Alexy II’s Overtures Raise Hopes

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Russian Orthodox Invites Catholic Prelate to Study Joint Pastoral Work

MOSCOW, JAN. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow sent Benedict XVI New Year greetings by way of the representative of the Catholic Church in Russia — a gesture the Holy See official said points to a tendency toward collaboration.

At the end of the celebration of the Jan. 7 vigil of Orthodox Christmas in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, the patriarch talked with the apostolic nuncio to the Russian Federation, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, and with recently appointed Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of the Mother of God Archdiocese.

Archbishop Mennini told Vatican Radio that Alexy II offered his congratulations to Benedict XVI, expressing as well his closeness and fraternity.

“The patriarch beckoned the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God and me to approach. Together, we kissed the cross with which the faithful had been blessed,” Archbishop Mennini said. “After I’d introduced the new archbishop, the patriarch told him he was open to meeting with him soon, not only to get to know him better, but also to study together common pastoral projects benefiting the faithful of the region of Moscow.

“He said that the faithful who live in the region of Moscow are entrusted as much to my pastoral care as to yours and because of this we have to work and collaborate together.”

Alexy II then asked them again to offer the Pope his fervent best wishes for the New Year just begun. The patriarch added that “his sentiments and those of the Russian Orthodox Church are inspired by motives of great respect and great fraternity,” Archbishop Mennini continued.

The papal representative in Russia said he thinks this gesture “confirms a tendency toward collaboration that can be seen not only on a theoretical level, but also on a practical level.”

He mentioned a Dec. 28 meeting of a Catholic-Orthodox commission, planned some time ago, as proof of the common desire for collaboration.

Archbishop Mennini added, “It seems to me that there are no longer problems that the two sides cannot address openly and freely, without running the risk of breaking off relations, above all without running the risk of destroying the climate of trust and dialogue, based on reciprocal respect.”

ZE08010904 – 2008-01-09Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21445?l=english

Bartholomew I to Visit Pontiff

Posted on by Fr. Peter

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will receive in audience Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who will visit Rome to mark the 90th anniversary of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity confirmed the audience is scheduled for Thursday, March 6.

The patriarch will visit Rome for the celebrations of the anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, entrusted to the Society of Jesus, and established by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.

Bartholomew I himself received a doctorate from the institute.

Benedict XVI visited the patriarch in Turkey in 2006, on the occasion of the feast of St. Andrew.

On Dec. 6, the Pope received a delegation from the Pontifical Oriental Institute and recognized that the role the institute provides has “an effective ecumenical value, because drawing from the heritage of wisdom of the Christian East enriches everyone.”

ZE08010807 – 2008-01-08Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21436?l=english

New Hampshire

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So New Hampshire votes today! I am listening to NPR and it seems there are very long lines of people turning out to vote! I guess the weather is helping to get the vote out. If you are reading this and live in the Granite State go vote if you have not already done so.

Fr. Greg and I were going to be in New Hampshire today to podcast and cover the election for OCN but we both have funerals today so the election will take a back seat. I am sure we will cover the vote here in Massachusetts when that time comes next month.

Follow up from yesterday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So it would seem I had 35 hits yesterday because I included Brittany Spears and Dr. Phil in my post. I wonder if I will get another 35 today because I did it again. No comments were left so I do not know if anyone read my ramblings. I also did not hear if Dr. Phil was able to get Brittany (another 35 hits) on the show. More to come…

Dr. Phil & Britany

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I usually have a lot of respect for Dr. Phil. I like to watch his show and he seems to really help people. Now I know that much of what he takes on is driven by ratings but I think he has stooped to a new level with this Brittany Spears business.

Rod Dreher has a posting about it on his Crunchy Con Blog.

I feel bad for any person that has to go through what that family is going through. With that said I believe that much of it is brought on by themselves. Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and that ilk all need help. I also find it amazing that we eat this stuff up! The other day I was watching the local news and it was breaking news about Brit going to the hospital. What about our men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? What about gas prices going up while the oil companies post record earnings? What about the presidential election? No we get breaking news about another famous person acting stupid. Sorry if this sounds harsh but like the stars that fall we bring this all on ourselves. We live to see news about the so called beautiful people. Tom Cruise and whats-her-name have a child before they are married, BAM breaking news. Tom Brady, and his this week girl friend, have a child before marriage, BAM, braking news. Three fire fighters get hurt last night fighting a fire and where is it? Buried in a little box on page whatever in the paper.

Where are our priorities? What do we believe? Go for it Dr. Phil, make all the money you can. When your show airs latter on this week I bet it will have the best ratings of any show you have done all season, but I don’t think I will be watching.

Iowa

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well the first shots of the Presidential election season have been fired. The Iowa Caucus. Now I am not sure what happens at this event but it is traditionally the first test for candidates and as usually none of the front runners got the nod, who knows. Now the talking heads say the big test is New Hampshire.

It seems the election season get earlier and earlier each time round. I remember an episode from the West Wing. The President has just been re-elected (is that a hyphenated word?) and people started working on the next election. That seems strange. Anyway we are off and running. Actually we have been off and running for what seems like four years already.

We need to start paying attention to the candidates. I have not done much research as I usually wait till only the serious ones are left, well the ones who can get elected anyway. We need to pay attention to what they say. I told someone the other day that we need to read for ourselves what the candidates have to say and not listen to what other people said they said. We need to make up our own minds and let someone “spin” or if you believe Bill O’Riley “no spin” Read the candidates website and their official statements. Match their words with what we believe as Orthodox Christians or whatever we maybe. (I mean that in a nice way) I guess the bottom line is make up your own mind.

I try to stay on the fray of the political discussion and I do have some pretty hard and fast thoughts on things that I don’t always share. However, I feel this election will be one of the most important ones since reconstruction. Pay attention and make an informed decision. Don’t vote for the guy, or girl, that looks the best!

New Year Blessing

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have noticed that several people have found the blog by searching for the New Year Blessing so I thought I would recycle this post. I also want to wish all of my readers a very Happy, Blessed, and Healthy New Year! Thank you for reading my words over the last year and also listening to my new podcast that was started this year.

I am off in a few minutes to a celebration of Hogmany and then back here latter on. Be safe today.

God, bless to me the new day,
never vouchsafed to me before;
it is to bless your own presence
you have given me this time, O God.

Bless to my eye,
may my eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbor,
may my neighbor bless me.

God, give me a clean heart,
let me not from sight of your eye;
bless to me my family,
and bless to me my means.

Ancient Celtic Prayers collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912), published in Carmina Gadelica (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1992). These are prayers, hymns, and incantations collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the 18th century.

New England Patriots

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well I have seen some great sports in Boston, two world series wins, and a few super bowl wins but tonight the New England Patriots went 16-0 on the season! It is 11:20pm and I need to go to be before Liturgy tomorrow. Great Day!
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