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     For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on TIME CAPSULES: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Historical Events in Church Annals for August 6:

Feast of the Transfiguration

258 A.D.


Death of Pope Saint Sixtus II, 24th successor of Peter who died of martyrdom at the hands of the Roman Emperor Valerian. During his one year pontificate he effected the translation of the mortal remains of Satint Peter and Saint Paul and introduced the Latin exclamation "Deo Gratias." Though he died on this day, his feast day is celebrated the next day.

1221 A.D.


Death of Saint Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans. Born in Calaruega, Spain, it was Dominic to whom the Blessed Mother bestowed the Rosary. He dedicated his life and order to fighting the heresy of Albigensianism. Canonized in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX. Though he also died on this day, his feast day is celebrated the day after next on August 8th.

1459 A.D.


Death of Pope Calixtus III, 209th successor of Peter. Born in Jativa, Spain, his three year papacy is known for ordering the universal ringing of the bells for the Angelus at noon every day and for instituting the feast of the Transfiguration which we celebrate today. He also brought about the growth of the faith to Scandinavia.

1993 A.D.


Pope John Paul II releases his tenth encyclical on the fundamental questions on the Church's moral teachings called Veritatis Splendor - "The Splendor of Truth.

For second week in a row Holy Father mourns murder of another religious

     Commuting by helicopter from his summer residence outside of Rome, the Pope returned to the Vatican for his weekly Wednesday audience yesterday continuing his treatise on the Holy Spirit and, for the second week in a row, publicly lamenting the loss of another religious - this a priest from Haiti who was shot to death Monday. For more, click on Weekly Audience.

      VATICAN CITY (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II on Wednesday prayed for a Haitian priest shot dead on Monday as the latest in a series of violence in the poor island nation.

      "Faced with a new, awful episode of violence, I urge you to pray for God to welcome our brother into his kingdom and support the dear nation of Haiti and all of humanity in the quest for respect of every human life," he said. Father Jean Pierre Louis, 50, was shot twice in broad daylight as he left his car in the business district in Port-au-Prince on Monday. He died a few minutes after he was taken to hospital.

Knights pledge their loyalty to the Pope at Annual Convention

      The Knights of Columbus, the largest fraternal organization in the Catholic Church and one of the last great loyal bastions of the Church pledged their loyalty to the Holy Father and joined with him in opposing same-sex unions, assisted suicide and, of course, abortion. The gathering of 2000 delegates from councils mainly in North America as well as the Philippines and other areas are headed by Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant who read the Pope's special message to them. For more, click on Knights of Columbus.

      CINCINNATI (CWNews.com) - The Knights of Columbus opened their 116th annual convention on Tuesday by stating their opposition to same-sex marriages, assisted suicide, and abortion, and declaring their fidelity to the Church, the papacy, and magisterium.

      The meeting, which runs until Thursday, gathers about 2,000 men representing local councils from around the world. Pope John Paul II sent a greeting to Knights, urging them to become even better examples of Christian hope and joy in their families, workplaces, and society as a whole.

      The Knights of Columbus are the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world with 1.6 million members. It was founded in 1882 as an aid society for widows and orphans and now donates approximately $110 million to charities and volunteers 50 million hours of service. More than 70 cardinals, archbishops, and bishops from the United States, Canada, and the Vatican curia attended Tuesday's opening Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati.

Mayor asserts that Rome will be ready for Jubilee 2000

      The scaffolding that covers so many monuments and ancient edifices, the bulldozers and cranes that crowd the city would indicate Rome will never be ready on time for the planned year-long celebration of the year 2000 when Rome will become a focal point, but the mayor of the eternal city Francesco Rutelli has assured the citizens that the city will be ready on time and be equipped sufficiently to handle the massive influx of tourists that will flood the city in 2000. For more, click on Jubilee in Rome .

      ROME (CWNews.com) - The mayor of Rome on Tuesday assured all Romans that the city will be prepared for the expected influx of millions of visitors during Jubilee Year, 2000.

      "There will be no apocalypse," Francesco Rutelli said. The mayor's comment came as officials presented a report on trends in tourism for 2000. The report says about 40 percent more visitors than normal, about 26 million people, can be expected during that year. Rutelli said the city can cope with the influx and is mainly concerned with people who will show up without booking hotels in advance.

      The city has already started many massive construction projects in anticipation, although several have been cancelled due to insufficient funding or time, including a proposed new subway line to St. Peter's Square.

House Panel passes pro-life bill to limit assisted suicide by doctors

     Members of a House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that will greatly prohibit medical doctors from assisting patients with suicide. The measure, which upholds the culture of life, was sponsored by Republican congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois. The measure, immediately attacked by Democrats on the grounds doctors would be handcuffed in prescribing proper prescriptions, will be applicable to all states except for Oregon - the only state where assisted suicide is legal - for now. It could spur a mass exodus of suicide assisted physicians from their own states in order to set up shop in the beaver state. For more, click on Assisted Suicide Ban.

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWNews.com) - A House panel on Tuesday approved a bill that would limit doctors' opportunity to commit assisted suicide, even in places where it is legal such as Oregon.

      The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill sponsored by committee chairman Henry Hyde, R-Illinois, which prohibits the dispensing or distribution of federally regulated drugs for the purpose of assisting suicide. Violators could lose their license to prescribe federally regulated drugs and could face criminal prosecution.

      "I am concerned about old people who don't want to be a burden on their families," said Hyde before sending the bill for a vote by the full House. Democrat opponents argued that the bill will discourage doctors from prescribing adequate medication. Even if the bill is signed into law, the Justice Department has already said it would not pursue doctors who commit assisted suicide where it is legal, including Oregon which is the only state where the practice is allowed.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

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PROVERB OF THE DAY

"Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools."

Proverbs 26: 9

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August 6, 1998 volume 9, no. 153   DAILY CATHOLIC