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ASH WEDNESDAY March 8, 2000 vol. 11, no. 48 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Today, in our on-going series of this abridged History of the Mass and Holy Mother Church over a 2000 year span called 2000 YEAR VOYAGE ON THE BARQUE OF PETER, we cover the latter part of the twelfth century from the Third Crusade through the ill-fated Fifth Crusade, also known as the "Children's Crusade" in the early part of the thirteenth century. The period covers spans four good Popes who sought to restore Holy Mother Church after the schisms and antipopes of the recent past. During this time the Sacred Conclave elected first the oldest Sovereign Pontiff ever to be chosen - Pope Celestine III followed by one of the youngest ever - Pope Innocent III. For Installment thirty-nine The Third, Fourth and Fifth Crusades, see BARQUE OF PETER
It was left to Gregory's successor Pope Clement III who was elected on December 20, 1187. Born in Rome, he succeeded in bringing peace to Rome after sixty years of the Popes being forced to stay clear of Rome. He encouraged the Third Crusade inspired by Gregory VIII and recruited the new English king Richard the Lion-Hearted of England to fight side by side with his former enemy - France's King Philip under Barbarossa's leadership which failed badly, but Richard would stand out as a valiant, brave warrior and become legendary. To fund the Crusade Clement imposed taxes on every country and monastery. Human nature and greed mandated that this wouldn't go smoothly and it didn't. Possibly this resistance and resentment contributed to the crusaders not being as well-prepared as they needed to be against the superior Saracen forces. Despite this setback, Clement was well loved because, though Clement chronically suffered from a weak heart, God gave him a larger heart that enveloped the whole world and endeared him to Christians everywhere. Even where there were disputes and battles, he was respected and revered by all. Though he outlasted his predecessor's short papacy, his own three and a half year pontificate was not nearly long enough for the people of God. He died in late March of 1191.
His successor was one of the oldest Sovereign Pontiffs to ever be elected. The Sacred Conclave chose another Roman, this time the 85 year-old Cardinal Giacinto Bobo as an "interim Pope." He was elected the 175th in the line of Peter on April 14, 1191, taking the name Pope Celestine III in honor of his mentor who elevated him to the cardinalate - Pope Celestine II. While the College had chosen him expecting he would die within a few months, allowing them time to choose another, he surprised them all by living until he was 94. Unfortunately his lack of military acumen hampered him greatly in his problems with King Henry IV who succeeded Barbarossa, but he made up for this lack by outlasting the German/Sicilian emperor, allowing patience and moderation to dictate the course of history. His tactics proved successful as those who stood in his way passed away before him, allowing him to end his papacy in peace. Celestine III also reinforced and realigned the papal coffers and accounting system, and approved the Order of the Tuetonic Knights whose principal duty was to defend the pilgrims in the Holy Land. Despite the failures of the Third Crusade, he began recruiting for the Fourth Crusade which would be fulfilled by his successor just after the turn of the century. Few Pontiffs were able to dictate to the Emperor like this wise old man who, while not gifted with military smarts, fulfilled Saint Paul's words to be "as guileless as a dove, and cunning as a serpent." He talked Henry into organizing the Fourth Crusade in exchange for personally baptizing the Emperor's new-born son Frederick. Assured of his support, Celestine dispatched missionaries throughout Europe to preach the Crusade. He also held Henry at bay by forcing him to back out of the papal territories he had assumed. When Henry hinted at measures that could throw the Church back into lay investiture, Celestine cleverly skirted the issue for he knew Hnery was having problems of his own back in Germany as well as Sicily where the citizens and dukes were getting frustrated with a hereditary monarchy. On January 8, 1198 at the age of 94 Celestine died with his trusted camerlingo by his side Cardinal Cencio Savelli who would become Pope 18 years later as Pope Honorius III.
But first it would be left to Pope Innocent III to take the Church into the 13th Century. That was Cardinal Lotario. While Celestine was the oldest, Innocent was one of the youngest, assuming the throne on January 8th at the age of only 38. His pontificate lasted eighteen years and through two Crusades. His talents and total loyalty to God as Vicar of Christ were above reproach. His pontificate bore great fruit and it was during his papacy that the Dominicans and Franciscans came into being for it was Innocent who approved both Saint Dominic's efforts and athe worthy mission of the humble friar from Assisi Saint Francis. But before that he was charged to bring the Church into the new century, establishing the Pope as master of Rome which didn't always sit well with the nobles. Though it took him a full decade to accomplish this, it set a trend throughout all of Europe that bode well for the Church for Innocent was intent on recovering lost papal territories that had been confiscated by the German kings. This played well with many of the Roman families who considered the Emperor a threat both to Rome and his growing influence in Sicily. Yet the rapport between the dying Henry and Innocent was not lost on his widow Constance, who, seeing the handwriting on the wall, made the unprecedented request for Innocent to tutor and care for the young Frederick. In exchange she would guarantee protection for the Pope in his battles as he launched an all out campaign to recover lost Papal States.
While Innocent III was a good Supreme Pontiff, he erred greatly in overestimating the strength of Europe's forces in the Crusades. The Muslims had broken the truce and not having Richard or any of the other influential regal leaders, this crusade met with much in-fighting and rebellion and by 1204 the leaders had abandoned their ideals and many were excommunicated in the ill-fated Fourth Crusade. Eight years after ascending the throne, his zeal overtook him and he encouraged the youth to take up arms for Christ in what would become known as the fateful "Children's Crusade." So full of zeal were the youth of France and Germany that 50,000 youths set out in 1212 in the Fifth Crusade to win back Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the infidels through their piety, humility and innocence. Innocent had misinterpreted prophecies that the land would be won back by the "pure of heart" as children. Falsely thinking that the Saracens would be moved to repentance when the innocent youth descended on the Holy Land, he sent thousands into battle, ill-equipped to deal with combat or the elements. The results were catastrophic. When word reached Innocent he was devastated and would take this sorrow to his grave.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent when the Church charges us to put on the mantle of penitence for forty days and forty nights through the Passsion and Death of Jesus in preparation for His glorious Resurrection. We receive ashes to remind us of the temporary vessels that we are. Tomorrow is Thursday after Ash Wednesday and the optional Feast of Saint Frances of Rome, religious. For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and profile on St. Polycarp, see DAILY LITURGY.
"But when thou prayest, go into thy room, and closing thy door, pray to thy Father in secret; and thy Father, Who sees in secret, will reward thee."
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".
"Many a man when he was poor had a heart that was open to every call of pity, but as riches increased he set his heart more upon them. The massing of wealth has a peculiar effect on the soul; it intensifies the desire of getting. What is often lust in youth is avarice in old age. Could they but expose themselves to the great joy of giving and respond to pity's claim, they would sense the great thrill in benevolence. "
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.
Preparing for the First Sunday of Lent this coming Sunday, the Vatican has released a more detailed description of the ceremony that will take place when Pope John Paul II as the authorized Vicar of Christ begs pardon for all the sins committed in the name of God throughout the centuries. The ceremony is significant in the history of the Church and must be understood in the light in which the Holy Father intends, rather than a finger-pointing exercise of which many non-Catholics view it as an opportunity to bash the Church. continued inside
VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II will lead a special penitential
service on March 12, the first Sunday of Lent, in which he will ask pardon
for the faults of the Catholic past.
The ceremony, in which dozens of bishops and cardinals will participate, is
one of the most important events of the Jubilee year, and one which has
aroused unusual interest among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. At a press
conference in Rome on March 7, Msgr. Piero Marini, the master of
ceremonies for pontifical liturgies, explained the ceremony to the media.
Msgr. Marini explained that Pope John Paul II saw the appeal for pardon as
an important part of the Jubilee, and more particularly for Lent, which is a
time specially dedicated to conversion. He added that the appeal for pardon
would be directed toward God. "It is not a judgment on those who have gone
before us," he said. He elaborated by explaining that the appeal for pardon
would not be intended as an indictment of the Christians of previous eras,
nor would it ignore the possibility that there were extenuating circumstances
for their actions. Rather it would simply be an acknowledgment of the evil
that had been done.
"There is solidarity, even in sin, among the members of the People of God,"
Msgr. Marini said. "Christians do not think of themselves as better than their
fathers," he continued, but wish merely to say that there were "historical
errors in behavior" among Christians.
At the beginning of the ceremony, at the entry to St. Peter's Basilica, the
Pope will pray silently before Michelangelo's renowned Pieta. The symbolism
of that moment suggests that, just as the Virgin Mary received the dead
body of her crucified son, the Church cares for souls of sinful Christians. Next
the Pope and the cardinals will enter the basilica in a "penitential
procession." During that procession the Litany of the Saints will be chanted--
recognizing the saints as witnesses to the sanctity of the Church, and as
intercessors for sinners.
The confession of faults and appeal for pardon will follow the Pope's homily
and the Profession of Faith. Pope John Paul will lead the recitation of this
"universal prayer," accompanied by the heads of Vatican dicasteries. The
recitation of faults will include sins "committed in the service of truth," such
as intolerance, violence against dissidents, and religious wars. The list will
also include the failings which contributed to the division of Christianity.
And the prayer will acknowledge the "hostility and silence" which helped to
set the scene for the Holocaust. The confession will include an
acknowledgment of failure in preventing the evils of the current day, such as
abortion. The listing will conclude with a general confession of faults in the
spread of the Gospel-- sins "against love, peace, human rights, and respect
for other cultures and other religions."
During this prayer, candles will be illuminated before a 14-century crucifix
at the altar-- a crucifix which has traditionally been venerated at St. Peter's
during holy years. At the conclusion of the prayer, Pope John Paul will
embrace the crucifix as a sign of his appeal for God's pardon. Then at the
conclusion of the Mass he will add another prayer for "the purification of
memory" that comes through confession and conversion.
Meanwhile, aAn Italian homosexual activist group
today called for the Vatican to include homosexuals among
the groups which the Catholic Church will acknowledge have
suffered by a failure of Christians to live up to their
faith.
While many observers have mistakenly characterized the new
Vatican document, Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and
the Faults of the Past, as an apology by the Church to
others, Catholic leaders have pointed out that the document
and a reconciliation service on March 12 will ask pardon
from God for the failures of Christians which led to evil.
"The Vatican is asking forgiveness from everyone except
homosexuals, who are among the most numerous victims of the
theocratic violence of yesterday and today," said Franco
Grillini, president of Arcigay. "Catholic hierarchy should
implore forgiveness from lesbians and homosexuals ... who
were jailed, tortured, and killed" in the past. The charges
against the Church cannot be historically documented.
In a statement, Grillini accused the Catholic Church, which
says homosexual activity is a immoral, of abetting
repression of homosexuals over the centuries.
