Pacem In Terris

"But first We must speak of man's rights. Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. In consequence, he has the right to be looked after in the event of ill health; disability stemming from his work; widowhood; old age; enforced unemployment; or whenever through no fault of his own he is deprived of the means of livelihood."

The encyclical, Pacem in Terris, on Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty, by Pope John XXIII, 11 April, 1963, speaks of technological society and how we must harness it for our own benefit.  He pinpoints the disunity among men and nations and the order which must be restored.

Regarding man's moral and cultural rights, he said:   "Moreover, man has a natural right to be respected. He has a right to his good name. He has a right to freedom in investigating the truth, and—within the limits of the moral order and the common good—to freedom of speech and publication, and to freedom to pursue whatever profession he may choose. He has the right, also, to be accurately informed about public events."  

This is the beginning of a right order among men;  we must recognize that:  "Any well-regulated and productive association of men in society demands the acceptance of one fundamental principle: that each individual man is truly a person. His is a nature, that is, endowed with intelligence and free will. As such he has rights and duties, which together flow as a direct consequence from his nature. These rights and duties are universal and inviolable, and therefore altogether inalienable."

Find the entire encyclical here

St. Patrick's Breastplate

It is said that in the Fifth century A.D. Saint Patrick came to the Hill of Slane early in his attempt to convert pagan Ireland to the light of christianity. On the eve of the Christian feast of Easter, 433 A.D. which appropriately coincides with the pagan feast of Beltane and the spring equinox, St. Patrick lit a bonfire upon the Hill of Slane. The law in force at the time was no fire should lit in the in the vicinity when a great festival fire blazed at the Royal seat of power on the visibly nearby Hill of Tara.

The King rode off in a war chariot with his retinue to arrest the mystery rebel. As the kings horses thundered up the Hill Patrick calmed his few disciples and immediately set to eloquence. Patrick's gift of eloquence went to high gear and somehow--some say through an earthquake, others by holding up a shamrock--he convinced the King of his earnest intent and belief in the power of the Holy Trinity. It was a power that Patrick thought would be useful to the King who could only wish that his own soldiers could wield the kind of bravery through deep conviction that Patrick displayed. The King took Patrick and his disciples prisoner and they were marched by to the Hill of Tara, chanting prayers. By morning light, Patrick and his men were spared and allowed to preach Christianity to the pagan army.

Hey, Blue Lady

Hey, blue lady,

 depressed and fighting.

 hanging on. hang on.

without manipulation

without threats.

you were known while still in your mother's womb.

wonderfully made.

 fix it your way.

no more old games

with fear

intimidation

loathing.

imitate your mother in heaven.

she tells you:  Do whatever He tells you.

she penetrates the level of justice in God 

to

a more profound level of mercy.

read the wedding at Cana, take two and call me in the morning.

+JMJ+

Mind Games

Rest in Peace, James Farentino

James Farentino

February 24, 1938-January 24, 2012

Simon Peter,  Jesus of Nazareth, the film

World Communications Day 2012

the following is Vatican Radio's report on the theme for World Communications Day, 2012.  The theme is:

Silence and Word:  Path of Evangelization

On Tuesday morning Pope Benedict XVI released his annual message for World Communications Day which falls on May 20.

The theme chosen this year is “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization” and Benedict explains, “it concerns the relationship between silence and word: two aspects of communication which need to be kept in balance, to alternate and to be integrated with one another if authentic dialogue and deep closeness between people are to be achieved.”

And he observes that it is often in silence that we observe the most authentic communication taking place between people who are in love with gestures, facial expressions and body language.

In a time when messages and information are plentiful – the Pope says - silence becomes essential if we are to distinguish what is important from what is insignificant or secondary. 

And the Pope reflects on the process of communication which nowadays is largely fuelled by questions in search of answers. 

He mentions the role of search engines, social networks and the internet and pointed out that people today are frequently bombarded with answers to questions they have never asked and to needs of which they were unaware. 

“If we are to recognize and focus upon the truly important questions” – Benedict says – “then silence is a precious commodity that enables us to exercise proper discernment in the face of the surcharge of stimuli and data that we receive”.

And he says that amid the complexity and diversity of the world of communications many find themselves confronted with the ultimate questions of human existence: Who am I? What can I know? What ought I to do? What may I hope? 

It is important – the Pope explains - to affirm those who ask these questions, and to open up the possibility of a profound dialogue, by means of words and interchange, but also through the call to silent reflection, something that is often more eloquent than a hasty answer and permits seekers to reach into the depths of their being and open themselves to the path towards knowledge that God has inscribed in human hearts”.

Men and women – he says - cannot rest content with a superficial and unquestioning exchange of skeptical opinions and experiences of life. We are all in search of truth and we share this profound yearning today more than ever.

So, the Pope points out that attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God.

And pointing out that the God of biblical revelation speaks also without words, we in turn discover in silence the possibility of speaking with God and about God. 

In speaking of God’s grandeur, our language will always prove inadequate and must make space for silent contemplation. And silent contemplation, he says, immerses us in the source of that Love who directs us towards our neighbours so that we may feel their suffering and offer them the light of Christ, his message of life and his saving gift of the fullness of love.

And speaking of the fundamental question of the meaning of human existence, the Pope says it finds in the mystery of Christ an answer capable of bringing peace to the restless human heart.

The Church’s mission springs from this mystery- he says - and it is this mystery which impels Christians to become heralds of hope and salvation, witnesses of that love which promotes human dignity and builds justice and peace. 

In conclusion Pope Benedict says “learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This – he points out - is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelization”.

The Audience

it has been strongly suggested that i focus.

i should "know" my audience.

fine.

as "we" say.

this is for my depressed friends, of course.

and my children and grandchildren.

in the end it will be for them to decide

if i am stark, raving lunatic,

raving lunatic, or

merely ranting.