TUESDAY
December 16, 1997
vol 8, no.53
Front Page of Today's Issue: To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE and
SECTION TWO
Da-da-da-daahh, da-da-daahh...
Today is the 227th anniversary of the birth of that troubled maestro genius Ludwig Von Beethoven and so we salute music for as an anonymous saying, etched in parchment above, goes, "Back gave us God's Word, Mozart gave us God's Laughter, Beethoven gave us God's Fire, but God gave us Music that we might pray without words." Music truly soothes the soul as do the Beatitudes which Jesus gave us and which He elaborates on in His Lesson/Meditation #64 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart on THE ESSENCE OF THE SEVENTH BEATITUDE: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. THE HIDDEN WAY
A song in our hearts
That's what the beautiful sacrament of Baptism does for us and in his on-going column "Keys to Living God's Will" Father John Hampsch, C.M.F. touches on this wondrous melody of graces in "The Virtue of Faith". Click on Faith: Key to the Heart of God.
The Final Fugue caused by the fued
The cymbols truly clashed between Empire and the Holy See when Pope Urban III was elected supreme pontiff in 1185, but this Pope's personal vendetta against the German Emperor clouded all reason and almost brought about the downfall of Rome save for Divine intervention in our on-going mega-series chronicling the Church throughout the ages with the fifty-first installment entitled: Pope Urban III: Open war with empires on all fronts. Click on HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH
Unfinished Symphony
The succinct instructions handed down by the Holy See a month ago will remain just that - an "unfinished symphony" - until all comply obediently to the norms established and now reinforced by Rome. We continue to bring you this important document for both the laity and clergy in its entirety through installments. Today we present the eighteenth installment, on "The Apostolate of the Sick." Click on THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS
Sing out in praise and thanksgiving...
For the glorious sacrament of Penance and the clean slate we are given each time we confess our sins and receive absolution. It's truly a song of songs to sing. Today we continue our daily capsules on catechetical teaching on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, focusing on the penance we are given by the priest and why. click on CATECHISM CAPSULES
PRAYERS & DEVOTION
For the Advent Novena Prayer and all prayers up until today, click on ADVENT Novena Prayers
December 16, 1997
Blessed Mother, we can not be sure just when the journey began for you and St. Joseph to Bethlehem. You had so little that you had to take with you. It was difficult to travel in those days. Through your intercession, help us to remember that we offer so little sacrifice to God, and that we could give Him so much more by surrendering the luxuries of this life in anticipation of the glories of the next.
Song of Advent
The Liturgy of Advent presents a veritable chorus of harmonious prayers and preparation for the glorious solemnity of Christ's birth. The nine day novena leading up to Christmas begins today with the first prayer: FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS NOVENA: "O Shepherd that rulest Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, come to guide and comfort us. (Add an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be) For today's Liturgy for Late Advent, click on LITURGY OF THE DAY
Medjugorje Monthly Message for November 25th
Dear children: Today I invite you to comprehend your Christian vocation. Little children, I led and am leading you through this time of grace, that you may become conscious of your Christian vocation. Holy martyrs died witnessing: I am a Christian and love God over everything. Little children, today also I invite you to rejoice and be joyful Christians, responsible and conscious that God called you in a special way to be joyfully extended hands toward those who do not believe, and that through the example of your life, they may receive faith and love for God. Therefore, pray, pray, pray that your heart may open and be sensitive for the Word of God. Thank you for having responded to my call!
For more on Medjugorje, Click on MEDJUGORJE
NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant
HEADLINES:
Guadalupe waiting with open arms for Holy Father
The Rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City extended a warm invitation to Pope John Paul II to come for His papal visit even earlier than anticipated, suggesting July when 5,000 priests will convene there. Click on Guadalupe visit to read more.
Vatican ecstatic that Cuba will honor Christmas!
The Holy See responded with great joy over the anticipated announcement by the Cuban government that they would make an exception this year and allow the Cuban people to celebrate the Christmas Holiday in honor of and preparation of Pope John Paul II's first visit ever to this tiny communist island. Click on Christmas in Cuba to read more.
Violence revisits Northern Ireland over the weekend, threatens shaky truce.
Just as Christmas nears, a time for peace and togetherness, warring factions in Northern Ireland threaten to break the fragile peace that has existed since the IRA truce this past summer. After a Catholic church was ransacked by Pro-Brits, Catholic lads retaliated the next day causing unrest throughout the northern tip of the Emerald Isle. Click on Northern Ireland to read more.
PROVERB OF THE DAY
"The wicked man steps into a snare, but the just man runs on joyfully, singing and rejoicing."
Proverbs 29: 6
For all other standard
features, articles and
columns, click on Archives
December 16, 1997 volume 8, no. 53 DAILY CATHOLIC
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December 1997