VATICAN CITY, 12 MAY 2010 (VIS) – Early this morning the Pope left the apostolic nunciature in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and travelled by helicopter to Fatima, a town of 8,000 inhabitants associated with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia in 1917. Jacinta and Francisco were beatified by John Paul II in Fatima in 2000.

The shrine was built on the site of the apparitions (an area known as “Cova de Iria”) with an esplanade surrounded by various buildings, At the north end stands the basilica and to its left the “Capelinha”, the Chapel of the Apparitions, which was built in 1919.

Before the image of the Virgin Mary in the Chapel of the Apparitions, Benedict read a prayer in which he recalled how Venerable John Paul II had visited Our Lady of Fatima on three occasions and given thanks for “the ‘unseen hand’ that rescued him from death in the assassination attempt on 13 May 1981″.

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With the transition of the Marian Center in full swing, we felt it important to resume publishing as soon as possisble.

Look for The Morning Star to be in your mail boxes the second week of March!

During the Angelus on Sunday, January 24, 2010, Pope Benedict addressed the faithful from his study window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, and reflected on the various charisms in the Church. Before the Marian prayer, he quoted an excerpt of the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, from Sunday’s liturgy, in which the Apostle compares the Church to the human body.

“The Church,” the Holy Father explained, “is conceived like a body of which Christ is the Head, and it forms a united whole with Him. “However,” he added, “what the Apostle is seeking to communicate is the idea of unity in the multiplicity of charisms, which are gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to these charisms the Church is a rich and living non-uniform organism, fruit of the one Spirit Who leads everyone to profound unity, absorbing diversities without eradicating them and creating a harmonious whole.” The Church, explained the Holy Father, “prolongs the presence of the risen Lord over history, especially through the Sacraments, the Word of God, the charisms and pastoral ministry in the community. Therefore, it is precisely in Christ and in the Spirit that the Church is one and holy; in other words, an intimate communion which transcends human capacities and supports them.”

Benedict XVI then turned to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which ends Monday, Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, when the Pope will preside at Vespers in the basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls, with representatives of other Churches and Christian communities present in Rome. “We will,” said the Pope, “invoke from God the gift of the full unity of all Christ’s disciples” because “the communion of Christians … makes the announcement of the Gospel more credible and effective.”
He closed with words about St. Francis of Sales, patron of journalists, whose feast day was Sunday. St. Francis, he said, taught that “the call to sanctity is addressed to everyone, and that each has his or her place in the Church.”
(Source: Joan’s Rome; January 25, 2010)

BENEDICT XVI TO PRESIDE AT VESPERS IN ST. PAUL’S BASILICA

VATICAN CITY, 19 JAN 2010 (VIS) – A communique released today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announces that in the Roman basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls on Monday 25 January, the Holy Father will preside at the celebration of second Vespers of the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul, for the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the theme of which this year is: “You are witnesses of these things”.

The celebration will be attended by representatives from other Churches and Christian communities present in Rome.

OCL/VESPERS CHRISTIAN UNITY/…