Without Christ crucified, Church a 'pitiful' organization, Pope says :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Without Christ crucified, Church a 'pitiful' organization, Pope says

By David Uebbing

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in the Sistine Chapel on March 14, 2013. Credit: CTV

Vatican City, Mar 14, 2013 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The day after he was elected, Pope Francis emphasized that every believer – including bishops, cardinals and Popes – must proclaim Jesus crucified to be true Christians.
“We can build so many things but if we don’t confess Jesus Christ, then something is wrong. We will become a pitiful NGO, but not the Church, spouse of Christ,” Pope Francis said in his March 14 homily.
“He who doesn't pray to God prays to the Devil,” the Pope added in an apparent quote.
Pope Francis made his remarks at the Mass to close the conclave on Thursday evening in the Sistine Chapel with all of the cardinal electors present.
He asserted that the common theme to all three of today’s Scripture readings “is movement: the first reading, the movement of walking; the second reading, the movement of building; and the third, the Gospel, is in confession. To walk, to build, to confess.”
“But, it's not such an easy thing,” he noted.
“In walking, in building, in confession, sometimes there are shocks, there are movements, moments that are not proper to our journey. They are movements that drag us backwards.”

Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to the Gospel reading from Matthew in which Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ.
“This is the same Peter who confesses to Christ, who says ‘you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. I will follow you, but let's not speak of crosses! This has nothing to do with it. I will follow you with other possibilities, without the Cross,’” he said, characterizing Peter’s reaction.
“And, if we walk without the Cross, how much do we build without the Cross? And, when we confess Christ without the Cross, then we are not disciples of the Lord.”
The Pope then applied his words to himself and his brother cardinals, saying, “We might be bishops, priests, cardinals and Popes, but we are not disciples of the Lord” if we leave the Cross behind.
“I would like all of us, after these days of grace, to have the courage, precisely the courage, to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the cross of the Lord, to edify the Church in the blood of the Lord poured out on the cross and to confess the only glory, that of Christ crucified. And, in this way, the Church will move forward,” he said as he finished his homily.
Pope Francis’ next event will be a congratulatory meeting with all of the cardinals, both those who are retired and those who are still active, at 1:00 p.m. in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall.
On Saturday morning, he will hold an audience with journalists and media personnel in the Paul VI Hall, as his predecessors did.
Pope Francis will pray the Angelus and make remarks from the window of his apartment at noon on Sunday.
He will be installed as Pope on March 19 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square.

Tags:Pope Francis, Crucifixion, Christ Without Christ crucified, Church a 'pitiful' organization, Pope says :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want

Psalms 23: 1 - 6
1	The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2	he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
3	he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4	Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
5	Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
6	Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Novena to Christ the King

Novena to Christ the King


Recite One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the Novena Prayer:

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations.

We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things.

Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth.

Guard us we pray Most Faithful One.

Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment

Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you.

Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.

We have deserved Your Just Judgment

Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.

We trust in Your Great Mercy.

O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;

May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth.

Amen.
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christking.htm#ixzz2Eet1B07J

Pope Benedict XVI: 'Christianity and Monotheism is of Vibrant Relevance'

Pope Benedict XVI: 'Christianity and Monotheism is of Vibrant Relevance'


Pontiff Addresses International Theological Commission
By Junno Arocho
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI received the International Theological Commission in audience this morning at the conclusion of their Annual Plenary Assembly.

The Holy Father greeted all participants present, including Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, president of the Commission and new Secretary General, Father Serge-Thomas Bonino. The Pope expressed his joy at the pilgrimage made by the commission to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to entrust to the Virgin Mary their work on the final message of the commission.

The message builds upon themes established in the document "Theology Today, Perspectives, Principles and Criteria."
"It illustrates very well the specific way in which theologians, faithfully serving the truth of faith, can participate in the missionary efforts of the Church," the Holy Father said.

"Taking note of the vitality and diversity of theology after Vatican II, this document aims to present, so to speak, the genetic code of Catholic theology, that is, the principles that define its identity and, therefore, guarantee its unity in the diversity of its achievements. To do this, the text clarifies the criteria for a truly Catholic theology and therefore one able to contribute to the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel to all men."

Pope Benedict also noted the document's mention of the importance that theologians must pay to sensus fidelium, or 'the sense of the faithful'. "It is very useful that your Commission has also focused on this issue which is of particular importance for the reflection on the faith and life of the Church," the Holy Father said.

"Today, however, it is particularly important to clarify the criteria used to distinguish the authentic sensus fidelium from its counterfeits. In fact, it is not some kind of public opinion of the Church, and it is unthinkable to mention it in order to challenge the teachings of the Magisterium, this because the sensus fidei cannot grow authentically in the believer except to the extent in which he or she fully participates in the life of the Church, and this requires a responsible adherence to her Magisterium."

The Holy Father also applauded the commission's study on the "Triune God, unity of mankind", which clarifies that the sense of the faith which could at times lead to strong reactions against monotheistic religions "because of the claim that they advance the existence of a universal truth." Such reactions, the Pope continued, would lead some to believe that a "'polytheism of values' can guarantee tolerance and civil peace and conform to the spirit of a pluralistic democratic society."

"Christianity and monotheism is of vibrant relevance," Pope Benedict said. "The Lord attests to a radical rejection of all forms of hatred and violence in favor of the absolute primacy of agape."

Concluding his address, Pope Benedict XVI invoked the graces of the Virgin Mary so that the commission may continue to serve the knowledge of the faith with joy.

"Renewing my profound gratitude for your service to the Church, I assure you of my constant closeness in prayer and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing on all of you," the Pope concluded.
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=122844

Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says

Advent is time to renew faith, bring God's love to others, pope says


A man dressed as St. Nicholas attends Pope Benedict XVI's general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Dec. 5. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Advent's liturgical preparation for Christmas calls Christians to renew their faith in the reality of God's great love and to make a commitment to bringing his love to the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Advent, he said, "places before us the bright mystery of the coming of God's son, the great plan of God's goodness through which he desires to draw us to himself to let us live in full communion, joy and peace with him."

Addressing an estimated 4,000 people at his weekly general audience Dec. 5, Pope Benedict also asked for prayers for peace in Congo, where continuing ethnic violence and civil strife have led to dozens of deaths and has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

In response to the fighting and "the serious humanitarian crisis" it was causing, the pope called for "dialogue and reconciliation," and he asked the international community to take action to meet the needs of the Congolese people.

In his main audience talk, Pope Benedict continued his reflections on the Year of Faith, which he opened in October.

Accepting God's love and freely choosing to follow his ways "brings a fundamental change in how we relate to the entire created reality. Everything appears in a new light; it is a true conversion. Faith is a change of mentality because God, who has made himself known in Christ and has made his plan of salvation known, draws us to himself," the pope said.

"Faith is accepting God's vision of reality, allowing God to guide us with his word and sacraments in understanding what we must do, the path we must follow, how we must live," he said.

"In the midst of many difficulties, Advent invites us once again to renew our certainty that God is present, he entered into the world, becoming human like us, in order to bring to fullness his plan of love," the pope said.

In return, he said, "God asks that we, too, become signs of his action in the world. Through our faith, our hope and our charity, he wants to enter into the world once again and make his light shine in our darkness."

Among the pilgrims at the audience were representatives of an association of Italian bakers and pastry chefs; the pope thanked them for their gifts of "panettoni," Italian Christmas cakes, which he said would be distributed to the poor.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1205084.htm