December 19, Fourth Sunday of Advent
BLESSED URBAN V (France, 1310-1370), Benedictine monk and Pope (1360-1370)
A native of Provence, Guillaume Grimoard was abbot of a monastery in Marseilles when he was elected Pope, in the century when the Popes reigned from Avignon not Rome (1305-1378). The ascendancy of the French monarchy and its Frankish empire at the time also meant that French cardinals dominated. Urban V brought his Benedictine culture to his papacy, setting the example for austere living, initiating reforms in the clergy and the Church, and liberally patronizing institutions of learning and culture. He tried hard to return the Papacy to Rome but died shortly after returning from Rome where he was received triumphally by the people and by the imperial court of Charles IV. Fighting among imperial and papal supporters in the papal states of Italy continued, and the Papacy would not return to Rome till 1377, with Gregory XI, famously urged on by Catherine of Siena and Bridget of Sweden. Urban's canonization was promised by Gregory XI as early as 1375 but was stalled by the troubles of the time. His cultus was not officially declared until 1870. Today, there is a an association in France promoting the cause for his canonization. He is the only one of the Avignon Popes to be recognized for his holiness. He was the second to the last of the Avignon Popes.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/121910.shtml
OR today.
Papal stories in this issue: Benedict XVI visits the renovated Vatican Apostolic Library; and his message for the World Day for the Sick in February 2011. Page 1 international news: Japan reinforces its defenses in view of China's increasing military power; the markets are skeptical of the European anti-crisis plan; Ivory Coast crisis worsens, as outgoing President continues to accept his recent electoral defeat; and Spain's La Razon will soon present the Spanish weekly edition of OR online (since last year, La Razon has been distributing the Spanish OR with its Sunday edition which has a print order of 200,000). Two Christmas sidebars: The Christmas tree on St. Peter's Square has been lit; and 15 prisoners in Padua have been baking the 1-1/2-kg panettone [traditional Italian raisin bread] that the Holy Father sends out to members of the Roman Curia.
THE POPE'S DAY
Sunday Angelus - The Holy Father reflected on St. Joseph, whose fears about taking a pregnant Mary as his wife
were allayed by an angel who came to him in a dream and "made him part of the mystery of the Incarnation".
The Pope entrusted to him, as patron of the universal Church, all the priests of the Church so that they may
truly live following the example of Jesus.
FIVE YEARS & EIGHT MONTHS TODAY, AND COUNTING....
AD MULTOS ANNOS, SANCTE PATER!
We can never love you enough.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 19/12/2010 23:44]