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      Today is the Fourth Day of the Divine Mercy Novena. See DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

"Today bring Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not yet know Me."

      Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

      Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your Mercy for endless ages. Amen.

It is greatly recommended the above novena intentions and prayers be said together with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

      Devotion to Divine Mercy is conveyed through the Chaplet of Divine Mercy as Jesus imparted to Blessed Sister Faustina Kowalska when He relayed, as recorded in her diary "Divine Mercy in my soul", "Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (1541)...Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687)...When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541)...Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this Chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My Infinite Mercy (687)...Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731).

      Following is the formula for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, prayed on the regular beads of the Rosary. It is most appropriate to pray it at 3 o'clock in the afternoon which is the "Hour of Great Mercy" as Jesus said to Blessed Faustina: At three o'clock, implore My Mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the Hour of Great Mercy...In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. (1320).

      The Chaplet begins with the OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, and the APOSTLES' CREED. Then on the large bead before each decade one recites:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On each decade of the small beads, pray the following:
For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

At the end of the Chaplet recite three times the following prayer:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Then conclude with the following prayer said three times also:
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as Font of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

      It is recommended to offer each decade to the wounds of Christ, such as the first decade in reparation for the wound in HIs Right Hand; the second decade in reparation for the wound in His Left Hand, the third decade in reparation for the wounds in His Sacred Feet; the fourth decade in reparation for the wounds in His Head in which the Crown of Thorns crushed His Sacred Skull; and the fifth decade in reparation for the wound in His side in which Blood and Water gushed forth as a Font of Mercy for all generations.

      The Novena to Divine Mercy, which Jesus asked Blessed Faustina to begin on Good Friday, 1937 is for nine days from Good Friday to Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) which is the Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus told her, By this Novena [of Chaplets and particular intention each day] I will grant every possible grace to souls. (796).

Cardinal Vincenzo Fagiolo: even in his golden years he is still the foremost expert of Canon Law in the Church today

      Our thirty-ninth red hat we feature, in alphabetical order is 81 year-old Cardinal Vincenzo Fagiolo, former head of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia as well as the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts where he is still regarded as one of the most knowledgable Canon Lawyers in all of the universal Church. He was elevated to the cardinalate on November 26, 1994. For more on Cardinal Fagiolo, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

      Considered the dean of Canon Law, Cardinal Vincenzo Fagiolo was born on February 5, 1918 just outside of Rome in Segni, Italy. After entering the Diocesan minor seminary near Segni and then major theological studies, he was ordained a priest on March 6, 1943 in Rome. After serving as a pastor in various parishes and achieving his doctorates in Sacred Scripture and also in Canon Law, Pope Paul VI tabbed him as Prelate Auditor of the Roman Rota in 1967, the beginning of a thirty-year curial involvement. During this time he also taught Contract Law at the "Gabriele D'Annunzio" University in Abruzzi. He held the prelate position until December 19, 1971 when the Holy Father elevated him to Archbishop of Chieti-Vasti. During this interval he was also elected Vice President of the Italian Episcopal Conference as well as being selected President of the Italian Caritas organization. He remained head of his archdiocese until July 15, 1984 when he resigned from the See to take the appointment of Pope John Paul II - that of Secretary for the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life where he served until 1990. It was actually the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes until June 28, 1988 when John Paul changed the titlewhich had originally been founded by Pope Sixtus V on May 27, 1586 as the Congregation for Consultations of Regulars and made the Congregation of Religious by Pope Saint Pius X in 1908.

      His holiness appointed him President of the Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia on December 29, 1990, a position he held until his retirement last year at the age of 80. Calling upon his expertise in Canon Law, the Holy Father named him President of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts in 1991 where he served in carrying out the new Canons passed on June 28, 1988 and the interpretation of of Code of Canon Law of the Oriental Church which was promulgated in 1990.

      Cardinal Fagiolo received the ultimate tribute on November 26, 1994 when he was named in the Holy Father's Consistory. After receiving his red-hat at ceremonies at St. Peter's he was given the church of St. Theodore as a cardinal deacon. He is now retired and no longer eligible to vote in the Sacred Conclave, but many priests, prelates and cardinals still call on him for counsel in respect Canon Law for he is still considered one of Holy Mother Church's greatest experts on the interpretations of the Codes.

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Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts

      Today's featured prelate Cardinal Vincenzo Fagiolo served as President of this Curial council which is one of the twelve Pontifical Councils in the Roman Curia. It is one of the newest councils, having been established by Pope John Paul II on January 2, 1984 as the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law almost a year after the new Code of Canon Law had been introduced. It replaced the 1904 Canons. The name change was decreed on June 28, 1988 by the Holy Father and in 1991 during Cardinal Fagiolo's leadership, the Council's responsibilities were expanded to include the interpretation of the Code of Canon Law for the Oriental Church which was disseminated the year before. The main purpose of this Pontifical Council is to oversee the authentic interpretation of the universal laws of the Church. (source: 1999 Catholic Almanac, Our Sunday Visitor).

SIMPLY SHEEN:Tuning our conscience

     They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"The growth of character could very largely be the discovery that the things we thought innocent once are no longer innocent. The more saintly a person becomes, the more he feels himself a sinner. That is because he judges himself not by worldly standards nor by his weak neighbors, but by God Himself."

"Come, seek forgiveness for I am the Font of Divine Mercy. I reject no one whose heart is humble and contrite."

      Those words from Our Lord imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart in Message #464 on February 28, 1994 has particular pertinence during this week of the Divine Mercy Novena. Jesus warns that if His Mercy is not asked for abundantly, then the Father will have no choice but to shut it down and send His Justice. The time is now but time is running out as Christ affirms in this message and His previous one three days later where He again offers His Mercy and entreats us to return to Him in the Sacraments and to pray for and with our children and honor our spouses. For Messages #463 and #464 from Jesus, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Message Four Hundred-sixty-three, February 25, 1994

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, I bless you.

      How sorrowful is My Sacred Heart for My children do not know Me. They do not trust Me, nor seek My Mercy.

      O! If only they realized how their lack of trust afflicts Me! If only they would come to Me, the Font of Divine Mercy, they would love Me more and more.

      My children, listen carefully to My Mother's words spoken at Medjugorje. She is acknowledging the Truth of Sacred Scripture. She implores you to convert your heart so that you might then pray with the heart, which consoles and comforts Me.

      I am Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. I am the Word made flesh, the Savior of the world. I solemnly tell you that the tears which began flowing last year shall become a river of sorrow. This year and next shall be a time of increasing sorrow as the enemy spreads his confusion deep into hearts everywhere even within My Own Church.

      Mockery will be on the lips of many. Scorn shall rise up like lava from hearts on fire with temporal needs, while all thought of eternal life is forgotten.

      My Mother's tears flow in abundance, and she seeks to comfort Me by offering Me those few souls who, by their love and willingness, offer themselves as victims of Mercy.

      Therefore, I solemnly tell you, read Sacred Scripture. Seek the Holy Spirit Who transforms and enlightens. Go daily to Holy Mass and surrender your will to Mine. Adore Me profoundly in the Sacrament of Love, and let no voice dissuade you from reverence. Make Confession a joy, a weekly joy, for here I forgive and strengthen all who come with humble and contrite heart.

      Let all religious examine their conscience to see if they are doing God's Will or their own. Let all families be reconciled.

      Parents, keep close watch over your children who are satan's targets. Pray for them and pray with them. Parents, be united in love through the Father's Infinite Love. Do not permit any discord to reign among you. Let your love be tender and compassionate --of the heart.

      Children, pray very much for the evil one seeks your soul with vengeance. Pray and go to Mass. Offer everything, even your recreation to Me, and I will always defend you. Obey your parents and permit them to guide you, for it is I Who guide them. Do not cause discord in your home. You must make it a haven of peace and joy. Put aside all the world and open your heart to Me, for only then can you rest securely in My Sacred Refuge.

      Let all who believe come together in unity of mind and heart by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for only in this way is satan held in check.

      I love you. I await you. Come to Me, the Font of Divine Mercy to all who sincerely seek Me. Pray, fast and be obedient, humble children for the River of Sorrow has begun!

Message Four Hundred-sixty-four, February 28, 1994

      My beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, I bless you.

      O! Now is truly the time for tears, My children. I beseech every one to come to Me, their Lord and God. I am rejected now in every country. Nowhere is My name given honor and respect. In this country My name is anathema, and those who proclaim Me are ridiculed.

      I solemnly tell you that if you do not pray and allow your prayer to rise from your heart, the Justice of God shall strike in all its fullness.

      O! Foolish Children! How many signs I have given you. Do you not believe that all the universe is bound to My Authority? Rain does not fall, nor does the sun shine unless by My Will. You have seen rivers rise and the earth tremble. I solemnly tell you that I shall yet give more signs through all I have created. Yet mankind will not believe. They will reject My sign while the evil in their hearts reeks war and every sort of evil upon their fellow man. Every hideous deed is known to Me. Come, seek forgiveness for I am the Font of Divine Mercy. I reject no one whose heart is humble and contrite.

      You must pray from your hearts very much as I have asked My Mother to seek of you for all these years. Pray. Make sacrifice. Do bodily mortification's and return love to Love, for the Hour of Justice draws near. Let the Hour of Mercy be poured upon the world!

      I love and bless you. I am your Jesus, your Savior, the Son of God. Listen to Me, for I love you!

Events Today in Church History

      On this date in 1419 Saint Vincent Ferrer died in Vannes, France after a life of devotion to the Church. This zealous Dominican preacher, whose feast is superseded by Easter Monday, played a significant role in ending the Great Western Schism through his preaching and healing throughout Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. For other pertinent events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for April 5:

823 A.D.


Pope Pascal I crowns Lothair, son of Louis Holy Roman Emperor.

1355 A.D.


Pope Innocent VI, the fifth in the line of Avignon Popes, crowns Charles IV of Bohemia as the Holy Roman Emperor.

1419 A.D.


Death of Saint Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican who played a key role in ending the Western Schism.

1494 A.D.


The Florentine church Santa Maria del Fiore is struck by lightning. It would be refurbished by works of Michelangelo and Raphael who were commissioned the project before being called to Rome.

Click here to go to SECTION THREE or SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.

April 5, 1999 volume 10, no. 66   DAILY CATHOLIC