30.4.08
O CATECISMO DIÁRIO: Ó Pinto da Costa vais pró inferno …(*)
A revista Visão anuncia hoje uma entrevista com o Sr. Pinto da Costa. Enquanto isso, o JN noticia que Sr. Pinto da Costa deu uma palestra aos alunos do liceu Carolina Michaelis (tanto o palestrante como os alunos deste liceu têm, ultimamente, aparecido nos jornais por causa das comunicações móveis).
A legítima estratégia de defesa do Sr. Pinto da Costa no tribunal da opinião pública continua a ser implementada a bom ritmo. Se eu não fosse Católico era capaz de jurar (Catecismo n.º2150) que existe um consultor de comunicação & imagem envolvido no caso.
Para além do carnaval mediático, têm surgido entre os defensores do Sr. Pinto da Costa alguns que pretendem desculpar e justificar os alegados métodos do Sr. Pinto da Costa com os resultados obtidos.
Esta é uma ideia muito difundida e que, se calhar, nós também partilhamos e aplicamos nas nossas vidas: os fins justificam os meios.
Mas a Igreja ensina que:
(*) Este título não deve ser entendido como a presunção da condenação eterna do Sr. Pinto da Costa, mas antes como um convite à conversão de todos. Trata-se, aliás, de uma tentativa - eventualmente pouco conseguida - de fazer humor parafraseando o "cumprimento" que as claques adversárias dirigem ao Sr. Pinto da Costa quando este entra em campo.
A legítima estratégia de defesa do Sr. Pinto da Costa no tribunal da opinião pública continua a ser implementada a bom ritmo. Se eu não fosse Católico era capaz de jurar (Catecismo n.º2150) que existe um consultor de comunicação & imagem envolvido no caso.
Para além do carnaval mediático, têm surgido entre os defensores do Sr. Pinto da Costa alguns que pretendem desculpar e justificar os alegados métodos do Sr. Pinto da Costa com os resultados obtidos.
Esta é uma ideia muito difundida e que, se calhar, nós também partilhamos e aplicamos nas nossas vidas: os fins justificam os meios.
Mas a Igreja ensina que:
1755-1756 & 1789 O acto moralmente bom pressupõe, em simultâneo, a bondade do objecto, da finalidade e das circunstâncias...Ou seja, apesar dos juízos sobre pessoas deverem ser deixados a Deus (Catecismo n.º1861) e apesar de não se poder presumir a condenação eterna de ninguém - nem mesmo de Judas Iscariotes (Catecismo n.º597) -, pode concluir-se objectivamente que quem sacrificar de forma consentida, deliberada e incontrita a moralidade dos meios à bondade dos fins passará a eternidade no inferno (Catecismo n.º1033-1036).
O objecto da escolha pode, por si só, viciar todo um modo de agir. Há comportamentos concretos … cuja escolha é sempre um erro, porque comporta uma desordem da vontade, isto é, um mal moral.
É, portanto, erróneo julgar a moralidade dos actos humanos tendo em conta apenas a intenção que os inspira, ou as circunstâncias (meio, pressão social, constrangimento ou necessidade de agir, etc.) que os enquadram. Há actos que, por si e em si mesmos, independentemente das circunstâncias e das intenções, são sempre gravemente ilícitos em razão do seu objecto... Não é permitido fazer o mal para que dele resulte um bem.
(*) Este título não deve ser entendido como a presunção da condenação eterna do Sr. Pinto da Costa, mas antes como um convite à conversão de todos. Trata-se, aliás, de uma tentativa - eventualmente pouco conseguida - de fazer humor parafraseando o "cumprimento" que as claques adversárias dirigem ao Sr. Pinto da Costa quando este entra em campo.
S. Pio V, papa (+1572)
"St. Pius V, who was born in 1504, joined the Dominicans at the age of fourteen; he was sixty-two when he was elected Pope. His reign, though short, was one of the most fruitful of the sixteenth century.To Protestantism, which had proclaimed the Reformation, St. Pius replied by applying the decrees of the Council of Trent for the reform of the Church. He played a great part in the return of the clergy to ecclesiastical discipline.
He insisted that bishops reside in their diocese under pain of losing their revenues; he made a systematic reform of religious orders, established seminaries, held diocesan synods, and reformed the Breviary and Missal. He brought unity into divine worship, published catechisms, ordered a revision of the Latin Vulgate and revitalized the study of theology and canon law.
During his pontificate, the Turks, which threatened the West, were definitively defeated at the battle of Lepanto. He succeeded in forming a coalition of Christian forces: and by public prayers, organized everywhere at his request, he was instrumental in obtaining the decisive victory of Lepanto in 1571.
His holiness and austerity of life were notable, and he succeeded in bringing simplicity even into the papal household. He refused to wear the flowing garments of previous popes and insisted upon wearing his white Dominican habit even as head of the Church. To this day, the pope wears white, a custom begun by this Dominican pontiff."
29.4.08
O CATECISMO DIÁRIO: Porque razão é o incesto imoral e condenável ?
Na actualidade, o consenso moral é guiado pelo "very simple principle" de John Stuart Mill:
John Stuart Mill prentendia que o seu "very simple principle" fosse apenas princípio de convivência civil. Este seu princípio seria 'meramente' político-jurídico. Mas, como explica o Cardeal Ratzinnger, as leis influenciam a moralidade individual e, à medida que o "very simple principle" se foi estendendo aos mais recônditos cantos do ordenamento jurídico, a moral individual - liberta da tutela da Igreja - foi-se conformando com ele.
Vem isto a propósito do trágico episódio que os jornais - na sua nova função de entertainers - vêm dissecando nos últimos dias.
A condenação pública e legal do sequestro, da violação e do encarceramento das vítimas é perfeitamente justificável do ponto de vista do "very simple principle"; (por enquanto) a opinião pública e publicada não tem problemas em condenar este tipo de comportamentos (e ainda bem).
O problema surge quando alguns - e não foram todos - mencionam a questão do incesto. Porque razão será o incesto considerado ilegítimo ? E será que devia ser considerado ilegal ?
Aqui, o utilitarismo e o liberalismo não ajudam muito. O "very simple principle" aplicar-se-ia apenas no caso de violação; se consentido, o incesto não deve ser objecto de interferência externa e, portanto, dizem os "very simple moralists" só pode ser legítimo. Algumas reacções ao caso de incesto recentemente descoberto na Austrália ilustram bem esta asserção. Alguns poderão referir a questão da idade do consentimento (parece que o "very simple principle" não se aplica a crianças e ainda bem), mas esta questão tem a ver com os relacionamentos íntimos em que pelo menos um dos intervenientes seja menor e não concretamente com "as relações íntimas entre parentes e afins".
Concluindo, qualquer bom defensor do "very simple principle" como princípio de moralidade terá dificuldade em condenar o incesto, tornando-se defensor do indefensável. A alternativa - aliás, bastante utilizada por estes "very simple moralists" - é recorrer a outras 'filosofias'. São incoêrencias perfeitamente justificadas e desejáveis mas, ainda assim, são incoerências.
Pelo contrário, a doutrina da Igreja, recorrendo ao Direito Natural e à Verdade Revelada, não tem qualquer dificuldade em explicar porque razão o incesto é imoral. Ensina o Catecismo que o incesto é uma "falta particularmente grave" que "ofen[de a] dignidade do matrimónio" e que:
Por outro lado, o incesto é "uma regressão à animalidade":
"… the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."Mill defende que quaisquer actos consensuais não devem ser objecto da Lei nem da moral pública.
John Stuart Mill prentendia que o seu "very simple principle" fosse apenas princípio de convivência civil. Este seu princípio seria 'meramente' político-jurídico. Mas, como explica o Cardeal Ratzinnger, as leis influenciam a moralidade individual e, à medida que o "very simple principle" se foi estendendo aos mais recônditos cantos do ordenamento jurídico, a moral individual - liberta da tutela da Igreja - foi-se conformando com ele.
Vem isto a propósito do trágico episódio que os jornais - na sua nova função de entertainers - vêm dissecando nos últimos dias.
A condenação pública e legal do sequestro, da violação e do encarceramento das vítimas é perfeitamente justificável do ponto de vista do "very simple principle"; (por enquanto) a opinião pública e publicada não tem problemas em condenar este tipo de comportamentos (e ainda bem).
O problema surge quando alguns - e não foram todos - mencionam a questão do incesto. Porque razão será o incesto considerado ilegítimo ? E será que devia ser considerado ilegal ?
Aqui, o utilitarismo e o liberalismo não ajudam muito. O "very simple principle" aplicar-se-ia apenas no caso de violação; se consentido, o incesto não deve ser objecto de interferência externa e, portanto, dizem os "very simple moralists" só pode ser legítimo. Algumas reacções ao caso de incesto recentemente descoberto na Austrália ilustram bem esta asserção. Alguns poderão referir a questão da idade do consentimento (parece que o "very simple principle" não se aplica a crianças e ainda bem), mas esta questão tem a ver com os relacionamentos íntimos em que pelo menos um dos intervenientes seja menor e não concretamente com "as relações íntimas entre parentes e afins".
Concluindo, qualquer bom defensor do "very simple principle" como princípio de moralidade terá dificuldade em condenar o incesto, tornando-se defensor do indefensável. A alternativa - aliás, bastante utilizada por estes "very simple moralists" - é recorrer a outras 'filosofias'. São incoêrencias perfeitamente justificadas e desejáveis mas, ainda assim, são incoerências.
Pelo contrário, a doutrina da Igreja, recorrendo ao Direito Natural e à Verdade Revelada, não tem qualquer dificuldade em explicar porque razão o incesto é imoral. Ensina o Catecismo que o incesto é uma "falta particularmente grave" que "ofen[de a] dignidade do matrimónio" e que:
2388 … corrompe as relações familiares e representa uma regressão à animalidade.De facto:
2207 A família … é … a sociedade natural em que o homem e a mulher são chamados ao dom de si no amor e no dom da vida. A autoridade, a estabilidade e a vida de relações no seio da família constituem os fundamentos da liberdade, da segurança, da fraternidade… A família é a comunidade em que desde a infância se aprendem os valores morais, começar a honrar Deus e a fazer bom uso da liberdade…O incesto coloca tudo isto em causa.
Por outro lado, o incesto é "uma regressão à animalidade":
2353 ... a união carnal fora do matrimónio… É gravemente contrária à dignidade das pessoas e da sexualidade humana, naturalmente ordenada para o bem dos esposos, assim como para a geração e educação dos filhos...O Incesto poderá ser também um forma de escândalo (2284-2285) e de adultério (2380).)
Santa Catarina de Sena (1347-1380)
“Santa Catarina nasceu em Sena no ano de 1347. Ainda muito jovem, ingressou na Ordem Terceira de São Domingos, sobressaindo pelo seu espírito de oração e penitência. Sem particular instrução (aprendeu a escrever quando já era bastante crescida), mas levada pelo seu amor a Deus,.à Igreja e ao Romano Pontífice, escreveu inúmeras cartas aos cardeais, aos príncipes cristãos, aos sacerdotes implorando-lhes a reforma da Igreja e a pureza dos costumes. E não deixou de censurá-los gravemente, embora sempre com humildade e respeito pela dignidade de que estavam revestidos, pois “são ministros do sangue de Cristo”. Estava convencida de que da conversão e do exemplo dos pastores da Igreja dependia a saúde espiritual do rebanho. É um modelo de clareza e valentia para se fazer ouvir por todos. Conservam-se cerca de quatrocentas destas, algumas orações e elevações, e um só livro, o Diálogo, que relata as conversas íntimas da Santa com o Senhor. Foi canonizada por Pio II … e Paulo VI declarou-a Doutora da Igreja.Esta Santa teria um blog…
Trabalhou incansavelmente pela paz e unidade da Igreja nos tempos difíceis do desterro de Avignon. Os Papas residiam naquela altura em Avignon, e Roma, o centro da cristandade, ia-se transformando numa grande ruína; como é evidente, tal situação acarretava inúmeras dificuldades à Igreja universal. E o Senhor fez com que Santa Catarina compreendesse a necessidade de que os Papas voltassem à sede romana para darem início à ansiada e imprescindível reforma. E ela correspondeu: orou incansavelmente, entregou-se à penitência, escreveu cartas ...
Ao mesmo tempo, proclamou por todo o mundo a obediência e o amor ao Romano Pontífice, , a quem chamava “o doce Cristo na terra”, e acerca do qual escreve: “Quem não obedece a Cristo na terra, àquele que está no lugar de Cristo no Céu, não participa do fruto do sangue do Filho de Deus”.
Estava convencida de que, tratando-se da salvação própria e da salvação das almas, resgatadas por Cristo com o seu Sangue, não tinha cabimento algum enveredar por caminhos de excessiva indulgência, adotar por comodismo ou covardia atitudes de débil filantropia, e por isso gritava: “Basta de ungüentos! Pois com tanto ungüento estão-se apodrecendo os membros da Esposa de Cristo!”~
Pouco tempo depois de ter retornado a Roma, o Papa morreu. E com a eleição do sucessor iniciou-se o cisma que tantos rasgões e tantas dores havia de produzir na Igreja. Santa Catarina falou e escreveu a cardeais e reis, a príncipes e bispos... Tudo em vão. Exausta e cheia de pena, ofereceu-se a Deus como vítima pela Igreja. Num dia do mês de Janeiro, quando rezava diante do túmulo de São Pedro, sentiu sobre os seus ombros o imenso peso da Igreja, como aconteceu com outros santos. Mas o tormento durou poucos meses: no dia 29 de abril, por volta do meio-dia, Deus a chamou para a sua glória.”
28.4.08
The Economist: "the pursuit of reason" ?
The Economist, 24/4/2008:
As proposições 1 e 2 conduziriam a uma determinada conclusão. Mas essa conclusão não dá muito jeito. Portanto, vamos tentar dar a volta por outro lado e esquecemos o que está verdadeiramente em causa... red herring.
Diz o Economist sobre si próprio: "... some articles are heavily edited...". [Este deve ter sido um deles].
Continua o Economist "all the arguments and propositions put forward in his paper should be subjected to the test of facts. That was why it was called The Economist." Mas por outro lado, "What, besides free trade and free markets, does The Economist believe in? It is to the Radicals that The Economist still likes to think of itself as belonging"
- As principais causas do subdesenvolvimento nas Filipinas são a corrupção e a incompetência governativa:
"The debate over whether population growth is the prime cause of poverty and underdevelopment has raged in the Philippines for years. The Catholic bishops do have a point, that corruption and misgovernment are in fact mostly to blame."
- Os recursos naturais das Filipinas permitem alimentar toda a população:
"The Philippines has more than enough land and other natural resources to support its population".
- Mas o rápido crescimento populacional torna as coisas piores.
[é uma questão de opinião] - As Nações Unidas dizem que a disponibilização de contraceptivos reduz a população.
- Conclusão: distribuam-se preservativos nas Filipinas.
As proposições 1 e 2 conduziriam a uma determinada conclusão. Mas essa conclusão não dá muito jeito. Portanto, vamos tentar dar a volta por outro lado e esquecemos o que está verdadeiramente em causa... red herring.
Diz o Economist sobre si próprio: "... some articles are heavily edited...". [Este deve ter sido um deles].
Continua o Economist "all the arguments and propositions put forward in his paper should be subjected to the test of facts. That was why it was called The Economist." Mas por outro lado, "What, besides free trade and free markets, does The Economist believe in? It is to the Radicals that The Economist still likes to think of itself as belonging"
Ceeeerto...
Gitanos de distintos países horanran este fin de semana a EL PELÉ
- [VERITAS] Gitanos de distintos países participan desde ... viernes 25 de abril, y hasta el ... domingo 27, en la IV Peregrinación Internacional del Pueblo Gitano en Barbastro, en el undécimo aniversario de la beatificación de Ceferino Giménez, El Pelé, según informaron distintas diócesis que han organizado viajes a la ciudad oscense....
- B. CEFERINO GIMÉNEZ MALLA, EL PELÉ, Mártir (1861-1936)
"The son of Spanish gypsy parents, Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla, known as el Pelé, was born in Fraga (Huesca), probably on 26 August 1861, the feast day of Pope Saint Ceferino, after whom he was named when he was baptised on the same day. Like his family Ceferino was a gypsy who always lived as such, professing gypsy laws as he grew up and later.
As a boy he walked the hills of the region selling baskets he made himself. Still young he married with a gypsy wedding rite Teresa Giménez de Castro, a gypsy from Lerida with a strong character. The couple settled in Barbastro. In 1912 he legalised his union with Teresa with a Catholic marriage. He then began to frequent church becoming an exemplary Catholic. He had no children but adopted a niece of his wife called Pepita.
El Pelé dedicated the best years of his life to trading cattle, he was an expert in horses for the fairs in the region. He reached a good social and economic position, which he put at the disposal of people in need. Accused unjustly of theft and put in prison, he was declared innocent. The lawyer who defended him said: el Pelé is no thief, he is holy Ceferino, model for gypsies. Extremely honest, he never cheated anyone in his trading.
At the beginning of the civil war he was arrested simply for openly defending a priest who was being dragged through the streets of Barbastro on the way to the prison, and for the fact that he carried a rosary in his pocket. They offered to let him go if he promised to stop praying the rosary. He chose to remain in prison and face martyrdom. At dawn on 8 August 1936, he was shot against the wall of Barbastro cemetery. He died with his rosary in his hands as he cried out his faith: Long live Christ the King!"
S. Luís Maria Grignion de Monfort, presbítero (1673-1716)
"Luís Maria Grignion nasceu em Monfort, na região da Bretanha, e foi ordenado sacerdote em Paris. Nomeado missionário apostólico pelo papa Clemente XI, percorreu as regiões ocidentais de França, anunciando a Sabedoria eterna, Cristo encarnado e crucificado, e ensinando o caminho da santidade por Maria a Jesus. Para a sua obra missionária fundou várias associações religiosas de Sacerdotes, de Irmãos e, com a colaboração da bem- aventurada Maria Luísa Trichet (Maria Luísa de Jesus), associações de Irmãs. Morreu na cidade de Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, diocese de Luçon, a 28 de Abril de 1716, deixando muitos escritos, principalmente sobre espiritualidade mariana".Do Tratado «A verdadeira devoção à Santíssima Virgem», de São Luís Maria Grignion de Monfort:
"A mais perfeita de todas as devoções é sem dúvida aquela que nos conforma, nos une e consagra mais perfeitamente a Jesus Cristo. Ora, porque Maria é, entre todas as criaturas, a mais conforme a Jesus Cristo, conclui-se que, entre todas as devoções, a que melhor consagra e conforma uma alma a Nosso Senhor é a devoção à Santíssima Virgem, sua santa Mãe...
É por isso que a perfeita consagração a Jesus Cristo não é mais que uma perfeita e total consagração de si mesmo à Santíssima Virgem; esta é a devoção que eu ensino."
S. Pedro Chanel, presbítero e mártir (1803-1841)
"Born to a peasant family, he was a shepherd as a boy. An excellent student. Ordained in 1827 at age 24. He was assigned to Crozet, a parish in decline; he turned it around, in part because of his ministry to the sick, and brought a spiritual revival. Joined the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) in 1831. Taught at the Belley seminary for five years. Led a band of missionaries to the New Hebrides in 1836, an area where cannabilism had only recently been outlawed. He converted many, often as a result of his work with the sick. He learned the local language, and taught in the local school. Killed by order of Niuliki, a native king who was jealous of Peter's influence. Beaten to death with a club, body hacked to pieces with hatchets. First martyr in Oceania. "He loves us. He does what he teaches. He forgives his enemies. His teaching is good."P.S. Biografia e elogio em Liturgia.pt:"A sua pregação da religião cristã destruiu o culto dos maus espíritos, que os notáveis de Futuna fomentavam para conservar o povo sob o seu domínio. Foi esta a razão que os levou a assassiná-lo cruelmente com a esperança de fazerem desaparecer, com esta morte, as sementes da religião cristã... O sangue do mártir frutificou primeiramente nos habitantes de Futuna, que, poucos anos mais tarde, abraçaram todos a fé de Cristo; mas frutificou também nas outras ilhas da Oceânia, onde existem agora Igrejas cristãs muito florescentes, que têm e invocam a Pedro como seu primeiro mártir".
- one of Saint Peter's catechumens, explaining why he believed Peter's teachings
26.4.08
[Actualizado] Conferência Razão da Fé: Resumo da 1.ª Conferência
A problemática actual da fé
P. Gonçalo Portocarrero de Almada
12 de Março de 2008
Oratório S. Josemaria, Lisboa
A filosofia dominante: o relativismo
O relativismo teológico e as suas implicações teológicas
O fascínio das religiões asiáticas
Ortodoxia e ortopraxis
P. Gonçalo Portocarrero de Almada
12 de Março de 2008
Oratório S. Josemaria, Lisboa
- A crise da teologia da libertação
- Os pressupostos teóricos da teologia da libertação.
- O colapso do marxismo e a crise da teologia da libertação.
- O relativismo político.
- O relativismo ético e religioso.
- Crítica.
- A fundamentação filosófica do relativismo teológico.
- Crítica.
- A teologia negativa oriental.
- Crítica da nova religião mundial.
- A superação do dogma na praxis.
- Crítica da religião como ortopraxis.
25.4.08
"Tertii Exclusi" Club (est. April 25, 2008)
O clube dos terceiros excluídos pretende agregar todos aqueles que consideram que as actuais opções políticas 'inevitáveis' ferem a natureza e a dignidade humanas, correm a família, destroem as comunidades e associações civis e prostituem o Estado.
As opções 'inevitáveis' que nos apresentam não são novas. São as mesmas que, há anos, vêm sendo apresentadas e implementadas como a chave da 'modernização' e do 'desenvolvimento' do país, com os resultados que estão à vista. Quando muito, estas opções diferenciam-se das anteriores por uma questão de grau.
As opções 'ineitáveis' que nos apresentam não são inevitáveis. Escamoteiam todas aquelas experiências concretas e propostas teóricas que ao longo do tempo foram construídas sobre princípios contrários àquele que preside ao actual 'consenso'.
Por outro lado, recusamos todas as propostas que sacrifiquem a moralidade dos meios à bondade dos fins ou que limitem esses fins a uma mão-cheia de indicadores mal-amanhados (e martelados) que não contabilizam os todos os efeitos dessas mesmas propostas sobre o bem comum.
Não se pretende que o clube assuma qualquer tipo de protagonismo ou que proponha novas utopias. Quando muito, mudaremos o mundo uma pessoa de cada vez, começando por cada um dos membros do clube e pelos meios onde estes Vivem.
O clube assume, humildemente e apenas, a missão de:
A gerência.
As opções 'inevitáveis' que nos apresentam não são novas. São as mesmas que, há anos, vêm sendo apresentadas e implementadas como a chave da 'modernização' e do 'desenvolvimento' do país, com os resultados que estão à vista. Quando muito, estas opções diferenciam-se das anteriores por uma questão de grau.
As opções 'ineitáveis' que nos apresentam não são inevitáveis. Escamoteiam todas aquelas experiências concretas e propostas teóricas que ao longo do tempo foram construídas sobre princípios contrários àquele que preside ao actual 'consenso'.
Por outro lado, recusamos todas as propostas que sacrifiquem a moralidade dos meios à bondade dos fins ou que limitem esses fins a uma mão-cheia de indicadores mal-amanhados (e martelados) que não contabilizam os todos os efeitos dessas mesmas propostas sobre o bem comum.
Não se pretende que o clube assuma qualquer tipo de protagonismo ou que proponha novas utopias. Quando muito, mudaremos o mundo uma pessoa de cada vez, começando por cada um dos membros do clube e pelos meios onde estes Vivem.
O clube assume, humildemente e apenas, a missão de:
Agradecidos pela atenção,
- aprender com os sucessos e os erros daquelas realidades históricas concretas e das propostas teóricos de variados pensadores que se afastam de forma clara do 'consenso bloquista neoliberal';
- desenvolver um argumentário contra esta cultura, esta legislação, estas modas;
- não descurar a qualidade das vitualhas que serão deglutidas durante as reuniões do clube.
BYOB
A gerência.
Notícias sem relevância jornalística
S. Marcos, Evangelista
"Marcos, ainda que de nome romano, era judeu de nascimento e conhecido também pelo nome de João. É muito provável que tenha conhecido o Senhor, ainda que não tenha sido um dos doze Apóstolos. Muitos autores eclesiásticos vêem no episódio do rapaz que largou o lençol, a única roupa com que estava coberto, e fugiu na hora da prisão de Jesus no Getsêmani (Mc 14, 51-52), uma espécie de assinatura velada do próprio Marcos no seu Evangelho, pois somente ele o relata. Este dado é corroborado pelo fato de que Marcos era filho de Maria, segundo parece uma viúva de posição econômica desafogada, em cuja casa se reuniam os primeiros cristãos de Jerusalém. Uma antiga tradição afirma que foi nessa casa que Jesus celebrou a Última Ceia e instituiu a Sagrada Eucaristia.Era primo de São Barnabé. Acompanhou São Paulo na primeira viagem apostólica e esteve ao seu lado na hora da morte. Em Roma, foi também discípulo de São Pedro e, inspirado pelo Espírito Santo, expôs fielmente no seu Evangelho os ensinamentos do Príncipe dos Apóstolos. Segundo uma antiga tradição referida por São Jerônimo, São Marcos – depois do martírio de São Pedro e de São Paulo, sob o imperador Nero – dirigiu-se para Alexandria, cuja Igreja o reconhece como seu evangelizador e primeiro bispo. De Alexandria, no ano de 825, as suas relíquias foram trasladadas para Veneza, onde é venerado como Padroeiro.
... Diz-nos São Jerônimo que “Marcos, discípulo e intérprete de Pedro, passou a escrito o seu Evangelho a pedido dos irmãos que viviam em Roma, conforme o que tinha ouvido pregar ao Apóstolo. E o próprio Pedro, tendo-o escutado, aprovou-o com a sua autoridade para que fosse lido na Igreja”
Foi sem dúvida a principal missão da vida de Marcos: transmitir fielmente os ensinamentos de São Pedro. "
24.4.08
O SEGREDO
... Se guardardes os meus mandamentos, permanecereis no meu amor, assim como Eu tenho guardado os mandamentos de meu Pai e permaneço no seu amor. Disse-vos estas coisas, para que a minha alegria esteja em vós e a vossa alegria seja completa».Jo 15, 9-11
(do Evangelho da Missa de hoje)
A soberania NÃO reside no povo
Ontem, a propósito da ratificação do 'tratado constitucional europeu', o secretário-geral do PCP afirmava, com razão, que o tratado comprometia a soberania nacional. Na defesa desta sua posição e do referendo, Jerónimo de Sousa invocou um princípio: "A soberania reside no Povo".
Ora, como recorda o Papa Leão XIII (Diuturnum Ilud, 1881), "as regards political power, the Church rightly teaches that it comes from God, for it finds this clearly testified in the sacred Scriptures and in the monuments of antiquity" O Papa tem o cuidado de distinguir entre a origem do poder e a forma de designação dos governantes: "... those who may be placed over the State may in certain cases be chosen by the will and decision of the multitude ...by this choice… the ruler is designated, but the rights of ruling are not thereby conferred. Nor is the authority delegated to him, but the person by whom it is to be exercised is determined upon."
Esta distinção não é meramente académica. A soberania popular abre caminho à revolução e ao governo ilimitado. A doutrina da Igreja sobre o poder civil garante a estabilidade da sociedade e uma verdadeira limitação do poder:
"it will behoove citizens to submit themselves and to be obedient to rulers, as to God, ... through respect for their majesty; ... through conscience, as doing their duty...
But in order that justice may be retained in government ... those who rule States should understand that political power was not created for the advantage of any private individual; and that the administration of the State must be carried on to the profit of those who have been committed to their care, not to the profit of those to whom it has been committed. Let princes … rule over the people with equity and faithfulness, and let them add to that severity, which is necessary, a paternal charity… they will have themselves some day to render an account to the King of kings and Lord of lords..."
Ao contrário do que pensava o dissidente e estruturalmente protestante Lord Acton, não foi apenas a interacção entre dois poderes autónomos - religioso e civil -, nem o desenvolvimento de algumas soluções instituicionais na esfera civil, que fez surgir a liberdade política. De alguma maneira, súbditos e governantes têm de passar por um processo de conversão…
P.S. O Prof. Pedro Arroja tem recorrido ao pensamento de Lord Acton para alimentar a guerrilha que mantém contra alguns dos 'liberais' da praça. Sugiro, humildemente e bem sabendo que não estou a tratar com um crente, que o Prof. Pedro Arroja substitua as meras opiniões de Lord Acton pelo magistério do Papa Leão XIII (Diturnum Ilud, Immortale Dei, Libertas Praestissima,...)
Notícias sem relevância jornalística
S. FIEL DE SIGMARINGEN, presbítero e mártir
Nasceu em Sigmaringa (Alemanha) no ano 1578. Jurista e Professor de Filosofia. Admitido entre os Frades Menores Capuchinhos, aí se entregou a uma vida austera de vigílias e orações. Conhecida a sua actividade assídua na pregação da palavra de Deus, a Sagrada Congregação da Propagação da Fé encomendou-lhe a missão de consolidar a Récia calvinista na verdadeira doutrina. Perseguido de morte pelos hereges, sofreu o martírio em Seewis (Suíça) no ano 1622.O papa Bento XIV celebrou a figura de São Fiel, defensor da fé católica, com estas palavras:
Fiel no nome fiel na vida
«Fazendo transbordar a plenitude da sua caridade para confortar e auxiliar materialmente o próximo, e apertando ao seu coração de pai todos os infelizes, sustentava numerosos grupos de pobres com esmolas que recolhia por toda a parte.
Remediava o abandono das crianças e das viúvas, recorrendo ao auxílio dos poderosos e influentes; ajudava sem descanso os presos com todas as consolações espirituais e materiais que podia, visitava assiduamente toda a espécie de enfermos, confortava-os, reconciliava-os com Deus e armava-os para a última batalha.
... Não só na caridade, mas também no zelo pela defesa da fé se notabilizou este homem,
Fiel no nome e na vida. Pregou sem descanso a fé e, poucos dias antes de a confirmar com o seu sangue, no último sermão que fez deixou-a como testamento ao pronunciar estas palavras:«Oh fé católica, como és estável, firme, bem enraizada e bem fundada sobre rocha firme! Passarão o céu e a terra, mas tu não passarás jamais. O mundo inteiro desde o princípio te fez guerra, mas de todos triunfaste com o teu poder.
Esta é a vitória que vence o mundo: a nossa fé. Ela sujeitou ao império de Cristo os reis mais poderosos, ela trouxe os povos à obediência de Cristo.
23.4.08
Economia de comunhão
A Economia de Comunhão [lançada pelo Movimento ecuménico Focolare] ...é uma doutrina económica que ... [troca] a “cultura do ter” pela “cultura do dar”... [e promove] organizações que se empenham em colocar no centro das suas atenções a noção de Bem Comum ... “actua[ndo] em função da sociedade onde est[ão] inserida[s]”.
... a “cultura do Dar” valoriza a partilha dos lucros e o reinvestimento na própria empresa e nos seus activos, garantindo a sua formação e “dando-lhes a possibilidade de se desenvolverem”.
Na Economia de Comunhão, todos os profissionais envolvidos na “instituição” empresa participam... Trata-se de uma gestão que valoriza acima de tudo uma cultura ética.
... “a grande diferença entre uma empresa de matriz capitalista e uma gerida de acordo com os princípios da Economia de Comunhão é que a primeira “partilha os meios, mas não partilha os fins”, enquanto a segunda “procura uma comunhão nos objectivos da própria empresa, envolvendo toda a gente no processo empresarial”.
O universo ... [de] oitocentas empresas, espalhadas um pouco por todo o mundo, tem de ser encarado “como um laboratório em rede, onde se testam novas técnicas de gestão e novas metodologias”...
... [o] conceito do projecto centr[a-se em] pequenas comunidades designadas por Cidadelas – que constituem, através das suas casas, escolas e oficinas de trabalho, “um esboço de uma sociedade nova, cuja lei é o amor recíproco, proposto pelo Evangelho”...
Das 33 Cidadelas espalhadas pelo mundo, faz parte a Cidadela portuguesa Arco-Íris.
... Em Portugal, cerca de dez empresas – incluindo Indústria, Comércio e Serviços - já aderiram à Economia de Comunhão, dando uma parte dos seus lucros a esta causa.
... a “cultura do Dar” valoriza a partilha dos lucros e o reinvestimento na própria empresa e nos seus activos, garantindo a sua formação e “dando-lhes a possibilidade de se desenvolverem”.
Na Economia de Comunhão, todos os profissionais envolvidos na “instituição” empresa participam... Trata-se de uma gestão que valoriza acima de tudo uma cultura ética.
... “a grande diferença entre uma empresa de matriz capitalista e uma gerida de acordo com os princípios da Economia de Comunhão é que a primeira “partilha os meios, mas não partilha os fins”, enquanto a segunda “procura uma comunhão nos objectivos da própria empresa, envolvendo toda a gente no processo empresarial”.
O universo ... [de] oitocentas empresas, espalhadas um pouco por todo o mundo, tem de ser encarado “como um laboratório em rede, onde se testam novas técnicas de gestão e novas metodologias”...
... [o] conceito do projecto centr[a-se em] pequenas comunidades designadas por Cidadelas – que constituem, através das suas casas, escolas e oficinas de trabalho, “um esboço de uma sociedade nova, cuja lei é o amor recíproco, proposto pelo Evangelho”...
Das 33 Cidadelas espalhadas pelo mundo, faz parte a Cidadela portuguesa Arco-Íris.
... Em Portugal, cerca de dez empresas – incluindo Indústria, Comércio e Serviços - já aderiram à Economia de Comunhão, dando uma parte dos seus lucros a esta causa.
Austrian bishop response to anti-life resolution
[UPDATE]
Aborto é primeira causa de mortalidade na Europa Poderosos interesses econômicos por trás da «Contracepção de Emergência»
[/UPDATE]
"The head of the Committee on Marriage, the Family, Bioethics and the Defense of Life of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Klaus Kung, deplored a resolution that demands the members of the European Council legalize abortion and said, “We need those aborted children.”
Bishop Kung said abortion has left a profound wound in European society and that the killing of an unborn child should never be minimized.
“It’s time for parliamentarians to think about the measures they are going to take to make the acceptance of a child easier,” he said, voicing his support for doctors who speak out about the spiritual suffering of women who have undergone abortion.
The bishop also said counseling for pregnant women who are in difficult situations should be fostered and that measures should be taken to help provide them economic support as well."
[/UPDATE]
"The head of the Committee on Marriage, the Family, Bioethics and the Defense of Life of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Klaus Kung, deplored a resolution that demands the members of the European Council legalize abortion and said, “We need those aborted children.”
Bishop Kung said abortion has left a profound wound in European society and that the killing of an unborn child should never be minimized.
“It’s time for parliamentarians to think about the measures they are going to take to make the acceptance of a child easier,” he said, voicing his support for doctors who speak out about the spiritual suffering of women who have undergone abortion.
The bishop also said counseling for pregnant women who are in difficult situations should be fostered and that measures should be taken to help provide them economic support as well."
S. Jorge
The best known form of the legend of St. George and the Dragon is that made popular by the "Legenda Aurea" ... According to this, a terrible dragon had ravaged all the country round a city of Libya, called Selena, making its lair in a marshy swamp. Its breath caused pestilence whenever it approached the town, so the people gave the monster two sheep every day to satisfy its hunger, but, when the sheep failed, a human victim was necessary and lots were drawn to determine the victim. On one occasion the lot fell to the king's little daughter. The king offered all his wealth to purchase a substitute, but the people had pledged themselves that no substitutes should be allowed, and so the maiden, dressed as a bride, was led to the marsh. There St. George chanced to ride by, and asked the maiden what she did, but she bade him leave her lest he also might perish. The good knight stayed, however, and, when the dragon appeared, St. George, making the sign of the cross, bravely attacked it and transfixed it with his lance. Then asking the maiden for her girdle (an incident in the story which may possibly have something to do with St. George's selection as patron of the Order of the Garter), he bound it round the neck of the monster, and thereupon the princess was able to lead it like a lamb. They then returned to the city, where St. George bade the people have no fear but only be baptized, after which he cut off the dragon's head and the townsfolk were all converted. The king would have given George half his kingdom, but the saint replied that he must ride on, bidding the king meanwhile take good care of God's churches, honour the clergy, and have pity on the poor...
22.4.08
Que mal é que tem ?
"Supermarket chain Tesco has been criticised for selling a padded bra for young girls.O capitalista, quando liberto de quaisquer constangimentos, dará largas à sua natureza decaída. Venderá a sua própria Mãe, a corda com que o Lénine o queria enforcar e, neste caso, as suas filhas.
The £4 bra is being sold alongside vests in the seven to eight-year-old age range in the clothing section for children aged up to 14.
Fashion lecturer David Morris, from De Montfort University, said he could understand parents' concerns about the "rather adult nature" of the bra.
He said: "It is quite adult in terms of its plunge styling. It is less to support and more to expose. It's cut to expose the breast because it has a fairly deep cut."
Felizmente, a venda deste tipo de 'bens' a crianças ainda provocou protestos.
Curiosamente, a venda do mesmo 'bem' a adultos não provoca já quaisquer reacções.
Já ninguém sabe porque razão é errado uma adulto usar este tipo de roupa.
The Lefebvrists choose sectarianism
"Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the SSPX, wrote to his million members this weekend saying that “the time for an agreement has not yet come”... Despite the Pope’s best efforts to win them over, they have chosen sectarianism over unity...
... [But] many SSPX priests and people are returning to full communion with Rome following the Pope’s apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum... For example, the Transalpine Redemptorists of Stronsay, a wonderfully austere order of traditionalist monks based in the Orkneys, have decided to return to the fold."
Satan's great foe is the Virgin Mary
The first question Father Amorth addressed ... is if the devil exists: "I respond with the words of John Paul II, who was once asked this question: 'Your Holiness, I find many bishop who don't believe in the devil.' And John Paul II responded: 'One who doesn't believe in the devil doesn't believe in the Gospel.'
"The devil is an angel, and therefore, a pure spirit created good by God and who perverted himself because he rebelled against God. Therefore, he maintains all the characteristics proper of a pure spirit, such as a very large intelligence, immensely bigger than ours."
[... the devil's main struggle is to make man fall into sin.
"To lead man towards evil is to make him fall into sin; this is the devil's preferred activity and we are all subject to it from our birth until our death."]
...
The exorcist confirmed that Satan's great foe is the Virgin Mary.
He explained: "On one occasion an exorcist friend of mine asked the devil what most hurts him about Our Lady, what most annoys him. He responded, 'That she is the purest of all creatures and that I am the filthiest; that she is the most obedient of all creatures and that I am the most rebellious; that she is the one who committed no sin and thus always conquers me.'" ...
21.4.08
U turn
"... la Ilustración entiende la libertad como autonomía ... del sujeto individual, y la consecuencia de esa manera de entender las cosas es que si no hay igualdad la libertad de cada uno esta amenazada por la de aquellos que hayan desarrollado mayor poder, por tener mejores condiciones físicas, intelectuales o circunstanciales.
[... la igualdad se convierte en una pieza fundamental.]
... la concepción moderna e ilustrada de libertad ... [suscita] una ... izquierda igualitaria ... Y cuanto mas grande y amplio parece el triunfo de ese liberalismo, tanto más grande y amplia es la respuesta izquierdista.
... La situación actual puede considerarse como la de un intento desesperado de encontrar una expresión radical de la libertad que sea compatible con el radicalismo izquierdista democrático. En esa tarea están empeñados, en el fondo, pensadores liberales y socialistas.
A mi modo de ver el único resultado posible se está empezando a entrever y es devastador parar el ser humano y la sociedad. [Una prueba bien clara la tenemos actualmente en España.]"
[... la igualdad se convierte en una pieza fundamental.]
... la concepción moderna e ilustrada de libertad ... [suscita] una ... izquierda igualitaria ... Y cuanto mas grande y amplio parece el triunfo de ese liberalismo, tanto más grande y amplia es la respuesta izquierdista.
... La situación actual puede considerarse como la de un intento desesperado de encontrar una expresión radical de la libertad que sea compatible con el radicalismo izquierdista democrático. En esa tarea están empeñados, en el fondo, pensadores liberales y socialistas.
A mi modo de ver el único resultado posible se está empezando a entrever y es devastador parar el ser humano y la sociedad. [Una prueba bien clara la tenemos actualmente en España.]"
Alexis Carrel, Premio Nobel de Medicina, converso en Lourdes
"... [El] Premio Nobel de Medicina profesor Alexis Carrel... [se convertio] en Lourdes cuando acompañaba, incrédulo, como médico, a una expedición de enfermos.
Tenía, entonces, especial cuidado con una enferma de peritonitis tuberculosa en estado preagónico. A aquella enferma, caquéxica, con el vientre hinchado, delante de la gruta de la Señora, se le fue bajando la dilatación abdominal y, levantándose, caminó sola hacia los pies de la imagen de la Virgen.
El doctor Alexis Carrel fue testigo presencial de aquel milagro. La Medicina no podía explicar aquello. Alexis Carrel escribió, en el puño de su camisa, la fecha de aquel día, para no olvidar lo que estaba ocurriendo y para estar seguro de la realidad, ya que todo le parecía imposible, un sueño, porque él no creía.
Y Alexis Carrel se convirtió. Todos sus escritos, desde entonces, están impregnados de amor a Dios y a la Virgen. Le costó muchos disgustos..."
S. Anselmo, bispo e doutor da Igreja
... Archbishop of Canterbury. Theological writer. Counsellor to Pope Gregory VII, Pope Urban II, and William the Conqueror. Opposed slavery and obtained English legislation prohibiting the sale of men. Fought King William Rufus's encroachment on ecclesiastical rights and the independence of the Church, and was exiled. Resolved theological doubts of the Italo-Greek bishops at Council of Bari in 1098. Strongly supported celibate clergy. King Henry I invited him to return to England, but they disputed over investitures, and Anselm was exiled again to return in 1106. One of the great philosophers and theologians of the middle ages. Doctor of the Church in 1720 by Pope Clement XI.Citação de «Proslógion» de Santo Anselmo:
"...fazei que eu Vos conheça e Vos ame, para encontrar em Vós a minha alegria. E se não o posso alcançar plenamente nesta vida, que ao menos me vá aproximando, dia após dia, dessa plenitude; cresça agora em mim o conhecimento de Vós, para que chegue um dia ao conhecimento perfeito; cresça agora em mim o amor por Vós, até que chegue um dia à plenitude do amor; seja agora a minha alegria grande em esperança, para que um dia seja plena mediante a posse da realidade."
19.4.08
3.º aniversário da eleição do Papa Bento XVI (2005)
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum;
habemus Papam:
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Josephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger
qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI
habemus Papam:
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Josephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger
qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI
Em todas as Missas, quando houver oração universal, incluir-se-á uma intenção especial pelo Papa.
P.S. Há 3 anos, falhei a data da eleição do Papa por 1 dia ! Estavam previstos 19 dias e foram 18 ! Mas que dias !
18.4.08
The Pope at the U.N.
"Human rights ... recognized and expounded in the [Universal] Declaration [of Human Rigths] apply to everyone by virtue of the common origin of the person, who remains the high-point of God’s creative design for the world and for history. They are based on the natural law inscribed on human hearts and present in different cultures and civilizations.
Removing human rights from this context would mean restricting their range and yielding to a relativistic conception, according to which the meaning and interpretation of rights could vary and their universality would be denied in the name of different cultural, political, social and even religious outlooks. This great variety of viewpoints must not be allowed to obscure the fact that not only rights are universal, but so too is the human person, the subject of those rights."
Removing human rights from this context would mean restricting their range and yielding to a relativistic conception, according to which the meaning and interpretation of rights could vary and their universality would be denied in the name of different cultural, political, social and even religious outlooks. This great variety of viewpoints must not be allowed to obscure the fact that not only rights are universal, but so too is the human person, the subject of those rights."
Pope resolution passes after "life" language removed
"While Pope Benedict XVI's historic visit to Washington received wall to wall coverage, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) briefly held up a Senate resolution welcoming the pontiff because she objected to language about how the pope values "each and every human life."Yep. That pretty much sums it all !
P.S. A Senadora Boxer pertence à facção bloquista do senado americano.
O futuro da direita
"... dever máximo ou único de uma direita ... é defender os princípios e valores civilizacionais milenares, resistindo à ambição insana de planejadores sociais para os quais a espécie humana não passa de matéria-prima para experimentos que variam entre o irresponsável e o macabro...Ou nem isso, diria Eu.
Mas muito provavelmente essa resistência será em breve criminalizada como extremismo de direita, e, se não lutar como um exército de leões, desaparecerá do cenário político decente. Só sobrará lugar para a “direita bossa nova” ...[subscrevem no fim das contas todo o programa sociocultural da esquerda]... em troca de um pouco de capitalismo."
B. Maria da Encarnação
Buen modelo para casados y religiosos es nuestra Beata.En sus treinta años de vida matrimonial sólo pretendió corresponder a la gracia del Señor por el penfecto cumplimiento de sus deberes, probando así cómo los cónyuges pueden alcanzar la santidad en su estado.
Demostró su adhesión a la Santa Sede cuando la herejía protestante se extendía por Francia y se prodigó moral y materialmente durante el asedio de Paris, ardiendo de celo por la salvación de las almas y manifestándose favorecida por Dios con gracias místicas extraordinarias. Su sobrino, el Cardenal de Berulle, la veneraba como madre y san Francisco de Sales fue su director espiritual y seguro consejero.
Sobresalió siempre por Su vida de oración y por su celo en la propagación de la fe.
Como religiosa, edificó constantemente por su plena sumisión, su espíritu de pobrezaysu caridad con los enfermos.
Favorecida por Dios con dones excepcionales, prefirió la sencillez en la práctica de las más sólidas virtudes comunes.
17.4.08
HOMILY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI, WASHINGTON, 17 APRIL 2008
... The Church ... senses, often painfully, the presence of division and polarization in her midst, as well as the troubling realization that many of the baptized, rather than acting as a spiritual leaven in the world, are inclined to embrace attitudes contrary to the truth of the Gospel.
... The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual "culture", which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith's vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society
... To a great extent, the renewal of the Church in America depends on the renewal of the practice of Penance and the growth in holiness which that sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.
RESPONSES OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO THE QUESTIONS POSED BY THE BISHOPS
- Secularismo:
... The result is a growing separation of faith from life: living “as if God did not exist”. This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: ... each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose... but without an integral, interior conversion to the law of Christ. Consequently, rather than being transformed and renewed in mind, Christians are easily tempted to conform themselves to the spirit of this age (cf. Rom 12:3). We have seen this emerge in an acute way in the scandal given by Catholics who promote an alleged right to abortion.
... What is needed, I am convinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that rightly values personal liberty, the Church needs to promote at every level of her teaching ... an apologetics aimed at affirming the truth of Christian revelation, the harmony of faith and reason, and a sound understanding of freedom, seen in positive terms as a liberation both from the limitations of sin and for an authentic and fulfilling life. In a word, the Gospel has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offering an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practically, to real human problems... - Abandono da prática religiosa:
... it is becoming more and more difficult, in our Western societies, to speak in a meaningful way of “salvation”. Yet salvation – deliverance from the reality of evil, and the gift of new life and freedom in Christ – is at the heart of the Gospel. We need to discover,... new and engaging ways of proclaiming this message and awakening a thirst for the fulfillment which only Christ can bring. It is in the Church’s liturgy, and above all in the sacrament of the Eucharist, that these realities are most powerfully expressed and lived in the life of believers...
Second, we need to acknowledge with concern the almost complete eclipse of an eschatological sense in many of our traditionally Christian societies... In Christianity, there can be no room for purely private religion: Christ is the Savior of the world, and, as members of his Body and sharers in his prophetic, priestly and royal munera, we cannot separate our love for him from our commitment to the building up of the Church and the extension of his Kingdom. - Vocações sacerdotais
Joint Statement of the United States and Holy See
President Bush... welcomed the Holy Father... and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. ...
During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest ...: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom; sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics, especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the United States' substantial financial contributions in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights.
The Holy Father and the President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, ... in line with the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region...
The Holy Father and the President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families.
During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest ...: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom; sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics, especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the United States' substantial financial contributions in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights.
The Holy Father and the President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, ... in line with the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region...
The Holy Father and the President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a coordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the well being of their families.
Discurso do Papa aos Bispos Americanos
"... Your people are remarkable for their religious fervor ... They have confidence in God, and they do not hesitate to bring moral arguments rooted in biblical faith into their public discourse. ...
... you, Brother Bishops, are called to sow the seeds of the Gospel today. This leads me to ask how, in the twenty-first century, a bishop can best fulfill the call to “make all things new in Christ, our hope”? How can he lead his people to “an encounter with the living God”, the source of that life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Spe Salvi, 4)? Perhaps he needs to begin by clearing away some of the barriers to such an encounter... Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.
For an affluent society, a further obstacle to an encounter with the living God lies in the subtle influence of materialism,... at the expense of the eternal life which he promises in the age to come (cf. Mk 10:30). People today need to be reminded of the ultimate purpose of their lives. They need to recognize that implanted within them is a deep thirst for God. They need to be given opportunities to drink from the wells of his infinite love. ... it is easy to make the mistake of thinking we can obtain by our own efforts the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is an illusion. Without God, who alone bestows upon us what we by ourselves cannot attain (cf. Spe Salvi, 31), our lives are ultimately empty. People need to be constantly reminded to cultivate a relationship with him who came that we might have life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10).
The goal of all our pastoral and catechetical work, the object of our preaching, and the focus of our sacramental ministry should be to help people establish and nurture that living relationship with “Christ Jesus, our hope” (1 Tim 1:1).
In a society which values personal freedom and autonomy, it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on others as well as the responsibilities that we bear towards them. This emphasis on individualism has even affected the Church (cf. Spe Salvi, 13-15), giving rise to a form of piety which sometimes emphasizes our private relationship with God at the expense of our calling to be members of a redeemed community. Yet from the beginning, God saw that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). We were created as social beings who find fulfillment only in love – for God and for our neighbor. If we are truly to gaze upon him who is the source of our joy, we need to do so as members of the people of God (cf. Spe Salvi, 14). If this seems counter-cultural, that is simply further evidence of the urgent need for a renewed evangelization of culture.
...At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church’s moral teaching to Catholics engaged in health care...
As preachers of the Gospel and leaders of the Catholic community, you are also called to participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square, helping to shape cultural attitudes. ... yours is a respected voice that has much to offer to the discussion of the pressing social and moral questions of the day. By ensuring that the Gospel is clearly heard, you not only form the people of your own community, but in view of the global reach of mass communication, you help to spread the message of Christian hope throughout the world.
Clearly, ... In the United States, as elsewhere, there is much current and proposed legislation that gives cause for concern from the point of view of morality, and the Catholic community, under your guidance, needs to offer a clear and united witness on such matters. Even more important, though, is the gradual opening of the minds and hearts of the wider community to moral truth. Here much remains to be done. Crucial in this regard is the role of the lay faithful to act as a “leaven” in society. Yet it cannot be assumed that all Catholic citizens think in harmony with the Church’s teaching on today’s key ethical questions. Once again, it falls to you to ensure that the moral formation provided at every level of ecclesial life reflects the authentic teaching of the Gospel of life.
In this regard, a matter of deep concern to us all is the state of the family within society. ... we have an alarming decrease in the number of Catholic marriages in the United States together with an increase in cohabitation, in which the Christ-like mutual self-giving of spouses, sealed by a public promise to live out the demands of an indissoluble lifelong commitment, is simply absent. In such circumstances, children are denied the secure environment that they need in order truly to flourish as human beings, and society is denied the stable building blocks which it requires if the cohesion and moral focus of the community are to be maintained.
As my predecessor, Pope John Paul II taught, “The person principally responsible in the Diocese for the pastoral care of the family is the Bishop ... he must devote to it personal interest, care, time, personnel and resources, but above all personal support for the families and for all those who … assist him in the pastoral care of the family” (Familiaris Consortio, 73). It is your task to proclaim boldly the arguments from faith and reason in favor of the institution of marriage, understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, open to the transmission of life. This message should resonate with people today, because it is essentially an unconditional and unreserved “yes” to life, a “yes” to love, and a “yes” to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, as we strive to fulfill our deep yearning for intimacy with others and with the Lord.
... Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. They have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. This brings us back to our consideration of the centrality of the family and the need to promote the Gospel of life. What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today? We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike.
...a clearer focus upon the imitation of Christ in holiness of life is exactly what is needed in order for us to move forward. We need to rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centred life, cultivating the virtues, and immersing ourselves in prayer. When the faithful know that their pastor is a man who prays and who dedicates his life to serving them, they respond with warmth and affection which nourishes and sustains the life of the whole community.
Time spent in prayer is never wasted, however urgent the duties that press upon us from every side. Adoration of Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament prolongs and intensifies the union with him that is established through the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 66). Contemplation of the mysteries of the Rosary releases all their saving power and it conforms, unites and consecrates us to Jesus Christ (cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 11, 15). Fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours ensures that the whole of our day is sanctified and it continually reminds us of the need to remain focused on doing God’s work, however many pressures and distractions may arise from the task at hand. Thus our devotion helps us to speak and act in persona Christi, to teach, govern and sanctify the faithful in the name of Jesus, to bring his reconciliation, his healing and his love to all his beloved brothers and sisters. This radical configuration to Christ, the Good Shepherd, lies at the heart of our pastoral ministry, and if we open ourselves through prayer to the power of the Spirit, he will give us the gifts we need to carry out our daunting task, so that we need never “be anxious how to speak or what to say” (Mt 10:19)...
... you, Brother Bishops, are called to sow the seeds of the Gospel today. This leads me to ask how, in the twenty-first century, a bishop can best fulfill the call to “make all things new in Christ, our hope”? How can he lead his people to “an encounter with the living God”, the source of that life-transforming hope of which the Gospel speaks (cf. Spe Salvi, 4)? Perhaps he needs to begin by clearing away some of the barriers to such an encounter... Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.
For an affluent society, a further obstacle to an encounter with the living God lies in the subtle influence of materialism,... at the expense of the eternal life which he promises in the age to come (cf. Mk 10:30). People today need to be reminded of the ultimate purpose of their lives. They need to recognize that implanted within them is a deep thirst for God. They need to be given opportunities to drink from the wells of his infinite love. ... it is easy to make the mistake of thinking we can obtain by our own efforts the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is an illusion. Without God, who alone bestows upon us what we by ourselves cannot attain (cf. Spe Salvi, 31), our lives are ultimately empty. People need to be constantly reminded to cultivate a relationship with him who came that we might have life in abundance (cf. Jn 10:10).
The goal of all our pastoral and catechetical work, the object of our preaching, and the focus of our sacramental ministry should be to help people establish and nurture that living relationship with “Christ Jesus, our hope” (1 Tim 1:1).
In a society which values personal freedom and autonomy, it is easy to lose sight of our dependence on others as well as the responsibilities that we bear towards them. This emphasis on individualism has even affected the Church (cf. Spe Salvi, 13-15), giving rise to a form of piety which sometimes emphasizes our private relationship with God at the expense of our calling to be members of a redeemed community. Yet from the beginning, God saw that “it is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). We were created as social beings who find fulfillment only in love – for God and for our neighbor. If we are truly to gaze upon him who is the source of our joy, we need to do so as members of the people of God (cf. Spe Salvi, 14). If this seems counter-cultural, that is simply further evidence of the urgent need for a renewed evangelization of culture.
...At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church’s moral teaching to Catholics engaged in health care...
As preachers of the Gospel and leaders of the Catholic community, you are also called to participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square, helping to shape cultural attitudes. ... yours is a respected voice that has much to offer to the discussion of the pressing social and moral questions of the day. By ensuring that the Gospel is clearly heard, you not only form the people of your own community, but in view of the global reach of mass communication, you help to spread the message of Christian hope throughout the world.
Clearly, ... In the United States, as elsewhere, there is much current and proposed legislation that gives cause for concern from the point of view of morality, and the Catholic community, under your guidance, needs to offer a clear and united witness on such matters. Even more important, though, is the gradual opening of the minds and hearts of the wider community to moral truth. Here much remains to be done. Crucial in this regard is the role of the lay faithful to act as a “leaven” in society. Yet it cannot be assumed that all Catholic citizens think in harmony with the Church’s teaching on today’s key ethical questions. Once again, it falls to you to ensure that the moral formation provided at every level of ecclesial life reflects the authentic teaching of the Gospel of life.
In this regard, a matter of deep concern to us all is the state of the family within society. ... we have an alarming decrease in the number of Catholic marriages in the United States together with an increase in cohabitation, in which the Christ-like mutual self-giving of spouses, sealed by a public promise to live out the demands of an indissoluble lifelong commitment, is simply absent. In such circumstances, children are denied the secure environment that they need in order truly to flourish as human beings, and society is denied the stable building blocks which it requires if the cohesion and moral focus of the community are to be maintained.
As my predecessor, Pope John Paul II taught, “The person principally responsible in the Diocese for the pastoral care of the family is the Bishop ... he must devote to it personal interest, care, time, personnel and resources, but above all personal support for the families and for all those who … assist him in the pastoral care of the family” (Familiaris Consortio, 73). It is your task to proclaim boldly the arguments from faith and reason in favor of the institution of marriage, understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, open to the transmission of life. This message should resonate with people today, because it is essentially an unconditional and unreserved “yes” to life, a “yes” to love, and a “yes” to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, as we strive to fulfill our deep yearning for intimacy with others and with the Lord.
... Children deserve to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. They should be spared the degrading manifestations and the crude manipulation of sexuality so prevalent today. They have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. This brings us back to our consideration of the centrality of the family and the need to promote the Gospel of life. What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today? We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike.
...a clearer focus upon the imitation of Christ in holiness of life is exactly what is needed in order for us to move forward. We need to rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centred life, cultivating the virtues, and immersing ourselves in prayer. When the faithful know that their pastor is a man who prays and who dedicates his life to serving them, they respond with warmth and affection which nourishes and sustains the life of the whole community.
Time spent in prayer is never wasted, however urgent the duties that press upon us from every side. Adoration of Christ our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament prolongs and intensifies the union with him that is established through the Eucharistic celebration (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, 66). Contemplation of the mysteries of the Rosary releases all their saving power and it conforms, unites and consecrates us to Jesus Christ (cf. Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 11, 15). Fidelity to the Liturgy of the Hours ensures that the whole of our day is sanctified and it continually reminds us of the need to remain focused on doing God’s work, however many pressures and distractions may arise from the task at hand. Thus our devotion helps us to speak and act in persona Christi, to teach, govern and sanctify the faithful in the name of Jesus, to bring his reconciliation, his healing and his love to all his beloved brothers and sisters. This radical configuration to Christ, the Good Shepherd, lies at the heart of our pastoral ministry, and if we open ourselves through prayer to the power of the Spirit, he will give us the gifts we need to carry out our daunting task, so that we need never “be anxious how to speak or what to say” (Mt 10:19)...
16.4.08
Pope Benedict XVI's White House Speech
Mr. President,
… I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society.
… America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. … religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force…
… all believers have found here the freedom to worship God … while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience… The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. … "in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation", and a democracy without values can lose its very soul … religion and morality represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.
… On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts … to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world's peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity… America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. ….
Mr. President, …I express once more my … my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!
… I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society.
… America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. … religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force…
… all believers have found here the freedom to worship God … while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.
Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience… The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. … "in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation", and a democracy without values can lose its very soul … religion and morality represent "indispensable supports" of political prosperity.
The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.
… On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts … to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world's peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity… America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. ….
Mr. President, …I express once more my … my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!
Células estaminais emrbionárias 0 - Células estaminais adultas 80
"Arroyo indicou: «Em 2001... o Papa João Paulo II... o animou a não respaldar fundos federais. O senhor restringiu o financiamento federal da pesquisa com células-tronco embrionárias. Como resultado desta decisão, foram analisadas tecnologias alternativas; agora se produziram células-tronco de adultos para a cura de 80 doenças diferentes».O resultado do "jogo" anunciado no título deste post é irrelevante porque "De qual vale ao Homem ganhar o Mundo e perder a Alma ?" (Mt 16, 26).
E Bush respondeu: «Creio que foi a decisão correta então, e obviamente os dados nos mostram isso agora; espero que isso mostre às pessoas que é a decisão correta».
... «Penso que é importante que as pessoas compreendam que uma cultura da vida está a favor de nosso interesse nacional... Quero dizer que é uma pedra de toque moral, penso que isso interpelará a uma sociedade sã no longo prazo.»
«Recordarei ao Santo Padre quão importante é sua voz para facilitar aos políticos como eu ser capazes de permanecer e defender nossas posições, que são, penso, posições muito importantes que devem ser tomadas», disse.
Finalmente, Arroyo lhe perguntou: ...Quando o senhor vê os olhos de Bento XVI, o que vê? E Bush respondeu imediatamente: «Deus».
What Obama Really Got Wrong
"... both within the no-college/some-college demographic and in the country as a whole, the Obama line has it exactly backward: Voting on issues like "God, guns and gays" is an artifact of (relative) prosperity, not immiseration.
... middle-income voters privilege culture over economics because they perceive the breakdown of "traditional values" - manifested in everything from divorce, marriage and out-of-wedlock birth rates to what's shown on television and taught in schools - as a greater danger to their well-being than, say, the specter of outsourcing or the spike in CEO salaries. ... Are my streets safe at night, and will my neighborhood still be a good place to raise a family in ten years? What are my kids watching on TV, or being taught in school? Will my daughter's marriage break up, and will my son do the right thing by his girlfriend if he gets her pregnant? And, more broadly - does my government reflect and promote my values, whether in marriage law or welfare policy or what-have-you?
... One can argue,... that the country needs a pro-family agenda that goes deeper than opposing gay marriage. But Obama didn't make an argument along these lines. Instead, he said something ... politically dumb [and] analytically dumb, as well..."
... middle-income voters privilege culture over economics because they perceive the breakdown of "traditional values" - manifested in everything from divorce, marriage and out-of-wedlock birth rates to what's shown on television and taught in schools - as a greater danger to their well-being than, say, the specter of outsourcing or the spike in CEO salaries. ... Are my streets safe at night, and will my neighborhood still be a good place to raise a family in ten years? What are my kids watching on TV, or being taught in school? Will my daughter's marriage break up, and will my son do the right thing by his girlfriend if he gets her pregnant? And, more broadly - does my government reflect and promote my values, whether in marriage law or welfare policy or what-have-you?
... One can argue,... that the country needs a pro-family agenda that goes deeper than opposing gay marriage. But Obama didn't make an argument along these lines. Instead, he said something ... politically dumb [and] analytically dumb, as well..."
81.º aniversário natalício do Papa Bento XVI (1927)
"Eu vim ao mundo como luz".
Do Evangelho da Missa de hoje (Jo 12,44-50).
15.4.08
Vitória de Berlusconi em Itália: Mais vida, Mais Família ?
- Un fisco per la famiglia: Abolizione totale dell'ICI sulla prima casa; progressiva introduzione del “quoziente familiare”: si pagano le tasse in base al numero dei componenti del nucleo familiare; stabilizzazione dei benefici fiscali per le opere di ristrutturazione.
- Una casa per tutti: “Piano casa”: costruzione di nuovi alloggi per i giovani e per le famiglie; Riduzione del costo dei mutui, rendendo vantaggioso per banca e cliente rinegoziare il costo degli interessi; “Bonus locazioni affitti” per aiutare le giovani coppie e le famiglie meno abbienti.
- Più forza alla famiglia: "Bonus bebè" per ogni nuovo figlio naturale, in affido o adottato; Progressiva riduzione dell’IVA sugli alimenti e prodotti per l’infanzia; Libri di testo gratuiti per le famiglie meno agiate, fino al 18esimo anno d’età; Libertà di scelta tra scuola statale e privata.
NEW, INTEGRAL HUMANISM
[It] "is ever more vital ... to promote a 'new humanism'".
"... joint action on a political, economic and juridical level is needed but, even before that, it is necessary to reflect together on a moral and spiritual level.
… "development cannot be reduced to simple economic growth, it must include the moral and spiritual dimension. A truly integral humanism must, at the same time, also express solidarity".
... Benedict XVI affirms the need to do everything possible to ensure that "the economy is directed to serving human beings and solidarity, and not just to profit. … "True and lasting peace is unimaginable without the development of each person and of all peoples".
… "Nonetheless", the Pope acknowledges, "it will be difficult to find a solution to the various technical problems without man's conversion to good on a cultural, moral and spiritual level" [;] ... if man does not first turn decisively to searching for peace and for what is good and just".
Bento XVI
Mensagem aos participantes no seminário "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", realizado em Roma nos dias 11 e 12 de April
"... joint action on a political, economic and juridical level is needed but, even before that, it is necessary to reflect together on a moral and spiritual level.
… "development cannot be reduced to simple economic growth, it must include the moral and spiritual dimension. A truly integral humanism must, at the same time, also express solidarity".
... Benedict XVI affirms the need to do everything possible to ensure that "the economy is directed to serving human beings and solidarity, and not just to profit. … "True and lasting peace is unimaginable without the development of each person and of all peoples".
… "Nonetheless", the Pope acknowledges, "it will be difficult to find a solution to the various technical problems without man's conversion to good on a cultural, moral and spiritual level" [;] ... if man does not first turn decisively to searching for peace and for what is good and just".
Bento XVI
Mensagem aos participantes no seminário "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", realizado em Roma nos dias 11 e 12 de April
14.4.08
Devoted Catholic Navy SEAL awarded Congressional Medal of Honor
[Petty Officer Second Class Michael Anthony Monsoor] "A Navy SEAL and devoted Catholic who died after jumping on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers’ lives was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor ..."Dizes-me: quando se apresentar a ocasião de fazer algo de grande... então sim! -
... On September 29, he and two fellow SEALs had taken a position on a rooftop [in Ramadi, Iraq] when an insurgent’s grenade bounced off of Monsoor’s chest and landed next to his teammates.
“Mike had a clear chance to escape... In that terrible moment, he had two options -- to save himself, or to save his friends. ... He threw himself onto the grenade, and absorbed the blast with his body...
... Michael’s parents named him after St. Michael the Archangel and as President Bush noted, September 29, the day of Monsoor’s death, was St. Michael’s feast day."
Pretendes fazer-me crer que poderás vencer na Olimpíada sobrenatural, sem a preparação diária, sem treino?"
Espadas (q.b.) & Arados
"As long as a risk of hostility exists, the arming of States will remain necessary for reasons of legitimate defence. ... Nonetheless, not all levels of armament are permissible. ... The vast material and human resources used for military expenditure and armaments are, in fact, taken from projects for the development of peoples, especially the poorest and those most in need of help".
... the Pope makes an appeal "for States to reduce military expenditure on arms ... States are called to a renewed commitment, especially as regards international agreements on disarmament and arms-control ... Finally, every effort must also be made to combat the proliferation of small-calibre arms.
The Holy Father highlights the "ever greater need for a choral invocation of the culture of peace and for a joint education in peace, especially among the new generations. ... The time has come to change the course of history, to rediscover trust, to cultivate dialogue and to nourish solidarity", he says...
Bento XVI
Mensagem aos participantes no seminário "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", realizado em Roma nos dias 11 e 12 de April
[texto completo está escondido aqui por baixo]
A "NEW HUMANISM" IS VITAL IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PEACE
VATICAN CITY, 12 APR 2008 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope addressed to Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and to participants in a seminar entitled: "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", being held in Rome on 11 and 12 April.
"Tension and war exist in various parts of the world", notes the Holy Father in his Message, "and even where the tragedy of war is not present, feelings of fear and insecurity are nonetheless widespread. Furthermore, such phenomena as global terrorism blur the distinction between peace and war, seriously compromising the future hopes of humankind.
"How", he adds, "can we respond to these challenges? How can we recognise the 'signs of the times'? Certainly, joint action on a political, economic and juridical level is needed but, even before that, it is necessary to reflect together on a moral and spiritual level. What is ever more vital is to promote a 'new humanism'".
Benedict XVI highlights how "development cannot be reduced to simple economic growth, it must include the moral and spiritual dimension. A truly integral humanism must, at the same time, also express solidarity".
"True and lasting peace is unimaginable without the development of each person and of all peoples", says the Pope. "Nor is it conceivable to think of reducing arms if first we do not eliminate violence at its roots, if man does not first turn decisively to searching for peace and for what is good and just".
"As long as a risk of hostility exists, the arming of States will remain necessary for reasons of legitimate defence. ... Nonetheless, not all levels of armament are permissible. ... The vast material and human resources used for military expenditure and armaments are, in fact, taken from projects for the development of peoples, especially the poorest and those most in need of help".
In this context, the Pope makes an appeal "for States to reduce military expenditure on arms and to give serious consideration to the idea of creating a global fund for peaceful development projects".
Benedict XVI affirms the need to do everything possible to ensure that "the economy is directed to serving human beings and solidarity, and not just to profit. On a legal plane, States are called to a renewed commitment, especially as regards international agreements on disarmament and arms-control, as well as the ratification and subsequent implementation of previously-adopted instruments such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. ... Finally, every effort must also be made to combat the proliferation of small-calibre arms.
"Nonetheless", the Pope acknowledges, "it will be difficult to find a solution to the various technical problems without man's conversion to good on a cultural, moral and spiritual level".
The Holy Father highlights the "ever greater need for a choral invocation of the culture of peace and for a joint education in peace, especially among the new generations. ... The human right to peace", he writes, "is fundamental and inalienable", and upon it "the exercise of all other rights depends".
Although the current situation in the world could give rise "to a justified sense of discomfort and resignation", the Holy Father points out that "war is never inevitable and peace is always possible. Even more so, it is a duty! The time has come to change the course of history, to rediscover trust, to cultivate dialogue and to nourish solidarity", he says.
"The future of humanity depends upon a commitment on everyone's part. Only by pursuing an integral and solidary humanism, in which disarmament assumes an ethical and spiritual dimension, can humanity progress towards the true and lasting peace for which it longs".
... the Pope makes an appeal "for States to reduce military expenditure on arms ... States are called to a renewed commitment, especially as regards international agreements on disarmament and arms-control ... Finally, every effort must also be made to combat the proliferation of small-calibre arms.
The Holy Father highlights the "ever greater need for a choral invocation of the culture of peace and for a joint education in peace, especially among the new generations. ... The time has come to change the course of history, to rediscover trust, to cultivate dialogue and to nourish solidarity", he says...
Bento XVI
Mensagem aos participantes no seminário "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", realizado em Roma nos dias 11 e 12 de April
[texto completo está escondido aqui por baixo]
A "NEW HUMANISM" IS VITAL IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PEACE
VATICAN CITY, 12 APR 2008 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope addressed to Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and to participants in a seminar entitled: "Disarmament, development and peace, prospects for integral disarmament", being held in Rome on 11 and 12 April.
"Tension and war exist in various parts of the world", notes the Holy Father in his Message, "and even where the tragedy of war is not present, feelings of fear and insecurity are nonetheless widespread. Furthermore, such phenomena as global terrorism blur the distinction between peace and war, seriously compromising the future hopes of humankind.
"How", he adds, "can we respond to these challenges? How can we recognise the 'signs of the times'? Certainly, joint action on a political, economic and juridical level is needed but, even before that, it is necessary to reflect together on a moral and spiritual level. What is ever more vital is to promote a 'new humanism'".
Benedict XVI highlights how "development cannot be reduced to simple economic growth, it must include the moral and spiritual dimension. A truly integral humanism must, at the same time, also express solidarity".
"True and lasting peace is unimaginable without the development of each person and of all peoples", says the Pope. "Nor is it conceivable to think of reducing arms if first we do not eliminate violence at its roots, if man does not first turn decisively to searching for peace and for what is good and just".
"As long as a risk of hostility exists, the arming of States will remain necessary for reasons of legitimate defence. ... Nonetheless, not all levels of armament are permissible. ... The vast material and human resources used for military expenditure and armaments are, in fact, taken from projects for the development of peoples, especially the poorest and those most in need of help".
In this context, the Pope makes an appeal "for States to reduce military expenditure on arms and to give serious consideration to the idea of creating a global fund for peaceful development projects".
Benedict XVI affirms the need to do everything possible to ensure that "the economy is directed to serving human beings and solidarity, and not just to profit. On a legal plane, States are called to a renewed commitment, especially as regards international agreements on disarmament and arms-control, as well as the ratification and subsequent implementation of previously-adopted instruments such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. ... Finally, every effort must also be made to combat the proliferation of small-calibre arms.
"Nonetheless", the Pope acknowledges, "it will be difficult to find a solution to the various technical problems without man's conversion to good on a cultural, moral and spiritual level".
The Holy Father highlights the "ever greater need for a choral invocation of the culture of peace and for a joint education in peace, especially among the new generations. ... The human right to peace", he writes, "is fundamental and inalienable", and upon it "the exercise of all other rights depends".
Although the current situation in the world could give rise "to a justified sense of discomfort and resignation", the Holy Father points out that "war is never inevitable and peace is always possible. Even more so, it is a duty! The time has come to change the course of history, to rediscover trust, to cultivate dialogue and to nourish solidarity", he says.
"The future of humanity depends upon a commitment on everyone's part. Only by pursuing an integral and solidary humanism, in which disarmament assumes an ethical and spiritual dimension, can humanity progress towards the true and lasting peace for which it longs".
B. Pedro Gonzalez
"Castilian nobility who mis-spent a worldly youth. Educated by his uncle, the bishop of Astorga, Spain. Priest, primarily as a step to high office. ... During a grand Christmas Day entrance into the city, his horse was spooked by the noise of the crowds. It threw him in all his finery onto a dung-heap, much to the delight of the citizens who knew his was a political, not a spiritual appointment.
Dazed, filthy, humiliated, and with the undeniable understanding that his parishioners thought he was a hack, he withdrew from the world for a period of prayer and meditation. It worked. He had a true conversion experience and spent the rest of his life making up for his lost youth and the mockery he made of his position. Joined the Dominicans. Family and friends tried to draw him back to his old life and their planned pursuit of position, but he responded, "If you love me, follow me! If you cannot follow me, forget me!"
Confessor and court chaplain to King Saint Ferdinand III of Castile. Against the opposition of more worldly courtiers, he reformed court life around the king. Worked for the Crusade against the Moors, accompanied Ferdinand into the battlefields, and then workd for humane treatment of Moorish prisoners.
A favourite of the king, Peter feared the honours and easy life would lead him to a return to his previous ways, so he left the court and evangelized to shepherds in the hills, along the waterfronts, and among Spanish and Portugese sailors who still venerate him and consider him their special patron, blending his story with that of Saint Elmo, and calling upon him for protection in the face of bad weather.
Legend says that when he lacked food for those in his charge, he would kneel and pray by a river; fish would leap onto the banks."
13.4.08
Regina Coeli, 13/04/2008
... não se deve esquecer que também a do matrimónio cristão é uma verdadeira vocação missionária: de facto os esposos são chamados a viver o Evangelho nas famílias, nos ambientes de trabalho, nas comunidades paroquiais e civis..."
Bento XVI, 13/04/2008
S. MARTINHO I, papa e mártir
"Nasceu em Todi (Úmbria) e formou parte do clero romano; no ano 649 foi eleito para a Cátedra de Pedro, [sem autorização do imperador]. Nesse mesmo ano celebrou um concílio em que foi condenado o erro dos monotelitas [que defendiam que Cristo não tinha uma vontade humana, em oposição às posições defendidas pelo imperador]. No ano 653 foi preso por ordem do imperador ... e levado para Constantinopla onde foi sujeito a duros sofrimentos; finalmente, transferido para Quersoneso, aí morreu [prisioneiro] no ano 656. [É, até ao momento, o último Papa mártir]."Das Cartas de São Martinho I, papa (Epist. 17: PL 87, 203-204) (Sec. VII):
"... escrevo[-vos] acerca dos sofrimentos que me oprimem... Isolado de todo o movimento humano e afastado da responsabilidade apostólica, vivo como se não vivesse. Os naturais desta região são todos pagãos e ... não têm o menor sentimento de caridade e perderam mesmo aquele instinto natural de amor e compaixão que até os bárbaros tantas vezes manifestam...
... Deus quer que todos os homens se salvem e cheguem ao conhecimento da verdade. Que Ele fortaleça os seus corações na verdadeira fé, por intercessão de São Pedro, e os confirme contra todo o homem herético e inimigo da nossa Igreja. Ele os conserve na fidelidade, especialmente o pastor que está agora à frente deles, para que não se apartem, nem desviem, nem cedam absolutamente em nada daquilo que professaram diante de Deus e dos seus Anjos, e possam receber, juntamente com a minha humilde pessoa, a coroa da justiça e da fidelidade das mãos de Nosso Senhor e Salvador Jesus Cristo.
O Senhor cuidará deste meu pobre corpo como Lhe agradar, quer me deixe em contínuos sofrimentos, quer me conceda algum alívio. O Senhor está perto de mim: porque me hei-de afligir? Espero na sua misericórdia que não tardará a pôr fim à minha carreira, levando-me para onde quiser...
11.4.08
Hairdresser could become saint
"Pierre Toussaint... become the hairstylist most sought-after by the city’s fashionable ladies, and in time he amassed a fortune.But there was another side to the remarkably humble man. Devoted to the Eucharist and the rosary, he attended daily Mass at 6 a.m. And, as a gifted catechist, he could explain Church teaching simply and with courage. Passionate about the poor, he built an orphanage, an employment agency, a hospice for the dying and a credit bureau for the poor. And he helped fund the building of the original St Patrick’s Cathedral in the city."
"another side" ?
10.4.08
Re-construção europeia
" ... a Europa encontra-se hoje à procura da sua própria identidade. Mas se, para criar uma nova unidade, duradoura, são de facto importantes instrumentos políticos, económicos, jurídicos, ocorre também suscitar um renovamento ético e espiritual que inclua as raízes cristãs, caso contrário não se pode reconstruir a Europa”.“Sem esta linfa vital – observou ainda o Papa – o homem encontra-se (como disse João Paulo II) exposto à utopia de se querer redimir por si mesmo - a utopia que no século XX provocou uma regressão sem precedentes na história da humanidade”. “Procurando também hoje o verdadeiro progresso, escutemos a Regra de São Bento, que indica à humanidade o modo de viver o autêntico humanismo”.
Bento XVI, 9 de Abril de 2008
8.4.08
The Richard Dawkins Rap: Beware of the Believers
UPDATE
Comentário do Prof. Dawkins: "If anyone can understand a single word of this, don't bother to translate, just tell me whose side it's on" (é preciso ser muita burro para perceber este vídeo).
Starring:
Richard Dawkins
Daniel Dennett
Sam Harris
Christopher Hitchens
Comentário do Prof. Dawkins: "If anyone can understand a single word of this, don't bother to translate, just tell me whose side it's on" (é preciso ser muita burro para perceber este vídeo).
Starring:
Richard Dawkins
Daniel Dennett
Sam Harris
Christopher Hitchens
The LyricsP.S. Agora vou já direito ao confessionário.
My name is D to the I to C to the K, Yeah I'm the Dickie D,
I gots my PhD and comin' your way on the Youtube to bust your world view so just listen to me and don't you argue.
You see, this battle's been ragin' since Zeus was on the bottle,'tween Science like Democritus and Faith like Aristotle,
who said the mover was unmovin' like some magic trick but
that's no good logic, my posse is far too quick for this
religious sthick.
Cos science is the only way to know y'all, you stand with me y'all, or you can fall y'all
So go ahead and take your pick...
ES: Yeah you tell him Rick ...
Darwin : Cos if you don't know me ...
RD: YOU DON'T KNOW DICK!!
Chorus : Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
SH:On the shoulders of midgets we built up this machine,
DD:YEAH!!!
RD: Science silenced that watchdog wingnut Paley
growing stronger and harder almost daily, storming Wilber by force as we framed the discourse that faith and science are split in schismatic divorce.
Then Darwin took to the seas to see what no one had seen, and ever since then we've been increasingly keen, they may never adore us, but they'll no longer ignore us,
give it to 'em PZ hit these BLEEP with the chorus!!!
Chorus : Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
The Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's still smarter than you he studied biology!
Then there was Darrow dukin' it out with the straight and the narrow,
a ragin' bull in the ring, he did his thing, and took it on the chin like he was Bobby De Niro.
We might have lost at Scopes, beaten down by the dopes, and the stooges of popes, but in losin' we coped, becomin' more than we hoped, creationists slipped on the soap of their own slippery slope.
What was impossible, improbable, is now wholly unstoppable untoppleable, the Dick Doc'll roll up as you creationists foldup
you haters talkin' bull,
don't you know that this Dick is un-cock-frickin' blockable ...
Chorus : Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
The Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's still smarter than you he studied biology!
Now the machine of our making, sees culture ripe for the taking,
Cos I'm the rappinest, rabidest atheist who unlike the Catholic, Muslim or even the Jew, believes that no God but science could ever be true, hell if I was dyslexic I'd even hate "dog" too.
Time to open your eyes, get yourself wise, the age of science will rise to be religion's demise,
and while you churchies all cry, shouting 'why God oh why,' I'll still be poppin' my collar earning more dollars than Allah.
Hollah!
Chorus : Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
The Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's still smarter than you he studied biology!
Chorus : Yeah he's the Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's smarter than you he's got a science degree!
The Dick to the Dawk to the PhD,
he's still smarter than you he studied biology!
6.4.08
Contra natura
"There is an ambiguity in the way we use expressions like "nature" and "natural inclination... Each such expression has two meanings, not one, and the two meanings are nearly opposite to each other.
According to what might be called the lower meaning, the natural is the spontaneous, the haphazard, the unimproved: Think of Adam and Eve in the jungle, or for that matter, think of the jungle itself. From this point of view, a human being is at his most natural when he is driven by raw desires, "doing what comes naturally," as we say.
But according to what might be called the higher meaning, the natural is what perfects us, what unfolds the inbuilt purposes of our design, what unlocks our directed potentialities. Think this time of Adam and Eve in the Garden, not the jungle, or for that matter, think of the Garden itself. From this point of view, a human being is most genuinely "doing what comes naturally" when he at his best and bravest and truest -- when he fulfills his creational design, when he "comes into his own." The lower way of speaking makes nature and second nature enemies. The higher makes them friends, at least potentially.
... when [one] urges you to follow the natural law, he is talking about nature in the higher sense, not the lower. He is not encouraging you to let it all hang out. He is urging you to live up to your humanity, to come into your inheritance, to acquire that second nature which makes you actually what you already are potentially, though hindered by the Fall."
2.4.08
BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL
VATICAN CITY, 1 APR 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is:
"That Christians, even in the difficult and complex situations of present-day society, may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ's resurrection is the source of peace and of hope".His mission intention is:
"That the future priests of the young Churches may be constantly more formed culturally and spiritually to evangelise their nations and the whole world".
Missa celebrada por Bento XVI no terceiro aniversário da morte do Papa Wojtyla (02/04/2008)
"Na presença de cerca de 40 mil fiéis e peregrinos, Bento XVI presidiu, na manhã desta quarta feira, na Praça de São Pedro, a uma celebração eucarística no terceiro aniversário da morte de João Paulo II, a 2 de Abril.... Toda a vida de João Paulo II, especialmente o seu ministério petrino, pode ser lido sob o signo de Cristo Ressuscitado – sublinhou Bento XVI. As palavras do anjo da ressurreição “Não tenhais medo!” constituíram um seu mote, uma palavra de ordem, assente não nas forças humanas, mas unicamente na Cruz e na Ressurreição de Cristo.
O Papa começou por evocar a comoção e comparticipação de todo o mundo, há três anos, aquando da morte do servo de Deus João Paulo II. Ao longo de diversos dias – recordou – a basílica e a Praça de São Pedro “foram verdadeiramente o coração do mundo”, com “um caudal ininterrupto de peregrinos” a prestar homenagem ao despojos do venerado Pontífice. A poucos dias da celebração da Páscoa, o coração da Igreja encontrava-se ainda profundamente imerso no mistério da Ressurreição do Senhor.
“Na verdade, podemos ler toda a vida do meu amado Predecessor, em particular o seu ministério petrino, sob o signo de Cristo Ressuscitado. N’Ele nutria uma fé extraordinária, com Ele se detinha em conversação íntima, singular e ininterrupta. Entre as tantas qualidades humanas e sobrenaturais, tinha também a de uma excepcional sensibilidade espiritual e mística”.
Detendo-se nas leituras proclamadas nesta Missa, Bento XVI sublinhou o “Não tenhais medo!” que o anjo da ressurreição dirigiu à mulheres junto do sepulcro vazio, e que se tornaram como que um mote nos lábios do Papa João Paulo II, desde o solene início do seu ministério petrino, tendo-as repetido outras vezes à Igreja e à humanidade a caminho do ano 2000 e depois no dealbar do terceiro milénio.
“O seu Não tenhais medo não se baseava nas forças humanas, nem nos sucessos obtidos, mas unicamente na Palavra de Deus, na Cruz e na Ressurreição de Cristo. À medida que ia sendo despojado de tudo, até mesmo da sua própria palavra, foi aparecendo com crescente evidência o seu confiar-se a Cristo.
Como aconteceu a Jesus, também para João Paulo II no final as palavras deram lugar ao extremo sacrifício, ao dom de si. E a morte foi o sigilo de toda uma existência dada a Cristo, a Ele conformada mesmo fisicamente nas marcas do sofrimento e do abandono confiante nos braços do Pai celeste”.
Entre os muitos fiéis presentes na Praça de São Pedro, nesta Missa de sufrágio por João Paulo II, encontravam-se umas sete mil pessoas que participam nestes dias no I Congresso Mundial sobre a Divina Misericórdia. Bento XVI sublinhou que “a misericórdia de Deus é uma privilegiada chave de leitura do pontificado” do Papa Wojtyla. “Ele queria que o mensagem do amor misericordioso de Deus chegasse a todos os homens e exortava os fiéis a testemunhá-la”.
“O servo de Deus João Paulo II tinha conhecido e vivido pessoalmente as imensas tragédias do século XX e por muito tempo se interrogou o que é que poderia deter a maré do mal. A resposta não podia encontrar-se senão no amor de Deus.
De facto só a Divina Misericórdia está em condições de colocar um limite ao mal; só o amor omnipotente de Deus pode derrotar a prepotência dos malvados e o poder destrutivo do egoísmo e do ódio”.
Foi por isso que, durante a sua última visita à Polónia, regressando à sua terra natal, ele fez questão de afirmar que “não há para o homem outra fonte de salvação senão a misericórdia de Deus”.
1.4.08
Dia da comunicação social
Do compêndio do Catecismo:
523. O que proíbe o oitavo mandamento?
O oitavo mandamento proíbe:
... a mentira, cuja gravidade se mede pela natureza da verdade que ela deforma, das circunstâncias, das intenções do mentiroso e dos danos causados às vítimas;...
524. Que requer o oitavo mandamento?
O oitavo mandamento requer o respeito da verdade, acompanhado pela discrição da caridade: na comunicação e na informação, que devem assegurar o bem pessoal e comum, a defesa da vida particular e o perigo de escândalo; ...
525. Como usar os meios de comunicação social?
A informação mediática deve estar ao serviço do bem comum, ser sempre verdadeira no conteúdo e, salva a justiça e a caridade, deve ser também íntegra. Além disso deve expressar-se em modo honesto e conveniente, respeitando escrupulosamente as leis morais, os direitos legítimos e a dignidade da pessoa.
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