Front Page TEXT for Today's Issue

TUESDAY February 17, 1998 Vol. 9, no. 34 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

     Today's feature mega series on Church history continues with the legacy of Pope Innocent III who served as the strong transition pontiff from the medieval age of popes to the pre-renaissance era. His staunch defense of the Church and bringing kings and princes to their knees and away from meddling in Church affairs helped plant the seeds of holy saints who sprung up during this and subsequent years of the thirteenth century. Two of those saints whose fruits were harvested during his papacy were Saint Francis of Assisi who received approval from Innocent to begin the Order of Friars Minor and Saint Dominic whose Order of Preachers received preliminary sanction from Innocent as well. Click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH

      The legacy left by the two founders of the great Religious Orders - the Franciscans and Dominicans - was based on, on fulfilling all Jesus Christ asked for, including setting an example through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy which Our Lord speaks on in the 73rd Lesson/Meditation entitled "I THIRST!" as imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart. For today's lesson/meditation, click on THE HIDDEN WAY

      We follow up yesterday's editorial with another poignant one, citing the endorsement by American bishops and cardinals for negotiating a peaceful settlement rather than military threats. As the days pass and war looms ever closer, saner minds and hearts are beginning to speak out against such a folly. For today's editorial entitled, " The just desserts of peace would be sweet compared to the bitter alternative in the desert! ", click on Today's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     Continuing his treatise on primary and secondary faith in his weekly column from his work "Faith: Key to the Heart of God," Father John Hampsch, C.M.F. deals today with Measuring Maturity and how we need to forgive in order that we might be forgiven. It is a universal message that we must live as Jesus has instructed. For his weekly column, click on KEYS TO LIVING GOD'S WILL

     Today, sharing the liturgy with Ordinary Time, is the feast of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order - a consortium of holy men who banded together to form a religious order of priests less than twenty years after Francis and Dominic founded their orders. For the story of these founding Servants of Mary and the liturgy of Ordinary time today and tomorrow, click on LITURGY OF THE DAY

      Father, in a wonderful manner You called the seven holy fathers to the service of the holy Mother of God so that, faithfully associated with her at the foot of the Cross, they could lead Your people to the copious fountain of salvation that gushes forth from the wounds of Christ. Moreover, O Father, by the sublime charity that united them, You sent them forth as apostles of union and peace among the Christian people so that, resolving every conflict, they could gather people together in fraternal concord.

      Dear children! Today again I call all of you to prayer. Only with prayer, dear children, will your heart change, become better, and be more sensitive to the Word of God. Little children, do not permit satan to pull you apart and to do with you what he wants. I call you to be responsible and determined and to consecrate each day to God in prayer. May Holy Mass, little children, not be a habit for you, but life. By living Holy Mass each day, you will feel the need for holiness and you will grow in holiness. I am close to you and intercede before God for each of you, so that He may give you strength to change your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call! For more on Medjugorje, Click on MEDJUGORJE

HEADLINES:

Back to basics in Europe as Pope calls for re-evangelization

      At his weekly Angeles homily in St. Peter's Sunday Pope John Paul II, reeling from the defections and grousing of clergy in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, as well as ecclesial cracks in other European countries, announced that he is calling for Europe to return to the values the Church established in Europe's "golden era" - values that were established by such luminary saints as Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic. The Pope's purpose is to schedule this re-evangelization with the coming of the Jubilee so that all may be one. Europe is not his only concern as word arrived at the Holy See that Libya's Colonel Muammar Q'addafi wants the Holy Father to visit his country. Click on re-evangelization to read more.

U.S. Delegation of Religious Leaders to Chinese Leaders: Free the Prisoners!

     That was the mandate issued by the three representatives from America - a rabbi, a bishop and a Protestant minister on Sunday after meeting prior with Chinese premier Jiang Zemin who had asked them to visit while he was in the U.S. last fall. At the same time, he assured the press and the American people that China had no prisoners incarcerated for religious reasons. The U.S. Delegation has discovered otherwise and now they are demanding he straighten things out by releasing the thirty known religious prisoners of varied faiths. Click on China to read more.

Cuba Bishops to their flock: Thanks a million!

      In a letter from the bishops of Cuba, headed by Cardinal Jaimie Ortega and read from the pulpits of all Cuban Catholic churches, they expressed their sincere gratitude to the Cuban people as well as the Communist government for their help, participation and deportment during Pope John Paul II's visit last month. The letter re-emphasized the importance of the Pope's words and the hope that all would live their Catholicism in hopes it would once again flower in this island still under the stifling shadow of the hammer and sickle. Click on Cuban bishops to read more.

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

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February 17, 1998 volume 9, no. 34          DAILY CATHOLIC