Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshipers plunged into the icy waters of rivers and lakes around the world on January 6 to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in Epiphany ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ, according to the Religion News website.
By tradition, the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.
The religious holiday of Epiphany is also celebrated in some Western Christian churches as Three Kings Day, which marks the visit of the Magi, or three wise men, to the baby Jesus, and closes out the Christmas season.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis urged the faithful to reject "the god of money." In his Epiphany homily yesterday (January 6, 2020) in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis encouraged people to focus on serving others, not themselves.
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Monday, January 6, 2020
Pope: Worshiping Christ Is True Meaning of Life; If We Don't Worship God,We Worship Ourselves
Pope Francis said today (January 6, 2020), the Epiphany of the Lord, that worship of Christ reveals the true meaning of our journey of life, as it did for the magi in the Gospel, according to the National Catholic Register website.
"When we do not worship God, we end up worshiping ourselves," Francis said in St. Peter's Basilica.
He added, "In worship, we learn to reject what should not be worshiped: the god of money, the god of consumerism, the god of pleasure, the god of success, the god of self. Worship means bending low before the Most High and to discover His presence that life's greatness does not consist in having, but in loving."
Today in his homily for the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Francis reflected on the magi, or wise men, who bearing gifts, came to worship the Child Jesus in Bethlehem.
"When we do not worship God, we end up worshiping ourselves," Francis said in St. Peter's Basilica.
He added, "In worship, we learn to reject what should not be worshiped: the god of money, the god of consumerism, the god of pleasure, the god of success, the god of self. Worship means bending low before the Most High and to discover His presence that life's greatness does not consist in having, but in loving."
Today in his homily for the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Francis reflected on the magi, or wise men, who bearing gifts, came to worship the Child Jesus in Bethlehem.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Two Nabbed for Hitting German Jewish Cemetery; In Geilenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia State
German police today (January 5, 2020) arrested two suspects in the vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in the town of Geilenkirchen, according to the Times of Israel website.
The suspects, ages 21 and 33, knocked over more than 40 gravestones in the Jewish cemetery in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia today. The men also defaced some of the graves with blue paint.
A witness called police, who arrested the suspects.
The incident comes amid an increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in Germany in recent months.
The suspects, ages 21 and 33, knocked over more than 40 gravestones in the Jewish cemetery in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia today. The men also defaced some of the graves with blue paint.
A witness called police, who arrested the suspects.
The incident comes amid an increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in Germany in recent months.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Methodist Church May Split over Gay Marriage; Voting in May to Divide Church into 2 Divisions
The United Methodist Church plans to split into two major branches later this year, church officials said today (January 4, 2020), a schism that follows years of contention over whether the church should end its ban on same-sex marriage and gay clergy, according to the Reuters website.
The plan, if approved at the church's worldwide conference in Minneapolis in May, would divide the third largest U.S. Christian denomination into two branches: A traditionalist side opposed to gay marriage and the ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clergy, and a progressive wing that will allow same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.
The split would affect the denomination globally, church leaders said. The United Methodist Church lists more than 13 million members in the U.S. and 80 million worldwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the U.S. in 2015, but that decision applies only to civil -- not religious -- services.
The plan, if approved at the church's worldwide conference in Minneapolis in May, would divide the third largest U.S. Christian denomination into two branches: A traditionalist side opposed to gay marriage and the ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clergy, and a progressive wing that will allow same-sex marriage and LGBT clergy.
The split would affect the denomination globally, church leaders said. The United Methodist Church lists more than 13 million members in the U.S. and 80 million worldwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the U.S. in 2015, but that decision applies only to civil -- not religious -- services.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Over 42 Million Babies Killed by Abortion in 2019; Several US States Passed Laws Limiting Abortions
According to Worldometers, which tabulates global statistics on abortion procedures, around 42.4 million pregnancies in 2019 ended in abortion worldwide, the Christian Post website reports today (January 3, 2020).
In the U.S., approximately half of pregnancies are "unintended" with four in 10 ending in abortion, amounting to over 3,000 abortions being performed every day.
Some U.S. states -- especially in the South and Midwest -- have passed laws to save lives by setting limits on abortion and enforcing safety standards for clinics.
Alabama passed a near-total ban on abortion. Louisiana. Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri. and Ohio passed laws banning abortions as soon as a preborn baby's heartbeat is detected.
In the U.S., approximately half of pregnancies are "unintended" with four in 10 ending in abortion, amounting to over 3,000 abortions being performed every day.
Some U.S. states -- especially in the South and Midwest -- have passed laws to save lives by setting limits on abortion and enforcing safety standards for clinics.
Alabama passed a near-total ban on abortion. Louisiana. Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri. and Ohio passed laws banning abortions as soon as a preborn baby's heartbeat is detected.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
IS Performs a Terrorist Attack in North Caucasus; Kills Police Officer, Wounds 3 More in Ingushetia
The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for an attack in Russia's North Caucasus region of Ingushetia, in which a police officer was killed, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website reports today (January 2, 2020).
Two young men rammed their car into a police officer on December 31, and then attacked other police officers with knives in the Ingush capital of Magas.
Regional authorities said one police officer died and three others were wounded in the incident. One of the attackers was killed, while another was wounded and is currently in the hospital.
The IS group said in a statement dated January 1 that it was responsible for the attack.
Two young men rammed their car into a police officer on December 31, and then attacked other police officers with knives in the Ingush capital of Magas.
Regional authorities said one police officer died and three others were wounded in the incident. One of the attackers was killed, while another was wounded and is currently in the hospital.
The IS group said in a statement dated January 1 that it was responsible for the attack.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Pope: "I'm Sorry I Lost Patience" to Hand Shaker; Hit Woman's Hand Who Wouldn't Let Go of Hand
Pope Francis apologized today (January 1, 2020) for hitting the hand of a well-wisher who grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go of it last night, according to the Yahoo News website.
In his new year's wishes to the public in St. Peter's Square today, Francis confessed to losing his patience with the woman while he was strolling in the square last night to admire the Vatican's Nativity scene.
The woman reached out and grabbed the pope's hand, pulling him toward her. Francis reacted sharply, slapping her hand so she would let go.
In his remarks today, Francis said "so many times we lose patience. Me, too." He added, "I say 'excuse me' for the bad example" he gave in the incident.
In his new year's wishes to the public in St. Peter's Square today, Francis confessed to losing his patience with the woman while he was strolling in the square last night to admire the Vatican's Nativity scene.
The woman reached out and grabbed the pope's hand, pulling him toward her. Francis reacted sharply, slapping her hand so she would let go.
In his remarks today, Francis said "so many times we lose patience. Me, too." He added, "I say 'excuse me' for the bad example" he gave in the incident.
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