FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
Today is the Joyful Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple by His Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph. Besides being the FIRST FRIDAY, it is also World Day of Consecrated Life. Tomorrow, in addition to Ordinary Time, it is the threefold feast of Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr and where the custom of the blessing of throats evolved; the BishoSaint Ansgar, "Apostle of the North," and the Observance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday. For more these liturgies, see Daily LITURGY
|
|
White vestments
FRIDAY February 2:
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
World Day of Consecrated Life
FIRST SATURDAY
|
First Reading: Malachi 3: 1-4
Psalms: Psalm 27: 7-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2: 14-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22-40
|
Herestory:
A coined word for historical errors being foisted on us today. An example would be the magnificent scene to the right by the master Raphael. It depicts God's Hand in Pope Saint Leo the Great's success against Attila the Hun at the gates of Rome. According to some current historians, it never happened!
In our commentary today, we take on the history mongers who seek to alter historical facts for their own expediency, villainizing the Church in the process. One such example we bring to light is the glorification of Attila the Hun depicting him as a civilized gentleman who was bought off by Rome and the Church, highlighting his life with superstitions as to pagan seers, but totally eliminating any reference to God's hand in preserving Rome through His Vicar Pope Saint Leo the Great. It is this disregard for truth and twisting of events that can be very dangerous for the more these false fables are propagated, the more the Church's influence on history will be diminished. For our editorial Let's get it right for God's sake! see CATHOLIC PewPOINT
 
Honesty counts at all times and if we are not honest with ourselves through a thorough examination of conscience before confessing our sins, we will perpetuate a lie.
Sister Mary Lucy Astuto continues her sharing a special Examination of Conscience with all as today she completes the Eighth Commandment, showing how anything we say that hurts another can come back to not only haunt us, but haunt our soul and conscience for to calumniate our neighbor speaks volumes about our own integrity. What might seem as a little lie can often grow into large lies that cannot be retrieved and do irreparable damage. Sister shows why it so important for us to truly tweak the conscience through a thorough Examination of Conscience before we enter the confessional. For the sixth part of her column Acute Awareness in Examining Our Consciences, see GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER
  
Holy Father stresses to Marriage Tribunal not to cave to permissable culture and attitudes
In a society where respect for the holy and sacred institution of Marriage minimizes commitment to a vow, His Holiness Pope John Paul II warned the Tribunal Judges of the Sacred Rota, the Supreme Court, so to speak, for annulments, to take great care in preserving the integrity of the Sacrament. He said that if marriage becomes a simple biological, social custom, then one can understand why today attempts are being made to present "de facto unions, including homosexual ones, as equivalent to marriage."
For more, see News from the Holy See
ALSO:
 
Bush meets with more Catholic leaders to discuss faith-based programs
President George
W. Bush met with a group of Catholic bishops, priests, and
nuns on Wednesday to discuss his plans for federal funding
of faith-based social programs, increased tax deductions
for charitable giving, and a limited school voucher
programs. Among those attending the meeting were Cardinal-designate
Edward Egan, Archbishop John Favalora of Miami, and
Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. of Denver along with several others. For more, see USA News
ALSO:
Institute raises red flag toward human cloning, urges international criminal ban
The Elliot Institute has renewed its call for a
presumptive criminal ban against human cloning and genetic engineering of
human beings. This appeal ban was first issued in 1997 following the
cloning of Dolly the sheep. Now as the British government has legalized
cloning of human beings -- on the condition that they are killed -- the
need for state, federal, and international laws banning this and similar
Frankensteinian manipulations of human life is greater than ever. For more, see Pro Life News
ALSO:
Slovakian accord between Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches could be blueprint for the future
Slovakia has proven it can be done and now, will the accord reached recently and reported by Vatican Radio that the Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches in Slovakia have agreed to divide church buildings, schools and land be the blueprint for bringing the Russian Orthodox Church and Rome together? This agreement opens the way toward a solution to the long-standing problem of property confiscated when the country entered the Soviet orbit after the Second World War, giving hope for a wider scope.
For more, see Universal News
ALSO:
For More Daily News, we recommend the following available news sources:
|
|
|
All the above News Agencies are not affiliated with the DAILY CATHOLIC, but the DAILY CATHOLIC provides this service to keep our readers up-to-date with what's truly happening in our world, especially considering all the misinformation the secular media circulates.
|
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His Mother, 'Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be contradicted. And they own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.'" Luke 2: 34-35
Almighty, everlasting God, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty, that as Thine Only-begotten Son was this day presented in the Temple, in the substance of our flesh, so Thou wouldst grant that we also be presented unto Thee with purified hearts. From "My Daily Prayer."
  
Anniversary of Pope's Second Consistory
On this date eighteen year ago in 1983 Pope John Paul II conducted his second Consistory, elevating eighteen prelates to the College of Cardinals, most notable Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger of Paris and the late Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin, then Archbishop of Chicago. This month on February 21st, the Holy Father will elevate an unprecedented 44 to the Sacred Conclave bringing the number up considerably in anticipation of raising the ceiling from 120 voting members of the College to quite possibly 150.
For other Time Capsule events that happened Today in Church history, see Daily TIME CAPSULES in Church History
Our thoughts are reflected in the mirror of our heart
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".
"It is the things that we like that make our character; life is stained only because the heart is impure. Thoughts are the eggs of words, and when the will gives motive power to evil thoughts, they become actual transgressions. No man would be believed who, holding a bucket of muddy water in his hand, said that he drew it from a spring that was crystal clear."
Special Nine Day Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Begins Today
For the Nine Day Novena see LOURDES NOVENA
|
 
February 2, 2001 volume 12, no. 33
|
|