Good nuns and teachers....

Five Marin Catholic High School teachers, religious sisters with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, left school April 17 once it was confirmed that the homosexual activist group Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) Day of Silence was being pushed past the school’s administration and onto Marin Catholic students.

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/nuns-walk-out-of-san-francisco-catholic-school-as-students-push-gay-activis

Not to overlook another martyr-saint today

St. Adalbert--Vojtech in Czech 

Born 939 of a noble Bohemian family; died 997. He assumed the name of the Archbishop Adalbert (his name had been Wojtech [Polish]), under whom he studied at Magdeburg. He became Bishop of Prague, whence he was obliged to flee on account of the enmity he had aroused by his efforts to reform the clergy of his diocese. He betook himself to Rome, and when released by Pope John XV from his episcopal obligations, withdrew to a monastery and occupied himself in the most humble duties of the house. Recalled by his people, who received him with great demonstrations of joy, he was nevertheless expelled a second time and returned to Rome. The people of Hungary were just then turning towards Christianity. Adalbert went among them as a missionary, and probably baptized King Geysa and his family, and King Stephen. He afterwards evangelized the Poles, and was made Archbishop of Gnesen. But he again relinquished his see, and set out to preach to the idolatrous inhabitants of what is now the Kingdom of Prussia. Success attended his efforts at first, but his imperious manner in commanding them to abandon paganism irritated them, and at the instigation of one of the pagan priests he was killed. This was in the year 997. His feast is celebrated 23 April, and he is called the Apostle of Prussia. Boleslas I, Prince of Poland, is said to have ransomed his body for an equivalent weight of gold. He is thought to be the author of the war-song, "Boga-Rodzica", which the Poles used to sing when going to battle. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01127c.htm

and from None today, hope...

Colossians 1:12-14

12 Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins

The Four Angels of the Euphrates

This week, the words from the last book of the Bible seem more real than in recent times past.

The word "sorceries" in this translation is "witchcraft" in some others.

The basic demon behind Masonry is witchcraft, and there are many popular forms of witchcraft in the world today--many. Do not pretend that people are making bad, evil choices against God daily.

Call people in your families to repentance now. The time is short. The angels described are avenging angels.  In Europe, such as in France, there are stained glass windows of the Four Angels of the Euphrates. Look closely at the wording of this passage from today's Divine Office. Look closely. The angels are unbound, loosened by the Heavenly Angels to accomplish God's wrath against evil.

Pray, become perfect, be obedient to the rules and laws of Holy Mother Church, turn to Mary, Our Mother. Instruct the ignorant and do penance for those who seem hard-hearted. Pray for the grace of final perseverance. Pray for me that I can live in a place where I can get to daily Mass.

Pray for our good priests and seminarians, who will face those who hate Christ and His Church.

Revelation 9:13-21Douay-Rheims 

13 And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet: and I heard a voice from the four horns of the great altar, which is before the eyes of God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet: Loose the four angels, who are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year: for to kill the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times ten thousand. And I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: and they that sat on them, had breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone, and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions: and from their mouths proceeded fire, and smoke, and brimstone.

18 And by these three plagues was slain the third part of men, by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For, their tails are like to serpents, and have heads: and with them they hurt.

20 And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts.

The truth....

IBRAHIM: The long and the short of it is, if nothing is done, if nothing changes, there will no longer be any Christians in the entire Middle East, even though they are the most indigenous inhabitants of the region, predating Islam and Muslims by many centuries. Worse, Christians will not simply “disappear” or just “leave.” Many of them — and there are still millions in the region, especially Egypt — will face the fate that the Copts and Ethiopians faced: Choose Islam or death; and many will die, in holocaust fashion.

http://www.raymondibrahim.com/muslim-persecution-of-christians/for-a-possible-preview-of-their-future-western-christians-should-consider-the-mideast/

and an important victory for free speech, again

http://www.americanfreedomlawcenter.org/press-release/federal-court-mta-must-run-hamas-killing-jews-ad/

David Yerushalmi, AFLC Co-Founder and Senior Counsel, commented,

“Judge Koeltl’s well-written and considered opinion sends a loud and clear message to Islamic terrorists around the globe as well as to those government bureaucrats who believe that Sharia’s blasphemy laws are an exception to the First Amendment.  And that message is this: America’s liberties will not give way to Islamic terror threats nor to government bureaucrats who are quick to cast aside our liberties for fear of offending Muslims.”

Notes on Mortification Again

Not a popular subject, but one I need to share before the persecution begins in earnest. Rodriguez is brilliant on this subject, being a spiritual director for Jesuits. I would like to make a few bullet points from his second volume of The Practice of Christian and Religious Perfection.

And, please note, that mortification is for all of us, not just nuns and priests. For many of us, it just comes into our lives without asking and this is a great grace. See this post...http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2015/04/consolation-in-desolation.html

• Those who do not feel any interior war or struggle are in trouble. It means they have given up following the road to holiness. Rodriguez writes that this means the person is only following his own will, and giving in to sensual desires. 
• People in the world accept suffering in order to get ahead, make money, be comfortable; so, too the suffering of those seeking perfection through mortification is to gain eternal life.
• Those who have certain temperaments (see my previous posts on this) cannot use their temperaments as excuses for avoiding mortifications. However, some people who are more docile may not need as strict penances as those who have strong wills and strong characters.
• St. Ephraim writes that war for the soldier lasts a certain time, but the war of the soul lasts until one dies. St. Teresa of Avila notes this as well.
• The angel given to us at birth guides us like a governess guides children to obey and form character. Listen to this guardian angel daily.
• Sometimes one must tell the devil that a problem is his, a temptation and sin is his, not one's own. One can address the individual devil who follows us around and tell him that these belong to him, not the one under attack. 
• One must absolutely turn away from evil thoughts, fantasies, imaginations in order to combat sin and this is part of interior mortification. Interior mortification strengthens the will for choosing God's ways.
• One may think of the Passion and Death of Christ as part of turning away from sin and accepting mortification interiorly. Patiently accepting suffering and not complaining are part of interior mortification.
• Thinking on one's sins is also dangerous. Once forgiven, forget these. If not forgiven, go to confession asap. The devil can bring a person back into sin through the dwelling on sins. Those who live in the present moment are less likely to be attacked interiorly.
• Fear binds up the interior life and weakens the will. Fear creates problems in the imagination,leading to distractions and more sin. Fear must be combated by mortifications and the acceptance of suffering.
• We must not make decisions in times of great spiritual temptations and turmoil. God speaks to us in peace and tranquility, not in torment. Rodriguez notes that it is very dangerous to follow ideas and "lights" which come to us in times of great spiritual struggle. Stay quiet and focused, 

more later...

News Bites-King and Khans

Creation of a king....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/22/obama-executive-actions-increasing/25828391/

and the creations of Khans?

http://www.nature.com/news/chinese-scientists-genetically-modify-human-embryos-1.17378

St. Philip's Spiritual Children

Today's Mass reading reminds us that the Christians in Ethiopia date back to apostolic times. These Christians have seen horrible persecution in our times. Pray for these spiritual sons and daughters of St. Philip.


Acts 8:26-40

26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south[a] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. 27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this:

“As a sheep led to the slaughter
or a lamb before its shearer is dumb,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken up from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?”[b] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea.

St. George's Day, 2015

Thinking that England needs prayers more than praise, here, for St. George's Day let us pray for that once great brave, and long ago, Catholic nation.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for England

O blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home. 

Amen.

McBlogging Again

Well, I am back to the regime of McBlogging. Except, at this one, there is no McCafe, which hurts. I am avoiding gluten bread and gluten fries (see other sites on this fact), therefore my choices are somewhat limited.

Vanilla shake with no cherry or whip-cream today. Sigh.

My favorite Mac was in St. Julian's, Malta. The one near Tyburn was cool as well, as one could stay and blog happily without bother.

If I do not answer notes or comments quickly, you all understand why.....Mac is not doing well, as people are eating healthier and the lack of gluten free items is a problem. Also, I have been in Mac were the staff is positively rude.

Interesting that there is an article today on the growing unpopularity of Mac.

With 36,000 outlets in over 100 countries, McDonald's has been under pressure from falling customer traffic and revenues for two years, due to a range of challenges including changing consumer tastes and more agile rivals with ostensibly healthier menus.
http://news.yahoo.com/sinking-us-sales-hit-mcdonalds-earnings-q1-131608168.html;_ylt=AwrC1ChB0DdVimYATF3QtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByZnU4cmNpBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM5BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

25% of Americans are eating gluten-free. GMOs have been poisoning us for years and now there is a backlash from the public. I have begun trying this when I can afford it, as I been having eating difficulties ONLY since returning to the States. ONLY!

Interesting... above statistic is from here...http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/dining/gluten-free-eating-appears-to-be-here-to-stay.html?_r=0

In the Mist of Wickedness

This week, St. Justin Martyr speaks through his writings in the Office of Readings. He points out that his generation grew up "in the midst of wickedness". Today's Millennials and younger are growing up in the midst of wickedness as well, with the difference that they are living in the great post-Christian cultures of the West, and not the pre-Christian ones.

A post-Christian world deserves the punishment of God, and many living today will see this justice enacted.

St. Justin reminds us of the great graces of baptism, and the "mental enlightenment" of those in sanctifying grace.

Many people, including two priests whom I have quoted on this blog, know that mankind is experiencing "devolution" not evolution. People are becoming less intelligent, less able to use common sense, less holy. Sin makes people stupid, as sin is basically, irrational.

One of the reasons for such devolution are the vast numbers of people who are not baptised, even in the West. This idea that children can choose baptism as an adult, if they so desire, held by some low-church Protestant denominations, as well as by seculars, who do not raise their children Catholic, has increased a population of those not in sanctifying grace, those whose intellects have not been enlightened by grace. (See my other posts on this under grace, faith and reason).

Here is a snippet from the selection in today's Divine Office from St. Justin. The reference to the baptism in the Name of Jesus does not deny the Trinitarian form, which has always been used by Catholics and true Christians, but Justin is merely emphasizing Christ's Presence in the Trinity here.

This baptism is called “illumination” because of the mental enlightenment that is experienced by those who learn these things. The person receiving this enlightenment is also baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through the prophets foretold everything concerning Jesus.

SPUC News and Sad

Sinn Féin declares war on marriage and the family

JOHN SMEATON, SPUC DIRECTOR Wednesday, 22 April 2015 Sinn Féin declares war on marriage and the family   Any idea enjoyed by Catholics or non-Catholics around the world that Sinn Féin is committed to the Catholic religion or to the common good must be completely dispelled today. At a press event, reported today by Campaign for Marriage, they have declared war on marriage and the family by announcing a "vigorous" campaign to re-define marriage. Furthermore, a Sinn Féin motion, below, is to be debated 27 April in Stormont: That this Assembly welcomes the marriage equality referendum in the south of Ireland; notes that a growing number of parliaments across the world have embraced, and legislated for, marriage equality; respects the rights of the religious institutions to define, observe and practise marriage within their beliefs; and calls on the Executive to legislate for marriage equality for same sex couples so that all citizens will have the same legal entitlement to the protections, responsibilities, rights, obligations and benefits afforded by the legal institution of marriage. As I report today, the Nigerian bishops have (accurately) described same-sex marriage as harming the innocence of children - a fact which is confirmed in schools around Britain where Stonewall, a militant homosexual group, has been invited into schools (not excluding Catholic schools) to train teachers on how to educate little children about marriage. One cannot but recall the words of Christ: "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew: 18,6) Of course, everyone knows that Catholic teaching is unequivocally opposed to same-sex unions. What is also overwhelmingly clear to everyone who studies the evidence objectively, however, is that same-sex unions are deeply damaging to the common good. The experience of legalising marriage for same-sex couples in Europe and North America shows that such legalisation has negative effects for real marriage and for families, shows latest evidence. The evidence was presented to the House of Commons committee examining the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, in a written submission by Dr Patricia Morgan, the British family policy researcher, on behalf of SPUC. The submission can be read in full at www.spuc.org.uk/campaigns/ssmsub20130301 Based on research and data from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Canada and the US, Dr Morgan concluded that: as marriage is redefined to accommodate same-sex couples, this reinforces the idea that marriage is irrelevant to parenthood same-sex marriage leads to the casualisation of heterosexual unions and separation of marriage and parenthood Spain saw a pronounced acceleration in the decline of marriage following the introduction of same-sex marriage (same-sex marriage was introduced at the same time as the ‘express divorce bill’) across all countries analysed, no causal link has been established to support the idea that same-sex marriage prevents marital decline in the move to same-sex marriage, opposite-sex relationships have to conform to gay norms rather than vice-versa a publicly-professed, legal, partnership does not prevent homosexual couples from breaking up more frequently than married heterosexual couples experience with same-sex partnerships/marriage legislation tends to suggest that availability is all, and participation more or less irrelevant to sexual minorities same-sex marriage may be the end-game of long-running anti-marriage, anti-family policy typified by Sweden same-sex marriage may begin the process of severing marriage from family in otherwise family-friendly societies such as Spain and the Netherlands same-sex marriage triggers dismemberment of family structures in family-friendly societies. As a pro-life organisation, SPUC campaigns against same-sex marriage because: marriage - the permanent, exclusive union of one man and one woman - is the basis of the family, the fundamental group unit of society. Upholding marriage is therefore in everyone’s interests. marriage as an institution protects children, both born and unborn. Statistics show that unborn children are much safer within marriage than outside marriage. same-sex marriage lacks basic elements of true marriage e.g. the complementary sexual difference between spouses necessary for the procreation and healthy upbringing of children. same-sex marriage represents an attempt to redefine marriage, thus undermining marriage. This undermining lessens the protection for unborn children which true marriage provides. Sinn Féin, and indeed any political party which seeks to foist the redefinition of marriage on the good people of Ireland, should be utterly ashamed of themselves and will be judged by history to have proved to be the enemies of marriage, the family and, above all, of children. Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk

Two must reads....

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/u-s-constitution-upholds-traditional-marriage

and another important article...

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/attacks-archbishop-cordileone-fall-flat

From the Acts Today

"Tomb of Saint John the Apostle" by Me, but logged in at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - 

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.3 But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

"Simone Cantarini - São João Batista em Meditação" by Simone Cantarini - Scanned from Boletim do Instituto de História da Arte do MASP (1997). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - 

Today, we read in Acts 8:1-8 of the outbreak of persecution against the Catholics immediately after the martyrdom of St. Stephen. Jerusalem, of course, was the center of the persecution at this time. It seems that only a few disciples and the apostles remained in Jerusalem. It is at this time that St. John would have taken Our Lady Mary out of Jerusalem to Ephesus, the third largest city in Roman Asia Minor, with a population, perhaps, of about 45,000 to 56,000, close to the population of Biloxi, Mississippi and smaller than Maple Grove, Minnesota. Ephesus would have been a good place to go as it was large enough to hide in and close enough to get to easily, most likely by ship. 

St. John had to have some income of substance to take Mary up to Ephesus and make a home for her. Ephesus is one of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, and St. Paul was there for two years between 52-54. Tradition notes that Mary died and was assumed into heaven at about the age of 63. If she was 18 at the time of Christ's birth, for example, Mary would have left this earth in the year 45, seven years before St. Paul's stay, and only 12 years after the Ascension. She would have, then, lived in Ephesus for those 12 years. We know that St. John lived to be old, as his last work was written about 100, making him, at least in his late 80s or early 90s, as tradition has it that he was a young man of less than 20 when he was called to follow Christ. Again, tradition has passed down the fact that he died about the year 100.

"Rubens apostel johannes grt" by Peter Paul Rubens - http://www.artbible.info/art/topics/rubens-apostles-series. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

The scattering of the Catholics spread the Gospel, so that eventually, even the apostles moved to other lands. All were martyred except for St. John, who endured the Cross with Christ on Gethsemane and was, therefore, spared martyrdom. That Mary was safe in the care of the resourceful St. John, not only a mystic and evangelist, but a resourceful protector, reveals that God chose a good man to take care of His Mother, Mary.

My little chapel here is called St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs at Ephesus. However, God has not given me a young John to help me in my exile. I note today that there are few if no places to run and hide now in this world, if persecution is worldwide for Christians. 

From LifeSite News

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/supreme-court-allows-judges-ruling-striking-down-oregons-marriage-protectio

The Supreme Court is hearing cases from four states – Michican, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee – on April 28. The hearing could lead to a definitive legal ruling from the nation's highest court. One of the big questions the High Court may choose to answer is whether states are allowed to independently define marriage, which could allow Oregon's law to stand.  

On the Lyrids

Sadly, where I am staying at the moment, there was too much light pollution for watching the meteor shower. It is amazing how many lights there are in America even in semi-rural areas. When we were young, my brothers and I would get in the car with a telescope and drive out of the city to see certain astronomical goodies. But, a person on one's own cannot do that. One does not need a telescope to see the Lyrids

I hope some of you will see the Lyrids this year.

Tonight is suppose to be the peak night until the 25th, so please get up really early and try to see these. I shall try again tonight, however, as some meteors should be so bright as to be seen even in some light pollution.

A Reminder of a Good Link on the SSPX

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2015/03/sspx-schism-or-not/

[Masses of SSPX priests are valid but illicit.] Father Z

[Ehem… yes, that is true about fulfilling the obligations on days of precept. However, since they lack faculties to receive sacramental confessions, they do not impart valid absolution except in danger of death and they have no authority to witness marriages, so matrimony lacks canonical form.] Fr. Z.

The priests of the SSPX have no ability to witness marriages. Matrimony lacks canonical form. Also, they have no faculties to receive sacramental confessions which is necessary for validity of the absolution except in the case of danger of death.] Fr. Z.

[No. Priests of the Latin Church must… MUST… have the faculty to receive sacramental confessions. In the case of danger of death, the law itself gives any priest of the Latin church (even those who were “laicized”) the faculty in that moment. If the priest does not have the faculty to receive sacramental confessions, under normal circumstances, the absolution is invalid. This has nothing to do with schism. In the Latin Church proper canonical form for matrimony must be observed. Part of the proper canonical form is that the one who witnesses the marriage for the Church (priest, deacon, in rare circumstances a lay person duly appointed) must be officially designated as such a witness. What the Orthodox do in their Church is… whatever. We of the Latin Church follow our Latin Church Law.] Fr. Z.

Oil,war, war, oil

http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/oil-prices-go-crazy-as-saudi-arabia-goes-to-war-in-yemen/?xid=ob_rss

St. Anselm. Doctor of the Church

Anselm is one of my favorites. He got sick and tired of stupid priests, so made all the seminaries use the Trivium and Quadrivium for curricula.

He made sure the discipline in the seminaries including study and spiritual guidance. His changes created ripples of change in seminary life not only in Great Britain, but in continental Europe.

Read more about him under the Doctors of the Church series, or the tag St. Anselm or Benedictines.

More on this topic here.

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/04/repost-of-benedictine-tradition-in.html

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/04/spirituality-behind-benedictine.html

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.com/2014/04/repost-on-benedictine-education.html

No takers on the books for which I was begging...pray about it.

If our priests do not preach and teach, we must....

NWO in Washington D.C.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/disagreement-is-not-discrimination/2015/04/17/c9717ec8-e2d7-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html?postshare=8661429367301498

Francis, The Pope of the Martyrs

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/04/21/blood-of-christians-is-a-testimony-which-cries-out-to-be-heard-says-pope-francis/

To His Holiness Abuna Matthias

Patriarch of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church

With great distress and sadness I learn of the further shocking violence perpetrated against innocent Christians in Libya. I know that Your Holiness is suffering deeply in heart and mind at the sight of your faithful children being killed for the sole reason that they are followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I reach out to you in heartfelt spiritual solidarity to assure you of my closeness in prayer at the continuing martyrdom being so cruelly inflicted on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and some parts of Asia.

It makes no difference whether the victims are Catholic, Copt, Orthodox or Protestant. Their blood is one and the same in their confession of Christ! The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard by everyone who can still distinguish between good and evil. All the more this cry must be heard by those who have the destiny of peoples in their hands.

At this time we are filled with the Easter joy of the disciples to whom the women had brought the news that “Christ has risen from the dead”. This year, that joy – which never fades – is tinged with profound sorrow. Yet we know that the life we live in God’s merciful love is stronger than the pain all Christians feel, a pain shared by men and women of good will in all religious traditions.

With heartfelt condolences I exchange with Your Holiness the embrace of peace in Christ Our Lord.

From the Vatican, 20 April 2015