The Feast of Christ the King.

On November 21st, Pope Benedict XVI concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica the liturgy of the Solemnity of Christ the King along with 24 newly created cardinals.

"The Gospel of St. Luke presents, as in a great painting, the royalty of Jesus in the moment of his crucifixion," the Holy Father affirmed.

The Holy Father said that "the leaders of the people and the soldiers deride the firstborn of all creation and they test him to see if he has the power to save himself from death." In fact, while the Lord finds himself between two criminals, one of them, aware of his own sins, opens himself to truth, arrives at faith and prays to the king of the Jews: 'Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom,'

He added, "From him who 'is before all things and in whom all things exist' the so-called good thief immediately receives forgiveness and the joy of entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. "With these words, Jesus, from the throne of the cross receives every man with infinite mercy."

He referred to St. Ambrose, who said that this "is a beautiful example of conversion to which one should aspire: forgiveness is quickly offered the thief and the grace is more abundant than the request."

Today is the feastday of St Leo the Great

Saint Leo the Great is the first born pope doctor. His greatness is evident from his roles as peacemaker amidst terror, unifier amidst controversy, and pastoral concern amidst war, diseases, and famine. For two decades during his pontificate the powers of terrorists and Hell attacked and plundered Rome and its citizens.

Leo believed and trusted in God through the intercession of St Peter, the Rock of the Church, and Jesus Christ. It was he who gave Peter and his successors that power over all mortals who would challenges his church on earth.

In addition to writing, leading, and exemplying a unified doctrine for the church, Leo acted in the role of peacemaker which was rare in his day. He met, nearly single-handedly, Attila the Hun, "The Terror of the World" and showed him God's own enormous and terrible power.

In John F. Fink's excellent book The Doctors of the Church, Volume One: Doctors of the First Millennium, the author begin his information on the chapter on St Leo by stating:

"Perhaps surprisingly considering the amount of teaching and writing many of our popes have done, only two of them were included among the Doctors of the Church.
These two-Pope Leo I and Pope Gregory I-are also the only popes to be called "the Great." There obviously was something about each of them that stood out,and we'll explore that in this chapter and the next."

The above information was taken from the excellent web site of: The Doctors of the Catholic Church.

http://www.doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com/L.html

Invitation Reminder - the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.

Please click on the image to enlarge.

The Heralds of the Gospel cordially invite you to celebrate with them, the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.

The beauty of the Liturgy - Excerpts from the Mass sung by the Heralds of the Gospel

Listen to the beautiful sung liturgy. Many more videos featuring the work of the Heralds of the Gospel may be found on You Tube.

Doctrinal Congregation's Note on Opus Angelorum

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a circular letter to the local ordinaries of the Church on the current doctrinal and canonical position of the association known as Opus Angelorum (work of the angels).

The letter, dated Oct. 2 and signed by Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the congregation, was published Thursday by L'Osservatore Romano.

Below is a translation of the explanatory note issued Thursday by Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office.

* * *

[Father Lombardi's explanatory note]

L'Osservatore Romano published today a circular letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, dated Oct. 2, to update bishops on the present doctrinal and canonical situation of the association called Opus Angelorum, so that they can adjust themselves on this matter.

The new circular letter reminds that in 1983 a letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated that the members of the association Opus Angelorum, in promoting devotion to the angels, should be conformed to the social doctrine of the Church and not spread theories from the alleged private revelations attributed to Mrs. Gabriele Bitterlich, and that they should abide by all the liturgical norms in force, in particular those relating to the Eucharist.

With a decree of 1992, approved by the Holy Father John Paul II, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith completed these directives with a few other norms, entrusting their execution to a delegate appointed by the Holy See, also in charge of relations between the Opus Angelorum and the Order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. For many years this delegate was Father Benoit Duroux, O.P., and now it is, for the past few months, Father Daniel Ols, O.P.

Today it can be considered that the Opus Angelorum lives loyally and serenely in conformity with the doctrine of the Church and of the liturgical and canonical norms and constitutes a "public association of the Church." Also the Order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross and the Sisters of the Holy Cross -- who have a relation with the Opus Angelorum -- are regularly approved by the ecclesiastical authorities.

However, a certain number of members of the Opus Angelorum -- and in particular some priests who have left or been expelled from the Order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross --- in past years have not accepted the norms given by the authority of the Church, and continue trying to restore a movement that practices what has been prohibited. Because of this, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith exhorts the ordinaries to be vigilant with regard to such initiatives.

[Translation by ZENIT]
For full article see: ZE10110505 - 2010-11-05
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-30858?l=english

Sunday 21 November is a Day of Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependents.

Sunday 21 November is a Day of Prayer for Prisoners and their Dependents. It is followed by Prisons Week, which runs from 21 - 27 November.

This year the theme for Prisons Week is ‘Be With Me’, taken from St Luke’s account of Jesus and the penitent thief: “You will be with me in Paradise”, words which brought hope to an isolated and broken person.

A prayer for Prisoners

A special prayer has been written for Prisons Week.

'Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in His strength and in His Spirit, now and every day.'

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, has given his support to Prisons Week, saying: “I strongly encourage Christians to think about, pray for, and act for all those affected by prisons during this special week in November.”