The most memorable events in the Catholic world in 2016:
1. The murder of Fr Jacques Hamel at a church in Normandy
In July Fr. Hamel, 86, was celebrating Mass at St Etienne-du-Rouvray church in Normandy when two ISIS attackers burst into the building. Witnesses reported that the priest said “Be gone Satan” before they slit his throat.
Pope Francis later called Fr. Hamel a martyr.
2. Millions of young Catholics attend World Youth Day in Kraków
Pope Francis posed for a selfie with young Catholics after he had lunch with them at the archbishop’s residence in Kraków at the end of July.
He celebrated the closing World Youth Mass in the presence of more than a million young people.
The trip marked the Pontiff’s first visit to eastern Europe and included a visit to Auschwitz.
3. The release of Amoris Laetitia and the ‘dubia’ debate
The Pope released his 255-page apostolic exhortation on marriage and the family in April.
Seeking clarity over the divorced and remarried and Holy Communion, four cardinals submitted five dubia to the Pontiff in September. The Pope declined to answer them.
4. The canonisation of Mother Teresa
After being fast-tracked for canonisation, Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint in September.
Nuns gathered to watch the canonisation Mass of St Teresa of Calcutta inside the Mother House, the Missionaries of Charity headquarters, in Calcutta.
5. Pope Francis invites refugees to live at the Vatican
After a visit to a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Pope Francis gave a home to 12 Syrian refugees at the Vatican.
The refugees were chosen by lottery.
6. The conclusion of the Year of Mercy
The Jubilee Year of Mercy saw a focus on acts of kindness and forgiveness.
Pope Francis said that his visit to the neonatology division of the San Giovanni hospital in Rome in September stood out as one of his most significant memories of the year.
7. Pope Francis visits Sweden to mark 500 years since the Reformation
The Pope called for reconciliation among Christians at an ecumenical prayer service marking the Reformation anniversary in Sweden in October.
He greeted the Lutheran Archbishop Ante Jackelén, Primate of the Church of Sweden, in an effort to mend relations between Catholics and Protestants.
8. Iraqi Christians return to liberated churches
An offensive led by the Iraqi army has enabled Christians to return to their homes near Mosul.
In the above photograph, a Christian woman cries after entering St Addai church, which was damaged by ISIS fighters during their occupation of Keramlis village. The church bell tolled for the first time in more than two years as Christians gathered to worship.
9. Catholics help Donald Trump to victory
Donald Trump won the US election in November.
The president-elect was helped to victory by Catholic voters. Exit polls suggested that Catholics voted 52 per cent for the president-elect and 45 per cent for Hillary Clinton.
10. Cardinal Sarah asks priests to start celebrating Mass facing east
At a conference in London, Cardinal Robert Sarah invited priests to face east when they celebrate Mass.
He said: “It is very important that we return as soon as possible to a common orientation, of priests and the faithful turned together in the same direction – eastwards or at least towards the apse – to the Lord who comes.”
The Vatican dismissed the proposal.
Article and photos from The Catholic Herald.
A Happy New Year to all at CCD. 2017 promises to be a joyful year thanks to the 52% correligionists.
Hmmm! All of you TLMers, please note: the Vatican dismissed Cardinal Sarah’s recommendation that the priest face ad orientem when celebrating the Mass. Case closed!
George, TLMers ? So for how many centuries this was, Ad Orientem, and the number of Saints canonized during the time when is was the Tridentine Mass ? You close the case for yourself. I’ll stay the course where Catholic teachings aren’t watered down and about self.
To the moderators and my fellow posters Happy New Year and God be with us all.
The case was not closed on ad orientem; the priest has always led the people to our Lord at the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass and you can not lead by facing those you are leading. TLM shows us the way, go to one and find out the holiness of it.
One can also go to a reverent Mass in the Ordinary Form, and find Our Lord there: He Who is the Holy One. The rubrics of any Mass are not in themselves holy.
Another new precious grandchild also makes 2016 a memorable year! Happy and Holy New Year CCD and fellow posters!
Our Blessed Mother heard each and every one of our pleafull rosaries concerning the election. Keep praying the powerful prayers of the rosary for President-elect Donald Trump and for Vladimir Putin. The one hundred year anniversary of Fatima is fast approaching.
“In the End My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph”
Vladimir Putin’s Christian Faith – in his own words – YouTube
Keep praying the rosary!
Vladimir Putin Criticizes Western Countries for Abandoning Christian Roots – YouTube