TEXT for Today's Front Page

FRIDAY-SATURDAY-SUNDAY February 27 - March 1, 1998 Vol. 9, no. 42 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

     The first weekend of Lent is rich in the tie-in of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. To bridge this and introduce the New Law of the New Testament the Messiah gave His only life, willing to suffer all for all mankind. For the readings of the next four days, meditations and liturgy, click on LITURGY OF THE WEEKEND

     As we commemorate the first weekend of Lent, the ashes have faded but hopefully not our Lenten resolutions. In her column today Sister Mary Lucy Astuto gets to the heart of the matter in regards this with her article entitled Think Often of His Sufferings, reinforcing the fact that by focusing on Jesus' Passion we can better keep our nose to the grindstone, our eye on the narrow road. Click on GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

     It was a promise Jesus made repeatedly in Sacred Scripture - the hope for all eternity. Yet Judas Iscariot had other plans for his agenda was foreign to Christ's, foreign to the Will of God. In today's Meditative Lesson 3, we get an initial look into the heart and soul of Jesus as viewed interiorly by the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in the first part of WITH THE APOSTLES ON THE EVE OF PASSOVER as we continue these inspiring lessons on the Passion throughout Lent. Click on "IT IS CONSUMMATED!"

     Too often we remember only what God can do for us, but fail to realize He wants things of us - like obedience to Him and His Church. This disobedience which rises from pride and arrogance has been the downfall of so many from lucifer to Judas, from Luther to Collins. Collins? Yes, that's Father Paul Collins, an Australian theologian who is taking on the Vatican with both barrels blazing with the statement non serviam unless they do it his way! In today's commentary we parallel his downfall with the return of another dissident theologian who returned to the fold in our editorial today, A tale of two heretics: One was lost and now is found, the other is found to be lost!. Click on this weekend's CATHOLIC PewPOINT

     Lent is a time to remind us of obedience and a time to make amends for our errors. Too often we fall back on the excuse that things are relaxed now and forget what the Church says. Too often we want to be entertained rather than informed in homilies at Mass. But the Second Vatican Council was very explicit on what the priests must do as ministers of the Word and how to conduct the Canon of the Mass as we document in today's installment of more proof that things haven't changed as drastically within the Church as many liberals would have us believe. Click on VATICAN II VERIFICATIONS

      Dear children! Also today I am with you and I, again, call all of you to come closer to me through your prayers. In a special way, I call you to renunciation in this time of grace. Little children, meditate on and live, through your little sacrifices, the Passion and Death of Jesus for each of you. Only if you come closer to Jesus will you comprehend the immeasurable love He has for each of you. Through prayer and your renunciation you will become more open to the gift of faith and love towards the Church and the people who are around you. I love and bless you. Thank you for having responded to my call! For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

HEADLINES:

Pope prepares the people for spiritual battle during Lent

     At his regular Weekly Audience in Paul VI Hall in Vatican City, the Holy Father echoed exactly what Our Lady asked in February 25th Message at Medjugorje: Intensified prayer and penance during Lent to better prepare us for the spiritual battle ahead, to be prepared as members of the Church militant to face all adversity of the world through our strong artillery of spiritual weapons. For more, click on Battle Plan to read more.

China situation brittle as US delegation departs and Vatican laments death of underground prelate

     While the Chinese Communist government was trying to put on its best face, the facade was beginning to show cracks as the US delegation, once safely in Hong Kong, spoke out about the treatment of many who were prevented from meeting with them. Though they could not find anything concrete, they strongly suspect there is great persecution going on. For more, click on Red China to read more.

Out of sight, out of mind as Castro reverts to old ways!

     Evidently tired of being looked on as a possible "good guy," Fidel Castro reverted back to being the "bad guy" when he contradicted the Holy Father and reiterated Cuba would stay with Castro's rules - the Pope be damned. In addition his pride prompted him to announce that his country won't take handouts if restrictions or demands are included. For more, click on Castro to read more.

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

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February 27 - March 1, 1998 volume 9, no. 42          DAILY CATHOLIC