Hope for Iraq: A reflection on our current COVID-19 state

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/29/2020 - 16:00

We live in times of uncertainty.We are no longer confident in when we can return to our normal lives, how long this quarantine will last and how much of this we can really take. Even pillars in our society, like our health care system, seem to cower in the face of our present pandemic. Times like these are destined to shape our future, as we will one day look back and recall the effects that social isolation had on our appreciation of the relationships we have built. We look forward to being around groups of friends again and living with no fear.

John Paul I still relevant today

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/29/2020 - 01:30

The Holy Father established the Vatican John Paul I Foundation on 17 February. This was done in response to the proposal made to create a body destined to deepen the person, thoughts and teachings of John Paul I (26 August 1978 - 28 September 1978) .

Pope John Paul I was, and remains, a point of reference in the history of the universal Church. His importance, as Saint John Paul II had pointed out, is inversely proportional to the length of his very short pontificate: "magis ostentus quam datus".

Text of Pope Francis' Letter on the advent of the Marian Month

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/25/2020 - 18:37

Following is the full text of Pope Francis' Letter on the Month of May, addressed to all the faithful throughout the world:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick during the Coronavirus

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/25/2020 - 15:08

Laudable is the generosity, genuine charity of so many priests — hospital chaplains — who are spending themselves body and soul to attend to the many sick in hospitals and other institutions.

In particular, they are dispensing the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, with the greatest possible health precautions and care, to give thanks to God.

Sickness, An Encounter with God

We urgently need Resurrection!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/20/2020 - 21:50

We celebrate the Feast of Easter this year at a time when the world needs "a resurrection". This year, we contemplate the faces of the people who pray in their homes imploring the Almighty God to lift the “lockdown” imposed on humanity and to have the dawn of a new life rise. We meditate on the events relevant to "the Resurrection", namely Easter, and we realize that a large stone had closed the door of the grave. The assumption was that this stone would never move and that death would be perpetual.

Pope Francis’ Divine Mercy plans pay tribute to Sts. John Paul II and Faustina

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 04/19/2020 - 15:35

Pope Francis has said that the pandemic restrictions have made him feel caged. So he is heading out for Divine Mercy Sunday, but just a short walk from St. Peter’s Square, to the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, the Roman headquarters for the Divine Mercy devotion.

Lord Jesus Christ, the Personification of Mercy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 04/18/2020 - 16:16

As a young boy I enjoyed playing Little League baseball. On a couple of occasions, while playing a lesser opponent, our team would be so far ahead that the “mercy rule” took effect, meaning the game would end before all nine innings were played. This was meant to spare the other team embarrassment and to ensure the game ended in a timely manner.

Full text of the Pope’s reflection: “A plan for resurrection”

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 04/17/2020 - 17:59

Following is the full text of the Pope’s reflection: “A plan for resurrection” issuedon April 16,2020:

“Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them, saying: ‘Rejoice'” (Mt 28:9). It is the first word of the Risen One after Mary Magdalene and the other Mary discovered the empty tomb and ran into the angel.