CSVF Blog

The Holy Father has published his third encyclical.  Entitled Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”), it reflects on authentic human development and the Church’s social doctrine in light of the current economic situation.

Click here for the official English translation of the text.

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I will give you shepherds after my own heart;
they will nourish you with knowledge and sound teaching.

Blessed Benedict XI was the second son of St. Dominic to be elected to the Chair of Peter.

From the Dominican Ordo:

Nicholas Boccasini was born at Treviso, Italy, in 1240 and entered the Order as a young man.  He was renowned for both his great compassion and his love for the common life.  He served as provincial of Lombardy and was elected the ninth Master of the Order in 1296.  His administrative skills were noted by Pope Boniface VIII, who appointed him a cardinal.  Nicholas stood by the pope when he was ill-treated by Nogaret, the ambassador of the French King, Philip the Fair.  In 1303, Nicholas himself was elected pope and took the name Benedict. In the nine months of his pointificate he made a great effort to bring peace to England and Germany, and to reconcile France with the Papacy.  He died suddenly at Perugia on July 7, 1304.

Blessed Benedict reigned briefly during very tumultuous times, and his sudden death may have been caused by his enemies.  Benedict was the last pope to live and serve in Rome before his successor moved the papal court to Avignon, thus beginning the “Babylonian Captivity” of the Church.  Decades later, another Dominican, St. Catherine of Siena, would work tirelessly to restore the papacy to Rome.

For more on the life of Blessed Benedict, click here and here.

Eternal Shepherd,
you made Blessed Benedict known
for his great love of the brethren
and his service to your flock.
By the help of his prayers
may we ever be ardent in our fellowship
and with one heart be steadfast
in the household of the Church.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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