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Events Today in Church History

      On this date in 314 Pope Saint Miltiades, the 32nd successor of Peter, died. He is the holy pontiff who constructed the first magnificent Basilica of St. John Lateran through the funds and permission of Constantine who was given his famous "in hoc signo vinces" vision during Mitiades' pontificate. For other pertinent events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for January 11:

• 142 A.D.
  
• Death of Pope Saint Hyginus, 9th successor of Peter. Athenian-born, he was elected in 138 after a two year vacancy after the martyrdom of Pope Saint Telesphorus. Hyginus determined the different prerogatives of the clergy and defined the grades of the ecclesiastical heiarchy. He instituted the use of godparents at baptism to assist the new catechumen during their Christian life. He also decreed that all churches be consecrated.

• 180 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Leucius of Brindisi, who was the first Bishop of Brindisi. He was assigned there from Alexandria in Egypt by Pope Saint Soter. This St. Leucius is not to be confused with another St. Leucius from the 600's..

• 250 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Alexander of Fermo, bishop of Fermo, Italy who became a martyr during the persecution of Roman emperor Decius.

• 314 A.D.
  
• Death of Pope Saint Miltiades, 32nd successor of Peter. This African-born pontiff was elected on July 2, 311 and it was during his papacy that the emperor Constantine, after his vision "in hoc signo vinces" issued his decree of tolerance for the Christian Faith. The blessed bread dates from Militiades pontificate and it was he who constructed, with the help of Constantine, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

• 325 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Palaemon, anchorite abbot who, with Saint Pachomius a former soldier, founded many hermitages. Palaemon was one of the first of the Egyptian hermits.

• 500 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Honorata of Pavia Benedictine nun from Pavia, Italy. She was the sister of Saint Epiphanius, bishop who paid a ransom to the king of Heruli after the monarch had kidnapped her.

• 529 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Theodosius of Cappadocia often called the "Cenobiarch." He was a lector who sought to be a hermit and sought out Saint Simon the Stylite in Antioch before moving on to the Holy Land where he died on this date in Bethlehem.

• 570 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Anasasius of Castel Sant'Elia. This former notary of the Church became a Benedictine and was appointed abbot of the Castel Sant'Elia Monastery where he died on this date in 570.

• 625 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Vitalis, Benedictine monk from Gaza. His later life as a religious was dedicated to ministering to harlots in an attempt to convince them to amend their ways. Many nights he would pay a prostitute in order that he might not sleep with her, but rather preach to her and be assured that, at least for one night, she would not be in sin. Many women were converted by his sincerity and genuine care for their souls.

• 705 A.D.
  
• Death of Pope John VI, 85th successor of Peter whose four-year pontificate experienced an extremely difficult period for Christianity. Rejected in the East and in Spain by the Saracens, John VI defended the prerogatives of the Church against the Byzantine Emperor, and ransomed many slaves.

Vatican reinstates hula in Hawaiian liturgical ceremonies

     After extensive study in which the Vatican determined that the "hula" is not just a secular dance or a "liturgical luau" by Hawaiian natives but rather a sacred ritual with its origins dating back centuries, the Holy See has instructed Honolulu's Bishop Francis DiLorenzo to allow it back into liturgical circles on the islands under specific guidelines determined by the Diocese. The use of arms, legs and torso to tell a story have always been popular throughout the south sea islands of Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, the Philippines, and some Southeast Asian countries, The Vatican has always been sensitive to local customs, citing the beautiful and inspiring Missa Luba African Mass which was popular before Vatican II. For more, click on Hawaiian customs.

      HONOLULU (CWNews.com) - Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of Honolulu published new guidelines this week reinstating the inclusion of Native Hawaiian sacred gestures into liturgies, after the Vatican banned them while it studied the matter.

      A parishioner complained to the Vatican last year that Hawaiian dances and other native elements were being included in Masses as entertainment, not worship. The Vatican has since ruled that certain elements of native culture may be included with restrictions and Bishop DiLorenzo outlined those guidelines for parishes this week. "Sacred gesture is a way for Pacific Islanders, Asians, and those who have embraced the culture to worship as baptized Catholics," Bishop DiLorenzo said. "For many, their cultural and religious experience are interwoven."

      Native dances, including those from Filipino, Asian, Samoan, and Tongan cultures, use the hands, body, and feet to tell a story and has been used during special Masses including First Communions, weddings, and funerals. Bishop DiLorenzo said the ban on dance within the Mass remains in effect "as entertainment has no place within the sacred liturgy." However, sacred gesture -- defined as movement that expresses praise, thanksgiving, adoration, petition, and penitence -- is permitted during designated Masses, at certain times, and with appropriate attire that respects the liturgy, the congregation, and the culture.

Cardinal O'Connor stresses need to forgive and be forgiven in preparation for Jubilee 2000

      Following up on what Pope John Paul II has called for as well as the impressive pastoral letter from Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, the ranking Unites States prelate Cardinal John J. O'Connor released his own pastoral to his flock, emphasizing the need to infuse life into the carcass known as the culture of death. Only through living our faith and evangelizing the truth can Catholics hope to reverse the trend, and part and parcel of that faith is living the Our Father which calls for all to forgive and ask forgiveness. This reconciliation theme highlights the cardinal's remarks in an effort to make all aware that we are all God's children no matter our race or creed. For more, click on Cardinal O'Connor.

      NEW YORK, 8 (NE) Cardinal John O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, highlighted recently that in this last year before the Jubilee of the year 2000 "we are asked to open our hearts to Jesus, as Mary opened her heart, her will and her womb to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and to bring him into the world. We must prepare for the jubilee," said the Cardinal, "by repentance for all of the sins of the past, by reconciliation with those from whom we are distanced, by the opening of our minds and our hearts with love for God and for everyone made in his image and likeness."

      The Archbishop of New York also affirmed that one of the fundamental roles of Christians, at the threshold of the third millennium, is to help so that the teachings of the Church "may be much more vitally lived out, and much more realistically practiced in our world," infusing"life into this culture of death." Mentioning the Ordinance of the II Vatican Council Ad Gentes on the missionary activity of the Church, the Cardinal reminded of the obligation of all "to be evangelizers," taking "the light of Christ into the darkness." He added that, "No Christian can ever be a pessimist. Our Holy Father repeats perhaps more than any other phrase the words of Jesus, `Do not be afraid'."

Northern Ireland hopes to begin healing process with conviction of Protestant murderer

      Before a Belfast Court late last week 27 year-old Protestant activist Norman Coopey confessed to the brutal murder of a 16 year-old James Morgan back in the summer of 1997. Admitting that he and an unnamed fellow accomplice bludgeoned the young Catholic student to death and then torched his body and dumped it in an animal refuse, the accused repented of his sin claiming he was intimidated by the other, older companion who encouraged the attack solely because the boy was Catholic. Coopey will have a long time to think about it for the verdict was guilty and his sentence - life imprisonment. For more, click on Righteous Ire in Ireland.

      DUBLIN (CWNews.com) - In Ireland, a 27-year-old Protestant has been jailed for life for the sectarian murder of a 16-year-old Catholic schoolboy. The badly decomposed and burnt body of James Morgan was found in a pit near his home in County Down in July 1997.

      At Belfast Crown Court today, James' parents wept openly as Norman Coopey admitted being one of two men who beat the schoolboy to death with a hammer after picking him up as he was hitchhiking home. James's body was doused in gasoline and set afire before being dumped in a water-filled pit. Later an unsuspecting workman dumped animal carcasses in the pit and it was a further two days before the schoolboy's partly decomposed body was found.

      A defense lawyer said Coopey, a member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, now bitterly regretted his involvement in the attack. He said Coopey was "very much in fear of the person with him." Earlier, a prosecution lawyer said Coopey claimed his partner attacked the schoolboy with a claw hammer he carried in his car after they had learned his name and religion.

      Coopey "finished Mr. Morgan off with further blows" to the back of his head in case he might identify his attackers. Lord Justice McCollum told Coopey he'd pleaded guilty to the heinous murder of a 16-year-old schoolboy who was a completely innocent victim of clearly what was a sectarian attack. Afterward the schoolboy's parents said they were glad it was now all over.

Archdiocese of Mexico City chipping in with promotion of chips to pay for papal visit

      No jokes, please! Despite the fact that "papa" means both Pope and potato in Spanish, the Archdiocese of Mexico City has decided one of the best way to raise funds to help pay for the Holy Father's visit there in two weeks is to sell commemorative bags of Sabritas brand potato chips with ten different pictures of the Pope available. To enhance the promotion the Archdiocese is also sponsoring a special album for collectors to amass all ten images. They hope to raise nearly two million dollars through this promotion to offset the massive costs of the Holy Father's extended stay in Mexico for the closing of the Synod of the Americas. For more, click on Chips chip in

      MEXICO CITY (CWNews.com) - The Archdiocese of Mexico City has turned to a local potato chip company to help raise funds for Pope John Paul's visit to the country this month by asking them to release special commemorative editions of their potato chip bags.

      The bags of Sabritas chips feature photographs of the Holy Father or Our Lady of Guadalupe, and for two pesos (about 20 US cents) consumers can buy a special album to hold the whole collection of 10 pictures. They hope to raise about $1.8 million which cover the expected costs of the visit.

      Spokesman Hector Fernandez assured the faithful that "the Holy Father will not be linked to the advertising campaign nor will he go out dressed as a potato." In Spanish, the word for pope and potato is the same: papa.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales. Both CWN and NE are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

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January 11, 1999 volume 10, no. 6   DAILY CATHOLIC