The Holy Father explained that witnessing the “light of holiness” radiated by Christ is not a “magical moment” outside of time but is what gives the disciples “the strength to follow him to Jerusalem, to the cross.”
Lent is the time, Pope Francis has said, “to proclaim that God alone is Lord, to drop the pretence of being self-sufficient and the need to put ourselves at the centre of things, to be the top of the class, to think that by our own abilities we can succeed in life and transform the world around us.”
Catholic school students from across Australia have contributed to a video they hope will influence other young people to act and help eradicate forced labour from the production of chocolate, clothing and technology.
In launching a new program of Liturgical Formation and Renewal this week, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB says it is important the Perth Catholic community reflect on what it means to be a Christ-centred Church that is prayerful and Eucharistic.
Over the next four weeks, video messages highlighting an understanding of Sacramentality, Why we Gather to celebrate Liturgy, Signs and Symbols in the Liturgy and What is Liturgy, will be shown in our parish communities.
Exhorting South Sudanese Christians to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” as the day’s Gospel reading called them to be, Pope Francis told the people, “This country, so beautiful yet ravaged by violence, needs the light that each one of you has, or better, the light that each one of you is.”
“Jesus ‘reaches out’ to tell us that God’s mercy is for everyone,” Pope Francis has said in his homily during Mass in St Peter’s Basilica speaking on Sunday 22 January, the church’s celebration of Sunday of the Word of God.
St John the Baptist, who had been preaching and gathering followers, “goes from prophet to disciple,” Pope Francis said.
Yet, “he is not interested in having a following for himself, in gaining prestige and success, but he bears witness and then takes a step back, so that many would have the joy of meeting Jesus.”
The Holy Father, who had praised the Cardinal for keeping his faith “with perseverance even in the hour of trial,” arrived in St Peter’s Basilica at the end of the Mass to preside over the final rite of commendation, as he usually does for cardinals who die in Rome.
Welcome to Issue 38 of The Record Magazine. Firstly, we feature a special interview with Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and America Magazine journalist, Gerard O’Connell, who tells of Archbishop Costelloe’s words to Pope Francis, “The church in Australia is alive!”