Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

This fourth article of the Magnificat series aims to reflect on these words of Our Blessed Mother: “Henceforth all generations will call me blessed…” (Luke 1:48). Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45) The Blessed Virgin Mary believed the words […]

ENCOUNTERING THE WORD — YOUR DAILY BIBLE VERSES “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” – Genesis 2:24 Please help spread the Gospel. Share this verse with family and friends on Facebook and other social media. We need your support… Can you give […]

The post Your Daily Bible Verses — Genesis 2:24 appeared first on Integrated Catholic Life™.

St. Hilary of Poitiers was born around 310 AD in Poitiers, Gaul (present-day France). Originally raised in a pagan environment, he developed a hunger for truth that led him to Christianity. Once baptized, Hilary’s deep faith and keen intellect propelled him into leadership in the early Church. Elected Bishop of Poitiers, he became a staunch […]

Vatican City, Jan 12, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord by baptizing 21 babies in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and praying the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. 

Before baptizing the babies of Vatican staff and Swiss Guards on Sunday morning, the Holy Father said parents must serve children with sacraments and prayers.

“Today, each of you parents and the Church herself give the greatest, greatest gift: the gift of faith to children,” he told families gathered inside the Sistine Chapel.

“Let us ask the Lord that they grow in faith, a true humanity, in the joy of the family,” he prayed.

In his Jan. 12 Angelus address, the Holy Father said Christians should know and celebrate the date of their baptisms as a “new birthday” that commemorates their “birth in the Spirit of God.” 

“This is very important! Think: On what day was I baptized? If we don’t remember, when we get home, let’s ask our parents and godparents the date of our baptism,” he said to hundreds of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“Don’t forget! This is a job to do at home: the date of my baptism,” he insisted.

Recalling Sunday’s liturgy of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father said during his Angelus address: “In revealing himself as Father through the Son, God establishes a privileged place to enter into dialogue and communion with humanity. It is the face of the beloved Son.”

The pope said Christians should be able to recognize God by contemplating “the face and voice of God” through the humanity of Jesus Christ and through other baptized people.

“So let us ask ourselves: Do we feel loved? Do I feel loved and accompanied by God or do I think that God is distant from me?” he asked pilgrims. “Are we capable of recognizing his face in Jesus and in our brothers and sisters?”

After praying the Angelus with pilgrims from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope asked people to continue their prayers for those in need around the world.

“I am close to the inhabitants of Los Angeles County, California, where devastating fires have broken out in recent days. I pray for all of you,” he said.

“Let us also invoke his intercession as we pray for peace in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and throughout the world,” he added.

Vatican City, Jan 12, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Sunday celebrated the feast of the Baptism of the Lord by baptizing 21 babies in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel and praying the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. 

Before baptizing the babies of Vatican staff and Swiss Guards on Sunday morning, the Holy Father said parents must serve children with sacraments and prayers.

“Today, each of you parents and the Church herself give the greatest, greatest gift: the gift of faith to children,” he told families gathered inside the Sistine Chapel.

“Let us ask the Lord that they grow in faith, a true humanity, in the joy of the family,” he prayed.

In his Jan. 12 Angelus address, the Holy Father said Christians should know and celebrate the date of their baptisms as a “new birthday” that commemorates their “birth in the Spirit of God.” 

“This is very important! Think: On what day was I baptized? If we don’t remember, when we get home, let’s ask our parents and godparents the date of our baptism,” he said to hundreds of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“Don’t forget! This is a job to do at home: the date of my baptism,” he insisted.

Recalling Sunday’s liturgy of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father said during his Angelus address: “In revealing himself as Father through the Son, God establishes a privileged place to enter into dialogue and communion with humanity. It is the face of the beloved Son.”

The pope said Christians should be able to recognize God by contemplating “the face and voice of God” through the humanity of Jesus Christ and through other baptized people.

“So let us ask ourselves: Do we feel loved? Do I feel loved and accompanied by God or do I think that God is distant from me?” he asked pilgrims. “Are we capable of recognizing his face in Jesus and in our brothers and sisters?”

After praying the Angelus with pilgrims from the window of the Apostolic Palace, the pope asked people to continue their prayers for those in need around the world.

“I am close to the inhabitants of Los Angeles County, California, where devastating fires have broken out in recent days. I pray for all of you,” he said.

“Let us also invoke his intercession as we pray for peace in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and throughout the world,” he added.

ACI Prensa Staff, Jan 12, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The International Association of Exorcists has expressed concern over several erroneous practices, including those carried out by some priests, which confuse the faithful who seek help when possibly facing extraordinary actions of the devil.

The association, which has some 900 exorcist members worldwide, issued its warning in a Jan. 6 article on the organization’s website in order to “offer necessary clarifications to be able to act well in providing divine mercy through the ministry of exorcism.”

The association published the article because “some pastoral practices have been noticed that, instead of rendering a service to the wounded body of Christ, increase its suffering and cause disorientation.” The exorcists ask Catholics to take these observations into account “to avoid attitudes and methods that do not correspond to the authentic work of the Lord Christ.”

The text also points out that in recent years the number of those seeking out exorcists has increased due to people wondering or being convinced that they are “victims of an extraordinary action of the devil,” whether it be vexation, obsession, possession, or infestation.

However, the exorcists warn that there are cases in which this belief — which requires confirmation with a rigorous examination — is often held “by people who, without any specific training in the matter and without a mandate from the competent ordinary, act inappropriately, causing confusion among the people of God.”

The International Association of Exorcists thus warns about the following nine erroneous pastoral practices that disorient people who seek to be freed from the extraordinary action of the evil one.

1. Improvisation and sensationalism

The association begins by criticizing the attitude of some priests, consecrated persons, and laypeople who, without adequate training and without an episcopal mandate, “instead of referring cases of possible extraordinary action by the evil one” to an exorcist, employ “arbitrary methods of liberation” that are not authorized by the bishop.

“Even more serious is when they dissuade the faithful from turning to the official exorcist of their diocese, suggesting that they look for other notable exorcists considered ‘more powerful’ or [claiming] alleged extraordinary demonic activity that they have detected.”

2. Focusing on the work of the devil and not on the Gospel

The association points out that “it is deplorable that some, instead of announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ that frees man from the slavery of evil and sin, focus their attention exclusively on the presence and work of the devil,” making those seeking help believe that “liberation depends solely on a compulsive repetition of prayers and blessings,” when the peace of Christ “can only be obtained through a life of charity, nourished by the word of God, through prayer, through frequenting the sacraments of the Eucharist and confession, and through an authentic devotion to the Immaculate Virgin.”

3. Negligent discernment

The association laments that some priests, including exorcists, neglect “the serious and rigorous discernment prescribed by the Praenotanda (directives) of the Rite of Exorcisms” and use “criteria foreign to the Catholic faith, validating concepts of esoteric or New Age origin.” The article warns that this is an approach that is “unacceptable and contrary to the faith and doctrine of the Church.”

4. Superstitious practices

The association also criticizes those who use superstitious procedures, such as requesting “photographs or clothing to identify possible evils,” as well as touching “certain points of the body of the member of the faithful to ‘diagnose the presence of malignant entities’ or to ‘expel negativity,’” or suggesting an improper use of sacramentals such as water, salt, or blessed oil “that some call ‘exorcised.’”

The article warns that “these are incorrect attitudes that feed a superstitious mentality and practice, are injurious to the dignity of the body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and give rise to a magical use of blessed objects.”

5. The involvement of inappropriate persons

The article states that “it is unacceptable that some priests or pastoral workers collaborate with so-called ‘psychics’ or supposed charismatics” by sending to them the suffering person instead of putting them in contact with exorcists appointed by the bishops.

“Even worse, when it is the diocesan exorcist himself who delegates to these figures the task that the Church has entrusted to him, i.e., the authorized discernment of genuine extraordinary demonic activity.”

The association reminds that the exorcist must take responsibility for the suffering of others and “not omit taking the time for personal discernment … to verify the possible extraordinary action of the devil” and thus provide pastoral care for his victims.

6. Excluding medical and psychological sciences

The association explains that the exorcist not only follows traditional criteria to determine whether a person is suffering from an extraordinary action of the devil but also relies on the experience of established exorcists and, in some cases, “on the advice of people who are experts in medicine and psychiatry.”

The exorcists thus emphasize that one cannot “exclude a priori consulting the psychological and psychiatric sciences, and of other positive disciplines, which in some cases can help to understand the origin of ills that are not necessarily of preternatural origin.”

“This attitude is not only misleading, but it exposes people to unnecessary risks, ignoring the sometimes decisive contribution of modern medical and psychological disciplines.”

7. Reckless and harmful statements

The association calls on people to not fall into “the anxious desire to identify at all costs an extraordinary demonic action as the operative cause of [someone’s] suffering,” especially without having previously made a serious discernment.

8. Regarding witchcraft

In its article, the association notes that although the practice of witchcraft has become widespread, one must not fall into “the fearful attitude” of seeing in it the origin of all the evils and misfortunes that can befall a person.

The exorcists point out that “common sense and experience also teach that when an evil could have really been caused by witchcraft, concentrating on its identification” and assuring people that they have been victims is useless and irrelevant for their liberation, as well as harmful, since they may begin to pour out “feelings of hatred” toward the presumed authors of the curse.

On the contrary, it is important to focus the person’s attention “on the remedies of grace offered by the Church and on the Christian path to follow,” teaching the certainty that “God does not abandon his creature who is going through a trial but in some way suffers with him and at the same time supports and consoles him with his grace.”

Likewise, teaching “the conviction that all suffering, caused by any evil that may strike us in life, if accepted with love and offering to God, turns evil into good.”

9. Intergenerational healing (healing the family tree)

The association also warns about the error of so-called “intergenerational healing” and laments that “some priests and even some exorcists” carry out this practice “as a ‘sine qua non’ (absolutely necessary) condition, without which there can be no healing or liberation, without realizing the harm to their faith and to that of people, as well as the consequences that the latter may suffer on an existential level.”

“Several local ordinaries and bishops’ conferences have already intervened in this area, giving doctrinal reasons that demonstrate how this practice has no biblical and theological foundations.” The association gives as an example the recent doctrinal note on the subject of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.

Banishing fear

Apart from the above practices, the association’s article also reminds readers that exorcists are called to let Christ’s peace dwell in them, rejecting all forms of fear because “whatever the reason that provokes it, when it is cultivated it leads to the weakening of faith and the loss of trust in God.”

The devil uses fear “to reduce man to slavery”; therefore, a priest who feared the devil “in the exercise of his ministry or in his daily life could not exercise the ministry of exorcism without exposing himself to serious dangers for his spiritual life, especially if instead of cultivating trust and total abandonment of oneself in the merciful hands of God, he sought to address it with more or less superstitious practices.”

“In the Bible, God’s invitation to not be afraid resounds at least 365 times,” the association notes.

Exorcism is an experience of God and of joy

The article points out that certain films have contributed to creating “a dark, disturbing, and terrifying idea of ​​the sacramental of exorcism” as well as feeding “a morbid curiosity about the supernatural.”

However, the association assures that experience shows that this ministry “is imbued with profound joy,” since its members are witnesses of “the powerful action of the risen Christ” and the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin, of the saints and blessed, and of the angels who are “faithful servants of the Most High.”

“The main task of every exorcist will therefore be to give peace and hope, avoiding any gesture or behavior that causes confusion and fuels fear, following the invitation of the Apostle Paul: ‘Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,’” the International Association of Exorcists notes.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Madrid, Spain, Jan 12, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

At the end of this month, Rome will host the first jubilee event of the holy year to take place following the opening of the Holy Doors: the Jubilee of the World of Communications.

Media professionals from different countries will gather Jan. 24–26 in the Eternal City to take part in this event, with the program including an audience with Pope Francis.

Journalists, video producers, editors, graphic designers, and social media managers all are invited to make this pilgrimage to Rome to renew their faith and experience the graces granted by the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

After an event to welcome the participants and a penitential liturgy on the evening of Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. local time, the gathered communicators will take part in a Mass in St. John Lateran Basilica for the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists and writers.

On Jan. 25, a pilgrimage will begin at 8 a.m. local time to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. Since the door was opened by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, more than a half a million faithful from all over the world have already passed through it.

At the end of the Mass, attendees will go to the Vatican to take part in a meeting at 10 a.m. local time led by the Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Irish writer Colum McCann. Later, at 12:30 p.m. the audience with Pope Francis will take place in Paul VI Hall.

On Saturday afternoon, the Dicastery for Communication is offering a cultural and spiritual meeting, also in Paul VI Hall, followed by a live broadcast of vespers presided over by the Holy Father in St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica to conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Later, the documentary “Green Lava” will be shown.

Only those with an invitation will be able to take part in an event for young communicators titled “Uniting Communicators for a Shared Journey.”

Other conferences and events have also been organized, including a talk at the Lateran Palace titled “Journalism as a Mission: Giving Voice to the Voiceless on the Outskirts of Humankind,” organized by the Vicariate of Rome, and “Communicating Hope and Peace” organized by the Office of Social Communication of the Italian Bishops’ Conference to be held at Santa Maria in Trastevere basilica.

There will also be a roundtable organized by the Pauline Family at Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola Basilica and a meeting with Vaticanists at LUMSA University, organized by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.

Finally, on Jan. 26, the media professionals will participate in the Sunday of the Word of God Mass presided over by Pope Francis at 9:30 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Madrid, Spain, Jan 12, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

At the end of this month, Rome will host the first jubilee event of the holy year to take place following the opening of the Holy Doors: the Jubilee of the World of Communications.

Media professionals from different countries will gather Jan. 24–26 in the Eternal City to take part in this event, with the program including an audience with Pope Francis.

Journalists, video producers, editors, graphic designers, and social media managers all are invited to make this pilgrimage to Rome to renew their faith and experience the graces granted by the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

After an event to welcome the participants and a penitential liturgy on the evening of Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. local time, the gathered communicators will take part in a Mass in St. John Lateran Basilica for the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists and writers.

On Jan. 25, a pilgrimage will begin at 8 a.m. local time to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica. Since the door was opened by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, more than a half a million faithful from all over the world have already passed through it.

At the end of the Mass, attendees will go to the Vatican to take part in a meeting at 10 a.m. local time led by the Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Irish writer Colum McCann. Later, at 12:30 p.m. the audience with Pope Francis will take place in Paul VI Hall.

On Saturday afternoon, the Dicastery for Communication is offering a cultural and spiritual meeting, also in Paul VI Hall, followed by a live broadcast of vespers presided over by the Holy Father in St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica to conclude the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Later, the documentary “Green Lava” will be shown.

Only those with an invitation will be able to take part in an event for young communicators titled “Uniting Communicators for a Shared Journey.”

Other conferences and events have also been organized, including a talk at the Lateran Palace titled “Journalism as a Mission: Giving Voice to the Voiceless on the Outskirts of Humankind,” organized by the Vicariate of Rome, and “Communicating Hope and Peace” organized by the Office of Social Communication of the Italian Bishops’ Conference to be held at Santa Maria in Trastevere basilica.

There will also be a roundtable organized by the Pauline Family at Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola Basilica and a meeting with Vaticanists at LUMSA University, organized by the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.

Finally, on Jan. 26, the media professionals will participate in the Sunday of the Word of God Mass presided over by Pope Francis at 9:30 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- "I am praying for all of you," Pope Francis said, using his televised Sunday Angelus address to speak directly to the people impacted by the wildfires in Southern California.

"I am close to the residents of Los Angeles County, California, where devastating fires have broken out in recent days," the pope told thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square Jan. 12 to pray the Angelus with him.

In a telegram released by the Vatican the previous day, Pope Francis also assured the people of Los Angeles of his prayers as the fires continued to cause death and destruction.

"Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of almighty God, His Holiness sends heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss," said a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, to Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles. 

The fires, fueled by dry conditions and warm winds, began Jan. 7. As of 6 p.m. local time Jan. 11, the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office said 16 people had been confirmed dead. More than 150,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes and thousands of structures, including houses and churches, have been destroyed.

The telegram to Archbishop Gomez, said, "Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction caused by the fires near Los Angeles, His Holiness Pope Francis assures you and the communities affected by this tragedy of his spiritual closeness."

"He likewise prays for the relief efforts of the emergency services personnel and imparts his blessing to all as a pledge of consolation and strength in the Lord," it said.

 

HOW TO HELP: Angelus, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has an updated list of ways people can help. Click here.
 

CNA Newsroom, Jan 11, 2025 / 20:05 pm (CNA).

The Syro-Malabar Church announced a significant leadership change on Saturday as Archbishop Joseph Pamplany was appointed vicar of the major archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. 

With more than 5 million members globally, the Syro-Malabar Church is one of the Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome. Based primarily in the southern Indian state of Kerala, it is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church globally after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. 

The appointment, confirmed by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil on Jan. 11, follows the first session of the XXXIII Synod of Bishops held at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad from Jan. 6–11. 

At the same time, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Mar Bosco Puthur, who had served as apostolic administrator since December 2023. Citing health concerns, he had initially submitted his resignation in September 2024, having served less than a year after his December 2023 appointment.

The leadership transition occurs as the Eastern Catholic Church continues to navigate a complex dispute over liturgical reforms, particularly regarding the celebration of Mass. The controversy centers on whether priests should face the altar or the congregation during the Holy Qurbana, the church’s Eucharistic liturgy.

The church maintains its own distinct liturgical tradition and enjoys autonomy in administrative and liturgical matters while recognizing the pope’s authority. 

Pamplany, who will maintain his role as metropolitan archbishop of Tellicherry, brings extensive theological expertise to his new position. Ordained in 1997, he holds a doctorate in sacred Scripture from Leuven University and has served in various church leadership roles, including as secretary of the Synod.

The appointment follows Pope Francis’ repeated interventions in the liturgical dispute. He has directly intervened several times in the controversy, which centers on a debate about which direction the priest should face when celebrating the liturgy.

Protests against the adoption of a uniform liturgy have included a hunger strike by priests and the burning of effigies of cardinals.

In May 2024, the pontiff described divisions within the church as “the work of the devil” and urged maintaining unity. In 2023, he appointed Slovak Archbishop-Bishop Cyril Vasil’ as a special delegate to help resolve the ongoing disagreement.

Vasil’ will continue serving as the pontifical delegate for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, which serves over 600,000 faithful within the Syro-Malabar Church.