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FRI-SAT-SUN
October 23-25, 1998
SECTION TWO vol 9, no. 208
To print out entire text of Today's issue, print this section as well as SECTION ONE
LITURGY FOR THE WEEKEND
This weekend we celebrate two saints in Ordinary Time - Saint John of Capistrano, priest, religious and missionary on Friday and Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and religious founder on Saturday along with observance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday. Sunday is the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. For the liturgies, readings, meditations and vignettes on the above feasts for this weekend, click on LITURGY
Friday, October 23, 1998
Friday October 23:
Twenty-ninth Friday in Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint John of Capistrano, Priest, Religious and Missionary
Green or White vestments
First Reading: Ephesians 3: 14-21
Psalms: Psalm 33: 1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 49-53
Feast of Saint John of Capistrano, Priest, Religious and Missionary
Born in Capistrano, Italy near Abruzzi in 1386, Saint John of Capistrano he entered law school at Perugia where he was appointed governor there in 1412 at the age of 26. Married, he became enmeshed in the war between Perugia and Malatesta and was captured. While in prison, he had a life-changing conversion through a purported vision of Saint Francis of Assisi who invited John to join him in his Order. When John was finally released , was able to obtain a dispensation to enter the Friars Minor, despite the fact he was married. In 1420 he was ordained and began to preach throughout Italy, bringing in thousands to hear him wherever he spoke. His life would be one of preaching the true faith in the midst of great schism and defending Holy Mother Church and Europe from the threatening Turkish infidels. He would become known as the "Apostle of Europe" for his prayers, devotion and staunch defense of the faith not only saved Europe, but saved the Franciscan Order as well and strengthened the Church during dire times. Along with Saint Bernardine of Siena John endeavored to heal the split within the order, drawing up plans that were approved by the general chapter in 1430 at Assissi. That same year John, who was commissary general of the Franciscans, was instrumental in getting his dear friend St. Bernardine appointed Vicar General of the Observants. Almost immediately after that he journied to France where, in cooperation with Saint Colette, helped reform the Poor Clares. John was also a great aid to the pontiffs. Pope Eugene IV appointed John inquisitor in the proceedings against the Fraticelli vs. the Franciscans and John also ruled over the charges leveled against the Gesuats. In 1439, Eugene IV sent him on a papal diplomatic mission as papal legate to Milan and Burgundy to successfully make a stand against the antipope Felix V. Six years later the Holy Father, so pleased with John's diplomacy and firmness in backing Holy Mother Church, sent him to France to meet with the king as the papal legate to France. Rulers were so impressed with John that in 1451, the Emperor Frederick strongly recommended that the new pontiff Pope Nicholas V send John as commissary and inquisitor general to fend off the Hussites. Along with twelve Franciscans John again was successful. John preached throughout Europe, specifically Bavaria, Poland and Saxony, effecting countless conversions and tremendous revivals of faith. When the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453 John concentrated all his energies and faith into denouncing the infidels, forming a crusade against the Turks. Though he was unsuccessful in Austria and Bavaria, he teamed up with Hungarian leader Janos Hunyady to rally the Hungarians to resist the Turkish invasions. After capturing Constantinople, the Turks set their goal in capturing Belgrade in Serbia, at that time gateway to the west. Rallying the people against the infidels, John led the left wing of the Christian army to triumph at the Battle of Belgrade in 1456. His victory stalled the Turkish invasion which in turn saved all of Europe. To commemorate the significance of this event Pope Callistus III instituted the Feast of the Transfiguration. That same year both he and Hunyady contracted the bubonic plague from the filthy conditions of the battlefield, and both subsequently were claimed by the Black Death, Hunyady one week before John who died on October 23, 1456 at Villach, Austria. John was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII in 1690. This faithful Franciscan is most remembered here in the United States for the mission of the same name located in southern Orange County, California along the Pacific coast where, for decades, the swallows always return to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano on the feast of St. Joseph.
Saturday, October 24, 1998
Saturday October 24:
Twenty-ninth Saturday in Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Religious Founder and
Observance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Green or White vestments
First Reading: Ephesians 3: 14-21
Psalms: Psalm 33: 1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 49-53
Feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Religious Founder
This humble son of a weaver Saint Anthony Mary Claret founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1850. He was born in Salent, Spain, part of the Diocese of Vich in Catalonia on December 23, 1807. It was the same year Napoleon invaded Spain. Having entered the diocesan seminary there at the age of 22, he was ordained in 1835 and immediately assigned pastor of his home parish. But the lure to Rome and to become a Jesuit got the best of him and he entered the Jesuits Novitiate in Rome in 1837. But God had other plans for Anthony as he became very ill, forcing him to leave the novitiate and return to Salent where he devoted the next ten years to preaching missions and retreats throughout Catalonia, as well as writing publications for he wrote more than 150 books, chief among them his well-known work The Right Way. As so often is the case, his success brooded jealousy and envy within the ranks of the clergy, and they were successful in getting him sent to the Canary Islands in 1848. There, under Bishop Codina, he preached feverishly and, after almost two years later, returned back to Vich to found the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary known throughout the world today as the Claretians dedicated to preaching missions. Though there were still ill feelings with fellow priests who resented his success, the Holy Father recognized his accomplishments and that same year Pope Pius IX appointed Anthony the Archbishop of Santiago in Cuba. In his efforts to preach against slavery, reform the diocese and because some in his own diocese plotted from afar, an assassination attempt was made on his life in 1856. Narrowly escaping, Anthony was recalled to Spain where he was appointed personal confessor to Queen Isabella II in 1857 while maintaining his duties of overseeing his fledgling order of priests. This new appointment also enabled him to be in a better position to appoint good bishops and other assignments throughout the various dioceses of Spain. In order to achieve total autonomy and work toward recognizing Religious Orders throughout Spain, he resigned his episcopate in 1858 while setting up a center of ecclesiastical studies in liturature, arts and the sciences at the Escorial in Madrid as rector of the seminary there. He specifically promoted Catholic publications and a devotion to Saint Michael the Archangel some 20 years before Pope Leo XIII's famous vision and subsequent decree of the protective prayer to St. Michael. In 1868 a revolution broke out and Isabella II fled to France while Anthony was in Rome helping prepare for the First Vatican Council (1869-70). When the Council concluded, Anthony discarded the idea of going back to Spain where persecution was mounting greatly and opted instead to join the deposed Spanish queen in Prades, France. However the Spanish ambassador, spurred on by those who had life-long vendettas against this holy man, insisted on his arrest and so Anthony fled to the Cistercian monastery near Narbonne, where under house arrest, he died on October 24, 1870. This leading light in the Catholic revival of Spain was honored years later when his remains were returned to the Diocese of Vichs and his fruits are proliferated today through the active missionaries who compose the Claretian Fathers. Pope Pius XII canonized St. Anthony Mary Claret in 1950.
Observance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary is a custom first promoted by the Benedictine Monk Saint Alcuin back in the days of Charlemagne (see archives December 23, no. 25 issue). He composed different formulas for Votive Masses for each day of the week, with two set aside to honor Our Lady on Saturday. This practice caught on with great enthusiasm and eventually the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday became the Common of the Blessed Virgin. This Mass was a favorite with retired priests and those whose sight was failing for most had memorized this Mass and were able to say it by heart without having to read the Lectionary or Sacramentary. One reason Saturday was dedicated to Mary was that Saturday held a special meaning in Mariology. First of all, as Genesis accounts for, God rested on the seventh day. In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was Saturday. Jesus, Son of God rested in the womb and then, when He became incarnate, in the loving arms of Mary from birth until she held His lifeless body at the foot of the Cross. Thus the God-head rested in Mary. It was also on Saturday after Good Friday that Jesus gave His Mother a special gift and reward for keeping her faith in His Divinity intact by making an exceptional appearance to her. Thus, because of these reasons, the devotion spread by St. Alcuin and other liturgies that evolved within the Church, Saturday took on a special Marian significance. Saturday took on even more significance in honoring Mary when Our Lady imparted to visionary Lucia in her third apparition at Fatima on July 13, 1917, "Our Lord wishes that devotion to my Immaculate Heart be established in the world. If what I tell you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace; the war will end...I ask the consecration of the world to my Immaculate Heart and Communion of reparation on the First Saturday of each month...If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace...In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph, and an era of peace will be conceded to humanity." As we draw nearer to that wonderful event, it is more important than ever to honor Mary's request on the First Saturday as well as each Saturday that her feast is commemorated in the Church calendar, not to mention responding to her call daily with the Rosary and attending Daily Mass, nourished by her Divine Son present body and blood, soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. It is in the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she remains in the background in the liturgy of the Word so that her Divine Son's words and His Presence take the spotlight as He should while Mary remains the chief intercessor before the Holy Trinity as she should and serves as the ideal for all Catholics to strive for, as we should. The Dictionary of Mary states quite succinctly, "Through these liturgical acts, (honoring Mary on Saturday) Christians exalt the person of Mary in the action that renews the sacrifice of Christ and in the action that prolongs His prayer."
SUNDAY, October 25, 1998
First Reading: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
Psalms: Psalm 34: 2-3, 7, 17-19, 23
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 9-14
Monday, October 26, 1998
First Reading: Ephesians 4: 32; 5: 1-8
Psalms: Psalm 1: 1-3, 6 and Ephesians 5: 1
Gospel Reading: Luke 13: 10-17
PRAYER & DEVOTIONS
In honor of Saint John of Capistrano, we present the Opening Prayer from the Daily Mass for his feast on Friday:
Lord, You raised up St. John of Capistrano to give Your people comfort in their trials. May Your Church enjoy unending peace and be secure in Your protection.
In honor of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, we present the Opening Prayer from the Daily Mass for his feast on Saturday:
Father, You endowed Anthony Claret with the strength of love and patience to preach the gospel to many nations. By the help of his prayers may we work generously for Your kingdom and gain our brothers and sisters for Christ.
WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS
with a Catholic slant
provided by
Catholic World News Service
HEADLINES:
The great Guatamala cover-up continues as bishop's friend and priest charged; kangaroo court feared
Despite protests from the Vatican and the UN, a Guatamalan judge, no doubt in cahoots with Guatamalan government and military culprits, formally charged Father Mario Lionel Orantes Najera for the ghastly murder of auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera last April. Father Najera lived at the Bishop's residence and was the logical suspect or should we say scapegoat to kill the avid human rights activist prelate for no apparent reason and no proof while those who had plenty of motive are not even questioned even though human rights groups have plenty of evidence which Judge Isaias Figueroa Medina refuses to consider in his bid to throw the scent off the real murderers and accuse the persecuted priest in a kangaroo court that cries out for justice to the rest of the world. For more, click on Travesty in Guatamala
GUATEMALA PRIEST FORMALLY CHARGED IN BISHOP'S MURDER
GUATEMALA CITY (CWNews.com) - A Guatemalan priest was
formally charged in the murder of an auxiliary bishop in
Guatemala City on Wednesday, after the judge in the case
refused a motion to dismiss the charges.
Judge Isaias Figueroa Medina ordered Father Mario Lionel
Orantes Najera to remain in jail and await trial on charges
of killing Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera, the former head of
the archdiocesan human rights office. Bishop Gerardi was
found bludgeoned to death at his residence which he shared
with Father Orantes in April, two days after releasing a
report blaming the Guatemalan military for most of the
deaths in the country's 36-year civil war.
Church officials have said that there is not enough
evidence to hold Father Orantes, especially since
allegations that the priest's dog was involved have proved
false, and that the prosecution have not been able to
identify a possible motive.
Monsignor Efrain Hernandez called Figueroa's decision
"lamentable." Archbishop Victor Hugo Martinez criticized
the investigation and accused prosecutors of ignoring "the
hidden forces who were behind the crime," referring to
pro-military groups which are blamed by human rights and
Catholic groups.
Clinton has no one to blame but himself as he stubbornly upholds culture of death with yet another veto
Bill Clinton has been crying for months that Congress needs to approve the back dues the US owes the United Nation or face the possibility of losing a vote in the General Assembly. But, when push comes to shove, slick Willy once again exposes his shallowness and inSINcerity by vetoing the bill because of the ban on abortion funding clause. It's been proven he has no shame and this is a glaring example that he wants US taxpayer's hard earned money to go for abortions overseas in his campaign to spread the culture of death as a disciple of satan. For more, click on Travesty in the White House
CLINTON VETOES UN BILL OVER ABORTION PROVISION
WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - President Bill Clinton vetoed
a final bill sent to him by the 105th Congress, which
adjourned on Wednesday. He said he could not agree to pay
the $1 billion in back dues owed to the United Nations with
the attached provision that bans the use of US funds for
population control groups that promote abortion overseas.
Congressional supporters of the provision decried Clinton's
veto. "This member deeply regrets that the president of the
United States has jeopardized America's foreign policy
leadership by vetoing this legislation," Rep. Doug
Bereuter, R-Nebraska, said after Clinton's veto message was
read in the House. He add, "He apparently believes that US
tax dollars should be used by foreign non-governmental
organizations to lobby for abortion."
The veto endangers the US vote in the UN's General Assembly
next year according to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who
criticized the US for failing to pay its obligations. The
US may narrowly avoid the loss of voting privileges because
it paid about $347 million in funds appropriated in other
bills. The US' Security Council seat is not endangered.
France coining the phrase "no Pope" on coins! Like the times of Philip IV, France reverts to opposing Pope
Like the times of King Philip IV who opposed the Popes and tried to control them with the lure of Avignon, so also today in France little is changed as the modernist French are vociferous in their refusal to accept any new coin that bears the impression of Pope John Paul II on it. This visage on the new Euro coins is a distinct possibility since he is already found on lire coins minted at Vatican City to distinguish them from Italian coins. At the bottom of this protest is not who they want on the coins but the fact they don't like it that this holy pontiff refuses to compromise on values and morals, the kind of morals that are foreign to so many French citizens who want to do their own thing no matter what God's laws dictate. For more, click on Travesty in France.
FRENCH CONTROVERSY OVER POPE'S IMAGE ON EURO
VATICAN CITY (CWNews.com) - France's protests that the
new currency of the European Union, the Euro, might bear
an image of Pope John Paul II has occupied the attention
of many Italian newspaper recently. A French newspaper
reported Wednesday that Paris would not recognize any
Euro coins stamped with the image of the Pope when the
currency begins circulating in 2002.
However, the controversy is poorly framed, according to
sources at the Vatican, who said the problem is really an
attempt by certain newspapers to draw attention to the
"anti-pope" attitude of some French.
The problem is not the image of the Pope, as such, said the
source, but that, first, the image of a living person was
used, whatever nation he may be from, and, secondly, that
the Holy See did not officially enter into the Euro
currency agreement. The Vatican and Italy still maintain an
agreement in which the Italian government mints Italian
liras for the Vatican, with the image of the Pope
distinguishing Vatican City currency from that of Italy.
The question is whether the Euro circulated by Italy will
also bear the image of the Pope, a question which has not
been decided by the Vatican or Italy.
According to other sources, the question of the
introduction of the Euro also arises for the European
micro-states such as the Republic of San Marino and the
Principality of Monaco, which remains, from the point of
view of its financial influence, a "thorn" in the Euro. The
Euro will be launched on January 1 in 11 of the EU nations,
but will not replace national currencies for three more
years.
In recent days the Italian press has headlined the
"anti-pope" attitude of the French. On Thursday, the
Corriere della Serra newspaper wrote of the "Francesi
impietosi" ("French without mercy"), in an article
commenting on a survey published by French publications La
Vie and La Monde, which said that 53% of the French want
the Holy Father to resign. But the article also underlines
that 55% of the French are with the Pope on the question of
abortion and that 63% of them recognize the magnitude of
this pontificate.
Beef over Hormel is canned for now; Luxembourg saved for another year!
Bill Clinton's nonsensical campaign to promote avowed homosexual James C. Hormel, heir to the Hormel Meat Packing Company, as ambassador to Luxembourg - which is 95% Catholic - hit a big snag when the Senate tabled the nomination until next year. It is a reprieve for the people of Luxembourg and for those who don't agree with the amoral Clinton administration that you don't appoint someone whose lifestyle is diametrically opposed to the people he is serving. Clinton doesn't understand that, but the Senate did by refusing to allow the vote to even come up on the floor through the efforts of Senate Majority Leader Senator Trent Lott. For more, click on Travesty avoided in Luxembourg.
HORMEL WILL NOT BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR THIS YEAR
A homosexual will not become an ambassador this year. The U.S.
Senate effectively killed the nomination of James C. Hormel to be
ambassador to Luxembourg when the Republican leadership decided
not to act on the nomination before adjourning for the year, The
New York Times said. Hormel, 65, a San Francisco philanthropist,
would have been the first openly gay U.S. ambassador. The action
also allows the nominations of Kent M. Wiedemann to be ambassador
to Cambodia and Diane E. Watson as ambassador to the Federated
States of Micronesia to die in the Senate.
...Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi, the Senate majority leader,
refused to allow a vote by the full Senate. Earlier this year he
described homosexuals as sinners who, like alcoholics and
kleptomaniacs, could overcome their lifestyle. Hormel's
nomination was opposed by conservative organizations, including
the Traditional Values Coalition, which provided senators with
copies of sexually explicit material available in a gay-research
center named for Hormel at the San Francisco Public Library.
President Clinton will consider renominating Hormel next year,
news reports said. This information comes from ReligionToday.com.
For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.
September 25th Medjugorje Monthly Message
Dear children! Today, I call you to become my witnesses by living the faith of your fathers. Little children, you seek signs and messages and do not see that, with every morning sunrise, God calls you to convert and to return to the way of truth and salvation. You speak much, little children, but you
work little on your conversion. That is why, convert and start to live my messages, not with your words but with your life. In this way, little children, you will have the strength to decide for the true conversion of the heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.
For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE
PROVERB OF THE DAY
"The eyes of the Lord safeguard knowledge, but He defeats the projects of the faithless."
Proverbs 22: 11
Click here to return to SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.
October 23-25, 1998 volume 9, no. 208 DAILY CATHOLIC
