THIS IS DIVINE MERCY WEEKEND

      This is a special weekend for those devoted to the devotions of Divine Mercy for it is the unofficial feast of Divine Mercy Sunday as promoted by Pope John Paul II who has been very close to the Divine Mercy scene all his life from growing up in Poland at the same time as Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska who received the devotion and a diary on Divine Mercy ("Divine Mercy in my soul") from Our Lord. This issue is dedicated to Divine Mercy with a special background on the devotion and on Blessed Faustina. Click on DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY.

     We permanently move our weekly SIGNIFICANT SITE OF THE WEEK to the weekend with this issue, reviewing two superb sites dedicated to the devotion of Divine Mercy. They are the Marians of the Immaculate Conception web site which is the official National Shrine of Divine Mercy, and the contemplative, cloistered Institute of Divine Mercy dedicated to fulfilling the prophesy imparted to Blessed Faustina in calling Divine Mercy down upon the world through a life of prayer and sacrifice. These are the two sites we review this weekend and award the "Golden Chalice Award" to, a departure from our normal procedure of reviewing just one site, but because of the occasion both are worthy recipients. Click on SIGNIFICANT SITES OF THE WEEK

     In this weekend's editorial we go to the power source, to that which fuels our faith and lights our way in a world of darkness. Divine Mercy is that source and we tap in to it with our commentary Divine Mercy is the backup generator in a blacked-out world! Click here for this weekend's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     We ask that in a reverent manner for that is what Sister Mary Lucy Astuto focuses on the time immediately after Christ's Resurrection through that evening on the Road to Emmaus. She points out that Jesus, Who knew all, went along with the finite nature of those He was with, pretending not to be the Son of God until the time was expedient. For her column, JESUS PRETENDED, click on GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

     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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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Medjugorje Monthly Message for March 25th

   Dear children! Also today I call you to fasting and renunciation. Little children, renounce that which hinders you from being closer to Jesus. In a special way I call you: Pray, because only through prayer will you be able to overcome your will and discover the will of God even in the smallest things. By your daily life, little children, you will become an example and witness that you live for Jesus or against Him and His will. Little children, I desire that you become apostles of love. By loving, little children, it will be recognized that you are mine. Thank you for having responded to my call. For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives

April 16, 1998 volume 9, no. 74          DAILY CATHOLIC