Today is the sixty-seventh anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner" becoming the official national anthem. It occurred on March 3, 1931 but, as we all know, it was written well before that. But those are the numbers - from thirteen original colonies to 50 states, the former represented by stripes, the latter with stars in the nation's flag. Speaking of numbers, that is the subject of today's editorial as we tune in to the "numerology theology" with the dreaded 666 just around the corner - literally with Thursday being 666 days until the year 2000 as the countdown continues. In today's commentary we talk about Our Lady's words to Father Don Stefano Gobbi about the numbers "333" and "666" and we illustrate how it ties in with "111" in the article entitled, Call it "numerology theology!" Click on today's CATHOLIC PewPOINT
...by the dawn's early light!
It is not in the light of day that man sees the works of another but in the dawn's early light of God's graces where the Almighty knows what is in our hearts and the purification of our soul through our enactment of the Spiritual Works of Mercy which Jesus touches on today in Lesson/Meditation #75 as imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in a series of 100 Meditative Lessons. Click on THE HIDDEN WAY
What so proudly we hailed...
For faith is the essence of our lives and in his column today, Father John Hampsch, C.M.F. addresses the facts of scripture that help us to understand if we truly have faith and if so, we can proudly hail Jesus as our Savior without a doubt in our hearts that we believe. That is the best way to make use of our time and not waste it, rather we must just believe. That is the measurement in "Measuring Maturity" as Fr. John explains in his twenty-eighth installment of his series "Faith: Key to the Heart of God." Click on KEYS TO LIVING GOD'S WILL
...at the twilight's last gleaming!
For as we near the twilight of the time when Mary's Divine Son will usher in the New Advent - the Reign of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady reminds us to stay the course and continue during Lent to meditate on His Passion, reminding us of the events at Lazarus' home just before the Last Supper as she describes in her Meditation to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in part three of Meditative Lesson 3, WITH THE APOSTLES ON THE EVE OF PASSOVER as we continue these inspiring lessons on the Passion throughout Lent. Click on "IT IS CONSUMMATED!"
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air...
Though they didn't have such firepower as rockets or bombs in the thirteenth century, nevertheless the fireworks that Pope Gregory IX faced throughout his papacy with the rebellious emperor Frederick II left a glare on the landscape that would have set Europe back had it not been for the saints who sprouted from the seeds of the Orders founded by the great Saint Francis and Saint Dominic. Gregory fostered holiness among the religious and is known as the "Canonizer" for elevating the two previously mentioned founders as well as Saint Anthony of Padua and others as we continue our on-going chronological mega series on the Church through the ages. Click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH
Gave proof through the night, that our faith was still there!
The Liturgy of Holy Mother Church bears this out and two saints that made it through the "night of temptation and the world" to uphold the faith were Blessed Katherine Drexel, whose optional feast we commemorate today along with Saint Casimir tomorrow, the patron saint of Poland. For the readings, liturgy, meditation and vignettes on these saints, click on LITURGY OF THE DAY
PRAYERS & DEVOTION
Today's prayer is the Opening Prayer commemorating Blessed Katherine Drexel.
Ever-loving God, You called Blessed Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the African American and Native American peoples. By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed, and keep us undivided in love in the eucharistic community of Your Church.
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
Fatima Visionary Sister Lucia speaks out, affirms Pope consecrated Russia in 1984 amid other revelations
Assuring all that the Popes have been wise in not revealing the Third Secret of Fatima, Fatima visionary Sister Lucia has dropped a bombshell with an exclusive interview on Spanish TV Sunday in which she credits John Paul II with averting nuclear war. For more, click on Fatima to read more.
Two deaths over the weekend thin the ranks of the College of Cardinals as Church mourns
A week after the Holy Father added twenty more to the College of Cardinals, he lost two with the sudden deaths of 75 year-old Argentine Cardinal Antonio Quarracino from Buenos Aires and new Belgium Cardinal Jean Balland of Lyons who was among the twenty receiving their red hats last Saturday in Rome. He was 64. Their deaths brings the number to exactly 120 who may vote in the next conclave, the amount specified by Pope Paul VI. For more, click on Cardinals to read more.
Five missionaries freed by Rebel troops in Sierra Leone while 50 still remained trapped
The tense situation in Sierra Leone where 15 missionaries had been trapped for weeks, eased somewhat over the weekend when it was announced that five missionaries were released along with two civilians, one a Canadian and the other from France. There still are a good number who are being held against their will in the village of Makeni. For more, click on Sierra Leone to read more.
H2>PROVERB OF THE DAY
"Man may make plans in his heart, but what the tongue utters is from the Lord."
Proverbs 16: 1
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March 3, 1998 volume 9, no. 44 DAILY CATHOLIC
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