TEXT for Today's Front Page

TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK April 7, 1998 Vol. 9, no. 69 The "USA Today for CATHOLICS!" at http://www.catholic-internet.org To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE and SECTION TWO

     Tuesday in Holy Week provides the scenario of Peter's denial before the cock crowed thrice just as Jesus foretold his beloved Simon - the man He chose to lead His Church. Now, nearly 2000 years later we have to ask ourselves if we, like Peter, are in denial when push comes to shove. We all talk a good game, but when it's crunch time, are we ready to put our lives on the line for Him? That is a question we should all mull in our hearts and consciences as we prepare for the Passion and Death of Our Lord. The lesson today is that we must be ready to profess our undying faith in Christ no matter the consequences. For today's readings, lesson and liturgy as well as tomorrow's, click on LITURGY OF THE DAY FOR HOLY WEEK

      The Blessed Mother reflects in her meditation that we must not be like Pilate and wash our hands of responsibility, but rather plunge ourselves into the Passion and immerse ourselves in the Blood of our Savior for if we walk with Him on the way to Calvary, if we are willing to be nailed to the cross with Him, He will be there for us when it is time for our Heavenly resurrection! These meditative lessons, imparted by Our Lady to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart during Lent of 1993, are meant to inspire and prompt a greater understanding of the season of Lent, especially during Holy Week, and help us all prepare for His Passion and Death, and ultimately the glorious Resurrection. Click on "IT IS CONSUMMATED!"

     Today we review the liturgical treasures we have been gifted during this special week in the liturgical year and show how to fully partake of the graces and riches inherent in these celebrations, we must not be part-timers but wholly involved in all the Holy Week celebrations as detailed in Holy Week means being wholly involved! Click on today's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     The theme of Holy Saturday's Easter Vigil is "Light of Christ" and in today's sixty-third installment of our on-going mega series on causes and effects in Church History, we feature the Holy Father known as the Corpus Christi Pope for it was Pope Urban IV, a French Pope and closely guided by two luminary giants of the day - Saint Louis IX, King of France and a humble but extremely wise Dominican by the name of Saint Thomas Aquinas who helped convince the pontiff to proclaim the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ for the universal Church. But the light did not always shine for Urban who, like his predecessors, faced the darkness of the age and the constant assaults of the enemies of the Church from the infidels to the House of Hohenstaufen. For the chapter on Pope Urban IV: The French Cardinal from Jerusalem who became the "Corpus Christi" Pope, click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH

     Holy Week is the most appropriate time for Lesson/Meditation #80 in which Jesus counsels us to COMFORT THE SORROWFUL for it was the most sorrowful of times for mankind during that time that the Lord and Master suffered for our sins, offering Himself as the ultimate victim for us. Now, two millenniums later when our comfort zone has become too cushy, He asks us to reach out to the sorrowful and suffer for Him as He did for us. We need to comfort others just as Christ comforts us. "Do unto others as ye would have others do unto thee." These Lesson/Meditations were imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in a series of 100 Meditative Lessons. Click on THE HIDDEN WAY

      "It is consummated!" (John 19: 30) Jesus, help me, that I might come to the end of my earthly life with the peace of having lived and died only for You.

     Dear children! Also today I call you to fasting and renunciation. Little children, renounce that which hinders you from being closer to Jesus. In a special way I call you: Pray, because only through prayer will you be able to overcome your will and discover the will of God even in the smallest things. By your daily life, little children, you will become an example and witness that you live for Jesus or against Him and His will. Little children, I desire that you become apostles of love. By loving, little children, it will be recognized that you are mine. Thank you for having responded to my call.
For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

Events today in Church History

      For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history, click on ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

HEADLINES:

Vatican announces nineteen new candidates for beatification

     The Holy See released a list of nineteen would-be saints today with a decree by Congregation for the Causes of Saints that included eight who have been recognized for miracles attributed to their cause, and the other ten for leading lives of "heroic virtue." The list, composed of mostly European holy men and women of clerical rank and from Brazil. One, Austrian nun Sister Maria Restituta will be beatified in Austria by the Holy Father on his visit there in the near future. She was martyred by the Nazis. For more on this story, click on Beatification to read more.

Cuban People clamoring for Pope's Talks

      In unprecedented fashion the most popular reading in Cuba are the Holy Father's talks he gave in Cuba in January. Despite attempts by Castro to downplay the phenomena, schools are calling for the talks to teach them in the Cuban classrooms and people clamor for more on the Pope's talks on "freedom" - a word seldom heard over the last thirty seven years on this tiny Communist island in the Caribbean. For the rest of the story, click on Cuba to read more.

New survey from Peru cites Church as most trusted by the Youth

     The Catholic Church must be doing something right for the Hispanic people. This is because a new survey released in Peru by a Madrid, Spain university scholar proves the Roman Catholic Church is the most trusted institution in the world according to Hispanic youths who ranked Pope John Paul II number one in Latin America and Mother Teresa a close second. In Spain the same survey revealed Mother edging the Holy Father out for numer one by a narrow margin. For the rest of the story, click on Survey to read more.

Catholic World News issues corrections on Fatima Crusader Priest story

      The article we ran yesterday in this spot contained errors which the Catholic World News source apologizes for and makes corrections today regarding the priest known as "The Fatima Crusader" Father Nicholas Gruner, who has been in the eye of a storm that has swirled around his duties and his credentials, as well as his responsibility to the Diocese of Avellino in Italy. For the rest of this story, click on Fr. Gruner to read more.

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives

April 7, 1998 volume 9, no. 69          DAILY CATHOLIC