Why make a solidarity bequest or will to the CARF Foundation?

By including the CARF Foundation in your will, you will give continuity to its commitment to integral formation. You will help priests and seminarians around the world receive a solid academic, theological, human and spiritual preparation.

What is a legacy of solidarity?

The solidarity bequest is a testamentary disposition in favor of a non-profit institution. It is in the will where it is decided to allocate a very specific part of the assets and/or rights to support the objectives of a person, natural or legal. These assets, which are called legacies, are separated from the inheritance and are not subject to distribution among the forced heirs. They can be a specific asset such as a house, apartment, apartment, rural property, etc. or a right such as a benefit, a percentage of the estate, etc.

Bequests have a limit, they can in no case be detrimental to the legitimate inheritance of the heirs. In addition, they must be granted by will and must be expressly indicated.

For the CARF Foundation your collaboration is essential and one way to make it tangible is through the legacy of solidarity. It is a boost in your commitment to the formation of priests, the spreading of their good name and prayer for vocations.

What is a joint and several will?

Article 667 of the Civil Code defines a will as the written declaration of a person's will by which he/she disposes of the destination of his/her assets and obligations, or part of them, after his/her death, depending on the extent to which it was made.

Making a will is a right that entails a simple procedure, with which you can avoid problems for your family and loved ones. The will also serves to order your wishes and be certain that they will be perpetuated when you are gone.
A will is revocable until the time of death. The subsequent valid will revokes the previous one. It can be modified by complying with the same requirements that were necessary to grant the previous one, that is to say, to go to the notary to manifest the changes that are wanted to be made.

Types of wills you can make

The current Spanish legal system includes three ways of making a will:

Open: In this way, the testator expresses his or her wishes about the destiny of his or her assets before the notary who will draft it according to the legal prescriptions. It is a secret procedure until the death of the testator. The open will is the most advisable modality, as it is the safest and most comfortable as well as the most used.
Closed: The testator delivers the signed will to the notary in a sealed envelope.
Ológrafo: It will be written by the testator by hand. But before it is fulfilled, it will be necessary to initiate a notarial procedure to verify its authenticity.

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Find out how you can make a solidarity testimony in favor of the CARF Foundation or make a bequest.

Did you know that you don't need to be a member of the CARF Foundation to leave your will or legacy?

All you have to do is decide to express your commitment to solidarity in the form of a will or bequest. This gesture will always be present, since the CARF Foundation is an institution declared of public utility, your entire bequest or will will will be destined to the foundational purposes of supporting the integral formation of priests and seminarians around the world.

The CARF Foundation will see to it that, when the young men in formation return to their dioceses to be ordained priests, they will be able to transmit all the light, science and doctrine they have received. We try to inspire the hearts of our benefactors and friends so that every day there will be more of us building a more just society.

What can I donate as a legacy of solidarity?

Most of the vocations are born today in countries in Africa or America that lack the means to do so. Every year, more than 800 bishops from all over the world ask the CARF Foundation for help in training their candidates. Leaving part of your legacy of solidarity is easy and accessible, and can be done without affecting the interests of your heirs. When your voice falls silent, your ideals can continue with strength and courage by supporting these candidates so that they can complete their training at the ecclesiastical universities of Rome and Pamplona. You can donate:

Real estate, such as a house, apartment, apartment, rural property, etc.
Other assets such as jewelry, works of art, cash in banks or in cash.
You can also donate a percentage of your assets, mutual funds, stocks or life insurance to the Foundation.

How does the CARF Foundation manage its legacy of solidarity?

The proceeds from the sale of the bequeathed assets will be used for a significant investment. Guaranteeing a secure procedure for the treatment of the bequeathed assets. The constant support to the integral formation of priests and seminarians goes beyond the cycles of the economy. That is why, at the CARF Foundation, we work in the endowment fund (endowment) of the foundation so that we can always support them.

It is a commitment to think that, behind every priestly vocation, there is another call from the Lord to each one of us Christians, asking for personal effort to ensure the means for formation.

How can I make a solidarity bequest to the CARF Foundation?

Depending on your intention and family circumstances, and within the provisions of current legislation, there are several ways to have us present in your last will:

If you have no heirs, you can name the CARF Foundation as your universal heir, making it the beneficiary of all your assets, rights and/or shares.
You can also leave your assets to more than one person or institution, you can designate the CARF Foundation as co-heir, indicating in the will the percentage assigned to each of the parties.
Or, you can nominate the CARF Foundation. legatee, leaving a legacy of a concrete good.

Once you have made the decision to collaborate by making a will or solidarity legacy in favor of the CARF Foundation, you only need to go to a notary and express your will to testament or bequeath, all or part of your assets in favor of:

Centro Académico Romano Foundation
Conde de Peñalver, 45, Entre planta of 1 - 28006 Madrid
CIF: G-79059218

If your personal circumstances or intention change, your final decision can always be modified, you can contact the Foundation with any questions you may have.

The solidarity bequest is a tax-exempt donation.

In the liquidation of the will, non-profit entities are not subject to the Inheritance and Donations Tax set forth in the Decentralization Act 49/2022 and therefore joint and several legacies are tax exempt for the beneficiaries.

The totality of the donated bequest is entirely dedicated to the purposes of the CARF Foundation, which is why the allocated portion will be tax exempt.

"The message of Divine Mercy constitutes a very concrete and demanding program of life, for it involves works."

Pope Francis
Message of Pope Francis for the XXXI World Youth Day 2016.

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Find out how you can make a solidarity testimony in favor of the CARF Foundation or make a bequest.

Bibliography

Civil Code Art. 667
Law 49/2002, of December 23, 2002, on the tax regime for non-profit entities and tax incentives for patronage.

Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

"They nourish in believers hope in the eschatological goal toward which they are journeying as members of the pilgrim People of God in history. This will necessarily impel them to give courageous witness to that 'joyful proclamation' which gives meaning to their whole life." St. John Paul II in the encyclical Rosarium Virginis Mariae.

The Five Glorious Mysteries

On Wednesdays and Sunday we pray the Glorious Mysteries. For the Joyful Mysteries which contemplate the Annunciation and the infancy of Jesus are reserved for Mondays and Saturdays. Tuesday and Friday are reserved for the Sorrowful mysteries and the Luminous mysteries are prayed on Thursdays. The Glorious mysteries of the Holy Rosary unite earth and heaven, from the Resurrection of Christ to the Coronation of Mary in Heaven.

Jesus Christ cannot be reduced to his crucified image. He is the Risen One! The Rosary has always expressed this conviction of faith.The Passion of Christ, inviting us to contemplate the Passion and then to fix our attention on the glory of Christ, on his Resurrection and Ascension. Contemplating the Risen Jesus, we discover anew the reasons for our faith, we relive the joy of the Virgin Mary, who experienced in an intense way the new life of the glorified Son.

Oil painting on board The resurrection of Christ attributed to the Italian Renaissance master Raphael Sanzio.

In the first of the Glorious Mysteries we meditate on the resurrection of the Lord

Mark 16:6-8: As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were frightened. But he said to them, "Do not be frightened. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One; he is risen, he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." And they fled from the tomb, for great fear and trembling had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone because they were afraid.

Christ lives

Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus is risen! He is not in the tomb. This is the great truth that fills our faith with content. He appeared to the Virgin Mary, to Peter and to the other apostles. He also comes to meet us who are his disciples.

Because Jesus is alive, he has the power to change our lives, and he calls us to a personal relationship with him. The Easter season is a time of joy, a joy that is not limited to this time of the liturgical year, but is always present in the heart of the Christian. Because Christ lives. He remains in his Church: in her sacraments, in her liturgy, in her preaching, in all her activity. In a special way Christ continues to be present among us, in the daily self-giving of the Holy Eucharist. That is why the Catholic Mass is the center and root of Christian life.

Also in the light of his resurrection we contemplate, united to Christ, all the souls who were dearest to us. Whose mourning we share. We remember them in the sacrifice of the crucified and risen Lord and they form part of our prayer.

Giotto, The Ascension of the Lord (1305). Chapel of the Scrovegni, Padua, Italy. Tempera on fresco.

In the second Glorious Mysteries, we meditate on the Ascension of the Lord.

Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus came to them and spoke to them in this way:
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given unto me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
And when he had said this, he was lifted up before them, and a cloud hid him from their eyes. And while they were gazing steadfastly into heaven as he went away, there appeared to them two men clothed in white, who said to them:
"Galileans, what are you doing there looking up to heaven? This one who has been taken away from you, this same Jesus, will thus come just as you have seen him ascend into heaven."

Christ has ascended into heaven

The Second Glorious Mystery of the Rosary teaches us to trust in the Lord's will.

Jesus goes to the Father. It is right that the Holy Humanity of Christ should receive the homage, acclamation and adoration of all the hierarchies of angels. The Father is pleased with the surrender of the Son, he has accepted his sacrifice, and now Jesus, the Messiah, forever occupies his position as Lord over all creation..

As long as we are on Earth, we will no longer see him. Our first reaction is to feel like orphans. We miss him. But this is a false impression. In reality, he is not gone. He stays with us in another way. "He is closer to you than you are to yourself." said St. Augustine.

The great mission we received, in the Baptismis co-redemption. The charity of Christ urges us to take upon our shoulders a part of this divine task of rescuing souls.

"The human family is constantly being renewed; in each generation we must continue our efforts to help people discover the greatness of their vocation as children of God.In this way, it is necessary to inculcate the commandment of love for the Creator and for our neighbor". St. Josemaría

Let us know how to bear witness, by example and word, to the faith we profess.

PentecostThe painting was painted by El Greco. It is part of the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Glorious Mysteries: en the third, we meditate on the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4: "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and rested on each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

The grace of the Holy Spirit

The divine virtue that infuses receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Christian soul is a great support of hope, a powerful force, the only true help for human life. We are referring to the grace that sanctifies us, which in reality is preceded and followed by effective graces. What is truly important is that the spirit of man be renewed from within, being born to new life.

The coming of the Holy Spirit is a profound reality, which the Bible makes known to us. It is not a memory of the past. It is, over and above the miseries and sins of each one of us, the reality also of the Church of today and of the Church of all times. Let us have recourse to his graces, let us have recourse through prayer to the Holy Spirit to thank him or ask for favors.

"Jesus has kept his promises: he is risen, he has ascended to heaven and, in union with the Eternal Father, he sends us the Holy Spirit to sanctify us and give us life. To live according to the Holy Spirit is to live in faith, hope and charity; to let God take possession of us and change our hearts from their roots, to make them conform to his measure," St. Josemaría said.

This work by the Spanish artist Juan Martín Cabezalero, The Assumption of the Virgin (1665). It is painted in oil on canvas and is preserved in the Prado Museum.

Glorious Mysteries: In the fourth we meditate on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 974: "The Blessed Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was taken body and soul to the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of the resurrection of her Son, anticipating the resurrection of all the members of her Body".

Mary is taken to heaven

Assumpta est Maria in coelum: gaudent angeli: Mary has been taken by God, body and soul, to heaven, and the angels rejoice! Thus sings the Church. The place of the Virgin Mary was in Heaven, where her Son awaited her. For she is full of grace. The intensity and nature of her graces are different throughout her life; one is the grace at her Conception, another at the Incarnation. And different is the grace she receives at the Assumption of Mary to heaven. For, in the latter the Virgin Mary receives the fullness of holiness.

And we as Christians can contemplate in this Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary this marvel.

Coronation of the Virginoil on canvas painted by Velázquez in 1645 and can be seen in the Prado Museum.

In the fifth of the Glorious Mysteries we meditate on the crowning of Mary as Queen and Mistress of all creation

Revelation (11-12): "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven. And the sanctuary of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in the sanctuary, and there were lightnings and rumblings and thunderings and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head."

Mary in heavenly glory

Mary, Queen of the Universe, repaired the fall of Eve, and has trampled, with her immaculate sole, the head of the infernal dragon. Daughter of God, Mother of God, Spouse of God. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit crown her as Empress of the Universe. And angels and patriarchs, prophets and apostles, martyrs, confessors and virgins honor her. All saints and all sinners. You and me. The reflection must be on ourselves; on our vocation by which one day we will be associated with the angels and the saints and whose sanctifying graces anticipate already from this life the mysterious and consoling reality.

The Church invites us to have recourse to her, to the Virgin Mary, our Mother and our Queen, in all our needs. Being Mother of God and Mother of mankind is the solid foundation of filial trust in her powerful intercession, which comforts us and urges us to rise from our falls.

It is the synthesis of the whole Rosary, which thus closes in joy, in glory.

Bibliography

Opusdei.org.
Meditations on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, Pope Francis.

Knows the different sacred vessels and liturgical objects

Liturgical objects: what are sacred vessels?

Liturgical objects were gaining importance since the first centuries of Christianity. Many of them were conceived of as relics, such as the Holy Grail and the Lignun Crucis. The presence of sacred vessels in the Middle Ages is evident not only from the objects that have come down to us to the present day, but also from the numerous documentary sources: inventories of the churches in which the acquisitions or donations of certain liturgical objects were recorded, among which the sacred vessels stood out.

Nowadays, sacred vessels are called the utensils of liturgical worship which are in direct contact with the Eucharist. As they are sacred, they are used only for that purpose and must be blessed by the bishop or a priest.

In addition, they must have the necessary dignity to carry out the Holy Mass. According to the Spanish Episcopal Conference, they must be made of noble metal or other solid, unbreakable and incorruptible materials that are considered noble in each place.

The paten and chalice are the most important sacred vessels since the beginning of Christianity. They contain the bread and wine to be consecrated during the Holy Mass. With the passing of time, and the needs of Eucharistic worship and the faithful, other sacred vessels have appeared, such as the ciborium or pyx and the monstrance, as well as other accessories.

After the celebration of the sacraments, the priest cleans and purifies the liturgical objects he has used, since all must be clean and well preserved.

Why are sacred vessels important to a priest?

Having all the necessary elements to impart the sacraments and celebrate the Holy Mass is indispensable for a priest.

This is why the Social Action Board (PAS) of the CARF Foundation delivers each year more than 60 cases of sacred vessels The backpack is complete for deacons and priests from all over the world who study in Pamplona and Rome. The current backpack contains everything necessary to celebrate Holy Mass with dignity in any place, without the need for a previous installation.

The Sacred Vessel Case of the CARF Foundation enables young priests without resources to administer the sacraments where they are most needed. At this time, it is not only the priest in front of them, but also all the benefactors who will make it possible for them to exercise their ministry with adequate material dignity.

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Donate now a Holy Vessel Case for newly ordained priests around the world.

Which liturgical objects are sacred vessels?

Sacred vessels primary are those which, previously consecrated, have been destined to contain the Holy Eucharist. Like the chalice, paten, ciborium, monstrance and tabernacle.

Contrary to the sacred vessels secondary, that do not have contact with the Eucharist, but are intended for divine worship, such as the cruets, acetre, hyssop, incense burner, bell, alb and the candlestickamong others.

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Donate now a Holy Vessel Case for newly ordained priests around the world.

Chalice

From Latin calix which means drinking cup. The chalice is the sacred vessel par excellence. Used by Jesus and the apostles at the Last Supper, it was probably a cup of kiddush (Jewish ritual tableware for the Passover celebration), being at the time a semi-precious stone bowl.

The earliest known official decrees from synods date back to the 11th century, already expressly prohibit the use of glass, wood, horn and copper, because it is easily oxidized. Tin is tolerated and noble metals are recommended instead.

The shape of the ancient chalices resembled more a cup or amphora, often with two handles for easy handling. This type of chalice was in use until the 12th century. Since that century almost all chalices, devoid of handles, are distinguished by the width of the cup and by a greater separation between it and the foot that constitutes the stem of the chalice with the knot, at mid-height.

Paten

It comes from the Greek phatne which means plate. It refers to the shallow, slightly concave tray or saucer where the consecrated bread is placed in the Eucharist. The paten came into liturgical use at the same time as the chalice and must be gilded on the concave side. It is important that it allows easy collection of particles on the body.

In the accounts of the Last Supper, mention is made of the dish with the bread that Jesus had before him on the table (Mt 26:23; Mk 14:20). As for the material of the patens, it followed the same evolution as the chalice.

Chalice and paten accessories

Purifier: A piece of white linen, distinguishable from the other cloths by its smaller size and by a red or white cross embroidered in the middle. For the Mass is placed just above the chalice, because it is used to purify the inside of the cup by rubbing it before pouring wine into it. And after having put it, the drops that could have remained on the edges are dried with it.
Palia / hijuela / cubrecáliz: square of starched cloth that covers the chalice while it is on the altar. It prevents foreign particles from falling into the chalice and is only removed at the moment of the Consecration.
Veil of the chalice: covers the chalice prepared for Mass. It is used until the offertory, when the chalice is prepared to be consecrated. It is of the same liturgical color as the vestments and is accompanied by a bag for the corporal that is placed on top.
Body: square piece of cloth on which the chalice, paten and ciboria are placed. The monstrance for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is also placed on it. It must be made of linen or hemp and not of any other fabric. It may have a woven cross.

Cup

The conservation of the Eucharist after the celebration of Mass is a custom that dates back to the early days of Christianity. ciborium.

In ancient times the faithful sometimes kept the Eucharist, with exquisite care, in their own homes. St. Cyprian speaks of a little chest or ark that was kept at home for this purpose (De lapsis, 26: PL 4,501). It was also, of course, kept in the churches. They had a space called secretarium o sacrarium, in which there was a kind of closet (conditorium) where the Eucharistic chest was kept. These conditorium were the first tabernacles. They were usually made of hard wood, ivory or noble metal; and they were called píxides -with a flat lid, fastened with hinges, or with a conical lid and in the form of a turret with a foot.

In the late Middle Ages, the possibility of receiving communion outside of Mass became popular, requiring a larger size and evolving into the present-day cup: a large cup used to distribute communion to the faithful and then to keep it to preserve the Eucharistic body of Christ. It is covered, when kept in the tabernacle, with a circular veil called a conopeo, the name also given to the veil that covers the tabernacle in the color of the liturgical season.

In places where Holy Communion is solemnly brought to the sick, a small ciborium of the same style is used. The small pyx used is made of the same material as that of the ciborium. It should be gilded on the inside, the lower part should have a slight elevation in the center, and it should be blessed by the shape of the ciborium. Benedictio tabernaculi (Rit. Rom., tit. VIII, XXIII). It is also called teak or portaviático and it is usually a round box made of noble materials.

Custody or monstrance

The monstrance is an urn framed in glass in which the Blessed Sacrament is publicly exposed. It can be made of gold, silver, brass or gilded copper. The most suitable shape is that of the sun that emits its rays everywhere. The lunette (manly or lunula) is the vessel in the middle of the monstrance, made of the same material.

The lunette, provided it contains the Blessed Sacrament, may be placed in the tabernacle inside a monstrance box. If the tabernacle has enough space to hold the monstrance, then it should be covered with a white silk veil. It is also used to make processions outside the Church on special dates such as the

All these vessels should be made of gold, silver or other material, but gilded on the inside, smooth and polished, and may be topped by a cross.

Vineyard

The wine coolers are two small pitchers where the water and wine necessary to celebrate the celebration are placed. Holy Mass. The priest mixes the wine with a little water and, for this, he has a complementary spoon. They are usually made of glass so that the priest can identify the water in the wine, and also because they are easier to clean. However, you can also find bronze, silver or pewter cruets.

Acetre

It is a cauldron in which holy water is placed and is used for the liturgical sprinklings. All the water that collects the acetre, is dispersed with the swab.

Hyssop

Utensil with which the sprinkles holy waterconsisting of a handle with a bunch of bristles or a hollow metal ball with a hole at the end to hold the water. It is used together with the acetre.

Censer and incense

The censer is a small metal brazier suspended in the air and held by chains which is used to burn incense. Incense is used to manifest worship and symbolizes the prayer that goes up to God.

Bell

It is an inverted cup-shaped utensil of small size with a clapper inside, that used to call for prayer during the consecration. The bell is used to attract attention and, in addition, to express a feeling of joy. There are single-bell or multi-bell bells.

Candlestick

It is a support where the candle is placed which is used in the liturgy as a symbol of Christ, who is the Light that guides all.

"The woman who, in the house of Simon the leper in Bethany, anoints the Master's head with rich perfume, reminds us of our duty to be splendid in the worship of God.
-All the luxury, majesty and beauty seem little to me.
-And against those who attack the richness of sacred vessels, ornaments and altarpieces, the praise of Jesus is heard: opus enim bonum operata est in me -He has done a good deed for me.

St. Josemaría
Road, point 527.

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Donate now a Holy Vessel Case for newly ordained priests around the world.

Bibliography

- Augustin Joseph Schulte. "Altar Vessels," The Catholic Encyclopedia.
- Sacrosanctum Concilium n. 122-123; CIC cc. 939, 941, 1220 §2.
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal (2002).
- Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (2004) 117-120.

Comediographer Molière and false devotees

Celebration of Molière Year

France celebrates the Year Molière on the occasion of the fourth centenary of the birth of the great comediographer, on January 15, 1622.

He is a basic name in universal theater, an actor and author who was surprised by death in the middle of the performance of The Imaginary Sick Man. Molière is forever associated with the vivacity and joy of a comedy troupe, wandering by nature until a powerful person deigns to sponsor it or take it into his service, as happened to our author with Louis XIV.

But the passage of time has made Molière more of a stereotype than a real person.He has sometimes been presented as someone opposed to the established powers, in particular the Church, which supposedly forbade the burial of comedians on sacred ground.

No document confirms this statement and in the case of Molière it was not true either. In spite of everything, the easy recourse is to consider the author of Tartuffe as an anticlerical and libertine.. In reality, Molière limited himself in this play to criticizing the hypocrisy of false devotions..

However, trying to distinguish true from false devotions always carries risks: many unbelievers are usually not interested in making such a distinction, since it forces them to qualify their judgments, and some believers are too suspicious and stubbornly think that their way of understanding the faith is the only acceptable one. In reality, neither position has the sense of humor embodied by Molière's life and work.

Molière in Tartuffe

Molière y los falsos devotos - Artículos de Expertos - Francia — Molière (1622 - 1673) French-born comedian.

The marquises, the doctors, the mocked husbands, the pedantic "precious" women... had been the protagonists of Molière's satires, but they accepted these criticisms better than the religious hypocrites who fought to ban Tartuffe.

They did not want to admit, as the author states, that comedies have the purpose of correcting vices of the companyand that to love or not to love the stage is a matter of taste. Molière writes in his prologue to Tartuffe that there were fathers of the Church who liked the theater, and others did not.

To present a character almost always kneeling in the temple, between sighs and glances to the sky and the ground did not mean to attack religion. Highlighting the scrupulousness of someone who felt annoyed for having killed a flea by being distracted in prayer was not criticizing those who prayed.

Nor was it a sign of atheism to denounce the attitude of those who had improved their fortunes while exercising flattery and filling their lips with expressions about humility, grace and the goodness of heaven.

In addition, Molière in Tartuffe lambastes false humility, for he should be wary of those who consider themselves to be worthless and inwardly all sin and iniquity. But at the end of the comedy, Tartuffe, the hypocrite, will be unmasked because Orgon, his protector, hears him say what he really thinks.

Tartuffe is really only concerned with external scandal: "It is the scandal of this world that makes offense, and it is not a matter of sinning, but of sinning in silence.". It is an example of how the appearance of virtue can lead to the greatest vices.

It is no exaggeration to say that false virtue is usually related to a progressive loss of the sense of sin. False virtue is the daughter of lukewarmness.

Where there is no solid Christian virtue, the axis of the spiritual life is not the love of Christ, nor the love of God. ChristThe individual who seeks himself by wanting to earn his salvation with a repertoire of devotions.

Antonio R. Rubio PloDegree in History and Law. Writer and international analyst @blogculturayfe / @arubioplo

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

The sorrowful mysteries form, together with the joyful mysteriesThe Luminous Mysteries, the Luminous Mysteries and the Glorious Mysteries, the complete prayer of the Holy Rosary. These mysteries are prayed exclusively on Tuesdays and Fridays. Except during Lent, which are usually prayed also on Sundays.

They go through all the moments of the Passion of Our Lord. From his agony in the Garden of Olives to his death on the cross, with the palpable manifestation of all his love for mankind, and which are the origin of the mystery of our salvation.

For all these reasons, Pope St. John Paul II tells us in his encyclical letter Rosarium Virginis Mariaewhich the sorrowful mysteries guide the Christian to relive the death of Jesus, placing ourselves at the foot of the cross and at Mary's side, in order to understand with her the great love of God.

First sorrowful mystery: we contemplate The prayer of Jesus in the garden

And he said to his disciples: -Sit here, while I pray.

Gospel of St. Matthew 14:36-39:
Then Jesus went with them to a garden, called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to feel sadness and anguish. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful to the point of death; remain here and watch with me." And he went forward a little, and fell on his face to the ground, and he prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not as I will, but as you will."

Unconditional acceptance of suffering "Not my will, but yours be done".

With our spirits stirred, we come back again and again to the image of Jesus praying, who in his anguish accepts the will of the Father and rejects the temptations of the devil.

Am I able, like Jesus, to reject temptations and wait patiently and lovingly for God's will to be done, just as Jesus did?

Lord Jesus, I ask that, when I falter in prayer, your example may encourage me even though what I had hoped for may not happen. Help me to accept Your will, not to fall asleep in the most important vigils of my life.

Second Sorrowful Mystery: we contemplate The Scourging of the Lord

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.

Gospel of St. Matthew 27:26.
Pilate released Barabbas; and Jesus, having had him scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Jesus was unjustly bound and scourged by sinners

This mystery brings to mind the merciless torture, of innumerable lashes on the holy and immaculate members of the Lord. The Virgin Mary, in pain, accompanies him during his suffering. Let us think with what concern, pain and bitterness many mothers suffer today the injustices, illnesses or problems that their children experience.

Lord Jesus, in the face of injustice, may love and peace reign in my heart. May I know how to endure the scourges of life and be able to forgive those who wield the whip. Help me to rise again and to persevere in the mission you have entrusted to me.

Third sorrowful mystery: we contemplate The crowning of thorns

And the soldiers put on his head a crown of thorns which they had plaited and clothed him with a purple robe.

Gospel of John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers put a crown of thorns which they had twisted together on his head and clothed him with a purple robe. And they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews! And they slapped him.

Jesus, in chains, was subjected to mockery with the crown of thorns

Each thorn tore his skin, and the spilled blood prevented him from seeing, and yet he continued on his way to the Cross. -You and I, haven't we crowned him with thorns, and slapped him, and spat on him again? No more, Jesus, no more... And a firm and concrete resolution arises in our hearts.

Lord Jesus, may I be able to understand all my brothers and sisters and may my actions conform to your merciful love.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: we contemplate Jesus with the Cross on his shoulders

And, carrying the Cross, he went out to the place called the place of the Skull, in Hebrew Golgotha.

Gospel of St. Mark 15:21-22:
And they compelled one who was passing by, a certain Simon of Cyrene, returning from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they led him to the place of Golgotha, which means the place of the Skull.

Jesus carries the cross for all of us.

Jesus walked with the great weight of the Cross that bore all our sins, and his great love for us strengthened his every step.. In this mystery Jesus Christ represents the human race with his continuous walk along the path of life. Contemplating Jesus Christ ascending Calvary, we learn, with our hearts rather than with our minds, to embrace and kiss the cross, to carry it generously and joyfully.

Jesus carries the Cross for you: you carry it for Jesus.. But do not carry the Cross dragging .... Carry it plumb, because your Cross, thus borne, will not be just any Cross: it will be . the Holy Cross.

Lord Jesus, may we be humble in carrying our cross and when we falter may we turn to the consolation of our Heavenly Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: we contemplate the Death of Jesus on the Cross

There they crucified him with two others, one on either side of Jesus. Pilate had a title written and had it placed on the cross. It was written: "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

Gospel of Luke 23:33-34:
When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two malefactors, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"... It was about noon when, the sun being eclipsed, there was darkness over the whole land until mid-afternoon. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in the middle, and Jesus, with a loud cry, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit," and, having said this, he breathed his last.

Jesus makes his great sacrifice of love for us all

Life and death represent the two extremes of Christ's sacrificeFrom his birth in Bethlehem, where he reveals himself to all men in his first appearance on earth, to the final sigh that gathers all the pains to sanctify us. And Mary is by the Cross, as she was by the Child of Bethlehem.

"What a great sacrifice of love You, Lord, have made for us! Detached from the earth, you gave everything you had, your Mother, your Spirit, and what do we do for you?".

Lord, I ask you to help me to be obedient to your commands and submissive to all the precepts of the Church you founded. Help me Lord to intensely desire "to be with you in Paradise..." to recognize your Sacrifice of the Cross as the greatest act of love that can exist in the world and to come to meet you since you are waiting for me with open arms.

Bibliography:

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, St. Josemaría Escrivá.
Meditation of Pope John XXIII for the sorrowful mysteries.

60th anniversary of Vatican Council II

Living faith, mission and unity

In his homily, Pope Francis built his preaching around the words that Christ addressed to Peter in the Gospel: "Do you love me? (...) Feed my sheep". (Jn 21:15 and 17).

Living Faith: "Do you love me?"

First a look from above. This gaze corresponds to Jesus' question to Peter: "Do you love me? A question that the Lord always asks us and that he asks the Church. Far from pessimistic perspectives as well as humanly too optimistic perspectives, and without going into it, says the Pope in line with previous Popes:

"The Second Vatican Council was a great answer to that question. It was to rekindle her love for what the Church, for the first time in history, dedicated a council to questioning herself, to reflecting on her own nature and her own mission. And she rediscovered herself as a mystery of grace generated by love, she rediscovered herself as the People of God, the Body of Christ, the living temple of the Holy Spirit".

Indeed. And these are not pseudo-theological abstractions, but realities that belong to faith. And not to a theoretical faith but to a living faith, that is, the faith that works and lives by love (cf. Gal 5:6). And the Church is a "sacrament" (a sign and instrument) of God's love (cf. LG, 1).

And now it's our turn: "Let us ask ourselves -Francisco invites if in the Church we start from GodHis enamored gaze upon us. There is always the temptation to start from self rather than from God, to put our agendas before the Gospel, to let ourselves be carried away by the wind of worldliness to follow the fashions of the times or to refuse the time that Providence gives us to turn back".

He goes on to warn against two mistaken extremes: "Let us be vigilant: neither progressivism that adapts to the world, nor traditionalism or 'involutionism' that longs for a past world are proofs of love, but of infidelity. They are Pelagian selfishness, which puts one's own tastes and plans before those of others. to the love that pleases God, that simple, humble and faithful love that Jesus asked of Peter".

Francis invites us to rediscover the Council from God's love and from the essential saving mission of the Church, which she must fulfill with joy (cf. John XXIII, Allocution to the Council of Trent, "The Church's mission of salvation"). Gaudet Mater Ecclesia at the inauguration of the Second Vatican Council, October 11, 1962). A Church that knows how to overcome conflicts and controversies in order to bear witness to the love of God in Christ.

"We thank you, Lord, for the gift of the council. You who love us, deliver us from the presumption of self-sufficiency and the spirit of worldly criticism. Deliver us from self-exclusion from unity. You who feed us with tenderness, lead us out of the precincts of self-referentiality. You, who want us to be a united flock, deliver us from the diabolical deception of polarizations, of 'isms'. And we, your Church, with Peter and like Peter, say to you: "Lord, you know everything; you know that we love you" (cf. Jn 21:17).

Pope Francis.

The mission and unity: "feed my sheep".

The second lookThe Church's mission is to "shepherd" because she is a "pastoral people" at the service of salvation. She "shepherds" because she is a "pastoral people", at the service of salvation. This is how she is and she carries it out by relying on the work of her pastors, even if not exclusively, because the Church's mission calls for "organic cooperation" between pastors and faithful, each according to his or her condition and vocation, ministries and charisms. This is being rediscovered in the process of the current synod on synodality, which the Pope has extended until October 2024.

This gaze - the Pope continues - leads to "being in the world with others and without ever feeling ourselves above others, as servants of the Kingdom of God (cf. LG 5), and without clericalism".

The third look: is an overall view. Because it is a matter, Jesus tells Peter, of feeding "my sheep", all the sheep, the Pope observes, and not just some of them. For that would be to give in to polarization (to devote oneself to only part of the sheep). And, therefore, to tear the heart of the mother Church. Our outlook must be one that seeks unity, ecclesial communion, avoiding disunity and extremism.

Importance of unity: "All Church, all. The Lord does not want us like this, we are his sheep, his flock, and we are only together, united. Let us overcome polarization and defend communion, let us become more and more 'one'. (...) Let us leave aside the 'isms' - both progressivism and traditionalism - the people of God do not like this polarization. The people of God is the holy faithful people of God, this is the Church".

The Pope's message moves, therefore, in these coordinates: living faith, mission, unity.

In these days some articles have been and are being published that air what they consider to be the fundamental failure of the Council. One of them is by R. Douthat ("How Catholics became prisoners of Vatican II", New York Times, October 11, 2022). The author further argues that Vatican II was necessary and cannot be undone. Therefore, he concludes, there is no choice but to try to resolve the contradictions it bequeathed to us. Thus, the Catholicism that will one day overcome the Council "will continue to be marked by the unnecessary ruptures created by its attempt at necessary reform". A perspective that, it seems to me, does not exactly help to understand the reality of the Council, nor the present moment of the Church and its mission.

Mr. Ramiro Pellitero Iglesias
Professor of Pastoral Theology
Faculty of Theology
University of Navarra

Published in "Church and new evangelization".