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.

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If you desire more information about the services of Br. Raniero, you may access:

www.cantalamessa.org

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