VOL. 49, NO. 12 • Friday, March 25, 2005
FALL RIVER, MASS.
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Pope's message to priests VATICAN CITY (CNS) - In his annual Letter to Priests for Holy Thursday, Pope John Paul IT said the words a priest recites when consecrating the Eucharist must be the words that guide the way he lives. Thanksgiving, self-sacrifice, a desire to show others the way to salvation, remembering Christ's saving work, holiness and hope must mark not only a priest's celebration of Mass, but his whole life as well, the pope wrote. The text of the letter, released at the Vatican, was signed by the pope March 13, shortly before he left Rome's Gemelli hospital after undergoing a tracheotomy to ease breathing difficulties. Pope John Paul began the letter by writing, "My thoughts turn to you, dear priests, as I spend this time recuperating in hospital, a patient alongside other patients, uniting in the Eucharist my owri sufferings with those of Christ." Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, told reporters the pope's 2005 letter was unique because "it was signed in a place marked by the cross of Christ: the hospital." Christ's cross on Golgotha became the place par excellence "of the infinite and merciful love of God for the world," the cardinal said. Writing from the hospital, the pope, like many saints, "in the silence of his suffering repeats with the example of his life given to the end" the offering of suffering as a sign of love for the world, Cardinal Castrillon said. In his letter to priests, the pope quoted parts of the eucharistic prayers and explained how Tum to page 13 - Priests
Easter TV Mass to air at special time FALL RIVER - The Television Mass on Easter Sunday, March 27, will expand to a full hour and will air at a special time, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on WLNE-TV, Channel 6, Providence-New Bedford. Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate the Easter Mass from the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River. Father Edward J. Healey, Cathedral rector, will concelebrate. The St. Mary's Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Madeleine Grace, will lead the music for the liturgy. Those unable to attend a parish Mass because of age or infirmity are encouraged to make this telecast a part of their Easter celebration.
THE 15TH STATION - Christ rises from the dead on Easter mqrning, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. (Anchon'Jolivet photo)
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