Monday thru Friday on the CATHOLIC-INTERNET NETWORK at http://www.catholic-internet.org See why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!" e-mail: DailyCatholic@catholic-internet.org

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

Historical Events in Church Annals for June 16:

1246 A.D.


Death of Saint Lutgardis, a French religious who is considered one of the leading mystics of the thirteenth century. As a young girl she had a vision of Christ, prompting her to become a Benedictine and devote her life to God as a victim soul. She experienced with numerous ecstacies, levitating often and dripped blood when praying on the Passion of Jesus. She accepted her cross of total blindness during her last eleven years of her life. She died in escstacy at her Cistercian convent in Aywieres, France.

1456 A.D.


The twenty-five year judgment of heresy against Saint Joan of Arc is rescinded by Pope Calixtus III.

Run of Shroud Exhibit termed a tremendous success

     This past weekend they officially closed the doors on pilgrims to the Shroud of Turin in Italy after a three month run which realized over two million visitors including Pope John Paul II in late May. Exceeding all expectations the expectation is that it will next go on exhibit during the Jubilee year. For more, click on Shroud

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The public exposition of the Shroud of Turin was concluded on June 14, after more than 2 million pilgrims had seen the fabric, which is widely believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ.

      Cardinal Giovanni Saldarini of Turin presided at the Eucharistic liturgy which closed the public exposition, begun in April. The Shroud will again be available for public veneration from August through October of 2000.

      Among the most notable individuals to visit the public exposition in recent weeks were Pope John Paul, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. Vatican Radio reported that a large group of Muslim pilgrims traveled from Turkey for the exposition.

Pros and cons of International Court: Bring international war crime to justice, but justice could be blind if culture of death advocates get their way!

     Both hopes and fears accompany the international U.N. conference opening this week in Rome a stone's throw from the Pope who is not officially involved in this conference that is to determine set regulations and enforcement to bring international crimes, especially war crimes to justice. Meanwhile a half world away, conservative Senate Republicans are concerned that a pro-abort UN bloc could pass legislation that would make it a crime to protest for the cause of pro-life. For more, click on International Court.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II has greeted the opening of an international conference, held in Rome, dedicated to the creation of a permanent international court.

      The court is intended to judges the perpetrators of war crimes and other crimes against humanity. Speaking on Sunday, June 14, at the close of his weekly Angelus audience, the Holy Father voiced the hope that such a tribunal would mark "a historic moment in the mutual comprehension among peoples" of the world.

      The Pope also said that the Holy See would be an active participant in the conference setting the stage for an international court. Some critics have said that such a court could eventually become involved in the politics of individual nations, enforcing the declared policies of the United Nations-- including those UN statements which call for legalized abortion on demand. The Pope seemed to be taking such criticisms into account when he said that any international court must ensure that "all fundamental and inalienable human rights are adequately protected."

      Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. Senate Republicans announced on Saturday that they plan to oppose the planned United Nations International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it could undermine the US legal system.

      Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Missouri, said the ICC could effectively nullify the Bill of Rights protections, including freedom of speech and freedom from unwarranted search and seizure. "We cannot abandon those rights to an international criminal court," Ashcroft said at a news conference.

      Pro-life groups warned that in the current pro-abortion climate of the UN, vocal opposition to abortion could be declared a crime. "Within the proposed ICC criminal statutes there exists language that could make pro-life advocates war criminals simply for working on behalf of the unborn child," said Austin Ruse, director of the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute.

      A UN conference opened in Rome on Monday to discuss the creation of the court. The Clinton administration is in favor of the court, but wants it to focus on specific war crimes. Former Attorney General Edwin Meese said the ICC could initiate investigations and prosecutions of cases in the United States or involving US military operations overseas. The US and France support a plan to give the UN Security Council veto power over all International Criminal Court investigations.

      Pope John Paul said in his Sunday Angelus message that he will pray for the success of the conference in bringing justice to bear on serious crimes against humanity. "I hope that the work of this important conference will be inspired by the desire to appropriately safeguard basic and inalienable human rights," he said.

Way could be cleared for Pope to visit birthplace of Abraham during Jubilee Year

     Through the efforts of Cardinal Roger Etchevarry, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the groundwork has been laid for the Holy Father to make a personal pilgrimage to Iraq and more specifically the places where the great Patriarch Abraham once walked. To help ease the tension in this mid-east hot-spot, the Cardinal again called for an immediate end to the embargo enforced by the United Nations and the U.S. For more, click on Pope to go to Iraq.

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, concluding a trip to Iraq, again criticized in international embargo on that country, and announced the Pope John Paul II hopes to make a personal pilgrimage to the "birthplace of Abraham" before the Jubilee Year 2000.

      At the conclusion of an international symposium of Christian churches, held in Baghdad to discuss how the Church contributes to world peace, Cardinal Etchegaray-- the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace-- said that the international embargo on Iraq has had "perverse and uncontrollable effects" on the culture of that land, causing a general decline in both welfare and morale.

      The cardinal cited figures put forward by UNICEF, indicating that over 16 percent of the children in Iraq now suffer from malnutrition, and in nearly half of those cases the problem is acute. The papal nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, has referred to "a land in despair."

      As for the possible papal trip, Cardinal Etchegaray reported that he himself had made a personal pilgrimage to Ur, the birthplace of Abraham, to ask God's blessings on the people of that region. He added that the Holy Father hopes to make the same sort of pilgrimage.

      Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid suggested that the Pope might wish to visit in February or October 1999, "to avoid the head." He added that the Pope would be welcome, even if the embargo continues, and that a papal visit might help bring an easing of the international sanctions.

South Africa's Nelson Mandela meets with Holy Father today at Vatican

     Nelson Mandela, the beleagured, crusading leader of South Africa begins a two day visit to Rome today. On tap is a personal private audience with Pope John Paul II. No topics were released that the two would discuss but it is expected the president will be a bit apologetic for the brouha that erupted in his country when Bill Clinton and his wife received Holy Communion when they knew it was wrong. Though jurisdiction does not rest with Mandela, but rather the Diocese of South Africa and the Bishops Conference there. For more, click on Mandela.

      JOHANNESBURG (CWNews.com) - South African President Nelson Mandela will meet with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican this week during his visit to Italy, South Africa's foreign ministry announced on Sunday.

      "President Mandela will be paying an official visit to Italy from 16 to 18 June," it said in a statement. "While visiting Italy, he will use the opportunity to pay an official visit to the Vatican where he will be received by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, for a Pontifical Audience."

      Mandela will also meet with Italy's President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro and Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Italy is South Africa's fifth largest trading partner.

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.

June is the month of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts with these feasts the end of this week. For the Consecration to the Two Hearts click on Consecration

      Jesus, we know that You are merciful and that You have offered Your Heart for us. It is crowned with thorns and with our sins. We know that You implore us constantly so that we do not go astray. Jesus, remember us when we are in sin. By means of your Heart make all men love one another. Make hate disappear from amongst men. Show us Your love. We all love You and want You to protect us with Your Shepherd's Heart and free us from every sin. Jesus, enter into every heart! Be patient and never desist. We are still closed because we have not understood Your Love. Knock continuously, O Good Jesus, make us open our hearts to You at least in the moment we remember Your Passion suffered for us. Amen.

(Dictated by Our Lady to Jelena Vasilij on November 18, 1983)

      O Immaculate Heart of Mary, ardent with goodness, show Your Love towards us. May the flame of Your Heart, O Mary, descend on all mankind. We love You so. Impress true love in our hearts so that we have a continuous desire for You. O Mary, humble and meek of heart, remember us when we are in sin. You know that all men sin. Give us, by means of Your Immaculate Heart, spiritual health. Let us always see the goodness of Your maternal Heart and may we all be converted by means of the flame of Your Heart Amen.

(Dictated by Our Lady to Jelena Vasilij on November 28, 1983)

Click here to return to SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.

June 16, 1998 volume 9, no. 116   DAILY CATHOLIC