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EPISODE #31
SOUNDS FROM THE SANCTUARY: RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS 150

Episode No. 31: Ralph Vaughan Williams 150

This year, 2022, marks the 150th year since the birth of famed composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. He was born in the town of Down Ampney, England in 1872. This episode celebrates his British legacy in both classical and church music. We listen to his distinctively British compositions – hymns, choral works, orchestral works – all beautiful and reflective of England’s rich choral and musical traditions. Join us for a wonderful and meditative hour of gorgeous music.

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 10/29/22

LIFE ACADEMY OFFERS PRAYERS TO PARENTS OF TERMINALLY ILL BABY

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Academy for Life and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales extended prayers for a terminally ill baby, the medical staff caring for him and the parents who have lost a legal battle to keep him on life-support and seek treatment in the United States.

Ten-month-old Charlie Gard was born in England with mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness, brain damage and respiratory or liver failure; it is typically fatal.

British hospital specialists believed the baby had no chance of survival, but the parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, crowdfunded nearly $1.7 million in four months to finance having the baby treated in the United States. Only 16 children in the world are believed to have been diagnosed with the rare syndrome.

When hospital officials wanted to stop providing life support for the baby, Gard and Yates went to a London court with their case, but the court ruled the baby should be allowed to “die with dignity” and doctors could stop providing life support.

After the ruling was upheld by an appeals court and the nation’s Supreme Court dismissed the parents’ case, Gard and Yates turned to judges in the European court of human rights. However, that court decided June 27 that it would not intervene in the case.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said the situation of Charlie and his parents “has meant both pain and hope for all of us” and he assured them of his prayers.

“We feel close to him, to his mother, his father, and all those who have cared for him and struggled together with him until now,” he said in a written statement dated June 28, and posted online by Vatican Radio June 29.

The important question to ask in this and other unfortunately similar cases, he said, is, “What are the best interests of the patient?”

“We must do what advances the health of the patient, but we must also accept the limits of medicine,” he said, and, according to Catholic teaching, “avoid aggressive medical procedures that are disproportionate to any expected results or excessively burdensome to the patient or the family.”

However, the wishes of the parents also must be heard and respected, he said, “but they, too, must be helped to understand the unique difficulty of their situation and not be left to face their painful decisions alone.”

If the relationship between patient, guardians and doctors is “interfered with, everything becomes more difficult and legal action becomes a last resort,” the archbishop said.

There is also the “risk of ideological or political manipulation, which is always to be avoided, or of media sensationalism, which can be sadly superficial,” he added.

Reacting to the European court ruling, a spokesperson for the Catholic bishops’ conference said the definitive ruling that “baby Charlie Gard cannot undergo any further treatment is heartrending, most particularly for his parents and family.”

“In this difficult case, all sides have sought to act with integrity and for Charlie’s good as they see it. Understandably, Charlie’s parents wish to do everything to save and improve Charlie’s life. We hope and pray that in the wake of this decision, they are able as a family to find peace over the coming days and weeks. We also encourage the Catholic community to pray for Charlie, his parents and all those that have been caring for him.”

“Sadly, prolonged terminal illness is part of the human condition,” the written statement said. “We should never act with the deliberate intention to end a human life, including the removal of nutrition and hydration so that death might be achieved. We do, sometimes, however, have to recognize the limitations of what can be done, while always acting humanely in the service of the sick person until the time of natural death occurs.”

POPE, ENGLISH CHURCH LEADERS OFFER PRAYERS AFTER MANCHESTER ARENA ATTACK

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Pope Francis decried the “barbaric attack” on concertgoers in Manchester, adding his voice to Catholic leaders dismayed at what British officials said was the deadliest case of terrorism since 2005.

In a telegram sent to English church officials on Pope Francis’ behalf, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the pope “was deeply saddened to learn of the injury and tragic loss of life” after a suicide bomb killed at least 22 people and injured another 59 at Manchester Arena May 22. Many concertgoers at the Ariana Grande concert were teenagers, young adults and families.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The pope “expresses his heartfelt solidarity with all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” the telegram said, as “he commends the generous efforts of the emergency and security personnel and offers the assurance of his prayers for the injured, and for all who have died.”

“Mindful in a particular way of those children and young people who have lost their lives, and of their grieving families, Pope Francis invokes God’s blessings of peace, healing and strength upon the nation.”

In Britain, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and other Catholic leaders offered prayers for the victims of the attacks and their families.

“My shock and dismay at the horrendous killing of young and innocent people in the Manchester Arena last night is, I know, shared by all people of goodwill,” Cardinal Nichols said in a May 23 statement posted on the Westminster archdiocesan website. “I know, too, that Catholics and many others will be praying earnestly for those who have been killed, for the bereaved and for grieving loved ones.

“We pray in support of all those working so hard in response to this tragedy: the police and security forces, hospital staff, neighbors and friends and for all the people of Manchester. May God, in his mercy, strengthen and sustain us and keep us firmly united in the face of all evil.”

The terrorist attack took place within the Diocese of Salford, which incorporates most of Manchester and much of northwest England.

Bishop John Arnold of Salford offered a lunchtime Mass May 23 at St. Mary’s, a popular city-center church close to Manchester Arena.

In a statement the same day, he said: “The citizens of Manchester and the members of the Catholic community are united in condemning the attack on the crowds at the Manchester Arena.

“Such an attack can have no justification. I thank the emergency services for their prompt and speedy response which saved lives,” he continued. “We join in prayer for all those who have died and for the injured and their families and all affected by this tragedy. We must all commit ourselves to working together, in every way, to help the victims and their families and to build and strengthen our community solidarity.”

Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, whose diocese covers southern parts of Manchester, wrote to his clergy, urging them to pray for the victims and their families.

“Let us also keep in our prayer the police and emergency services, together with all hospital staff and chaplains,” he said in his letter.

The bishop added: “Together with church and religious leaders in Greater Manchester, I ask the prayers of your parishioners for peace and solidarity in all our communities that the hate which inspires such indiscriminate violence may be overcome by that love which faith and prayer inspires in our hearts. I hope the days ahead, overshadowed by this atrocity, will lead us all to such prayer and active charity.”