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Taking up where Peter left off, Pope St. Linus created the first fifteen bishops and forbade women to enter a church with uncovered heads, something that has grown lax since Vatican II in our century. During his pontificate the evangelists Saint Luke and Saint Mark were martyred. He himself died a martyr on September 23, 76 A.D. under the Emperor Vespasianand he was succeeded by Pope Saint Cletus, the third successor of Peter and Roman-born. He drew up the rules for the consecration of bishops. In the area of the Vatican, near the tomb of St. Peter, he had an oratory built for the burial of martyrs. He also established the early rules governing ecclesiastical dress. He also was martyred for the new faith in 88 A.D. during the reign of the Roman Emperor Flavius Domitian, the last of the twelve Caesars. Cletus was succeeded by another Roman-born pontiff Pope Saint Clement I.
During these embryo years of the Church language differences and customs had to be overcome. Though we believe Jesus spoke in Aramaic, most of those who the Apostles and disciples ministered to in the other regions outside Israel spoke Greek. In 1 Corinthians 14: 18-19 Paul makes clear it is vital to reach people in their native tongue so that they understand the Word. Greek thus first became the dialect of the New Sacrifice in order to reach more converts and communicate the purpose of their mission. Even to this day, some remnants of the Hellenic language remain such as the Kyrie eleison in which we implore God's Mercy at the beginning of the Mass. Also, the Greek word of meal is agape, which means "love feast" and, with the institution of the Mass in Greek, became the memorial of the Last Supper. However, through abuse it became more of a social event rather than the purpose for which it was intended and was soon abolished.
Other practices were abrogated as the structure took permanent form. One reason for this was that each local church community maintained their own traditions and practices and sometimes bolted when asked to blend with the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
One practice that remained steady in the early years was the Didache which was a treatise in two parts called the "Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles" which was written about 65-80 A.D. by Paul, but many attribute its origin to the second century. Whenever it came to be, it seemed to be a manual for those missionary disciples who were ministering to believers. Because it was a prayerful groundwork for the celebration of the Eucharist, many perceived it as a manual for the Mass - the first missal, if you will. The Didache was divided into two parts, the first being a moral treatise and the second disciplinary, keying on the administration and ministry of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It was not only highly regarded by the early Fathers of the Church but also provided insight into how the early Church was governed and the liturgy practiced which was perceived as an initiation rite to be highly guarded from unbelievers.
Even among the Gentiles there were differences regarding the direction the Church should go. Just as there is today, so also in the early days there were arguments over liturgical aspects of the Mass. These controversies even threatened to split Christ's Church during the embryo stages…an element that still exists today in so many circles within and outside the Church.
This reached its apex around the yeas 95-98 A.D. when followers of Cephas and others who followed Apollos argued vehemently. Pope Saint Clement I, the fourth in the line of pontiffs, urged harmony among all and he stressed that it was the role of the bishop and priests who had earned his trust to preside over the New Sacrifice. Some were not approved. It was also a manifestation of the Papal supremacy in the succession of Peter as early as the first century. Clement restored the sacrament of Confirmation according to the rite of St. Peter. It was to his time that is attributed the use of "Amen" in religious ceremonies. He was banished to Pontus by the Roman Emperor Trajan and thrown into the sea with an anchor around his neck in 97 A.D.
He was succeeded by Pope Saint Evaristus, the first Greek Pope whose pontificate lasted eight years. Given the increase in the number of Christian converts, he divided the city of Rome into parishes. He also founded the first seven diaconates entrusted to senior priests, which is actually considered the origin of the present College of Cardinals.
After ordination he returned to the south to teach at Pine Hills while commuting roundtrip to New Orleans to achieve his doctorate in American philosophy from Tulane University and where he subsequently taught the same subject before moving on to teach philosophy at Creighton University in Omaha when Our Lady of the Snows Scholasticate was closed in 1968. In 1972, less than ten years after ordination, he was appointed Provincial of the Oblate Central Province in the United States but that lasted only a short time for the Oblate Superior General Monsignor Marcello Zago, OMI, now secretary for the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, summoned him Rome to become the second highest in the missionary order of over 6,000 priests as Vicar General from 1974 to 1986. While there he received his Ph.D in Theology from the Pontifical Urban University. Returning to the United States he worked closely with Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston while attaining his Masters from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. In 1990 Pope John Paul II elevated him to bishop and assigned him to the Diocese of Yakima, Washington. Because the diocese was 50% Hispanic, he took a three-week crash course in Mexico on the Spanish language and Hispanic culture before his installation in May 1990. Six years later he was promoted to the Diocese of Portland where he was installed on May 27, 1996. Less than a year later, he was on the move again, being named to succeed the deceased Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in the vast Archdiocese of Chicago on April 8, 1997. He was installed on May 7, 1997 and less than a year later was afforded the great honor of joining Cardinal James Francis Stafford as the only two American prelates to be named in the most recent Consistory of February 21, 1998. Along with the esteemed red-hat, he received the titular church of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island.
He is also being groomed in various curial responsibilities, holding memberships in the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum". At only 62, he is projected to be one of the bright shining lights among the College of Cardinals and if any American prelate would be considered papal quality, he would have to rank right up there. Watch for this bright, loyal and orthodox cardinal to rise quickly within ecclesiastical ranks. Already he has made a tremendous impact in the Chicagoland area where a group of liberal priests challenged him and he didn't blink but treated all in the utmost charity, but firmly as a shepherd should.
Cardinal George is one of three Oblate bishops in the United States along with Bishop Roger Schwietz of Duluth, Minnesota and Bishop Michael Pfeiffer of San Angelo, Texas who remarked about his recent elevation to Archbishop of Chicago that preparation as Vicar General and his educational background gave him "the solid grounding in large scale international administration that involve complex problems." And problems did face the new Archbishop who ventured into the jungle following in the footsteps of progressive leader Cardinal Bernadin. One of Archbishop George's first acts was to venture directly into the jungle of crime and hurt to visit and comfort a young 13-year old black youth Lenard Clark who was beaten by three Catholic High Schoolers. Always a crusader for the handicapped and downtrodden, the new Archbishop is comfortable speaking to prince or paupers. His experience and culture of being a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, whose main mission is ministering to the poor, serves him well in the city by Lake Michigan where there is a plethora of cultures. His mastery of five languages, phenomenal intelligence, and gentle manner will serve him well as Christ's chosen shepherd and his appointment has been great news for loyal supporters of the Church and a blow to the progressive liberals who practically canonized Bernardin, a liberal-minded mediator who was one of the leaders of the liberal agendas proposed at the Bishops Conferences. For loyal Catholics in the Windy City and throughout the USA it has been a welcome change as the pendulum swings back to a more orthodox position.
Unseen I am,
But just as REAL
As the WORDS you here read
And to you I reveal.
God's MOTHER am I,
Doubt it not, dear child!
Virgin Mother of Jesus,
Your OWN Mother mild.
To me did He give you
When dying on the Cross,
Oh! seek my protection
That you may not be lost.
From Heaven above
To pit you are in,
A LIFELINE I lower
To save you from sin.
The ROSARY it is,
To save you from HELL-
The DEEPEST dungeon
Where the devils fell!
Say it each day,
Come, what may!
From death to LIFE
It's your surest way.
Stronger than VICE
Is the power of prayer,
And my Rosary BEST
Will drive out despair.
Satan will laugh,
For well does he know
That if he does NOT,
From his grasp you go!
Yes, time it will take,
There is work to be done,
Yet the battle begun
Is the battle half won!
Fear not your weakness
But rely on my power,
All I ask NOW
Is a daily half-hour.
Even THIS you may take
In periods 5 -
10 "Hail Marys" at each
Will make it glide by.
For each such "decade"
There's a "Mystery" assigned;
A marvel of Christ's life
(Mine too) for your mind.
If the beads you lack
for counting the prayers,
The FINGERS will do -
Those tools of prayer.
Though 15 in all
These Mysteries be,
Each 5 in groups 3
Make 1 Rosary.
BEFORE each decade
Of the 10 "Hail Marys"
Say one "Our Father",
This rule doesn't vary.
At the END of the 10
Add one "Glory be",
3 prayers-these enough-
For my Rosary.
Read them at first,
Soon you'll know them by heart,
Easier then will it be
To prayer forth to dart.
But when your mind WANDERS
And you're tempted to quit,
Resolve more than EVER
That Rosary to grip!
It's the EFFORT, my child,
That counts with the Lord,
When the going is harder,
Richer is the REWARD.
For HEAVEN God made you
After life here below,
By the Rosary I'll LEAD you,
Just NEVER let go.
If "An apple a day
Keeps the doctor away,"
A ROSARY each day
Keeps the devil at bay!
Mary of Magdala's heart was filled with gratitude. Nowhere did pride enter into her heart. She never for a moment considered herself worthy of the great privilege bestowed upon her. She did not seek other than to tell His beloved Apostles so that their faith, hope, and love might be rekindled.
O! Little children, do you not see that faith must walk through the darkness, led by trust and moved forward by love. For each of you thee is this darkness, when faith alone is all that is left to you. It is then, my children, when my Divine Son is closest to you, giving to your soul those supernatural impulses to keep moving into His embrace.
Behold with what incredulity the Apostles, save John, received Mary's witness of and for the Truth. Their own faith was still but an ember. Their hope was yet a seedling, which had not taken root. But when Mary told them, "He is Risen", their souls were awakened from the long, terrible darkness. This awakening permitted God's light to return to them, and thus their own hope began to grow deep roots.
How they each longed to see that all their fears might be alleviated. How each yearned to go to the tomb, see with his eyes its emptiness, and greet anew the Risen Lord. But, their moment was yet to come, as their test of faith; their purification required them to ponder all these things in the Light of Faith.
Dear children, be as simple, humble children. Do not be afraid to walk out into the unknown armed with faith. Let your faith be fully formed in holy trust, and let that which forms both faith and trust be the Love of God and the desire to please Him in all things.
Little children, He is Risen! He has conquered death. Why then do you concern yourself with the material concerns of your body, which are anchors that tie you to the world? Lift up your hearts and recognize the Glory which awaits all who, loving my Divine Son, pick up their cross and follow Him. These are my faithful ones who shall persevere until the end. O! What joy awaits all whose faith is sure and whose trust is absolute, even unto death.
With Love do they live, in Love do they die, only to find eternal Love their abode.
Hurry my children. Hurry into my Son's embrace and let your hearts rest secure in the Glory that lies beyond the darkness.
1073 A.D.
Death of Pope Alexander II, the 156th successor of Peter who served twelve years and made religion and spirituality more important than politics as some of his successors had in trying to appease the German emperor Henry IV, but Alexander would have none of the machinations of the ambitious Holy Roman Emperor who, in retaliation, threw his support to antipope Honorius II.
1097 A.D.
The First Crusade arrives in Constantinople.
1109 A.D.
Death of Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury who was appointed to that post by his uncle Pope Alexander II. Anselm, a brilliant biblical scholar died in the city where he was born - Mantua, Italy. For more, see DAILY LITURGY.
1142 A.D.
Death of controversial French theologian Father Peter Abelard, a monk of Cluny whose work when he taught at the University of Paris was called into question by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and several pupils of Saint Anselm. After writing the Dialectica and his autobiography Story of my calamities retired to the monastery of Cluny at Chalôn-sur-Saône where he died with the peace of mind that he had made peace with God .
