BENEDICT XVI: NEWS, PAPAL TEXTS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY

December 16, Third Sunday of Advent

BLESSED HONORATUS KOZMINSKI (Poland, 1825-1916)
Capuchin, Founder of Congregations, Writer
Imprisoned as a teenager for allegedly taking part in a rebellion conspiracy,
he joined the Capuchins, and as a priest in Warsaw, devoted himself to
preaching, confessions, spiritual direction and working with lay Franciscans.
At age 30, he helped Blessed Angela Truszkowska establish the Felician
congregation. In 1864, Polish orders were suppressed after an assassination
plot on the Russian czar, and the clergy were expelled from Warsaw. Exiled
to another city, Zakroczym, he established 26 male and female congregations
who took vows but did not wear habits and lived among the people (17 still exist
today as secular institutes). His life was also marked by extensive writings,
particularly his sermons and letters, and 52 publications on ascetic theology.
In 1895, he was named Commissary-General for the Capuchins of Poland, but
in 1908, diocesan bishops took control over his congregations, whom he told
to obey. A contemporary said of him, "He always walked with God". He was
beatified in 1988.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/121612.cfm


WITH THE HOLY FATHER TODAY

Pastoral visit and Mass at the parish of San Patrizio in Colle Fenestino in the eastern sector of Rome.
Homily.

Sunday Angelus - The Holy Father reflected on the continuing relevance and actuality of John the Baptist's
replies to the people who asked him what they ought to do in preparation for the coming of the Lord.


I failed to post yesterday's Forum almanac (fortunately, there were no events announced for the Holy Father) but here is the note on the saint of the day for December 15:

Saturday, December 15, Second Week of Advent

BLESSED MARIA FRANZISKA [Mary Frances] SCHERVIER (Germany, 1819-1875)
Born to a wealth family in Aachen, she was cured of asthma after a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
As a teenager, she ran the household when her mother died, and after losing two sisters to
tuberculosis, she became a lay Franciscan renowned for her generosity to the poor. In 1851,
she founded the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, which set up hospitals and homes for
the aged to serve the indigent. By 1858, the order had a branch in the United States, and
in 1863, Mother Mary Frances herself went to the US to help nurse Civil War wounded, making
a second trip to the order in 1868. By the time she died, her order had 2500 members in many
countries. She was beatified by Paul VI in 1974.