Gian Easter Egg

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Zimbabwe bishops urge President to leave

Zimbabwe bishops urge Mugabe to leave (AP)

AP - In an Easter message pinned to church bulletin boards around the country, Zimbabwe's Roman Catholic bishops called on President Robert Mugabe to leave office or face "open revolt" from those suffering under his government.

Tell the World of His Love

Tell The World Of His Love

TELL THE WORLD OF HIS LOVE Chosen among 85 other Filipino songsOfficial 1995 World Youth Day Theme Song By Trina Belamide, Filipina Composer

For God so loved the world,

He gave us His only Son,

Jesus Christ our Saviour,

His Most Precious One.

He has sent us His message of love,

And sends those who hear,

To bring the message to everyone,

In a voice loud and clear.

Let us tell the world of His love,

The greatest love the world has known,

Search the world for those who have walked astray,

And lead them home.

Fill the world's darkest corners,

With His light from up above,

Walk every step, every mile, every road,

And tell the world,Tell the world of His love.

The greatest love the world has known,

Walk every step, every mile, every road,

And tell the world,

Tell the world, Tell the world of His love.

Tell the world of His love.

(from Maria Jose)

Mass hysteria at Mexican Catholic School

Mexican girls hit by 'mass hysteria' at Catholic school

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican girls studying at a strict boarding school run by a South Korean nun were to undergo psychological therapy Monday after hundreds of them were hit by a mysterious case of "mass hysteria," health officials said.

Tsunami victims fill churches on Easter

Tsunami victims fill churches on Easter (AP)

AP - Scores of villagers descended from hilltop camps to attend Easter celebrations in the Solomon Islands on Sunday, praying for the victims of last week's magnitude-8.1 earthquake and killer waves.

Urbi et Orbi

Literally, it means "To the City and to the World". To the city of Rome, and to the whole world. It used to be a Roman standard of proclamations, more like the "Hear ye, hear ye..." Of course, now, it means the papal document or pronouncements that is being announced or proclaimed to the world through the people in Vatican, specifically at St. Peter's Square.

Urbi et Orbi carries the Papal blessing, and is usually given during Eastertime or Christmas.

The blessing in Latin goes:

Sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus, de quorum potestate et auctoritate confidimus, ipsi intercedant pro nobis ad Dominum.

Amen.

Precibus et meritis beatæ Mariae semper Virginis, beati Michaelis Archangeli, beati Ioannis Baptistæ et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli et omnium Sanctorum misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus et dimissis omnibus peccatis vestris, perducat vos Iesus Christus ad vitam æternam.

Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem omnium peccatorum vestrorum, spatium verae et fructuosae penitentiæ, cor semper penitens et emendationem vitae, gratiam et consolationem sancti Spiritus et finalem perseverantiam in bonis operibus, tribuat vobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

Amen.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis: Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper.

Amen.

In English, this is the translation:

May the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of whose power and authority we are confident, intercede for us to the Lord.

All: Amen

Through the prayers of blessed Mary ever-virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, and the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints: may God almighty have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and may Jesus Christ bring you to ever-lasting life.

All: Amen

May the almighty and merciful God grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of all your sins, a space for true and fruitful repentance, an ever-contrite heart, the virtue to improve your life, the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit, and final perseverance in good works.

All: Amen

And may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon you and be with you always.

All: Amen

How many sufferings in the world...

Papacy and the Vatican on Yahoo! News Photos

In this photo released by the Vatican's L'Osservatore Romano newspaper, Pope Benedict XVI looks on for the 'Urbi et Orbi' ('To The City and to The World') Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, April 8, 2007. The Pontiff decried suffering in much of the world to tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, and read out a litany of troubling current events, saying he was thinking of the 'terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons.' (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, HO)

Urbi et Orbi message: A lamentation for slaughter in Iraq, unrest in Afghanistan

Urbi et Orbi: 'Slaughter' in Iraq, unrest in Khabul

VATICAN CITY - In his Easter message on Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday decried suffering in the world, lamenting the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and expressing worry over unrest and instability in Afghanistan.

Pope: Nothing positive in Iraq

Pope: 'Nothing positive' in Iraq

Read full story for latest details.

Holy Fire Draws Crowd

Easter 'holy fire' ritual draws crowd (AP)

AP - Worshippers filled Christianity's most revered church on Saturday, lighting rows of candles, dripping hot wax on their faces and dancing in celebration of the Orthodox Easter 'holy fire' ritual.

Pope presides over Easter Mass

Pope presides over Easter Vigil Mass (AP)

AP - Pope Benedict XVI baptized eight people during a candlelit Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica early Sunday, opening the most important event of the Christian Church calendar.

Easter Sunday

Millions of Christians celebrate Easter (AFP)

AFP - Solomon Islanders prayed Sunday for tsunami victims while voters in East Timor hoped for a peaceful election day as millions of Christians in the region celebrated Easter.

Keeping the Faith

Keeping the Faith

Pope Benedict XVI says he believes that the Catholic Church in Europe faces a dire threat in secularism and that re-Christianizing the Continent is critical not only to the fate of the church but to the fate of Europe itself.

Holy Fire

Security Increased for 'Holy Fire'

Thousands of police were deployed in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday as visitors from around the world came to mark the Orthodox Easter "holy fire" ritual at Christianity's holiest site.

Thousands of police were deployed in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday as visitors from around the world came to mark the Orthodox Easter "holy fire" ritual at Christianity's holiest site.

Easter 'Holy Fire' Ritual Draws Crowd

Christian worshippers filled their most revered church on Saturday, lighting row upon row of candles, pouring hot wax onto their faces and dancing in celebration of the Orthodox Easter 'holy fire' ritual.

Christian worshippers filled their most revered church on Saturday, lighting row upon row of candles, pouring hot wax onto their faces and dancing in celebration of the Orthodox Easter 'holy fire' ritual.

Pope presides at Via Crucis Procession

Pope presides at Way of Cross procession | Reuters

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict led a procession around the ancient ruins of the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday and listened to meditations including one lamenting the abuse and marginalisation of women across the world.

The 79-year-old Pope led the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession commemorating Christ's suffering and death, one of the main services ahead of Easter -- the climax of the Christian year.

Minister's Death Suspicious

Va. Minister's Death Deemed Suspicious

The minister of a tiny rural congregation was found dead in her church's parsonage, and an investigator on Friday said the death was suspicious.

Filipino devotees nailed to cross

Filipino devotees nailed to cross - Yahoo! News

By JOEAL CALUPITAN, Associated Press Writer Fri Apr 6, 4:00 AM ET

SAN PEDRO CUTUD, Philippines - Seven devotees were nailed to crosses on Good Friday in a northern Philippine village where the rites drew thousands of tourists and spectators. 

The Lenten ritual is opposed by religious leaders in the Philippines — Southeast Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation. But it has persisted to become one of the country's most-awaited summer attractions in San Fernando City's San Pedro Cutud village.

Albert Einsten and God

Albert Einstein and God

In an exclusive excerpt from Walter Isaacson's new biography, the great physicist wrestles with his faith

Easter Message of CBCP President

Easter message of CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo

MANILA, Philippines -- Following is the Easter message of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines. The message is also posted on the archbishop’s personal blog, “In and Out of Season”. We are posting this as a service to our readers who observe the Holy Week.

Jerusalem is the destination

Pilgrims from around the world gather in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM -- Christian pilgrims from around the world gathered in Jerusalem's Old City to celebrate Good Friday, some carrying large wooden crosses through the narrow cobblestone streets as they followed the route Jesus took on the way to his crucifixion.