Front Page TEXT for Today's Issue

FRIDAY-SATURDAY-SUNDAY February 13-15, 1998 Vol. 9, no. 32 The "USA Today for CATHOLICS!" at http://www.catholic-internet.org To print out entire text of Today's issue, go to SECTION ONE and SECTION TWO

     This weekend young lovers and old ones as well, plus countless boys and girls will celebrate Valentines Day with the generous exchange of gifts and cards signifying their affection for each other. Before we begin getting carried away with the material things connected with this holiday, why don't we think of where it all started. No, not through Saint Valentine but with his and our Creator - Almighty God Who gave us all breath so that we could live in the heart as Our Lady urges and Father Stephen Valenta, OFM Conv. stresses in his weekly column here. But too often we depend on the mind to rule rather than our hearts. Let us take this occasion to send our Valentine to Jesus and let Him know He is our one-True Love in the sense that all we have is from Him and should be given back to Him by living in total compliance with God's Will. When we do that, the heart rules and the Holy Spirit - the "Dove of Love" can penetrate hardened hearts and soften them to reach out to others in real love, not the psuedo "love" perpetuated by the makers of myth - advertisers and the media who have turned Valentines Day back to the pagan feast it originally was when it was celebrated in ancient Rome as Februata Juno.

Love for Jesus is exemplified in so many ways and He has returned that love a trillion-fold with the gift of Himself in the Holy Eucharist. He has also given us a special present in the Shroud of Turin which has survived the most recent tragedy that almost destroyed the precious cloth believed to be the shroud Christ was wrapped in when He was placed in the sepulchre. Sister Mary Lucy Astuto believes it is and she shares her joy in her column today, entitled "The Shroud of Turin Survives!". Click on GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

     Today there is little trace of Saint Valentine, the third century priest who was martyred for the faith. You don't hear of him in the plethora of ads for Valentines Day and you don't hear of him anymore in the Church liturgy for he has been "downsized." For this weekend's commentary on this, entitled "Saint Valentine - out of sight, out of mind!" Click on This weekend's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     Obedience to the Pope is paramount to all Catholics whether they be cardinals, bishops, priests, religious or laity. The Church has said so and it has been reaffirmed by the Second Vatican II Council as we point out in today's retort to the liberal naysayers who claim we don't have to be obedient to the Holy Father. Wrong! If you're not obedient, suffer the consequences that those in history have faced: excommunication and breakaway sects not in union with Rome. For today's rebuttal to the modernists from the source's mouth - the Vatican II documents on "The Church as Hierarchical", click on VATICAN II VERIFICATIONS

     Friday, Sunday and Monday are all devoted to Ordinary Time, but Saturday is the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, two saints who have replaced Saint Valentine on "his day." Nevertheless, it is not these saints' fault and therefore it is time to pay them reverence in the liturgy Saturday as well as the liturgy for the weekend. Click on LITURGY OF THE DAY

     O senseless people and unbelieving in heart, to lie buried so deep in earthly things, as to relish nothing but what is carnal! Miserable men! Yet a while, and in the end they will feel bitterly what a worthless thing and nothing it was that they have been loving.

      Dear children! Today again I call all of you to prayer. Only with prayer, dear children, will your heart change, become better, and be more sensitive to the Word of God. Little children, do not permit satan to pull you apart and to do with you what he wants. I call you to be responsible and determined and to consecrate each day to God in prayer. May Holy Mass, little children, not be a habit for you, but life. By living Holy Mass each day, you will feel the need for holiness and you will grow in holiness. I am close to you and intercede before God for each of you, so that He may give you strength to change your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call! For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

HEADLINES:

Fruits of Holy Father's efforts paying dividends

      The Vatican announced that some of the Cuban political prisoners, whom Pope John Paul II crusaded to be released while in Cuba, have been freed by the Castro regime. On the heels of this announcement comes word that the Holy Father has been selected as one of a plethora of candidates to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in December of this year. He is truly the only international leader who deserves such recognition, despite the list of many other leaders - including Clinton - who are on the list of eligibles which seemingly waters down the award. Click on Papal Fruits to read more.

China insists the Vatican should establish diplomatic relations with Beijing

      Playing hardball politics, leaders of the Communist regime in mainland China told the U.S. fact-finding delegation on human rights and religious freedom that China's position might change if the Vatican will cut-off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, whom China does not recognize, and establish communications with Beijing. We doubt the Holy See will do this since John Paul II has always been fair and will not compromise no matter the hollow promises Red China purports. Click on Red China demands to read more.

Dallas Diocese still embroiled in settlements over Kos case

     The Diocese of Dallas isn't out of the woods yet as they settled one suit for five million while still facing the appeal on the 119.5 million the court awarded to the plaintiffs last summer in the Rudolph Kos case for pedophile. The Diocese has been greatly depleted of funds with the latest audit released last month revealing they only have one and a half million in its coffers and may have to declare bankruptcy unless they win the appeal. If they don't, it would be the first diocese in history to go belly-up though they have taken great precaution to separate parishes from the diocese so they will not be touched. Click on Dallas to read more.

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

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February 13-15, 1998 volume 9, no. 32          DAILY CATHOLIC