Did you have a plan for the day when you woke up this morning? Did you plot your shopping trip? Did you prepare for what to chat with your friend about when you called? Did you strategize about what to eat and drink today?
How many plans do we make each day?
Many of us take the time to arrange what we will do, who we will spend time with and what we will eat each day. We organize what entertainment to take in and how to spend our quiet moments. Society dictates norms for us to follow ensuring the structured use of each minute of each day. Idle time is looked down on by the mavens of industriousness.
Many people today lead lives that are so mapped out, they do not have time to notice the unexpected events that are meant to enhance our journey of self discovery. We are so absorbed in getting to the next charted event we miss moments of beauty as He unfolds them before us. We try to over ride the unexpected gifts from our Creator with our own intentions, missing the great joy He has waiting.
At the end of each day, before creating your next 'to do list' ask yourself, "Did I spend this day working in co-operation with God's design for me?"
At the top of tomorrow's list challenge yourself to be open to God's plan for you and to savour the treasures that He has arranged.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
In response
Pope Benedict XVI's decree lifting of the latae sententiae excommunication imposed on four bishops in 1988 has been hailed as a major success story and a step toward strengthening ties of unity.
In response to this decree, His Excellency Bernard Fellay, Secretary-general for the Society of Saint Pius X has published a written response. The English translation of his text appeared in today's daily dispatch of the on-line magazine ZENIT.
Response From Leader of Society of St. Pius X
The excommunication of the bishops consecrated by His Grace Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, on June 30, 1988, which had been declared by the Congregation for Bishops in a decree dated July 1, 1988, and which we had always contested, has been withdrawn by another decree mandated by Benedict XVI and issued by the same Congregation on January 21, 2009.
We express our filial gratitude to the Holy Father for this gesture which, beyond the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, will benefit the whole Church. Our Society wishes to be always more able to help the pope to remedy the unprecedented crisis which presently shakes the Catholic world, and which Pope John Paul II had designated as a state of "silent apostasy."
Besides our gratitude towards the Holy Father and towards all those who helped him to make this courageous act, we are pleased that the decree of January 21 considers as necessary "talks" with the Holy See, talks which will enable the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X to explain the fundamental doctrinal reasons which it believes to be at the origin of the present difficulties of the Church.
In this new atmosphere, we have the firm hope to obtain soon the recognition of the rights of Catholic Tradition.
Menzingen, January 24, 2009
Bernard Fellay
In response to this decree, His Excellency Bernard Fellay, Secretary-general for the Society of Saint Pius X has published a written response. The English translation of his text appeared in today's daily dispatch of the on-line magazine ZENIT.
Response From Leader of Society of St. Pius X
The excommunication of the bishops consecrated by His Grace Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, on June 30, 1988, which had been declared by the Congregation for Bishops in a decree dated July 1, 1988, and which we had always contested, has been withdrawn by another decree mandated by Benedict XVI and issued by the same Congregation on January 21, 2009.
We express our filial gratitude to the Holy Father for this gesture which, beyond the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, will benefit the whole Church. Our Society wishes to be always more able to help the pope to remedy the unprecedented crisis which presently shakes the Catholic world, and which Pope John Paul II had designated as a state of "silent apostasy."
Besides our gratitude towards the Holy Father and towards all those who helped him to make this courageous act, we are pleased that the decree of January 21 considers as necessary "talks" with the Holy See, talks which will enable the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X to explain the fundamental doctrinal reasons which it believes to be at the origin of the present difficulties of the Church.
In this new atmosphere, we have the firm hope to obtain soon the recognition of the rights of Catholic Tradition.
Menzingen, January 24, 2009
Bernard Fellay
Here it is
Below is an English-language translation of the decree released Saturday by the Congregation for Bishops regarding the lifting of the excommunication imposed on four bishops ordained in 1988 by Marcel Lefebvre. This translation appeared in the daily dispatch of ZENIT.
With a letter of Dec. 15, 2008, sent to His Eminence Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Monsignor Bernard Fellay, in his name and in that of the other bishops consecrated June 30, 1988, again requested the lifting of the excommunication latae sententiae formally declared by decree of the prefect of this Congregation for Bishops on July 1, 1988.
In the mentioned letter, Monsignor Fellay affirms, among other things:
"We are always fervently determined in the will to be and to remain Catholics and to place all of our strength at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept all of her teachings with a filial spirit. We firmly believe in the primacy of Peter and in his prerogatives and because of this, the present situation makes us suffer so much."
His Holiness Benedict XVI, paternally sensitive to the spiritual unrest manifested by the interested parties because of the sanction of excommunication, and trusting in the commitment expressed by them in the cited letter to spare no effort in going deeper in the necessary conversations with the authorities of the Holy See in matters still unresolved, and to be able to thus arrive quickly to a full and satisfactory solution of the problem existing from the beginning, has decided to reconsider the canonical situation of the bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, which arose with their episcopal consecration.
With this act it is desired to consolidate the mutual relations of trust, [and] to intensify and make more stable the relationship of the Fraternity of St. Pius X with the Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the celebrations of Christmas, also aims to be a sign for the promotion of unity in charity of the universal Church, and with this means, come to remove the scandal of division.
It is desired that this step be followed by the solicitous fulfillment of full communion with the Church of the Society of St. Pius X, thereby witnessing to authentic fidelity and a true recognition of the magisterium and the authority of the Pope, with the proof of visible unity.
In virtue of the faculties that have been expressly conceded to me by the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present decree, I lift from Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of excommunication latae sententiae declared by this congregation on July 1, 1988, and declare void of juridical effects beginning today the decree published then.
Rome, Congregation for the Bishops, Jan. 21, 2009
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
The fact that this decree, which holds such importance as a sign of unity and peace, was published at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, is certainly of great significance.
With a letter of Dec. 15, 2008, sent to His Eminence Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Monsignor Bernard Fellay, in his name and in that of the other bishops consecrated June 30, 1988, again requested the lifting of the excommunication latae sententiae formally declared by decree of the prefect of this Congregation for Bishops on July 1, 1988.
In the mentioned letter, Monsignor Fellay affirms, among other things:
"We are always fervently determined in the will to be and to remain Catholics and to place all of our strength at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept all of her teachings with a filial spirit. We firmly believe in the primacy of Peter and in his prerogatives and because of this, the present situation makes us suffer so much."
His Holiness Benedict XVI, paternally sensitive to the spiritual unrest manifested by the interested parties because of the sanction of excommunication, and trusting in the commitment expressed by them in the cited letter to spare no effort in going deeper in the necessary conversations with the authorities of the Holy See in matters still unresolved, and to be able to thus arrive quickly to a full and satisfactory solution of the problem existing from the beginning, has decided to reconsider the canonical situation of the bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, which arose with their episcopal consecration.
With this act it is desired to consolidate the mutual relations of trust, [and] to intensify and make more stable the relationship of the Fraternity of St. Pius X with the Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the celebrations of Christmas, also aims to be a sign for the promotion of unity in charity of the universal Church, and with this means, come to remove the scandal of division.
It is desired that this step be followed by the solicitous fulfillment of full communion with the Church of the Society of St. Pius X, thereby witnessing to authentic fidelity and a true recognition of the magisterium and the authority of the Pope, with the proof of visible unity.
In virtue of the faculties that have been expressly conceded to me by the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present decree, I lift from Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of excommunication latae sententiae declared by this congregation on July 1, 1988, and declare void of juridical effects beginning today the decree published then.
Rome, Congregation for the Bishops, Jan. 21, 2009
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
The fact that this decree, which holds such importance as a sign of unity and peace, was published at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, is certainly of great significance.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
After twenty years
Excommunicaton does still exist as a penalty in the Catholic Church. It is very rarely imposed, but sometimes there is no other option. Speaking of options, there are some cases where an excommunicaton can be imposed by the mere fact of having committed a certain grave sin. Referred to as latae sententiae, each of the seven instances incur an excommunication immedately upon the commission of the wrongful act.
What are these acts, you may ask?
What are these acts, you may ask?
- Apostasy, heresy or schism (cn. 1364, 1);
- Profanation of the consecrated species (cn. 1367);
- Physical violence against the Pope (cn. 1370, 1);
- Attempting to absolve an accomplice (cn. 1378, 1);
- Ordination of a bishop without a pontifical mandate (cn. 1382);
- Violation of the sacramental seal by the confessor (cn. 1388, 1); and
- Procuring an abortion (cn. 1398).
On June 30, 1988, His Excellency, Marcel Lefebvre, then titular Archbishop of Tulle (France) unlawfully ordained four bishops. The resulting latae sententiae excommunication has remained in effect until yesterday.
In two separate declarations, issued in Italian only by the Vatican's Press Office and by the Congregation for Bishops, three of the four bishops were re-communicated yesterday. There has obviously been much discussion going on behind the scenes because the tradition of the Church is that we always hope and pray for reconciliation, even in the gravest of situations.
According to the declaration, dated January 21, 2009 and published on yesterday, Their Excellencies, Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson e Alfonso de Galarreta have now been re-admitted to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The old and the new
This weekend, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. This most important figure in our sacred history takes us back to the city of Antioch, where the first believers were referred to as Christians for the first time in history.
Coincidence or not, this week also saw the election of the new Patriarch of Antioch for Syrian Catholics, His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan.
Coincidence or not, this week also saw the election of the new Patriarch of Antioch for Syrian Catholics, His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan.
This is one of the rare moments when the Church demonstrates the unity that exists between the Eastern and the Western branches that make up its followers. At the end of the annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, it is also apropos that through this example, we should all be called to reflect on our call to work toward establishing peace with others through the relationships we forge.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Vatican Tube
Vatican City, which has had a multi-lingual web presence for some years now, launched a new chapter in its history today. Jumping on the YouTube bandwagon, it is now possible for the world to view videos of some of the major activities the Vatican publicises on the world stage.
The Vatican YouTube channel offers news coverage of the main activities of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and of relevant Vatican events.It is updated daily.Video images are produced by Centro Televisio Vaticano (CTV), texts by Vatican Radio (RV) and CTV.This video-news presents the Catholic Churchs position regarding the principal issues of the world today.Links give access to the full and official texts of cited documents.
This new innovation coincides with the publication of the Holy Father's Message for the 43rd World Day of Social Communications, which took place today. Fittingly, the theme for this year's message is New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The World Day of Social Communicatons will be observed on May 24, 2009.
The Vatican YouTube channel offers news coverage of the main activities of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and of relevant Vatican events.It is updated daily.Video images are produced by Centro Televisio Vaticano (CTV), texts by Vatican Radio (RV) and CTV.This video-news presents the Catholic Churchs position regarding the principal issues of the world today.Links give access to the full and official texts of cited documents.
This new innovation coincides with the publication of the Holy Father's Message for the 43rd World Day of Social Communications, which took place today. Fittingly, the theme for this year's message is New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship. The World Day of Social Communicatons will be observed on May 24, 2009.
In the eye of the storm
In the initial days of his presidency, Barak Obama has certainly turned heads as he moves with lightning speed to reverse some of the key decisions implemented by his imediate predecessor. The world has watched with rapped attention as executive orders were signed this week to begin the process of closing down the detention centre established at Guantanamo Bay.
Couple this with his swift moves to contact the political leaders in the Middle East, assuring them of his openness to working with them to establish peace in their war-torn region, and it becomes abundantly clear that he is intent on establishing his presidency on the basis of transparency, something which at least some would say is a departure from his predecessor's style of government.
Today is day three on the job, and already there is talk of his reversing the policy on abortion which has been in place since 2001. This is only one of a number of decisons which is sure to awaken the ire of some and the jubilation of others ... but then again, Mr. Obama doesn't seem to be too concerned about standing in the midst of the storm.
Couple this with his swift moves to contact the political leaders in the Middle East, assuring them of his openness to working with them to establish peace in their war-torn region, and it becomes abundantly clear that he is intent on establishing his presidency on the basis of transparency, something which at least some would say is a departure from his predecessor's style of government.
Today is day three on the job, and already there is talk of his reversing the policy on abortion which has been in place since 2001. This is only one of a number of decisons which is sure to awaken the ire of some and the jubilation of others ... but then again, Mr. Obama doesn't seem to be too concerned about standing in the midst of the storm.
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