Tag: Benedict XVI
The Very Great Dignity That Matter Has Acquired Through the Incarnation
It is clearly a prohibition against representing the invisible God. But when you see Him who has no body become man for you, then you will make representations of His human aspect. When the Invisible, having clothed Himself in the flesh, become visible, then represent the likeness of Him who has appeared. When He who,… Read More ›
A Feast of Light
The Epiphany is a feast of light. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Is 60:1). With these words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church describes the content of the feast. He who is the true light, and by whom we too are made to… Read More ›
Psalm 139(138): “The wonder of my being”
1. At this General Audience on Wednesday of the Octave of Christmas, the liturgical Feast of the Holy Innocents, let us resume our meditation on Psalm 139[138], proposed in the Liturgy of Vespers in two distinct stages. After contemplating in the first part (cf. vv. 1-12) the omniscient and omnipotent God, the Lord of being… Read More ›
Psalm 139(138): “O where can I go?”
1. The Liturgy of Vespers – on whose Psalms and Canticles we are meditating – offers us in two separate phases the reading of a sapiential hymn of clear beauty and strong emotional impact: Psalm 139[138]. Today, we have before us the first part of the composition (cf. vv. 1-12), that is, the first two strophes… Read More ›
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
. . . [B]y learning from Mary, we can understand with our hearts what our eyes and minds do not manage to perceive or contain on their own. Indeed, this is such a great gift that only through faith are we granted to accept it, while not entirely understanding it. And it is precisely on… Read More ›
Feast of the Holy Family
Today is Holy Family Sunday. We can still identify ourselves with the shepherds of Bethlehem who hastened to the grotto as soon as they had received the Angel’s announcement and found “Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger” (Lk 2: 16). Let us too pause to contemplate this scene and reflect on… Read More ›
St. John the Evangelist
Let us dedicate our meeting today to remembering another very important member of the Apostolic College: John, son of Zebedee and brother of James. His typically Jewish name means: “the Lord has worked grace”. He was mending his nets on the shore of Lake Tiberias when Jesus called him and his brother (cf. Mt 4:… Read More ›
Feats of St. Stephen, Protomartyr
Every year on the day after the Birth of the Lord the liturgy has us celebrate the Feast of St Stephen, a deacon and the first martyr. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles presents him to us as a man full of grace and of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 6:8-10; 7:55). Jesus’… Read More ›
The Incarnation and Icons
It is clearly a prohibition against representing the invisible God. But when you see Him who has no body become man for you, then you will make representations of His human aspect. When the Invisible, having clothed Himself in the flesh, become visible, then represent the likeness of Him who has appeared. When He who,… Read More ›
Vatican: recent stories about Benedict XVI and Fatima secrets are ‘absolutely untrue’
Vatican City, May 21, 2016 / 09:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican announced today that recent articles claiming that Pope emeritus Benedict XVI said that the Third Secret of Fatima was not released in its entirety back in 2000 are “pure inventions” and “absolutely untrue.” The Holy See Press Office released a statement May 21… Read More ›