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the top-10
Catholic News
events this month
1 Holy See gets a new ambassador
The U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush’s nomination of Mary
Ann Glendon as the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See.
2 High hopes for athletes
Pope Benedict XVI shared his hopes that soccer players and
organizations can increasingly become tools to educate youth
about values.
3 Anniversary visit
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople will visit
Pope Benedict XVI in Rome to mark the 90th anniversary of the
Pontifical Oriental Institute.
4 Blair commits to faith
The Holy See recently welcomed Tony Blair, the former prime
minister to the UK, into full communion with the Catholic
Church.
5 A popular place
A recent report shows that, in 2007, almost 3 million pilgrims
participated in public gatherings with Pope Benedict XVI at the
Vatican.
6 Borderless faith
A signal from a new Catholic radio station in Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico has been picked up by listeners along the U.S. border.
Religious leaders in both countries believe this to be proof
that faith has no borders.
7 The ultimate sacrifice
In 2007, 21 people involved in ministry suffered violent deaths.
Last year’s list of 21 pastoral workers includes 15 priests.
8 Seeking justice
Christians in Orissa, India are seeking justice after an attack
by nationalist Hindu extremists. The damage is estimated to
include 53 churches, five convents, four priests’ residences,
seven youth hostels, two minor seminaries and more than 126
businesses and 500 homes.
9 Irish vocations
Irish Cardinal Sean Brady of the titular Church of Sts. Cyricus
and Julitta has announced that 2008 will be the ‘year of
vocations’ in Ireland. Cardinal Brady, new to his assignment, is
focused on the vocations of all Christians.
10 Translate no more
The committees working for the new English translation of the
Roman Missal say that the end of the project is in sight. All of
the text and rubrics for the celebration of Mass will be more
accessible to English speakers.
Pope’s
Lenten message on temptation of wealth
Almsgiving helps Christians conquer the constant temptation
to become slaves to wealth and material goods, Pope Benedict XVI
said in his 2008 message for Lent.
“Almsgiving helps Christians conquer the constant temptation to
become slaves to wealth and material goods, Pope Benedict XVI
said in his 2008 message for Lent. The practice of almsgiving
“represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the
same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment
to worldly goods,” the pope said in the message, released at the
Vatican Jan. 29.
The theme of the message is “Christ Made Himself Poor for You.”
Lent began on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Easter is March 23.
Jesus recognized that material riches possess an enormous “force
of attraction,” but he was resolute in confirming “how
categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol,”
the pope said.
“Almsgiving helps us overcome this constant temptation, teaching
us to respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others
whatever we possess through divine goodness,” he said. The
Lenten season is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, which
aid in an “inward cleansing” that allows the Christian to
welcome Easter with renewed spirit, he said. - Catholic News
Service
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