Daily Readings for Thursday September 30, 2010

Reading 1, Jb 19:21-27

21 Pity me, pity me, my friends, since I have been struck by the hand of God.

22 Must you persecute me just as God does, and give my body no peace?

23 Will no one let my words be recorded, inscribed on some monument

24 with iron chisel and engraving tool, cut into the rock for ever?

25 I know that I have a living Defender and that he will rise up last, on the dust of the earth.

26 After my awakening, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God.

27 He whom I shall see will take my part: my eyes will be gazing on no stranger. My heart sinks within me.

Gospel, Lk 10:1-12

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting.

2 And he said to them, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to do his harvesting.

3 Start off now, but look, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

4 Take no purse with you, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

5 Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, "Peace to this house!"

6 And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.

7 Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.

8 Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is put before you.

9 Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."

10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say,

11 "We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near."

12 I tell you, on the great Day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town.

Daily Readings for Wednesday September 29, 2010

Reading 1, Rv 12:7-12a

7 And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels,

8 but they were defeated and driven out of heaven.

9 The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him.

10 Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.

11 They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word to which they bore witness, because even in the face of death they did not cling to life.

12 So let the heavens rejoice and all who live there; but for you, earth and sea, disaster is coming -- because the devil has gone down to you in a rage, knowing that he has little time left.'

Gospel, Jn 1:47-51

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, 'There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception.'

48 Nathanael asked, 'How do you know me?' Jesus replied, 'Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.'

49 Nathanael answered, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.'

50 Jesus replied, 'You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You are going to see greater things than that.'

51 And then he added, 'In all truth I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.'

Feast Day: The Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Messengers of God

Pope St. Gregory the Great distinguishes between angels and archangels: "Those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called archangels." The Catechism explains: "From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. 'Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.' Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God"

The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls 'angels' is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 328).

Today we celebrate the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: Archangels. Though we cannot know of all the many times these magnificent spirits and powerful allies have entered into history to accomplish God's will, protecting us, driving away demons, and bearing forth messages of God's providential plan of salvation, some of their specific actions are recorded in Sacred Scripture, and, in each case, we obtain a glimpse into their ardent love for God, intently focused wills and formidable intellects.

"Who Is Like God"

In the Office of Readings -- from The Liturgy Of The Hours, which is a part of the official, liturgical and public prayer of the Church -- antiphon we read: "The sea grew turbulent and the earth trembled when Michael the archangel came down from heaven."

As we read in Scripture, it was St. Michael who long ago led the battle against Satan: "Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. Although the dragon and his angels fought back, they were overpowered and lost their place in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent known as the devil or Satan, the seducer of the whole world, was driven out; he was hurled down to earth and his minions with him" (Rev 12:7-9).

The name Michael means "who is like God." St. Michael's will is focused, immovable, and entirely driven toward accomplishing goodness: he is a protector of souls, and wields his unrelenting sword of righteous justice against the poisonous and vindictive aspirations of the one who is known as a liar from the beginning. During a visit to the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, the Venerable John Paul II said, "The battle against the devil . . . is the principal task of Saint Michael the archangel."

Daily Readings for Tuesday September 28, 2010

Reading 1, Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

1 In the end it was Job who broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth.

2 This is what he said:

3 Perish the day on which I was born and the night that told of a boy conceived.

11 Why was I not still-born, or why did I not perish as I left the womb?

12 Why were there knees to receive me, breasts for me to suck?

13 Now I should be lying in peace, wrapped in a restful slumber,

14 with the kings and high viziers of earth who have built their dwellings in desolate places,

15 or with princes who have quantities of gold and silver cramming their tombs;

16 or, put away like an abortive child, I should not have existed, like little ones that never see the light.

17 Down there, the wicked bustle no more, there the weary rest.

20 Why give light to a man of grief? Why give life to those bitter of heart,

21 who long for a death that never comes, and hunt for it more than for buried treasure?

22 They would be glad to see the grave-mound and shout with joy if they reached the tomb.

23 Why give light to one who does not see his way, whom God shuts in all alone?

Gospel, Lk 9:51-56

51 Now it happened that as the time drew near for him to be taken up, he resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem

52 and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him,

53 but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem.

54 Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, 'Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?'

55 But he turned and rebuked them,

56 and they went on to another village.

Pope salutes military chaplains of Italy with call to holiness

Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the military chaplains to promote the holiness in the military in the midst today's challenges.

Writing on behalf of the Holy Father, Cardinal Secretary of the State Tarcisio Bertone sent a note in support of the military chaplains of Italy, gathered this week in Assisi for meetings.

According to the Italian bishops' SIR news, the cardinal wrote that Pope Benedict hopes that the work of the chaplains in the military will bring about a "renewed adhesion to Christ," setting the bar of "holiness as the high measure of Christian life in response to the new pastoral challenges."

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the new prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, also sent a greeting, reminding them that the effectiveness of the service to the Church comes from one's "personal and communitarian conversion," that of putting Christ at the center of one's life.

Interviewed by SIR as the meetings began, Military Ordinary Archbishop Vincenzo Pelvi asserted that prayer is "the first service" chaplains can offer to the military family.

"Pastoral care," he added, "should never be a simple strategy, an administrative job, but (should) always remain a spiritual commitment."

The chaplains' conference is being held until Sept. 30 with the theme "Gospel announcement and prayer."

Daily Readings for Monday September 27, 2010

Reading 1, Jb 1:6-22

6 One day when the sons of God came to attend on Yahweh, among them came Satan.

7 So Yahweh said to Satan, 'Where have you been?' 'Prowling about on earth,' he answered, 'roaming around there.'

8 So Yahweh asked him, 'Did you pay any attention to my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.'

9 'Yes,' Satan said, 'but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he?

10 Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside.

11 But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: then, I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.'

12 'Very well,' Yahweh said to Satan, 'all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.' So Satan left the presence of Yahweh.

13 On the day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking in their eldest brother's house,

14 a messenger came to Job. 'Your oxen', he said, 'were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side,

15 when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

16 He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The fire of God', he said, 'has fallen from heaven and burnt the sheep and shepherds to ashes: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

17 He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'The Chaldaeans,' he said, 'three bands of them, have raided the camels and made off with them, and put the servants to the sword: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

18 He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. 'Your sons and daughters', he said, 'were eating and drinking at their eldest brother's house,

19 when suddenly from the desert a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone have escaped to tell you.'

20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. Then, falling to the ground, he prostrated himself

21 and said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I shall return again. Yahweh gave, Yahweh has taken back. Blessed be the name of Yahweh!

22 In all this misfortune Job committed no sin, and he did not reproach God.

Gospel, Lk 9:46-50

46 An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest.

47 Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side

48 and then he said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.'

49 John spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.'

50 But Jesus said to him, 'You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.'

Holy Father bids farewell to Castel Gandolfo

Nearing the end of his summer stay at Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father met with local authorities on Monday. Saying farewell to delegates from local institutions, he thanked them for their support, calling them to increased cooperation in the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul.

Pope Benedict XVI announced his plans to return to Rome during last Sunday's Angelus, saying that he would be back at the Vatican on Sept. 30 and saluting locals with a "cordial 'arrivederci'." He met with delegations from Castel Gandolfo's city hall, civil and military authorities, religious communities and staff at the apostolic villa to say a more formal "goodbye" on Monday.

Benedict XVI took the opportunity given by the audience to thank each of these delegations individually as well as the local Church for their work throughout the summer season, especially in providing for him and the many pilgrims that came.

In taking leave, he spoke of the figure of St. Vincent de Paul, whose memory is celebrated in the Church on Monday. Remembering that this "apostle of charity" was declared the universal Patron of Charitable Endeavors by Pope Leo XIII, he said that "(w)ith his incessant apostolic activity, he made the Gospel become ever more a brilliant lighthouse of hope and love for the men of his time, and in particular for the poorest in body and spirit.

"His virtuous example and his intercession raise in our communities and in each of you a renewed commitment to solidarity, so that the efforts of each might cooperate in the edification of the common good."

The Holy Father left the Vatican for the pontifical villa at Castel Gandolfo nearly three months ago, after the general audience on July 7. Since then, he has returned periodically for the Wednesday audiences and even made two trips, one within Italy to Carpineto Romano and the other to the U.K. On Thursday, he will return again to the Vatican to his apostolic palace residence within the Vatican walls.

Pope asks Catholics to reflect on impact of work, free time on family

Pope Benedict XVI has asked the Catholics around the world to use 2011 as a time to reflect on the impact of their work and their free-time pursuits on their family life.

The reflection, he said, should help the church prepare for the Seventh World Meeting of the Families, which will be in Milan May 30-June 3, 2012.

The theme of the gathering will be: "The Family: Work and Celebration."

"Work and celebration are intimately tied with the family life," impacting the choices family members make and their relations with each other, with society and with the church, the pope said in a letter to Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

The cardinal released the pope's letter Sept. 24 and presided over a news conference to discuss initial preparations for the gathering in the Milan, which Pope Benedict has promised to attend.

The World Meeting of Families and the Pontifical Council for the Family were established by Pope John Paul II in 1981 when he published his apostolic exhortation, "Familiaris Consortio," on the role of the Christian family.

In his letter to the cardinal, Pope Benedict said the Book of Genesis makes clear that both work and rest are blessings from God. But, he said, in modern societies where market competition and maximum profit are seen as all-important, families have little time together and even days off are spent shopping or pursuing individual interests.

"There is a need to promote a reflection about and a commitment to reconciling the needs of work time and family time, recovering the true meaning of days off, especially Sundays," which should be dedicated to God, to family and to solidarity, the pope said.

Cardinal Antonelli said the church's message is that it is possible to run a business, "aiming not at maximum profit, but a just profit, compatible with the needs of workers, their families, society, protecting the environment" and offering workers flexibility so that they can meet all their family obligations.

Family members, too, have to do more to ensure that each member of the family shares in domestic chores and has free time to relax and enjoy the company of others, he said.

Cardinal Antonelli also said the pontifical council hopes that by the time the World Meeting of Families opens in May 2012 his office will have finished a new set of guidelines and suggestions for Catholic marriage preparation programs.

The cardinal said the document would not give hard and fast rules for what preparation programs must include and how long they must last, but it will include suggestions drawn from the estimated 400 program outlines sent in by dioceses and Catholic organizations that prepare couples for marriage.

Daily Readings for Friday September 24, 2010

Reading 1, Eccl 3:1-11

1 There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:

2 A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.

3 A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building.

4 A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing.

5 A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them; a time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing.

6 A time for searching, a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for discarding.

7 A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time for keeping silent, a time for speaking.

8 A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace.

9 What do people gain from the efforts they make?

10 I contemplate the task that God gives humanity to labour at.

11 All that he does is apt for its time; but although he has given us an awareness of the passage of time, we can grasp neither the beginning nor the end of what God does.

Gospel, Lk 9:18-22

18 Now it happened that he was praying alone, and his disciples came to him and he put this question to them, 'Who do the crowds say I am?'

19 And they answered, 'Some say John the Baptist; others Elijah; others again one of the ancient prophets come back to life.'

20 'But you,' he said to them, 'who do you say I am?' It was Peter who spoke up. 'The Christ of God,' he said.

21 But he gave them strict orders and charged them not to say this to anyone.

22 He said, 'The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.'

Pope says entire West needs to see role of faith in public life

Pope Benedict XVI said his message in the Great Britain about the enduring importance of the faith-based values in the public life is valid for the entire Western world.

The pope said one of his key messages was "the importance of evangelizing culture, especially in our age when pervasive relativism risks overshadowing the unchanging truth about the nature of the man" and about the importance of faith in the education of the active, creative and responsible citizens.

During his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 22, the pope reviewed the trip he made to the Scotland and England Sept. 16-19.

"In the four beautiful, intense days I was able to spend in that noble land, I had the great joy of speaking to the hearts of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom and they spoke to mine, especially with their presence and the witness of their faith," he said.

Despite repeated descriptions of the Great Britain as one of the most secular countries in Europe, the pope said, "I was able to see how much the Christian tradition is still strong and still active in every strata of the social life. The hearts and existence of the British are open to the reality of the God and there are numerous signs of their religiosity, which my visit helped make more evident."

The pope said his first priority in visiting Great Britain was to encourage the nation's Catholics "to defend the unchanging moral truths -- contained in, enlightened and confirmed by the Gospel -- which are at the basis of a society that is truly human, just and free."

Speaking in Great Britain, a "crossroads of the world's culture and economy," he said he also was speaking to the "entire Western world."

"This apostolic visit confirmed in me a profound conviction that the ancient nations of Europe have a Christian soul, which is part and parcel of the genius and culture of its peoples, and the church does not cease working to keep this spiritual and cultural tradition alive," he said.

The pope described his meeting Sept. 18 with victims of clerical sex abuse as "an intense moment of emotion and prayer" and he said that his later meeting with child protection officers for dioceses and parishes underlined the importance of their work in the church, which always has dedicated special attention to caring for and educating children.

Pope Benedict said the key moment of his trip was the beatification Sept. 19 of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the 19th-century theologian and intellectual. The pope said Blessed Newman's teaching on the importance of the following one's conscience was not meant to encourage people to focus on themselves and their feelings, but to open themselves to the truth of the Gospel and moral law.

At the end of his audience, Pope Benedict asked Catholics to pray for the success of the international Roman Catholic-Orthodox theological dialogue commission, which was meeting Sept. 20-27 in Vienna.

The commission members were continuing a study of the role of the pope, especially during the first millennium when Christians were still united.

"Obedience to the will of the Lord Jesus, as well as the great challenges facing Christianity today, require us to make a serious commitment to the cause of reestablishing full communion between the churches," the pope said.

Catholics in Madrid prepare for influx of 2.5 million next August

August in Madrid usually means a citywide exodus. As families vacation along Spain's famous coastlines, the traffic eases and the capital becomes a bit less congested. Next August promises to be very different. Members of the Organizing Committee of the World Youth Day 2011 expect that up to 2.5 million Catholics will descend on the city for the Aug. 16-21 international event. To accommodate this influx, the committee will secure space in Madrid's three dioceses at locations such as universities, recreation centers and school gymnasiums. Many pilgrims will sleep on the mats or in sleeping bags. Soon the Vatican will release a list of more than 2,000 bishops who will conduct informal catechesis every morning followed by a number of cultural events in the evenings. Young Catholics can look forward to concerts, plays, and some of the best museums and palaces in the world. By mid-September, 144,000 groups from outside Spain had registered for World Youth Day, with two-thirds of them scheduled to attend Days in the Dioceses, which allows them to spend time in other parts of Spain before World Youth Day begins Aug. 16. Sixty of Spain's dioceses will participate in the Days in the Dioceses.

Daily Readings for Thursday September 23, 2010

Reading 1, Eccl 1:2-11

2 Sheer futility, Qoheleth says. Sheer futility: everything is futile!

3 What profit can we show for all our toil, toiling under the sun?

4 A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever.

5 The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises.

6 Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; then back to its circling goes the wind.

7 Into the sea go all the rivers, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go.

8 All things are wearisome. No one can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing.

9 What was, will be again, what has been done, will be done again, and there is nothing new under the sun!

10 Take anything which people acclaim as being new: it existed in the centuries preceding us.

11 No memory remains of the past, and so it will be for the centuries to come -- they will not be remembered by their successors.

Gospel, Lk 9:7-9

7 Meanwhile Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was going on; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead,

8 others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life.

9 But Herod said, 'John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?' And he was anxious to see him.

Christianity still strong and active in UK, says Pope Benedict XVI

The Holy Father used the positive language to describe the outcomes of his Apostolic Visit to the U.K. during the general audience. Speaking of the joy and satisfaction he felt during the trip, he noted also that the "Christian heritage is still strong and ever active at every level of the social life" in the U.K.

The Pope spent Sept. 16-19 in the U.K. where he stopped in the four cities: Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland on the first day, London for the next two and Birmingham on the final day for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

The visit, he said, ushered in "a new and important phase in the long-standing relations between the Holy See and Great Britain."

Pope Benedict said he was able to affirm "how the Christian heritage is still strong and ever active at every level of the social life. The hearts of the British and their existence are open to the reality of God and there are numerous expressions of religiosity that my visit has put even more in evidence."

Revisiting the major moments of the trip in six different languages during his catechesis, the Pope highlighted standout themes. He praised the "excellent and essential work" of Catholic schools and teachers in the U.K. and noted his "very cordial and fraternal" meeting with the Archbishop of the Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on Friday. He also recalled the "unprecedented opportunity" he had to address both Houses of the U.K. Parliament on the importance of "a fruitful dialogue between religion and reason."

After the landmark address to Parliament, he crossed the street to Westminster Abbey to preside over an ecumenical celebration with Anglican-head Archbishop Williams and other British Christian leaders. There, he said, he had the "privilege" of being able to pray at the tomb of St. Edward and giving thanks to God for "the many blessings God has bestowed upon our efforts to re-knit the fabric of our Christian fellowship."

Saturday's events saw him at Westminster Cathedral for the votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of Christ, which he called a "liturgy evocative of the best of the English musical tradition in the celebration of the Roman rite." The Pope also recalled his meetings with the elderly and child safeguarders later that day and the "beautiful vigil of deep prayerfulness and stillness" at London's Hyde Park.

During his Italian-language catechesis he said that the meeting he had with five abuse victims on Saturday afternoon was "very moving and prayerful."

On Sunday, he remembered, it was with "joy" and "deep personal satisfaction" that the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman was celebrated. Noting his admiration for the Blessed's life and writings, he said that Newman's "clear-minded search to know and express the truth in charity ... is a wonderful testimony of a pure desire to know and love God in the communion of the Church.

"His is surely an example that can inspire us all," he concluded.

Summarizing the trip in a single line during his Italian-language address, he said, "I had the great joy of speaking to the hearts of the British citizens and they spoke to mine ..."

In Britain, despite protests, pope gets a fair hearing

Reading 1, Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

1 I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you therefore to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called.

2 With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love.

3 Take every care to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.

4 There is one Body, one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

7 On each one of us God's favour has been bestowed in whatever way Christ allotted it.

11 And to some, his 'gift' was that they should be apostles; to some prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers;

12 to knit God's holy people together for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ,

13 until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and form the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.

Gospel, Mt 9:9-13

9 As Jesus was walking on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him.

10 Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?'

12 When he heard this he replied, 'It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick.

13 Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinner

Holy Father to make pastoral visit to Palermo

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that the Pope Benedict XVI will make a pastoral visit to Palermo, Italy in early October for an ecclesial meeting with families and young people from the region.

The Holy Father will make his visit on Sunday, Oct. 3, and after celebrating Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the local Foro Italico Umberto I church, he will lead the faithful in the Angelus prayer.

During the remainder of his trip, Pope Benedict is scheduled to meet priests, religious and seminarians at the cathedral of Palermo at 5 p.m. Following that, he will address a gathering of young people in the city's Piazza Politeama, which takes its name from the Politeama Garibaldi Theatre, built in the 1800s.

The Holy Father will then go to Palermo's Punta Raisi airport for his return flight to Rome.

Daily Readings for Monday September 20, 2010

Reading 1, Prv 3:27-34

27 Refuse no kindness to those who have a right to it, if it is in your power to perform it.

28 Do not say to your neighbour, 'Go away! Come another time! I will give it you tomorrow,' if you can do it now.

29 Do not plot harm against your neighbour who is living unsuspecting beside you.

30 Do not pick a groundless quarrel with anyone who has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the man of violence, never model your conduct on his;

32 for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to Yahweh, who confides only in the honest.

33 Yahweh's curse lies on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright.

34 He mocks those who mock, but accords his favour to the humble.

Gospel, Lk 8:16-18

16 'No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, it is put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in.

17 For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be made known and brought to light.

18 So take care how you listen; anyone who has, will be given more; anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he thinks he has.'

Pope Benedict gives farewell address to UK

Before embarking on the papal plane for his return flight to Rome, the Holy Father marked the end of his visit to the U.K. by recalling events within the last four days and thanking profusely all who demonstrated “hospitality” to him. Pope Benedict also expressed his hope that the trip helped to strengthen “the excellent relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom.”

“I am very grateful for all the hard work of the preparation, on the part of both the present and the previous Government, the civil service, local authorities and police, and the many volunteers who patiently helped to prepare for the events of these four days,” he began. “Thank you for the warmth of your welcome and for the hospitality that I have enjoyed.”

“During my time with you, I have been able to meet representatives of the many communities, cultures, languages and religions that make up British society.”

“The very diversity of the modern Britain is a challenge to its Government and people,” the Pontiff said, “but it also represents a great opportunity to further intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the enrichment of the entire community.”

“In these days, I was grateful for the opportunity to meet Her Majesty The Queen, as well as yourself and other political leaders, and to be able to discuss matters of common interest, both at home and abroad,” he noted. “I was particularly honoured to be invited to address both Houses of Parliament in the historic precincts of Westminster Hall.”

“I sincerely hope that these occasions will contribute to confirming and strengthening the excellent relations between the Holy See and the United Kingdom, especially in cooperation for international development, in care for the natural environment, and in the building of a civil society with a renewed sense of shared values and common purpose,” the Holy Father underscored.

“It was also my pleasure to visit His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops of the Church of England, and later to pray with them and our fellow Christians in the evocative surroundings of Westminster Abbey, a place which speaks so eloquently of our shared traditions and culture.”

“As Britain is home to so many religious traditions,” he added, “I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet their representatives and to share some thoughts with them about the contribution that the religions can offer to the development of a healthy pluralistic society.”

“Naturally, my visit was directed in a special way to the Catholics of the United Kingdom,” Pope Benedict said. “I treasure the time spent with the bishops, clergy, religious and laity, and with teachers, pupils and older people.”

“It was especially moving to celebrate with them, here in Birmingham, the beatification of a great son of England, Cardinal John Henry Newman,” he emphasized. “With his vast legacy of scholarly and spiritual writings, I am certain that he still has much to teach us about Christian living and witness amid the challenges of today’s world, challenges which he foresaw with such remarkable clarity.”

“As I take my leave of you, let me assure you once again of my good wishes and prayers for the peace and prosperity of Great Britain,” the Holy Father concluded. “Thank you very much and God bless you all!”

Pope says golden years can be spiritually fruitful

Although he walks quickly and appears to have no serious medical problems, the 83-year-old Pope Benedict XVI said he knows what it's like to get old and experience increasing the physical frailty. Greeting a small gathering of his peers and elders in London Sept. 18, the pope said, "Our long years of life afford us the opportunity to appreciate both the beauty of the God's greatest gift to us -- the gift of life -- as well as the fragility of the human spirit." In the midst of a four-day visit filled with the pomp of papal liturgies and the formality of meeting royalty and government officials, Pope Benedict visited St. Peter's Residence, a home for the aged run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. "Those of us who live many years are given a marvelous chance to deepen our awareness of the mystery of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity," the pope told the 76 residents, who include nine priests and members of religious orders. "As the normal span of our lives increases, our physical capacities are often diminished; and yet these times may well be among the most spiritually fruitful years of our lives," the pope said. Patricia Fasky, who lives at St. Peter's, welcomed the pope to the residence's small theater and told him, "we all love you and we pray for you." 

Daily Readings for Friday September 17, 2010

Reading 1, 1 Cor 15:12-20

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ cannot have been raised either,

14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is without substance, and so is your faith.

15 What is more, we have proved to be false witnesses to God, for testifying against God that he raised Christ to life when he did not raise him -- if it is true that the dead are not raised.

16 For, if the dead are not raised, neither is Christ;

17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is pointless and you have not, after all, been released from your sins.

18 In addition, those who have fallen asleep in Christ are utterly lost.

19 If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are of all people the most pitiable.

20 In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.

Gospel, Lk 8:1-3

1 Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve,

2 as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3 Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

Pope's visit: Benedict warns of cult of celebrity

The pope today warned against the cult of the celebrity and wealth, on the second day of his British tour.

Visiting about 4,000 school pupils and young people at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, he told them that "money is not enough to make us happy".

Instead of modelling themselves on sport or entertainment stars, he urged them to find happiness in God.

In contrast to his strongly worded addresses yesterday, the pope struck a more informal tone as he adrressed Catholic schoolchildren.

"I hope that among those of you listening to me today there are some of the future saints of the 21st century," he said.

Benedict is known for baffling lay audiences with abstruse dissertations on the faith. But on this occasion, he made a point of talking in a language that was calculated to reach his listeners.

In an address that was relayed to the Catholic schools around the country, he said: "Perhaps some of you think being a saint is not for you. Let me explain what I mean. When we are young, we can usually think of people that we look up to, people we admire, people we want to be like.

"We live in a celebrity culture and young people are often encouraged to model themselves on figures from the world of sport or entertainment."

But by inviting his listeners to become saints, the pope said he was asking them "not to be content with second best".

He urged them not to be swayed by the motivations of wealth: "Having money makes it possible to be generous and do good in the world, but on its own, it is not enough to make us happy.

for more news :Pope warns of cult of celebrity

Call to Prayer: Five men Arrested over Plot to Assassinate Pope Benedict XVI in London

There is disturbing news out of London that five men have been arrested over a possible terrorist plot to assasinate Pope Benedict XVI in London on Friday, September 17, 2010.

The Pope is on an historic pastoral visit to the United Kingdom which began in Scotland on Thursday and continues in London today.

Although there are few details concerning this apparent assassination plot, we wanted to bring it to the attention of our global readership right way in order to request a crescendo of prayer be offered on behalf of the Vicar of the Christ.

British News sources confirmed the arrest Friday morning. Our reporting is based upon a statement issued by the Scotland Yard. As more details become available we will supplement this report.

The five men are being held "on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism..The men are aged 26, 27, 36, 40, and 50, and were arrested ... at [a] business premises in central London."

The Scotland Yard statement continued "Today's [Friday's] arrests were made after police received information. Following initial inquiries by detectives a decision was made to arrest the five men on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism."

for more news : Pope Benedict in london

Daily Readings for Thursday September 16, 2010

Reading 1, 1 Cor 15:1-11

1 I want to make quite clear to you, brothers, what the message of the gospel that I preached to you is; you accepted it and took your stand on it,

2 and you are saved by it, if you keep to the message I preached to you; otherwise your coming to believe was in vain.

3 The tradition I handed on to you in the first place, a tradition which I had myself received, was that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures,

4 and that he was buried; and that on the third day, he was raised to life, in accordance with the scriptures;

5 and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the Twelve;

6 and next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still with us, though some have fallen asleep;

7 then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all he appeared to me too, as though I was a child born abnormally.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and am not really fit to be called an apostle, because I had been persecuting the Church of God;

10 but what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted. Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others -- not I, but the grace of God which is with me.

11 Anyway, whether it was they or I, this is what we preach and what you believed.

Gospel, Lk 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees invited him to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee's house and took his place at table,

37 suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment.

38 She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is and what sort of person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.'

40 Then Jesus took him up and said, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' He replied, 'Say on, Master.'

41 'There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty.

42 They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love him more?'

43 Simon answered, 'The one who was let off more, I suppose.' Jesus said, 'You are right.'

44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair.

45 You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in.

46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

47 For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.'

48 Then he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'

49 Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man, that even forgives sins?'

50 But he said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'

Fr. Robert Barron to launch national Catholic television show on WGN America

Fr. Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of the Chicago will begin broadcasting a weekly national television show on the WGN America to reach the Catholics and others searching for the Christ. He will be the first priest since Archbishop Fulton Sheen to have a regular, national program on a commercial television network.

Fr. Barron, a professor at University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, runs the global media ministry called “Word on Fire.”

His WGN America show will be titled “Word on Fire with Father Barron.” It will premier at 8:30 a.m. Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 3. It will also run on WGN Chicago at 9:30 a.m.

“Now is the time to reach out to Catholics and others who are searching for meaning in their lives or who have left the Church because they are disillusioned,” Fr. Barron said. “In each episode, our mission will be to encourage believers and bring the transformative power of the Gospel to the culture.”

The priest, who was ordained in 1986, has also been producing a ten-part documentary titled “Catholicism,” telling the story of the Church through travels to 16 countries. He will preview highlights of the series in his weekly broadcasts.

“The faith of the Church is our strength,” Fr. Barron continued. “Our program will strive to show viewers the richness of the Catholic faith and how it is a treasure to be shared now and with future generations. The faith imbues our life with meaning and imparts to all a renewed sense of purpose.”

Funds for the WGN America program were raised through private donations. The website for Word On Fire is http://www.wordonfire.org

Pope urges people of Great Britain to preserve Christian tradition

Arriving in Scotland on the first leg of a four-day visit to the Great Britain, Pope Benedict XVI appealed for the preservation of the country's long Christian tradition and warned against "aggressive" forms of the secularism and atheism.

"Your forefathers' respect for truth and justice, for mercy and charity come to you from a faith that remains a mighty force for good in your kingdom, to the great benefit of Christians and non-Christians alike," the pope said Sept. 16 at a reception with Queen Elizabeth II and more than 400 distinguished guests at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital.

The pope evoked the moral heroism of a long line of British figures, from Florence Nightingale to Cardinal John Henry Newman, whom the pope was to beatify during the visit. Christian witness was also evident during the World War II against a "Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from the society," he said.

"As we reflect on the sobering lessons of the atheist extremism of the 20th century, let us never forget how the exclusion of God, religion and virtue from the public life leads ultimately to a truncated vision of man and of society," he said.

In an unusual courtesy gesture, the queen sent her husband, Prince Philip, to greet the pope when he arrived at the Edinburgh airport after a two-hour flight from Rome. The pope looked eager to begin his busy program in Britain, and on the plane he told reporters he felt confident the country would give him a respectful reception -- despite differences with some critics of religion.

Edinburgh welcomed the 83-year-old pope with a display of enthusiasm and Scottish tradition, including a parade, bagpipe bands and plaid tartans designed especially for the visit. It was his first visit as pope to Britain and the first time the country has hosted a pope since 1982, when Pope John Paul II toured England, Scotland and Wales for six days.

Pope Benedict was being hosted in an official state visit, and British authorities pulled out all the stops at Holyroodhouse, a former Augustinian monastery that now serves as the queen's official residence in Scotland.

The pope removed his white zucchetto from his head and held it close to his chest as a military band played "God Save the Queen" after having played the Vatican anthem. The Guard of Honor gave the pope a royal salute in the courtyard of the palace, then the pope and the queen held a private meeting and exchanged gifts.

The two moved out onto the palace grounds to a giant marquee, a tent-like structure where hundreds of government and cultural invitees listened to their speeches.

The pope outlined an argument for the place of religion in public affairs, emphasizing that British saints and other leading Christians have "shaped the nation for good at the deepest level." While Great Britain today strives to be a multicultural society, he said, it must respect the traditional values and cultural expressions "that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate."

He said the British media have a big responsibility in shaping the ideas and culture of its society and in promoting the "honesty, respect and fair-mindedness" for which the country is known.

Queen Elizabeth also underlined the importance of the Britain's Christian heritage and told the pope that his visit also is a reminder of "the Christian contribution to the encouragement of the world peace and to the economic and social development of the less prosperous countries of the world."

The queen said that because religion is so important to national identity, the relationship between different churches and different faiths is "a fundamental factor in the necessary cooperation within and between nation states. It is, therefore, vital to encourage a greater mutual and respectful understanding."

The queen, who serves as governor general of the Anglican Church of England, told the pope, "We know from experience that through committed dialogue, old suspicions can be transcended and a greater mutual trust established."

"I know that reconciliation was a central theme in the life of Cardinal John Henry Newman, for whom you will be holding a Mass of beatification on Sunday. A man who struggled with doubt and uncertainty, his contribution to the understanding of Christianity continues to influence many," she said.

Afterward, the queen introduced the pope to a long line of government officials and religious leaders. Among the first was British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, a declared atheist and the youthful leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Daily Readings for Wednesday September 15, 2010

Reading 1, 1 Cor 12:31—13:13

31 Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now I am going to put before you the best way of all.

1 Though I command languages both human and angelic -- if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.

2 And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains -- if I am without love, I am nothing.

3 Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned -- if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,

5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.

6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.

7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

8 Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with.

9 For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly;

10 but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with.

11 When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways.

12 Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.

13 As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.

Gospel, Jn 19:25-27

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

26 Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'

27 Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Impact of WYD 2011 depends on spiritual preparation, say organizers

The organizing committee for the World Youth Day Madrid 2011 recently published a pastoral plan to assist the young people in preparing for the event by deepening their spirituality through prayer and the sacraments.

“The quality of the WYD depends on our spiritual preparation,” said Angel Matesanz, director of ministry for WYD. “We need to allow ourselves to be captivated by Jesus Christ and to become his collaborators.”

Gregorio Roldan, the secretary general of the WYD and director of youth ministry for Madrid explained, “This year the objectives of the pastoral plan are much broader because young people will be coming to WYD from all over the world: the main actors will be the youth.”

The objectives will focus on three main areas: growth in the knowledge of the Jesus Christ; the fostering of prayer and participation in the sacraments; and bearing witness to the faith through word and action.

The pastoral plan underscores personal preparation through a greater prayer life and knowledge of Jesus Christ, as well as the regular use of the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. It also encourages family prayer, participation in parish life and spreading the word about WYD to friends and acquaintances.

Benedict XVI urges families to place Christ at center of their homes

In a message sent to the families participating in the 21st Marian Day of the Family in the Spanish city of Torreciudad, Pope Benedict XVI call on the faithful to “put the love of Christ at the center of the home.”

The Holy Father encouraged spouses to “offer the joyful testimony of a family life characterized by faith, prayer to God and the seeking of each family member’s well being.”

During Mass, Archbishop Jesus Sanz Montes of Oviedo said, “God wished to begin his human adventure as we begin ours: in the heart of a family.” For this reason, he said, “The Holy Family is the most beautiful icon in which God himself draws close to us, becomes visible and one of us.”

The archbishop also referred to the importance of human life. “The Church wishes to lend her humble voice to say yes to life, to all life, because that life both whispers and shouts out God to us.”

“This is the Gospel of Life, and this is the precious contribution to our beloved world, to which we also belong, that our families can make in hope and joy with their human and Christian values,” the archbishop said. “Be not afraid, proclaim to all the beauty and joy of trusting in God, and as a family in Him, cease not from building up his Kingdom,” he told the more than 15,000 in attendance.

Daily Readings for Tuesday September 14, 2010

Reading 1, Nm 21:4b-9

4 They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience.

5 They spoke against God and against Moses, 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert? For there is neither food nor water here; we are sick of this meagre diet.'

6 At this, God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel.

7 The people came and said to Moses, 'We have sinned by speaking against Yahweh and against you. Intercede for us with Yahweh to save us from these serpents.' Moses interceded for the people,

8 and Yahweh replied, 'Make a fiery serpent and raise it as a standard. Anyone who is bitten and looks at it will survive.'

9 Moses then made a serpent out of bronze and raised it as a standard, and anyone who was bitten by a serpent and looked at the bronze serpent survived.

Gospel, Jn 3:13-17

13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of man;

14 as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up

15 so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.

16 For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.

Reading 2, Phil 2:6-11

6 Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped.

7 But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being,

8 he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

9 And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names;

10 so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus

11 and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Catholic officials to investigate claims of second Newman miracle

Catholic officials are investigating claims that a severely deformed baby was born in a perfectly normal condition after the child's mother prayed to Cardinal John Henry Newman for a miracle.

Andrea Ambrosi, the Vatican lawyer in charge of the Cardinal Newman's cause for canonization, has revealed in a BBC program to be broadcast Sept. 18 that he hopes the inexplicable healing may be the miracle needed to canonize Cardinal Newman as Britain's next saint.

Pope Benedict XVI will beatify Cardinal Newman at a huge open-air Mass in Birmingham's Cofton Park Sept. 19, the last day of his four-day visit to the England and Scotland. However, a second miracle is needed to name the 19th-century cardinal as a saint.

"I am about to leave for Mexico City precisely because that could be the miracle for his canonization," Ambrosi said in the documentary -- "Newman: Saint or Sinner?" -- excerpts of which were released by the BBC Sept. 9.

"We are in a very preliminary phase," he added. "I cannot say anything yet, but this shows how the cardinal answers these prayers."

Former British government minister Ann Widdecombe -- who, like Cardinal Newman, was Anglican before becoming Catholic -- will present the television program. She told Catholic News Service Sept. 13 that the alleged healing occurred after prenatal scans revealed that the unborn baby was "severely deformed."

The doctors, she said, were convinced they could do nothing to help the fetus, but the mother, a devout Catholic, insisted on going through with the pregnancy.

"The child was born perfect following the mother praying to Newman, and scientists can't explain it," said Widdecombe.

Father Richard Duffield, provost of the Birmingham Oratory, confirmed in an e-mail to CNS that "an investigative tribunal into a further miracle ... is about to open in the Archdiocese of Mexico City."

"The reported miracle took place after the formal announcement of Newman's beatification (in July 2009)," he said. "This means that if it is found to be genuine it would be eligible for consideration as the second miracle necessary for Newman's canonization. It is expected that witness statements from those concerned and from the medical teams will be ready to send to Rome in early 2011.

"The process of investigation needs to be very thorough, and we should be cautious," he said. "But it is always exciting to hear reports of Newman's intercession and the evident devotion there is to him all over the world."

U.S. Deacon Jack Sullivan of Marshfield, Mass., whose healing from a crippling spinal condition in August 2001 was the miracle that allowed for Cardinal Newman's beatification, will read the Gospel during the beatification Mass.

Pope Benedict has waived his own rules to preside over the ceremony rather than sending a Vatican delegate to conduct the ceremony.

Cardinal Newman was an Anglican theologian who became a Catholic after first founding the Oxford Movement to try to return the Church of England to its Catholic roots.

Pope to German People: Protect Life, Defend Marriage, Build a 'Culture of the Person'

Upon receiving the the new ambassador of Germany to the Holy See, the Pope said: "The Church looks with concern at the growing attempts to eliminate the Christian concept of marriage and the family from the conscience of society. Marriage is the lasting union of love between a man and a woman, which is always open to the transmission of human life". In this context the German Pope identified the need for a "culture of the person" and reminded the German people that "the construction of a human society requires faithfulness to truth."

The Holy Father on Monday received the Letters of Credence of Walter Jurgen Schmid, the new ambassador of Germany to the Holy See. He used the event to speak to the German people.

The Pope began by mentioning Fr. Gerhard Hirschfelder, a martyr priest who died under the Nazi regime and who is due to be beatified in Munster on 19 September. He also referred to the beatifications of four other priests and the commemoration of an Evangelical pastor, scheduled for 2011.

"Contemplating these martyrs", said Benedict XVI, "it emerges ever more clearly how certain men, on the basis of their Christian convictions, are ready to give their lives for the faith, for the right to exercise their beliefs freely and for freedom of speech, for peace and human dignity".

However, he went on, "many men tend to show an overriding inclination towards more permissive religious convictions. The personal God of Christianity, Who reveals Himself in the Bible, is replaced by a supreme being, mysterious and undefined, who has only a vague relation with the personal life of human beings.

Daily Readings for Monday September 13, 2010

Reading 1, 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33

17 Now that I am on the subject of instructions, I cannot congratulate you on the meetings you hold; they do more harm than good.

18 In the first place, I hear that when you all come together in your assembly, there are separate factions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

19 It is no bad thing, either, that there should be differing groups among you so that those who are to be trusted among you can be clearly recognised.

20 So, when you meet together, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat;

21 for when the eating begins, each one of you has his own supper first, and there is one going hungry while another is getting drunk.

22 Surely you have homes for doing your eating and drinking in? Or have you such disregard for God's assembly that you can put to shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Congratulate you? On this I cannot congratulate you.

23 For the tradition I received from the Lord and also handed on to you is that on the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread,

24 and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.'

25 And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.'

26 Whenever you eat this bread, then, and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes.

33 So then, my brothers, when you meet for the Meal, wait for each other;

Gospel, Lk 7:1-10

1 When he had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum.

2 A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death.

3 Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant.

4 When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him saying, 'He deserves this of you,

5 because he is well disposed towards our people; he built us our synagogue himself.'

6 So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends to say to him, 'Sir, do not put yourself to any trouble because I am not worthy to have you under my roof;

7 and that is why I did not presume to come to you myself; let my boy be cured by your giving the word.

8 For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, "Go," and he goes; to another, "Come here," and he comes; to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'

9 When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, 'I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith as great as this.'

10 And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.

Vatican Library will create a mini-reading room replica for tourists

Even though the Vatican Library is opening its doors after a three-year major renovation, most of the general public will never get a chance to walk down the frescoed halls of the pope's library.

Only qualified students, scholars and historians are granted permission to leaf through the precious volumes or flip through the microfilm reproductions. An average of 20,000 people from all over the world visit the library's stacks each year.

But now, to help celebrate its extensive restoration, the Vatican Library is organizing a special exhibit next to St. Peter's Square to help everyday visitors to Rome get a look and feel for the real library.

Visitors to the exhibit in the Braccio Carlo Magno hall from Nov. 10 to Jan. 31, 2011, will be able to slip on white gloves and cozy up to exact replicas of medieval and Renaissance era manuscripts, said the curator of the library's printed collections.

Barbara Jatta, a recent papal appointee, told Catholic News Service that the library's artisans will also be on hand at the temporary exhibit to show the public how they care for and repair damaged bindings, worn pages and delicate codices.

Jatta was one of a number of Vatican Library officials who attended a news conference Sept. 13 unveiling the newly renovated rooms.

"We want to offer the general public (an opportunity) to learn about the Vatican Library, its history and how it began," as well as how it has integrated the latest technology in handling and caring for its treasures, she said.

While the exhibit is still in the planning stages, Jatta said they will try to recreate the ornately frescoed Sistine Hall reading room and furnish it with chairs, large wooden desks and special table-top manuscript lecterns so visitors "can consult reproduced codices with white gloves" just like real scholars use to keep dirt and grime from soiling the folios, she said.

The exact replicas will include medieval and Renaissance-era Bibles and codices such as the colorful hand-drawn manual, "De arte venandi cum avibus," which details the art of raising falcons and hunting birds, she said.

"We want to create a replica of this reading room because a normal visitor would never be able to see it," she said.

Created by Pope Nicholas V in the 15th century, the Vatican Library is home to about 75,000 manuscripts and more than 1.1 million printed books covering everything from mathematics to law, theology and literature. Some 8,500 incunabula and numerous coins and medallions are also part of its collection.

The library will officially open Sept. 20 to accredited scholars.