ICN Independent Catholic News

The Papal Visit gives us endless memorable images. incidents, speeches, interviews, centered on Pope Benedict XVI.

The service of ICN, Independent Catholic News,  is a very helpful resource, and provides a useful archive of the unforgettable experience of the UK welcome of the Pope.  
 
With acknowledgment to ICN, and appreciation of this continuing this LINK.

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Monday, September 20, 2010 6:23 AM BST  

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Latest news 

Reform group protests over BBC report Last Sunday the BBC carried a report filmed in a north London church during and after Mass,  in which a woman (ostensibly a parishioner) claiming to come from  campaigning group Catholic Voices for Reform, was interviewed discussing a number of church issues. The group has issued the following letter of complaint. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 6:06 pm

Papal Visit (xvi) Reflections on Pope at Westminster Abbey  I was privileged to receive a ticket to attend the Service of Evening Prayer on Friday lead by Pope Benedict and the Archbishop of Canterbury.  What an emotional and affecting event. However, the two key words which sum it up must be, relaxed and respectful. Read More ...Judy Dixey - Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 5:40 pm

Papal Visit: (xv) Beatification of John Henry Newman Pope Benedict XVI left the apostolic nunciature in London this morning and, at 8.30am, boarded a helicopter which took him to Birmingham for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman. John Henry Newman, one of the great Christian intellectuals of the nineteenth century, was born in London in 1801. H Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 5:30 pm

Papal Visit (xiv) Hyde Park Vigil Carrying banners, placards and flags, around 80,000 parishioners of all ages,  came to Hyde Park yesterday afternoon, for the Prayer Vigil with Pope Benedict. An estimated 20,000 more gathered to watch from the roads around the park. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 5:16 pm

Papal Visit (xiii): Pope meets abuse victims; adresses safeguarding professionals  Before the Hyde Park Vigil on Saturday, in the Apostolic Nunciature in London Pope Benedict met a group of people who had been sexually abused by members of the clergy. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 1:54 pm

Papal Visit (xii) Pope's greeting to young people at Westminster Cathedral Only 2,500 could were able to attend the Papal Mass at Westminster Cathedral yesterday. Another couple of thousand crammed into the Piazza to watch the Mass on screens. Many more waited in Victoria Street for a glimpse of the Holy Father. After the Mass the Pope came out onto the steps of the Cathedral and spoke with a few young people. He also gave the following short address. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 1:35 pm

Papal Visit (xi) Pope Benedict in Hyde Park - homily text "This is an evening of joy, of immense spiritual joy for all of us. We are gathered here in prayer vigil to prepare for tomorrow's Mass, during which a great son of this nation, Cardinal John Henry Newman, will be declared Blessed. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 1:00 am

Papal Visit (x) text - Pope Benedict at Westminster Cathedral Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday morning. The text of his homily follows. We will be carrying a full report on ICN tomorrow. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 12:53 am

Papal Visit (ix) UK government and Holy See discuss shared goals "Her Majesty's Government hosted a dinner on 17 September for the Holy See delegation accompanying Pope Benedict XVI on his official visit to the UK, headed by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. The UK side was headed by William Hague, the Foreign Secretary. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 12:23 am

Papal Visit (viii) Ecumenical Vespers at Westminster Abbey At 7pm on Friday, the Pope arrived at Westminster Abbey where he took part in an ecumenical celebration of Vespers. Accompanied by Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, and Catholic Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster,  Pope Benedict was received by John Hall, dean of the abbey, who introduced him to the chapter. Read More ...Posted: Sunday, September 19, 2010 12:08 am

Papal Visit (vii) Pope Benedict visits Archbishop Rowan Williams On Friday afternoon, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI visited His Grace Archbishop Rowan Williams at the Archbishop's London home, Lambeth Palace. Together they addressed a meeting of Anglican and Roman Catholic Diocesan Bishops from England, Scotland and Wales in the Great Hall of the Archbishop's Library. Read More ...Posted: Saturday, September 18, 2010 11:25 pm

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Saint of the day: 20th September

The Martyrs of Korea

Christianity first came to Korea through books, sent from China. The first Koreans were baptised in Peking in 1784. Ten years later, a Chinese priest visiting Korea found 4,000 Christians. He stayed with them until he was killed in 1801. For the next 30 years, the community did not have a priest.

In 1837, Pope Pius VII sent Bishop Laurence Imbert with two priests from the Paris Missionary Society to China. Christianity was punishable by death at that time, so they worked in secrecy and lived in incredibly poor conditions. But the growing numbers of Christians could not remain hidden forever. Violent persecutions began and the three priests allowed themselves to be arrested to avert a riot. They were beheaded at Seoul on 21 September 1839. Later 78 Koreans were martyred.

In 1846 the first Korean priest, Andrew Kim, died for his faith. The entire group was canonised in 1984.  

Precious Blood

Saturday, 18 September 2010

The Pope and The Precious Blood

• Today at Westminster Cathedral the Holy Father directed the concelebrants and the congregation to the large hanging crucifix above the altar. 
• This was the Votive Mass of The Precious Blood of Christ, and the Holy Father spoke movingly about Christ the High priest and His solidarity with all those who suffer. 
• In this context the Pope highlighted the suffering of victims of sexual abuse and spoke of the continuing need to safeguard our children. 
• The Church herself is suffering because of the "sins" of abusers and others, and this suffering is also taken into the Sacrifice of Christ. In a special way, the Sacrifice of the Eucharist will embrace all those who have been hurt and are hurting, as well as all the sick and incapacitated. 
• The Eucharist is healing because of Christ's Death and Resurrection - He is the "High Priest of the good things to come". 
• We should have great hope for the future because of Christ. 
• The Precious Blood is a sign of that self-giving love which brings ultimate meaning to our lives and promises healing and protection for all who will come to Him.
• 
  

Posted by Fr John Abberton at http://yorkshireshepherd.blogspot.com/

With thanks . . .

Blessed Henry Joh Newman

Cardinal Newman blessed by Benedict XVI with beatification  Pope Benedict XVI on the altar during the rite of beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman on Sunday Related articles: ·                              A Marian prayer of Cardinal John Henry Newman ·                              Deacon cured through intervention of Cardinal Newman preaches at Westminster Cathedral ·                              Card. John Newman ·                              Cardinal Ratzinger’s thoughts on John Paul II Birmingham, England, Sep 19, 2010 / 05:56 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy Father has declared that John Henry Cardinal Newman will "henceforth be invoked as Blessed." Despite inclement weather, tens of thousands of faithful attended to celebrate the life of Newman, revered for his intellectual contributions to Christianity. Cool weather and sporadic sprinkles of rain were no obstacle to the pilgrims in attendance for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Birmingham's Cofton Park on Sunday. Multi-colored ponchos and umbrellas peppered the vast 55,000 person crowd who cheered for the Pope upon his arrival and joined in with a massive choir to warm up the atmosphere. Beginning the rite, the Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard Longley, made the official request of the Pope "that the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman be beatified." A short biography was then read by the vice postulator for the Cause for the Canonization of Cardinal Newman, Fr. Richard Duffield Fr. Duffield, also provost of Newman's Birmingham Oratory, read the brief description of the life of the 19th century celebrated Catholic convert from the Anglican Church. He was remembered as a prominent figure in the Church of England, a preacher, theologian and leader of the Oxford movement as an Anglican in the first half of his life. Drawn to full communion with the Catholic Church, he converted at 44 years old. He founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Birmingham in 1847 with encouragement from then-Pope Pius IX. Fr. Duffield summarized his contributions throughout his life, saying, "(h)e was a prolific and influential writer on a variety of subjects, including the development of Christian doctrine, faith and reason, the true nature of conscience and university education." The vice postulator also remembered him as being "(p)raised for his humility, his life of prayer, his unstinting care of souls and contributions to the intellectual life of the Church." He was created cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879 and lived with the oratorians until his death in 1890. "Acceding to the request" of the Archbishop of Birmingham, the bishops and faithful, Pope Benedict XVI declared that "venerable Servant of God John Henry, Cardinal, Newman priest of the Congregation of the Oratory, shall henceforth be invoked as Blessed and that his feast shall be celebrated every year of the ninth of October." At that point an image of the Blessed appeared in the digital altarpiece to the right of the Pope, punctuating the moment, also met by the cheers from the faithful. Following the declaration a song written by Blessed Newman was sung praising "the Holiest in the height" and thanks were given to Benedict XVI for presiding over the celebration, his first beatification ever. The rite concluded with a reliquary procession which included some of Newman's family members and oratorians. Among the many prelates present for the beatification from England, WalesNew York and beyond was Cardinal Edwin Egan, Archbishop-Emeritus of and three other "red berets."

News From the Catholic Church

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Cardinal O'Brien thanks Pope for being "Honorary Scot"

In his farewell address to Pope Benedict XVI delivered at Oscott College in Birmingham today, Cardinal Keith O'Brien the President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland will thank the pope for agreeing to be "an honorary Scot for the day" on Thursday (16 September).

As Britain's senior Catholic, Cardinal O'Brien addressed his farewell remarks to the pope at the end of his four day visit to Scotland and England. The Cardinal ended by assuring the Pope that the Catholiuc Church would work to "build on the legacy of your visit for many years to come as we go forward affirmed so surely by you in our faith."

The full text of Cardinal O'Brien's address is shown below:

ADDRESS OF CARDINAL O’BRIEN TO POPE BENEDICT XVI

OSCOTT COLLEGE, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Holy Father, it is a great privilege for me to address you, as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.

As you prepare to leave us, we remember the joy and pride we felt when we learned of your State visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen and Her Government.

In Edinburgh, just three days ago, in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh and leaders of Church and State welcomed you and the words you so thoughtfully delivered to us when you addressed our country.

It was a particular joy for us in Scotland to realise that you would arrive in our country to begin your visit on the 16th of September, the Feast of St Ninian. Ninian was of course a bishop, ordained in Rome and sent back to his homeland to spread the Christian message. Your words and your very presence brought to our minds our ancient Christian heritage.  The St. Ninian tartan scarf designed and woven for your visit, which you wore so graciously showed you were happy to be an honorary Scot for the day!

The welcoming cavalcade along Princes Street in Edinburgh reminded a worldwide audience of the Christian roots of our land. Like Ninian before you, you too moved across our countries, strengthening us in that same Christian faith whose seed had been first sown over 1600 years ago.

At Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, the first of your Masses in our country was celebrated with great joy with the 70,000 pilgrims present falling silent only for moments of deep prayer. For many months our people had been preparing to greet you with very great happiness in prayer and song. Major events followed in England, both temporal and spiritual, allowing you to engage with our fellow Catholics, our Christian brothers and sisters, with civil society, and all people of goodwill.

At the heart of your pilgrimage was the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman.  We are  happy to acknowledge the Scottish links of the new Blessed John Henry Newman – coming to Abbotsford in the Scottish Borders for relaxation and prayer and celebrating Mass on the occasions of his visits wearing the vestments which had been brought to my Chapel in Edinburgh for you to see as a reminder of these Scottish links.

From your first encyclical letter ‘Deus Caritas Est’, your words have always been given detailed attention and careful study not only by the Catholic faithful but by peoples of all faiths and none.

As the Chief Teacher of our Faith we thank you for the guidance and inspiration you offer us. Your words to us; at Bellahouston Park, Twickenham, Westminster, Hyde Park, at the Beatification, and here in Birmingham will be studied and used to fortify us all in the faith passed on to us through the ages by the apostles and delivered over these four great days by the successor of Peter himself.

Your visit to us was both State and pastoral but our farewell to you is entirely personal. Be assured that we will build on the legacy of your visit for many years to come as we go forward affirmed so surely by you in our faith.
ENDS

Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office

Raphael's Sistine Chapel tapestries

Raphael: Cartoons and Tapestries for the Sistine Chapel, at V&A, Seven magazine review

The reuniting of Raphael's Sistine Chapel tapestries and their original designs is little short of a miracle . Rating * * * *

By Michael Prodger 
Published: 5:18PM BST 17 Sep 2010

Comment

Link to this video

For Catholics, the visit of Benedict XVI to these shores is a blessing but there is a tangible reason for those of us outside his flock to be grateful too. The Pope has facilitated the loan of four of the Vatican's legendary Acts of the Apostles tapestries and until October 17 they will hang in the Victoria and Albert Museum alongside the Raphael Cartoons, the seven full-sized designs from which the tapestries were woven.

Pieter van Aelst, that both tapestries and designs have been seen together.

It is a sight neither Raphael nor Leo X, the Medici Pope who commissioned them, ever saw. The paper cartoons are far too delicate to travel and, when it comes to loans, the Vatican is not an institution known for its charity, so it is unlikely that this opportunity will occur again.

Tapestries now occupy a lowly rung on the art-appreciation ladder but they used to be at the very top. Because the weaving required teams of highly skilled craftsmen working with luxurious materials, they were both more desirable and more costly than almost all paintings. But as the colours of their wools, silks and gilt-metal-wrapped threads have faded over the centuries, so their reputation has faded, too.

The very existence of the Vatican tapestries is, however, an indication of just whatde luxe items they were: Raphael was paid 1,000 ducats for his designs but each individual tapestry cost 1,500 ducats to weave.

Leo X commissioned the tapestries for a very specific place and purpose. Between them, Sixtus IV and Julius II, his two predecessors on the papal throne, had enlarged and beautified the Sistine Chapel so that it was the artistic centre of the Christian world as well as 'the first chapel of Christendom'. Its ceiling and walls had been decorated by Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio and, literally above all, Michelangelo.

When Leo became Pope he wanted to leave his mark on this jewel box too. So in 1515 he ignored Michelangelo, Julius II's favourite, and turned instead to Raphael. He commissioned 10 designs from him for tapestries showing the acts of St Peter and St Paul – the saints on whom the papacy was built – to hang around the chapel's lower walls.

There was perhaps more than a touch of mischief in the Pope choosing the suave younger artist and setting him to work in the same space in direct competition with the older, craggier residing genius. The rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo and the contrast between their styles and personalities became one of the great set pieces of Renaissance art.

The challenge spurred a new monumentality and sense of drama in Raphael. He drew the designs himself – there are six of his preparatory drawings on show at the V&A too – before he and his assistants scaled them up into the huge 3m x 4m cartoons. These were made by pasting together up to 200 sheets of paper, and once complete they were then cut into metre-wide strips and sent to Flanders for the weavers to copy.

The cartoons came to these shores in 1623 when the future Charles I bought them for the Royal Tapestry Manufactory at Mortlake, but it wasn't until the 1690s that the strips were reassembled and the designs could be appreciated as works of art in their own right.

They are, perhaps, a rather overlooked national treasure these days but in 1725 Jonathan Richardson called them 'the best history pictures that are anywhere now in being' and John Wilkes, the political radical, declaimed in 1777 that they were 'the pride of our island'.

The four tapestries at the V&A represent The Miraculous Draught of Fishes,Christ's Charge to Peter, The Healing of the Lame Man and The Sacrifice at Lystra. All show Raphael's designs in reverse because the weavers worked from the back of the hangings. The colours have not all aged well. Five hundred years has seen the luminescence dull and the gilt-thread tarnish so that The Healing of the Lame Man, for example, has been reduced to a palette of just red, blue and beige.

As a result some of the weavers' virtuosity has been lost too. But not all: there is a clump of foliage in the corner of The Miraculous Draught of Fishes that is not there in Raphael's design – it is a delightful piece of pure show-offery. The weavers also added a spattering of gold stars to Jesus' robe in Christ's Charge to Peter to give a sparkle they clearly thought was missing, and they felt at liberty to change some of Raphael's colours, too.

More than enough of the tapestries' original majesty does remain, however, that to imagine them in the 16th-century Sistine Chapel is an easy feat – wrapping the space at eye level, the candlelight picking out the gold in the wefts, the velvety colours glowing, and the material softly rippling.

For the opportunity to see this assembly of such history-laden objects, visitors of whatever faith – or none – should offer up a silent prayer to Pope Benedict.

This review also appears in Seven magazine, free with The Sunday Telegraph

Papal Visit Vigil of Beatification

Myriads of enthusiastic Catholics join Pope for Cardinal Newman vigil

Attendees wait for Pope Benedict at the Hyde Park vigil

Related articles:

• Pope Benedict XVI - Biography
• Pope tells why he chose the name of "Benedict XVI"
• Some statistical info about Pope Benedict XVI
• Interesting Facts about His Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI

London, England, Sep 18, 2010 / 03:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A diverse and enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands joined Pope Benedict XVI for his final event in London. Attendees told CNA they were extremely happy to join the event to bear witness to their faith and to show their love for the Pope.

The vigil celebration of the Beatification of John Henry Newman in London's Hyde Park attracted an estimated 80,000 people, the BBC reports.

During the vigil’s Eucharistic Adoration many of the people in attendance knelt on the grass in solemn prayer while others prayed while standing.

Hundreds of people were left outside the park gates, which closed as the Pope arrived. These stayed and prayed just like those on the inside. Most could see the large video screens above the fences.
CNA spoke with members of the vigil crowd, finding that every one of them was enthusiastic for the Pope's arrival and happy to bear witness to the faith in the U.K.

Besides the great presence of English, Welsh and Scottish, there was an enormous mix of people whose origins included Hong Kong, Uganda, Malta and Chile. Their multitudes of waving flags showed their diversity.

A teenager from London named Brendan painted his face with the Vatican coat of arms, displaying the coat’s keys on each cheek. He had written the abbreviation "BXVI" on his forehead and held a sign with the words "We Love U Papa" for all to see.

Mr. and Mrs. John Holden told CNA that they had come from southwest Wales with their son Fr. Martin Holden to see the Pope. They had already seen the Holy Father earlier Saturday morning at Westminster Cathedral. John commented that the event "as you say in America, was 'awesome'."

Tim Rumpus from St. Joseph's parish in Basingstoke came to "bear witness, show that the Catholic faith is still strong in England, and basically, with all the negative press, stand up and be counted."

Attendee Lauren is in her twenties. She is originally from Cardiff, Wales, but presently lives in Battlesea, England. She said about the Pope, "it's wonderful to have him here" and recalled her father's participation in John Paul II's visit in 1982. Magdalena from Slovakia said she was there just to watch the Pope and to pray.

Richard, originally from the Philippines, but now in the U.K. for work, explained he came to the "vespers" in order to "witness the faithful, the gathering of faith of the entire world in the United Kingdom."

Barry McCarthy, from London, was there with his wife and child. He said "we're here today to celebrate our faith." He added that he would like "to welcome the Pope and just thank him for coming."

During the vigil Pope Benedict spoke of the “immense spiritual joy” Cardinal Newman’s imminent beatification has caused. He urged the crowd to listen for God’s call in their lives.

“Be open to his voice resounding in the depths of your heart: even now his heart is speaking to your heart,” he told the audience, alluding to the motto of the cardinal.

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Papal Visit London

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 16-19, 2010) EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ City of Westminster Saturday, 18 September 2010 HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Dear Friends in Christ, I greet all of you with joy in the Lord and I thank you for your warm reception. I am grateful to Archbishop Nichols for his words of welcome on your behalf. Truly, in this meeting of the Successor of Peter and the faithful of Britain, “heart speaks unto heart” as we rejoice in the love of Christ and in our common profession of the Catholic faith which comes to us from the Apostles. I am especially happy that our meeting takes place in this Cathedral dedicated to the Most Precious Blood, which is the sign of God’s redemptive mercy poured out upon the world through the passion, death and resurrection of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In a particular way I greet the Archbishop of Canterbury, who honours us by his presence. The visitor to this Cathedral cannot fail to be struck by the great crucifix dominating the nave, which portrays Christ’s body, crushed by suffering, overwhelmed by sorrow, the innocent victim whose death has reconciled us with the Father and given us a share in the very life of God. The Lord’s outstretched arms seem to embrace this entire church, lifting up to the Father all the ranks of the faithful who gather around the altar of the Eucharistic sacrifice and share in its fruits. The crucified Lord stands above and before us as the source of our life and salvation, “the high priest of the good things to come”, as the author of the Letter to the Hebrews calls him in today’s first reading (Heb9:11). It is in the shadow, so to speak, of this striking image, that I would like to consider the word of God which has been proclaimed in our midst and reflect on the mystery of the Precious Blood. For that mystery leads us to see the unity between Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, the Eucharistic sacrifice which he has given to his Church, and his eternal priesthood, whereby, seated at the right hand of the Father, he makes unceasing intercession for us, the members of his mystical body. Let us begin with the sacrifice of the Cross. The outpouring of Christ’s blood is the source of the Church’s life. Saint John, as we know, sees in the water and blood which flowed from our Lord’s body the wellspring of that divine life which is bestowed by the Holy Spirit and communicated to us in the sacraments (Jn 19:34; cf. 1 Jn 1:7; 5:6-7). The Letter to the Hebrews draws out, we might say, the liturgical implications of this mystery. Jesus, by his suffering and death, his self-oblation in the eternal Spirit, has become our high priest and “the mediator of a new covenant” (Heb 9:15). These words echo our Lord’s own words at the Last Supper, when he instituted the Eucharist as the sacrament of his body, given up for us, and his blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant shed for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Mk 14:24; Mt 26:28; Lk 22:20). Faithful to Christ’s command to “do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19), the Church in every time and place celebrates the Eucharist until the Lord returns in glory, rejoicing in his sacramental presence and drawing upon the power of his saving sacrifice for the redemption of the world. The reality of the Eucharistic sacrifice has always been at the heart of Catholic faith; called into question in the sixteenth century, it was solemnly reaffirmed at the Council of Trent against the backdrop of our justification in Christ. Here in England, as we know, there were many who staunchly defended the Mass, often at great cost, giving rise to that devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist which has been a hallmark of Catholicism in these lands. The Eucharistic sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ embraces in turn the mystery of our Lord’s continuing passion in the members of his Mystical Body, the Church in every age. Here the great crucifix which towers above us serves as a reminder that Christ, our eternal high priest, daily unites our own sacrifices, our own sufferings, our own needs, hopes and aspirations, to the infinite merits of his sacrifice. Through him, with him, and in him, we lift up our own bodies as a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God (cf. Rom 12:1). In this sense we are caught up in his eternal oblation, completing, as Saint Paul says, in our flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, the Church (cf. Col 1:24). In the life of the Church, in her trials and tribulations, Christ continues, in the stark phrase of Pascal, to be in agony until the end of the world (Pensées, 553, éd. Brunschvicg). We see this aspect of the mystery of Christ’s precious blood represented, most eloquently, by the martyrs of every age, who drank from the cup which Christ himself drank, and whose own blood, shed in union with his sacrifice, gives new life to the Church. It is also reflected in our brothers and sisters throughout the world who even now are suffering discrimination and persecution for their Christian faith. Yet it is also present, often hidden in the suffering of all those individual Christians who daily unite their sacrifices to those of the Lord for the sanctification of the Church and the redemption of the world. My thoughts go in a special way to all those who are spiritually united with this Eucharistic celebration, and in particular the sick, the elderly, the handicapped and those who suffer mentally and spiritually. Here too I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children, especially within the Church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes, along with my hope that the power of Christ’s grace, his sacrifice of reconciliation, will bring deep healing and peace to their lives. I also acknowledge, with you, the shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will contribute to the healing of the victims, the purification of the Church and the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young people. I express my gratitude for the efforts being made to address this problem responsibly, and I ask all of you to show your concern for the victims and solidarity with your priests. Dear friends, let us return to the contemplation of the great crucifix which rises above us. Our Lord’s hands, extended on the Cross, also invite us to contemplate our participation in his eternal priesthood and thus our responsibility, as members of his body, to bring the reconciling power of his sacrifice to the world in which we live. The Second Vatican Council spoke eloquently of the indispensable role of the laity in carrying forward the Church’s mission through their efforts to serve as a leaven of the Gospel in society and to work for the advancement of God’s Kingdom in the world (cf. Lumen Gentium, 31; Apostolicam Actuositatem, 7). The Council’s appeal to the lay faithful to take up their baptismal sharing in Christ’s mission echoed the insights and teachings of John Henry Newman. May the profound ideas of this great Englishman continue to inspire all Christ’s followers in this land to conform their every thought, word and action to Christ, and to work strenuously to defend those unchanging moral truths which, taken up, illuminated and confirmed by the Gospel, stand at the foundation of a truly humane, just and free society. How much contemporary society needs this witness! How much we need, in the Church and in society, witnesses of the beauty of holiness, witnesses of the splendour of truth, witnesses of the joy and freedom born of a living relationship with Christ! One of the greatest challenges facing us today is how to speak convincingly of the wisdom and liberating power of God’s word to a world which all too often sees the Gospel as a constriction of human freedom, instead of the truth which liberates our minds and enlightens our efforts to live wisely and well, both as individuals and as members of society.  Let us pray, then, that the Catholics of this land will become ever more conscious of their dignity as a priestly people, called to consecrate the world to God through lives of faith and holiness. And may this increase of apostolic zeal be accompanied by an outpouring of prayer for vocations to the ordained priesthood. For the more the lay apostolate grows, the more urgently the need for priests is felt; and the more the laity’s own sense of vocation is deepened, the more what is proper to the priest stands out. May many young men in this land find the strength to answer the Master’s call to the ministerial priesthood, devoting their lives, their energy and their talents to God, thus building up his people in unity and fidelity to the Gospel, especially through the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice.    Dear friends, in this Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood, I invite you once more to look to Christ, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection (cf. Heb 12:2). I ask you to unite yourselves ever more fully to the Lord, sharing in his sacrifice on the Cross and offering him that “spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1) which embraces every aspect of our lives and finds expression in our efforts to contribute to the coming of his Kingdom. I pray that, in doing so, you may join the ranks of faithful believers throughout the long Christian history of this land in building a society truly worthy of man, worthy of your nation’s highest traditions.