NEWS
Offer hope to those hungry for
love
Vatican city:
Pope John Paul II has addressed his customary Lenten message entitled "Come
O blessed of my Father, for I was poor, marginalised and you welcomed me."
He has said that by the mystery of the Holy Spirit which the Church contemplates
this year in preparation for the Great Jubilee, "the Church is being led
into the desert to experience with Christ the fragility of the human being
and also the closeness of God who saves...Lent is therefore a journey of
conversion in the Holy Spirit, encountering God in our life." Focusing
on the different forms of poverty the Pope says, "Those who have the possibility
to intervene cannot, in conscience remain different". He also speaks of
spiritual poverty which results in "a life void of meaning". This sort
of poverty is the lack of "spiritual nourishment, of a response to essential
questions of hope for one's own existence". The pope affirms that the human
person, "in the depth of his heart, asks for meaning, yearns for love".
The response of the Church
is "The proclamation of the Gospel in word and deed".
Fined for attending Holy Mass
Beijing: Those
who attend
Holy Mass without prior permission from the government have to pay a fine
of 60 dollars. It is in China that this restriction is imposed, on those
who attend Mass without registering their names in the Secratariate for
Religious matters.
No war with Iraq: American Cardinals
Washington DC:
The seven
Cardinals of America have requested President Clinton to refrain from going
to war with Iraq. They expressed their anxiety over the proposed military
action against Iraq. They have earnestly entreated the President to settle
disputes through peaceful means.
Spiritual vitality
Manila: The
national Holy Spirit Congress of the Philippines has stated that what is
needed most for the Church of today is spiritual vitality. Priests and
the laity should move together to make the Christian Church of the third
millenium dynamic and energetic. The resolution passed by the Holy Spirit
Congress pointed out that this working model will pave the way to give
new life to the community of the Church.
20 New Cardinals
Vatican city:
Pope John Paul II has appointed 20 new Cardinals in the Church. These Cardinals,
known as "the princes of the Church," are from 13 countries.
Asian Synod
Rome: The
Asian Synod, which met in Rome on April 19th will last till the 14th of
next month. It is the Regional Assembly that the Pope calls in preparation
for the year 2000. Only elected members participate in the Synod. The Pope
himself will lead the Adoration of the Eucharist at the beginning and conclusion
of the Synod.