Gospel is a Gift to be Shared, Pope says



Pope Benedict - CNA Photo


Gospel must not be an elite message, Pope says : Catholic News Agency (CNA)

The photograph and following excerpt is from the Catholic News Agency:

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) Pope Benedict said in a message on missionary efforts that the Gospel is not an “exclusive” message to an elite few but rather a gift to be shared and “a piece of good news to be passed on.”

On Jan. 25, the Vatican released the Pope's official statement for the 85th annual World Mission Sunday which will be held on Oct. 23. The event is organized by the Propagation of the Faith and is set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer.

The theme of this year's celebration is, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Pope Benedict opened his remarks by emphasizing that the “announcement of the Gospel is destined for everyone.”

“The Church exists to evangelize,” he said. “Her activity, in conformity with the word of Christ and under the influence of His grace and charity, becomes fully and truly present in all individuals and all peoples in order to lead them to faith in Christ.”

The task of spreading the Gospel, then, “has lost none of its urgency,” the Pope said. The Church cannot “rest easy” at the thought that “there are people who still do not know Christ, who have not yet heard His message of salvation.”

Pope Benedict also addressed the growing number of individuals who've heard the Gospel but have forgotten it, abandoned it, or no longer identify themselves with the Church. He said that in modern times, even traditionally Christian societies are “reluctant to open themselves to the word of faith.”

He cited a cultural shift – influenced by globalization and increasing relativism – as leading to mentalities and lifestyles “that ignore the Evangelical message as if God did not exist, and which exalt the search for well-being, easy earnings, career and success as the goals of life, even at the expense of moral values.”

To those who hear and believe, the Pope said, the Gospel “is not the exclusive prerogative of those who received it, but a gift to be shared, a piece of good news to be passed on.”

“This gift-commitment is entrusted not just to the few, but to all baptized people,” he underscored.

Read more: Gospel must not be an elite message

Ron DiCianni: Painting the Resurrection

Ron DiCianni: Painting the Resurrection - CBN TV - Video

The Resurrection Mural is an inspiring oil painting which measures 40 foot long by 12 foot high by artist, Ron DiCianni. It took over two years to paint the mural and was commissioned by The Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, Texas.

For more information on the painting, please visit the following link: About the Resurrection Mural

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Message of January 25, 2011

Our Lady
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The Medjugorje Web - Apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Our Lady's monthly message conveyed to visionary Marija Pavlovic- Lunetti on January 25, 2011:

"Dear children! Also today I am with you and I am looking at you and blessing you, and I am not losing hope that this world will change for the good and that peace will reign in the hearts of men. Joy will begin to reign in the world because you have opened yourselves to my call and to God’s love. The Holy Spirit is changing a multitude of those who have said ‘yes’. Therefore I desire to say to you: thank you for having responded to my call."

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima from St. Louis Review on Vimeo.

The International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited many parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The faithful at Immaculate Conception Church in Arnold, Missouri held their own devotional evening.

Reflection spoken by Patrick Sabat, Custodian of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

The following excerpt is from the website of PilgrimVirginStatue.com:

Sent out to bring the Message of Fatima to the world, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue has traveled the world many times, visiting more than 100 countries, including Russia and Red China, bringing the great message of hope, "the peace plan from heaven," to millions of people. Many miracles and signal graces are reported wherever the statue travels including shedding tears many times.

Parishioners of St. Mary's Church invited to Discuss God's Spiritual Blessings on Radio Maria!

Statue of Our Lady - St. Mary's Church
Photo by Loci B. Lenar



Tune into Radio Maria on January 24th for a Lively Discussion about God’s Spiritual Blessings!



Logo Courtesy of Radio Maria

Radio Maria has invited several parishioners from St. Mary’s Church of Denville, New Jersey to speak live on the Catholic program, Sacred Treasures.  Kathie Duggan, host of Sacred Treasures will have Loci Lenar, Donna Ott, and Father Richard Tartaglia as guests on her radio show. The program will include testimony about God’s healing grace and focus on the Catholic and Christian faith. Sacred Treasures is scheduled for Monday, January 24th, between 3:00 - 4:00 PM (EST) and can be heard live through internet streaming by visiting the following link: http://radiomaria.us/schedule/eastern-time/

Loci Lenar was recently a guest on Sacred Treasures (Radio Maria). During the radio interview (Sept. 27, 2010), Mr. Lenar shared testimony with listeners and host Kathie Duggan about the spiritual presence of Archangel Michael and a bright cross which has appeared on his property in Mine Hill, NJ. He also addressed healings of several medical conditions which resulted after receiving the anointing of the sick from his parish priest, Father Richard Tartaglia.

By sharing his faith on the radio, Mr. Lenar believes that his contribution helps in evangelizing God's church by opening the hearts and minds of listeners to read the gospels in order to receive the Lord's blessings.

Donna Ott is an administrative assistant at St. Mary’s parish and has a remarkable story to tell. She has endured painful arthritis in her fingers for nearly five years. While listening to Mr. Lenar’s testimony about God’s spiritual blessings on Radio Maria (Sept. 2010), “the pain unexpectedly disappeared,” said Donna. She immediately shared the news with Fr. Tartaglia. Father agreed that it was a small miracle. Donna believes that sharing her healing with others will help people to reach out for God‘s love as well.  More of Donna's story can be read at the following link:
http://www.christian-miracles.com/amiracleatstmarys.htm

Father Richard Tartaglia is Loci Lenar’s spiritual advisor for over fifteen years. Fr. Tartaglia is gifted as a spiritual advisor in discerning spiritual matters. As a result, Mr. Lenar shares with Fr. Tartaglia the spiritual presence of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through signs and wonders which began over twenty years ago. Documentation is posted on Lenar’s website at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/

The site also receives a steady flow of prayer requests which are presented to Fr. Tartaglia for his prayer support. All requests are prayed for at St. Mary’s Church on Monday mornings at Holy Hour during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Additionally, St. Mary’s holds an evening prayer service every third Thursday of each month with Fr. Tartaglia. Prayer requests include St. Mary's Parish as well as those which are emailed and posted on the website at the following link: http://www.christian-miracles.com/apps/prayers/

St. Mary’s Catholic Church is located on 15 Myers Avenue, Denville, NJ. Father Martin Glynn is the head pastor of the church.

Please tune into Sacred Treasures on http://radiomaria.us/ and join all three guests with host Kathie Duggan for an hour of discussion about God’s spiritual blessings!

Radio Maria Stations:

Louisiana

580 AM - Alexandria
1360 AM - New Iberia
89.7 FM - Natchitoches
91.1 FM - Lake Charles

Mississippi
88.1 FM - D'Iberville

Ohio
1600 AM - Springfield
88.7 FM - Anna

Pennsylvania
88.1 FM - Hollidaysburg

Texas
1250 AM - Port Arthur

Wisconsin
91.3 FM - Peshtigo

New York (affiliate)
620 AM - New York

***

St. Mary's Contact Information:
http://www.stmarys-denville.org/directory.htm

Radio Maria Contact Information: http://www.radiomaria.us/contact/

Loci Lenar Contact Information: Christian-Miracles.com

Copyright 2011 Christian-Miracles.com

Nun tells of healing after intercessory prayers to Pope John Paul II

Nun tells of healing after praying to John Paul II - FoxNews.com

The following excerpt is from FoxNews.com:

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France – A French nun says she felt new inner strength and vitality as her Parkinson's disease suddenly disappeared in 2005 — a recovery the Vatican attributes to the miraculous intercession of Pope John Paul II.

Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, who works at a Paris maternity clinic, told reporters in a rare appearance Monday that she felt "reborn" on waking June 3, 2005 after she had prayed for healing to John Paul.

"There was a new strength inside me, and my body was rediscovering its vitality and fluidity," Simon-Pierre, appearing in good health, told reporters in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence.

The 49-year-old nun — who has largely been shielded from the media — said she still sometimes talks to John Paul.

"For this news conference, I told him to stay right beside me!" said Simon-Pierre, who appeared smiling and wearing a white habit at the news conference.

Pope Benedict XVI has set May 1 as the date for his predecessor's beatification, a step toward possible sainthood.

Church authorities have studied Simon-Pierre's cure and determined it was inexplicable and due to the intercession of John Paul, who also suffered from Parkinson's. Benedict approved the miracle last week, paving the way for the beatification.

Simon-Pierre's healing came about two months after John Paul's death on April 2, 2005, at age 84. Soon before her mysterious recovery, she had asked to stop working, saying she was "ready to finish out her days in a wheelchair," her former mother superior recalled.

"When she came to ask me to replace her, I noticed that she was very worn out. I told her to wait. I told her that John Paul II hadn't had his last word on the subject," Sister Marie-Thomas recalled.

Read More: Nun Tells of Healing