by Muslim fundamentalists, and Baghdad has turned into a lawless
city, says a Spanish missionary.

Father Ángel García, founder of the Catholic organization Messengers of Peace,
has just returned from Iraq, where he supervised a contribution of humanitarian
aid to that country.

The priest said he witnessed firsthand the sufferings and hardships being
endured by the people of Baghdad and Basra.

"Baghdad is a lawless city where there is even greater fear of being assaulted
or attacked than of dying from bullets," he said.

"Workers have not been paid their salaries for three months," he added. "Garbage
piles up in the streets, temperatures are extreme, and now there is a shortage
of gasoline."

The greatest efforts of his organization are focused on hospitals where, because
of the lack of electricity, "incubators are useless and infants are put in
plastic bags" to maintain their temperature, he said.

Of the Catholics he said: "They are scared, because they see themselves
persecuted."

In Basra, where Father García met with the Chaldean-rite bishop, two Christians
were killed. The Iraqi clergy is also being persecuted by fundamentalists, he
said. "Some have even had their crucifixes trampled on, because there is no
security there."

Father García is counting on prayer and the action of political authorities and
international organizations during the period of reconstruction.

"We must cry out at the top of our voices for public order and security to be
restored," he said. "The time has come to speak out to win the peace in Iraq,
because it has been lost."


* * *

Pakistan's Christians Wary of Province's Introduction of Islamic Law

Moderate Muslims and Human Rights Groups Are Concerned Too

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, JUNE 4, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- Christians in Pakistan are
worried about the introduction of Islamic law in the North West Frontier
Province on the border with Afghanistan.

This is the first time in modern Pakistan that the strict code has been in
force.

Father Jacob Dogra, of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, which covers the
whole province, told the Fides news service: "We are in God's hands. We are very
concerned; we never imagined that the bill would be approved by the legislative
council."

"Some fundamentalist Muslim leaders in the region have been playing on the
sentiments of the people," he added. "Now we must wait and see the consequences
of the application of Shariah law for the Christian community."

The Islamabad-Rawalpindi Diocese has a population of about 35 million, including
250,000 Catholics many of whom are committed to education and assistance, with
schools of various grades and training institutes and hospitals.

"Christians here live in peace," said Father Dogra. "Except for a few sporadic
episodes of violence in the past, Christians work and live in harmony with
Muslims, in an atmosphere of friendship and dialogue.

"However, undoubtedly there are some fanatic groups determined to instigate
religious hatred. We hope they do not succeed and we are working for this. The
adoption of Shariah law is, of course, a reason for concern. We must wait and
see the reaction of the ordinary people."

On Monday, legislators voted unanimously to pass a bill to introduce Shariah, or
Islamic law, in the province, which is dominated by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
coalition of six Muslim parties. The coalition, which swept to power in October,
has been criticized by human rights groups who fear a rerun of the Taliban.

Chief Minister Akram Durrani of the province warned: "People who fail to observe
Shariah law will have no place in our province."

Shariah applies harsh punishments such as amputation of a limb for stealing, and
stoning for adultery. It enforces the compulsory study of the Muslim religion in
schools.

Negative reactions to the bill came from the civil society and moderate Muslim
groups. The province's 24 mayors, mostly Muslims, will resign in protest,
announced Azam Afridi, mayor of Peshawar.

Human rights groups fear most of all for the rights of women. Pervez Rafiq of
the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, comprised of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs,
has strongly criticized the move, saying that "religion must not interfere with
politics."

Some organizations are considering an appeal to the Federal Court on the grounds
that Shariah is contrary to Pakistan's Constitution and the will of its founder,
Ali Jinnah, who established the country in 1947 as a secular state guaranteeing
the rights of religious minorities.

Religious minorities in Pakistan recall 1999 when they led a successful campaign
against the introduction of Shariah, and stopped the federal Parliament from
approving an amendment to the Constitution which would have subjected the whole
country to the Koran.

There are 3 million Christians in Pakistan, 1.2 million of whom are Catholics.
About 96% of the country's 147 million inhabitants are Muslim.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers.  Some links require Realplayer a software program
that allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as
listen to live radio.  The software is free.  To obtain your free copy go to
EWTN Live TV and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the
Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English 		 • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish  • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video)  • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over  • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library 	 • Life On The Rock (Video)
•  The Journey Home (Video)  • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060503.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>


* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
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or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 110
FRIDAY 6 June 2003

Feast of St. Norbert

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Address on Arrival in Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• 500,000 to Turn Out for Pope in Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Statistics on John Paul II's Travels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Friars Minor Elect New Minister General
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Rivera Defends Bishops' Statements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Caritas-Iraq Undertakes Housing Reconstruction Project
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishop Marini on Why the Pope Continues to Travel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II's Address on Arrival in Croatia

Nation "Now Needs to Consolidate a Social Stability"

RIJEKA, Croatia, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered today after landing at Rijeka airport in Croatia.

Mr President,

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,

Distinguished Authorities,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. With great joy I set foot for the third time on the beloved land of Croatia.
I thank Almighty God for having allowed me to come back among you on this, my
hundredth Pastoral Visit.

I offer respectful greetings to you, Mr President, and to the other civil and
military Authorities present. I deeply appreciate the gracious sentiments you
have expressed in the name of those present and of all your fellow-citizens.

I embrace with affection the whole Catholic community in Croatia, and in a
particular way my Brother Bishops. I offer a special greeting to Bishop Valter
Zupan and to the priests, religious and laity of the Diocese of Krk, in whose
territory this airport is located.

I also greet the members of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, and the
followers of Judaism and Islam. I am pleased that on this occasion too we can
join in testifying to our common responsibility for the building up of society
in justice and mutual respect.

2. I have come among you in order to fulfill my mission as the Successor of
Peter and to bring to all those living in this country greetings of peace and a
heartfelt prayer for peace. In visiting the Dioceses of Dubrovnik,
Djakovo-Srijem, Rijeka and Zadar I will be able to honor the ancient Christian
roots of this land steeped in the blood of countless martyrs. I think of the
martyrs of the first three centuries -- and in particular of the Martyrs of
Sirmium and of Roman Dalmatia as a whole -- and I think of those of successive
centuries, up to the last century and the heroic figure of Blessed Cardinal
Alojzije Stepinac.

I will also have the joy of beatifying Sister Marija Propetoga Isusa Petkovic,
who will be joined in a few weeks by the young Ivan Merz. The memory of these
intrepid witnesses to the faith makes me reflect with deep emotion and gratitude
on the Church which gave them birth and on those difficult times in which she
jealously preserved her fidelity to the Gospel.

3. The Island of Krk has a rich Glagolitic heritage which has developed in the
liturgical usage and in the daily experience of the Croatian people.
Christianity greatly contributed to Croatia’s development in the past. It can
also continue to make an effective contribution to Croatia’s present and its
future. For there are values -- like the dignity of the human person, moral and
intellectual integrity, religious freedom, the defense of the family, openness
to and respect for life, solidarity, subsidiarity and participation, respect for
minorities -- which are inscribed in the nature of every human being, but which
Christianity had the merit of clearly identifying and proclaiming. It is on
these values that the stability and true greatness of a nation is based.

Croatia has recently asked to become an integral part, also from the political
and economic point of view, of the great family of the European peoples. I can
only express my hope that this aspiration will be happily realized: the rich
tradition of Croatia will surely contribute to strengthening the Union as an
administrative and territorial unit, and also as a cultural and spiritual
reality.

4. This country, like several neighboring countries, still bears painful signs
of a recent past: may those who exercise civil and religious authority never
tire of trying to heal the wounds caused by a cruel war and of rectifying the
consequences of a totalitarian system that for all too long attempted to impose
an ideology opposed to man and his dignity.

For almost thirteen years Croatia has trod the path of liberty and democracy. As
it looks to the future with confidence and hope, it now needs to consolidate,
with the responsible and generous contribution of everyone, a social stability
that will further promote steady employment, public assistance, an education
system open to all young people and freedom from all forms of poverty and
inequality, in a climate of cordial relations with neighboring countries.

Upon these prospects I invoke the intercession of Saint Joseph, Patron of
Croatia, and that of the Virgin Mary, Advocate of Croatia, Most Faithful Mother.

May God bless this land and its people!


* * *

500,000 to Turn Out for Pope in Croatia

Tight Security Planned in Balkan Nation

ZAGREB, Croatia, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Some 500,000 faithful are expected
to come out to greet John Paul II during his trip to this Balkan nation.

The Pope will go to five key Croatian cities, covering several thousand
kilometers by plane, and returning every night to Rijeka on the Adriatic coast,
where he is staying.

Several thousand pilgrims will arrive from Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ANSA agency reported.

Following his visits in 1994 and 1998, the Pope's current trip to Croatia has as
its motto "The Family: The Path of the Church and the Nation."

The Holy Father will offer Croats a model of evangelical fidelity on Friday in
Dubrovnik, when he beatifies Sister Maria of Jesus Crucified Petkovic, founder
of the Franciscan Congregation of Daughters of Mercy.

Painters, sculptors, artists, families, parishes, associations, and numerous
faithful are celebrating this papal visit with gifts for the Pope. The gifts
have been on display since Wednesday at the episcopal residence in Djakovo.

In the main, the gifts are paintings, books, embroidery, tapestries, crosses and
sculptures. Some of them will be given to the Pope on Saturday at Osijek and
Djakovo.

Tight security measures have been taken for the Pope's visit. Pilgrims attending
the ceremonies in Dubrovnik, Osijek, Djakovo, Zadar and Rijeka may not carry
umbrellas or mobile phones. Cameras and video cameras will be checked.

Windows overlooking streets where the papal entourage will pass must remain
closed. Some 10,000 police agents will be mobilized, Croatian Police Chief Ranko
Ostojic reported.


* * *

Statistics on John Paul II's Travels

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II's latest trip to Croatia,
his 100th outside Italy, adds another chapter to his long travel list.

The Pope has visited a total of 129 countries and 614 localities (cities and
towns). He has landed in different countries on 201 occasions, as in many cases
he has visited countries several times.

The country he has visited the most is Poland (8 times), followed by the United
States (7 times), France (6), Mexico and Spain (5), Brazil and Portugal (4),
Austria, Canada, Ivory Coast, Germany, Guatemala, Kenya, Czech Republic,
Dominican Republic and Switzerland (3).

In total, he has traveled 1,160,113 kilometers (719,270 miles), more than three
times the distance between Earth and the moon. His longest trip was No. 32, to
the Far East and Oceania. Between November and December 1986, he traveled from
Bangladesh to the Seychelles, visiting Singapore, Fiji, New Zealand and
Australia.

His shortest trip, a total of 5 hours, was to the Republic of San Marino.

When John Paul II returns from Croatia on Monday, he will have spent 575 days,
out of the total of 8,972 days of his pontificate, on international trips.

* * *

Friars Minor Elect New Minister General

ROME, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Order of Friars Minor elected Father José
Rodríguez Carballo of Spain as its 119th Minister General.

The 142 representatives of the Franciscans elected him today at St. Mary of the
Angels in Assisi, where they are holding their general chapter.

Father Rodríguez Carballo, 49, is currently general definitor and general
secretary for formation and studies.

The new Minister General was born in Sarreaus, Spain, in 1953. He made his
solemn profession in Jerusalem on Jan. 1, 1976, and was ordained a priest on
June 29, 1977.

He succeeds Father Giacomo Bini, who finished a six-year term. More information
is at http://www.ofm.org.


* * *

Cardinal Rivera Defends Bishops' Statements

Says They Have Not Meddled in Mexican Party Politics

MEXICO CITY, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Mexico's archbishop primate defended the
statements by some bishops, saying that they are not interfering in the
country's electoral campaign but expressing principles of Catholic morality
which are also defended by the Constitution.

The controversy arose when certain political parties denounced the bishops to
the Electoral Affairs Attorney's Office for allegedly violating the law that
impedes the clergy from commenting on electoral issues.

The bishops limited themselves to point out to the faithful that a Christian
must not vote for parties that promote abortion, homosexual unions, and genetic
manipulation.

At the end of Mass on Sunday, the nation's primate, Cardinal Norberto Rivera
Carrera, pointed out to the press the existing accord between Mexican civil
legislation and the Code of Canon Law, which also impedes propaganda, opposition
or partisanship in an electoral contest.

At the same time, the cardinal stated that both the civil and ecclesiastical
rules "defend every human being's right to freedom of expression and religious
liberty."

"I think that in a society like the Mexican, freedom of expression and religious
liberty cannot be proclaimed for some while for others there is a gag law," he
noted.

The cardinal said that he had read the bishops' addresses and "not one of them
refers to a single party or person."

"They mention principles that are fundamental to our belief, which the Mexican
Constitution also defends. It defends the right to life, the dignity of the
family and of marriage," he said.

Last week, the government secretariat went so far as to exhort the bishops to
abstain from "interfering" in the electoral process, and stressed the
possibility that at least five bishops might be sanctioned.

Mexico is preparing for midterm elections, scheduled for July 6, which will
renew municipal presidencies, some state governments, and the country's Chamber
of Deputies, which until now has been dominated by the Institutional
Revolutionary Party (PRI).


* * *

Caritas-Iraq Undertakes Housing Reconstruction Project

Aid to the Church in Need Sends Delegation to Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq, JUNE 5, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Caritas-Iraq is undertaking a program
of postwar housing reconstruction while continuing its distribution of
humanitarian aid.

Last weekend Caritas-Baghdad received a convoy with 15 tons of humanitarian aid,
on top of the food and health products that arrived at the capital's airport May
23, the Catholic Church's aid organization reported.

The humanitarian aid is being distributed by local Caritas teams, to parishes
and relief centers helping the most vulnerable groups of the population.

The local Caritas is planning to transform its current network of child centers
into centers of health care for an initial six-month period.

Talks are under way with local health authorities so that medical personnel in
Caritas' child centers will be able to care for the civilian population in
general and supply much-needed medicines.

In recent days, Caritas-Iraq has donated health material to several Baghdad
pediatric hospitals, in addition to supplementary food products and bed linen.

In Sulaimaniya, in the north, Caritas-Iraq is working to begin a project for the
reconstruction of 140 homes and a health center.

In this region, in cooperation with the Iraqi Health Ministry, Caritas has
distributed medicines to several hospitals, as well as fuel for domestic use. A
mobile clinic provided by Caritas-Holland offers medical care to people of rural
settlements.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is in Baghdad to seek
new ways and means to improve the situation of Christians in Iraq.

The organization's delegation, which landed here Monday, plans to meets with
Archbishop Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio in Iraq, and with leaders of local
ecclesial communities.

Helmut Steindhl, director of the Projects Department, and Marie-Ange Siebrecht,
head of the Middle East Section, during their nine-day visit will express ACN's
solidarity with the Iraqi people, especially Catholic communities.

Since the start of the war in Iraq, ACN has sent over $56,000 in emergency aid
for refugees. ACN has launched a fund-raising campaign in all its national
offices and, to date, has collected 101,299 euros ($118,288) to help postwar
Iraq.

* * *

Bishop Marini on Why the Pope Continues to Travel

Master of Papal Ceremonies All Talks of the Liturgical Logistics

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 5, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- The image of John Paul II
celebrating Mass in public squares around the world has become one of the most
characteristic features of his pontificate.

On Friday he will do this again, when he beatifies Maria of Jesus Crucified
Petkov, in Dubrovnik's Port Square, part of his visit to Croatia.

Bishop Piero Marini, for 15 years master of papal ceremonies, explains the
meaning of these celebrations.

Q: Why does this Pope travel so much?

Bishop Marini: The Pope goes to confirm brethren in the faith, proclaiming the
Word and celebrating the sacraments. He says this in his last encyclical: The
Eucharist builds the community.

When it is presided over by the Bishop of Rome, the universality of the Church
becomes visible. In the eucharistic celebration, the Pope exercises his ministry
in the fullest way. Therefore, the Mass is at the heart of every trip --
otherwise, its civil aspect would predominate. Only thus can one understand his
desire to visit even the most remote islands.

Q: What do you remember of the first trip in which you participated?

Bishop Marini: It was April 1987 and it was a baptism of fire.

We were in Chile, in O'Higgins Park. It was supposed to be the Mass of
reconciliation and it turned into the Mass of the guerrillas. From the start of
the Liturgy of the Word, they fired on the tents. Then they knocked down the
journalists' platform. The police arrived in armored cars.

The Pope saw the stretchers going by with the wounded bleeding. At times, gusts
of tear gas reached the altar. It was a truly difficult Mass. At the end, the
Pope pronounced those famous words: "Love is stronger."

Q: One of the aspects of these Masses in international trips is the encounter
with cultures.

Bishop Marini: They reflect well what the reform of the Second Vatican Council
has been.

We have gone from a liturgy proper to the Church of Rome to a liturgy open to
the world: languages, local cultures have entered the celebration, maintaining
the same structure for the whole Catholic Church.

This liturgy has enabled the Pope to celebrate in all the countries: The
universality of the presence of the Successor of Peter has been expressed in all
the celebrations incarnated in the different local Churches. This encounter is
easier than it seems. Very little, in fact, is required: The songs, musical
instruments, body movements at times are enough.

I remember the trip to Cameroon, when a woman carried the Gospel on her back,
according to her tradition. Or the Mass in Gulu, where a man carried a youth
astride who showed everyone the Gospel.

They are elements that speak directly to the people's culture, without altering
the rite. I must also say that we have come a long way. During the last trip to
Mexico, I was impressed by how well the elements of the Indian culture have been
integrated in the celebration.

Q: How is the preparation for these Mass undertaken?

Bishop Marini: It is a serious moment, as there is the risk of falling into
folklore. We ask the episcopal conference to appoint a responsible priest.
Together, we evaluate what is or is not acceptable.

In Indonesia, for example, they wanted to do the aspersion with coconut milk,
which for them is a symbol of life. "But, with what do you baptize the
children?" I asked. An aspersion has no meaning outside of the recollection of
baptism.

It is important that these elements not hide the signs of the liturgy: If there
is a procession with the Gospel, the Gospel must be seen. The Eastern rites with
flowers are beautiful, but they must allow the Word of God to emerge, as our
faith is based on it.

Q: How are the venues chosen for the celebrations?

Bishop Marini: It's not easy: the crowds call for open spaces. The worst
solution -- but at times it's the only alternative -- is airports. It is
difficult to create a community in them. One's gaze is lost in the horizon.

It is better in stadiums: There is the possibility for the people to be close.
However, a square in the city is the ideal. People feel at home. They can say:
The Pope has come here and has celebrated Mass with us.

Q: The Pope has also celebrated Mass in places marked by the wounds of history.

Bishop Marini: I remember a celebration in Africa, full of people mutilated in
war. The Pope is also an element of hope where there is no hope. Suffice it to
think how he was awaited in Iraq.

In Sarajevo we crossed a city full of destruction. It was terribly cold during
the Mass, and the Pope endured great difficulties. At the end, speaking with
him, I said: "What a pity that the cold made you suffer a bit." He answered me:
It was nothing, compared to what these poor people suffered.

Q: We are all witnesses of the exhaustion that these trips entail. What makes
the Pope continue?

Bishop Marini: Transport, climate and change of time zone are difficult for him.
People realize this and perhaps this is why they participate even more.

He continues because he feels his ministry consists of this; he has taken
seriously the mandate to confirm the brethren in the faith, especially through
these trips.

At present it is seen more clearly. Many things have been simplified -- the
ceremony at airports, the speeches. But the eucharistic celebrations continue
unaltered: The Church is built with the Eucharist.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060603.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>


* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer 
you the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation
for all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of 
the whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 111
MONDAY 9 June 2003

Feast of St. Ephrem

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Address at Rijeka
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Homily at Osijek-Cepin Airfield
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope's Pentecost Homily in Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Vocation of a Christian Is Holiness, Says John Paul II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope Asks Support for Families to Overcome Social Fragmentation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II's Address at Rijeka

"Human Beings Are of Value for What They Are"

RIJEKA, Croatia, JUNE 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered today in Rijeka, before the recitation of the Regina Caeli.

1. At the conclusion of this solemn celebration, I particularly wish to greet
the young people of Croatia. Dear friends, you already know one thing: the Pope
looks to you with confidence and hope, and he asks you once more to be sentinels
of the dawn and people of the Beatitudes, as I called you at the recent World
Youth Day.

Through the family and professional life for which you are now preparing, you
will take on great responsibilities for the good of society and the Church. I
ask you to remember that human beings are of value for what they are more than
what they do or what they possess; that superficial goals will never satisfy the
thirst for happiness and fulfillment deep within your hearts; that the mission
which Providence has assigned to each of you cannot be carried out by anyone
else. Listen to Lord Jesus, follow him as the Teacher of life, make him your
Companion along the way.

2. I greet the Italian-speaking faithful, especially the families who are
present among us. May the Spirit of the Lord strengthen you in unity and make
you witnesses before the world of God’s faithful and gracious love.

I offer cordial greetings to the pilgrims from Slovenia. As I recall my visits
to your beautiful country, I encourage all of you to be open to the gift of the
Holy Spirit, whom the Lord Jesus pours out upon his Church at Pentecost. With my
Blessing.

I greet the German-speaking faithful and I pray that the God’s grace will guide
your steps along the path of fraternity and peace. I cordially bless all of you.

I offer a particular greeting to the Albanian-speaking pilgrims. May Almighty
God grant you abundant his consolation through his gift of the Spirit from on
high.

With affection I greet my fellow Poles: may the Mother of God guide you towards
her Son, and show you the treasures of his Heart. With my blessing.

3. Gathered with the Apostles in the Upper Room, we now turn to Mary and
contemplate her as the Mother of the Church, attentive and caring towards all
her children. Trusting in her powerful intercession we ask her to obtain for all
the people of God docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the strength to
show our faith in our actions, and the courage to bear witness to Christ at
every moment of our lives:


* * *

John Paul II's Homily at Osijek-Cepin Airfield

"The Vocation of a Christian Is Holiness"

OSIJEK, Croatia, JUNE 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the homily John
Paul II delivered on Saturday when he celebrated the Mass at the Osijek-Cepin
airfield.

1. "I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been
called" (Eph 4:1). Saint Paul wrote these words to the Ephesians. His
exhortation, dear brothers and sisters, resounds today in our assembly with
particular timeliness.

But what is the vocation of a Christian? The answer is demanding, but clear: the
vocation of a Christian is holiness. It is a vocation which has its roots in
Baptism and is proposed anew by the other sacraments, and principally by the
Eucharist.

Dear brothers and sisters of the Dioceses of Djakovo and Srijem, the Bishop of
Rome has come among you today in order to remind you, in the name of the Lord,
that you are called to holiness in every season of life: in the spring of youth,
in the summer of maturity, then in the autumn and winter of old age, and at last
at the hour of death and even beyond death, in the final purification
preordained by God’s merciful love.

2. I wish to recall this fundamental truth today, as I celebrate together with
you the solemn conclusion of the second Synod of your local Church, to which you
have devoted almost five years of prayer and reflection on the theme: "You are
the Christ, for us and for all men and women." May the Synod produce abundant
fruits for a renewal of Christian commitment in this land which is firmly linked
to the See of Peter. Indeed, today, 7 June, is the anniversary of the letters
sent in 879 by Pope John VIII to Prince Branimir and to Bishop Theodosius, which
mark a significant date in your history.

I cordially greet your Bishop, Marin Srakic, and I thank him for his words of
welcome at the opening of this liturgical celebration. Together with him I greet
your Auxiliary Bishops and your Bishop Emeritus, Ciril Kos. I embrace with
affection the Bishops and all the faithful of the Dioceses of the Ecclesiastical
Province of Zagreb, which is celebrating the hundredth and fiftieth anniversary
of its establishment. My thoughts also go to the pilgrims who have come with
their Pastors from Bosnia-Herzegovina, from Hungary, and from Serbia and
Montenegro.

In this city of Osijek, I wish to recall Cardinal Franjo Seper, who was born
here. A faithful servant of the Church, he was my valued co-worker as Prefect of
the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the beginning of my
Pontificate.

I greet our brothers and sisters who share with us faith in Jesus, the Son of
God and the one Savior of the world. In particular I greet Metropolitan Jovan
and the other Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church. I ask them to convey to
His Beatitude Patriarch Pavle my fraternal greetings in the love of Christ. My
greeting also goes to our brothers and sisters of the Communities born of the
Reformation.

I also offer respectful greetings to the members of the Jewish Community and to
the followers of Islam. Finally my respectful greetings go to the civil and
military Authorities, whom I thank most heartily for their commitment to the
preparation of this Pastoral Visit.

3. "I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should
abide" (Jn 15:16). How can we not be grateful to God for the clearer awareness
which, in the years following the Second Vatican Council, the lay faithful --
men and women alike -- have gained of the baptismal dignity that is theirs?
Christ’s followers can never cultivate sufficiently the awareness of their
proper identity. This in fact is the model for their mission.

Consequently there are essential questions to which we continually need to
respond: What have I done with my Baptism and my Confirmation? Is Christ truly
the center of my life? Do I give space to prayer during my day? Do I live my
life as a vocation and a mission?

4. At the beginning of the third millennium God is calling believers, and the
laity in particular, to a renewed missionary outreach. Mission is not "something
added on" to the Christian vocation. Indeed, the Council states that the
Christian vocation is by its very nature a vocation to the apostolate (cf.
Apostolicam Actuositatem, 2).

Dear brothers and sisters, the Church in Slavonia and Srijem has need of you!
After the trying times of the war, which has left the people of this region with
deep wounds not yet completely healed, a commitment to reconciliation,
solidarity and social justice calls for courage on the part of individuals
inspired by faith, open to brotherly love and concerned for defending the
dignity of the human person made in the image of God.

Dear lay faithful, men and women, you are called to assume generously your own
share of responsibility for the life of the ecclesial communities to which you
belong. The image which parishes present, as places of welcome and of mission,
also depends upon you. As sharers in the priestly, prophetic and royal office of
Christ (cf. Lumen Gentium, 34-36), enriched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you
can make your contribution in the areas of liturgy and catechesis, and in the
promotion of missionary and charitable initiatives of various kinds. No baptized
person can remain idle!

Do not grow discouraged in the face of complex situations! Seek in prayer the
source of all strength for the apostolate and draw from the Gospel the light to
guide your steps.

5. "Great is the Lord in all his works," proclaims the Responsorial Psalm. On my
flight to Osijek, I was able to admire the beauty of the plain of Slavonia --
known as "the granary of Croatia" -- and my thoughts naturally turned to the
field workers, so numerous in this region. I greet them with particular
affection.

Dear brothers and sisters, I know that your life is a hard one and that the
yield of the earth's fruits does not at times match the hard work which is
demanded of you. I also know that farm work has its own serious difficulties: it
has lost a part of its value and young people were already choosing urban life
even before the last war, which left many villages with scarcely any
inhabitants.

I invite you to not lose confidence and to bear in mind that by your manual work
-- which eloquently recalls the Biblical duty entrusted to man of "subduing" the
earth and to "having dominion" over the visible world (cf. Gen 1:28) – you are
daily "cooperators" of God the Creator. Know that the Pope and the Church are
close to you and, with great esteem for the importance and dignity of your daily
toil, they pray that agriculture and field workers, both men and women, will
receive due recognition within the overall development of the community (cf.
Gaudium et Spes, 67; Laborem Exercens, 21).

7. The Apostle Paul has reminded us that there is "one God and Father of us all,
who is above all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:6). It is he, God the
Father, who calls all of us to holiness and to mission. By experiencing fully
the newness of Easter, Christians can transform the world and build the
civilization of truth and love. To him, who reigns in glory in every age be
praise, glory and honor!

I commend you to Mary, the Spouse of Joseph and the Mother of Jesus, whom you
greatly venerate at the shrines of Aljmas and Vocin. May she be your teacher and
obtain for you the spirit of contemplation which was hers in Nazareth, the
courageous strength which she showed at Calvary and the missionary openness to
the Spirit which, together with the original community, she received at
Pentecost. May Mary bring all of you to Jesus!


* * *

Pope's Pentecost Homily in Croatia

"The Family Requires Special Consideration

RIJEKA, Croatia, JUNE 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the homily John
Paul II delivered today, the solemnity of Pentecost, when he celebrated Mass in
Rijeka.

1. In the final days of his earthly life, Jesus promises his disciples the gift
of the Holy Spirit as his greatest legacy, the continuation of his own presence
(cf. Jn 14:16-17).

The Gospel just proclaimed has enabled us to relive the moment in which that
promise became a reality: the Risen Lord enters the Upper Room, greets the
disciples, breathes on them and says: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22).
Pentecost, described in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, is
the event that made publicly evident, fifty days later, the gift which Jesus
bestowed upon his disciples on the evening of Easter.

The Church of Christ is always, so to speak, in a situation of Pentecost: she is
always gathered in the Upper Room in prayer, and at the same time, driven by the
powerful wind of the Spirit, she is always on the streets preaching. The Church
is kept ever young and alive, one, holy, catholic and apostolic, because the
Spirit constantly descends upon her in order to remind her of all that the Lord
has said to her (cf. Jn 14:25) and to guide her into the fullness of truth (cf.
Jn 16:13).

2. Today I wish to greet with special affection that portion of the Church which
makes its pilgrim way in the land of Croatia, gathered here around its Pastors
and represented in its richness and variety by the faithful coming from
different regions of the country.

I embrace the Archbishop of Rijeka, the Most Reverend Ivan Devcic, who has
greeted me in the name of all present, and Archbishop Emeritus Josip Pavlisic,
who was present with me at the Second Vatican Council: I join him in giving
thanks to God for the sixty-fifth anniversary of his Priestly Ordination which
he celebrated last April. I wish to greet in particular the President of the
Episcopal Conference, the Most Reverend Josip Bozanic, the Archbishop of Zagreb,
and all the Bishops of Croatia, as well as the Cardinals and Bishops who have
come from other countries.

My respectful greetings go also to the President of the Republic and to the
other civil and military Authorities. I thank them for their presence and for
their valuable assistance in the planning and realization of this, my third
Pastoral Visit in Croatia.

I offer a special greeting to the many families present here on this day
dedicated to the family: you are an important part of society and the Church,
for "marriage and the family constitute one of the most precious of human
values" (Familiaris Consortio, 1).

3. We have gathered at the foot of this hill, beneath the Shrine of Trsat,
where, according to a devout tradition, the house of the Virgin Mary stopped.
Recalling the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at Nazareth reminds us of the
austere beauty and simplicity, and the sacredness and inviolability of the
Christian family.

In contemplating Mary and Joseph as they present the Child Jesus in the Temple
or on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Christian parents can see a reflection of
themselves as they take part in the Sunday Eucharist with their children or
gather in prayer at home. Here I would recall the program that your Bishops
initiated years ago at Nin: "The Croatian Catholic family prays daily and
celebrates the Eucharist every Sunday". If this is to happen, it is essential to
show respect for sacredness of Sunday, which enables members of the family to
recollect themselves and to join in giving due worship to God.

Nowadays the family, also in Croatia, requires special consideration and
concrete policies aimed at promoting and protecting its essential nature, its
development and its stability. Among other things, I am thinking of the serious
problems associated with housing and employment. It must not be forgotten that
in helping the family we also help to resolve other important problems, such as
providing assistance to the sick and the elderly, stopping the spread of crime,
and finding a remedy to drug use.

4. Dear Christian families, do not be afraid to present to others, first and
foremost by the witness of your lives, God’s authentic plan for the family as a
community of life founded on marriage, in other words, on the stable and
faithful union of a man and a woman, bound to each other by a bond which is
publicly manifested and recognized.

It is your responsibility to provide for the human and Christian education of
your children, trusting also in the expert assistance of committed and
well-trained educators and catechists. This city of Rijeka venerates as its
patron Saint Vitus, a young man who did not hesitate to give his life in order
to preserve that fidelity to Christ which he had learned from his holy parents
Modestus and Crescentia. Like them, you too must help your children to encounter
Jesus and to follow him, even amid the temptations to which young people are
continuously exposed, along the path that leads to authentic joy.

In carrying out your ministry as parents, do not tire of repeating the
invocation that for centuries the citizens of Rijeka have confidently raised
before the miraculous Crucifix venerated in their Cathedral: "Pomogao nam sveti
Kriz svetog Vida!" (May the holy Cross of Saint Vitus come to our aid!).

5. Society today is tragically fragmented and divided. This is the reason why it
is so desperately unfulfilled. But Christians do not become resigned to
weariness or paralyzed by inertia. May you be a people of hope! May you be a
people which prays: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these
slain, that they may live" (Ez 37:14). May you be a people which believes in the
Word spoken by God and accomplished in Christ: "I will put my Spirit within you,
and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know
that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, says the Lord" (Ez 37:14).

Christ’s desire is that all people should be one in him, so that all may
experience the fullness of his joy (cf. Jn 15:11; 17:13). Today too he expresses
this desire, for the Church which is ourselves. For this reason he, together
with the Father, has sent us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is tirelessly at work,
overcoming every division and healing every wound.

6. Saint Paul has reminded us that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal
5:22-23). Today the Pope invokes these gifts of the Spirit on all the Christian
married couples of Croatia, that by their mutual gift of self, in fidelity to
the duties of marriage and in service to the cause of the Gospel, they may be in
the world a sign of God’s love for humanity.

I invoke these gifts upon all of you who take part in this celebration and upon
all who here reconfirm your commitment to bear witness to Christ and his Gospel.

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire
of your love" (Gospel Acclamation).

Come, Holy Spirit! Amen.

* * *

Vocation of a Christian Is Holiness, Says John Paul II

Has Its Roots in Baptism, He Tells the Faithful

OSIJEK, Croatia, JUNE 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- During the Mass he celebrated at the
Osijek-Cepin airfield, John Paul II asked the more than 100,000 pilgrims
present: "What is the vocation of a Christian?"

"The answer is demanding: The vocation of a Christian is holiness," the Pope
said Saturday. "It is a vocation which has its roots in baptism and is proposed
anew by the other sacraments, and principally by the Eucharist."

The Holy Father explained that he came to these lands close to Serbia "to remind
you, in the name of the Lord, that you are called to holiness in every season of
life … [in] the spring of youth, in the summer of maturity, then in the autumn
and winter of old age, and at last at the hour of death and even beyond death."

He went on to speak about the commitment to holiness "in the final purification
preordained by God's merciful love." That was a reference to Church doctrine on
"the final purification, or purgatory."

No. 1030 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "All who die in God's
grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of
their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to
achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven."

"The Church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect,
which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned," the following
number of the Catechism states.

In order to reflect on their call to holiness, the Pope addressed a number of
questions to the faithful present.

"What have I done with my baptism and my confirmation?" he asked. "Is Christ
truly the center of my life? Do I give space to prayer during the day? Do I live
my life as a vocation and a mission?"


* * *

Pope Asks Support for Families to Overcome Social Fragmentation

Suggests That the Sacredness of Sundays Be Rediscovered

RIJEKA, Croatia, JUNE 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II appealed for effective
support of the family as the indispensable condition to overcome the social
fragmentation typical of contemporary societies.

Celebrating the Mass of Pentecost before 140,000 people gathered in the central
square of Rijeka, the Pope focused his homily on the central theme of his third
visit to Croatia, "The Family: Path of the Church and of the Nation."

"Nowadays the family, also in Croatia, requires special consideration and
concrete policies aimed at promoting and protecting its essential nature, its
development and its stability," John Paul II said today during the homily.

"Among other things, I am thinking of the serious problems associated with
housing and employment," he said. Croatia has an unemployment rate of about 22%.

"It must not be forgotten that in helping the family we also help to resolve
other important problems, such as providing assistance to the sick and the
elderly, halting the spread of crime, and finding a remedy to drug use," the
Holy Father said.

"If this is to happen, it is essential to show respect for the sacredness of
Sunday, which enables members of the family to recollect themselves and to join
in giving due worship to God," he added.

Political leaders and labor unions in Croatia are debating a plan to liberalize
work on Sundays. Among those at the Mass were Prime Minister Ivica Racan and
President Stipe Mesic.

The Pope gave his support to a program launched a few years ago by the country's
Catholic bishops, entitled "The Croatian Catholic Family Prays Daily and
Celebrates the Eucharist Every Sunday."

When greeting Archbishop Ivan Devcic of Rijeka, the Pope acknowledged that
Croatian families are experiencing "severe tests of an economic, moral and
cultural nature" to which the authorities should offer solutions.

The Holy Father asked Christian families to witness with their lives "God's
authentic plan for the family as a community of life founded on marriage."

He emphasized that marriage is based "on the stable and faithful union of a man
and a woman, bound to each other by a bond which is publicly manifested and
recognized."

The Pope reminded parents that they must "provide for the human and Christian
education of your children, trusting also in the expert assistance of committed
and well-trained educators and catechists."

He added: "You, too, must help your children to encounter Jesus and to follow
him, even amid the temptations to which young people are continuously exposed,
along the path that leads to authentic joy.

"Society today is tragically fragmented and divided. This is the reason why it
is so desperately unfulfilled. But Christians do not become resigned to
weariness or paralyzed by inertia. May you be people of hope! May you be a
people that prays."

In the afternoon, the Pope received Prime Minister Racan at the seminary of
Rijeka. Later, he was to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, Queen of the
Adriatic, where according to tradition the Holy House of Nazareth was kept from
1291 to 1294, before being transported to Loreto, Italy.

John Paul II will leave Croatia on Monday from the airport of Zadar, a city
where he will first preside over the celebration of a Liturgy of the Word.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
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• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

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* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/060903.htm>

Biblica Online
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* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

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Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
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Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
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P. O. Box 455
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Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
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Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
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This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 112
TUESDAY 10 June 2003

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Farewell to Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• "I Am Sure the Future Will Be Better," Pope Tells Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• POPE VISITS OUR LADY OF TRSAT, THE "CROATIAN NAZARETH"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• LEARN FROM MARY TO BE CREDIBLE WITNESSES, GENEROUS APOSTLES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Tired But Determined, Pope Plans More Travel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Hopes His Homeland Contributes Its Values to EU
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Keeping Catholic Churches Open All Night
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Oblates of Mary Immaculate Seek Testimonies of 9 Martyrs of Laos
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II's Farewell to Croatia

"Learn From Mary How to Be Generous Apostles"

ZADAR, Croatia, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the homily John Paul II
delivered today in the Forum of Zadar, during the celebration of a Liturgy of
the Word, at the conclusion of his third apostolic visit to Croatia.

1. As my Apostolic Journey to Croatia draws to an end, I am happy to join you,
the faithful of the Archdiocese of Zadar and neighboring areas, here in Forum
Square, in the shadow of the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia, the martyr from
Sirmio. We are gathered here to celebrate Midday Prayer, the hour of Sext.

I greet you with affection in the name of the Lord, as I recall the presence of
my predecessor, Pope Alexander III, who stopped in this city in March 1177 and
visited several places in the vicinity. I greet your Archbishop, the Most
Reverend Ivan Prendja, who has welcomed me in the name of all present, and
Archbishop Emeritus Marijan Oblak, who took part with me in the Second Vatican
Ecumenical Council. With fraternal affection I greet the Bishops of Croatia, who
surround me today and have accompanied me throughout this Pastoral Visit. My
greetings also go to the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Dalmatia Fotije.

Lastly, I greet with respect the President of the Republic, whom I thank most
heartily for being present at this gathering, and the other civil and military
authorities, to whom I express my gratitude for everything that they have done
to make my visit possible.

2. Our liturgical assembly takes place on the day after the Solemnity of
Pentecost, the day on which Croatians celebrate the feast of Mary, Mother of the
Church. The reading we have just heard portrays Mary in the Cenacle, surrounded
by the early community. The small group, gathered in "the upper room" of the
house (Acts 1:13), prays and waits. With the coming of the Holy Spirit the doors
of the room will burst open and enable the Gospel proclamation to go out to the
streets of Jerusalem, and then to set forth on the paths of the world.

As on the day of Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin has remained spiritually in the
midst of the Christian faithful down the centuries, invoking the constant
outpouring of the Spirit's gifts upon the Church as she faces the challenges
which arise in different periods of her history.

In this way Mary carries out in its fullness her mission as Mother: she is
Mother not only because she gave birth to and nurtured the Son of God; she is
also Mother because she is "the Virgin who has become the Church," as Saint
Francis of Assisi loved to call her (cf. Fontes Francescani, 259). Francis too
passed through Zadar at the beginning of the thirteenth century, during his
journey to the East and the Holy Land.

3. The Virgin Mary, gathering around herself the Apostles and the disciples who
were tempted to disperse, commended them to the "fire" of the Spirit who would
launch them on the adventure of mission. The "sensus fidei" of the Christian
People would recognize Mary's active presence not only in the earliest
community, but also throughout the Church's history. For this reason the Church
has not hesitated to grant her the title of "Queen of the Apostles."

The Most Holy Virgin, who, in the words of the Evangelist Luke, "kept all these
things, pondering them in her heart" (2:19), continues to set before the memory
of believers the historical events which are the foundation of their faith. As a
witness to the origins of the Church and the guarantor of the fidelity of
Christians in every generation, Mary repeats in every age the words she spoke at
the wedding feast of Cana: "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5).

4. Mary's words and example represent a sublime school of life, at which
apostles are formed. Apostles in the past and apostles today. Mary continues to
prepare them for mission by her assiduous prayer to the Father, by her closeness
to her Son, and by her openness to the promptings of the Spirit.

It pleases me to know that this Archdiocese has witnessed in recent years the
growth and expansion of different forms of lay engagement and apostolate. Dear
brothers and sisters, learn from Mary how to be credible witnesses and generous
apostles, as you make your own contribution to the great enterprise of the new
evangelization. And never forget that a genuine apostolate demands as a prior
condition a personal encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord (cf. Rev
1:17-18).

5. Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God and put it
into practice (cf. Lk 8:21). How then could there not be a profound spiritual
understanding between all believers and the Virgin of the Magnificat? The poor
and the humble in every age were not mistaken when they made Mary in silence
their Advocate and Mary in service their Queen.

Let us too draw near to her and learn to imitate her docility and openness to
God. Let us too, the pilgrims of the third millennium, commend ourselves to her
intercession, so that by her prayers she may sustain our faith, nourish our hope
and make fruitful our charity:

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our own Mother,
look upon all your children
and come to our aid.

Guide us to Christ, the Way, and the Truth, and the Life;
from the Father implore for us the gifts of the Spirit,
protection from every snare, and freedom from all evil.

Help us ever to bear witness
to the fruitfulness of love and the authentic meaning of life;
teach us to build with you the Kingdom of your Son
the Kingdom of justice, love and peace.

* * *

"I Am Sure the Future Will Be Better," Pope Tells Croatia

At Farewell Meeting in Zadar

ZADAR, Croatia, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Inviting Croats to be "credible
witnesses and generous apostles," John Paul II bid their country farewell during
the celebration of a Liturgy of the Word in the Forum of Zadar.

"Thank you, Croatian people, who have welcomed me with your heart and open
arms," the Pope said during today's farewell meeting which drew 50,000 people
despite the scorching sun.

"I know your suffering, caused by the war that is still visible on your faces,"
he said. "I also know your strength, your courage and your hope. I am sure the
future will be better."

In this historic Dalmatian city, the Pope received a multicolored farewell. He
highlighted the role of the Blessed Virgin.

The Pontiff encouraged "the growth and expansion of different forms of lay
engagement and apostolate. … Learn from Mary how to be credible witnesses and
generous apostles, as you make your own contribution to the great enterprise of
the new evangelization."

"And never forget that a genuine apostolate demands, as a prior condition, a
personal encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord," he added.

"Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God and put it into
practice," the Holy Father emphasized. "The poor and the humble in every age
were not mistaken when they made Mary in silence their Advocate and Mary in
service their Queen."

He ended with a prayer, asking Mary to "help us ever to bear witness to the
fruitfulness of love and the authentic meaning of life; teach us to build with
you the Kingdom of your Son, the Kingdom of justice, love and peace."

Following the celebration of the Word, the Pope went to Zadar's airport.
Croatian President Stipe Mesic, as well as civil, political and religious
authorities of the country were there to bid him farewell.

Thousands of people lined the road, along the 15 kilometers (9 miles) that
separate the city from the airport, despite the soaring temperatures. Croatian
and Vatican flags were waving in a final farewell to the Pope, at the close of
his 100th international trip.

John Paul II weathered the extreme heat and exhaustion of the visit, which
started last Thursday. During the visit he traveled by plane on seven occasions,
and covered some 100 kilometers by car. He was in good spirits, smiling all the
time, and shaking hands with those within reach.

The Pope plans to return to the Balkans on June 22 to visit Banja Luka, in
Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

* * *

POPE VISITS OUR LADY OF TRSAT, THE "CROATIAN NAZARETH"

VATICAN CITY, JUN 8, 2003 (VIS) - At the end of Mass in Rijeka's Delta Square,
which takes its name from the delta of the Rifecina River, Pope John Paul
recited the Regina Coeli with the faithful who had gathered there for the
Eucharistic celebration of Pentecost Sunday.

   "At the conclusion of this solemn celebration," the Pope said, "I particularly
wish to greet the young people of Croatia. Dear friends, you already know one
thing: the Pope looks to you with confidence and hope,  and he asks you once
more to be sentinels of the dawn and people of the Beatitudes, as I called you
at the recent World Youth Day."

   "Through the family and professional life for which you are now preparing,"
the Holy Father went on, "you will take on great responsibilities for the good
of society and the Church. I ask you to remember that human beings are of value
for what they are more than what they do or what they possess; that superficial
goals will never satisfy the
thirst for happiness and fulfillment deep within your hearts; that the mission
which Providence has assigned to each of you cannot be carried out by anyone
else.  Listen to Lord Jesus, follow him as the Teacher of life, make him your
Companion along the way."

   John Paul II followed this by greetings to the faithful in Italian, Slovenian,
German, Albanian and Polish.

   Following Mass and the recitation of the Regina Coeli, he returned to the
archdiocesan seminary where he had lunch with Croatia's 24 bishops (15
ordinaries, 4 auxiliaries and 5 emeritus). At 5:30 in the afternoon he received
Prime Minister Ivica Racan.

   At 7 p.m. John Paul II visited the shrine of Our Lady of Trsat, Queen of the
Adriatic, also known as the "Croatian Nazareth." Administered by the Order of
Friars Minor, the shrine was erected in the 15th century on the site where,
according to tradition, the Holy House of Nazareth arrived miraculously in 1291
and remained until 1294 when it was transported to Loreto, Italy.

   Prince Nikola I of Krk had had a chapel erected on the spot on Trsat,  135
meters above sea level, where the Holy House had been for three years,  and this
soon became the focal point of pilgrimages. In 1367, as  compensation to
Croatian pilgrims for the shrine's transfer to Loreto, Pope Urban V  donated to
them the miraculous effigy of the Mother of God, also known as  Mother of Mercy,
protector of seamen. The shrine, rebuilt many times over the years, is reached
via a flight of 561 steps. Two of the shrine's focal points
are the chapel of votive gifts built in 1966 and, in the monastery  cloister, a
series of 32 paintings depicting the life of Mary.

   During his visit the Pope, in off-the-cuff remarks, announced that he had
donated a gold rosary to the shrine and said: "As a vow to Our Lady of Trsat, in
the name of the communion lived during (the recitation of)  the Rosary, pray for
me during my life and after my death."

* * *

LEARN FROM MARY TO BE CREDIBLE WITNESSES, GENEROUS APOSTLES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 9, 2003 (VIS) - The Pope celebrated Mass in private at 7:30
a.m. at the archdiocesan seminary in Rijeka and later went to the airport where
at 10 a.m. his plane left for Zadar, the last destination on his apostolic trip
to Croatia.

   Zadar has a population of 80,000, and is located on a small bay. A series of
three islands buffers it from the sea. The city is considered the commercial,
cultural and educational center of northern Dalmatian and contains Croatia's
oldest university.

   Upon landing, the Holy Father travelled in the popemobile to the Forum of
Zadar, a large square that contains Roman ruins and is located on the seashore
close to the Cathedral of Saint Anastasia. The square can hold up to 50,000
people. Stiepan Mesic, president of the republic, attended the ceremony, as well
as other civil and military authorities, Archbishop Ivan Prendja of Zadar, along
with Croatian bishops and Bishop Fotije, the Serbian-Orthodox bishop of
Dalmatia.

   John Paul II presided at the Liturgy of the Word, "the day after the Solemnity
of Pentecost, the day on which Croats celebrate the feast of  Mary, Mother of
the Church. ... As on the day of Pentecost, the Blessed Virgin has remained
spiritually in the midst of the Christian faithful down the centuries, invoking
the constant outpouring of the Spirit's gifts upon  the Church as she faces the
challenges which arise in different periods of  her
history. In this way Mary carries out in its fullness her mission as Mother."

   "The Virgin Mary," he continued, "gathering around herself the Apostles and
the disciples who were tempted to disperse, commended them to the 'fire' of the
Spirit who would launch them on the adventure of mission. ... As a witness to
the origins of the Church and the guarantor of the fidelity of Christians in
every generation, Mary repeats in every age the words she spoke at the wedding
feast of Cana: 'Do whatever he tells you'."

   The Holy Father indicated that "Mary's words and example represent a sublime
school of life, at which apostles are formed.  Apostles in the past and apostles
today. ... It pleases me to know that this archdiocese has witnessed in recent
years the growth and expansion of different forms of lay engagement and
apostolate. Dear brothers and sisters, learn from Mary how to be credible
witnesses and generous apostles, as you make your own contribution to the great
enterprise of the new evangelization.  And
never forget that a genuine apostolate demands as a prior condition a personal
encounter with Jesus, the Living One, the Lord."

   "Mary Most Holy remains a model for all who hear the word of God and put it
into practice." He concluded: "Let us too draw near to her, and learn to imitate
her docility and openness to God. Let us too, the pilgrims of the third
millennium, commend ourselves to her intercession, so that by her prayers she
may sustain our faith, nourish our hope and make fruitful our charity."

   After the liturgy of the Word, the Pope went in the popemobile to the airport,
where he said goodbye to the president of the republic, the civil and political
authorities and the Croatian bishops before returning to Rome. His airplane
departed at 1:30 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Rome's Ciampiano Airport an
hour later.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop of  Washington,
U.S.A., as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants
and Itinerant Peoples.

- Appointed as consultors of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of
Migrants and Itinerant Peoples the following: Archbishop Roberto Espenilla of
Manila, the Philippines; Fr. Arij Athanasius Roest Crollius, S.J., dean of the
Faculty of Missiology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome; Fr. Cyril
Vasil, S.J., dean of the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law of the Pontifical Oriental
Institute, Rome; Fr. Patrick Adeso, of the diocese of
Kumbo, Cameroon, lecturer at the Catholic Institute of Yaounde, Cameroon; Fr.
Anthony Rogers, F.S.C., director of the National Office for the Human
Development of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

- Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of
Miami, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Augustin Alejo Roman upon having reached the
age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Juan Alberto Puiggari, auxiliary of Parana,  Argentina, as
bishop of Mar del Plata (area 22,805, population 732,000, Catholics 593,000,
priests 86, permanent deacons 5, religious 178), Argentina.

* * *

Tired But Determined, Pope Plans More Travel

Trip to Mongolia Is Still a Possibility

ZADAR, Croatia, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II ended his third trip to
Croatia, wearied by the numerous airplane and car trips and the hot weather, but
still determined to travel abroad.

The Pope's exhaustion "did not modify at all the program of the trip, despite
the fact that the heat was greater than anticipated," said Vatican spokesman
Joaquín Navarro-Valls, in statements published today by the Italian newspaper Il
Corriere della Sera.

That the Pope was taken to the altar in a wheelchair on these trips does not
lessen his capacity to communicate, the Vatican spokesman said.

"People have realized with what extraordinary human elegance the Pope has
accepted his physical limitations. Today, more than an obstacle, they are an
instrument of his mission," Navarro-Valls said.

The Holy Father will continue to travel, Navarro-Valls affirmed. On June 22, he
will visit Banja Luka, a city in Republika Srpska, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In
September he is expected to travel to Slovenia.

The trip to Mongolia is still uncertain for several reasons: the danger of SARS
(several cases have been reported in the country), the complexity of
preparations, and the difficulty of organizing a possible stopover in the
Russian city of Kazan.

"The plan for the trip to Mongolia is developing," the Vatican spokesman told
journalists. "It's still not ready, but it has not been canceled."

Il Corriere della Sera revealed that there is talk of a papal visit next year to
France, where John Paul II might beatify Charles de Foucauld and the parents of
St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

* * *

John Paul II Hopes His Homeland Contributes Its Values to EU

Poles Back the Referendum on Entry to European Union

ZADAR, Croatia, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed the hope that
Poland's entry to the European Union will enable it to contribute its spiritual,
moral and religious values to the continent.

From Zadar, where he was ending his apostolic visit today, the Pope also
expressed the hope that his homeland's integration in the Union will help Poland
resolve its internal difficulties.

In a weekend referendum, 74.7% of the voting Poles supported Poland's entry to
the European Union, foreseen for next May 1. Voter turnout was 57.3%.

According to Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls, the Holy Father "hopes
that this decision will be useful both for Poland as well as the European Union,
where Poland will be able to contribute with its spiritual, moral and religious
values," Vatican Radio reported.

"The Pope wishes that the integration in European institutions will contribute
to resolve social and economic situations that are still, at least in part, a
consequence of the artificial division of Europe in past times," Navarro-Valls
added.

Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, rector of the Pontifical Theological Academy of Krakow,
commented on the meaning of this membership for Poles. "We return to Europe,
which for us is always the source of cultural and religious inspiration," he
said. "We return to the great Christian family."

The bishop noted the "decisive" role of the Church in Poland, in the task of
developing this plan over the last few years, "especially calming the fear of
change, explaining that we, as Church, should be within contemporary life and
not harbor fear, because nothing positive can be built on fear."

For Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Siedlce, EU membership represents a
challenge "in regard to Christian values," the SIR agency reported.

"We believers do not expect state or international institutions to support
Christian values directly, because these must defend themselves," he said.

In any case, the bishop said that "we are called to address this new challenge
which might serve to consolidate Christianity."

* * *

Keeping Catholic Churches Open All Night

Moments of Conversion, Says Cardinal Schönborn

VIENNA, Austria, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Christoph Schönborn is all
for keeping churches open at night.

"The Night of Mercy" is how the archbishop of Vienna describes the initiative to
keep churches open round the clock so that the "faithful will have available at
any time a place of silence and prayer."

He was referring to the International Congress for the New Evangelization and
the Urban Mission.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Schönborn said he decided to
implement the initiative, together with the archbishops of Paris, Lisbon and
Brussels, noting that "the big cities is where man feels most the need of the
Gospel and the search for God."

These innovative congresses -- the first ended here June 1 -- will take place in
Paris (Oct. 23-Nov. 1, 2004), in Lisbon (in 2005), and in Brussels (in 2006).
The idea came from the Emmanuel charismatic community.

"European capitals should take advantage of the treasure implied in so many
beautiful churches full of history," the Vienna archbishop said. "To leave their
doors open at night for the enjoyment of a place of silence and prayer might
make possible an amazing experience."

These "nights of mercy" are a form of evangelization in the large cities, and
they give priests the possibility to speak openly about the faith with the
citizens, Cardinal Schönborn explained.

"The Church thus opens its heart to the wounded hearts of the people of today,"
he added. These moments "produce a great number of conversions."


* * *

Oblates of Mary Immaculate Seek Testimonies of 9 Martyrs of Laos

Died Under the Communists

ROME, JUNE 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have begun the
research necessary to present the beatification cause of nine people martyred in
Laos in the years 1954-1970.

"The provisory list of those who we wish to present to the Holy See has nine
names, to which we might add some members of the Foreign Mission of Paris,"
writes vice postulator Father Angelo Pelis, in a letter sent to members of the
congregation.

The objective is to gather the testimonies of those who had known the victims of
Communist persecution against the Catholic Church and to gather the documents
before more time passes, the VID Web page of religious communities reports.

Out of the first group of nine, six are French and Italian Oblate missionaries,
two lay catechists and the last one is a local diocesan priest.

"Responding to the explicit request of Laos bishops, the Oblate family wishes to
begin without further delay the long process that one day, we hope, will bring
their registration in the official catalogue of saints who died for their faith
in Christ," the vice postulator writes.

The Oblates' superior general has entrusted to the French and Italian provinces
the preparation of the diocesan process.

"Firsthand documents about the circumstances of their death are particularly
precious," said Father Pelis. "In fact, our candidates had not been condemned in
a public process and, thus, it is practically impossible to obtain direct
testimonies about their last moments of life.

"With respect to the documents regarding their life and ministry during the
preceding years, those will also be useful to know their personalities better,
and to establish which were their habitual interior dispositions that led them
to martyrdom."

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061003.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.
__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL: <http://=

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 113
WEDNESDAY 11 June 2003

Feast of St. Barnabas

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Evil Is Caused by a Rejection of God's Love, Says Pope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Democracy Calls for Elimination of Poverty, Insists Vatican
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Missionary-Society Children to Meet Pope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Cause Begins for John Paul I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Russian Orthodox Aren't Happy With Euro Text
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• 10,000 Expected at National Missionary Youth Congress
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Proselytism or Evangelization? (Part 1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• The Holy Land in America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Evil Is Caused by a Rejection of God's Love, Says Pope

Message to Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The refusal of God's love is the
deepest cause of the world's evils, says John Paul II.

The Pope made that observation today when he received the 130 participants in
the general chapter of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also known as
the Dehonian Fathers, whom he invited to be "prophets of Love and servants of
reconciliation."

The Dehonians are celebrating the 125th anniversary of the birth of their
congregation, founded by Venerable Father Leo Dehon (1843-1925) in St. Quentin,
France.

The Pope said the congregation's charism is "marked by a constant contemplation
of the Heart of Jesus, a conscious participation in his reparatory oblation, and
by a zealous dedication to spreading the Kingdom of the Lord in souls and in
societies, because the refusal of God's love is the deepest cause of the world's
evils."

Referring to the Dehonians' commitment to evangelization through the printed
media, the Pope urged them, "Never allow your fidelity to Catholic doctrine and
the magisterium of the Church to weaken, so that you might render, even with
your publications, an indispensable service of truth, the first form of
charity."

The Dehonians number 2,393 priests and brothers serving in 38 nations.

In his greeting to the Pope, Father Jose Ornelas Carvalho, the congregation's
new superior general, confirmed the general chapter's commitment to renew "its
religious life based on the Gospel and the founder's spiritual experience," and
a "commitment to live the ecclesial communion."


* * *

Democracy Calls for Elimination of Poverty, Insists Vatican

Cardinal Sodano's Letter to Organization of American States

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican stated unequivocally that
the consolidation of democracy calls for the eradication of poverty.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano confirmed this position in a
letter sent on behalf of John Paul II to the Organization of American States
(OAS), which was meeting in Santiago, Chile.

"The promotion and consolidation of democracy calls for the elimination of
poverty and all that which is, at the same time, its cause and consequence," the
cardinal said in the letter addressed to María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela,
Chile's Foreign Affairs Minister.

In particular, the cardinal mentioned "illiteracy, citizen insecurity,
criminality, terrorism, corruption, arms and drugs trafficking."

In addition, democracy requires "the solution of so many other social problems,
such as discrimination, racism, intolerance and lack of respect for human
rights," the Vatican letter added.

"Without social, political and economic development, the very instruments that
should guarantee the good functioning of the democratic system -- such as the
right to vote, the party system, electoral propaganda, etc. -- can easily become
objects of manipulation and patronage," the cardinal stated.

Lastly, the letter said that "the healthier is the family, the healthier will
society be."

"To be concerned about the stability of the family institution is, therefore, a
duty of the state, which it must effect through legislation that favors and does
not penalize the family," it said.

The letter continued: "The Holy See will never tire of repeating that the family
cannot be equated, by granting the same rights, with other forms of union that
do not have the sacred end and lofty commitment to continue the human species
and to educate the children, offering them the warmth, protection, and material
and spiritual opportunities that they need to grow and to which they have a
right."

The OAS comprises 35 countries. Cuba was excluded in 1962. It is the region's
principal political forum for multilateral dialogue and decision-making.


* * *

Missionary-Society Children to Meet Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 10, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- On the 160th anniversary of the
founding of the Pontifical Society for Missionary Childhood, thousands of young
members of the group will pay a call on John Paul II.

The Pope in January sent a letter to the children who are members of the
society, to encourage them in their missionary activity.

Since 1843 the Missionary Childhood Society has helped children all over the
world to work with the popes in their universal mission. On Saturday, as part of
a day of festivity and prayer, the children will renew before the Pope their
promises to be missionaries to their peers.

"In 160 years of missionary commitment, the desire of children the world over to
be together apostles of Jesus has not wavered," wrote Monsignor Giuseppe
Andreozzi, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy.

The program includes a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica presided over by Cardinal
Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples,
and a meeting with John Paul II.


* * *

Father Benedict Groeschel on the Rosary

Says New Mysteries Will Encourage Reading of Gospels

NEW YORK, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Inspired by John Paul II's declaration of
the Year of the Rosary, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, Father Benedict
Groeschel, has written a book of meditations on all 20 mysteries of the rosary.

Father Groeschel, director of the office of spiritual development for the
Archdiocese of New York, recently spoke with ZENIT about "The Rosary: Chain of
Hope" (Ignatius), which was written during his personal recitations of the
rosary.

Q: What have the five new luminous mysteries added to the spirituality of the
rosary?

Father Groeschel: Marvelous things, because the rosary did not have any
meditations on the public life of Christ. It goes from his childhood to his
Passion, so all of his teachings, the beginning of the sacraments, the
institution of the Eucharist were missing.

I don't think this was done on purpose. They wanted to keep the number of Hail
Marys to 150 because that was the number of the Psalms. I think it was a
wonderful expansion to include the meditations and teachings of Christ.

Q: How will the luminous mysteries benefit the spirituality of the Church?

Father Groeschel: It makes people more aware of the content of the Gospel.
Protestants have often complained, with some justification, that Catholics don't
know enough about the public life of Christ -- "they only concentrate on the
nativity and the passion." Now we're getting people to read the New Testament.

I'm very convinced that in order to have the needed reform in the Church, we
need to have people reading the Gospels. These luminous mysteries will encourage
people to read the Gospels, and at the same time, if they are reading the
Gospels, it will encourage them to meditate and pray on the life and teachings
of Christ.

Q: How can individual believers use your book in a practical way?

Father Groeschel: It is a guide for meditation. The rosary is a way to teach
people how to do meditative and intercessory prayer.

Psychologically, the rosary gives us a sort of a spiritual place. In the noise
and confusion of life, you can put yourself into this spiritual rose garden.
That's what the word rosary means -- a chain of roses. It's a rose garden in the
midst of the city.

Q: Why do you consider the rosary to be a "chain of hope"?

Father Groeschel: We live in very difficult times in the Church -- with scandal,
confusion and false teaching. And we live in difficult economic times. The poor
of the world are desperate, and the wealthy nations are bored to death and
cynical.

There's not a lot of hope in people. And ultimately, our real hope is our
salvation through Christ. Our hope in Christ is our happiness.

Q: Why is the Year of the Rosary important to the Church?

Father Groeschel: What the Pope is doing with the Year of the Rosary and the
encyclical on the Eucharist is bringing real, solid devotion back into the
Church.

This great man of great genius is also a man of simple devotion; like Cardinal
Newman, who was a genius, but was a man of great devotion. He was personally,
spiritually, psychologically involved, not just dryly thinking. How many of the
scholars have no devotion?

That is not the new evangelization. The new evangelization is meeting people
where they are. And people are desperate to have the joy and hope in their lives
that devotion brings.

* * *

Cause Begins for John Paul I

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Congregation for Sainthood Causes
has given its consent to begin the canonical process on the holiness of Pope
John Paul I.

The news was announced Sunday by Bishop Vincenzo Savio of the Belluno-Feltre
Diocese, which includes Forno de Canale (known today as Canale d'Agordo), where
Albino Luciani was born in 1912.

The postulator of the cause is Salesian Father Pasquale Liberatore, and the vice
postulator is the diocesan priest Monsignor Giorgio Lise, rector of the Pope
Luciani Center.

"I am happy," said Edoardo Luciani, the late Pope's brother. "At my age, 86, I
can only wait for the result with confidence. God's will be done."

Albino Luciani was named patriarch of Venice in 1969. He was elected Pope on
Aug. 26, 1978. He died a month later, on Sept. 28.


* * *

Russian Orthodox Aren't Happy With Euro Text

Warn Against "Ideological" Reshaping of History

MOSCOW, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow
criticized the omission of Christianity in the draft preamble of a European
Constitution, and warned against attempts to reshape "history according to
certain ideological patterns."

The draft refers to "the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe
which ... [was] nourished first by the civilizations of Greece and Rome" and
"later by philosophical currents of the Enlightenment."

A statement issued Friday by the Department for External Church Relations of the
Russian Orthodox Church pointed out the "historical incorrectness" reflected in
the draft.

It faults the text for "completely ignoring the historical period from the
fourth to the 18th centuries, when Christianity was the dominant influence in
the development of the European nations."

"The approach proposed in the draft means a reshaping of history according to
certain ideological patterns. We know only too well from the history of Russia
what the dictate of one particular worldview implies," the Russian Orthodox
Church's statement observed.

It also said that the mention of special philosophical currents of the
Enlightenment reveals the ideological tendency of the draft.

"In our opinion, the ideas of the Enlightenment played an important role in some
countries, but they are not universal or commonly accepted, since many people do
not share them fully," the Russian Orthodox statement said. "A reference to the
ideas of the Enlightenment is no more ideologically neutral than a reference to
a particular religion.

"In addition, anthropocentric formulations included in the preamble to the
Constitution of the European Union may provoke a negative attitude of many
religious Europeans, including Orthodox Christians, to the integration
processes."

The statement said that the philosophical currents of the Enlightenment can be
mentioned in the preamble "only along with the Christian inheritance and perhaps
that of other religions visibly present in Europe."

"A reference to an abstract 'spiritual impulse' does not remove this problem,"
the statement concluded.

Brussels is working on a new draft text of the European Constitution, which
should be presented next week at the European summit in Greece.


* * *

10,000 Expected at National Missionary Youth Congress

QUERETARO, Mexico, JUNE 10, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- At least 10,000 young
people from around Mexico are expected to take part in the 8th National
Missionary Youth Congress here.

The congress, or CONAJUM 2003, will take place from July 31 to Aug. 3 under the
slogan "Youth of the New Millennium, Do Not Be Afraid to Carry the Gospel to the
World!" according to Father Carlos Navarrete, of the national office of
Pontifical Mission Societies in Mexico.

CONAJUM began as part of Missionary Congresses organized regularly by the Church
in Mexico since 1942. The first CONAJUM was held 1982; it is held every three
years.

The congress is preceded by a period of preparation at the diocesan level with
preliminary congresses and other activities of missionary inspiration based on
the CONAJUM 2003 working paper, prepared in accord with the American Missionary
Congress, which will take place in November in Guatemala.

* * *

Proselytism or Evangelization? (Part 1)

Legal Expert María José Ciaurriz Makes the Distinction

MADRID, Spain, JUNE 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- For María José Ciaurriz, professor of
ecclesiastical law at Madrid's National University of Long-Distance Education,
"to evangelize is a legitimate act of proselytism."

Yet, she cautions that "many non-Christian religious confessions engage in
proselytism that cannot be classified as evangelization."

Ciaurriz is the author of "The Right to Proselytize in the Framework of
Religious Liberty," published by the Center of Political and Constitutional
Studies. In her book, the author defines religious liberty as the framework
within which to exercise the right to proselytize, and analyzes the right to
proselytize in relation to confessions and states.

For the author, "proselytism effectively forms part of religious liberty." This
is the first of a two-part interview.

Q: Is proselytism part of the right of religious liberty?

Ciaurriz: The right of religious liberty is mentioned, in one way or another, in
all international declarations that make reference to fundamental human rights.

This is also true of the constitutions of most democratic countries and, in
general, of all modern doctrine on the subject. Religious liberty is not
presented as a right that the state or public power grants to citizens, but as a
right that antecedes the juridical order, which the latter has the duty to watch
over and protect.

It is a right that manifests itself in a variety of ways of acting, essential
among which is the right to choose and profess a desired religion; the right to
change one's religion; and the right to manifest one's religion, which in turn
includes the right to publish, teach, preach and engage in proselytism, in
addition to the right to act in public and private life according to one's own
religious convictions.

From all this is deduced the fact that the right of proselytism forms part,
effectively, of the right of religious liberty.

It is true that there is a determined doctrinal current that rejects the word
"proselytism" and substitutes it with other similar expressions, such as
communication of one's beliefs, etc. However, regardless of what denomination we
use, it is evident that the freedom of expression of one's faith would have no
meaning, and would empty of content the right to change one's religion, if the
right was denied to set forth to others, through legitimate means, the content
of one's convictions to attract them to these.

There are, in fact, very diverse fields open to proselytism: political
proselytism, artistic proselytism, scientific proselytism; in other words, the
various ways of setting forth to other people what one's personal ideas are to
incorporate them to our own options in any of those fields. In this context, it
is absolutely illogical to think that religious liberty does not imply the right
to proselytism.

Q: What is illegitimate proselytism?

Ciaurriz: It is the kind of proselytism that is to be rejected in this as in any
other area. We are referring to the coercion that can be exercised in many ways
on people to induce them by force to adopt an attitude or a belief.

It must be kept in mind that when a state, such as the case of Greece, has
condemned people belonging to a religion that is different from the national one
for carrying out illegitimate proselytism, the majority of times the European
Court of Strasbourg has given the right of reason to the one who was
proselytizing and not to the state, because it considers propagation of one's
faith, by all legitimate means, as a right that is integrated in religious
liberty.

Q: Can a believer who communicates his faith publicly be accused of being a
proselytizer?

Ciaurriz: To answer this question, it is necessary to refer to what has just
been said in favor of religion. To communicate one's faith, publicly or
privately, is a legitimate right; to do so through coercion is not.

The question entails an equivocation. Can a believer be accused of being a
proselytizer? One gets the feeling that to be a proselytizer is a crime and that
such an accusation can befall on the one who is a proselytizer. It is not at all
like this.

The public, as well as the private, expression of one's faith must enjoy the
widest protection of the international and national juridical ordering.

Any manifestation of one's faith is an act of proselytism, in so far as it
transmits to others the news of a personal conviction that, of itself, tends to
be communicated.

This can be done through teaching, through expressing one's ideas in books and
the media, as well as in conferences and other similar systems. It can be done
through direct and private conversation, that is, it can be done through all the
legitimate means with the objective to have other people know one's own
convictions and also to attract them to these.

Q: In what way does proselytism differ from evangelization?

Ciaurriz: Proselytism is a much broader term than evangelization, although
evangelization is a form of proselytism.

In fact, evangelization entails the diffusion of the Gospel, and the Gospel is a
book, a group of books, of a doctrinal content that is exclusively proper to the
churches and Christian communities. The Gospels recount the life and teachings
of Jesus Christ and are exclusively accepted as divine revelation by certain
religious confessions.

Consequently, those who set forth the doctrine contained in the Gospels, for the
purpose of informing others, and also for the purpose of attracting them to such
a doctrine, are carrying out a legitimate act of proselytism, making known the
content of their own faith. We call this evangelization, a phenomenon that has
had very different characteristics in the course of the centuries.

It is not possible to assert that all the historical forms of evangelization
were carried out without any type of pressure, very especially when it refers to
the evangelization of primitive peoples, or those situated in very primitive
levels of culture and civilization.

However, neither can we judge historical phenomena in light of the present.
Certain attitudes that today are acceptable or objectionable, according to
present cultural parameters, cannot be judged as such at other times in history,
according to the parameters then in existence.

In any case, at present, without any doubt, evangelization is a form of setting
forth the doctrinal content of the faith of the churches that accept the Gospels
as a revealed source, while many other non-Christian religious confessions
engage in a proselytism that cannot be called evangelization.

Q: Who are the subjects of proselytism, sects, religious groups, religions?

Ciaurriz: The subjects of proselytism are always individuals, both in an active
as well as a passive sense. Proselytism is the work of persons who address other
persons and who, normally, do so in the name of their own faith and of the
religious group to which they belong.

[Part 2 of this interview will appear this week]


* * *

The Holy Land in America


The Franciscan Friars in Washington, DC. have a beautiful monastery that
commemorates the Shrines in the Holy Land.  These Friars bring spiritual aid to
many visitors and pilgrims in Washington, DC, and the Holy Land at the authentic
Basilica Shrines.   They also run orphanages and help the poor and needy. The
Franciscans were made the official religious order to serve the Holy Land since
the Middle Ages.

These Friars need our help and support. Please visit their website listed below.
If you are in Washington, DC, or plan to be visit them at their Monastery. They
would be pleased to meet you and welcome you as pilgrims.

Currently, they also need your prayers for Brother Joseph, an elderly brother of
their community who is seriously ill. He worked for many years in the Holy Land
at the orphanage helping many children. He also ran the gift shop in the
monastery in Washington DC and formerly served as the Vocation Director.

<http://www.pressroom.com/~franciscan/index.html>


Brother Fabian is the Guardian of the House and also the Vocation Director. If
any men are interested in joining the Franciscan Order and would like to serve
in the Holy Land give him or call or write to him today.

The Franciscan Monastery
Commissariat of the Holy Land
1400 Quincy Street NE
Washington, DC. 20017-3087
Phone: 202 526-6800
Fax: 202 529-9889
* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/0610\103.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of  Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer 
you the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation
for all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of
the whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 114
THURSDAY 12 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Highlights of Apostolic Trip to Croatia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Europe Needs to Rediscover Its Christian Identity, Says Pope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope's Message to Patriarch of Constantinople on the Environmen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Proselytism or Evangelization? (Part 2)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• 20,000 Central African Refugees in Dire Straits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Zimbabwean Police Detain Archbishop Before Peace Service
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Highlights of Apostolic Trip to Croatia

John Paul II Offers Evaluation

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul
II's address during today's general audience, which he dedicated to recall the
highlights of his third apostolic visit to Croatia, from June 5-9. The address
was in Italian.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. Today, I would like to recall with you the trip to Croatia which I was able
to carry out in the past days, and which had as its theme "The Family: Way of
the Church and of the People." It was my 100th apostolic trip! From the depth of
my heart, I raise a most profound thanksgiving to the Lord, who for 100 times
has opened to me the roads of the world and of nations, so that I can bear
witness to him.

I returned to the noble land of Croatia to confirm the brethren in the faith; I
wished to take to all message of peace and of reconciliation, and I was granted
the joy to raise to the honor of the altar Sister Marija Propetoga Isusa
Petkovic.

I wish to express my cordial gratitude to the episcopate for having invited and
received me with attention and affection. My gratitude is extended also to the
president of the republic and to the other civil and military authorities, for
their courteous support and solicitous collaboration. Lastly, I thank the
Archdiocese of Rijeka, as well as its seminary, for their hospitality to me and
my collaborators.

2. The first stage was the ancient and glorious city of Dubrovnik, proud of its
history and of its tradition of liberty and justice. I celebrated a Mass there,
during which Sister Maria of Jesus Crucified Petkovic, outstanding daughter of
the Church in Croatian lands, was beatified. A woman gifted with a heroic desire
to serve God in the poorest brethren, she founded the […] Daughters of Mercy of
the Third Regular Order of St. Francis, to propagate, through spiritual and
corporal works of mercy, knowledge of divine Love.

In light of this admirable figure, I addressed a special message to Croatian
women, whom I encouraged to offer to the Church and to society their spiritual
and moral contribution; I asked, in a special way, the consecrated women to be
an eloquent sign of the loving presence of God among people.

3. The following day, at Osijek, at the extreme northeastern area of the
country, Diocese of Djakovo and Srijem, I had the pleasure to preside over the
solemn conclusion of the second diocesan synod and to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the foundation of the ecclesiastical province of Zagreb.

On that occasion, I reflected on holiness as the vocation of every Christian,
one of the central teachings of the Second Vatican Council. In particular, I
invited the lay faithful to fully appreciate the grace of baptism and
confirmation. Only one who is motivated by a robust faith and generous love can
be an apostle of reconciliation and moral reconstruction, there, where the
wounds of a painful and difficult past remain open.

In Djakovo, I was able to stop briefly in the beautiful cathedral, where I
greeted the seminarians and their professors, together with a vast group of
women religious.

4. During the Mass on Sunday, June 8, feast of Pentecost, at Rijeka, I prayed
for a renewed outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on the Christian
families of Croatia and of the world. I wished to put them all under the special
protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Moreover, it seemed useful to me to
confirm the primary social value of the institution of the family, soliciting
for it special attention and concrete steps, which favor its constitution,
development and stability.

In the afternoon, I went to the Shrine of Trsat, situated on a hill of the city
of Rijeka to join myself ideally to the pilgrims who venerate the Mother of God
there. In fact, according to a pious tradition, the Holy House of Nazareth was
placed there, before arriving in Loreto.

5. The last stage of my trip was Zadar in Dalmatia, a city rich in history. In
the shadow of the Cathedral of St. Anastasia, martyr of Sirmio, I celebrated
sext ["l'Ora Sesta"], on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the
Church. This Marian feast, which prolongs the solemnity of Pentecost, made us
relive the atmosphere of the Cenacle. As then, also today, Mary continues to be
present in the ecclesial community: a humble and discreet presence, but
animating prayer and life according to the Spirit; a contemplative presence,
capable of recalling pastors and faithful to the primacy of the spiritual life,
of listening to and assimilating the Word of God, indispensable condition for a
convincing and effective evangelical proclamation.

Dear Brothers and Sisters! During this trip I was also able to see how much
Christianity has contributed to the artistic and cultural, but above all to the
spiritual and moral development of Croatia and its people. It is on this solid
base that now, at the start of the third millennium, the dear Croatian nation
will be able to continue to build its cohesion and stability, to integrate
itself harmoniously in the consortium of European peoples.

May God continue to bless and protect Croatia! It will always have a special
place in my affection and in my prayer.

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave this summary in English:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I would like to speak briefly about my recent pilgrimage to Croatia, the
theme of which was "The Family: The Way of the Church and of the People." This
was my 100th apostolic visit, and I give heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for
opening to me once more the roads of the world so that I could bear witness to
him among the nations.

During this pilgrimage, my third to Croatia, I had the joy of beatifying Sister
Maria Propetoga Isusa Petkovic in her noble homeland. I also encouraged women to
make their unique spiritual and moral contribution to society, and reminded all
the Lord's disciples that everyone is called to holiness. On Pentecost Sunday, I
invoked a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christian families in
Croatia and throughout the world.

May God continue to bless and protect Croatia; this country will always have a
special place in my heart and in my prayer.

I offer special greetings to the English-speaking visitors present today. Upon
all of you, especially those from England, the West Indies, and the United
States of America, I invoke the grace and peace of our Savior Jesus Christ.

* * *

Europe Needs to Rediscover Its Christian Identity, Says Pope

Message to Central European Catholic Day

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- In a message for the inauguration of
Central European Catholic Day 2003, held in Vienna, John Paul II stressed the
contribution that Christianity offers to the continent's unity.

With the motto "Christ, Europe's Hope," the event which opened today at the
Cathedral of St. Stephen gathered representatives from Austria,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and
Hungary.

In the letter sent to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, the
Pope expressed the hope that the initiative will help Central European
Christians to "collaborate patiently in the healing of the wounds of unhappy
division on the Continent and to contribute in this way with dynamism to the
building of a great, common European home."

"It is necessary that Europe rediscover and witness its Christian identity to
promote those values on which are founded the peace of peoples, social justice
and international solidarity," the letter affirmed.

"If Europe wants to be a harmonious association of human beings and peoples that
live with deep respect and mutual benevolence, Christ must inspire this
continent," the Pope added.

The Central European "Katholikentag" will continue over the next months with
liturgical celebrations, prayer vigils, symposiums, and meetings for young
people held in all the participating nations. It will conclude next May 22-23
with a pilgrimage to the Mariazell Shrine in Austria.

For this reason, bishops have invited the Pope to return to Austria, Vatican
Radio reported.

* * *

Pope's Message to Patriarch of Constantinople on the Environment

"Ecological Irresponsibility Is at Heart a Moral Problem"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of a message from
John Paul II to Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I on the
occasion of the 5th Symposium of the Religion, Science and Environment Project.

This year the symposium focused on "The Baltic Sea: A Common Heritage. A Shared
Responsibility." The Vatican press office published the text today.

The symposium took place on a ship sailing in the Baltic. The Pope's message was
given to the patriarch by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity, who spoke at the symposium's inauguration
ceremony June 2 in Gdansk, Poland.

To His Holiness Bartholomeos I
Archbishop of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarch

It gives me great pleasure to greet you and all those taking part in the Fifth
Symposium of the Religion, Science, and the Environment project which this year
devotes its attention to the subject: "The Baltic Sea: a Common Heritage, a
Shared Responsibility." As the convention opens, it is a particular joy for me
to know that you have gathered in my homeland of Poland, in the city of Gdansk.
Through the presence of Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity, I wish to renew my solidarity with the
objectives of the project and to assure you of my fervent support for the
success of your meeting.

On a number of occasions I have commented on the growing awareness among
individuals, and indeed the entire international community, of the need to
respect the environment and the natural resources which God has given humanity.
Your current Symposium attests to the desire to transform that growing awareness
into policies and acts of authentic stewardship. I shall follow with interest
your endeavors to realize the aims outlined in our Common Declaration of last
year.

It is imperative however that the true nature of the ecological crisis be
understood. The relationship between individuals or communities and the
environment can never be detached from their relationship with God. When man
"turns his back on the Creator's plan, he provokes a disorder which has
inevitable repercussions on the rest of the created order" (Message for the 1990
World Day of Peace, 5). Ecological irresponsibility is at heart a moral problem
-- founded upon an anthropological error -- which arises when man forgets that
his ability to transform the world must always respect God's design of creation
(cf. Centesimus Annus, 37).

Precisely because of the essentially moral nature of the problems which the
Symposium is addressing, it is proper that religious, civic and political
leaders, alongside expert representatives of the scientific community, confront
the environmental challenges facing the Baltic region. That the Symposium is
taking place aboard a boat which will sail to many of the port towns on the
Baltic Sea is itself a powerful reminder that the effects of ecological
irresponsibility often transcend the borders of individual nations. Similarly,
solutions to this problem will necessarily involve acts of solidarity which
transcend political divisions or unnecessarily narrow industrial self-interests.

Your Holiness, in the Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics which we signed
on 10 June last year regarding the safekeeping of creation, we outlined a
specifically Christian interpretation of the difficulties which the ecological
crisis presents. Christians must always be ready to assume in unison their
responsibility within the divine design for creation, a responsibility which
leads to a vast field of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation. As we
stated, a solution to ecological challenges demands more than just economic and
technological proposals. It requires an inner change of heart which leads to the
rejection of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production. It demands an
ethical behavior which respects the principles of universal solidarity, social
justice and responsibility. As you yourself stated at the closing of the Fourth
International Environmental Symposium in Venice, this calls for genuine
sacrifice: "when we sacrifice our life and share our wealth, we gain life in
abundance and enrich the entire world."

Your Holiness, I wish to express my encouragement for your commitment to lead
the Symposium of the Religion, Science, and the Environment project. I pray that
Almighty God will abundantly bless this initiative. May he accompany you and
your collaborators and guide you in the ways of justice, so that all creation
may give praise to God (cf. Ps 148).

From the Vatican, 27 May 2003

IOANNES PAULUS II


* * *

Proselytism or Evangelization? (Part 2)

Maria Jose Ciaurriz on Indigenous Religions and Sects

MADRID, Spain, JUNE 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- In this second part of her interview
with ZENIT, María José Ciaurriz, professor of ecclesiastical law, distinguishes
between the concepts of religious movement, cultural tradition and harmful sect.

Ciaurriz is the author of "The Right to Proselytize in the Framework of
Religious Liberty, published by Spain's Center of Political and Constitutional
Studies. Part 1 appeared Tuesday.

Q: In what way can proselytism cause religious changes that clash with the
tradition and culture of a people?

Ciaurriz: From the point of view of appreciation of the supernatural, every
religion has the right to consider that membership in it is a higher good than
the other cultural traditions, and that for a people the acceptance of a
different religion, of what we might consider the original or native one, might
imply a notable benefit.

Indeed, the whole of Europe has accepted, in the course of the centuries, the
Christian religion in its different forms, which at the time of the Roman Empire
and in subsequent centuries came to substitute the indigenous religions; and the
Latin-Christian European tradition is regarded as a great good for the
Continent. The same can be said of America, both of the North and the South, and
of not a few other places of the planet.

Indeed, the idea that ancestral tradition and culture must not be subjected to
religious changes that alter them has been absent from the human mentality
during the greater part of the centuries.

Q: Religions are no longer in their places of origin: we are witnessing a
universal expansion -- one might say global -- of Christianity, of Buddhism in
the West, of Islam in Europe. Is it a natural effect?

Ciaurriz: In the East, although the information we have in this regard is much
less, there have also been religious invasions among peoples who had different
cultures and traditions.

Neither Buddhism, nor Shintoism, to give some examples, are today limited to the
countries where they were born, not to speak of the phenomenon of Islam around
the world, a clear phenomenon of substitution of indigenous traditions and
cultures, which is notorious in India, in the Middle East, and in a good part of
Africa, etc.

Q: There are those who fear that religion is contrary to primitive cultural
traditions.

Ciaurriz: Of course. At present a movement has arisen, which is becoming ever
more intense, to safeguard the cultural traditions of peoples, who have retained
a certain primitivism.

Thus, in some countries of Latin America they have gone so far as to prohibit
evangelization that might affect tribes that still retain ancestral religions,
to avoid the disappearance of those cultural phenomena that are considered the
heritage of the country in which they exist.

It is an altogether new phenomenon, based more than on the appreciation of
indigenous religions, on a concept of archaeological conservation of the ways of
being of ancient peoples. It will be interesting to see if the attempt to
maintain them in their primitive religious culture also implies impeding their
coming out of their primitive ways of life, thus closing to them the way of
modern civilization.

Q: In Latin America, for example, can sects change the face of Catholicism?

Ciaurriz: The concept of sect is an ambiguous concept; there are aspects that
are far from being sufficiently defined. Needless to say, sect is not a
juridical but a sociological concept.

Many religions, consolidated today throughout the world, have come into being by
splitting from others, meriting at first the label of sects.

The definition of sect generates under-valuation and, one should also add,
suspicion. Any entity classified as sect becomes, automatically, suspicious
before public opinion. And this burden of the term's negativity has affected not
a few perfectly worthy confessions, which are not at all sectarian.

Consequently, the classification of sect is rejected by the most responsible
juridical doctrine.

One can speak of new religious movements, of atypical confessional groups, or in
any other way that does not imply raising suspicion about the unworthiness or
behavior of the people who make up a new religious entity.

Q: Yet, there are harmful sects.

Ciaurriz: Yes, it is no less true that there are harmful sects that are dressed
up as religions to attain objectives they would not reach if they appeared for
what they are. In such cases, one can call sects those groups that harm many
people while seeking their own benefit -- entities with economic ends, or
pornographic or political ends, which adopt the dress of religion to appear
nicer to public opinion, or to obtain benefits that many countries grant to
religious associations.

Those sects, by their own design, are false and, on many occasions, also aim,
directly or indirectly, at exploiting the naiveté of many people from whom they
obtain unjust benefit.

There are also sectarian groups that capture individuals, in a line of radically
illusory and harmful plans for human life. In this connection, reference must be
made to collective suicides which, sadly, have taken place in different places,
affecting many people, deceived by charismatic leaders who, in the majority of
cases are, unfortunately, insane beings in mind and ideas.

Naturally, these two types of sects must be controlled, pursued, impeding their
carrying out their illegitimate ends. And the greater part of legislation, by
requiring religious ends for an entity to be recognized as a religion or by
considering the public order as a limitation to religious activities, are taking
measures that attempt, insofar as possible, to impede or mitigate the harmful
phenomena of the sectarian phenomenon.

It is possible that in Latin America there is a movement of sects that is
harmful to the population. That that same movement might change the face of
Catholicism is absolutely not predictable.

Catholicism in Latin America will continue to be what it is, just as the other
religions will, regardless of the social harm that the mentioned sects can
cause.

* * *

20,000 Central African Refugees in Dire Straits

Sheltered in Chad, They Need Food and Water

MOUNDOU, Chad, JUNE 11, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- Central African refugees
sheltered in Chad are facing a serious crisis, says Radio Duji Lokar of Moundou.

At least 22,000 people are camped on the border area between Chad and the
Central African Republic, having arrived there between December and April. Many
of them are abandoned children, the broadcaster told the Fides news service.

The people fled from the fighting in the Central African Republic between
President François Bozizé's army and troops loyal to former President Ange-Félix
Patassé.

There are groups of Central African Republic refugees in several places. There
are about 10,000 at Gore. Some settled in the two local camps, others were taken
in by families.

Another 12,000 are spread around Yanmodo, Matiti and Koumba, sheltered under
large trees or in makeshift dwellings. Their living conditions are precarious,
and there is no clean water. Dirty water has to be collected several kilometers
away.

Food is scarce; only two food rations have arrived. The first was 3 kilograms of
sorgo per family; the second, which arrived in April, was a 100-kilogram bag of
flour for every 30 people. Since then, the refugees have been slowly starving.
Officials fear a cholera outbreak is looming.

Not until the end of June will work be completed on a camp for 20,000 refugees,
which will be located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from Gore. The camp will have a
dispensary and a large food storehouse. However, food aid must come immediately,
since the roads will be impassable for delivery trucks once the rainy season
begins.


* * *

Zimbabwean Police Detain Archbishop Before Peace Service

HARARE, Zimbabwe, JUNE 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- State security agents briefly
detained Archbishop Pius Alick Ncube of Bulawayo and warned him about discussing
political issues, the Catholic Information Service for Africa reported.

The agents detained him Friday before the start of an interdenominational prayer
service for justice and peace in Zimbabwe, CISA said.

"They warned that no political party regalia should be worn during the prayers;
they also said inflammatory statements were not to be allowed during the church
service," the archbishop told a packed cathedral in Bulawayo before the start of
the prayers.

"We told them that this is purely a church event with no party politics to be
addressed, but we cannot avoid addressing political issues affecting the people
of Zimbabwe," he said.

"Politics is about food, shelter, school fees for your children, jobs and
everything to do with our normal day-to-day activities," he added.

In his sermon, Archbishop Ncube urged the congregation to pray for the country's
leaders to uphold human rights.

Last month, he conducted a service for torture victims, who gave harrowing
testimonies of happenings at ZANU-PF youth camps around the country. ZANU-PF is
the ruling party.

Heavily armed police and soldiers were stationed outside the cathedral during
the afternoon prayers.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061203.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and
salvation of the whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 115
FRIDAY 13 June 2003

Feast of St. Anthony of Padua

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Tells Why He's Traveled So Much
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Jordan's King Sends a Message to Pope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Revised Euro Text Still Omits Mention of Christianity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Ugandan Rebels Putting Catholic Missions Under Siege
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Christians in Kashmir Targeted and Accused of Forcing Conversions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Stafford on the Eucharistic Face of Christ
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• East Timor President Receives "Path to Peace" Award
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II Tells Why He's Traveled So Much

"I Heard the Echo of Jesus' Command: 'Go Into All the World'"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says his propensity for
travel began with an inspiration he felt at the very start of his almost 25-year
pontificate.

"Right from the day I was elected as Bishop of Rome, Oct. 16, 1978, with special
intensity and urgency I heard the echo of Jesus' command: 'Go into all the world
and preach the Gospel to all of creation,'" the Pope told a gathering today at
the Vatican.

"I thus felt the duty to imitate the Apostle Peter who 'went here and there
among them all' to confirm and consolidate the vitality of the Church in
fidelity to the Word and in service to the truth; to tell everyone that the
Church loves them, that the Pope loves them and, likewise, to receive from them
the encouragement and example of their goodness, of their faith," he added.

The Holy Father received some 200 people who have collaborated in his 100
international trips. Among the guests were officials of the Vatican Secretariat
of State, the Italian Transport Minister, directors of Alitalia airlines, Swiss
Guards, and journalists who have covered the 100 papal trips abroad.

The festive atmosphere was underlined by an orchestra of young religious,
Legionaries of Christ, who played the most typical songs of the countries
visited by John Paul II.

"Through your work you have allowed the Pope to go and meet the men and women of
our time in the everyday places where they live," John Paul II told his guests.
"You have helped him in his ministry as an itinerant missionary, anxious to
proclaim to everyone the word of salvation."

The Holy Father stressed that his trips allow him to carry out "a specific
exercise of the ministry proper to the Successor of Peter, that is, 'the
perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity in faith and in
communion.'"

"In all my trips, I have felt like a pilgrim visiting that special shrine known
as God's People," he said. "In these shrines I have been able to contemplate the
face of Christ, both disfigured as on the cross or resplendent in light as on
Easter morning."

At the same time, John Paul II stressed the importance of sharing with bishops
their problems and joys, of meeting the faithful, especially young people, "and
knowing more closely the life of Christian communities on diverse continents."

The Pope also mentioned his meetings with the faithful of other churches and
ecclesial communities, and the followers of Judaism, Islam and other religions.

"The great multicolor assemblies of the People of God, gathered for eucharistic
celebrations, remain impressed in my memory and on my heart as the most
meaningful and most moving memories of my visits," he said.

* * *

Jordan's King Sends a Message to Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II received a message from
King Abdullah of Jordan, which was handed to the Pope personally by Jordanian
Foreign Affairs Minister Marwan Muasher.

The Vatican press office gave no details on today's papal audience with the
Jordanian envoy. The audience was held at a critical time in the relaunching of
Mideast peace talks.

The king's message addresses "the situation in the region," according to the
Jordanian news agency Petra.

Muasher also met with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for
relations with states, to discuss "means of stepping up efforts to find a just
and lasting solution to crises facing the region," Petra said.

On Tuesday, Muasher was in Bahrain, where he attended a meeting of Arab Foreign
Ministers entrusted with following up on Arab summit resolutions, including
efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, Agence France-Presse
reported.

Last week, Jordan was host for a summit between U.S. President George W. Bush
and the Israeli and Palestinian Prime Ministers, who both pledged to implement
the peace blueprint.

* * *

Revised Euro Text Still Omits Mention of Christianity

Bishops' Official Says Draft Shows Ignorance

BRUSSELS, Belgium, JUNE 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The revised draft of a European
Constitution's preamble is an improvement, but it still doesn't respond "to the
expectations of the Christian churches," says a Catholic official.

Monsignor Aldo Giordano, secretary-general of the Council of European Bishops'
Conferences, made that evaluation of the new draft issued Tuesday by the
Presidium of the European Convention.

Unlike an earlier draft, the latest redaction does not mention the Greek and
Roman civilizations and the philosophical currents of the Enlightenment as part
of the heritage of the Old World. Neither does it mention the Christian roots of
Europe.

The new text of the preamble refers, explicitly, to "inspiration from the
cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, which, always present in
its heritage, has embedded within the life of society its perception of the
central role of the human person and his inviolable and inalienable rights, and
of respect for law."

"One gets the impression," Monsignor Giordano told Vatican Radio today, "that
the text has improved, because by eliminating the phrase that referred to the
roots of Europe -- the Greco-Roman civilization, the spiritual impulse, and the
Enlightenment -- the crude historical error, of not mentioning Christianity, is
avoided."

"Naturally, the fact is considered positive that the word 'religion' is present
in the text," he said. "Hence, we are satisfied with the step taken, but we
expect another."

"Seeing the will to listen, which this improvement indicates, we hope that the
European Constitution will not seek a consensus on the minimum, because I think
that Europe and history have arrived at a moment in which a real leap in quality
is needed," the monsignor continued.

"A clear reference to the Judeo-Christian roots will allow Europe to become a
new point of reference for the whole of humanity," he said.

In Monsignor Giordano's opinion, the fact that this reference is eluded is
linked, deep down, to ignorance of what it would mean to mention God or
Christianity.

"There is ignorance, but not just in some sectors," he said. "Perhaps there is
quite widespread ignorance among Christians. This debate is an invitation to go
deeper into the richness of our faith.

"If we, as Christians, take advantage of this occasion to go deeper into the
gift we have received, we will certainly make a contribution to Europe."

On Friday, the plenary assembly of the Convention is expected to come to an
agreement on the final text of the first part of the Constitution, which will be
presented next week at the summit in Greece.


* * *

Ugandan Rebels Putting Catholic Missions Under Siege

Refugees Starving, Says Agency Director

KITGUM, Uganda, JUNE 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The rebel Lord's Resistance Army is
now targeting Catholic churches and missions.

The director of the Misna missionary agency, who over the last few days has been
in the Catholic mission of Kitgum, says the civilian population in Uganda is
suffering under LRA violence.

"The situation is desperate because the principal inhabited centers are
virtually surrounded by rebels, and the rural areas are infested by these 'olum'
-- 'grass,' as the LRA guerrillas are called in the Acholi language," Father
Giulio Albanese told Vatican Radio.

The people's food situation is equally worrying, given that provisions "came
basically by land until recently; now, aid arrives only by air, and there are
many locations that are practically isolated, where people are literally dying
of hunger," he added.

In less than a week, the LRA has attacked four missions in the north:
Omiya-Anyma, Opit, Madi Opei and Alito, the priest said. During the assault on
Alito the guerrillas held Father Alex Ojera hostage along with 50 other people.

To Father Ojera, who was subsequently released together with 15 other hostages,
the rebels signaled that they were ready to negotiate, but only if they dealt
directly with President Yoweri Museveni.

Nahaman Ojwe, the top civil authority of the Kitgum district, said that the
Acholi region, devastated by constant LRA attacks, is living in a "desperate
humanitarian situation," the Misna agency reported last weekend.

Out of a population of 281,000, some 250,000 are now homeless. People are living
in 18 refugee camps in the district under extremely precarious conditions,
according to data reported by Ojwe.

Some 200 soldiers have been deployed from Kampala to protect Kitgum. The
soldiers work in cooperation with the civil authorities, but their presence must
be intensified to guarantee the security of inhabited areas, Ojwe said.

According to international observers, in 17 years of conflict at least 20,000
civilians and as many children have been kidnapped and enslaved or enrolled by
force in the guerrillas' ranks, L'Osservatore Romano reported Sunday.

Led by Joseph Kony, the LRA struggles against the government to create a state
based on the observance of alleged biblical concepts.

Father Albanese described Kony as a "mad visionary" whose "creed is of a
syncretist type, where there is a bit of everything: elements of Christianity,
Islam and also animism."

"Unfortunately, the kidnapped children are forced to kill, often even under the
effect of drugs," the priest lamented.

Between Sudan and Uganda, the men of the LRA number 5,000, although some sources
estimate the total at half this figure. In any case, Ojwe said the rebels are
well organized. Recent reports say they now have antipersonnel mines.

"We need the solidarity of the international community in close cooperation with
the government of Kampala," Nahaman Ojwe said. He expressed appreciation for the
work of the missionaries and the private-group personnel in the area, "because
to work here means to constantly risk one's life."

The Italian episcopal conference says the time has arrived for an urgent
"international pronouncement" over Uganda, the SIR agency reported recently.

"The episcopal commission for the Evangelization of Peoples and Cooperation
Among the Churches makes its own the appeal of missionaries working in the
northern region of Uganda, that there be no further delay to an international
pronouncement that will open the way for effective actions of humanitarian aid
and credible actions of peace," said a statement issued by the Italian
episcopate.

The commission appealed to the media to give "precise and objective information
on all that happens in the region," and it called on the Italian government to
express its concern before international institutions. It also asked the
ecclesial community to pray "for peace and concord."

* * *

Christians in Kashmir Targeted and Accused of Forcing Conversions

Bishop Says Some Fear a Sort of Religious "Propaganda" Under Way

JAMMU, India, JUNE 12, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- Christians in Kashmir are on
edge about recent violence in this border region.

"We fear for the future," said Bishop Peter Celestine Elampassery of
Jammu-Srinager in Indian Kashmir. "Christianity has been present in Kashmir for
200 years and has never had any difficulty with Muslims or Hindus."

Yet, "today in Kashmir there are many new Christian groups that are very active
in missionary work," he said. "These are causing alarm among Hindu and Muslim
people and also the local authorities, who fear a sort of 'Christian
propaganda.' This has broken the existing harmony and explains the episodes of
violence in recent times."

The local press has reported rumors of thousands of conversions by the new
Christian groups.

In May a number of schools were attacked: St Luke's at Anantang, run by a
Protestant group, and Good Shepherd School in Pulwama, run by the Mill Hill
missionaries.

Kashmir is at the center of a quarrel connected with the Muslim secessionist
movement, which has generated a 50-year conflict resulting in more than 70,000
killed.

"For Kashmir, our hopes for peace depend on an improvement in relations between
India and Pakistan," Bishop Elampassery explained. The people have had enough of
the war, but on both sides, India and Pakistan, militant groups are very active,
he said.


* * *

Cardinal Stafford on the Eucharistic Face of Christ

Addresses New Graduates of Thomas Aquinas College

SANTA PAULA, California, JUNE 12, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here are excerpts from the
homily delivered by Cardinal James Francis Stafford, president of the Pontifical
Council for the Laity, at the commencement Mass of Thomas Aquinas College on May
17.

Homily at Thomas Aquinas College
J. Francis Cardinal Stafford

"The Founding Document of Thomas Aquinas College," written in 1969, states that
"the proper satisfaction of wonder is knowledge of causes. But causes are of two
sorts: a cause may simply be primary within some particular order, or it may be
primary without qualification, a cause of causes. Knowledge of the latter is
called wisdom; the science which treats of first causes in the light of the
natural capacity of human reason is metaphysics, which may be called wisdom only
with the qualification 'human'; the science which studies God in the light of
what He has revealed about Himself is wisdom without qualification." Your years
at this college have been a search for wisdom without qualification.

Your concluding days here culminate in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is
right and just that you should do so. For the Eucharist is the origin and summit
of the search for Wisdom.

The Gospel of St. John presents Jesus, the Word of God, as Wisdom who has come
to all peoples, who reveals truth to them and who gives life to them. The
Prologue of the same Gospel culls various strains from the Prophetic and Wisdom
literature of the Old Testament so to present Jesus as the Incarnate Word, the
Wisdom of God. He is the living interpreter of God. He discloses in his words
and deeds the one God who is wisdom and absolute love.

Today's Gospel illustrates that truth. We stand astonished before the claim of
Jesus. In response to the question of the Apostle Philip, "Lord, show us the
Father, and we shall be satisfied," Jesus says "Have I been with you so long,
and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father."
This is not a statement qualified in any way by Jesus. Nor is it a claim based
upon hearing Jesus. We do not attain "wisdom without qualification" by simply
listening to his words.

Jesus speaks of seeing, of contemplating his face. Then one begins to comprehend
his unqualified claim, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." Seeing Jesus,
contemplating his face, observing his deeds, these are required. Seeing Jesus in
the flesh is equivalent to seeing the heavenly Father.

No other has ever made such a claim. The disciple trembles before this reality.
"What are you saying Lord?" one is tempted to ask. Isn't such an unqualified
assertion of divine self-identity scandalous? Thus, Jesus became a stumbling
block to many. Christian revelation, unique among religions, proclaims that the
unsurpassable goal of the ways of God is through the flesh of one man, Jesus of
Nazareth.

It is even more than that. The way to God is through the mortality of the flesh
of Jesus. "My flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed," he said. His
flesh is eucharistic, nuptial; it is the flesh of the primordial holocaust; it
is his flesh that is raised from the dead by the Spirit of holiness. It is
through human flesh that God reveals the deepest kenotic mysteries of his life.
God, in his Trinitarian essence, is self-surrender and love. We attain this
wisdom only through the Word made flesh.

That should not come as a surprise to us. Catholic piety has always been very
much rooted in the physical: in wine and water, in bread and scented oil, in the
human body created as male or female. Patristic and medieval piety and theology
are elaborations of the opening of the First Letter of St. John in which the
"flesh" of Christ is the exclusive and absolute source of revelation.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the
word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it,
and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made
manifest to us -- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that
you may have fellowship with us; and the fellowship is with the Father and with
his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete" (1
John 1:1-4).

The Logos, the Word made flesh, discloses the inner life and mystery of the Most
Holy Trinity. This has been the burden of the tutors at this college in all
their dialogues with you over the years. They have desired to share this
Trinitarian fellowship with you so that their joy may be complete.

While in this college, you have discovered this physical contact with Christ
through your experience of the living Church, which is the body of Christ.
Through living, walking, laughing, suffering, studying and praying together with
others the life, suffering and death of Jesus in the flesh has been again made
manifest.

Why and how? The answer is because you have been a eucharistic community at
Thomas Aquinas College. St. Paul teaches, "The bread which we break, is it not a
communion in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are
one body. For we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

St. John's letter speaks also of fellowship. This academic community has offered
"koinonia" to you in and through the eucharistic flesh of Jesus. You have come
into contact with the wounded sensibilities of others during these years of
intense study and friendships and thus have been tested on Christ's identity
with his disciples. "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of
these my brethren, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40).

This Catholic college is supremely a eucharistic community. The Spirit of the
Risen Lord has made known to you a wondrous sense that, even though the
blunders, hypocrisies, jealousies and even malice of your personal and
collective histories have scattered and divided at times the children of Adam
here, Christ's mercy has "gathered up the fragments from every side, forged them
into the fire of love and welded into one what had been broken" (St. Augustine).

During your years here, you have seen the face of Christ in one another, in your
tutors, in the administrators, and in other staff. The Eucharist has revealed
Christ's face in their faces. For, as St. John Chrysostom teaches: In the
Eucharist "we are mutually joined to one another and together united with
Christ."

The eucharistic face of Christ has taught you that the problem of life is not
simply the problem of suffering. It is that, but it is more. The whole of the
problem of life and its violence and its sinfulness finds ample leg-room within
the revelation of redemptive pardon and forgiveness.

The eucharistic community is the Holy Spirit's greatest pedagogue. These
eucharistic years here have shown that, despite all human sinfulness and
perverse cunning, you can still believe that human nature is one and good and
overflowing with possibilities. God's love has revealed to you that human
existence is unified and comprehensive. For much can be forgiven among those who
have "loved much" (Luke 7:47).

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


This is a new feature column that will appear in Roman Catholic News regularly. 
It is only fitting that this column is launched on the Feast of St. Anthony of
Padua since we honor him as the patron saint of things that are lost to be found
and rediscovered.

Current Catholic news of Church activity is the contemporary dimension and
expression of the Good News put into action in our day by the Pope, Holy See,
clergy and laity throughout the world. Catholic news at its best reflects the
enlightened comprehension of the Gospel and the efficacious dialogue of its
texts in the Catholic mind as it is reflected and asserted by proactive measures
by faithful witnesses to Christ today.

In the spirit of Vatican II, the renewal initiated by the Holy Spirit calls us
to a deeper dialogue with the Sacred Scriptures. In the best tradition of
Western monasticism this has been accomplished through the ancient art of Lectio
Divina.

This scope and focus of this column will be to discuss the nature of Lectio
Divina and to offer helpful suggestions how you can incorporate its practice
into your daily lives.

To begin our study of this ancient monastic art we shall daily discuss a book on
this subject written by Rev. Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of
Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN :
0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Victoria, Australia.

Due to space limitations for our daily publication by Yahoo it will be a brief
reflection on this subject as space allows.

Most of what we have already said above is contained in the Preface of Fr.
Casey’s book. (v-viii). Fr. Casey has the intuitive hunch that Vatican II was
influenced by the writings of Dom Columba Marmion (1858-1923), abbot of
Maredsous, Belgium. (vi). The reforms of Vatican II brought a deeper
appreciation of Western monasticism, not only within the monastic tradition, but
to the Church at large. It inspired a rediscovery of Lectio Divina and its role
in prayer and contemplation. (vii). Reading ecclesiastical texts allows us to
find the message of Sacred Scripture. Reading ancient authors helps us “toward
more effective living in the present” by embracing the past. (viii). For, after
all, the Church is “Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and
tomorrow.”


* * *

East Timor President Receives "Path to Peace" Award

Xanana Gusmao Cited for Role in Nation's Reconciliation

NEW YORK, JUNE 12, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- President Xanana Gusmao of East
Timor received the Path to Peace award for his role in the process of peace and
reconciliation in the former Indonesian province.

The award is promoted by the Holy See's mission at the United Nations. Among
those scheduled to attend the award ceremony was Archbishop Celestino Migliore,
the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations.

On May 20, East Timor marked the first anniversary of its independence. The
country is engaged in "national dialogue" on justice and reconciliation, at
which Gusmao is personally present.

The dialogue involves members of Parliament, socio-political groups,
representatives of the Catholic Church, and a U.N. Mission of Support
established by the Security Council for a 10-year period to assist with the
shift of administration from the United Nations to East Timor authorities.

"Through dialogue, we learn to forgive crimes of the past, we strengthen
national unity, and help the progress of democracy," said Father Jose Antonio Da
Costa, vicar of the Diocese of Dili.

"The Church supports constructive dialogue because its helps people understand
one another," he said. "A wrong impression or attitude can threaten harmony,
stability, justice and peace."

East Timor's reconciliation process is difficult and slow because some people
supported the pro-Indonesia militia which engaged in massacres following the
referendum vote for secession from Jakarta in August 1999. Suspects in the
massacres are now being tried by a Special Court of Justice.

Even today, many East Timor people who fled to West Timor, still under Jakarta's
control, refuse to return for fear of being lynched or of suffering other forms
of retaliation.

With 95% of the population declared Catholics, East Timor is the most Catholic
nation in Asia. It has more than 665,000 Catholics in the Dili and Baucau
dioceses.

The award presented to Xanana Gusmao is sponsored by the Path to Peace
Foundation, established in 1991 and presided over by Archbishop Celestino
Migliore. The foundation aims to spread a message of universal peace. It
distributes information and documentation on initiatives undertaken by the Pope
and Catholic organizations to build peace and justice.

Past winners of the award include Corazon Aquino, Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein,
and Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha.
* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061303.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *
Copyright 2003 by John N. Lupia

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 116
MONDAY 16 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Family Is Facing "Dehumanizing Threats," Says Pope
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• PROGRAM OF POPE'S TRIP TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
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• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pleas on Trinity Sunday
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Cries of Starving Children Should Stir Up Hearts, Says Pope
----------------------------------------------------------------
•  LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Philippine Bishops Assail "Ineffective and Slow" Farm Reforms
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Liberia Still Hoping for Peace
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Religion Shouldn't Be Treated as Just an Option, Says Anglican
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Family Is Facing "Dehumanizing Threats," Says Pope

Appeals to Heads of Government and Politicians to Come to Its Defense

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 13, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II said the family is being
subjected to "dehumanizing threats" and he appealed to heads of government and
politicians to support the fundamental cell of society.

Otherwise, "there is a risk of paying a high social cost," which will fall,
especially, on "future generations, victims of a harmful and confused mentality,
as well as styles of life that are not worthy of man," the Pope added.

The Holy Father presented his analysis and proposal today when he met with
participants in the congress of the presidents of European bishops' commissions
for the family and life, organized in Rome by the Pontifical Council for the
Family.

"Today the very identity of the family is subjected to dehumanizing threats,"
the Pope said at the start of his address, in response to the greeting addressed
to him by Cardinal Alfonso López Trujillo, president of the pontifical council.

"Fallacious alternatives are arising everywhere in the world that do not
recognize the family as a precious and necessary good for the social fabric,"
the Holy Father continued.

Mentalities are spreading that favor "divorce, contraception, abortion, denying
in fact the authentic sentiment of love and attempting, in the last analysis,
against human life, by not recognizing the human being's full right to life," he
added.

According to the Pope, a root of the problem is the "worrying fragility, which
is ever greater when one is not prepared to assume one's responsibilities, in an
attitude of total mutual self-giving and authentic love."

Notwithstanding "the attacks against the family and human life," he said, "there
are numerous families that continue to be faithful, despite the difficulties, to
their human and Christian vocation."

These families "react in face of the attacks of a certain contemporary hedonist
and materialist culture, and are organizing themselves to offer together a
response full of hope," as reflected in the growth of pro-life movements.

For this reason, the Holy Father renewed his invitation "to leaders of nations
and lawmakers to fully assume their commitment in defense of the family and to
favor the culture of life."

As a guideline, the Pope suggested they apply the "Charter of the Rights of the
Family," which the Holy See published 20 years ago.

* * *

PROGRAM OF POPE'S TRIP TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was the program of the
Pope's trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 22, where he will beatify Servant of
God Ivan Merz.

   The Holy Father will leave Rome at 8:15 a.m., arriving at Banja Luka's
international airport at 9:40 a.m. After a welcome ceremony, he is scheduled to
meet with the collegial presidency of the country. At 11:30 a.m. he will
celebrate Mass and beatify Servant of God Ivan Merz on a plain in front  of the
Convent of the Most Holy Trinity of the Order of the Friars Minor on a hillside
in Petricevac. He will also say a few words before praying the Angelus.

   At 2:30 p.m. the Pope will eat lunch with bishops from Bosnia-Herzegovina and
with cardinals and bishops of the entourage in the bishop's residence in Banja
Luka. At 5:30 p.m. he is scheduled to receive the president of the Serbian
Republic and the president of the Federation of  Bosnia-Herzegovina and a half
an hour later he will meet with the country's inter-religious council. At 6:30
p.m. he will make a private visit to the Catholic
cathedral in Banja Luka. At 7:15 p.m., after a farewell ceremony in the airport,
the Pope will return to Rome where he is scheduled to arrive at 9:00 p.m.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 13, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Roman Casanova
Casanova, pastor in the diocese of Tortosa, Spain, as bishop of Vic (area 3,964,
population 357,641, Catholics 353,362, priests 231, permanent deacons 7,
religious 751), Spain. The bishop-elect was born in Deltebre in 1956 and was
ordained a priest in 1981. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the
pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Josep Maria Guix Ferrers
upon having reached the age limit.

* * *

Pleas on Trinity Sunday

John Paul II Focuses on World's Refugees and on the Holy Land

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address
John Paul II gave today before the recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter's
Square.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. On this Sunday, which follows Pentecost, we celebrate the solemnity of the
Most Holy Trinity. The Unity and Trinity of God is the primary mystery of the
Catholic faith. With it we arrive at the end of the whole unfolding of
revelation, which was fulfilled in Jesus: in his incarnation, passion, death and
resurrection. From the summit of the holy mountain, which is Christ, is
contemplated the first and last horizon of the universe and of history: the Love
of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God is not solitude but perfect communion. From God, who is communion, derives
the vocation of the whole of humanity to form one great family, in which the
different races and cultures meet and are mutually enriched (see Acts 17:26).

2. In the light of this universal horizon of communion, every situation in which
human individuals or groups are constrained to flee from their own land to find
refuge elsewhere, stands out as a grave offense to God and to man. We are
reminded of this by the annual World Refugee Day, which will be observed next
Friday, June 20, and which this year invites us to focus on the reality of
refugee youths.

Almost half the refugees in the world are children and youths. Many of them do
not go to school; they lack essential goods; they live in refugee camps or even
in detention.

The drama of refugees exacts from the international community a commitment not
only to address the symptoms but above all the causes of the problem: that is,
to prevent the conflicts by promoting justice and solidarity in every realm of
the human family.

3. We now turn to the Virgin Mary, and contemplate her as a wonderful creature
of the Most Holy Trinity: "the limit fixed of the eternal counsel," as the great
poet Dante Alighieri sings ("Paradiso" XXXIII, 3). We ask her to help the
Church, mystery of communion, always to be a hospitable community, where every
person, especially the poor and marginalized, may find welcome and support.

[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father addressed the pilgrims in Italian as
follows:]

Once again, there have been days of blood and death for the inhabitants of the
Holy Land, caught in an endless vortex of violence and reprisals.

I would like to repeat to all the appeal already made so often in the past:
"There is no peace without justice, there is no justice without forgiveness."
Addressing all the inhabitants of the Holy Land, I remind them of this again
today with greater conviction.

Moreover, I exhort the international community not to tire of helping the
Israelis and Palestinians to rediscover the meaning of man and of fraternity, to
build their future together.

May the Most Holy Virgin intercede for us all, so that God will make us
"instruments of his peace."


* * *

Cries of Starving Children Should Stir Up Hearts, Says Pope

John Paul II Urges Youngsters to Show Solidarity

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The "heartbreaking" cry of children
who die of hunger and sicknesses should stir the conscience of everyone, John
Paul II said when he met with 8,000 children in the Vatican.

The little ones, who came on Saturday accompanied by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe,
prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, are members of
the Pontifical Society for Missionary Childhood, which is marking its 160th
anniversary this year.

"The cry of millions of children in the south of the planet, condemned to die of
hunger and sicknesses linked to poverty, has become more heartbreaking and stirs
everyone," the Holy Father said.

Recalling that Missionary Childhood's motto is "Children Help Children," the
Pontiff analyzed the profound changes humanity has experienced during the
institution's century and a half of life.

"In the so-called north of the world, the conditions of life of children have
improved, but economic and social development has not always been accompanied by
human development in the fullest sense," he said.

"There has been a loss of values and the highest price has been paid, precisely,
by the littlest ones, without forgetting that in developed nations also, areas
of great poverty remain," the Holy Father added.

Given this reality, he invited the children who were listening to him to form "a
chain of solidarity across the five continents" and also to offer "the
possibility to the poorest to give and to the rich to receive by giving."

This is the work carried out by Missionary Childhood, founded by Bishop Charles
de Forbin Janson of Nancy, France, for the purpose, initially, to help needy
children in China. The bishop asked children to pray a Hail Mary every day and
to give a coin a month to help their Asian contemporaries. Today the "little
missionaries" number in the millions, in parishes, schools and movements
throughout the world.

For his part, the Pope invited the children to pray the rosary daily, as did
Jacinta and Francisco, the visionaries at Fatima.


* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

Fr. Casey's book on Lectio Divina, Chapter 1 (pages 3-32) describes this ancient
form of spiritual reading. This chapter is divided into two parts. The First
part (pages 3-14) describes lectio divina in a negative way telling us what it
is not, while expressing what it is to bring out the points contrastively in
bold relief.

He begins by telling us that the soul of Western monasticism is prayer and
reflection  largely accomplished through lectio divina. Since books were scarce
in ancient monasteries the selection of books was made very carefully. He notes
that the Citeaux abbey from 1098-1111 made only copies of three books: a
liturgical book for community prayer, a bible, and the Moralia of St. Gregory
the Great.  This same care of book selection is an important criteria of lectio
divina, which leads to a spiritual dialogue with the text.

St. Benedict wrote in the rule (RB 48-9) that the monk should spend three hours
a day in spiritual reading. The monk should take great care in selecting a book
and stick with it  reading it entirely. The task of sticking to one book and
reading it in its entirety is part of the monastic wisdom and art of lectio
divina. It takes great discipline to stick with one book.

Most people cannot spend three hours a day in spiritual reading, but everyone
can spend a half hour or an hour. It is important that we prioritize our daily
tasks to accommodate our lectio divina and stick to this in order to develop our
skill in self-discipline learning to stick with a single book reading it
constantly to the end.

Fr. Casey tells us of the dangers of failing to do this. He tells us that there
is a great "danger of misinterpretation inherent in random reading."  Authors
must not be read in part since the text has context in which foundations are
laid to make theological points.  Reading out of context looses the spirit of
the text in this way. (5).

"There is another consideration. God's word is addressed to us for our
salvation. What we sometimes forget is that this gift of salvation often runs
counter to our own perceptions and expectations. The disposition that makes us
capable  of receiving salvation includes a willingness to be guided and to be
changed." (6).

We should approach lectio divina as a call from from God to read and reflect. In
this way lectio divina opens us up to spiritual renewal. "This means that we
have to stop trying to control the process. We have to take the risk of reading
what is before us, allowing it to speak to our hearts and consciences and to
cause us to look in a direction we had previously ignored. Self-programming is
out of the question. Choosing our reading with too much precision is like
playing tapes and never listening to the radio. We  have the comfort of
listening to our particular favorites whenever we want, but our exposure to new
music is minimal." (6).

This aspect of our controlling of the text is a major negative theme in Fr.
Casey's introductory chapter. We must acquire the discipline to stick to one
book and follow it faithfully, slowly and carefully to completion.  These
principles are important since they diminish and hopeful eliminate our
subjectivism.

On this subjectivism he writes: "Look at the cases where the Bible is used to
legitimate persecution or discrimination. Those involved are not extracting a
message from the sacred text. Instead they project their own message onto the
words of Scripture and by frequent repition convince themselves that the Bible
thinks as they do. The Bible is an instrument of salvation only because it
challenges our habitual beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. As soon as it begins
only to confirm and reinforce our own views it is reduced to the status of a
hand puppet. It no longer conveys an alternative; it simply parrots or own
opinions" (7).

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6.


* * *

Philippine Bishops Assail "Ineffective and Slow" Farm Reforms

Increasing Tension on Negros Island

MANILA, Philippines, JUNE 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The four bishops of Negros
Island criticized the "ineffective and slow implementation of the Agrarian
Reform Program" established by the government 15 years ago.

The program "is still very far from reaching its goal of distributing land and
justice to its tillers or workers," the bishops said in a statement.

A major problem in Negros, the "sugar bowl" of the Philippines, is the
distribution of land to farmers who for generations have worked in private-owned
estates, the Misna missionary agency reports.

The secretary of agrarian reform, Robert Pagdanganan, admitted recently to
Negros farmers that it is difficult to implement the land-reform law on the
island. The landowners there are rich and powerful, and the landless farmers are
on the verge of starvation.

In a joint pastoral message commemorating the country's 105th Independence Day,
the four bishops of Negros Island in the central Philippines said today that
although the country has attained independence "from centuries of political and
economic domination by Spain" and freedom from American colonial rule and the
Japanese occupation during World War II.

But, they added, the "truest and deepest" freedom is freedom from selfishness
and greed and "justice toward our neighbor."

The four bishops who issued the statement are Vicente Navarra of Bacolod, John
Du of Dumaguete, Patricio Buzon of Kabankalan, and Jose Advincula of San Carlos.

The prelates added that they support efforts to achieve and sustain integral
freedom, including socioeconomic, political, moral and spiritual freedom.

Likewise, they support the political and economic struggle of the Filipinos to
free themselves from oppressive and exploitative issues, such as the convening
of Congress into a Constituent Assembly without consulting the people.

They also cited the Purchased Power Agreement, which they said adds unfairly to
the economic burden of the people. Among other problems, the bishops also cited
the passage by government officials of the Reproductive Health bill, "which has
provisions that may prove inimical to human life and are morally objectionable."

The bishops urged the Filipinos to be "vigilant and carry on their struggle for
freedom, buoyed by courage, hope and trust in God's loving care for our nation."

* * *

Liberia Still Hoping for Peace

Archbishop of Monrovia Asks International Aid to Rebuild the Country

MONROVIA, Liberia, JUNE 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Liberia is starting to see a
glimmer of hope.

"Now the peace talks held in Akosombo can really begin," Archbishop Michael
Francis of Monrovia told the Misna missionary agency, after a cease-fire was
declared Thursday by Liberian President Charles Taylor.

A cease-fire pact was expected to be signed over the weekend, but the rebels, in
an about-turn, said they would only sign on if Taylor resigned. Some mediators
hold out hope for a signing on Monday.

All sides of the Liberian crisis have been invited to attend a negotiation
session in Akosombo, Ghana, organized by the Economic Community of West African
States.

Representatives of the government are participating, as are members of two rebel
groups: the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the
Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). Political parties, civil groups and
religious representatives are also joining in.

"The people place many hopes in the Akosombo talks," Archbishop Francis said.
"All the leaders of Liberia are in Ghana and they are the ones that will have to
decide the countries future. We hope that the talks will have a positive and
successful outcome and that a solution for the crisis is found."

The truce declared by President Taylor follows a cease-fire announced days
earlier by LURD rebels for humanitarian reasons, following talks with the
Rome-based Community of Sant'Egidio.

"Now more than ever, there is the need of aid of the international community and
the deployment of a peace force engaged in seeing that the truce is respected,"
Archbishop Francis added.

In the past few months, LURD and MODEL rebels launched a vast offensive against
the Taylor government, which led them into the capital Monrovia in a matter of a
few days. LURD rebels and MODEL now control at least 60% of the impoverished
country of 3.2 million.

Taylor insisted that there would be no peace in Liberia until the accusations
against him are lift. A special war tribunal in Sierra Leone issued an arrest
warrant for the Liberian president, accusing him of war crimes.

The court indicted him recently on charges of war crimes and crimes against
humanity for his backing of rebels who committed atrocities during Sierra
Leone's 1991-2001 civil war.

"These accusations are to be removed and I do not care how they will succeed,
but they must do it," Taylor said.

The Liberian president said the international community must remove the stigma
of indictment from him, if efforts to bring peace to the country were to
succeed.

"It is racist, politically motivated, and aimed at disgracing an African leader
... Washington, London did it. They can help to fix it," he said. "It is not
about Taylor, it is about the question if Africa can be free."

Sierra Leone's Special Court published its indictment against Taylor on June 4
and sent a warrant for his arrest to Ghana, where he was attending the formal
opening of peace talks with Liberian rebels. But the Ghanaian government ignored
the request to detain him and allowed him to leave for Monrovia unhindered.

The indictment and a rebel push into the outskirts of Monrovia, however, stalled
the peace talks in their tracks, but they resumed on Thursday after all sides
agreed in principle to a cease-fire and rebel forces withdrew from the capital.

Meanwhile the humanitarian situation in the Liberian capital worsens by the day.
More than 100,000 refugees are in Monrovia, and food is in short supply.

"We ask the international community to deliver aid," said Liberian Health
Minister Peter Coleman. "We can only hold out for a few more days under these
conditions."

* * *

Religion Shouldn't Be Treated as Just an Option, Says Anglican

Archbishop of Canterbury Delivers Major Interfaith Lecture

LONDON, JUNE 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- In his first lecture on interreligious
dialogue as Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams challenged some
assumptions about relations between faith communities and between religions and
secular society.

The primate of the Anglican Communion warned policy-makers in particular against
treating religion as a separate and subordinate sphere of life.

He criticized the secular tendency to view religion as "a subdivision of human
activity which belongs among the optional extras, after you have attended to the
clear imperatives of nonreligious public life."

Williams, who spoke Wednesday at the University of Birmingham, also addressed
some of the challenges religions face among themselves and in relation to
secularized society.

He appealed to religious traditions "to be clearer about the true nature and
extent of their differences," a statement issued by the Anglican Communion
reported.

The archbishop of Canterbury called for a clearer appreciation and understanding
of "the very significant disagreements about the kind of universe we inhabit,
what that universe makes possible for human beings, and what is the most
truthful or adequate or even sane way of behaving in the universe."

He added: "Once we are clearer about the nature and scope of religious
disagreement, we are actually more rather than less likely to develop a
respectful and collaborative practice in interfaith relations."

The archbishop believes that faith schools could play an important role in that
process, which should bring together different religious traditions to
collaborate and give meaning to the world.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061603.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 117
TUESDAY 17 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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• Holiness Is a Pastoral Urgency, Pope Tells Friars Minor
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• Itinerary for Pope's 9-Hour Visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina
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• AUDIENCES
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• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
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• Poverty Isn't Inevitable, Says Vatican Official
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• Bishops Seek Input on European Integration
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Academy of Sciences on the Cultural Values of Natural Sciences
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Holiness Is a Pastoral Urgency, Pope Tells Friars Minor

Audience on Occasion of Franciscans' General Chapter

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Holiness is an authentic pastoral
urgency, John Paul II told a group of Franciscans he met in audience.

Participants in the general chapter of the Order of Friars Minor, together with
their new minister general, Father José Rodríguez Carballo, met with the Pope at
the Vatican. The Franciscan order is holding its 185th general chapter in the
Portiuncula in Assisi, through Saturday.

"Hold to sanctity! Here is a real pastoral urgency for our time," the Pope
exhorted his visitors.

"It is time to propose again to everyone with conviction this lofty standard of
Christian life," he added, referring to his apostolic letter "Novo Millennio
Ineunte."

To help others to seek God above all, the Holy Father emphasized the need for
religious themselves to be committed first of all to this "arduous but exalting
personal and communitarian ascesis."

John Paul II urged them to follow the path marked by their order's rule and
constitutions, and encouraged them to conserve the stamp of "poverty and
fraternal life, docility and obedience," with their gaze fixed on Christ, as
well as on "the 'poverello' of Assisi, your father and teacher."

"He teaches that the preacher must first obtain in the secret of prayer that
which he will later translate in his preaching. He must first be warmed
interiorly so as not to externalize cold words," the Holy Father said, quoting
Thomas of Celano, St. Francis' first biographer.

Recalling the essential role of the Holy Spirit, whom St. Francis described as
the "minister general" of the order, the Pope prayed that this same Spirit may
grant the Friars Minor an understanding of the priorities of "the mission that
God entrusts to them for the good of the Church and of the world."

Regarding the demands of the new evangelization, John Paul II pointed out that
the missionary commitment "will be fruitful to the degree that harmony is
fostered with the legitimate pastors, to whom the Lord has entrusted the
responsibility of his flock."

He expressed the hope that the general chapter's work will contribute "to the
growth of that spirit of humble listening to God and of filial adherence to the
directives of the pastors of the Church which should characterize the Friars
Minor."

* * *

Itinerary for Pope's 9-Hour Visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina

Beatification Scheduled During 101st International Trip

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II will travel to
Bosnia-Herzegovina next week -- five years after his visit to Sarajevo -- to
beatify a layman.

The Pope's 101st international trip will take him Sunday to Banja Luka, a city
in Republika Srpska, a Bosnian Serb entity, where the new blessed, Ivan Merz
(1896-1928), was born.

A philosopher and theologian, Merz was a consecrated layman dedicated to the
education of youth within Catholic Action.

The Holy Father will be visiting a country still recovering from the bloody
four-year conflict between Croatian, Bosnian-Muslim and Serbian groups, which
broke out after the declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in 1992. He
completed a visit to Croatia last week.

Banja Luka was one of the localities most affected by the war, which resulted in
over 300,000 victims and 1.9 million homeless, among them many Catholics. Few of
them have been able to return to their homes.

Today, the Catholic community in Bosnia-Herzegovina has been reduced to just
over 450,000 faithful, out of a total population of 4 million.

On Sunday, the Pope will leave Rome at 8:15 a.m. and land at the Banja Luka
airport at 9:40 a.m., where the welcome ceremony will take place. It will be
followed by a private meeting with the collegial presidency of
Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The beatification Mass for Ivan Merz will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Most Holy
Trinity monastery of the Order of Friars Minor, on the outskirts of the city.

Later, the Pope will lunch with the country's prelates at the residence of the
bishop of Banja Luka. There, at 6 p.m. he will receive the president of
Republika Srpska and the president of the federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Holy Father will make a private visit to Banja Luka's Catholic cathedral,
and then go to the airport, where he will bid the country farewell at 7:15 p.m.
* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:

- Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, apostolic nuncio to the European Community.

- Archbishop Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio in Canada.

- Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea, apostolic nuncio in Kuwait, Bahrain and Yemen
and apostolic delegate on the Arabian Peninsula.

- Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, coadjutor of Dublin, Ireland.

   On Saturday June 14, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso on their  "ad
limina" visit:

     - Bishop Jean-Baptiste Some of Diebougou.

     - Bishop Zephyrin Toe of Dedougou.

     - Bishop Basile Tapsoba of Koudougou.

     - Bishop Paul Ouedraogo of Fada N'Gourma.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

- Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples.
* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 16, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Msgr. Khaled Akasheh, study assistant of the Pontifical Council for
Inter-religious Dialogue, as bureau chief for Islam of the same dicastery.

- Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, canon of the Metropolitan Chapter of  Freiburg,
Germany and director of the department for personnel in the archdiocesan Curia,
as metropolitan archbishop of Freiburg im Breisgau (area 16,229, population
4,600,000, Catholics 2,124,834, priests 1325, permanent deacons 185, religious
2,610), Germany. The archbishop-elect was born in 1938 in Filipovo, Croatia and
was ordained a priest in 1965.

* * *

Poverty Isn't Inevitable, Says Vatican Official

Bishop Crepaldi Addresses International Labor Conference

GENEVA, JUNE 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The progress of the poor is synonymous with
the advancement of humanity, a Vatican official told the 91st International
Labor Conference.

"Poverty is no longer a matter of fate," said Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi,
secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. To free man from it
"is an ethical imperative that imposes itself on humanity's conscience."

The two-week conference, held annually by the International Labor Organization,
is meeting here until Thursday. Bishop Crepaldi is heading the Vatican
delegation. This year's theme for the conference is "To Be Free from Poverty
Through Work."

Quoting John Paul II's encyclical "Centesimus Annus," the bishop emphasized the
need to "abandon the mentality that considers the poor -- people and nations --
as a burden."

"The poor ask that advantage be taken of their ability to work, to create a more
just and prosperous world for all," Bishop Crepaldi added.

"Men's progress is a great opportunity for the moral, cultural and also economic
growth of the whole of humanity," he stressed.

Reminding his audience of the international community's 2015 goal of reducing by
half the number of people living in abject poverty, the bishop insisted on the
need to "respect the promises made to the poor."

Otherwise, there will be a "dramatic increase in their sufferings due to loss of
confidence, with the final result of the fall of all hope," he said.

The bishop also called the attention of those responsible for labor policies,
both at the national and international level, to the problem of youth
unemployment.

* * *

Bishops Seek Input on European Integration

BRUSSELS, Belgium, JUNE 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- With a bigger European Union and
a continental Constitution on the way, a bishops' commission is calling for an
examination of European integration from a Christian perspective.

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE)
published a document calling for such an examination. "Let Us Open Our Hearts"
was prepared by a group of European theologians.

The document is being sent to all the Catholic bishops' conferences of the
current and future member states of the European Union so that it be commented
upon and amended by the greatest possible number of groups and movements in the
Church.

All those who wish to do so can transmit their reactions by Nov. 15 to the
COMECE Secretariat. The synthesis will be presented at the theological congress
to be organized by COMECE in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, next April 22-23.

The full text of the document may be downloaded from COMECE's Web page at:

<http://www.comece.org/upload/pdf/com_coeurs_030610_en.pdf>

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

"We need to approach our reading with an antecedant willingness to be called ,
challenged, converted. The abandonment of narcissistic control is one of the
prime dynamics  on sacred reading that leads us to more mature faith and more
fruitful humanity." (28). Fr. Casey makes his negative theme clear here, that we
must not attempt to control the text, make arbitrary selective readings, and use
the Bible as a quick fix.

"At the end of the Gideon Bible, often left in hotel rooms and other places,
there is a list of symptoms, each with a corresponding biblical text to remedy
the situation. Are you depressed? Read such a text. Do you feel lonely? Read
this one. This view of the Bible as a medicine chest seems to limit God's word
to a merely instrumental role. We remain in charge. (11-12).

Fr. Casey  warns against grazing, browsing, and skimming the Bible arbitrarily. 
This often leads to boredom. Those who practice this form of reading usually
know only a small portion of the Bible, and the grasp is always out of context.
"This lack of interest and commitment cannot sustain the effort and intensity
needed for genuine lectio divina" (12).

Lectio divina requires discipline. Our culture has shaped us to seek the
punchline immediately. We are ensnared in a culture of: "Give it to me in
twenty-five words or less." We skip through texts to find what suits us as a
quick fix. "As a result our understanding of the content is often approximate
and superficial . . . we make a snap judgment" (7).

One of the skills required for lectio divina is patience.  We have to "slow down
. . and not expect to find quick and easy solutions to all of life's problems .
. . In an era of hyperstimulation it can be difficult for people to realize that
enlightenment comes not by increasing the level of excitement, but by moving
more deeply into calm."  (8).

Lectio divina mirrors life in that it is a slow process. "Understanding the
Gospels presupposes some attempt to live them. Neither goal is realized as
quickly as we would like. From all we have been saying , it seems obvious that
lectio divina is a sober, long term undertaking and, as such, better reflected
in sustained attention to whole books than in seeking a quick fix from selected
texts  . . . Reading the Scriptures is the opposite of self-programming or any
kind of brain-washing. It is allowing God to speak to our hearts, minds, and
conscienses. "(9-10).

""Staying with a single book is not only an exercise in personal discipline; it
is a condition for approaching lectio divina with an appropriate attitude. . .
Practice will reveal how sensible the tradition is. . . the monastic practice
favored a continuous reading of a sngle book, the lectio continua." (11).

"If, however, we desire to make such reading a regular part of our lives we will
probably find it helpful to manipulate the process as little as possible: to let
God speak to us and to act on our hearts rather than to prescribe for ourselves
the remedies we believe will make us better." (14).

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

Academy of Sciences on the Cultural Values of Natural Sciences

"More Than Ever Before, What Is Required Is a New Humanism"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 16, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the statement of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences on the Cultural Values of the Natural Sciences,
issued today by the Vatican press office.


At its Plenary Session of 8-11 November 2002, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
discussed the various contributions made by scientific activity and education to
the culture of humankind. Seeing "culture" as a set of free and responsible
learned ways of acting, behaving and taking decisions, as opposed to inherited
patterns of behavior and instincts, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences wishes to
issue the following Statement.

If by science we mean the sophisticated arts of mathematics, aesthetics,
architecture, metallurgy, it is possible to describe ancient Egypt, China,
Mesopotamia as the first homes of science. The knowledge base built up by
studies in the natural sciences beginning with the theoretical practice of the
ancient Greeks as a selfless form of the search for truth, and then developed by
the method of Galileo and his heirs, constitutes a fundamental dimension of
human culture.

Since that time, this dimension has shaped human history and is now an
irreversible part of one's destiny. It is a value in itself which provides both
a science-based view of the world and people and extensive opportunities to
improve living conditions through applications in such areas as health, life
expectancy, food security, sustainable growth, energy and water resources,
information and communication, and the preservation of the environment.

In the context of these applications, a worldview where science and its values
play their role in the quest for truth, together with the ethical wisdom
developed down the centuries, can be of great help in assessing policies and
technology so as to reduce the possible risks that accompany many such
applications. Thus, a global awareness of the need to engage in a responsible
evaluation of human impact can lead to the implementation of sustainable
developments which guarantee good for all people. Many national and regional
Academies of Science, as well as international scientific unions and
inter-academy organizations, are ready to help political and cultural leaders,
governments and companies in a careful and prudent assessment of the new
technologies.

The rigorous standards generally applied in scientific research with regard to
data collection and interpretation and experimental design, and the ethical
rules that govern scientific practice, impart intrinsic cultural value to
scientific work. Similarly, the steadily enriched scientific knowledge base,
sharing the values and contents of science, represents a force of great value
for education and can act to improve the conditions of human lives.

For these reasons, the broad knowledge base of the natural sciences constitutes
a dynamic and open trans-disciplinary foundation that is of relevance to all
human beings at all levels of education. In order to benefit fully from this
knowledge base, societies should develop scientific education, starting from
primary school, and ensure that their scientists responsibly take care that the
progress of science and technology goes to the advantage of all men and women.

Successful scientific research strongly depends on originality, creativity and
invention. These requirements are similar to those of other cultural activities
in the various fields of the arts and in the social and human sciences. All of
these fields make their specific contributions to the heritage of human culture;
they are complementary and cannot replace each other.

Today, more than ever before, what is required is a new humanism which takes
into account all aspects of human culture, and where human, social and natural
sciences can work together as partners. This will greatly contribute to
improving the overall knowledge of our world and our place in it, to increasing
the respect for future generations, to promoting what is human in people, to
safeguarding the environment, and to fostering sustainable growth and
development.

In this way, science will help to unite minds and hearts, encourage dialogue not
only between individual researchers and political and cultural leaders, but also
between nations and cultures, making a priceless contribution to peace and
harmony amongst the peoples of the world. Science, so much appreciated in the
teaching of John Paul II, when it is in harmony with faith can fully participate
in this new humanism. The members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences make an
appeal to the readers of this Statement to fully recognize the valuable
contribution made by the natural sciences to human culture.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061703.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
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from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 118
WEDNESDAY 18 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Appeals for Aid for Africa's Sahel
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EVANGELIZATION IS AN ESSENTIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH
----------------------------------------------------------------
• AUDIENCES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Household Preacher Reflects on the Trinity
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Polish Bishops Invite Pope Back
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Inculturation Is a Priority for Church in Africa, Says Pope
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Stafford on Cologne's World Youth Day
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II Appeals for Aid for Africa's Sahel

Region Is in Danger of Becoming a Desert

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II renewed an appeal for the
"lasting and integral development" of the African peoples of the Sahel, the
semiarid region south of the Sahara.

Meeting today with members of the bishops' conference of Burkina Faso and Niger,
on their five-yearly visit to the Holy See, the Pope appealed to the
international community for a more concrete commitment to the people whose land
is in danger of becoming a desert.

The Holy Father said that he is concerned about the development of the peoples
of the two African countries, "so close to my heart," as well as "the daily
struggle they must face to survive."

"The difficult climactic conditions of the Sahel area, and the region's growing
danger of becoming a desert, keep the populations in endemic poverty, which
generates precariousness and lack of hope, giving them the feeling of being
marginalized from the international scene," the Pope said.

For this reason, he made "a new appeal to the international community to
manifest concretely and in a lasting way its support to the tried populations of
the Sahel."

The Holy Father also expressed the hope that "solidarity, in justice and
charity, will not experience boundaries or limits and that generosity will make
it possible to look at the future with greater serenity."

In 1984, he established the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, which trains
leaders, health agents, hydraulic and civil engineers, mechanics, agricultural
workers, stockbreeders, and forest specialists.

The foundation helps people regardless of their religion, thus becoming an
instrument of interreligious dialogue.

In Burkina Faso, with just over 12 million inhabitants, 11.4% are Catholics, 50%
Muslims, and the rest adhere to traditional African beliefs.

In Niger, only 0.18% of the 10 million inhabitants are Catholic; 80% are
Muslims, and the rest adhere to traditional beliefs.

In his address, the Holy Father noted that, despite being a minority, and
despite the "precariousness of life of the local populations," the Church in
both countries is experiencing genuine "missionary vitality."

"To evangelize is an essential mission of the Church," he told the visiting
African bishops. "The proclamation of the Gospel cannot be carried out fully
without the contribution of all believers, at all levels of the particular
Church."

* * *

EVANGELIZATION IS AN ESSENTIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, JUN 17, 2003 (VIS) - This morning John Paul II received prelates
from the Conference of Bishops of Burkina Faso and Niger who just completed
their "ad limina" visit.

   At the beginning of his speech in French, the Pope referred to his concern
"for the stable and integral development of peoples" and the difficulties "of
survival. The difficult climatic conditions of the region of Sahel and the
growing desertification keep peoples in an endemic poverty that engenders
instability and desperation." The Holy Father thus appealed to the international
community to help these peoples to achieve a "more serene future."

   "Despite difficulties related to the instability of the life of local
populations, the missionary vitality of your diocesan Churches has expressed
itself in multiple ways. I thank you for the celebration that marked the
centenary of the evangelization of Burkina Faso."

   The Holy Father underscored that "evangelization is an essential mission of
the Church. Proclaiming the Gospel cannot be done fully without the contribution
of all believers." After recalling that he wrote in the Apostolic Exhortation
"Ecclesia in Africa" that "inculturation is a priority and a necessity on the
path of particular churches," he said: "The pastoral ministry of inculturation
that you have accomplished in your dioceses  is
bearing fruit, in particular in the life and testimony of the founding Christian
communities."

   Speaking about lay people, the Pope urged the African bishops to help them "to
have an ever-more lively consciousness of their role in the Church and to honor
their mission as baptized and confirmed Christians."

   After emphasizing that "Christian families are called to be a powerful cell of
Christian witness," John Paul II recalled "the example of numerous families that
heroically live fidelity to the sacrament of Christian marriage, in the context
of civil legislation or traditional customs that are detrimental to monogamous
marriage. Given the dangers that afflict the African family of today and its
foundations, I urge you to promote the
dignity of the Christian family."

   John Paul II then spoke about the difficulty that priests encounter when
caring for and forming Christian communities, citing "the distance between
parishes, the network of highways in bad conditions and the reduced number of
apostolic workers. I thank you," he said, "for your generosity in serving Christ
and His Church and I know how much you want, with the means at your disposition,
to give them everything that is necessary for their spiritual health and their
material needs." He invited the prelates to "always show,
... as you already do, the solidarity of your local Churches with neighboring
countries, that often need pastors, by sending them priests and lay
missionaries."

   Referring to the formation of candidates for the priesthood, the Pope
underlined the importance of a "serious spiritual, intellectual and pastoral
formation, necessary for the exercise of the priestly ministry that must be
associated with a solid human and cultural formation. It is very important to
insist on the emotional maturity of candidates, necessary for the call to
celibacy."

   The Holy Father went on to recall that in Burkina Faso and Niger "Christian
communities live in the midst of societies characterized by the predominance of
Islam and by values that are not your own. I am glad that, as you said, the
relationships of Catholics with followers of Islam are marked by respect, esteem
and coexistence." The Pope invited the
bishops to "cultivate dialogue ... so that fear of others disappears, a fear
which is born out of the profound ignorance of the religious values that
encourage this dialogue."

   John Paul II, in parting remarks to the prelates, expressed the desire that
"in the face of the scandal of poverty and injustice ... the Church may continue
to carry out its prophetic role and be the voice of those without a voice, so
that the human dignity of the whole person is recognized and all initiatives are
promoted that seek to develop and ennoble human beings in their spiritual and
material existence."

* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 17, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience
four prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Burkina Faso-Niger on their "ad
limina" visit:

- Bishop Thomas Kabore of Kaya, Burkina Faso.

- Bishop Joseph Sama of Nouna, Burkina Faso.

- Bishop Michel-Christian Cartateguy, S.M.A., of Niamey, Niger.

- Bishop Ambroise Ouedraogo of Maradi, Niger.

* * *

Papal Household Preacher Reflects on the Trinity

That Mystery Is a School to Overcome Divisions, He Says

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Contemplation of the Trinity might
move us to overcome our seemingly irreconcilable divisions, says the Papal
Household preacher.

"The Father is, as in human experience, the origin of everything," said Father
Raniero Cantalamessa said, when reflecting on the identity of the three divine
Persons. Last Sunday was the solemnity of the Holy Trinity.

"Particularly in Greek thought, the Father is seen as the source of the whole
Trinity, from whom spring the Son and the Holy Spirit," the Capuchin Franciscan
told Vatican Radio. "The Son has been interpreted by the Apostle St. John, who
referred to him as the 'logos,' reason, the Word."

"The Holy Spirit," he added, "has been revealed to us through very simple
images: the wind as the symbol of force, gust, breath which represents intimacy,
interiority."

For a believer, the Trinity is a mystery that is very familiar, the priest said.
Christian life -- which begins with baptism, in the name of the Father, of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit -- develops submerged in the Trinitarian dimension,
whether in confirmation, or in the sacrament of marriage, or at the hour of
death, Father Cantalamessa added.

To bring a nonbeliever closer to the Trinitarian mystery, one could begin with
the concept of "God-Love," he said. "Although we cannot explain the Trinity, at
least we can say that God cannot but be Triune."

"From all eternity, God has in himself an infinite object to love, who is the
Son, by whom he is also loved with an infinite love, who is the Holy Spirit," he
noted.

"Sometimes, when I speak of this mystery, I add that I would have compassion for
a God who had no one to love, no one with whom to share his infinite happiness:
He would be a very sad God," the Capuchin said. "Just like men, who need someone
with whom to communicate, God has need in himself of a person to whom he can
express all his love, who is the Son."

"Contemplate the Trinity, to defeat the odious division in the world," is a
saying used by St. Sergius of Radonezh, who in a sense was the spiritual father
of Russia, the Papal Household preacher recalled.

"We find ourselves exactly before the same problem: the contemplation of the
Trinity, which is diversity in love and unity in diversity, should stimulate us
to overcome are seemingly irreconcilable differences of race, sex and culture,
because the Trinity is perfect unity in diversity."


* * *

Polish Bishops Invite Pope Back

WARSAW, Poland, JUNE 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Poland's bishops invited John Paul
II to visit next year to consecrate a church here and beatify three Poles, a
Church spokesman says.

"It depends on the Holy Father when the visit will be possible and realistic,"
said Father Adam Schulz, according to the Associated Press. The Pontiff last
visited his homeland in August 2002.

Father Schulz said the aim of a visit could be the consecration of the Holy
God's Providence Temple, a major church under construction here since November,
and the beatification of two priests and a nun.


* * *

Inculturation Is a Priority for Church in Africa, Says Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says that inculturation
is "a priority" for the Church in Africa.

Inculturation allows the Church "to incarnate the Gospel in the different
cultures, taking up what is good in these cultures and renewing them from
within," the Pope said.

He made his comments in an audience with the bishops of Burkina Faso and Niger,
at the close of their five-yearly visit to the Holy See. He took the opportunity
to remind them of a central message of his postsynodal apostolic exhortation
"Ecclesia in Africa."

Inculturation, he maintained, is "a way toward full evangelization so that every
man can receive Jesus Christ in the integrity of his personal, cultural,
economic and political being, in view of his full and total union with God the
Father, and of a holy life under the action of the Holy Spirit."

The Pope said that in these countries of the Sahel, inculturation is yielding
fruit in the life and example of grass-roots Christian communities.

"The evangelizing action of the Christian community, first in its own territory
and then elsewhere, as participation in the universal mission, is the clearest
sign of the maturity of the faith," he added. "To develop this missionary
consciousness in the heart of each believer continues to be a genuine
challenge."

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

We have heard Fr. Casey tell us much about what lectio divina is not. Primarily,
it is not our being in control of the text. Rather, it is our selection of a
sacred book which we choose to read daily from beginning to end over a long
period of time, for at least three to six months.

On selecting the right book to choose for your lectio divina here is what Fr.
Casey has to say: "It is like choosing a companion for a long journey. In the
months ahead I am going to be spending a lot of time in the other's company; my
experience of the journey will be modified by my choice of companion." (14).

The book we choose to read is not an inanimate object of paper and ink, but a
living companion. Through the text of the author their words bring them to life.
We learn much about the author, their personality, their attitudes and values
through slowly reading, weighing, and giving careful attention and reflection to
their words. The author comes to life in our minds through meditation on what
they say. We become sensitive to their spirit in the text through our sincere
dialogue with it.

Since lectio divina is a slow process of daily reading and reflection it is like
a journey taken one step at a time. Our selction of a sacred book is in all
reality our selection of a travelling companion.  This companion is our sacred
guide who opens our minds and hearts to spiritual realities that surround us
which we have not considered before.

"Lectio divina involves allowing ourselves to be lead to God by an experienced
guide." (15).  Learning the spirit and personality of the author allows us to
trust them and to relate to them with confidence and accept their mentorship.
This spiritual friendship is our daily conversation with them that opens up in
our dialogue with the text in our slow and prayerful daily reading.
Consequently, we must listen to what they have to say by relinquishing our
preconceptions of what we think should be said.

Fr. Casey points out that fidelity to lectio divina is a very difficult task. 
Yet, since he has pointed out that the book is in all actuality a spiritual and
living companion and friend integral to us in our daily life along the journey,
it stands to reason that fidelity to our personal mentor and guide should be a
relatively easy task.

In the wisdom of a contemplative monk, Fr. Casey, from experience points out
various causes that make fidelity to lectio divina difficult.   Among these are
the obvious circumstances of "noise, weather, constant unplanned interruptions,
. . . a general absence of tranquility, age, ill health, a degree of dyslexia,
or some passing or semipermanent anxiety."  (16-17).

These causes that take us away from faithful daily lectio divina are external
from our will and do not reflect negatively on us. However, there are other
causes that are less benign.  These include our failing to make a productive use
of our time by over indulging in recreational activities, other business and
affairs that could be better time managed, over eating and over sleeping.  
Besides these, St. Benedict mentions three more: laziness, acedia, and fantasy.
(19). Lazines may result from the vice of procrastination as well as a spirit of
sloth. Acedia is a spiritual attention span deficit. We quickly loose sight of
what we are supposed to do and meander on unfocused and unsettled.  Fantasy can
cover a multitude of ativities. We have already mentioned over indulgence in
entertainment, an escapism. There is also daydreaming, and the cultural
favorite, idle and worthless conversation about nonsense, or gossip. So,
fidelity to lectio divina can be due to circumstances beyond our control as well
as those well within our ability to take charge of.

Since we can be our own worst enemy abandoning or neglecting our duty to lectio
divina we should closely examine our attitude and priorities. Fidelity to lectio
divina can be lost by the aloof reader. This is that type of person who may wish
to avoid listening to what they need to hear by staying away. It is also the
person uses their "head, but conscinces are untouched." (20).

There are other external causes, social forces that come in to play on our
infidelity to lectio divina.  Many have no foundation or training that grows
into the virtue or good habit of daily sacred reading.  Our culture and social
influences that shaped us from our youth may have filled us with many things
except the skills, attitude, focus, and habit of taking time for ourselves with
a sacred text to be read slowly, prayerfully and with concentrated attention. 
Culture also has an impact on how we perceive words. We are jaded by texts
living in a world filled with words and texts, lables, titles, information
panels, yelevision, newspapers, magazines, radio, emails, and the noisy
wordiness of verbose communications. This may result in our preferring to avoid
texts for quiet reflection rather than to seek one out.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

Cardinal Stafford on Cologne's World Youth Day

Will Help Put Focus on Europe's Christian Roots, He Says

ROME, JUNE 17, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal James Francis Stafford says that
World Youth Day 2005 in Germany will offer young people an opportunity to
reflect on the future of Europe and its Christian roots.

"I am very grateful to God for the fact that the Pope has chosen Cologne for the
next WYD, as a place of strong Christian tradition," the president of the
Pontifical Council for the Laity said in an interview published at
www.korazym.org.

"Cologne is a very important city for the whole of Europe, especially in this
period in which there is an intense debate on its future, on the roots of
Christianity in the Old World," he said.

According to the cardinal, the role of Christian young people, as "leaders of
the future," is especially significant in this debate.

"In 2005 there will be an opportunity for young people to offer to God their
sentiments as young Europeans as regards the future of Europe together with its
Christian past," the American cardinal said.

There will be notable differences between the last year's WYD in Toronto, and
the one in Cologne -- beginning with the host cities. "Toronto is a new city, a
recent, secularized city," he said. "In Cologne, there is a great tradition for
Christian pilgrims."

Moreover, the war in Iraq took place after the Toronto meeting, "This is a great
challenge for young people. What is the meaning of these wars in their vocation
as Christians? And for their vision of the future?" the cardinal asked.

Cologne 2005 will be "for young people a great opportunity to reflect together
about the changes in the world oriented to end the violence and wars," he
predicted.

The president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, who is responsible for
the organization of the World Youth Days, said the technical and spiritual
preparations for the August 2005 event have begun. Early estimates say 800,000
youths might attend.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061803.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of  her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 119
THURSDAY 19 June 2003

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi  (Rome)

Feast of St. Romuald

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Hoping to Foster Reconciliation in Bosnia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Reflection on a Canticle in Isaiah 61 and 62
----------------------------------------------------------------
• POPE GREETS STAFF OF HOSPITAL NAMED FOR HIS BROTHER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• IN BRIEF
----------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• IN MEMORIAM
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Iraqis Want to Begin to Live Again, Says Archbishop Cordes
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Theatines Elect New Superiors
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• "Forces" Oppose Papal Visit, Says Tatarstan Leader
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II Hoping to Foster Reconciliation in Bosnia

Banja Luka Bishop Says City Will Be in the World's Spotlight

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says his trip to
Bosnia-Herzegovina will aim to foster reconciliation in the wake of the 1990s
wars that split what was once Yugoslavia.

At the end of today's general audience, the Pope explained that he will
undertake his 101st international trip this Sunday "to confirm in the faith that
Catholic community, committed to an important endeavor of reconciliation and
concord."

Addressing 11,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father asked
them to accompany him with their prayers "in this apostolic journey, which I
entrust to the maternal care of the Holy Virgin."

John Paul II will be traveling for the second time to Bosnia, specifically to
Banja Luka, a city in Republika Sprska, a Bosnian Serb entity. There he plans to
beatify philosopher and theologian Ivan Merz (1896-1928), a consecrated layman
who was dedicated to the education of youth.

Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka said at a press conference Tuesday that the
papal visit is an "examination of maturity" for his country before world
opinion.

"Never in its history has our city been under the strong spotlight of world
public opinion as it will be on the occasion of the visit of the Pope, the
greatest moral authority of today's world," the bishop said, according to the
ANSA agency.

Bishop Komarica added that it would be "an examination of maturity that will
demonstrate to what degree we belong to the civil, human, constructive and
loving world of peace," and that he hoped that the apostolic trip would serve to
promote the return of the refugee

* * *

Reflection on a Canticle in Isaiah 61 and 62

John Paul II's Meditation on God, Jerusalem and Spousal Imagery

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul
II's address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to reflect on a
canticle from the Book of Isaiah (61:10; 62:4-5).

1. The wonderful Canticle proposed to us by the Liturgy of Lauds, which was just
proclaimed, begins like a Magnificat: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God
is the joy of my soul" (Isaiah 61:10). The text is inserted in the third part of
the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, a section that scholars date to a later period,
when Israel, having returned from the exile in Babylon (sixth century B.C.),
takes up its life again as a free people in the land of the fathers and rebuilds
Jerusalem and the temple. It is no accident that the Holy City, as we will see,
is at the center of the canticle, and the horizon that opens is luminous and
full of hope.

2. The prophet begins his song portraying the reborn people clothed in splendid
garments, like an engaged couple, ready for the great day of the nuptial
celebration (see verse 10). Immediately after, another symbol is evoked,
expression of life, joy, and novelty: that of herbal shoot (see verse 11).

The prophets refer to the image of the shoot, in different ways, to represent
the messianic king (see Isaiah 11:1; 53:2; Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12).
The Messiah is a fruitful shoot that renews the world, and the prophet makes
explicit the profound sense of this vitality: "The Lord God will cause
righteousness to spring forth" (Isaiah 61:11), by which the Holy City will
become like a garden of justice, namely, of faithfulness and truth, of law and
love. As the prophet said shortly before, "You shall call your walls 'Salvation'
and your gates 'Praise'" (Isaiah 60:18).

3. The prophet continues to forcefully raise his voice: The song is relentless
and attempts to represent the rebirth of Jerusalem, before which a new era is
about to open (see Isaiah 62:1). The city is portrayed as a bride about to
celebrate her wedding.

The spousal symbolism, which appears forcefully in this passage (see verses
4-5), is one of the most intense images used in the Bible to exalt the bond of
intimacy and the covenant of love that exists between the Lord and the Chosen
People. Its beauty is made of "salvation," "justice," and "glory" (see verses
1-2) it will be so wonderful that it will be able to be "a glorious crown in the
hand of the Lord" (see verse 3).

The decisive element will be the change of name, as happens in our day when a
young woman marries. To assume a "new name" (see verse 2) seems almost like
being invested with a new identity, undertaking a mission, changing one's life
radically (see Genesis 32:25-33).

4. The new name assumed by the bride Jerusalem, destined to represent all the
people of God, is illustrated in the contrast that the Prophet specifies: "No
more shall men call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,'/ But you shall be
called 'My Delight,' and your land 'Espoused.' For the Lord delights in you, and
makes your land his spouse" (Isaiah 62:4). The names that indicated the
preceding situation of abandonment and desolation, that is, the devastation of
the city by the power of the Babylonians and the drama of the exile, are now
substituted by the names of rebirth and are terms of love and tenderness, of
celebration and happiness.

At this point, all attention is focused on the bridegroom. And behold the great
surprise: the Lord himself assigns to Zion its new nuptial name. Wonderful above
all is the final declaration, which takes up the theme of the song of love that
the people have intoned: "As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall
marry you; And as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice
in you" (verse 5).

5. The song is no longer sung at the marriage between a king and queen, but
celebrates the profound love that unites God and Jerusalem forever. In his
earthly bride, which is the holy nation, the Lord finds the same happiness that
the husband finds in his beloved wife. The distant and transcendent God,
righteous judge, is now replaced by the close and enamored God. This nuptial
symbolism will be used in the New Testament (see Ephesians 5:21-32) and will be
taken up again and developed by the Fathers of the Church. For example, St.
Ambrose reminds us that from this perspective, "the bridegroom is Christ, the
bride is the Church, spouse because of love, virgin because of intact purity"
("Esposizione del Vangelo secondo Luca: Opere esegetiche" [Exposition of the
Gospel According to Luke: Exegetic Works] X/II, Milan-Rome, 1978, p. 289).

And he continues, in another of his works: "The Church is beautiful. This is why
the Word of God says to her: 'You are all fair, my love; there is no flaw in
you' (Song of Songs 4:7), because the fault was submerged. ... That is why the
Lord Jesus -- moved by the desire of so great a love, by the beauty of her dress
and of her grace, given that in those who have been purified there is no more
filth of any guilt -- says to the Church: 'Set me as a seal upon your heart, as
a seal upon your arm' (Song of Songs 8:6), namely: you are adorned, my soul, you
are all beautiful, nothing is lacking in you! 'Set me as a seal upon your
heart,' so that your faith will radiate through it in the fullness of the
sacrament. Your works will also radiate and show the image of God, in whose
image you were made" (The Mysteries, nn. 49.41: "Opere Dogmatiche" (Dogmatic
Works), III, Milan-Rome, 1982, pp. 156-157).

[Translation by ZENIT]

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave the following summary in
English:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today's Canticle, taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, celebrates the
rebirth and renewal of Jerusalem, portrayed as a Bride prepared for her wedding.
In the Scriptures this spousal imagery evokes the covenant of love between God
and his People, which brings joy and hope for the future. The New Testament
takes up this imagery to describe the love of Christ for the Church, his Bride,
purified of sin, holy and radiant with the joy of salvation.

I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present
at today's Audience, including those from England, Sierra Leone, Canada, and the
United States. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. In a special
way, I greet the many student groups present. Upon all of you I cordially invoke
the Holy Spirit's gifts of wisdom, joy, and peace.

* * *

POPE GREETS STAFF OF HOSPITAL NAMED FOR HIS BROTHER

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2003 (VIS) - Following the catechesis of today's general
audience, held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 11,000 faithful, the
Pope read summaries of his talk in French, English, Spanish, German, and
Portuguese. He then briefly greeted pilgrims in those languages as well as in
Romanian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Slovakian and Polish.

   In greeting Polish pilgrims, the Holy Father expressed his "special welcome to
the staff of the hospital in Bielsko-Biala in which my brother worked and to
which you have wished to give his name. Thank you so much for this
commemoration!"

   Continuing in Polish, John Paul II stated that the Canticle of Isaiah in
today's catechesis "introduces us to the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and
Blood of Christ, which we will celebrate tomorrow. The special presence that we
feel not just in the sign of the temple, but in the sacrament of the Eucharist,
constitutes the content of this solemnity. This is why we go out into the
streets of the city and the countryside so that - following Christ Who is hidden
in the Host - He may be glorified and thanked because He truly and
uninterruptedly is present among us, Body and Blood, soul and divinity." He
invited everyone, especially Romans, to participate in tomorrow evening's
celebrations at the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.

   "This coming Sunday," the Pope said in conclusion, "I will go to
Bosnia-Herzegovina to confirm in the faith that Catholic community which is
committed to an important path of reconciliation and harmony. I ask you to
accompany me in prayer on this apostolic trip which I entrust to the maternal
care of Our Lady."


* * *

IN BRIEF

CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO, SECRETARY OF STATE, traveled yesterday afternoon to
Warsaw, Poland, where he will receive a "honoris causa" doctorate in law from
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University. Tomorrow, the solemnity of  Corpus
Christi, he will preside at the Eucharistic celebration and procession on the
streets of the Polish capital.

TOMORROW ARCHBISHOP RENATO MARTINO, PRESIDENT of the Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace, will close the national congress of Italian Caritas which
is taking place in Sardinia, Italy and in which more than 500 delegates from 180
dioceses are participating. The archbishop will speak about the role of
international organizations in promoting justice and peace.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Fr. Ibrahim Ibrahim of the Salvatorian Basilian Order, head of the
Eparchial Commission on Ecumenism and on Inter-religious Questions, as bishop of
St. Sauveur de Montreal of the Greek Melkite Catholics (Catholics 43,000,
priests 15, permanent deacons 1, religious 10), Canada. The bishop-elect was
born in Jinsnaya, Libya in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1987.

- Accepted the resignation to the pastoral care of the diocese of Phoenix,
U.S.A., of Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien, in conformity with Canon 401, para 2, of
the Code of Canon Law.
* * *

IN MEMORIAM

VATICAN CITY, JUN 18, 2003 (VIS) - The following prelates died in recent weeks:

- Archbishop Adalbert Boros, titular of Ressiana, Romania on June 6 at age 94.

- Bishop Barthelemy Nguyen Son Lam, P.S.S., of Thanh Hoa, Vietnam on June 9 at
age 74.

- Archbishop Angelo Palmas, apostolic nuncio in Italy, on June 9 at age 88.
* * *

Iraqis Want to Begin to Live Again, Says Archbishop Cordes

Interview With Papal Envoy Following His Visit

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- On his recent visit to Iraq,
Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes realized that the first thing the citizens want is
stability, for the sake of their future.

The president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," who is responsible for
coordinating the work of the Church's charitable institutions, visited the
postwar country from May 28 to June 2 as a papal envoy. Here, he talks about the
enormous reconstruction work facing Iraq.

Q: What is the Iraq that you saw like?

Archbishop Cordes: The road to normality still seems very long. People want
light, water, food. At this time, they do not see the political problems -- they
must think of living.

The first thing to ensure, the first conquest, then, is stability, indispensable
to address with the necessary serenity the problem of the political order and to
avoid the risks of a theocratic drift, or of a confrontation between Christians
and Muslims that, inevitably, will not be able to be resolved without great harm
to the former.

The conclusion I came to is that the military administration will not be able to
be brief -- in fact, quite the opposite.

Q: Why did you go to Iraq?

Archbishop Cordes: The Pope himself wanted the mission; he asked me to go down
there to assess the situation personally.

In Baghdad and in other Iraqi cities I met with Christian communities, in
keeping with the intention to cooperate loyally in the reconstruction of the
country, and with representatives of the allied forces and those of the United
Nations.

Q: Are you worried?

Archbishop Cordes: Let us say that there is no lack of reasons for concern. I
fear that the model of democracy that the U.S. would like to export is not, in
fact, applicable there.

America is a great democracy formed by parties and based on numbers: one man,
one vote. Unfortunately, it does not seem to me to be transferable to a nation
with different cultural dynamics, such as Iraq.

I think that the Americans will understand that it is an inapplicable model, but
that instead it is necessary to think of something that takes into account
Iraq's history.

Q: But aren't the Americans aware of this?

Archbishop Cordes: Those that I met were in agreement with this judgment. And
for this reason, it seems to me, they also foresee staying in Iraq a long time.

Hence, it will not be something brief. The future state structure will not be
seen tomorrow. And there is also a risk in this, because the longer that that
which the Iraqis see as a military occupation lasts, the more that the little
favor on which it has been able to count on until now is weakened.

Q: And how do the Christians live in this situation?

Archbishop Cordes: There are some positive signs. At Mosul, in the north of the
country, I saw, for example, that the present city administration, which was
installed after the collapse of the regime of Saddam Hussein, also includes the
presence of some representatives of the Christian religion.

Thus, as I was also able to see in many areas, there is great appreciation for
the Pope and the action he undertook.

But in a nation where Muslims, 60% of whom are Shiites, constitute the great
majority of the population, while Christians represent only 4%, the risk of a
drift to theocracy is very strong.

In the whole of the Middle East the emigration of Christians represents a very
great problem.

Q: Were there signs that there might also be a mass exodus of Christians from
Iraq?

Archbishop Cordes: No, I did not have this impression. Rather, on the contrary,
it seems to me that the intention is to make themselves available to the country
to offer their own contribution to the human, civil and material reconstruction.

Very beautiful, in this respect, is the document that the Iraqi bishops
published last April 29, in which, precisely, they forcefully underline this
intention and this willingness. However, and here we refer to what was said
earlier, it is necessary to ensure specific guarantees for the minorities.

Q: How can Iraq be helped in this difficult situation?

Archbishop Cordes: The first thing, absolutely indispensable at present, is to
guarantee stability and security. The primary needs of the people are still the
supply of water, of food, and of electricity. And then there is the problem of
security, which continues to be critical.

Just think that some time ago an entire convoy of aid that left Amman destined
for Baghdad was robbed of everything in the middle of the desert and,
fortunately, the robbers were kind enough to give the drivers the trucks to be
able to make the return journey to Jordan.

In these conditions, the activities of the humanitarian agencies are not
possible. Because of this, I repeat, stability and security must first be
ensured; this will be better for everything and for everyone.

Q: What is your judgment today on the war?

Archbishop Cordes: War does not create peace and, therefore, cannot be
considered the means to destroy the evil that is in man's heart.

I would like to add, moreover, that that which was said to justify this conflict
was revealed not to be true, and now I wonder why an alternative was not tried
all the way to the end.

Fortunately the war was brief, and did not cause widespread destruction. If we
think of what could have happened, and what many feared, one cannot but rejoice.


* * *

Theatines Elect New Superiors

ROME, JUNE 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The chapter general of the Congregation of
Clerks Regular ended with the election of a new governing body.

The new superior general of the order is Father Valentín Arteaga
Sánchez-Gujialgo, until now superior of the Theatines of Spain. The new vicar
general is Father Pío Lana Salinas of Navarre, until now rector of the Basilica
of St. Andrew in Rome.

The results of Tuesday's elections will be communicated to the Holy See today
for confirmation.

The chapter has sent a message to the Theatine world -- religious and secular --
in which it attests to the order's growth in Latin America.

"This new generation of Theatines has brought the fresh air of renewal, which
fills us with hope and revitalizes us," the message states.

The order, which has 200 religious, was founded by St. Cajetan of Thiene and
others who in 1524 asked the Pope for permission to live in community.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

In addition to fidelity another virtue requisite to lectio divina is assiduity. 
This virtue is one of perserverance and constancy.  Fr. Casey points out four
important aspects to this virtue.

First, is making time.  Unless you appoint a specific time for lectio divina
each day odds are you wil never find time serendipitously.  Prioritizing your
daily activities by inserting a specific and sufficient amount of time assigned
to lectio divina will be a great help to ensure that you fulfill this exercise.

Second, regularity in our observance helps to establish the habit which in the
end allows us to bear more fruit with our use of that time through custom.

Third, repition by re-reading parts of books or verses helps us to grasp
something new in the text that we might have missed before.

Fourth, perserverence is a form of dedication that helps us get through aridity,
the dry spells in spiritual reading.

Reverence is another virtue besides fidelity and assiduity.  "It is this humilty
that is the key to unlocking the depths of revelation" (27). Fr. Casey points
out five important aspects to this virtue.

First, "It is appropriate for the teacher to speak and teach; the disciple is to
be silent and listen."  (RB 6.6). Reverence helps us to pay attention to the
text and to listen to our spiritual guide.

Second, reverent attitudes in ritual with lectio divina are useful to keep the
spirit alive. Reverencing the book by a kiss, use of a special ribbon or
bookmark, candles, flowers, icons, prayerful posture and the like help keep the
spirit of reverence afresh during lectio divina.

Third, reverence for the Word of God causes us to take the text seriously,
avoiding prejudgment. Reverence spurs us on to arrive at an expert opinion of
the meaning of the text.

Fourth, reverence brings us to cherish the Word of God and to ponder it in our
hearts. Recollecting our lectio divina text during the day usually brings new
insights and dialogue with the text and extends our practice beyond the assigned
time.

Fifth, reverence helps us to put the teaching of the text into practice. Facta
non verba (deeds not words) is the ancient Latin saying that addresses our human
weakness about our good intentions: "actions speak louder than words."

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

"Forces" Oppose Papal Visit, Says Tatarstan Leader

MOSCOW, JUNE 18, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The president of the Russian Republic of
Tatarstan says "some forces … do not want the Pope to visit Russia and, in
particular, Kazan," to return an icon of the Blessed Virgin.

Mintimer Shaimiyev made that statement Monday, according the ANSA agency.

Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls had announced that John Paul II might
make a stopover in the city of Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, to return the
ancient icon which is in the Vatican, and which belonged originally to the
Russian Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow said that the return of the image is not a
sufficient reason for a visit by the Holy Father, and that it is necessary first
to surmount the problems that exist between the two Christian Churches,
separated by a millennium-old schism.

There has been a rebirth of the Catholic community in Kazan, with the arrival of
a group of young Argentine missionaries, members of the Institute of the Word
Incarnate, who serve the Catholic parish of the city.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the=

Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/061903.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop  of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and  salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 120
FRIDAY 20 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Ivan Merz a "Clear Guide for Europe," Say Bishops in Bosnia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• War Moved Merz Toward Sanctity
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Franciscan Superior Puts Focus on Holiness in Era of Globalization
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishops' Statement on the Draft Treaty of European Constitution
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishop, 41, Named for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Archbishop Ncube Denies Allegation of Plot Against Mugabe
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Ivan Merz a "Clear Guide for Europe," Say Bishops in Bosnia

Episcopal Letter in Advance of Papal Visit

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina,
anticipating this weekend's beatification of Ivan Merz, called the educator "a
clear guide for a de-Christianized Europe."

In a letter, the bishops described Merz (1896-1928) as "the first lay believer
of the Croatian people" to be raised to the altar.

John Paul II will travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina this Sunday to preside over the
beatification of the young Catholic layman, student, soldier, intellectual and
teacher.

"Ivan Merz is a clear guide for a de-Christianized Europe in the agony of doubts
and contemporary temptations," the bishops say in their letter. He is "a call to
modern Europe" to return to its Christian roots, they add.

According to a Vatican Radio report, the bishops wrote: "That which many people
worked for for decades, and prayed for in many places, at last is being
realized."

"Ivan Merz really has something to say and also to demonstrate to young members
of the Church of Christ, both in our dioceses as well as throughout Europe," the
bishops' letter continues.

The letter points out that when Ivan was a boy, "he was not someone special." He
came "to know Christ gradually, day after day, in prayer, in sorrow, in the
sufferings of war, and in deepening thought, in the course of his brief but
intense 32-year life."

An "example of obedience" and "precursor" of the Second Vatican Council, he
perceived the need to renew the Church and to value the laity, the bishops say.

The future blessed, the prelates add, "is a direct proof that 'a normal man,'
who does not belong to a particular spiritual order, can exercise holiness of
life where he lives and grows, in the culture to which he belongs, where he
resides and works."

* * *

War Moved Merz Toward Sanctity

Educator to Be Beatified This Weekend

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The man who will be beatified this
weekend by John Paul II in Bosnia-Herzegovina had taken an unusual path to
sanctity.

Ivan Merz's spiritual journey was singular, especially the first phase of his
formation. Without living in a family atmosphere, or going through a novitiate
or seminary, and without even having a constant spiritual director, he
discovered the road to sanctity.

For that reason, Merz, an intellectual and educator who died at age 32, has been
described as "spiritually spontaneous."

Merz was born in Banja Luka on Dec. 16, 1896. He studied in that city until
1915. After a brief period at the Military Academy of Wiener Neustadt, he
enrolled in the University of Vienna, with the intention of dedicating his life
to the education of Bosnian youth.

He followed the example of his teacher, professor Ljubomir Marakovic, to whom he
was grateful for having helped him to discover the richness of the Catholic
faith.

Merz was recruited by the army in March 1916 and sent to the Italian front,
where he spent most of his time between 1917 and 1918.

The experience of the war contributed to his rapid spiritual development.
Distressed by the horrors he saw, he dedicated himself to the pursuit of
Christian perfection.

After the war, he returned to his studies in Vienna and subsequently went to
Paris, where he wrote his doctoral thesis on "The Influence of the Liturgy on
French Writers from Chateaubriand to Our Days." He received a doctorate in
philosophy from the University of Zagreb.

For the rest of his life he taught German and French language and literature.

Ivan Merz, a pioneer of Catholic Action, responded to Pope Pius XI's directives
to form an elite of apostles who would work for the "renewal of all things in
Christ." He was also a pioneer of the Croatian Liturgical Movement, undertaking
initiatives that anticipated the guidelines set decades later by the Second
Vatican Council.

He died in Zagreb on May 10, 1928. His mortal remains are preserved in Zagreb's
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where he attended Mass during the last six years
of his life.

His process of beatification began in Zagreb in 1958. Last Dec. 20 the decree of
recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession was promulgated, opening
the doors to the beatification.

The miracle attributed to Merz's intercession was experienced by Anica
Ercegovic. Ercegovic, then 29, was instantly cured of pulmonary tuberculosis in
July 1930, while praying at Merz's tomb.

The beatification is planned Sunday in Banja Luka.
* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

Reading the Bible With the Church Fathers

Interview With Historian Robert Louis Wilken

ROME, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Interest in the wisdom and writings of the
Church fathers has exploded recently among Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox
Christians.

In an effort to describe the spiritual and theological vision of the fathers,
University of Virginia Church-historian Robert Louis Wilken has published a new
book, "The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God" (Yale).
He discussed his book with ZENIT while in Rome as a McCarthy lecturer at the
Gregorian University.

Q: The title of your book brings to mind Étienne Gilson's book "The Spirit of
Medieval Philosophy." Was this a conscious decision on your part?

Wilken: I would not want to compare myself with the great Catholic philosopher
and historian of philosophy Étienne Gilson, but there was a sense in which I
hoped to do for the world of the early Church what Gilson had done for medieval
philosophy.

Of course there are large differences between early Christian thought and
medieval thought. But Gilson hoped to give readers a feel for what animated the
whole, hence the term "spirit" in the title.

Also, though he dealt with Christian thought in a particular historical period,
the Middle Ages, he intended his book to say something about the ongoing
significance of medieval philosophy....

My aim was to depict the pattern of Christian thinking as it took shape in the
first centuries, how Christians thought about the things they believed. I try to
see things whole, to present persons and ideas as part of a common tradition
rooted in a specific historical period yet not bound to time. Though long dead,
the Church fathers maintain their ground.

Q: It is apparent in your book how central the Bible was for the Church fathers.
Why is this fact often obscured in the histories of the early Church?

Wilken: There has been a major shift in the study of the early Church in the
last two generations. In the 1940s a group of French Jesuits, most notably Jean
Danielou and Henri de Lubac, began to publish a series of early Christian texts
entitled "Sources Chrétiennes," or Christian sources.

Danielou and de Lubac were reacting against the way theology was being taught in
Catholic seminaries and schools of theology in the early part of the 20th
century. They felt that theology had lost contact with the imaginative world of
the Bible, a world of images and metaphors, of story and history, and believed
that the way to recover this aspect of Christian thinking was to publish modern
translations of classical Christian texts.

Today, "Sources Chrétiennes" is approaching 500 volumes and many are of works
that had never been translated into a modern language. Some were biblical
commentaries, for example, a large commentary on the Gospel of John by Origen of
Alexandria, the first great Christian biblical scholar.

In the book I give many examples of how the Bible shaped Christian thinking, for
example, the doctrine of the Trinity, the person of Christ, the moral life. Even
a topic such as the freedom of the will, something that had long been discussed
by Greek philosophers, became for Christians a discussion about the proper
interpretation of key biblical texts.

As I tell my students, in reading the Church fathers one should always have a
Bible open on one's desk.

Q: The title of your McCarthy lecture at the Gregorian was "The Inevitability of
Allegory." Many people today believe that "allegory," giving a passage another
sense than the plain sense, has no place in modern biblical interpretation.
Isn't the historical approach to the Bible one of the most important
developments in Catholic thinking in the 20th century?

Wilken: It is indeed. And again a little history might help clarify things. The
same year that "Sources Chrétiennes" began publishing, 1943, Pope Pius XII
issued the encyclical, "Divino Afflante Spiritu." This encyclical was the magna
carta for Catholic biblical scholarship.

However, just at the moment that Catholic biblical scholars believed they had
won the right to study the Bible historically, another group of Catholic
scholars were urging a reappropriation of the classical Christian way of
interpreting the Bible.

So there is some tension between how the Church fathers interpret and use the
Bible and how modern historical scholarship views things. Yet I don't think that
they are in fundamental conflict, and in many respects they complement one
another.

Q: Could you give an example?

Wilken: You will remember the well-known passage in Romans 10 where St. Paul
says it is not possible to believe unless one has heard, and one cannot hear
without a preacher. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the preaching of
Christ. Then he quotes from Psalm 19, "Their voice has gone out to all the
earth, and their words to the ends of the world."

In its original setting the first part of Psalm 19 -- Psalm 18 in the Vulgate --
celebrates the silent witness of the heavens to the majesty of God. "The heavens
are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. ...
There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard."

Paul, however, interprets the text not in relation to the knowledge of God
displayed in creation but as a psalm about the mission of the apostles. He
understands the psalm in relation to the new thing that had happened, the coming
of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel. In other words, he gives the passage
another sense than its obvious or plain meaning.

Paul's interpretation of the psalm had large consequences, for it passed over
into the Church's worship, most notably in daily prayer. Whenever we celebrate
the feast of an apostle, one of the psalms appointed to be read in the office of
readings is Psalm 19 whose words "their voice has gone out to the limits of the
earth, their words to the end of the world" are used as the antiphon.

For those who pray with the Church the apostolic interpretation of Psalm 19 is
as familiar and natural as the original or plain sense of the psalm.

This does not mean that the original meaning of the psalm is abandoned. It
stands confidently as a testimony to the witness of creation to the mystery and
majesty of God. At the same time the allegorical or spiritual interpretation
became a precious and fixed part of the Church's life and worship. The two
interpretations live comfortably side by side.

Q: It is interesting that the example you chose comes from the Church's prayer,
from worship. What is the relation between liturgy and the interpretation of the
Bible?

Wilken: The Church fathers were men of prayer and even when writing learned
treatises in their studies they were never far from the Church's worship. In the
liturgy they came to know Christ not so much as a historical figure from the
past, but as a living person present in the Eucharist.

When they opened their Bibles they discovered this same Christ not only in the
writings of the evangelists and St. Paul but also in the Old Testament. In the
liturgy the words of the Scripture are alive and filled with the mystery of
Christ.

For example, in the great Vigil of Easter in ancient times, when the newly
baptized were preparing to receive communion for the first time, Psalm 42 was
sung: "As the deer yearns for living waters, so longs my soul for you, O Lord."

The regular reading of the Scriptures in the liturgy and the recitation of the
psalms in daily prayer worked powerfully on the minds of Christian interpreters.
One might say that the Bible provided a lexicon of words for Christian speech
and the liturgy a grammar of how they are to be used.

Q: What is the enduring significance of the early Christian understanding of the
Bible?

Wilken: In spite of its many accomplishments, a strictly historical approach to
the Bible can only give us a medley of documents from different times and places
in the ancient world. It cannot give us the book of the Church, the Scriptures
as heard by Christians for centuries, the psalms imprinted on the Church's soul,
the words and images that bear witness to the Holy Trinity.

If we ignore the first readers of the Bible we are left with a collection of
fragments, interesting in their own right, but lacking the unity that only the
living Christ can give.
* * *

Franciscan Superior Puts Focus on Holiness in Era of Globalization

Talks About Priorities and Challenges of Friars Minor

ASSISI, Italy, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Members of the Order of Friars Minor
pledge to be faithful to their life way of prayer, contemplation, fraternity,
poverty and evangelization, as a response to John Paul II's call to holiness.

So says the new minister general of the Franciscan order, Father José Rodríguez
Carballo, in an interview on Vatican Radio.

"I think that to the degree that we are faithful to what we promised in our
religious profession, to that degree we will consider the Holy Father's
invitation and respond to this fundamental exigency of Franciscan and Christian
life: to be saints," the priest said as he analyzed the topics examined during
the order's 185th general chapter here.

To carry out the task of evangelization, Father Carballo emphasized the need for
collaboration -- "being an instrument of globalization" -- in order to "share
what we are and what we have."

"Our missionary presence tends, precisely, to create this fraternal
globalization, respecting differences, without excluding anyone," he said.

The new minister general also stressed the role of Franciscans "in this society,
so intensely divided and violent": "to witness that it is possible to be
brothers and to live as friends despite the differences."

In this context, Father Carballo mentioned the Holy Land, whose hope for peace
"necessarily entails the commitment to dialogue, to listening, and to respect
for the other by all parties in the conflict."

"Moreover, we must not forget that we can never use the name of God to fight
against others," he added. "As the Gospel says, our God causes the sun to rise
on all."
* * *

Bishops' Statement on the Draft Treaty of European Constitution

"Some Serious Reservations …"

BRUSSELS, Belgium, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the statement of the
Executive Committee of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the
European Community (COMECE) on the draft treaty establishing a Constitution for
the European Union. The statement was published today.

The consensus reached by the European Convention, after intense work and
discussion, on the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European
Union marks an important step in preparing the Union to address the challenge of
its enlargement and to promote the common good in Europe and the world. We
should therefore like to welcome this remarkable achievement, whilst also
expressing some serious reservations regarding certain points.

We believe that the fact that Europe's religious inheritance is explicitly
invoked as one of the sources of inspiration for this Constitution is a
significant advance for the European Union. Accordingly, we welcome the
recognition in the Preamble that "the cultural, religious and humanist
inheritance of Europe has embedded within the life of society its perception of
the central role of the human person and his inviolable and inalienable rights."

The Constitution will form the basis for future decisions on EU legislation and
policy. It is therefore appropriate that Member States' respect for the values
outlined in Article 2 should be objectively verifiable. We welcome the fact that
those values -- "respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the
rule of law and respect for human rights" -- as well as the principal objective
of the Union set out in Article 3 -- "to promote peace, its values and the
well-being of its peoples" -- also reflect Christian anthropology and social
teaching.

The proposal to accord the Union legal personality strengthens its identity as a
community of values and actor on the international stage. In our view, it should
now sign the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Liberties,
which has served as the benchmark for human rights protection in Europe for more
than fifty years.

The incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as the second part of the
Constitution is another important step towards strengthening the protection of
citizens' rights at the level of the Union. Nevertheless, we should like to
point out again some important lacunae in the text of the Charter, especially
with regard to cloning, marriage and family, and religious liberty (see
Observations of the COMECE Secretariat on the draft Charter of Fundamental
Rights of the European Union, 18 October 2000, available at www.comece.org or on
request from the COMECE Secretariat). We therefore welcome the confirmation that
the Charter will be applied only to the policies and actions of the EU and thus
will respect Member States' prerogative to legislate in these sensitive areas.

Draft Title VI of the Constitution on the Democratic Life of the Union should
help citizens to participate more actively in the European democratic process by
recognizing the horizontal dimension of subsidiarity as well as its vertical
dimension; that is, that different actors in civil society have different
characteristics and competences, and that these must be taken into account in
the democratic process. The increasing complexity of modern society makes the
need for novel approaches to democratic participation all the more urgent.

We particularly welcome draft Article 51, which guarantees the European Union's
respect for the status of Churches and religious communities in the Member
States based on their different constitutional traditions. The provision for
open, transparent and regular dialogue reflects the specific contribution of
churches and religious communities, distinct from secular authority, at the
service of European society as a whole.

The final draft of the Preamble is an improvement on the original proposal made
by the Presidium of the Convention. By removing the references to Greece, Rome
and the Enlightenment, the historical inaccuracy of omitting Christianity has
been corrected. In our view, however, an inclusive reference to the contribution
of Christianity, without which Europe would not be what it is today, remains
essential. Moreover, we believe that the reference to "responsibilities towards
the Earth" raises questions as it seems to personalize the Earth. Likewise, the
identification of Europe as a "special area of human hope" would seem to require
qualification as it suggests an overly Euro-centric worldview. Along with many
of our fellow citizens, we also continue to believe that a reference to God
should be included in this constitutional text as a guarantee of the freedom and
dignity of the human person. We think that this completion is necessary and
could be achieved without discriminating against anyone.

The Convention has developed further the debate on the future of Europe. It is
to be hoped that this will be continued. We call upon the Heads of State and
Government and the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference to ensure that the
progress made by the Convention is not undermined.

NOTES

The President of COMECE is Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, Germany. The
Vice-Presidents are Bishop Adrianus van Luyn of Rotterdam, Netherlands, and
Archbishop Hippolyte Simon of Clermont, France.

COMECE is a commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conferences of the member states
of the European Union. The Bishops' Conferences of the Czech Republic, Hungary,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland are associate
members.

* * *

Bishop, 41, Named for Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada

OTTAWA, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II named Salvatorian Basilian
Father Ibrahim Ibrahim as bishop of the Holy Savior Eparchy of Montreal for
Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada.

The eparchy has been without a bishop since the death of Sleiman Hajjar in March
2002.

Born on March 22, 1962, in Jinsnaya, Lebanon, Bishop-elect Ibrahim was ordained
to the priesthood for the Salvatorian Basilian Order on July 18, 1987, in Saida,
Lebanon.

He received a bachelor's degree in theology from the Gregorian University in
Rome, and a master's in theology from the Lateran University.

He has ministered primarily in the United States of America. At the time of his
nomination was pastor of St. Elias Parish in Cleveland, Ohio. He is head of the
Eparchial Commission on Ecumenism and Interreligious Questions for the
Greek-Melkite Church.

The Catholic population of the Greek-Melkite Church in Canada is 43,000, served
by 15 priests, one permanent deacon, and 10 religious in 10 parishes and
missions.

The Greek-Melkite Catholic Church is one of seven Eastern-rite Churches in
Canada.

* * *

Archbishop Ncube Denies Allegation of Plot Against Mugabe

Zimbabwean Prelate Persecuted by Pro-government Newspaper

HARARE, Zimbabwe, JUNE 19, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo
rejected allegations made by a pro-Mugabe newspaper about his recent visit to
the United States and meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

In statements to the Misna missionary agency, Archbishop Ncube said he had gone
to the United States on a human rights trip.

The Chronicle newspaper on May 22 reported that the archbishop held a two-hour
meeting with Powell to discuss how the United States could intervene to remove
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe from power.

In fact, the meeting lasted only 25 minutes, the archbishop said. "It was a
courtesy call, arranged for me by some of my friends who are concerned about
human rights and the peace process globally and in Zimbabwe in particular," he
said.

The archbishop, known for his strong stance for human rights, said there was no
talk of a change of government in Zimbabwe, but rather concern about the
humanitarian crisis of starvation.

"I affirmed that feeding programs by the World Food Program in both rural and
urban areas were still necessary in Zimbabwe," he said. The prelate urged the
WFP to help feed 3 million hungry people in the southern African nation of 11.3
million.

Archbishop Ncube also denied the Chronicle's report that he received a reward
from Powell for his stance against the government. The newspaper in the past has
labeled the archbishop a tribalist and a politician. In April the same paper
spread rumors that he was about to form a political party.

"I do not preach politics from the pulpit as they allege," Archbishop Ncube
said. "I preach that all of us are made in the image of God and our government
has a duty to respect us."

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062003.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her=

cause and to perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her
honor. It has continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore
Cardinal McCarrick, and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of
Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of  the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
Notici

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 121
MONDAY 23 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CORPUS CHRISTI: HOLY FATHER PRESIDES AT MASS, PROCESSION
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope's Address on Arrival in Bosnia-Herzegovina
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Homily During Ivan Merz's Beatification
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Address Before Recitation of the Angelus in Banja Luka
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Rosaries by the Millions for World Peace
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Euro Leaders Say They Hope to Improve the Draft Constitution
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

CORPUS CHRISTI: HOLY FATHER PRESIDES AT MASS, PROCESSION

VATICAN CITY, JUN 19, 2003 (VIS) - For the 25th time in his pontificate, Pope
John Paul presided at Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi this evening in front
of St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome,
following which he processed to St. Mary Major Basilica with the Eucharist in an
open vehicle. Cardinal Vicar Camillo Ruini celebrated Mass and the Pope
delivered the homily.

   The Holy Father referred several times to his encyclical on the Eucharist,
dated Holy Thursday of this year, saying that the feast of Corpus Christi
reminds us of the "evocative celebration" of the Last Supper and the institution
of the Eucharist. "This evening, with profound gratitude to God, we remain in
silence before the mystery of the faith - 'mysterium  fidei'. We contemplate it
with that intimate feeling that, in the encyclical, I called 'Eucharistic awe'.
... We contemplate the face of Christ, as did the
Apostles and, following them, the saints throughout the centuries."

   He remarked that "the bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, his brothers in
the episcopacy and priesthood, all religious, consecrated lay people and all the
baptized live by the Eucharist. And in a special way Christian families are
nourished by the Eucharist. ... Dear families of Rome! The living Eucharistic
presence of Christ nourishes in you the grace of marriage and allows you to
progress on the path of conjugal and family holiness."

   "After Mass," said John Paul II, "we will proceed, praying and singing, to the
basilica of St. Mary Major. With this procession, we intend to symbolically
express our being as pilgrims, 'viatores', towards the heavenly kingdom. We are
not alone on our pilgrimage: Christ, the bread of life, walks with us."

   The Prayers of the Faithful included petitions for Pope John Paul, for the
Church in Rome, for families, "especially those living moments of fatigue and
difficulty," and for "the peoples of the Holy Land and for all those who, in
various parts of the world, are living the drama of war,  oppression, and social
injustice; May the Lord uproot hatred, calm dissent, and  inspire in governments
farsightedness and the will to seek solutions that
respect the dignity of every man."

   St. Juliana of Mont Cornillon, born near Lieges, Belgium in 1193, was an
Augustinian nun who during her years at the Mont Cornillon convent learned in
repeated visions that the Lord wanted a feast to honor the institution of the
Eucharist. She worked indefatigably to persuade Bishop Robert de  Thorete of
Liege to institute such a feast, which he did decree in 1246, stating that it
should be celebrated locally on the Thursday after the octave of the Trinity.
St. Juliana died in 1258.

   Pope Urban IV (1261-1264), who had been archdeacon in Liege, knew of  this
feast and formally extended it to the entire Church when he published the Bull
"Transiturus" on September 8, 1264. He ordered the feast to be celebrated on the
Thursday after Trinity Sunday and granted many indulgences to the faithful who
attended Mass and recited the Office. Urban IV had asked St. Thomas Aquinas, a
friend of St. Juliana's, to compose the Office, which is still used today. The
Council of Vienna confirmed Urban IV's Bull in 1312 and from that time on this
feast became general.

   The processions that take place today on this feast sprung up spontaneously
centuries ago in various European villages and towns. The procession In Rome
between the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major began in the late
1400's. Its current itinerary began in 1575  when the road that now directly
links the two churches was built on the orders of Pope Gregory XIII. This route
was followed for more than 300 years  until the procession fell into disuse. It
was resumed in 1979 by Pope John Paul II.
* * *

Pope's Address on Arrival in Bosnia-Herzegovina

"A Genuine Purification of Memory Through Mutual Forgiveness"

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, JUNE 22, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the
address John Paul II delivered on arrival this morning at the airport of Banja
Luka, in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Illustrious Members of the Presidency of Bosnia Herzegovina,
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,
Distinguished Authorities,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. With gratitude for your invitation, I have returned after six years to
Bosnia-Herzegovina. I give thanks to God for allowing me once again to meet
peoples who have always been so close to my heart.

I thank the Honorable Members of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, for their
cordial greeting and for all that they, together with the other Authorities,
have done to make my visit possible.

I greet my dear brother, the Most Reverend Franjo Komarica, the Bishop of Banja
Luka, together with the other Bishops and all the faithful of the Catholic
Church. I greet our brothers and sisters of the Serbian Orthodox Church and of
the other Ecclesial Communities, and the followers of Islam and Judaism.

2. Knowing that I am entering your homes through radio and television, I greet
and embrace all of you, dear people living in the different parts of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. I know the long ordeal which you have endured, the burden of
suffering which is daily a part of your lives, the temptations to discouragement
and resignation which you experience. I stand beside you in asking the
international community, which already has done so much, to continue to be close
to you and to help you to reach quickly a situation of full security in justice
and harmony.

You yourselves must be the primary builders of your future! The tenacity of your
character and the rich human, cultural and religious traditions which
distinguish you are your true wealth. Do not give up! Certainly starting afresh
is not easy. It requires sacrifice and steadfastness; it requires knowing how to
sow seeds and then to wait patiently. But you know that starting afresh is
nevertheless possible. Trust in God's help, and trust too in human initiative.

3. If society is to take on a truly human face and everyone is to look to the
future with confidence, it is necessary to rebuild man from within, healing
wounds and achieving a genuine purification of memory through mutual
forgiveness. The root of every good and, sadly, of every evil is in the depths
of the heart (cf. Mk 7:21-23). It is there that change must occur, making it
possible to renew the fabric of society and to establish human relationships
which favor cooperation between the vital forces present in the country.

In this regard, a grave responsibility belongs to those who, by the will of the
electorate, democratically govern the nation: may they not renounce this
indispensable task because of present difficulties, nor should they let
themselves be pressured by partisan interests.

The Catholic Church seeks to make her own contribution to this common
undertaking through the practical involvement of her sons and daughters,
particularly through her various initiatives in the areas of education, aid and
human development, in the free exercise of her specific mission.

4. Shortly, during the celebration of Holy Mass, I will have the joy of
enrolling among the Blessed the young Ivan Merz, born here in Banja Luka, an
illustrious example of Christian life and apostolic commitment.

By his prayers may he confirm the hopes and good wishes which the Pope today
expresses for Bosnia-Herzegovina, so that present problems will find a positive
solution, and that the country will see realized its aspiration to become part
of united Europe in a context of prosperity, freedom and peace.


* * *

John Paul II's Homily During Ivan Merz's Beatification

"Resolutely Counter Evil With the Power of Good"

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, JUNE 22, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the
homily John Paul II delivered at today's beatification Mass of Ivan Merz
(1896-1928), held next to the Convent of the Holy Trinity in Banja Luka.

1. "You are the light of the world". Jesus today repeats these words for us,
dear brothers and sisters, for our liturgical assembly. They are not simply a
moral exhortation. They are a statement of fact which expresses an essential
requirement flowing from the reception of Baptism.

By virtue of this sacrament human beings become members of the Mystical Body of
Christ (cf. Rom 6:3-5). The Apostle Paul states: "As many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal 3:27). Saint Augustine rightly
exclaimed: "Let us rejoice and give thanks: we have become not only Christians
but Christ himself. ... Marvel and rejoice, for we have become Christ" ("In
Ioann. Evang. Tract." 21:8, CCL 36:216).

Christ is "the true light that enlightens every man" (Jn 1:9). Christians for
their part are called to become a reflection of this Light by following and
imitating Jesus. For this reason they will listen to and meditate on Christ's
word, take conscious and active part in the Church's liturgical and sacramental
life, and carry out the commandment of love by serving their brothers and
sisters, especially the helpless, the poor and the suffering.

2. I greet with affection the Bishop of Banja Luka and President of the
Episcopal Conference, the Most Reverend Franjo Komarica, and I thank him for his
cordial words of greeting at the beginning of this Eucharistic celebration. My
respectful greeting also goes to the other Bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and in
particular to Cardinal Vinko Puljic, the Archbishop of Vhrbosna and a native of
this Diocese, and to the other Cardinals and Bishops who join us. I greet in the
Lord all the pilgrims who have gathered here from different parts of this
country and from neighboring nations.

I send a fraternal greeting to His Beatitude Patriarch Pavle and the Members of
the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The new vitality recently gained
in our journey towards mutual understanding, reciprocal respect and fraternal
solidarity is a cause for joy and hope for this region.

My greetings go also to the members of the other Ecclesial Communities of
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and to the members of the Jewish community and the Islamic
community.

I greet the Honorable Members of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina and all
the other civil and military Authorities. I very much appreciate your presence
and I thank you for all that you have contributed to the organization of my
visit to your country.

Finally to you, the beloved sons and daughters of this pilgrim Church in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, I open wide my arms in order to embrace you and tell you
that you have an important place in the Pope's heart. He constantly brings
before the Lord in prayer the sufferings which still burden your journey and he
shares with you in hope the expectation of better days.

From this city, marked in the course of history by so much suffering and
bloodshed, I ask Almighty God to have mercy on the sins committed against
humanity, human dignity and freedom also by children of the Catholic Church, and
to foster in all the desire for mutual forgiveness. Only in a climate of true
reconciliation will the memory of so many innocent victims and their sacrifice
not be in vain, but encourage everyone to build new relationships of fraternity
and understanding.

3. Dear brothers and sisters, the just man, surrounded by divine light, becomes
in turn a lamp which radiates light and gives warmth. This is what we learn
today from the figure of Ivan Merz.

A gifted young man, he made a good return on his rich natural talents and
obtained great human success: it can be said that he had a very successful life.
But that is not the reason why he is today declared Blessed. What makes him one
of the choir of the Beati is his success in God's eyes. The great aspiration of
his whole life was "never to forget God, to desire always to be one with him".
In all his activities Ivan Merz sought "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ
Jesus" and he allowed Christ to make him his own (cf. Phil 3:8,12).

4. At the school of the liturgy, the source and summit of the Church's life (cf.
"Sacrosanctum Concilium," 10), Ivan Merz grew to the fullness of Christian
maturity and became one of the principal promoters of the liturgical renewal in
his country.

Taking part in Mass and drawing nourishment from the Body of Christ and the Word
of God, he drew the inspiration to become an apostle of young people. It was not
by chance that he chose as his motto "Sacrifice -- Eucharist -- Apostolate".
Conscious of the vocation he had received in Baptism, he made his whole life a
"race" towards holiness, the "high standard" of Christian life (cf. "Novo
Millennio Ineunte," 31). For this reason, as the First Reading says, "his memory
will not disappear, and his name will live through all generations" (Sir 39:9).

5. The name of Ivan Merz has meant in the past a program of life and of activity
for an entire generation of young Catholics. Today too it must do the same! Your
country and your Church, dear young people, have experienced difficult times and
now there is a need to work together so that life on all levels will fully
return to normal. I therefore appeal to each of you; I invite you not to step
back, not to yield to the temptation to become discouraged, but to multiply
initiatives which will make Bosnia-Herzegovina once more a land of
reconciliation, encounter and peace.

The future of this land depends also on you! Do not seek a more comfortable life
elsewhere, do not flee from your responsibilities and expect others to resolve
problems, but resolutely counter evil with the power of good.

Like Blessed Ivan, strive for a personal encounter with Christ which sheds new
light on life. May the Gospel be the great ideal guiding your approaches and
your decisions! Thus you will become missionaries in word and deed, signs of
God's love and credible witnesses of the merciful presence of Christ. Never
forget: "one does not light a lamp and put it under a bushel" (cf. Mt 5:15).

6. Dear brothers and sisters who take part with such fervor in this celebration,
may the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keep your heart and
your spirit in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ!

This is the prayer and the wish which, through the intercession of Blessed Ivan
Merz, the Pope today offers for you and for all the peoples of
Bosnia-Herzegovina.


* * *

Papal Address Before Recitation of the Angelus in Banja Luka

At the Close of Mass of Beatification

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, JUNE 22, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the
address John Paul II delivered today at the conclusion of the Mass of
beatification of Ivan Merz, before the Pope prayed the Angelus with the
faithful.


1. An important source of strength in the life of Blessed Ivan Merz was, along
with the Eucharist, his tender devotion to the Mother of the Lord.

At the conclusion of this liturgy, we too lift our eyes to the Virgin Mary and
we join the whole Church in repeating the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel and
in contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. We ask Mary
to help us "to contemplate the face of Christ and to experience the depths of
his love" ("Rosarium Virginis Mariae," 1).

2. With affection I greet the German-speaking pilgrims. Through the intercession
of the new Blessed, may the Lord make you, like him, strong in faith, firm in
hope and fruitful in charity. I cordially bless you.

To you, brothers and sisters of the Hungarian language, go my very cordial
greetings and my prayerful good wishes that God's grace will guide your steps
and enlighten your lives. With affection I bless you.

Remembering the commitment of Blessed Ivan Merz to Catholic Action, I greet the
Italian-speaking faithful. May his example as a Christian layperson help each of
you to respond faithfully to the vocation you have received. I cordially bless
all of you.

To the pilgrims from Serbia and Montenegro I offer an affectionate greeting and
my blessing. Dear friends, may the intercession of the Mother of the Lord and of
Blessed Ivan obtain for you an abundance of divine graces.

I cordially greet the faithful from Croatia, who are honored to have given the
Church a new Blessed. May his example guide you along the paths of the Lord!
With my Blessing [...]

3. To the Mother of the Lord I entrust my prayer for all of you and my heartfelt
gratitude for the cordial welcome you have given me.

And one final prayer: by her powerful intercession, may the Virgin Mary obtain
for you from her Son Jesus the grace of preserving the integrity of your faith,
the firmness of your hope and at all times the fervor of your charity.


* * *

Rosaries by the Millions for World Peace

GUATEMALA CITY, JUNE 22, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Catholics in Guatemala have prayed
3.7 million rosaries since the start of a prayer campaign for world peace last
March, officials say.

A lay group promoting the initiative has already run out of sign-up forms for
people who want to volunteer to pray the rosary.

On May 18, John Paul II's birthday, a 15-kilo box of signed forms were sent to
the Vatican as an indication of the 2.7 million rosaries that had been prayed.
That number has risen by 1 million -- and is still climbing, say organizers.

Regnum Mariae, the organization that is promoting the initiative, is dedicated
to spreading devotion to Mary, following the spirituality of St. Louis Marie
Grignon de Montfort.

The campaign, which includes the distribution of a guide to pray the rosary,
sent the signed forms to the Pope in response to his appeal for prayer for
peace, especially in the Middle East.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

We have already learned about fidelity, assiduity, and reverence as necessary
virtues to carry on the appropriate attitude for lectio divina. Another virtue
required for this disposition in lectio divina is “compunction”. “The term most
often used in monastic tradition for the feeling that the Bible inspires in us
is compunction.” (29).

Lectio divina helps us discover our inner spiritual selves. Spiritual reading
exposes “the wounds that life has inflicted” and helps us come to terms with
them so that healing can take place. (31).

Part of the healing process is our renewed understanding of authentic freedom
that Christ gives that liberates us.  “Living a spiritual life in obedience to
the mandates of the Gospel involves considerable curtailment of options—the
Christian is expected to abstain from a whole alphabet of vices from adultery to
zoophilia. . . . We are not merely told to “avoid evil and do good” (Psalm
34:14), we are given the incentive and desire to do so. . . We come with a will
that is receptive and ready to be influenced.” (31).  Without this proper
interior disposition of compunction lectio divina becomes nothing more than an
empty reading excerise.

“The world of compunction is the world of sensibility to God. We allow God to
act upon us not only by the medium of ideas but also through our feelings.
Imagine how artificial a relationship between two persons would be if it
involved only ideas; no sight or sound or touches. . . It is emotion that bonds
us with other persons. And so, we cannot relate to God feeling nothing.”

It is the emotions through compunction that lead us to God.  This relationship
deepens. The deeper the spiritual life becomes the greater the transformation of
the human personality into Christ.  Ascetic nd mystical theologians speaks about
“spiritual senses and spiritual touches” as a “felt presence” of God by
“spiritual sensation”. (see Augustin François Poulain, The Graces of Interior
Prayer. Enlarged English ed. (St. Louis, MO: B. Herder, 1951 reprint): xlii,
Chapters V and VI).

Lectio divina is a spiritual journey to God. When we approach it with the
necessary care and appropriate dispositions of fidelity, assiduity, reverence,
and compunction we have not only a spiritual guide but God himself.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

Euro Leaders Say They Hope to Improve the Draft Constitution

Mention of Christian Heritage Is Still a Possibility

PORTO CARRAS, Greece, JUNE 22, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The draft of the European
Constitution was presented to the summit of leaders of state and government of
the European Union, who announced their intention to "improve it."

The text makes no reference to God or to the role of Christianity in the
configuration of the Old World, despite the fact that this was requested by
representatives of Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and Spain.

When presenting the document, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing exhorted the governments
to avoid making alterations to the text that might affect carefully thought-out
agreements.

The proposal to mention the Christian roots of Europe in the draft preamble has
not found the necessary majority in the European Convention which wrote the
document, says the former French president said. The draft preamble now only
mentions the continent's "religious heritage."

Franco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister, added that his government will
seek to have Christianity mentioned in the document, when the rotating
presidency of the European Union, now held by Greece, changes on July 1.
Otherwise, he said, "Christian tradition, a fact of European history, would be
denied."

Antonio López Istúriz, secretary-general of the European Popular Party,
confirmed that "the president of the party, José María Aznar, will defend the
explicit mention of the Christian heritage in the preamble of the European
Constitution, before the Intergovernmental Conference."

"The work of the Intergovernmental Conference will be a decisive moment in the
redaction of the European Constitution, and, just as President Aznar announced
in Salonika, it is necessary once again to defend the Christian heritage,
without which it is unthinkable to speak of Europe," López Istúriz stressed.

The European Council officially invited the Italian presidency, during its
mandate, to convoke the Intergovernmental Conference, which will prepare the
final version of the Constitution and which likely will begin in early October.

The objective is to conclude the working sessions before December, so that the
new Constitutional Treaty can be ratified by the 25 members states before the
June 2004 elections.

"A European Constitution which projects a future forgetting its roots, is
disturbing," the Convention of Christians for Europe said, in a statement issued
on the Salonika summit.

"When ideology rewrites history, the result is always scandalous," the note
added, disseminated in Italy by Giorgio Salina, the Convention's vice president
for Italy.
* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062303.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 122
TUESDAY 24 June 2003

Birth of St. John the Baptist

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Serbian Leader Grateful for Pope's Message of Peace
----------------------------------------------------------------
• BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: BACKGROUND AND STATISTICS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Lubich Honored for Contribution to Ecumenical Dialogue
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Postwar Church in Bosnia Still Rebuilding, Literally
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Djibouti Bishop Urges His Small Flock to Give Witness
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Neglect of Eucharistic Worship Seen as Compromising Church's Identity
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Challenge for Drug Addicts Is to Rediscover Their Dignity, Says Vatican
Official
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Ugandan Rebels on a Campaign Against Church
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Serbian Leader Grateful for Pope's Message of Peace

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, JUNE 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The president of the Republika
Srpska said that John Paul II's weekend visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina was of
"great importance" because of its message of peace and reconciliation.

"This is, perhaps, the strongest message of peace that is given to the world
from this land," President Dragan Cavic said, following the Pope's departure
Sunday.

Over Vatican Radio, the president of the Serbian entity of Bosnia explained that
the visit "is of great importance. In this country, after the years of war,
there is an enormous need for strong messages of peace and, of course, these
messages can come from leaders of the churches in Bosnia-Herzegovina."

"The Serbian population, which lives in this region, has motives for frustration
after the conflict we have lived through," Cavic said. "I am sure that the
Serbians, together with the Croats and Muslims, will know how to appreciate the
significance of this visit."

* * *

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: BACKGROUND AND STATISTICS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 23, 2003 (VIS) - When Pope John Paul landed Saturday morning
at Banja Luka International Airport in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he began his 101st
international pastoral trip and his second visit to this Balkan country, having
travelled to Sarajevo, the capital, on April 12 and 13, 1997.

   Formerly part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosniadeclared
its independence on January 9, 1992. Shortly afterwards, war broke out among the
three ethnic groups - Croatian, Bosnian-Muslim and Serb - and ended only with
the intervention of United Nations and NATO forces.

   On November 21, 1995 the Dayton Accords approved the integrity and sovereignty
of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, even though it was divided into two
entities, each having its own parliament and government: the Federation of
Bosnia-Herzegovina (Croatian-Muslim: 50 percent of  the territory) and the
Serbian Republic or Srpska (49 percent).

   The Federation is led by a president and vice-president,  alternatively
Croatian and Muslim. Legislative power is in the hands of Parliament,  which has
a Chamber of Deputies (140 members) and a Peoples' Chamber (74  members). From
an administrative standpoint the Federation is divided into 10 totally
autonomous cantons. The Serbian Republic is also led by a president and
vice-president and its National Assembly has 140 members.

   Brcko is a special administrative unit that does not belong to either of the
above governments but rather is under the jurisdiction of the central government
of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

   The Collegial Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina is composed of
three members elected for four-year terms who represent the three ethnic groups:
1 Croat, 1 Muslim, 1 Serb. Each of the three members presides on a rotating
basis of 8 months. The central parliament is formed of two chambers: the Chamber
of Deputies (42 directly elected deputies: two-thirds Croat-Muslim, one-third
Serb) with its central offices in Sarajevo, and the Peoples' Chamber (5
delegates elected for each ethnic group), which
meets in Lukavica. The central executive branch is composed of a Council of
Ministers, named by the presidency, which is comprised of six members, each of
whom occupies the position of prime minister for eight months on a rotating
basis.

   The capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina is Sarajevo whose population is
approximately 360,000 people. Banja Luka is the second largest city with a
population of 143,079. The national language is Serbian-Croatian. Bosnians are
43.7 percent of the populace, Serbs 31.4, Croats 17.3 and the remaining 7.6
percent are other ethnic groups. Sunni Muslims comprise 43 percent of the
population, Orthodox 30, Catholics 11.3 and others are 15 percent.

* * *

Lubich Honored for Contribution to Ecumenical Dialogue

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, JUNE 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A Slovakian university
granted an honorary degree to Focolare Movement founder Chiara Lubich, as its
rector praised her as a "key personality of the ecumenical movement and
interreligious dialogue."

The state University of Trnava, founded in 1635, bestowed the honor today on
Lubich in a ceremony at the Mariapolis Center here.

Recalling Lubich's work, university rector Peter Blaho said: "Despite the
spiritual crisis human civilization is experiencing today, Christianity is able
to renew itself continually."

In his address, Ladislav Csontos, the dean of the School of Theology, said of
Lubich: "Her work was made present in Slovakia with the movement that had
already taken root at the time of the Communist regime, offering to those who
adhered to it, great spiritual support and the spirit of Vatican Council II to
the life of the local Church."

In her address, Lubich analyzed the roots of ecumenical dialogue are embedded in
the very life of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This relation of love that
arises from God is the force capable of transforming life in the family, in
society, in the Church, and in the ecumenical and interreligious field, she
said.

* * *

Postwar Church in Bosnia Still Rebuilding, Literally

Pope's Trip Helped Highlight the Plight

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia, JUNE 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II's visit to
Bosnia-Herzegovina helped to draw the attention of Catholics worldwide to the
need to reconstruct the Church in the country.

The destruction of churches and chapels was one of the most visible wounds of
the 1992-95 war. In the Diocese of Banja Luka alone, which the Pope visited
Sunday, 39 churches were destroyed and 22 suffered considerable damage. Nine
chapels were destroyed and 14 were damaged; two convents were devastated and one
severely damaged, as were 33 cemeteries.

In his greeting to the Holy Father during the Mass of beatification of Ivan Merz
(1896-1928), Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka lamented: "By the will of the
powerful of this land, today the Church in this region is on the edge of
complete elimination."

"Hundreds of thousands of Catholics are hoping to return to their own homes and
parishes," he said. "Despite the great wounds, we try to do good to everyone,
seeking tirelessly to promote reconciliation based on truth, justice and genuine
forgiveness."

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), an association of pontifical right, has been
helping with the reconstruction of churches in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Franciscan monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Petricevac, Banja Luka,
from which the Pope offered and asked forgiveness for the crimes of the past,
including those of Catholics, is an example of this task of reconstruction.

On the night of May 6-7, 1995, Serbian extremists of Petricevac destroyed the
parish church and set the neighboring Franciscan monastery on fire, causing the
death of one elderly friar. Shortly after, the faithful began to gather in the
blackened ruins of the monastery to pray and to attend Mass celebrated by the
Franciscans, who were lodged by the bishop of Komarica and nuns of the Blood of
Christ of Banja Luka.

Two years later, the Franciscans decided to reconstruct the monastery. Given the
difficult economic situation -- the unemployment rate nears 50% -- neither the
Franciscans nor the diocese are in a position to finance this project. So ACN
contributed 8,000 euros ($9,200) for this purpose.

Another project is the reconstruction of the parish Church of the Virgin's
Assumption in Jajce, a basilica with three naves, which was destroyed by Serbian
forces on Nov. 4, 1992, together with part of the adjoining Franciscan
monastery. ACN has contributed 15,000 euros to this project.

Another church under reconstruction is the Virgin's Nativity in Koto Varos,
built just before the war broke out, and burned no sooner the war began. ACN has
contributed 10,000 euros to this endeavor.

* * *

Djibouti Bishop Urges His Small Flock to Give Witness

Points to "Humility of Daily Life"

DJIBOUTI, JUNE 23, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- The bishop of Djibouti is urging the
Catholics in this small African republic to offer the public witness of their
faith -- even if they aren't here for long.

At the end of a recent Church meeting that focused on the Christian presence in
this state in the Horn of Africa, Bishop Giorgio Bertin issued a pastoral letter
to remind the small Catholic community of the value of its witness of the faith.

In the letter, entitled "You Shall Be My Witnesses in Djibouti," Bishop Bertin
writes: "After fifteen months of study, I would like to share with you the
fruits of our work as a stimulus for reflection and commitment for all those
Catholics who find themselves in Djibouti if only for a year or two."

"In fact, it must be said that except for a small group of permanent residents,
most of the Catholics called to offer a lifestyle of Christian witness in
Djibouti, are only here temporarily for a few months or a couple of years," he
adds.

"What counts," he continues, "is not the length of our presence, but the fact
that we are conscious that whatever the reason for our being here, the Lord asks
us to bear witness to God made man, God who manifests his divinity not in his
almighty power, but in the humility of daily life, lived at the service of the
truth and love for all men and women."

Bishop Bertin urges Catholics in Djibouti, living side by side with
non-Christians, to share in their daily life "with the local people the love
which God has given us, the hope he has placed in our hearts, and the faith he
has given us through no merit of our own."

Djibouti has a population of 638,000 (though estimates vary), 97.5% Muslim.
Christians comprise 2.31%, including Catholics at 2.25%. The Catholic Church is
organized in one diocese, which has five parishes and three mission stations.
There are two diocesan priests, four religious priests, five brothers, 19
sisters, 27 lay missionaries and 16 catechists.
* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

Prayer Before Lectio Divina

Lamb of God
Give me the grace
To read Your Word
As I ought

Lamb of God
Give me the grace
To understand Your Word
As You thought

Lamb of God
Give me the grace
To preach Your Word
As You taught. Amen.


In Chapter 2 “The Theological Basis of Lectio” (pages 35-47) Fr. Casey presents
us with the theology of Scripture reading.  The three main themes in monastic
theology of Scripture reading are: (1) to lead us to prayer and to
contemplation; (2) to safeguard us from ourselves and our subjectivism; (3) to
discover the gems to be mined in the text.

Schola Christi (The School of Christ) is what Sacred Scripture is in lectio
divina, and we are the students. To learn the Scriptures is to learn Christ.
This is the turn of the phrase of Saint Jerome: “Not to know the Scriptures is
to be ignorant of Christ.” (In Isaiam prophetam, prologus 1-2).

Just as in a university the student is the hearer of his teacher’s lectio, those
who take up the Scared Scriptures hear the Divine Master instruct them according
to his ways of divine love; how to read, understand, and to profess by thought,
word, and deed.

Just as we read about compunction opening us up with a willingness to listen and
be formed by God’s Word so too must any student of Christ listen and obey him. 
When lectio divina is prayerfully exercised it allows Christ to “inform” our
minds, “form” our faith, conscience, and spiritual vision, “reform” our behavior
by correcting bad habits and learning virtue, and “transform” our lives so that
we may “perform” words and deeds that “conform” to the kingdom.

When we allow Christ to “inform” our minds he nourishes us.  When we allow
Christ to “form” our faith, conscience, and spiritual vision, his grace
flourishes within us.  The efficacy becomes apparent. We who were “deformed”
become “reformed”. Lives that were “malformed” become “transformed”.  Through
Him, with Him, and in Him we conform ourselves, transform all things and perform
the works of grace.

Grant me the grace O Lord
To seek only You

For it is in finding You
That we find ourselves.

“Whatever part of the Scriptures we read, Christ our teacher is waiting to
instruct us. This is what the traditional Christocentric reading of the Bible
means. We learn not only about Christ but from Christ.” (36).

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

Neglect of Eucharistic Worship Seen as Compromising Church's Identity

According to President of Italian Center of Liturgical Action

PONTECORVO, Italy, JUNE 23, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- The abandonment of
eucharistic adoration, or ignorance of its importance, is a grave loss that
compromises the very identity of the Church, says a bishop.

Bishop Luca Brandolini of Sora-Aquino-Pontecorvo, the president of the Italian
Center of Liturgical Action, was commenting on John Paul II's encyclical
"Ecclesia de Eucharistia." In an interview with the newspaper Avvenire the
bishop stressed the Pope's expression "eucharistic worship."

"Naturally, it encompasses the terms 'adoration' and 'contemplation,'" Bishop
Brandolini explained. This "worship, in the specific Christian sense, namely, in
'Spirit and truth,' is defined above all as an interior attitude fruit of the
presence-action of the Spirit, and is destined to manifest itself, according to
the 'law of incarnation,' in authentic words and gestures that give life to the
forms of personal and community prayer."

From this it follows that eucharistic worship becomes an "experience of
listening, contemplation, adoration, offering, dialogue and communion," he said.

He noted that John Paul II's encyclical reads: "The worship of the Eucharist
outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church" and is
"an inexhaustible source of holiness."

The consequence derived from this is that "the abandonment or ignorance of this
worship, as has happened in some places, especially outside of Italy, is a grave
loss which, above all, compromises the ecclesial identity itself," he said.

Consequently, the bishop emphasized the need to relaunch eucharistic worship in
a way already provided in the 1967 instruction "Eucharisticum Mysterium" and in
the "Rite of Eucharistic Worship" published in 1973.

John Paul II "exhorts the pastors not only to give personal witness, but also to
encourage and promote the different forms of eucharistic worship, also to
maintain alive and to increase a 'tradition' that has produced fruits of
holiness in the Church," said Bishop Brandolini.

As to the forms of worship, the bishop said that the encyclical places as the
"inspiring principle" those that "express and favor the art of prayer, which in
tradition and ecclesial experience is, essentially, dialogue ... a dialogue made
up of listening to the Word of God and contemplation, which is favored through
prolonged silence, the response of song and prayer -- of praise, thanksgiving
and invocation."

* * *

Challenge for Drug Addicts Is to Rediscover Their Dignity, Says Vatican Official

Requires a Triple Confrontation, Including With Oneself, He Tells Conference

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Church helps drug addicts to
rediscover their dignity through the Gospel and renewed contact with their
families, says a Vatican official.

Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragán, president of the Pontifical Council for
Health Care Workers, explained the Church's position on the matter today when
addressing a congress organized by the Italian Federation of Therapeutic
Communities. The gathering is entitled "To Care for the Other -- Drug Addiction:
Between Experience and Morality."

The archbishop explained that "the Holy See proposes a three-point program,
based on prevention, repression and recovery in the light of values such as
solidarity, love and transcendence."

"These elements in some way must be integrated in a policy of the stages of
education for life and in a plan of a less depersonalized society for the new
generations," he added.

Archbishop Barragán later told Vatican Radio that the purpose of caring for drug
addicts is to help them "rediscover their own dignity."

To achieve this, "it is necessary to confront the Gospel, oneself and one's own
family," the archbishop said. "It is there where one can rediscover one's
dignity. As the Pope says, drugs are contrary to Christian morality because they
destroy life."

The archbishop pointed out the need to overcome the prejudice that describes
drug-producing countries as "underdeveloped, of the Third World, and poor, which
provide for the consumption of the rich and industrialized."

"If it is true that Bolivia, Peru and Colombia annually produce 800 tons of
heroine and cocaine, and that Africa is in the first place for its production of
marijuana, it is also true that in the modern and civilized West, the production
of amphetamines becomes a rival in quantity to that of more traditional drugs."

* * *

Ugandan Rebels on a Campaign Against Church

ROME, JUNE 23, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church in Uganda fears that it
may be the new target of rebels in a brutal insurgency in northern districts,
the Catholic Information Service for Africa reports.

During its 17-year insurgency against the government, the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA) has been known for abducting children to use as soldiers and sex slaves.

Following attempts by Church leaders to mediate a cease-fire between the rebels
and the government, LRA leader Joseph Kony is reported to have ordered Catholic
missions to be destroyed, priests and missionaries killed, and nuns attacked.

Last Wednesday, well-armed LRA rebels attacked an orphanage run by the Sacred
Heart Sisters and abducted 20 children, aged 7 to 17. The children were roped
together and marched off into the bush. Four managed to escape. The raid was
carried out at Adjumani, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the border with
Sudan.

A Loreto nun from the refugee camp in Adjumani visited the CISA offices in
Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday and confirmed the news.

Sister Anne Kelly said the abducted children were Ugandan and Sudanese. On
Thursday, her colleagues evacuated another 133 children from Adjumani to
relative safety at Moyo, across the River Nile, in northern Uganda.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062403.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.
__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 123
WEDNESDAY 25 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope Receives Grand Master of the Order of Malta
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Envoy Visits Chernobyl in Show of Solidarity
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Kasper Preaches in Methodist Church in Rome
----------------------------------------------------------------
• HOLY FATHER BLESSES BUST OF SERVANT OF GOD PAUL VI
----------------------------------------------------------------
• FREEING ONESELF FROM POVERTY THROUGH WORK
----------------------------------------------------------------
• VISIT VATICAN MUSEUMS ON INTERNET, PALM PILOT, CELL PHONES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Auctions Rare Papyri
----------------------------------------------------------------
•  LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Illinois Bishops Urge Institutions to Drop "Left Behind" Items
----------------------------------------------------------------
• 47 Universities Join in a Federation of Bioethics Centers
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Pope Receives Grand Master of the Order of Malta

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II received Fra Andrew
Bertie, prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, in
audience along with his entourage.

The Vatican press office gave no details about today's visit.

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and
Malta, better known as the Sovereign Order of Malta, has a twofold nature. It is
one of the most ancient religious Catholic orders, founded in Jerusalem around
1050. At the same time it has always been recognized by nations as an
independent subject of international law.

The order was born as a monastic community inspired by St. John the Baptist.
This community, which was created by Amalfitan Merchants, ran a hospice
providing care and shelter for pilgrims to the Holy Land. In 1113 it received
formal acknowledgment as a religious order from Pope Paschal II.

Today, although some members of the order are professed knights (having taken
the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience), others have pronounced only
the promise of obedience. Most of the order's 10,000 knights and dames are lay
members.

The order works in the field of medical and social care and humanitarian aid, in
more than 100 countries.
* * *

Papal Envoy Visits Chernobyl in Show of Solidarity

KIEV, Ukraine, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, in Ukraine
for a weeklong visit, went to the Chernobyl station to express John Paul II's
solidarity with the victims of the worst nuclear accident in history.

According to the nunciature in Kiev, the cardinal on Monday visited the ghost
city of Pripiat, a few kilometers from Chernobyl. The town's 45,000 inhabitants
were evacuated after the explosion of one of the nuclear station's reactors on
April 26, 1986.

Some 4,000 people continue to work in the station, closed in December 2000, to
ensure its dismantling and to guarantee the security of the site.

The papal envoy's visit is taking place in the context of celebrations organized
from June 23-27 by the Eastern-rite Catholic Church in Ukraine, on the second
anniversary of John Paul II's visit to the country.

The cardinal, who is president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace, met Ukrainian President Leonid Kutchma on Saturday. On Wednesday the
papal envoy will inaugurate a monument to the Pope.

The Holy Father visited Ukraine from June 23-27, 2001, to promote reconciliation
between Catholics and Orthodox, who constitute a majority in the former Soviet
republic.

* * *

Cardinal Kasper Preaches in Methodist Church in Rome

On the Third Centenary of John Wesley's Birth

ROME, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, preached at the Methodist
church of Sant'Angelo Bridge in the heart of Rome, in the context of an
ecumenical celebration.

The celebration Sunday marked the third centenary of the birth of Englishman
John Wesley, founder of the movement centered on the preaching of the Gospel,
which gave rise to the Methodists.

The cardinal began with the words "Brothers, Sisters, Friends," and relayed the
Pope's blessing, saying "the unity of the Church is in his heart."

Cardinal Kasper highlighted the dialogue that has been under way for 36 years
between Catholics and Methodists, "our ecumenical partners," the ANSA news
agency quoted him saying.

He also pointed out aspects of Wesley's testimony that are valid today, such as
"attention to the poor" and "proclamation of the Gospel of hope."

Present at the celebration, coordinated by Baptist pastor Pieter Bouma, was
pastor Gianni Genre, moderator of the Waldensian Table, to which Italian
Methodists adhere. The latter number some 5,000 out of a total of 80 million
Methodists worldwide.

Split from Anglicanism, the Methodists -- among whom there are various
denominations -- owe their start to Wesley and his friend George Whitefield, who
met at Oxford in 1740.

Wesley and Whitefield sought a new method of religious perfection based on
prayer, the reading of the Bible in common, and mutual vigilance. Their social
and philanthropic tendency attracted many followers.


* * *

HOLY FATHER BLESSES BUST OF SERVANT OF GOD PAUL VI

VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father this morning blessed a marble
bust of his predecessor, Servant of God Paul VI, in the atrium of the Paul VI
Hall, in the presence of members of the Roman Curia, the sculptor Floriano
Bodini, Paul VI's  secretary, Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, and members of the
late Pope's family. He underscored that Paul VI wished the hall bearing his name
to be "the seat of the Pope's catechesis."

    Pope John Paul noted that today is the feast of St. John the Baptist, the
name the former Pope received at baptism. He also recalled that "forty years
have passed since he was elected to the Chair of Peter, on June 21, 1963, and 25
years since his death which occurred at Castelgandolfo on August 6, the feast of
the Transfiguration."

   "On June 29, 1978," said the Holy Father, "in the last public celebration for
the 15th anniversary of his election as Supreme Pontiff, (Paul VI) gave a talk
that had the solemn and heartfelt tone of a last will and testament. I would
like to re-read a meaningful passage: 'We look in a comprehensive way - he said
-on what has been the period during which the Lord has entrusted us with His
Church. ... Even if we consider ourselves as the least and most unworthy
Successor of Peter, we feel on this threshold  comforted and supported by the
awareness of having tirelessly repeated, before the Church and the world: 'You
are Christ, the Son of the Living God!' We too, like Paul, feel able to say: 'I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith...'.

   "Let us pray," said John Paul II in closing, "that we too, like him,  will be
able to work tirelessly for the Kingdom of God."

* * *

FREEING ONESELF FROM POVERTY THROUGH WORK

VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 2003 (VIS) - Bishop Giampaolo Crepaldi, secretary of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, headed the Holy See's delegation to
the 91st International Conference on Work which took place in Geneva from June 3
to 19 on the theme "Freeing Oneself from Poverty Through Work."

   In his speech, given on June 16 and published today, Bishop Crepaldi affirmed
that "a human being who is deprived of the necessities of life is a humiliated
human being who is denied his economic and social rights, and in extreme cases,
the right to life. But poverty," he exclaimed, "is not a destiny!"

   "It is necessary," he concluded, "that those responsible for the orientation
of work policies, nationally and internationally, turn  their attention to the
fundamental problem of unemployment which affects  young people."

* * *

VISIT VATICAN MUSEUMS ON INTERNET, PALM PILOT, CELL PHONES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 24, 2003 (VIS) - Today at noon in the Holy See Press Office
the Internet site of the Vatican Museums was presented during a press
conference, presided over by Cardinal Edmund Szoka, president of the Governorate
of Vatican City State, under whose auspices the museums fall.

   Also present were Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, secretary of the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, which oversees the
Vatican's Internet Office, and Francesco Buranelli, director of the Vatican
Museums. The Museum site is accessed through: www.vatican.va

   Cardinal Szoka noted that the new Internet site of the Vatican Museums
"further enriches the Holy See web site, created years ago and in continual and
progressive expansion. For some time, the Church has paid great attention to the
means of social communication, in order to more efficaciously perform her
universal mission. The Internet, with its  enormous potential, allows us to
approach an ever greater number of people and to spread throughout the world our
message of evangelization."

   The universal language of culture and art, he added, "allows for contact with
persons of different cultures, languages and religions." The Internet site will
make the collections of the  Vatican Museums available to tourists, collectors,
scholars amd the general public, permitting everyone to "become acquainted with
many masterpieces, their history and their meaning."

   Cardinal Szoka noted that, when Pope John Paul inaugurated the new entrance to
the Vatican Museums on February 7, 2000, he called the Museums "one of the most
meaningful doors that the Holy See opens to the world," through which is
expressed "the renewed will of the Church to dialogue with mankind through art
and culture, making available to everyone the patrimony entrusted to her by
history."

   Nicola Aliperti, a representative of Hewlitt Packard Italy, remarked that "in
the future the patrimony presented in the Vatican Museums, which UNESCO defined
as 'the patrimony of mankind', will be accessible through the wireless means of
palm pilots." This patrimony will thus be available not only through personal
computers but also through pocket PCs and the latest generation cell phones.

   Archbishop Celli, secretary of APSA and head of the web site, said that the
Internet Office is responsible for the entire implementation and "hardening" of
the web site and its security.

   Francesco Buranelli, director of the Museums of the Vatican City State,
affirmed that the site "will allow the public to access the inestimable artistic
heritage that these museums have preserved and protected for centuries."

   For the realization of the site, he said, "we took advantage of the great
experience and precious collaboration of the Holy See Internet Office and the
technical support of Hewlett Packard S.r.l. for the servers." For the scientific
content, directors of the various sectors of the administration of the Museums
collaborated. "Two-hundred and fifteen complete files were written for certain
works, accompanied by 120 images of high resolution and 95 images of medium
resolution." In addition, he added, the site "can be
easily consulted thanks to the texts that have been fully translated into
Italian, French, English, Spanish and German."

   After the press conference, a demonstration was conducted on how to access the
web site from a desk top computer, a lap top, palm pilot and the latest-model
mobile phones.

  Holy See's Web page http://www.vatican.va

* * *

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Auctions Rare Papyri

The Ambrose Swasey Library, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, New York,
sold off 113 lots, 9 of which were the papyri. These papyri were very rare
specimens from Oxyrhyncus, Egypt, dating from the first through fifth centuries.

Among them was a a very early papyrus fragment of the Gospel of Saint John, P.
Oxy 1780 (P36), that sold for $350,000.00 USD with an additional $50,000.00 USD
Buyer's Premium that went to Sotheby's, New York.  Another specimen, a small
scrap of parchment of the Book of Leviticus, P. Oxy 1351, sold for $30,000.00
USD. A very early specimen of the Constantionopolitan Creed (P. Oxy 1784) along
with another papyrus containing a homily sold for $37,500.00 USD.

The other 104 lots included rare books, and cuneiform tablets. In all they sold
at $2,405,960 USD, including the buyer's premium. Net to the Seminary was
$1,967,888.00 USD, with $438,072.00 as the buyer's premium to Sotheby.

Besides the very rare P. Oxyrhynchus specimens was a very rare 6 volume first
edition of the Complutensian Polyglot Bible (Alcalá, 1517) that sold for
$84,000.00 USD. Lots 41-45 were cuneiform tablets including 243 specimens in all
that sold at a total of $58,300.00 USD

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

What do we do in lectio divina? We follow Christ by implementing what we hear.
When we learn to listen to what the Master says and obediently comply we become
true disciples.

Not only do we listen and obey but we also learn to imitate Christ. A bond takes
place between a disciple and a Master when the disciples imitates and mimics
them. We go beyond mere obedience when we learn the interior dispositions and
attitudes of Jesus and follow his example in Scripture.

“We gradually take on the task of being Christ’s representative in our own
setting: an icon of Christ for seekers of truth, a servant to those in need, a
friend to the lonely, and even as St. Paul says, a source of scandal to those on
the way to perdition.” (38).

By taking on Christ in our minds and hearts we participate in his divine nature.
Consequently our own subjectivism and egotism begin to diminish and eventually
disappear, so that we become lost to Christ and say with St. Paul: “I live now,
not I, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20).

Lectio divina is the ancient art of learning Christ and entering deeper into the
spiritual life of Christ within us. It is this relationship of love that is the
goal of our undertakings, a love that unites us with God, fellow human beings
and with all creation.


Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

Illinois Bishops Urge Institutions to Drop "Left Behind" Items

Cite Anti-Catholic Message and Bad Theology

CHICAGO, JUNE 24, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of Illinois are warning
Catholic institutions to remove "Left Behind" books and videos from their
shelves, citing the series' anti-Catholicism and faulty end-times theology.

In a statement, the Catholic Conference of Illinois says the series published by
Wheaton, Illinois-based Tyndale House Press espouses "a fundamental theology of
the end times in conflict with Catholic teachings."

Moreover, the series of novels, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, has taken on an
anti-Catholic slant.

"In later books in the series," the bishops' statement said, "the new Pope is
depicted as instrumental in establishing a relativistic world religion
encouraged by the Antichrist and operated from New Babylon (formerly Rome). The
Left Behind series is anti-Catholic in content and form, consistent with Mr.
LaHaye's other writings, in which he associates the Church with 'Babylonian
mysticism.'"

The "Left Behind" series, which is growing in popularity in Protestant as well
as Catholic communities, tells of a coming "Rapture," a fast-approaching secret
and silent disappearance of Christians from the earth prior to a time of
tribulation .

The Illinois bishops caution, however, "This belief is not supported in
Scripture."

"The scenario in Left Behind, of a 'tribulation force' of born-again former
sinners who attempt personally to derail the progress of the Antichrist, is
broadly classifiable as pre-millenarianism," the statement said. "The
pseudo-historical backdrop for the story ties apocalyptic scripture to specific
events in history, an error known as pre-millennial dispensationalism."

It continued: "While many adult Catholics are secure enough in their faith to
avoid being proselytized by such works, or by the direct preaching of
fundamentalists, the real danger of Left Behind is its attractiveness as a story
of good people in a heroic battle against ultimate evil. Readers lacking a full
understanding of Catholic scriptural teaching about the end times in many cases
have internalized this fictional post-rapture time of tribulation when sinners
are left to battle the Antichrist, because it sounds familiar and 'biblical.'
...

"We, the Catholic Bishops of Illinois, call upon those responsible for faith
formation to provide planned, coherent, and informed catechesis to all age
groups about Church teachings on the end of the world, based on scripture and
tradition. We also call upon Catholic institutions -- libraries, bookstores,
schools, and parishes -- to remove any Left Behind books and videos from their
shelves, to prohibit the sale of these materials in Catholic venues, and to
provide the faithful with information that these materials are, in fact, a
marketing tool for fundamentalist preaching about the end times and a thinly
disguised polemic against the Catholic Church."

* * *

47 Universities Join in a Federation of Bioethics Centers

Includes Institutions Worldwide

ROME, JUNE 23, 2004 (Zenit.org).- An international federation of centers
dedicated to bioethics has been launched.

At the initiative of the Center of Bioethics of the Catholic University of the
Sacred Heart in Rome, the International Federation of Centers and Institutes of
Bioethics of Personalist Inspiration was established here with the support of 47
representatives from around the world.

The most numerous group is the Latin American, with 14 centers, including the
University of Anahuac in Mexico and the Austral University in Buenos Aires.

Also taking part in the June 10 foundation of the federation were the University
of the Sacred Heart and the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum, Rome;
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; University of Toronto; the University
of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; the Catholic University of Portugal; University of
Trnava, Slovakia; and Spain's Complutense University of Madrid and the
University of Navarre.

The federation was set up to address the philosophical currents within
institutions of bioethics -- including diverse and even opposite positions on
issues such as abortion, contraception, homosexuality and euthanasia.

The approved statutes define the personalist inspiration in relation to the
human person, open to transcendence, as the focus of bioethical reflection. In
this context, human dignity is defended from conception until natural death.

The federation is open to participants of various religions and cultural
traditions, although it makes special reference to the Catholic Church.

The provisional board of directors includes Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president;
Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco, secretary; Father Gonzalo Miranda, treasurer. Board
members include John Haas of Boston, Massachusetts.

On the eve of the establishment of the federation, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski,
prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, participated in
conferences centered on personalism.

In the near future, representatives of North America and Asia will attend a
complementary founding session in Canada.
* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to  EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062503.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. MAMA GILI CAUSE FOR VENERABLE

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore  Cardinal
McCarrick, and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New
Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
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Noticias Eclesiales own the original copyright for their news releases as
credited. All copyright materials copied in any form must include the
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 124
THURSDAY 26 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Remembering Paul VI 40 Years After His Election
----------------------------------------------------------------
• JOHN PAUL II REFLECTS ON TRIP TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL FOR AFRICA MEETS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• AUDIENCES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Orthodox Patriarch Hails John Paul II as a Witness to Peace
----------------------------------------------------------------
• In Moluccas, Peace Has Taken Root Quickly
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Escrivá Canonization a Boost for Education Projects in Africa
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Fighting in Congo Forces Thousands to Flee
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Remembering Paul VI 40 Years After His Election

John Paul II Dedicates General Audience to Memory of His Predecessor

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address
John Paul II gave today at the general audience, which he dedicated to a
remembrance of his predecessor Paul VI.

1. The Johannine passage we heard a short while ago, has again proposed to us a
thought-provoking evangelical scene. The Son of God entrusts to Peter his flock,
his Church, against which, as he had already assured, the gates of hell would
not prevail (see Matthew 16:17-18). Jesus precedes this charge with a request of
love: "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15). A
disquieting question that, repeated three times, recalls the triple denial of
the apostle. But the latter, despite the bitter experience, protests humbly:
"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!" (John 21:17).

Love is the secret of Peter's mission! And love is also the secret of those who
are called to imitate the Good Shepherd in guiding the People of God. "'Officium
amoris pascere dominicum gregem' ... To watch over the flock of the Lord is a
charge of love," Paul VI loved to say, making his own a noted expression of St.
Augustine.

2. "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" How many times my
venerated predecessor, the servant of God Paul VI whom we remember today, must
have heard these words resound in his spirit. Forty years have passed since his
election to the Chair of Peter, on June 21, 1963, and 25 years since his death,
on Aug. 6, 1978. From his youth he had worked in the direct service of the
Apostolic See, next to Pius XI. He was for a long period one of the most
faithful and prized collaborators of Pius XII. He was the immediate Successor of
Blessed John XXIII, whom I had the joy of raising to the glory of the altar
almost three years ago. His ministry of universal Pastor of the Church lasted 15
years and was marked above all by the Second Vatican Council and a great opening
to the needs of the modern age.

I also had the grace to take part in the conciliar sessions and to live in the
post-conciliar period. I was able to appreciate personally the commitment that
Paul VI did not cease to show for the necessary "aggiornamento" of the Church to
the exigencies of the new evangelization. In succeeding him in the Chair of
Peter, my concern has been to continue the pastoral action begun by him, being
inspired by him as by a father and a teacher.

3. A strong and meek apostle, Paul VI loved the Church and worked for its unity
and intensification of the missionary action. In this perspective, the
innovative initiative of apostolic trips is fully understood, which today is an
integral part of the ministry of the Successor of Peter.

He wanted the ecclesial community to open itself to the world without, however,
giving way to the spirit of the world. With prudent wisdom, he knew how to
resist the temptation to "adapt" himself to the modern mentality, facing with
evangelical fortitude difficulties and lack of understanding and, in some cases,
even hostility. Even in the most difficult moments, he did not allow the People
of God to lack his illuminating word. At the end of his days, the whole world
seemed to rediscover his greatness and drew near to him in an emotional embrace.

4. His magisterium was rich and to a large extent oriented to educate believers
in the spirit of the Church. Among his many contributions, I limit myself to
recall, in addition to the encyclical "Ecclesiam Suam" at the start of his
pontificate, the moving profession of faith, known as the "Creed of the People
of God," pronounced with vigor in St. Peter's Square on June 30, 1968. Nor is it
possible not to mention the courageous pronouncements in defense of human life
with the encyclical "Humanae Vitae," and in favor of developing nations with the
encyclical "Populorum Progressio," to construct a more just and solidaristic
society.

Noteworthy, too, are the personal reflections he engaged in during spiritual
retreats, when he would "withdraw" into himself, as in the "cell of the heart."
He meditated often on the post that God had called him to in the service of the
"ever beloved" Church, in the spirit of Peter's vocation. "In this meditation,"
he noted during one of these retreats, "no one should be more committed than me.
... To understand it, to live it! Lord, what a reality, what a mystery! It is an
adventure in which everything depends on Christ" (Retreat, Aug. 5-13, 1963,
"Meditazioni Inedite" [Unpublished Meditations], Studium Publishers).

5. Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us thank God for the gift of this Pontiff,
firm and wise guide of the Church. In the homily of June 29, 1978, just about a
month before the end of his laborious earthly existence, Paul VI confided:
"Before the dangers that we have delineated ... we feel driven to address
Christ, as the only salvation, and to cry out to him: 'Lord, to whom shall we
go? You have the words of eternal life' (John 6:68). He alone is the truth, he
alone is our strength, he alone is our salvation. Comforted by him, we will
continue our way together" ("Insegnamenti" [Teachings], XVI, 1978, p. 524).

In the light of the eternal goal, we understand better how urgent it is to love
Christ and to serve his Church with joy. May Mary obtain this grace for us, whom
Paul VI with filial love wished to proclaim Mother of the Church. And may it be
she, precisely, Our Lady, who receives into her arms that devoted son of hers in
the eternal blessedness reserved for the faithful servants of the Gospel.

[Translation by ZENIT]

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave this summary in English:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Pope Paul VI was elected to the See of Peter 40 years ago this month. Pope Paul
brought the Second Vatican Council to its conclusion and carried forward its
program of ecclesial renewal and missionary dialogue with the modern world. In
turbulent times he led the Church with wisdom and love, prophetically defending
the truth of the Gospel, the dignity of human life, and the authentic progress
of peoples. His example invites us to deepen our love of Christ and our fidelity
to the Church.

I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present
at today's audience, especially those from England, Norway and the United
States. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all of you I
cordially invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

* * *

JOHN PAUL II REFLECTS ON TRIP TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2003 (VIS) - At the end of the catechesis of today's
general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul briefly reflected on his
one-day trip last Sunday to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he beatified a native
layman, Ivan Merz.

   "Divine Providence," said the Pope, "allowed me to undertake a new apostolic
trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina, six years after my pastoral trip to Sarajevo. It was
a brief trip, but intense and filled with hope for that country which has been
so tried by recent conflicts."  He said he "sensed in everyone the will to
overcome the painful experiences of the past in order to build, in truth and
reciprocal pardon, a society worthy of man and acceptable to God."

   The Holy Father remarked that "the high point of this pilgrimage was the
solemn Eucharistic liturgy with the beatification of Ivan Merz, whom I proposed
as a model for the Catholics, especially young people, of that land."

   "I ask God," he said in closing, "to help the peoples of that land, supported
by the international community, to be able to resolve the complex issues that
are still open and to realize the legitimate aspiration to live in peace and to
be part of a united Europe."

* * *

POST-SYNODAL COUNCIL FOR AFRICA MEETS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2003 (VIS) - The Post-synodal Council of the General
Secretariat for the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops met for
the 11th time in the secretariat's office in Rome. For the first time all
members of the council were present, according to the communique published this
morning.

   Joining Secretary General, Cardinal Jan Schotte, C.I.C.M., were 4 cardinals, 6
archbishops, 2 bishops and 4 members of the staff of the Synod of Bishops.

   Following the opening prayer, Cardinal Schotte reviewed the activity of the
General Secretariat since the council's last meeting in June of  2002. Members
then gave both oral and written reports, notes the communique, "on matters in
their individual countries or in entire regions, underscoring the political,
civil, economic, and health emergencies that are weighing on the presence of the
Church, as she brings her message and witnesses to respect for human dignity in
the spirit of the new evangelization."

   Council members also highlighted the continual application of the Post-synodal
Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa" and its  promotion by both national
and regional episcopal conferences.

   This post-synodal council will meet again in June 2004.

* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2003 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience
Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of
Peoples.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 25, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father accepted the resignation from
the pastoral care of the diocese of Jaboticabal, Brazil, presented by Bishop
Luiz Eugenio Perez upon having reached the age limit. Coadjutor Bishop Antonio
Fernando Brochini, C.S.S., succeeds him.

* * *

Orthodox Patriarch Hails John Paul II as a Witness to Peace

Bartholomew I Gives Historic Address in Istanbul's Cathedral

ISTANBUL, Turkey, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I of Constantinople praised John Paul II in this city's Catholic
cathedral, saying the Pope's witness enables the world to believe that peace is
possible.

The patriarch's address June 17 was in the context of a congress promoted by the
Catholic bishops' conference and the apostolic nunciature in Turkey, to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of John Paul II's pontificate.

According to Monsignor Georges Marovitch, spokesman of the bishops' conference:
"The presence of Bartholomew I at the meeting has represented an important
ecumenical gesture. Moreover, it has been the first time that a patriarch speaks
in the cathedral of Istanbul."

Addressing the topic "John Paul II and the Service of Peace," Bartholomew I
recalled that "the action of the Pope is marked by an impassioned quest for
peace and this stems from his faith in the words of Jesus -- with greater reason
now that the world knows war and terrorism."

"His stature of moral and religious leader, not only for Catholics, but for all
men and women of good will, has its origin in a profound personal faith and in
the conviction that this faith must be lived in a way that others see the truth,
understand justice and find peace," the patriarch added.

"To be such an example is really a grave mission," the spiritual leader of the
world's Orthodox Christians stressed, according to a report by the SIR news
agency.

The ecumenical patriarch especially praised the Holy Father's efforts to
establish contact with other Christians, and with Jews and Muslims.

Bartholomew I, who is considered "first among equals" in the Orthodox world,
said that Christian unity would encourage peace.

"While we contemplate the world of today and weep tears over the death and
destruction, can we allow ourselves anything other than a decided effort to find
unity?" he asked.

The traditional visit of a delegation of the ecumenical patriarchate is expected
this Sunday, the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. The Holy See reciprocates
with a visit to the Orthodox patriarchate on Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew.

* * *

Vocations Conference to Open in Warsaw

WARSAW, Poland, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The annual meeting of the European
Vocations Service hopes to make promotion of vocations to the priesthood and
consecrated life everyone's business.

The topic will be addressed by national delegates of European vocational offices
and centers as well as by bishops who are responsible for vocational pastoral
care in their episcopal conferences.

Warsaw will be the host for the annual meeting July 2-6, whose topic is
"Integrating the New Vocations Ministry Into the Broader Structures of Pastoral
Life."

Father Amedeo Cencini of Rome, a psychologist and formator of religious, is
scheduled to speak July 4 on "Essential Elements of the New Vocations Ministry."

Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education,
will preach to the participants during the pilgrimage for vocations to the
Marian shrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa on July 5.

More information is at http://www.vocations.ie/evs.html.

* * *

In Moluccas, Peace Has Taken Root Quickly

Amboina Bishop Sees Speedy Reconciliation Between Faiths

AMBON, Indonesia, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Reconciliation between Christians
and Muslims is taking place at a rapid pace in the wake of the 2002 signing of
the Malino Agreement, says Bishop Petrus Mandagi of Amboina.

The bishop made his observation Sunday in this regional capital of the Molucca
Islands, shortly before participating in a solemn ceremony of reconciliation
between the two religious communities.

"Today there is an atmosphere of confidence and hope," he told the Fides news
service. "People show good will in dialogue and look at each other as brothers
and sisters. I am surprised to see the speed of the reconciliation process after
years of conflict."

The three-year conflict, ended by the Malino Agreement of February 2002, had
left more than 15,000 dead and 500,000 homeless.

The ceremony of reconciliation was presided over by local religious leaders --
Protestant, Catholic and Muslim -- in the presence of thousands of islanders.
The day marked the official reopening of free circulation of people and goods,
transport and the reopening of the Protestant district of Ambon city, which had
been off-limits except for Protestants.

Bishop Mandagi told Fides that the "process of reconciliation between Muslims
and Protestants has taken giant steps forward. I am surprised when I remember
the intensity of the past violence. Today people believe again in dialogue,
forgiveness and reconciliation. Protestants and Muslims live and work side by
side; gradually the districts of the city, previously rigorously separated, are
opening for cultural and commercial exchange."

"Everyone seems to realize that they were manipulated and exploited by radical
groups from Jakarta, sectors of the army and political lobbies interested in
keeping the insane conflict alive," the prelate said. "Today it is the Muslims
themselves who reject the extremism of Laskar Jihad, the group which came to
bring the 'holy war' to the Moluccas, and which has now left the islands."

* * *

Escrivá Canonization a Boost for Education Projects in Africa

ROME, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A solidarity fund established on the occasion
of the canonization of Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá will make possible the
implementation of 18 educational projects in Africa.

The projects, helped by the Harambee 2002 fund, are promoted by organizations in
12 sub-Saharan countries. "Harambee" in the African language Kiswahili means
"all together."

Among the educational projects is that of the Diocese of Fort Portal in Uganda,
which hopes to see a secondary school improved.

A project proposed by the Family Home Movement of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is
focused on the social reintegration of 218 child- and youth-soldiers, who had
been forced to fight in the civil war and who now will be able to attend school.

Other projects are planned in Rwanda, Mozambique and Nigeria. A complete list is
at http://www.harambee2002.org.

The fund has received 700,000 euros ($813,000), most of which was collected
during Josemaría Escrivá's canonization. The first liturgical feast of St.
Josemaría Escrivá will be celebrated Thursday.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

In Chapter 2, Fr. Casey develops the social aspect of lectio divina.  After
discussing the verticality of the relationship between God and the reader he
then goes on to the horizontal aspect of the Church and the reader.

Originally, lectio divina was the liturgical reading within the monastic
tradition. Consequently, the horizontal or social aspect of the Church cannot
get lost in the private reading.

The very nature of the New Testament is Church oriented since, it was written by
the Church for the Church. The communal aspect of Scripture and our link to the
Mystical Body of Christ is enhanced through lectio divina, which also links us
with Christ himself, the Word of God. The nature of lectio divina is an
encounter with Christ and that encounter also involves his Mystical Body, the
Church.

Lectio divina leads us into an experience of the communion of saints where we
dialogue with them in sacra conversatio (holy conversation). This conversation
is, for example, with St. Paul if we are reading any of the epistles of the
Pauline corpus, or with St. John if we are reading any of the Johannine corpus
(Gospel, Apocalypse, and epistles).

The Church also plays a critical role in our background development that
prepares us for lectio divina.  The Church has provided us with the Bible,
translations, the Catechism with doctrine drawn from Sacred Scripture that
amplifies and explains the texts, and the writings of saints and holy men and
women over the past two millennia that have also given their meditations and
reflections on the texts of Sacred Scripture. As St. Paul said analogously, we
need to be weaned like infants on milk before we are mature enough to chew solid
food (cf. 1 Cor. 3:2).

For those who pray the Divine Office daily we already appreciate the many varied
daily readings of Scripture and the writings of the saints and holy men and
women that contain their reflections on it.  Lectio divina is an extension of
the Divine Office and can also be used in the same way as a sacrificial prayer
for the common good of the whole Church. “We become receptors of grace with the
capacity of transmitting further what we ourselves receive.” (43).

Just as Mary, the Mother of God is the model of the Church so too is she the
model of the contemplative Church exemplified in lectio divina.  When we reflect
prayerfully on Sacred Scripture in lectio divina we become like Mary “mater eius
conservabat omnia verba in corde suo” (his mother who kept all these words in
her heart) This notion of conserving the words in one’s heart was so important
that Saint Luke expressed it not once but twice. Luke 2:17, 51.

Storing the Word of God in one’s heart is perfect imitation of Mary. Before the
Word was made flesh in her womb he was first received in her mind and heart. 
The Word of God must first be “received” before he can be “conceived”.  When we
“receive” Christ he empowers us to “believe” in him and to “conceive” him within
our soul giving birth to new divine life within us.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

Fighting in Congo Forces Thousands to Flee

KINSHASA, Congo, JUNE 25, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The bishop of the Butembo-Beni
Diocese has raised the alarm about a new crisis in Congo as rebel fighting in
the North Kivu Province forced thousands of people to flee.

The semiofficial Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano on Sunday echoed the
warning of Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku, who said that the continual advance
of the rebel militias of the Rwandan-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD)
is increasing the flow of fleeing civilians.

A truce was announced in North Kivu last Thursday, in the framework of talks
under way in Bujumbura, Burundi, among the RCD representatives, those of the
Congolese government headed by President Joseph Kabila, and those of the
government-allied Congolese Rally for Democracy-ML. The agreement had no effect,
the Vatican newspaper reported.

The Congolese war that started in 1998 has cost 2.5 million lives. Regional
powers are fighting for control of the area's enormous natural resources.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062603.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. BIOGRAPHY OF MAMA GILI WITH PHOTO
<http://www.holyfaceofjesus.com/mama.html>
Then once inside click on
PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.
__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
Noticias Eclesiales own the original copyright for their news releases as
credited. All copyright materials copied in any form must include the
appropriate copyright owner; for Roman Catholic News use our URL as follows:

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All correspondence should be sent to:
<Roman-Catholic-News-owner@yahoogroups.com>

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 125
FRIDAY 27 June 2003

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Interreligious Dialogue Is Part of Evangelizing Mission, Pope Says
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope Urges Solid Training for Seminarians and Priests
----------------------------------------------------------------
• JOHN PAUL II THANKS ROACO FOR AID TO EASTERN CHURCHES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• TOURISM PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN COMBATTING POVERTY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• IN BRIEF
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Eucharist Seen as a Means to Bolster the Identity of the Priest
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Putin Sees Hope for Vatican-Orthodox Rapprochement
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Interreligious Dialogue Is Part of Evangelizing Mission, Pope Says

It Implies Profound Respect for Culture, He Tells Indian Bishops

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Dialogue with believers of other
religions is part of the fundamental mission of the Church to proclaim Christ
the only Savior, says John Paul II.

When meeting with a group of bishops from India today, the Pope recalled how a
departing Jesus gave his disciples "both an invitation and a challenge to go
forth and proclaim the Good News."

"Evangelization is a charge in which all the members of the Church share by
virtue of their baptism," the Holy Father said.

The Pontiff was speaking to the bishops of the ecclesiastical provinces of
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Patna and Ranchi, who were concluding their five-yearly
visit to the Holy See.

"How unfortunate it is then that even today in many places in India, unnecessary
obstacles still impede the preaching of the Gospel," the Pope said. "Citizens of
a modern democracy should not suffer because of their religious convictions. Nor
should anyone feel compelled to hide his or her religion in order to enjoy
fundamental human rights, such as education and employment."

"Intimately related to the Church's efforts for evangelization is a true and
profound respect for culture," he added. "Culture is the space within which the
human person comes face to face with the Gospel. Always respectful of differing
cultures, the Church seeks to engage her brothers and sisters of other religions
in order to foster a relationship of openness and dialogue."

"Thus considered, interreligious dialogue will not only increase mutual
understanding and respect for one another, but will also help to develop society
in harmony with the rights and dignity of all," the Pope said.

This principle of dialogue explains the commitment of the Church in India "to
the principle of the inalienable dignity of the human person through her
numerous social institutions, offering unconditional love to Christians and
non-Christians alike."

"Her schools, dispensaries, hospitals and institutes, aimed at the integral
development of the human person, give untold assistance to the poorer members of
society, regardless of creed," the Holy Father observed. "It is unfortunate that
some of the Church's honest attempts towards interreligious dialogue at its most
basic level have sometimes been hindered by a lack of cooperation from the
government and by harassment from certain fundamentalist groups."

"India has strong traditions of respect for religious differences," he said. "It
is my hope that for the good of the nation contrary tendencies will not be
allowed to develop."

"As bishops, it is your obligation to ensure that interreligious dialogue
continues," he added. "However, while engaging in this mutual exchange, you must
never allow it to be influenced by religious indifferentism. It is vital that
Christ's call to discipleship be preached and lived with conviction by every
Christian."

* * *

Pope Urges Solid Training for Seminarians and Priests

Says Christianity Cannot Be Reduced to "Merely Human Wisdom"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II asked India's bishops to
guarantee a "solid theological training" to seminarians and priests, overcoming
the temptation to make Christianity "merely human wisdom."

The Pope made his appeal today to the bishops of the ecclesiastical provinces of
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Patna and Ranchi, who were concluding their five-yearly
visit to the Holy See.

His appeal was particularly significant since India now has the most Catholic
seminarians in the world. According to the Church's Statistical Yearbook, India
at the start of last year had 11,303 students of philosophy and theology
(candidates to religious or diocesan priesthood) and 10,547 students in minor
seminaries.

By comparison, countries with many more Catholics have fewer seminarians in
philosophy and theology: Poland, for instance, has 6,767; Mexico, 6,700; and the
United States, 5,080.

Addressing the bishops, the Holy Father expressed the hope "that you will
persevere in your efforts to guarantee a solid theological training in your
seminaries and a sound continuing formation for your priests, thus rejecting the
temptation to reduce Christianity to a merely human wisdom, a pseudo-science of
well-being."

"Proper theological preparation requires instruction which, while respecting
that part of the truth found in other religious traditions, nevertheless
unfailingly proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Way and the Truth and the Life,"
he said.

"To this end Catholic educational institutions must offer a sound philosophical
formation which is necessary for the study of theology," highlighting that truth
"transcends the limitations of both Eastern and Western thought and unites every
culture and society," the Pope said.

He continued: "As sharers in Christ's prophetic mission, we have a solemn
responsibility to bring that truth ever closer to ourselves and to others. This
sacred duty is especially incumbent upon those who are entrusted to train
priests and religious.

"Formators and professors are obliged to teach the message of Christ in its
completeness as the only way, not as one way among many."

"In so doing," he added, "theologians, as servants of the divine truth, dedicate
their studies and labors to ever deeper understanding of that truth, and never
lose sight of the meaning of their service in the Church."

* * *

JOHN PAUL II THANKS ROACO FOR AID TO EASTERN CHURCHES

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2003 (VIS) - Seventy participants in the annual meeting of
ROACO, the Works of Assistance to the Oriental Churches, were welcomed by the
Pope this morning. He thanked them for their generous aid to and support of the
Christian Churches of the Orient, mentioning in particular their assistance in
the Holy Land and Iraq.

   ROACO, under the auspices of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, is
composed of 19 different organizations throughout the world including the
Catholic Near East Welfare Association, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine,
Misereor, Aid to the Suffering Church, the Equestrian Order of the Holy
Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and Work of the East, to name but a few. Members provide
financial as well as spiritual assistance.

   The Pope said that ROACO's help to these churches is "even more appreciated,
bearing in mind the dramatic events of recent times. I am thinking of the recent
war in Iraq, the conflict in the Holy Land which, unfortunately, is
never-ending, and also of the continual famine in Eritrea and Ethiopia." Not
only must economic assistance be intensified, he said, but "it is necessary to
make the spirit of divine charity grow."

   The Holy Father noted that "the Holy Land continues to be a theater of
conflicts and violence and the Catholic communities there are suffering and need
to be supported and helped in their many urgent situations. A heartfelt cry
arises from those populations, invoking a stable and lasting peace."

   He expressed his gratitude to ROACO for "the thoughtful solidarity you showed
towards the Christians so very tried by the recent conflict in Iraq. I pray God
that peace will quickly be consolidated in that country and that the
populations, so tried because of a lengthy international isolation, can finally
live in harmony."

* * *

TOURISM PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN COMBATTING POVERTY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 26, 2003 (VIS) - The Pope's Message was published today for
the 24th World Tourism Day which will take place on September 27 on the theme:
"Tourism: a driving element in the fight against poverty, for the creation of
employment and for social harmony."

   In the Message, written in Italian and dated June 11, the Holy Father  writes
that "the next World Tourism Day will focus on tourism in relation to pockets of
poverty on every continent. The drama of poverty is one of the greatest
present-day challenges, while the gap between different areas of the world
continues to grow, despite the availability of the necessary means to provide
relief, humanity having achieved extraordinary scientific
development and technology."

   "It is not possible," continues John Paul II, "to remain indifferent and inert
to poverty and underdevelopment. We cannot close ourselves off in our own
selfish interests, abandoning innumerable sisters and brother in misery, and,
even more serious, allowing many of them to die an inexorable death."

   The Pope emphasizes that "tourist activity can play a relevant role in the
fight against poverty, from an economic, social and cultural point of
view.Travel allows one to get to know places and different situations, and one
realizes how great the gap is between rich countries and poor countries.
Furthermore, one can evaluate better the resources and local activities,
promoting the involvement of the poorest segments of the population."

   "We must make an effort," he continues, "never to allow the well-being of a
few privileged to be achieved to the detriment of the quality of life  of many
others."

   The Holy Father concludes by expressing the desire that "tourist activity
become ever more an effective instrument to reduce poverty, to promote the
personal and social growth of individuals and peoples, to consolidate
participation and cooperation among nations, cultures and religions."

   Today at noon, Archbishops Stephen Fumio Hamao and Agostino Marchetto and Fr.
Michael Blume, S.V.D, respectively president, secretary and undersecretary of
the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples,
presented the Message in the Holy See Press Office.

   Archbishop Fumio indicated that "despite the high figures in tourism - for
example last year there were 715 million international trips for this reason
alone - we must always note that a considerable part of humanity encounters
grave limitations in ... enjoying free time."

   For his part, Archbishop Marchetto referred to the duty to "promote the ethics
of tourism," as the Holy Father indicated in his Message for World Tourism Day
in 2001. "This is," he said, "an indispensable condition if  we want tourism to
put its energies to the service of the fight against poverty, and to promote the
creation of dignified job possibilities and
social harmony among individuals and peoples. All these elements are considered
very important for the social doctrine of the Church."

* * *

IN BRIEF

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS made the following
statement today, June 26: "The Holy Father, as scheduled, will leave on July
10 for Castelgandolfo where a series of events are on his agenda for the coming
months. Among other things, the Pope will be finishing a book that he is writing
on his pastoral and human experience as a bishop. There are no plans on his
schedule, as has been suggested, for an operation on his  knee."


CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO, secretary of state, will inaugurate the John Paul II -
Father Orione House of Welcome on Rome's Via Camilluccia this coming Sunday,
June 29, at 10:30 a.m. The premises have been completely restructured and
enlarged to welcome disabled persons travelling to Rome on pilgrimage. The
monies to pay for this came from offerings made by pilgrims and others during
the Jubilee Year 2000.

* * *

Eucharist Seen as a Means to Bolster the Identity of the Priest

Cardinal Castrillón Sends Letter for a World Day of Prayer

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The key to overcome the infidelity of
some priests is the rediscovery of their identity based on their relation with
the Eucharist, says the Holy See.

Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Clergy,
delivered that message in a letter sent to bishops and priests on the occasion
of World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. The Day of Prayer
coincides this Friday with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The cardinal in his letter says the "feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is
an invitation for us to contemplate the love which unceasingly flows from Christ
and spreads through the whole human race through 'the gift par excellence' which
is the Eucharist."

"Every Eucharistic celebration, is bound to awaken the conscience of those who
participate in it," he writes. "For the priest, it awakens his responsibility
toward a world which has to be transformed, transformed by the Eucharist."

"In pronouncing or hearing the words 'this is the sacrament of our faith,' the
priest understands better that this call of faith urges him toward a world in
which Christ works miracles. He feels within himself the urgency of the mission
to extend his kingdom everywhere," the letter emphasizes.

"The miracle of this presence opens the way in every priest's heart to a new
hope which overcomes all of the obstacles which have accumulated during his
ministry, even those burdened by tribulations and struggles," it concludes.

In another message sent by Cardinal Castrillón to all bishops, he suggests
"prolonged adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament" as a way to observe the Day of
Prayer. This, he says, is a means to rediscover the value of the Eucharist and,
consequently, the identity of the priest.

* * *

Putin Sees Hope for Vatican-Orthodox Rapprochement

MOSCOW, JUNE 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Russian President Vladimir Putin said that
the authorities in his country will make "all kinds of efforts" to favor a
rapprochement between the Orthodox Church and the Holy See.

Putin made the statement in Edinburgh before representatives of the Scottish
scientific sector and Russian journalists, in the context of his state visit to
Great Britain, the ANSA agency reported.

"I know that the attitude of the Patriarch of All Russia, Alexy II, in regard to
relations with the Vatican and with the Catholic Church, is inspired by
benevolence," Putin said Wednesday. He expressed confidence in a possible
"positive development" of the situation.

Recently, relations between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church have
been especially hampered by the Patriarchate of Moscow's accusations of
proselytism against the Catholic Church.

The Holy See has explained that its decision last year to establish dioceses in
Russia and in former Soviet republics was to respond to the spiritual needs of
communities that are being reborn in the wake of the Communist persecution.


* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

In the final section of Chapter 2, Fr. Casey discusses verbum abbreviatum
(abbreviated word).  The concept expresses the infinite contained in the finite.
God became flesh. The unfathomable being fathomed.

The Scriptures are the living Word of God and reflect his infinity and
incomprehensibility in finite words and ideas we can comprehend. There is no end
to our ability to learn more about any book or text of Scripture. The more one
spends time reading and learning the more one is convinced of the little
progress they have made.

As anyone who studies at great depth any subject learns the height, breadth and
depth to the immense field of literature and studies published on that subject.
The same holds true to our own study of Scripture and our ability to fully
comprehend it in its fullness. It is elusive since it can never be achieved by
anyone person no matter how long they devote themselves to it. This is a
humbling realization that safeguards from eccentricity.

Our motivation for reading and studying Scripture must always be examined for
pure intentions. One test is to reflect on our personal behavior. “We can be
sure that we have understood the Bible if it produces love in us and the fruits
of the Spirit.” (44).

There is no magic in lectio divina. It is hard work. The meaning of Scripture
and its persuasive message are not always clear, immediate, effective and
irresistible. We must have a strong drive and resolute will to persist at it
energetically. This vital choice of will and wherewithal to pursue it grows as
we grow in love with God and his Word.

Growth takes time. Lectio divina takes time too. “Revelation is subtle. It does
not bludgeon unbelievers into acceptance, but charms the heart of those willing
to be wooed.” (46). “Sometimes we have to wander forty years in the desert until
our dispositions become such that God’s subtle message can penetrate our
defenses.” (47).

Lectio divina as a whole is our lifetime of Scripture reading. Consequently
there will be repetition. This does not have to mean boredom. Each time we go
over the same text months or years apart we approach it with a changed mental
state and perception. Things formerly hidden are now apparent. Analogously it is
like watching a film for a second or third time. Each viewing is bound to bring
a detail or line not previously caught in your viewing. So too is repetition in
lectio divina. The advantage over film watching is that the Holy Spirit fills up
what is lacking so that we may receive and bear fruit.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/062703.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.
__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
Noticias Eclesiales own the original copyright for their news releases as
credited. All copyright materials copied in any form must include the
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 126
MONDAY 30 June 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope Says Christian Roots Are Europe's Best Guarantee for Future
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishops See Cause for Hope in New Document
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Papal Address to Delegation of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Address on Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Mother Teresa's Biography Translated Into 15th Language
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Ugandan War Sinking Into Genocide, Says Official
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Ugandan Villages Attacked; Dozens Kidnapped
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Pope Says Christian Roots Are Europe's Best Guarantee for Future

Publishes Postsynodal Exhortation "Ecclesia In Europa"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- With his new apostolic exhortation,
"Ecclesia in Europa," John Paul II aims to give guidance to a new Europe, aided
by the Gospel.

"The Christian roots are for Europe the principal guarantee of its future," the
Pope said on Saturday when publishing the exhortation in St. Peter's Basilica.

In the document he summarizes the conclusions that officially close the 2nd
Synod of Bishops for Europe.

The 135-page exhortation includes the 40 proposals presented by the 179 bishops
who participated in the synodal assembly held from Oct. 1-23, 1999. The theme of
the exhortation is the same as that of the synod: "Jesus Christ Alive in His
Church, Source of Hope for Europe."

"The Church is convinced that she has a treasure to offer Europe, in reality its
only treasure and hope: Jesus Christ," Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela,
archbishop of Madrid, said when presenting the exhortation.

"Jesus Christ is not only about Europe's past," said the cardinal, who was the
synod's relator. "The Church is convinced that she can make a great contribution
to the construction of the Europe of values and peoples, not by offering
technical solutions, but foundations of values and rights based on the dignity
of man as son of God."

In the exhortation, the Pope first makes an appeal to European Catholics to live
the Gospel to the utmost, as he detects in the Church in Europe symptoms of
worldliness. He invites the faithful not to lose their Christian identity, to
recover the interior life, to maintain communion, to overcome fears, reluctance,
omissions and infidelities, and to continue in the way of ecumenical dialogue.

The exhortation also invites Catholics to proclaim the mystery of Christ,
stating that in Europe the number of unbaptized persons is growing. At the same
time, it notes that there are many baptized people who have fallen away from the
faith, tainted by a secularist interpretation of the faith, and who need a new
evangelization.

The document then refers to the thirst for God evident in Europeans, and the
Pope warns about the danger of losing the meaning of the celebration of the
sacraments, in particular that of reconciliation and the Eucharist.

Further, he proposes service to charity to extend the "culture of solidarity,"
giving new hope, with preferential love, to the poor.

In this connection, the Pope suggests three important fields of action: defense
and assistance to the family (given the proposals and legal plans that threaten
its identity); support of life (given the lack of births and the threats of
abortion and euthanasia); and acceptance of immigrants. In this way, he says,
Christians will be able to make their contribution to the new Europe.

John Paul II writes that the European Union "will not have solidity if it is
reduced to the geographic and economic dimension only, as above all it should
consist of agreement on values expressed in law and in life."

He asks that the future European Constitution make reference to the religious
patrimony, particularly the Christian, and respect the rights proper to churches
and religious communities.

The Catholic Church's relation with Europe is not that of a return to a
confessional state, nor of laicism or hostile separation, but, on the contrary,
of healthy cooperation, he stresses.

"Europe needs a qualitative leap in awareness of its spiritual heritage," the
Pope says. To the continent, he adds: "The Gospel is not against you, but for
you."

* * *

Bishops See Cause for Hope in New Document

Prelates From East and West Help Present Apostolic Exhortation

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II's new postsynodal
apostolic exhortation, "Ecclesia in Europa," makes a strong appeal for
overcoming the divisions that have fragmented the Old World and even
Christianity.

This was the conclusion reached at the press conference where the document was
presented on Saturday. In the document, in which the Pope summarizes the
conclusions of the 2nd Synod of Europe, held in Rome from Oct. 1-23, 1999.

At the press conference, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham, England,
highlighted the role of Christianity in Europe -- past, present and future.

"The key to this document is the theme of hope," the archbishop said, noting the
text's reference to the last book of the Bible. "In this, the choice of the Book
of Revelation is crucial."

"Revelation is a text of genuine, eschatological hope, presenting to us our
destiny," the British prelate said. "But it is also a hope which is to guide our
way now. Revelation is also a text of realistic assessment, even dishearteningly
so, when it says, 'Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of
death.'"

"The Church in Western Europe must be realistic about its own life, if it is to
play its part in the revitalization of the soul of Europe," he said.

As an example of this Christian contribution, Archbishop Nichols mentioned the
commitment to welcome immigrants and refugees, as well as to promote
interreligious relations, especially with Islam. "Reciprocal respect is rightly
called for, as a condition and a fruit of this dialogue," he said.

Archbishop Nichols said he was convinced that "the project to construct a
multicultural and multinational Europe cannot be achieved if religion is
marginalized."

For his part, Archbishop Jozef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin, Poland, said that
the apostolic exhortation is particularly a "reason for hope" for Catholics in
Eastern Europe, who just over a decade ago were still until Communism.

"We are grateful for the paragraphs which make reference to the European
cultural heritage, in which, among other things, mention is made expressly of
the contribution of 'the spirit of ancient Greece and Rome, the contributions of
the Celtic, Germanic, Slav and Finno-Ugric peoples and the influence of Jewish
and Islamic culture,'" he said.

This reference is in contrast with the current draft preamble to the
Constitutional Treaty of the European Union, which omits references to the
concrete sources of inspiration of European values.

The Polish archbishop emphasized the importance of the new evangelization in
Eastern Europe, "which our Orthodox brethren must not understand as
proselytism." He also referred to Christians who assisted Jews during periods of
persecution.

Cardinal Jan Schotte, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, explained that
John Paul II decided to publish the apostolic exhortation now, almost four years
after the assembly, as the European Convention's debates are coming to an end
and 10 new countries are joining the European Union.

* * *

Papal Address to Delegation of Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Church of Christ Is Called to a Model of Harmony, Says Pope

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the greeting John Paul II
addressed on Saturday to a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of
Constantinople, which came to Rome on the occasion of the solemnity of Sts.
Peter and Paul. The delegation, led by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of
America, included Bishop Theodoritos of Nazianzus, assistant of the Greek
Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateria and Great Britain; Archimandrite Athenagoras of
Fanar; and Deacon Panteleimon.

Dear Brothers in Christ,

1. I joyfully welcome you to the Vatican for this annual meeting on the occasion
of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Your presence here, as
representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomaios I, is a
sign of our common love for Christ and an act of ecclesial fraternity, by which
we reaffirm the legacy of love and unity which the Lord left to his Church,
built on the Apostles. These yearly meetings nurture our fraternal relationship
and they sustain our hope as we proceed step by step along the way to full
communion and the overcoming of our historical divisions.

2. I give thanks to the Lord that, in the year that has passed, the Holy See has
had many occasions for meeting and cooperation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Among these I would recall the message which I sent to His Holiness
Bartholomaios I for the Fifth Symposium on the Environment, which set out from
my native land of Poland. I am most appreciative of the kind words and the
prayerful good wishes which His Holiness recently offered at two conferences
marking the approaching twenty-fifth anniversary of my Pontificate. Finally, I
am deeply grateful for the Ecumenical Patriarchate's efforts in these past
months to coordinate the continuance of the work of the International Mixed
Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the
Orthodox Churches. I ask you to assure His Holiness of my fervent prayers that
this initiative, which is indispensable for our growth in unity, will be crowned
with success.

The rapid changes taking place in today's world call for all Christians to show
how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can shed light on the critical ethical issues
facing the human family, including the urgent need to promote interreligious
dialogue, to work for an end to the injustice which creates conflict and enmity
between peoples, to safeguard God's creation and to meet the challenges posed by
new advances in science and technology. Here in Europe, the Lord's followers
especially need to cooperate in acknowledging and giving new life to the
spiritual roots at the heart of this continent's history and culture. The
consolidation of European unity and identity demands that Christians, as
witnesses to the saving mercy of the Triune God, play a specific role in the
present process of integration and reconciliation. Is not the Church of Christ
called first and foremost to offer the world a model of harmony, mutual
forbearance and fruitful charity which reveals the power of God's grace to
overcome all human division and discord?

3. Dear Brothers, as we seek to advance in the dialogue of truth and the
dialogue of charity, let us not be discouraged by the difficulties we encounter.
There is always a way forward if we are committed to fulfilling the Lord's will
for the unity of his disciples. We must continue our efforts, reinforce our
desire for unity, and overlook no opportunity to grow towards full communion and
cooperation, all the time bringing before God in prayer our needs, our hopes and
our failings, that he may heal us through his great mercy.

I entrust these sentiments to you as I ask you to convey my fraternal greetings
to His Holiness Bartholomaios I and to the Holy Synod. May the Lord grant us the
strength to bear faithful witness to him, and to pray and work without ceasing
for the unity and peace of his holy Church.


* * *

Address on Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

"Rome Is Celebrating in a Special Way," Says John Paul II

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address
John Paul II gave today, before reciting the Angelus with several thousand
pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. We are celebrating the solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, whom we
venerate as "columns" of the Church.

Today the Diocese of Rome, which sinks its own roots in the testimony of the two
great apostles, is celebrating in a special way. Peter, chosen by Christ as the
"rock" on which to build his Church, was crucified not far from Vatican hill,
and his tomb is the symbolic center of the Catholic faith. Paul, beheaded at the
gates of Rome, is the model of evangelization and his Letters, a conspicuous
part of the New Testament, do not cease to draw men and women of all times to
Christ.

My heartfelt thanks to all who on this occasion offer special prayers for the
Bishop of Rome, Successor of Peter, and to all those who, with their help,
concretely sustain the service he renders to the People of God.

2. As every year, this afternoon, at 6, I will preside over the solemn
eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Square, during which I will place on
numerous metropolitan archbishops the sacred pallium, sign of communion with the
Apostolic See.

According to an already established tradition, which is a source of great joy, a
delegation from the ecumenical patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew I, will be
present. The exchange of delegations between Rome and Constantinople, for their
respective patronal feasts, goes well beyond an act of ecclesial courtesy. It
reflects the profound and rooted intention to re-establish full communion
between East and West. I thank Patriarch Bartholomew, who has entrusted the
distinguished members of his delegation the task of representing him.

3. May the Lord enable us -- thanks to these exchanges, strengthened by
incessant prayer -- to attain as soon as possible the full unity of the
disciples of Christ.

May Mary protect and guide our ecclesial communities, so that they will always
follow the teaching of the apostles, from whom they received the first
proclamation of the faith.


* * *

Mother Teresa's Biography Translated Into 15th Language

BANGALORE, India, JUNE 27, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A biography of Mother Teresa is
now available to 33 million Indian readers in their own language, Kannada,
thanks to a translation by literary critic Seshagiri Rao.

"Mother Teresa: The Authorized Biography," by Navin Chawla, was first published
in 1996. The Kannada version was published by Sapna Book House.

T.T. Chaturvendi, governor of Karnata state, announced the translation and
praised Catholic author Chawla for "his profound cultural sensitivity and
literary expertise."

When presenting the book, Chawla said that he gave it to Mother Teresa to read
and she approved it. The book is now available in 15 languages.

Kannada, one of the 15 languages recognized by the Indian Constitution, is in
third place -- after Telugu and Tamil -- among Dravidian languages, in terms of
number of speakers.

Kannada is spoken by Kanarese people in southern India. Its alphabet, based on
Brahmi, is spoken by more than 33 million people in Karnataka, where it is the
official language, and in Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh.

Mother Teresa's beatification is scheduled for October.


* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


In Chapter 3 Levels of Meaning (pages 51-76), Fr. Casey discusses the various
perspectives one can have on any given Scriptural text. Traditionally, there are
four senses of Sacred Scripture.

The literal sense, is the original message intended by the author. The
historical meaning is not always readily apparent. Part of the problem is the
original language of the Scripture (Biblical Hebrew, or Koine Greek) and the
ability to grasp that original intended message through accessibility in
translations into modern language. Translations are not always successful. We
are limited by them. There is also the historical and cultural baggage that
accompanies the original message that may be lost through time and, that clouds
our ability to grasp what the author intended to say.  Studying the original
languages will always be very helpful. Studying the historical situation of the
biblical author is also invaluable. Through biblical studies translations of the
Bible become clearer and we have a better chance to understand the author’s
original intention.

The first sense of Scripture we can see is not always as simple a task as we
think. It involves our intellectual ability to understand the text. It is the
very first step in the lectio divina process. Reading the sacred text to learn
what the author has to say.

The second sense of Scripture is the Christological sense, also called the
allegorical sense. The Bible as a whole is the entire narrative of the history
of salvation. Christian faith allows us to read books of the Old Testament seen
through the eyes that Jesus Christ is the hero of the story where all things
point to him.

The Christological sense of Scripture is also an intellectual process that uses
memory to contextualize the message. This is the second step in the lectio
divina process. We read the sacred text to learn what the role Christ is playing
in the message.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.

* * *

Ugandan War Sinking Into Genocide, Says Official

International Help Sought to Halt Rebels' Violence

GULU, Uganda, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Religious and political leaders are
appealing to the international community to intervene in the 17-year-old crisis
in northern Uganda.

In a note circulated last Wednesday, European parliamentarian Mario Mauro said
that Joseph Kony "is a mad visionary heading a rebel movement made up, to a
large extent, of children abducted from towns in northern Uganda" [see related
story in today's News Briefs].

"The civil war is turning into a slow genocide of the Nile peoples," Mauro said.
"Out of a population of 1.4 million inhabitants of Acholi and Lango ethnic
backgrounds, approximately 850,000 have been displaced and live in desperate
humanitarian conditions."

According to the European deputy, who is president of the Europarliament's
Commission of Culture and is a former vice president of the ACP-UE parity
assembly of human rights, "a political intervention, coordinated in Europe as
well as in the African continent, is imperative," the Misna news agency
reported.

The deputy also said that the Ugandan and Sudanese governments "must take
charge" of the danger that weighs on civilians and Christian missions of the
Ugandan region. He also called for greater security for the missionaries working
in the north, whom Kony has threatened and attacked on repeated occasions.

Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Muslim religious leaders appear to be, until
now, the only ones calling for peace for the civilian population in the troubled
north.

Last Wednesday, Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu, president of ARLPI, an
interreligious organization, appealed to the international community for help.

"Why hasn't the U.N. Security Council introduced the problem of northern Uganda
in its agenda?" he asked. In the same breath, the archbishop criticized the
abandonment by the African Union.

For his part, Anglican Bishop Nelson Onono-Onweng of northern Uganda said that
the army does little if anything to defend the population.

Baker Ochola, Anglican bishop emeritus of Kitgum, appealed to the rebels to stop
the violence and referred to "the arrogance of the government of Kampala, which
must have the courage to ask for help from abroad if it wishes to guarantee the
security of civilians."

On behalf of the Muslim community, Sheikh Musa Khali said that the Acholi ethnic
group, severely tried by the war that broke out at the end of the 1980s, has no
link whatsoever with Joseph Kony, leader of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army who
is paid by the Sudanese government.

Last Friday, after a three-day meeting in Gulu, Archbishop Odama, along with
Bishop Paride Taban of Torit, Sudan, and 50 other bishops, said the situation in
northern Uganda is intolerable.

"We are making a strong appeal to the United Nations to go to the north of
Uganda, in order that all necessary measures will be taken for the protection of
civilians," said a statement reported by the Catholic Information Service for
Africa.

"We ask different international organizations, diplomatic missions, the East
African Community, the African Union, the European Union, the Inter-Governmental
Authority for Development, and the Arab League to support our proposal," the
bishops said.

* * *

Ugandan Villages Attacked; Dozens Kidnapped

Rebels Reportedly Terrifying Civilians

GULU, Uganda, JUNE 29, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army
attacked villages near the town of Barr inhabited by the Lango ethnic group and
carried off dozens of captives, the Misna missionary agency reported.

The Friday night raid, carried out by several hundred armed men, started in the
village of Ayira, near Barr, and lasted three hours. At least four people were
killed; one was decapitated and mutilated.

Aside from ransacking the villages of the area, 30 huts were set on fire and 40
people were abducted, mostly young girls and boys, survivors told Misna.

The Olum, as the rebels are called in Acholi by the people, beat numerous
individuals, including elderly villagers.

At the same time, the rebels attacked other villages of the district of Lira.
Near the Catholic mission of Aloi, 34 kilometers (21 miles) east of Lira, they
killed six Lango civilians, while in Olilim (70 kilometers east of Lira) they
killed another four of the same ethnic group.

Last Monday night, at least 200 people -- most of them young boys and girls --
were abducted by LRA rebels in the northern Ugandan region inhabited by the Teso
and Kumam ethnic groups.

The kidnappings occurred the Catholic Lwala Girls Senior Secondary School, in
the Kaberamaido district, 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Soroti. Eighty
girls were forced to follow the rebels, who later raided the surrounding
villages, taking hostage another 120 people.

A 70-year-old Dutch missionary, of the local parish run by the Mill Hill
missionaries, was also a victim of the raid. Although beaten, he was able to
reach safety, religious sources reported. Three schoolgirls also managed to
escape from the rebels, who are supported by the Khartoum government.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/063003.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey Call
or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.


__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
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All correspondence should be sent to:
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 127
TUESDAY 1 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Renews His Commitment for Christian Unity
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Christians Must Cooperate to Revive European Roots, Says John Paul II
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Befriend Those Whom God Has Entrusted to You, Pope Exhorts Archbishops
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Euro Text Has Good Points, But Also Gaps, Says Vatican Official
----------------------------------------------------------------
• 30 Years of Vatican Speeches, in One Book
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Two Centuries of Holy See Concordats Published in One Volume
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Seafarers' Charity Relaunched by Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Conference to Touch on Peace in Asia and Mideast
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Hospitality House for the Disabled Opens in Rome
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II Renews His Commitment for Christian Unity

During Mass on Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II renewed his commitment to
Christian unity, in the presence of an Orthodox Church delegation and at a Mass
on the solemnity of the patrons of Rome.

John Paul II said Sunday that the "joy of today's feast is more intense because
of the presence of the delegation sent by His Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I." The patriarch is considered "first among equals" by the
Orthodox.

The delegation, from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, was headed by
Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios of America.

It was making what has become a traditional visit to Rome for the feast of Sts.
Peter and Paul, patrons of the city. A Vatican delegation reciprocates with a
visit in November to Constantinople -- modern Istanbul, Turkey -- on the feast
of St. Andrew, patron of that Orthodox patriarchate.

The Pope called the exchange of visits an "eloquent sign of our commitment
oriented to attaining full unity."

The Preface of the celebration -- "With different gifts they edified the one
Church" -- referring to the Apostles Peter and Paul, "seems to make evident,
precisely, the commitment to seek unity with all effort, responding to the
invitation so often repeated by Jesus in the Cenacle: 'ut unum sint!' -- 'that
they be one!'" John Paul II said.

"As Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter, I renew today, in the evocative
context of this feast, my complete willingness to put my person at the service
of communion among all the disciples of Christ," the Holy Father affirmed.

"The Lord, who knows our weaknesses and hesitations, promises his help to
overcome the obstacles that impede the concelebration of the one Eucharist," he
added.

At the end of the Mass, Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios congratulated John Paul II
on his 25-year pontificate, a mystery characterized by "a constant effort to
promote peace in the name of God, reconciliation among peoples" and "the
surmounting of the tragic separation and division of our Churches."

"Considerable steps have been taken toward unity," he added, "and we pray that
there will be more, so that our broken and fallen world will have an even
greater testimony of the possibility of reconciliation, contemplating the
beautiful and strong bonds of love that unite us in faith and in service of
Jesus Christ."

* * *

Christians Must Cooperate to Revive European Roots, Says John Paul II

When Receiving a Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II told a delegation of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople that the followers of Christ in Europe
must give new life to the spiritual roots of the continent.

The Pope received the delegation during its traditional visit for the solemnity
of Sts. Peter and Paul. For its part, the Holy See sends a delegation to the
Orthodox patriarchate on Nov. 30, feast of its patron, St. Andrew.

The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered
"first among equals" in the Orthodox world, for his good wishes for the 25th
year of his pontificate.

"Your presence is a sign of our common love for Christ and an act of ecclesial
fraternity, with which we reaffirm the legacy of love and unity that the Lord
left to his Church, built on the apostles," the Pope told the delegation on
Saturday.

"The rapid changes of today's world call all Christians to demonstrate how the
Gospel of Jesus Christ illuminates the critical issues which the human family is
facing," he said.

Among those issues, he said, are the urgent need to promote interreligious
dialogue, the protection of creation, and the new challenges posed by the
advances of science and technology.

Also, the consolidation of European unity and identity is a topic that calls
Christians, as witness of the mercy of God, "to play a specific role in the
current process of integration and reconciliation," the Pope said, as reported
by the Vatican Information Service.

"While we attempt to go forward in the dialogue of truth and the dialogue of
charity, let us not be discouraged by the difficulties we encounter," John Paul
II said. "There is always a way if we are determined to do the will of God for
the unity of his disciples."

* * *

Befriend Those Whom God Has Entrusted to You, Pope Exhorts Archbishops

Confers Pallium on 40 Prelates

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- When conferring the pallium on 40
metropolitan archbishops from around the world, John Paul II exhorted them to
watch over their respective communities in imitation of the Good Shepherd.

During a Mass on Sunday evening in St. Peter's Square, the Pope referred to Sts.
Peter and Paul -- whose solemnity the Church celebrated that day -- as "friends
of the Lord," for whom they gave their life in Rome, "making the Church fruitful
with their blood."

"Peter and Paul are 'friends of the Lord,' a singular title because they drank
the Lord's chalice. For both, Jesus changed their names the moment he called
them to his service," he said.

"If we think of the vocation and personal history of the two apostles, we see
how the apostolic and missionary charge was proportioned to the depth of their
conversion. Tested by the bitter experience of human misery, they were delivered
by the Lord," the Pope said during his homily.

"Thanks to the humiliation of the denial and the weeping that purified him
interiorly, Simon became Peter, namely, the rock. Consolidated by the power of
the Spirit, three times he declared his love to Jesus, receiving the mandate to
look after the flock," he said.

"Saul's experience was similar," the Pope said. "The Lord whom he persecuted
called him through his grace on the road to Damascus. He freed him from his
prejudices, transforming him radically and made him a chosen instrument to take
his name to the Gentiles."

"In this way, both became friends of the Lord," the Holy Father told the
metropolitan archbishops, adding that the "personal circumstances of each one
are different, but you have all been counted by Christ among his friends."

"In the name of the Lord -- I invite you -- become on your part 'friends' of all
those God has entrusted to you. Your episcopal sees are in different areas of
the world: In imitation of the Good Shepherd, watch and be diligent with
everyone in your community," he added.

Henceforth, the 40 metropolitan archbishops will wear the pallium during solemn
celebrations as a sign of communion with the Apostolic See. "I invite you to
consider it always in remembrance of the sublime friendship with Christ, which
we have the honor and joy to share," the Holy Father concluded.


* * *

Euro Text Has Good Points, But Also Gaps, Says Vatican Official

Archbishop Tauran Comments on Draft of Constitution

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The draft of the European Constitution
still has gaps regarding the fundamental rights of the Nice Charter, on issues
such as cloning, marriage and the family, says a Vatican official.

Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states,
acknowledges that the draft brings together numerous opinions and common values
resulting from the dialogue with various sectors of civil society. A recent
summit of European leaders in Salonika, Greece, studied the draft of the
Constitution, presented by the European Convention president Valéry Giscard
d'Estaing.

Reflecting on the text, Archbishop Tauran emphasized the importance of Article
2, which is concerned with respect for the human person. But he told Vatican
Radio that there are still shortcomings regarding bioethical and family-related
issues.

"Nevertheless, it is positive that for the first time in the history of European
treaties an article was introduced which was proposed by all European Christians
in virtue of the principle of subsidiarity," he added.

"In fact, the Union commits itself to respect the statute enjoyed by religious
confessions according to the national legislation of member states," the
archbishop said.

Likewise, there is a commitment to maintain a constant dialogue with the
religious confessions "thus recognizing their identity and their specific
contribution to the public dialogue of European society," Archbishop Tauran
noted.

"Although maintaining certain concerns regarding, for example, the Christian
patrimony, it is a positive construction which certainly marks a new chapter in
the history of Europe," he said.

* * *

30 Years of Vatican Speeches, in One Book

"Words That Matter" Unveiled

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A new book compiles 30 years of
speeches delivered by Vatican representatives to international organizations.

"Words that Matter," present today by the Vatican press office, is edited by
Archbishop André Dupuy, apostolic nuncio in Venezuela. It is a collection of
addresses delivered by Vatican representatives before international
organizations and during international conferences and meetings over the period
1970-2000.

"I hope that scholars, diplomats and leaders of society will be inspired by this
rich 'corpus' in seeking reasonable, peaceful, equitable and impartial
solutions, capable of promoting the solution of conflicts and of excluding force
from international life," the Vatican secretary for relations with states,
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, said during the presentation of the book.

He expressed the hope that the volume might clarify "the fundamental reason for
the presence of the Holy See in the community of nations: to be the voice that
human conscience expects."

In its close to 800 pages, "Words that Matter" addresses topics that range from
the "right to religious liberty, to social development, the right to peace, the
right to life, the rights of women, children and refugees," explained Archbishop
Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Referring to the title of the book, Archbishop Martino said that it does not
reflect vainglory "but only the humble awareness of always being at the service
of man, illuminating the historical circumstances with supernatural light, in
keeping with the specific religious and moral competence proper to all ecclesial
activity."

For his part, the editor of the handbook, Archbishop Dupuy, said that it is "an
instrument of work for experts in international law, a consultation text for
diplomats and for those who wish to know better the position of the Holy See on
determined international issues."

The book includes a total of 1,310 documents. "The addresses delivered by the
Holy Father, in the context of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, will be
compiled in another publication," Archbishop Dupuy said.

The CD that accompanies the publication includes the complete text of the
majority of addresses quoted in the sources, given that for some of them, only a
résumé exists.

* * *

Two Centuries of Holy See Concordats Published in One Volume

Cardinal Sodano Hails the Handbook

ROME, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- For the first time since 1919, a handbook
gives a view of all the concordats stipulated by the Holy See with states, from
Pius VII with Napoleon Bonaparte to John Paul II with the Czech Republic.

The most important novelty of the "Enchiridion dei Concordati: Due Secoli di
Storia dei Rapporti Chiesa-Stato" (Enchiridion of Concordats. Two Centuries of
History in Church-State Relations) is the publication of the most recent texts
of the Holy See with Central and Eastern European States, which were "reborn to
freedom" after 1990, according to the prologue written by Vatican Secretary of
State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

Expressing his satisfaction with the initiative, the cardinal said he hopes
"this new work will contribute to make better known the Holy See's commitment to
the promotion of new avenues of cooperation with civil authorities, thus giving
to Caesar what is Caesar's, and asking Caesar to give to God what is God's."

The handbook, published by Dehonian Publishers of Bologna, Italy, offers
chronologically all the Holy See's agreements with states over the past two
centuries. The concordats are presented in their original language, together
with their translation into Italian. Modifications to the originals are
included.

A concordat, an agreement between civil and ecclesiastical authorities on
matters of mutual concern, is a genuine international contract, which binds the
parties juridically and guarantees the right of religious liberty and worship of
Catholics in various countries.

The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with 174 states, as well as with the
European Union, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. It maintains
relations of a special nature with the Russian Federation and the Palestine
Liberation Organization.

According to the introduction of the "Enchiridion of Concordats," all these
international pacts are a "testimony of international recognition of the moral,
cultural, social and religious role that the Catholic Church plays in the
world."

The numerous concordats signed by John Paul II "demonstrate that our time is
experiencing a fruitful period of relations between the Church and states," the
compilers add.

* * *

Seafarers' Charity Relaunched by Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor

Outreach Agency Began in 1922

LONDON, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The maritime industry celebrated the
relaunch of the 81-year-old Catholic seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea
(AOS) by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of
England and Wales, said: "This mission is extraordinarily important but often
forgotten. I am very conscious that those who work on our ships are among the
poorest people and are separated from their families. They deserve all the
support, hospitality and care we can give them. So I rejoice at this initiative
and its ecumenical nature."

Bishop Tom Burns, bishop of the armed forces and promoter of AOS, said: "The
spiritual depth of seafarers is inseparable from their effectiveness in the
workplace. Today marks a significant event in the life of seafarers throughout
the world. AOS has been off the radar for a while but -- like a ship that has
come out of a refit -- it is ready to be relaunched."

Commodore Chris York, national director of AOS, unveiled a new model of ministry
to seafarers. "AOS now has a three-stranded model of ministry which takes
account of the needs of seafarers both at sea and in port," he said. "Our main
aim is to bring the Church alongside those who work in such isolated conditions.

"We have ship visiting to make contact with crews when they come into the ports.
We are running ecumenical drop-in centers for seafarers inside the ports, with
facilities such as telephones and e-mail terminals, and we have seagoing
chaplaincy -- placing trained chaplains with crews for two to three weeks at a
time, working alongside them with a ministry of presence. They will be the life
and light of Christ on board the ship."

The relaunch took place last Wednesday at the Lloyds building in London.

Apostleship of the Sea is an agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of
England and Wales. AOS was founded in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1922 and has since
spread to 89 countries. It is both a mission and welfare outreach of the Church,
providing help to all seafarers regardless of race, creed or nationality.

* * *

Conference to Touch on Peace in Asia and Mideast


MANILA, Philippines, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A forthcoming Christian-Muslim
conference here will tackle the issue of peace, from the Mideast to Southeast
Asia.

The 21st General Assembly of the Bishops-Ulema Conference, which will take place
on Aug. 18-20, will focus on the fallout of the Sept. 11 attacks, in the 12
nations of Southeast Asia. It will also focus on how to smooth the way for the
"road map" for peace in the Middle East.

Convoked under the title "Seeking Peace and Development Through an Authentic
Christian and Muslim Dialogue of Life in Asia," 30 ulema (Muslim scholars or
religious leaders), 30 Catholic bishops and 30 Protestant bishops will attend
the meeting in Olongapo, north of the Philippine capital.

Started in 1996 at the initiative of Archbishop Fernando Cavalla of Davao, and
of Mahid Mutilan, president of the Philippine Ulema League, the objective of the
Bishops-Ulema Conference is to "explore the spiritual foundations of peace,
starting from the religious traditions of Muslims and Christians."

According to the Misna missionary agency, two envoys of the Vatican are expected
to attend: Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity, and Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

The third sense of Sacred Scripture is the behavioral sense (moral or tropical
sense). This involves the impact lectio divina has on our personal behavior. The
impact depends on our openness to the Word of God by our conscience.  Our
reading should bring us to self-examination. This reflection or introspection
should be an honest assessment to see if we are living the Gospel by “facta non
verba” (deeds, not words).

Finally, the mystical sense (anagogical sense) is the raising of our heart to
God in sincere honest prayer of affection. The ancient formulary or definition
of prayer is the raising of our minds and hearts to God. Lectio divina brings us
to analyzing the various senses of Scripture. The first two: the literal and the
Christological senses involve raising our minds; the last two: the behavioral
and mystical senses involve raising our hearts. The mystical sense brings us to
desire God and the kingdom more than anything else.

We pass through all four senses of Scripture in our lectio divina if we do it
well. We give focused attention to the literal sense to grasp what the author
intends to tell us. We then place the text within the complete framework of
God’s plan of salvation that reveal Christ. The moral message is then taken to
heart and we appeal to Christ for grace, forgiveness and healing. This leads us
to our mystical experience adoring Christ and becoming filled with his
transforming light and love.

Lectio divina is a process of assimilating the four senses of Scripture that
lead us a sober understanding of the Scriptures keeping us humble and honest and
bring us closer to Christ by elevating our hearts to him.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

Hospitality House for the Disabled Opens in Rome

Projected Subsidized by John Paul II

ROME, JUNE 30, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Angelo Sodano inaugurated on behalf
of the Pope the "John Paul II-Don Orione Work Hospitality House," which offers
accommodation for disabled pilgrims who travel to Rome.

It was renovated with donations collected during the Great Jubilee of the Year
2000.

The Don Orione Work explained that the Holy Father created a Vatican fund to
cover the administrative costs of disabled pilgrims who stay in the Hospitality
House.

Father (or Don) Orione used to say: "'One is never mistaken in doing good';
therefore, we have the certainty that a charitable work in remembrance of the
Great Jubilee is a good idea," Cardinal Sodano said when inaugurating the
premises on Sunday.

The Vatican secretary of state noted that the inauguration was taking place on
the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome. "From heaven they will
intercede for us all and help us follow this charitable way," he added.

The center, located on Via della Camilluccia, has been renovated and enlarged.
It has 155 beds in streamlined rooms with special bathrooms for the handicapped.

"What is new and beautiful is that there are places available for the disabled
who come to Rome from dioceses around the world. They will be accommodated for
free here, subsidized by the Holy Father," the director general of the Little
Work of Divine Providence, Father Roberto Simionato, explained on Vatican Radio.
Don Orione founded the Little Work congregation.

"It is a great honor for us to be able to be charitable on behalf of the Pope,"
he said. "It coincides with our charism. When he began the Work, Don Orione
wanted charitable works to be a bridge between the people and the Pope, the
people and the Church."

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the=

Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070103.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
Noticias Eclesiales own the original copyright for their news releases as
credited. All copyright materials copied in any form must include the
appropriate copyright owner; for Roman Catholic News use our URL as follows:

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>.

All correspondence should be sent to:
<Roman-Catholic-News-owner@yahoogroups.com>

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 128
WEDNESDAY 2 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COURAGEOUS DIALOGUE REQUIRED TO CONFRONT WORLD TENSIONS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• AUDIENCES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• "Road Map" Needs a "Friendly Presence" in Mideast, Says Vatican
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishop Sean O'Malley Named as Archbishop of Boston
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Hope in Bethlehem Over Withdrawal of Israeli Army
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Foundations of Nazareth Mosque Razed
----------------------------------------------------------------
•  LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• U.S. Conference President Assails Court Decision on Sodomy
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

COURAGEOUS DIALOGUE REQUIRED TO CONFRONT WORLD TENSIONS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2003 (VIS) - Today John Paul II received the Letters of 
Credence from Abdulhafed Gaddur, the new Head of  Mission of the Socialist
People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

   In his speech in Italian, the Holy Father affirmed that "courageous and
persevering dialogue is especially useful to confront the many existing tensions
in the world that concern us and require active collaboration on all sides to be
resolved, keeping in mind the fundamental principles of truth, justice, love,
and freedom." The Pope went on to refer to "the situation in the Middle East
that is very much on my mind; terrorism
which may indiscriminately strike any part of the world and which makes cities,
peoples and even all of humanity insecure; conflicts that prevent the
inhabitants of many regions of Africa from developing; unequal distribution of
the goods of the land and of the fruits of technological, human and spiritual
research."

   "Dialogue," he continued, "based on solid moral law, facilitates the
resolution of conflicts and promotes respect for life and for all human beings."

   John Paul II emphasized that the "Church, conscious of the role that religion
plays in consolidating the culture of coexistence and of reciprocal
understanding and active collaboration, wants to advance the mission of peace,
urging everyone to take on the responsibility of caring for others in order to
build a fairer, more united and free world. This testimony," headded, "is
offered by the small but active Catholic community in  Libya," which "wants to
continue its activity, cultivating the spirit of  fraternal communion, service
to one's neighbor, with a discreet and loving presence."

   After expressing his gratitude to the authorities and to the entire Libyan
people for their respect for the Church's mission, the Pope said: "A sincere
will for honest collaboration constitutes the foundation for fruitful
cooperation among believers and among all human beings. This is valid, in
particular," he concluded, "for followers of Islam and Christianity.
Faced by attempts to falsify religion and an illegitimate use of sacred
traditions, it is necessary to remember that practices that incite violence and
lack of respect for human life are against God and man."

* * *

HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's general prayer intention for
the month of July is: "That governments and those responsible for the economy
and finance of the world, may make an effort to find modalities and conditions
which guarantee all peoples the necessary means to live in a dignified way."

   His missionary intention is: "That all those in Africa who are sick - the
victims of AIDS and other serious diseases - may experience the consolation and
love of God thanks to the services of the doctors and those who lovingly take
care of them."

* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:

- The Presidency of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference:

    - Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of Sao Salvador da Bahia,
president.

    - Bishop Antonio Celso Queiroz of Catanduva, vice-president.

    - Bishop Odilo Pedro Scherer, auxiliary of Sao Paolo, secretary general.

- Archbishop Adriano Bernardini, apostolic nuncio in Argentina.

- Three prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on their "ad
limina" visit:

    - Archbishop Joji Marampudi of Hyderbad.

    - Bishop Thumma Bala of Warangal.

    - Bishop John Baptist Sequeira of Chikmagalur.

- Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council of Culture,
accompanied by Frs. Bernard Ardura, O. Praem., and Fabio Duque Jaramillo,
O.F.M., respectively secretary and undersecretary of the same pontifical
council.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 1, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the new ecclesiastical province of Palembang, Indonesia, dividing it
from the ecclesiastical province of Medan, Indonesia. The new ecclesiastical
province will consist of the suffragen dioceses of Pangkal-Pinang and
Tanjungkarang.

- Appointed Bishop Aloysius Sudarso, S.C.I., of Palembang, Indonesia, as
metropolitan archbishop of the same archdiocese. (area 157,000, population
11,000,000, Catholics 77,000, priests 72, religious 227), Indonesia.

- Appointed Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, O.F.M.Cap., of Palm Beach  (U.S.A.), as
metropolitan archbishop of Boston (area 6,382, population 3,888,944, Catholics
2,060,225, priests 1,678, permanent deacons 209, religious 3,759,), U.S.A. The
archbishop-elect was born in Ohio in 1944 and made his solemn profession of vows
as a Capuchin in 1968. He was ordained a  priest in 1970 and a bishop in 1984.

- Appointed Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Ogdensburg, U.S.A., as bishop of Palm
Beach (area 11,510, population 1,599,467, Catholics 246,040,  priests 140,
permanent deacons 43, religious 182), U.S.A.

- Appointed Bishop Thomas Gerard Wenski, auxiliary of Miami, U.S.A., as
coadjutor bishop of Orlando (area 27,900, population 3,360,319, Catholics
353,342, priests 221, permanent deacons 130, religious 195), U.S.A.

- Appointed Msgr. Juan Jose Dorronsoro Allo, canon of the Basilica of  St. Mary
Major in Rome, as consultor of the Congregation for the Institutes of
Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for the section of  Secular
Institutes.

- Appointed Msgr. Arnaldo Fraccaroli as consultor of the Pontifical Commission
for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church.

* * *

"Road Map" Needs a "Friendly Presence" in Mideast, Says Vatican

VATICAN CITY, JULY 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican believes that a "friendly
presence" is necessary in the Middle East to make possible the implementation of
the "road map" for peace.

Israelis and Palestinians must be helped to "talk with one another, and to look
at one another around a common table," the Vatican secretary for relations with
states, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, said on Monday.

Among other objectives, the so-called road map, sponsored by the United States,
the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, calls for the declaration of
a sovereign Palestinian state.

The plan constitutes "notable progress, due to the commitment of the United
States," and is an "example of how the international community, when it works in
a unitary manner, can obtain results," Archbishop Tauran said.

The archbishop believes that it is important to ensure "respect for agreements"
through a "friendly presence, of peace or insertion," although "it is not up to
the Holy See to propose the technical formula."

This would make possible the implementation of the plan in a land where "one
must always be conscious of the fact that, at night there is a peace process, in
the morning an attack, and in the afternoon the outbreak of war," he concluded.


* * *

Bishop Sean O'Malley Named as Archbishop of Boston

Ogdensburg, N.Y., Prelate to Take Over Diocese of Palm Beach

VATICAN CITY, JULY 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II named Bishop Sean O'Malley
of Palm Beach, Florida, as the new archbishop of Boston.

Archbishop-designate O'Malley, 59, succeeds Cardinal Bernard Law, who quit last
December in the wake of scandals involving priests in the archdiocese. Bishop
Richard Lennon has been serving as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.

Meanwhile, the Pope also named Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Ogdensburg, New York,
to succeed Sean O'Malley as bishop of Palm Beach.

Sean O'Malley was born June 29, 1944, in Lakewood, Ohio. He attended St. Fidelis
Seminary, in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Capuchin College and the Catholic
University of America, Washington, D.C.

He entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins (Franciscans) when he was in high
school. He made his solemn profession on July 14, 1968, and was ordained a
priest two years later.

Then Father O'Malley was director of the Apostolate for the Spanish Speaking in
the Archdiocese of Washington when he was named coadjutor bishop of the Diocese
of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, in 1984. He became bishop of St. Thomas on Oct.
16, 1985.

Appointed bishop of Fall River, Massachusetts, on June 16, 1992, he served there
until last September, when he was appointed bishop of Palm Beach.

The Boston Archdiocese has a Catholic population of about 2.1 million out of a
total population of 3.9 million.

The new bishop of Palm Beach, Gerald Barbarito, was born Jan. 4, 1950, in
Brooklyn, New York.

He was ordained Jan. 31, 1976, after studies at Cathedral College in Douglaston,
New York, and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington. He
pursued graduate studies at the Catholic University of America where he earned a
licentiate in canon law.

Bishop Barbarito was assistant pastor, Howard Beach, assistant chancellor and
Vice Chancellor, and served on the Appeals Court of the Brooklyn Diocesan
Tribunal. He was appointed bishop of Ogdensburg on Oct. 26, 1999.

The Diocese of Palm Beach has a Catholic population of about 246,000 in a total
population of about 1.6 million.


* * *

Hope in Bethlehem Over Withdrawal of Israeli Army

Father Ibrahim Faltas Stresses the Safety of Pilgrimages in the Area

JERUSALEM, JULY 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The custodian of Bethlehem's Basilica of
the Nativity says the planned withdrawal of the Israeli army from the city is
raising hopes for peace.

Franciscan Father Ibrahim Faltas, the custodian, made his comment as the
Israelis planned to begin their withdrawal on Wednesday.

A "road map" for peace sponsored by the United States, the European Union,
Russia and the United Nations has, among other objectives, the declaration of
the sovereignty of the Palestinian state.

The population of Bethlehem, facing an 85% unemployment rate, has received the
news of the military withdrawal with relief, said Father Faltas, who played a
key role during the siege by Israeli troops of the Basilica of the Nativity in
2002.

The withdrawal, "together with the truce, which we hope will last more than
three months, might trigger a certain recovery, including economic, also making
possible the taking of groups of pilgrims to Holy Places," the religious said.

"The Holy Places are safe and can be visited without problems," he added. "The
Bethlehem Grotto awaits the pilgrims. It would represent a hope for all the
population."

It is an appeal shared by Father Giovanni Battistelli, custodian of the Holy
Land, who said he is "timidly confident" by the truce. The "great confidence
that Palestinians have in Abu Mazen, allows one to have hope in the future, also
because of the commitment of international diplomacy," Father Battistelli added.

The Israeli withdrawal from the northern section of the Gaza Strip and the truce
declared by Palestinian factions constitute the first steps of a staggered and
long process of pacification which, if successful, would culminate in the
implementation of the "road map."

* * *

Foundations of Nazareth Mosque Razed

JERUSALEM, JULY 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A controversial mosque in Nazareth was
demolished early today by Interior Ministry demolition crews, along with Israeli
police, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The Shahab A Din Mosque, still in the early stages of construction, has been a
source for controversy which ultimately fueled Islamic riots in April 1999, and
interreligious strife in Nazareth since, the newspaper said.

The Nazareth District Court upheld last week the city's District Court's ruling
that the illegal construction of the site must be flattened.

Christians said the mosque would pose a direct threat to the Basilica of the
Annunciation, obscuring its view from the main drag.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

We have seen the four senses of Scripture as a process of lectio divina.  It is
not necessarily a mechanical process completed all at once. Sometimes we are
only able to focus on one sense or two. Sometimes the prayerful aspect comes
later on during the day when engaged in a different activity but is drawn from
the lectio divina exercise.

Contemplation is not an automatic outcome from performing a particular practice
or engaging in a process. It has nothing to do with our own efforts but is a
gift from God. We cannot achieve contemplation as a result from doing this or
that. God is the only source of true contemplation. Contemplation is a form and
level of prayer, a spiritual elevation only given to a select few who have
progressed in virtue and discipline.

The ancient monastic tradition speaks of the progression of prayer in lectio
divina as a spiritual ladder. This is merely a metaphor and not a sequential
development that we can attain by following a precise recipe. Parallel to the
four senses of Scripture are the four steps of the ladder: reading, meditation,
prayer and contemplation. The first three we can accomplish through focused
diligence. Contemplation is given not achieved. For some it is given after many
years of rigorous discipline and arduous effort. Others are given this gift from
their youth. In all cases it is always a special grace that is built on human
nature that is subject to God in all things.

Tradition teaches that those who diligently adhere to lectio divina and
discipline will inevitably enjoy divine contemplation. Contemplation comes when
we have learned to contemplate God’s word in perfect serenity and clarity. As
St. Augustine says, “Yet his words are as clear as water, limpid, undisturbed,
unclouded. And so you should, as sheep, feed on and drink of his message; do not
trample on it or stir it up.” (St. Augustine, Sermo 47, 13, De ovibus: CCL 41,
583)

As we progress over the years in lectio divina our quality of prayer also
progresses becoming more tender and intimate with God. The final crown of grace
is the fruit of contemplative prayer. There are tastes of this from time to time
during our course of prayer that urge us on to make greater efforts to fidelity
to grace. The soul that stays on this narrow path enduring through the dark and
arid periods that mark the spiritual journey will eventually taste the richness
of contemplative union with God.

The efforts we make are our activity, it is an active form of grace.
Contemplation is not our activity, it is God’s action within us and is passive
on our part.


Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

U.S. Conference President Assails Court Decision on Sodomy

Sexual Activity Belongs to Marital Tie Between Man and Woman, Says Bishop
Gregory

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 1, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The president of the U.S. bishops'
conference assailed the Supreme Court's decision that struck down Texas' sodomy
law.

"In its decision, Lawrence vs. Texas, the Supreme Court has chosen to view
homosexual behavior between consenting adults as a matter of privacy," Bishop
Wilton Gregory said in a statement. "However, human sexuality cannot be viewed
this way."

"Sexual activity has profound social consequences which are not limited to those
immediately engaged in sexual acts," he said. "For this reason, the larger
society has always shown a concern about what is and is not acceptable in sexual
behavior between individuals. The very fact that this case came before the
Supreme Court is evidence of that concern."

"The Catholic Church teaches, in agreement with other faith traditions and with
what were once the norms generally accepted by society, that sexual activity
belongs to the marital relationship between one man and one woman in fidelity to
each other," Bishop Gregory said.

"This relationship is the basis of the family which is the basic unit of
society," he added. "Respect for the purpose of human sexuality and the family
needs to be reaffirmed in our society; and anything which reduces respect for
them -- such as yesterday's Supreme Court decision -- is to be deplored."

In an accompanying statement, Mark Chopko, general counsel for the bishops'
conference, pointed out the legal limits of the decision.

"This case was decided on the narrowest grounds," he wrote. "Justice Kennedy
took pains to insulate this case from broader conclusions.

"He points to laws against prostitution and rape to show that not every sexual
act between adults is outside the reach of legislatures. He is equally careful
to note that this case does not involve the question whether the government must
formally recognize homosexual relationships."


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070203.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or
digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owners. All articles
from VIS, VID, Zenit , Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Noticias Eclesiales
are republished by approval and courtesy of these news agencies. We encourage
our readers to send financial support to Zenit, a private news organization in
Rome. Zenit (www.zenit.org), VIS (V.I.S. - Vatican Information
Service) Zenit, Associated Press (AP), Reuters, (VID) Vidimus Dominum, and
Noticias Eclesiales own the original copyright for their news releases as
credited. All copyright materials copied in any form must include the
appropriate copyright owner; for Roman Catholic News use our URL as follows:

<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>.

All correspondence should be sent to:
<Roman-Catholic-News-owner@yahoogroups.com>

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 129
THURSDAY 3 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Meditation on Psalm 145(146)
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II Calls for an End to Conflicts in Uganda and Liberia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• HOLY SEE ON POVERTY ERADICATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Orthodox Says Dialogue Has Achieved "Bond of Peace and Love"
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Slovakian Priest Reviving a Parish in Russia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Caritas-Jerusalem Encouraged by Peace Plan
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Archbishop Martino on How to Manage Business's "Most Precious Patrimony"
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bishop Wenski Named Coadjutor in Orlando
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Meditation on Psalm 145(146)

"We Are Not Abandoned to Ourselves," Says John Paul II

VATICAN CITY, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul II's
address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to a reflection on Psalm
145(146).

1. Psalm 145[146], which we just heard, is an "alleluia," the first of five
Psalms that close the whole collection of the Psalter. Hebrew liturgical
tradition already used this hymn as a song of praise for the morning: It reaches
its culmination in the proclamation of the sovereignty of God over human
history. In fact, at the end of the Psalm, it is declared that "the Lord shall
reign forever" (verse 10).

A consoling truth is derived from this: We are not abandoned to ourselves, the
vicissitudes of our day are not dominated by chaos or fate, the events do not
represent a mere succession of acts deprived of any meaning or goal. Starting
from this conviction, a true and proper profession of faith in God is developed,
celebrated with a kind of litany in which the attributes of love and goodness
are proclaimed which are proper to him (see verses 6-9).

2. God is the creator of heaven and earth, and the faithful custodian of the
covenant that binds him to his people. It is he who does justice to the
oppressed, gives bread to sustain the hungry, and sets prisoners free. It is he
who opens the eyes of the blind, raises the one who falls, loves the righteous,
protects the stranger, and upholds the orphan and the widow. It is he who
disturbs the way of the wicked and reigns sovereign over all beings and all
times.

These are 12 theological affirmations that, with their perfect number, wish to
express the fullness and perfection of divine action. The Lord is not a
sovereign who is distant from his creatures, but is involved in their history,
like one who defends justice, aligning himself with the last, the victims, the
oppressed, the unhappy.

3. Man finds himself, then, before a radical choice between two contrasting
possibilities: On one hand is the temptation to "trust in princes" (see verse
3), adopting their criteria inspired by wickedness, egoism and pride. In
reality, this is a slippery and ruinous way, it is "a crooked path and devious
way" (see Proverbs 2:15), which has despair as its end.

In fact, the Psalmist reminds us that man is a fragile and mortal being, as the
word "'adam" expresses, which in Hebrew refers to earth, matter, dust. Man, the
Bible often repeats, is like a palace that crumbles (see Ecclesiastes 12:1-7), a
cobweb that the wind rends (see Job 8:14), a blade of grass that is green at
dawn and dry at night (see Psalm 89[90]:5-6; 102[103]:15-16). When death comes
upon him, all his plans disintegrate and he returns to dust: "When they breathe
their last, they return to the earth; that day all their planning comes to
nothing" (Psalm 145[146]:4).

4. However, man has another possibility before him, exalted by the Psalmist with
a beatitude: "Happy those whose help is Jacob's God, whose hope is in the Lord,
their God" (verse 5). This is the way of trust in the eternal and faithful God.
The amen, which is the Hebrew word of faith, means precisely to be based on the
indestructible solidity of the Lord, on his eternity, on his infinite power. But
above all it means to share his choices, which the profession of faith and
praise, first described by us, has brought to light.

It is necessary to live in adherence to the divine will, to offer bread to the
hungry, to visit prisoners, to support and comfort the sick, to defend and
welcome strangers, to be dedicated to the poor and miserable. In reality, it is
the same spirit of the beatitudes; to decide in favor of that proposal of love
that saves us at the end of this life and will then be the object of our
examination in the Last Judgment, which will seal history. Then we will be
judged on the choice to serve Christ in the hungry, in the thirsty, in the
stranger, in the naked, in the sick, in the imprisoned. "Amen, I say to you,
whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me"
(Matthew 25:40), the Lord will then say.

5. Let us conclude our meditation of Psalm 145[146] with an idea for reflection
offered to us by the subsequent Christian tradition.

Origen, the great writer of the third century, when commenting on Verse 7 of the
Psalm, which says: "The Lord gives food to the hungry and sets prisoners free,"
perceived an implicit reference to the Eucharist: "We are hungry for Christ, and
he himself will give us the bread of heaven. 'Give us this day our daily bread.'
Those who speak this way, are hungry; those who feel the need for bread, are
hungry." And this hunger is fully satiated by the sacrament of the Eucharist, in
which man is nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ (see Origen -- Jerome,
"74 Omelie sul Libro dei Salmi" [74 Homilies on the Book of Psalms], Milan,
1993, pp. 526-527).

[Translation by ZENIT]

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave this summary in English:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today's Psalm is the first of the five "alleluias" that close the Book of
Psalms. It praises God who reigns sovereign over all creation and is faithful to
his covenant. God is ever attentive to the sufferings of his creatures; he acts
with justice and shows compassion. We too are called, in the spirit of the
Beatitudes, to share with the poor, to defend the oppressed, and to show
compassion to those who reflect in their lives the face of the suffering Christ.

I offer a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present
in today's audience, especially those from Sierra Leone, England, Scotland,
Canada and the United States. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in
song. In a special way, I greet the many student groups present. Upon all of you
I cordially invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

* * *

John Paul II Calls for an End to Conflicts in Uganda and Liberia

1 Million People in Each Country Have Been Affected

VATICAN CITY, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II appealed for peace in the
African countries of Liberia and Uganda, and spoke of his closeness to the
beleaguered local Churches.

"With profound sadness I follow the tragic events in Liberia and in northern
Uganda," the Pope said at the end of today's general audience. "I appeal for
everyone's commitment, so that these beloved African populations will find peace
and security again, and that they will not be denied the future to which they
have a right."

"I express, moreover, my closeness to the local Churches, severely stricken in
their persons and works, while I encourage the pastors and faithful to be strong
and firm in hope," the Holy Father said. "May our insistent prayer obtain this
from the Divine Mercy!"

Two rebel assaults in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, last month left an
estimated 700 people dead, prompting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to ask
that a multinational force be sent to the country.

For his part, U.S. President George W. Bush has called upon Liberian President
Charles Taylor to step down, in a move to end the conflict in the west African
state, which was founded 150 years ago by freed North American slaves.

The rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy have spent three
years trying to seize the capital and to oust Taylor, in a war that has
displaced more than 1 million people.

The rebels want Taylor, accused of war crimes in neighboring Sierra Leone, to
resign from office. Taylor has said he will leave at the end of his term in
January.

The Liberian president, who studied in the United States, emerged as the
dominant leader in a war that caused 200,000 deaths in the 1990s. In 1997 he won
the elections.

In Uganda, the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) are terrorizing the
Teso and Kuman peoples in the north with killings and kidnappings. In recent
weeks, they have attacked Catholic schools and missions.

LRA leader Joseph Kony is trying to bring down the government of Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni.

"The Pope's words are not just words of consolation, rather, they infuse
strength and courage in us to face the present adversities," said Archbishop
John Baptist Odama of Gulu, in northern Uganda, when he received the news of the
papal appeal.

"It is the most beautiful news I have received since I became bishop," he told
the Misna agency. "I turn to the international community, and, first, to all the
Ugandan nation so that they will become aware of this forgotten war," which
affects 1 million people.

"Our people cannot endure any more and are desperate. I am convinced that the
president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has done what he could in these years to
guarantee the safety of the civilian population," the archbishop said. "But when
your cabin is set on fire and you cannot put the fire out, you have to ask your
neighbors for help. The whole village is on fire here!"

* * *

HOLY SEE ON POVERTY ERADICATION, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

VATICAN CITY, JUL 2, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday in Geneva, Archbishop Celestino
Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, addressed
the United Nations Economic and Social Council on "Promoting an Integrated
Approach to Rural Development in Developing Countries for Poverty Eradication
and Sustainable Development."

   The archbishop said the meeting was "a momentous occasion for the
international community to discuss and address the eradication of poverty and
its correlation with sustainable development in rural areas." He highlighted the
need for "the establishment of a strong development alliance" which would
"recognize that those blessed with economic resources and the power to use them
are called in solidarity to address the
plight of those who are amongst the most vulnerable." He also stressed that 
"justice
must prevail in the economic world."

   The nuncio issued an appeal by the Holy See "for an integrated strategy that
would implement a series of generous economic and trade concessions without
asking reciprocity, at least in the short term."

   Among the elements to be pursued, Archbishop Migliore added, are: "the
limitation of overseas economic practices which grant temporary relief but do
not invigorate the economies of rural areas so that their inhabitants become
active economic and social actors"; new practices which support sustainable
development and expansion of family farms' productivity"; and "debt relief to
remove burdens that impede the recovery and growth of  the economies of
developing States."

   "The world of today is holding on to a fragile peace," said the nuncio. "Too
many people are without hope, are confronted with broken promises, and lose
their trust in the effectiveness of regional and international summits. It is
the search for a healing of the despair of the poor that must fuel the
continuing work of the world community. We cannot allow our work to end here."

* * *

Orthodox Says Dialogue Has Achieved "Bond of Peace and Love"

Bartholomew I Sends a Letter to John Paul II

VATICAN CITY, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Orthodox patriarch of
Constantinople says that theological dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics can
go forward because of the "bond of peace and love" that is in place.

In a letter to John Paul II on the occasion of the solemnity of Sts. Peter and
Paul, Patriarch Bartholomew I said that "we have achieved the bond of peace and
love, which is the necessary foundation for progress of the theological
dialogue, which is carried on between our two Churches."

The letter was sent with the Orthodox delegation which participated in the Mass
presided over by the Pope on Sunday, the solemnity of the two apostles.

The patriarch's letter, published Tuesday by the Vatican press office, notes the
"fact that it has not yet become possible to achieve the unity of faith, which
is the prerequisite of joint worship." This, it says, "casts a shadow on the joy
of the feast and saddens our modesty."

However, Peter's example "is always timely, and particularly in our times, in
which all of us have come to understand that the separate paths of the different
Christian confessions lead to an impasse," the text reads.

Patriarch Bartholomew I -- regarded as "first among equals" in the Orthodox
world -- also alluded to St. Peter's Letters, which contain "excellent and very
concentrated counsels to the faithful."

In particular, the apostle's invitation to "purify" the soul by "obedience to
the truth through the Spirit" is a teaching that is always timely, especially in
this phase of the ecumenical dialogue, the patriarch said.

The patriarch ended his letter to the Pope expressing his "sincere fraternal
affection" and hoping at the same time that "the Lord may grant us, through the
intercessions of the" Apostle Peter "to be built as living stones into a
spiritual dwelling, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God through Jesus Christ."

* * *

Slovakian Priest Reviving a Parish in Russia

BRIANSK, Russia, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A Slovakian priest is working to
restore a Catholic parish in this southern Russia city, even before it has a
regular pastor.

Many "people in Russia, after the decades of materialism ... [have] no idea of
the sacred; they do not have the habit of prayer, and make no distinction
between going to Mass or to the theater," explained Father Jan Hermanovsky, 68.

Ordained in Italy 30 years ago, Father Hermanovsky carried out his pastoral
activity, until 1995, in Florence, since he was unable to return to his native
country.

Now, the priest will go to Russia to reopen the parish of Briansk, where there
are numerous Catholics, especially of Polish origin, the Italian weekly Toscana
Oggi reported.

The parish's former Catholic church, long converted into apartments, would be
hard to recover, Father Hermanovsky said.

"So I have preferred to purchase a private house for purposes of worship. It
still does not have external signs characterizing it as a Church, but we will
soon place the cross and an image of the Virgin on the facade," he said.

He added: "We are in Russia to do good, with the certainty that, by doing good,
we all grow."

* * *

Caritas-Jerusalem Encouraged by Peace Plan

But Insists That Some Key Points Are Still Unaddressed

MADRID, Spain, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- An official of Caritas-Jerusalem has
high hopes for the "road map" plan for peace in the Holy Land.

"This process is a first glimmer of hope which we cling to, because it is what
can lead us to a normal life, to forgiveness and tolerance," said Claudette
Habesch, secretary-general of Caritas-Jerusalem. "But before speaking of
tolerance, we must acknowledge the other, accept him with his differences."

Habesch is in Spain, where she is taking part in the 5th Hispanic-Latin American
and Caribbean Congress on the Theology of Charity, being held in El Escorial,
until Thursday.

"As a Palestinian, I must show myself optimistic because the road map includes
important aspects for the Palestinian people," she said. The peace plan
represents a step forward as it "recognizes that there is a Palestinian people
and a conflict, and that it is necessary to give an answer to them."

Habesch also noted that the "road map has the backing of the United States, the
United Nations, the European Union and Russia, which guarantees that there is a
balance in this process."

However, she lamented that some points have not been included in the plan, such
as the situation in Jerusalem, the border questions, the issue of Jewish
settlements in Palestinian territory, and the right of Palestinians to return.

The truce signed by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa "is an important step,
although the condition is that Israel should also take a step toward the peace
process," she noted.

Now that there is access to the Gaza Strip, the priority for Caritas is to
activate the medical center donated by the Latin Patriarchate.

Habesch reported that there is also a project in one of the Palestinian refugee
camps in Gaza for the development of women because, "to achieve peace and
reconciliation it is necessary to work and sensitize those who are directly
involved in the process."

In this connection, Caritas' secretary-general in Jerusalem expressed her
conviction about "the decisive role of the Palestinian woman, not only because
she represents 50% of the community, but because she is responsible for the
education of the children. The idea is to give women the necessary tools so that
they can participate in society and be an important part of its development."

* * *

Archbishop Martino on How to Manage Business's "Most Precious Patrimony"

Human Resources Need Participation, Formation and Flexibility, He Says

ROME, JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican official warned about the need to
safeguard the moral condition of what he described as "an authentic human
ecology in the world of work."

Archbishop Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace, made that observation when closing the 21st Congress of the European
Association of Personnel Directors, held here.

During the meeting, convoked under the motto "To Develop Individuals in the Era
of Technologies and the Internet," Archbishop Martino underlined that one of the
most salient effects of the new technologies is to give work a central place and
to give maximum value to human resources in terms of creativity, imagination and
organizational capacity.

In line with John Paul II's encyclical "Centesimus Annus," the archbishop said
that these resources constitute the "most precious patrimony of business."
Because of this, those responsible for personnel must be concerned with the
spirituality of work as an integral element of individuals.

Otherwise, there is a risk of "falling into a neo-functionalist concept of work,
which brings with it, especially in terms of individualist logic, the quest for
personal advantage and the weakening of collective ties of solidarity,"
Archbishop Martino said.

As an antidote he suggested the concept of participation, interpreted as an
offer to exchange experiences for the benefit of both the workers and the
business. In this respect, formation is also of importance in the era of
technology; directors must not ignore their obligation to match new personal
qualifications, with the corresponding opportunities in the workplace, he said.

The archbishop also referred to the flexibility of work. This element, perhaps,
has the greatest impact in the spirituality of work, he said. It should be
managed in such a way as to avoid harmful consequences for the worker and his
family.

It is a question of "preserving those conditions of humanity, those resources of
sensibility and ability which constitute the alphabet of all spirituality," he
concluded.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

In Chapter 3, Fr. Casey spends eight pages on “Finding the Literal Sense”. The
primary focus is on the proper preparatory study necessary to grasp the literal
sense.

It is important to do some reading on the cultural background of the Scripture
chosen for lectio divina. Coming across obscure terms and antiquated cultural
terms in the text makes the literal sense unattainable if no effort is made to
prepare yourself. Coming across the terms “denarius”, “Zealot”, Pharisee” etc.,
and not knowing what they mean in their historical context detracts from your
ability to grasp the author’s intended message.

Not all the words, phrases and passages in the Bible translate well into
English. Having sources that can help with Hebrew or Greek can supply great aid
in lectio divina. The Jerome Biblical Commentary (JBC) and the New Jerome
Biblical Commentary (NJBC), or the Anchor Bible Commentary (ABC) series, the
Navarre Bible series has at least one volume published for every book in the
Bible. These biblical commentaries address the original language and give
explanations.

In addition there are many Hebrew and Greek lexicons available to help the
reader in lectio divina. The Botterweck, Ringgren & Fabry, eds., Theological
Lexicon of the Old Testament (Eerdmans) is a multi-volume lexicon covering all
the Hebrew of the Old Testament. Kittel, ed., Theological Lexicon of the New
Testament is a 10 volume lexicon on the Greek words of the New Testament.

For many a “study Bible” may be a quick and convenient source to aid their
lectio divina. The HarperCollins Study Bible is an example of a useful single
volume reference that can  be useful to you in ascertaining the literal sense.

It is also important to be aware that the Scriptures were written in literary
genres far removed from our contemporary sense of writing composition. The JBC,
NJBC, ABC, HarperCollins Study Bible or the Navarre Bible can be very helpful
shedding light on this important aspect of the text.


Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

Bishop Wenski Named Coadjutor in Orlando

WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 2, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II has appointed
Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Wenski of Miami as coadjutor in Orlando, Florida.

A coadjutor bishop enjoys the right of succession when the incumbent leaves
office. The current head of the Orlando Diocese is Bishop Norbert Dorsey.

Thomas Wenski was born Oct. 18, 1950, in West Palm Beach. He attended St.
Vincent de Paul's Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, and was ordained a priest
of the Archdiocese of Miami in May 1976. He earned a master's in sociology at
Fordham University.

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Miami in June 1997. He chairs the U.S.
bishops' Migration Committee.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
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• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070303.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
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This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 130
FRIDAY 4 July 2003

Feast of St. Elizabeth of Portugal

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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• Papal Address to Indian Bishops of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam
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• Greek-Melkite Bishops Offer to Help in Dialogue With Islam
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• Monastic Life as "a Constant Search for God"
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• Father Groeschel Urges a "National Program of Penance"
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• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Sant'Egidio Community Appeals for a Return to Talks in Liberia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Papal Address to Indian Bishops of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam

Interreligious Dialogue Does Not Replace the Mission, He Says

VATICAN CITY, JULY 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered today to bishops of the Indian episcopal conference of the
ecclesiastical provinces of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, whom he
received at the end of their five-yearly visit to the Holy See.

Dear Brother Bishops,

1. In the grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ I cordially welcome you, the
Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Bangalore, Hyderabad and
Visakhapatnam, and make my own the greeting of Saint Paul: "I thank my God
through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the
world" (Rom 1:8). In particular I thank Archbishop Pinto for his good wishes and
kind sentiments offered on your behalf, which I warmly reciprocate, and I assure
you and those entrusted to your care of my prayers. Your visit ad Limina
Apostolorum expresses the profound communion of love and truth which unites the
particular Churches in India with the Successor of Peter and his collaborators
in the service of the universal Church. In "coming to see Peter" (Gal 1:18) you
thus confirm your "unity in the same faith, hope and charity, and more and more
recognize and treasure that immense heritage of spiritual and moral wealth that
the whole Church, joined with the Bishop of Rome … has spread throughout the
world" (Pastor Bonus, Appendix I, 3).

2. To bear witness to Jesus Christ is "the supreme service which the Church
offers to the peoples of Asia" ("Ecclesia in Asia," 20). Living with many people
who do not know Christ convinces us ever more of the need for the missionary
apostolate. The radical newness of life brought by Christ and lived by his
followers awakens in us the urgency of missionary activity (cf. "Redemptoris
Missio," 7). This demands an explicit proclamation of Jesus as Lord: a bold
testimony founded on his command -- "go and make disciples of all nations" (Mt
28:19) and sustained by his promise -- "I am with you always" (Mt 28:20). Indeed
it is in fidelity to the threefold mission of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King
that all Christians, in keeping with their baptismal dignity, have a right and
duty to participate actively in the missionary endeavors of the Church (cf.
"Redemptoris Missio," 71).

The call for a new evangelization and renewed missionary commitment which I have
addressed to the whole Church resounds just as clearly for your ancient
Christian communities as it does for your newest. While the initial
evangelization of non-Christians and the continuing proclamation of Jesus to the
baptized will highlight differing aspects of the same Good News, both stem from
a firm commitment to make Christ ever more known and loved. Such an obligation
has its sublime origin in the "fountain-like love" of the Father made present in
the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit (cf. "Ad Gentes," 2). All Christians
are thus drawn up into Christ's impelling love, of which "we cannot but speak"
(Acts 4:20), as the source of the hope and joy that marks us.

3. A correct understanding of the relationship between culture and Christian
faith is vital for effective evangelization. On your own Indian subcontinent you
are faced with cultures rich in religious and philosophical traditions. Within
this context, we see how absolutely essential is the proclamation of Jesus
Christ as the Incarnate Son of God. It is in this understanding of Christ's
uniqueness as the second person of the Blessed Trinity, fully God and fully man,
that our faith must be preached and embraced. Any theology of mission that omits
the call to a radical conversion to Christ and denies the cultural
transformation which such conversion will entail necessarily misrepresents the
reality of our faith, which is always a new beginning in the life of him who
alone is "the way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).

In this regard, we reaffirm that interreligious dialogue does not replace the
"missio ad gentes" but rather forms a part of it (cf. Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration "Dominus Iesus," 2). Similarly, it must be
noted that relativist explanations of religious pluralism, which state that the
Christian faith is of no different value than any other belief, in fact empty
Christianity of its defining Christological heart: faith alienated from our Lord
Jesus, as the only Savior, is no longer Christian, no longer theological faith.
An even greater misrepresentation of our faith occurs when relativism leads to
syncretism: an artificial "spiritual construct" that manipulates and
consequently distorts the essential, objective, revelatory nature of
Christianity. That which renders the Church missionary by her very nature is
precisely the definitive and complete character of the revelation of Jesus
Christ as the Son of God (cf. "Dei Verbum," 2). This is the foundation of our
faith. It is this which makes Christian witness credible. With joy and humility
we must welcome the duty that "we, who have received the grace of believing in
Christ, the revealer of the Father and the Savior of the world, have to show to
what depths the relationship with Christ can lead" ("Novo Millennio Ineunte,"
33).

4. Dear Brothers, your quinquennial reports give ample evidence of the presence
of the Holy Spirit vivifying the missionary dimension of the Church's life in
your Dioceses. Notwithstanding the obstacles encountered by people -- especially
the poor -- who wish to embrace the Christian faith, adult baptisms are numerous
in much of your region. Equally encouraging is the high percentage of Catholics
who attend Sunday Mass, and the increasing numbers of laity properly
participating in the liturgy. Such examples of the ready acceptance of God's
gift of faith also indicate the need for the diligent pastoral care of our
people. Responding to the aspiration for a new impetus in Christian living, I
have stated that we must remain firmly focused on the plan already found in the
Gospel and in the living Tradition which has its center in Christ himself (cf.
ibid., 29).

The reason to develop pastoral initiatives adapted to the social and cultural
circumstances of your communities, yet firmly rooted in the uniqueness of
Christ, is clear: "What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord
with ourselves as servants" (2 Cor 4:5). Far from being a matter of power or
control, the Church's programs of evangelization and formation are conducted in
the belief that "every person has a right to hear the Good News of God who
reveals and gives himself in Christ" ("Ecclesia in Asia," 20). While there are
many signs of dynamic ecclesial life in your provinces it is also the case that
challenges remain. A deeper appreciation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will
help to ready your people spiritually for the task of "doing everything possible
to witness to reconciliation and to bring it about in the world" ("Reconciliatio
et Paenitentia," 8). Similarly, our teaching of marriage as a sacred sign of the
unfailing fidelity and selfless love of Christ for his Church points to the
invaluable worth of a comprehensive marriage preparation program for those
readying themselves for the sacrament and, through them, for society as a whole.
Further, the festivities and devotions associated with the many shrines
dedicated to Our Lady in your areas, while attracting thousands of followers
from other religions, must be soundly incorporated within the liturgical life of
the Church if they are to become a gateway to authentic Christian experience.

5. In a world disfigured by fragmentation the Church -- as the sign and
instrument of the communion of God with humanity (cf. "Lumen Gentium," 1) -- is
a powerful bearer of unity and the reconciliation which it entails. As Bishops
called to manifest and preserve the apostolic tradition you are joined in a
communion of truth and love. Individually you are the visible source and
foundation of unity in your own particular Churches which are constituted after
the model of the universal Church. So, while it is true to say that a Bishop
represents his own Church it is also necessary to recall that together with the
Pope all Bishops represent the whole Church in the bond of peace, love and unity
(cf. ibid., 23).

In this regard, a Bishop must never be considered a mere delegate of a
particular social or language grouping but must always be recognized as a
successor of the Apostles, whose mission comes from the Lord. The repudiation of
a Bishop, whether by an individual or a group, is always a transgression of
ecclesial communion and thus a scandal for the faithful and a counter-witness to
the followers of other religions. Any spirit of antagonism or conflict -- always
wounding the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 1:12-13) -- must be put aside and
replaced with that practical and concrete love for every person which arises
from the contemplation of Christ.

6. I give thanks to God for the many indications of growth and maturity in your
Dioceses. In addition to the often selfless dedication of your priests,
Religious and catechists, and the generosity of your own people, this
development has also depended upon the ministry of missionaries and the
financial generosity of overseas donors. The "pooling of resources and
aspirations in order to promote both the common good and the good of individual
churches" ("Christus Dominus," 36), which has been practiced from Apostolic
times, is an eloquent manifestation of the Church's nature as communion. Yet it
is also true to say that particular Churches, including those in countries of
the developing world, should seek to build up their own resources to promote
local evangelization, and build pastoral centers and institutions of educational
and charitable works. To this end, I encourage you to further the considerable
advances which you have already achieved with the laity and in collaboration
with Religious Institutes (cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 222). For your own part I
urge you to set an unquestionable example by your impartiality in the
stewardship of the communal resources of the Church (cf. ibid., can. 1276;
1284). You must ensure that the administration of "goods ... meant for all"
("Sollicitudo Rei Socialis," 42) is never sullied by temptations to materialism
or favoritism but is wisely undertaken in response to the needs of the
spiritually or materially poor.

7. Dear Brothers, it is a particular joy for me to share these reflections with
you on this feast of the glorious Apostle Saint Thomas, so venerated by your
people. I again assure you of my prayers and support as you continue to shepherd
in love the flocks entrusted to your care. United in our proclamation of the
saving Good News of Jesus Christ, renewed in the zeal of the first Christians,
and inspired by the steadfast example of the Saints, let us go forward in hope!
In this Year of the Rosary, may Mary, model of all disciples and bright Star of
Evangelization, be your sure guide as you "seek to do what Jesus tells you" (cf.
Jn 2:5). Commending you to her maternal protection, I cordially impart my
Apostolic Blessing to you and to the priests, Religious, and lay faithful of
your Dioceses.


* * *

Greek-Melkite Bishops Offer to Help in Dialogue With Islam

DAMASCUS, Syria, JULY 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Bishops of the Catholic Church of
Greek-Melkite rite made an appeal for "the great nations not to spare any effort
to establish a just, global and complete peace" in the Holy Land.

Their appeal was reflected in a statement issued at the end of their synod, held
for the first time in Syria. The June 17-27 gathering brought together 30 of the
37 Melkite bishops and four general superiors of religious, under the presidency
of His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites.

The synod fathers stated that they are ready to "make our Church a platform to
help Arab leaders to act in the framework of justice, peace and development."

Likewise, the bishops offered to "help the Western world to understand Islam and
Muslim-Christian relations," Vatican Radio reported.

The Greek-Melkite Church has 1.5 million faithful in the Middle East and in the
diaspora. The focus of the synod was the formation of parish priests.

The bishops also examined plans for the next patriarchal conclave scheduled for
2006.

* * *

Monastic Life as "a Constant Search for God"

Benedictine Abbot Primate on the 1st Centenary of Douai Abbey in England

PORTSMOUTH, England, JULY 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A key principle of monastic life
is to see in the brethren of the community people who share the same constant
search for God, says the abbot primate of the Benedictine Confederation.

Benedictine Father Notker Wolf gave an overall description of monastic life at
Douai Abbey in Woolhampton, Portsmouth Diocese, when opening the celebrations of
the first centenary of the community's presence in England.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster and Catholic primate
of England and Wales, presided over a solemn Mass, attended by 500 faithful.

In his homily, Abbot Wolf said that there are periods of exhaustion in the
pilgrimage of the People of God, of each monk and each nun.

"They have their doubts, and from time to time have to search once more for
their true identity," he added. "St. Benedict describes the monastic way as a
constant search for God. God is always greater than our imagination. We have
never caught up with him and we can never possess him."

Hence, the "journey with God is an exciting adventure," he said. "At first we
feel called by God and attracted by him. We grow in our vocation and get the
impression that God has gripped us and will never let us go. We want to withdraw
from him in order to escape his grasp. But he loves us too much to allow us to
fall. He holds us fast, challenges us.

"Strangely, this is also the way toward becoming an ever-freer human person.
Increasingly, we become able to see and understand our monastic brothers and
sisters in the light of this wrestling. They are people who are on the same
journey as I am. I recognize God's love in them, God's love working in them."

"And we can see and meet other people outside the monastery in this way," the
abbot added. "We become able to see people as God sees them, and not filtered
through ourselves and our prejudices."

A monastery is not paradise, he said. Rather, it is "a community of men or women
who are fascinated by Jesus Christ and his Gospel" and try to live "this
fascination as interpreted by the Rule of Benedict."

The Douai community was founded in Paris about four centuries ago. It sent
missionaries to England to preserve and spread the faith.

Dispersed by the French Revolution, the community was refounded at Douai, in
northern France, two centuries ago. The community had to move once again, in
1903, and sought refuge at Woolhampton.

Douai Abbey has published a commemorative volume on the history of the community
as well as a CD. More details are at http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk.


* * *

Father Groeschel Urges a "National Program of Penance"

As Part of Response to Church's Problems

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, JULY 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Father Benedict Groeschel offers
a blueprint based on prayer in order to deal with current Church problems.

"We need a time of penance, we need a national program of penance," the
Franciscan Friar of the Renewal told a recent conference for priests, deacons
and seminarians, held at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Priests and
deacons from 25 states and Canada attended.

"Reform of the Church must begin with worship and preaching and prayer," the
Franciscan said. "We will be asked what we have done in our time to seek the
reform of the Body of Christ."

The "May Your Hope Overflow" conference, held June 9-13, included among it
speakers Bishop Stanislaw Rylko, secretary of the Pontifical Council for the
Laity.

Father Groeschel, author of "From Scandal to Hope," encouraged the conferees to
keep their vocations Christ-centered.

"One has come to us who all people of the world were waiting for. He is our
absolute hope," said the founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in New
York. "If you don't preach him, no one in the world has any real hope."

"The reward is that everyone will know that Jesus is our hope -- the man in
prison, the man dying of AIDS, the prostitute, the mothers, the fathers, old
people in nursing homes, the young -- everyone you preach to," he said. "If we
want to be taken seriously as the one, true Church, we'd better proclaim it
every day."

Father Groeschel defined Christianity as "a religion of mystery" and cautioned
against purely rationalist theories that overanalyze and dissect the Catholic
faith.

"When you take the mystery out of religion it becomes dull," he explained.
"Anti-supernatural trends are atheist. And they are universally dull."

Bishop Rylko also had a message of hope, encouraging the men to see the
potential among the lay members of their parishes.

The Vatican prelate noted that there are "many charisms hidden in the life of
many Catholic lay people of today -- men and women, young and adults, elderly
people, married and single. These are the true treasures in the Church that are
worthy of being valued because too often they are hidden."

Bishop Rylko cautioned the participants not to take heed of any "prophets of
doom" when considering the Church's future.

"The Christian springtime talked about by John Paul II is not an unreal utopia,"
he said, "but a reality becoming ever more alive around us and that asks each
one of us to play our part."

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

Preparation for lectio divina requires us to make serious efforts in biblical
studies.  Becoming familiar with biblical languages can take us to studying
Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.  Besides the biblical languages modern scholarly or
academic languages besides English are also very useful that include: German,
French, and Italian.

We have already seen useful lexicons in both Biblical Hebrew and Greek languages
yesterday. They are not the only sources.

For the Hebrew Old Testament there is also the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and
English Lexicon available in the Hendrickson or Oxford editions;
Harris-Archer-Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (2 volumes);
John R. Kohlenberger III, ed., The NIV Interlinear Hebrew English Old Testament;
One Volume Edition, to mention the very basic scholarly sources.

For the Greek New Testament there is also the Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich
Greek-English Lexicon (3rd edition); Ceslas Spiq, Theological Lexicon of the New
Testament (3 volumes); Nestle-Aland 27th edition of the Greek New Testament:
Novum Testamentum Graece; and Max Zerwick, SJ, A Grammatical Analysis of the
Greek New Testament, to mention the very basic scholarly sources.

The Old Testament books were also translated into Greek known as the Septuagint,
a Latin term meaning seventy.  This name first emerged during the early Church
when the New Testament was added to form the entire Bible in Greek (43 Old
Testament books and 27 New Testament books). The Old Testament was translated
from Hebrew into Greek sometime during the 2nd century BC.

Septuagint, (LXX) the canon of the Old Jewish bible fixed by the Alexandrian
Jews in 200 BC, containing 43 books recognized by the Catholic Church.  This
canon was rejected sometime between AD 70-135 by the Palestinian Jewish
leadership at Jamnia.  This subsequent canon held by Jews and Protestants known
as the Hebrew Bible contains 24 books, that represents 37 of the books of the
LXX.  The six rejected books include: Wisdom (alt. title: Wisdom of Solomon),
Ecclesiasticus (alt. title: Wisdom of Sirach, or Ben Sirach), Tobit, Judith, 1 &
2 Maccabees (plus the apocrypha 3 and 4 Maccabees), and Baruch (which includes
in chapter 6 the so-called Ep(Let)Jer “Epistle (Letter) of Jeremiah”). The order
of books of the LXX vary among the extant MSS.  It contains all the books of the
Hebrew Bible translated into Greek with variations, omissions and additions. 
The additions are significant in Esther and Daniel, and rejected by the Hebrew
Bible. These rejected portions by the Hebrew Bible canonists are classified as
AddEsth = Additions to Esther, and Daniel 3:24-90; and all of chapter 13
referred to as Sus “Susanna”, and all of chapter 14 referred to as Bel “Bel and
the dragon”. An old edition of the Septuagint still useful is Alfred Rahlfs,
Septuaginta, 2 volumes. Stuttgart:Priviligierte Württembergische Bibelanstalt.

There are also Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Old Testament called Targums. 
Targumic editions also include Targums from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

In lectio divina it is also useful to study a particular word and see how it is
used in other passages and biblical books. To do this we use a special book
called a concordance that gives all the occurrences of each word in the Bible.
To study the words of the Biblical languages the two basic concordances are:
Hatch-Redpath, Concordance to the Septuagint (also contains the Hebrew); John R.
Kohlenberger III, ed., The Greek English Concordance to the New Testament.

Another way to study the use of a word or phrase is in parallel passages. There
are over one hundred different editions of Gospel parallel books available. One
of the best is that by Kurt Aland, Synopsis Quottuor Evangeliorum, which is in
Greek, Latin and German. The best edition of the Bible that gives parallel
passages throughout is the Jerusalem Bible.

Scholarly study of the Bible in a careful examination of the text is called
exegesis. One can find scholarly exegesis in journal articles (like Catholic
Biblical Quarterly or Biblica) by searching through Old Testament Abstracts
(1978-), New Testament Abstracts (1956-), International Zeitschriftenschau fu+r
Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete (1951-), and Elenchus Bibliographicus
Biblicus (1968-), all of these are now available on CD-ROM. Roman Catholic News
includes a link to the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, Biblica online in
the CATALOGUE OF LINKS (No. 3).

Also useful are basic tools that help in background information on the Bible
found in special dictionaries. Among the best and basic ones are: McKenzie,
Dictionary of the Bible; Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible; David Noel Freedman,
ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary (6 volumes).

For theological content of Scripture it is useful to consult the Catechism of
the Catholic Church that lists biblical passages keyed to entries in the index.

Michael Casey, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori, MO :
Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk and prior of Tarrawarra Abbey, Victoria, Australia.


* * *

Sant'Egidio Community Appeals for a Return to Talks in Liberia

ROME, JULY 3, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A mediator in the Liberian conflict has
appealed to both the government and a rebel group for a cease-fire and a return
to talks.

"It is necessary to put an end to the armed confrontations and to seek a
political solution without further bloodshed," the Rome-based Community of
Sant'Egidio said in a statement.

The situation in Liberia has led U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to ask the
Security Council for a rapid decision on the possibility of sending an
international peace-keeping force to the African country.

Two failed attacks by the rebels in Monrovia last month resulted in some 700
dead and thousands of refugees. On Wednesday, John Paul II appealed for an end
to the violence.

The country's situation has deteriorated in the wake of the Accra-Akosombo
agreements and a cease-fire announced June 7 by the rebel Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).

Sant'Egidio, a lay movement in the Church, has made it a priority "to put an end
to the suffering of the civilian population."

Among other things, Sant'Egidio promotes peace plans and the resolution of
conflicts. The movement helped mediate an end to civil wars in Mozambique and
Guatemala.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070403.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop
of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.


__________________________________________________
© Copyright 2003 John N. Lupia for Roman Catholic News at the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>, unless specified otherwise.
All rights reserved.

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 131
MONDAY 7 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
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• At Close of Centenary Year of the Death of St. Maria Goretti
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• John Paul II Welcomes Agreement on Rights of Migrants and Their Families
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• Summer Holidays Are a Time to Rediscover Interior Life, Says Pope
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• John Paul II Encourages Process of Unification of Two Koreas
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• Philosopher Paul Ricoeur Receives Paul VI International Award
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• Priest Shot to Death in Pakistan
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• China Reportedly Arrests 4 Priests and a Deacon
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Cardinal Calls for British Debate on Embryo Research
----------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Fatima's Growth to Bring New Legal Status
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

At Close of Centenary Year of the Death of St. Maria Goretti

Chastity Safeguards Love, Says John Paul II

VATICAN CITY, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address
John Paul II gave today, before and after praying the Angelus with several
thousand pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.


Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Today, July 6, concludes the celebration of the centenary of the death of St.
Maria Goretti, "little and gentle martyr of purity," as she was described by my
venerated predecessor Pius XII. Her mortal body rests in the church of Nettuno,
in the Diocese of Albano, and her beautiful soul lives in God's glory. What does
this fragile but mature Christian girl say to young people today with her life,
but above all with her heroic death? Marietta, as she was familiarly called,
reminds young people of the third millennium that true happiness calls for
courage and a spirit of sacrifice, the rejection of any compromise with evil and
readiness to pay in person, including with death, for one's faithfulness to God
and to his commandments.

How timely is this message! Today, pleasure and egoism, or even immorality, are
often exalted, in the name of false ideals of freedom and happiness. It is
necessary to reaffirm with clarity that purity of heart and body must be
defended, because chastity "safeguards" authentic love.

2. May St. Maria Goretti help all young people to experience the beauty and joy
of the evangelical beatitude: "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see
God" (Matthew 5:8).

Purity of heart, like every virtue, calls for a daily training of the will and
constant interior discipline. It requires, above all, assiduous recourse to God
in prayer.

Numerous occupations and the accelerated speed of life at times make it
difficult to cultivate this important spiritual dimension. Summer vacations,
however, which begin for many, precisely, in these days, if they are not "burnt"
in dissipation and simple diversion, can become a propitious occasion to give
new breath to the interior life.

3. Hoping that the summer rest will be of profit to grow spiritually, I entrust
young people to Mary, radiant with beauty. May she, who sustained Maria Goretti
in her trial, help all, especially adolescents and youths, to discover the value
and importance of chastity to build the civilization of love.

[At the end of the Angelus, the Holy Father said:]

In recent days the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of
All Migrant Workers and their Families, adopted by the U.N. in 1990, has come
into force. This legislative instrument signals an important step forward,
because it considers the migrant as a person united to his family. While I
express great satisfaction for this juridical achievement, I hope that a more
vast adherence by the states will reinforce its efficacy, so that, with the
adoption of similar provisions and constant international collaboration, the
complex phenomenon of migrations may develop in legality and in respect of
persons and families.


* * *

John Paul II Welcomes Agreement on Rights of Migrants and Their Families

1990 International Convention Comes Into Force

VATICAN CITY, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed satisfaction
over the coming into force of an international convention on the rights of
migrant workers and their families.

"This legislative instrument signals an important step forward, because it
considers the migrant as a person united to his family," the Pope said after
paying the Angelus today with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The International Organization for Migration's (IOM) World Migration Report 2003
notes that 175 million people are estimated to be living outside their country
of birth. Many migrate in search of education, better economic opportunities, or
to flee violence or natural disasters. Separated from the protection of their
home countries, migrant workers and their families have historically fallen
through the cracks of the international legal system.

Recognizing the extent of the exploitation faced by many migrant workers and
their families, the international community first began discussions in the
1970s.

In 1990, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
To date, 22 countries have ratified the convention.

"While I express great satisfaction for this juridical achievement," the Pope
said, "I hope that more vast adherence by the states will reinforce its efficacy
so that, with the adoption of similar provisions and constant international
collaboration, the complex phenomenon of migrations may develop in legality and
in respect of persons and families."

The IOM statement focused on three aspects of the convention. The first is that
the convention recognizes that migrant workers are not just economic units, but
human beings with families, and as such, are entitled to basic human rights.

It also clearly recognizes the reality of exploitation and abuse that many
migrant workers face daily, and extends protection to them.

Third, the convention calls upon states to cooperate on migration issues and
outlines the responsibilities that countries of origin, transit and destination
have in protecting migrants and developing sound labor migration policies.


* * *

Summer Holidays Are a Time to Rediscover Interior Life, Says Pope

VATICAN CITY, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says that summer vacation
is a good time to rediscover the authentic values of the spirit.

"Numerous occupations and the accelerated speed of life at times make it
difficult to cultivate this important spiritual dimension," the Pope said today
before praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"Summer vacations, which begin for many, precisely, in these days, if they are
not 'burnt' in dissipation and simple diversion, can become a propitious
occasion to give new breath to the interior life," he said.

John Paul II will head to the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, south
of Rome, on Thursday. During his summer holidays, he plans to finish his book on
his experience as a bishop.

A papal visit to Slovakia is possible in mid-September, though the Vatican has
yet to confirm the trip.


* * *

John Paul II Encourages Process of Unification of Two Koreas

Appeals for Elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction

VATICAN CITY, JULY 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Meeting with Seoul's new ambassador to
the Vatican, John Paul II encouraged the rapprochement between the two Koreas,
called for the elimination of nuclear arms, and condemned the "terrible social
wound" of abortion.

When Ambassador Youm Seong presented his credentials today, the Pope began by
expressing his satisfaction with the impressive growth of the Catholic Church in
South Korea.

In 1990, there were 2.73 million baptized Catholics in the country. By 2002, the
figure had grown to 4.18 million.

The Catholic Church in Korea "is a promising reality that enjoys esteem and
respect. It undertakes its mission inspired by the Gospel and gives concrete
religious witness through its educational, welfare and charitable institutions,
appreciated by so many," the Holy Father said.

The Pope delivered his address in Latin, which the ambassador speaks fluently.
After studying theology, Youm Seong received a doctorate in classical literature
in Rome and, until now, has been director of the Korean Institute of Greco-Roman
Studies.

John Paul II went on to say that he had visited Korea on two occasions, and
referred to the "progress and victories of freedom and well-being of a young and
dynamic society."

"However, I also saw the bitterness of many people in noting that the peninsula,
inhabited by one people, is forced to live a painful division," he said. "The
feelings of hostility and opposition between the two nations are surely cause
for concern, but there is also reason to hope in knowing that there is a
concrete will to alleviate tensions through dialogue and meetings."

"Every encouraging sign in this direction must be supported with patience and
courage, perseverance and a broad outlook. Only through respectful dialogue can
positive and lasting objectives be reached," the Pope said.

"The agreements signed to date show that a sincere and peaceful will to surmount
disputes leads to concrete results in mutual respect and loyalty, for the
benefit not only of reconciliation between the two states, but also of the
stability of the regional framework in which the Korean peninsula is
integrated," he continued.

"This political path will probably find greater strength and credibility if the
more developed area of the peninsula will know how, within its possibilities, to
assume the urgent necessities of the other area," the Holy Father said.

"The present and future must be built on solid bases of respect for the human
person and the constant search for justice and peace," he added. "To this end,
in the present juncture, there is need to tirelessly pursue efforts aimed at the
progressive, balanced and verifiable elimination of weapons of mass destruction
and, especially, nuclear ones."

Toward the end of his address, the Holy Father mentioned the new social
challenges facing Korea, acknowledging that the Catholic Church "cannot hide her
concern for the sad phenomenon of abortion, which is a terrible social wound."

"There is also the widespread practice of artificial birth control and the
spreading of a pragmatist mentality that justifies and encourages genetic
manipulations, even the most impartial, as well as the death penalty," he added.
"In face of these serious threats to life, the Church feels it her duty to
recall the values in which she believes, values that are mankind's patrimony
because the natural law is written by God in the heart of every person."

This is why, "a program whose priority objective is the defense of life and the
family can only benefit the solidarity and stability of Korean society," he
concluded.

* * *

Philosopher Paul Ricoeur Receives Paul VI International Award

French Thinker Harmonizes Faith and Reason in His Research

VATICAN CITY, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II conferred the Paul VI
International Award on Paul Ricoeur, 90, regarded by many experts as a major
figure among contemporary European philosophers.

In the award ceremony Saturday, the Pope stressed that the philosopher's
research "manifests how fruitful is the relation between philosophy and
theology, between faith and culture."

This relation should be circular, the Holy Father said. "Theology's source and
starting point must always be the word of God," he said. "Yet, since God's word
is Truth, the human search for truth -- philosophy, pursued in keeping with its
own rules -- can only help to understand God's word better."

The Committees of the Paul VI Institute of Brescia, Italy, decided last Sept. 21
to give Ricoeur the award in recognition of "a philosopher and at the same time
a committed man of faith."

"His testimony of great intellectual honesty and his courage in the defense of
human and Christian values are not the only reasons for this decision," the
committees said in a statement. "It is necessary to recall Paul Ricoeur's
contribution, of Reformed confession, to ecumenical dialogue."

The award's 100,000 euros ($114,800) will be given, at Ricoeur's request, to the
"Fondation John Bost," a French charity that aids the physically and mentally
disabled, and people with problems of social integration.

Past recipients of the Paul VI award include theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
and Jean Vanier, the founder of L'Arche communities.

Born in Valence, France, in 1913, Ricoeur was interested in the principal
philosophic currents of the 20th century, particularly phenomenology,
existentialism and the philosophy of language -- the latter understood as an
instrument of revelation, and not in the traditional Anglo-Saxon analytical
sense.

Ricoeur's research makes him a master of one of the key configurations of
contemporary philosophy, hermeneutics, or the science of interpretation.

The greatest merit recognized in Ricoeur's thought is of having offered an
interpretation of the interpretations which explains their variety, without
placing them at the same level (relativism) nor preferring one to another.

The essence of his thought is found in a 2000 book, "La Memoire, l'histoire,
l'oubli."

"The first part of my philosophical work was a reflection on evil, developed at
the level of its expression in symbols, myths, in the great
philosophical-theological interpretations," he told Vatican Radio over the
weekend.

"But I would say that this is only one aspect of the problem," Ricoeur added.
"In my work, there is a progressive evolution: from a feeling of culpability I
have increasingly opened, through a particularly painful personal experience, to
that which I would call the culture of compassion. It is an active compassion,
which tends to diminish evil."


* * *

Priest Shot to Death in Pakistan

LAHORE, Pakistan, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A Catholic priest was shot dead by
assailants Saturday in Renala Khord, in an attack police say was a robbery but
others say was terrorism.

According to local police sources, six armed individuals entered Father George
Ibrahim's residence, shooting him fatally and wounding his parish assistant,
Pervez Masih. Renala Khord is near Okara, around 120 kilometers (75 miles)
southwest of Lahore.

The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) called the killing "a heinous and
brutal act of terrorism" against a Christian religious representative.

The priest had received threats in the past, due to the work carried out by the
local Catholic school, said Shahbaz Bhatti, head of the APMA.

Attacks against Christian persons and institutions intensified in Pakistan
beginning in 2002, when the country's government supported the U.S.-led war
against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

The priest's murder took place a day after three suicide bombers killed 44
people who were worshipping in the Quetta mosque, the latest in a series of
attacks on the country's minority Shiite Muslims.


* * *

China Reportedly Arrests 4 Priests and a Deacon

BEIJING, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Five members of the underground Catholic
clergy have been arrested while trying to visit a priest recently freed from a
labor camp, a U.S.-based religious rights group said, according to Reuters.

Fathers Kang Fuliang, Chen Guozhen, Pang Guangzhao and Joseph Yin and Deacon
Wang Lijun, aged 25 to 32, were arrested in Baoding city in Hebei province on
July 1, said the Connecticut-based Cardinal Kung Foundation.

They were on their way to visit Father Lu Genjun, who had just been released
after three years in a labor camp, the foundation said Saturday. It gave no
further details.

Although the Communist government says it respects religious freedom, it only
allows freedom of worship to people who belong to religious organizations which
it maintains under strict control. In 1951, it broke off relations with the
Vatican.


* * *

Cardinal Calls for British Debate on Embryo Research

LONDON, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has
criticized Members of Parliament for wasting parliamentary time on fox-hunting
while ignoring "alarming" developments in embryo research.

In an article for today's Telegraph, the Catholic primate for England and Wales
pleaded for a national debate into the far-reaching consequences of fertility
research.

His comments come a week after Israeli and Dutch scientists claimed that aborted
fetuses could one day be used to obtain eggs for fertility treatment, leading to
the possibility of babies being born from mothers who were themselves never
born. Days later, an American scientist announced the creation of a
hermaphrodite embryo as part of research into treatment for defective embryos.

The cardinal noted that neither announcement stirred the parliamentary interest
generated by a fox-hunting debate under way. "Is not the fetus, a human person,
more important to us than the fox?" he asked.

Last Tuesday, Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff, Wales, said: "There is
something deeply wrong with a society that can even contemplate harvesting eggs
from the ovaries of aborted fetuses. How is it that we can recognize that the
aborted fetus is human enough to become a biological parent and yet not human
enough to have the right to life?"

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Erected the diocese of Kimbe, Papua Nuova Guinea, with territory taken from
the archdiocese of Rabaul, making it a suffragan of the same metropolitan
Church.

- Appointed Bishop Alphonse Chaupa, auxiliary of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, as
the first bishop of Kimbe (area 15,500, population 260,000, Catholics 125,000,
priests 47, religious 139), Papua Nuova Guinea.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


The last section of Chapter 3 is entitled “Mindfulness”.  The main focus is on
the human faculty memory. “Memory is the bridge between hearing the word and
putting it into practice.” (71). Lectio divina should be performed in a manner
that enhances our memory of what we have read. Fr. Casey notes there are four
categories of causes that interfere in this memorization process.

First, “inattention”, is the result of insincere lectio divina. Failing to give
disciplined attention and focus, care and due diligence in dialoguing with the
text thwarts the whole purpose of lectio divina rendering it worthless. Reading
at this level mimics any other sort of casual or superficial reading to fill the
void of time and escape boredom when energy or interest is low. Those who suffer
from inattentiveness should reexamine their motives and their methods for lectio
divina.

Second, is the great hurdle that imperils life of the soul, “hardheartedness”.
Like “inattention”, it too is feed and fueled by insincerity. However, this form
of insincerity goes much deeper since it is the superficial mask of rage and
anger. The source of these volatile emotions is fear.  Perhaps we are afraid we
will not be appreciated, accepted or loved. Perhaps this defensive stance began
very early in our family nuclear life. From there it spread itself out into our
social spheres of life. “Hardheartedness”. Is our means to exert control. It is
a spiritual state that we evolve where we call the shots and are the arbiters of
life. It is the perverse application to the classic dictum “Man is the measure
of all things”, where “Man” is replaced by “I” (Ego). It is in this respect that
those who have a “hardheartedness” twist and warp reality creating their own
private world of subjectivism.

Third, “blindness”, a condition that inflicts every human soul. Would that we
always had hindsight, foresight and insight. These mental considerations of the
mind always need attention to cultivate them into habituation. To the degree
that we have these cognitive skills is the degree that we can bring what acumen
we have into our own introspection and examination of conscience. We must be
open to the mirror of truth reflecting our true image in the feedback we receive
from spiritually rooted individuals in our lives. Even those who may wish to
deliberately inflict some harsh word usually hurl some truth at us about
ourselves that we are consciously blind to. Listening to the corrective voice in
lectio divina always entails the Word of God in text and in context, namely,
“community living”.

Fourth, is “irrelevance”. This may result from being a creature of habit. Habits
make us rigid and narrow-minded like the horse who wears blinders or the coal
miner who develops tunnel vision, we only see partially since the mind edits out
those things that do not pertain to their habitual needs. It can also result
from a spirit of stubbornness compounded by insincerity where we do not want to
build the bridge between what the text is saying and our daily lives. Perhaps we
lack courage and the proper interior disposition. When aware of this flaw it
turns us to pray for the appropriate attitude adjustment.

The positive aspect of human memory and its involvement in lectio divina is that
its benefits to use it to its maximum potential far outweigh its flaccid
exertion. This teaches us that lectio divina should be performed in a manner
that enhances our memory in Sacred Reading.

Michael Casey, OCSO, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori,
MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk, prior and vocation director of Our Lady of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775, Australia. Phone: (03) 9730 1306 Fax: (03) 9730 1749


* * *

Fatima's Growth to Bring New Legal Status

LISBON, Portugal, JULY 6, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Portuguese Parliament
unanimously approved the establishment of the municipality of Fatima.

The locality last week received its new administrative status 86 years after the
first apparition of the Virgin Mary to the three little shepherds, in 1917, in
what was then an obscure place called Cova da Iria.

As of next Jan. 1, Fatima will be autonomous from the municipality of Ourem, to
which it now belongs.

The measure takes account of the extraordinary growth that the shrine has
promoted over the past 30 years, enlarging the locality to 10,000 inhabitants
from 6,000, with a capacity to accommodate 20,000 pilgrims. In fact, Fatima is
now larger than Ourem.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
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2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070703.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
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This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
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__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 132
TUESDAY 8 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Globalization of Solidarity Requires a Change of Mentality, Says Pope
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS
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• Venezuelan Cardinal Velasco García Dies at 74
----------------------------------------------------------------
• AUDIENCES
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• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• World Youth Day 2005 Goes Online
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Mystical-Poetry Competition Under Way
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Charismatic Renewal: A Current of Grace Touching Hundreds of Millions
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Globalization of Solidarity Requires a Change of Mentality, Says Pope

Message to Caritas International Assembly

VATICAN CITY, JULY 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- In a message written for the 17th
General Assembly of Caritas International, John Paul II called for a radical
change in the concept of solidarity at the global level.

With the motto "Globalizing Solidarity," the July 7-12 meeting in Rome has
gathered 450 delegates of the more than 150 national Caritas organizations.

The papal message, addressed to Bishop Youhanna Fouad El-Hage, president of
Caritas International and Maronite prelate of Tripoli in Lebanon, begins by
noting that "globalization has become the obligatory horizon of all politics."

"For solidarity to become global, one must effectively take into account all
peoples of all regions of the world," the Pope said.

"This calls for great efforts, and, above all, of firm international guarantees
vis-à-vis humanitarian organizations, often put to one side, despite themselves,
wherever there are conflicts because they cannot be guaranteed security nor be
assured of the right to assist persons," he added.

"To globalize solidarity also calls for working in close and constant relation
with international organizations, which guarantee law and legality, to balance
in a new way relations between rich and poor countries, so that aid relations in
just one direction will cease, which too often contribute to the increase of the
imbalance through a mechanism of permanent debt," the papal message continued.

"It would be more convenient to effect a genuine cooperation on the basis of
relations of parity and reciprocity, which recognize the right of each and all
to be masters of their own future," John Paul II explained.

The message ends with a reminder directed in particular to believers.

Globalization of solidarity "is above all a response to the pressing appeals of
the Gospel of Christ. For us Christians, and for all men and women, this demands
a true spiritual path, the conversion of minds and of persons," the Holy Father
said.

"Aid cannot be mere almsgiving to the poor, making the giver feel proud and the
recipient feel humiliated," he added. "Aid must be 'fraternal sharing.'"


* * *

DECREES OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall, decrees
relative to 10 Blesseds and Servants of God were promulgated in the presence of
the Holy Father, members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the
postulators of the respective causes. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of
the Congregation, read a speech detailing the lives of the Blesseds and Servants
of God.

   The decrees concern the following causes:

MIRACLES

- Blessed Luigi Orione, Italian, priest and founder of the Small Work of Divine
Providence and of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Charity
(1872-1940).

- Venerable Servant of God Jean Marie Cassant, French, priest and monk of the
Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance (Trappists) (1878-1903).  He was
beatified because of his observance of the monastic rule and his acceptance of
tuberculosis, which ended his life at the age of 25.

- Venerable Servant of God Laura of St. Catherine of Siena, nee Laura Montoya y
Upegui, Colombian, foundress of the Congregation of  Missionary Sisters of
Immaculate Mary and of St. Catherine of Siena (1874-1944).

- Venerable Servant of God Anna Caterina Emmerick, German, professed nun of
the Order of Regular Nuns of St. Augustine (1774-1824).

- Venerable Servant of God Alberto Marvelli, Italian, lay person, (1918-1946).

MARTYRDOM

- Servant of God Basil Hopko, Slovakian, auxiliary bishop of Presov, Slovakia
(1904-1976).

- Servant of God Zdenka, nee Cecilia Schelingova, Slovakian, of the Congregation
of the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Cross (1916-1955).

HEROIC VIRTUES

- Servant of God Pierre Vigne, French, priest of the diocese of Viviers, France,
founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament
(1670-1740).

- Servant of God Maria Maddalena Della Passione, nee Costanza Starace,Italian,
foundress of the Congregation of the Compassionist Sisters, Servants of Mary
(1845-1921).

- Servant of God Eurosia Fabris, Italian, mother of a family, of the Third Order
of St. Francis (1866-1932).

* * *

Venezuelan Cardinal Velasco García Dies at 74

Country's Turmoil Took Its Toll on Caracas Archbishop

CARACAS, Venezuela, JULY 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Venezuela is in mourning for the
death of Cardinal Ignacio Antonio Velasco García, archbishop of Caracas, who
died Sunday after a long illness. He was 74.

Bishop José Luis Azuaje, undersecretary of the Venezuelan episcopal conference,
said the cardinal died at 11:30 p.m., after fainting while celebrating Mass.

In a telegram addressed to Monsignor Pedro Nicolás Bermúdez, apostolic
administrator of Caracas, John Paul II expressed his sympathy on the death of
the cardinal, whom he described as a "zealous and abnegated pastor."

The Pope writes of the cardinal who was 74 years old: "His generous and intense
ministerial work, first as a Salesian, then as a teacher of young people, and
then as a priest and later as apostolic vicar of Puerto Ayacucho, until the
moment in which he was called to serve in this important role (as archbishop),
bears witness to his great dedication to the cause of the Gospel, and at the
same gives proof of his deep love for the Church and the qualities that he was
blessed with."
Born in 1929, Ignacio Antonio Velasco García entered the Salesian Minor Seminary
and studied in Turin, Italy, and in Rome, obtaining a licentiate in philosophy,
pedagogy and theology. He was ordained a priest in Rome in 1955.

He carried out his priestly ministry in Venezuela, dedicated to the education of
youth and seminarians, being director of several schools, and holding posts in
the governance of the Salesian congregation in Venezuela and Latin America.

Appointed apostolic vicar of Puerto Ayacucho on Oct. 23, 1989, he was
consecrated bishop by the Pope on Jan. 6, 1990, in St. Peter's Basilica.
Promoted to the metropolitan see of Caracas on May 27, 1995, he was made a
cardinal on Feb. 21, 2001.

Venezuela's current turmoil made the cardinal's physical sufferings even harder.
On several occasions, he was attacked verbally by President Hugo Chávez. Last
Nov. 12 a grenade was thrown at the cardinal's residence.

Just over a year ago, Cardinal Velasco endorsed the constitutional document of
the transition government of entrepreneur Pedro Carmona, during a coup that
lasted less than 48 hours. From then on, the cardinal's relations with the
Venezuelan government were further weakened.

With Cardinal Velasco's death, the number of cardinals now stands at 166,
including 109 electors who could vote in a conclave for a new pope.

* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate
audiences:

- Pascal Couchepin, president of the Helvetic Confederation,  accompanied by his
wife and an entourage.

- Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs
of the Holy See.

- Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation of for Causes of
Saints.

   On Saturday July 5 the Holy Father received in separate audiences:

- Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

- Two prelates from the Catholics Bishops' Conference of India on their "ad
limina" visit:

     - Bishop Prakash Mallavarapu of Vijayawada.

     - Bishop Thomas Vazhappily of Mysore.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 7, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed the following as
auxiliary bishops of Detroit (area 10,106, population 4,441,551, Catholics
1,465,918, priests 781, permanent deacons 147, religious 2341), U.S.A.:

     - Msgr. Walter A. Hurley, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in
Farmington, U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Fredericton, Canada in 1937 and
was ordained a priest in 1965.

     - Msgr. John M. Quinn, director of the Department of Education of the same
archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born in 1945 in Detroit and was ordained a
priest 1972.

     - Fr. Francis R. Reiss, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park,
U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1940 in Detroit and was ordained a priest
1966.

   It was made public on July 5 that the Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Encarnacion,
Paraguay presented by Bishop Jorge Adolfo Carlos Livieres Banks, in accordance
with Canon 401, para. 2, of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Giovanni Paolo Benotto, vicar general of the  archdiocese of
Pisa, Italy, as bishop of Tivoli (area 892, population 239,786, Catholic
219,355, priests 121, permanent deacons 2, religious 260), Italy. The
bishop-elect was born in 1949 in San Giuliano Terme, Italy and was ordained a
priest in 1973. He succeeds Bishop Pietro Garlato whose resignation to the
pastoral care of this diocese was accepted by the Holy Father upon having
reached the age limit.

* * *

World Youth Day 2005 Goes Online

COLOGNE, Germany, JULY 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The official Web page of Cologne's
World Youth Day 2005 has just come online.

The page, at http://www.wyd2005.org, is in German and Italian. The English,
Spanish and French versions are still being built.

The event is scheduled to begin Aug. 11, 2005. Plans calls for a vigil with the
Pope on Aug. 20 and a Mass with the Holy Father the next day.

Organizers say that non-Catholic young people are welcome to attend the World
Youth Day events.


* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


Chapter 4 “The Practice of Lectio Divina” brings practical solutions to guide
those endeavoring in lectio divina.

Fr. Casey divides this chapter into three sections. The first is entitled:
“Translating Theory into Practice”. Fr. Casey gives ten practical considerations
to help develop the habit and skills of lectio divina.

First, one must have firm resolve to engage in daily lectio divina. Reading this
bit of advice one is reminded of the formula of the acronym KISS (Keep it short
and simple). It is when grandiose plans are conceived that the resolve fails to
take root. One must be practical and begin small.

Second, is to commit a space of time in our day for lectio divina that is
practical and realistic. It is better to devote five minutes to a focused and
concentrated meditation than to plan a much larger space and accomplish nothing
by not finding the time. “Lifelong exposure to God’s word is more like a
marathon than a sprint.” (80).

Third, the site selection for our lectio divina must be taken with perspicacity.
We must consider the place we choose to perform our daily lectio is one that
will be removed from noise, distraction and interruption.

Fourth, privacy is important to exercise lectio divina.  “Such a space is
created by the convergence of three elements: a suitable location, a suitable
time, and the cooperation of those with whom we live.” (81).

Fifth, the space we choose should have adequate lighting for ease of reading.
Some may require large print Bibles for this. Some may find it useful to place
the Bible on a bookstand. Others may find it helpful to read while standing
while some feel better sitting on a mat on the floor.

Sixth, enhancing the ambience with ritual by employing external signs like
flowers, an icon, incense, fragrant oils, or music may contribute to creating
the sense of a sacred place while blocking out distractions of secondary noise
and lift us up to engage in sacred reading. The internal aspect of reverence is
the goal to an authentic sacred space for sacred reading. Beginners may need
external props to help get them started to tune into this holy and prayerful
attitude for lectio divina.

Michael Casey, OCSO, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori,
MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk, prior and vocation director of Our Lady of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775, Australia. Phone: (03) 9730 1306 Fax: (03) 9730 1749


* * *

Mystical-Poetry Competition Under Way

MADRID, Spain, JULY 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Fernando Rielo Foundation is
looking for a few good mystical poets.

The group announced the competition for the 23rd World Award for Mystical
Poetry, open to all unpublished books of poetry presented in Spanish or English.

The subject of the award is mystical poetry which, according to the organizers,
is that poetry "which expresses the spiritual values of man in their most
profound meaning."

The works must be presented by their authors, and must have 600 to 1,300 verses.
Works translated into English or Spanish are also eligible to compete. The
deadline for submission of originals is Oct. 15.

Fernando Rielo Pardal, founder of the Idente Missionaries, defines mystical
poetry as the expression "with sufficient poetic dexterity of the diverse ways
of the most intimate personal experience, in love and pain, that the soul has in
its union with God: under the concept of the Most Holy Trinity, the Christian
poet; under the concept of God alone, the non-Christian poet."

More details are at http://www.rielo.com.


* * *

Charismatic Renewal: A Current of Grace Touching Hundreds of Millions

Interview With Director of Vatican-based Office

MADRID, Spain, JULY 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- "A grace for the whole Church," is the
way the director of the Vatican-based office of the International Catholic
Charismatic Renewal Services (ICRSS) describes the charismatic renewal.

Defined by John Paul II as "an eloquent manifestation of the always young
vitality of the Church" and "a vigorous expression of the Spirit," the renewal
had its origin on Feb. 18, 1967, when 30 students and professors of Duquesne
University, in Pennsylvania, went on spiritual retreat to reflect in-depth on
the force of the Spirit within the early Church.

The call had an amazing response. The experience of the "effusion or baptism of
the Spirit" was repeated at Notre Dame University, in Indiana, and in Michigan.
Groups multiplied. The charismatic renewal spread rapidly throughout the world
and in all Christian confessions. In the Catholic Church alone, more than 120
million faithful experienced the "baptism in the Spirit," according to ICRSS
estimates.

Oreste Pesare, ICRSS director, gave this interview in the framework of the
recent National Assembly of Charismatic Renewal, held in Spain.

Q: How does this ecclesial institution live and develop?

Pesare: CR [charismatic renewal] is an experience of the Holy Spirit; therefore,
everyone can have it. Far from being circumscribed to a small group of people,
it belongs to the whole Church. All are called to relive the experience of the
Holy Spirit that we received in baptism. It is for every state in life. …

It is interesting to note that this is the largest movement, including at the
ecumenical level. Considering all Protestant, evangelical, and Pentecostal
churches' brethren, and a few of the Orthodox Church, Christians who have had
this charismatic experience number about 600 million in the world, an
extraordinary figure.

Q: CR has a certain organization, although it lacks well-defined structures.
What role does ICRSS play?

Pesare: The Holy Father says that next to the column of the institution of the
Church there is another column, which is the charismatic column. In fact, the
whole history of the Church speaks to us of this power of the Spirit, whose
novelties have come in charismatic form. From Paul VI to John Paul II there has
always been great openness toward the CR. To safeguard the charismatic quality
of this spiritual movement, they wanted a service to be organized in this
renewal.

ICRSS is the organization that is at the disposition of all charismatic
institutions worldwide -- organizations, associations, communities, schools of
evangelization, ministries of the Word, ministries of healing. It must be kept
in mind that CR is not like the other movements in the Church, as it does not
have a founder and it lacks a structure that is the same for all. We feel that
our founder and our guide is the Holy Spirit through the pastors that God has
given us in the Church.

Another aspect of service is ICRSS' relation with the institutional Church, the
ability to express in the language of the Church the charismatic experience that
the Holy Spirit is inspiring in the world.

For example: at the end of 2001, ICRSS and the Pontifical Council for the Laity
organized a seminar in Rome on the Prayer of Healing, and theologians were
invited, both of the CR as well as those not involved in it, and including the
early leaders of CR. Some 120 of us discussed this gift for the whole Church.
This type of reflection is useful both for the CR as well as the whole Church.

Q: It is said that the CR members are dedicated to prayer and praise. Are these
aspects translated into a concrete commitment before the Church and society?

Pesare: As I have pointed out, CR is not like the other movements. It is a
spiritual current whose specific appeal is to change people's hearts, to take
them back to the presence of God.

Whoever is profoundly united to God cannot but give his life to the world. It is
the way Jesus gave his life to the world. The experience with the Holy Spirit
leads to the heart of the Christian experience and makes one live that
conversion of heart. It is what changes the heart of stone and gives a heart of
flesh that loves, and when one loves, one serves. This is why the Church is the
greatest experience of service in the world. It makes us very happy when people
say that we are the group that wants to pray, because herein lies the secret to
change one's life.

The Church needs saints, people who have had the experience of the Holy Spirit,
who have changed their lives profoundly, who are transforming their minds and
hearts and are being converted into another Jesus. These people will transform
the world.

Q: More than 120 million Catholics have been through the CR experience. How does
ICRSS address the topic of formation?

Pesare: This has been a very important aspect in recent years. The time has
arrived for these People of God to grow, also, in formation. It is an aspect
whose need is addressed by the Pope in his documents for the CR worldwide.

Certainly, prayer or trust in the Holy Spirit is not enough. Rather, as St.
Peter says in his Letter, we must always be prepared to give the reason for our
faith. Given that the CR is a very varied current, there are numerous ways of
acquiring that formation, among which the magisterium of the Church is the most
important source.

Moreover, what must be preserved is what Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Papal
Household preacher, expresses when speaking about his testimony: "Above all, I
have studied the life of Jesus: his childhood, his life, what the Church fathers
said about him; I knew a thousand things about the person of Jesus, but I did
not know Jesus the person."

It is not enough to study to know the figure of Jesus. Formation, yes -- but as
support of an experience. The experience of the Spirit is what must be preserved
as the most important.

For approximately one year, we have been organizing within the ICRSS a
Theological Commission, which came into being when the archbishop of
Malines-Brussels, Cardinal Leo Joseph Suenens, was alive. From this commission
came the famous Malines documents that defined the lines for the whole of the
CR. Through these seminars on the Prayer of Healing, which we organized with the
Vatican, ICRSS has restarted a more specific formation on the most important
topics for the CR.

This commission will meet for the first time in September. It is made up of half
a dozen theologians from different parts of the world. They are experts in their
field and have lived the CR experience. Among them we can mention Bishop
Albert-Marie de Monléon, OP, of Meaux, France, spiritual father of the Catholic
Fraternity of Covenant Communities and consultor of the Pontifical Council for
the Laity, and an ICRSS member, Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech of Sandhurst,
Australia, who presides over this commission.

The Holy Spirit is pointing out to us yet another novelty: the establishment of
an international school of formation for the CR leaders from all over the world,
which, naturally, will work very united to this commission.

In addition, ICRSS has always organized formation retreats for leaders. The next
one will take place in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and will focus on the topic of
holiness, starting with John Paul II's apostolic letter "Novo Millennio
Ineunte." The meeting will be directed by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Papal
Household preacher.

More information is at http://www.iccrs.org.


* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070803.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation  for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 133
WEDNESDAY 9 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• John Paul II's Address to New Ambassador of Cyprus
----------------------------------------------------------------
• No Dates Set for Possible Papal Trip to Mongolia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Swiss President's Faux Pas With the Pope
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad Dies
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Monrovia Archbishop Wants U.S. to Help Guard Peace in Liberia
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Honduran Cardinal Laments Globalization of Poverty
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Collection of Bible Stories a Worldwide Hit
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

John Paul II's Address to New Ambassador of Cyprus

Encourages Move to Overcome Divisions on Island

VATICAN CITY, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address John Paul II
delivered last Saturday, when receiving the letters of credence of Georgios
Poulides, the new ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Vatican.

Mr Ambassador,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Vatican for the presentation of
the Letters of Credence by which you are appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus to the Holy See. I am grateful for the
greetings which you bring from President Tassos Papadopoulos, and I ask you
kindly to convey to him and the Government my own good wishes together with the
assurance of my prayers for the progress, peace and prosperity of the nation. I
am also pleased to note that you are the first Ambassador of your country to the
Holy See who will be resident in the City of Rome: this is a further positive
sign of the friendship and cooperation which continue to grow between us.

You have mentioned the recent signing of the Accession Treaty of the Republic of
Cyprus to the European Union. This is certainly a significant step for the
nation as it starts to make the necessary preparations for taking its place
officially in the European economic and political community. And with your
nation's deep-seated and long-standing Christian heritage, dating back to the
very beginnings of Christianity itself, Cyprus will be in an advantageous
position to make Europe ever more aware of its own Christian roots. For, as I
had occasion to remark earlier this year to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to
the Holy See: "Europe is the bearer of values which have borne fruit for two
thousand years in an 'art' of thinking and living from which the whole world has
benefited. Among these values Christianity holds a privileged position, inasmuch
as it gave birth to a humanism which has permeated Europe's history and
institutions ... A Europe which disavowed its past, which denied the fact of
religion, and which had no spiritual dimension would be extremely impoverished
in the face of the ambitious project which calls upon all its energies:
constructing a Europe for all" (Speech to the Diplomatic Corps, 13 January 2003,
5).

The continuing expansion of the European Union is an encouraging sign of the
results that can be achieved when good will, mutual trust, fidelity to
commitments and cooperation among responsible partners become the prevailing
modus operandi in the international arena. Such values are all the more
necessary in our modern era, in which it is no longer possible to grasp the full
meaning of the independence of States apart from the concept of interdependence.
Now as perhaps never before in human history sovereign Nations are closely
interconnected, affecting one another, oftentimes very significantly, both for
good and for bad. There is a manifest need in our contemporary world for the
legitimate aspirations, traditions and beliefs of people of different
backgrounds to be accorded full respect. Only mutual acceptance and sincere
dialogue among peoples and groups can sustain the work of maintaining harmonious
relations. Genuine peace requires the effective recognition and safeguarding of
the dignity and rights of all the members of the human family as the fundamental
criterion of policy and action, with special openness to and support of the
neediest: the poor, the sick, the young, the old, the laborer, the immigrant.

Your Excellency has also referred to a situation that represents one of the most
pressing problems facing Cyprus today: the ongoing division of the island. The
Holy See, together with the rest of the international community, was greatly
saddened that the plan for peace and reunification presented last year by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations -- the result of months of negotiations
-- did not gain the necessary consensus with the parties involved and was thus
not accepted. It is to be hoped that the current climate of a growing European
integration and an increasing European unity will provide renewed impetus and
resolve to efforts aimed at finally overcoming this crisis. In this regard, I am
pleased to hear you speak of your government's willingness to sit down once more
at the table of dialogue and negotiation, under the auspices of the United
Nations, and its readiness to abide by all relevant directives adopted by the
Security Council. Indeed, confrontation and violence will never provide lasting
solutions to controversies between peoples and nations. Sincere negotiation is
required for settling differences in a manner that serves the authentic good of
all, and the path of frank and straight-forward dialogue is the only way for
effectively undertaking such negotiation. In all of this, of course, the members
of the Catholic community will always be eager to make their contribution along
with their fellow Cypriots.

Mr Ambassador, I am certain that your term of service will do much to strengthen
the bonds of friendship between the Republic of Cyprus and the Holy See. I offer
you my best wishes for the success of your mission and I assure you that the
various departments of the Roman Curia will always be willing to assist you as
you carry out your duties. I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God upon
you and your country.

* * *

No Dates Set for Possible Papal Trip to Mongolia

VATICAN CITY, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican says no dates have yet been
set for John Paul II's possible trip to Mongolia.

"I can confirm that the Holy Father has been invited by the government of
Mongolia and by the apostolic prefect of Ulan Bator, to make a pastoral visit to
that country," Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls said in a note today.

"The invitation is much appreciated, but I must specify that a decision has not
yet been made on the date of that trip," he said. "Therefore, the news of a
visit to the Mongolian capital this coming month of August is not confirmed."

Last February, Monsignor Renato Boccardo, head of Vatican protocol with special
assignments, traveled to Mongolia to study the possible organization of the
visit.

Situated between Russia and China, Mongolia has some 2.6 million inhabitants,
96% of whom are Buddhists. It has fewer than 200 Catholics.

It was hoped that, as part of the trip, the Pope stop in Kazan, capital of the
Russian republic of Tatarstan, to return the icon of the Virgin of Kazan. The
icon has been kept in the Vatican for years. For now, the Russian Orthodox
Church opposes such a visit.

Vatican sources simply confirmed to ZENIT that the "Pope wants to go to
Mongolia."

* * *

Swiss President's Faux Pas With the Pope

Forgets to Extend an Invitation

VATICAN CITY, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Swiss president had such a stirring
meeting with John Paul II that he forgot a major reason for his visit: to invite
the Pope to his country next year.

President Pascal Couchepin admitted as much on Monday when he met with
journalists, following his meeting with the Holy Father, the Swiss Catholic News
agency APIC reported.

"Had I been able to, I would have stayed longer with him," the Swiss leader
said. He and the Pope focused on international issues in their meeting.
Couchepin later continued the meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal
Angelo Sodano.

Couchepin and the Pope talked about the situation in the Middle East, the
construction of the European Union (Switzerland is not a member), as well as the
Vatican's role in favor of international law, in particular, after the Iraq war.

"The purpose of our visit was to meet with the Pope and transmit Switzerland's
desire to participate in the Vatican's action in favor of peace," Couchepin
said.

The importance of these topics, the president admitted, made him forget to
invite the Pope to visit Switzerland next June 5-6 to attend a national meeting
of Catholic youth.

The Swiss bishops have invited the Pope to take part in that meeting which would
help prepare for World Youth Day 2005 in Germany. The visit requires an official
invitation from the Swiss Federal Council.

* * *

Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad Dies

Raphael I Bidawid Was Most Representative Catholic Leader in Iraq

ROME, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The most representative Catholic and Christian
leader in Iraq, His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid, patriarch of Babylon of the
Chaldeans, died in Beirut on Monday. He was 81.

Sources of the Baghdad patriarchate said he had been in a Lebanese hospital for
months due to an illness.

Upon learning the news, John Paul II sent a telegram to the patriarchate to
express his sympathy and to manifest his closeness to all the superiors and
faithful of the Chaldean rite.

Born in Mosul, in northern Iraq, in 1922, the future patriarch entered the minor
seminary of Mosul at age 11. Later, he was sent to study philosophy and theology
in Rome, where he was ordained a priest.

He returned to Mosul in 1947 to carry out his ministry with Chaldean Catholics,
the community to which his family belonged. In particular, he was appointed
rector of the seminary where he was professor of French and moral theology.

He was appointed patriarchal vicar for the Diocese of Kirkuk in 1956, and the
next year was elected bishop of Amadya, becoming at 35 the youngest bishop in
the world at that time.

He was transferred to the Beirut Diocese in 1966. On May 5, 1989, the Chaldean
bishops elected him patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, to succeed the late
Mar Pulus II Chekho. More than 10,000 faithful attended the enthronement
ceremony on May 29, 1989, in Baghdad. He received the pallium from John Paul II
the following Nov. 9.

There are about 1 million faithful of the Chaldean Church in the world,
including 500,000 in Iraq. The Chaldean rite is one of the five principal rites
of Eastern Christianity, together with the Alexandrian rite (Coptic and
Ethiopian), Antiochian (Syrian and Maronite), Armenian, and Constantinopolitan,
or Byzantine.

The Chaldean Church, which dates back to the preaching of St. Thomas the
Apostle, has 170,000 faithful in the United States (with sees in Detroit and
California), 20,000 in Canada, 15,000 in Australia and New Zealand, 60,000 in
Europe, 4,000 in Georgia, and several other thousand in the Russian Federation
and the former Soviet republics.

Before the second Gulf war, Auxiliary Bishop Shelmon Warduni of the Patriarchate
of Babylon of the Chaldeans had already noted that the first Gulf conflict and
postwar period were triggering an exodus of Chaldean Catholics from their
country.

Marie Angel Siebrecht of Aid to the Church in Need told ZENIT recently that the
country's Christians "in a certain sense are being forced to emigrate. They feel
they have no role to play in the new Iraq." In the south especially, they are
threatened by Muslim fundamentalists.


* * *

Monrovia Archbishop Wants U.S. to Help Guard Peace in Liberia

Fears That Taylor's Quick Exit Would Destabilize Situation

MONROVIA, Liberia, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- This capital could be destroyed by
rebels and government soldiers if President Charles Taylor makes a hasty exit
before an international peacekeeping force can guarantee stability, warns an
archbishop.

In this respect, Archbishop Michael Francis of Monrovia shares the position
expressed on Saturday by Taylor himself, who is prepared to go into exile in
Nigeria, but has warned about the threat of instability in Liberia.

The Misna missionary agency quoted Archbishop Francis saying that Taylor's hasty
exit "could even worsen the situation in the city, where over a million people
are living in desperate conditions, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis."

The people lack food and potable water, hospitals have depleted medical
supplies, and epidemics of cholera and other diseases are worsening the crisis,
the archbishop said. He joined an appeal launched by the 15 nations of the
Economic Community of West African States, which decided to deploy 3,000
soldiers, but have repeatedly insisted that the United States lead the
peacekeeping operation in Liberia.

Meanwhile, the shooting has stopped in the past days on the streets of the
capital, but the looting and violence continues, at the hands of soldiers and
rebels -- for the most part child-soldiers armed with Kalashnikov rifles.

"At the moment the capital is entirely under the control of government troops,
including the port and airport," Archbishop Francis said. "The police are
attempting in every way possible to contain the violence under way, but
pillaging is reported everywhere."

The recent weeks have seen violent clashes between the loyalist soldiers of the
president and rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy.

The archbishop said: "Let's hope that the cease-fire holds while the United
States makes a decision."

* * *

Honduran Cardinal Laments Globalization of Poverty

"We Are Not Moving Toward a More Just System," He Says

ROME, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga
warned against a model of globalization promoted by powerful groups in developed
countries that overlook the question of justice for weaker countries.

"Economic globalization without the globalization of solidarity is suicide for
the poor and, therefore, for the majority of humanity," the archbishop of
Tegucigalpa said Monday when addressing the opening session of Caritas
International's general assembly.

"Only the logic of financial markets has been globalized. And the absolutism of
that capital is ruinous," he added when addressing 400 delegates of 154 national
Caritas groups.

"The new world order presented to us derives from the unification of markets to
facilitate the circulation of money and merchandise," the cardinal said.

According to him, this conception of globalization requires that "there continue
to be poor people in certain places of the world, and it is necessary to try to
keep them in their place so that they will continue to produce in miserable
cheapness for the rich."

"Injustice and inequality are distinctive signs of the present world," he said.
"We are not moving toward a more just system. … We cannot continue to be blind.
We are not moving simply toward a globalization of the markets, that is, toward
the concentration of wealth, but we are moving toward the globalization of
poverty."

"What is morally false cannot be economically correct," the cardinal stressed.
"The present world situation will lead us to choose between our self-destruction
or the recovery of sure hopes, which arise to the rhythm of the Gospel.

"From various quarters, we are being reminded of the need to put an end to this
scandal, and to take steps toward a sustainable model, humanizing globalization
and turning it into a promise and a genuinely universal plan."

Cardinal Rodríguez Maradiaga believes that solidarity calls for "putting oneself
in the other's place, to discover his needs and to make an effort to satisfy
them according to the possibilities of each situation."

The first session of this assembly continues until Saturday. The assembly has
approved for full membership in the Caritas network these groups:
Caritas-Kazakhstan, Caritas-Belarus, Caritas Social-Action (an organization of
the bishops' conference of England and Wales), Caritas-Estonia, Caritas-Latvia,
Caritas-Serbia and Montenegro, CORDAID (the Low Countries), Catholic Campaign
for Human Development (in the United States), and Caritas-Tonga.

Caritas-Mongolia and the Karuna Myanmar Social Services will be incorporated as
new associate members in Caritas International.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


Chapter 4, section 1: “Translating Theory into Practice” (continued)

Seventh, is the occasion to insert a prayer during lectio divina. There are two
categories of inserted prayer: (1) external to the text – these are prayers we
bring with us to lectio divina. This may include a formulary prayer, an oral
prayer, a Psalm, like Psalm 119 (118) to begin and to help stir up the
prayerfulness of our lectio. The second are the internal prayers found within
the text. These are the lines spoken by characters within the text like “the
prayer of the publican (Luke 18:13) or the cry of the Canaanite woman (Matthew
15:22).” (83). We might also consider using a concluding prayer like the Lord’s
Prayer.

Eighth, is the means and method of our active reading during lectio divina. Fr.
Casey once more reminds us to slow down our pace in lectio divina. One is
reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song “Feeling Groovy” with its famous lyrics
“Slow down you’re moving too fast”.  To prevent this fast paced reading one
measure is to read the text aloud or to some degree of vocalization. Another
technique is to copy that portion of the text into a notebook writing it
“mindfully and with care.” (84). An ancient technique is to draw up questions to
engage the text in dialogue. Finally, composing a prayer based on the text helps
us to slow down and force ourselves to reflectively express the text.

Ninth, the avoidance of drowsiness is crucial to develop the habit of lectio
divina. The following are a couple of considerations (1) an appropriate hour of
the day when we are not devitalized and feeling soporific. (2) not to get too
comfortable so as to induce sleepiness.

Tenth, corporate reading may be useful at times to aid and cultivate the habit
of lectio divina.  This may include reading together, or privately in a shared
space. Some may wish to experiment with either form to contribute to their
development in lectio.

Michael Casey, OCSO, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori,
MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk, prior and vocation director of Our Lady of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775, Australia. Phone: (03) 9730 1306 Fax: (03) 9730 1749


* * *

Collection of Bible Stories a Worldwide Hit

KONIGSTEIN, Germany, JULY 8, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Over 40 million copies have been
published of a collection of biblical texts entitled "God Speaks to His
Children," an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need.

The book, published in 135 languages, is an illustrated collection of Bible
stories. It was first published in 1979, the International Year of the Child, to
be a gift for children in Third World countries.

In that first year, Aid to the Church in Need printed and diffused more than 1
million copies in four languages: English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Shortly after the first editions were printed for Eastern European, African and
Middle Eastern countries. Bishops around the world have requested the book,
which is sometimes the closest thing to a Bible that children ever see.

This year Aid to the Church in Need hopes to print and distribute 1.3 million
copies, including a Maya edition for children in Mexico.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/070903.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.
__________________________________________________
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 134
THURSDAY 10 July 2003


* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Meditation on Psalm 142(143)
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• 50TH ANNIVERSARY MISSIONARY PRIESTS OF THE REGALITY OF CHRIST
----------------------------------------------------------------
• THE POPE RECEIVES INVITATION TO MAKE PASTORAL VISIT TO MONGOLIA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• MEETING OF ORDINARY COUNCIL OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Peter's Pence Collected $52.8 Million in 2002
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Conferees Call for Recognition of Gypsies' Rights
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Czech Catholics Begin Synod, Keenly Aware of Challenges
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Vatican Urges Pact Against Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Bethlehem Struggles to Return to Normal as Occupation Ends
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

Meditation on Psalm 142(143)

John Paul II Reflects on a Prayer Amid Anguish

VATICAN CITY, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address
John Paul II gave at today's general audience, which he dedicated to comment on
Psalm 142(143).

Psalm 142[143] has just been proclaimed, the last of the so-called Penitential
Psalms, which make up the seven supplications distributed in the Psalter (see
Psalm 6; 31; 37; 50; 101; 129; 142). Christian tradition has used them to invoke
from the Lord the forgiveness of sins. The text which we wish to reflect on
today was especially dear to St. Paul, who deduced the radical sinfulness of
every human creature: "before you no living being can be just" (verse 2). This
phrase is used by the apostle as the basis of his teaching on sin and grace (see
Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:20).

The Liturgy of Lauds proposes this supplication to us as a resolution of
faithfulness and of imploration of divine help at the beginning of the day. The
Psalm, in fact, makes us say to God: "At dawn let me hear of your kindness, for
in you I trust" (Psalm 142[143]:8).

2. The Psalm begins with an intense and insistent invocation addressed to God,
faithful to the promises of salvation offered to the people (see verse 1). The
man of prayer acknowledges that he has no merits to make him worthy and,
therefore, humbly asks God not to assume the attitude of a judge (see verse 2).

Then he portrays the dramatic situation, similar to a mortal nightmare, in which
he is struggling: The enemy, which is the representation of the evil in history
and in the world, has lead him to the threshold of death. There he is, in fact,
prostrate in the dust of the earth, which is an image of the sepulcher; he
presents the darkness, which is the negation of light, divine sign of life; and
mentions, finally, "those long dead," that is, the deceased (see verse 3), among
whom he seems already to be relegated.

3. The very existence of the Psalmist is devastated: At this point he has no
breath, his heart seems like a piece of ice, unable to continue beating (see
verse 4). For the faithful, terrified and trampled upon, only his hands remain
free, which are raised to heaven in a gesture that is, at the same time, of
imploration of help and a seeking of support (see verse 6). His thoughts revert
to the past in which God worked wonders (see verse 5).

This spark of hope warms the ice of suffering and of the trial in which the man
of prayer feels himself immersed and about to be swept away (see verse 7). The
tension remains, however, ever strong; but a ray of light seems to appear on the
horizon. Thus we pass to the second part of the Psalm (see verses 7-11).

4. It begins with a new and urgent invocation. The faithful feeling that life is
escaping from him, cries out to God: "Hasten to answer me, Lord; for my spirit
fails me" (see verse 7). What is more, he fears that God has hidden his
countenance and has distanced himself, abandoning him and leaving his creature
alone.

The disappearance of the divine countenance makes man fall into desolation, in
fact, into death itself, as the Lord is the source of life. Precisely in this
sort of extreme limit flowers trust in God, who does not abandon. The man of
prayer multiplies his invocations and supports them with declarations of trust
in the Lord. "For in you I trust ... for to you I lift up my soul ... I have
fled to you for refuge ... for you are my God." He asked that he be delivered
from his enemies (see verses 8-12) and freed from anguish (see verse 11) but he
also makes a repeated request, which manifests a profound spiritual aspiration:
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God" (verse 10a; see verses 8b, 10b).
We must make our own this admirable request. We must understand that our
greatest good is the union of our will with the will of the heavenly Father,
because only in this way can we receive all his love, which brings salvation and
the fullness of life. If it is not accompanied by a strong desire of docility to
God, our trust in him is not authentic.

The man of prayer is aware of this and therefore expresses this desire. He
raises a true and proper profession of faith in God the Savior, who breaks the
anguish and restores the taste of life, in the name of his "justice," in other
words of his loving and salvific faithfulness (see verse 11). Arising from a
particularly anguishing situation, prayer leads to hope, to joy and to light,
thanks to a sincere adherence to God and to his will, which is a will of love.
This is the power of prayer, generator of life and salvation.

5. Fixing his gaze on the morning light of grace (see verse 8), St. Gregory the
Great, in his commentary on the seven Penitential Psalms, describes thus the
dawn of hope and joy: "It is the day illuminated by that true sun that knows no
setting, which the clouds do not render dark and the fog cannot darken. ... When
Christ, our life, will appear, and we will begin to see God with an uncovered
face, then every shade of darkness will disappear, the smoke of ignorance will
vanish, the mist of temptation will dissipate. ... It will be the most luminous
and splendid day, prepared for all the elect by him who has snatched us from the
power of darkness and has transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

"The morning of that day is the future resurrection. ... In that morning the
happiness of the righteous will shine, glory will appear, exultation will be
seen, when God will wipe away every tear from the eyes of the saints, when
death, at last, will be destroyed, when the righteous will shine like the sun in
the kingdom of the Father.

"That morning, the Lord will make his mercy felt, saying: 'Come blessed of my
Father' (Matthew 25:34). Then the mercy of God will be manifested which, in the
present life, the human mind cannot conceive. In fact, the Lord has prepared for
those who love him that which no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor has it
entered into the heart of man" (LF 79, coll. 649-650).

[At the end of the audience, the Holy Father gave this summary in English:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Psalm 142 is the last of the so-called Penitential Psalms. It invokes God's
promise of salvation and recalls the past wonders accomplished by the Lord.
Faced with adversity and trials, God's holy people do not lose hope, rather they
cry out to him, confident that he will hear them and respond. Thus we see the
true power of prayer: For those who place their trust in the Lord's faithful and
saving love, prayer brings hope, joy and light, and leads to eternal life.

I offer special greetings to the English-speaking visitors present today,
especially those from Scotland, New Zealand and the United States of America.
May this summer period of rest and relaxation bring you renewed joy and strength
in our Lord Jesus Christ. Happy holidays!

* * *

50TH ANNIVERSARY MISSIONARY PRIESTS OF THE REGALITY OF CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2003 (VIS) - This morning in the Clementine Hall the Holy
Father received members of the Secular Institute "Missionary Priests of the
Regality of Christ" who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the institute's
founding this year.

   The Pope recalled that the Secular Institute, founded by Fr. Agostino Gemelli,
"is characterized by priestly fraternity in which everyone, faithful to God's
plan, consecrates themselves to the service of the Church.... Continue on this
challenging but liberating ascetic and apostolic journey, giving thanks to the
Lord every day for the priestly ministry,
gift and mystery of divine love."

   "Keep the charisma of your founder alive," he continued, "adapting it to the
social and cultural situations of our time. Your service to the Church will be
fruitful if you keep in constant contact with Christ in prayer, and if you
cultivate ever more communion with the Bishop and with the college of priests of
the dioceses to which you belong. ... May your desire for evangelization lead
you to carry out an apostolate that knows no boundaries."

   John Paul II concluded by urging the missionary priests to "tend toward
holiness as a priority in your life, in order to be witnesses and teachers of
evangelical perfection. The spirituality of the missionaries of the Regality of
Christ, which is secular and presbyterial,
represents a significant patrimony to be invested for the good of the Church."

* * *

THE POPE RECEIVES INVITATION TO MAKE PASTORAL VISIT TO MONGOLIA

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2003 (VIS) - Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy
See Press Office, made the following statement today at midday:

   "I can confirm that the Holy Father has been invited by the Government of
Mongolia and by the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaator to make a pastoral visit
to the country. The invitation has been much appreciated but I must indicate
that a decision has not yet been made as to the date of such a trip. Therefore,
news of a trip to the Mongolian capital next month is not confirmed."

* * *

MEETING OF ORDINARY COUNCIL OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 8, 2003 (VIS) - The 10th Ordinary Council of the Secretariat
General of the Synod of Bishops met on July 1-2 for the sixth time in the
secretariat general's main office, according to a communique made public today.

   In addition to Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., six cardinals, four
archbishops and four members of the secretariat of the Synod participated in the
meeting.

   After the presentation of a report on the secretariat general's activity since
the council's last meeting, preparation for the 11th ordinary general assembly
was discussed. Later the councils' activities for different assemblies were
discussed as well as the diffusion of the post-synodal exhortations on different
continents.

   This council will meet again in October of 2003.

* * *

Peter's Pence Collected $52.8 Million in 2002

Destined to Aid Third World and Needy Populations

VATICAN CITY, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Peter's Pence collection last year took
in $52.8 million, which John Paul II allocated to charitable works in the Third
World, and to aid populations hurt by wars or natural calamities.

The report on the collection of funds was presented Tuesday at the meeting of
the Holy See's Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and
Financial Problems.

According to a Vatican statement issued today, the exact amount collected last
year was $52,836,693.50.

The note explained that the amount was the result of the collection taken up in
all dioceses on the occasion of the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29),
as well as of donations made by religious congregations and institutes, and
foundations, and by the lay faithful.

The statement of the Council of Cardinals noted that one of the projects
financed by Peter's Pence is Don Orione's Institute in Rome's Monte Mario, which
will house disabled pilgrims free of charge. The Pope wished to establish a fund
to guarantee this service. The building, tailored to the needs of the
handicapped, accommodates 155 people.

In 2002, donations to Peter's Pence increased by 1.8% compared to the previous
year, the statement revealed.

"The Cardinals of the Council expressed profound gratitude to all those who,
with their contribution -- often the fruit of costly denials and savings, have
wished to respond to the Holy Father's cry for help for those who are in a
situation of poverty and need," the statement concluded.

Present at the meeting were Cardinals Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, Camillo Ruini
of Rome, Jean-Claude Turcotte of Montreal, Ricardo Maria Carles Gordó of
Barcelona, Ivan Dias of Bombay, Edward Egan of New York, and Latin Patriarch
Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem.

During the meeting, it was reported that the Holy See's financial statements for
the year 2002 registered a deficit of 13.5 million euros ($15.2 million). For
its part, Vatican City (the administration of the small state with its
institutions) registered a deficit of 16 million euros ($18.1 million). A fuller
report will be presented to the press on Thursday.

* * *

Conferees Call for Recognition of Gypsies' Rights

Budapest Event Gathers Participants From 26 Countries

BUDAPEST, Hungary, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican-organized conference
here ended with an appeal to governments in favor of the full recognition of the
rights and fundamental liberties of Gypsies.

The June 30-July 7 congress on the pastoral care of Gypsies, organized by the
Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers with the help of the Hungarian
bishops' conference, gathered 230 participants from 26 countries, including
priests, religious -- and Gypsies. The event was held at the Peter Pazmani
Catholic University.

The participants issued a document calling for the commitment of governments in
guaranteeing the rights of citizenship and housing, which by definition will
improve the conditions of health, education, schooling, and economic and
cultural development of the Gypsy population.

Conferees also asked for an improvement in living conditions for Gypsies, that
they be granted a right to a home without discrimination, and that their
"caravans or mobile homes be assimilated with fixed domiciles, avoiding serious
discrimination of treatment, in the personal and social statute, regarding
nomads."

They appealed for "the abolition of every obstacle to free circulation for
Gypsies, suppressing in particular the special circulation documents which
constitute true 'internal passports.'"

Another matter discussed was the accessibility of preschool education for Gypsy
youngsters, and "the need to take into account the human and cultural resources
potentially represented by 4 million school-age Gypsy youth."

Moreover, the participants asked the Church to support the "pastoral commitment
in favor of Gypsies throughout the globe, conscious of the profound ties that
join evangelization with human development."

They asked Catholics and their pastors to speak out against the injustice,
prejudice and discrimination of which Gypsy groups are often victims.

* * *

Czech Catholics Begin Synod, Keenly Aware of Challenges

At a Difficult Time in Church-State Relations

VELEHRAD, Czech Republic, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- For the first time since
the fall of the Berlin Wall, Czech Catholics have launched a Church synod in
this republic.

Bishops, priests, religious and laity gathered Sunday in the Velehrad Shrine of
Moravia to begin addressing the challenges posed to the Church by the political,
social and economic changes of the country, as well as by its entry into the
European Union.

The synod opened at a tense time in the Church's relations with the Czech
government. At Velehrad, Cardinal Miroslav Vlk, archbishop of Prague, accused
Minister of Culture Pavel Dostal of creating "difficulties" for the Church.

Under Social Democrat Dostal, the Ministry "impedes the Church from carrying out
its mission," said Archbishop Jan Graubener of Olomouc, the president of the
episcopal conference.

Church representatives also deplored Parliament's failure to approve a concordat
to regulate church-state relations. A proposal was signed in July 2002 by
government and Vatican representatives, but was rejected by the Chamber of
Deputies last May.

The synod's sessions, which will continue for three years, will focus on
questions such as interreligious dialogue, the role of the laity in the Church,
evangelization, the social apostolate, pastoral care of the sick and elderly,
and Christian initiation. Time will also be allocated to the history of the
Czech people.

"Our Church has lost much in the past, but it has demonstrated that it is
capable of facing violent totalitarianism," Archbishop Graubener said. During
its Communist era the Czech Republic became known as one of the most atheist
countries in the world.

The Church, the archbishop said, "has lived in the mystery of the cross and has
retained a healthy popular piety, especially Marian. However, now it needs to
raise its head, to be aware of its own values, commitment and enthusiasm to
share the treasure of the faith with the rest, to take the Gospel to society.
But, to do all this, it needs formation and education."

Among the republic's 10.2 million inhabitants, 39.2% are Catholic. Some
statistics say 39.8% of the population is atheist. Attendance at Sunday Mass is
among the lowest in the world.

* * *

Vatican Urges Pact Against Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons

NEW YORK, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican proposed to the international
community that an agreement be adopted to eradicate the illicit trade in small
arms and light weapons.

The request came during an address by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy
See's permanent observer at the United Nations, at the first U.N. biennial
meeting of states on trade in these arms.

The archbishop made two proposals. The first is to address the issue of state
responsibility for halting illicit arms transfers, as "it is states which have
the capability of reducing and eliminating the death and destruction that result
from the availability and use of small arms and light weapons," he said.

"The second is to begin, without any undue delay, the process of discussing a
comprehensive, legally binding agreement on international arms trade that will
reduce and eventually eradicate the illicit traffic of small arms and light
weapons."


* * *

Bethlehem Struggles to Return to Normal as Occupation Ends

BETHLEHEM, West Bank, JULY 9, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The end of the Israeli army's
military occupation of Bethlehem has made it possible for the city's Catholic
university to offer summer courses again.

Brother Vincent Malham, of the Brothers of Christian Schools, rector of
Bethlehem Catholic University, told the Fides missionary agency that "this would
seem to be a small hopeful step toward peace and security which we trust will
not be stopped with new violence."

Brother Malham says the people of Bethlehem still need a lot of support.
"Difficulties in daily life persist," he said. "Many people are still out of
work, it is almost impossible to go anywhere."

Franciscan Father Ibrahim Faltas, superior of the Nativity Church, said that
after "three years of violence and hatred people have had enough. Israelis and
Palestinians cannot take any more: Everyone wants a better life. The announced
cease-fire offers a glimpse of hope which we must not let go."

He added: "We are confident that the 'road map' will lead to peace. Of course,
life is still difficult -- especially trade and tourism -- and it is still
impossible to move freely around the town. But we hope that gradually there will
be an improvement and a return to normality."

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA

The second section of Chapter 4 is entitled “When God Seems Silent” (pages
87-93). Here Fr. Casey discusses some of the changes that place within us as we
advance in lectio divina practice. We experience a “struggle to maintain our
openness to God’s word and to remain faithful to regular exposure to it.” (89).

Another change is an inner revelation of our own rebelliousness to God’s word.
Through this new consciousness we are urged to seek God more earnestly. However,
the great temptation is to do the opposite: loose heart and drift away from
lectio. The solution is to accept the new phase and to slowly adjust to it. Our
method of lectio needs to also change.

During this new phase we need to allow the words to speak more while remaining
silent. Yet, it is more difficult to remain silent since we experience spiritual
Angst, a sense of irritability, boredom, dissatisfaction, and an overwhelming
sense of discouragement and disappointment with ourselves.


Michael Casey, OCSO, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori,
MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk, prior and vocation director of Our Lady of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775, Australia. Phone: (03) 9730 1306 Fax: (03) 9730 1749

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the=

Download Free RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/071003.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
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All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced,
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ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS

Volume 3, Issue 135
FRIDAY 11 July 2003

Solemnity of St. Benedict of Nursia, Founder of Western Monasticism

* * *

WEAR THE BROWN SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL AND
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE WHOLE
WORLD AND FOR CHURCH UNITY

* * *

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
----------------------------------------------------------------
• THE POPE BEGINS A VACATION PERIOD AT CASTELGANDOLFO
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Challenge of Christian Education Is Holiness, Says John Paul II
----------------------------------------------------------------
• MESSAGE: POLAND AND UKRAINE, NEED FOR RECONCILIATION
----------------------------------------------------------------
• PAPAL TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF CAPSIZED BOAT IN BANGLADESH
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Holy See, in "Lean Years," Posts a Financial Deficit
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Pope to Address EU Summit on Interreligious Dialogue
----------------------------------------------------------------
• AUDIENCES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• LECTIO DIVINA
----------------------------------------------------------------
• Spokesman of Franciscan Custody on What the Holy Land Needs
----------------------------------------------------------------
• CATALOGUE OF LINKS
----------------------------------------------------------------
• EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF MARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
• DAILY REMINDER
----------------------------------------------------------------
• ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
----------------------------------------------------------------
• COPYRIGHT NOTICES
----------------------------------------------------------------

* * *

THE POPE BEGINS A VACATION PERIOD AT CASTELGANDOLFO

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2003 (VIS) - This morning at 10 a.m. John Paul II went by
car to his summer residence at Castelgandolfo, southeast of Rome, where he will
spend some time on a working vacation.

* * *

Challenge of Christian Education Is Holiness, Says John Paul II

Message to General Chapter of Piarists

VATICAN CITY, JULY 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- In a message addressed to the
religious of the Order of the Pious Schools, John Paul II said that the great
challenge of Christian education is holiness.

"Accompany your students with patience and wisdom; try to open their minds and
hearts to truth and goodness, educating them in authentic justice and peace,"
the Pope said in his message to the 76 Piarists attending their order's general
chapter. "Educate them to holiness."

To achieve this objective, the Holy Father refers in his message to the
"Christological dimension" proper to the spirituality of St. Joseph Calasanz,
founder of the order, "which should fill all your action in the Church and in
the world."

"To put on Christ, Gospel of salvation for the men of all times, implies to
place him at the center of personal and communal life, at the center of didactic
activities and of every other form of the apostolate," the Pope said. "It
implies, in particular, to become imitators of Christ in order to be consistent
witnesses of him, able to convince adolescents and youths to follow him without
hesitations."

John Paul II reminded the Piarists, also known as the Escolapios, about the
apostolic dimension of their consecrated choice.

"As the Divine Master, consecrated by the Father, fully assumed his mission in
favor of men and offered his life for them, so you, if you want to imitate him
in giving yourselves to the brethren, must make your apostolic service flow from
a love that does not look back," he said.

"The Pope is near to you because he knows that you dedicate yourselves to the
education of young men, 'morning watchmen,' sowing seeds of hope for the future
of humanity. Cultivate them with love! Each student is like a small plant which,
if well looked after, will grow luxuriant," the Holy Father said.

For their part, the participants of the general chapter sent a telegram to John
Paul II in which they thanked him for "the present orientations on the ministry
of education, so important for the good of the Church and of society, in keeping
with the line of the documents of Vatican Council II," and committed themselves
to work with renewed ardor following in the footsteps of their founder.

Earlier, Piarist Father Jesús Lecea was elected as new superior general of the
order. He succeeds Father Josep Maria Balcells, who has been superior general
for 18 years. The general chapter runs until July 25.

The Order of Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools, as
it is officially known, was founded in 1617 to offer Christian education to
children and youth, particularly the poor. It now has 1,466 professed religious
and novices, including 1,059.


* * *

MESSAGE: POLAND AND UKRAINE, NEED FOR RECONCILIATION

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a message from the
Pope to Cardinals Jozef Glemp, Marian Jaworski and Lubomyr Husar, respectively
archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, archbishop of Lviv of the Latins, Ukraine and
major archbishop of Lviv of the Ukrainians, on the occasion of the 60th
anniversary on July 11 of the "tragic events of Volinia," the disputed region
between Poland and Ukraine during World War II. An official ceremony of
Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

   In the message, dated July 7 and directed also to "our brothers and sisters in
the Ukraine and in Poland," the Holy Father writes: "Sixty years after these sad
events, the need for a profound examination of conscience has been affirmed in
the soul of the majority of Polish and Ukrainian people. The need is felt for a
reconciliation that allows everyone to look toward the future with new eyes."

   "As God forgave us in Christ, it is necessary that believers  know how to
mutually forgive offenses and to ask for forgiveness for their own failings in
order to contribute to the creation of a world which has respect for life,
justice, harmony and peace."

   After recalling that during the Jubilee Year 2000, the Church "asked for
forgiveness for the faults of its children, forgiving at the same time those who
have offended them," he says: "In this way, I wanted to purify the memory of
these sad events from every feeling of rancor and vengeance in order to go
forward hopeful and confident in the task of building a civilization of love."

   "The Church proposes this same attitude to a civil society, urging all toward
sincere reconciliation. ... It is an urgent priority if the great need is
considered to educate the young generations to confront the future not in
conditions of a history of mistrust, prejudices and violence, but in the spirit
of a reconciled memory."

* * *

PAPAL TELEGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF CAPSIZED BOAT IN BANGLADESH

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2003 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, in the name of Pope
John Paul, sent the following telegram of condolences to religious and civil
authorities in Bangladesh for the victims of a ferry boat capsize Tuesday
evening near the city of Chandpur:

   "Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life resulting from the ferry boat
accident near the town of Chandpur, His Holiness Pope John Paul II assures all
affected of his closeness in prayer. The Holy Father commends the victims to the
loving mercy of the Almighty, and upon their grieving families and all those
injured he invokes divine strength and comfort."

* * *

Holy See, in "Lean Years," Posts a Financial Deficit

But Donations Increased in 2002

VATICAN CITY, JULY 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Holy See's finances finished in
the red for 2002, but officials are grateful for the increased donations from
the faithful.

"The economic crisis also affects the Holy See," the president of the Prefecture
for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, said
during a press conference today. For the first time, the Holy See presented its
financial statements in euros.

Income totaled 216,575,034 euros ($245 million), and expenses 230,081,756 euros
($260 million), creating a deficit of 13,506,722 euros ($15.3 million). Despite
the deficit, members of the Prefecture of Financial Affairs were "grateful and
surprised" by the faithful's increase in donations to the Holy See.

"We are in a period of lean years," Cardinal Sebastiani told journalists in the
Vatican press office, drawing a parallel between the Holy See's economy with the
world economy.

"When things go well, we save, and when lean years arrive -- as at present -- we
use these savings, just as donors do," the cardinal said. Until the year 2000,
there was a period of boom years or prosperity, he added.

The Holy See's major expenses are ordinary and extraordinary administrative
costs of the Roman Curia, in which 2,659 people work (744 ecclesiastics, 351
religious and 1,564 lay people).

Last year, new premises had to be constructed and acquired for papal
representations, as well as a building located on Via della Conciliazione -- the
avenue leading to St. Peter's Square -- which will serve as offices for the
Roman Curia.

Cardinal Sebastiani explained that for the first time the Holy See's media "have
shown an improvement in the final balance." Expenses in the nunciatures fell
considerably thanks to "strict control," he said.

Referring to donations from curias, religious congregations, foundations and
other entities, he said: "We did not expect that donations would be so high."
The Holy See received donations totaling 85,385,000 euros ($96 million), a
higher amount than in previous years.

"It is due to greater awareness in parishes and dioceses, which realize that it
is necessary to help the Holy See, as established in Canon 1271 of Canon Law,
which suggests -- it does not oblige -- to bishops that they collaborate with
the Apostolic See," the cardinal said.

These numbers have no relation with so-called Peter's Pence, which the Pope
allocates to charity, and which this year reached $58.8 million.

The financial statements are being translated into various languages and will be
given to the episcopal conferences and religious congregations. The translations
will specify in detail the type of aid, the countries that contributed most, and
the sources of income.

Likewise, Vatican City State (the administration of the small state with its
institutions) posted a deficit of 16,048,508 euros ($18.1 million).

A factor was the city-state's covering of half of the deficit of Vatican Radio,
which administratively is under the Holy See. The city-state's budget includes
1,511 dependents (including 1,436 lay people) and 566 retirees.

* * *

Pope to Address EU Summit on Interreligious Dialogue

BRUSSELS, Belgium, JULY 10, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A European Union meeting will be
held in Rome in October to discuss the issue of interreligious dialogue, and
John Paul II is scheduled to attend.

An Italian government official disclosed that the Pope expressed his interest in
receiving the EU Ministers of the Interior who will gather for the summit, and
"in addressing this topic at the meeting."

Italian Minister of the Interior Giuseppe Pisanu gave the news on Tuesday in
Brussels, where he presented the Italian program for the EU presidency on
immigration.

The issue of interreligious dialogue has acquired importance in Europe with the
arrival of numerous immigrants of various religions, especially Muslims.

* * *

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2003 (VIS) - Yesterday the Holy Father received Carlo
Azeglio Ciampi, president of the Italian Republic, and his wife whom he invited
to lunch in his private apartment.

* * *

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 10, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Alejandro
Goic Karmelic of Osorno, Chile as coadjutor bishop of  Rancagua (area 16,042,
population 728,280, Catholics 597,189, priests 117, permanent deacons 12,
religious 226), Chile.

* * *

LECTIO DIVINA


Fr. Casey outlines six causes of this spiritual Angst, a sense of irritability,
boredom, dissatisfaction, and an overwhelming sense of discouragement and
disappointment with ourselves.

First, physical health may be causing the barrier. Not all medical conditions
are apparent. Perhaps, we need to go to the doctor for a check-up. Others may
need new eyeglass prescriptions, and others still may have some form of dyslexia
or other visual problem having a medical basis.

Second, is the frustration that arises from a lack of proper training. Many are
excellent readers for academic studies, reading the newspaper, or junk mail, but
have no proper orientation into sacred reading. The dissatisfaction we are
experiencing may be due to a need for cultivating how to read with one’s
intellect and heart, rather than just with one’s mind.

Third, is the spiritual barrier that arises from improper loving of ourselves
and other, social disequilibrium. God’s voice is silent to us in lectio divina
if we fail to love our neighbor, have hatred and anger in our hearts, and lack
the capacity to forgive and forget, while blindly pursuing taboo sensual
pleasures. A mind and heart that is not oriented on Christ and lived out in
daily life as a devout and responsible Christian is hardly one that can hear the
soft whisperings of God’s Holy Spirit through the reading of Sacred Scripture.

Fourth, is like the third, a withdrawal for God’s corrective pedagogy. When we
withdraw from God’s good counsels he withdraws from us. This leaves us in
spiritual silence. It is God’s way of putting us in a spiritual “time-out” box.
“God withdraws from us and allows us to experience the extent of our own
unlovableness.” (92).

Fifth, are the vicissitudes of life. Sometimes these are the seasonal
variations, as Fr. Casey calls them. Like the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s song: “The
Times They Are A Changin’” so too are we as we pass through time. We are given
to mood swings, biological changes, and periods of acclimation to new
environments, new thoughts, new views of life. This is well known by the great
ascetical masters of the spiritual life. St. John of the Cross characterized
these changing episodic periodizations of variability as “obscure nights” of the
soul. Like all things, they pass. Yet before they do we pass through spiritual
metamorphoses like a larva in a chrysalis. We either come out as a beautiful
butterfly or a nervous moth fluttering round a light bulb.

Sixth, is the order of things—Divine transcendence vs. human radical incapacity.
The only way to initialize a meeting between the two opposites is for the soul
to grow humble. Humility is the great reconciler of the soul to God. It is only
through humility that a soul can even hear the soft whisperings of God’s sweet
and tender voice. “Without humility we cannot penetrate God’s word.” (93).

And so we come to realize that due to various causes, conditions of spirit, mind
and body, that what appears on the surface in daily life to be our quiet lives
we have brewing deep within us a volatile source of noise that make us deaf to
God’s sweet whisperings.

Michael Casey, OCSO, Sacred Reading. The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. (Liguori,
MO : Liguori/Triumph, 1996). 151 p.; ISBN : 0-89243-891-6. Michael Casey is a
Cistercian monk, prior and vocation director of Our Lady of Tarrawarra Abbey,
Yarra Glen, Victoria 3775, Australia. Phone: (03) 9730 1306 Fax: (03) 9730 1749


* * *

Spokesman of Franciscan Custody on What the Holy Land Needs

"Only Changed Hearts Can Bring Peace," Says Father David Jaeger

JERUSALEM, JULY 10, 2003 (ZENIT.org-Fides).- The current cease-fire in the Holy
Land has brought an atmosphere of new hope and optimism in Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.

In this critical stage, the Fides news service spoke with Father David Jaeger,
spokesman of the Franciscan Custody, about the "road map" peace plan and the
prospects for long-term stability.

Q: The Holy Land is living a kairos of peace, a favorable moment, an
opportunity. What positive elements and hopes weigh in favor of the peace
process?

Father Jaeger: For the first time since Sept. 28, 2000, there would appear to be
well-founded hopes that the sides will return to the negotiating table.

Nevertheless our optimism, although quite justified, must be curbed. For this to
be truly a kairos of peace it must be clear that this is not simply a return to
the stalemate situation existing before the outbreak of the second intifada.

If this were so, if it were a question of simply restoring a previous situation
which showed itself to be unbearable, the present moment might reveal itself to
be only a pause before resuming the battle. ...

Instead, what is needed is a change of heart, a conversion on the part of all
those involved to allow rapid progress to reach the declared objective of the
road map "to put an end to occupation of Palestinian territory started in 1967
and to create in these hitherto occupied territories a free, independent and
democratic state of Palestine," to live in peace with the state of Israel. This
was the vision described by American President George Bush in June 2002, and
which was recently confirmed with the road map.

Q: What is your opinion of the road map?

Father Jaeger: The road map is important because of its detailed objective,
which was lacking in the Oslo agreement in 1993.

The path is positive and offers new hope, but one would wonder for example about
the utility of the definition of a temporary state with temporary frontiers for
the Palestinians, as a step toward the definitive state with definitive borders.
Observers say it would be better to reach first a lasting peace agreement and
draw lasting borders to be implemented gradually.

This would help prevent dangerous tension which would easily arise in a
temporary situation of uncertainty about the final arrangement of relations
between the two countries. It should be said that this final arrangement is no
mystery. Its main lines have been known for years and they are almost inevitably
drawn from basic considerations, such as international law, healthy realism and
respect for the fundamental equality of the sides.

There is a very interesting initiative at the moment: a call made to both
peoples Israelis and Palestinians by two well-known personalities to adhere to
an organic list of the essential principles of this peace agreement. The persons
in question are two men well known for their patriotism and loyalty, professor
Sari Nuseibeh, president of the Al Quds Palestinian University in Jerusalem, and
General Ami Ayalon, former chief admiral of the Israeli navy and former chief of
Shin Beth secret police.

Q: What role can the Church and indeed the whole Christian community in the Holy
Land play in this situation?

Father Jaeger: The Church, because of her role and vocation, cannot fail to
applaud and support any serious initiative for peace.

In this context her specific task could be to stress the inevitable
international dimension of the final arrangement of the Holy Land, mainly with
regard to the much requested "Internationally Guaranteed Special Status for
Jerusalem" and surrounding areas, including Bethlehem, to protect in particular
the holy places and Christian communities and institutions which express the
presence of the whole of Christianity in the "spiritual homeland" of all
believers in Jesus.

Moreover, it is up to the Church and Christian citizens in both nations to
promote values of democracy, justice, freedom -- first of all freedom of
conscience and religion -- in both orders.

At the moment it is important to ensure that the constitution of the future
state of Palestine responds fully to these values and that there is no wavering
in the face of strong Islamic pressure felt in the Palestinian society. It is a
matter of strengthening the original secular character of Palestine's national
movement. In this I see a major role for Europe.

Q: In an atmosphere of general peace-making and also new confidence in
Israel-Holy See relations, at what stage are negotiations for the return of the
Shrine of the Upper Room to the charge of the Franciscan Custody?

Father Jaeger: Negotiations for the return of the shrine are officially under
way. It would be correct to say that the Catholic Church expects Israel to make
an act of generosity which would be deeply appreciated.

The Franciscans are the lawful owners of the shrine. It was taken from them by
the Ottomans and then given to Israel in 1948. Its restitution would be no
sacrifice for the state of Israel and we hope it will come about soon. These
negotiations are part of the talks aiming for an overall agreement on heritage
and fiscal questions pending for more than half a century between the Catholic
Church and the state of Israel.

In the basic agreement reached in 1993, the Holy See and the state of Israel
promised to reach this overall agreement which should reconfirm and consolidate
the indispensable and centuries-old fiscal exemption which concretely allow the
existence and work of Catholic communities and institutions in Israel.

With regard to the aspect of heritage, we hope for the restitution of certain
properties lost in the past, such as the Chapel-Shrine of Cesarea maritime, a
significant site for Christian history and part of the Franciscan St. Anthony's
monastery in the center of Jerusalem and other places.

We hope that the state of Israel will show itself to be wisely friendly.
Negotiations are taking place in a good atmosphere. We hope they will conclude
in time for the 10th anniversary of the Basic Agreement -- Dec. 30 -- and in
this way reward the courageous decision on the part of the Holy See to premise
full normalization of formal relations, with the establishing of diplomatic
relations -- for the effect resolution of concrete problems.

* * *

CATALOGUE OF LINKS

1. HOW TO USE LINKS -- RealPlayer

Roman catholic News is very happy to announce new exciting links available to
you, our fine subscribers. Some links require Realplayer a software program that
allows you to see live television and hear audio recordings as well as listen to
live radio. The software is free. To obtain your free copy go to EWTN Live TV
and Radio on the link below and scroll down until you find the Download Free
RealPlayer link and click it on.

2. Live EWTN TV and Radio
<http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm>

CONTAINS:

• Live EWTN TV - English • EWTN AM/FM RADIO
• Live EWTN TV - Spanish • Catholic World Today Radio
• Today's Homily (Video) • Audio of Today's Homily
• Pope's Wednesday Audience Audio • Radio Catolica Mundial
• EWTN's The World Over • Mother Angelica Live Video
• Audio Library • Life On The Rock (Video)
• The Journey Home (Video) • EWTN Religious Catalogue

Send EWTN donations online:
<https://www.ewtn.com/ewtn/ssl/donation/donation_ewtn.asp>

* * *

3. Today's Lectionary Readings Text
<http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/071103.htm>

Biblica Online
<http://biblica.bsw.org>

* * *

4.DIVINE OFFICE TEXTS & AUDIO ONLINE:

OFFICE OF READINGS, TEXTS
<http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/600/USA/Readings.html>

MORNING, EVENING & NIGHT PRAYERS, TEXTS:
<http://www.liturgyhours.org>

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE DIVINE OFFICE: recited by the
Monks of Adoration:
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html>

* * *

5. Polish Rosary Hour by the Conventual Franciscans
<http://www.rosaryhour.net/ra/program.ram>

* * *

6. CHANTED ROSARY ONLINE
<http://www.monksofadoration.org/rosarych.html>

DOWNLOAD FREE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY
<http://www.virtualrosary.org/>

Our Father Movie
<http://www.dayspring.com/movies/webmovies/lordsprayer.html>

* * *

7. CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY ONLINE
<http://www.markhargrave.com/chaplet.html>

* * *

8. THE BEATIFICATION OF MAMA GILI

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 1)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/33>

Cause of Mama Gili as Servant of God (Part 2)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/37>

Need a Miracle?
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/55>

Dolores Immacolata "Mama" Gili (1892-1985)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News/message/117>

MAMA GILI GUILD

The Mama Gili Guild was established several years ago to gather, collect, and 
publish information on Dolores Immacolata Gili (1892-1985) for an investigation
into her cause as a Servant of God, as well as to promote her cause and to
perpetuate her cult by directing prayer groups assembled in her honor. It has
continuously enjoyed the ecclesiastical approval of Theodore Cardinal McCarrick,
and the Most Reverend John Joseph Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Call or write today regarding favors granted through the intercession of Dolores
Immacolata "Mama" Gili, or, for more information about the cause of her
investigation for canonization to:

Rev. Dante DiGirolamo, Director
Mama Gili Guild
P. O. Box 455
Kearny, New Jersey 07032
Phone (973) 412-1170
Fax (973) 412-7011

* * *

9. ABBAYE SAINT-JOSEPH DE CLAIRVAL

The Benedictine monks of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval mail a free monthly
newsletter to anyone who requests it. Also free of charge are: the tract about
the divinity of Jesus Christ; tract about the Truths of the Catholic Religion;
scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with explanatory notice; the promises of
the Sacred Heart; the mysteries of the Rosary.

Sample Newsletter
<http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~vlaisney/lettre.cgi?language=EN>

Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval

21150 FLAVIGNY-SUR-OZERAIN
France

Phone.: 03 80 96 22 31
Fax: 03 80 96 25 29
Email: <englishspoken@...> or <stjoseph.flavigny@...>

<http://www.clairval.com>

10. Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ. English Trans. Online
<http://www.ccel.org/k/kempis/imitation2/htm/i.htm>

Thomas a Kempis, De Imitatione Christi. Latin Text Online
<http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/kempis.html>

* * *

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER IN HONOR OF THE SORROWFUL HEART OF
MARY

When the Eucharistic host is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the crucified Body of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

When the Eucharistic chalice is elevated at Mass say:

"Eternal Father, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you
the precious Blood of Your dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in reparation for
all the sins committed against you and for the conversion and salvation of the
whole world."

* * *

DAILY REMINDER

"during this important time, as the eve of the new millennium approaches unity
among all Christians of the various confessions will increase until they reach
full communion." John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 16

"Keep close to the Mother of God as if you were the child Jesus clinging to her
robes while walking down a dusty and busy crowded street and you'll always be
safe."

* * *

ROMAN CATHOLIC NEWS ARCHIVES
To gain access to all of the Roman Catholic News archives go to the URL:
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Roman-Catholic-News>

This will give you the archive of all of the articles in all issues.  There are
four ways to access archived articles: (1) Go to the Home Page panel on the far
left and click on the word "Messages" just below the word "Home"; (2) then click
on the articles posted by date; (3) or click on the blue Arabic numerals in the
box for the month in the yearly calendar window at the bottom of the page; (4)
or type in a keyword in the long rectangular white box alongside the long
rectangular button that reads SEARCH ARCHIVE, and then click that button.

__________________________________________________
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