When Ronald Reagan launched full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Vatican 35 years ago, his idea, which proved correct, was that Pope John Paul II would be a reliable ally against Communism. John Paul nevertheless needled the Americans on other fronts, and ever since the relationship between the world’s preeminent hard and soft powers always has been a mixed bag.
One of the serious diseases prevalent in the world and the Arab homeland is "comfort addiction". To verify this all you need is walk down the street to see the coffee shops’ regulars and measure the number of hours they spend there.
The Church celebrates the feast day of Jerome, the great saint and Doctor of Aquile who became Jerome of Bethlehem and the Bible.
His life provides us with lessons of love emanating from a soul on fire with the light of the Savior, the Light, who came into this world. Jerome ‘s personality and temperament tested the patience of many of his contemporaries. But in his humility and with a heart of gold, he became worthy of their forgiveness and understanding.
Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader celebrated Holy Mass in Smakiyeh, southern Jordan, on Sunday September 29, marking the Feast of Archangel Michael, the patron of Smakiyeh. The Mass was concelebrated by parish priest Fr. Ibrahim Naffa’, Fr. Yousef Rizeq, and Deacon Za’al Hijazeen in the presence of a large number of believers.
In the New Testament, we’re told that there are times in which we entertain angels without knowing it. The awareness of such possible spiritual visitations can be consoling and encouraging to us in the midst of life’s struggles and sorrows.
In speaking of our guardian angel, Pope Francis comments: “He is always with us! And this is a reality. It’s like having God’s ambassador with us.”
Saint of the Day for September 26
(September 26, 1897 – August 6, 1978)
Saint Paul VI’s Story
Born near Brescia in northern Italy, Giovanni Battista Montini was the second of three sons. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, editor, and eventually a member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. His mother, Giuditta, was very involved in Catholic Action.
Speaking to the media team of the Holy See, the Successor of Peter suggests a different way of communicating, an attitude that follows the example of the Christian martyrs.
"Communicating through witnessing, communicating by involving oneself in communication, communicating with nouns, naming things, communicating like martyrs, that is, as witnesses of Christ, as martyrs. Learning the language of the martyrs, which is the language of the Apostles".
As humbling as it can be, a saint always comes forward and promotes what is most lacking in a culture. In many respects, the saint’s very existence is a sign of contradiction, and what the holy one stands for or what they do is a glaring provocation to the spirits of an age.
When Pope Francis visited the South Asian island nation in 2015 he offered invaluable advice, but religious leaders chose to ignore it
In April 2014, when the Sri Lankan bishops were in Rome for an ad limina visit, they spoke to Pope Francis about the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz. Then, on his visit to Sri Lanka the following January, he agreed to raise Blessed Joseph to sainthood.
For experts and locals alike, it seems Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Thailand and Japan will not only highlight the Vatican’s strong ties with interreligious communities in each country, but it could also help the Pope advance his ecological and peace-making agenda.
Speaking to Crux, Adul Smanyaphirak, a Muslim living in Bangkok, said that for Thai people generally, “the pope’s visit is a great honor.”
