"And Mary said: 'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy -according to the promise he made to our ancestors-of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.' Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home." Lk 1: 46-56
Saint of the Day
Saint Eligius or Eloy Bishop of Noyon (†655)
ligius, born near Limoges in the late sixth century, was in his childhood so skilled in manual arts, that his father decided to place him as an apprentice under a silversmith of Limoges. In a few years he had no rival in the art of metalworking. His piety and virtues recommended him still more highly than his talents; his frankness, prudence, gentleness and charity were admired by all.
The king of France, Clotaire II, heard of him, sent for him, and commanded him to make a golden throne adorned with jewels. For that purpose the king provided a large quantity of gold and precious stones, and with the materials given him Eligius made not one, but two magnificent thrones. Struck by the craftsman’s rare honesty and ability, as well as by the overpowering beauty of his work, the king appointed him royal goldsmith for his kingdom, and kept him in his palace. Until then, the Saint had liked luxurious surroundings, but now, touched by a particular grace, he began to live in the midst of riches as a poor disciple of Jesus Christ. His greatest pleasure was to make beautiful reliquaries for the Saints. But best of all he loved the poor, and the treasures which passed from his hands into those of the indigent could scarcely be counted. When strangers asked to see him, they were told to go to a certain street and stop at the house in front of which a crowd of beggars was waiting; that would be his house. He would wash their feet, serve them with his own hands, take the last place at table, and eat only their leftovers. When Saint Eligius had no more money, he would give away his furnishings and his very cincture, his cloak and shoes.
God Isn't Too Busy for Us, Pope Assures. Even If We Have Too Little Time for Him
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- We may not take time for God, but he takes time for us, says Benedict XVI.The Pope spoke about God's availability for his creatures today before he prayed the midday Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. On the first day of the new liturgical year, the Holy Father reflected on the gift of time.
Pope: Church Is to Be Hope for World in Advent. Says God Calls Us to Meet Him in Prayer
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Advent is the season of hope par excellence, and during this time, the Church is called to be hope for itself and for the world, says Benedict XVI.The Pope affirmed this Saturday during his homily at the celebration of first vespers in St. Peter's Basilica.
BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities".
PARMA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MEET POPE
VATICAN CITY, 1 DEC 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father received the rector, professors, students and technical and administrative staff of the University of Parma, Italy.
MESSAGE TO BARTHOLOMEW I FOR THE FEAST OF ST. ANDREW
VATICAN CITY, 30 NOV 2008 (VIS) - As is traditional for the Feast of St. Andrew, the Pope has written a Message to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The Message was delivered during the course of a visit to Istanbul by Cardinal Walter Kapser, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Pontiff Urges Meekness in Face of Violence
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is encouraging people to be meek and loving so as to build a society where violence will not be considered the solution to problems.The Pope made this appeal today after praying the Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Prisoners Lose Freedom, Not Dignity, Affirms Pope
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Prisoners lose their liberty, but not their dignity, and thus they still have inalienable rights, Benedict XVI is recalling.The Pope said this today in St. Peter's Square when he greeted participants from a conference on Latin American and Caribbean prison ministry that was held last week.
Aide Decries Mix of Religion and Violence. Says Fundamentalism Among Humanity's Most "Dramatic Dangers"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican spokesman says the bloody attacks in Mumbai last week cause both "human" and "religious" worry for believers."It is terrible that in today's world, religion mixes with violence," Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said on the most recent edition of Vatican Television's "Octava Dies."
Faith Matters. Religion's Role in Public Life By Father John Flynn
LCROME, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- We need to resist attempts to exclude religion from public life. This is the central message of a couple of recently published books that reflect on increasing pressures to reject any role for faith in the public square.
Bishop Soto Takes Over Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, California, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop William Weigand of Sacramento, leaving in his place the coadjutor, Bishop Jaime Soto.Bishop Weigand, 71, though four years younger than the retirement age required of bishops by canon law, has long suffered from liver disease. He stepped down today, simultaneously marking 15 years of service as the bishop of the diocese.
A Cardinal's Correspondence. Interview With Editor of Newman Letters Project
BIRMINGHAM, England, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The complete collection of letters of Cardinal John Henry Newman is one of the "finest" in the English language, says the editor of the project to publish the cardinal's correspondence.Brother Frank McGrath is the editor of the Oxford University Press series "The Letters and Diaries of John Henry Newman" (1801-1890), which has just published its 32nd volume.
On God's Gift of His Time "A Gift That Man Can Appreciate or Squander"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today before praying the Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Papal Advent Homily "In This Season the Whole Church Is Called to Be Hope"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's homily at first vespers for the First Sunday of Advent, which he celebrated Saturday in St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope's Message to Bartholomew I "Relations Between Us Are Entering Progressively Deeper Levels"
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the message Benedict XVI sent to Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I for the feast of St. Andrew, which is today.The message was delivered by a Vatican delegation sent to visit the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople for the occasion. The president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper and Bishop Brian Farrell, respectively, were accompanied by Domincan Father Vladimiro Caroli, of the council, and Archbishop Antonio Lucibello, the apostolic nuncio in Ankara.
MANKIND IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM HAS NEED OF GOD
VATICAN CITY, 29 NOV 2008 (VIS) - This morning in the Vatican, the Holy Father received a group of students from the pontifical seminaries of the Italian regions of the Marche, Puglie, Abruzzo and Moliese. The audience marked the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of these regional seminaries.
COMMEMORATION OF PAPAL MEDIATION ARGENTINA-CHILE
VATICAN CITY, 29 NOV 2008 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil, as his extraordinary special envoy on a special mission to ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of the pontifical mediation between Argentina and Chile over the Beagle Channel. The event is due to be held in Monte Aymond, Argentina, on 5 December.
ADVENT: A CRY OF HOPE OF THE CHURCH AND OF THE JUST
VATICAN CITY, 29 NOV 2008 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 5 p.m. today, Benedict XVI presided at first Vespers for the First Sunday of Lent.
ALBUM BY PLACIDO DOMINGO INSPIRED BY POEMS OF JOHN PAUL II
VATICAN CITY, 28 NOV 2008 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, a press conference was held to present a new album of songs inspired by the poetry of John Paul II - Karol Wojtyla. The songs on the album - which is entitled "Amore infinito" (Infinite Love) and has been produced by "Deutsche Grammophon" - were recorded by Placido Domingo.
Irish Bishops Unite Against Civil Partnership Bill. Archbishop Laments "Contrived Polemic" in Press By Genevieve Pollock
DUBLIN, Ireland, NOV. 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Faced to a misleading report in the Irish media, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin affirmed his unity with other bishops in upholding Church teaching on the issue of civil unions.
Holy See Warns of Financial Crisis Worsening. Says Human Person Needs to Be at Center of Solution
NEW YORK, NOV. 28, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The worldwide financial crisis will become a catastrophe if the dignity of the human person is not protected, the Holy See is cautioning.This is the warning sounded by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, a day before the Doha conference on progress in international cooperation in development.
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ligius, born near Limoges in the late sixth century, was in his childhood so skilled in manual arts, that his father decided to place him as an apprentice under a silversmith of Limoges. In a few years he had no rival in the art of metalworking. His piety and virtues recommended him still more highly than his talents; his frankness, prudence, gentleness and charity were admired by all.