Cardinal Rigali's weekly message: The Word Became Flesh
National Vocation Awareness Week
By Cardinal Justin RigaliArchbishop of Philadelphia Since we are in the midst of the Vocation Awareness Week and since one of the super-priorities of our archdiocesan initiative “Call to Conversion and Holiness” is prayer for more priests for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, we make vocations our topic this week. One body, many membersAs I look […]
The effects of the earthquake in Haiti one year later
By Cardinal Justin RigaliArchbishop of Philadelphia January 12 marks the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. We take the ongoing effects of that disaster as our topic this week. Not all anniversaries are joyful occasionsIn his recent Christmas Message Urbi et Orbi, “to the City and to the World,” Pope Benedict XVI […]
Showing the love that Jesus shows us
By Cardinal Justin RigaliArchbishop of Philadelphia As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we remind ourselves of some of the works of charity that take place within the Archdiocese on Christmas Day, and throughout the year. The love of our God has appeared In St. Paul’s Letter to Titus, we read: “The kindness and generous […]
The coming of Jesus is always personal
By Cardinal Justin RigaliArchbishop of Philadelphia At this halfway point, in the Advent preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, we are reminded that His coming is always personal. “O Wisdom”In the days immediately leading up to the Christmas celebration, the Church celebrates the famous “O” antiphons at Evening Prayer. These antiphons begin on […]
Welcoming Christ in the Liturgy
By Cardinal Justin Rigali With the beginning of Advent, we are reminded that one year from now we will receive the new English translation of the Roman Missal. We take this preparation as our topic this week. The liturgical concept of timeAs we begin the liturgical season of Advent, preparing for the coming of Jesus […]
Vigil of Prayer for the unborn
By Cardinal Justin Rigali As we join our Holy Father this weekend in a Vigil of Prayer for the unborn, we take this urgent cause as our topic this week. Show me!You probably know that, before becoming the Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2003, I was the Archbishop of St. Louis for over nine years. The […]
Remembering those who have served our community
By Cardinal Justin RigaliArchbishop of Philadelphia Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in a plaque dedication commemorating the 100th anniversary of an especially heroic aspect of the history of our Philadelphia Police and Fire Personnel. We take this event as our topic this week. The gift of memoryOne of the great gifts that […]
The Church’s teaching concerning Purgatory
By Cardinal Justin Rigali Since the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, commonly known as All Souls’ Day, occurs at the beginning of November, the Church has traditionally used this month as a time of reflection upon this doctrine. Therefore, we take it as our topic this week. A wonderful reminder of our human dignityFrom […]
Honoring our veterans
By Cardinal Justin Rigali As we honor those who served our country on Veterans Day, we take this tribute as our topic this week. Veterans Day is meant to be a day of peaceMost of us probably know that Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day. It was instituted after the First World War (1914-1918) […]
Breaking the Bonds of Addiction
By Cardinal Justin Rigali On Friday, Nov. 5, a one-day Conference on Addictions, based on a book I have written will take place. Obviously, not everyone can attend this event, so I will take this important subject as our topic this week. A great deal of the information contained in this article is taken from: […]