In the presentation, it was shown that bullying on the Internet is a new form
of violence, and the related issue of the time the internet subtracts from
family relations emerged. Alongside this there arose the question of
adolescents and young people living in a condition of being continually
"connected", a problem about which we all complain, and it was suggested that
this might have its origins precisely in parents not spending enough time with
them, and in not taking the time to listen to them. It was explained that
numerous sociological studies exist, examining the risks linked to the rapid
development of information and communication technology, a phenomenon that
requires parents to act as mediators of the technological experience for their
children. Therefore, there are examples that show that when family
relationships are positive it is more likely that the potential of social
networks lead to greater inter- and intra-generational cohesion, and where
family relationships are poor or conflictual, the social networks more easily
facilitate individualistic routes and forms of surrogate relationship. It was
also mentioned that, in the globalised world in which we live, it is
increasingly common for family members to live far from each other, and
therefore social networks may constitute an important vehicle for information
and entertainment. However, it is essential to remember that online connection
is accompanied by "real", offline relationships, and that we cannot live
alone, wrapped up in ourselves.
 Faced with these situations, it was noted that the Church cannot be excluded:
emphasis was placed on the opportunities that the Web offers for
evangelisation or spiritual assistance, and the need for pastoral efforts in
the formation of families. In this way, Cardinal Turkson highlighted that the
Holy See, through the ratification of treaties on the rights of the Child,
expresses its constant concern for the well-being of children and their
families, in the hope that these agreements are able to guarantee the
protection of the rights and interests of children, whom St. John Paul II
described as a precious treasure, given to each generation as a challenge to
its wisdom and humanity.

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 Pope Francis pays homage to the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna
 Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - Yesterday, the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception, the Holy Father went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major
to pray before the image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and then to Piazza di
Spagna where he carried out the traditional act of veneration of Mary
Immaculate. For the occasion, Francis composed and recited a prayer, the full
text of which is published below:
 "Mary our Mother, today the People of God celebrate you and venerate you as
Immaculate, preserved forever from the stain of sin.
 Accept the homage I offer you in the name of the Church in Rome and
throughout the world.
 Knowing that you, who are our Mother, are totally free from sin, is of great
comfort to us.
 Knowing that evil has no power over you, fills us with hope and strength in
the daily struggle we have to face against the threats of the evil one.
 But we are not alone in this struggle, we are not orphans because Jesus,
before dying on the Cross, gave you to us as our Mother.
 Even though we are sinners, we are still your children, children of the
Immaculate, called to that holiness that shines in you by the grace of God
since the beginning.
 Inspired by this hope, today we invoke your maternal protection for us, our
families, this city and the whole world.
 Through your intercession, may the power of God's love that preserved you
from original sin, free humanity from every form of spiritual and material
slavery and make God's plan of salvation be victorious in both hearts and in
history.
 May grace prevail over pride in us too, your children.
 May we become merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.
 During this time leading to the celebration of Jesus' birth, teach us to go
against the flow: to strip ourselves, to be humble and giving, to listen and
be silent, to go out of ourselves, giving space to the beauty of God, source
of true joy.
 Pray for us, our Immaculate Mother!".

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 Angelus: like Mary, welcome grace and correspond with faith
 Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - "Everything is given freely by God, all
is grace, all is a gift of His love for us". This, said Pope Francis, is the
message of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, appearing at the window
of his study to pray the Angelus at midday with the faithful gathered in St.
Peter's Square.
 The Holy Father explained that in the Annunciation, the Archangel Gabriel
called Mary "full of grace", since "in her there was no space for sin: God had
always chosen her as the mother of Jesus, and so He protected her from
original sin. Mary corresponds to this grace and abandons herself to it,
saying to the Angel, 'Be it done to me according to your word'. She does not
say 'I will do it according to your word', but rather, 'Be it done to me...'.
And the Word was made flesh in her womb. We too are asked to listen to God Who
speaks to us and to accept His will; according to the logic of the Gospel,
nothing is more active and fruitful than to listen and receive the Word of the
Lord".
 The attitude of Mary of Nazareth "shows us that being comes before doing, and
we must let God act in order to truly become what He wants us to be. It is He
Who works so many marvels in us. Mary is receptive, but not passive. Just as,
at a physical level, she receives the power of the Holy Spirit but then gives
flesh and blood to the Son of God Who grows in her, she also receives grace
and corresponds with faith, on a spiritual level. This mystery of the
acceptance of grace, that in Mary by unique privilege was without the obstacle
of sin, is a possibility for all. ... As Mary is greeted by St. Elizabeth as
'blessed among women', so we too have always been 'blessed', that is, loved,
and therefore 'chosen first from the creation of the world to be holy and
immaculate'. Mary was preserved, whereas we have been saved thanks to baptism
and faith: all of us, however, Mary and ourselves, through Christ".
 "Faced with love, faced with mercy, with the divine grace poured into our
hearts, just one consequence is imposed: gratuity. None of us can buy
salvation! Salvation is a gift freely given by the Lord, a free gift from God
who comes to us and abides in us. In the same way as we have received his gift
freely, so we are called to freely give, in imitation of Mary, who straight
after having received the Annunciation of the Angel, goes to share the gift of
her fertility with her relative Elizabeth. Because, if all has been given,
everything must be given again in turn. How? By letting the Holy Spirit make
of us a gift for others. The Spirit is a gift for us and we, through the
Spirit, must be a gift for others and enable the Holy Spirit to make us into
instruments of acceptance, instruments of reconciliation, instruments of
forgiveness".
 "If our existence is allowed to be transformed by the Lord's grace, so that
the Lord's grace may transform us, we cannot keep for ourselves the light that
comes from His face, but must instead pass it on so that it may illuminate
others".

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 The Pope lights the tallest Christmas tree in the world
 Vatican City, 8 December 2014 (VIS) - Every year on this day in Gubbio, the
Italian city where St. Francis tamed the wolf, the tallest Christmas tree in
the world is lit up. Situated on the slopes of Mount Ingino, it is made up of
dots of light of different types: 250 green dots trace a silhouette more than
650 metres high, which contains more than 300 lights of various colours. It is
topped with a star of 1000 square metres, made up of 200 white lights. At dusk
yesterday, 7 December, the Holy Father illuminated the tree from the Vatican
using a tablet, and he greeted those in attendance in Gubbio.
 "In switching on the light of the Nativity scene, we wish for the light of
Christ to be in us. A Christmas without light is not Christmas. Let there be
light in the soul, in the heart; let there be forgiveness to others; let there
be no hostilities, which are dark. Let there be the beautiful light of Jesus.
This is my wish for all of you, when you turn on the light of the crib.
 "Many thanks for your gift, it is beautiful. Also I give to you my warmest
wishes, peace and happiness.
 "If you have something dark in your soul, ask the Lord for forgiveness.
Christmas is a great opportunity to cleanse the soul. Do not fear, the priest
is merciful, forgiving all in the name of God, because God forgives everything.
 "May there be light in your hearts, in your families, in your cities. And
now, with this wish, let us turn on the light.
 "Blessed be God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Merry
Christmas and pray for me".

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 Angelus: be messengers of God's consolation
 Vatican City, 9 December 2014 (VIS) - The Holy Father appeared at the window
of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace at midday today to pray the
Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Before the Marian
prayer, Francis spoke about the second Sunday of Advent as a "wonderful time
that reawakens in us the expectation of Christ's return and the memory of his
historic coming. It is the Lord's invitation as expressed by the prophet
Isaiah: 'Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God'".

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 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)