News

Moscow, Dec. 18, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A Russian human-rights activist has warned about a rise in the number of attacks on the Catholic Church, the Interfax news agency reports.

Roman Silantyev, who handles human-rights issues for the head of the World Russian People's Council, reported that attacks on the Catholic faith have "dramatically increased during the past two years." Silantyev pointed to political attacks by secular liberals and Muslim fundamentalists. He also cited hostility toward Catholicism in the media and the world of entertainment, pointing to popular works like The Golden Compass and The Da Vinci Code.

Silantyev said that he saw the rise in anti-Catholicism as a reaction against the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI, whose policies he sees as "more dangerous for the anti-Christian forces." The Russian activist-- who himself is Orthodox-- said that the Orthodox churches should recognize the motivation for these attacks, and join Catholics in resisting them.

Catholic World News

Forum 18 News

04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)