Jesus reminds us that words too can kill. … When we say that someone
has a serpent's tongue, we mean that his words can kill. Therefore, not only
is it forbidden to make an attempt on the life of others, we must also refrain
from pouring the
poison of anger over them or striking them with slander. Nor may we speak ill
of them. This brings us to the matter of gossip. Gossip can kill because it
can kill someone's reputation. Gossip is a bad thing. In
the beginning, it may seem enjoyable and fun, but in the end it fills our
hearts with bitterness, and poisons us too. In truth, I am convinced that if
every one of us promised to avoid gossip, we would eventually become
saints!”
Subject: VISnews140217
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
Jesus offers those who follow him “the perfection of love, a love
whose only measure is to be without measure, overcoming any self-interest.
Loving one's neighbour is so fundamental that Jesus states that our
relationship to God cannot be
sincere if we are not willing to make peace with our neighbour. …
Consequently, we are called to be reconciled first with our brothers before
expressing our devotion to the Lord through prayer”.
From all this, one may conclude that “Jesus does not accord
importance only to disciplinary observance and external conduct. He goes to
the root of the Law, focusing on intent and thus on the heart of man, the
origin of our intentions, both
good and evil. To guarantee good and honest deeds, legal rules are not enough;
it is necessary to discover profound motivations, the expression of a hidden
wisdom, God's Wisdom, which may be received through the Holy Spirit. Through
faith in Christ, we
can open ourselves to the action of the Spirit, which enables us to experience
divine love. In light of this teaching, every precept reveals its full meaning
as a requirement of love, and they all come together in the greatest
commandment of all: to
love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself".
___________________________________________________________
THE POPE RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
Vatican City, 15 February 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Vatican
Apostolic Palace, Pope Francis received the president of the Republic of
Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, who subsequently went on to meet with Archbishop
Pietro Parolin, secretary
of State, accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for
Relations with States.
During the cordial discussions, which highlighted the good relations
between the Holy See and the Republic of Cyprus, mention was made of several
matters of common interest, such as the positive role of religion in society
and the protection of the
right to religious freedom. Satisfaction was expressed at the resumption of
negotiations aiming at the development of a shared solution to the
Island’s current situation. Finally, the Parties indicated their concern
regarding the political
instability affecting the region of the Near and Middle East, which leads to
great suffering on the part of civilian populations, and shared their hope
that the Christian communities in the various countries may continue to offer
their contribution to
building a future of material and spiritual well-being.
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 17 February 2014 (VIS) – Today, the Holy Father
received in audience:
On Saturday, 15 February, the Holy Father received in audience:
- His Beatitude Gregorius III Laham, patriarch of the Greek Melkites,
Syria.
- Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, archbishop of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, archpriest emeritus of the
papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls.
- Cardinal Alberto Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, archbishop of
Colombo.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 17 February 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed
Bishop Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga of Dodoma, Tanzania, as bishop of
Mpanda (area 46,346, population 551,000, Catholics 314,725, priests 17,
religious 38),
Tanzania.
On Saturday, 15 February, the Holy Father appointed Fr. Waldo Ruben
Barrinuevo Ramirez, C.Ss.R:, as auxiliary of the apostolic vicariate of Reyes
(area 60,000, population 152,000, Catholics 114,000, priests 5, permanent
deacons 1, religious 32),
Bolivia. The bishop-elect was born in Oruro, Bolivia in 1967, gave his
perpetual vows in 1996, and was ordained a priest in 1997. He carried out his
studies in philosophy and theology at the seminary of Cochabamba, and has
served in the following
pastoral roles: member and later superior of missionary team in Santa Cruz de
la Sierra and extraordinary counsellor of the province; collaborator with the
master of novices in Oruro; provincial vicar and master of novices; and priest
in the parish of
“Nuestra Senora de la Paz” in Cochabamba. Since 2010 he has
studied in the Pontifical Gregorian University.
___________________________________________________________
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