In an address made on December 17th, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the role of Mary, who is all beauty – ‘tota pulchra’ – in guiding us to the Way of Beauty – the ‘via pulchritudinis’. Once again, and echoing John Paul II before him in his Letter to Artists, Benedict highlights the importance of art united to the liturgy and manifesting theology; and the importance of the formation of this art through dialogue between artists, liturgists and theologians.
Variety #94 – Bsp. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska (14min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
Fr. Elias Mills of our Bloomington, Indiana friary recently interviewed the renowned Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska on current issues of faith and Church in America. We are posting them here in a five part series. In the first part, in answering Fr. Elias questions, the bishop relates his thoughts about:
His 50 years as a priest and bishop in the Church and all the changes and events in the time.
His visits to shrines in Europe and Rome.
His 19 years as Bishop of Lincoln.
The graces that are ever needed for his office
His work with John Paul II and Benedict XVI
What these two papacies have done for the Church especially the continuity that they reaffirmed between the post and pre-Vatican II Church
The Moto Proprio of Pope Benedict and how it is not at all against Vatican II
The unlikelihood of a mixture of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the liturgy
New English translation of the Ordinary Form of the Liturgy
How well Catechisis has been carried out in the Post Vatican II era
balance needed between doctrine and pastoral and social concerns
Listening to Bsp. Bruskewitz’s clear insights and answers is refreshing indeed.
Conferences #84 -Msgr. Author Calkins (65min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
After the introduction to our Symposium “Mother of the Church” in the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, Wisconsin on August 21, 2010, Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins gives the first formal talk titled “Coredemption and Marian Consecration in the Magisterium of John Paul II and Benedict XVI”. Msgr. Calkins is the foremost authority on the Marian teachings of these two popes. He explains the meaning of consecration to Mary and how it is based on her role as Coredemptrix and … Mother of the Church.
MaryCast Specials #76 (08min) Play – Dr. Mark Miravalle reports how Pope Benedict XVI at Fatima invokes Our Lady as “Advocate and Mediatrix of Grace” when consecrating all priests to her and then calls all Christians to be “Redeemers in the one Redeemer” and what this means.
St. Charles’ Square was the setting for Benedict XVI’s meeting with young people in Turin, his first apostolic trip in Italy in 2010. The enthusiasm and joy of the thousands of young people welcomed the Pope, who spoke of happiness and the fullness of life, which is achieved by radical and definitive choices that are lived with fidelity.
Following a beautiful and firmly-rooted tradition, many families set up their crib immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception, as if to relive with Mary those days full of trepidation that preceded the birth of Jesus. Putting up the crib at home can be a simple but effective way of presenting faith, to pass it on to one’s children. The crib helps us contemplate the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem Grotto. Saint Francis of Assisi was so taken by the mystery of the Incarnation that he wanted to present it anew at Greccio in the living nativity scene, thus beginning an old, popular tradition that still retains its value for evangelization today. Indeed, the crib can help us understand the secret of the true Christmas because it speaks of the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who “though he was rich he made himself poor” for us (2 Cor 8: 9). His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, like the shepherds in Bethlehem, accept the Angel’s words: “Let this be a sign to you: in a manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes” (Lk 2: 12). This is still the sign for us too, men and women of the third millennium. There is no other Christmas.
“Caritas in Veritate” to Cover Social Themes
VATICAN CITY, JULY 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI’s new encyclical, titled “Caritas in Veritate,” will be released Tuesday, the Vatican announced.
The Vatican press office confirmed today that the Pope’s first social encyclical, which is expected to offer an analysis of the current economic crisis, will be presented at a press conference in the late morning July 7. The text will then be released to the public at midday, local time. More…
Mary, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Mother of the Redeemer: we join the many generations who have called you “Blessed”. Listen to your children as we call upon your name. You promised the three children of Fatima that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph”. May it be so! May love triumph over hatred, solidarity over division, and peace over every form of violence! May the love you bore your Son teach us to love God with all our heart, strength and soul. May the Almighty show us his mercy, strengthen us with his power, and fill us with every good thing (cf. Lk 1:46-56). We ask your Son Jesus to bless these children and all children who suffer throughout the world. May they receive health of body, strength of mind, and peace of soul. But most of all, may they know that they are loved with a love which knows no bounds or limits: the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding (cf. Eph 3:19). Amen.
Ave Maria! Below is an Article from Zenit News. One correction: Cologne is not the place of his birth, but rather of his death.
Faith-Reason Harmony Praised in Duns Scotus
Pope Recalls Franciscan Theologian on 7th Centennial of Death
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 22, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is proposing the Franciscan theologian Blessed John Duns Scotus as a model for believers and nonbelievers alike, due to his search for harmony between faith and reason. (more…)
Dearest children, I desire very much to tell you, to repeat for you, now good the Immaculate is. That way I could remove forever from your little hearts all sadness, despondency and discouragement. The word “Maria” spoken by a soul steeped in doubts, aridity and even misfortune due to sin re-echoes in her heart, which loves us very much. And the greater the unhappiness of a soul sunk in its faults, the more solicitous is the care of her, the Refuge of us poor sinners. Never worry that you do not feel this love. If you have the will to love, you already give a proof that you love. What counts is the will to love. External feeling is also a fruit of grace, but it does not always follow the will. Sometimes, my dear ones, the thought, a sad longing, as if a plea or a complaint, may occur to you: “Does the Immaculate still love me?” Most beloved children! I tell you all and each one individually, in her name (mark that: in her name!), she loves every one of you. She loves you very much and at every moment, with no exception. This, my dearest children, I repeat for you in her name??? (more…)
Roving Reporter #41 – Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate go to WYD Sydney, packing their new video camera. (7min) >>> Play
Ave Maria!
The friars from down under in our Perth, Australian friary just sent this video of their trip to World Youth Day in Sidney (other side of Australia.) Sounds like they and the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had the experience of a life time. Viva la Papa and God bless Australia!
I might add, this is a fine example of our Australian friar’s new video publishing apostolate and a great step forward in our effort to make AirMaria a worldwide apostolate. Top job mates!
In the letter to the Galatians, [Saint Paul] provided for us a very personal profession of faith, in which he opens his heart to the reader of all times, and reveals the deep driving force of his life. ‘I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me’ (Gal. 2:20).
Everything that Paul does begins from this center. His faith is the experience of being loved by Jesus Christ in a completely personal way; it is the awareness of the fact that Christ has faced death not for some anonymous person, but out of love for him – for Paul – and that, as the Risen One, he still loves him. Christ gave himself up for him. His faith comes from being transfixed by the love of Jesus Christ, a love that shakes him to his core and transforms him. His faith is not a theory, an opinion about God and the world. His faith is the impact of the love of God on his heart. And thus his faith is itself love for Jesus Christ.
This love is now the law of his life, and in this very way it is the freedom of his life. He speaks and acts on the basis of the responsibility of love. Freedom and responsibility are here united in an inseparable way. Because he stands in the responsibility of love, he is free; because he is someone who loves, he lives completely in the responsibility of this love and does not take freedom as a pretext for willfulness and selfishness.
Benedict XVI
Vespers – Saint Paul Outside the Walls
June 28, 2008
MAY 13TH: OUR LADY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT/ OUR LADY OF FATIMA
OUR LADY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
This title was given to our Blessed Mother in May 1868 by Saint Peter Julian Eymard to honor her in her relationship to the Holy Eucharist and to place her before us as a model in our duties and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lady gives witness to being Christian. In her conduct toward the Blessed Sacrament, we learn what ours should be! (more…)
Well almost. Starting at 9:00pm tonight EWTN will replay a prerecorded recitation of the rosary by the Pope at St. Mary Major in Rome (one of the 4 Basilicas of Vatican City) and many FI’s will be there because we are in charge of the Sacristy and have our seminary and a couple of friaries in the city. So tune into EWTN at 9:00
14min) >>> 
Audio (MP3)
