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MESSAGE FROM THE POPE FOR HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM

VATICAN CITY, 8 SEP 2010 (VIS) – During today’s general audience, Benedict XVI read an English-language message for his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom, due to take place from 16 to 19 September.

“I am very much looking forward to my visit to the United Kingdom in a week’s time and I send heartfelt greetings to all the people of Great Britain. I am aware that a vast amount of work has gone into the preparations for the visit, not only by the Catholic community but by the Government, the local authorities in Scotland, London and Birmingham, the communications media and the security services, and I want to say how much I appreciate the efforts that have been made to ensure that the various events planned will be truly joyful celebrations. Above all I thank the countless people who have been praying for the success of the visit and for a great outpouring of God’s grace upon the Church and the people of your nation.

“It will be a particular joy for me to beatify the Venerable John Henry Newman in Birmingham on Sunday 19 September. This truly great Englishman lived an exemplary priestly life and through his extensive writings made a lasting contribution to Church and society both in his native land and in many other parts of the world. It is my hope and prayer that more and more people will benefit from his gentle wisdom and be inspired by his example of integrity and holiness of life.

“I look forward to meeting representatives of the many different religious and cultural traditions that make up the British population, as well as civil and political leaders. I am most grateful to Her Majesty the Queen and to His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury for receiving me, and I look forward to meeting them. While I regret that there are many places and people I shall not have the opportunity to visit, I want you to know that you are all remembered in my prayers. God bless the people of the United Kingdom!”

Message for World Youth Day 2011

VATICAN CITY (VIS) – “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” is the title of the Message of Benedict XVI for the twenty-sixth World Youth Day, which is due to be celebrated in the Spanish capital Madrid during the month of August 2011.

The Message – dated from the Vatican on 6 August, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord – has been published today. Paragraphs taken from the English-language version are given below. The Pope writes:

I often think back on the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, in 2008. There we had an experience of a great festival of faith in which the Spirit of God was actively at work, building deep communion among the participants who had come from all over the world. That gathering, like those on previous occasions, bore rich fruit in the lives of many young people and in the life of the whole Church. … Now, at a time when Europe greatly needs to rediscover its Christian roots, our meeting will take place in Madrid with the theme: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”.

1. At the source of your deepest aspirations

In every period of history, including our own, many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. … In thinking of my own youth, I realise that stability and security are not the questions that most occupy the minds of young people. True enough, it is important to have a job and thus to have firm ground beneath our feet, yet the years of our youth are also a time when we are seeking to get the most out of life. … We wanted something great, something new. We wanted to discover life itself, in all its grandeur and beauty. Naturally, part of that was due to the times we lived in. During the Nazi dictatorship and the war, we were, so to speak, “hemmed in” by the dominant power structure. So we wanted to break out into the open, to experience the whole range of human possibilities. I think that, to some extent, this urge to break out of the ordinary is present in every generation.

… Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. … The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear His “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace. So we can see how absurd it is to think that we can truly live by removing God from the picture! God is the source of life. To set God aside is to separate ourselves from that source and, inevitably, to deprive ourselves of fulfilment and joy.

In some parts of the world, particularly in the West, today’s culture tends to exclude God, and to consider faith a purely private issue with no relevance for the life of society. Even though the set of values underpinning society comes from the Gospel – values like the sense of the dignity of the person, of solidarity, of work and of the family – we see a certain “eclipse of God” taking place, a kind of amnesia which, albeit not an outright rejection of Christianity, is nonetheless a denial of the treasure of our faith, a denial that could lead to the loss of our deepest identity.

For this reason, dear friends, I encourage you to strengthen your faith in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are the future of society and of the Church! As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Colossae, it is vital to have roots, a solid foundation! This is particularly true today. Many people have no stable points of reference on which to build their lives, and so they end up deeply insecure. There is a growing mentality of relativism, which holds that everything is equally valid, that truth and absolute points of reference do not exist. But this way of thinking does not lead to true freedom, but rather to instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment. As young people, you are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help you to make choices and on which to build your lives: like a young plant which needs solid support until it can sink deep roots and become a sturdy tree capable of bearing fruit.

2. Planted and built up in Jesus Christ

In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by St. Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”. We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength. These images are very eloquent.

… The first image is that of a tree which is firmly planted thanks to its roots, which keep it upright and give it nourishment. … What are our roots? Naturally our parents, our families and the culture of our country are very important elements of our personal identity. But the Bible reveals a further element. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream”. … For the prophet, to send out roots means to put one’s trust in God. From Him we draw our life. … Jesus Himself tells us that He is our life. Consequently, Christian faith is not only a matter of believing that certain things are true, but above all a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is an encounter with the Son of God that gives new energy to the whole of our existence.

… There is a moment, when we are young, when each of us wonders: what meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it? This is a very important moment, and it can worry us, perhaps for some time. … Here, once more, I think of my own youth. I was somehow aware quite early on that the Lord wanted me to be a priest. Then later, after the war, when I was in the seminary and at university on the way towards that goal, I had to recapture that certainty. I had to ask myself: is this really the path I was meant to take? Is this really God’s will for me? … A decision like this demands a certain struggle. It cannot be otherwise. But then came the certainty: this is the right thing! Yes, the Lord wants me, and He will give me strength. If I listen to Him and walk with Him, I become truly myself. What counts is not the fulfilment of my desires, but of His will. In this way life becomes authentic.

Just as the roots of a tree keep it firmly planted in the soil, so the foundations of a house give it long-lasting stability. Through faith, we have been built up in Jesus Christ, even as a house is built on its foundations. Sacred history provides many examples of saints who built their lives on the Word of God. … Being built up in Jesus Christ means responding positively to God’s call, trusting in Him and putting His Word into practice.

Dear friends, build your own house on rock. … Try each day to follow Christ’s Word. … With Him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs. You are constantly being offered easier choices, but you yourselves know that these are ultimately deceptive and cannot bring you serenity and joy. Only the Word of God can show us the authentic way, and only the faith we have received is the light which shines on our path. … Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the Church, and thank the Lord that you have received it and have made it your own!

3. Firm in the faith

You are “planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”. The Letter from which these words are taken was written by St. Paul in order to respond to a specific need of the Christians in the city of Colossae. … Our own cultural context, dear young people, is not unlike that of the ancient Colossians. Indeed, there is a strong current of secularist thought that aims to make God marginal in the lives of people and society by proposing and attempting to create a “paradise” without Him. Yet experience tells us that a world without God becomes a “hell”: filled with selfishness, broken families, hatred between individuals and nations, and a great deficit of love, joy and hope. On the other hand, wherever individuals and nations accept God’s presence, worship Him in truth and listen to His voice, then the civilisation of love is being built, a civilisation in which the dignity of all is respected, and communion increases, with all its benefits. Yet some Christians allow themselves to be seduced by secularism or attracted by religious currents that draw them away from faith in Jesus Christ. There are others who, while not yielding to these enticements, have simply allowed their faith to grow cold, with inevitable negative effects on their moral lives.

Dear friends, the Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of His love and the source from which eternal life flows. … I can only urge you, then, to embrace the Cross of Jesus, the sign of God’s love, as the source of new life.

4. Believing in Jesus Christ without having seen Him

For many people today, it has become difficult to approach Jesus. There are so many images of Jesus in circulation which, while claiming to be scientific, detract from His greatness and the uniqueness of His person. That is why, after many years of study and reflection, I thought of sharing something of my own personal encounter with Jesus by writing a book. It was a way to help others see, hear and touch the Lord in whom God came to us in order to make Himself known.

Dear young people, learn to “see” and to “meet” Jesus in the Eucharist, where He is present and close to us, and even becomes food for our journey. In the Sacrament of Penance the Lord reveals His mercy and always grants us His forgiveness. Recognise and serve Jesus in the poor, the sick, and in our brothers and sisters who are in difficulty and in need of help. Enter into a personal dialogue with Jesus Christ and cultivate it in faith. Get to know Him better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Converse with Him in prayer, and place your trust in Him. He will never betray that trust! … Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him, like the Apostle Thomas who showed his firm faith in Jesus in the words: “My Lord and my God!”

5. Sustained by the faith of the Church, in order to be witnesses

In the history of the Church, the saints and the martyrs have always drawn from the glorious Cross of Christ the strength to be faithful to God even to the point of offering their own lives. In faith they found the strength to overcome their weaknesses and to prevail over every adversity. … The victory born of faith is that of love. There have been, and still are, many Christians who are living witnesses of the power of faith that is expressed in charity.

Christ is not a treasure meant for us alone; He is the most precious treasure we have, one that is meant to be shared with others. In our age of globalisation, be witnesses of Christian hope all over the world. How many people long to receive this hope!

In the same way, if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!

6. On the way to World Youth Day in Madrid

Dear friends, once again I invite you to attend World Youth Day in Madrid. I await each of you with great joy. Jesus Christ wishes to make you firm in faith through the Church. The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow Him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community, the support of the Church!

Throughout this year, carefully prepare for the meeting in Madrid with the bishops, priests and youth leaders in your dioceses, parish communities, associations and movements. The quality of our meeting will depend above all on our spiritual preparation, our prayer, our common hearing of the word of God and our mutual support.

Dear young people, the Church depends on you! She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church. That is why World Youth Days are a grace, not only for you, but for the entire People of God. The Church in Spain is actively preparing to welcome you and to share this joyful experience of faith with you.

Police raid on Belgian archdiocese ruled illegal by appeals court

Brussels, Belgium,  (CNA/EWTN News).- In the absence of an official statement from Belgium’s judiciary, the lawyer for the Archdiocese of Brussels-Mechelen announced the court’s decision that the police raids of the archbishop’s offices and Cardinal Danneel’s residence in June were unlawful.

The surprise search of the archdiocesan headquarters and other Church properties, called “Operation Chalice” by local authorities, took place on June 24. Police evidently sought to uncover evidence that the Church had willingly hidden information about clerical sex abuse cases.

In an Aug. 13 press conference, noting silence from the appeals court concerning its decision, the Belgian Bishops Conference announced the court’s ruling that the search was illegal.

A statement from the archdiocese said that Fernand Keuleneer, the attorney for the archdiocese, was surprised by the prosecution’s silence on the decision, especially after the press was, as he put it, so “welcome” during and following the search. The lawyer did, however, concede that the court had no legal obligation to disclose its decision.

As a result of the court’s ruling, the items seized, which consist mostly of boxes of files from the now-defunct Interdiocesan Commission on Sexual Abuse and their computers, must be returned and the dossiers from the local judicial investigation must be destroyed.

The bishops expressed their hope that confidence would be restored following this ruling. The new Belgian Bishop’s Conference spokesman Jürgen Mettepenningen also said that the bishops are exploring how to best help victims at this point.

As for the original scope of the search, Keuleneer told Vatican Radio this week that its “substance” is still rather unclear. The search was on such a large scale “that one asks himself if there were concrete, specific elements (to it), or if the scope wasn’t rather that of going in ‘blind’ hoping to find something … “

Catholic Radio Conference to feature ‘Boot Camp’ for new stations

Charleston, S.C.  (CNA/EWTN News) — The 2010 Catholic Radio Conference, scheduled for October, will feature a “boot camp” for those new to Catholic radio. Keynoting the event will be Newt and Callista Gingrich, who will discuss their new movie about Pope John Paul II’s pilgrimage to Poland.

The conference will take place in Birmingham, Alabama Oct. 13-16, a press release from organizers reports. Its “boot camp” will teach newcomers to Catholic radio how to overcome common hurdles.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista will speak about their movie “Nine Days that Changed the World.” The movie is about John Paul II’s visit to Poland in June of 1979 which helped transform the Polish people and helped lead to the fall of communism.

A screening of the movie will follow the Gingriches’ comments.

Bishop of Birmingham Robert J. Baker will celebrate a Mass at the conference and the deputy chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Audio Division will address attendees. The conference has separate tracks in radio operations, promotion and fundraising and technical issues.

Catholic Radio Association President Stephen Gajdosik said that one strength of Catholic radio is its ability to leverage and unify the work of the Church.

“Whether it be a lay or diocesan effort, it is a work of the Church. Catholic radio can magnify that work, helping it to bear more fruit. The 2010 Catholic Radio Conference is designed to help radio stations and programmers make their work serve the Church ever more effectively.”

The conference website is at http://www.catholicradioconference.com

Jewish Artist to Draw ‘The Ultimate Portrait of Jesus,’ Sparking Excitement and Controversy

LOS ANGELES (MetroCatholic) — An artist who creates drawings made from dots, is embarking on his most ambitious project ever. It will involve the participation of Christians across the globe in the creation of perhaps the most extraodinary portrait of Jesus ever — The People’s Portrait of Christ.

It will take one million dots to create the image of Jesus, according to internationally renowned artist, David Ilan, who will be drawing each dot on the canvas.

What makes his artwork meaningful is that each dot in an Ilan drawing represents a real person. The drawing can only exist when people participate.

In Dots For Jesus, a mission to attract enough participants by midnight Christmas Eve, each dot represents a Christian. One dot = one believer.

Even before the first dot is drawn, it is being called “the ultimate portrait of Jesus.” It has also stirred up debate, with some asking, “Is it wrong for a Jewish artist to draw the ultimate portrait of Christ?”

As a Jew who was born in Israel, Ilan says he would never have predicted he would one day be the artist of a celebrated Christ portrait.

Elizabeth Carter, a worshipper at Church on the Way in Los Angeles, believes it’s better that the creator of the Christ portrait is not a Christian. “Why preach to the choir? It’s actually good that he’s Jewish, since he’s giving Christians a chance to tell him why we believe. As the drawing grows, so will his understanding. Jesus was a Jew from Israel, so what’s wrong with the artist being a Jew from Israel? He’s in good company!”

Each participant can attach a message to their dot answering the question: “Why Jesus?” Ilan sees himself as representing all non-Christians who are uninformed about Jesus Christ.

Another churchgoer, recording artist Chris Dane Owens, explained, “What excites me is that it starts with a blank slate on two levels. The Portrait begins as a blank canvas. But the artist, himself, is also a blank slate. He admits he knows very little about Jesus. By inviting Christians to teach him, it will shape his own beliefs. Every Christian should participate and make it their mission to spread the word. Spreading the word about this project is spreading the word about Jesus.”

To reserve your free dot, go to: www.DotsForJesus.com.

Cardinal Zen hopeful situation in China will improve for Catholics

Rome, Italy (CNA) — The Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, said this week he hopes the situation for Catholics in China will improve despite the religious freedom difficulties that exist in the country.  He added that the testimony of the faithful amidst widespread repression is fundamental for the future of the Catholic Church there.

According to L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Zen recently accompanied a group of nine Chinese Salesian sisters at Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience at Castel Gandolfo. Regarding the situation for Catholics in China he said, “It is important to follow the guidelines laid out by the Pope in this 2007 letter to Catholics in China,” which still has not been widely read due to government repression.

The future of the Church in China depends on the silent but efficacious testimony of Catholics in country, the cardinal continued.

Referring to the Salesian sisters, Cardinal Zen said, “The fact that they live amidst the people and are committed to ordinary tasks gives particular weight to their testimony.”

New law requires Catholic diocese to cover contraception under employee insurance

Madison, Wis.  (CNA) — The Catholic Diocese of Madison is one of three dioceses in Wisconsin required under a new state law to provide coverage for contraception in insurance plans for diocesan employees.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the new law which took effect in January requires all commercial insurance policies with drug benefits to cover prescription contraceptives, with self-insured policies  being exempt. When the law was passed, three of the five Wisconsin dioceses – Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay – were affected.

Because the law allows employers to honor their current insurance contracts until they expire, the Diocese of Madison had until Aug. 1 to make a decision. Brent King, spokesman for the Madison Diocese, said that a self-insured plan was not financially possible.

Although the diocese’s commercial insurance policy now covers contraception, employees will be expected to act according to their consciences and not use it, King explained. “If someone were to misuse that freedom in this regard, it could be grounds for termination,” he told the Wisconsin State Journal.

However, he added, such action would only be taken after the employee refused to cooperate after the matter was discussed. “It wouldn’t be the first thing we do,” King said.

Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, King noted that “Our employees know what church teaching is. And we trust them to use their conscience and do the right thing.”

“Conscience isn’t what I want or think is best in a situation,” he said. “It must always align with the will of God.”

All Diocese of Madison employees are required to sign a document upon being hired to follow the laws of both Wisconsin and the Church. King said that employees would be given “strong pastoral recommendations against” using birth control coverage, but that the diocese will not monitor employees.

Due to medical privacy laws, the diocese would only know if an employee was using the contraception coverage if he or she made it apparent “in an overt and publicly defiant way.”

Muslims Seek to Censor Gospel of Christ

BRIDGEPORT, Conn (MetroCatholic) — In an unprecedented move, Muslim leaders in Connecticut are staging a press conference in Hartford this afternoon, to plead with legislators to censor the Gospel of Christ from the public forum around mosques.

That’s right! They are using their own potential for violence to silence the Gospel of Christ. Gentle Christian saints will be conducting a press conference on the public sidewalk in front of the Bridgeport Islamic Center, aka Mafjid An-Noor Mosque in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

Islam is not a religion, nor a cult, but a total and complete 100 % system of life. It has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. In all of the 27 countries ruled by Islam, the church is the state! No other religion will be tolerated.

“Islam presents a monstrous worldview, birthed in the pit of hell, which brings untold misery and murder upon precious people created in the image of God. Religion is its cover (its beard) by which it gains entrance into nations where the ‘freedom of religion’ is sacrosanct. It then takes this freedom afforded to it, and begins its insidious takeover.” Rev. Flip Benham of Operation Save America.

“Like a python, slowly moving upon its prey with almost imperceptible and hypnotic movement, it begins to coil around its victim until it squeezes every last breath of air out of him. When dead, the victim is swallowed whole.”

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, yet the Quran states in Sura 4:89, “Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back (from Islam) take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them.”

The key difference between Islam and Christianity is that Islam believes that we are to lay the lives of others down to promote the cause of Allah. Christianity, on the other hand, believes that we are to lay down our own lives that others might live. There is a huge difference between a Christian martyr (laying his own life down) and a martyr for Islam (laying the lives of others down). One requires courage. The other is the supreme act of cowardice.

Press Conference:

Bridgeport Islamic Society
1300 Fairfield Ave

Friday, August 13, 2010 – 11:15am EDT

Contact:
Marilyn Carroll 203-444-8047 Bridgeport
Dr. Pat McEwen 321-431-3962 for interviews w/ Rev. Benham

Prop 8 Ruling Response

McKinney, TX (MetroCatholic) — Recently, a San Francisco federal judge ruled California’s marriage amendment unconstitutional. Here’s why he’s wrong:

· Political/Judicial Tyranny: Recent news reports question if this judge is homosexual. Is he biased? Has the Constitution and judicial process be subverted? 7 Million Californians voted for traditional marriage yet one judge tears it down. The California Governor and Attorney General did not uphold their duty to defend Prop 8. They don’t want to wait for the appeals process, how reprehensible.

· Right to Self Determination: Communities have a right to determine moral standards. Question: Why are politicians supporting a deviant and deadly lifestyle? Supporters implement a PR campaign, dedicate time and money, engage the political/judicial process. National moral absolutes are abrogated while many churches keep silent.

· The Threat: The Clinton administration declared the HIV/AIDS virus a threat to national security. Men having sex with men are 4% of men in America. Over 50% of HIV/AIDS virus is contracted by men having sex with men (CDC).

· Unnatural, Uncreated and a Choice: Many have rejected homosexuality and are now living normal heterosexual lives. Homosexuals are promiscuous having up to 1000 partners. (J. Reisman)

· Normal is undermined. Homosexuality and homosexual marriage confuses children, enticing them to experiment with homosexuality, exposing them to health and emotional dangers.

· Law of Subjective Responsibility: Pharaoh refused Moses’ demand and the plagues came on Egypt. Adam sinned and all mankind suffered. If this ruling stands what awaits America?

· The Coming Persecution: If this decision stands, lawsuits against the Church will follow.

· Declaration of Independence: The “Supreme Judge of the World”

The Declaration of Independence, the cornerstone of the Constitution declares…”We therefore, the representatives of the United Colonies submit the rectitude of our intentions to the Supreme Judge of the world. This Judge has standards of right and wrong with blessing or judgment.

He is the God of the Bible condemning homosexuality, offering hope of forgiveness.

· Failure of the Church: Homosexuals are politically effective. The Church, with the exception of some pastors, are led by ineffective fearful or even apostate leaders fearful of engaging the moral conflict or even accepting of homosexual perversion.

Contrary to biblical truth, many fail to stand for truth while the demonic strategy incorporates the perverse. The Church, led by Jesus, stands for truth.

Jesus drove out the moneychangers, Elijah confronted the false prophets, John the Baptist confronted Herod, Church Fathers Ambrose of Milan and John Chrysostom confronted the Emperors immorality.

· Rome: The Warning
Under Nero, Rome burned while he played his harp. Today, churches sing hymns…and “Rome” is still burning. God will hold us to account. Many call for prayer. When Israel was facing the Red Sea and Pharaoh was approaching, Moses Prayed. God said “Why are you crying out to me? Take the rod and you part the Red Sea by my power.” Prayer must be accompanied by action. We must engage the culture, the political process and the Church.

About Tony Nassif: Mr. Nassif is a prolific commentator on radio and television on issues of public policy. He’s been interviewed on such programs and with such leaders as Family News in Focus from Focus on the Family, Today’s Issues from American Family Association with Tim Wildmon, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) Cornerstone Television, and FOX NEWS to mention a few. He also writes public policy statements on a broad range from the war in Iraq to abortion. He is he founder and president of the Cedars Cultural and Educational Foundation and the Preventing Abuse Conferences on Human trafficking, Child Abduction and Internet Safety.

Today’s world requires lower age for first communicants, stresses Vatican prefect

Rome, Italy (CNA/EWTN News) — Children must not be deprived of the Eucharist, a source of grace and assistance to them as they begin their walk with Jesus, stressed the Vatican prefect of the congregation for sacraments.

In an article in L’Osservatore Romano to mark the 100-year anniversary of a papal decree which lowered the age of first communicants, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares underscored that children should still be allowed to receive the Eucharist as soon as they are able.

The Vatican newspaper published an article by Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, titled “Jesus and the Children” on Sunday. In it, the cardinal remembered Pope St. Pius X’s “Quam singulari” decree from Aug. 8, 1910 which gave children the ability to receive the Eucharist once they had reached the “age of reason,” deemed then at around seven years of age.

“With this decree … he taught the entire Church the meaning, the opportunity, the value and the centrality of Holy Communion for the life of all of the baptized, including children,” wrote the cardinal prefect of St. Pius X.

“At the same time, he underscored and reminded everyone of the love and the predeliction of Jesus for children … ,” added the cardinal, noting in from Bible passages that the youngest “are always very special friends of the Lord.”

Emphasizing that there is “no greater love, no greater gift” than that of communion, he said that being with the Lord is “worth more than every other thing in the life of each man” and first communion, as the beginning of our “walk together with Jesus” should not be put off.

“We cannot, (by) delaying first communion deprive children … of this grace, work and presence of Jesus, of this encounter of friendship with him, of this singular participation of Jesus himself to be able to mature and thus reach fullness.”

In today’s world, he said, children are in great need of this sacrament and, “thanks to their immaculate and open souls,” no one is more disposed than them to the union, friendship, strength and presence it offers.

Citing the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius X’s decree as a “providential occasion to remember and insist” on the fact that children can receive communion from the time they are able to reason, Cardinal Cañizares said that rather than continuing a trend which sees children receive communion ever later, if nothing else, today they should be able to receive it earlier than ever.

“In the face of what is happening with children and to the very adverse environment in which they grow up, let’s not deprive them of the gift of God,” he concluded, ” … it is the guarantee of their growth as children of God, generated by the sacraments of Christian initiation in the bosom of the holy Mother Church. The grace of of the gift of God is the most powerful of our works, and of our plans and programs.”

And, today, he said, as Pope Pius X urged a century ago, “we must accompany this same ‘anticipation’ of age with a new and vigorous pastoral plan of Christian initiation.”

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