Pope Francis tweeted today: When we pray, we need to have the courage of faith. Have trust that the Lord hears us!
VATICAN INSIDER: CONVERSATION WITH A MIRACOLATA
My special guest this week on Vatican Insider is Audrey Toguchi of Honolulu. It was her miraculous cure from cancer that led to the canonization in 2009 of Blessed Damien of Molokai, and Audrey tells us her story. The Italian word for the person undergoing what has been recognized as a miraculous cure is “miracolata.”
Last week you met Kate Mahony whose miraculous cure from a total organ shutdown through the intercession of Mother Marianne Cope of Molokai led to her beatification in 2005. Years before meeting Kate, however, I met another woman, Audrey and heard her story.
Two women, two miracolata….
I saw both of them at the recent Damien and Marianne Catholic Conference in Honolulu, and that is where I interviewed Kate. I saw Audrey a number of times in that period and listened to her story – not the first time I had heard it. That was in 2008, my first trip to Hawaii when I met Audrey and her husband Yuki.
We met again when they came to Rome with a Hawaii delegation for Damien’s canonization in 2009. I interviewed Audrey at that time and that is the conversation you will hear today.
Audrey and I had quality time together in Honolulu on my recent visit but our conference schedule was so busy that I did not have time to interview her. However her story, be it 2009 or today, is the same. So stay tuned as Audrey and I talk in Rome in 2009 right after Fr. Damien’s canonization. Hear how she became aware of Fr. Damien at the age of 8 when the ship bearing his remains came into Honolulu harbor on a trip that would return Damien to his native Belgium…..that and much more.
This was taken at a farewell dinner given for me by my friends Trip and Jan McKinney just hours before my departure for Rome. Audrey and her husband could not stay for dinner. Audrey is seated between Jan and me, and Yuki is standing next to Trip
In the second photo you see Kate Mahoney, her mother Mary and a priest from the diocese of Syracuse, early home to St. Marianne and home of her Franciscan sisters. Fr. Andrew Baranski. The sun had set, as you can tell! This lanai overlooks Pearl Harbor, gorgeous at night!
In the United States, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (there is a list of U.S. stations at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio. Outside the U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” Vatican Insider airs Saturday mornings at 9:00am (ET). On the SKY satellite feed to the UK and parts of Europe, VI airs on audio channel 0147 at 11:30 am CET on Saturdays, and 5:30am and 10pm CET on Sundays. It’s also available on demand on the EWTN app and on the website. CHECK YOUR TIME ZONE. Here’s a link to download VI to your iTunes library: http://www.ewtn.com/se/pg/DatService.svc/feed/~LE.xml For VI archives: http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7096&pgnu=
POPE REFLECTS ON PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Friday celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for all those cardinals and bishops who have died over the past year. During his homily the Pope reflected on the reality of death, but he also reminded us of the promise of eternal life which is grounded in our union with the risen Christ. Linda Bordoni reports for Vatican Radio:
“Today’s celebration,” Pope Francis said, “once more sets before us the reality of death. It renews our sorrow for the loss of those who were dear and good to us.” But more importantly, reflecting on the liturgical reading of the day, he said it increases our hope for them and for ourselves, as it expresses speaks of the resurrection of the just.
The resurrection of the just
“They are the multitude,” Franicis continued, “that, thanks to the goodness and mercy of God, can experience the life that does not pass away, the complete victory over death brought by the resurrection”. And recalling Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross the Pope said that “by His love, He shattered the yoke of death and opened to us the doors of life”.
Our faith in the resurrection opens the doors to eternal life
The faith we profess in the resurrection, Pope Francis explained, makes us men and woman of hope, not despair, men and women of life, not death, for we are comforted by the promise of eternal life, grounded in our union with the risen Christ. He urged the faithful to be trusting in the face of death as Jesus has shown us that death is not the last word. Our souls, he said, thirst for the living God whose beauty, happiness, and wisdom has been impressed on the souls of our brother cardinals and bishops whom we remember today.
Hope does not disappoint
Pope Francis concluded giving thanks for their generous service to the gospel and the Church and reminding those present that Hope never disappoints.
PAPAL PRAYER INTENTION FOR NOVEMBER: WITNESSING THE GOSPEL IN ASIA
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has released a video message accompanying his monthly prayer intention for November 2017.
This month’s intention is for Evangelization: To Witness to the Gospel in Asia. That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions
The text of the video message reads:
The most striking feature of Asia is the variety of its peoples who ar heirs of ancient cultures, religions and traditions.On this continent where the Church is a minority, the challenges are intense. We must promote dialogue among religions and cultures.
Let us pray that Christians in Asia may promote dialogue, that peace and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network of the Apostleship of Prayer developed the “Pope Video” initiative to assist in the worldwide dissemination of monthly intentions of the Holy Father in relation to the challenges facing humanity.
Joan's Rome 