BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

Friday, Oct. 20, 30th Week in Ordinary Time

Right photo, 19th-cent engraving showing the miracle of the oil lamps.
ST. NARCISSUS OF JERUSALEM (b ca 99, d 216), Bishop, Hermit and Confessor
Born around 99 AD, the Greek-born Narcissus was consecrated the 30th Bishop of Jerusalem around 180 and was known for his holiness.
In 196, he presided at a council of the bishops of Palestine which decided that Easter was to be celebrated on a Sunday and not on
the day of the Jewish passover. Some thought him too rigid in imposing discipline and despite his age, a detractor accused him of
a serious crime, which his flock did not believe. Thinking he could not serve under a cloud, he retired to be a hermit in the desert.
He was gone for so long people believed he had died. But after he was cleared of the accusation, he came back more zealous than
ever. He was said to have worked many miracles. The one most told is how he changed water to oil for the holy lamps on a Holy Saturday
when the deacon forgot to fill the lamps. In advanced age, he begged God to send him a younger man who could help him run the diocese.
The future St. Alexander of Cappadocia came and stayed with him till he died. It is said he was praying on his knees when he died.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/102910.shtml


OR today.

Benedict XVI to the Brazilian bishops of Northeast Sector-5 on ad limina visit:
'Right to life and the common good are common ground for faith and politics'
Other papal stories: The Pope addressed the annual plenary session of the Pontifical Academy for Sciences (right photo); European Union summit opening today in Brussels faces German demand to amend the Lisbon Treaty governing the EU that would withhold voting rights from EU countries who repeatedly violate financial standards; a report that Russia is ready to help NATO forces in Afghanistan with helicopters and pilot training; Benin floods affect 55 out of 77 towns including the capital city of Cotonou which is completely flooded, and hundreds of thousands have been made homeless.


THE POPE'S DAY

The Holy Father met today with

- Mons. Giovanni d’Aniello, Apostolic Nuncio for Thailand and Cambodia, and Apostolic Delegate to Myanmar and Laos

- 6 Brazilian bishops from Northeast Sector-V on ad-limina visit, individually

- Participants in an international conference sponsored by the Fondazione Romano Guardini of Berlin.

And in the afternoon, with

- 6 more Brazilian bishops from Northeast Sector-V, individually.