How many Christians remember the date of their baptism? Off the cuff, during the General Audience, this question sprang from the lips of Pope Francis, who then urged: “I would like to ask each of you here, and you can respond in your heart: how many of you remember the date of your baptism?”. The Pontiff was speaking about the motherhood of the Church and with this question went straight to the heart of matter of being Christian itself. And this is relevant and crucial for believers and non-believers alike.

It's a question that, from the earliest centuries, has excited curiosity and interest. It was recently the subject of two editorials by the founder of one of the most influential Italian Dailies, who posed a series of questions to the Pope. And the Pope decided to respond to Eugenio Scalfari with a long letter published in full by La Repubblica. This response was unusual, but it fits in perfect continuity with the Pope's search for dialogue with the world, a conversation defined by Francis as “open and without preconceptions”, inherent in the Gospel and renewed by Vatican II.

A gift from God, the faith is not inoculated “in a laboratory”, but handed down as in a family. That is why the Church, precisely as mother, generates and raises Christians. And this is the motive for which - explained the Pontiff – one does not belong to the Church as one adheres to a society, a party or an organization. In short, “it is not filling out a form that they give you, but an interior and vital bond”, just as “one has with one's mother”.

The Mother Church who gives birth to Christians is likewise constituted by them, by all of them. It would be contradicting oneself to want to separate faith in God from the Church. And by it's nature the community of believers – demonstrated every day by Pope Francis, just as at the Astalli Centre in Rome – cannot remain closed in self-reference, but must go out: to “bring Christ to everyone” and to testify to all of his merciful face.

This question was asked in Zenit and here is the answer that was given;
  A search in several languages has failed to produce much in the way of Church norms on this point.

Even civil legislation varies widely. An Italian law, for example, allows dogs on leash into most public spaces except where food is prepared. Guide or service dogs for the blind are allowed even into these. In other countries entrance to public spaces is more or less restricted, or the decision is left to the owners of the premises.

Local culture and attitudes toward animals is also an important factor. Some societies have a very positive attitude towards the presence of pets, while others are less welcoming. It does not appear that any universal norm can be established.

This would also hold true, more or less, for churches. From what I have been able to glean from various sources, it would appear that in most cases the final decision would fall upon the priest, who should decide in accordance with general principles and local situations.

In most cases, however, the response of priests would be to discourage the faithful from bringing their pets to church, except for the case of service animals.

Indeed, this feeling would be shared by the majority of the faithful. Most people would consider it inappropriate to bring their own pets to church and would be uncomfortable in a situation where those of others were present.

Among the reasons for this reluctance are the following:

-- Most members of the faithful come to church to worship God with their full attention. If they want to be entertained, then they go to a concert or a play. If they desire to enjoy a pet's company, then they go to the park. Likewise they probably leave their pets alone at home on many other occasions such as when they go to work, the theater, or attend a formal social event. Therefore, there is even more reason not to bring them along to church where they could be a source of distraction to themselves or others.

-- The pets do not benefit from the celebration, and indeed the close-packed environment might even be a source of stress for the animals themselves.

The exception is, of course, the annual blessings of animals that are carried out on the feasts of certain saints such as Francis of Assisi. On these occasions, however, the entire celebration or the blessing ceremony is usually held outdoors and not inside the church building.

-- Even the best-trained and cleanest pets can still cause allergic or phobic reactions for no small number of people young and old. Most Christians would wish to avoid being an agent, even involuntarily, of such difficulties for fellow worshippers.

These are just some reasons why both priests and faithful would be generally unfavorable toward bringing dogs and other animals into church. There may be some exceptions and more or less tolerance in some places, but I believe this is the overall view.

This fact does not mean that the Church has a negative view of animals and does not appreciate them as part of God's creation. As the Catechism says:

"2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.

"2416. Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

"2417. God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives.

"2418. It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons."

Not having animals in church means simply that the context of worship is not the usual or proper place for showing such respect and kindness toward them.

The Franciscan Crown Rosary, properly known as "The Franciscan Crown of Our Lady's Joys" dates back to approximately the year 1422. According to tradition, as related by the famous Franciscan historian Father Luke Wadding, a very pious young man who had been admitted to the Franciscan Order in that year was saddened and had decided to return to the world and quit the cloister. Before his entry into the Order, it was his custom to adorn a statue of the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of fresh and beautiful flowers. Now, he was unable to continue his act of piety and devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

Our Lady appeared to him and prevented him from taking such a step as he had planned. "Do not be sad and cast down, my son," she said, "because you are no longer permitted to place wreaths of flowers on my statue. I shall teach you to change this pious practice into one that will be far more pleasing to me and more meritorious to your soul. In place of the flowers that soon wither and cannot always be found, you can weave for me a crown from the flowers of your prayers that will always remain fresh and can always be had." When Our Lady had disappeared, the overjoyed Novice at once began to recite the prayers in honor of her Seven Joys, as she had directed. While he was deeply engrossed in this devotion, the Novice Master happened to pass by and saw an angel weaving a marvelous wreath of roses. After every tenth rose, he inserted a golden lily. When the wreath was finished, the angel placed it on the head of the praying Novice. The Novice Master demanded the Novice tell him the meaning of this vision. The joyful Novice complied. The good priest was so impressed that he immediately made it known to his brethren. Thus, the practice of reciting the Franciscan Crown of Our Lady's Joys soon spread as a favorite devotion of the Friars.

The Joys of Mary remembered in the devotion are these:

•The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary

•The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

•The Nativity of Our Lord

•The Adoration of the Magi

•The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

•The Resurrection of Our Lord

•and The Crowning of Our Lady, Mary, in Heaven as Queen

"Where there is no room for the poor, neither is there room for me." St Maria Candida de Jesus.

Yes, quite so.. And where do temptations come from? 

They come from three sources; the world, the Devil, and from our own concupiscience.

 

 

 

Satan's first sin was to say "Non Serviam." (I will not serve.) to God.

The saint of todady is St John Vianney.

What was the title?

I don't recall the title. It was more than thirty years ago.

Actually there are several Muslim names that are found in the Bible. Joseph (Yusuf) Ismael, Mary (Miriam) John ((Yunis) Abraham (Ibrihim) Zacharia, 

I teach it to the children when they are early for mass.

Yes he wrote a book on that subject, but it hasn't been translated into English, I looked hard on that.

Today's St. Peter in Chains on the traditional calendar, and the 2nd is St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori's there.

I love this saint! I think he may've been the first I ever read, I picked up his books from Our Lady of the Rosary Library.

He is a saint who quotes many saints!

Actually I haave seen his an English version of his book. I think it had a very limited circulation.