POPE FRANCIS: “WYD, A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN HEARTS AND LIVES”

A BIT OF TRIVIA FOR TODAY (From Starting Seven) – The Leaning Tower of Pisa’s foundations were laid 850 years ago in 1173.

POPE FRANCIS: “WYD, A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AT WORK IN HEARTS AND LIVES”

Today’s general audience, the first after Pope Francis’ July staycation at the Santa Marta residence and then his August trip to Lisbon for World Youth Day, took place in the Paul VI Hall. The weather here can still be quite warm and the faithful were spared the discomfort of sitting under hot sun by being in the Paul VI Hall.

It is a tradition for Popes to talk about a just-concluded apostolic trip on the Wednesday following their return to Rome from a trip. (vatican media photo)

“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Holy Father began the catechesis. “During my recent Apostolic Journey to Portugal for the celebration of World Youth Day, I witnessed a moving demonstration of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the
Spirit of the Risen Christ, at work in the hearts and lives of young Christians throughout the world.”

He noted that, “Following the example of Mary, who ‘set out in haste’ after the Annunciation, the young pilgrims expressed their desire to set out towards the future of hope promised by the Gospel. The encounter of so many young people from different countries, all united by the love of Christ and the joy of the Spirit, reflected the face of the Church as the People of God, to which everyone, in every place and time, is called to belong.”

Francis added that, “In a world torn by poverty, injustice and war, we joined in prayer for the spread of the Gospel, the conversion of hearts, and the healing and peace that the Lord alone can give.

“In this spirit,” the Holy Father explained, “I also went as a pilgrim to Fatima, where I renewed the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May this great outpouring of spiritual joy and love for Christ that marked these days foster an abundance of vocations and serve as a leaven of hope for the future of Portugal, the Church and our world.”

During the multi-lingual greetings to pilgrims, addressing the Italians, the Pope recalled that, in recent days, “dramatic natural phenomena have occurred in Slovenia and Georgia, causing death and material destruction.” He said he is praying for victims.

Recalling that today, Wednesday, August 9, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (St. Edith Stein), martyr and co-patroness of Europe, the Holy Father prayed that “her witness might stimulate commitment to dialogue and fraternity among peoples and against all forms of violence and discrimination.”

“To her intercession, we entrust the dear Ukrainian people, that they may soon find peace again.” (vatican news)

Two more trips in the near future are on Francis’ agenda: August 31 to September 4 to Mongolia, and later in September two days in Marseille, France, for an encounter about migration in the Mediterranean.

 

TODAY’S FEAST DAY: SAINT TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS – CARDINAL CZERNY: EDITH STEIN, A WOMAN OF TRUTH AND LOVE

Such an amazing story, such an inspiring life!

TODAY’S FEAST DAY: SAINT TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS

(franciscanmedia.org) – A brilliant philosopher who stopped believing in God when she was 14, Edith Stein was so captivated by reading the autobiography of Teresa of Avila that she began a spiritual journey that led to her baptism in 1922. Twelve years later she imitated Saint Teresa by becoming a Carmelite, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

Portrait of Edith Stein in the student chapel of the Hochschulgemeinde Wien im Edith-Stein-Haus | photo by Braveheart –

L’Osservatore Romano –

Born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany—now Wroclaw, Poland—Edith abandoned Judaism in her teens. As a student at the University of Göttingen, she became fascinated by phenomenology–an approach to philosophy. Excelling as a protégé of Edmund Husserl, one of the leading phenomenologists, Edith earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916. She continued as a university teacher until 1922, when she moved to a Dominican school in Speyer; her appointment as lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munich ended under pressure from the Nazis.

After living for four years in the Cologne Carmel, Sister Teresa Benedicta moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands, in 1938. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942.

Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta of the Cross in 1987 and canonized her 12 years later.

Reflection

The writings of Edith Stein fill 17 volumes, many of which have been translated into English. A woman of integrity, she followed the truth wherever it led her. After becoming a Catholic, Edith continued to honor her mother’s Jewish faith. Sister Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D., translator of several of Edith’s books, sums up this saint with the phrase, “Learn to live at God’s hands.”

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross is a Patron Saint of: Converts to Christianity, Europe  Click here to listen

CARDINAL CZERNY: EDITH STEIN, A WOMAN OF TRUTH AND LOVE

This August 9^th marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Edith Stein, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, who was killed at Auschwitz in 1942. In his homily during Holy Mass in the Carmelite Monastery in Auschwitz, Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, reflects on her remarkable story.

In his homily, Cardinal Czerny drew parallels between his own family origins and those of Edith Stein, saying that with this background, he was very honoured and deeply moved to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the saint’s “birth to heaven.”

“With Edith Stein, I share Jewish origins, the Catholic faith, a vocation to religious life, and several coincidences with my maternal grandmother, Anna Hayek née Löw (1893-1945). They were about the same age and came to a similar end,” he said.

The cardinal noted that this anniversary occurs “within this year’s special circumstances that invite and urge us to remember.”

He was referring to the war in Ukraine and “too many cruel wars dragging on in various parts of the world.” CONTINUE: Cardinal Czerny: Edith Stein, a woman of truth and love – Vatican News