Monthly Archives: July 2013

Pope to young people on eve of departure for Rio

July 21, 2013 – 5:59 pm

(Vatican Radio) On the eve of his departure to Brazil for the World Youth Day celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis from the window of the apostolic palace asked those present in St Peter’s Square to accompany him spiritually in prayer for this his first Apostolic visit He also entrusted what he called “this new stage of the great pilgrimage of young people across the world”, to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who he added, is so loved and venerated in Brazil.

The Holy Father was speaking following the recitation of the Angelus underlining that at this time, young people should listen to the voice of Jesus. The week of World Youth Day said the Pope could also be called “World Youth Week as it is a week devoted to youth.Peering down at the huge crowds in St Peter’s Square Pope Francis noticed a banner held up by a group of pilgrims, which read “Buon Viaggio” or “have a good trip”. He smiled and thanked them for their good wishes.

The Pope on Sunday also focused his attention on the Gospel reading from Luke which recounts the story of Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus.

Pope Francis described how both sisters offered hospitality to Jesus on his visit to their house, but in different ways. Mary places herself at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy preparing things. The Holy Father explained that both of these disciplines, service and prayer are needed to serve the Lord, “they are not two opposing attitudes but, on the contrary both are two aspects essential to our Christian life aspects that should never be separated, but lived in profound unity and harmony.”

Even in our Christian lives, continued the Pope, prayer and action are always deeply united. A prayer that does not lead to concrete action towards a poor brother, who is sick, and in need of help, is a prayer that is sterile and incomplete. But, equally, Pope Francis said, when in ecclesial service you are careful only to give more attention to objects, functions, and structures, and forget the centrality of Christ, you are likely to serve these earthy things and not God.At the end of the Angelus Pope Francis as has become traditional wished all present a good Sunday and a good lunch.

Vatican Radio

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pope to young people on eve of departure for Rio

Sunday’s Scripture Commentary

July 20, 2013 – 4:51 pm

Catholic News Service is the official news agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. As part of their service, they offer a weekly Scripture commentary called “Word to Life.”

Read more

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Sunday’s Scripture Commentary

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 20, 2013 – 4:45 pm

Show favor, O Lord,
to your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace,
that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands.
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.

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 20, 2013 – 4:42 pm

Gospel Lk 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Gospel – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Flying down to Rio

July 20, 2013 – 4:40 pm

(Vatican Radio) Final preparations are continuing in Rio De Janeiro for the opening of World Youth Day 2013. Pope Francis will depart from Rome to Brazil on Monday. While there the Pope will participate in numerous events including liturgies, the Via Crucis and a prayer vigil with young people. This will also be the Holy Father’s first apostolic journey. Thousands of young people have already arrived in Rio but there are still many who are on their way to be with the Pope in Brazil.

One of those getting ready to depart from Ireland is Anna Keegan who is a Faith Development officer in the Archdiocese of Dublin. Anna is no stranger to the WYD having been to four previous encounters. Anna told Lydia O’Kane that she is also looking forward to this event because it will be first time she will be attending a World Youth Day presided over by Pope Francis. “ Pope Francis seems to be really outgoing and really fun and I think because he is going to South America, you know, where he is from, I think it will be great and I am really looking forward to seeing what his message is, to be honest, to young people.”

Vatican Radio

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Flying down to Rio

News Briefs, July 19

July 19, 2013 – 6:06 pm

Catholic News Service is the official news agency of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. They publish a daily News Briefs. Click here for today’s edition.

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on News Briefs, July 19

Commentary – Saturday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time

July 19, 2013 – 5:35 pm

Click here to see today’s readings.

17-21. Once again the sacred text points out the contrast between the contem-
porary mistaken Jewish notion of a spectacular messianic kingdom and the dis-
cernment which Jesus asks of those who witness and accept His teaching and
miracles. By providing this long quotation from Isaiah (42:1-4), the Evangelist is
giving us the key to the teaching contained in Chapters 11 and 12: in Jesus the
prophecy of the Servant of Yahweh is fulfilled: the lovable and gentle teacher
has come to bring the light of truth.

When narrating the passion of our Lord, the Gospels will once again remind us
of the figure of the Servant of Yahweh, to show that in Jesus the suffering and
expiatory aspect of the death of the Servant finds fulfillment (cf. Matthew 27:30,
with reference to Is 50:6; Matthew 8:17 and Isaiah 53:4; John 1:38 and Isaiah
53:9-12; etc.).

17. Isaiah 42:1-4 speaks of a humble servant, beloved of God, chosen by God.
And in fact Jesus, without ceasing to be the Son of God, one in substance with
the Father, took the form of a servant (cf. Philippians 2:6). This humility led him
to cure and care for the poor and afflicted of Israel, without seeking acclaim.

18. See the note on Matthew 3:16.

[Note on Matthew 3:16 states:

16. Jesus possessed the fullness of the Holy Spirit from the moment of His con-
ception. This is due to the union of human nature and divine nature in the per-
son of the Word (the dogma of hypostatic union). Catholic teaching says that in
Christ there is only one person (who is divine) but two natures (divine and human).
The descent of the Spirit of God spoken of in the text indicates that just as Jesus
was solemnly commencing His messianic task, so the Holy Spirit was beginning
His action through Him. There are very many texts in the Old Testament which
speak of the showing forth of the Holy Spirit in the future Messiah. This sign of
the Spirit gave St. John the Baptist unmistakable proof of the genuineness of his
testimony concerning Christ (cf. John 1:29-34). The mystery of the Holy Trinity is
revealed in the baptism of Jesus: the Son is baptized; the Holy Spirit descends
on Him in the form of a dove; and the voice of the Father gives testimony about
His Son. Christians must be baptized in the name of the Three Divine Persons.
“If you have sincere piety, the Holy Spirit will descend on you also and you will
hear the voice of the Father saying to you from above: “This was not My son, but
now after Baptism he has been made My son” (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “De Bap-
tismo”, 14).]

19. The justice proclaimed by the Servant, who is filled with the Holy Spirit, is
not a noisy virtue. We can see the loving, gentle way Jesus worked His miracles,
performing righteousness in all humility. This is how He brings about the triumph
of His Father’s Justice, His plan of revelation and salvation–very quietly and very
effectively.

20. According to many Fathers, including St. Augustine and St. Jerome, the
bruised reed and the smoldering wick refer to the Jewish people. They also stand
for every sinner, for our Lord does not seek the sinner’s death but his conversion,
and his life (cf. Ezekiel 33:11). The Gospels often bear witness to this reassuring
truth (cf. Luke 15:11-32), the parable of the prodigal son; Matthew 18:12-24, the
parable of the lost sheep; etc.).

From an online Irish commentary

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Commentary – Saturday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time

Pope Francis visits Pope-emeritus Benedict before getting ready for WYD

July 19, 2013 – 1:51 pm

Pope Francis today paid a visit to Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI. He asked Pope Benedict to join him in prayer and solidarity as the new Pontiff prepares to head to Brazil for World Youth Day, his first Apostolic Pilgrimage outside of Italy since being elected to the Chair of Peter.

Read more from Catholic News Service.

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pope Francis visits Pope-emeritus Benedict before getting ready for WYD

Pope Francis, youth and Brazil

July 19, 2013 – 8:15 am

Brazil is in suspense waiting for the Pope’s visit. The visit is attracting attention especially because he is the first Latin American Pope and also because he chose the symbolic name of Francis, dear to believers and non-believers alike. The Pope’s smile and simplicity, his closeness to the poor and his systematic remembrance of them in his actions and words make him a pastor prepared to lavish zeal and love on his sheep. His simple, direct words, born from a heart imbued with profound pastoral fervour, reach to the very depths of people. They instantly identify with his words because they concern their own daily lives. The light tone in which he says them takes nothing from their clarity, depth and power, conferring fresh vigour on the Church and regenerating enthusiasm for faith. In Rio de Janeiro, alongside young people from every part of the world, we shall have the opportunity to come even closer to Francis to quench our thirst with the spirituality that shines out from his gestures and his words. Without any doubt the Pope’s visit will confer new ardour on the evangelization of young people who have deserved the special attention of the Church in Brazil in recent years. Although there are many young people who are active in our communities, we are worried by the number of those who are drifting away from them. It is not that they have stopped believing in God. Faith continues to be alive in their hearts, but they no longer feel the need for the Church’s mediation to express it and bear witness to it. The recent demonstrations in our country are a sign that in the face of the situation of suffering that affects so many Brazilians, young people have not let themselves be contaminated by the culture of well-being which leads to indifference to our neighbour, as the Holy Father recalled recently in Lampedusa.

L’Osservatore Romano (Vatican Newspaper)

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Pope Francis, youth and Brazil

Pope Francis establishes special Pontifical Commission on the economic structures of the Church

July 19, 2013 – 8:09 am

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday established the Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organisation of the economic-administrative structure of the Holy See, a special commission to reform its economic and administrative departments. The Holy Father has already established a separate commission overseeing the Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly called the Vatican Bank.

Read more.

The Concho Padre

By The Concho Padre Post | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Pope Francis establishes special Pontifical Commission on the economic structures of the Church