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     For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on TIME CAPSULES: MILLENNIUM MILESTONES

Historical Events in Church Annals for September 10:

432 A.D.


Election of Saint Celestine I as 43rd successor of Peter. He called the Third Ecumenical Council which condemned the followers of Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople. Celestine sent Saint Patrick to Ireland and mention is first made during this period of the "pastoral staff."

1310 A.D.


Death of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino of the Hermits of Saint Augustine. So devoted was this holy priest to saving souls that God mystically would reveal the souls admitted into Heaven as a result of his prayers and devout Masses.

1622 A.D.


Death of 205 Japanese and European martyrs, including Blessed Sebastian Kimura and Blessed Lucy de Freitas who were burned to death by Shogun warriors along with the other Catholics. Blessed Lucy, a widow of a Portuguese trader, sought to hide European priests during this time of persecution including Fr. Kimura who secretly ministered to Japanese Catholics who were being forced by the Japanese regime to abandon their faith.

While the Holy Spirit is fully present in the Church, He is also present in other faiths, but only partially.

     In his regular Wednesday afternoon Papal Audience at Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father continued his treatise on the catechism and his year-long discussion on the Holy Spirit with the fact that God puts the "germs of truth" in all faiths and instinctively leaves man hungering for a greater understanding of the Almighty which opens the door for evangelizing the true Faith through missionary efforts. For more, click on Papal Audience.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Even non-Christian religions contain "germs of truth," Pope John Paul II said during at his weekly catechetical audience.

      In the 16th talk of his series on the working of the Holy Spirit, the Pope said that the Spirit "inspires the search for truth, for goodness, and ultimately for God." That inspiration, he continued, is written in men's hearts, and leads ultimately to a recognition of the Cross of Christ.

      An attitude of "sincere respect, profound sympathy, and cordial collaboration" toward other religions does not imply that Christians fail to recognize the unique importance of Christ's redemptive action, the Holy Father pointed out. Rather, these attitudes form the basis for missionary work.

Naples Cardinal accused of Black Hand ties lashes out at Mafia

     Showing he is not the Mafia sympathizer as he had been accused of being, Cardinal Michele Giordano, prelate of Naples spoke out harshly toward Mafia tactics and violence that has left many intimidated and fearing for their lives - both young and old. The Cardinal pulled no punches in letting the Mafia leaders know that whatever tactics they use, God will ultimately judge them and that final judgment cannot be avoided. He called for all to put away their arms and seek peace. For more, click on Mafia Malevolence.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Cardinal Michele Giordano, who became the focus of a church-state debate in Italy when police searched his office in connection with an investigation into Mafia activities, has renewed his own personal call for the Mafia to disband.

      "Put down your arms!" the Naples prelate said, in response to an incident in which innocent bystanders were wounded during a shootout between rival gangs. "Renounce this warfare, which produces only losers, and never winners."

      The cardinal also called upon the people of Naples to close ranks in opposition to the work of organized crime. He asked believers to "pray for the conversion of hearts hardened by violence, and for a future that will offer the hope of peace."

      Cardinal Giordano encouraged law-enforcement authorities to redouble their efforts to break the Mafia. But he addressed most of his remarks to the criminals themselves. "God will judge you," he warned, "and his justice-- unlike that of man-- cannot be escaped."

Holy Father encourages UN to uphold human rights as they convene for the fall session in New York

     During a special ecumenical prayer service at Holy Family Church in New York City with Secretary General Kofi Annan in attendance, Cardinal John O'Connor delivered the Holy Father's personal message to the UN Assembly encouraging them to uphold the Human Rights agenda which they pledged to maintain fifty years ago when the organization was in its infancy. The message was intended for all UN principals as the General Assembly began their 53rd session today. The Pope urged that Human Rights be adopted universally with no exceptions to safeguard the fundamental values of life as God intended. For more, click on Papal Message to UN.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- In a message to the United Nations, for today's opening of the 53rd working session of the General Assembly, Pope John Paul II called for "universal acceptance" of the Declaration on Human Rights, adopted at the UN 50 years ago.

      The Pontiff said that the historic Declaration was an illustration of "the progress of the human family." The document, he observed, recognized "that every human being has transcendent and inalienable rights, which are not privileges conceded by states or government."

      The papal message was read during an ecumenical prayer service in New York's Holy Family Church, with Cardinal John O'Connor presiding, before the formal opening of the General Assembly. Archbishop Renato Martino, the Holy See's delegate to the UN, also participated, along with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the outgoing and incoming presidents of the General Assembly, Hennadiy Udovenko and Didier Operti.

Another priest kidnapped in Filipino Muslim wars

      The Muslim wars continue in the Philippines as rebels took hostage Father Lucia Benedetti into their mountain hideout along with eleven other Filipinos who were released but not the Italian missionary priest. It follows a pattern in which the Islam rebels have kidnapped and harassed other Catholic missionary padres including an Irish priest and a Belgian priest. The good news: both were released within two weeks. Still, the military is taking the kidnapping seriously, marshalling forces to comb the mountains for the rebel kidnappers. For more, click on Kidnapping.

      MANILA (CWNews.com) - An Italian missionary priest was kidnapped by suspected Muslim rebels on Tuesday along with 11 Filipino companions who were released hours later.

      Father Luciano Benedetti was believed to have been taken to a mountain hideout in the southern Philippines, the military said. The official report said the priest and his companions were in his parish when 30 bandits took them at gunpoint to a motorboat which they used to travel to a nearby town. The 11 Filipinos were released, but Father Benedetti was not.

      "I have directed army elements and the local police to carry out pursuit operations," southern military commander Lieutenant General Angelo Reyes told reporters. Father Benedetti is the third foreign missionary abducted by Muslim rebels in the past year. Suspected guerrillas kidnapped an Irish priest in October last year but freed him after 12 days. A Belgian missionary abducted last November was released after 36 hours.

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.

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September 10, 1998 volume 9, no. 177   DAILY CATHOLIC