Coptic Catholic patriarch welcomes fall of Mubarak

Cardinal Antonios Naguib, patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, has issued a declaration welcoming the fall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak.

“The Egyptian Catholic Church joins all Egypt's loyal citizens to thank God enormous for the wonderful success he granted to the daring youth of the January 25 movement,” he said. “Thanks are due to the crowds of patriotic youth who aggravated the spark from which this movement started off and became an erupting volcano that cannot be extinguished and that gathered all the forces that refuse the wrong situation scheming the country for so long, by looking forward to a better and brighter future for the Egyptian civilization, and meeting around one cause which is the love of Egypt and the self-respect of its citizens.”

“This experience has shaped a reality that was absent for so long, which is the unity of the citizens, the youth and the old, Christians and Muslims, without any distinction or discrimination, in purpose and action for the good of Egypt, and for the protection and safety in the country,” he added. “We are convinced that these feelings that reigned in the hearts will last for the near and distant future.”

“We want Egypt to have its location among the modern countries,” he continued. “A civil country, a democratic one based on laws, justice and equality, that respects one’s freedom and dignity based only on the citizenship, allows contribution for all categories without reducing persons and categories to one member, and achieves what the analysts, politicians and intellectuals have called for in order to prevent divisions that caused bend in all the fields. Here they are the loyal Egyptians ready for making all efforts for the good of the dear nation. And the Catholic Church with all its institutions will work with them in reconstructing and happening along this path for a better future.”

Bishops take steps to end fighting in Mexico

The bishops of Mexico lately met with Church officials in Columbia to talk about ways to end the violence that has claimed the lives of nearly 35,000 in Mexico.

Several bishops from Mexico attended the 15th Plenary Assembly of bishops in Colombia to seek guidance on how to deal with the fighting that has swept Mexico.

Archbishop Carlos Garfias Merlos of Acapulco, Mexico reflected on the conference Feb. 10 saying, the work carried out by the Church in Colombia to disband equipped rebel groups could also be simulated in Mexico.

He noted that while it is still uncertain whether the Church in Mexico will be asked to help out in ending the violence in the country, arrangements should be made, as such a request could come “in the short or medium term.”

Archbishop Garfias later told Vatican Radio that the gathering gave the Mexican bishops a chance “to learn about the experience and the charity that the Church has made to society in Colombia.”

Over the course of the Feb. 7 – 11 meeting in Bogota, Colombia, the bishops communal pastoral experiences on solving armed conflict and discussed elements that are necessary for peace building.

The Mexican bishops received “excellent guidance during these three days, and we are bringing back a lot of ideas that I think will be helpful,” Archbishop Garfias concluded.

Catholic Church bans barbecues but approves flags for Pope's visit

The Catholic Church has issued a list of the dos and don'ts to pilgrims hoping to attend public events during the Pope's visit to the Britain next month.

Catholics hoping to see Pope Benedict XVI at the gatherings in London and Birmingham may bring sunblock, banners and torches - but not animals, candles or vuvuzelas.

Other unwelcome items includes alcohol, gazebos, canopies and barbecues which are considered to be "things that...could pose a threat to yourself or others".

Flags, cushions and small folding chairs have been approved.

The instructions - on the official papal visit website - even detail that hampers and cool boxes should "not exceed 20in x 13in x8in (51cm x 33cm x 20cm)".

They advise people to bring "provision for all weather conditions", "medication as needed for the duration of your time away from home" as well as emergency contact numbers.

Also suggested is wet weather gear (rainwear) and "provision for sunny conditions (hats/caps, clothes to cover-up, sun cream)".

The advice includes: "Please be aware that the sun can burn even on a cloudy day. Please remember that overnight temperatures may drop significantly at this time of year."

Around 80,000 people are expected in Hyde Park, London, on September 18, with 65,000 in Birmingham's Cofton Park the following day.

They can expect sound levels of up to 96 decibels, according to the website, marginally louder than a lawnmower.

The beatification of Cardinal Henry Newman, a convert from the Church of England, at Cofton Park will be the "culmination" of the pope's four-day visit, said a papal spokesman.

The Pope will also meet with politicians including Nick Clegg and Harriet Harman, both of whom are married to Roman Catholics.

Pope Benedict XVI is also visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow during his four-day visit to the UK.

The Church is Catholic

We have used the term 'Catholic' so many times in our lives that we have tend to take it for granted. Since words are of the most importance, it seems necessary to look more carefully at this very important word in our vocabulary.

It is generally acknowledged that the word Catholic Church first appears in the writings of the apostolic father, St. Ignatius of the Antioch, in his Letter To the Smyrnaeans in the year 110 A.D. The context of the use of these terms is as follows: Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#830) states: The word catholic means universal, in the sense of according to the totality or in keeping with a whole. The Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in ther. Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church (St. Ignatius). In her subsists the fullness of the Christ's body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him the fullness of the means of salvation which he has been willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and the ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of the Pentecost and will always be so until the day of the Parousia.

Secondly, the Church is catholic (#831) because she has been sent out by the Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race. Wherever the faithful gathered united under their pastors the universal Church is made present. Hence, in the Sacramento the universal or "Catholic" Church gathers and celebrates, teaches and serves. As the Catechism (#834) states: Particular Churches [i.e., dioceses] are fully catholic through their communion with one of them, the Church of Rome which presides in the charity. For with this church, by reason of its pre-eminence, the whole Church, that is the faithful everywhere, must necessarily be in the accord. Indeed, from the incarnate Word's descent to us, all Christian churches everywhere have held and then hold the great Church that is here [at Rome] to be their only basis and foundation since, according to the Savior's promise, the gates of hell have never been prevailed against her. It is through union with Rome--obedience to the bishop of Rome, the pope--that full incorporation into the church that in Christ instituted upon "Peter" is guaranteed. The Holy Father is the guarantor of unity, and it is through faithful obedience and union with his office and his teaching that the church's unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity are guaranteed.

History of the Catholic Church

Early Catholicism came to be organized under the five patriarchs, the bishops of the Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople and Rome. The Bishop of Rome was at that time recognized as first among them, and doctrinal or procedural disputes were sometimes referred to Rome for an opinion. When the Imperial capital moved to Constantinople, Rome's influence was often challenged. While the Rome claimed special authority and descent from St. Peter2 and St. Paul, who, all agreed, were martyred and buried in Rome, Constantinople had become the residence of the Emperor and the Senate, and the churches at the Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria were all older than Rome. Antioch furthermore was considered to have been the see of St. Peter, before he went to Rome.

The first great rupture in the Catholic Church followed by the Council of Ephesus (AD 431), which affirmed the Virgin Mary as Theotokos. The majority of those who refused to accept this Council were the Persian Christians, a Church now known as the Assyrian Church of the East. The next major break was after the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). This Council repudiated Eutychian Monophysitism. The terms adopted by this Council were now unacceptable to many Christians who preferred to use a Christology formulated primarily in Alexandria. These Christians are now often referred to in English as the Oriental Orthodox Communion, thus treating "Eastern" and "Oriental" as not synonymous).


The next major rift within the Catholicism was in the 11th century. Doctrinal disputes, including that about the Filioque clause, conflicts between the methods of Church government, and perhaps the evolution of separate rites and practices, precipitated a split in AD 1054 that divided the Catholic Church once again, this time between a "West" and an "East". England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Scandinavia, and much of the rest of the Western Europe were in the Western camp, and Greece, Russia and many of other Slavic lands, Anatolia, and the Christians in Syria and Egypt who accepted the Council of the Chalcedon made up the eastern camp. This division is called the East-West Schism. The most recent major split within the Catholic Church occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation, after which many parts of the Catholic Church rejected the leadership of the Rome and reformed themselves, becoming Protestant.

All of the preceding groups, including Protestants, consider themselves to be fully and completely Catholic. All of them are claimed to be either part of the Catholic Church or the only Catholic Church.

AMERICAN CATHOLIC HISTORY

In order to get a clear picture of the influences behind the current American biblical scholarship, it is important to understand the history of Catholic settlers and the Jesuit missionary priests in the United States from the colonial period.

Meanwhile, French missionaries focused mainly in what is today Canada, but as time went on their work extended to areas south and west, including the Illinois and Louisiana. They took formal possession of the western country in 1671. However, European opinions and actions were often reflected strongly in the American colonies. The Jesuits in France, considering themselves bound by their profession to combat vice, made enemies for themselves, and although by attaining great strength and influence, also acquired many powerful enemies among members of the Enlightenment and the slackers and mistresses of the nobility. In 1762 there began the systematic suppression of their society, and in the following year the order was supressed in the Illinois country. All their property was sold at auction and the chapels demolished.

The first English colony was actually established by the Catholic convert. His father having died before he could realize his dream, Cecilius Calvert became the Baron of Baltimore. In view of the anti-Catholic laws of the mother country and the overall hostility towards the Catholics, the baron encouraged the erection of churches that were to be dedicated according to the ecclesiastical laws of England. He also preserved a religious toleration for all Christians the the minority. For example, in Maryland in 1634 there were little less than 3,000 Catholics out of a population of 34,000. In Pennsylvania in 1757, there was less than 1,400 Catholics out of a population of about 200,000. Even in 1785 when the entire United States are contained nearly four million people, there was little more than 25,000 Catholics - and no bishop.

In 1649 the Act of Toleration was passed, where "blasphemy and the calling of opprobrious religious names" became punishable offenses, but it was repealed in 1654 and Catholics were outlawed again in Maryland. Puritans condemned ten Catholics to death, plundered houses and estates of the Jesuits, and forced the priests to flee in disguise into Virginia. By 1692, Maryland had become a royal colony, the Church of England was established by law, and Catholics were compelled to pay taxes for its support. They were cut off from all participation in public life and additional laws were introduced that forbid religious services and Catholic schools. Maryland did eventually pass an act of religious toleration by the end of 1776.

The other eleven colonies were left uncounted by Jesuit missionaries because their were few if any Catholics living in those areas. The only other colony with any recognizable population of Catholics was New York.

Finally, by the late 1700's, the establishment of Catholic schools, such as the Georgetown Academy in 1791 began. However, the school was open to every religious profession, and students were given liberty to attend the church of their parents choosing. In 1809, St. Elizabeth Seton founded the first school for girls in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Catholic parochial schools numbered about 200 by 1840. Catholic charitable associations also helped alleviate some of the educational pressure. The Sisters of Charity for example, opened their first St. Joseph's Orphanage in 1814. All of the various charitable groups were extremely beneficial in putting Catholics in a better light, because their charity was not confined solely to Catholics, but to all who were in need. Unfortunately, they could not entirely erase the prejudice that still existed.

Another charitable effort among Catholics was the attempt to educate the newly emancipated slaves. The Second Plenary Council in Baltimore in 1866, headed by 45 bishops, decreed that religious instruction be pursued for all, black and white equally. Unfortunately, the southern Protestant attitude against educating the slaves was so intense that many religious orders shied away from the task for fear of all alienating white patronage. Feuds between the religious orders and non-Catholics often forced black Americans out of the schools. Southern bishops tried again and again to acquire workers and funds to render the apostolate effective, but their extreme poverty crippled most of the efforts they made. A few religious communities were now successful, such as the Oblate Sisters of Providence, founded in 1829, and the Mill Hill Fathers of Baltimore in 1871. Bl. Katharine Drexel was also successful in establishing a network of the schools which served upwards of 25,000 black and Indian children and founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first predominantly black Catholic university in the Western Hemisphere. But, by the end of 1955, their were only 483,671 black Catholics in the United States out of a population of approximately 16,000,000. 

Nuns and the World

Sisters Contribute to the New Evangelization Across the Country

In their small chapel in Kansas City, Kan., the voices of the Little Sisters of the Lamb enfold their visitors within the Psalms they sing. The harmony of their voices lifted in prayer spills from the open windows and to settles on their neighbors who daily reap the benefits of the sisters living among them.

To the uninitiated, the prayer of the sisters brings a jolt to the soul with an urgency and a peace that seems out of the place in the inner-city neighborhood in which the sisters live. In the short time they have been here, they have become friends with many in the area and have been taken on the building of the first North American monastery of the Little Sisters of the Lamb.

In a time when vocations appear to be declining, signs of the vitality appear in some unlikely places. The Little Sisters’ presence in the Kansas City exemplifies the answer to the call of Vatican II for religious orders to rediscover their roots and for the faithful to participate in a New Evangelization.

The Little Sisters of the Lamb in their blue habits hail from the Poland, France, Austria and Luxembourg and bring with them a lifestyle radical by any standard. Founded in France by Little Sister Marie, the community espouses a life of contemplative prayer and the poverty . A branch of the Dominican order, the community has Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, a fellow of Dominican, as its bishop protector.

The sisters came to Kansas City at the invitation of the Archbishop Joseph Naumann who encountered their community in Rome. Archbishop Naumann believes that the effectiveness of their ministry flows from their poverty, which requires them to go out and beg for their daily bread and, in the process, they share the Gospel with those they meet.

“By coming in the poverty, many people welcome them,” the archbishop said. “Their strong and beautiful prayer of life sustains them in living out this radical poverty.”

Pope, at audience, offers another saint as model of priesthood

Pope Benedict XVI returned to the theme of the priesthood in his regular weekly audience on June 30, speaking about St. Joseph Cafasso, a 19th-century of the Italian priest. The Pope cited him as the model of “a good shepherd, understanding and compassionate."

Pope Benedict has been devoting his Wednesday audiences to a long series of talks on to the influence of major figures in the development of Catholic thought. He interrupted that series as the Year for Priest came to a close, with several talks on the priesthood. Then he resumed the longer series, with three talks on St. Thomas Aquinas.

Now the Pope returned to the priesthood, recalling the life of St. Joseph Cafasso and especially his devotion to hearing the confessions and providing spiritual direction. He also served as a prison chaplain, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII declared him the patron of Italian priests serving in that capacity.

Before concluding his Wednesday audience, the Pope offered some special greetings to the archbishops who had received the pallium the previous day, and remained in Rome for the papal audience.

Joseph Cafasso

Date of birth	January 15, 1811
Place of birth	Piedmont, ITALY
Died	June 23, 1860 (aged 49)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic
Beatified	1925
Canonized	1947
Feast	June 22
Attributes	Minister
Patronage	prison chaplains, captives

St. Patrick's Cathedral New York

Introduction

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York. is an example of the decorated and geometric style of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture which prevailed in Europe from 1275 to 1400, and of which the Cathedrals of Rheims, Amiens, and Cologne in Europe and the naves of York Minister, Exeter, and Westminster, are among the most advanced examples.

The Architecture and its Effects

Originally the word Gothic was used by Italian Renaissance writers as a derogatory term for all art and architecture of the Middle Ages, which they regarded with as comparable to the works of barbarian Goths. Since them, the term Gothic has become a term to describe the architectural style first appearing in Northern France in the late twelfth century.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the continued quest to combine the resources of the earth with the talents of man in order to draw the minds, hearts and aspirations of a people to a higher level of thinking and feeling.