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The flame burns brighter!

      In today's editorial we commemorate the beginning of February as "Catholic Press Month" and welcome a new, potent player on the evangelization scene - the Catholic Radio Network with the potential to reach fifty million listeners in seven major markets. Two stations cover the second and largest markets in the country. It is important we all work together to promote this endeavor and urge others to listen for word of mouth is the great media marvel and from this Catholic mouthpiece comes the truth, ever burning bright as we also at the DAILY CATHOLIC continue to promote the flame of truth. For today's commentary entitled The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help us, God!, click on CATHOLIC PewPOINT.

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
So help us, God!

      February is traditionally "Catholic Press Month" and this year and, on this day we celebrate when the Light of Truth - Jesus Christ was presented in the Temple by His parents Mary and Joseph as Jewish law prescribed, we have reason to be encouraged for the Catholic media is making inroads. First of all, there is EWTN which is ever expanding. Thanks to the expert and inspired guidance of derring-do Mother Angelica and the generosity of millions in supporting Catholic television, her audience is gaining worldwide. The Eternal Word Television Network used the occasion last week with the Holy Father in Mexico to launch its Spanish station that should be well received and more than double viewership globally.

      Complementing Mother's evangelization is a new venture that was launched late last year that many aren't even aware of - the Catholic Radio Network. Unlike Mother's non-profit endeavor, this is a commercial commitment. Headed by a group of committed Catholic professionals, CRN presently has seven AM stations in major markets across the United States including Los Angeles at KPLS 830 AM on the radio dial, Chicago at WAUR 930 AM, Philadelphia at WPWA 1590 AM, Minneapolis at WWTC 1280 AM, Denver at 1340 KKYD AM, Kansas City at KCNW 1380 AM and Milwaukee at WZER 540 AM. The last is quite a surprise considering Archbishop Rembert Weakland's excessive fear of orthodox media in his see. He is one of Mother Angelica's most outspoken critics...and Mother keeps an eye and ear on everything he does as well. The amazing thing is that this seven-station network ever got off the ground in the first place for they did not have the NCCB backing them. That is sad because it is just what the Bishops need. Yet there are those who are so bent on launching their own network that has been in the works for nearly a decade with nothing concrete as of yet, that they diss anything else. We all need to be unified in this work of evangelization. Spearheaded by Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., the moving force behind the orthodox Ignatius Press, the Catholic Radio Network has recruited capable backers as well as a Board of Directors that reads like a who's who of influential traditional Catholics: Ralph Martin of Renewal Ministries; Fran Maier who serves as the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Denver under the expert guidance of probably the most up-and-coming influential prelate in America - Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap; and Terry Barber who heads up St. Joseph Communication, to name just a few.

      They were wise in their selection of an Executive Manager, selecting John Lynch who has over twenty-years experience in the business managing powerhouse radio stations to the top of the Arbitron ratings. He comes from cradle Catholic roots in the east. He cut his teeth in radio while still playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL in the sixties. That blood-line, by the way, produced a son John Jr. an outstanding safety on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lynch Sr. gained his fame in Chicago and then in San Diego at KFMB Radio where he, along with Paul Palmer from Chicago, took a so-so station that was sixteenth in the market and, within a year and a half in the early seventies, had catapulted it to number one in the market where it has remained near the top for over twenty-five years. He did the same for XTRA Radio in Southern California. His trademark has always been entertaining, informing radio that is fit for the entire family. In fact, it was Lynch who persuaded Palmer - better known for decades in San Diego circles as "Colonel Kuffmubb" - to hire a young Catholic disc jockey out of Houston in the late seventies. His name was Joe Bauer, who this editor attended the College of St. Thomas with in the mid sixties. To this day Joe remains one of the strongest media forces on the air in San Diego and has always upheld the Catholic ideals, not afraid to speak out against abortion and other moral indecencies that plague this world. He has been one of the strongest promoters of the St. Vincent de Paul Center, a homeless shelter run by super-salespriest Father Joe Carroll in downtown San Diego who has raised millions for the poor. It is our fondest wish that both Joes will lend their voices and influence to CRN for Catholic Radio Network is based in La Jolla just a few miles from where Joe Bauer and John Lynch currently live. We do know that another influential voice has just signed on - former California Attorney General and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Dan Lungren. This is the same man whom we wrote about so glowingly last fall in this column for his no-nonsense, totally Catholic stance on all issues. Naturally he was defeated by the culture of death advocates who tried to turn these virtuous strengths into weakness in the eyes of the voters. Sadly, satan was able to blind them. But, California's loss is CRN's gain. He has experience as a talk-show host and should add a great deal.

      CRN estimates that being in the above major markets they will be able to reach an audience of 50 million listeners. That's impressive. Their target-audience is not necessarily the committed Catholics, but the cafeteria Catholics, the fallen-away Catholics, modernist Catholics and non-Catholics who are searching, realizing their own faith doesn't offer the "entire package" so to speak. They're not going to pattern their programming on the Baptist Bible Belt syndrome where preachers blare and shout, but rather on the highly successful talk radio format, tackling all the problems that concern all citizens from economics to politics, from family to alternative lifestyles that have depleted our moral fiber, from foreign policy to care for the poor, downtrodden and sick...all from a solidly Catholic perspective. Those who want to help contribute to this ambitious endeavor, can send a tax-exempt donation to Ignatius Press, Catholic Media Productions, 2515 McAllister St., San Francisco, CA 94118. If Mother is willing to share the airwaves, shouldn't the bishops and all Catholics as well?

      In print we have many fine publications but, too often, many Diocesan papers have been commandeered by editors and staff who propose a more liberal platform and add to the confusion of the faithful as to what the Holy Father is saying. There are several excellent publications out there, most notably The Catholic World Report published by Ignatius Press, the Oxford Review, the National Catholic Register (not to be confused with the ultra-liberal National Catholic Reporter out of Kansas City), Our Sunday Visitor, and Catholic Twin Circle. There is also The Wanderer which has some excellent articles but, too often, seems to be as far to the right as the National Catholic Reporter is to the left. Other than these weekly newspapers and the weekly and bi-weekly Diocesan house organs, there is little else. There are a plethora of magazines out there but other than the Knights of Columbus Columbia magazine, the Catholic Digest and St. Anthony's Messenger there are none with a solid circulation or a regular impact. There are more and more newsletters being published, many excellent ones and many on Medjugorje and Marian-oriented periodicals from high gloss to mimeographed. Unlike the secular world, however, there is none with the regularity that the DAILY CATHOLIC offers.

      In our ninth year of publishing, the DAILY CATHOLIC is in its second year on the web and showing tremendous growth. Last January we were ecstatic with the statistics that showed we had 102,905 visits to our pages. The 1999 figures more than doubled that with 265,335 total visits. That's over a quarter of a million in just one month! For a very small ministry that's no small potatoes and we give all credit to God. This is not our work but His and we serve only as His instruments. It is proof that no matter how many times, through our inept humanness, we get in His way, He clears the path for others to be reached. More evidence that, if it is of God then it will grow and no amount of resistance can prevent His work - even the Y2K bug! Rather than sitting on our rusty laurels, we want to reinforce "Catholic Press Month" by rededicating our efforts of bringing readers the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! So help us, God!

Michael Cain, editor

The fizzure in the Great Schism of the West grows deeper as Pope Innocent VII incenses the faithful with his political obsessions while forsaking a pastoral presence

      Rather than following in the footsteps of Saint Peter as his fellow cardinals had expected when they elected him, Pope Innocent VII followed the bad example of his two predecessors. The results were catastrophic for the Church and set in motion the beginning of the Protestant Reformation a century before it would actually come to a head. The Papal States were in disarray and the Church was split - one antipope in Avignon, the other in Italy where unrest and insurrection fed fuel to the fire of the people's mistrust for a man who condoned his nephew's murders. The beginning of the fifteenth century was truly a time of anarchy and whatever prestige the Popes had gained after their return from Avigon Exile was waning fast. For the ninety-first installment titled Pope Innocent VII: The Pope and the Riddle that riddled Europe: When is a murder not a murder? , click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH.

Pope Innocent VII: The Pope and the Riddle that riddled Europe: When is a murder not a murder?

      With the death of Pope Boniface IX, whose papacy started like dynamite and ended with a fizzle, the Sacred Conclave was handed a difficult task: try to find someone to reignite the spark. They did not have the benefit of history to look back in retrospect on their choice, nor, we suspect, did they truly depend on the Holy Spirit to guide them. Nevertheless, they chose Cardinal Cosimo de' Migliorati as the 204th successor of Peter. He took the name Pope Innocent VII. He had his work cut out for him for when last we left Boniface IX before he died he was waiting for Benedict XIII, the Avignon antipope who had requested a meeting with the Roman pontiff. Due to Boniface's untimely death, that never took place. Though Innocent had agreed in conclave with the rest that whoever was elected would do all in their power to end the Great Schism of the West, for some reason he delayed the meeting with Benedict XIII who had landed at Genoa waiting to be safely conducted to Rome. This delay was due to the fact that his election had not been received as well as he might have thought by the Italians who felt Innocent VII was merely a carbon copy of Boniface. They were right. Though Innocent had a reputation for being a man of stern morals and and austere lifestyle as well as his legal expertise as a papal jurist, his political savvy was on the low rung of the ladder. Thus the people started to riot all over again. Innocent called on the protection and forces of Ladislas, king of Naples, to put down the insurrection and try to exact peace through a peace treaty. Innocent's price was the demand from Ladislaus that he not meet with Benedict XIII. Because Innocent had painted himself into a corner, he showed from the outset that he would be weak like Boniface and this did not set well with the people or the curia for that matter.

      Innocent was loyal to a fault. While he had kept his part of the bargain with Ladislaus, the latter had not kept his promise. Instead he saddled Innocent with more terms that truly incensed the people. Though they were not enamored with Innocent, they were even less taken with Ladislaus and greatly feared him. This accelerated when Ladislaus seized Castel Sant'Angelo. Ladislas was firmly entrenched in Rome by now and the people demanded Innocent excommunicate the Neopolitan monarch. Innocent again was painted into a corner and thus issued the interdict before Ladislaus had withdrawn his forces from the papal property. Ladislaus surprised many by agreeing to Innocent's terms this time in return for lifting the interdict. He groveled to the Pope and Innocent recanted, and surprised even more by naming Ladislaus defender and standard bearer of the Church. The populace was in a quandary. All of this political meandering had one effect on the Church - it stopped any progress spiritually throughout Christendom. It also opened the door for dissent that would truly raise its ugly head a century later. Meanwhile, the Great Schism was no closer to being solved than when it started. Even though Innocent had had grandiose plans to restore the Roman University as well as ambitions to concentrate on missions to foreign lands, he was so embroiled in the Italian "polls" and the problems with Ladislas that any chance of abdication by Benedict went out the window when he was spurned after offering to meet. He returned to Avignon incensed for he did not recognize Ladislaus' authority in Naples.

      Part of Innocent's downfall was the fact that he did not practice what he preached. His nephew Dudovico Migliorati, in trying to help his uncle, turned vigilante and had eleven of the insurrectionists murdered. Innocent was a jurist himself and knew the law, but rather than bringing his nephew to justice and doing the right thing, he pardoned him. This did not set well with the populace who stormed the Vatican forcing him to flee to Viturbo. From that point on he lost all credibility with the Italian people and quickly word spread. All of Europe was riddled by his nepotism and kowtowing to politically correct rather than morally correct. He was truly a liability in the Church and God could see the damage being done to the faithful, some of whom had either abandoned their faith in frustration or thrown their support behind Benedict XIII. Thus the Almighty mercifully cut short Innocent's papacy on November 6, 1406, just over two years after he had become Pope.

      It would be left to his successor Pope Gregory XII to try to clean up the mess as the Church fell further into disarray as we shall see in the next installment: Pope Gregory XII The beginning of the end of the schism.

CATHOLIC CANVAS:
Daily Dose of curious contents of the Church

      Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord which is also the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary which, according to Jewish law, a mother had to be purified after a forty-day period of recovery from giving birth to a male, eighty-days for a female child. Not only was the child presented in the temple to the high priests at this time, but the mother was to bring a gift to the temple. This was set out in Leviticus 12: 8, in which the mother was to present either a lamb, two pigeons or two turtledoves in atonement. Once presented and blessed, she would be made clean again. In this case the Mother of God brought two turtledoves representing purity. Candlemas evolved from the practice of blessing the candles and lighting them in procession, the flame, of course, symbolizing Jesus Christ, the Light of the World whom Simeon called a "light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for Thy people Israel" (Luke 2: 32). Candles are an enduring prayer, used in much the same manner as holy water and serve to raise their flickering, hopeful appeal to Heaven on behalf of the one holding the candle in prayer. The Feast of Candlemas began around the early sixth century. It was Pope Sergius I who first introduced the procession into the liturgy, yet it wasn't until the 1200's when it was truly celebrated universally. The candles must be made of beeswax and the antiphon sung during the procession is the "Canticle of Simeon." The candles are used the next day, crossed and placed on the throat in memory of Saint Blase who cured a child of choking. (sources: My Catholic Faith, My Mission House, The Glories and Triumphs of the Catholic Church, Benziger Brothers; Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon, SJ, Doubleday).

      The Blessed Virgin Mary's words above in Message 376 were imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart on the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in 1993. In that message and the one preceding it a day before Our Lady reinforces the protective nature of the scapular and warns that those who do not seek her Divine Son as a Refuge will perish for events are coming that will manifest both the undeniable existence of God above all. It will also usher in the rage of satan, desperate for souls. For Message #375 and #376, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages Three Hundred-Seventy-five and Three Hundred-Seventy-six

      Beloved Hidden Flower, I am with you. Say now to all of my little ones: Behold the signs given unto you as a warning from the Most Holy Trinity. On every continent there occur natural disasters. These disasters are permitted by God, Who is the Creator and Ruler of all. Behold, these disasters strike even the innocent, whose prayers are winning many souls back into the Light of True Faith, my Divine Son.

      I, your heavenly Mother, do solemnly tell you that what you see now is but the beginning. Many, many disasters of every kind shall befall the world. And still mankind will not repent.

      Behold, I solemnly tell you that man-made disasters shall occur simultaneously with natural disasters. Soon there shall be the economic collapse, which shall give rise to the one world government, one world economy and one world religion, over which the evil one, the antichrist shall reign.

      I call all again to conversion of heart. I call all to Refuge, first within my Divine Son's Sacred Heart and secondly, to places of refuge which God desires for His faithful ones.

      O! Pray! Pray as you have never before prayed and prostrate yourselves before the Blessed Sacrament. Be a holy people, called in obedience and littleness. Then shall God permit my Immaculate Heart to triumph sooner.

      Pray and make sacrifice that Divine Justice shall be swift and merciful.

      Believe and be steadfast. Give all honor and reverence to my Son, and believe that Holy Mass is a True Sacrifice. Then shall you be firm and the light of faith shall grow stronger in you.

      I love you. Please heed your Sorrowful Mother's words, for I come as a loving Mother to lead all to my Divine Son. Fear nothing. Trust fully in God. Thank you for responding to my Call!

      Beloved Hidden Flower, how I love you. Yes, you must say to all of my children that I, their Mother weep because of the lukewarmness which covers their souls and prevents them from shining as brilliant beacons unto the ends of the world.

      Little children, the dragon, the evil one who is written about in Sacred Scripture is now engulfing all of mankind. With his legions he suffocates the life out of you. He gives you false promises and the glitter of worldly goods, and how eagerly you exchange the brilliance of your immortal soul for a few tawdry pleasures.

      On this day which celebrates my feast of Carmel, I come to beseech all who would persevere to be garbed in the scapular. Yes, you may wear the small ones for now, but the moment is soon to come when all who are my faithful ones shall cloth themselves in the full length scapular. You should wear it and over it place the crucifix - the Sign of your commitment. These scapulars are a sign, but also a shield, for satan cannot penetrate where my little ones are clothed in humility and obedience.

      I solemnly tell you God already permits many disasters to visit mankind. He allows these as signs that all men must come back to Him, and give unto Him the true homage He is due.

      Therefore, consecrate yourselves to my Son's Sacred Heart through my Immaculate Heart, and love my Divine Son. I solemnly tell you that the present signs shall only worsen, leading to full economic collapse if mankind does not repent. The signs shall grow in number and strength. Man will find himself in a fierce battle of man against man. All of this is satan's plot to bring about a one world economy, a one world government, a one world religion. The True Faith shall be driven underground.

      Pray! Pray and ask God to permit my Heart to triumph now! Be fervent and ever vigilant. Let all those who are consecrated wear again the holy habit, and return to the true form of religious life. Let each one of you be a Eucharistic Tabernacle by worthily receiving my Divine Son. If you are not humble and obedient, you cannot receive Him worthily.

      Pray very much for my beloved son Pope John Paul II, who is already a martyr for the love of my Divine Son. Read Sacred Scripture. Read Revelation. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you. Then it shall be made clear to you the times in which you live.

      Above all, fear nothing but trust in God completely. He alone suffices. I love and bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!

Events Today in Church History

      On this date in 1983, Pope John Paul II held his second Consistory, bestowing the Cardinalate on thirteen bishops, most notable was Cardinal Franjo Kuharic of Croatia, the Columbian prelate Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo and Cardinal Carlo Martini, Archbishop of Milan and the modernists' darling who they tout for the next Pope. This was the second of seven Consistories our Polish Pontiff has called, elevating 127 to the rank of red-hat, with his largest Consistory being on May 25, 1985. For other pertinent events that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for February 2:

• 1 A.D.
  
• Presentation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the temple as was prescsribed by Jewish Law on the thirty-third day after a child's birth. For more, see DAILY LITURGY .

• 304 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Apronian, who was a Roman executioner until he saw the fervent courage of those whose heads he was decapitating. As he accompanied Saint Sisinnius to the court, he dropped to his knees and wept, asking to become a Christian and was immediately put to death.

• 880 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Bruno, Duke, Saint Marquard, Bishop and the Martyrs of Ebsdorf who were slaughtered while leading the troops of King Louis III against the Viking heathens.

• 1119 A.D.
  
• Cardinal Guido di Borgogna becomes Pope Callixtus II, 162nd successor of Peter. This Burgundy-born pontiff would serve five years, during which an agreement would be reached at Worms which would recognize the Pope's right to nominate bishops in the great Concordat of Worms that cleared up the Investiture issue. He would also call the Ninth Ecumenical Council at the Lateran in 1123 as well as call for the 2nd Crusade.

• 1769 A.D.
  
• Death of Pope Clement XIII, 248th successor of Peter. The one-year pontificate of this Venetian Pope was taken up with facing the problems created by the spread of Rationalism. He was of a rather rigid nature who tended to be faithful to conservative ideas and therefore was not very popular in some Catholic countries, especially France, where Rationalism was taking a strong hold. He died mysteriously on this date 230 years ago.

• 1854 A.D.
  
• Pope Pius IX publishes his tenth encyclical Neminem vestrum dealing with the persecution of the Armenians, aimed at the clergy and faithful of Constantinople.

• 1861 A.D.
  
• Death of Saint Theophane Venard, a French missionary priest who was killed in Tonkin, Vietnam after being tortured for a year in a compact bamboo cage with very little food and drink and terrible sanitary conditions.

• 1906 A.D.
  
• Pope Saint Pius X releases his second of many encyclicals he would write on the Blessed Mother. His first on this date was Ad diem illum laetissiumum on the Immaculate Conception.

• 1983 A.D.
  
• Pope John Paul II holds his second Consistory, elevating eighteen to the Cardinalate.

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February 2, 1999 volume 10, no. 22   DAILY CATHOLIC