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Events that happened Today in Church History
 
Today is the anniversary of the death of two Popes whose papacies were frought with the struggle against heresy. In 1185 Pope Lucius III, the 171st successor of Peter, passed away after a four year papacy in which he valiantly fought heresy when the the heretics were up in arms. He was forced to take refuge in Verona from their relentless attacks. The other Pope's passing was in 1534 at the height of the Protestant Reformation when Pope Clement VII, the 219th in the line of Peter, succumbed after a troubled eleven-year pontificate that was helpless to stop the tide of revolt in the bitter struggle between Catholic and Lutherans. Add to that the troubles with Henry VIII in England, who he was forced to excommunicate; this despite the fact that the English monarch had been honored as a "Defender of the Church" earlier. For other events that happened today in Church History, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
 God knows our every move
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".
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Zaccheus was a public servant of the Romans, a tax gatherer who paid a large sum for his office. Part of the taxes he would give to the Romans, but he pocketed all he collected over the amounts due them. Unless his exactions were too ruinous, there was little fear of exposure. But one day he was checked in his dishonesty, not by having it exposed in the press of the times, nor by having the prosecuting attorney of the Romans bring him to a halt. He was 'arrested' by the moral stringency of Our Divine Lord, Whose awful eyes pierced his soul and made him seek not only pardon, but also render restitution. Standing upright, he said, 'Lord, here and now I give half of what I have to the poor; if I have wronged anyone in any way, I make restitution of it fourfold.'
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