At a general audiences on the family, Pope Francis said: “Children are the joy of family and society. They are not a problem of reproductive biology, or one of many ways to realise oneself in life, let alone their parents’ possession. Children are a gift. A society with a greedy generation, that doesn’t want to surround itself with children, that considers them above all worrisome, a weight, a risk, is a depressed society.
“Just think of the many societies we know here in Europe. They are depressed societies because they don’t want children, they don’t have children. The birth rate doesn’t even reach one per cent. Why? Everyone should think about that and answer it personally.
“As the encyclical Humanae Vitae teaches, having more children cannot be automatically viewed as an irresponsible choice. The choice to not have children is selfish. Life rejuvenates and acquires energy when it multiplies: It is not impoverished!
“Children learn to take charge of their family, they mature in the sharing of sacrifices and they grow in appreciation of its gifts. The experience of joyful fraternity animates the respect and care of parents, who are due our gratitude.”
Iraqi archbishop calls for military action
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, Bashar Warda, said: “We don’t have much time left as Christians in this region. As a Catholic I find it hard to say, but I want military action, there is no other way now. Military action is needed, a powerful one where they could get those people out of these villages so that our people can return. Please use all of your efforts to make this happen.”
State not obliged to legalise gay marriage
Italy’s highest appeals court, the Court of Cassation, has ruled that the country’s Constitution does not require the State to recognise same-sex marriage. On the other hand, the court added that gay couples have a right to the same legal protection as other unmarried couples.
Some Italian cities register gay unions even though there is no national legislation allowing civil unions or registration of same-sex partnerships.
Better homily directory
In an attempt to improve homilies, the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship has published a homiletic directory. Congregation prefect Cardinal Robert Sarah said that for many Catholics the homily, experienced as “beautiful or awful, interesting or boring”, is their basis for judging an entire Mass. The document is a follow-up of the Pope’s discussion on good preaching in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium.
Sarah said that while the homily is not the essential part of the Mass, it helps to ensure (or discourage) the congregation’s participation. He said the homily “makes demands of he who pronounces it”, and the document should help priests to prepare properly for preaching.
The first part of the homiletic directory focuses on the role of the homily in the context of the liturgy. The section confirms that the homily should be preached by an ordained minister, and should be based on the Word of God. The second section concentrates on the art of preaching, offering guidance for priests in interpreting the Scriptures.
The directory provides notes for all the readings of the liturgical cycle, including readings for weddings, funerals, and weekday Masses.
It includes two appendices: one dealing with the role of the homily in conveying Catholic doctrine and the other offers references to various teachings of the Magisterium that may be included in homilies.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)