The Society of Apostolic Life - Regina Virginum

The Society of Apostolic Life Regina Virginum (Queen of Virgins) is comprised of women who received the call to religious life, and who wish to follow the charism of the Heralds of the Gospel. They live in community and devote their lives to serve the Church.

In order to provide a good training for novices, the formation house of the Society of Apostolic Life Regina Virgins was built in Sao Paulo. There the girls learn and prepare to become the evangelists that the Church needs in this new millennium.

Aware that the Church has always attached great importance to the cultivation of the arts as a means of spiritual enrichment, the "Heralds of the Gospel" uses various artistic expressions to engage with society.

The society of Regina Virginum, is involved in evangelization throughout the four corners of the world, in order to reach all social and professional classes, and all living conditions.

In addition to parish ministry, they seek opportunities to evangelize in the streets of towns and cities, in businesses, factories, government offices, nursing homes, hospitals, orphanages, prisons, airports, shopping centers, hotels, stadiums, barracks, theaters, etc. Using musical performances, plays etc. they aim to convey the message of the Gospel.

To find out more about the Society of Regina Virginum, go to:
http://www.reginavirginum.org.br/

The Charism of the Heralds of the Gospel

The Heralds of the Gospel are an International Association of the Faithful of Pontifical Right, the first to be established by the Holy See in the third millennium, during a ceremony which occurred during the feast of the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) in 2001.
The Heralds of the Gospel strive to be instruments of holiness in the Church by encouraging close unity between faith and life, and working to evangelize particularly through art and culture. Their apostolate, which differs depending upon the environments in which they work, gives pride of place to parish animation, evangelizing families, providing catechetical and cultural formation to young people, and disseminating religious Iiterature.

There is a particular focus on music, drama and they organise many events in churches, schools, hospitals, factories, offices and prisons. The educational efforts of the association focus on developing an interior life firmly rooted in the Eucharist, devotion to our Lady and fidelity to the Successor of Peter. The formation route taken by the members comprises the study of moral theology, exegesis, history, and a thorough training in the arts and modern languages.

For more information about the work of the Heralds of the Gospel worldwide see:
http://www.arautos.org.br/

St Pio of Pietrelcina

"I only want to be a poor Friar who prays."

Today we celebrate the feastday of Padre Pio. He was born in 1887 in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina. He joined the Capuchin Friars at the age of sixteen and was ordained a Priest seven years later. For fifty years at the monastry of San Giovanni Rotundo, he was a much sought after as a spiritual advisor and confessor, whose life was devoted to the Eucharist and prayer.
In 1918 he became the first Priest to receive the stigmata. In 1956 he founded the House for the Relief of Suffering, a hospital that serves 60,000 people a year.
In one of the largest such ceremonies in history, Pope John Paul II canonized Padre Pio on June 16, 2002. The Holy Father stressed Padre Pio's witness to the power of suffering. If accepted with love, the Holy Father stressed, such suffering can lead to "a privileged path of sanctity."

St. Pio, pray for us!

Welcoming St Terese in Portsmouth

Some Heralds of the Gospel, including five Companions, were present at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth, to welcome the Relics of St Thérèse at the beginning of a month long tour of the country.
They participated in the morning’s Opening Liturgy which involved children and representatives of all the Catholic schools of the Diocese. In the afternoon, Bishop Crispian Hollis celebrated Mass - with Anointing of the Sick. Later there was the opportunity for all present to venerate the Relics.
The relics will travel round the country starting in Portsmouth and finishing four weeks later in London. They will visit 28 venues, including Catholic cathedrals, churches and Carmelite convents.

Celebrating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Iver Heath.

On Saturday September 12 The Heralds of the Gospel had a special event celebrating the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast that in itself is an announcement of the most joyful birth of all, Christmas.

The event took place in the beautiful gardens of the Convent of the Bridgettine Sisters in Iver Heath, Bucks. Holy Mass, Adoration and Confession were the most important part of the program, which also included the coronation of the statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Act of Consecration to Our Lady.

A picnic lunch was enjoyed by both children and adults. The beautiful weather also contributed to the the event, and as someone commented, "It was the nicest day of the summer".

The Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux visit England

Many people have been praying and asking for this to happen, and now their prayers have been answered. We can be sure that this will be a time of grace for our Church and our country.

Wherever they have gone, many people have experienced conversion, healing, a renewed sense of vocation, and answers to their prayers.

“I encourage the baptised to use this evangelistic opportunity to proclaim in their daily lives the reality of God’s love and mercy. If you are not a Catholic, come and see. A warm welcome awaits you.” Bishop Malcolm McMahon (Nottingham)Patron of the Visit of the Relics

To find out more, see the official website 'The Catholic Church in England and Wales'

http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/ccb/catholic_church/relics_of_st_therese_of_lisieux

Founder Of The Heralds Of The Gospel Is Decorated by Pope Benedict XVI

São Paulo, Brazil (Gaudium Press) The “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” medal, one of the highest distinctions granted by the Pope to persons outstanding in their service to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, was bestowed by His Eminence Franc Cardinal Rodé to Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, in a solemn celebration of the Eucharist on August 15, in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the seminary of the Heralds of the Gospel, located in Greater São Paulo.
Msgr. João S. Clá Dias is founder of Heralds of the Gospel and of two societies of apostolic life, one clerical and the other feminine, Virgo Flos Carmeli and Regina Virginum, respectively.
In the act of bestowing the medal, on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Msgr. João Clá, the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life drew attention to the merits of the recipient, recalling the words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux:
“At the moment of bestowing upon you this decoration with which the Holy Father wished to reward your merits, the words of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux at the beginning of his treatise De Laude Novae Militiae come to mind: ‘The news has been spreading for some time that a new type of chivalry has appeared in the world.’ These words could be applied to the present moment. In effect, a new chivalry has been born thanks to Your Excellency, not secular but religious, with a new ideal of sanctity and of heroic service to the Church. In this endeavor, born of your noble heart, we cannot fail to see a particular grace given to the Church; an act of Divine Providence in view of the needs of the world today.”
Upon expressing his gratitude for the prestigious decoration with which the Holy Father had honored him, Msgr. João S. Clá Dias emphasized the brilliant role of Cardinal Franc Rodé in directing the roman dicastery confided to his care and the valued guidance that led to the pontifical approval of the two societies of apostolic life: Regina Virginum and Virgo Flos Carmeli. But, above all, he wished to express the sentiments of filial adhesion to the Holy Father that pulses in the hearts of all the members of the movement of the Heralds of the Gospel, using the words of the eminent Brazilian Catholic leader of the Twentieth Century, Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira:
“Everything there is within the Catholic Church of sanctity, of authority, of supernatural virtue, all of this, but absolutely everything without exception, or conditions, or restrictions, is subordinated, conditioned, and dependant upon union with the Chair of Saint Peter. (…) Because of this, it is a sign of a condition of spiritual vigor, an extreme sensitivity, a delicate and lively feeling of the faithful for all that touches upon the security, glory and tranquility of the Roman Pontiff. After the love of God, this is the highest of loves that Religion teaches us. One and the other love are even interchangeable. (…) And we can say: ‘for us, between the Pope and Jesus Christ, there is no difference.’ Everything that involves the Pope, directly, intimately and indissolubly involves Jesus Christ.”
On the previous day, August 14, the illustrious visitor inaugurated the Church of Our Lady of Carmel at the motherhouse of the feminine society of apostolic life Regina Virginum, with a solemn celebration of the Eucharist.
For more details and a video on the event (in portuguese) click here

This article has been taken from the 'The Heralds Blog' http://heralds.blog.arautos.org/