VATICAN: POPE: OFFICIAL DETAILS FOR JPII BEATIFICATION AND OTHER NEWS

RADIO VATICANA REPORT: In a press briefing Friday, Holy See Press Office Director Fr Federico Lombardi revealed the final organisational details ahead of this weekend’s ceremonies. All access to St Peter’s Basilica, Square, Via della Conciliazione and surrounding areas will be restricted as of 13:00 hrs Saturday April, 30. Only authorised personal will be allowed to transit in the delimited zone. The restrictions will remain in place until 05:30 am Sunday May 1^st.

The Vigil of Prayer in Circus Maximus begins at 20:00 hrs, local time, but pilgrims will be granted access to the arena starting from 17:30 hrs. The Vigil – divided into two parts – will include a live link up for the praying of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary with five Marian Shrines around the world and will conclude with a final benediction from Pope Benedict XVI, who will link up live from the Apostolic Palace.

Following the Vigil, pilgrims are invited to take part in the “White Night of Prayer” organised by the Diocese of Rome. Teams of young people will be on the streets in front of eight Churches that line the route from Circus Maximus to the St Peter’s area, to invite faithful to join in a moment of prayer and mediation before the Blessed Sacrament. Priests will also be on hand to hear confessions in each of the Churches which will remain open throughout the night. The Churches are: Sant' Agnese in Agone, Piazza Navona; San Marco al Campidoglio; Santa Anastasia; Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina; Santa Maria in Vallicella; San Giovanni dei Fiorentini; San Andrea della Valle; and San Bartolomeo on Tiber Island.

The Vigil will be broadcast and streamed live by Vatican Radio and CTV. Just click on the Vatican Player icon on our homepage: www.vaticanradio.org or alternatively www.vatican.va/video .

Those attending the beatification events and own iphones or smartphones can avail of English language news updates by accessing the http address : http://rv.va/5 .

PROVIDING CORRECT AND BALANCED INFORMATION

VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS REPORTS) - This afternoon at Castelgandolfo the Pope received the participants in the XVII Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union gathered these days in Rome as guests of Vatican Radio, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

The Holy Father emphasized that through radio, "pontiffs have been able to transmit, across borders, messages of great importance for humanity. ... It can be said that the entire teaching of the Church in this area - beginning with the addresses of Pius XII, through the documents of the Second Vatican Council, up to my most recent messages on new digital technologies - is marked by a current of optimism, hope, and sincere compassion with those who dedicate themselves in this field to promoting encounter and dialogue, to serve the human community and to contribute to the peaceful development of society".

"In today's society", he continued, "the basic values of the good of humanity are in play, public opinion ... is often found disoriented and divided". In this context he noted that "it is a duty to provide every day, correct and balanced information and a profound debate that seeks the best shared solutions regarding these questions in a pluralistic society. It is a task that requires great professional honor, correction and respect, an openness to different perspectives, clarity in treating problems, freedom from ideological barriers, and an awareness of the complexity of problems".

Benedict XVI recalled that the Catholic Church "intends to offer by witnessing to her adherence to the truth that is Christ, yet doing so in a spirit of openness and dialogue. ... Religion contributes by 'purifying' reason, helping it not to fall prey to distortions, such as manipulation by ideology or partial application that fails to take full account of the dignity of the human person". In this sense the Pope invited the professionals in communications to "seek ways of promoting and encouraging dialogue between faith and reason, with a view to serving the common good of the nation".

While emphasizing the difficulties that need to be faced in their service, the Pope stressed that "the challenges of the modern world on which you have to report are too great and too urgent for you to become discouraged or tempted to give up in the face of such difficulties".

The Holy Father concluded by encouraging them to put their "contacts and activities at the service of reflection and commitment" with the aim of "ensuring that the instruments of social communication promote dialogue, peace and development of peoples in solidarity, overcoming cultural separation, uncertainties and fears".

AC/ VIS 20110430 (420)

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY

VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That those working in communication media may respect the truth, solidarity, and dignity of all people ".

His mission intention is: "That the Lord may help the Church in China persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and grow in unity".

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/ VIS 20110430 (50)

AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Yesterday, Friday 29 April, in the offices of Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Associations, Baku, Azerbaijan, an accord was signed between the Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan that regulates juridical relations between the Catholic Church and that Nation as made public in a communique published today.

Signing for the Holy See as plenipotentiary was Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, apostolic nuncio to that country, and signing on behalf of the Republic of Azerbaijan was Hidayat Orujov, president of the State Committee for Work with Religious Associations.

The agreement, which entails eight articles, regulates the juridical situation of the Catholic Church in Azerbaijan and, among other things, guarantees the freedom to publicly profess and practice the Catholic faith as well as the right of the Catholic Church to organize and exercise her mission in conformity with ecclesiastic legislation. At the same time it recognizes and registers the juridical person of the Catholic Church and all its institutions, ensuring free communication between the local Catholic community and the Holy See as well as access to the means of communication and the free election, on the part of the Holy See, of an Ordinary with the responsibility of her ecclesiastical constituency. Finally, it regulates the concession of residence and work visas for ecclesiastical personnel.

OP/ VIS 20110430 (210)

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Today the Holy Father received in audience Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, Italy.

AP/ VIS 20110430 (15)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 30 APR 2011 (VIS) - Today The Holy Father appointed:

- Bishop Saul Figueroa Albornoz, auxiliary of the archdiocese of Caracas, as bishop of Puerto Cabello (area 729, population 331,000, Catholics 298,000, priests 25, religious 19), Venezuela.

- Bishop Piero Coccia, archbishop of Pesaro, as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.

- Johan Ketelers, secretary general of the International Catholic Migration Commission, as a consultant of the same council.

AMERICA: USA: STORMS KILL OVER 300 PEOPLE- CATHOLIC CHARITY APPEAL

CNA REPORT: Catholic Charities is appealing for help for families in southern states after a series of devastating storms killed over 300 people.Tornadoes have “ripped out entire communities” in the past few days, Catholic Charities disaster operations head Kim Burgo told CNA. “Our agencies are working very hard to provide immediate basic needs – food, water, clothing.”

Burgo explained that within the last two weeks, storms started in the midwest “and just moved across the country as we all watched it.”

“Immediately hit was of course, all of Arkansas and then moving over through Tennessee and Mississippi on to Alabama and then Georgia,” she said, “so we're looking at a number of catholic charities affected in these areas.”

Burgo said that at this point, general assessments of the damage are still taking place in some of the most recently hit regions.

“As search and rescue happens, agencies such as Catholic Charities and Red Cross and others are not really allowed into an area until search and rescue is finished,” she said, adding, however, that the organizations have started assistance in places where search and rescue has already been completed.

Burgo said that in addition to helping fulfill basic needs, Catholic Charities is working to provide counseling, temporary shelters and things such as large containers “so that when family members do go back to their residence that they're able to salvage whatever is left of their property and store it in a secure place.”

Appealing to the nation's faithful, Burgo said that “right now, monetary contributions are what's most needed.”

“We haven't been able to determine what kind of material donations are needed in that arena yet so for right now, what is needed is cash.”

Burgo noted that others have been affected by the storms beyond the areas that have been directly hit.

“We heard reports this morning that in one area, there were three large employers whose plants were completely destroyed and so now there's about a thousand people out of work.”

The storms have had “a lot of repercussions – a person may not have not have had their home destroyed but their job may no longer be available.”

Cullman, Alabama after severe storms and a tornado blew through the town / Photo Credit: Tabitha Kaylee Hawk

Burgo said the Catholic Charities has been able “to link up with local businesses to purchase supplies,” which “helps to keep the local economy going as many businesses were effected by this.”

“Having these cash donations,” she emphasized, “helps to provide food and helps to provide vouchers so that families can get the supplies they need.”

Burgo said that those wishing to contribute to the families effected by the recent catastrophe should visitwww.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-charities-urges-help-for-communities-ripped-by-tornadoes/

ASIA: SYRIA: INTERVIEW WITH MELKITE PATRIARCH ON VIOLENCE

ASIA NEWS REPORT: Interview with Gregory III Laham, Melkite Patriarch of Damascus. Doubts about the identity of those leading the revolt. Even today, demonstrations and violence in many cities. Today is the 'Day of wrath "and for the first time an invitation to take to the streets comes from Muslim Brotherhood.

The riots and violence in Syria is a major concern for the Christian churches in the country. Even today, "Day of wrath", the first to see the Muslim Brotherhood take to the streets, news of protests and repression, deaths and injuries are filtering through not only from Deraa, but from Damascus, Latakia, Homs, Hourani, Deir Zoour and other cities. Fear for the future is mounting, that it will be one of chaos or fundamentalist governments, one that will leave Christians no option but to emigrate abroad. This is what Gregory III Laham, Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, tells AsiaNews today.

The patriarch stresses the participation of Christians in the pain and suffering of the people. Respect for the deaths that have occurred in recent weeks - at least 500 since the anti-Assad demonstrations started - the Easter holiday was celebrated without music and processions, out of respect for those in mourning. Gregory III, however, expresses doubts about the identity of those who lead the uprising (criminals? Fundamentalists? Jihadists?) About his growing concerns for the future. The Melkite Patriarch believes a way to avoid a violent revolution needs to be found on that leads to progress in stability. This is why His Holiness has written letters to European countries and the Americas asking them to help prevent the nation from sliding into chaos and to move swiftly to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian problem, the real priority for peace in the Middle East and the world.

Your Beatitude, as a Christian how do you view the situation in Syria?

The movements and revolts that are shaking Syria worry the Churches and Christians. Not so much for the present, but for the future, for what to expect. In the past, every revolt in the Middle East was followed by a large wave of Christian emigration to Europe, America or Australia. I fear that even now the same will happen, further emptying an already dwindling Christian community.

Some Muslim scholars also are concerned about a possible depletion of Christians in Syria. And are demanding their presence be defended and safeguarded.

Are there problems for the Christian communities?

So far, the riots have not been of a sectarian nature, they are not a Christian-Muslim conflict. Indeed, during demonstrations in Homs, Aleppo and Damascus, young Muslims have offered to protect churches, providing security cordons around the buildings to prevent criminal acts.

In solidarity with those killed in clashes in recent weeks, Christians have celebrated the rites of Holy Week and Easter in a very sober manner, no processions, music or festivities, to correctly participate in the mourning of the population.

At the same time we are trying to play the role of mediators in conflicts that have emerged in Syrian society, so that tensions do not grow until the inevitable. I have personally sent letters to 15 European countries, the United States, and the Americas asking their governments to help improve the situation without any "revolution" violent.

What is your impression of the protesters?

The impression we have from inside is that some groups whose main objective is to provoke a violent response from the government are infiltrating the protests that originally grew from social and economic problems. In this way, tension is stoked to the point of gaining the international community’s condemnation and demands for a regime change from outside. There are very mysterious aspects pervading all of this: there are criminals involved in the protest, there is a massive introduction of weapons in the country to provoke a confrontation .... The future is very uncertain and no-one knows what the outcome will be, no one knows who these people are. Sure, there are young, frustrated people, but many say that among them are criminals and even fundamentalist Muslims who cry for jihad. This is why we fear that giving way to violence will only lead to chaos. I think the tactics of a phony war are being used against Syria.

How would you explain the West’s exaltation of the Syrian protests and its harsh accusations of violations of human rights?

There are political problems and pressures to shake up the balance of power in the Middle East: the alliance with Iran [and Syria-ed], Israel’s concern... In all things that happen in the Middle East, there is always a link with the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, war, emigration ... we have been in this situation for over 62 years. For this I sent the letter to European and American governments and I invited them to put pressure on their governments to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian problem as a priority: only in this way will there be less migration, less terrorism, less fundamentalism, less violence.

This is my mission and it is what I also emphasized in the Synod of Bishops last October and the pope appreciated it. Peace is also important for the future of Muslim-Christian dialogue in Syria and the world. If the crisis continues to force Christians to migrate, the Arab world will become exclusively Muslim increasing the likelihood of a cultural conflict between the Arab-Islamic world and Western-Christian world.

The presence of Christians in the Middle East saves the Arab Middle East by not to reducing it to pure Islam. If Syria is helped to overcome this situation of chaos to one of stability guaranteed by dialogue with the population, the future will be better for everyone.

Is the Assad family rule a positive thing for Syria?

In these 40 years, Syria has made great advances in agriculture, economics, education, even university, generating many jobs. There has been less development on a socio-political level, but the everyday lives of people has improved significantly. Even in religious freedom, there has been a lot of progress. A few months ago I was able to organize - with the sponsorship of the government - an international meeting on the fruits of the Synod of the Middle East (celebrated in the Vatican last October), with the participation of at least 3,500 persons, four patriarchs, 13 churches.

Regarding political reform, we must remember that in the Arab Middle East, in addition to Lebanon, there are democracies. There are parties, elections, but governments try to control the whole society. And in many situations, this is also necessary.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Syria:-Melkite-Patriarch-on-fears-of-a-future-of-chaos-and-fundamentalism-21428.html

EUROPE: ENGLAND: CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP PRAISES ROYAL WEDDING

CATHOLIC HERALD REPORT:

Prince William makes his vows to Miss Kate Middleton Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The royal wedding “gives the lie” to the notion that British society doesn’t care about marriage, the Archbishop of Westminster has said.

Speaking in an interview with the Catholic Herald in Rome this afternoon, Archbishop Vincent Nichols went on to compare the beatification of Pope John Paul II, which takes place tomorrow morning, with the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which he attended yesterday.

He said: “Tomorrow, in a way, is a celebration of the same love that William and Catherine promised to each other – yesterday in marriage, today in service of priest, bishop and Pope – but it’s the same well-spring of love that comes from God that we see on both days.”

Describing yesterday’s events in Westminster Abbey, Archbishop Nichols said that the crowd cheered at two points during the wedding ceremony. He said: “It was very remarkable when it happened. The first [instance] was when the two exchanged their promises. So when Catherine said ‘I will’ there was a great cheer. People recognised the solemnity of the promises that were being made. The second was when the Archbishop of Canterbury said ‘So in the sight of God and these people I now declare you man and wife’ and there was a great cheer.

“There is popular recognition that marriage is a fresh start. That this from now on was something different and it was a profound change in the life of both those young people. And everybody recognises it. I think that gives the lie to the idea that marriage is of little consequence in our society. It clearly is of great consequence in the eyes of people witnessing and taking part in that marriage yesterday.”

Archbishop Nichols and his predecessor Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor arrived in Rome this morning to take part in tonight and tomorrow’s ceremonies after attending the royal wedding yesterday. Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham and Bishop Arthur Roche were the other two members of the British hierarchy to be in Rome for the beatification of the late pope.

Events leading up to tomorrow’s beatification kick off tonight at the Circus Maximus where the Cardinal Vicar of Rome Agostino Vallini will lead a prayer vigil for pilgrims.

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/04/30/royal-wedding-shows-britain-still-cares-about-marriage-says-archbishop/

AFRICA: NIGERIA: NEW ARCHBISHOP AKUBUEZE INSTALLED

ALL AFRICA REPORT: A new Archbishop for the Benin Metropolitan See of the Catholic Church was yesterday installed. He is Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubueze who until recently was the Bishop of Uromi Diocese.

His installation by the Apostolic Nuncio in Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja had laid to rest this crisis which had faced the Church over his appointment.

Performing the installation, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI who was represented by the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja advised the new Archbishop to see his appointment as the promotion of renewed evangelization, promotion of the Catholic Church and" more necessarily to revive the faith of our Christ savior and rediscover the theological teachings of the Catholic Supreme Pope and the Bishops".

The Catholic Pontiff also expressed gratitude to the Archdiocese Administrator, His Lordship, and Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Gbuji for the way and manner he administered the Archdiocese until the appointment of a new head for the Archdiocese.

Speaking at the installation ceremony, the Out going Administrator of the Archdiocese, apologized for the turbulence caused by those he described as "a handful of dissident members of an unorganized and unrecognized group in the church in Benin City".

He stated that the dissident members who he said wanted to halt the installation of the new Archbishop had caused a lot of embarrassment in the Catholic Church in Nigeria and the Holy Sea.

Most Rev. Gbuji who was apparently referring to the litigation instituted by Benin Liturgical Group, however commended the Catholic Legal Luminaries, Knights of the Church who came together to enforce law and order and promote justice to ensure the installation took place.

He said the presence of a great number of people at the installation ceremony which included, the clergy and the religious at the even was a credible testimony to "Our Catholic belief the one Catholic and Apostolic faith".He also expressed gratitude to the state government and the law enforcement agents for providing the needed security, law and order for the happy outcome of the installation of the new Archbishop.

Gbuji said the Catholic Church today through the installation has once more expressed all maturity of faith in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ and their unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of Christ and the Holy Father, the Pope.

He therefore, urged the clergy, the religious and the faithful to fully cooperate with the new Metropolitan Archbishop.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201104290645.html

AUSTRALIA: PARISHIONER WRITES POEM IN HONOR OF JPII

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DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA REPORT:

Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square, September 2004. Photo: Radomił Binek (Wikimedia)

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Pope John Paul II

In 1978 John Paul,

To the papacy was raised,

By his charm and by his talents,

We were dazzled and amazed.

There didn't seem much,

That he couldn't do.

Here are his talents,

To name just a few,

Hiking, acting, skiing,

Writing poems,

And the occasional book.

John Paul certainly made people,

Take notice and look.

Languages,

He learnt with ease,

It seemed for him,

It was a breeze.

He knew that to God,

All credit is due,

Unlike proud men,

Who haven't a clue!

In Saint Peter’s Square,

On a sunny day,

A bullet rung out,

And came his way.

John Paul was in

A serious state,

The world was stunned,

By this act of hate.

By Our Lady of Fatima,

John Paul was protected,

Away from his organs,

The bullet deflected.

For many weeks,

We anxiously watched and prayed,

Hoping God's power,

Would soon be displayed.

A suspect was arrested,

And refused bail,

He was tried and convicted,

And then sent to jail.

When John Paul was recovered,

And again feeling well,

He visited the hit man,

In a Rome prison cell.

He showed us how,

Our enemies to forgive,

He showed us how,

God wants us to live.

This message is sorely,

In this world needed,

Where the Gospel of Christ,

Is often unheeded.

Under Lech Walesa,

And with support from the pope,

The Polish people formed trade unions,

With courage and with hope.

The mighty communist empire

Then crumbled down,

When John Paul again

stood on Polish ground.

In country after country,

The Communists lost power,

Freedom in Eastern Europe,

Then again began to flower.

History never saw,

A more travelled pope,

All over the world,

He brought faith and hope.

On John Paul,

Parkinson's disease

waged a war,

The once athletic pope,

Was vigorous no more.

On April two, two thousand and five

To Pope John Paul,

We said goodbye.

His soul to God,

Would now fly.

From mourners at his funeral,

Came a spontaneous call,

To immediately proclaim him,

As “Saint John Paul”.

In answer to prayer,

Favours John Paul, started to shower,

Demonstrating his great,

Intercessory power!

Mary Ann Matulis
Parishioner, St John Vianney Doonside

http://www.parra.catholic.org.au/news---events/latest-news/latest-news.aspx/pope-john-paul-ii--a-parishioner-s-poem.aspx

TODAY'S SAINT: APR. 30: ST. PIUS V

St. Pius V

POPE AND REFORMER

Feast: April 30

Information: Feast Day: April 30 Born: 17 January 1504 at Bosco, diocese of Alessandria, Lombardy, Italy Died: 1 May 1572 in Rome, Italy Canonized: 22 May 1712 by Pope Clement XI Patron of: Bosco Marengo, Italy

Born at Bosco, near Alexandria, Lombardy, 17 Jan., 1504 elected 7 Jan., 1566; died 1 May, 1572. Being of a poor though noble family his lot would have been to follow a trade, but he was taken in by the Dominicans of Voghera, where he received a good education and was trained in the way of solid and austere piety. He entered the order, was ordained in 1528, and taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years. In the meantime he was master of novices and was on several occasions elected prior of different houses of his order in which he strove to develop the practice of the monastic virtues and spread the spirit of the holy founder. He himself was an example to all. He fasted, did penance, passed long hours of the night in meditation and prayer, traveled on foot without a cloak in deep silence, or only speaking to his companions of the things of God. In 1556 he was made Bishop of Sutri by Paul IV. His zeal against heresy caused him to be selected as inquisitor of the faith in Milan and Lombardy, and in 1557 Paul II made him a cardinal and named him inquisitor general for all Christendom. In 1559 he was transferred to Mondovì, where he restored the purity of faith and discipline, gravely impaired by the wars of Piedmont. Frequently called to Rome, he displayed his unflinching zeal in all the affairs on which he was consulted. Thus he offered an insurmountable opposition to Pius IV when the latter wished to admit Ferdinand de' Medici, then only thirteen years old, into the Sacred College. Again it was he who defeated the project of Maximilian II, Emperor of Germany, to abolish ecclesiastical celibacy. On the death of Pius IV, he was, despite his tears and entreaties, elected pope, to the great joy of the whole Church. He began his pontificate by giving large alms to the poor, instead of distributing his bounty at haphazard like his predecessors. As pontiff he practiced the virtues he had displayed as a monk and a bishop. His piety was not diminished, and, in spite of the heavy labours and anxieties of his office, he made at least two meditations a day on bended knees in presence of the Blessed Sacrament. In his charity he visited the hospitals, and sat by the bedside of the sick, consoling them and preparing them to die. He washed the feet of the poor, and embraced the lepers. It is related that an English nobleman was converted on seeing him kiss the feet of a beggar covered with ulcers. He was very austere and banished luxury from his court, raised the standard of morality, laboured with his intimate friend, St. Charles Borromeo, to reform the clergy, obliged his bishops to reside in their dioceses, and the cardinals to lead lives of simplicity and piety. He diminished public scandals by relegating prostitutes to distant quarters, and he forbade bull fights. He enforced the observance of the discipline of the Council of Trent, reformed the Cistercians, and supported the missions of the New World. In the Bull "In Coena Domini" he proclaimed the traditional principles of the Roman Church and the supremacy of the Holy See over the civil power. But the great thought and the constant preoccupation of his pontificate seems to have been the struggle against the Protestants and the Turks. In Germany he supported the Catholics oppressed by the heretical princes. In France he encouraged the League by his counsels and with pecuniary aid. In the Low Countries he supported Spain. In England, finally, he excommunicated Elizabeth, embraced the cause of Mary Stuart, and wrote to console her in prison. In the ardour of his faith he did not hesitate to display severity against the dissidents when necessary, and to give a new impulse to the activity of the Inquisition, for which he has been blamed by certain historians who have exaggerated his conduct. Despite all representations on his behalf he condemned the writings of Baius, who ended by submitting. He worked incessantly to unite the Christian princes against the hereditary enemy, the Turks. In the first year of his pontificate he had ordered a solemn jubilee, exhorting the faithful to penance and almsgiving to obtain the victory from God. He supported the Knights of Malta, sent money for the fortification of the free towns of Italy, furnished monthly contributions to the Christians of Hungary, and endeavoured especially to bring Maximilian, Philip II, and Charles I together for the defence of Christendom. In 1567 for the same purpose he collected from all convents one-tenth of their revenues. In 1570 when Solyman II attacked Cyprus, threatening all Christianity in the West, he never rested till he united the forces of Venice, Spain, and the Holy See. He sent his blessing to Don John of Austria, the commander-in-chief of the expedition, recommending him to leave behind all soldiers of evil life, and promising him the victory if he did so. He ordered public prayers, and increased his own supplications to heaven. On the day of the Battle of Lepanto, 7 Oct., 1571, he was working with the cardinals, when, suddenly, interrupting his work opening the window and looking at the sky, he cried out, "A truce to business; our great task at present is to thank God for the victory which He has just given the Christian army". He burst into tears when he heard of the victory, which dealt the Turkish power a blow from which it never recovered. In memory of this triumph he instituted for the first Sunday of October the feast of the Rosary, and added to the Litany of Loreto the supplication "Help of Christians". He was hoping to put an end to the power of Islam by forming a general alliance of the Italian cities Poland, France, and all Christian Europe, and had begun negotiations for this purpose when he died of gravel, repeating "O Lord, increase my sufferings and my patience!" He left the memory of a rare virtue and an unfailing and inflexible integrity. He was beatified by Clement X in 1672, and canonized by Clement XI in 1712.

SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/P/stpiusv.asp#ixzz1L4PlbuPH

TODAY'S GOSPEL: APR. 30: MARK 16: 9- 15

Mark 16: 9 - 15

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9Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.12After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.13And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.14Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

Gates of Vienna News Feed 4/30/2011

The youngest son of Col. Moamar Qadafi, Saif al-Arab, was killed today in Tripoli by NATO bombs. There are also reports that a school for disabled children in Tripoli was badly damaged in a NATO air strike.

In other news, despite the regime’s bloody repression, another “Friday of Rage” unfolded yesterday in Syria. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets, and security forces fired into a crowd in the city of Deraa, killing fifteen people. Another nine were reported killed in Homs.

To see the headlines and the articles, open the full news post.

Thanks to AC, C. Cantoni, Fjordman, Gaia, Insubria, JP, Kitman, Mary Abdelmassih, McR, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.

Commenters are advised to leave their comments at this post (rather than with the news articles) so that they are more easily accessible.

Caveat: Articles in the news feed are posted “as is”. Gates of Vienna cannot vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of any individual item posted here. We check each entry to make sure it is relatively interesting, not patently offensive, and at least superficially plausible. The link to the original is included with each item’s title. Further research and verification are left to the reader.

The Poems You Have Lost

Saturday is Poetry Day, and tonight’s selection is “Missing Dates”, by the 20th-century English poet and critic William Empson.

Empson is best known for Seven Types of Ambiguity, his acclaimed work on literary criticism which he published at the age of twenty-four. In his poetry he practiced what his criticism preached, adding layers of ambiguity to tease the reader with multiple possible meanings.

“Missing Dates” is a villanelle, in the traditional form with nineteen lines and the required double rhyme scheme. Empson extended the villanelle form and made it more interesting in “Aubade”, excerpts from which have been used as inscriptions in previous Gates of Vienna posts about Europe.

“Missing Dates” is an acquired taste, and definitely not for everyone. However, I’ve found that the older I get, the better I seem to understand it.


Missing Dates
by William Empson

Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
It is not the effort nor the failure tires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is not your system or clear sight that mills
Down small to the consequence a life requires;
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.

They bled an old dog dry yet the exchange rills
Of young dog blood gave but a month's desires.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is the Chinese tombs and the slag hills
Usurp the soil, and not the soil retires.
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.

Not to have fire is to be a skin that shrills.
The complete fire is death. From partial fires
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

It is the poems you have lost, the ills
From missing dates, at which the heart expires.
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills.
The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.

The Power of Projection

It has often been noted that Muslims seem prone to project upon infidels those foibles and flaws which are all too common in Islam. Child sexual abuse, rape, plotting to kill Muslims, the murder of young women — all of these accusations and more are routinely flung at non-Muslims, and all of them are regular features of life in Islamic societies.

A case in point was yesterday’s demonstration by Muslims at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. The demonstrators were protesting the alleged kidnapping and forcible incarceration of young Coptic women who had “voluntarily” converted to Islam. The demonstrators believed that the young women were being held against their will by the Copts.

I don’t have to tell you the irony of all this, given the widespread and well-documented practice by Egyptian Muslims of kidnapping teenage Christian girls, forcibly converting them, and then threatening their families into silence. Never has a case of projection been so clear.

According to AINA:

Thousands of Muslim demonstrators gathered in front St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo, vowing not to leave until they know the whereabouts of Coptic women, especially Camilia Shehata ... who allegedly converted to Islam but are held against their will by the Coptic Orthodox Church in monasteries and churches. The sit-in was called for by the newly-founded Coalition for the Support of New Muslims.

At the time of the Muslim demonstrations, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was not present in his residence within the grounds of the Cathedral. The head of security at the Cathedral closed the gates and it was reported that Christians have been asked not to come to the Cathedral to avoid altercations with the protesting Muslims.

The Cathedral was cordoned off by the military police and security forces. Cairo saw today three separate protests staged by Salafis against Pope Shenouda and the church, marching afterwards to the Coptic Cathedral in Abbasiya. The first demonstration was in front of El-Fatah mosque in Ramsis Square, the second in front of Al-Nour mosque Abbasiya Square, and the third came out of the Sharia Association mosque in Ramsis.

The protesters demanded the resolution of the “ten demands”, which they called for last Sunday, during their protest in front of the el-Kayed Ibrahim mosque in Alexandria, mainly the “trial of Pope Shenouda”, “ the release of Camilia Shehata and Wafaa Constantine” and “inspection of monasteries and churches to look for Muslim women held by the church.”

The Muslims chanted “Islamic, Islamic, against your will, Islamic” in front of the Cathedral and “They abducted Wafaa Constantine, By Allah we will not be silent” and “With our souls and blood, we will defend Islam.” They held banners and photos of the alleged Muslim converts who were allegedly abducted by the church, as well as banners calling for an Islamic State…

At the time of their afternoon prayers, thousands of Muslims prayed with the organizers, who asked the demonstrators to turn their backs to the Cathedral.

Islamic lawyer Mamdouh Ismail gave a speech in which he called for the realization of human rights and the rule of law, pointing out that this sit-in is not directed against the cathedral as a house of worship for Christians, whom he described as partners in the homeland. He also asked the Christians “to participate in the demonstrations demanding the appearance of Camelia.” In the same context, Khalid Al Harbi, director of the “Islamic Observatory against Proselytizing,” said “we will not go and we will not plead with anyone, but we will take our rights with our own hands.”

A difference of opinion emerged between the organizers of the protest about when to end the protest. Renowned Muslim Salafi leaders Dr. Yasser Borhamy, from Alexandria, sent a message to the protesters asking them to disperse, saying the reason behind the protest was to deliver a message and so that no sectarian strife should occur because of the Salafis, while others like Abu Yehia, who claims he was with Camelia when she converted to Islam, wanted to break into the Cathedral.

[…]

Islamic lawyer Ismail said after the sit-in was called off , that he has reached an agreement with the army to solve the issue of Camellia Shehata by bringing her out on one of the satellite channels to declare whether she converted to Islam or not , and in exchange the Salafis are to suspend until such time all their demonstrations and sit-ins.

A video of the demonstration described in the AINA article is below the jump. Many thanks to Assad Elepti for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:


Hat tip: Mary Abdelmassih.

For Now, The Honeymoon Will Have to Wait

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Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walk together in Buckingham Palace, following their wedding on Friday, in central London April 30, 2011 Reuters Pictures

Depress and Dissatisfy

I saw my result last night,

and

I'm not satisfy with my result at all.

Although everyone told me that,
"you already passed all subjects, what do you aiming for? a distinction or a high distinction in degree year 2 ? No no no, that's kind of impossible. Just go for a credit, that's more than enough to survive in university."

Even I just told Dai Yee about my result,

she also said that,

"That's good, you got 2 distinction and 1 credit in the mid-sem exam"

Well,

My Language and Communication for Business and Commerce,

I got 16 out of 20 for the Oral Presentation.

(Which everybody told me that I did well in the presentation,

I don't really satisfy with the marks, I think I can do better in the presentation.

But, NERVOUS spoiled everything. The tutor give me a very good appraisal.

My appraisal,

Strengths :

- Good confident speech

- You tried to speak rather that read which showed you understood the article and that you had rehearsed.

- Good pronunciation of difficult words

- Nice explanation of points and good interactive questions and examples.

But the areas in need of improvement:

- You spoke a bit fast perhaps due to nerves?

And, I got 4 out of 5 marks for the participation marks in class.

total up, I got 20 marks out of 25 marks, which is a 80% in percentage format.

I'm not satisfy with this as well,

because, I should do in a much more better way instead of only get this kind of marks.

*Well, I'm the highest marks in my class. So what? I just feel that, I didn't achieve a marks that I should get. I'm just .......... shouldn't get this kind of marks.

My financial accounting only got (38 out of 50 marks)

-I got full marks 25 in the short answer question,

but heck, I only got 13 out of 25 in the freaking Multiple Choice Question.

(Told ya, I don't have the luck to simply circle and get all correct in MCQ.

I'm kind of person that need to write them off, and show that I'm really good and understand in the question)

Overall, I got 76% if in percentage for the mid-semester result.

Although this counted as a distinction, but it's only a distinction with 76%.

My Corporate Finance is SUCKS.

40 Multiple Choice Question,

I only got 28 correct and it's only 70% in the percentage format.

Which mean I only get a credit in my mid-semester exam for Corporate Finance.

Business Laws' mark not yet release,

but I don't give any hope on that, because I did the worse in Business Laws' mid-semester exam.

Pass is for sure, but then ...

*SIGH*

I'm really feel so DEPRESS and DISSATISFY with my results.

I need to work hard in the final exam to achieve a HIGHER marks and pull all the marks up.

I know that I'm greedy.

When I'm in Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary school, I never think of marks.

I don't study, I just go for the exam and achieve marks, then, that's it.

I never think of get A+, A-, B+ or anything.

but when I came to Australia study,

everything change.

During Foundation which back to 2 years before, 2009 June.

I just feel like, well,

credits is not bad, distinction and high distinction of course better.

first semester just gave myself reason that
"It's only first semester, anything la , cincai la."

once I get a Distinction in my communication skills I,

I skipped the communication skills II and straight away jump to the Academic Skills which is a Diploma subject but I done it in my Foundation semester 2, and I passed the subjects in Distinction as well.

Diploma which back to last year, 2010.

I starting greedy, starting wish to achieve every subjects in Distinction and High Distinction.

well, I did it.

And get a very good GPA.

I got 6.3 out of 7 for my GPA.

which is really good, since I'm an Asian who studying in a western country.

I never think of "FAIL" this word in my studies until now.
(Foundation, Diploma and now, Degree.)

I knew that I sure pass in all subjects, just let's see which grade that I can achieve for.

Back to February, 2011.

Stress, Pressure and Tension first came into my study life.

and **** it, I starting to get insomnia every night.

physically tired like WTH, but mentally still working and I also don't know what am I thinking.

I starting to convince myself that

"Credit or a pass is more than enough to let me survive in degree life."

but then somehow, now I get my result for mid-semester exam,

I just can't get through myself to accept this kind of results.

I just can't stand with the word "Pass" and "Credit".

Grades never showed in the certificate, why am I so stubborn?

I don't know. I just feel like this is what I should do.

I want to relax myself and stop thinking about this things,

watch movie? listen to music? skype with family? chat in msn? play games in facebook? hang out with friend in the gold coast and brisbane? go have a good sleep? eat?

yes, they do help, but, once I stopped do this kind of things.

the freaking feeling is back again and again.

they just don't want to leave me alone and let me cheer myself up.

Yes, Degree year 2 is really very difficult if compare to foundation and diploma.

but, I don't even know what am I thinking now.

forget about it..

Papa, Mama and family.

PLEASE DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME,

I JUST RELEASE THOSE MOOD WITH WORDS IN THIS POST.

I'M ALRIGHT,

REALLY, I'M ALRIGHT.