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February 2016

February 1

Humility, holiness come with humiliation

February 1, 2016

Pope Francis’ Homily at Daily Mass – February 1, 2016 Humility, holiness come with humiliation Humility is the way of holiness. That’s what Pope Francis said in his Homily at Monday morning’s Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. The Pope focused on the story of King David who, aware of his own sin, accepts humiliation in a spirit of trust in the Lord. While God forgives sin, the Pope observed, “the wounds of corruption are difficult to heal."

Italy: 'Family Day' rally draws hundreds of thousands

February 1, 2016

ROME - Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Rome's Circus Maximus to protest against a proposed bill that would grant legal recognition to nonmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples and give them the right to adopt children.

Cardinal confirms some priests decline appointment as bishop

February 1, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Although the number is not high, it is no longer "exceptional" to have priests turn down an appointment as bishop, said Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Salvadoran priests: Government can't tell women when to get pregnant

February 1, 2016

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - The Salvadoran bishops have made no comment on a government recommendation to women to delay pregnancy because of the Zika virus, and priests contacted by Catholic News Service gave varied responses on their reaction.

February 2

Vatican downplays film promo, says Pope will not have movie debut

February 2, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will not be an actor in a proposed movie based on the Gospels, a Vatican spokesman said.

Canadian nun tells of spiritual experience while captive in Cameroon

February 2, 2016

MONTREAL - Notre Dame Sister Gilberte Bussiere, 76, was kidnapped in the middle of the night in April 2014, in Tchere, a small hamlet in northern Cameroon.

February 3

God wants to save you; will you let him, Pope asks

February 3, 2016

VATICAN CITY - God doesn't want to condemn anyone; he wants to save every person in the entire world, Pope Francis said.

Haitian bishops call for quick, negotiated solution to pending political crisis

February 3, 2016

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Haiti's Catholic bishops urged political leaders to reach a negotiated solution to the country's looming political crisis as President Michel Martelly's term ends Feb. 7 and elections to find a successor have been indefinitely delayed.

Pope asks Mexican people for time alone with Our Lady of Guadalupe

February 3, 2016

VATICAN CITY - In a video message one week before his apostolic visit, Pope Francis asked the people of Mexico for some time alone during his visit to pray before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Jordan says it cannot continue to bear brunt of Syrian refugee crisis

February 3, 2016

AL-KHALDIYA, Jordan - As a donors conference to stem the Syrian refugee crisis opens in London, Syria's neighbors, which have hosted hundreds of thousands of refugees for the past five years, say they cannot continue to bear the brunt of the burden.

February 4

Suicide advocates carrying the debate

February 4, 2016

Advocates in favour of wider access to assisted suicide have dominated parliamentary committee hearings that will help craft a new assisted-suicide law, with little opposition so far from religious voices.

Obama pleads for tolerance in first visit to U.S. mosque

February 4, 2016

CATONSVILLE, Md. - In times of rising Islamophobia, U.S. President Barack Obama made a plea for religious tolerance during his first presidential visit to an American mosque.

The Faith is the greatest inheritance we can leave

February 4, 2016

The most beautiful inheritance we can leave to others is the Faith: that was Pope Francis’ message during Holy Mass on Thursday morning at the Casa Santa Marta. In his homily, he invited us to not fear death, because the course of life continues.

It’s a start

February 4, 2016

A remarkable statement signed by more than 200 prominent political and religious leaders from the Muslim world has boldly asserted that Islamic persecution of Christians and others is “unconscionable” and must end if the world is to find peace.

Beware taking Christ’s passion for granted

February 4, 2016

My father once told me the story of a Japanese tourist who wandered into a historical European church. A guide hurried to meet him and point out the intricate carvings, the famous paintings. It took her a moment to realize that the Japanese visitor was paying no attention. He was standing frozen in the middle of the aisle with his face contorted in horror. Finally he raised a shaking finger to the baroque and bloody crucifix and asked, “Who is THAT?”

Cardinal Collins urges lawmakers to respect conscience rights

February 4, 2016

OTTAWA - The upcoming federal law regarding physician-assisted death must respect the conscience rights of doctors and other health-care workers, Cardinal Thomas Collins told a Parliamentary committee.

Open and shut case for mercy

February 4, 2016

In our city, and throughout the world during this Year of Mercy, several churches have Holy Doors. They’re pilgrimage sites, just like the one at St. Peter’s in Rome, only much closer.

Most of us lack the self-confidence for greatness

February 4, 2016

We all have our own images of greatness as these pertain to virtue and saintliness. We picture, for instance, St. Francis of Assisi kissing a leper; Mother Teresa publicly hugging a dying beggar; John Paul II standing before a crowd of millions and telling them how much he loves them; Therese of Lisieux telling a fellow community member who has been deliberately cruel to her how much she loves her; even the iconic Veronica, in the crucifixion scene, who amidst all the fear and brutality of the crucifixion rushes forward and wipes the face of Jesus.

February 5

Compassion for our fellow man

February 5, 2016

The mass shooting that claimed four lives in La Loche, Sask., and injured seven more on Jan. 22 was a horrific tragedy.

Our sacrifices reflect our faith in Jesus

February 5, 2016

The following is the second place finisher by Raquel Seara, a student at Toronto's Loretto College, in the annual essay contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor.