*REVIEW OF POPE JOHN XXIII ENCYCLICAL "GRATA RECORDATIO (1959)" ON THE HOLY ROSARY* Grata Recordatio is an encyclical issued by Pope John XXIII on September 26, 1959. Its title, which translates to "A Pleasant Recollection," reflects the Pope's nostalgic remembrance of the Rosary's spiritual and pastoral significance, particularly in his younger days. The document emphasizes the power of the Rosary as a prayer for world peace and calls for the faithful to renew their devotion to this practice. While it is a relatively brief document compared to other papal writings, Grata Recordatio is significant in its reaffirmation of the Rosary's central place in Catholic life and its broader call for peace and social justice during a time of great global tension. *Historical and Contextual Background* At the time of its release, the world was caught in the midst of the Cold War, with ongoing concerns about nuclear arms, ideological conflicts between the East and th
How necessary is confirmation for salvation? Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8,14-17 They sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. After having been baptized by St. Philip (the deacon, not the apostle), the Christians of Samaria still had need of the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is given through the sacrament of confirmation. To this end, it was fitting that the apostles in Jerusalem sent Sts. Peter and John (apostles) to bestow the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. In this event, we see both that confirmation is a sacrament distinct from baptism and that it is most necessary in the life of the Church and of the individual believer. It will be fitting for us to reflect upon this sacrament, since this liturgical season is the time most commonly set aside for the administration of confirmation in dioceses thro