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"Damage to nature goes against human dignity. If I do something against part of nature, I do something against humanity. But, at the same time, we can say that if we do something against men, we cannot say that we really love nature." One of the most profound phrases in Pope Francis' new encyclical is actually a question. The Holy Father asks: "What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up.

Essays on Semitics, Statistics and Linguistics, the Hebrew Bible, the Greek Bible, and Religion by an international group of scholars reflect the wide-ranging interests of Professor Andersen's research and writing. In addition, a number of poems by friends of Professor Andersen are included, in appreciation of his long-standing interest and involvement in poetics. The contributions reflect the deep impact of his leadership in linguistics and study of the Hebrew Bible.

Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhoration " Gaudete et Exsultate" (Rejoice and be glad) involves the call to re-propose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time. As he has explained in this way, "Seeing and acting with mercy: That is holiness." Throughout the document, Francis urges followers not to withdraw from the world but to engage with it, and to be less consumed with showy demonstrations of faith and piousness than with patiently and lovingly raising children, working hard to support families and representing what he called "the middle class of holiness.

"Published ... by arrangement with Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC/ St. Martin's Press"--Title page verso.

Prayer to the Holy Family : Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust. Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches. Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing. Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God's plan. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer. Amen. Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, on 19 March, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, in the year 2016, the fourth of my Pontificate. FRANCISCUS

In order to clear the way, and set the stage for the drama of the Emperor Francis Joseph's life, we must go back to the dissolution of that Holy Roman Empire of which the Emperor of Austria was, at the end, the titular head. Happily, we have not very far to go. The Holy Roman Empire—in fact, as a cynic has said, neither Holy nor Roman, and scarcely worthy to be called an Empire—collapsed in the Napoleonic wars. The Battle of the Nations at Leipzig, the "world's earthquake" at Waterloo, the Congress of Vienna: none of these things availed to set the Holy Roman Empire on its feet again.