http://www.pcentral-online.net/ Features Catholic articles on theology, saints and spirituality, the lectionary readings for the Sunday Eucharist, and Vatican Information Service press releases in on topics related to the Catholic family, the use of the Net for Catholic evangelization, and mission and evangelization in general. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/vis/vis-080722.html VATICAN CITY, 22 JUL 2008 (VIS) - "Pastoral Prospects for the New Evangelisation in the Context of Globalisation and its Effects on African Cultures" is the theme of a meeting due to be held from 23 to 26 July in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, under the presidency of Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture. The meeting, which according to a communique on the event "forms part of a series of initiatives which intend to promote the pastoral approach to culture in different parts of the world", will be attended by the African members and consultors of the pontifical council and by bishops in charge of the pastoral care of culture in their respective episcopal conferences. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/vis/vis-080722.html Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/17th-sunday-a.html The lectionary readings for the 17th Sunday of the Year, Year A, are taken from: the first book of Kings, the letter of Paul to the Romans, and the gospel of Matthew. In the book of Kings, we find the account and the story of God asking Solomon in his dream what he wanted, and Solomon pleased very much the Lord God by asking from Him the gift of wisdom. Then in the letter of Paul to the Romans, we will read Paul teaching the Christian community at Rome and telling them that all things will work for the good for those who love God and respond to His call. Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we have a long form of the gospel and a short form. The short form of the gospel just presents two parables of the reign of God: like a buried treasure which a man found in a field and bought it with all his wealth; and like a merchant's search for a valuable pearl that when he found one sold all he had to purchase that fine pearl. http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/17th-sunday-a.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/16gifts.html The World Youth Day at Sydney was to be a new Pentecost, Benedict XVI said. The Pope had intensely invoked the Holy Spirit so that the hearts of all will be flooded with the inner light of love of God and of others, and of a courageous initiative to introduce Jesus' eternal message in the diversity of languages and cultures." The Holy Spirit gives Christians a variety of spiritual gifts for this very special purpose: seven gifts for the sanctification of the individual person and nine charismatic gifts for the upbuilding and edification of the Christian communities in the world - so that Christ will be made known to all peoples of different languages and cultures. This page outlines and defines each of these spiritual gifts briefly. It includes the definitions of the charismatic gifts: miracles, healing, faith, discernment, speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, prophecy, the utterance of wisdom, and the utterance of knowledge. http://www.pcentral-online.net/16gifts.html Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/prayers-gifts.html As baptized Catholics, when we claim our right to the help of the Holy Spirit, we are asking for the 'seven gifts of the Holy Spirit'. We are asking for wisdom - for that wisdom of God which shows mere human wisdom to be folly; for understanding - that is, spiritual insight which guards us against spiritual shallowness; counsel - which is a maturity of judgment guarding us against rashness of action or of judgment; knowledge - of the things of God and God's ways with us; strength - the kind of courage which 'bears all things, hopes all things, sustains all things'; piety - that deep sense of reverence for God in all the divine wonder; and fear of the Lord - a filial fear, such as what a son would have towards his Father. Aside from these gifts, the Holy Spirit enables us to practice virtues also: such as prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude. It is important that we pray for these gifts and strengths, to really desire to possess them, and set out to acquire them, for it is in these spiritual gifts and strengths that we will be given the ability to brave any storm, or tempest, or difficulty, and have the wisdom and the supernatural instinct to solve crisis situations for ourselves, our family, our friends and those close and dear to us in our daily encounters in life. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/prayers-gifts.html Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/counsel.html In these difficult and trying times, one thing that can greatly help is the gift of counsel. This gift from the Holy Spirit helps a person to immediately see with supernatural instinct and intuition what is to be done and what is to be avoided in any circumstance so that the consequence of the situation will be good. Many saints in the Church exercised this gift very well. Two examples of these saints are St. John Marie Vianney and St. Therese of Lisieux. They teach us that in order that we obtain this great gift from the Holy Spirit, we need to be childlike, humble, obedient, and dispose ourselves well to receive the gift from the Holy Spirit. The gift of counsel can aid greatly those who need help in solving their problems and also the problems of those they care for. It is a gift necessary for those in authority, such as spiritual directors, counselors, doctors, and superiors, but it is also advantageous to anyone who wishes to use the gift for personal growth and holiness. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/counsel.html Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.zenit.org/article-23274?l=english The Pope said to WYD Sydney pilgrims: ?Unity and reconciliation cannot be achieved through our efforts alone. God has made us for one another and only in God and his Church can we find the unity we seek.? The Holy Father wanted to stress this because of the dangers of the ?dictatorship of relativism,? - how it will hinder people's capacity for good, achieved through unity. Benedict XVI encouraged the young people to nurture unity and ?resist any temptation to walk away, for it is precisely the comprehensiveness, the vast vision of our faith - solid yet open, consistent yet dynamic, true yet constantly growing in insight ? that we can offer our world.? The Pope then reminded the youth how their faith has been the refuge and shelter of their own friends: ?Is it not because of your faith that friends in difficulty or seeking meaning in their lives have turned to you?? (Zenit.org) http://www.zenit.org/article-23274?l=english Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/dominicans.html St. Dominic is a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi. Although not as popular as his saintly peer, the religious order that he founded continuously exerts a great influence on the Catholic Church and her spirituality of preaching, mission and the spirit of poverty. The Dominican Order has produced doctors of the Church, mystics, saints, artists, holy men and women, and popes. Foremost among their popular members are: St. Albert the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Henry of Suso, Fra Angelico, Blessed Raymond of Capua, St. Rose of Lima, St. Catherine of Siena and the holy Dominican Pope, Pope St. Pius V. It was this Pope that ordered a battle at Lepanto which won and achieved victory against the Muslims because the pope commanded the fleet to pray the rosary and invoke the powerful aid of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because of this victory, he declared October 7, the date of victory, as the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Dominicans all over the world continue to be good preachers, teachers, and administrators of Catholic universities in many different parts of the world. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/dominicans.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.zenit.org/article-23214?l=english In this special news article from Zenit news, we will read information about the history of World Youth Day as told by Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, at a Mass to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the San Lorenzo International Center. The idea to create World Youth Day was conceived in the extraordinary Holy Year 1983-1984. The Eternal City was invaded by associations, societies, fraternities and groups of all sorts. One of the volunteers of the San Lorenzo International Center (established near the Vatican 25 years ago by Pope John Paul II), Don Massimo Camisasca of "Communion and Liberation," asked: "In this Holy Year, why don't we also hold an international meeting of youth?" Despite our total inexperience with regards to mega-meetings of this sort, and the obstacles placed, the great number that attended was a triumphal success. Something like 300,000 young people accepted the Pope's invitation and participated in Mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter's Square. Then John Paul II said: "The United Nations has proclaimed next year the Year of Youth. Should we not invite the world's youth to Rome again?" So for the second time, the young people's participation was oceanic. At the closing liturgy in front of the Lateran basilica, close to 250,000 people were counted. So began the celebration of World Youth Day, which various countries of the world have hosted, alternating international meetings with others held in local Churches. They were inaugurated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and followed by Spain, the United States, Europe and Asia. Of special importance were the meetings of Paris and Rome during the Holy Year of 2000. The numerical summit was reached in the Philippines, where some four million people gathered in celebration. The media were in agreement in commenting that the family of nations had never attended an event in which such a great multitude of people participated, voluntarily and with great joy. http://www.zenit.org/article-23214?l=english Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/sale/ignatius071906.html The feast of St. Benedict was celebrated last July 11. Saint Benedict of Nursia is the father of Western monasticism. His famous Rule has influenced many monastic orders and religious congregations. Up to this day, though they are not as popular as they were in their time, Benedictine monasteries still are a stable locus of Catholic spirituality - all of whom are instrumental in keeping the Catholic tradition alive. It is through the Benedictine ideal of ora et labora [prayer and work], that continues to help Catholics value the integration of contemplation and activity in the present times. Pope Paul VI named Saint Benedict the Patron Protector of Europe in 1964, seeing the rise of secularism which threatens to destroy the Christian spirit in the Church. In 1999, John Paul II also honored Saint Benedict as one of the six patrons of Europe [together with St. Catherine of Siena, St. Edith Stein, St. Bridget of Sweden, St. Cyril and St. Methodius]. Also, in 2005, Joseph Ratzinger took the name Benedict XVI as he was chosen as the 265th Pope with the intention of continuing Saint Benedict's great legacy in keeping the Christian faith alive amidst the secularism that is in the world. In honor of this feast of St. Benedict, Ignatius.com offers a selection of books: illustrating our current Pope's teachings; and books and music that pay tribute to Saint Benedict's life and spiritual legacy. http://www.pcentral-online.net/sale/ignatius071906.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/wisdom.html In his book, "Love of Eternal Wisdom", St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort says that when the gift of God's wisdom enters a soul, it brings all kinds of good things with it and bestows vast riches upon that soul. "All good things came to me along with wisdom and untold riches from his hand." (cf. Wisdom 7:11). This is Solomon's own testimony to the truth after he had received wisdom. St. Louis-Marie also teaches that there are five marvelous effects that wisdom produces in the souls of those who wish to receive him (and often in such a secret way that the soul is not aware of them): (1) a spirit of enlightenment, (2) the power of eloquence, (3) a true source of purest joy, (4) virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and (5) a bountiful reward and many blessings after God finds the soul worthy of Himself through tests and trials. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/wisdom.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/16th-sunday-a.html The lectionary readings for the 16th Sunday of the Year, Year A, are taken from: the book of Wisdom, the letter of Paul to the Romans, and the gospel of Matthew. In the book of Wisdom, we find a teaching on the person of God as One who has care for all people - how He gives His sons and daughters good ground for hope, because He permits them an opportunity to repent from their sins. Then in the letter of Paul to the Romans, we will read how St. Paul teaches the community at Rome that the Spirit of God helps us in our weakness - especially in times that we need Him to make intercession for us to the saints as the Lord Himself wills it so. Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we will read about Jesus teaching another parable on the wisdom of letting the evil grow together with the good, and that only at the end times will the Son of Man collect the evil and the good, separate the two, let the angels hurl the evil into the fiery furnace, and then let the good shine like the sun in the Father's kingdom. http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/16th-sunday-a.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/articles-blogs/reading-gods-word.html Those who teach the bible often make reference to the scripture as text not only to be studied objectively, but also, and much more meaningfully, as a source for spiritual enrichment and personal growth. Reading scripture prayerfully and reflectively can be done by taking the Word to heart, and letting God - as He speaks to Israel (in the Old Testament readings) or as Jesus speaks to His apostles and disciples (in the New Testament readings) - to speak also to us personally. Placing ourselves in the person of Israel or the apostles and disciples, can help us obtain through our faculties of feeling and intuition, God's simple message of truth for our personal situations in life. http://www.pcentral-online.net/articles-blogs/reading-gods-word.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius071508.html The Sacred Scriptures speak of the beauty of Mount Carmel where the prophet Elijah defended the faith of the people of Israel in the living God. In the twelfth century a group of hermits settled there and afterwards set up the Carmelite Order to lead a contemplative life under the patronage of the Holy Mother of God. Since then there have been many saints who have chosen to lead the life of a Carmelite, including Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Therese of Lisieux, and Edith Stein. To celebrate this great feast on July 16, and the lives & teachings of Carmelite saints, Ignatius Press offers these inspiring books and films, all at 20% off ! http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius071508.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/15th-sunday-a.html The lectionary readings for the 15th Sunday of the Year, Year A, are taken from: the book of the prophet Isaiah, the letter of Paul to the Romans, and the gospel of Matthew. In the book of Isaiah, God speaks through the prophet and tells the people Israel that His word shall go forth from His mouth, to do His will and achieve the end for which He sent it. Then in the letter of Paul to the Romans, Paul encourages the community in Rome by telling them that their sufferings are nothing compared to the redemption that they will receive as children of God. Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus teaching the people with a popular parable: the parable of the seeds thrown into four types of ground - a footpath, rocky ground, ground with thorns and briers, and good soil. His lesson is that we are to be like the good soil who will receive His word and produce a harvest of God's blessings for our family, our co-workers, friends and ourselves. http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/15th-sunday-a.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/prudence.html Spiritual books say that unlike in the olden times when the nobility and common folk gave a lot of importance to respectful and kind speech, our modern times sometimes forgets this virtue, and puts above instead income, status, success, power and prestige to govern our unkind, harsh, and brutally frank words (which can cause enmity or stir anger and causes one to lose a relationship). Prudence is the virtue that is infused with God's sanctifying grace so that we may: (1) deliberate maturely on what we are to say or do - given our own personal experience and the advice of others; (2) weigh all the options wisely and search all the pros and cons of when, where, what, and how to act so that the good would be done and the evil avoided; and (3) execute the action swiftly (not procrastinating, nor being hasty) by following through what has been planned and well-thought out so that we can do what is right according to the norms and principles of our Catholic faith. This article also gives some examples of how prudence is applied in certain situations to help us learn how to apply it in our family, workplace, and social networks. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/prudence.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/peter-damian.html We have finally finished providing biographical profiles for all the thirty-three doctors of the Church - with St. Peter Damian as our last featured saint and doctor. If you want to review again the others in the list, the link to the page of all the 33 doctors is at: www.pcentral-online.net/reviews/doctors-of-the-church.html St. Peter Damian lived during the centuries of the Church where the Catholic Church experienced many hardships. Also, St. Peter Damian's life itself had a very poor family background. Through the help of his archpriest brother, who was named Damian, he was able to get a good education and enter the Benedictines at Fonte Avellana. He was made bishop of Ostia and got involved in many ecclesiastical reforms in the Church, especially as regards clerical celibacy and simony. In his last mission, he became ill while returning back to his monastery. He died among his brother-monks and for many years, devotions to him were celebrated where he lived and work. He was declared a doctor of the Church in 1828 A.D. by Pope Leo XII. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/peter-damian.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/pope/john-paul-ii-1.html This article is the first of a series of articles on the life of John Paul II. John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, southern Poland, to Karol and Emilia Wojtyla. The first eight years of Karol (John Paul II), also nicknamed Lolek, were generally happy. It was his ninth year when he experienced a great loss: the death of his mother. Three years after, he also lossed his elder brother, Edmund, nicknamed Mundek, who studied to become a doctor, and then contracted scarlet fever from one of his patients and died. Despite these great losses in his life, he continued on after graduating valedictorian from high school, to study in the prestigious Jagiellonian University and study linguistics. His father went with him and the two set up housekeeping together. But one year after his entrance in the University, the Nazis invaded Poland, and World War II erupted. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/pope/john-paul-ii-1.html Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.zenit.org/article-23127?l=english The upcoming World Youth Day will be a new Pentecost, Benedict XVI says. And he is asking the whole Church to participate, at least spiritually, if not physically. He emphasized the importance of Catholics worldwide joining in prayer for the July 15-20 event, to be held in Sydney, Australia. The Pope invites the whole Church to share in this new stage of the great pilgrimage of young people across the world - begun in 1985 by the Servant of God John Paul II. He wants Catholics from all the corners of the earth to be united with him and with all the young people gathered - as in the Cenacle - in Sydney. The Pope is intensely invoking the Holy Spirit so that the hearts of all will be flooded with the inner light of love of God and of others, and of courageous initiative to introduce Jesus' eternal message in the diversity of languages and cultures." http://www.zenit.org/article-23127?l=english Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/albert-the-great.html During his lifetime, the contemporaries of St. Albert already dubbed him as "the Great" and the "Universal Doctor". So great and brilliant was his intellect and learning that he was able to write many works - filling thirty-eight volumes. He was a holy teacher who mentored St. Thomas Aquinas. Though he wanted most of his life to devote himself to study and teaching, he was called upon to fulfill many leading roles in his Dominican Order and in the Church in general. What is remarkable about this doctor of the Church is his vast knowledge of many subjects, all of which he also wrote about: natural science, logic, rhetoric, mathematics, ethics, economics, politics, mineralogy, anthropology, biology, zoology, botany, weaving, agriculture, geography, navigation, and most especially, philosophy and theology. However, toward the end of his life, he experienced an illness that debilitated his mind (probably Alzheimer's Disease). St. Albert the Great however knew that this would happen to him because the Blessed Mother appeared during his youth and told him that he would be deprived of his intellectual and mental abilities before his death. St. Albert is one of the four doctors of the Church who is dubbed with the title, "the Great": St. Basil the Great, St. Leo the Great and St. Gregory the Great. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/albert-the-great.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/patience.html In these very difficult and trying times, Christians are called to exercise all the more the virtue of patience. Patience is one of the twelve spiritual fruits of the Holy Spirit and it is also a form of the moral virtue of fortitude. With patience, Christians are able to endure present hardships, difficulties, and even evils, without sadness or resentment, knowing that they are pleasing God and doing all things in conformity with His holy will. Patience builds up stamina in our human spirit so that we may persevere and have endurance and to remain courageous for much longer periods of time. There are three grades of patience: (1) to bear difficulties without interior complaint; (2) to use hardships to make progress in virtue and holiness; and (3) to bear the crosses of one's life and afflictions of one's state of life for the love of God - accepting them with spiritual joy. http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/holy-spirit/patience.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT