POPE CONFERS TITLE “DOCTOR UNITATIS” ON ST. IRENAEUS – MARY, SALUS POPULI ROMANI, IN “EXCELLENT” HEALTH AFTER A CHECK-UP

POPE CONFERS TITLE “DOCTOR UNITATIS” ON ST. IRENAEUS

The Vatican today issued Pope Francis’ Decree for the conferral of the title of Doctor of the Church on Saint Irenaeus of Lyons:

“Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, who came from the East, exercised his episcopal ministry in the West: he was a spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern Christians and westerners. His name, Irenaeus, expresses that peace that comes from the Lord and which reconciles, reintegrating into unity. For these reasons, after having received the opinion of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with my Apostolic Authority I DECLARE him a Doctor of the Church with the title of Doctor unitatis. May the doctrine of such a great Master encourage more and more the path of all the Lord’s disciples towards full communion.”

MARY, SALUS POPULI ROMANI, IN “EXCELLENT” HEALTH AFTER A CHECK-UP

The papal basilica of St. Mary Major has announced that a conservation check has been carried out on the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani. (vaticannews)

The routine work took place on Thursday morning, January 10, in the presence of the Archpriest of the Basilica, Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko.

Barbara Jatta, Director of the Vatican Museums, led the team of experts from the Painting Restoration Laboratory, who carried out the check-up.

Prayerful conservation

After a brief moment of prayer, the ancient Roman icon was temporarily removed from its place above the altar in the Pauline Chapel.

The team then brought it to the Basilica’s Chapter Hall, where they verified that the icon remains in excellent condition.

Those present then prayed the noon Angelus, and returned the icon to its place in the chapel built in the 1613 by Pope Paul V (Camillo Borghese).

Turning to Our Lady in times of trouble

Tradition attributes the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani (salvation of the Roman peoples) to the hand of St. Luke. The Roman Pontifical says the image was brought to Rome by St. Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.

Ever since Medieval times, the image of Our Lady has been particularly venerated by the inhabitants of Rome who turn to her especially in moments of danger or disaster.

Pope Francis had the icon brought to St. Peter’s Square at the height of the initial wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, when on March 27, 2020 he held a special Urbi et Orbi blessing.

He also pays the icon of Our Lady a visit before and after his Apostolic Journeys abroad.

The icon underwent extensive restoration work in 2017 and was returned to the Basilica with great pomp on the feast of the Translation of Salus Populi Romani January 28, 2018, in a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis.

 

IN BRIEF: A NEW DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, LENTEN CURIA RETREAT, TONGA UPDATE

IN BRIEF: A NEW DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH, LENTEN CURIA RETREAT, TONGA UPDATE

IRENAEUS NAMED DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH – Pope Francis on Thursday received in audience Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized him, in accordance with the opinion of the plenary session of the cardinals and bishops who are members of the same dicastery, to confer the title of Doctor of the Universal Church on Saint Irenaeus. The Pope preciously announced this intention during an audience with members of the St. Irenaeus Orthodox-Catholic Joint Working Group in the Vatican last October. On that occasion, he described Saint Irenaeus, (who, though born in Smyrna, in what is now Turkey, served as Bishop of Lyons between 130 and 140 AD) as “a great spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern and Western Christians.” He died in 202. (Source: vaticannews)

COVID FORCES CHANGES IN ROMAN CURIA RETREAT – Due to the continuing epidemiological emergency caused by Covid-19, once again this year it will not be possible to hold the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia at Casa Divin Maestro in Ariccia. A statement released Thursday by the Holy See Press Office said: “The Holy Father has therefore invited the cardinals residing in Rome, the heads of dicasteries and the superiors of the Roman Curia to make their own personal arrangements, withdrawing in prayer, from the afternoon of Sunday, March 6, to Friday, March 11.” During that week, all the Holy Father’s engagements will be suspended, including the general audience of Wednesday, March 9. (source: vaticannews)

FIRST EMERGENCY AID ARRIVES IN TONGA – The first aid flights since the disaster in Tonga caused by the undersea volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami have arrived. Wednesday evening flights from Australia and New Zealand, loaded with humanitarian aid and aid to deal with the emergency, landed at the international airport after the runway was cleared of the ash and debris that had covered it. Emergency aid is being distributed without contact to avoid the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Caritas counts on a team of volunteers in the area and is also trying to respond to the needs of the affected population. The most urgent need is drinking water contaminated by the ash from the eruption. The local government has declared a state of emergency and organized a distribution of water to the Ha’apai islands (the closest to the volcano). While the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that “aid was distributed that, thanks to Caritas Tonga and Caritas New Zealand, had already been stored in some areas. These emergency supplies include water purification equipment, canisters, hygiene kits, buckets and faucets. (source L’Osservatore Romano)