A couple of belated postings of news from the Vatican...
Italian Parliament marks
10th anniversary of John Paul II visit
Translated from
Nov. 14, 2012
A commemorative ceremony was held yesterday, Wednesday, at the Sala della Regina of Palazzo Montecitorio, site of the Italian Paliament, for the tenth anniversary of a visit made to that assembly by John Paul II. Representing the Vaticna was Deputy Secretary of State for General Affairs, Mons Angelo Becciu, who read message written for the occasion by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. The following is a translation of the message:
November 14, 2012
To Their Excellencies
Sen. Renato Schifani, President of the Senate of the Republic
The Honorable Gianfranco Fini, President of the Chamber of Deputies
Palazzo Montecitorio
Rome
Most Distinguished Presidents,
For the ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the visit of His Holiness John Paul II to the Italian Parliament, the oly Father Benedict XVI wishes to extend to Your Excellencies and to all the Senators and Deputies his heartfelt greeting, which he also extends affectionately to His Eminance, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops' conference.
The joint public session of Parliament on November 14, 2002 in the Great Hall of Montecitorio constitues a memorable page in the histopry of relationships between Italy and the Holy See, an event that was particularly valuable because of the authoritativeness of the Holy Father's venerable figure who had strongl;y wanted the meeting despite his already precarious health condition.
The unanimously warm welcome which he received upon entering teh hall and the consensus expressed after his address are imprinted in the minds of everyone who was present that day.
After ten years, in a social context which has been made more difficult because of the consequences of an economic crisis which even then was foreseeable, we must recall his inivtation to draw on the life blood of Christianity which has vitalized the social and cultural identity of Italy and her mission in Europe and in the world.
This spiritual and ethical patrimony can always offer, even in difficult times, adequate resources for the renewal of consciences and for the corresponding orientation towards the common good, especially for those who are called to be members of Parliament.
For this, the Supreme Pontiff hopes that the constant collaboration between Italy and the Holy See, as well as between the State and the Church in Italy, may continue to sustain the journey of the Italian nation, especially families in their primary educational and social function, and all citizens in their sense of civic responsibility.
To this end, he assures you of being remembered in his prayers, and from the hear,t he invokes on you, on all the members of both houses ofd Parliament and on their respective activities, the abyundance of heavnely blessings.
In formulating my own personal good wishes for your high service towards the good of the nation, I avail of the occasion to confirm to you my highest consideration.
+Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
Secretary of State
Reorganization at
Congregation for Divine Worship
by Andrea Tornielli
Adapted from the English service of
November 14, 2012
The Vatican Secretariat of State has formally approved the reorganization of the Congregation for Divine Worship, after Benedict XVI indicated his assent last September.
involved the creation of new offices that will become operational as of next year.
The main change is the establishment of an office, specifically dedicated to liturgical art and music (which Vatican Insider predicted in a previous article), and will provide guidelines to ensure that the music performed at Mass and the design of new churches are adequate to the mysteries of faith that are celebrated in liturgy.
The changes in the dicastery led by Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera come just one year after the motu proprio "Quaerit semper" issued by Benedict XVI on 27 September 2011, which put the Roman Rota in charge of two issues which until then had been the responsibility of the Congregation for Divine Worship: the invalidation of priestly ordination and dispensation from unconsummated marriages.
In the text, the Pope explained: "In present circumstances it has seemed appropriate for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to focus mainly on giving a fresh impetus to promoting the Sacred Liturgy in the Church, in accordance with the renewal that the Second Vatican Council desired, on the basis of the Constitution
Sacrosanctum Concilium."
The dicastery can now focus its efforts on wide-ranging ctivities to promote the "ars celebrandi", faithfulness to the conciliar constitution, and the instructions of the new missal.
The dicastery now has the following main offices: two new offices on liturgical doctrine will deal with the issue in the English and Latin languages; a new office for legal and disciplinary issues; and the aforementioned office for liturgical art and music [whose concern will be limited to art and music used in liturgy, not other forms of sacred art and music.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 16/11/2012 03:12]