THE HOLY FATHER TO PRAY ON 13 SEPTEMBER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN IN ALL WARS

VATICAN CITY 6 June 2014 (VIS) – On 13 September Pope Francis will pray at the military monument of Redipuglia, Italy, for those who have fallen in all wars, to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, “an enormous tragedy about which I heard many painful stories from my grandfather, who fought in the Battle of the Piave”. He announced this at the end of his meeting in St. Peter's square with the Carabinieri, Italy's military police corps, celebrating the bicentenary of its foundation.

“Between the Carabinieri and the people there exists a bond of solidarity, trust and dedication to the common good”; said the Pope in his address. “The Carabinieri 'stations', present throughout the national territory, are points of reference for collectivity, even in the most remote and peripheral towns and villages. And this capillary presence requires you to participate in the life of the community to which you belong, seeking to be close to the problems faced by the people, especially the weakest and those in difficulty. Your vocation is service”.

This vocation is made manifest in “the protection of individuals and the environment, in action for security, the respect for the rules for civil co-existence and the common good; it is a concrete and constant commitment to the defence of the rights and duties of individuals and communities. The maintenance of public order and personal safety is an increasingly current issue in a dynamic, open society committed to the protection of civil rights and liberties, such as Italy, where you serve”.

Pope Francis went on to speak about the history of the Carabinieri Corps, mentioning that it numbers among its members the Servant of God Salvo d'Acquisto, who at the age of 23 in Palidoro, near Rome, “offered his young existence to save the lives of innocent people from Nazi brutality”. He also commented on their notable efforts beyond national borders as “peacemakers, to ensure security, respect for human dignity and the defence of human rights in countries racked by conflicts and tensions of every type”. He concluded, “Never cease to give everywhere, in your homeland and elsewhere, a clear and joyful witness of humanity, especially towards the neediest and least fortunate”.

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Priests who were (and are) scientists

21 MAY 2014 (ORCNS) - Mention a priest, and most people will likely think of a parish priest, dispensing the sacraments and tending to the needs of his flock. This isn't surprising, since most priests fall in this category. Some priests, though, have duties that fall outside this trend. For example, some are administrators, some are diplomats, and some are scientists. Some have even made significant contributions to science. Unfortunately far too many people consider the Church to be anti-science, and people so often brush aside the clerical state of many of the great scientists they otherwise laud and praise. This creates a distorted view of the relationship between the Church and the sciences. Let's take a look at just a few of the clerics who have been scientists from the past through today and help to dispel the myth that the Church is against scientific knowledge, enquiry, and advancement.

Note: Living clerics are presented without dates. 

Blessed Nicholas Steno: (1638-1686) A convert from Lutheranism, he was a Dutch Catholic bishop. He made significant contributions in the fields of anatomy, geology, and paleontology. He is often considered the father of the field of geology.

Nicholaus Copernicus: (1473-1543) A cleric in minor orders, he was a mathematician and astronomer. He formulated the heliocentric view of the universe.

Gregor Mendel: (1822-1884)  Born Johann Mendel, he entered the religious life through the Augustinian Order and took the name of Gregor. He was ordained a priest and is considered the founder of the modern science of genetics.

John Zahm: (1851-1921) A Holy Cross priest, he was also an explorer in South America.

Nocholaus Copernicus
Cleric and scientist

Gabriel Costa: Priest and mathematician.

George LaMaitre: (1894-1966)  A Belgian priest and Professor of Physics, he was made a prelate (Monsignor) by Pope John XXIII. He was the first to propose what is now known as Hubble's Law and first proposed the concept of the Big Bang theory for the origin of the universe.

Roger Bacon: (c. 1214-1294)  An English Franciscan Friar who was a strong proponent of the use of empirical methods for the study of nature. He was asked by Pope Clement IV to write on the place of philosophy within theology.

Pierre Gassendi: (1592-1655)  A French priest who published the first data on the transit of Mercury.

Giovanni Antonelli: (1818-1872)  An Italian priest who, along with Nicolò Barsanti and Felice Matteucci (themselves both priests), invented the first internal combustion engine.

Blessed Francesco Faà di Bruno: (1825-1888) An Italian priest, mathematician, and musician.

José Antonio de Alzate y Ramírez: (1737-1799)  A Mexican priest, he made contributions in meteorology, zoology, and botany.

Nicolò Arrighetti: (1709-1767) An Italian Jesuit and professor of natural philosophy, he made contributions in light, heat, and electricity, and on the causes of movement of mercury within barometers.

Thomas Bradwardine (c.1290-1349)  Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a scholar, mathematician, and physicist.

Blessed Nicolas Steno
Father of Geology

Nicolò Barsanti: (1821-1864)   See under Nicolò Arrighetti.

Francis Facione:  Old Roman Catholic archbishop and professor of pharmacology. 

Felice Matteucci: (1808-1887)   See under Nicolò Arrighetti.

Laurent Cassegrain: (1629-1693)  A priest, he was the probable inventor of the Cassegrain telescope.

Heyward Ewart: Old Roman Catholic archbishop and psychologist.

James Curley: (1796-1889)  An Irish Jesuit priest, he was the first director of Georgetown Observatory. Determined the latitude and longitude of Washington, D.C.

Benedetto Castelli: (1578-1643) A Benedictine mathematician, he was a student of Galileo Galilei. He also taught Galileo's son.

Václav Prokop Diviš: (1698-1765) Czech priest. Independent of the experiments of Benjamin Franklin, he studied lightning. He also constructed the first electrified musical instrument.

Franz Liszt: (1811-1886)  Hungarian cleric, musician, and composer.

Keith Steinhurst v.u.z. Westphalia: Old Roman Catholic archbishop and physician.

Gabriele Falloppio: (1523-1562) A religious Canon, anatomists, and physician. The Fallopian tubes are named for him.

Vincent LaRocca:  American priest and lawyer.

Placidus Fixlmillner: (1721-1791) A Benedictine priest and astronomers who was among the first to compute the orbit of Uranus.

Joseph Galien: (1699- c. 1762) A Dominican friar and professor, he wrote on the subjects of aeronautics, hailstorms, and airships. He was an early pioneer in the science behind what would become aviation and aeronautical engineering.

Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora: (1645-1700) A priest, mathematician, astronomer, and cartographer, he is credited with drawing the first map of the entirety of New Spain.

Robert Grosseteste: (c. 1175-1253)  English Bishop of Lincoln. Considered the father of the Scientific Method. 

Stanley Jaki: (1924–2009) Hungarian Benedictine priest; he contributed to the relationship between science and theology.

Karl Kehrle: (1898-1996)  English Benedictine monk and beekeeper. Considered a leading authority on bee breeding, he developed the Buckfast bee.

Otto Kippes: (1905-1994) A priest and astronomer, he worked on calculations of asteroid orbits. 

Edme Mariotte: (c. 1620-1684)  A French priest and physicist, he recognized Boyle's Law, studied the nature of color, and discovered the eye's blind spot.

Nicholas of Cusa: (1401-1464)  German priest, cardinal, philosopher, jurist, mathematician, astronomer, and polymaths. He also participated in the power conflicts between Rome and the Holy Roman Empire.

Jean-Antoine Nollet: (1700-1770) A French abbot and physicist, he discovered osmosis in natural membranes.

Luca Pacioli: (c. 1446-1517)  An Italian Franciscan friar, he published several works on mathematics. Also often regarded as the Father of Accounting.

Louis Rendu: (1789-1859) A French bishop, he made contributions to understanding the mechanisms of glacial motion. The Rendu Glacier in Alaska and Mount Rendu in Antarctica are named for him.

Johannes Ruysch: (c. 1460-1533) Dutch Priest from Utrecht, explorer, cartographer, and astronomer. He created the second oldest known printed map of the New World.

Anton Maria Schyrleus of Rheita: (1604-1660) A Capuchin astronomer and optician, he built Kepler's telescope.

Francesco Lana de Terzi: (1631-1687)   An Italian Jesuit priest, mathematician, naturalist, physicist, and pioneer in aeronautics. He conceptualized a vacuum airship, developed a theory of aerial navigation verified by mathematical accuracy, and is often considered the Father of Aeronautics. He also created a concept that developed into Braille.

Giovanni Battista Venturi: (1746-1822)  Priest; discovered the Venturi effect.

Rutherford Johnson-Etruria-di Daniell: Old Roman Catholic cardinal, economist, and explorer.

János Vitéz: (c.1405-1472) Archbishop, astronomer, and mathematician.

George Coyne: Jesuit priest and astronomy. Director of the Vatican Observatory.

Martin Waldseemüller: (c. 1470-1520) German priest and cartographer. He is credited, along with Matthias Ringmann, with the first recorded usage of the word "America."

Kevin Fitzgerald: American Jesuit priest and molecular geneticist.

Francesco Zantedeschi: (1797-1873) A priest and physicist, he was among the first to recognize the absorption by the atmosphere of red, yellow, and green light. He also wrote on electromagnetism, which would be followed by Michael Faraday's experiments in 1831.

Robert Frederick Drinan: (1920-2007) Jesuit priest, lawyer, and member of the United States House of Representatives.

In Memoriam Mons. Patrick H. King, SOAR

SAN FRANCISCO 7 April 2014 (ORCNS) - It is with great sadness that we recall the death of the Most Reverend Patrick H. King, SOAR. The Bishop died on January 7th of this year. Mons. King was known as a true priest and dedicated Bishop. He was the Western Regionary Bishop for the Old Roman Catholic Church in North America. Those who knew him spoke of his warmth, compassion, and devotion. He will be greatly missed.

Autism Awareness Fundraising a Success

PATRIARCHAL SEE 2 April 2014 (ACNS) - Blue was the color of the day today across the United States as many people got out to spread the word about autism. This often debilitating disease affects 1 out of every 68 children born in America now. Its causes are still a mystery. Fundraising and awareness efforts like those around the country today are key to improving the lives of the autistic and their families.

The Patriarch of Saint Stephen, Cardinal Johnson, who participated with others in fundraising efforts today, said, "This type of work is part of the very essence of our Patriarchate's mandate of mission, service, and charity. It was a great joy to meet with autistic children and parents and to help those who are working so hard to solve the puzzle of autism." Others interviewed praised the advances made in correctly identifying those with the condition and helping them to transition successfully into productive adult life as much as possible.

Blue balloons sporting the autism logo mark an event site.

Raising Money for Autism Awareness

PATRIARCHAL SEE 2 APRIL 2014 (ORCNS) - Today Cardinal Johnson joins many others in helping to raise money for Austism awareness and research. We rightly spend a lot of effort defending the right to life. However, 1 in 68 people who actually make it into this world in the US are born with some form of Autism. In some cases it is so profound that they cannot function. Some turn their disease into an asset. Programs that need funding are helping to help the autistic get to a point where they can "help themselves" and function in society.

Ash Wednesday Patriarchal Address

PATRIARCHAL SEE 5 MARCH 2014 (ORCNS) - The Patriarch of Saint Stephen, Old Holy Roman Church of the English Rite, gave his Ash Wednesday address to the members of the Court of Saint Mary of Walsingham today. Ash Wednesday is one of the five times that these formal addresses are given on topics including administration, pastoral matters, and world events. Excerpts from the transcript are provided below.

___________________

On this day the faithful are reminded that we are all dust, and we shall all return to dust. It is a time to confront our own frail humanity, our own mortality, and our own weaknesses. The fallen state of mankind is so often exhibited in ways that also underscore our mortality. These include war and persecution, two prime examples of man’s inhumanity to man. As we speak, there is strife around the world, as it seems there always is. We need hardly mention that chief among these are the conflict in Syria and the tensions in the Ukraine. In Syria, while the leaders of the world pretend that nothing is going on, Christians are being killed, harmed, tortured, and persecuted. Some are forced to leave their ancient homeland in search of safety, for Syria is indeed one of the oldest areas in Christendom. In the Ukraine we see the results of revolution and the chaos it brings. More often than not, the anarchist revolutionaries that bring about such chaos profess to be overthrowing a bad government, only to institute a worse system when they themselves come to power. It is a vicious cycle that plagues much of the world. Indeed, I cannot say with certainty that the promises of liberty of the American republicanists in the 18th century are truly being realized. Such is the cyclical nature of mankind’s existence. Thus We ask that at least a portion of your Lenten sacrifices be dedicated to the intentions of those people around the world who are suffering from injustice, persecution, torment, and warfare.

Within Our See, We are pleased to announce a marked increase in vocations. We ever strive to have the highest level of clerics in the service of Christ and His Holy Church within the flock entrusted to Our pastoral care.

We also announce, in the spirit of this year’s liturgical theme of Chivalry and Service, a reiterated effort to the preservation of the history and traditions of the Holy Roman Empire. These traditions are kept and maintained in a living way within Our Particular Church, which was indeed born out of the Holy Roman Empire. That which was created under the authority of the Supreme Pontiff over one thousand years ago has not died.

As we begin Lent today, we look forward to the coming festivities of the Easter Season. That itself is reason enough to proclaim that Lent is not a time of sorrow or boredom or difficulty, but is itself a time of joy as we realize the full extent of Christ’s Sacrifice for us all. How can the faithful begin to appreciate what they experience on Easter without Lent? It would be similar to an athlete receiving an Olympic medal without first having gone through the experience of training and preliminary competition. How could that be appreciated at all? Truly there is no Easter without Good Friday. That might be an oft-used expression, but it is true. Too often in the world today, people demand the joys of Easter without the Sacrifice of the Cross. That cannot be. It cannot produce real results. It is entirely contrary to the laws of nature. Let us, then, as a collection of faithful in Christ, serve as an example to the world that the people everywhere may learn to engage in selfless sacrifice and service to others to put themselves in solidarity with Our Lord on the Cross.

THE HOLY SEE WILL PARTICIPATE WITH A PAVILION AT EXPO MILAN 2015

Vatican City, 27 February 2014 (VIS) – This morning in the Holy See Press Office the protocol was presented for the participation of the Holy See at Expo Milan 2015. The general theme of the event will be “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, Commissioner General for the Holy See for Expo Milan 2015, and Giuseppe Sala, Sole Commissioner Delegate of the Italian Government for Expo Milan 2015, signed the Protocol this morning in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, and spoke at the press conference.

Expo Milan 2015 will begin on 1 May 2015 and will continue until 31 October; 140 countries will participate with their respective pavilions. The theme of the Holy See's pavilion will be “Not by bread alone”, and aims to “highlight, above all, the inner, religious and cultural dimension that affects both the person and his relationships at all levels. Inner nourishment is just as necessary as that which responds to more immediate needs”.

From the universal value of sharing and solidarity to the protection of the Earth's resources that must not be squandered or plundered, the Holy See's pavilion will promote profound reflection on the concept of “nourishment”, and will do so by presenting four areas.

The first is a garden to preserve, which relates to the protection of Creation, with all its resources, a gift given by the Creator to all humanity, and a patrimony that must not be wasted, plundered or destroyed. The second will be food to share; the Gospel account of the multiplication of bread will provide the guiding image and will underline the universal value of sharing and solidarity, expressed in the Christian context of the many institutions that have implemented this commandment of brotherly love. The third is a meal that educates, and emphasizes that education is fundamental for forming young generations in the context of a culture of human relations focused on the essentials and not on consumerist waste (of both goods and human beings); and the fourth is bread that makes God present in the world, based on the typically religious and Christian dimension of the Eucharist, the Word and Bread of life, the source and culmination of all Christian existence.

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