Pope Benedict XVI
Dec 31, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI

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Adoremus, Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy

Pope Benedict XVI

Collection of works, documents by and about Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger)

Adoremus Web SiteWomen for Faith & Family Web SiteVatican Web SiteCatholic-Hierarchy.orgOther links

March 1, 2013

Scrapbook on Vatican Website on Benedict XVI — For the fatherly love of Pope Benedict for all of us, Deo gratias.

February 11, 2013

Our prayers for Pope Benedict especially in the coming days and weeks — and for all those who will elect his successor.

In his Wednesday audience January 30, he spoke of the Fatherhood of God, and said that God’s Fatherhood is “infinite love, tenderness that stoops over us, weak children, in need of everything.” He assured us that “Faith gives us this certainty, which becomes a secure rock in constructing our lives: we can face all the moments of difficulty and danger, the experience of the darkness of crisis and of times of pain, supported by our faith that God does not leave us alone and is always near.”

Truly, Pope Benedict has been an example to us all of true fatherhood – giving us guidance and encouragement, knowledge and strength to live our Catholic faith with integrity and fidelity. Our gratitude to the Holy Father is profound.

Helen Hull Hitchcock
Adoremus & Women for Faith & Family

Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation set for 2/28/2013, February 11, 2013
Go to vatican website for official announcement.

Papal Visit 2008 to the USA
Link: http://www.uspapalvisit.org/

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Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Blessing
"Urbi et Orbi" April 19, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.
The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with inadequate instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.
Let us move forward in the joy of the Risen Lord,
confident of His unfailing help. The Lord will help us and Mary, His Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.

A Prayer for our Sovereign Pontiff
Pope Benedict XVI

May the Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. Amen. (Enchiridion of Indulgences, n. 39)

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We are deeply grateful to the cardinals for selecting as our universal shepherd Pope Benedict XVI, who is well known not only to Catholics but to the whole world as a man of deep faith matched by a profound intellect.

His knowledge of the spiritual confusion and malaise of the world today, and his long experience as a priest, teacher, and, for more than twenty years, close adviser to his predecessor and friend, Pope John Paul II, uniquely equips Pope Benedict to meet the serious challenges to the Catholic Church and the Christian faith in our time with wisdom, insight, courage, strength and grace.

We join millions of Catholics in praying for our new Holy Father, that the Holy Spirit will guide and comfort him as he assumes the often profoundly difficult tasks that lie before him.

And may St. Benedict and all the saints, and especially Mary, Mother of our Lord, assist him with their prayers.

Helen Hull Hitchcock, for Adoremus – Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy; and Women for Faith & Family.

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Adoremus Site

excerpt from the Adoremus Mission Statement:
The purpose of such a renewal cannot be stated more eloquently than this statement by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger:

Christian Liturgy is cosmic Liturgy, as Saint Paul tells us in the Letter to the Philippians. It must never renounce this dignity, however attractive it may seem to work with small groups and construct homemade liturgies. What is exciting about Christian Liturgy is that it lifts us up out of our narrow sphere and lets us share in the Truth. The aim of all liturgical renewal must be to bring to light this liberating greatness. — Feast of Faith

Documents, Articles, Writing by Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger

Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, PRO MULTIS to H.E. Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, Archbishop of Freiburg, President of the Episcopal Conference of Germany, Vatican, April 14, 2012

Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Bishops from the United States of America on their Ad Limina Visit — "We Ourselves are the First to Need Re-evangelization, November 26, 2011

Porta Fidei — The Door of Faith, Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI Proclaiming the Year of Faith — October 11, 2011

POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION VERBUM DOMINI, OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI, ON THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH – September 30, 2010

Act of Entrustment and Consecration of Priest to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: — Apostolic journey of Pope Benedict XVI to Portugal on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the beatification of Jacinta and Francisco, young shepherds of Fátima, Church of the Most Holy Trinity – Fátima, Wednesday, May 12, 2010. , Vol XVI, No. 4., June 2010

Pope Benedict Thanks Vox Clara For Work on Missal Translation, Vol. XVI, No.3, May 2010

Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, Providing For Personal Ordinariates For Anglicans Entering Into Full Communion With The Catholic Church,  November 4, 2009

Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2010 — "The Justice of God has been manifested through faith in Jesus Christ", October 30, 2009

Ecclesiae Unitatem, Apostolic Letter – “Motu Proprio”, Pope Benedict XVI , July 8, 2009 [see August 2009 issue of AB]

Caritas In Veritate, Encyclical Letter, of The Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI to the Bishops, Priests And Deacons, Men And Women Religious, the Lay Faithful and All People Of Good Will, On Integral Human Development, In Charity And Truth, June 29, 2009

Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Proclaiming a Year for Priests, on the 150th Anniversary of the "Dies Natalis", of the Cure of Ars, June 16, 2009

Pope Benedict Addresses the Pontifical Biblical Commission – Inspiration and Truth of ScripturePope Benedict XVI addressed the members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission on April 23, 2009 at the end of their plenary assembly. Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is president of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, which meets annually after Easter.

Christ my Hope is Risen! Alleluia! – Pope Benedict, Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009,Vol. XVI, No. 2, April 2010

Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the Members of the Congregation for the Clergy on the Occasion of their Plenary Assembly, March 16, 2009

Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops of the Catholic Church Concerning the Remission of the Excommunication of the Four Bishops Consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre, March 10, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI Addresses Synod — On Biblical Exegesis and Theology, October 2008

VISIT TO GROUND ZERO PRAYER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI, Ground Zero, New York, Sunday, April 20, 2008, In commemmoration of September 11, 2001

The Human Family, A Community of Peace — Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2008

Encyclical Letter, SPE SALVI of the Supreme Pontiff, Benedict XVI to the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, Men and Women Religious and all the Lay Faithful, ON CHRISTIAN HOPE, November 30, 2007

VISIT TO THE PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE FOR SACRED MUSIC, ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI , Via di Torre Rossa, Rome, Saturday, October 13, 2007

LITTERAE APOSTOLICAE , MOTU PROPRIO DATAE
SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
July 7, 2007 – (links to the USCCB site, BCL Newsletter)
Link to unofficial English translation of Summorum Pontificum by the Vatican
Information Service on USCCB web site:
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/VISEnglishSummPont.pdf

Letter Of His Holiness Benedict XVI To The Bishops On The Occasion Of The Publication Of The Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio Data" Summorum Pontificum On The Use Of The Roman Liturgy Prior To The Reform Of 1970, July 7, 2007

SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS, BENEDICT XVI, February 22, 2007

Homily of his Holiness Benedict XVI, Holy Mass and Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ, Thursday, June 15, 2006

Deus Caritas Est, Encyclical, December 25, 2005

Opening Mass of the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Homily of His Holiness, Benedict XVI. Vatican Basilica, Sunday, October 2, 2005

Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus Message 10/2/05 …"The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, the unique contemplative prayer through which, guided by the Lord’s Heavenly Mother, we fix our gaze on the face of the Redeemer in order to be conformed to his joyful, light-filled, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. … This ancient prayer is having a providential revival, thanks also to the example and teaching of the beloved Pope John Paul II. I invite you to reread his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae and to put into practice its directions on the personal, family and community levels. … We entrust the work of the Synod to Mary: may she lead the entire Church to an ever clearer knowledge of the proper mission of service to the Redeemer truly present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. "

For the Approval and Publication of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church — Motu Proprio of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, June 28 2005 [links to the Vatican Website]

Angelus Message June 12, 2005 – The Year of the Eucharist Continues

Pastoral Visit of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Bari for the Closing of the 24th Italian National Eucharistic Congress, Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Esplanade of Marisabella — Sunday, May 29, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI – First Message to the College of CardinalsApril 20, 2005 — A Pope of Christ, Communion, Collegiality

Homily of Pope Benedict XVI at the Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry, April 24, 2005

Cardinal Ratzinger’s Homily in Mass Before Conclave — Jesus Christ: "The Measure of True Humanism" — April 18, 2005

Funeral Mass of the Roman Pontiff John Paul II, Homily of His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, St Peter’s Square — Friday, April 8, 2005

Way of the Cross at the Colosseum, Good Friday, March 24, 2005, Mediations and Prayers by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff

Introduction of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, March 20, 2005 [Links to the Vatican Website]

The Organic Development of the Liturgy, Reviewed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger [AB Vol. X No. 8, November 2004]

Cardinal Ratzinger, The Living Liturgy: A Gift from Heaven Reviewed by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger [AB Vol. X No. 4 – June 2004]

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Considerations Regarding Proposals to give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons — June 3, 2003

Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life — Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — November 24, 2002

The Theology of Kneeling, From Cardinal Ratzinger’s The Spirit of the Liturgy [AB Vol. VIII, No. 8: November 2002]

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Presentation of the Apostolic Letter in the Form of Motu Proprio, Misericordia Dei (The Mercy of God), Intervention by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect [AB Vol. VIII, No. 5: July-August 2002]

Art, Image and ArtistsSacred art, inspired by faith, both reflects and informs the culture
Part II — by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger [AB Vol. VIII, No. 1: March 2002]

Art and Liturgy – The Question of Images — Part I — by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger [AB Vol. VII, No. 10: February 2002]

Music and Liturgy: How does music express the Word of God, the Vision of God? — by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger [AB Vol. VII, No. 8: November 2001]

Dominus Iesus— On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church – August 6, 2000

Joseph Cardinal RatzingerThe Spirit of the Liturgy, The Altar and the Direction of Liturgical Prayer [AB Vol. VI, No. 3: May 2000]

Final Declaration of the Interdicasterial Meeting with a Representation of the Australian Bishops and the Roman Curia [AB Vol. III, No. 9 – February 1999]

Cardinal Ratzinger on Ad Tuendam Fidem, Doctrinal Commentary on the Concluding Formula of the Professio fidei [AB Vol. IV, No. 6 – October 1998]

Ten Years of the Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei", A lecture given by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.  to an Ecclesia Dei Conference (reportedly attended by 3000) held on October 24, 1998 at the Ergife Palace Hotel, Rome (Translated from the original French text by Father Ignatius Harrison, Brompton Oratory, London)

"In the Presence of the Angels I Will Sing Your Praise", The Regensburg Tradition and the Reform of the Liturgyby Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger [AB Vol. 2, Nos. 6-8: Oct.-Dec. 1996]

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — Norms for Use of Low-gluten Bread and Mustum — August 22. 1994

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Articles about or quoting Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger

Pope Benedict XVI and the Liturgical Reform — by Helen Hull Hitchcock

Benedict, the Bear, and the Shell: Explanation of the Pope’s Name and Symbolism in the Papal Coat of Arms by Helen Hull Hitchcock

Turning Towards the LordOrientation in Liturgical Prayer — by U.M. Lang [AB Vol. XI, No. 2: April 2005]

Loss of Faith the Besetting Problem of the Church — [AB Vol. X, No. 1: March 2004]

Holy Father Approves Synthesis of Catechism; Cardinal Ratzinger to head Working Commission [AB Vol. IX, No. 2: April 2003]

Cardinal Ratzinter: An Intimate God — [AB Vol. IX, No. 2: April 2003]

Worthy is the Lamb — by Susan Benofy [AB Vol. VIII, No. 9: December 2002 – January 2003]

Breaking out of the self-enclosed circle — by Father James V. Schall, SJ [AB Vol. VII, No. 8: November 2001]  

Holy See issues Notification on women as ordained deacons [AB Vol. VII, No. 7: October 2001]

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger — 50th anniversary as a priest — [AB Vol. VII, No. 5: July-August 2001]

The Scandal of the Liturgy "Incarnation" does not mean doing as we please with the Church’s worship – Book Review by Father Paul Scalia: Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy (English edition, trans. John Saward) San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000. 232 pages. $19.95.[AB Vol. VI, No. 9: December 2000 – January 2001]

Dominus Iesus clarifies perennial doctrine on universal truth of the Catholic Church — by James Hitchcock [AB Vol. VI, No. 6-7: September / October 2000]

Pope warns against "biased interpretations" of Vatican II — by Helen Hull Hitchcock [AB Vol. VI, No. 4: June/July 2000]

Cardinal Ratzinger Stresses Mystery of Church in New Book [AB Vol. V, No. 8: November 1999]

Cardinal Ratzinger: Culture and Truth: Reflections on Fides et Ratio [AB Vol. V, No. 2 – April 1999]

From "Tantum Ergo" to "They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love" What Happened? — by the Reverend Robert C. Pasley [AB Vol. V, No. 2: April 1999]

Vatican and Australian Bishops Issue Joint Declaration on Key Faith Issues [AB Vol. IV, No. 9: February 1999]

ICEL Psalter Lacks Savor, Holy See’s 1996 Order to Revoke Imprimatur Revealed in August — By Helen Hull Hitchcock [AB Vol. IV, No. 5: September 1998]

The Vatican Instruction on Non-Ordained — Distinction of Roles of Priests and Laity Reaffirmed, Dissent Persistsby Helen Hull Hitchcock [AB Vol. IV, No. 2: April 1998]

A New Song For the Lord, Review by Kenneth Whitehead [AB Vol. IV, No. 1: February/March 1998]

Where’s the High Ground? — Father Richard John Neuhaus [AB Vol. IV, No. 1: February/March 1998]

Cardinals meet Vatican Officials on Mass Texts: Can Rome Resist Pressure for Language Changes? — By Helen Hull Hitchcock [AB Vol. II, No. 9: February 1997]

Feminism and the Language Wars of Religion by Helen Hull Hitchcock – (Reprinted from Dossier – 1995)

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger — Man for the Job, by James Hitchcock — June 2, 2005

James Hitchcock Column: Pope Benedict XVIApril 20, 2005

Vatican Website

Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation set for 2/28/2013, February 11, 2013
Go to vatican website for official announcement.

On June 11, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a “motu proprio", DE ALIQUIBUS MUTATIONIBUS IN NORMIS DE ELECTIONE ROMANI PONTIFICIS, which revised the norms for electing a new pope, restoring the tradition that a 2/3 majority of electors is always required to elect a pope

Stations of the Cross – 2006

Index page for complete list of Pope Benedict’s writings, etc as Pope. — http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/index.htm

Pope Benedict XVI – Audience with Diplomatic Corp accredited to the Holy See: Truth and the Mission of Peace — January 9, 2006

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD AND 39th WORLD DAY OF PEACE, HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI, Sunday, 1 January 2006

MIDNIGHT MASS: SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD, HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI, Saturday, 24 December 2005

Benedict XVI, April 19, 2005

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Catholic-Hierarchy.org

Pope Benedict XVI — Joseph Ratzinger

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Other Links

…"English translation by the Vatican Information Service of Pope Benedict XVI’s first message after his election, delivered in Latin at the end of an April 20 Mass with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel." VATICAN CITY (CNS) April 20, 2005

Pope Benedict’s XVI’s 1st Public Greeting, "A Simple, Humble Worker in the Lord’s Vineyard", VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2005 (Zenit.org)

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The Editors