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     In today's editorial we outline changes for the summer with the DAILY CATHOLIC as we take a page from the networks and begin bringing you "reruns" - reruns that the majority haven't had the opportunity to see. We also point out that summer, being the lazy, hazy days when the heat index reaches the limits of the mercury, we tend to become lazy in our prayer life as well. That is something none of us can afford. For today's commentary titled Something to make this summer more special! click on the Tuesday CATHOLIC PewPOINT.

Something to make this summer more special!

      Since we are less than one week away from the Summer Solstice, it's time to move into the summer mode here at the DAILY CATHOLIC. First of all, it's a known fact that viewership/readership drops almost 50% during the summer due to fewer people spending time at the computer and more time taking in the rays during these longer runs of the lazy, hazy days of summer. Therefore, we are paring back the issues until the fall season. Like the television programs, we will go into a "rerun" phase, bringing you material that will actually be new to you, but in effect, is a few years old yet still very relevant. Many have been following the DAILY CATHOLIC from our first issue in November last year, but we had published for two years prior to that with very few readers. Therefore, the material we will be presenting during the summer will be entirely new. In addition, the material will be the beginning of all three mega-series we have been bringing you each week. We will begin this with next Tuesday's edition of THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH with the first installment of this megaseries. It's an opportunity to go back to the roots and see how this series began and the foundation of the Blessed Sacrament. The other two series THE AGE OF MARIAN APPARITIONS and WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM? will begin recycling for the summer the first part of July. Just as some networks are hyping that if you haven't seen the programs being repeated each night yet, then they're new to you, so also if you haven't read the earlier articles of these mega series, then they're new to you and should give you an even greater appreciation of these features.

      In addition, the regular daily editorial CATHOLIC PewPOINT will also be abbreviated during the next two months to just one or two a week depending on the political climate spiritually or temporally. It is also necessary for this editor, at least for now, to spend less time at the keyboard, suffering from a slight case of carpal tunnel syndrome that effects my hands and arms while typing and requires medical attention. That's the price for slaving away at a typewriter and now a computer for well over forty years! We also plan on taking a one to two week hiatus in July or August for a well-deserved rest as well as regrouping and reprogramming new things including a more comprehensive and quicker Ports of Call links section so we can give you a greater spectrum of sites to peruse. I'm also weaning my youngest teen-age son on learning HTML and the formatting so he can assume many of the webmaster duties. He's a whiz at the computer so why not put his talents to work for the honor and glory of God and help ol' Dad?

     We hope these temporary changes to accommodate the summer schedule will meet with your approval and be assured that come September we should return, like the networks, with all new programming and more innovations as we attempt to expand. We're always open to feedback and what you would like to see more of and/or less of. We're going to close with a bit of humor sent to us by our good friend Nancy in Germany from the wit and wisdom of Bill Cosby on parenting that should encourage us to stay the course:

Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His children. After creating Heaven and earth, He created Adam and Eve. And the first thing God told them was: "Don't!
"Don't what?" Adam asked.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," said God.
"Forbidden fruit? Really? Where is it?" Adam and Eve inquired, excitedly jumping up and down.
"It's over there." God said, wondering why He hadn't stopped after making the elephants! A few minutes later God saw His two children taking an apple break and, needless to say, He was very, very angry!
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the Father asked.
"Uh, huh." Adam replied.
"Then why did you do it?" God asked again exasperatedly.
"I dunno." Adam answered.

      God's punishment, as we all know, was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own so they, too, could experience the frustration the Almighty One was experiencing with His Own first two children. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance to this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give your children wisdom and they haven't taken it to heart yet, don't be so hard on yourself.


      After all, if God had trouble handling His children, what makes you think it should be a piece of cake for you?!?

     Think about it and don't forget to use the opportunity of summer for a very special exercise - it's called PRAYER. Oh, yes, and don't forget Daily Mass and the Rosary. These are all something that will make this summer more special!

Michael Cain, editor

     Today we bring you the papacy of Pope Honorius IV, the 190th successor of Peter and the task he faced of cleaning up Pope Martin IV's directives that had simmered the seeds of revolt. This is the last installment until September on this series. In its place we will be bringing you the early episodes to bring you up-to-date during the summer months. For the seventy second installment titled Pope Honorius IV: Inheriting the rubble of revolt, click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH

INTRODUCTION
      The causes and effects in Church history have gone a long way in shaping the climate of both the Church and Europe throughout the years. The struggling papacies of the popes in the mid to late thirteenth century played a significant role in establishing cultures that would be rooted in these times and last until today. The actions and inactions of these popes went far in molding sense and sensability. Each of these pontiffs were good men, but weak in one area or another and that hurt the Church in many ways. The Pope we cover in today's installment was just such an example. Pope Honorius IV inherited the mess that Pope Martin IV had left and, though he tried to instill the kind of stern, strong leadership of Pope Nicholas III he left a lot to be desired. Many point to his debilitating handicap of being physically crippled and suffering greatly from arthritis for his failures to follow through on many projects and campaigns; others point to the fact he was such a lover of peace that he would compromise to preserve it. Yet much of his actions belie this point, especially in his standing strong against Aragon in the situation in Sicily after the death of King Charles of Anjou to whom this Pope, like his predecessor Martin, was beholden to. Regardless of the causes and effects, Honorius cannot be blamed completely for he inherited from Martin the rubble of revolt and, to his credit, stilled most of it with a strong governing of the Papal States.

      The feeble reign of Pope Martin IV after the strong hand of Pope Nicholas III was like night and day and the cardinals, gathering at Perugia after the former's death, decided to act swiftly in naming a successor. With King Charles of Anjou no longer a threat, having passed away shortly before Martin, they were free to elect whomever they wanted with no political interference. On May 20th, 1285 the conclave selected the physically handicapped Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin who could not stand upright during Mass - Cardinal Giacomo Savelli. He was of noble Roman lineage who had served previous popes loyally, but old age and a severe case of gout and arthritis had rendered his body to a crippling state. But his mind was very, very sharp. Since Savelli was the grand-nephew of Pope Honorius III he decided to honor his uncle by taking the name Pope Honorius IV as the 190th successor of Peter. One of his first measures was to reestablish order in the Papal states where unrest was prevalent because of Charles interference there with Martin's permission. Truth be known most everyone was not only glad Charles was dead, but also Martin who had been nothing more than a "puppet pontiff" to the Angevin king. Now, with a breath of fresh air instilled in the Holy See and Italy once more, great celebration broke out as everyone lauded the new Pope. Though Honorius IV had been on good terms with Charles for political reasons, he wisely chose to disassociate himself from any connection with Martin's favorite and for this, he was hailed enthusiastically throughout Rome, being elected senator for life. Though he suffered greatly from his physical maladies, Pope Honorius was a busy pope, building a new papal palace on the Aventine in Rome. While all the other Papal States were brought into line and peace returned, even in Romagna, Honorius realized that the French influence in Sicily was well-rooted by now and decided to leave it in the hands of the French, winning their favor by giving financial and moral support to King Philip III in his effort to win over Aragon from King Peter III. The crusade that Martin had ill-advisedly waged against the Aragon king proved a fiasco, especially with the death of both Philip and Peter, the campaign was brought to a merciful end. But there were still problems for Honorius who had inherited the rubble of revolt, especially in Sicily and Aragon. Refusing to get caught up in the politics of the day and trying to protect his predecessor, he refused England's King Edward I's plea to mediate between the Aragonians and Angevins. When James, son of Peter of Aragon, claimed Sicily as his and, through coercion, was agreed to by Charles' son Charles II who had been taken prisoner by James, Honorius became livid. Though it might have been the band-aid to a lasting peace in the Papal States, he realized the long-range effects overall and that Charles II was agreeing to this aberration of the Angevin jewel only to bargain for his own freedom. If James had taken over, then there would be problems for years to come. Honorius, realizing the culture of Sicily had tilted strongly to the Angevin line, balked and excommunicated James, knowing that to face the "music" now so-to-speak would be better than down the line when another civil war similar to the Sicilian Vespers outburst during Martin's regime might erupt and spoil everything. The Sicilians tried to call the Pope's bluff, and he didn't blink. They didn't like it, but they accepted for they and the Pope were finally resigned to the fact that Sicily would be lost forever to the Angevins.

     On September 17, 1285 Pope Honorius IV issued two papal bulls - one on the rights and privileges of the clergy, the other on civil administration for the clergy and citizens of the papal states. It was the "magna carta" for the papal states and helped secure peace in the Papal States. Honorius IV, a strong devote of Pope Gregory X and his policies, resurrected one of the benchmarks of his predecessor's reign, recognition with and to the Holy Roman Emperor - in this case Rudolf I of Habsburg. He set the coronation of Rudolf for February 2, 1287, but it would seem this union was once agains snakebit for Rudolf could not make the trip. Though Honorius had served on Gregory's panel of bishops in negotiating with the German King, he was powerless to speed up the process. Because of infighting among the German bishops and miscommunication, the coronation was cancelled and not rescheduled. This caused ill-feelings among the Germans and they ousted the Vatican delegates from their country. Again hard feelings and misunderstanding surfaced and would not be resolved during Honorius pontificate.

     While Honorius had much clean-up work to do in the aftermath of the rubble left in Martin's wake, he was strongly in favor of the religious orders, particularly the Dominicans and Franciscans to whom he extended greater privileges and conditions as well as giving them exclusivity in the court of the Inquistitions. He gave great encouragement to the University of Paris, instilling a mandatory curriculum of the Oriental and other eastern languages in an effort to expedite the possibility of evangelizing to the Orient and mid-east. Though he tried to reach a closer relationship with both the Greek Orthodox and Islam leaders, he was powerless to follow through; mostly because of his health and the lack of a strong disposition to back up his actions. In short he was part Nicolas III - being a strong ruler - and part Martin IV - afraid to offend anyone and, because of that, he will be remembered as a good man, but lacking in following through with much that he instigated. While he had been a great advocate of the Crusades, the money supposedly raised for these campaigns went instead to the political infighting between Angevin and Aragon and he was not strong enough to say no. He died of old age on April 3, 1287. While it would take a year before his successor would be elected, it would be left to that successor to carry on, but it would be a few more popes before the Church was once again placed in capable and holy hands.

Next installment:

For the Summer Schedule beginning Next Week:
Installment One: Establishment of the Blessed Sacrament

In September we will pick up where we left off here with
Installment Seventy-Three -
Pope Nicholas IV: A Franciscan on a crusade.

     With the advance of summer, temptations of the flesh - especially to impurity - are more prevalent than any other time. That is why we need to remember the advice Jesus imparts to us in emphasizing the HOLY VIRTUE OF CHASTITY in His 90th Lesson/Meditation to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart which is one in a series of 100 Meditative Lessons imparted to her. Today's feature Lesson stresses the importance of Chastity, which is a safeguard against the lusts of this world and the wiles of the master pimp from hell. If we practice this virtue, it will be much easier to stay pure in an impure world. Click on THE HIDDEN WAY

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, I love and bless you. I give to you My Peace, My Strength that at all times you are mine.

      Now, I wish to speak upon one more virtue that, before My Throne, rises as pure incense.

      This, My little children, is the virtue of chastity, which is to be pure in body, pure in heart and pure in soul. My Most Sacred Heart, your secure Refuge, is most saddened in these days because chastity is no longer a virtue to you. Your world has made a laughingstock of virtue in general, and chastity in particular. When you lack virtue then it is that vice fills you.

      I Who Am created each of you in My Image and Likeness. I Who Am keep watch over you, tending My Flock, calling you to Me. But do you hear Me? Do you even seek Me?

      O! So few, so very few, look for Me, and having found Me, remain steadfast in My arms. Those who are steadfast possess chastity, which seals the human ego, intellect, and all its lower emotions within armor of Love, so that only My Light is given unto you, and it thus emanates from you to others. A "supernatural" Light which is most clearly reflected by your thoughts, words and deeds!

      Let Me say to all that to possess and live the virtue of chastity is to have Me dwelling in you and where I Am no evil may enter. I wish for all of you to hear these words and meditate on them. "Where I Am no evil may enter." You hear this and analyze it with your finite minds, where satan whispers to you: "Then you are not chaste, for behold evil thoughts enter into your mind. Evil is repulsive to God, so He cannot love you. You are doomed to Hell."

      And you who are My children believe this lie!

      Hear Me well, o children of My Sacred Heart. There will not be one day of your earthly life where satan will not attack you through the weakness of your flesh. A hundred, nay, a thousand times a day he will strike at you.

      My children, these are temptations, and each temptation is meant to move you away from chastity. But I Who Am already know the thought which comes and strikes at your mind. I have known it from all eternity, and to help you I suffered My cruel Passion so all manner of temptation would remain for you only that-a temptation. The most foul, livid thoughts may come to you at any moment. To have the virtue of chastity, little ones, is to recognize the thought as a temptation and at once to call our My Holy Name. Thus, when you do this that temptation passes in a mystical way through My Sacred Heart and is washed pure. It remains a temptation that by My Merits becomes for you virtue, because you do not act upon it, but seek Refuge in Me alone!

      The virtue of chastity if vital to the life of your immortal soul, and by My graces I give abundantly to all My children so that chastity may reign as queen in your soul and heart.

      The world is filled with the stench of evilness. So perverted has the world become that it is impossible for you not to see and hear all manner of perverse things day in and day out.

      So filled is your world with corruption that you have become immune, as it were, to its source, which is satan, and are thus accustomed to accepting as the norm the rampant evilness of society.

      You read about it! You hear it when you turn on the radio; and even worse your eyes behold it when you watch television or attend a movie, in order to entertain yourself against the boredom of life.

      O! If you would be chaste, if you would renew this holy virtue in your soul, you first must recognize that you, yourself, place yourself into temptation when you allow your human faculties to drink in, to feed upon, all manner of vice contrary to chastity. Little ones, is it not sufficient for you that by My grace, the intellect of your soul knows of the rampant evil upon the earth, and that only in a chaste union with Me shall all evil be wiped from the face of the earth? Why, then, do you clamor for every sordid detail of sin, while neglecting the virtue of chastity?

      O! My children if you possess the virtue of chastity, you learn the immeasurable value of "custody of the eyes", which wish to see Me, and look away when I Am not present because evil abounds. Custody of the eyes commends all things to Me, while heart-felt prayer is offered up on behalf of those ensnared by sin.

      Your eyes see it; but they do not feast upon it nor derive any sensible pleasure from it, and every effort is made to remove yourself from the evil situation.

      O! Little ones, your own ears hear daily lewd remarks made about the mortal body which I create and hold in being. All manner of speech revolves around the degradation of man and woman, as I created you to be. Thus, when your ears are not chaste, you are subject to such bombardment by the evil one, that you find release of human feelings ,human frustrations, anger and bitterness when the mind accepts as truth the unholy spoken words which degrade the dignity I give to each of you. Why, little children, do you listen to this trash, which comes from the bowels of hell, when by virtue of chastity you would hear My Voice calling you, leading you?

      Chastity is guardian of body and soul! It seeks modesty in dress, which is meant to shield the mortal body against cold and heat, while appearing before Me who created you, as an heir of My Kingdom! You distort the beauty I have given to each of you by your cravings for sexual desire and preference. This is not chastity-this is lewdness and covetness. I, Who Am, say to all. When you adorn your body with garments do so as I would have you do. The style must be modest, of the age in which you life; it must be altered to remain ever-modest, covering the sacred parts of the body which are not objects of jokes, but as My marvelous creation.

      Chastity propels you to turn away from all sights that lead you into temptation because of your bodily lusts. Chastity turns away from all music, speech that addresses the vile human acts of which man succumbs because he follows satan and not Me.

      Chastity is that virtue by which your movements draw no attention to yourself, but call your soul's attention to Me! You move about not to be noticed by others, but rather to fulfill My Divine Will.

      When will you hear and understand that the virtue of chastity is not reserved for a few chosen souls who are so removed from the world as to have no temptations? The virtue of chastity is meant for all: It is possible for all, particularly those in the married state, who receive My blessing upon the union of their flesh, and the usual respect and dignity each must accord the other.

      All of My children, whether young or old, single, married, or consecrated to Me by vows, are to be chaste in heart and soul.

      This virtue receives its growth from the fullness of Life within My One True Church. It comes from frequent Confession, regular attendance at Holy Mass, and reverently receiving Me in Holy Communion. Then the soul, imbued with the virtue of chastity, prays from the heart; the soul propels the body to make sacrifices and to be mortified in all its senses, so that at all times the heart and soul are lifted up to Me, your Lord, God and Savior.

      Therefore, little children, in these last days as the spiritual battle grows more fierce, be armed with the holy virtue of chastity, and you shall know the refuge of My Sacred Heart. You shall persevere until the end, fearing nothing. Chastity is to possess My fully, and to possess Me is to prevent all harm from coming to your soul, which is Mine and which I call to day and night.

      Go, therefore, to the sacraments and return to the virtue of chastity, that being pure of body and soul, you shall be with Me for all Eternity. Lo! The moment comes when you shall realize the fullness of Truth of all Scripture and the words I now speak, in order to encourage you in these end times.

      Prepare, for I Come!

     Today and tomorrow we commemorate weekdays in the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time. For the readings, liturgy and meditations for both days, click on LITURGY FOR THE DAY.

Tuesday June 16:
Eleventh Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Green vestments

First Reading: 1 Kings 21: 17-29
Psalms: Psalm 51: 3-6, 11, 16
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 43-48

Wednesday June 17:
Eleventh Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Green vestments

First Reading: 2 Kings 2: 1, 6-14
Psalms: Psalm 31: 20-21, 24-25
Gospel Reading: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

   Dear children! Today I call you, through prayer and sacrifice, to prepare yourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Little children, this is a time of grace and so, again, I call you to decide for God the Creator. Allow Him to transform and change you. May your heart be prepared to listen to, and live, everything which the Holy Spirit has in His plan for each of you. Little children, allow the Holy Spirit to lead you on the way of truth and salvation towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

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PRAYERS & DEVOTION

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

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

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