"There can be no peace when this most basic good is not protected. It is not possible to invoke peace and despise life."

That is the heart of His Holiness John Paul II's annual World Day of Peace Message released on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception for tomorrow.

"These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have affliction. But take courage, I have overcome the world."    (John 16: 33)

    In today's issue we bring you Pope John Paul II's annual World Day of Peace Address for January 1, 2001 on the Solemnity of the Mother of God. In his message, the Pope emphasizes that he considers "urgent to invite believers in Christ, together with all men and women of good will, to reflect on the theme of dialogue between cultures and traditions. The Sovereign Pontiff writes that "Cultural diversity should therefore be understood within the broader horizon of the unity of the human race" and that "Dialogue between cultures ... emerges as an intrinsic demand of human nature itself, as well as of culture. It is dialogue which protects the distinctiveness of cultures as historical and creative expressions of the underlying unity of the human family, and which sustains understanding and communion between them," says the new Papal document. Among other themes, the Pope recalls as well in his message that "human life cannot be seen as an object to do with as we please, but as the most sacred and inviolable earthly reality." For the Holy Father's entire address provided by ZENIT.org, see THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS

SUNDAY'S LITURGY:

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

    Almighty God, Who art the Author of all goodness, look down in mercy upon families and households who seek to pattern their home on the Holy Family, and bless all who belong to these families, present or absent. Save and defend us in all dangers and adversities; give us all things that are needful forr our souls and bodies; and bring us safely to Thy Heavenly Kingdom where we can share in the abode of the Holy Family forever.

The DAILY WORD

"And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them; and His mother kept all these things carefully in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men."

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    We are grateful to the artist Shannon Wirrenga (701-255-7312) for permission to use the phenomenal and touching original painting above of Jesus smiling at a newborn babe full of life, a life that He allows. It is appropriately titled "I Knew You," taken from Jeremiah 1: 5. No entity, matter or energy can exist without God and He alone gives and takes life. Life is the most precious gift we have been given. That is why we dedicate this section to the Sanctity of Life for so few realize the treasures it holds from conception to the grave.

    The elections are over, but the battle for life is not. We cannot give up the fight. Please continue to pray that President George W. Bush and his cabinet will promote legislation for the Sanctity of Life and pray for those pro-abort congressmen, senators and governors that they will have a conversion of heart and recognize the evil of their ways. Remember, nothing is impossible with God. We encourage you to go to the Pro-Life links below to keep up to date on the great battle between life and death - the Sanctity of Life vs. the culture of death. For more see, PRO LIFE FOR LIFE

   Today is the 1,665th anniversary of the death of Pope Saint Sylvester I. This 33rd Roman Pontiff in the line of Peter was the first to wear the Tiered Tiara, though it was only one tier at the time, representing spiritual. Elected on January 31, 314 his pontificate lasted 21 years and he will forever be remembered as the Pope who presided over the historic first Ecumenical Council at Nicea wherein the "Nicene Creed" - still prayed at Sunday Masses and Solemn Feast Days to this day - was formulated and Arianism was condemned while the Council Fathers settled the dispute over God the Father and God the Son decreeing them consubstantial. It would be in the Second Council at Constantinople 56 years later that God the Holy Spirit would be acknowledged to complete the Divinity of the Trinity. It was St. Sylvester who instituted Sunday as the Sabbath in recognition of the Resurrection of Our Lord. Ever mindful of the passion, he established the "Iron Crown" using a nail from the Holy Cross founded by Saint Helena in Jerusalem during her son Constantine's reign. To read more of what happened today in Church History, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

The animalistic nature of passion

   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"Passion has its seat in the body or the animal nature of man. It is the echo of the knowledge in our physical structure but it is not knowledge. Passion implies sensible changes, such as the flushing of the cheeks, the dilating of the pupils and the tensing of many of the muscles."

NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit. For the December 25th Christmas Message and more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE