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WEDNESDAY February 2, 2000 vol. 11, no. 22 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Today we continue with our new series in the search to uncover the wonderful treasures of the Church contained in the great Deposit of Faith, concentrating on the Books of the New Testament with today bringing you the Third Epistle of Saint John. For the one-hundred-first installment, see APPRECIATING THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH
The Third Epistle of Saint John is addressed to a certain Gaius. Whether he is to be identified with a Christian of the same name mentioned in Acts 19, 29 and 20: 4, is uncertain.
The time and place of composition of this Epistle are likewise uncertain. The similarity of content and form, however, suggests that it was written about the same time as the Second Epistle.
The Epistle, though brief, vividly portrays certain features in the life of the early Church. Gaius is praised for his hospitality and for walking in the truth. Diotrephes, on the contrary, is censured for his ambition and lack of hospitality. A certain Demetrius is also commended for his virtue.
Tomorrow: The Epistle of Saint Jude the Apostle
We continue with this special series introducing you to the Princes of the Church. Our one-hundred-fiftieth red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is 91 year-old Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, the former Archbishop of the ancient see of Utrecht in the Netherlands from 1975 to 1983 and President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity for twenty years who was appointed Camerlengo of the Sacred Conclave in 1988 at the age of 79. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Paul VI during his Consistory of April 28, 1969.
For more on Cardinal Willebrands, see COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION
Some think this was taken too far for after Vatican II no country showed a quicker decline in the Faith as did the Netherlands, once a highly Catholic country. This can be attributed to the progressive renewal employed in Holland where priests and nuns shed their collars and habits respectively and sought to become more worldly. In this mistaken attempt to reach the laity they themselves became more worldly and lost the focus of the Church universally. Cardinal Willebrands has to share some of that blame, and has been reminded of that many times, having celebrated Mass on Sunday morning with less than a handful in attendance.
Pope Paul VI made him a bishop on June 4, 1964 as Titular Bishop of Mauriana. He was ordained on June 28, 1964. Five years later he was honored by Paul VI who bestowed on him the red-hat during his Consistory of April 28, 1969. Cardinal Willebrands remains one of the few left to receive the cardinalte under Paul VI. On December 5, 1975 Paul elevated him to the Archbishop of Utrecht where he remained until reaching 76 when he retired on December 3, 1983. Despite his status as Archbishop-emeritus of Utrecht Pope John Paul II made him the Camerlengo of the College of Cardinals where he resides today at Piazza della Citta Leonina 1 in Rome.
Today is the Feast of the PRESENTATION OF THE LORD while tomorrow we return to Ordinary Time as well as the duo Feasts of Saint Blase, Bishop and Martyr and Saint Ansgar, Bishop. It is also the day for the Blessing of the Throats. For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and vignettes on these feasts, see DAILY LITURGY.
"And when the days of her purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord - as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord - and to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.' "
In preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes next Friday, we present a special Nine Day Novena from the Treasurey of Novenas that begins today. See NOVENA
MEDITATION
Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary came down from Heaven eighteen times and showed herself at Lourdes to Bernadette Soubirous a little girl of fourteen years of age. On February 11, while gathering wood, Bernadette heard a whistle of wind. With astonished eyes she saw a niche in the upper part of a rock filled with golden light, and there in the midst of it stood a Lady of great beauty.
Her robe glowed with the whiteness of snow in the sunshine and swept in majestic folds to the ground. Her head and shoulders were framed by a white veil, which feel the full length of her robe. A blue sash encircled her waist, and its two ends, wide and unornamented, reached down in front almost to her feet. Each of her feet bore a rose of purest gold. A rosary, whose beads were white and whose cross and chain were of gold, hung from her right arm. Her hands were open, and her arms outstretched slightly in front.
In her apparitions our Lady appealed for penance and prayers for sinners. On March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, the Blessed Mother declared her name to Bernadette and to the world. On that day Bernadette made this request: "My Lady, would you be so kind as to tell me who you are?"
This is how Bernadette describes what happened in that last apparition: "Three times I asked the Apparition her name. At the third instance, she stretched out her hands, which until then she held joined, raised them, and she said: 'I am the Immaculate Conception.'" Then having completed her great message to the world, the Lady smiled on Bernadette and withdrew without further word of farewell.
Less than four years before these apparitions, on December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed that Mary in the first instant of her conception was preserved free from all stain of original sin through the merits of her Divine Son. At Lourdes the Virgin Mary had come to confirm the infallible utterance of God's Vicar on earth and declared herself not only immaculately conceived, but "the Immaculate Conception."
On October 30, 1867, Bernadette made her religious profession in the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers, France. In January, 1873, Bernadette became ill. On April 16, about three in the afternoon, Bernadette prayed: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner!" She made a Sign of the Cross, took the glass that was handed to her, twice swallowed a few drops of water, and then bending her head gently gave up her soul to her Creator.
Bernadette died, worn out with physical suffering, on April 16, 1879, at the age of thirty-six. Now her incorrupt body can be seen as she lay in death in the side chapel of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity at Nevers, where she lived and died as Sister Marie Bernard. Thirty years after her death her body was found in a perfect state of preservation, undoubtedly a token of love of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She was beatified in 1925, and on December 8, 1933, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI.
SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES TO MEDITATE ON
Mary, Mother of God, I firmly believe in the doctrine of Holy Mother Church concerning your Immaculate Conception: namely, that you were, in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.
Alone of all the children of Adam, you were gifted with the fullness of sanctifying grace that made you the object of a very special love on the part of God. How wonderful were the workings of Divine power to make you a fitting dwelling for the Redeemer of the world! With no tendency to evil, but with a deep yearning for the highest virtue, you glorified God more than all His other creatures. At the very instant of your conception your mind was filled with the light of God, and your will was entirely conformed to the Divine Will. You were always intimately united with God.
I thank God with you for these wonderful blessings. Help me to imitate your holiness to some degree. Your holiness was not the result of the privilege of your Immaculate Conception and sanctifying grace alone, but followed from your gift of yourself to God and your constant cooperation with His graces. Help me to be generous with God by turning to good account the graces that He ever bestows on me, and by rising promptly when I fall, with renewed confidence in His Mercy.
Ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, from which you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.
Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.
Through your loving compassion shown to thousands of pilgrims who come to your shrine at Lourdes, and through your special love for your devoted client Bernadette, I ask for this grace if it be the Will of God:
(Mention your request).
Our Lady of Lourdes, aid me through your prayer with your Divine Son, to be a true child of yours, as Bernadette was, and to grow daily into your likeness.
PRAYER TO SAINT BERNADETTE
Saint Bernadette, little shepherdess of Lourdes, favored with eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and with the privilege of lovingly conversing with her, now that you are eternally enjoying the entrancing beauty of the Immaculate Mother of God, do not forsake me, your devoted client, who am still in this valley of tears.
Intercede for me that I, too, may walk the simple path of faith. Help me to imitate your example, at our heavenly Queen's request, by saying the Rosary daily and by doing penance for sinners.
Teach me to imitate your wonderful devotedness to God and our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, so that, like you, I may be blessed with the grace of lasting faithfulness and enjoy the happiness in heaven of the eternal vision of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONCLUDING NOVENA PRAYER
God of infinite mercy, we celebrate the feast of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, the sinless Mother of God. May her prayers help us to rise above our human weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.
NOVENA PRAYERS
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