The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is a sacrament intended to benefit the soul and body of the sick and to help them recover; it strengthens the sick with purity of soul, mind and will, and frees them from sin and the punishment of sin. It is the duty of the priest who administers the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to give the indulgence to the sick, especially those who are close to death. An indulgence is a pardon granted by the Church outside of confession, freeing us from the penalty of a limited sin, the result of a sin already forgiven. There are two types of indulgence: total and partial, i.e. liberation from sins and punishment for limited sin...

The sacrament of reconciliation is penance, a sacrament that frees us from the sins of baptism. When Jesus said to the Apostles, "Receive the Holy Spirit, and the sins you forgive will be forgiven, and the sins you retain will be retained" was the first time Jesus Christ created penance. Absolving sins with penance is an absolution given by the priest. Absolution is forgiveness granted by the priest. There are steps to follow to receive the sacrament of penance: self-examination, self-accusation, going to the priest to confess sins, accomplishing the work of atonement...

Confirmation is a sacrament that gives the Holy Spirit and is a Christian in its own right, marking our souls as active, committed followers of Jesus Christ. The sacrament of Confirmation will enable us to receive more of the grace we received at Baptism, including the gift of the Holy Spirit; the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, election, courage, knowledge, piety, fear of God. The sacrament of Confirmation gives us the strength to be free to believe openly in Jesus Christ, and to tolerate all suffering rather than reject the Lord...

The Eucharist is a sacrament that contains the whole body of Jesus: his blood, body and soul, and the way of God in him, covered by the form of bread and wine. On Holy Thursday, before his suffering, Jesus created the Eucharist. When the bread and wine became the body and blood of Jesus, Jesus told his disciples to continue doing so; when the consecration is made, we see only the form of the remaining bread and wine, but it is already the body and blood of Jesus. Those who receive the Eucharist eat the whole body and blood of Jesus. Those who are well prepared before the Eucharist receive grace, which is due to the fact that they must be purified by penance, fasting for an hour before receiving...

Diocese of Miarinarivo

Pope Francis has accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Miarinarivo, presented by H.E. Mgr Jean Claude Randrianarisoa. At the same time, the Supreme Pontiff has appointed H.E. Mgr Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, as Apostolic Admnistrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the same Diocese.

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Love and Salvation

Christmas is a great joy, because it is the love of God that has come to us, proclaims Fr. Bizimana Innocent, Provincial Superior of the Salesians Don Bosco of Madagascar and Mauritius, presenting his Christmas greetings. Salvation is accomplished, so life is not in danger of disappearing. It is this love and this salvation that we wish to fill our life so that we have peace.

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Zatti, our brother

The short film "Zatti, our brother" (Argentina, 2020) focuses on one of the most difficult episodes of his life. We are in Viedma, in 1941: at the age of 60, Zatti is forced to leave the hospital he has attended for decades. His faith and strength are tested.

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