Latin America enters Vatican top

Pope Benedictus XVI (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After Benedict XVI ended his troubled eight-year papacy last month, announcing he was no longer up to the rigors of the job, the Catholic Church had to look out for a new leader. Ratzinger became the first pontiff in 598 years to resign. The 115 cardinals who are younger than 80 and eligible to vote chose their new leader after two days of voting.

Yesterday, Wednesday March 13, 2013, 5 minutes past seven white smoke came out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where many eyes of the world looked at. One hour later came the oldest deacon to say "Abemus Papam".

On the fifth ballot enough cardinals chose for one man to take over the duties of the retired pope Ratzinger.. The Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, took on the duty and to my mind it was the first of contemporary popes who asked the people to pray for his duties.

Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio SJ, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, celebrating mass at the XX Exposición del Libro Católico (20th Catholic Book Fair), in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Coming from the Latin world which was considered a few years ago to be too rebellious this man is fully aware of the poverty of that part of the world and as such his choice of the name Franciscus (Francis), evoking the Saint of Assisi and his commitment to the poor, may be a sign of his program. It’s been more than 500 years since the first evangelization in the Latin New World, and it became high time that the Roman Catholic church showed the world that it is really a world church and not an Italian bastion.

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, is seventy-six and was born to Italian immigrant parents and was raised in the Argentine capital. He reportedly came in second when Benedict XVI was elected. He was born in Buenos Aires, in 1936. He is the first ever from what old Popes call the New World.

President Obama was among the first world leaders to congratulate Francis in a message that emphasized the pope’s humble roots and New World background.

“As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than 2,000 years — that in each other we see the face of God,” Mr. Obama said in a message released by the White House.

“As the first pope from the Americas,” the president added, “his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day.”

The last months we could see that there where some power struggles in the Vatican and the last few years the Catholic Church had to tackle a lot of scandals. Pope John Paul and Benedict managed to continue the conservative line and get more power to the top.  The Roman Curia needs a clean up and reform, handling the sex abuse crisis and cleaning up the Vatican bank. 

 

The Roman Catholic Church as the church in general needs people in charge that understands the problems of the church at present and take the effort to come closer to the people and their current problems.

 

 

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You may also find:

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio becomes 266th pontiff and takes name Pope Francis 

Pope Francis: a video profile of Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Pope Francis: the world reacts 
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected new pope

What non-Catholics think of the new pope

The new pope's first day: Mass with the cardinals + Papacy

We Have a New Pope: Cardinal Bergoglio Is Pope Francis

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Seven days of Passover

There is no mention of a lamb being eaten during Jesus' last supper. It was an ordinary evening meal to start off the preparation for the coming days of Pascha.

It was appropriate for the lamb to be slaughtered on the following afternoon, and when Jesus was put to death that day he represented the Lamb of God to be slaughtered for all.

Deposition. Heures d'Étienne Chevalier, enluminées par Jean Fouquet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On the fourteenth day of the first month, between the evenings, is Jehovah's Passover. Then the fifteenth day of that month is the Feast of Fermentation-free bread to [Jehovah]. There were seven days of Passover started after sundown on Nisan 14. That evening (the first full moon nearest the spring equinox) is when the Israelites were to begin a week of eating meals with fermentation-free bread. Then, on the following afternoon (which was the same day), the lamb was to be led to the Temple as a sacrifice; and the portions that were not offered to God and the Priest were taken home for the feast. So, the lamb was slaughtered at the end of the first day, then it was roasted and eaten after sunset that evening, which was the start of the second day.

Nisan 14 was referred to as 'Preparation,' because that's when the people were to prepare the lamb for the Passover feast. These lambs were traditionally kept inside the home and tied to a bedpost for four days prior to the Passover festival. It was then sacrificed late in the afternoon of Nisan 14. So, Nisan 15 was called Passover, because it was the day when the actual Feast was to be held, according to God's Law (see Numbers 28:17).

Please do read more about it:

1. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
2. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
3. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
4. In what way were sacrifices “shadows”?
5. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
6. Trust in the blood of the Lamb God provides
7. Servant of his Father
8. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
9. A Messiah to die
10. Yesterday He died for me 
11. Who is Jesus #2 Jesus Christ, man who died
12. A Great Gift commemorated

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Witnessing Glad Tidings

Those aims remain the same in today’s magazine because God’s purpose is unchanging. But over the years there have been many changes of format, style and personnel, as you would expect.

T H Elwick of Lincoln and Percy Horsman of Nottingham, England, joined forces in March 1884 as Editor and Publisher of a new magazine. They were Christadelphians and stated their objectives in that first issue as follows:

• To set forth the truth in its purity;
• To expunge and erase from every Bible doctrine the figments of human tradition, with which they have been darkened;
• To make clear the great scheme of human redemption provided by the Deity;
• To proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God;
• To demonstrate that the time is at hand when this kingdom shall be established.

Although the language and style of the magazine may have altered over the years, the reason for publishing the magazine has not fundamentally changed since its inception.

As the apostle James challenged believers to remain true to their calling and urged them not to be affected by changing fashions and different belief systems, the Christadelphians keep to the Words of the Bible and follow the tradition of the first century Christians.

Every day it is possible to see how people are affected by changing views and opinions.But Christadelphian people try not to fall into the traps of the world. They try to get a crystallised harmonious thinking according to the teachings of Christ Jesus the Messiah.

Newspapers and magazines depend upon something new to write about. Politicians want a new idea to present, so they can be seen to be making progress towards their stated objectives. People want new things all the time and so opinions alter and behaviours change. But the followers ofJesus recognise that fundamental things can never change and they need to be single-minded in their determination to hold fast to the teaching of Jesus about eternal things, regardless of the winds of change that are gusting around them.

We are saved not by anything we do, but by God’s grace made available to us because of Jesus' sacrifice. However we do need to respond to God’s grace by being baptised into Christ by full immersion in water. We also need to follow as far as we are able the example of Jesus in our own lives. How we do have to that, the magazine is willing to show.

The Christadelphian monthly  tries to bring people closer to the One and only God and to show the world how it can have a much better future. The magazine brings some articles on our relationship with God, Jesus and each other. It tries to show how we need to build our character and change our personality. All who follow Jesus have to undergo a process of change until at last they can become fully like him.

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Please do read more about such changes we do have to make: Gone with the wind, or the latest article

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OASIS Holiday Club February 2013

Can you imagine the noise and fun with 14 enthusiast kids screaming?

“The Bible talks about heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 and the fight against evil in Ephesians 6. As well as the adults of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, there are many children and young people in the Bible who trusted God and made a real difference. They are Junior Heroes!

Most superheroes have a gadget, such as special bulletproof armour or a laser sword to help them. 

The Newbury ecclesia tries to get youngsters also enthusiast about Bible stories and presented junior heroes to have the armour of God in Ephesians 6 to aid them in their quest!

Their Holiday Club explored the lives of three children in the Bible who had a strong faith in God and made a real difference in the face of adversity. In so doing, they each became junior heroes. 

With a breastplate of justice on you could find the Junior Heroes each day enjoying action-packed songs, games, while they reflected the Bible Time theme.

 

Read more about in on the Newbury ecclesia site:

Holiday Club

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No new notes any more from Michael Parry

On January 30, 2010, at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, brother Michael Parry, brother in Christ for 43 years, fell asleep in Christ after a courageous struggle with cancer that lasted 22 years. He was only 66 years of age.

A panorama of the city, taken from the Chalet du Mont Royal at the top of Mount Royal in Montreal. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mike was the primary tutor for thisisyourbible.com for the Canadian province of Québec. He also made a substantial contribution to the Daily Readings website and many around the world have benefited from his insightful comments. He was a mainstay, a true shepherd, of the little Ecclesia in Montréal. They will miss him dearly. He impressed the doctors and nurses and service staff with his commitment to the truth and his cheerful courage. Mike’s Bible knowledge, absolute certainty about his beliefs combined with his innate charm, sense of humour, raised the profile of the Truth with everyone he met. Throughout his ordeal, his
primary concern was for the Montréal Ecclesia. During the last few months of his life, several memorial meetings were held in his hospital room. His funeral was well attended and, according to his wishes, very simple and was used as an opportunity to witness to his many non-Christadelphian friends.

Work is proceeding apace to provide assistance to the Montréal Ecclesia with several brethren and sisters volunteering to visit the Ecclesia and maintain and enhance the Christadelphian presence in “la belle province”. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

 — Mike LeDuke

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