The long-awaited announcement of the successor to the retiring Catholic archbishop of Brussels, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, has sparked an unusual outcry in Belgium. The new archbishop, André-Mutien Léonard, is sometimes called  “the Belgian Ratzinger” for his conservative views. Danneels ranks as one of the last liberal prelates in a Church hierarchy that has turned increasingly traditional under Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict.

Léonard has beene a controversial figure in Belgium for his critical stands on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and condom use. He has been an outspoken opponent of abortion and euthanasia, both of which are legal in Belgium, and criticised the Catholic universities of Leuven and Louvain for their research into assisted reproduction and embryonic stem cells. 

André-Mutien Léonard has visited Medjugorje several times and is known for his strong support of new spiritual communities and movements within the Church such as the Community of the Beatitudes.

Just two weeks after returning from his visit to Medjugorje, the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn, was granted a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome last Friday (January 15).

We can only wonder if the cardinal witnessed to the Holy Father all that he had seen and heard at Medjugorje.

When interviewed recently by the German newspaper Die Tagespost the cardinal was asked if he would report his impressions of Medjugorje to the Holy See. He stated that he went on pilgrimage for personal reasons but does not conceal his attitude to Medjugorje from his brothers, which has deepened since his visit. He confirmed that he has spoken with many bishops and will continue to do so and that this was part of the Church view and judgment.  

Adopted from Bernard Gallagher's

Not seers’ duty to convince says cardinal“It is not the seers’ duty to convince; it is their duty to communicate. Regardless of the future final judgment on these phenomena, one thing is evident: the messages are simply evangelical, they have common sense: prayer, peace, reconciliation with God and amongst us, and we always, always have to remember that there is no greater miracle than Eucharist itself; the coming of Jesus amongst us, in the poorest village, in the most beautiful cathedral, in St Peter's Basilica in Rome...”
• Christoph cardinal Schönborn.

Let's join in prayer fro the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. 

This photo wat put to my attention, I think it is quite striking. 

Are we grateful for what we have? Please click read more below.

Dear children,

Today I am calling you to, with complete trust and love, set out with me, because I desire to acquaint you with my Son. Do not be afraid, my children, I am here with you, I am next to you. I am showing you the way to forgive yourselves, to forgive others, and, with sincere repentance of heart, to kneel before the Father. Make everything die in you that hinders you from loving and saving – that you may be with Him and in Him. Decide for a new beginning, a beginning of sincere love of God Himself. Thank you.

Our friend, Jim Browne from Westport, Ireland, was on an Irish Radio Station, Midwest Radio, sharing powerful stories about Medjugorje.  It is a great program that ran for 45 minutes. I adopted this from the midwestradio.ie, it is available on their website for 7 days only and then it gets deleted automatically, so I figured I would upload it here and keep it for good. Jim is below with , an Irish health care professional who is also featured on the radio program.

Please click here to listen. Thank you.