The Valley Catholic November 21, 2017 | Page 15

tvc . dsj . org | November 21 , 2017 IN THE CHURCH 15 Mass is a Time of Silence and Prayer , not Idle Chitchat , Pope says

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – Mass is the highest form of prayer and not an appropriate moment for small talk , Pope Francis said .
At church , Catholics should spend their time in silence before Mass , preparing “ to meet with Jesus ” instead of engaging in “ chitchat ,” the pope said Nov . 15 during his weekly general audience .
“ Silence is so important ,” he said . “ Remember what I told you last time : we are not going to a show . Silence prepares
us and accompanies us .”
The pope continued his new series of audience talks on the Mass , reflecting on the Eucharist as a form of prayer that is “ the highest , the most sublime and , at the same time , the most concrete ” way of encountering God ’ s love .
“ This is the greatest grace : to experience that the Eucharist is the privileged moment to be with Jesus and , through him , with God and with our brothers and sisters ,” the pope said .
In the Gospels , he continued , Jesus teaches his disciples that the first thing needed to pray “ is to know how to say ‘ father ’” and to trust in God with the humility of a child .
Pope Francis poses with young people during his general audience in St . Peter ’ s Square at the Vatican Nov . 15 . ( CNS photo / Paul Haring )
Christians also must allow themselves to be “ surprised by the living encounter with the Lord ,” he said , and
not simply “ talk to God like a parrot ,” repeating the words of prayers without thinking .
“ The encounter with God is a living encounter ,” the pope said departing from his prepared remarks . “ It is not an encounter of a museum , it is a living encounter . And we go to Mass , not a museum ! We go to a living encounter with the Lord .”
Pope Francis said the Mass is also a gift and a consolation where Christians discover that God ’ s greatest surprise is that he “ loves us even in our weakness .”
“ The Lord encounters our frailty ,” the pope said . “ This is the environment of the Eucharist . This is prayer .”

‘ Papal ’ Lamborghini Gift to be Auctioned off for Charity

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY – While a Lamborghini would make a stylish popemobile , Pope Francis has decided to auction off the one he was given by the Italian automaker to aid several charities close to his heart .
The pope was presented with a oneof-a-kind white and gold Lamborghini Huracan by the luxury car manufacturer Nov . 15 , just before making his way to his weekly general audience in the standard popemobile .
The pope signed and blessed the automobile , which will be auctioned off by Sotheby ’ s . The proceeds , the Vatican said , will be given to the pope , who already has chosen to fund three projects : the resettlement of Christians in Iraq ’ s Ninevah Plain ; support for women rescued from human trafficking and forced prostitution ; and assistance to the suffering in Africa .
Specifically , part of the proceeds from the auction will go to Aid to the Church in Need , a pontifical foundation , which is working to rebuild homes , houses of worship and community buildings that were destroyed by the Islamic State and caused thousands of Iraqi Christians to flee their homes .
The pope also will give funds to : the Pope John XXIII community , an Italian organization that assists women victims of prostitution and human trafficking ; and to the International Group of Hand Surgeon Friends to support its projects to provide specialized medical care in Africa ; and to the Italian group Amici di Centrafrica , which helps women and children in the Central African Republic .
Pope Francis autographs a Lamborghini presented by representatives of the Italian automaker at the Vatican Nov . 15 . The car will be auctioned and the proceeds given to charity . ( CNS photo / L ’ Osservatore Romano )
Bishops to put Together Pastoral Plan for Marriage , Family Life Ministry
BALTIMORE ( CNS ) – U . S . Catholic bishops acknowledged that Catholic families and married couples need more support from the church at large and hope to offer it by giving parishes plenty of resources through a pastoral plan for marriage and family life . A proposal for such a plan was introduced to the bishops on the second day of their annual fall assembly in Baltimore Nov . 14 and was approved by paper ballot with 232 votes in favor . The pastoral plan was described by Bishop Richard J . Malone of Buffalo , New York , a member of the bishops ’ Committee on Laity , Marriage , Family Life and Youth , as a response to Pope Francis ’ 2016 apostolic exhortation “ Amoris Laetitia ” (“ The Joy of Love ”). Bishop Malone , who introduced the idea to the bishops ,
Prelates , including Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane Washington , watch a video during the Nov . 12 centenary presentation in Baltimore for the U . S . Conference of Catholic Bishops . The celebration was held on the eve of the bishops ’ fall general assembly . ( CNS photo / Bob Roller )
was filling in for Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J . Chaput , the committee ’ s chairman , who was in Rome for preparatory meeting for the Synod of Bishops in 2018 .