May 2013 143

1JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND friend us on

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Bishop Ralph celebrated the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned this Easter with all the priests who were in Gibraltar.

The Chrism Mass sees the blessing of the three Holy Oils: the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Blessing of the Sick and the Oil of Chrism. These are used during the sacraments. The blessing of the Holy Oils is one of the most ancient ceremonies in the Church. Bishop Ralph said at the begining of his homily that, “This is a unique event in the Church’s calendar.” It is always celebrated in the Cathedral by the bishop surrounded by the priests, deacons, religious and lay people from his diocese.

During the Chrism Mass all priests made a renewal of their commitment to priestly service.The blessing of oil is very ancient, there is documented evidence of this liturgy from the fourth century, but it is certainly of earlier origin. Nowadays the People of God, bishops, priests, deacons and the lay faithful, assemble at Cathedrals all around the world for the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday. In our case, the main celebrant, the Bishop Ralph, is surrounded by the priests of his diocese, whose presence demonstrates their unity with him. As Maundy Thursday is the day on which both the Mass and the priesthood were instituted, Pope Paul VI introduced the renewal of the

priestly commitment into the liturgy. This is followed by the blessing of oils and the consecration of Chrism.The use of oil in sacred rites was common in the semitic world of the Old Testament. Jacob (about 1800 BC) erected a pillar at Bethel, where God had appeared to him, and anointed it to be a sanctuary –‘the house of God’ (Genesis 28:10-22). When Aaron (about 1250 BC) and his sons were consecrated as priests they were anointed, as were the Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 30:22-31). Kings were anointed: Saul, David (about 1000 BC),

Chrism Mass

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Chrism Mass

“This event is unique in the Church’s calendar.” Solomon - either by priest or prophet (eg. I Samuel 16:12,13). The purpose of anointing was to dedicate a person or object as sacred in God’s service.The Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens are plain olive oil, the Oil of Chrism is perfumed with balsam.The Oil of the Sick is brought to the altar by members of the medical profession. The Bishop blesses this oil praying: “May your blessing come upon all who are anointed with this oil, that they may be freed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul.” Then the Oil of Catechumens is brought, the Bishop blesses this oil praying that God will: “Give wisdom and strength to all who are anointed with it in preparation for their baptism”. Then representatives of those to

be confirmed and ordained bring the Oil of Chrism. Reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination to the priesthood and episcopacy are accompanied by anointing with the Oil of Chrism. These sacraments give a permanent, irremovable character - the seal of the Holy Spirit which lasts to eternity. They confer an intimate identity with Christ, conforming us, in the depths of our being, more closely to his person and his mission as priest, prophet and king. The anointing is the sign that a person has been chosen, and consecrated to fulfil a specific role in God’s plan under the influence of the Holy Spirit.When a church is consecrated, the Oil of Chrism is used by the bishop to anoint the consecration crosses. It is also poured on the altar when it is dedicated.The

Bishop invokes the Holy Spirit by breathing on the oil, and consecrates it, praying: “Make this mixture of oil and perfume a sign and source of your blessing. Pour out the gifts of your Holy

Spirit on our brothers and sisters who will be anointed with it. Let the splendour of holiness shine on the world from every place and thing signed by this oil.”

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Irecived a telephone call from GBC,” related Bishop Ralph, “to inform me that we had a new Pope and I was needed to give a live interview on the News

programme later that evening. I switched on the TV to get the name of the new Holy Father. But no name came. In the end I had for leave for the studio without a name. By the time I reached the Studio an announcement had been made. I was taken into a room with a monitor showing a picture of the new Pope and his name beneath the photograph. My first response was to say to the crew, ‘Don’t ask me anything about this man because I haven’t heard of him until now!’”Speaking during the Mass for the Inauguration of Pope Frances His Lordship continued, ‘The election of Pope Francis took us all by surprise. Vatican-watchers and pundits couldn’t have got it more wrong – indicative, perhaps, that The Holy Spirit of God blows where it will! Having reflected on the election overnight, I came to the conclusion that the cardinals choice is both inspired and inspiring.’ Speaking to the cardinals after his election, he publicly committed himself to the task entrusted to him:“I express my desire to serve the Gospel with renewed love, helping the Church to become the fruitful vine of the Lord...... I will try to respond faithfully to the Church’s perennial mission to bring Jesus Christ to mankind and to lead mankind to an encounter with Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, truly present in the Church and in every person.”

At the conclusion of his hom-ily Bishop Ralph reminded us, “In his last address to the Car-dinals, Pope Benedict promised “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor. Nothing less is asked of us.’

WWhen the an-nouncement was

made that Pope Francis was elected I was cooking supper,” Christine Frendo, of the Secu-lar Franciscan Order recalls, “having just arrived from the Chapel of Adoration. During that time of prayer I had been very aware of the importance of the moment. The conclave was taking place and there was an air of expect-ancy because of the moment the Church is living. This, I thought, was a very crucial election. I also wondered whether one of the Franciscan Cardinals would be chosen. Imagen my surprise when they made the announcement and I heard, that even though he is a Jesuit he had chosen the name “Francis”! There were moments of excitement and then different saints were mentioned but finally we learned that the name had in-deed been chosen in honour of our blessed Fr. Francis. For Fran-ciscans this implies: his desire to be a force of peace and unity, a heart for the poor, and his desire “to rebuild the church.”What an amazing moment when the Pope bowed to receive the prayer of all his brothers and

sisters: a sign of humility, of simplicity before imparting his blessing Urbi et Orbi.In the General Audience of 16th March, 3 days after his election he himself explained his choice of name. He said that when his election was imminent, his great friend the Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of San Paulo, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, hugged him, and said: “Do not forget the poor.” The Pope, pointed to his heart and said that he immediately thought of St. Francis of Assisi, because of his love for the poor, because he was a man of peace, and also because of his love and

respect for creation. We held our Fraternity Meeting on 31st March, Easter Sunday, and all the members shared their excitement on the Pope’s choice of name, but were also very touched by his very Franciscan traits. We spoke about the Good Friday homily, traditionally given by Papal preacher Father Raniero Cantalamessa OFM, CAP, in the presence of Pope Francis, who urged Catholics to seize “this moment in which a new time is opening for the Church” and remove any obstacles that stand in the way of sharing Christ. He listed “the impediments…

FIRst Impressions

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WWHis choice of name implies his desire to be a force of peace and unity, a heart for the poor, and his desire “to rebuild the church.” Christine Frendo (see main article) WWHe looks like a good man, and a good candidate for the Papacy, humble and straightforward. Louise Stagnetto

WWAn every day Pope for the people, very concerned about the poor, and showing great humility. Susan & Eric Goldwin: WWGreat! Fantastic! The Holy Spirit at work. Couldn’t have been better. Frances Moreno

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that can restrain the messenger: dividing walls, starting with those that separate the various Christian churches from one another, the excess of bureaucracy etc.” Fr. Cantalamessa, who is also Franciscan, stressed “we must have the courage to knock [the impediments] down and return the building to the simplicity and linearity of its origins. He continued: “This was the mission that was received one day by a man who prayed before the Crucifix of San Damiano: ‘Go, Francis, and repair my Church.’”On 14th March, Encarnación

del Pozo OFS, our Minister General, wrote to the Order of her great joy on hearing the news of the election of Pope Francis. Encarnación referred to the signs of fraternity, simplicity, humility and poverty shown by the Holy Father when he first appeared on the balcony. She commented on the significance of the choice of the name Francis for our Order, and challenged each of us to make a new commitment to support the Holy Father and with him, repair the church and renew the face of the earth. She wrote:“The name Francis recognizes the Lord’s call to repair the

house, through the charism of Francis and his spirituality, in full conformity to Christ. This Jesuit Pope has given us the most concrete signs of an authentic Franciscan! And today, in his first homily, he has left us with three 'mandates': walk, build, confess. Confess Christ crucified! His name and this beginning of his pontificate are like the sign and the program for a vigorous revival of a Church, evangelical and apostolic, which gives preference to the poor and to the brothers and sisters, a Church rooted in our Lord Jesus, sine glossa, as was thought and seen by Francis.

All of us, professed Secular Franciscans, have a still larger duty to perform, that of supporting him with all our strength, through prayer, witness and action. May the infinitely Good God fill Pope Francis with blessings and with his grace!”To finish I would like to quote a priest who was participating on EWTN Television, during the election of Pope Francis. He said “Pope Francis will bring comfort to the afflicted, but he will also afflict the comfortable”! Contact the Secular Franciscans email: [email protected]

WWFantastic! Very humble man, soneone to look up to, a breath of fresh air, and he will bring fresh air for the youth. Robert Reading WWHe comes across as very humble, with a lovely smile and his humanity and friendliness are plain to see. I love his choice of name and it is very clear he is an authentic man. Olga and Willy Caruana

the Faith because of the way he spoke about forgiveness and love and unity. Mari Louisa Dali

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WWFrom what we have seen he appears to be just the man the Catholic Church needs at this time. Mayor Tony Lima and Mrs Lima WWI’m happy with the new Pope, he is different. With his humility I think he will renew the Church and

WWA lovely man, he is so friendly, I love him. He is approachable and kind. Yesterday [19th Feb] he stopped the car as they drove him and got out and kissed a disabled man. I think he is going to reach beyond the Catholic world to win people over. Vicky Desoiza WWThe Cardinals’ choice is both inspired and inspiring. Bishop Ralph Heskett (see main article)“

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•This is a wonderful way to mark the day and for the whole community to bear a common witness. Mark Jackson, Kings Chaple. •Unity is the source of Life, it is what Jesus wanted, he died for this and for all of us. Elizabeth Chipolina. •Unity is indispensable, and we have to achieve it before the EU achieve monetary union, otherwise they will not believe us. Henry Earle, Gibraltar Youth Ministry. •Christian Unity? Well I’m

delighted that we do this once a year, at least. Tina Kirkby, Christ the King Prayer Group. •It is important that people get on between the different Chris-tian Religions, and the sooner young people take it up the better. Annie Coelho, Cursillo

de Christiandad. •We all should be one in Jesus. Xavier Frendo, Order of Secular Franciscans. •Christian Unity is very close to my heart as my Grandmother was Anglican and I grew up going to both services and so it is where my roots are. Margaret Llombard, Christ the King Prayer Group. •This procession on Good Friday, in Gibraltar, is a very special thing. Catholics and Christians are commemorating with Jesus as the Jewish people look out from their windows, and the Muslims walk past on the way to their Friday prayers, this is the Unity Christ died for. I find this very moving,

here it is a way of life, a living example to the whole world, it is as it says in the Psalm: How good, how delightful it is to live as brothers all together! It is like a fine oil on the head, running down the beard, run-ning down Aaron’s beard, onto the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the heights of Zion; for there Yahweh bestows his blessing, ever-lasting life. Ronnie Alecio, Gibraltar Youth Ministry. •We have one thing in common but we have differ-ent ways of worshipping. It is like we are all branches

of the same tree but it is important to remember that Jesus is the vine. Lizzie Ferrary, Kelly Peli-za, Matthew Ferrary. Faith and Light Gibraltar. •Unity keeps us together as a com-munity but of late its more difficult. People are losing faith at least in the last 10 years, maybe our generation, perhaps its because of ma-terialism or stress. Brian and Stephanie Schembri, St. Bernard’s Parish. •Unity helps us to be able to share the Faith and praying together like we are today helps us to evangelize where we live. Denise Duo, Catholic Youth Cell. •This procession is a very moving part of the Easter weekend,

when we see how peo-ple from different Chris-tian Churches join to-gether to recall the walk to Calvery where Christ was crucified. Charles Marfe, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. (more photos on facebook)

Y ou might have been forgiven for not

attending the two talks by Fr. Jim McManus on Saturday the 6th of April, for it was the first

of the warm sunny weekends.However I can tell you that between forty and fifty people, including several members of the clergy, were treated to talks on the 'Theology of the Body' and 'Forgiveness' given by a world class speaker and frequently published author, a fellow Redemptorist and long-time collegue of our own Bishop Ralph who introduced his friend with much joviality. While the light-hearted intro had us all laughing along with the two friends, it did not prepare

Love & ForgivenessOn Good Friday, an Ecumenical Stations of the Cross was held, the assembled Christians processed from Casemates Square to Cathe-

dral Square. En route participants were asked why Unity is important...

“The one who suffers most from un-forgiveness is the one who needs to forgive.” Denise Duo, Catholic Youth Cell “Forgiveness is essential, from any angle, if you can’t forgive,

it is always going to hold you back from moving on after anything that has happened.” Angela Perera, St. Bernards Parish. “Talking about Forgiveness, the Our Father comes

Angela Sargent shares a little from the talks by Fr. Jim McManus CSsR


The Renewal retreat with Padre Chus

Love & Forgivenessus for how deeply Fr. Jim’s words were going to reach into our hearts. We found ourelves plumbing the depths of our souls and turning over a few old hurts, and examining them in light of the new data he presented to us. Now that might sound a bit scientific, but Fr. Jim has approached his subjects with a rigorous methodology, at times teaming up with proffessionals in the areas of psychology and medicine to further his research.The results were mind-blowing. Maybe we were initially lulled

into a false sense of cosiness, with free flowing coffee and a lavish selection of biscuits served at the Catholic Community Centre. But there was no escape from those challenging words, which reached down and pierced any hurt like a double-edged sword. That all sounds a bit painful, and maybe it would have been if we were not in the same moment prescribed with the medicine with which to heal the hurt and and bind up those old wounds.Fr. Jim spoke gently, good humourdly and with authority,

giving footnoted references for his healing teachings. I’m now speaking generally, about both talks, at first I didn’t get the relationship between them, but of course, they are sublimely suited to work in tandem. If I were to give two wee examples of points that I found fresh and useful, I’d choose firstly: 'What forgiveness is not'. When I found I could cut all the things that forgiveness is not, away from forgiveness itself, I realised it was going to be a lot easier to forgive than I had previously

to mind, it does not come naturally to forgive, so we pray that ‘God forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others’. We should forgive others by the same token as we

are forgiven by God.” Denis Hook, Confraternity of Our Lady of Europe “Being able to forgive is one of the most important things in life, and understandably, very hard for some

to do.” T essa Imossi, Co-Workers of Mother Theresa “The most difficult thing to do is forgive oneself.” Julio Alcantera, an interested parishioner.

believed. And as a man who lived through the height of the Northern Irish troubles, Fr. Jim had plenty of experience of helping people to find forgiveness.Secondly I’d choose: ‘I am my body’ from the first talk. How often have we been taught to regard the body as of less importance to the soul? Well its time to update that concept too! I understand Fr. Jim is to return next year, but meanwile his teachings are available from The Cornerstone Bookshop.

Angela Sargent shares a little from the talks by Fr. Jim McManus CSsR


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Marriage Encounter Weekend31 May - 2 June 2013

The Weekend is intended for married couples who the Catholic Church defines as having committed themselves to “the marriage covenant by which a man and a woman establish themselves as a partnership for their whole life.” Although Catholic in origin and ethos, married couples of any or no faith are welcome.The next Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held from Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June 2013 at the Europa Retreat Centre.

Take your

MaRRIaGe to new heights

the early sixties in Gibraltar saw the opening of a residen-

tial nursing home for elderly people. This was initially run by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood and became known as Mount Alvernia whose Motherhouse is in Surrey, Eng-land. The name comes from La Verna, a hill in Tuscany, Italy, where St. Francis of Assisi re-ceived the wounds of the Cross. For over thirty years Maurice and Mercy Posso have been at the helm of the Friends of Mt. Alver-nia, a voluntary organisation ded-icated to the welfare of the resi-dents and has nothing to with the running of the home. The Friends came together in response to a re-quest from the Nuns who needed to fund raise for wheel chairs and other badly needed equipment. At that time only four wheelchairs were available and this meant that residents had to await their turn to be moved. Today, thanks to the sterling work by the Friends there are a total of fifty wheelchairs, as well as a plethora of special beds, television sets with satellite con-nection, laundry equipment, dish-washers, toasters etc., all to help make life easier for the residents. Sitting in their living room talk-ing to Maurice and Mercy I asked them how their involvement with the Friends came about. They had both attended a Cursillo and Mercy explained how she had met Jesus in compassion for the sick and “learned a great lesson” at that retreat. It became clear to her that it was “not what you have done, but what you have not done at all”. She ‘learned a great lesson’ and came to understand that Jesus wants us to love Him in our neighbours; “whatever you do to the least of my brethern, you do it to me”. In this Mercy felt she was failing completely. In joining the Friends she found the opportunity to put the love of God into living action. Both Maurice and Mercy became volunteers and eventually com-mittee members working tireless-ly and selflessly for thirty years, with a genuine and deep desire to make life easier for others. Their first big task was to fundraise for

new buses and have acquired two bigger, specially adapted buses, one equipped with a wheelchair lift. This has made it easier to of-fer outings to the residents and these now run twice a month. They go to the dog show, the fair, Alameda open air theatre, the Leisure Centre, Catalan Bay, and have been invited to the Convent garden for tea, for example, and all of this has greatly enhanced the lives of the residents. “It is very important to keep up with changing Gibraltar and these trips out help everyone to keep up to date,” Maurice explained. “We are a family”, Mercy enthused, “we are all God’s children and it is important to feel loved and wanted. Over the years we have become attached to each other, sharing our joys and sorrows in unconditional love”. Fund raising is at the core of what the Friends do, without it, life for the residents might be rather dull. They are our senior citizens who have contributed to Gibraltar by rearing families and helping make our Rock the great place it is to live today. We owe them a dept of gratitude which must not be forgotten, they are parents, grandparents and tomor-row it could be you. As Maurice and Mercy leave behind thirty years of dedicated service I found this quote com-ing to mind, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” (Gandhi) As a legacy they are leaving behind a vibrant working committee as the work must go on. Work which includes keeping the resi-dents active and happy, like the Tuesday bingo sessions, where help is available to mark tickets for those visually impaired or hard of hearing. Structural im-provements include a cinema, where films and the ever popular Zarzuelas are shown; there is a hair saloon where every resi-dent can avail of a free monthly hairdo and the kitchen has been refurbished for the resients use. I wondered how Maurice and Mer-cy felt about stepping down from the committee. “Very sad, but we know the work will go on, we have said we are available for ad-vice for a while, but we are ready

With a little help from our FRIeNDs Mercy and Maurice Posso call it a day on The Friends of Mount Alvernia Committee.

Anne Mesilio writes...


to enjoy some more time with our family now after so many years with Mt. Alvernia at the centre of our lives, but having said that,

we will keep on with the chapel to help with sunday services, this has always been important to us”. The aim of the work of the Friends

is to help make the residents twi-light years comfortable and en-joyable. “God loves a cheerful giver” and as Maurice and Mercy

prepare for a new chapter in their lives, may their years be filled with all the good things they are looking forward to.

With a little help from our FRIeNDs Mercy and Maurice Posso call it a day on The Friends of Mount Alvernia Committee.

Anne Mesilio writes...


A Springtime hymn to Mary.the month of May

is taditionally dedicated to Mary, Mother of God

and it is considered in many cultures to be the season of the beginning of new life. In pagan Celtic times, May heralded the season of change and was cel-ebrated with fire and flower fes-tivals, and in ancient Rome too May was dedicated to Flora, the Goddess of blooms and blos-soms. Her name continues to be used as a collective term for plant life and flowers. The Cath-olic practice of assigning a spe-cial devotion to each month goes back to the early sixteenth cen-tury. In this way the church was able to Christianise the secular feasts which took place at those times. Just as a matter of interest, seeing that we have the first ever Jesuit Pope, this practice became very popular with Jesuits and from there it spread to the whole church.May is a joyous month; the sun casts light into winter’s lurking shadows, the breeze is warm, the insects are buzzing, the swallows dip and weave, it is a time to revel in the promise of summer. I found this lovely poem;

the happy birds Te Deum sing, ‘tis Mary’s month of May, her smile turns winter into spring, and darkness into day.

There’s a fragrance in the air, the bells their music make, and oh, the world is bright and fair, and all for Mary’s sake!

Who was Mary? She was a woman who lived a simple life in rural Galilee. She lived we imag-ine in a mud brick house just like her neighbours. She would have worked at making bread, first grinding the wheat into flour. She would have carried the water from the well, and, with all the villagers, she would have lived in harmony with the seasons. Her life story begins for us with the Annunciation, when the An-gel Gabriel appeared to her to announce the astounding news of her divine selection to be the mother of Jesus. Her humility and unquestioning obedience to God’s will, are enviable at-tributes for us to emulate. What could so easily become envy, discontent aroused by another’s possessions or success, can, in our emulation of Mary, lead us to the cultivation of virtue. Be-fore we can attempt this, the sin of envy needs to be understood. In envy, a person resents another who has something they do not, and wishes to take away what they themselves wish they had. Thomas Aquinas, philosopher and theologian (1225-1274), defined envy as “sorrow at an-

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May


A Springtime hymn to Mary.

May other’s well being”. How sad is that! Another way to look at it, is that charity rejoices in another’s good fortune, while envy grieves over it. Envy is the only deadly sin men-tioned in the Ten Command-ments; “you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, his male serv-ant, or his female servant, his ox, his donkey or anything else that is your neighbours”! (Exodus 20;17). Envy is a sin of the spirit and is considered worse than the sins of the flesh, e.g., drunken-ness, gluttony, etc. With tongue in cheek, I have heard it said that if you must pick a sin, try for lust or gluttony, that way you will have something to remember the weekend for and not for the best of reasons of course! Be that as it may, it serves to highlight that envy is a sin of the spirit and as such erodes our soul. Envy cre-ates havoc in the human heart because it is actually becoming emotionally upset at the talen-tor gifts that others might have. Envy and jealousy seem to ex-ist together but the difference is that jealousy (the green eyed monster) is an excessive love of one’s own good, accompanied by the fear of being deprived of it by others. We are envious of another’s good and jealous of our own. Envy leads to hatred, idolatry, malicious gossip, pride, vanity, etc.It is difficult to deal with this deadly sin, but for help let us look to Mary. She is the first and highest in the virtues of humil-ity, faith, obedience, prayer, self denial, purity, love, kindness and wisdom, and lacking any one of these she would not have been chosen as the mother of God. The Angel Gabriel greeted her as ‘full of grace’ immediately set-ting her apart and distinguishing

her among all women. In this, her month, the tradition of honouring her with flowers and May proces-sions, I hope is a custom which lives on. A May altar, once the de-light of my heart, as together with my mother we gathered ‘flowers of the rarest from garden and hill-side and woodland and dale’ and often I had to range far and wide to make sure our little altar was never without the fairest blooms. Mary of course is the fairest flower of all, she is a model for all women and through her we hon-our all mothers. I came across the following tradition from Victorian times, which resonate with the world we live in today, and I would like to share it with you. Our new Pope Francis in his inaugural homily today asked us; “To protect Jesus with Mary, to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, espe-cially the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which all of us are called, so that the star of hope will shine brightly. Let us protect with love all that God has given us”!

the tradition of making a

May Basket

The May basket is to be filled with flowers and small treats and left hanging from the doorknob of neighbours and sweethearts. The object is to leave your gift anonymously and without being discovered in the act. Renew this lovely tradition but do it with a Marian twist. In honour of Our Lady’s month and her solidarity with the poor, suffering, and vulnerable, make one for someone in need — a

single parent, someone who is grieving, someone who lost their job, or an elderly person who is lonely. Fill the basket with flowers, fresh produce from your local farmers market, a loaf of bread, a gift card to your local grocery store, a book of poems, a picture of the Blessed Mother, — be creative!What a lovely and generous idea for the world of want we live in, and an unique way of singing your own Springtime hymn of praise to Mary.

A Day of Prayer5th May 2013at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe


Dr. Monique Risso

This month, I am sharing with you a really interesting article about an Adult Stem Cell conference which was held at the Vatican in April, readers may like to hear more about what the Church has to say on this issue. You can find the complete article via this link: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/a-shift-in-science-and-culture

Adult Stem Cell Vatican Conference stem cell research

has been the center of an ethical debate between proponents of embryonic stem cell research and those of adult stem cell research.

Adult stem cells are taken from adult tissue samples as opposed to embryonic stem cells, which are derived from destroyed human embryos.

Scientists are discovering that adult stem cells are a proven method of obtaining stem cells with the ability to regenerate. Once cultivated, the stem cells can be used to regenerate and replenish dying tissue in the body of a person suffering from a debilitating disease, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Cardinal Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, who was presenting at the press conference prior to the event, said that the conference hosted by the Vatican will give the Church an opportunity to show that “religion does not solely speak on matters of ethics, but affirms the participation of a positive development” in adult stem cell research. The conference, he continued, would allow the Catholic Church to “not only give a spiritual intervention, but to make present Christ’s public ministry in caring for the sick.”Cardinal Ravasi concluded his statement with a passage from the address by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI to participants of the last conference on adult stem cell research, held in 2011.“The potential benefits of adult stem cell research are very considerable, since it opens

up possibilities for healing chronic degenerative illnesses by repairing damaged tissue, restoring its capacity for regeneration,” Benedict XVI’s address stated.“The improvement that such therapies promise would constitute a significant step forward in medical science, bringing fresh hope to sufferers and their families alike. For this reason, the Church naturally offers her encouragement to those who are engaged in conducting and supporting research of this kind, always with the proviso that it be carried out with due regard for the integral good of the human person and the common good of society.”Msgr. Tomasz Trafny, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture’s Science and Faith foundation, stated that the course of action of the previous conference focused primarily on three things: understanding, knowing, and studying.“We wanted to understand the consequences the field of regen-erative medicine in general, and adult stem cells in particular, might have upon society and cul-ture,” he said. “It was very clear that the impact and the cultural dynamics of the research can-not be understood without first knowing what it is, and it can-not be known unless it is stud-ied. This perspective of constant study and reflection is always valid because research progress-

es, and we don’t want to follow it, but rather accompany it.”However, he continued, the organizers of the 2011 conference saw the need to further expand on the subject, focusing on three other terms: “translation, formation, and dissemination”.“We realized that contemporary science seems increasingly hermetic, impenetrable to the uninitiated and, as such, needs translation, without which it sometimes becomes difficult, if not impossible, to follow its development,” he said.“So we focused mainly, on first asking the speakers to make their knowledge more accessible to those without a scientific background. But immediately after the conference we were committed to identifying possible paths of development and dissemination at a high level. The publication of our book, ‘The Healing Cell’, is part of that process and we are happy that, last year, we were able to present a limited edition of the book to Pope Benedict XVI.” Msgr. Trafny stressed to those present at the press briefing, the need for dialogue and cooperation at various levels in order to overcome the prejudice associated with stem cell research, thus allowing for a more “meaningful impact on culture”.

Msgr. Tomasz went to some lengths to underline the Vatican’s commitment to those who are struggling with the pain of degenerative disease and who are awaiting hopeful signs from the research.


Life in the sPIRItUpon This Rock talks to Joanna Lett about

Christ the King Prayer Group held a ‘Life in the Spirit’

Seminar at the Retreat Center on the Weekend of the 5th-7th April. On the last day we asked Joanna Lett a few questions.

QWhat has it meant to you to take part in this

weekend retreat? I can only speak from my own perspective, but as a member of a newly formed core group, its been a bit chaotic, trying to ensure everything runs smoothly, but God has been very kind and the weekend has been very spirit led and we have seen the participants change.

QIn what way do the participants react when

they come here?When they come in on Friday they are all a little bit unsure of why they are here, some are not sure that they want to be here, and others are a bit shy. But as time time goes by they relax and they start to enjoy the company.

QWhat effect do the talks have?

When people arrive it is clear they are all searching for something, for love and for healing. Some are carrying a lot of sorrow and coming here is a cry for help. While they are with us they hear that there is more to life than they thought.As part of the programme we have people who have walked a little further with the Lord who come and share their testimonies. They tell of how they led

empty lives before they had an encounter with God. One person explained that he did a Life in the Spirit seminar, took everything in, and listened to all the talks, but walked out at the end of the weekend feeling completely unchanged. Then, how five days later, he felt a burning desire within him to read scripture, he needed to read and read the Word of God, and from that experience he knew he had a calling to the priesthood. He is now a member of our clery, Fr. Johnathan.Another young person broke down in tears after giving his testimony today. He explained he had heard the words in his heart, ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’ at first he joked and asked ‘What? Am I going to die today?’ recognizing the words of Jesus to the thief as he hung on the Cross, but as this young man was relating the story to the group earlier, it dawned on him that this is what God wants for us, for us to experience paradise with Him now, that every day we can have heaven on earth if we search for it, that was Henry Earle’s son, Henry.

QHow do the participants respond?

These personal testimonies have a very powerful effect, when people hear how the lives of others have been touched and changed by the Holy Spirit. We also have five talks and in between there are ‘workshops’, which are private and confidential, where

people can open up and share their problems, any issues they have or questions about our Faith that can be aired in a safe environment. They discover they are not alone and that most of us have been in similar situations or had similar doubts. Even if the group leader does not have all the answers, sharing these burdens offers a release.

QWhat is the key point of the weekend?

The ‘Baptism in the Spirit’ is the key of the whole weekend, the participants will be Baptized in the Spirit as part of the Mass today, they will receive a renewal of the graces of the Holy Spirit and will start a new life, with the Gifts of the Spirit, after this personal encounter with God. This can happen at any time in a person’s life some of us have searched for a long time before finding this, the more open people are, the more they will feel, that is why we see tears, there is a real feeling of release. But everyone is different, and even if they walk away feeling

nothing, the seed has been planted while they are here, and they have the opportunity to build personal relationships with others around them.

Q What happens next?

After the weekend we begin a series of growth talks in our weekly meetings, people need time to digest what they have heard and experienced, and it is important to have follow up talks and information over the next weeks and months. This morning the word ‘steadfast’ is in my heart because it is not all about feelings, which bubble up and are gone quickly. We have to learn how to build our relationship with the Lord, He is always there for us but we have to understand how to talk to Him and, very importantly, how to listen, and what better way to do that than through reading the Scriptures which are His Word.

Joanna says please call her if you would like to know

more about Life in the Spirit on Mobile tel no. 58008446

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In the early days of the Church, before there were religious Orders,

women would offer their lives to God as consecrated virgins while still living an otherwise normal life in their local com-munities. With the rise of religious life centered in convents and mon-asteries at the beginning of the sixth century A.D., fewer and fewer women were consecrated to live ‘in the world’, or outside

convents, until this practice was discontinued in the Middle Ages. However, the Rite of Consecra-tion to a Life of Virginity was preserved by certain religious Orders, who retained the ritual in conjunction with their contem-plative nuns’ solemn profession. Then, in the latter half of the twentieth century, in accord with the Vatican II document Sacro-sanctum Concilium, the Rite of Consecration was revised, and the vocation of Consecrated Vir-ginity in the world, was restored to the life of the modern Church.Today, Consecrated Virginity is one of the only forms of wom-en’s consecrated life which in-volves a deep spiritual bond with the local Church. Unlike a reli-gious sister, who in some sense

must ‘leave’ her diocese in order to join her convent, a consecrat-ed virgin continues to be fully a part of the local Church, and she lives out her consecrated life di-rectly under the authority of her bishop. Thus, consecrated vir-gins are called to dedicate their lives to prayer for, and service to, their home diocese.Although consecrated virgins and religious sisters are simi-lar, in the sense that the Church regards them both as publicly consecrated persons, receiving the Rite of Consecration is dif-ferent from professing religious vows. Where religious vows are essentially promises that an in-dividual actively makes to God, consecration to a life of virgin-ity is a solemn blessing which a

woman passively receives from God through the ministry of the bishop. Because of this, the con-secration itself is permanent and can never be dispensed.One of the consecrated virgin’s primary obligations is prayer, and so consecrated virgins de-vote a substantial amount of time to worship and to the contempla-tion of Divine realities. This is fulfilled through attendance at daily Mass, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and spending time in personal prayer and spiritual reading. Consecrated virgins have a special focus on the Di-vine Office, for that purpose they are presented with a breviary during the Rite of Consecration and commissioned to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. In their

Introducing an old ‘New Concept’

The Consecrated Virgin is the oldest recognized form of consecrated life in the Catholic Church, predating religious life by centuries.

a Pure Call Consecrated Virgins living in the World.


prayers, consecrated virgins in-tercede for the whole Church, re-membering especially the bish-ops, priests, and all the people of their diocese. Consecrated virgins do not fol-low the spirituality of any one particular saint or founder. How-ever, the Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity contains a profound spirituality of its own. These ancient and beautiful prayers celebrate the spousal re-lationship between a consecrated virgin and Christ—a relationship which is described as an image of Christ’s love for His Church. The Church considers a conse-crated virgin to be a “bride of Christ” because she freely of-

fers herself, and all the love she would have given to a husband and children, to Christ alone for the glory of God and the salva-tion of His people. In living as a spouse of Christ, a consecrated virgin anticipates what will be the reality for all the faithful in Heaven, where they “neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels.” (Matthew 22:30). Consecrated virgins serve as a witness and reminder to the fact that Christ is the ultimate fulfillment, not only of the longings of the hu-man heart, but also of all time and history. Like the Bride in the book of Revelation, consecrated virgins are called to love Christ

with such totality that their whole lives constantly echo the cry: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (cf. Revelation 22:17, 20)At various times we have had religious sisters and brothers living in communities, or along-side members of the local clergy, but the Consecrated Virgin con-tinues to live independently. No one has risen to this calling in our small but vibrant Diocese of Gibraltar. Until now!On September 7th of this year, one of our local women will be consecrated at the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. In the fol-lowing months we hope to pub-lish an interview with her.

If you would like to know a bit more about Consecrated Virgins Living in the World, pleasecontact Bishop Ralph directly, your Parish Priest, or Spiritual Director.

We ask Our Lady to intercede for more vocations in following Christ in this extreme, intimate, yet humble manner in the service of the Church whilst continuing to live locally.


May 2013 143

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Transcript of May 2013 143