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MONDAY March 6, 2000 vol. 11, no. 46 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant:
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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, concentrating today on the second part of Evolution and the Bible which clearly shows that whatever evolved came from God and that He created man from the slime of the earth as this special catechesis outlines in My Catholic Faith. For the 123rd installment, see APPRECIATING THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH
We therefore take literally the Book of Genesis, which tells of the peculiar creation of man, of the formation of the first woman from the first man, of the original happiness of our First Parents in the state of justice, of their integrity and immortality, of the test to which God put them, of their transgression of the divine command at the instigation of the devil in some form, of the loss of the original innocence, and of the promise of the Redeemer.
God directly creates every human soul out of nothing. From the very beginning, God has created every human soul out of nothing. Thus He created the soul of Adam, when after forming his body, He "breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Every human soul is created at the same moment that one comes to life, at conception.
Man's soul is not produced from some other soul or matter. It is spiritual and simple. It did not exist before the person lived. It did not come to exist after he was already alive. Man's life is due to his soul. As soon as the soul leaves the body, life ceases. The investigations of scientists have discovered a singular universality and sameness in ideas of right and wrong, a moral code, in all races and peoples, however primitive. These are universally looked upon as wrong: the wanton murder of one not an enemy, stealing from one's own group, maltreatment of children, irreverence, incest, adultery. If this attitude resulted from fear of reprisal, why is not murder considered wrong when against an enemy? Why has incest always been regarded as wrong, when primitive men surely could have no idea of the evils of inbreeding? One must conclude that this universal conscience comes from One Source.
Man's soul is not derived from his parents. Only his body is derived from them. There is no possible "evolution" of the soul, for it is a spiritual substance, not subject to the laws of physical nature, and could not possibly be developed from a lower or material form of life.
Manifestations of the soul, like cleverness, talent, traits of character, etc., by which children resemble their parents, are due to the attributes of the body that they derived from their parents, or to training in the family. If one holds a colored glass to the light the reflection willhave the color of the glass. But the glass did not make the sun whoe reflection is cast. Is even the mind a product of evolution? The most primitive man is capable of abstract reasoning. The most intelligent beasts cannot think in concepts.
How many centuries were there from Adam to Christ? The Church has bever given a decision; this question will perhaps never be answered. It is generally admitted that the Bible teaches nothing definite on the matter. The line of patriarchs, which it gives, with their ages, probably contains many gaps. A man is said to be a son of another, whereas he may only be a remote descendant. In the same way the Bible speaks of Our Lord as the Son of David, although David preceeded Him 1000 years.
Some Catholic theologians state that the age of man may be stretched to ten, or one hundred thousand years or even longer. Neither scientists nor theologians have come to a definite solution.
Tomorrow: Original Sin part one
On this date 553 years ago in 1447 Pope Nicholas V became the 208th in the line of Peter. He is commonly referred to as the "Renaissance Pope" for he was tutored by wealthy Florentine families and applied much of what he learned in founding the Vatican Library and beginning construction on the massive Basilica of St. Peter's as it is today, designing the overall layout of the structure. He also turned his attention to being a peacemaker with both England and France and helping Spain in their battle to rid their land of the Islam curse. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on this date, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
1999 A.D.
The late Cardinal George Basil Hume, OSB, in addressing the annual general meeting of LIFE, England's largest pro-life organization, warned of harbingers to come in the threat on family values and marriage when he said that the survival of marriage and the family is under attack in contemporary society. A year later the British and Scottish governments are drafting textbooks to include the homosexual agenda via the controversial Section 28 initiative that, though the ban was barely upheld, is still being ignored as liberals intend to ramrod the gay lifestyle on all children of the United Kingdom.
Historical Events in Church Annals for March 6:
1447 A.D.
Cardinal Tommaso Parentucelli is elected the 208th successor of Peter, taking the name Pope Nicholas V out of respect for the bishop in Bologna who groomed him. Known as the "Renaissance Pope," Nicholas began the construction of the present Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. He was also somewhat of a renaissance man in restoring order politically to France and England and in aiding Spain in ridding their country of the Saracens. He also founded the Vatican Library.
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".
"The vast majority of the people in Western civilization are engaged in the task of getting. Strange as it may seem, the Christian ethic is founded on the opposite principle, that is more blessed to give than to receive. Both the opportunity and the burden of fulfilling this Divine mandate fall principally upon those of us who live in a civilization that has been abundantly blessed by God."
NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit.
"Dear children! Wake up from the sleep of unbelief and sin, because this is a
time of grace which God gives you. Use this time and seek the grace of healing of your heart from God, so that
you may see God and man with the heart. Pray in a special way for those who have not come to know God's
love, and witness with your life so that they also can come to know God and His immeasurable love. Thank you
for having responded to my call."
Through the stewardship of Catholic Journalism you can help us reach more souls by sending whatever you can to help keep the DailyCATHOLIC going strong since it is the only daily publication of its kind for Catholics anywhere in the world in daily promoting the truths of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church's efforts in the mission fields received a special boost yesterday when Pope John Paul II beatified a number of missionaries martyred for the sake of Our Lord. In a special Mass these martyrs from Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Belarus, and also Brazil were honored during the first beatification of the new millennium as each representative country held its own liturgical celebration in concurrence with the Holy Father's announcements of each new blessed. continued inside
VATICAN (Fides/CWNews.com) -- When the Church honors the holiness of
her children, declaring them beatified, it is always a great occasion for
rejoicing. But the first beatifications of the Jubilee Year, celebrated in St Peter's
Square on March 5, were a special reason to celebrate particularly for the
Church in mission territories.
Pope John Paul II presided at the Mass and beatified the martyrs from
what are often called the "young churches." The newly beatified martyrs are:
The common denominator of these lives is martyrdom for the faith.
In Thailand there will also be celebrations, especially in the hometown of
Father Kitbamrung, where there are plans to build a shrine in his honor.
Some eyewitnesses who knew Father Nicholas well are still alive, and have
testified to his virtue, holiness, and profound spirituality.
"This beatification is an important example for missionary priests in our day,
often subject to persecution. It will help re-launch priestly spirituality in the
third millennium," Father James Fitzpatrick OMI, the postulator of the cause
for Father Katbamrung, told Fides.
Born in 1895 in the Nakhon Chaisri district, then a mission of Bangkok,
Nicholas Kitbamrung was one of six children. At the age of 13 he entered
Hang Xan minor seminary and was ordained a priest in 1926. Between 1930
and 1937 he was sent to North Vietnam on a special mission: to bring back to
the Church the many Catholics who, under the strain of poverty, had given
up practicing the faith. During the war between France and Indochina Father
Nicholas was accused of being a spy for the French. In 1941 he was arrested
and sentenced to ten years in prison. There he contracted tuberculosis and
on January 12,1944 Father Nicholas died of deprivation, hardship and
maltreatment. But the hardships of prison life did not prevent Father
Nicholas from ministering to his fellow prisoners. He taught them catechism,
and baptized no less than 68 fellow inmates.
Pedro is the second Filipino to reach beatification, following Lorenzo Ruiz,
who was canonized a decade ago. But young Pedro touches the hearts of the
Filipino people even more. "First of all because he was truly Filipino,"
explained Father Vidal Gornes in an interview with Fides. "The name
Calungsod come from the word Cebuano, meaning someone from Cebu. With
such a name he can only come from the Visayas region and we feel he is
truly ours."
It was as he concluded a Marian Congress in Manila, last January 30, that
Cardinal Jaime Sin announced the forthcoming beatification. "I have some
wonderful news for all Filipinos," he said. "he Holy Father has opened the
path for the beatification of Pedro Calungsod." All those present burst into
joyful applause.
Pedro Calungsod was born in the Visayas region; there is no documentation
about the date. It is known that he was a catechist between 1668 and 1672.
His name is mentioned in the martyrdom inquiry for the Jesuit priest, Father
Diego Luis San Vitores. Pedro was martyred at a very young age, probably
around 14, along with the Jesuit priest. At the time Father San Vitores and
Pedro were working among the indigenous people at Tumhom village on the
island of San Juan-- which today is known as Guam. One day two pagans
attacked them with spears. Pedro tried to defend the priest, but the men
killed both him and Father San Vitores, and their bodies were thrown into
the sea. The Church records the date of their martyrdom as April 2, 1672.
Father San Vitores was beatified on October 6, 1985 by Pope John Paul II. He
was the first apostle and founder of the Christianity community on the
Mariana Islands
"Andrew, our first martyr, is being elevated to the honor of the altars and
the Catholic Church in Vietnam is very happy," a parish priest in Duc Tin
(near Saigon) told Fides. The pastor boasted: "The Vietnamese Church is the
one with the most martyrs."
Pham Dinh Khiem, author of "The First Witness" a biography of Andrew that
was published in Saigon in 1959, told Fides that "the news has been received
with deep emotion by the country's Catholics. People are asking one another:
'Did you hear the news about Andrew the Catechist?' We are all so happy
and we thank the Holy Father very much." Bishop Bui van Doc of My Tho
says, "Andrew helped to build the Church in Vietnam with his virtuous life
and zeal. We have been waiting for his beatification for a long time, and now
finally we can celebrate him."
Andrew was born in 1625 in Ran Ran. His mother was a fervent Christian.
Baptized at the age of 15, a year later he became a catechist. In 1643 he and
other catechists took a vow to serve the Church for the rest of their lives. In
1644 he was arrested, beaten, and shut up in a home. The King of Annam
(the ancient name of Vietnam) had ordered that Christianity must not be
spread in his kingdom. Andrew could have saved his life by renouncing his
faith, but he refused the offer. On July 26, 1644, he was condemned to be
executed the very next day. Led through the streets to the gallows, Andrew
was hanged in public at Ke Cham.
Between December 1644 and January 1645 there was an inquiry into his
martyrdom. For historical and political motives, the Cause was suspended. It
was not until the Second Vatican Council that the Vietnamese bishops asked
Pope Paul VI to re-open the process.
Father Hrynaszkiewicz accompanied a group of 150 Catholics from
Belarus to Rome for the beatification. Bishop Aleksander Kaszkiewicz of
Grodno and his auxiliary, Bishop Antoni Dzieminanko was also present. In
anticipation of the beatification, a special message from Bishop Kaszkiewicz
was read out in every parish of the diocese: "The beatification of these
eleven Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth is, for the "reborn" Church in
Belarus, a providential event which comes to fortify our faith
During the Second World War, like the rest of the population, the Sisters of
the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth at Nowogrodek, on the
eastern borders of Poland (today Belarus), suffered under occupation by the
Russians and then by the Germans. It was during the latter occupation
(1941-1945), on August 1, 1943, that Sister Maria Stella Adelaide
Mardosiewicz and ten sister companions were martyred. Only one nun
survived: Sister Malgorzata, who had her sisters buried in the Church of the
Transfiguration at Nowogrodek.
The sisters had been invited to Nowogrodek in 1929 by Bishop Z. Lozinski to
look after the Church of the Transfiguration and provide education for the
local children. The nuns soon settled into the multi-ethnic community and
continued to give assistance to the local families in the difficult years of the
war. With the German occupation there was a wave of extermination of Jews
and many Polish citizens were arrested. On July 18, 1943 over 120 people
were arrested to be executed by a firing squad. On two occasions, the sisters
asked to replace those among the hostages who had families; on the second
such occasion, the executioners accepted their offer. True to the charisma of
their foundress, the saintly nuns lived and died to serve and save the family.
In 1997 the Church of Natal, metropolitan see and capital of the state,
marked 400 years since its evangelization. On December 25, 1597 an
expedition of colonists arrived, accompanied by four missionaries-- two
Jesuits and two Franciscans, who began evangelizing the people. It was the
custom for expeditions to rename the places they reached and they called
the region Natal-- or Nativity-- in honor of the birth of Christ.
Colonized by Portuguese Catholics, the region was invaded by Dutch
Calvinists who soon took over the whole territory, persecuting the Catholics.
It was in this context that two episodes occurred in 1645.
The first happened at Cunhau on July 16. It was Sunday and 69 people had
gathered in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Candles for Mass celebrated by the
parish priest, Father Andre de Several. While Mass was being said, at the
moment of the elevation, the doors of the church were barred and a group of
Dutch soldiers launched a ferocious attack, murdering many of the faithful.
Father Andre was killed with even more cruelty because he was a priest.
The people offered no resistance and died professing their faith in "Jesus
Christ, the high priest", and asking pardon for their sins.
On October 3, there was another tragedy. 200 armed Indians, led by a
fanatical leader who had converted to Calvinism, and a band of Flemish
troops carried out a slaughter among the people of Rio Grande. Several,
including the parish priest, Father Ambrosio Francisco Ferro, were cruelly
hacked to pieces. One man Mateus Moreiras, had his heart torn out, and with
his last breath cried "Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament!"
For more NEWS & VIEWS, see SECTION THREE
- from Thailand, the first local priest and martyr, Father Nicolas Bunkerd
Kitbamrung;
- from the Philippines and Vietnam respectively, Pedro Calungsod and
Andrew, lay catechists and martyrs;
- from Belarus, Sister Maria Stella Adelaide Mardosiewicz and her ten
religious companions, all Polish, who will be the cornerstones for
rebuilding that newly "reborn" Church, as Bishop Kaszkiewicz of the
Grodno diocese has said;
- from Brazil. two priests, Fathers Andre de Soveral and Ambrosio Francisco
Fierro, and their 28 companion martyrs.
