Why are we missing the obvious Signs of this crucial era leading to the Third Millennium?

     We return with original installments for the fall after a two-month summer retro run of early installments. Today we begin a series on SIGNS OF GOD'S MERCY AND JUSTICE in which we point out the obvious signs God has placed in our path to keep us on the straight and narrow. Sadly too many have overlooked the most obvious ones and in doing so, have detoured off the main path onto their own rough road cluttered with devastating potholes and obstacles. For the Seventy-Sixth installment of this on-going megaseries, click on WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM?.

"The evil one has seduced the eyes and ears of the world until the conscience of the multitudes sees nothing that would expose the true nature of the evil one's power."

      That is the essence of the Blessed Mother Mary's words in her 189th and 190th messages to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart, which we bring you today. Our Lady urges her children to open their hearts to her Divine Son Jesus for only in Him will they be able to decipher between the Light of Christ and the darkness of the devil in a world of glitz and deception. Click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Holy Father previews his upcoming encyclical on Faith and Reason

     During his weekly Wednesday audience at Paul VI Hall, Pope John Paul II allowed all a glimpse of what is contained in his upcoming encyclical on Faith and Reason. The Holy Father emphasized that the mind is a wonderful gift if allowed to be orchestrated by the Holy Spirit Who will take it to a higher plateau and meld it with the heart no matter the faith. For that reason the Pope calls for a "patient dialog" with those who are not in full communion with Holy Mother Church. For more, click on Wednesday Audience.

Dispute over concordat between Vatican and Italian government brings parties to the table

     Because of the harassment by the Italian government of Cardinal Michele Giordano from Naples over false charges of racketeering, the Vatican insisted the government and Holy See sit down and iron out the dispute over the concordat between the two to arrive at an agreeable alliance so that there will no more misinterpretation of the agreement between the two States, specifically the Catholic education system. For more, click on Concordat.

Basilica in Assisi restored in time for Franciscan feast next month

     Completing exterior repairs and renovations ahead of time, the grand Basilica of Saint Francis in the mountain village of Assisi is being prepared for celebration on the founder's feast day October 4th. Citizens and others are amazed at the restoration on the outside considering the considerable damage done to the frescoes and facade during the series of earthquakes that shook the Umbrian region nearly a year ago that also claimed the lives of three Franciscans and many more. Further painstakingly slow, detailed work continues on the interior frescoes and crypt. For more, click on Assisi.

Two more deaths add to the new era of martyrdom among priests as Holy Father offers condolences

     The Holy Father officially sent his condolences to Cardinal of Columbia and the Bishop of Kenya over two separate fatal shootings which took the lives of two devoted priests, one Father Alcides Jimenez Chicangana a Columbian parish priest for 20 years and the other Father Luigi Andeni a dedicated Italian missionary who gave his all for the people of Africa. It was the ninth and tenth intentional killing of priests in just the last several months, adding a "new page in the contemporary martyrology" as the L'Osservatore Romano headline blared regarding the modern martyrs. For more, click on Modern martyrs.

For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site. CWN is not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.

      Today is both the Twenty-Fourth Thursday in Ordinary Time along with the feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine Tomorrow we commemorate the Twenty-Fourth Friday in Ordinary Time. For the liturgy, readings and meditations and story of St. Robert Bellarmine, click on LITURGY FOR THE DAY.

     Today's prayer is the Opening Prayer for the Mass in honor of Saint Robert Bellarmine:

God our Father, You gave Robert Bellarmine wisdom and goodness to defend the faith of Your Church. By his prayers may we always rejoice in the profession of our faith.