Pope’s plea: Pray the Rosary to bring an end to the pandemic

Pope’s plea: Pray the Rosary to bring an end to the pandemic

By Ronnie Convery

Pray the Rosary to end the pandemic… that’s the heartfelt plea of Pope Francis this Marian month as he urges Catholics across the globe to take part in a “marathon” of prayer.

The Holy Father has called on Shrines around the world to take part in this initiative, so that they may become powerhouses of the prayer of the entire Church and plans are being laid for Carfin Grotto to host a special event to conclude the Rosary marathon.

Each day of the month has a prayer intention for the various categories of people most affected by the pandemic: for those who have not been able to say goodbye to their loved ones, for health care personnel, for the poor, the homeless and those in economic difficulty and for all the deceased and so on.

The Vatican has asked that as many people as possible devote a moment to daily prayer, in the car, on the street, by smartphone, requesting the end of the pandemic and the resumption of social and work activities.

At the launch in Rome, The Pope said: “We join together in prayer with all the sanctuaries spread throughout the whole world, with the faithful, and with all persons of good will, to entrust into the hands of our Holy Mother the whole human race, sorely tried by this period of pandemic.”

“Each day of the coming month,”he said, “the many people who have been affected by the virus, and who continue to suffer the consequences of the pandemic, will be entrusted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy.”

The Holy Father will close the season on May 31 from the Vatican Gardens.

30 shrines across the world are leading online Rosaries each day of the month including Our Lady of Częstochowa in Poland; the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; the Holy House of Loreto in Italy; Our Lady of Knock in Ireland and Lourdes in France.

The official channels of the Holy See broadcast the prayer each day at 5pm UK time.

A short liturgical guide has been prepared that provides some useful suggestions for taking part in this major event which can be downloaded from the website of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization - www.pcpne.va

Catholic students’ joy at new university rector

By Brian Swanson

The appointment of retired High Court judge Lady Rita Rae as only the second woman rector of Glasgow University since the post was established 400 years ago, has been warmly welcomed by Catholic students.

Lady Rae, 70, who has Scots-Italian roots and is a devout Catholic, was endorsed by the University’s Catholic Association after her candidature was proposed by the Law Society at the university.

She succeeds human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar who did not seek re-election.

University Catholic Chaplain Father Ross Campbell said: “Lady Rae was one of the top jurists in Scotland, her life and career stand as an inspiration to students, especially to young women.

“We were delighted that she was elected Rector and we assure her of both our support and prayers.”

He added: “We endorsed her candidacy for a number of reason and not solely because she is a devout Catholic.

“She did not stand for any particular party, and we thought her non-partisan approach would better serve the student community.

Agenda

“She approached the campaign without any particular agenda, making it clear that her role was to listen to all students and then represent their needs to the University.

“For the Catholic student community, whose beliefs and values, are often excluded or marginalised on campus, this was particularly appealing.”

Jamie McGowan, a post-graduate law student and member of the GUCA who was closely involved in the election campaign said: “Lady Rae was an esteemed member of the courts and will be a valuable addition to our university community. I am looking forward to seeing a working rector ensure that there is a place for free and open debate on campus.”

The first woman rector appointed to Glasgow University was the late Winnie Mandela who held the post from 1987 until 1990 in a move that was largely symbolic and designed to support the growing anti-apartheid movement. She took no active part in university affairs and never visited Glasgow.

The new rector, a former director of Flourish, is a constant supporter of the Xaverian Fathers and has been prominent in the life of St Alphonsus Parish near the Barras.

Lady Rae was appointed a judge in 2014, qualified as a solicitor in 1974 and became a partner with Ross Harper & Murphy. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1982 and appointed Queen’s Counsel 10 years later.

While at the bar she was variously a member of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, the Sentencing Commission for Scotland, the Parole Board for Scotland, and Glasgow University “Legal 40” from 2010, mentoring diploma students.

In 2019 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Glasgow in recognition of her contribution to Scots law.

Remember the Pope’s intentions

By Fr David Stewart SJ

The Monthly Intentions of the Holy Father, highlight realities about our world that need prayerful reflection. These are challenges that face humanity and the church’s mission.

We pray about these concerns, not to make them go away, but to open our own hearts to them, then in this way learning what we are called to do about them. These matters are not always easy – such as this month’s, in which we’re invited to pray with the Pope “that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its danger”.

Finance and the common good

Vast sums of money are electronically moved around the world each minute, each second of every day. The temptations towards greed are obvious and are often indulged. The system is full of opportunities, some perfectly legal, some criminal, for self-enrichment. Lest we slip into selfishness, we need always to remember that human solidarity and concern for the common good are core principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

In May, the Pope stays with the common good theme; he wants to highlight the pressing need for regulation in the world of finance. Left uncontrolled, it will cause some to suffer as others grow rich. Those already poor are always the first to suffer.

Likely, most of us, hearing this Intention, wondered how we could ever influence the world’s financial decision-makers. We would probably feel powerless, if not through lack of influence then through lack of knowledge of how these systems work; it’s a world that feels a million kilometres away, run by a small number of people who hold all the levers of power. Yet, in this Easter season and Pentecost month, we must try to be open to where the Spirit of God might be at work, drawing our attention, nudging our hearts.

Therein lies the beginning of a response to this month’s prayer-intention, although we might not see it at first. The Intention asks for regulation of financial operations for one specific purpose – to protect citizens from the dangers of an unregulated system. When we see this, we will begin to understand that this is really a matter of justice. Unregulated financial systems can put people, especially those least able to protect themselves, in danger. Followers of the Risen Christ engage in struggles for justice precisely because of our irreducible human dignity, which is the unchangeable basis of all our social thought and teaching. This intention, and the entire mission of Christ’s followers, is rooted in concern for the poor.

For Pope Francis, there is little doubt about our mission. “If the Church disowns the poor, she ceases to be the Church of Jesus; she falls back on the old temptation to become a moral or intellectual elite.”

Proposals for this month

1. Aware that this is the Holy Spirit’s month, find time to make a conscious and deliberate prayer to the Spirit of light to shine that light on the realities of your own part of the world – make that explicit prayer (perhaps using the Meditation Moment below) at least once in the month. What do you notice?

2. May is also Mary’s month and we mark it in various ways in the Church. When honouring her in our Marian prayers, such as the Rosary, this month, make a point of remembering her own Magnificat prayer that shows how she, too, cares about any injustice that endangers the poor. “He casts the mighty from their thrones … He raises the lowly …”

Halfway through April, Pope Francis took to social media to remind us that “In the midst of the contradictions and perplexities we must confront each day, the din of so many words and opinions, there is the quiet voice of the Risen Lord who keeps saying to us: “Peace be with you!” Let this thought draw us into a meditation moment.

As St.Ignatius insists, we should begin every time of prayer by recognising that God’s gaze is already on us, that the Trinity looks longingly on us and on our world. That gaze is full of compassion for us and all of creation. Remembering that true prayer is never an escape from the world, but is entering the world ever more deeply, we can bring to mind the Pope’s Intention for the month. Let our thoughts about this, together with our feelings, emerge into God’s gaze; speak to the Trinity whatever seems important to say. Note carefully when you become aware of the peace that the Risen Christ wants to offer you. Thank the Spirit for whatever is given.

Visit the NEW website www.praywiththepope.net for latest news and many resources.

Celtic salute Archbishop

By Brian Swanson

Celtic Football Club has honoured Archbishop Tartaglia, a lifelong fan, with a unique memorial plaque added to the base of the iconic statue at Parkhead of the club’s founder Brother Walfrid.

The poignant tribute linking fan and founder, at a site visited annually by thousands of fans from all the world, has been created in marble with the coat of arms of the of the Archbishop and the crest of the club he supported since boyhood carved on either side.

The tribute reads: “The Most Reverend Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow, Always a Celtic fan, Always walked in hope. Died on the feast of St Mungo 13/01/21. Pray for him.”

Peter Lawwell, the club’s chief executive, said: “The Archbishop was a true Celtic fan and like so many others everyone at the club was shocked and saddened by his death. We felt he deserved to be recognised in a way he would have appreciated and so from now on there will be a part of him forever at Celtic Park which will be seen for all time by fans from all over the world.”

Celtic FC led tributes to the Archbishop following his death with a statement reading: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who was a huge supporter of the club and regularly attended matches at Celtic Park.

“Everyone at Celtic offers their sincere condolences to Philip’s family and Scotland’s Catholic community at this sad time.”

Lord Haughey, a former director of the club, wrote in tribute: “The first fifteen minutes of any meetings would be consumed by talking about and his beloved Celtic and his knowledge on the history of the club left me mesmerised.

“I will say goodbye in a way that I know he would appreciate – YNWA.”