THE CONCHO PADRE POSTVatican Radio) It’s harder to open our hearts and let God love us than to love God in return. But the only way to really love Him is to love others, especially the poor. God is an expert in the science of tenderness and we should allow ourselves to be loved by Him. This was Pope Francis’ message at morning Mass Friday on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Read more on the Pope’s homily.
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(Vatican Radio) Everyone has “small or not so small” idolatries in their lives, but the road that leads to God is one of exclusive love for Him, as Jesus taught us. This was the focus of Pope Francis’ morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta Friday. Read more from Vatican Radio.
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Pope Francis will remain at St. Martha’s House residence in the Vatican, even during the summer months. The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ affirmed the Holy Father’s intentions after presenting the Pope’s summer schedule on Thursday.
Fr. Lombardi also announced that that the public celebration of morning Mass in the chapel of the St. Martha’s House will be suspended, starting July 8th.
The schedule released by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household also explains that all private and special audiences are suspended as well: General audiences are suspended during the month of July, and will resume on Wednesday, August 7th, at the Vatican.
Pope Francis will travel to Castel Gandolfo on 14 July for the Sunday Angelus.
From Monday, July 22nd, to Monday, July 29th, the Pope will be in Brazil for World Youth Day celebrations.
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After this morning’s mass in St. Martha’s House, the Pope encouraged the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Hans Zollner, head of the Center for the Protection of Children, to “move ahead with the commitment against child sex abuse.”
Fr. Zollner told Vatican Radio that “after the mass, we had a chance to greet the Pope. There were three of us from the Gregorian University Center for Child Protection. We presented the project to the Pope. I was joined by our Polish representative and the person who is helping me prepare the canonical and theological education units for the long-distance learning program we want to introduce worldwide. The Pope listened very carefully, stressing on a number of occasions how important our work was.”
The encouragement given by Francis for the anti-pedophilia efforts to continue, follows on from Benedict XVI’s work. Francis himself sent out a message during the Angelus prayer last May 5, inviting us to work for the good of the most vulnerable and children.”
This is in continuity with Benedict XVI’s work in the field. Four months ago we presented him with the proceedings of the symposium we celebrated at the Gregorian University in February 2012. The symposium was attended by bishops’ conferences from all around the world, who discussed ways to prevent crimes against children.”
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(Vatican Radio) Hypocrites may say all the right things, but for the wrong reasons. A Christian should not use a “socially mannered language”, prone to hypocrisy, but speak the truth of the Gospel with the transparency of a child. There is no truth without love; love is the first truth.This was the lesson drawn by Pope Francis at morning Mass Tuesday in Casa Santa Marta. Read more.
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O God,
whose providence
never fails in its design,
keep from us, we humbly beseech you,
all that might harm us and grant all
that works for our good.
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.
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