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BAKU, Azerbaijan, SEPT. 14, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI expressed his admiration for the tiny Catholic community -- fewer than 300 faithful -- of the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. The republic, which is sandwiched between Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea, marked a historic moment last weekend with the placing of the cornerstone of the first church to be built in the capital Baku since the fall of Communism. The Pope's sentiments were expressed to the faithful by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, during his pastoral visit to Azerbaijan's capital from...

Georgetown University, Washington, DC Your Eminences, Your Excellencies and Graces, Father O'Donovan, President of this University, Honored Guests, Beloved children in the Lord: It is a special honor that this distinguished University confers the title of Honorary Doctor upon my Modesty. This is an opportunity for us to approach one another and communicate in the spirit of brotherhood. Although we proclaim that we worship the one and same Lord Jesus Christ, whose name we bear as Christians, we seek in common the causes of our divergence. In the distant past, great attempts have been made by both sides to prove,...

Apolytikion: Fourth Tone Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful. Kontakion: Second Tone Destroying the might of error by thy firm resolve, and taking the crown of vict'ry through thy sufferings, O Nikitas, namesake of vict'ry, thou rejoicest with angel-kind, and with them, O glorious one, thou ceaselessly prayest Christ God...

But of respect for the land, a West Virginia librarian takes on mining companies—in the name of Jesus Christ. Aug. 29 - Sept. 5, 2005 issue - They don't get much more Red State Christian than Allen Johnson. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Dunmore, W.Va. They home-schooled their four sons, and on their one fuzzy TV channel, they watch only reruns of "Little House on the Prairie." This hardly sounds like a hotbed of environmental activism. But Johnson, cofounder of Christians for the Mountains, is as hard-core as any Birkenstocked Berkeleyite—not just living a purist, back-to-the-land lifestyle, but...

September 14, 2005Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Psalm: Wednesday 40 Reading INm 21:4b-9 With their patience worn out by the journey,the people complained against God and Moses,“Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water?We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents,which bit the people so that many of them died.Then the people came to Moses and said,“We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.”So Moses prayed for...

Troparion - Tone 1 O Lord, save Your people, And bless You inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians Over their adversaries. And by virtue of Your Cross, Preserve Your habitation. Kontakion - Tone 4 As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, Grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; Make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, Granting them victories over their adversaries, By bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace. Synaxarion: The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord: The pagan Roman emperors...

ROME, SEPT. 13, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University. Q: Why is it that married clergy are still allowed in the Eastern Catholic rites while forbidden in the West? I understand the impracticality of one's obligation to the family, but also to the church-family. But other than that, I'm curious to know what Tradition/canon law/teachings have to say about this matter. -- R.R., Brookfield, Wisconsin A: I would be very foolhardy to attempt to resolve the extremely complex issue of the origin and development of priestly celibacy in a few...

The Hero A hero considers of the needs of others above his own. He will go without so that he may give more to someone else. He will endanger his own life to save another. He will endure great suffering to spare another from it. His example is one that inspires others to be better than they were. He lives a life worthy of emulation; walks a path worth following. He rejoices in the safety, happiness and liberty of others. He is the protector, the defender, the rescuer. He rescues those who are stranded or lost, even when they got...

September 13, 2005Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church Psalm: Tuesday 40 Reading I1 Tm 3:1-13 Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,married only once, temperate, self-controlled,decent, hospitable, able to teach,not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,not contentious, not a lover of money.He must manage his own household well,keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,how can he take care of the Church of God?He should not be a recent convert,so...

Troparion - Tone 4 In your manner a participant, And in your throne a successor of the Apostles, You discovered action an entrance into visions, O Inspired one of God. Therefore directing the Word of truth, You suffered for the faith even unto blood. O Bishop and Martyr Cornelius, pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved! Kontakion - Tone 4 O Divinely minded Cornelius, The Church, receiving you as a blessed first-fruit of the Gentiles, Is enlightened by your holy life, For you are a perfect seer of the Mysteries! Synaxarion: The Hieromartyr Cornelius the Centurion: Soon...

When you worry about money, you’re telling God that He is unable to provide for His children. That although He has riches beyond belief in Heaven, He is too stingy to share them with you. When you worry that no one understands you, you’re telling God that although He has been with you since before you were formed in the womb and has carved you into the palm of His hand, He doesn’t know you. When you worry that you will not have enough food, you’re telling God that although He rained down bread from Heaven in the desert to...

      The Holy Name of       Mary The Power of Her Name By St. Alphonsus de Liguori                     Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary." He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high...

September 12, 2005Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Monday 40 Reading I1 Tm 2:1-8 Beloved:First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,for kings and for all in authority,that we may lead a quiet and tranquil lifein all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior,who wills everyone to be savedand to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God.There is also one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus,who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time....

Troparion - Tone 4 By sharing in the ways of the Apostles, you became a successor to their throne. Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O inspired one of God; by teaching the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith, even to the shedding of your blood. Hieromartyr Autonómus, entreat Christ God to save our souls. Kontakion - Tone 2 With reverence you served the divine mysteries, O wise one, and became an acceptable sacrifice while partaking of the cup of Christ. Now, as you stand before Him, holy martyr Autonómus, unceasingly...

by Fr. Christopher Nalty Other Articles by Fr. Christopher Nalty Supporting the First Steps to New Orleans’s Recovery 09/10/2005 I returned home from Rome on the Saturday before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, to spend time with my Dad during his last week of radiation treatment for cancer (I pray that he's going to be fine). My family and I evacuated on Sunday. In This Article...Drowned CommunitiesTurning Attention from the Dead to the LivingA Good First Step: Housing the Workers Drowned Communities I'm currently at my family's property in Brewton, Alabama; we were some of the lucky ones with someplace to...

A man barred from speaking about his Christian faith on a New York state college campus filed a civil-rights lawsuit claiming violation of his free-speech rights. Officials at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, N.Y., told Greg Davis of Indian Lake, N.Y., that he needed to file a facilities use permit application to speak about his faith with students in a public, grassy area on campus in October 2003. But when he did so, his application was denied because the school claimed his desired religious expression does not constitute a "cultural, educational, social or recreational" activity. (more)

September 11, 2005Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Sunday 40 Reading ISir 27:30—28:7 Wrath and anger are hateful things,yet the sinner hugs them tight.The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance,for he remembers their sins in detail.Forgive your neighbor’s injustice;then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.Could anyone nourish anger against anotherand expect healing from the LORD?Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself,can he seek pardon for his own sins?If one who is but flesh cherishes wrath,who will forgive his sins?Remember your last days, set enmity aside;remember death and decay, and cease from sin!Think of the commandments, hate...

Our Friday's night Vigil was a great blessing. We remembered all the victims of hurrycane Katrina. Also we've prayed to remove the terrorism from the nations. Actually fasting prayer is precious and it has a great value before the Lord. Those who are having enough to eat is humbly deciding to avoid one or two or more times food (cost of that food will be submitting for our Lord's ministry and charitable services to the poor) and sit before the Lord to listen and meditate the Word of God and doing intercession for others is the path of our fasting....

September 10, 2005Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Saturday 39 Reading I1 Tm 1:15-17 Beloved:This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.Of these I am the foremost.But for that reason I was mercifully treated,so that in me, as the foremost,Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an examplefor those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God,honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Responsorial PsalmPs 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5 and 6-7 R. (2) Blessed be the name...

by Valerie Schmalz Other Articles by Valerie Schmalz Bishop in the Desert: An Interview with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix 09/09/05 The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted began making headlines in Arizona almost as soon as he was installed as bishop of the Phoenix diocese on December 20, 2003, replacing Bishop Thomas O’Brien, who resigned after being arrested and later convicted for leaving the scene of a fatal accident. In This Article...How to Hit the Ground RunningStanding on PrincipleClear Teaching How to Hit the Ground Running In April 2004 Bishop Olmsted ordered nine priests and one religious brother to remove...