Amoris Latetitia - The Joy of Love

Vatican Press Office:

• Full text of Amoris Latetitia
• Vatican press office summary

Vatican Radio:

• British Bishop Peter Doyle on Apostolic Exhortation
• Presentation of Pope Francis' new document on family life

Irish Conference of Bishops:

• Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) – Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis on Love In The Family

Whispers in the Loggia - Francis' Feast – Pope's Hymn to Family "Is A Matter of Reaching Out to Everyone"

Aleteia:

• Bishop Barron: First Thoughts on “Amoris Laetitia” The pope's apostolic exhortation offers a "great service to many suffering souls who come to the Field Hospital"
• Amoris Laetitia Overview: We Advance Together, the Strong Helping the Weak - "Love coexists with imperfection"
• Albany Bishop Scharfenberger Comments on Pope's Exhortation
• The “Multifaceted Gem” of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia Mining the theology of the Body-inspired wealth of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation “The Joy of Love”

Crux:

• Crux articles tagged with Amoris Latetitia
• Two views on Pope Francis’ ‘Magna Carta for the family’
• Two views on what ‘Amoris Laetitia’ really means
• Real jewel in pope’s exhortation comes on married love

CNA:

• No doctrine change from Pope Francis – but a call for better pastoral care
• Cardinal Schönborn praises 'Amoris Laetitia' stance on gay marriage
• US bishops: don't rush in reading, interpreting Pope's 'love letter' to families
• Interpreting Amoris Laetitia 'through the lens of Catholic tradition'
• How Pope Francis thinks we should change marriage prep

National Catholic Register:

• The Pope’s New Document on Marriage: 12 Things to Know and Share
• Pope on Life in Apostolic Exhortation: ‘Each Child Has Place in God’s Heart’
• ‘Amoris Laetitia’: A Tale of Two Documents - Pope Francis’ more than 250-page text on the family deals beautifully and decisively on threats to marriage and hesitantly and ambivalently on putting Church teaching into practice.
•  Pope’s Family Document ‘Amoris Laetitia’ Tackles Complex Pastoral Challenges   - But concerns already are being expressed about Chapter 8, which introduces ambiguity in its discussion of ‘accompanying, discerning and integrating weakness.’
• NCR's articles tagged for Amoris Latetitia

National Catholic Reporter:

• NCR articles tagged for Amoris Laetitia 
• 'Amoris Laetitia': Francis challenges the church

In the Light of the Law - First thoughts on the English version of Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia.

Catholic Herald

• Amoris Laetitia: What people are saying 
• Catholic Herald articles tagged for Amoris Latetitia 
• Amoris Laetitia is ‘a love letter’ to families, says head of US bishops’ conference
• 'Discernment charged with merciful love': Pope Francis’ Amoris Laetitia, on Love in the Family 

Salt + Light

• Fr. Thomas Rosica talks Amoris Laetitia on CBS This Morning
• Behind Vatican Walls – Amoris Laetitia…What is it?

The New Yorker - The New Morality of Pope Francis

UPDATE

• Understanding Francis and the internal forum Holy Father does not change doctrine in family document, pushes for careful formation of conscience
• Amoris Laetitia: Pope Francis’ “1968 Moment” 
• Francis and Antonio, a Couple in Excellent “Society" - The pope has in Fr. Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit like him, his authorized translator. Here is how “La Civiltà Cattolica”  restates in clearer words what “Amoris lætitia” presents in allusive form   

UPDATE 2:

• Bishop Barron Q&A on “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love)
• More Bishop Barron Q&A on “Amoris Laetitia” (The Joy of Love) 
• What Some Critics of ‘Amoris Laetitia’ Are Missing
• No, Pope Francis isn't saying your 'conscience' trumps doctrine
• The Secret Key to Understanding Pope Francis and “Amoris Laetitia” - His approach is about spreading the Gospel, not spreading the rules

'Amoris Laetitia’ - Papal document on the Family due on Friday

Crux - Pope Francis’ highly anticipated document on the family will be unveiled on Friday. Called “Amoris Laetitia, on love in the family”, it’s expected to touch on several hot-button issues, including Communion for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics.

The text, said to be close to 250-pages long and divided in more than 300 points, will be presented by Cardinals Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, Austria, at a press conference in Rome.

Set to begin at 11:30 Rome time, the news conference be broadcast live through the Vatican’s Television Center.

Secrecy surrounding the document is greater than usual, with no copies leaked in the media as of 24 hours before its unveiling. Vatican sources say the final version of the document hasn’t yet left the pope’s inner circle.

Continue reading Crux article HERE.

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NYT - How Pope Francis’ ‘Amoris Laetitia’ Could Affect Families and the Church

 

Pope Francis reforms the annulment process

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis issued two Apostolic Letters motu proprio on Tuesday, by which he introduced reforms to the legal structures of the Church, which deal with questions of marital nullity.

One of the Letters motu proprio, known by its Latin title, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus – or “The Lord Jesus, Clement Judge” – reforms the Code of Canon Law (CIC) governing the Latin Church, while the other, Mitis et misericors Iesus or “Clement and merciful Jesus” – reforms the Code of Canon Law for Oriental Churches (CCEO).

According to the prefatory remarks attached to both Letters, the reforms are the result of an expert group appointed to study the current state of law and practice in the Church as far as marriage law is concerned.

You can read the Vatican Radio report HERE.

Over at Crux, John Allen has two pieces which sets out what exactly the proposals today mean and also what the impact on the Synod on the Family will be.

Jim Akin has an excellent summary of what it means in Q&A form - Pope Francis Reforms Annulment Process: 9 things to know and share

Christian Today - Pope Francis makes marriage annulment easier for the benefit of estranged couples

NCR - Francis’ annulment changes stress prompt decisions, power of local bishops

NYT - Pope Francis Announces Measures to Simplify Marriage Annulments

Washington Post - Pope Francis simplifies marriage annulment process for Catholics

WSJ - Pope Francis Simplifies Catholic Annulment Rules

BBC - Pope Francis makes it easier for Catholics to remarry

 

Salt  + Light - Questions, answers and reflections about Marriage and Pope Francis’ Annulment Reform

 

CNA - Revamped annulment process focuses on speed, role of local bishops

 

 

19th October 2014 - Mission Sunday - 29th Sunday in Ordinary time

Due to some technical difficulties at SS102fm base camp, this week we are unable to bring our planned programme, so instead we are going to repeat and interview we did with Fr John O'Shea.
 
You can listen to the podcast of the programme HERE.
 
Mission Sunday
 

This weekend is Mission Sunday in Ireland which has a particular focus on supporting the missionary church. World Mission Sunday takes place on the second last Sunday of October each year. Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated throughout the world on the 19 October 2014. In Rome the celebration of Mission Sunday will take place at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization” which is taking place in Rome from 5 to 19 October.
 
Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptised and they will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of the young churches throughout the world. Mission Sunday is celebrated by every Church throughout the world, including the poorest. This special Sunday in October provides Catholics with the opportunity to unite with their missionary sisters and brothers overseas, and to recommit themselves to bringing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone they meet in their daily lives at home and at work.
 
In October and especially on Mission Sunday Catholics are invited to be specifically conscious of the Church’s missionary activity abroad (ad gentes) through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected in all Churches throughout the world on Mission Sunday, is coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Jaricot 190 years ago. The funds are used to assist Churches who need financial support and directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially.
 
In October 2013, Irish Catholics contributed more than €1.6 million on Mission Sunday. The Mission Sunday collection is made available, in its entirety, to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches who are supported by the generosity of Churches that have been blessed with a greater quantity of financial and material gifts.
 
Contributions will be used to build simple mission churches, to educate seminarians as well as female diocesan religious novices. Your support also assists in the formation of catechists and lay leaders. The Mission Sunday gift may also be used for building health facilities for children and adults as well as for providing emergency aid in times of war or natural disaster or to assist missionaries in their efforts to care for refugees.
 
The theme for World Mission Sunday in Ireland this year 2014 is “That they may have Life”. The theme goes to the heart of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) published by Pope Francis on 24 November 2013.
 
On Mission Sunday, in a special way, we celebrate the work our c. 1,300 Irish born missionaries and all missionaries throughout the world. We thank God for them, for all who support them in our own country and during mission month we unite ourselves in prayer with them and with the communities with whom they work.
 
 

 
Pope Francis message for World Mission Sunday 2014 is available HERE.

 As part of our outreach, SS102fm wanted to highlight the difficulties of our fellow christians in the Middle East. While issues of everyday concern to families are on the agenda at the extraordinary Synod on the Family, one participant has come to Rome with a very sinister tale to tell. It’s the plight of tens of thousands of Iraqi Christian families who fled for their lives to escape from Islamic State militants. Few think they will ever return home.

That’s according to Archbishop Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Catholic Church who was eager to speak to Vatican Radio outside the Synod hall. He wanted to raise global awareness about the desperate conditions in which his people are now living in northern Iraq.

Listen to the interview with Patriarch Younan in this program by Tracey McClure on Vatican Radio HERE.
 
Gospel - Matthew 22:15-21

"Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.""

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy

Beatification of Pope Paul VI

The beatification of Paul VI takes place this weekend. You can read more about it in an earlier post HERE.

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

October 20th - St Aidan of Mayo
October 21st - Bl Charles of Austria
October 22nd - St Pope John Paul II
October 23rd - St John of Capistrano
October 24th - St Anthony Mary Claret
October 25th - Bl Thaddeus MacCarthy
 

12 October 2014 - Update on the Synod on the Family - 28th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year A)

On this weeks programme John is joined by Martina O'Sullivan to review what has been happening on the Synod on the Family which has been taking place in Rome over the last week. We have an interview with Cardinal Wurl from Washington DC in the USA from Vatican Radio which gives some back ground to what is happening in Rome as well as our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Synod on the Family

This week we are broadcasting an interview from Vatican Radio with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington DC in the USA.

The Synod is a process, “we should not expect sound bite solutions” to the challenges facing the family in todays’ “secularized culture”, says the Archbishop of Washington DC, Cardinal Donald Wuerl. He was speaking to Vatican Radio on the eve of the first full day of working sessions in the Extra-Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.

You can listen to the interview excerpted from the main SS102fm programme HERE.

You can find the original link to Vatican Radio HERE.

 

Pope Francis prayer for the Synod on the Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.

 

 

Coverage from around the web on the Synod:

John L Allen and his team over at Crux have excellent coverage HERE.

You can watch a series of short 2-3 minute daily videos updating about what has been happening in the Synod from Rome Report's HERE.

Daily summary from Vatican Information Service giving the main points discussed during the Synod available HERE.

Catholic News Service coverage of the Synod HERE.

Salt + Light coverage of the Synod HERE.

Vatican Radio coverage can be read HERE.

Rocco's coverage of the Synod over at Whispers in the Loggia but his best coverage is from his Twitter feed.

Phil over at Ennis Blue has a round up of links on coverage of the Synod.

Gospel - Matthew 22: 1-14

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

 



 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Saints of the Week

October 13th - St Edward the Confessor
October 14th - St Callistus
October 15th - St Teresa of Avila
October 16th - St Margaret Mary Alacoque - seer of the Sacred Heart
October 17th - St Colman of Kilroot
October 18th - St Luke

Priceless – Francis arrives at #Synod14, Guards salute... but Pope wants a handshake

What is a Synod?

 

What is a Synod? What is ‪#‎Synod14‬. Here's a short, clear video explaining what, why, how and who. Be part of this Synod by praying for all involved.

5 October 2014 - Synod on the Family - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

On this week's programme John, Shane and Lorraine discuss the Extraordinary Synod on the Family which is being held in Rome from October 5th to 19th.  The official title of this Synod is "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelisation."  This is the second Synod on the Family.  The first was held by St. John Paul II in 1980 which resulted in the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World Familiaris Consortio.  

The role of the Extraordinary Synod is to "define the status quaestionis (“current situation”) and to collect the bishops’ experiences and proposals in proclaiming and living the Gospel of the Family in a credible manner."  This will be followed by a second Synod on the Family next year which will "'reflect further on the points discussed so as to formulate appropriate pastoral guidelines' for the pastoral care of the person and the family."  The discussion on the Synod on the Family excerpted from the programme is available HERE.  

Quite a lot has been written on the Synod over the last few months.  Here is a quick synopsis:

• Matthew Bunson offers a very useful "Synod on the Family: A Primer" over on Our Sunday Visitor HERE.

• The Working Document (Instrumentum Laboris) for the Synod is available HERE and the Preparatory Document is available HERE.

• The Pontificium Consilium pro Familia offer an overview of the documents of the Synod HERE.

• Ann Schneible of the Catholic News Agency tries to get beyond the media hype on the Synod HERE.

• The National Catholic Reporter, Patheos and Crux gather together a number of articles and comment pieces on the Synod HERE, HERE and HERE.

• Fr Raymond De Souza outlines the possible implications and the importance of the Synod HERE.

• The Irish Catholic offers comment and analysis HERE and HERE.

• La Stampa features an interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper on the Synod HERE.

• The National Catholic Reporter, The Tablet and the Catholic News Service report on Cardinal George Pell's disagreement with the theology of Cardinal Kasper HERE, HERE and HERE.

• George Weigel believes we need a Synod of Affirmation HERE.

Of course the most important thing we can do is pray for those involved in the Synod that they may be open to the Holy Spirit:

Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

You can listen to the full podcast of this week's programme HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:

‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. 

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives’.
Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

Jesus said to them,
‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
It was the stone rejected by the builders
that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing
and it is wonderful to see?

I tell you, then,
that the kingdom of God will be taken from you
and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’


Reflections on today's Gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Pope's Intentions for October

General: Peace. That the Lord may grant peace to those parts of the world most battered by war and violence.

Missionary: World Mission Day.  That World Mission Day may rekindle in every believer zeal for carrying the Gospel into all the world.

The Pope's Intentions for the year are available on EWTN HERE.

Saints of the Week

October 6th - St. Bruno
October 7th - Our Lady of the Rosary
October 8th - St. Pelagia
October 9th - Blessed John Henry Newman
October 10th - St. Francis Borgia
October 11th - St. John XXII

Day of Prayer for the Synod on the Family

From the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops: A request for special prayers on Sunday, 28 September, for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Day of Prayer

for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the

Synod of Bishops

Sunday, 28 September 2014

Sunday, 28 September is to be set aside as a Day of Prayer for the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled to take place from 5 to 19 October to treat the topic: The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.

Particular churches, parish communities, institutes of consecrated life, associations and movements are invited to pray for this intention during Mass and at other liturgical celebrations, in the days leading to the synod and during the synod itself. In Rome, in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, prayers will be recited each day in the chapel of the icon, Salus Populi Romani. The faithful, individually but above all in families, are invited to join in these prayers.

The suggested prayers include the Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod, composed by Pope Francis, and the following proposed intentions during the Prayers of the Faithful which can be adapted at Sunday Mass on 28 September and during the synod. These intentions can also be included in the petitions at Lauds and Vespers. The recitation of the Holy Rosary is also recommended for the duration of the synodal assembly.


I - Prayer to the Holy Family for the Synod

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

in you we contemplate

the splendour of true love,

to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

grant that our families too

may be places of communion and prayer,

authentic schools of the Gospel

and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may families never again

experience violence, rejection and division:

may all who have been hurt or scandalized

find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,

may the approaching Synod of Bishops

make us once more mindful

of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,

and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

 

 

II - Prayers of the Faithful.