"Dear children! Pray and make good use of this time, because this is a time of grace. I am with you and I intercede for each one of you before God, for your heart to open to God and to God's love. Little children, pray without ceasing, until prayer becomes a joy for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

   In his column today, Pat Ludwa, in the spirit of Holy Week, reflects on some of the reasons so many turned on Jesus even after He had performed miracles and wonders before their eyes. Citing many passages of Sacred Scripture, Pat shows that they were never mislead but rather 'assumed' He was what they wanted Him to be - an earthly king - whereas He was much, much, much greater, but they couldn't recognize the signs or His words. Why? Because they were blinded by pride and by their own egos in wanting to change their kingdom to their vision. Pat asks if the same scenario were to be played out today would the outcome be any different? Considering popularity and ratings, and the scant numbers who followed Him back then, it's highly doubtful He would be accepted today. The polls would mandate He be drummed out for lack of interest! For his column today, , see VIEW FROM THE PEW

Holy Father shares the revelation of the Trinity at the Baptism of Christ with over 30,000 during his Weekly Audience
   Today we bring you the Holy Father's regular Papal Audience from last Wednesday where over 30,000 packed St. Peter's Square to hear the Vicar of Christ continue his catechesis on the Blessed Trinity. He spoke of his recent visit to the River Jordan, where the Father and the Holy Spirit were made manifest to mankind, as was the Son. The Pope's teaching makes the Trinity as meaningful to us today as the Holy Trinity was at the beginning of all time...at the moment of creation. See THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS

Appreciation of the Price of our redemption through the Passion of Our Lord
    Today we continue with our new series in the search to uncover the wonderful treasures of the Church contained in the great Deposit of Faith. Today we present the first part of the catechesis on The Passion of Our Lord as explained in My Catholic Faith and how it was necessary for the redemption of all that Jesus underwent this most extreme form of human punishment for the remission of sins committed by all generations. For part two in the 154th installment, see APPRECIATING THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH

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Events that happened today in Church History
   On this day one Pontiff died and another was elected 747 years later. In 858 the 104th successor of Peter passed away. That was Pope Benedict III whose pontificate lasted three years and is best remembered for his efforts to unite East and West against the Saracen threat. It was he who first introduced the possibility of a Crusade, which would come a few centuries later. Also on this date 395 years ago in 1605, the College of Cardinals chose Cardinal Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici who chose the name Pope Leo XI. Unfortunately his papacy lasted only ten days, falling deathly ill during a procession to St. John Lateran, the 232nd in the line of Peter died on April 27th. He was esteemed and loved by the people for his piety and generosity. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on this date, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

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Beware of the Trojan Horse within    They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"Nothing so cripples the spiritual life as those hidden 'bugs' in the motor of our soul. They may be any one of several common faults such as self-seeking, bitterness towards others, jealousy and hate. Those who are trying to grow closer to God without self-analysis wonder why they suffer such frequent defeats: invariably it is because of the Trojan Horse within them, the unrecognized dominant fault. Until that is dug out and admitted before God, with a desire to destroy it, there will be no real spritual progress. As St. Augustine has said, 'He, Lord, is Your best servant who looks not so much to hear that from You which he himself wills, as rather to will that which he hears from You."

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