Thursday, January 1, 2009
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
No papal news in this issue other than the Rinunce e Nomine from 12/31. The Vespers and te Deum last night took place after the newspaper went to press. The conflict in Gaza is still the main news, but since the paper went to press, Israel has decided it cannot afford to call a truce with Palestinian rockets continuing to hit Israeli settlements, now reaching as far as Beersheba. The World Health organization calls for assistance in Gaza. There is an editorial commentary on how to diagnose the world financial crisis properly. And the feature story, "The mystery of a mother who nurses her Creator", by Mons. Gianfranco Ravasi, has to do with today's religious feast celebrating Mary, Mother of God. The top photo is Jan van Eyck's 'Madonna Lactans'(1436); I have not been able to trace the identity of the bottom left icon, but I have added my favorite 'nursing Madonna' (below, right), Leonardo's Litta Madonna (1490-1491), found at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
THE POPE'S DAY
Jan. 1, Thursday
Solemnity of the Most Holy Mother of God
XLII World Day of Peace
10:00, St. Peter's Basilica
CAPPELLA PAPALE
Holy Mass
12:00
Angelus
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081208_xlii-world-day-peace...
THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS
FOR JANUARY 2009
The general prayer intention:
"That the family may become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith".
The mission intention:
"That the different Christian confessions, aware of the need for a new evangelization in this period of profound transformations, may be committed to announcing the Good News and moving towards the full unity of all Christians in order to offer a more credible testimony of the Gospel".
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 02/01/2009 04:08]