Benedict XVI will be praying in September for authentic social progress and an end to bloody conflicts and wars.

The Apostleship of Prayer announced the intentions chosen by the Pope for September. His general prayer intention is: “That in the least developed regions of the world the announcement of the Word of God brings renewal to the hearts of all, prompting them to be protagonists of an authentic social progress.”

The Holy Father also chooses an apostolic intention for each month. In September he will pray: “That, opening one’s heart to love, there will be an end to so many wars and conflicts that continue to spill blood throughout the world.”

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 31, 2010 (Zenit.org)

Luke 5, 1-11

Now it happened that he was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats at the water’s edge. The fishermen had got out of them and were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats — it was Simon’s — and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.  When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’  Simon replied, ‘Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’  And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear,  so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point.  When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’  For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made;  so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching.’  Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him.

Between Saturday, 28th August and Thursday, 2nd September, 2010, at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Tal-Virtù, some 85 European Discalced Carmelite Students and their formators are being hosted by their confreres in the Malta Province to discuss Evangelisation in a European context flowing from the missionary spirit of St Paul.

During this meeting which comes to an end tomorrow, various speakers will be giving accounts on the experiences of intense Christian community living with orphans, disabled and senior persons in Colombia; of dialogue with people of other faiths in Basle, Switzerland; of relations with Muslims in Kuwait by its former Bishop Mons. Adeodatus Micallef; and an account by the Superior General of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers, Fr Saverio Cannistrà, about what his Order is doing in promoting a New Evangelisation in Europe.

Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. led Vespers and addressed this select meeting on Sunday. The Carmelite University lecturer, Fr Sandro Vella, introduced a Lectio Divina illustrating the chapters of the Acts of the Apostles enshrining St Paul’s providential shipwreck on Malta’s shores and its initial evangelisation.

During their short stay, the participants will be taken on tour to the main Pauline venues in Malta.

F’nota pastorali maħruġa llum, l-Isqfijiet Maltin saħqu li hu dmir tal-Knisja “quddiem Alla” u fis-“servizz b’risq is-soċjetà” li xxandar da dak li temmen fih fuq bosta temi, inklużi ż-żwieġ u l-familja u dan għaliex żwieġ stabbli jwassal għal inqas tkissir taż-żwieġ. Huma wissew kontra t-tnedija ta’ kruċjati kontra d-divorzju iżda saħqu wkoll li “f’soċjetà pluralistika m’għandux ikun hemm opinjoni waħda biss li tinstama’, u jkun ta’ ħsara għad-demokrazija jekk xi ħadd jipprova jsikket opinjonijiet diversi! Bħal ma hemm min jippromwovi d-divorzju f’soċjetà pluralistika, hekk ukoll il-missjoni tal-Knisja hi li tħeġġeġ l-istabbiltà taż-żwieġ”.

AGĦFAS HAWN BIEX TKOMPLI TAQRA DAN L-ARTIKLU FUQ IS-SIT www.il-gensillum.com

Luke 4,38-44

Leaving the synagogue he went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in the grip of a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Standing over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to serve them.  At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them.  Devils too came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he warned them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.  When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them,  but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his proclamation in the synagogues of Judaea.

On Saturday, 28^th August 2010, at the Parish of St Paul’s Bay, the year dedicated to the 1950^th anniversary since the shipwreck of St Paul was brought to a close.  In our tradition, St Paul’s Bay has always been closely associated with Paul’s shipwreck and his visit to Malta.

The festivities, which were most significant, commenced at the Parish Church, with the celebration of mass, presided over by Archbishop Paul Cremona.  At the end of the mass, the Archpriest of Rabat, Can. Louis Suban, presented a stone from the Grotto of St Paul which will be placed at the altar of the Parish of St Paul’s Bay.  The Archbishop unveiled a commemorative plaque.

Following the mass, a procession was held, during which the statue of St Paul, which is venerated in the Parish and the relic of St Paul from Rabat church, were carried through the streets of St Paul’s Bay.  The procession was led by Archpriest Louis Suban.  A significant ceremony was held in front of the Church of St Paul’s Sanctuary.  A reading from the Acts of the Apostles, relating the story of St Paul’s shipwreck was read out, a bonfire was lit and those present renewed their commitment to the faith.  At the end of the procession, the chaplet of St Paul was prayed and a sacramental blessing was conveyed upon those present.

Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: info@photocityonline.com

Some historic and noteworthy events await the Holy Father and Vatican officials after the summer break, when the Eternal City springs back to life.

Benedict XVI will be staying at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo at least until the end of next month, but before he returns to Rome he has three important engagements to fulfill.

The most significant will be his much-anticipated visit to Great Britain on Sept. 16-19, during which he will travel to Scotland and England and beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman. Although a state visit, the apostolic voyage will also be of a pastoral nature that will aim to encourage the local Church and reach out to a once Christian, but now increasingly secularist, society.

But before then, on Sept. 5, Benedict XVI will spend a morning in Carpineto Romano, the birthplace of Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, who became Pope Leo XIII. The Pope will fly by helicopter to the town, 30 miles from Rome, to mark the bicentenary of Pope Leo’s birth and celebrate Mass in the town square.

Leo XIII, who died on July 20, 1903, at the age of 93, was the oldest ever Pope and is perhaps best known for writing the Church’s first great social encyclical, “Rerum Novarum.” He also tried to reach out to the scientific world, founded centers of theological and Scriptural study, and opened the Vatican Archives to Catholic and non-Catholic researchers. He was also the first Pontiff to promote ecumenical dialogue.

A week before visiting Carpineto Romano, Benedict XVI continued his tradition of holding his annual “Schülerkreis” at Castel Gandolfo. The meeting with the Pope’s former students, which dates back to when he was a theology professor in Regensburg, Germany, was scheduled Aug. 27-29, and this year focused on the hermeneutic of the Second Vatican Council.

A key element in the discussions was Benedict XVI’s address to the Roman Curia in December 2005 in which he stressed that the Council texts did not point to a “hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture” but rather a “hermeneutic of reform, of renewal in continuity.” The former interpretation, he said, “caused confusion” while the latter “silently but more and more visibly, bore and is bearing fruit.”

The Holy Father’s first major engagement after returning to Rome will be Oct. 3, when he visits the Sicilian capital Palermo. He will celebrate an outdoor Mass there and address families and youth — two areas of major concern to the Sicilian bishops’ conference. At a recent press conference, Archbishop Paolo Romeo of Palermo said: “We want to present to the Holy Father and to the whole world the true face of Sicily, which is not at all just about the garbage emergency, Mafia and social problems, but about a history that our saints have marked.” John Paul II visited the Italian island in 1982 and 1995.

A week later, Benedict XVI will open the special Synod of Bishops on the Middle East, which will run Oct. 10-24. The meeting will focus on “communion and witness” in the conflict-ridden region where Christians are becoming ever smaller in number.

While in Cyprus in June to present the working document on the three-week meeting, Benedict XVI told participants it would be an occasion “to highlight the important value of the Christian presence and witness in the biblical lands, not just for the Christian community around the world, but also for your neighbors and fellow citizens.” The synod will bring together Middle East experts from around the world including Cardinals Nasrallah Sfeir, the Maronite patriarch of Lebanon, Emmanuel Delly, the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, and Leonardo Sandri, the prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. Although John Paul II held a synod on Lebanon in 1995, this will be the first time the Church has dedicated such a meeting to the whole region.

Then the following month, the Holy Father will embark on his fifth visit outside Italy this year: a two-day trip to Spain. On Nov. 6 he will fly to Santiago de Compostela, the important pilgrim destination of the Middle Ages, which is increasingly popular today among both believers and nonbelievers. Tradition holds that the remains of the Apostle James the Greater are buried there, and the Pope’s trip coincides with Santiago de Compostela Holy Year, which occurs every time St James’ feast day, July 25, falls on a Sunday.

The following day, the Pope will also visit Barcelona where he will consecrate and proclaim as a basilica the city’s famous church, La Sagrada Familia, the unfinished masterpiece by the devout Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The Holy Father will also dine with bishops and visit a foundation for people with disabilities before returning to Rome in the evening.

Spain’s government is one of the most secular in Europe, and since coming to power in 2004 has passed a raft of legislation directly opposed to Catholic teaching. As if to show his concern, this will be Benedict XVI’s second visit to Spain: He first visited the country in 2006 for the World Meeting of Families in Valencia, and will be returning to Spain again next August to attend World Youth Day in Madrid.

These are just the most significant papal and Vatican events scheduled to take place this fall, but no doubt others will also find their way onto the papal and Vatican calendar. One such event could be Benedict XVI’s third consistory, although most Vatican-watchers predict that it’s more likely to take place next year.

Currently 107 cardinals are under 80 and so eligible to vote in the next conclave, 13 short of the 120 limit set by Paul VI. But by the beginning of 2011, at least 19 cardinal elector vacancies will have become available. Although it’s coming up to three years since the last consistory, the gap is well within the norms (John Paul II called a consistory on average every three years).

Those in line for a red hat include Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Archbishop Reinhard Marx of Munich, Germany.

Whether or not the consistory takes place, the Holy Father and the Vatican already have a busy but interesting few months ahead.

ROME, (Zenit.org)

Luke 4,31-37

He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath.  And his teaching made a deep impression on them because his word carried authority.  In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and he shouted at the top of his voice,  ’Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’  But Jesus rebuked it, saying, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man into the middle, went out of him without hurting him at all.  Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What is it in his words? He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’  And the news of him travelled all through the surrounding countryside.

CLICK HERE to download the September 2010 issue of ‘Flimkien’ magazine.

On Friday, 27th March, 2010, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. celebrated Mass at Casa Leone in Saint Julians to celebrate the 100th birthday of three residents: Mary Caruana, Josephine Calleja and Jospehine Camenzuli.

Mary Caruana was born in Birgu on the 14th September 1910 and is the youngest of six siblings; three males and three females. Before moving to Casa Leone, Mary and her family lived in B’Buġia. During her time in B’Buġia, Mary looked after her parents.

Josephine Calleja nee’ Tabone was born in Rabat, Gozo, on the 27th of August, 1910. She was married to Vincent Callejja, who served as a legal procurator. They had five children of whom one lives abroad, two passed away and two live in Malta. Josephine has been residing in Casa Leone for the past 11 years.

Josephine Camenzuli was born in Gżira on the 31st August 2010. She was married to Carmelo Camenzuli. They had 6 children and is also a grandmother of 14. She has been living at the Casa Leone residence for the past two years.

Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: info@photocityonline.com

Catholics in the United States will begin using the long-awaited English translation of the Roman Missal on the first Sunday of Advent in 2011, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago said Aug. 20. The cardinal’s announcement as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops marks the formal beginning of a more than 15-month period of education and training leading to the first use of the “third typical edition” of the Roman Missal at English-language Masses in the United States on Nov. 27, 2011.

The missal, announced by Pope John Paul II in 2000 and first published in Latin in 2002, has undergone a lengthy and rigorous translation process through the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, followed by sometimes heated discussions over particular wording at USCCB general assemblies during much of the past decade. The USCCB said April 30 that the Vatican has given its “recognitio,” or confirmation, of the new English translation of the missal, but final editing by Vatican officials was continuing at that time. In a decree of proclamation sent to the U.S. bishops Aug. 20, Cardinal George said, “The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, 2011. From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.”

WASHINGTON (CNS)

Luke 4,16-30

He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbathprophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:  The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,  to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.  He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him.  Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.’  And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely?’  But he replied, ‘No doubt you willtruth I tell you, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.  ’There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land,  but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a town in Sidonia.  And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many suffering from virulent skin-diseases in Israel, but none of these was cured  only Naaman the Syrian.’  When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged.  They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him off the cliff,  but he passed straight through the crowd and walked away. day as he usually did. He stood up to read,  and they handed him the scroll of the quote me the saying, “Physician, heal yourself,” and tell me, “We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own country.” ‘  And he went on, ‘In

Archbishop Paul Cremona OP has appointed Rev Josef Mifsud as the new parish priest for St Joseph the Worker, B Kara.

Fr Josef was born in Zejtun on 15th May 1981 and grew up in Siggiewi where he received his education at primary level.  Following that, he attended the Minor Seminary, and later recieved his theological formation at the University of Malta where he graduated with a B SThl degree in 2009.  He was ordained as a priest on 1st July 2007 and began his pastoral ministry at the parish of Our Lady of Graces, Zabbar, where he has held the post of vice parish priest for the past two years.

The parish of St Joseph the Worker was established in 1973 and is made up of 6000 residents, who form part of 1300 families.

Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. has appointed Rev Frans Abdilla as his Delegate for the Clergy and for Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life. He will replace Rev Joseph Mifsud Bonnici.

Fr Abdilla was born in Kirkop on 29th October 1956.  He was ordained as a priest on 29th June 1984.  His undertook his first pastoral mission as the vice parish priest of the Church of St Philip, Zebbug.  In 1960 he was appointed as Religious Counsellor for schools and also provided a service at the Diocesan Youth Commission.  In 1993 he became Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Paola and in December 1994, he became archpriest of San Gorg Parish in Qormi.  In 2005, he was given the responsibility for the Saghjtar area in Naxxar.  Since 2006, he has been offering an invaluable service among the students at Junior College.

The aim of the Secretariat for the Clergy and for Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life is to offer the clergy a variety of services and provide formation at various levels:  human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral.

9.15 a.m. The Archbishop presides over a Curia senior staff meeting.

Tuesday

1.40 a.m. The Archbishop leads a pilgrimage to Poland, to places connected with the devotion of the Divine Mercy.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

A group of youth representing 20 countries presented a Magna Carta of Values at the United Nations in a session presided over by the retired archbishop of New York and the Holy See’s permanent observer before the U.N..

The World Youth Parliament, founded in 1991, created the magna carta, which was presented Aug. 13, after two years of preparation.

Cardinal Edward Egan, retired archbishop of New York, praised the initiative and welcomed it as a reference point for modern society. He emphasized that the magna carta addresses all of the major themes of humanity, particularly the rights to life and liberty, and is based on the spirituality of the person.

Prior to the official presentation of the magna carta, parliament youth had met at St. John’s University in New York for two days of discussion and debate on the 10 principles outlined in the statement.

The final document is presented as a “statement of personal commitments,” not a “social critique or a document to protest or demand rights.” The magna carta does not reflect special interests, the youth explained, since the World Youth Parliament seeks “both the common good and solutions that benefit all as a whole, always with a predisposition toward self-sacrifice and generosity.” Finally, it is “open to the participation of all young people and reflects their aspirations: This document makes visible the characteristics of the society that we young people aspire to build.”

NEW YORK, (Zenit.org)

Luke 14,1.7-14

Now it happened that on a Sabbath day he had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.  He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this,  ’When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited,  and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you will have to go and take the lowest place.  No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” Then, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured.  For everyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be raised up.’  Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they invite you back and so repay you.  No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;  then you will be blessed, for they have no means to repay you and so you will be repaid when the upright rise again.’

The Church has always spoken about the beauty and importance of marriage, the basis of the family as a fundamental gift from God. This is valid for marriage as a sacrament as well as for marriage as a natural institution.

The Church bases its faith on marriage especially on the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ: “Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning ‘made them male and female’, and that he said ‘This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and the two become one flesh?’ They are no longer two, therefore, but one flesh. So then, what God has united, human beings must not divide’ (Mt 19, 4-6: The New Jerusalem Bible translation).

This Christian heritage which we have received through the Catholic Church has helped most families throughout the centuries to be reared in stable marriages, even in times of poverty and emigration. Even today, in their desire to form a family, most spouses still look towards entering into a stable marriage. Thank God most spouses in Malta still live faithfully this commitment. But now, unfortunately, we are confronted with an increasing number of marriage breakdowns. Each breakdown of a marriage brings much suffering, to the spouses themselves, to their immediate relatives, but especially to children. It is a challenge which the Church and Maltese society at large have to confront.

The Church has helped couples in preparing for marriage, and has sustained them throughout. It has also offered its help when marriages break down. For decades it has provided services, and still does, for couples with problems. It has also provided shelter for children and young people,  and victims of violence in the home.  It is  convinced that only by investing in more stable marriages will this suffering decrease. The Church promotes marriage and defends it because ultimately this will result in fewer breakdowns. How can one now expect that it will not be speaking out for preventive measures by promoting and defending the stability of marriage? This is the reason why it always produces statistics and studies which prove that society suffers both in human terms and financially from the introduction of divorce.

The Church is committed to convey these values: for its members who seek its direction, and for many others in society who would like to hear alternative views so as to be able to make a better enlightened choice as responsible citizens.  In a pluralistic society there should never be just one opinion voiced and it is a disservice to democracy to try to silence other points of view! As there are those who promote divorce in a pluralistic society, the Church’s mission is to promote the stability of marriage, insisting on the moment of consent as the focal point of one’s commitment. In divorce there is a shift from this focal point towards each moment which is presented as giving the spouse a potential right to consider his/her consent and commitment thus ending one’s marriage (see Catechism of the Catholic Church nn. 1650 – 1; 2382-6).

The Church always seeks to make its members ever more aware and willing to carry also personally the responsibility of promoting Christian values in society. This includes stability in marriage. It also urges its members to choose marriage as a value: promoting and defending it. In this way they will be in conformity with what they believe in.

Each and every member of the Church is committed to fulfill the values of the Kingdom of God. They should realise that they are responsible to promote and defend the dignity of each person, justice in society, the environment. How can one reason that each member of the Church is not also responsible for the plan of God on marriage and the family?

Every Christian is accountable before the Lord for his/her every action. We as Bishops have spoken on many occasions about the accountability of every person even in this matter. It should be a great privilege for every committed member of the Church to say before the Lord that he/she has done his part in promoting and defending these values that Jesus insisted so much upon in His teachings.

We urge committed members of the Church, both on a personal level, according to one’s state in life and responsibility in society, and in ecclesial groups, to contribute and to contribute positively to this debate. They will be doing a service not only to the Church but to the whole of Maltese society. We ask everybody who contributes to this debate not to distort the love for each person ingrained in the Christian message by embarking on some kind of crusade, even in the case of clear signs of provocation. A ‘crusade’ implies  seeking  a victory  over  the  other  person  of  different  belief  and  opinion,  by whatever means. Spreading the Good News must never be just a reaction. It implies respecting even those who do not agree with us to a point that one wants in love and humility to share one’s convictions with them without fear, but in convincing love.

Pope Benedict has given us a mission to perform. At the welcoming ceremony, on his arrival to Malta, he told us: “Your nation should continue to stand up for the indissolubility of marriage as a natural institution as well as a sacramental one, and for the true nature of the family, just as it does for the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death, and for the proper respect owed to religious freedom in ways that bring authentic integral development to individuals and society.” May his words encourage us to carry out this mission for our Maltese society!

+ Paul Cremona O.P.                                                                                + Mario Grech

Archbishop of Malta                                                                                  Bishop of Gozo

Hekk qal l-Isqof ta’ Għawdex, Mons Mario Grech, f’żewġ messaġġi separati matul din il-ġimgħa: messaġġ fl-okkażjoni ta’ pellegrinaġġ li sar biex ifakkar it-twelid ta’ Marija Bambina organizzat mill-parroċċa tax-Xagħra u f’omelija fil-parroċċa taż-Żebbuġ fl-okkażjoni tal-festa ta’ Santa Marija li saret nhar il-Ħadd, 22 t’Awwissu.

AGĦFAS HAWN BIEX TKOMPLI TAQRA DAN L-ARTIKLU FUQ IS-SIT www.il-gensillum.com

The Vatican has billed Pope Benedict XVI’s four-day visit to Great Britain as a trip to beatify the 19th-century intellectual and theologian Cardinal John Henry Newman. But the pope’s schedule for the September visit is filled with other appointments as well, including a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, with the British prime minister and members of the government’s opposition parties and with Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The beatification Mass on the last day of the pope’s Sept. 16-19 visit to Scotland and England will be the first beatification liturgy Pope Benedict has presided over; since his election in 2005, he has delegated that role to cardinals to highlight the difference between beatification and canonization.

VATICAN CITY (CNS)

Matthew 25,14-30

‘It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.  The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.  The man who had received two made two more in the same way.  But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.  Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.  The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”  His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”  Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.”  His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” Last came forward the man who had the single talent. “Sir,” said he, “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”

When Benedict XVI makes his Sept. 16-19 State visit to the United Kingdom, people worldwide will be able to watch through the Eternal Word Television Network. The EWTN Global Catholic Network announced that it will air the events of the Pope’s visit to England and Scotland on television in various languages: English, Spanish, French and German.The events will also be streamed live on the organization’s Web site and broadcast through its radio network.

Raymond Arroyo, EWTN news anchor, who will report on the events, stated, “To my mind, this visit to the United Kingdom is to Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy what Pope John Paul II’s visit to Poland was to his.”

“Not enough attention is being paid to the historicity of this seismic moment,” he added.

In addition to televising the events, the network is going to offer interviews of various people, such as feature Deacon John “Jack” Sullivan, who experienced a miraculous healing after praying through the intercession of Cardinal John Henry Newman, due to be beatified during the Pontiff’s visit.

Other interviews include: Cardinal Cormack Murphy O’Connor, former archbishop of Westminster; Lord David Alton, a member of Parliament; Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster; and Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams.

The television programs will explore various historical places of the Church in England, including the Birmingham Oratory and the rooms where Cardinal Newman lived and worked, and Westminster Hall, where St. Thomas More was condemned to death.

IRONDALE, Alabama, (Zenit.org)

Matthew 25,1-13

‘Then the kingdom of Heaven will be like this: Ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were sensible:  the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them,  whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps.  The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep.  But at midnight there was a cry, “Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him.”  Then all those wedding attendants woke up and trimmed their lamps,  and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.”  But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.”  They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed.  The other attendants arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us.”  But he replied, “In truth I tell you, I do not know you.”  So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.

Today, Thursday, 26th August, 2010, is the birth centernary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The order she founded Missionaries of Charity, as well as faithful and nonbelievers from around the world are joining in preparation for the anniversary.

“Her life and work continue to be an inspiration for young and old, rich and poor from all walks of life, religions and nations,” wrote Sister Mary Prema, the superior-general of the Missionaries of Charity since 2009.

The sister’s Aug. 8 letter recommends: “Let us celebrate Mother’s birth centenary by sharing the joy of loving and being loved. Let us pray to know better God’s love for us.”

In addition to the release of another book, “Where There Is Love, There Is God,” which offers writings from Blessed Teresa, a host of activities have been planned around the world.

A Mother Teresa postage stamp will go on sale in the United States on Thursday, with similar initiatives in Austria, Kosovo and Monaco. France has coined four collector-edition coins, one showing Mother Teresa with Pope John Paul II.

The Mother Teresa Express Train will be launched today in India; and on the Niagara River in New York, the Peace Bridge will be lit with blue and white, the colors of the Missionaries of Charity. Obviously a range of spiritual activities will also mark the day.

In Rome, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, will preside over a Mass in the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Damascus. Religious congregations and contemplative communities in Rome founded by Blessed Teresa, as well as volunteers, benefactors and persons staying in the Roman convents, will attend the Mass.

The celebration will be preceded by the opening of an exhibition of photographs, titled Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: Life, Works, Message. Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation of Peoples, will mark her liturgical feast: There will be a vigil of prayer on Saturday, Sept. 4, and a Eucharistic celebration on Sunday, Sept. 5.

Mother Teresa relics will be displayed for veneration in the midwest United States and Canada. And many novenas will be held in Calcutta and in other places. An extensive list of celebrations and initiatives can be found at the Web site of the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Center.

CALCUTTA, India, (Zenit.org)

Matthew 24,42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
‘Who, then, is the wise and trustworthy servant whom the master placed over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed that servant if his master’s arrival finds him doing exactly that. In truth I tell you, he will put him in charge of everything he owns. But if the servant is dishonest and says to himself, “My master is taking his time,” and sets about beating his fellow-servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

Numru ta’ qarrejja ta’ IL-ĠENSILLUM online fil-ġimgħat li għaddew avviċinaw lil din il-gazzetta diġitali dwar elementi ta’ ‘neo-klerikaliżmu’ fost saċerdoti ordnati dan l-aħħar, kemm fl-ilbies tagħhom kif ukoll fil-mod kif iċċelebraw il-Prima Messa tagħhom.

AGĦFAS HAWN BIEX TKOMPLI TAQRA DAN L-ARTIKLU FUQ IS-SIT www.il-gensillum.com

Catholics across Ireland joined to aid the 20 million Pakistani flood victims through a nationwide Church collection. Pakistan saw its most devastating monsoon rainy season in decades, which caused flooding that brought as many as 2,000 deaths and affected another 20 million people. The area affected by the floods is about the size of England.

Trocaire, the official overseas development agency of the Church in Ireland, is working to provide emergency relief to the flood victims. Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert, chairman of the aid agency, urged Catholics to support this work by giving donations in the local parish collections.

“These floods have left unimaginable destruction and families are in a desperate struggle to survive,” the prelate said. He continued: “Up to 20 million people have had their lives ruined. Entire communities have been washed away, leaving millions homeless and hungry. People are being forced to drink dirty, polluted water and the fear is that children and adults will contract fatal waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, which is a leading cause of childhood death.”

The aid agency is providing food, clean water, water purification tablets, cooking utensils, sleeping mats, sanitary goods, and other items for thousands of Pakistanis. It is also strategizing to help in the long-term recovery, putting together initiatives to rebuild homes and agriculture.

DUBLIN (Zenit.org)

Matthew 23,27-32

‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of corruption.  In just the same way, from the outside you look upright, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.  ’Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the upright,  saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our ancestors’ day.”  So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the children of those who murdered the prophets!  Very well then, finish off the work that your ancestors began.

John 1,45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the LawJesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’  Nathanael said to him, ‘From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place?’ Philip replied, ‘Come and see.’  When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception.’  Nathanael asked, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.’  Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.’  Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You are going to see greater things than that.’  And then he added, ‘In all truth I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.’ and the prophets wrote,