Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for May 2011
Submitted by FatherSean on Mon, 05/09/2011 - 14:41.
REFLECTIONS ON POPE BENEDICT XVI'S
MONTHLY INTENTIONS
May 2011
General Intention
Communication Media. That those working in communication media may respect the truth, solidarity, and dignity of people.
On the first Pentecost, while praying, the Apostles of Jesus received by the Holy Spirit the gift of communicating the Gospel to the world. How appropriate, then, that the Church celebrates World Communications Day on the Sunday before Pentecost. In his prayer intention this month, the Holy Father asks us to pray anew for grace for communicators, which of course includes ourselves.
In this year's special message for the 45th World Communications Day, "Truth, Proclamation, and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age," Pope Benedict says that "there exists a Christian way of being present in the digital world: this takes the form of a communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of others." Or in the words of this month's intention, he asks that the media "respect the truth, solidarity, and dignity of the people."
Do you think the media are honest? Truth is fair, not weighted right or left. Do the media unite people, recognizing our solidarity as human beings who are created equal and have universal needs? Raising fear does not bring people together. Do the media (and advertisers) respect the dignity of people? We have seen human bodies presented as objects to be used for selfish pleasure. We have seen disrespect for vulnerable people of all kinds. Freedom of speech does not permit us to degrade and dismiss one another. Liberty does not allow us to bully and manipulate people.
Media respect the dignity of people when they seek the truth and tell it. God's truth is that we are not isolated as individuals, but connected to others, needing one another's friendship as we work toward the common good. And so we pray.
Reflection:
How can we keep a critical eye on the media? Why is it important to train young people to do this?
Reading:
James 3:1-12 Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire.
Links
Pope Benedict's Message for the 2011 World Communications Day: "Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age"
Pope Benedict's Message for 2009 World Communications Day: "New Technologies, New Relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue, and Friendship."
Pope Benedict's Message for the 2008 World Communications Day: "The Media: At the Crossroads between Self-Promotion and Service. Searching for Truth in order to Share it with Others"
Second Vatican Council Decree on the Media of Social Communications
Mission Intention
Church in China. That the Lord may help the Church in China persevere in fidelity to the Gospel and grow in unity.
In China, the Catholic Church is confusingly divided into the government-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association and the underground Church. The Catholic Patriotic Association forbids its members and clergy to communicate with the Vatican or other foreign Catholic organizations.
In defiance of the Church doctrine of apostolic succession, the Chinese government appoints bishops for the Catholic Patriotic Association. Wrongly seen as a threat to the government, many underground Catholic bishops, priests, and laity have been imprisoned. In its 2010 report on religious liberty, the U.S. State Department recommended that China again be designated as a "country of particular concern."
So the Pope asks us this month to pray for the Chinese Church, its fidelity to the Gospel and its unity.
Our prayers are timely now because a growing number of Chinese are openly seeking God for the first time in decades. New-found material wealth for many has left people spiritually dissatisfied. Conversions to Catholicism are multiplying in various parts of the country. China provides a favorable climate for evangelization, a moment we do not want to waste.
May 24 is the feast of Our Lady of Sheshan whose shrine is located in Shanghai, China. The Pope asked for Christians around the world to make May 24 a day of prayer for China.
We pray earnestly for the divided Church in China, that all Catholics there may be reconciled to one another and united in their fidelity to the Gospel.
Reflection:
How may you share with someone you know that the time is right to pray for Chinese Catholics?
Reading:
1 Timothy 2:1-7 God wills everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Links
April 14, 2011 Message to Chinese Catholics from the Commission on the Church in China
Pope Benedict's 2007 Letter to Catholics in China
Explanatory Note for Pope Benedict's Letter to Catholics in China
Pope Benedict's Prayer for the Annual Day of Prayer for China
Prayer of the Month
Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China, who amid their daily trials continue to believe, to hope, and to love. May they never fear to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus. In the statue overlooking the shrine you lift your Son on high, offering him to the world with love. Help Chinese Catholics witness to this love, clinging to the rock of Peter. Amen.
- from Pope Benedict's prayer for the Church in China
