Cardinal Newman set for beatification

Courtesy of CWN:

The Vatican has verified a miracle-- the sudden healing of a Massachusetts deacon-- through the intercession of Cardinal John Henry Newman, clearing the way for the beatification of the great 19th-century English convert and apologist. That ceremony will probably be scheduled for later this year.

The formal announcement of Cardinal Newman's impending beatification-- which had been expected for weeks-- came on July 3, as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints released a series of decrees regarding candidates for beatification.

The announcements-- released by Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI-- included the following in addition to Cardinal Newman:

The Congregation approved the authenticity of miracles in three other cases:

1. Blessed Candida Maria (born Juana Josefa) de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (1845-1912), a Spanish nun, who will now be eligible for canonization;
2. Angelo (born Francesco) Paoli (1642-1720), an Italian Carmelite priest, who can now be beatified; and
3. Alfonsina Danil (born Soultaneh Maria) Ghattas (1843-1927), a founder of the the Congregation, who can also be scheduled for beatification.

The Congregation affirmed the martyrdom of the following, who are also eligible for beatification:

1. Jose Samso i Elias (1887-1936), a Spanish priest who died during that country's civil war;
2. Teofilo (born Beniamino) Fernandez de Legaria Goni and four companions, Spanish priests of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who also died during the civil war in 1936;
3. Georg Hafner (1900- 1942), a German priest who died at Dachau; and
4. Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi (1892-1951), a Hungarian bishop and victim of Communist persecution.

Finally the Congregation proclaimed the "heroic virtue" of the following, who will become eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession:

1. Engelmar (born Uberto) Unzeitig (1911- 1945), a German Marianhill priest;
2. Anna Maria Janer Anglarill (1800- 1885), a Spanish religious;
3. 
   
4. Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu (born Clotilde) Micheli (1849- 1911), an Italian religious; and
5. Teresa Manganieloo (1849- 1876), an Italian laywoman.

Facebook Fun

A recent thread on facebook where I dared to write: "I'm Catholic. Ask me a question."

Adam: I'm Catholic, ask me a question.

Deacon Anthony: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Oh, did you mean a Catholic question? :-)
Jillian: I am debating whether or not to start a polemical discussion in the debate forum of CO (even though I haven't posted in a while)
Theresa: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Daniel: Where does the red fern grow?
Molly: Do the chickens have large talons?
Theresa: you asked for this, you know.

Adam Responds:
Deacon: 2 quarts
Jillian: Go for it! Bring it back to life.
Theresa: 300 MPH less than that of a laden swallow
Daniel: Under the purple cactus of course
Molly: Yes, yes they do.... Read More
Theresa: That's what she said.
Jillian: alright... be prepared to pull out your Conciliar texts and Papal definitions

Teresa: Will I ever find true love?.....

Adam responds:

Teresa: You have in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In your husband, and in your children.

Teresa: Will my husband ever let me look smarter than him?

Adam responds:
Teresa: Trick question.

Teresa: Are the gold streets in Heaven really gold?
Claire: Did Our Lady have armpit hair?
Tracy: I have a question that may come up this weekend. Is it ok to pray for animals...their health while having surgery? Sorry had to get all serious on you!
Brian: Could God make a rock heavier than Himself?

Adam responds:
Teresa: There is a certain symbolism at play here, it is probably not taken best literalistically.

Tracy: Yes, it is okay to pray for animals. Often our pets become dear companions and while they do not have immortal souls, we do not want them to suffer.

Father Brian: Assuming the earth is a rock, and that Jesus, the Word Incarnate weighs less than the earth, a rock, I would say yes, God has created a rock heavier than himself.

Claire: It is well known that armpit hair is a result of the fall and original sin. Since our lady was immaculately conceived, it is a sure truth that she did not have such hair. *tongue in cheek*

Teresa: If God is all good, then why does He allow good people to suffer?

Brian: Adam: clever..

Adam responds:
Teresa: Simply because he loves you, and through your own suffering you participate in his redemption. Col. 1:24

New Encyclical - Benedict XVI's Third

Courtesy Catholic World News and Ignatius Press

The Vatican has announced a publication date for Caritatis in Veritate, the long-awaited social encylical by Pope Benedict XVI. The document will be released on Tuesday, July 7. Cardinal Renato Martino, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will be the leading figure at a Vatican press conference introducting the encyclical.

Anyone else see the theme emerging in the Holy Father's encyclicals - Love, Hope, & Truth. Ignatius Press will release their premium text on August 1.

Pope Benedict’s third encyclical, Love in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), applies the themes of his first two encyclicals —love and hope (God Is Love, Saved in Hope) — to the world’s major social issues. Drawing on moral truths open, in principle, to everyone (the natural law) as well as on the teachings of the gospel (revelation), Pope Benedict addresses Catholics and non-Catholics alike, challenging us all to recognize and then to confront the social evils of our day.

The first part of the encyclical examines the dynamic teaching of Benedict’s predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Both men contributed greatly to the body of doctrine known as “Catholic social teaching”. Both men challenged the simplistic division of political perspectives into “conservative” and “liberal”, and “right” and “left”. Both men were convinced that the natural moral law and the teaching of the Gospel were indispensable for a world in desperate search of hope and meaning.[In Catholic theology there is no such thing as liberal and conservative. There is right and wrong. Orthodoxy and Heresy. However you label yourself, when you set yourself up against Jesus and his Church, you will fail.]

In the second part Benedict surveys the social issues that confront the human race today—assaults on the dignity of the human person such as the attack on human life, poverty, issues of war and peace, terrorism, globalization, and environmental concerns. Benedict provides sound moral principles to address these social and economic problems, and to promote a culture of life and genuine peace. [It is interesting that he is going to speak about globalization and the environment. I look forward to read what he has to say.

In this outstanding work, Pope Benedict shows us why so many observers regard him as the world’s leading moral voice, as well as one of the most insightful and profound social/political thinkers of our day.