Free Republic

On Prayer in the Spirit "The Holy Spirit is, as it were, the interpreter who makes us, and God, understand what it is we wish to say" VATICAN CITY, MAY 16, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope continued his reflection on prayer. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the last catecheses we reflected on prayer in the Acts of the Apostles. Today I would like to begin to speak about prayer in the Letters of St. Paul, the Apostle...

On St. Peter's Imprisonment and Miraculous Release "True freedom is found in following Jesus" VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope continued his reflection on prayer in the Acts of the Apostles, today considering St. Peter’s imprisonment and miraculous release. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to consider the final episode of St. Peter’s life recounted in the Acts of the Apostles: his imprisonment by order of Herod Agrippa and his liberation through...

On the Prayer of the First Christian Martyr "Our prayer, too, should be nourished by listening to God's Word" VATICAN CITY, MAY 2, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. On this first Wednesday in May the Holy Father continued his catecheses on prayer by reflecting on the witness and prayer of the Church’s first martyr, St. Stephen. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the most recent catecheses, we have seen how in personal and communal prayer, reading and meditation on Sacred...

On Prayer and Ministry Without prayer 'we risk suffocating amid a thousand daily cares' VATICAN CITY, APRIL 25, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square.  The Pope continued his reflection on prayer in the Acts of the Apostles. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the last catechesis, I showed that from the beginning of her journey, the Church found herself having to face unforeseen situations, new questions and emergencies, which she sought to respond to in the light of faith, by allowing...

On the Apostles' Response to Persecution "In the face of trial, they pray, they get in touch with God" VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave at the general audience Wednesday. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, After the great feasts we return to the catechesis on prayer. In the audience before Holy Week we reflected on the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, present in the midst of the apostles when they were awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit. An atmosphere of prayer accompanied the Church’s first steps....

April 11 Audience: On Easter's Spiritual Joy "Sadness and the wounds themselves become sources of joy" VATICAN CITY, APRIL 16, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, April 11. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, After the solemn celebrations of Easter, our meeting today is pervaded by spiritual joy; even if the skies above are grey, in our hearts we carry the joy of Easter and the certainty of the Resurrection of Christ, who has definitively triumphed over death. First, I wish...

Communiqué of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" The text of the response of His Excellency Bp. Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, requested during the meeting in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of March 16, 2012, was delivered on April 17, 2012. This text will be examined by the Dicastery and submitted afterwards to the judgment of the Holy Father. [Source: original texts in Italian and French]

On the Trip to Mexico and Cuba "When God is excluded, the world becomes a place inhospitable to man" VATICAN CITY, APRIL 4, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. He offered a review of his recent apostolic trip to Mexico and Cuba, as well as giving a reflection on the Sacred Triduum. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, The emotions evoked within me during my recent Apostolic Journey to Mexico and Cuba are still alive, and today I wish to focus upon...

At least 43 Cuban dissidents have been arrested in areas near where Pope Benedict XVI visited last week, dissidents said Tuesday, as the United States urged their immediate release. "We have been able to confirm that 43 opposition members have been detained -- 10 women and 33 men -- in a crackdown on Monday in the Santiago de Cuba area. All remain under arrest," said Elizardo Sanchez, head of the outlawed but tolerated Cuban Human Rights and National Reconciliation Commission.

On the Praying Presence of Mary "Mary prays in and with the Church at every decisive moment of salvation history" VATICAN CITY, MARCH 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope continued his series of catecheses on prayer, today beginning a series of reflections on prayer in the Acts of the Apostles. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, With today’s catechesis, I would like to begin to speak about prayer in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Letters of...

On the Silence of Jesus An Attentive, Silent, Open Heart Is More Important Than Many Words VATICAN CITY, MARCH 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope concluded his series of reflections on the prayer of Jesus by today considering His silence. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In a previous series of catecheses I spoke about the prayer of Jesus, and I would not wish to conclude this reflection without briefly pausing to consider the theme of Jesus’ silence, which...

The other day Rick Santorum attacked President Obama for having a "phony theology," an apparent reference to the President's belief that man should do what he can, whatever he can, to protect this earth on which we all live, the earth that is, not counting the Newt Gingrich plan for lunar colonization, the only place we, our children, their children and forever into the future have to live. Santorum called this concern for a healthy planet as being a religion that puts the earth "above man." I suppose he's talking about the concern scientists and most thinking people have with...

On the 40 Days of Lent "Time Spent in the Desert Can Be Transformed Into a Time of Grace" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in the Paul VI Hall. Today the Pope reflected on the liturgical season of Lent. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In this catechesis, I would like to reflect briefly upon the season of Lent, which begins today with the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. It is a journey of 40 days that will lead us to the...

On the 3 Last Words of Jesus Dying on the Cross "We Shall Never Fall Outside the Hands of God, Those Hands That Created Us" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 15, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope continued his reflection on the prayer of Jesus dying on the Cross, today focusing on the three last words of Jesus as recounted in the Gospel of St. Luke. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In our school of prayer last Wednesday, I spoke about...

On the Prayer of Jesus Dying on the Cross "In Extreme Anguish, Prayer Becomes a Cry" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 8, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected today on the prayer of Jesus dying on the Cross. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to reflect with you on the prayer of Jesus as death was imminent, by considering what St. Mark and St. Matthew tell us. The two Evangelists give an account of the prayer of...

On the Prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane "Nowhere Else in Sacred Scripture Do We Gain So Deep an Insight Into the Inner Mystery of Jesus" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 1, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected today on the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to speak about the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, in the Garden of Olives. The setting of the gospel account of this prayer is particularly significant....

On the Priestly Prayer of Jesus "Love Is True Glory, Divine Glory" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 25, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected on the priestly prayer of Jesus presented in Chapter 17 of St. John’s Gospel. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In today’s catechesis we will focus our attention on the prayer that Jesus addresses to the Father in the “Hour” of His exaltation and of His glorification (cf. John 1:26). As the Catechism of the Catholic Church...

On the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity "The Unity for Which We Pray Requires Interior Conversion, Both Communal and Personal" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 18, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins today. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which for more than a century has been celebrated by Christians of all Churches and ecclesial Communities, in order...

On Our Lord's Prayer at the Last Supper "When Trial Comes Upon the Disciples, Jesus' Prayer Sustains Their Weakness" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 11, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope continued with his catecheses on prayer, reflecting today on Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, On our journey of reflection on the prayer of Jesus as presented in the Gospels, I would like to meditate today on the particularly solemn moment of His prayer at...

On Christmas and Epiphany "Christmas Is Joy Because We See -- and at Last We Are Sure -- That God Is Man's Good" VATICAN CITY, JAN. 6, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave last Wednesday during the general audience held in Paul VI Audience Hall. The Pope reflected on the feasts of Christmas and the Epiphany. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, I am pleased to welcome you in this first general audience of the new year, and with all my heart I offer you and your families my affectionate good wishes:...