THE MANY WONDERFUL TITLES THE CHURCH HAS FOR MARY – POPE MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, SAYS ACTION ON GAZA IS ‘URGENT’

THE MANY WONDERFUL TITLES THE CHURCH HAS FOR MARY

The release Tuesday of the document by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mater populi fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People”), a Doctrinal Note “On Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation,” troubled a number of people given that it basically banned one title, saying “to use the title of  ‘Co-redemptrix’ is deemed inappropriate and problematic’.” The document also stated, “the title of “Mediatrix” is considered unacceptable when it takes on a meaning that excludes Jesus Christ; however, it can used appropriately so long as it expresses an inclusive and participatory mediation that glorifies the power of Christ. The titles “Mother of Grace” and “Mediatrix of All Graces” are considered acceptable when used in a very precise sense, but the document also warns of particularly broad explanations of the meaning of the terms.”

I found the document to be very clear, very complete and very beautiful, especially when it spoke to the motherhood of Mary, the person whom, when we say the rosary, we address as “Holy Mary, Mother of God.” (So, we’ve already used two of her titles!). If you say an entire rosary, you will have said the Hail Mary 53 times, thus invoking those titles!

I wondered why people were so upset over one title being banned when we have dozens of wondrous titles we can, must and should use with Mary, Our Blessed Mother (another title!)

Mary, Help of Christians

When was the last time you recited the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a prayer calling upon the various titles of Mary and asking for her intercession?

Also known as the Litany of Loreto, there are 54 titles given to Mary, to Our Lady, to Our Blessed Mother! Fifty-four!

To name but a very few:

Mother titles: Holy Mother of God, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Hope, Mother of Our Savior, Mother Most Chaste

Virgin titles: Virgin most Prudent, Virgin most Venerable, Virgin Most Powerful, Virgin Most Faithful

Queen titles: Queen of Angels, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of all Saints, Queen Conceived without Original Sin, Queen Assumed into Heaven.

Other titles: Ark of the Covenant, Help of Christians, Solace of Migrants, Refuge of Sinners.

Let’s recite any one or all of those title with love, joy and gratitude!

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (of Loreto) | EWTN

POPE MEETS WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT, SAYS ACTION ON GAZA IS ‘URGENT’

Pope Leo meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, discussing the “urgent need” for an end to the conflict in Gaza and for the entry of humanitarian aid.

By Joseph Tulloch (Vatican News)

On Thursday morning, Pope Leo met with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, and discussed the “urgent need to provide assistance to the civilian population in Gaza”.

The conversation, which took place in the Vatican, was the first encounter between the pair, who had previously spoken only over the phone.

A statement from the Holy See Press Office described the meeting as “cordial”, adding that among the topics discussed was also the urgent need to “end the conflict by pursuing a two-State solution”.

Visit to Pope Francis’ tomb

The day before his meeting with Pope Leo, President Abbas had visited the Basilica of St Mary Major to pay his respects at Pope Francis’ tomb.

The visit was his first act upon arriving in Rome on Wednesday afternoon.

Speaking to the journalists waiting on the church steps, President Abbas said: “I came to see Pope Francis because I cannot forget what he did for Palestine and for the Palestinian people, and I cannot forget that he recognized Palestine without anyone having to ask him to do so.”

President Abbas’ visit to Francis’ tomb, during which he was accompanied by Egyptian Franciscan friar Ibrahim Faltas, a former Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, lasted about fifteen minutes.

The President laid a bouquet of flowers on the simple marble tomb, which bears the inscription Franciscus.

10 years of the Palestine-Holy See Comprehensive Agreement

President Abbas’ visit to the Vatican also marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the ‘Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine’.

The text, signed on the 26 June 2015, expresses both parties’ commitment to Palestinian self-determination and the two-state solution.

It also stresses the symbolic and spiritual significance of Jerusalem for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.

(EWTN on the visit: (2) EWTN Vatican on X: “Pope Leo XIV received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican on Thursday, marking their first in-person meeting amid renewed diplomatic efforts for peace in the Holy Land. The two leaders discussed urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and reaffirmed support for a https://t.co/LJEshBhRBk” / X)

 

 

“THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE, EVERY DAY IS EASTER”

Better late than never….

“THE PASCHAL MYSTERY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE, EVERY DAY IS EASTER”

Once again for the weekly general audience, tens of thousands of faithful filled St. Peter’s Square as the Holy Father began the Wednesday ritual by first riding around the square in the white papal jeep, waving to the enthusiastic crowd and, by now a normal part of the mid-week audience, holding and blessing babies and young children.

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In a profoundly beautiful catechesis, Pope Leo XIV focused on Jesus’ Resurrection, saying it is “not an idea, not a theory, but the Event that is the foundation of faith.”

He said, “The Paschal proclamation is the most beautiful, joyful and overwhelming news that has ever resounded in all of history. It is the quintessential ‘Gospel’, which attests to the victory of love over sin and of life over death, and this is why it is the only thing capable of satisfying the demand for meaning that troubles our minds and our hearts. Human beings are inspired by an inner movement, striving towards a beyond that continually attracts them. No contingent reality satisfies us. We tend towards the infinite and the eternal. This contrasts with the experience of death, anticipated by suffering, loss, and failure. As Saint Francis sings, “nullu homo vivente po skampare” (“no living man can escape”) from death (cf. Canticle of the Sun).”

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Leo XIV explained that, “Everything changes thanks to that morning when the women had gone to the tomb to anoint the body of the Lord, and found it empty. The question posed by the Magi who came from the East to Jerusalem: “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” (Mt 2:1-2), finds its definitive answer in the words of the mysterious youth dressed in white, who speaks to the women at Easter dawn: “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here” (Mk 16:6).”

“From that morning until today, every day,” continued the Pope, “Jesus will also have this title: the Living One, as He presents himself in Revelation: “I am the First and the Last, and the Living One: I died, and behold I am alive for evermore” (Rev 1:17-18). And in Him, we have the assurance of always being able to find the lodestar towards which we can direct our seemingly chaotic lives, marked by events that often appear confusing, unacceptable, incomprehensible: evil in its many forms, suffering, death, events that affect each and every one of us. Meditating on the mystery of the Resurrection, we find an answer to our thirst for meaning.”

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“Easter does not eliminate the cross,” stated Pope Leo, “but defeats it in the miraculous duel that changed our human history.”

In conclusion, the Holy Father noted that “the proclamation of the Easter message stands as a sure anchor: love has conquered sin forever, and life triumphs over death.  Jesus, who is now “alive forever and ever,” promises to be with us always.  His presence fills our lives with meaning and we discover that our yearning for eternity is not only justified, but is now within our reach.  Let us ask the risen Lord to help us to recognize his presence in every circumstance, and so experience the victory of Easter in our daily lives.”

Every week, Vatican staffers read summaries of the general audience catechesis in French, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Polish whereas Pope Leo, in addition to the original Italian, reads both the English- and Spanish-language summaries to great applause.