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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAltER "~"FOR'SOUTHEAST MASSACHUsens

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VOL. 45, NO.8· Friday, February 23, 2001

FALL RIVER, MASS.

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Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Pope's Lenten message asks people to forgive ~ 'Love Is not resentful' is this year's theme.

By JOHN NORTON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul IT asked Christians to radically embrace the Gospel command to love one's enemy, saying forgiveness was the only way to peace between peoples and nations. "In our times, forgiveness appears more and more as a necessary dimension for an authentic social . . " renewal and for the ' strengthening of •

"the psychological mechanisms of self-pity and revenge." He particularly emphasized the importance of the sacrament of reconciliation, saying the experience of receiving God's forgiveness "encourages us to live in love, considering the other not as enemy but as a brother." In addition to its spiritual fruits, forgiveness brings peace between peoples and opens individuals to the material needs of others, he said. Especially in places where conflict has left enduring animosity among peoples, accepting and offering forgiveness interrupts "the spiral of hatred and revenge, and breaks .the chains of evil which bind the hearts of rivals," he said. "For nations in search of reconciliation and for those hoping for peaceful coexistence among individuals and peoples, there is no other way than forgiveness received and offered," he said. He said spiritual reconciliation also predisposes individuals to see and respond to the material needs of others, because "a heart reconciled with God and with neighbor is a generous heart." When done with a reconciled heart, the traditional Lenten practice of almsgiving "assumes a deeper meaning, because it is not just giving something from the surplus to relieve one's conscience, but to truly take upon one's self the misery present in the world,': he said.

peace ", ' ' ~ he saidininthe his world," annual message for Lent. " The 1,600-word ~ " message, centering on ":,>i", . 4', ""'1\ " the scriptural phrase, , ' • 1 "Love is not resent- ~ . . . . ful," was presented at a Vatican press conference. The pope said Lent, a traditional time of reconciling with God, should prompt believers to re-examine whether their lives conform to Christ's command to "love your enemies (and) do good to those who hate you." ''They are words that, if taken seriously, demand a radical conversion," he said. In addition to asking forgiveness for wrongs committed, "the Christian must make peace even when feeling as the victim of one who has unjustly offended and struck," he said. The text ofthe pope's address appears in its entirety He said only interior conversion and "humble obedience , to the command of Jesus" could enable believers to resist' on pages eighi and nine.

Fall River diocese issues Lenten disciplines 2001 ~

Lent begins on Feb. 28, which is Ash Wednesday.

FALL RIVER - Lenten regulations regarding the laws of fast and abstinence for Catholics residing in the Diocese of Fall River were announced this week. By abstinence is meant abstaining from meat. Fast means limiting oneself to only one full meal a day.

Law of fast: - All adults, those.} 8 and older, are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their 60th year. - On days of fast, those bound by the law are limited to a single full meal. This meal is meatless.

Two other meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to one's needs; however, together these two meals should not equal another full meal. - There are two prescribed days . of fast: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. '

Law of abstinence: - Those who are 14 years of age and older are obliged to observe the law of abstinence. - On days of abstinence, those bound by the law abstain from meat. - On all Fridays of Lent, abstinence is prescribed. This, of course, includes Good Friday. Abstinence

is also prescribed on Ash Wednesday.

Lenten discipline: The Code of Canon Law very aptly summarizes the ecclesiastical discipline in Canon 1249: "All members of the Christian faithful in their own way are bound to do penance in virtue of divine law; in order that all may be joined in a common observance of penance, penitential days are prescribed in which the Christian faithful in a special way pray, exercise works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their responsibilities more, faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence...."

RCIA MORt and EuchBrlst graphic copyright 1996 Thomas SchBrbBch. All rights reserved. Used with pennlsslon.

Cathedral to host "Rite of Election <::;::::-:olt>March 4 ~

Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., wilfpreside at 3 p.m. ceremonies as hundreds prepare to enter into the Church's sacramental life. By FATHER HENRY J. DAHL DIRECTOR OF THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INmATlON OF ADULTS

FALL RIVER - Most of us who claim membership in the Roman Catholic Church were baptized as infants. As we grew up we were gradually initiated into the full sacramental life of the Church. But what about those who were baptized in other Christian traditions who wish to become Catholic Christians? What about those .who were never bap-

In a chat with The Anchor recently, Father Dahl said that ,1~s a convert myself, nothing is quite as emotionally moving for me than to watch the diversity of -people who come forward to sign the Book of the Elect signifying their desire to unite themselves to the fullness of the faith as found in the Church established by Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the 'Sunday ceremony and a reception to follow in St. Mary's School hall." tized and who also wish to become Catholics? How are all of them brought into full membership in the Catholic Church? Since 1988, when the bishops of the United States mandated its use, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, commonly referred to as the RCIA, is the way that those wishing to become members of the Roman Catholic Church are led, by stages and at their own pace, into full participaTum to page 13 - RCIA


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02.23.01 by The Anchor - Issuu