| Since 1980 Br. Raniero Cantalamessa of
the Province of the Marches has been the Apostolic Preacher.
In this capacity, he gives
a meditation each Friday in Advent and Lent in the presence
of the Holy Father, the Cardinals, the Bishops, the prelates
and the General Superiors of religious orders. The title and
the office of the Apostolic Preacher began with Paul IV (1555-1559).
Up to this time, the Procurators General of the four mendicant
Orders (Dominicans, Franciscans, Hermits of St. Augustine
and the Carmelites) took turns to preach on the Sundays of
Advent and of Lent. From the time of Paul IV, the Apostolic
Preachers were selected from diverse religious Orders. Pope
Benedict XIV reserved this responsibility exclusively to the
Capuchin Order with his letter, Inclytum Fratrum Minorum (1743).
Presently, the meditations take place in the Redemptoris Mater
Chapel. The Apostolic Preacher lives at the General Curia
of the Capuchins.
If you desire more information about the services of Br.
Raniero, you may access:
www.cantalamessa.org
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