Letter #158, 2021, Monday, November 29: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò's Meditation for Advent 2021 This reflection on Advent was written by the Archbishop at the request of Brian McCall at Catholic Family News. He is receiving many such requests, and many of his writings are responses to requests from around the world. I note that [...]
Pope Francis spoke about Mary's response to God's call in his reflection at the Angelus on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, which this year falls on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis reflected on the Annunciation during the weekly Angelus. The Holy Father noted the contrast between “the promises of the Angel and Mary’s answer.” [...]
On the Third Sunday of Advent - called "Gaudete Sunday" in reference to the introit traditionally sung at the Mass of the day, which begins, "Gaudete in Domino semper", Pope Francis prayed the traditional Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, beneath the window of the Papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. We bring [...]
Pope Francis on Sunday told the faithful that Advent is a time to make space for the coming Jesus in our lives. Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reflected on the reading of the day in which the prophet Isaiah said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the [...]
Pope Francis was back in St. Peter's Square for the traditional recitation of the Angelus on Sunday following his return from a journey to Myanmar and Bangladesh. From the window of his studio the Holy Father thanked all those who accompanied him there in prayer. He told all those gathered in the square that he was impressed by [...]
· the General Audience the Pontiff begins a new series of reflections dedicated to hope and asks that no one be excluded from the recognition of human rights · “Hope is the virtue of the little ones”, because “the great ones ... do not know what it is”. Thus, Christian hope is the focal point of the [...]
· The Pope recalls that Advent is a journey of conversion · We “convert every day, a step forward each day”: this is the journey that Christians are called to make during the Advent period. That’s what Pope Francis said at the Angelus Sunday 4 December, commenting on the Gospel reading for the day. “It [...]
Dear brothers and sisters, The Gospel for this Sunday of Advent highlights the person of Mary. We see her when, just after having conceived in faith the Son of God, she takes on the long trip from Nazareth of Galilee to the hill country of Judah, to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The Angel Gabriel had revealed [...]
“THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS” (Lumen gentium, Chapter 5) A few days ago we have entered the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of Vatican II and the jubilee Year of Mercy. We must say that the link between the theme of mercy and the Second Vatican Council is anything but arbitrary or minor. St. John [...]
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! On this second Sunday of Advent, the liturgy places us in the school of John the Baptist, who preached a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” And perhaps we ask ourselves, “Why do we have to convert? Conversion is for an atheist who becomes a believer or a [...]
