The Conference of the International Secretariat of Christian Youth has convened for the first time in our dear Kingdom, in coordination with the local General Secretariat of Youth (founded in 1980) and the Middle East Coordination Committee headed by Tareq Hijazeen, the first Jordanian to be elected to this post.
What draws attention about the five-day conference in our dear country are the following points:
The “Miracle of the Sun,” witnessed by thousands of Portuguese pilgrims Oct. 13, 1917, at Fatima, capped an amazing six months in which the Blessed Mother appeared to three simple shepherd children and imparted her wisdom that would draw the world closer to her Son and her Immaculate Heart.
As the Church concludes this 100th anniversary celebration, her directives and requests remain enduring, and crucial. This centennial highlights the call to renew, begin or continue Our Lady of Fatima’s directives.
In Francis’ words at the conference for the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of Catechism, the key to read the current debate on Amoris laetitia.
Although the Fatima apparitions occurred 100 years ago, the Vatican’s resident Fatima expert has said they contain a message that is both relevant and needed in the world today.
“The apparitions of Fatima are a historical event with an extraordinary significance, and they have a meaning that’s not only religious, but also socio-political,” Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins told CNA in an interview.
Interview with the Bishop of Haimen, recognized by the government and ordained in full communion with the Holy See, “We are like branches attached to the vine. We need the pastoral guidance of the Pontiff. The Gospel does not ask us to become antagonists of the established authorities. And Jesus says that we must be as cunning as serpents and as simple as doves”.
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(Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:7-9; Matthew 21:33-43)
Since ancient times, the lands of the Middle East and the Mediterranean have cultivated vineyards. So it is not surprising that the image of the vineyard recurs in their literature. A famous instance is in one of Aesop’s Fables, which gives us the expression “sour grapes,” describing the tendency to disparage what we want but cannot have.
The social media sites have recently been noticed to include photos which people post of themselves or of their beloved ones. These “smart” tools have been used to expose human faces, with tall ears, cat whiskers, and roses on the head that beautify the faces. However, what draws attention is posting photos of children with faces of cats or other friendly and tame “animals”.
Why do humans want to hide behind masks?
Why do humans wear the skin of other creatures and play their roles?
He arrived in India to meet the bishops, his fellow Salesian confreres, but also the civil authorities such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, whom he thanked personally, “for their efforts to secure my liberation”.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16: 24-25)
These words of Our Lord come very close to those of the prophet Ezekiel: “You say, ‘The Lord’s way is inscrutable, mysterious, and above all, not fair!’”
This week we are confronted once again with the question of God’s fairness. It is a matter of expectations.
Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah mounted the podium of the world’s biggest stage to address the UN General Assembly, speaking not only on behalf of his “beloved Jordan” and as representative of His Majesty King Abdullah, “but also as a member of the greatest generation of young people in history”.
