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 Benedict
XVI Marks First Papal Birthday
Vatican City- Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his 79th birthday and first
birthday as pope on Easter, April 16. He celebrated his birthday with
an Easter morning mass in St. Peter’s Square with a packed crowd
of about 100,000 pilgrims and tourist. Afterwhich, he delivered his
message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome
and the world”).
The Pope’s older brother, Monsignor Georg Ratzinger, sent a
birthday message from Bavaria which stood out from the thousands of
messages Benedict XVI received on this birthday. The message expressed
what Monsignor Georg Ratzinger has always said on this occasion: “Oremus
por invicem” (Let us pray for one another).
Monsignor Ratzinger’s written message was published at the Italian
Catholic newspaper Avvenire.
"Dear Joseph, may your onerous theological work of so many years
be of guidance and help to carry out the grandiose task that God has
entrusted to you," said Monsignor Ratzinger.
"May the Lord give you spiritual and intellectual inspiration,
as well as physical strength, to be able to make just decisions
and find appropriate words, and maintain the courage and firmness
in the face of the waves, which according to the secret divine will,
surround the Church and, with her, you also," he added.
"May God give us, in these last years of life toward which
we are heading, a minimum of fraternal communion with the joy and
warmth of before," he said.
The message is signed: "Your brother Georg." |
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| LIVES
OF THE SAINTS |
May
18
ST. JOHN
I
St. John I was a priest of Rome. He became pope after
the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. At that time, Italy's
ruler, Theodoric the Goth, was an Arian. (The Arians did not
believe that Jesus is God.) Theodoric let Catholics alone
at the beginning of his reign. Later, however, he changed
and became arrogant and suspicious of everyone.
May
19
ST. CELESTINE V
Peter di Morone was the eleventh of twelve children.
He was born around 1210 in Isernia, Italy. His father died
when he was small. The family was poor, but Peter's mother
raised her children with great love.
May
20
ST. BERNARDINE OF SIENA
St. Bernardine of Siena was born in 1380 in a town
near Siena, Italy. He was the son of an Italian governor.
His parents died when he was seven.
May
21
BLESSED
EUGENE DE MAZENOD
Blessed Eugene was born in France in 1782. He became
a priest in 1811. Father Eugene was sensitive to the needs
of the poor and he ministered to them.
May
22
ST. RITA OF CASCIA
St. Rita was born in 1381 in a little Italian village.
Her parents were older. They had begged God to send them a
child. They brought Rita up well. Rita wanted to enter the
convent when she was fifteen, but her parents decided that
she should marry instead.
May
23
ST. JOHN
BAPTIST ROSSI
St. John Baptist Rossi was born in 1698 in a village
near Genoa, Italy. His family loved him. They were proud when
a wealthy couple visiting their town offered to educate him.
His parents knew the couple and trusted them. John was happy
to be able to go to their house in Genoa because then he could
attend school.
May
24
ST. DAVID
I OF SCOTLAND
St. David was born in 1080. He was the youngest son of St.
Margaret, queen of Scotland, and her good husband, King Malcom.
David himself became king when he was about forty.
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PHOTO OF THE MONTH |
Tour
of the Relics of the Passion
(International Center
for Holy Relics)
www.HolyRelics.org
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| REFLECTIONS |
 “Jesus’
Baptism”
Why did Jesus, the sinless one sent from the Father in heaven,
submit himself to John’s baptism? John preached a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke
3:3). In this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of
the “baptism” of Jesus bloody death upon the
cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning
of his mission as God’s suffering Servant (Isaiah
52:13-15; 53:1-12). He allowed himself to be numbered among
sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s
will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death
for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust
and submission to God?
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