THE CONCHO PADRE POST

Grant,
we pray, O Lord, that,
schooled through Lenten observance
and nourished by your word,
through holy restraint,
we may be devoted to you with all our heart
and be ever united in prayer.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

The Roman Missal

Second Congregation:

The second General Congregation was held in the afternoon, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, on 4 March. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., preacher of the Pontifical Household, gave the first of two meditations which are provided for by the Apostolic Constitution.
An additional five Cardinal electors who had arrived in Rome swore the oath: Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M., patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon; Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany; Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany; Cardinal Théodore-Adrien Sarr, archbishop of Dakar, Senegal; and Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic.

It was decided that, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Congregations will only be held in the morning.
Nine members of the College of Cardinals then addressed the gathering.

Third Congregation:

The third General Congregation took place from 9:30am until 12:40pm on the morning of 5 March.

Seven newly arrived cardinals took the oath. Three are Cardinal electors: Antonio María Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid; Zenon Grocholewski, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education, and Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, archbishop emeritus of Lagos, Nigeria. The other four are cardinals over the age of 80: Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, archbishop emeritus of Bangkok, Thailand; Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, archbishop emeritus of Kampala, Uganda; Cardinal Eusébio Oscar Scheid, S.C.I., archbishop emeritus of São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, archbishop emeritus of Douala, Cameroon. In total there were 148 cardinals present, 110 of whom are Cardinal electors.

There were 11 interventions from Cardinal fathers discussing topics related to: activities of the Holy See and its relations with bishops throughout the world; Church renewal in light of Vatican Council II; the Church’s position and the need for the New Evangelization in today’s world with its diverse cultural environments.

In the 33 interventions that have been given since the beginning of the Congregations, each of the continents has been represented and a wide range of topics has been covered. The Cardinal fathers address the gathering in the order that they have made the request to speak.

Number 37 of the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis was read, with the changes introduced by the recent Motu Proprio, regarding the beginning date of the Conclave.

The Cardinal Dean proposed a text for the telegram to be sent to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo, which the Congregation approved.

This afternoon, Tuesday, 5 March, work begins in the Sistine Chapel to prepare for the Conclave. It is therefore now closed to the public.

Vatican Press Office

Vatican City, 5 March 2013 (VIS) – Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, in this afternoon’s press conference, gave updated information on the development of the General Congregations.

“On Monday afternoon from 5:00pm until 7:00pm,” he said, “the second General Congregation of the College of Cardinals took place, during which Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., preacher of the Pontifical Household, gave the first of the meditations provided for by the Apostolic Constitution.”

“Additionally, a further five Cardinal electors who had arrived in Rome swore the oath: Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, O.M.M., patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Lebanon; Cardinal Joachim Meisner, archbishop of Cologne, Germany; Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, archbishop of Berlin, Germany; Cardinal Théodore-Adrien Sarr, archbishop of Dakar, Senegal; and Cardinal Dominik Jaroslav Duka, O.P., archbishop of Prague, Czech Republic.”

The cardinals are free to address the gathering, having only to sign up and then presenting in the order that they have signed in. Nine cardinals spoke and it was also decided that, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Congregations will only be held in the morning.

Referring to the third Congregation that took place this morning from 9:30am until 12:40pm, Fr. Lombardi reported that two Cardinal electors—Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid and Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education—and five cardinals who are over the age of 80 arrived and swore the oath. In total there were 148 cardinals present.

There were 11 speeches given by cardinals representing each of the continents and the topics discussed were: activities of the Holy See and its relations with bishops throughout the world; Church renewal in light of Vatican Council II; the Church’s position and the need for the New Evangelization in today’s world with its diverse cultural environments. Number 37 of Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio concerning the beginning of the Conclave was presented to the prelates but no decision regarding its date was made.

There was also a proposal, endorsed by the Particular Congregation, to dedicate tomorrow afternoon to prayer in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Cardinal Dean, Angelo Sodano, will lead the prayers. This initiative will also serve as an invitation to the entire Church to pray at this important moment. The ceremony is open to the public so any faithful who so desire may attend.

In conclusion, the text of a telegram for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which was signed by Cardinal Dean Sodano, was approved. It reads: “To His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Castel Gandolfo.”

“The Cardinal Fathers, gathered at the Vatican for the General Congregations in view of the next conclave, send you their devoted greetings and express their renewed gratitude for all your illustrious Petrine ministry and for your example of generous pastoral care for the good of the Church and of the world. With their gratitude they hope to represent the recognition of the entire Church for your tireless work in the vineyard of the Lord. In conclusion, the members of the College of Cardinals trust in your prayers for them, as well as for the whole Church.”
Fr. Lombardi reported that the preparations for the Conclave have begun in the Sistine Chapel so it is now closed to visitors. He also presented data on the media coverage of the events of the Holy See in these days: 4,432 temporarily accredited journalists have joined the 600 permanently accredited journalists. The more than 5,000 journalists represent 1,004 news outlets, 65 nations, and 24 languages.

Vatican Information Service

Rome, March 04, 2013 (Zenit.org)

The Catholic Truth Society is offering a free resource for those hoping to better understand how a conclave works.

“Conclave: Step by Step Through the Papal Interregnum” is available for download at their Web site.

The 36-page booklet is written by Monsignor Charles Burns, the Ecclesiastical Adviser at the British Embassy to the Holy See.

The book explains what happens before, during and after a papal election.

— — —

On the Net:

“Conclave”: http://www.ctsbooks.org/pope/

From zenit.org

Gospel MT 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”