Pope Francis on refugee crisis: We have the duty of welcoming those who flee from war or hunger

 

#8masses4no8 Facebook campaign

Tony Foley (11) and his family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received since his dad Anthony 'Axel' Foley passed away. Tony has been busy thinking about his own tribute to his Dad and has asked that a Facebook page be set up in his memory. He wants to use it to ask people, who want to show their support, to attend Mass on each of the next 8 Sundays to pray for people who have died and while there to offer a prayer for his Dad also.

 

The 8 Sundays start this Sunday, October 30th - his Dad's birthday. The Number 8 is, of course, a special number for Tony and his family but the 8 Sundays also bring us up to that special family time of year, Christmas. So, Tony has asked if you could, in his Dad's memory, Like the Facebook page, tag 8 Facebook friends you would like to go to Mass over the next 8 Sundays and at that Mass light a candle for a loved one or, indeed, for Anthony.

 

• Facebook page - Axel Foley Memorial
• Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick throws his support behind the initiative - here - describing it described as “moving and inspirational” the gesture by the 11 year-old son of Anthony Foley in asking people to go to Mass and light candles over the next eight Sunday’s for deceased loved ones.
• Irish Times article - Anthony Foley’s son launches Facebook prayer appeal

To Rise with Christ - Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith publishes new guidelines on Cremation

Given the increasing popularity and/or economic necessity of families and individuals cremating the remains of their dearly beloved, the CDF on behalf of Pope Francis has issued a universally binding document today called Ad resurgendum cum Christo on the treatment of cremated remains from the Church's point of view.

The Congregation notes that in many regions cremation is markedly increasing, making a reiteration of the existing norms and their theological bases advisable. The Church permits cremation but not the scattering of ashes on land, sea or in the air; dividing them among family members, or preserving them in jewellery, the Vatican has stated in their new Instruction.

It is a re-statement of the existing position first set out in 1963 and then included in the 1983 Code of Canon Law where the Church prefers that "all necessary measures must be taken to preserve the practice of reverently burying the faithful departed”, adding however that cremation is not “opposed per se to the Christian religion” and that no longer should the sacraments and funeral rites be denied to those who have asked that they be cremated, under the condition that this choice has not been made through “a denial of Christian dogmas, the animosity of a secret society, or hatred of the Catholic religion and the Church”."

As we often say on SS102fm, sometimes it is best to read the original document rather than the spin and coverage given by the media. Full text of the document is available HERE.

Rocco over at Whispers in the Loggia has a very good report on it HERE.

PrayTell has an interesting commentary piece HERE.

Altelia has their coverage HERE