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Events that happened Today in Church History
 
Today is the 773rd anniversary of the outbreak of the terrible bubonic plague known as the Black Death. It struck the crusaders first in the mideast and was brought back to the European mainland by them and by the infested rats in the hold of the ships. When the disease first began to spread, instead of being the compassionate commander and looking to the needs of his men, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II Hohenstauffen, who was anything but holy, fled in cowardice. This later would be grounds of a case built up against him over the years for Pope Gregory IX to finally excommunicate him and throw the political issue into turmoil in Italy and beyond. For other events that happened today in Church History, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
 With Age and Maturity comes understanding
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".
"Some are more sensitive to pain in others, and others are more sensitive to joy in others. It could be that, feeling the need of sympathy ourselves, we play a sympathetic tune on the keyboard of another; but why, it might be asked, since we all wish joy, not share in another's joy? It has been said that it becomes easier to do both as we grow older. One of the heroes of Homer sang: 'Taught by time, my heart has learned to glow
For others' good and weep at others' woe.'"
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