available in full graphics and/or textonly Monday thru Friday on the CATHOLIC-INTERNET NETWORK at http://www.catholic-internet.org See why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!" e-mail: DailyCatholic@catholic-internet.org

     This weekend, even though we are in Easter time and the liturgy is geared for Paschaltide, we celebrate on Sunday DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. For the liturgy, meditations and readings for Friday, Saturday, and Monday, click on LITURGY FOR THE WEEKEND

Friday, April 17: Easter Friday

First Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
Psalms: Psalm 118: 1-2, 4, 22-27
Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-14

Saturday, April 18: Easter Saturday

First Reading: Acts 4: 13-21
Psalms: Psalm 118: 1, 14-21
Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 9-15

Sunday, April 19: Second Sunday of Easter
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16
Psalms: Psalm 118: 1, 2-4, 16-18, 22-24
Second Reading: Revelations/Apocalypse 1: 9-11, 19-31
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-31

Monday, April 20: Easter Weekday

First Reading: Acts 4: 23-31
Psalms: Psalm 2: 1-9
Gospel Reading: John 3: 1-8

     For events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history this weekend, click on ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 17:

858 A.D.


Death of Pope Benedict III, the 104th successor of Peter. He was known as the Pope who was beloved by the people for his virtue. He was the first pontiff who suggested the concept of the Crusades by rallying Christians to fight against the threat of the Saracens.

1172 A.D.


The King of England Edward I makes a historic visit to Glastonbury Abbey on Easter Sunday, making it the first official visit by a monarch to this celebrated monastery of the middle ages.

1492 A.D.


Christopher Columbus is appointed Admiral and Viceroy by the Capitulationes de Santa Fe, which paves the way for him to head the expedition to the new world.

1536 A.D.


The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V challenges the French king Francis I to a personal combat as many bolt from the Church and Pope Paul III intervenes to pacify these Catholic monarchs.

1605 A.D.


Pope Leo XI is crowned as the 232nd supreme pontiff but he would only live for ten days, falling ill and dying while on procession from the Vatican to the Lateran.

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 18:

1506 A.D.


Foundation stone is laid at a celebration overseen by Pope Julius II to begin construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

1521 A.D.


The Diet of Worms in which Holy Roman Emperor Charles V condemns Martin Luther a year after the latter had been excommunicated by Pope Leo X. Luther, a proud man, refuses to repent despite the severe action taken against him.

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 19:

1012 A.D.


Death of Saint Alphege, also Elphege, a Benedictine monk who became the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was martyred for his faith by the Danes.

1054 A.D.


Death of Pope Saint Leo IX, the 152nd successor of Peter. It was Leo who excommunicated Michael Cerularius who became the Eastern Patriarch and caused the great schism between East and West that exists to this day.

1529 A.D.


Eight years after the Diet of Worms by the Holy Roman Emperor a protestation was published against it and from that evolved the term "Protestant."

1127 A.D.


Birth of Saint Felix of Valois, a French hermit who, along with Saint John of Malta would found the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, also known as Trinitarians whose specific mission was to ransom captives from the Moors

Pope lauded for playing pivotal role in Iraq, but frustrated over Mideast stalemate

      As we reported in these pages last month, the UN and Secretary-General Kofi Annan could not have pulled off the agreement with Saddam Hussein if it hadn't been for Pope John Paul II's tireless persistence towards peace and his timely intervention. He would like to do the same in the mideast but the problem is there are too many factions whose resentments run deep. This greatly troubles the supreme pontiff who has been the heads-above-all leaders in striving for peace throughout the world. For more, click on Peace efforts

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- If Pope John Paul II had not intervened, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan might never have made his personal trip to Iraq, during which he concluded an agreement that staved off the threat of new warfare in the Persian Gulf. That was the report of Archbishop Renato Martino, the permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations.

      At a Vatican press conference today, Archbishop Martino said that the Holy Father's influence may have been decisive in persuading Annan to undertake his negotiating mission. The Vatican diplomat said that he had found the UN official very doubtful about the prospects for such a mission, until he received energetic support from the Pope. From that point forward, he said, the Annan mission was fixed on the UN schedule.

      Since returning from his successful trip, Archbishop Martino reported, Annan has often thanked the Holy See's representative for the expression of Vatican support. Annan has said that the power of prayer is often underestimated, and given the Pope credit for making the trip possible.

      In a related story Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the chief foreign-policy official at the Vatican, fears a new setback for peace in the Middle East, and believes that Pope John Paul II cannot visit the Holy Land under current circumstances, because his trip might be interpreted as "sanctioning situations of international injustice."

      In conjunction with a press conference held in Rome to introduce a new book consisting of all Vatican interventions at the United Nations, Archbishop Tauran-- the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States-- told an Italian radio interviewer that he is increasingly worried by the Middle East.

      "The Pope and his collaborators are watching all evolution of the political situation in the Middle East with a great deal of concern," the archbishop said. "Personally, I fear some dramatic developments." He went on to say that frustrations were building among both Palestinians and Israelis, who are impatient for some concrete results. "There is a danger that those frustrations will produce irrational reactions," he observed.

      Asked whether the Holy Father is likely to fulfill his ambition to visit the Holy Land during the year 2000, Archbishop Tauran said that question posed "a great dilemma." By going to the Middle East, he said, the Pope could act as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. On the other hand, his appearance there might be taken to signal approval for the current political situation-- which the Holy See considers unacceptable. For that reason, the archbishop said, at the moment such a trip would be impossible. "Two years from now, we will see what has developed," he concluded.

Franciscan Croatian monastery target of abuse by Serbian extremists in Bosnia

      Anti-Catholic extremists from Serbia stole into Vukovar, Bosnia and desecrated the Franciscan monastery church of Saints Philip and Jacob, plastering the walls with hate grafitti. Few were surprised the Serbs chose this church and village for it represents the one area where the Croats held despite heavy damage by the Serbs. It was a setback in the hopeful reconstruction of a country ravaged by civil war. For more, click on Serb Attack.

      VUKOVAR, Bosnia (CWNews.com) - "Death to the Pope and Tudjman" read newly painted graffiti on the pavement in front of the Croatian Ss. Phillip and Jacob Catholic church at the Franciscan monastery in Vukovar, Bosnia, referring to Pope John Paul II and Bosnian President Alfredo Tudjman, as Serbian extremists took steps to intimidate returning refugees.

      Other vandalism included damage to the tomb of the family of Count Eltz with the bodies being desecrated and more graffiti painted on the walls inside the church, explicitly warning Croats not to offend Serbians. Local police have started an investigation, but no suspects have yet been identified, but said Serbian extremists are the top suspects. Franciscan friar Brother Ante Perkovic said the tomb has been tampered with before.

      The church itself was heavily damaged during fighting between Serbs and Croats in 1991, and while it is not in regular use, it has received pilgrims everyday since mid-January when the eastern part of Croatia was handed over under full Croatian sovereignty, previously being governed by the UN. The church in Vukovar was a well-chosen target because Vukovar symbolizes Croatian resistance to Serbians, and was the most heavily damaged Croatian town during the civil war.

      The Independent Democratic Serbian Party and Common Council of Enclaves from Eastern Croatia issued a joint statement condemning the desecration, stating: "It is obviously another in the series of horrific events, which is ... a direct attack on everything done in accomplished for establishing trust and inter-ethnic tolerance." The Serbian party said the attack was "a premeditated action of extremists which, no matter their ethnicity, deserve condemnation by all wanting to create a normal life for the region."

Persecutions of Catholics continue in China despite government denials

      Less than a month since a United States delegation of clergy toured China to determine if there was any religious persecution, China has taken off the mask and revealed themselves for the monster they are, detaining two Catholic priests from the underground Roman Catholic Church there. It is a direct contradiction to China's announced intent to resolve religious and civil rights which has come into serious question. For more, click on China persecution to read more.

      BEIJING (CWNews.com) - Two Catholics priests have been detained by Chinese Communist authorities in a northern province, according to a US-based Catholic group on Thursday.

      Father Shi Wende was arrested on March 14 and Father Lu Genyou was detained on April 5, both while they were preparing to celebrate Mass in private homes, the Cardinal Kung Foundation of Stamford, Connecticut announced. The priests were members of the underground Catholic Church which remains loyal to the papacy and the doctrines of the Church. China's Communist government only allows the practice of the faith according to the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association which eschews contact with the Church Universal and Catholic doctrines. Members of underground churches have been sentenced to long terms in prison or labor camps, often without due process or trial.

      Local officials in Hebei province denied any knowledge of the arrests, but the foundation said the two cases were "signs of irrefutable continuous religious persecution" in China. The group said the arrests called into question China's commitment to a dialogue with the United States on religious freedom, and its resolve to implement the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Poll predicts victory for peace agreement in Ireland on May 22

     With the vote on the recently ironed-out peace accord for Northern Ireland just over a month away, a poll released late this week shows a majority seventy-three percent in Northern Ireland and sixty-one percent of the Irish Republic indicate they will vote "yes" to the agreement hammered out at the eleventh hour last week. Despite opposition from extremist factions on both sides, authors and participants of the peace accord voiced optimism. For more, click on Poll for peace to read more.

      BELFAST (CWNews.com) - A majority of pro-republican Catholics and pro-unionist Protestants in Northern Ireland plan to vote in favor of an historic peace agreement that would try to end decades of violence in elections in May, according to polls published on Thursday.

      The first opinion polls after the agreement was reached during multi-party peace talks on Good Friday show that 73 percent of voters in Northern Ireland and 61 percent in the Irish Republic plan to vote "yes" on May 22. The survey commissioned by the Irish Times of Dublin also said 56 percent of people in Northern Ireland saw the agreement as having a reasonable chance of bringing a lasting peace.

      David Trimble of the Ulster Unionist Party, the largest pro-British party in the province, said he planned to campaign for approval of the plan despite efforts by extremists on both sides to scuttle the accord. Trimble said a decision by the Orange Order, a Protestant traditionalist group, not to support the deal for now did not necessarily represent a blow to hopes for its approval in the referendum. "This is not a rejection," he said on Wednesday after the Orange Order movement asked for clarification of the accord, especially on plans to release guerrilla prisoners early and reform the overwhelmingly Protestant police force.

Featured is the Eighth and Ninth Days of the NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY.

     We complete the Novena of Divine Mercy with the Eighth and Ninth Days before DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY this weekend. This Novena was imparted to Blessed Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun of the 1930's who is known as the "Apostle of Mercy."

For the eighth day of the Novena and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click onDIVINE MERCY NOVENA

EIGHTH DAY OF THE NOVENA OF DIVINE MERCY: Easter Friday, April 17, 1998

"Today bring Me the souls who are detained in Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My Mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My Justice. It is in Your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My Justice."

     Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your Justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your Mercy may be celebrated.

      Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your Mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

It is greatly recommended the above novena intentions and prayers be said together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.