Pope Francis

Pope's Pentecost homily: Newness, harmony, mission

Best viewed in Internet Explorer because of Microsoft-Google war! V2Catholic - A forum to promote and defend the vision of Vatican II Edited by prison chaplain Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡頌恆神父 Original articles have "comments welcome" link DV New articles 7 days a week to encourage people trying to follow the example of Pope Francis in implementing the vision of Vatican II by service of the poor, by a simple life style, by simple liturgy, by concern for Ecumenism, by concern for climate change, by concern for renewal of the Church, by support for family life - all underpinned by a rededication to the Bible. Two particular concerns: The New Translation "Reform of the reform" agenda

Imitating Pope Francis

Tuesday July 2

Pope Francis:
Prayer requires tenacity

"Sometimes, the Pope said, one goes to the Lord “to ask something for someone;” one asks for a favor and then goes away. “But that,” he warned, “is not prayer,” because if “you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity.” The Pope recalled that Jesus himself tells us that we must pray as the widow with the judge, like the man who goes in the middle of the night to knock on his friend’s door. With tenacity.

In fact, he observed, Jesus himself praised the woman who tenaciously begged for the healing of her daughter. Tenacity, said the Pope, even though it’s tiring, is really “tiresome.” But this, he added, “is the attitude of prayer.” Saint Teresa, he recalled, “speaks of prayer as negotiating with the Lord” and this “is possible only when there’s familiarity with the Lord.” It is tiring, it’s true, he repeated, but “this is prayer, this is receiving a grace from God.” The Pope stressed here the same sort of reasoning that Abraham uses in his prayer: “take up the arguments, the motivations of Jesus’ own heart.”
“To convince the Lord with the Lord’s own virtues!

Pope Francis was deeply moved by the death of seven illegal immigrants who died in mid June in the Mediterranean.
While out in the ocean, they reportedly grabbed onto fishing nets, but the fishermen who owned those nets,
cut the nets and left the immigrants to their death

On July 8th, Francis will visit the island of Lampedusa, which is between Sicily and North Africa.
The area is a main stop for boats that transport refugees who are fleeing their country.
The Pope plans to throw a bouquet of flowers to remember those who have died while trying to get to a better place.
Video report here.
(This visit will stir up the refugee debate in many parts of the world, not least in Australia-Indonesia - jw)

				2013-03-13 Francis asking blessing (click to enlarge) 16 Documents of V2 We Are Church STANDUP4VATICAN2 VII - Voice of the Church Catholic Priests Ireland PrayTell Donald Cozzens Too Western/European Bp Pat Power Bp Geoff Robinson Bruce Duncan Catalyst for Renewal Catholics for Ministry Catholics for Renewal Frank Brennan Peter Johnstone The Swag 1998 ICEL Sacramentary Misguided Missal The new translation Ghastly process/result Excellent articles on Mission Hugh McMahon SSC Abortion - a true story Same-sex marriage and anal sex
And see: Credit Union	Martin Mallon Tuesday Ireland blogger Archbishop’s Crusade to Drive Out Payday Lenders It is uplifting to read of a Christian bishop at last doing something about the economic crisis and its impact on the poor c.f. Archbishop backs payday loans alternatives Justin Welby suggests credit unions use church halls in effort to promote alternative to £2bn payday lending industry
USA	Finalized rules let religious groups opt out of contraception mandate
	Victims call for Pell to stand down c.f. Resignation of US Cardinal Law Church leadership on the line NSW inquiry approaches heart of the matter
	Many Irish clergy dislike new Missal Many priests are still using the older Missal translation while others are using parts of both versions
	US president announces $7bn electricity project after family visit Robben Island: Obama sets out Africa vision after Mandela pilgrimage John Allen: Ferment in Nigerian church - a disturbing article
click to enlarge	This is big news - shows a willingness to negotiate...might happen in other areas - Vatican, Tibet etc: Beijing agrees to South China Sea talks c.f. China announces new arrangement for visas for foreigners (.... encouraging, but not a very understandable report? ....actual details not all that clear?)
	June 2013 short Video: Walmart fires workers who went on strike - bullying tactics of world's largest retailer - jw has signed petition - 2005 DVD - Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price
	July - Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus An amazing story: The singing of a London tramp, made into a moving recording: Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (need to turn volume up ...and wait for music to begin)	Jesus' blood never failed me yet Never failed me yet Jesus' blood never failed me yet There's one thing I know For he loves me so (1) Jesus' blood never failed me yet Never failed me yet Never failed me yet One thing I know For he loves me so (2)	Jesus' blood never failed me yet Never failed me yet Never failed me yet There's one thing I know Loves me so (3) Jesus' blood never failed me yet Never failed me yet Never failed me yet One thing I know For he loves me so (4)
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, July 2 (comments welcome): - If at first you don't succeed ..... - genuine sunshine has only one source ... - YouTube: Everyone Moved by the Spirit - connection between faith and healing

	Vatican II Reflection 137 Church rat-race guide John W - Blog - July 2 Dying: Pakistan's national language, Urdu

Monday July 1

Today is a public holiday in Hong Kong:
Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
(HK returned to China July 1, 1997)

But...the day has become
an annual day for protest marches.

2012-07-01 photos of protest march, on the same day
as a new and unpopular Beijing-appointed
Chief Executive took office.

14 photos, including the one on the right

Notice the youthfulness of the protestors

Today is also Canada Day - Happy Birthday Canada!

	Reflection on the New Missal The new Confiteor is pastorally problematical. Expecting predominantly aged and ageing congregations of faithful Catholics to seek forgiveness because they have greatly sinned, is massively unreflective of the sinning potential, great or otherwise, of most of those good and decent people who attend Mass regularly. During the revised Penitential Rite, I am constantly scanning the body of the church to see where these great sinners might be lurking	This website's kind bloggers (past and present) with archives of articles: Bakhita Hazel C Daniel Daring Inigo Joachim Brian Lewis Judith Lynch Martin Mallon Chris McDonnell Bill Mulcahy Des O'Donnell Darlene Starrs TASMAD David Timbs Peter Wilkinson Harry Winter John Wotherspoon More bloggers, more tank people, wanted from all parts of the world, to take a stand against tanks from the left and from the right Please email: jdwomi@gmail.com Weekly Archive of main page menus Previous archives 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
	Egypt close to civil war, the country's Anglican bishop warns (Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant Egypt peace...)
	Today is also the birthday (1921) of the Chinese Communist Party, which may not have seen the light of day if the Versailles treaty had been fair to China. See this (May 4) reflection. (CCP article mentions 80,000,000 members. But everyone is business, education etc is forced to pay annual membership fee before they can get a job, so "80,000,000" needs many grains of salt)
	Former Sudan refugee ordained priest in Brisbane c.f. Deacon's mum secures a visa
"Intercelebration"	Under Pressure, Swiss Catholic Priests (decline) Ecumenical Eucharistic Celebration
	July is the month of the Precious Blood For some people this might seem old-hat, and the linked article is written in "old spirituality", but for those of us involved in a daily effort to help drug addicts, one of the most powerful prayers - especially in times of high risk - is: "Blood of Jesus, save us" This evangelical article uses language that might seem strange to many Catholics, but it's the sort of approach that has helped many addicts break free from addiction ....and notice in the prayer..."the blood of Jesus" A famous book about gangs and drugs: The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson Whole 1970 movie is free on YouTube: The Cross and the Switchblade, starring Pat Boone. The movie is not convincing...corny at times...but telling a true story. And where did Wilkerson get his courage? See: The Precious Blood of Jesus .... by ...David Wilkerson

	Interactive Bible Quiz - 1 Samuel Based on the actual words of the Bible. How many times you can get 3/3 ?!
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, July 1 (comments welcome): - leaders are supposed to be good shepherds - how to deal with words of hate - what a manager, captain and coach! - keep helping, despite ridicule
	Vatican II Reflection 136 Family planning John W - Blog - July 1 Protest marchers and governments

Sunday June 30
The 13th Sunday of the Year

Jesus "resolutely took
the road to Jerusalem"

Old Jericho Road: The journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is a strenuous 120 miles -- a trip which Jesus made on foot several times in his adult life. The journey ends on the Jericho Road...a trail winding through the mountains to the Holy City where pilgrims ascend 3000 feet in fifteen miles. At 20 to 25 miles a day, the journey would have taken about a week

June - month of
the Sacred Heart

Jesus' words to St.
Margaret Mary, 1675

The loneliness of Jesus as he set his face toward Jerusalem

	Darlene Starrs - Canada Sunday blogger Sean O'Malley: A Reprimanding Cardinal I have seen Father Schuller interviewed by Father Bryan D'Arcy of Ireland, and Father Schuller appears to be a very intelligent/wise, approachable, caring, and compassionate man. He is also passionate about the Church, both the people and the institution. He only wants the best possible scenario for all of us. To refuse Catholic people the opportunity to hear him on their own ground is unconscionable	Pray-as-you-go.org Daily prayer with beautiful music Jackie Evancho - To Believe Bishop Geoff Robinson and Bishop Bill Morris: Petition to Pope Francis to stop sexual abuse and to reform Church - & calling for a new Ecumenical Council ! (John W has signed petition) Brian Coyne (Catholica): Support this petition -------------------- Engagements of Pope Francis ------------------ Many thanks for checking this website each day
USA	Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage labelled a “tragic day”
	Joseph Girzone - reflection on Supreme Court ruling: Do we really deep down dislike living under our Secular Constitution? If someone can prove that marriages other than marriages of a man and a woman are harmful to the country then there may be a case, but barring that there is no way that religions can intrude on the rights and jurisdiction of the government (Re "harmful to the country" - see Same-sex marriage: two elephants in the (men's) room - jw)
	Whites’ deaths outnumber births for first time This story has enormous implications .....and boils down to one simple principle: populate or perish. One response to "populate or perish" in many parts of the world has been to welcome migrants from other countries, but the fundamental issue is: babies ....are they welcome? Groups/nations that don't welcome babies are destined to decline. In the Western/developed world, for a range of reasons, babies are not as welcome as they used to be. The most obvious case is Japan - Japan's disappearing children See also: US women delay motherhood World birth rate statistics Aust, Can , HK, UK, USA
	Sydney man in Beijing prison for seven years: "The officers destroy your body, mind, heart and spirit …" Currently, 34 Australians are in jail in China and another 12 are in some form of detention there, either awaiting trial or being interrogated. The most common offences are commercial crimes, such as bribery, embezzlement and fraud. Most of the defendants are Chinese-born Australians who have returned to their country of birth to do business
	Petition to Pope Francis to stop sexual abuse and to reform Church - now has 80,000 names. Brian Coyne (Catholica) A response from one bishop I am sure the intelligent Australian bishops know in their hearts who was really responsible for the actions taken to 'get' Bishop Morris. What they need to be doing is making representations to Pope Francis for that person (read: Cardinal George Pell) to be relieved of his responsibilities in Australia. The demotion of Bishop Morris was deeply damaging to the entire Church across this nation. The removal from office of that person would be a massively symbolic sign that the leadership of the Church in this country had 'turned over a new leaf'
	Cases of human rights lawyers in China subject to torture Website of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group
China	Xinjiang riot death toll to 35
Vatican bank scandal	Senior cleric arrested
	This week's smile: A: Gynecologist who became mechanical engineer B: Farmer with sick horse
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, June 30 (comments welcome): - keep going, don't look back - the ultimate Something to keep us going - keep going in freedom, don't go back to slavery - Jesus resolutely kept going on the road to Jerusalem
	Vatican II Reflection 135 Needed: "great-souled persons " John W - Blog - June 30 Almost 100 years old - Fr Joseph Mallin SJ, son of executed Irish Rebellion leader Michael Mallin

Saturday June 29

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Feast of Peter and Paul
Video Reflection
by John McKinnon
(beautiful!)

June - month of
the Sacred Heart

Jesus' words to St.
Margaret Mary, 1675

	Reflection on readings for Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Paul's words today (second reading) were written at the end of his life as a disciple of Jesus. Peter's words today (Gospel) were spoken at the beginning of his life as a disciple of Jesus	Sacred Space Daily prayer online. Available in 19 languages ----------------------------- Please encourage more people to see 1-10 re Bishop Bill Morris: 1: Judge's conclusions 2: Canon lawyer's report 3: Radio interview with judge 4: "The Age" file of letters 5: Summary re Rome 6: Frank Brennan's update 7: ABC radio Fr Frank Brennan 8. Update from Frank Brennan 9. Vatileaks & Bp Bill Morris 10: Tablet letter - Frank Brennan After reading 1-10, check the "Pravda" report of CNA Google "Morris" at top of this page for many articles re Bishop BM, the most recent being talk of March 26, 2013: Reclaiming the Spirit of Vatican II
	Association of US Catholic Priests passes 6 out of 13 resolutions - see comment no. 8, by Wednesday UK blogger Chris McDonnell
	33 year old Filipina due to be executed in China on July 2 - 6 kilos of heroin - Of the more than 200 drug-related cases in China involving Filipinos, 28 resulted in death sentence for the accused (Jesus, may China soon abolish the death penalty...)
	Questions from a Ewe The Church, Disagreements, Conflicts and Resolution What effective conflict resolution styles could be used? What can be done to address codependency, Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Hubris Syndrome that fuel conflicts? How do we establish healthy communications about differing opinions so as to foster healthy growth?
	Is the West wrong on Iran? If we are to avoid bloodletting in the Middle East, we should recognise that Iran has valid concerns – and not seek to threaten and marginalise it c.f. The Homeless Bishop by Joseph Girzone which has a large section on Iran, describing the historical reasons for Iran's difficulties with the US, with insights into Iran's rich culture, and a reminder of Iran's ancient relationship with the Church
Germany	Cardinal Lehmann questions Benedict XVI's liturgical changes
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, June 29 (comments welcome): Peter denied Jesus, Paul persecuted Jesus, the same Jesus who turned their lives around for the foundation of the Church
	Vatican II Reflection 134 No one is an island John W - Blog - June 29 Three recent stories of sick people being helped by prayer

Friday June 28

Feast of Saint Irenaeus

"Irenaeus" means "peace"
so....today a good day to include a book on peace in the menu ....see below:
"A Persistent Peace"

(Full text of Pope's talk)

Yesterday the Pope spoke about two mixed-up types of Christians:
a) people who are only superficially Christians
b) people who are sad-sack Christians

The Pope said type-A folk are Gnostics.
He said type-B folk are Pelagians.

Not the first time he's hit the Gnostic-Pelagian buttons.
See: Pope Francis and Gnosticism and Pope Francis and Pelagianism

June - month of
the Sacred Heart

Jesus' words to St.
Margaret Mary, 1675

	"Bakhita" - Africa blogger Lighting up the Dark Continent - a call to all Africans I call unto all my sisters and brothers in Africa to arise and pool all their strength so as to light up the continent that has forever been referred to as the Dark Continent. Use your minds and physical strength to channel the energies to constructive work. Let it shine and yet be proud to be black!	Homeless Jesus Humble photo Barefoot man in cold and rain St Peter's Square 2013-03-12 praying for conclave Pope Francis: Thank you Holy Spirit This site's full statistics for May 2013 If you find a broken link in this website, please let me know: jdwomi@gmail.com
John W	Speaking of Africa....as Nelson Mandela prepares to go home to Heaven, I once again have the hope that President Obama will use the time of Mandela's funeral to meet with African leaders and help them produce a "Mandela Plan" for Africa, like the Marshall Plan for Europe ...promoting justice, peace, development, democracy etc (supported by debt reduction...)
	Qantas probes China prison labour claims
	A Persistent Peace - One Man's Struggle for a Nonviolent World (see the reviews) A powerful book about the search by Fr John Dear SJ for justice and peace. I read it some years ago...couldn't put it down. Gave it ***** (JW) John Dear's website John Dear's latest NCR article
Pope launches Vatican Bank probe	The pope, elected amid an in-house debate over whether it is necessary to have a Vatican bank at all, has railed against the cult of money, calling for a "poor Church". He has also quipped that "St Peter did not have a bank account", and warned Vatican staff that "offices are necessary but they are necessary only up to a certain point" Comment by John Allen
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, June 28 (comments welcome): - not one nation, but "all nations" - getting up early in the morning?! - classic description of human weakness - restoration of ritually unclean women to the community
	Vatican II Reflection 133 Words about women....and an article to make one cry John W - Blog - June 28 Change of Prime Minister in Australia ...and update re "A-Yee"

Thursday June 27

Wikipedia: Pastor Hsi

I've almost finished re-reading Pastor Hsi, the true story of a prominent Confucian scholar who became an opium addict, then got free of opium after becoming a Christian, then spent the rest of his life helping other opium sufferers find healing and faith. The book was written over a hundred years ago, and its language is somewhat old style and not all that politically correct. But .....it has a lot of relevance for today, because Hsi did what many mainline churches are still struggling to do: he followed the New Testament model of Church, training and appointing elders in dozens of locations, even appointing a woman elder in one place to solve the problem of three men contesting the job. Not to mention his child-like faith which led to daily miracles of healing and faith. Here is the second last chapter of the book:

	Pope at Mass June 26: Celibate fatherhood "When a man does not have this desire, something is missing in this man. Something is wrong. All of us, to exist, to become complete, in order to be mature, we need to feel the joy of fatherhood: even those of us who are celibate. Fatherhood is giving life to others, giving life, giving life… For us, it is pastoral paternity, spiritual fatherhood, but this is still giving life, this is still becoming fathers. "		June - month of the Sacred Heart Jesus' words to St. Margaret Mary, 1675 To publish an article on this site please contact Fr John Wotherspoon omi: jdwomi@gmail.com Taking a stand Next pope: load of rubbish Navigation Aids Standing up to bullies Bible plan 2012 Near Death Experiences John's other sites: www.jesustower.com www.riccicenter.com www.doctorjesus.org www.simplebible.info `China Library - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history`
Pope at General Audience June 26: The Church is a temple How do we live our being Church? Are we living stones? Are we rather, so to speak, tired stones, bored, indifferent? Have any of you ever noticed how ugly a tired, bored, indifferent Christian is? It’s an ugly sight. A Christian has to be lively, joyous, he has to live this beautiful thing that is the People of God, the Church. Do we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, so as to be an active part of our communities, or do we close in on ourselves, saying, “I have so many things to do, that’s not my job.”?	Full video report
Daniel Daring Thursday blogger Reflection on June 30 Sunday readings Know the spirit you are of Photo: Hiroshima 1945		Jesus’ disciples, enraged by the lack of hospitality shown to Him in a Samaritan village, were about to call “fire down from heaven” to destroy it. How childish, how stupid, and yet how common! Since the invention of bombs, rockets, missiles and planes, fire has begun to fall from heaven bringing death and destruction. We seem to believe that the only way to settle our quarrels is to wage war, and this action is always justified by a ‘higher cause’
	RIP Paul Mees: Wikipedia The socialist with rosary beads (an apostle of public transport ...like Cardinal Bergoglio)
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, June 27 (comments welcome): - More important than health and wealth is ....goodness - good to remember times of rescue - God's Grace Guys versus Satan's Sin Side - YouTube - Elvis Presley - Put your hand in the hand
	Vatican II Reflection 132 Real dialogue may involve forgiveness John W - Blog - June 27 Prayers please for lady with bone cancer

Wednesday June 26

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Why June 26? Because in 1839 on this day, 500 workers finished a 23 day job of destroying a huge quantity of opium, mixing the opium with lime and salt and throwing it into the sea in the town of Humen, not far from Hong Kong
- trying to combat the terrible evil of opium forced on China by Britain. Workers were following the instructions of a famous scholar-official Lin Zexu

Today also the 30th anniversary of the death of Cardinal James Robert Knox, a leader who had the common touch, a man after the heart of Pope Francis. He was one of the bishops at my ordination during the 1973 Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne. In the sacristy after the ceremony ended he humbly knelt on the floor and asked the blessing of the 5 new priests

June - month of
the Sacred Heart

Jesus' words to St.
Margaret Mary, 1675

		Hans Küng: Letter to bishops Revolution to stop authoritarianism Fr Joseph Ratzinger: Writings on Vat II (link gone...anyone able to find it?) Robert Mickens: Vatican Implosion Nicholas Lash: Vatican II: Of Happy Memory - and Hope? Robert McNally: Crisis & Criticism in the Church Ron Schmit: 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vatican II Priests 9 Masses a day - need to ordain married men The evil of compulsory celibacy Link between compulsory celibacy and sexual abuse Why are women not being ordained to priesthood?
	Chris McDonnell Wednesday UK blogger I bow my head The prayer of the people, heads bowed under the slanting rain that Wednesday evening in March, must continue for the man who bowed his own head, seeking blessing
Bangladesh	'Right now we have nothing' (Video report) Petition to protect Bangladesh workers (jw has signed it)
	Truth Justice Healing Council: ‏Catholic Church must look at its culture Website of Truth Justice Healing Council c.f. The pain of breaking silence (Philippines)
US	Boston Cardinal O'Malley bans touring Austrian priest from parish (would Pope agree with this?)
Indonesia - refugees	The man who trades on tragedy
UK (G. Monbiot)	True story of mass surveillance
	Dear Jesus, please give eternal life those who died in the floods and landslides in India, give consolation and strength to their families ....and please help India authorities take steps to prevent loss of life during the monsoon season India's death toll in aftermath of floods reaches 1,000
	United Nations (established on this day in 1945) - Vatican Urges Job Creation Comment from Martin Mallon: Tomasi is talking Gospel values as promoted by Pope Francis. Governments everywhere, especially in the developed nations, must put people before economics, people before “savage capitalism”.
	From St. Beuno's Outreach, Wales: Reflections on the readings of this coming Sunday, the 13th Sunday of the Year
	Reading, Reflection, Prayer for today, June 26 (comments welcome): - spiritual heart transplant? - Doing good makes us glad. Doing bad, makes us sad - A newly baptized person is like a newly formatted disc - people who lack good will need to be shown lots of friendliness and love
	Vatican II Reflection 131 Words that apply to Bangladesh factory conditions John W - Blog - June 26 World's biggest buyer of illegal drugs is no longer the US or Europe but China

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