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Feb 17, 2013, 12:20:01 AM2/17/13
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Digest #689
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Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:25 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"USCCB News" tpl_0719
Vatican Insider
http://www.vaticaninsider.com/
02/10/2013
Pope sends New Year’s greetings to the Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese
Benedict XVI extended his New Year’s greetings to “the various peoples of the Far East” - the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans and others, who are celebrating the Lunar New Year today
Gerard O’Connell
Rome
Pope Benedict XVI extended his greetings to “the various peoples of the Far East” that are today celebrating the Lunar New Year, in particular the Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese. He also sent “a special greeting” to the Catholics of those countries.
He did so when, speaking from his study window in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, he addressed thousands of pilgrims from many countries who had gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray with him and receive his blessing at midday on this sunny but cold Sunday.
The 85-year old pope reminded them that today, February 10, “Various peoples of the Far East are celebrating the Lunar New Year.”
He recalled that “peace, harmony and thanksgiving to Heaven are the universal values that are celebrated on this happy occasion” and said these same values “are desired by all for the building of their own family, society and nation.”
“I wish that the aspirations of these peoples for a happy and prosperous life can be fulfilled”, he added.
He went onto extend “a special greeting” to the Catholics in those countries, praying that “they may let themselves be guided by the wisdom of Christ in this Year of Faith”.
Though the Pope did not mention any one country, it was clear that he was referring in particular to the Chinese, the Vietnamese and Koreans as well as their compatriots who are living and working in many foreign countries across the globe, including Italy. In all some 1.5 billion people worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year today; that is, about one in four of the world’s inhabitants.
The Chinese celebrate the Lunar New Year in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and in many other places, including Rome, where there are sizable Chinese communities. There is a long standing tradition that people celebrate this festival in the family home, with their families. In China and elsewhere, people travel great distances to join their families for this happy annual festival.
The lunar calendar follows a 12-year cycle with 12 animals representing each year, in this order: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Last year was the Year of the Dragon, it ended at midnight with the arrival of this New Year – the Year of the Snake.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
http://www.vaticaninsider.com/
02/10/2013
Pope sends New Year’s greetings to the Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese
Benedict XVI extended his New Year’s greetings to “the various peoples of the Far East” - the Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans and others, who are celebrating the Lunar New Year today
Gerard O’Connell
Rome
Pope Benedict XVI extended his greetings to “the various peoples of the Far East” that are today celebrating the Lunar New Year, in particular the Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese. He also sent “a special greeting” to the Catholics of those countries.
He did so when, speaking from his study window in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, he addressed thousands of pilgrims from many countries who had gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray with him and receive his blessing at midday on this sunny but cold Sunday.
The 85-year old pope reminded them that today, February 10, “Various peoples of the Far East are celebrating the Lunar New Year.”
He recalled that “peace, harmony and thanksgiving to Heaven are the universal values that are celebrated on this happy occasion” and said these same values “are desired by all for the building of their own family, society and nation.”
“I wish that the aspirations of these peoples for a happy and prosperous life can be fulfilled”, he added.
He went onto extend “a special greeting” to the Catholics in those countries, praying that “they may let themselves be guided by the wisdom of Christ in this Year of Faith”.
Though the Pope did not mention any one country, it was clear that he was referring in particular to the Chinese, the Vietnamese and Koreans as well as their compatriots who are living and working in many foreign countries across the globe, including Italy. In all some 1.5 billion people worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year today; that is, about one in four of the world’s inhabitants.
The Chinese celebrate the Lunar New Year in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and in many other places, including Rome, where there are sizable Chinese communities. There is a long standing tradition that people celebrate this festival in the family home, with their families. In China and elsewhere, people travel great distances to join their families for this happy annual festival.
The lunar calendar follows a 12-year cycle with 12 animals representing each year, in this order: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Last year was the Year of the Dragon, it ended at midnight with the arrival of this New Year – the Year of the Snake.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:25 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"USCCB News" tpl_0719
Pope Benedict XVI to resign due to "deteriorated strength"
English.news.cn 2013-02-11 22:44:48
• Pope Benedict XVI said during a meeting of Vatican cardinals Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28.
• The 85-year-old Pope said that he was quitting "for the good of the Church."
• He also said that he wishes to continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer".
ROME, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pope Benedict XVI said during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday that he will resign on Feb. 28.
Speaking in Latin language, the 85-year-old Pope said that after deep reflection he has come to the certainty that his strengths, "due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise" of his ministry in today's world, subject to rapid changes and questions of strong relevance.
"Well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome," he said adding that was quitting "for the good of the Church."
He also announced that he would step down from the helm of the Catholic Church at 8:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Feb.28, leaving the papacy vacant so that "a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked."
He also said that he wishes to continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer". Upon resigning, he will move to the papal summer residence near Rome, and then will transfer to a cloistered residence in the Vatican.
The pope's spokesman Federico Lombardi told a press conference soon after the announcement that Benedict will not take part in the conclave to elect his successor. The new pope could be elected before the end of March among several contenders in the wings.
The cardinals gather in the Conclave and vote in a process of secret balloting where a two-thirds majority is needed to elect a new Pope. If after 12 days a pope has still not been chosen, a vote by simple majority is instated.
Local media said that the pope's resignation came without any real prior warning or speculation, though concerns had been raised among Vatican observers about his declining health conditions over the past months.
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian cardinal Angelo Sodano, said that the announcement was a "bolt out of the blue," while outgoing Premier Mario Monti said he was "very shocked" by the unexpected news.
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, a Bavarian-born conservative theologian, served as a professor of theology at several German universities before becoming one of the most respected members of the College of Cardinals as well as one of the closest confidants of his predecessor Pope John Paul II.
On 19 April 2005, Ratzinger became the 265th pope in Catholic Church's 2,000-year history. He will be the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years, meaning that for the first time in centuries there will be a living former pope.
Papal resignation, which has happened four times before, is envisaged as a possibility in the Code of Canon Law, at the only conditions that it be made freely and be manifested properly.
The best known example involved Pope Celestine V in 1294, who after five months as the bishop of Rome issued a decree declaring it possible that a pope can resign and then lived the rest of his days as a hermit.
The last time that a pope resigned was Pope Gregory XII who stood down in 1415 to end the "Western Schism", which threatened to shatter Roman Catholicism.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:25 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"USCCB News" tpl_0719
UCA News - http://www.ucanews.com/
Ricci beatification process moves forward
May 11 is next key date
Alessandro Speciale, Vatican City
Vatican City
2013-02-11 16:51:01
Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit priest who played a key role in introducing Christianity to China in the 16th century, will take his next official step towards sainthood on May 11.
Bishop Claudio Giuliodori of Macerata, Ricci's hometown in central Italy, announced on Saturday that the Jesuit's beatification “process” will close on that date.
The initial process began in 1984 with the Jesuit being declared a “servant of God” but further progress stalled soon after.
The “process” was reopened by Giuliodori in 2010, during celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Jesuit's death.
Following Church law, Giuliodori created a tribunal tasked with hearing witnesses and collecting information to ascertain whether people considered Ricci a holy man during and after his lifetime, and whether devotion to him still exists.
Jesuit Fr Tony Witwer was the Postulator, charged with bringing Ricci's cause forward.
The tribunal will officially wind down on May 11 and all documents will be sent to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where they will be evaluated by historians, theologians and cardinals.
A miracle is needed before the Pope can declare him “blessed,” and a second miracle is required for achieving sainthood.
For a miracle to be accepted, a Vatican medical commission must declare that a person was healed in a way that science cannot explain while praying for Ricci's intervention.
Speaking on Saturday, Bishop Giuliodori said that while there are “traces” of a miracle attributable to Ricci, there is not a clear picture.
Ricci, he said, “is not a man of the past but a prophet for the future.”
Born in Macerata in 1552, Ricci died in what was then Peking in 1610.
While in China, Ricci became the first Westerner to be invited into the Forbidden City, acted as a court advisor on Europe and its culture, and obtained the Emperor's protection and support.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:25 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"USCCB News" tpl_0719
Info: PRESS REPORT
Homage to a Dutch ‘Mother Theresa’ in China
The Dutch sister Petronelly Keulers does not hold back her tears when she climbs the large platform, to take the seat beside Mayor Hau Lung-bi of Taipei, a city of a million people in the Republic China. The Mayor pays publicly tribute to this Dutch woman who dedicated herself for 40 years to people with an intellectual handicap, in Taiwan.
Alongside them, the Dutch Vincentian Father Jan van Aert takes his seat, seeming unmoved. A mob of photographers runs in to immortalize the trio, together with the Archbishop of Taipei, under a thunderous applause from the large number of people present, among them representatives of the political, social and ecclesiastical life of Taipei.
Reason is the 40 year’s existence of ‘St.Anne’s Home’, an institution for people with an intellectual handicap, in the capital city of Taipei. The Dutch Vincentian Father Gerard Beunen took the initiative when he noticed how this category of people was discriminated against in the society. But he recognised his own limitations in approaching this specific problem. An appeal to the ‘Kleine Zusters van St.Jozef' (Little Sisters of St.Joseph) at Heerlen (The Netherlands) brought Sister Petronelly Keulers to Taipei. A very experienced woman from ‘St.Anna’ in Heel.
“I felt completely in my element with the work for the handicapped in St.Anna in the Netherlands” says Sister Petronelly spontaneously. “Imagine, I was 49 years old already but I took the risk” She is now, at the age of 89, in a very good health. ”A littel problem when staring to walk but then she walks like a lapwing” a Dutch guest notices. A few years ago, she give up the leadership position and withdrew to a small community, living in a small apartment with 6 handicapped, near St.Anne’s Home.
Sister Petronelly can tell a story well: ”Handicapped babies were put on our doorstep. Sometimes we received a phone call, with the question if we had already looked out of the window. Than we knew that a little child had been laid down there again. A man forced his wife to choose between him and the handicapped child. Heartbreaking scenes took place”.
The following tale shows how difficult the beginning was: “Out of sheer poverty we sometimes went to the vegetable market and collected the outer leaves of cabbages which were thrown on the ground by the merchants. We made soup by boiling those leaves. There was nothing else. We just had to do the best we could in these days”.
When a name had to be chosen for that initial place of care, a few sheds, Sister Petronelly suggested “St.Anna”, referring to her former place of work in The Netherlands.
“Many years we received several cast-off materials from St.Anna, which were very useful for us”. In the meantime in the Netherlands, the large head building of St.Anna was due for demolition. In Taipei, two years ago, a brand new St.Anne’s was built, a modern apartment building of seven floors with all modern facilities. And a second St.Anne’s is planned in the southern town Kaoshiung.
Sister Petronelly and director Father Jan van Aert received several decorations for their pioneering and emancipating work for people with an intellectual handicap. At the 40 years jubilee of St.Anne’s, they are again in the centre of interest.The huge sports hall of the Taipei American School has been transformed into a colourful party hall, with a party program lasting 5 hours.
Before the solemn celebration of the Eucharist by the Archbishop of Taipei, the handicapped in their wheelchair, together with their coaches, will show a dance. And a film production will show the history of 40 years St.Anne’s and their founders, Father Beunen and Sister Petronelly.
At such a milestone, gratitude is appropriate, not only for the founders but also for the many co-workers and all those who supported them and still do that today.
How much their work is appreciated is evident from a visit of President Ma of the Republic, who for a full day took part in the work at St.Anne’s Home.
The housemates of sister Petronelly call her ‘mama’ and she speaks of her ‘children’. One is moved at seeing how she cares for them and how they care for her. They crowd around her like a kind of bodyguards. When she has to go downstairs, they come quickly in order to prevent her from falling.
Anyone who meets this vital, cheerful and engaged woman, realises how the Mayor of Taipei rightly paid homage to this Dutch “Mother Theresa”, for her tremendous works for the weakest in the Taiwanese society.
Vincent Hermans.
Taipei Republic China.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Homage to a Dutch ‘Mother Theresa’ in China
The Dutch sister Petronelly Keulers does not hold back her tears when she climbs the large platform, to take the seat beside Mayor Hau Lung-bi of Taipei, a city of a million people in the Republic China. The Mayor pays publicly tribute to this Dutch woman who dedicated herself for 40 years to people with an intellectual handicap, in Taiwan.
Alongside them, the Dutch Vincentian Father Jan van Aert takes his seat, seeming unmoved. A mob of photographers runs in to immortalize the trio, together with the Archbishop of Taipei, under a thunderous applause from the large number of people present, among them representatives of the political, social and ecclesiastical life of Taipei.
Reason is the 40 year’s existence of ‘St.Anne’s Home’, an institution for people with an intellectual handicap, in the capital city of Taipei. The Dutch Vincentian Father Gerard Beunen took the initiative when he noticed how this category of people was discriminated against in the society. But he recognised his own limitations in approaching this specific problem. An appeal to the ‘Kleine Zusters van St.Jozef' (Little Sisters of St.Joseph) at Heerlen (The Netherlands) brought Sister Petronelly Keulers to Taipei. A very experienced woman from ‘St.Anna’ in Heel.
“I felt completely in my element with the work for the handicapped in St.Anna in the Netherlands” says Sister Petronelly spontaneously. “Imagine, I was 49 years old already but I took the risk” She is now, at the age of 89, in a very good health. ”A littel problem when staring to walk but then she walks like a lapwing” a Dutch guest notices. A few years ago, she give up the leadership position and withdrew to a small community, living in a small apartment with 6 handicapped, near St.Anne’s Home.
Sister Petronelly can tell a story well: ”Handicapped babies were put on our doorstep. Sometimes we received a phone call, with the question if we had already looked out of the window. Than we knew that a little child had been laid down there again. A man forced his wife to choose between him and the handicapped child. Heartbreaking scenes took place”.
The following tale shows how difficult the beginning was: “Out of sheer poverty we sometimes went to the vegetable market and collected the outer leaves of cabbages which were thrown on the ground by the merchants. We made soup by boiling those leaves. There was nothing else. We just had to do the best we could in these days”.
When a name had to be chosen for that initial place of care, a few sheds, Sister Petronelly suggested “St.Anna”, referring to her former place of work in The Netherlands.
“Many years we received several cast-off materials from St.Anna, which were very useful for us”. In the meantime in the Netherlands, the large head building of St.Anna was due for demolition. In Taipei, two years ago, a brand new St.Anne’s was built, a modern apartment building of seven floors with all modern facilities. And a second St.Anne’s is planned in the southern town Kaoshiung.
Sister Petronelly and director Father Jan van Aert received several decorations for their pioneering and emancipating work for people with an intellectual handicap. At the 40 years jubilee of St.Anne’s, they are again in the centre of interest.The huge sports hall of the Taipei American School has been transformed into a colourful party hall, with a party program lasting 5 hours.
Before the solemn celebration of the Eucharist by the Archbishop of Taipei, the handicapped in their wheelchair, together with their coaches, will show a dance. And a film production will show the history of 40 years St.Anne’s and their founders, Father Beunen and Sister Petronelly.
At such a milestone, gratitude is appropriate, not only for the founders but also for the many co-workers and all those who supported them and still do that today.
How much their work is appreciated is evident from a visit of President Ma of the Republic, who for a full day took part in the work at St.Anne’s Home.
The housemates of sister Petronelly call her ‘mama’ and she speaks of her ‘children’. One is moved at seeing how she cares for them and how they care for her. They crowd around her like a kind of bodyguards. When she has to go downstairs, they come quickly in order to prevent her from falling.
Anyone who meets this vital, cheerful and engaged woman, realises how the Mayor of Taipei rightly paid homage to this Dutch “Mother Theresa”, for her tremendous works for the weakest in the Taiwanese society.
Vincent Hermans.
Taipei Republic China.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:25 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"USCCB News" tpl_0719
UCA News - http://www.ucanews.com/
Asia reacts to pope's resignation
Mixed feelings on Benedict's tenure
ucanews.com reporters, Asia
Asia
2013-02-12 16:17:25
Clerics and lay Catholics across Asia are coming to terms with Pope Benedict’s announcement on Monday that he would step down as pontiff.
Some have expressed shock at the resignation – the first since Gregory XII stepped down in 1415.
Others say they had suspected that Benedict’s eight-year pontificate would end this way.
However, there was wider agreement that his successor should heed the growing vitality and importance of Asia to the Universal Church.
“The new pope should be open to dialogue with the bishops of the world, forge good relationships with them, empower the local as well as the Universal Church pastorally,” said Holy Cross Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka.
He added that what the Church needs now is a guide, not an autocrat.
Muliawan Margadana, chairman of the Indonesian Catholic Graduates and Intellectuals Association, was more explicit.
"I hope that in coming days the next pope will give more attention to the fast-growing Church in Asia and Africa. If possible, I wish the new pope will come from Asia or Africa.”
Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi said Pope Benedict was an ally of the Church in Pakistan, where its minority status often puts it at odds with the predominantly Muslim population.
“He was supportive of our stance regarding the blasphemy law and other issues related to the minority Christian community.”
Meanwhile two Indian cardinals, who will join the consistory to elect the next pope, praised Benedict XVI for his contributions to the Indian Church.
“Pope Benedict XVI has always shown great affection for me and for the Malankara Catholic Church. Without him, the Church would not have received recognition so easily,” said Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis of the Syro-Malankara Church, installed as cardinal in November last year.
Cardinal George Alencherry, installed in October, said he was not surprised by the resignation and that despite what he saw as the pontiff’s declining health, Benedict remained a vital force for the Indian Church.
“The Holy Father may have been weak because of poor health in past months, but he had clarity of vision and communication, and always kept the Oriental Church in high esteem,” he said.
In Myanmar, where the Church has attempted to keep pace with democratic reforms as the country attempts to overcome decades of authoritarian rule, Church leaders characterized Benedict’s abdication as courageous.
Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Gawng of Mandalay said Benedict showed “great courage and humility” in recognizing his diminished capacity to fulfill his duties.
While acknowledging hopes that the next pontiff would come from outside Europe, Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon admitted that this was not likely.
“It is very hard to guess who Benedict’s successor will be, but I think he will come from Europe or South America,” he said.
For some, the abdication presents the Church with an opportunity to embrace real change and break from tradition in the selection of a new pope.
Father Bartholomew Choi Jai-in, a retired priest from South Korea's Suwon diocese, suggested that the Church suffered from having an elderly pope.
“When I see images of an old and feeble pope in the media, it makes me think of the Church itself as old and feeble,” he said.
“We need a young pope who will lead the Church dynamically.”
Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, echoed these sentiments.
Expressing admiration for Benedict, Cardinal Vidal – at 82, not allowed to participate in the consistory according to Canon Law – said changing times require a change in Church leadership.
“What can we do? The modern Church needs someone younger, someone who is physically fit,” he said.
Another Philippine cardinal will participate in the forthcoming consistory – Cardinal Antonio Tagle of Manila, who many have speculated since his elevation last year could be a bold if unlikely choice as successor.
At 55, and noted for his natural charisma with the media, Cardinal Tagle would seem to embody the hopes of many for a younger, more modern and, most importantly, non-European pontiff who reflects the changing demographic of the Church.
But despite such speculation, the news of Benedict’s departure was met with equanimity, gratitude for his service and hope for the future as the Church continues to face some of its most difficult challenges.
One such challenge is China.
Bishop Joseph Gan Junquiu of Guangzhou, recognized by the Chinese government and the Vatican, said Benedict had made a substantial impact on the embattled Church in China.
While relations between Beijing and Rome had not normalized as many had hoped under his guidance, Benedict had nonetheless provided essential guidance with a pastoral letter to China in 2007 that “could lay the foundation for this normalization in the future,” Bishop Gan said.
Oswald Cardinal Gracias, installed by Benedict in 2008 and one of 11 Asian bishops who will select the next pontiff, spoke for many in Asia in a statement that acknowledged the loss to the Church in Benedict’s abdication and hope that the Church would find a proper guide to take it forward.
“We will surely miss a great spiritual leader for our modern times – a man of clarity of thought on religious and secular issues and unafraid and courageous to speak the truth in matters of faith and morals,” said Oswald Cardinal Gracias, archbishop of Bombay and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, in a statement.
“At this moment we pray even more intensely for the Church that we get a leader of great holiness, wisdom, compassion and courage.”
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Nima, 泥马
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