Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280872&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Lima Newsroom, Dec 4, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The bishops of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala are inviting the faithful to participate in a day of prayer for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua on Sunday, Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

"On ??the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Nicaraguan Catholics lift their voices in a great festival of praise known as 'la gritería,'" the bishops of Central America said in a Nov. 29 statement. On this occasion, they pointed out, "in Nicaragua and throughout Central America, the traditional Marian devotion is expressed that is so deeply rooted in the piety of our people."

The "gritería" (clamor) is celebrated on Dec. 7 in Nicaragua on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, when the faithful walk the streets and visit altars erected in honor of the Virgin Mary praying, singing, and lighting fireworks while shouting "Who causes so much joy?" and responding with "The conception of Mary!"

In their statement, the bishops expressed their "profound solidarity and communion with the people of God in Nicaragua, who often face a challenging reality."

In their text, the prelates encouraged Catholics in each jurisdiction or parish to "join in prayer this cry of faith and hope, peace and freedom, which the faithful people direct to their mother and patroness. Our thoughts are with you, Nicaraguan brothers and sisters. We fraternally join your outcry, which respectfully hopes to find an answer."

The bishops' announcement came just prior to the Dec. 2 letter Pope Francis wrote to the Catholics of Nicaragua in which he encouraged them to be certain that faith and hope "work miracles."

Relentless persecution

The persecution of the Catholic Church by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and "co-president," Rosario Murillo, seems to have no end.

A few days ago, the regime approved a reform of the country's constitution that further restricts religious freedom and freedom of expression in the country, which are already quite limited. Among the most controversial measures is a provision that requires that "religious organizations must remain free of all foreign control."

In mid-November, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship expelled from the country the bishop of Jinotega and president of the country's bishops' conference, Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutiérrez, who had criticized a mayor, an Ortega supporter, who interfered with Mass by blasting loud music in front of the diocesan cathedral.

Herrera Gutiérrez and other bishops, priests, and religious have been subject to constant monitoring, persecution, and abduction as well as imprisonment in deplorable conditions.

Numerous members of the clergy have been deported from the country, stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship and made stateless, as is the case of the bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando Álvarez, who was exiled to Rome in January along with Isidoro Mora, the bishop of Siuna; 15 priests; and two seminarians.

Under the socialist regime, Catholics have been silenced and public expressions of faith, such as prayers for the persecuted and other pastoral and spiritual activities, have been prohibited.

Between 2018 and 2024, 870 attacks against the Catholic Church were recorded in Nicaragua, as documented in the report "Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church?" by exiled lawyer and researcher Martha Patricia Molina.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280866&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Lima Newsroom, Dec 3, 2024 / 16:05 pm (CNA).

Catholics exiled from Nicaragua are expressing their gratitude for the recent letter of encouragement Pope Francis sent to the persecuted Church in the Central American country.  

"In the midst of this wave of repression and religious persecution unprecedented in our history, his words of encouragement are a balm for our spirit and a reminder of the transforming power of faith and hope," said Félix Maradiaga in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner.

Maradiaga, a former presidential candidate and former political prisoner, added that "the Holy Father's closeness to us as a pastor reaffirms our trust in divine providence, even when we face trials and challenges that seem insurmountable."

For Martha Patricia Molina, a researcher whose reports have documented hundreds of attacks by the Nicaraguan dictatorship against the Catholic Church in the country in recent years, Pope Francis' letter shows that "he follows up and pays attention to the serious situation facing Nicaragua."

"At this time, anything written by the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference would be a reason for the Sandinista dictatorship to continue deporting bishops, and Pope Francis knows that," Molina said. "I feel that's why he sent us this beautiful message."

"Our people are Marian, and during these days we are praying the novena to the Immaculate Conception. Receiving this pastoral letter from Pope Francis during this special time is a gift from God," she added.

Industrial mechanic Pedro Gutiérrez, who was deported to Guatemala in September, told the Spanish-language edition of EWTN News that Nicaraguans and many other people in the world as well would like Pope Francis to take a tougher approach to the dictatorship, given the crimes that have been committed against the country's Catholics.

After comparing Pope Francis to St. John Paul II, who "confronted dictators, great tyrants," Gutiérrez called on the pontiff "not to remain silent about the injustices that these criminals are committing against the Catholic Church itself."

"We would like a Pope Francis who defends the Catholic Church, who stands up for the Catholic Church," he emphasized.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280865&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Dec 3, 2024 / 16:35 pm (CNA).

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, announced on Monday that the Vatican had issued a decree of suppression to forcibly close the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas. 

For nearly 19 months, a dispute between the bishop of Fort Worth and seven women who are members of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington, Texas, a Latin Mass religious community, has played out in court papers and public statements. 

Olson said the de facto head of the monastery, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, had admitted to engaging in illicit sexual activity with a priest and that he therefore removed her as prioress, in accord with his proper authority. Gerlach has denied the accusations and has claimed that the bishop has overstepped his rightful authority because he wants to acquire the monastery's land. The bishop denies that claim.

The following timeline is based on court documents; news stories; public statements on the website of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas; and public statements on the website of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington. 

1958: Discalced Carmelite nuns take up residence in Fort Worth, Texas. 

1984: Discalced Carmelite nuns move to a new monastery (Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity) on a 72-acre wooded property in Arlington, Texas. 

2013: Bishop Michael Olson becomes bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth.

August 2020: Discalced Carmelite nuns ask permission from the Vatican to join a new association of Carmelites (known as the Discalced Carmelite Association of Christ the King), thus moving from the jurisdiction of a Discalced Carmelites provincial to the bishop of Fort Worth; in October 2020 the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life grants the request.

April 24, 2023: Olson visits the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Arlington, Texas, saying he had gotten a report that the prioress, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, had "committed sins against the Sixth Commandment and violated her vow of chastity with a priest from outside the Diocese of Fort Worth"; the bishop takes Gerlach's computer, iPad, and cellphone, according to subsequent court papers.

May 3, 2023: Gerlach and another nun, Sister Francis Therese, file a state lawsuit in Tarrant County district court in Fort Worth against Olson and the Diocese of Fort Worth, claiming the bishop has abused his power and overstepped his authority and calling his charges of misconduct against Gerlach "patently false and defamatory." 

May 16, 2023: Olson issues a statement saying that on April 24, 2023, he began a Church investigation of Gerlach after he received a report of misconduct by Gerlach; his statement notes that the Carmelite nuns filed a civil lawsuit against him. 

May 31, 2023: Olson announces that the Vatican has issued a decree appointing him "pontifical commissary" of the Carmelite monastery in Arlington, meaning he is what he calls "the pope's representative in this matter." 

June 1, 2023: Olson issues a statement saying he has dismissed Gerlach from the Order of Discalced Carmelites, saying he has found her "guilty of having violated the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue and her vow of chastity"; Gerlach appeals to Rome.

June 14, 2023: Diocese of Fort Worth releases photos that diocesan officials say show marijuana edibles and marijuana paraphernalia at the monastery; the diocese says the photos came from a confidential informant. A lawyer for the nuns suggests the drugs in the photos were staged by the diocese.

June 27, 2023: A lawyer for the Diocese of Fort Worth plays in open court a recording of a conversation between Olson and Gerlach in which Gerlach admits to having had inappropriate telephone contact with a priest, at one point saying: "I made a horrible, horrible mistake," according to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Gerlach has before and since the court proceeding denied allegations of misconduct — a lawyer for Gerlach says she has serious physical ailments and was suffering from the effects of medications designed to control seizures when she spoke with the bishop that day and that she underwent surgery the day after the interview.

June 30, 2023: A judge dismisses the nuns' lawsuit, saying the court lacks jurisdiction.

Aug. 18, 2023: Gerlach announces that the Carmelite Monastery of Arlington is no longer under the authority of Olson and forbids him from coming onto the property.

Aug. 19, 2023: Olson issues a statement saying that Gerlach may have incurred "latae sententiae excommunication" — which canon law defines as automatic excommunication "upon the commission of an offense" (Canon 1314) — for what he calls her "scandalous and schismatic actions."

According to the bishop, the statement Gerlach issued the previous day "publicly rejected my authority as diocesan bishop and pontifical commissary." The bishop's statement says the other nuns might have incurred the same type of excommunication, "depending on their complicity" in Gerlach's actions; the bishop declares the monastery "closed to public access." 

April 18, 2024: Olson announces that Mother Marie of the Incarnation, a Discalced Carmelite who is president of the Discalced Carmelite Association of Christ the King but who does not live at the Carmelite monastery in Arlington, is now the "lawful superior" of the monastery; the announcement is accompanied by a decree from the Vatican dicastery that oversees religious orders.

May 22, 2024: Olson announces that the Vatican has overturned his decree dismissing Gerlach from the Carmelites on the grounds that she did not abuse her authority as head of the monastery because she had no authority over the priest who Olson says took part in illicit sexual activity with Gerlach; the Vatican on April 30 also issues a decree upholding the bishop's investigation and another decree upholding the bishop's suspension of Gerlach as prioress. 

Sept. 14, 2024: The Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington announce a formal association with the Society of St. Pius X, which will supply a priest for the nuns' spiritual needs. (The Society of St. Pius X is a canonically irregular traditionalist Catholic association.) The nuns also announce that they reelected Gerlach as their prioress in August. 

Sept. 17, 2024: Olson announces that the Carmelite nuns' actions are "scandalous" and "permeated with the odor of schism," and he warns Catholics not to partake of sacraments at the monastery or give money to the nuns. 

Oct. 28, 2024: Olson announces that the prioress he appointed as what he calls the "legitimate superior" of the Arlington monastery, Mother Marie of the Incarnation, has dismissed the seven women of the monastery from the Order of Discalced Carmelites, returning them to lay status. 

Oct. 30, 2024: The Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington post a statement on the monastery's website saying that "any 'dismissal' declared by Mother Marie of the Association of Christ the King is a moot point" because of the monastery's association with the Society of St. Pius X. The nuns say their religious vows were "professed to God" and "cannot be dismissed or taken away." They also say that they pray for Pope Francis and Olson every day and that "any claim that we have departed from the Catholic faith is ridiculous."

Oct. 31, 2024: Olson announces that the Society of St. Pius X is "not in full communion or good standing with the Catholic Church" and that sacraments offered by the society under ordinary circumstances are valid but illicit. 

Dec. 2, 2024: Olson announces that the Holy See's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has suppressed the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity as of Nov. 28.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280864&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Vatican City, Dec 3, 2024 / 17:55 pm (CNA).

On the evening Dec. 2, the rite of "recognitio" (Latin for "verification") took place in St. Peter's Basilica. This is a traditional ceremony to verify and ascertain that the Holy Door, closed during the last holy year, is intact, sealed, and ready to be reopened at the beginning of the new Jubilee 2025.

The pilgrimage to the Holy Doors is a central act of the jubilee. Passing through them during the holy year symbolizes entry into a new life in Christ and the beginning of a journey of conversion.

The ceremony began with a prayer led by the archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. Then the "sampietrini," employees of the Fabric of St. Peter's who are responsible for the oversight and maintenance of the Vatican basilica, tore down the wall that seals the Holy Door inside the church.

Once the wall protecting the Holy Door was demolished, the workers removed a metal box that had been kept inside it since the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy on Nov. 20, 2016.

The box contains the key with which the Holy Father will open the Holy Door on the evening of Dec. 24. It also contains the handles, the parchment of the act certifying its closure, four golden bricks, and some medals, including those of the pontificates of Francis, Benedict XVI, and St. John Paul II.

Gambetti was in charge of leading a procession, with the singing of the litanies of the saints, from the Holy Door to the Altar of Confession, where he paused for a moment in prayer.

The participants in the rite then proceeded to the Chapter House, where the metal box removed from the Holy Door was opened. Present were Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of pontifical liturgical celebrations, who received the documents and objects of the recognitio, which will be given to Pope Francis.

On Tuesday afternoon, the same ceremony took place for the Holy Door of St. John Lateran basilica. On Dec. 5 the rite of recognitio will take place in St. Paul Outside the Walls basilica and on Dec. 6 in St. Mary Major Basilica.

A ceremony full of meaning

The jubilee year, one of the most anticipated and important events of the Catholic Church, is marked by different solemn ceremonies with centuries of tradition.

In 1499, Pope Alexander VI wanted to define the ceremonial norms of the jubilee. He entrusted this task to the then-master of ceremonies, Johannes Bruckard, who established different rites that continue to be celebrated today, although with some variations.

From the Jubilee of 1500 until the Jubilee of 1975, it was the pope who began the construction of the wall that enclosed the Holy Door. With a hammer, made of gold and later of silver, he would symbolically strike the wall three times. Later, the masons would take charge of demolishing it completely.

The wall was usually covered in turn by a simple wooden door, which was removed and replaced at the beginning and end of each holy year. However, on Dec. 24, 1949, it was replaced by a bronze door blessed by Pope Pius XII.

In 1975, the rite of closing the Holy Door was modified, as the trowel and bricks were no longer used, and the panels of the bronze door were simply closed, giving greater prominence to the door than to the wall. 

That same year, the tradition of including a metal chest inside the wall began, since previously symbolic elements such as golden bricks were inserted with the mortar with which the wall was rebuilt.

For the Jubilee of 1983, John Paul II did not use the hammer during the opening of the Holy Door.

During the jubilees of the 20th century, each of the steps that make up the rite of recognitio were consolidated. These include the demolition of the wall, the recovery of the symbolic objects, and the solemn procession with liturgical chants.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280860&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Seattle, Wash., Dec 3, 2024 / 09:05 am (CNA).

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to travel to Paris this Saturday to attend the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, marking his first foreign visit since winning the presidential election in November.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating: "It is an honor to announce that I will be traveling to Paris, France, on Saturday to attend the reopening of the magnificent and historic Notre Dame Cathedral, which has been fully restored after a devastating fire five years ago."

He also praised French President Emmanuel Macron, saying he has done a "wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!" Macron was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump after his electoral win last month.

The reopening will be a high-security affair. About 6,000 police officers and members of the gendarmerie will be deployed on Saturday and Sunday for the event, which is expected to be attended by about 50 heads of state and government, Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez said at a press conference. Pope Francis said in September he would not attend.

The Île de la Cité, where Notre Dame is located in the middle of the River Seine, will be accessible only to invited guests and residents of the island, Nuñez added. There will be room for 40,000 spectators along the Seine's southern bank.

The reopening service, presided by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, will be attended by Macron, other officials, donors and Parisian clergy. The service will include the singing of the Te Deum, the Magnificat, prayers for the world, and the Lord's Prayer.

In a gesture of unity, Catholic churches throughout the United States have been encouraged by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to peal their bells at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The inaugural Mass will be celebrated the following day, where the archbishop will consecrate the high altar. About 170 bishops and priests from around the world will participate, along with one priest from each of the 106 parishes in the Archdiocese of Paris.

Events from Dec. 8–15 will follow, inviting the faithful and those involved in the restoration to daily services. The cathedral will resume its daily schedule starting Dec. 16.

Notre Dame, an iconic symbol of French heritage and Gothic architecture, suffered major damage in April 2019 when a fire engulfed its roof and spire. Its main structure was saved, along with many of its priceless contents, but the $760 million restoration project has been monumental, involving teams of architects, artisans, and engineers dedicated to preserving the cathedral's historical integrity.

Prior to the fire, the cathedral attracted between 14 million to 15 million visitors annually, according to France's Tourism Board.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280840&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 3, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Catholic Church in El Salvador has asked President Nayib Bukele not to repeal the 2017 law that prohibits the mining of metals, including gold, following the president's announcement of his intention to lift the measure in order to tap into those resources.

"We hope that our authorities will reconsider and not repeal the law that prohibits mining, protecting the health and life of our people," San Salvador Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas said in a Dec. 1 video statement.

The statement was issued after learning of Bukele's intention to repeal the law, which the president announced in a post on X, stating: "We are the ONLY country in the world with a total ban on metal mining, something no other country has in place. Absurd! This wealth, given by God, can be used responsibly to bring unprecedented economic and social development to our people."

In addition, Bukele said that "God placed a gigantic treasure under our feet: El Salvador potentially has gold deposits with the highest density per km² in the world."

The Salvadoran president also noted that "studies carried out in only 4% of the potential area identified 50 million ounces of gold, valued today at $131.565 billion. This is equivalent to 380% of El Salvador's GDP."

The use of this wealth, Bukele said, "could transform El Salvador: create thousands of quality jobs, finance infrastructure throughout our country, drive the development of local economies. And all this with modern and sustainable mining, caring for our environment."

'Caring for our common home and mining'

Before reading his statement, Escobar recalled some excerpts from a message from the Secretariat of the Central American Bishops, published Nov. 29, which emphasizes the commitment of the Catholic Church to caring for creation, expressed by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Sí'.

"We urgently call on governments to adopt responsible and sustainable policies that respect the dignity of peoples and our common home, and that don't allow exploitation by mining, since it is necessary to prioritize human life and the environment over economic interests that perpetuate social and ecological damage," the message states.

Returning to his statement, the archbishop of San Salvador warned that El Salvador "couldn't sustain more pillaging through mining that would increase deforestation, erosion, and loss of fertile soil."

Escobar warned that "the most serious" harm would be "water and air pollution, causing death and illness in an irreversible manner," especially among the poorest people.

"Our people, already vulnerable due to the victimization to which they have been subjected by large national and international capital, would now be revictimized and in the worst way, since pollution from cyanide, mercury, and other lethal toxins would worsen health problems and premature death in an irreversible manner," the archbishop continued.

The Salvadoran prelate also charged that "if a good part of our people are already suffering from kidney failure due to water pollution caused mainly by pesticides, the suffering would be even worse due to the serious damage to other vital organs."

In conclusion, the archbishop asked for God's light "to find ways to economic development without harming the life and health of our people, the Salvadoran people."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280836&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

St. Louis, Mo., Dec 2, 2024 / 18:15 pm (CNA).

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a Missouri death row prisoner's appeal on the eve of his execution date, while lawyers for the condemned man argue that he was a frequent victim of physical and sexual abuse in his youth and suffered judgment-impairing brain injuries as a result.

The prisoner, Christopher Collings, was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2007 abduction, rape, torture, and murder of a 9-year-old girl, Rowan Ford.

Police said Collings confessed to killing Ford after raping her in rural Stella, Missouri, in the far southwest corner of the state. Collings allegedly burned the evidence of his crime, including the rope used to strangle the child, and dumped her body in a sinkhole.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Collings' case in a brief Dec. 2 order. Barring an intervention by the Missouri Supreme Court or Republican Gov. Mike Parson — who has never granted clemency during his governorship — Collings will be executed Tuesday by lethal injection. 

Collings' clemency petition filed with Parson states that Collings' brain is "multiply injured" and "structurally abnormal," which causes him to suffer from "functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation." It also relates in detail the frequent and often violent physical and sexual abuse that Collings allegedly experienced as a child.

The Missouri Catholic Conference, which advocates policy on behalf of the state's bishops, had urged Catholics to contact the governor to express their opposition to Collings' execution. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, reflecting an update promulgated by Pope Francis in 2018, describes the death penalty as "inadmissible" and an "attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person" (No. 2267).

"The death and other circumstances of Rowan's murder are tragic and abhorrent, and though her death was a great injustice, it still would also be an injustice if the state carries out a man's execution in lieu of confining him to life imprisonment," the Missouri bishops said in a statement last month. 

"The Catholic Church is strongly opposed to the death penalty because it disregards the sanctity and dignity of human life," they said.

The bishops said that citizens can reach out to the governor's office to express opposition to the pending execution.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey had in April announced that his office had requested that the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date for Collings, claiming "no court has ever found any legal errors" with his conviction.

In contrast to the petition sent to Parson, the petition to the U.S. Supreme Court sent on Collings' behalf did not mention the alleged abuse Collings endured, nor his brain development, but focused mainly on procedural issues.

Collings' confession, which became a key piece of evidence at his trial, allegedly took place during an unrecorded conversation with now-deceased Wheaton Police Chief Clinton Clark. David Spears, the stepfather of Ford, the victim, also admitted to playing a primary role in the crime, though he was ultimately only charged with lesser offenses and eventually released from prison in 2015.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280834&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Bethlehem, West Bank, Dec 2, 2024 / 13:45 pm (CNA).

For the second consecutive year, Advent and Christmas in the Holy Land arrive at a time of war.

This past weekend, the people in the small town where Jesus was born welcomed the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, led by the custos, Father Francesco Patton, as it is tradition for the custos to inaugurate the Advent celebrations. 

While Bethlehem is not directly involved in the conflict, it continues to suffer under the weight of economic crisis, violence from Israeli settlers, and emigration.

The city is not as empty as it was a year ago, but the atmosphere feels even heavier: Fear and a lack of prospects suffocate the hope of the people here. In pharmacies, anti-anxiety medications are in high demand.

After more than a year, "we are still afraid the war might reach us here," numerous people who did not want to be named told CNA. 

There is little desire to celebrate, even though this year the Christian churches of the Holy Land have encouraged their faithful to display public signs of hope — albeit with a sense of restraint.

"In these ways, we will echo the Christmas story itself, where the angels announced to the shepherds glad tidings of Christ's birth in the midst of similarly dark times in our region," the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said in a statement released Nov. 22.

This year, the custos' entry was festive. It was a warm winter day, and the entire route along Star Street was filled with children joyfully welcoming him. 

The road runs through the town center and leads to the Basilica of the Nativity, which, according to Christian tradition, was traveled by the Holy Family. A large contingent of scouts also led the procession. 

At the same time, it was impossible to ignore the war.

The war that Israel is waging in Gaza and in Lebanon (the latter of which now hangs on a fragile ceasefire) is reflected in the signs held by children along Star Street during the procession: "From the bottom of my heart, peace in Gaza and Beirut," "Peaceful solutions are always better," "From the cradle of peace, peace to wounded Lebanon," and "Together we can create change" are some of the words displayed on the signs.

Then there is the conflict that has been reignited in Syria. Six friars make up the custody's community in Aleppo. They immediately decided to stay — it is their vocation and mission, they said — even as the situation is escalating: On Sunday, Dec. 1, the Franciscan complex of the Terra Santa College in Aleppo was hit by a strike and severely damaged. No casualties were reported but panic has reportedly spread among the people.

Later that evening, the custos of the Holy Land released a declaration saying "our friars and the faithful of the parish are all well" and inviting everyone "to join us in prayer for peace in Syria, martyred by long years of war and violence."

In St. Catherine Church, the Latin part of the complex, the custos venerated the relic of the Holy Cradle of the Child Jesus during the solemn celebration of first vespers of Sunday, marking the beginning of the Advent season and a new liturgical year. 

The celebration culminated in a procession to the Nativity Grotto, where a 14-point silver star marks the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. A few steps away is the manger in which Jesus was laid just after his birth. Here, the custos lit the first candle of the Advent wreath.

"In the Nativity scene, the angels sing outdoors and the star lights up the night. Our celebration should also have visible signs of hope," the custos told CNA in an interview.

"I would like what shines to be the sense of solidarity, the ability for mutual hospitality, to forgive, and to offer reconciliation. I would like the meaning of Christmas to shine: that we are all loved by God and that the Child comes as God with us and our savior."

On Dec. 1, the Church of St. Catherine was filled with local worshippers for the celebration of the Mass of the first Sunday of Advent. The theme of hope was the focus of the custos' homily.

"In the midst of life's problems we must never despair or let ourselves be overcome by fear, and we must not turn in on ourselves but raise our gaze toward Jesus. Indeed, we need hope precisely when things are going wrong, when it seems to us that problems are without solution, that diseases are without the possibility of recovery, and that wars are endless," he said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280833&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Madrid, Spain, Dec 2, 2024 / 15:15 pm (CNA).

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Spain has accepted "with filial obedience" the recent doctrinal note by the country's bishops on practices of "intergenerational healing" that are not in accord with the magisterium and tradition of the Catholic Church.

In a statement published on its website, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Spain said it gratefully welcomes the content of the document approved by the Spanish Bishops' Conference and "adheres to it with filial obedience, agreeing with its content and the concern that underlies it."

The movement also stated that it "will continue to ensure that, within the scope of our association, part of the entire stream of grace, its guidelines are followed."

The charismatic organization added that the bishops' document, titled "His Mercy Extends from Generation to Generation," is necessary "to clarify concepts, risks to this practice, as well as the areas of its implementation, in the light of the studies carried out and the notes from the magisterium of the Catholic Church that are enunciated." 

In addition, the association hopes that what the bishops have set forth will help "identify and correct these practices that deviate from the tradition and the magisterium of the Church and that can cause great moral and spiritual harm to the holy people of God."

The statement from the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Spain was signed by its national coordinator, Víctor Gregorio Arellano, and the national spiritual adviser, Father Francisco Javier Ramírez de Nicolás, a priest of the Diocese of Osma-Soria.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Spain is a private association of the faithful whose statutes were approved by the Spanish Bishops' Conference in 2004 and modified in 2011.

The doctrinal note from the Spanish Bishops' Conference noted that Father Robert DeGrandis of the Society of St. Joseph "has popularized the practice in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal due to his involvement in it."

De Grandis and other authors teach "the intergenerational transmission of sin and, correlatively, the possibility of intergenerational healing," the bishops' note criticizes.

The way to supposedly "cure" physical and mental illnesses consists of "identifying the sin in one's own family tree" and breaking "the bond of sin" through "intercession, exorcisms, and, especially, the celebration of a Eucharist," which results in a supposed healing, the doctrinal note explains.

The Spanish bishops point out that "sin is always personal and requires a free decision of the will" and that the same is true of the punishment associated with sin. The prelates noted that "the only sin that is transmitted from generation to generation is original sin" but that this occurs only "in an analogous way."

Furthermore, they affirm that it's not possible to "maintain that there is an intergenerational transmission of sin without contradicting Catholic doctrine on baptism," the sacrament in which "the forgiveness of all sins occurs."

Regarding the Eucharist, the bishops maintained that offering petitions during Mass for intergenerational healing "seriously distorts the Eucharistic celebration."

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=280831&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI MENA, Dec 2, 2024 / 08:00 am (CNA).

A gun was placed near a Nativity scene on Nov. 23 in the town of Faraya in the Keserwan District of Mount Lebanon in the country of Lebanon, sparking outrage among locals.

Residents gathered in the town square ringing the church bells in protest. Security forces have been assisting in efforts to calm the tensions.

The vandals acted at night, removing the statue of the Baby Jesus and leaving a handgun nearby.

Keserwan District is reputed to be the stronghold of Lebanon's Maronite Catholics. It is home to significant landmarks such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa and the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke. 

Many see the act as an attempt to wreak havoc during the Advent season in a country currently hosting a large number of displaced people from war-torn regions. Others are awaiting the results of the investigation, according to ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner.

A parish priest's appeal

Regardless of the motives behind the act, the incident provoked widespread anger.

Father Charbel Salameh, a parish priest, joined residents in the town square condemning the vandalism and reassuring locals at the same time.

In a brief video, he said: "We will remain vigilant in protecting our village. We hold on to preserving our unity and harmony, for the Lord brings us together. Perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us to gather here and pray in front of this Nativity scene for those trying to sow discord."

He continued: "Let us not jump to conclusions: May God forgive those attempting to destabilize us. We are here to stay — this is our land, and this is our area. As children of the Church, we pray for whoever committed this act to understand that our sacred places cannot be easily violated."

"What happened calls for great awareness because impulsiveness can harm us in circumstances as such. We pray that the Lord Jesus brings peace to the hearts and minds of the people and our country, Lebanon, in these difficult times," he said.

Following the incident, Salameh replaced the missing statue of the Baby Jesus with another one from St. Charbel Church to temporarily fill the void. Security forces arrived on the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched investigations to analyze the circumstances and identify the perpetrators.

The statement of the municipality

The Municipality of Faraya clarified the circumstances of the incident in a statement:

"On Saturday, at 6 p.m., a citizen was taking photos of his grandchildren in front of the Nativity scene in the town square. Surprisingly, the children found a handgun lying on the ground. The man informed nearby shopkeepers. A municipal officer arrived at the square, inspected the site, and contacted security forces, who arrived promptly."

The statement continued: "Upon investigation, the statue of Baby Jesus was found outside the Nativity scene, among nearby trees. Security forces confiscated the gun and began their investigation, concluding that the statue was not in the manger at the time children were taking photos. This proves that the incident occurred before the children and their grandfather arrived. The photos of the children in question confirm those allegations."

"In light of these events, the Municipality of Faraya urges the residents and all inhabitants to remain united in brotherhood and love, as has always been the case. Faraya has long been a symbol of coexistence and a model for promoting peace, security, and hospitality," the statement concludes.

A record of attacks

Last year, a series of attacks on Christmas symbols in Lebanon occurred, particularly in the northern region of Tripoli, home to an active Christian minority. These attacks ranged from dousing a tree with gasoline at St. George's Church in Mina to throwing a Molotov cocktail at another tree in St. George's Church square in Zaheriyah. 

At the time, these unprecedented acts in the culturally and religiously diverse city were met with widespread condemnation from political, religious, and social leaders of various affiliations.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article