First Catholic studies centre in British university

London (PTI): The first centre for Catholic studies in a secular British university is being set up at Durham University in north England in collaboration with the Roman Catholic Church.

The centre will include the UK's first endowed chair of Catholic theology at a non-religious institution.

Funding for the centre and the Bede chair of Catholic theology has been raised through donations from the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, spearheaded by the late Right Rev Kevin Dunn, two religious orders and the Ballinger Trust.

For its part, the university will fund a lectureship in Catholic studies to support the centre and will contribute 10,000 pounds over three years as "seed money" for the project.

The university hopes to become a world-class centre for Catholic theology and is looking for a "leading Roman Catholic scholar" to become the first holder of the Bede chair.

University officials said that expressions of interest have already been received from around the world and the university hopes to make an appointment by September.

The director of the centre, Dr Paul Murray, said the centre would provide "the space" for Catholicism to be rigorously examined in a public setting, something that is important for all religions.

"It is for the good of all when religious traditions are brought into serious focus alongside each other and in dialogue with all the scholarly resources and diverse disciplinary expertise that the public university affords," he said.

"One of [the Catholic church's] weaknesses is providing the space where the whole body can think through with honesty what it means to live the Catholic tradition with creativity and integrity in the contemporary world."

Pope to meet with Muslims at seminar in November

March 5th, 2008

POPE MEETS MUSLIM SCHOLARS IN NOVEMBER

ROME (CNN) — Pope Benedict XVI plans to meet with Muslim scholars and religious leaders this autumn at a Catholic-Muslim seminar in Rome, the Vatican said Wednesday.

Two dozen scholars and leaders will be meeting Nov. 4 to 6. The pope — who will be receiving the seminar participants — is scheduled to meet with Muslim scholars on the last day of the conference.

The announcement came after prominent Muslims and Catholics held talks at the Vatican this week in which they agreed to establish a Catholic-Muslim forum and to organize the November seminar.

“The theme of the seminar will be ‘Love of God, Love of Neighbor,’” the Vatican said in a news release.

INDIANS REJOICE AT THE CANONIZATION OF SR. ALPHONSA

BLESSED ALPHONSA TO BE CANONIZED IN OCTOBER

Blessed Alponsa was born on 19th August 1910 as the fourth child of Joseph and Mary Muttathupadath, in the parish of Kudamaloor in the state of Kerala. She was baptized on the 27th August. Her baptismal name was Anna and her pet name Annakutty. Her mother passed away three moths after her birth.

Annakutty started her schooling at Arpookara and left for Muttuchira Govt. School for pursuing her studies from the fourth class onwards under the immediate supervision of her maternal aunt Annamma Muricken. The aunt brought her up extremely affectionately, but equally strictly also. Her one ambition was that the child should be brought up as a respectable housewife for a deserving bridegroom. Annakutty had a vision of St. Theresa of Liseux whose life in spired her to become a religious. She therefore did not yield to any marriage proposal. Finally when she was almost compelled to be betrothed at to the church, she extricated herself from it by voluntary burning her foot placing it an ash pit of burning husks. Against such determine resistance the aunt succumbed to her desire and permitted her to join a convent .

Annakutty joined Clarist convent at Bharananganam in 1927 on the feast of Pentecost. She recived the veil postulant on second August 1928 with the name Alphonsa. Her vestition was on 19th May 1930. Later she joined the St. Theresa’s School Chenganacherry for higher studies, on completing which she engaged in teaching for a period of one year at Vakakkad. Sr. Alphonsa entered the novitiate on 12th August 1935. During this period, she had a sever attack of hemorrhage and it was feared that she would have to be sent back. But on the ninth day of novena held by her and the community seeking intercession of Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavera, she was miraculously cured her. She completed the novitiate and made the solemn profession of her religious vows on 12th August 1936.

Sr. Alphonsa continued to have her repeated spells of sickness and pain. She was on a bed of thrones torn and tortured by excruciating pain and prolonged agony. Here was an rejoiced in the lord and magnified Him. She was longing to suffer even more for her own sanctification and that of the world.

She constantly advised her companions and novices to accept suffering cheerfully citing the biblical references to the grain of wheat which has to fall down and decay for raising new sprouts; it has to be ground in order to be turned into hosts for transformation as the body of Our Lord. She also reminded them of the grapes which have to be crushed for yielding wine to become the blood of the Lord.
Her death(28th July 1946) was unnoticed by the public. The funeral was simple and thinly attended. But soon the school children , who loved her received favors through her intercession. Her tomb at Bharananganam turned into a great centre of pilgrimage attracting people from far and near.

H.E. Cardinal Tisserant inaugurated the diocesan process for her beatification on 2nd December 1953. The Long diocesan and subsequent apostolic processes bore fruit when on 9th November 1984 the Holy Father officially declared that she had practiced the Christian virtues heroically. A miracle wrought through her intercession was also formally approved by the Pope on 6th July 1985.

Providence has been pleased to bestow on this generation the grace to see a daughter of the soil, a seed of the ancient Christian community of Kerala and India, beatified (8th February 1986) in her homeland by the Supreme Pontiff during his visit to this chosen land.

The formal announcement on the elevation of the Blessed Alphonsa of Bharananganam to full sainthood on October 12, 2008 has been hailed as a defining moment for not only the Christian community in Kerala but throughout the region of South Asia.

According to the authorities of the St. Mary’s Church at Bharananganam, where the mortal remains of Blessed Alphonsa have been interred, the announcement was made in Rome after a conclave of the consistory consisting of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinals and Bishops. The announcement came at 3 p.m. IST and the thousands of believers who had thronged the Alphonsa Chapel at the campus of the Forane Church at Bharananga- nam received it with prayers and a pyrotechnic display. The day at the chapel began early, with priests holding the Holy Mass throu ghout the day. Nearly 40 km away, at Kudamaloor, pilgri- ms queued up at the ancestral house of the Alphonsa.

Once declared saint, Sr. Alphonsa will be the second saint from India after St. Gonsalo Garcia. The diocesan process for the beatification of Sr. Alphonsa began on December 2, 1953.

Pope Benedict XVI Appeals for Release of Iraqi Archbishop

IRAQI ARCHBISHOP PAULOS FARAJ RAHHO KIDNAPPED

The Archbishop was kidnapped last Friday after having celebrated the Way of the Cross in the Church of Holy Spirit Parish, on the eastern outskirts of the city. In the abduction three men, with the archbishop, were killed. A Sunni stronghold in the north of the country, Mosul is more or less under the full control of terrorists and religious militias. Just a few weeks ago, US forces in Iraq along with Baghdad decided to launch a massive military operation to “clean-up” the area. Ordinary citizens, from across the religious divide, are suffering the consequences of this difficult situation. But Christians are once again being faced with stark choices, leave their homes or; convert to Islam; pay the jizya – the tax imposed by the Koran on non Muslim subjects- or death.

Three Christians were killed in kidnapping of Mosul bishop buried in Karamles
The funerals were held on 01st March 2008 for the driver and two bodyguards. The same city also holds the tomb of Fr Ragheed, killed last year in the area where Archbishop Rahho was kidnapped yesterday. Sources in Iraq speak of "signs that leave hope that he may be alive". The appeal of the pope and the apprehension of the faithful and the patriarchate: the bishop is sick and needs his medicines.


An appeal "that reason and humanity may prevail in the authors of the kidnapping, and that Archbishop Rahho may be restored as soon as possible to the care of his flock" was launched yesterday evening by the pope. Benedict XVI says that he is "embittered by this execrable new act, which profoundly affects the whole Church in the country, and in particular the Chaldean Church". He also expresses his "closeness" to the patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly (currently in Amman) and to "that entire, sorely tried Christian community, and also to the family members of the victims". The pope, finally, invited the universal Church "to unite with its fervent prayer the intention that the Iraqi people may find the path of reconciliation and peace".

The leaders of the Church in Iraq have been mobilised in the effort to liberate Archbishop Rahho, as have representatives of the Muslim community. The appeal from some Iraqi imams should come between today and tomorrow.

The archbishop of Mosul had in the past denounced the persecution of Christians taking place in the city, and had already received several threats. On June 3, 2007, in the area of the same church where his kidnapping took place yesterday, Fr Ragheed Gani and three subdeacons were shot to death. "In Mosul", recount the inhabitants, "we are all frightened, Christians and Muslims, we are afraid, but we are praying for the bishop".

In diocese throughout Iraq prayers are said around the clock for Msgr. Rahho’s safe return, while local TV’s continuously transmit appeals from Christian leaders and the Pope for his release. Ample space is also given to the condemnation of Shiite and Sunni leaders who have defined this kidnap as “against every principal of Islam”. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nurial Maliki, specified that “attacking Christians means attacking the Iraqi people”. In a message sent to Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the premier says that he has given instructions to “the minister for the Interior and the security forces in the province of Niniveh to work without rest to guarantee, as soon as possible, the return of the Archbishop of Mosul”. Card. Delly has just arrived in Baghdad from a recent visit to Amman.

Late News

IRAQ
Kidnappers of Mosul bishop, raise the ransom
Yesterday evening, another telephone call, increasing the ransom and dictating conditions which “complicate the case”. Still no guarantees on the “wellbeing” of the bishop, abducted on February 29th. These latest developments raise fears that these are no ordinary criminals interested solely in money. Iraq’s premier sends a message to the Chaldean Patriarch.
Mosul (AsiaNews) – The men who have the fate of Msgr. Paulos Faraj Rahho, Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul in their hands since February 29th last, have raised the ransom and dictated “political conditions” for his release, according to AsiaNews sources in Iraq, close to mediators who are negotiating his safe return. Late yesterday afternoon another phone call was made. The group which holds the bishop hostage, used Msgr. Rahoo’s mobile phone to communicate, but has still given no proof of his wellbeing. “It almost seems as if his release- anonymous sources in Mosul tell – is of secondary importance in their demands and the conditions which they have imposed greatly complicate matters, leading us to think that they are not just simple criminals interested in money”. Concern is increasing for the 67 year-old hostage who suffers ill health, for which he needs daily treatment.

In diocese throughout Iraq prayers are said around the clock for Msgr. Rahho’s safe return, while local TV’s continuously transmit appeals from Christian leaders and the Pope for his release. Ample space is also given to the condemnation of Shiite and Sunni leaders who have defined this kidnap as “against every principal of Islam”. Today the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al Maliki, specified that “attacking Christians means attacking the Iraqi people”. In a message sent to Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the premier says that he has given instructions to “the minister for the Interior and the security forces in the province of Niniveh to work without rest to guarantee, as soon as possible, the return of the Archbishop of Mosul”. Card. Delly has just arrived in Baghdad from a recent visit to Amman

Church Faces Danger of False Prophets, Says Preacher

Lenten Meditation for Pope and Curia

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Church's preachers of the

word of God can become false prophets if they do not speak "as with

words of God," guarding against allowing their words to become "useless,"  said the preacher of the Pontifical Household.

Capuchin Father Rainero Cantalamessa said this today in the Lenten

meditation he delivered to Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia in the

Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

The sermon titled "'For Every Useless Word': Speaking 'as With Words of

God'" was the second in a series of Lenten meditations the preacher

will give this Lent.

The series, titled "The Word of God Is Living and Effective," reflects

the theme of the next Synod of Bishops on the word of God, to be held

in October.

In the first meditation, Father Cantalamessa discussed Jesus as the

preacher of good news; in today's reflection, he turned his attention to Jesus as that which is preached.

"When the Apostle wants to embrace the content of Christian preaching

with a single word, this word is always the person of Jesus Christ," he

said. "In these statements Jesus is no longer seen -- as in the Gospels -- in his quality as preacher, but as that which is preached.

Similarly, [] from the 'glad tidings' in which Jesus is the subject, one passes  to the 'glad tidings' in which Jesus is the object."

Useless word

Discussing Jesus' admonition that "men will have to answer for every

 useless word on the day of judgment," Father Cantalamessa contended, "The opposition between the word of God and the word of men is presented here, implicitly, as an opposition between the word 'that works' and the word 'that does not work,' between the effective word and the ineffective and vain word."

He continued, "The useless word, for which men will have to answer on

the Day of Judgment, is not, therefore, every and any useless word; it

is rather the useless, empty word pronounced by him who should instead

pronounce the 'energetic' words of God."

But the Pontifical Household preacher clarified: "The Bible is speaking

about us. That word of Jesus does not judge the world, but the Church;

the world will not be judged over useless words -- all of its words

are, in the sense described above, useless words! [] The 'men' who must

answer for every useless word are the men of the Church; we are the

preachers of the word of God.

"I too am the false prophet, every time that I do not entrust myself to

the 'weakness,' 'foolishness,' 'poverty' and 'nakedness' of the word

and I cover it up, and I esteem what I have clothed it in more than the

word itself, and the time that I spend covering it up is more than that

which I spend with the word, remaining before it in prayer, worshipping it and allowing it to live in me.

"In the era of mass communication the Church too runs the risk of

falling into the 'straw' of useless words, speaking just to say something, writing just because there are journals and newspapers to be filled."

The Capuchin noted, "The Holy Father reminded us of the necessity of

this fast from words in his Lenten meeting with the pastors of Rome and I believe, as is his wont, his invitation was not first directed to the

world but to the Church."

Distinct

Father Cantalamessa had concrete advice for preachers.

He urged recollection before rising to proclaim God's word: "The

concern to keep the word of God distinct from every other word is such that, sending his apostles out on mission, Jesus commands them not to greet anyone on the way. I experienced at my own expense that sometimes this commandment must be obeyed to the letter.

"Stopping to greet people and exchange pleasantries as one is about to

begin preaching inevitably disturbs concentration on the word that is

to be announced and causes this word to lose its alterity in regard to

all human discourse. The same exigency is experienced -- or should be

experienced -- when one is vesting to celebrate Mass."

"The exigency is even greater when it is a matter of the content itself

of preaching," the Capuchin affirmed. "The word of God cannot be used

for other ends or to clothe already existing human discourses with the

mantle of divine authority. In times that are still near to us, one saw

where such a tendency led. The Gospel was used to support every type

of human project from class struggle to the death of God.

"Obviously, the reality of experience, and thus the human word, is not

excluded from the Church's preaching, but it has to be subordinated to

the word of God, to the service of this word.

"It is necessary, because of this, to have the courage more often to

begin, in treating the doctrinal and disciplinary problems of the Church, from the word of God, especially that of the New Testament, and to remain thus linked to it, bound by it, certain that in this way one will more surely discover, in every question, what the will of God is."

Making it mine

Father Cantalamessa acknowledged, "I realize that a grave objection can

be raised to what I am saying. Should the Church's preaching, then,

reduce itself to a sequence -- or a barrage -- of biblical citations,

with so many indications of chapter and verse, in a manner reminiscent of the Jehovah's Witnesses and other fundamentalist groups? Certainly

not."

"What does it mean to 'speak in Christ,' or to speak 'as with the words

of God'?," he asked. "It means that the fundamental inspiration, the

thought that 'informs' and rules everything else, must come from God,

not from man."

The Pontifical Household preacher said there are two ways to prepare

any proclamation of the faith.

"I can sit down at the desk and choose for myself which word to

proclaim and the theme to develop, basing myself on my knowledge, my

preferences, etc., and then, once the discourse is prepared, get on my knees to hastily ask God to bless that which I have written and make my words effective. [] The contrary is what should be done. First, get on your knees and ask God what the word is that he wants to speak; then, sit at the desk and use your own knowledge to give a body to that word. This changes everything because it is not God who must make my word his, but it is I who make his word mine."

"It is necessary to begin with the certainty of faith that, in every

circumstance, the Risen Lord has a word in his heart that he wants to

reach his people," Father Cantalamessa said. "It is that which changes

things and it is that which must be discovered. And he will not fail to

reveal it to his servant, if his servant asks for it humbly and

insistently.

"Then go to your desk, open your books, consult your notes, consult the

Fathers of the Church, the masters, the poets. But it is already

something else. It is no longer the Word of God at the service of your

culture but your culture at the service of the Word of God."

Clay pots

Father Cantalamessa affirmed that this type of preaching is not easy:

"After having indicated the conditions of Christian proclamation --

speaking of Christ with sincerity as moved by God and under his gaze -- the apostle asks: 'And who is up to this task?'

"It is plain that no one is up to it. We carry this treasure in earthen

vessels. We can, however, pray and say: Lord, have mercy on this poor

clay pot that must carry the treasure of your word; [] let us once

taste your word so that we know how to distinguish it from all others and so that every other word will appear insipid to us. Spread hunger

 throughout the land, as you promised, 'not a hunger for bread, or a thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord.'"

St. Padre Pio’s tomb unearthed

“As if he just had a mainicure”

ROME: Church officials have exhumed the remains of Padre Pio, a hugely popular Italian saint whose body is due to go on public display later this year, officials said on Monday.

Bishop Domenico D’Ambrosio, a Vatican-appointed envoy who oversaw the unearthing on Sunday night, said the body was well preserved.

Padre Pio, a mystic Capuchin monk who had an enormous following in Italy and abroad, died in 1968 after living for decades with inexplicable, bleeding wounds on his hands and feet, like the wounds Jesus suffered at crucifixion. Pope John Paul II made him a saint in 2002.

Church officials wanted to exhume the body so the faithful can pray before it, since this year marks the 40th anniversary of his death. They also wanted to take measures to ensure it was being well preserved.

Bishop D’Ambrosio said there was no sign of the so-called stigmata on his limbs after an initial examination on Sunday and Monday. But he said that otherwise, the body had been “conserved well.”

“Padre Pio’s fingernails are as if he had just had a manicure,” Bishop D’Ambrosio said. — AP news item