france – NZ Catholic Newspaper

All French Catholics asked to pray for the nation

Michael Otto — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:54:34 +0000

PARIS (CNA) — Leaders of the Catholic Church in France have asked all Catholic dioceses to unite in prayer for the country’s future and common good on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
One of the catalysts for the request is the Prime Minister’s June announcement that the Socialist government would institute “homosexual marriage” and allow same-sex couples to adopt children, fulfilling a campaign promise by President Francois Hollande.
Msgr Bernard Podvin, the French Catholic bishops’ conference spokesman, said on July 30 that social and economic crises made it “essential to raise awareness” and ask for guidance regarding “our personal and collective decisions”.
Intended to be offered in all French churches on August 15, the prayers are to seek wisdom for legislators and governing authorities, relief from effects of the European economic crisis, and the strengthening of marriage and family life.
The national prayer is in keeping with a French Catholic tradition dating back to the 17th century, to pray specifically for the nation on the solemnity of the Assumption.
The prayer written by the French bishops also mentions “those who have been elected recently to legislate and govern”. Hollande was elected president of France in May, while in mid-June the Socialist National Party gained a majority in the country’s parliament for the first time in a decade.
French Catholics are being asked by the bishops to pray that politicians’ “sense of society’s common good” would outweigh other concerns, and that they would “have the strength of follow the directions of their conscience”.
Parishes are also being requested to pray for families, that they would receive society’s support and that “the commitment of spouses to each other and their children” would be “a sign of faithfulness to love”.
The prayer’s final intention is focused on children and youth.

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French president vows to find truth about monks’ 1996 deaths

Michael Otto — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0000

PARIS (CNS) French President Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to uncover the truth about the 1996 deaths of a group of French Catholic monks in Algeria following claims that they were beheaded by the Algerian army, rather than their Islamic kidnappers. echo $variable;

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Pope arrives in France, says society needs inspiration of Gospel

Michael Otto — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

PARIS (CNS) Arriving in France for a four-day visit, Pope Benedict XVI called for a new chapter of Church-state co-operation, saying modern society greatly needs the inspiration of the Gospel. The pope appealed in particular on behalf of struggling youths, the suffering poor and the polluted planet. In all three areas, the pope said Sept.

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Pope hopes trip to France encourages awareness of Mary

Vatican City (CNS) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:00:00 +0000

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped his first trip to France as Pope would encourage greater awareness of Mary as a beacon of hope for all people, especially the young. The Pope said he was traveling to France as a "messenger of peace and fraternity" and that he would offer a special

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Sacrifice is heart of Eucharist, Christian life, says French cardinal

Michael Otto — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

QUEBEC CITY (CNS) Sacrifice is the heart of the Eucharist and Christian life, said Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France. To "present Christianity without the cross, or mention (of) the eucharistic sacrifice … would be a lie," he said in French during his June 17 catechesis at the June 15-22 International Eucharistic Congress. Cardinal Barbarin

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