The life and death of King Hussein: Lessons to be learned from ancient history

      In today's editorial we remember King Hussein and his legacy and look back at the history of the mideast region to see how this peacemaker has kept the frail threads together in this land of the bible where it could become unraveled at any time, especially now that Hussein is gone, but not forgotten. We trace the origins of this man who was the direct opposite of his early ancestor - the founder of Islam for he exhibited the traits more of a Samaritan than a Saracen. With one Hussein dead, the delicate balance he provided could now be tipped where all hell could spill forth unless we pray and learn from history's lessons. For today's commentary entitled History has a way of repeating itself!, click on CATHOLIC PewPOINT.

The Council of Constance offers up Pope Gregory XII as the sacrificial lamb for the sake of saving the Church of the Lamb of God

     It was hoped that when Pope Gregory XII was chosen to succeed the rascal Pope Innocent VII that the schism would finally come to an end, but there were trials and tribulations to come before this would become a reality at the end of his reign. First of all, rather than eliminating the antipope, another antipope was also elected making three men vying for the legitimate chair of Peter. What was a council to do? Due to political pressure and influence of the German kings, the Council of Constance was convened. In their 14th session and 361 years before America celebrated its independence, the Church celebrated its own freedom on the Fourth of July in 1415, thus effectively ending the Great Schism of the West, but not without consequences. For the ninety-second installment titled Pope Gregory XII: The beginning of the end of the schism , click on THE HISTORY OF THE MASS AND HOLY MOTHER CHURCH.

CATHOLIC CANVAS: Daily Dose of curious contents of the Church

"Propaganda Fide"

      Today is the 378th anniversary of the election of Pope Gregory XV, the 234th successor of Peter who is best known for promulgating and perpetuating the missionary efforts of the Church through his official establishment of the Pontifical Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith or "Propaganda Fide". The evolution of this commission actually started with Saint Pius V as a commission of cardinals for the missions in the West and East Indies as well as Protestant territories throughout Europe. Pope Clement VIII tried to resuscitate it in 1599 but it did not last until Gregory, late in his pontificate, officially established it with his Apostolic Constitution Inscrutabili Divinae on June 22, 1622. Because it was toward the end of Gregory's papacy that it was decreed, credit is often given to his successor Pope Urban VII for its instrumentation, but in effect, Gregory XV was responsible. The Congregation was formed to support and promote missionary efforts throughout the world from the Vatican to the parish level through prayers, donations and labor. Today various departments are incorporated into this Pontifical Congregation. They include the Missionary Union of the Clergy and Religious; the Society for the Propagation of Faith - founded in Lyons, France in 1822 two hundred years after Gregory's proclamation; the Society of St. Peter the Apostle for Native Clergy, the Society of the Holy Childhood; and the International Center of Missionary Animation. These all come under the auspices of the the Curial Office renamed on June 28, 1988 Pope John Paul II as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Today it is headed by Cardinal Josef Tomko as the Prefect and assisted by the Congregation's Secretary Bishop Marcello Zago, OMI, former Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a priestly order that personifies all the Congregation calls for in propagating the Faith.
(sources: 1999 Catholic Almanac, Our Sunday Visitor; The Official Catholic Directory 1998, P.J. Kennedy & Sons; Oxford Dictionary of Popes, J.N.D. Kelly, Oxford Press; The Roman Pontiffs, I Sommi Pontifici Romani; Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon, SJ, Doubleday).

SIMPLY SHEEN: In giving, it's the thought that counts!

      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".

"Giving is really a divinely appointed way of acknowledging the mercies of God. We have indeed nothing to offer anyway that we have not received, and yet He is pleased to accept our offerings as tokens of our gratitude."

      Our Savior Jesus Christ pulls no punches in warning His children of the impending doom for all those who refuse His Mercy, who turn their back on His teachings and His True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. He offers His Mercy freely and yet laments that so few take advantage as He conveys in Message 386 on August 9, 1993 to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart. He is saddened by America's embrace of the culture of death and runnaway immorality through abortion, euthanasia, adultery and homosexuality that cry out to God for vengeance. His Blessed Mother prefaces her Divine Son's words in Message 387 three days prior on the Feast of the Transfiguration by pleading with all her little ones to shed the shackles of the world and come aboard the ship of salvation as she helps guide the way as the "New Ark." For these two important Messages, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Events Today in Church History

      On this date 89 years ago Francisco Febres Cordero Munoz, better known as Saint Miguel Cordero died in Spain. When he was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984 he became the first saint born in Ecuador. Brother Miguel, a Christian Brother, was famed for writing Catholic textbooks that are still used today. For other pertinent events that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

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WORLDWIDE
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HEADLINES:

Pope sends his condolences and prayers to the people of Jordan

      Expressing his deep sympathy to the people of Jordan, the Holy Father eulogized King Hussein and sent the Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches to the late Jordan monarch's funeral yesterday. Considering Hussein's Muslim roots, the Pope might have dispatched Cardinal Francis Arinze as well since he is President of the Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims, but the immediate funeral the day after his death precluded the Pontiff from making this a reality. For more, click on King Hussein

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Rah, rah for ol' Notre Dame! University upholds Catholic traditions in refusing gay agenda

      Anyone fearing that the University of Notre Dame would follow the more liberal policies of other universities in relaxing the moral code by allowing a homosexual platform on campus need worry no more. By a unanimous vote the Trustees voted to reject including homosexuality in its discrimination policies, citing the fact that the gay lifestyle has nothing to do with race, creed or culture but is rather a way of life that is wrong in the eyes of God and His Church. They assured all that they would watch closely for any blatant discrimination that violates human rights and would endeavor to love the sinner always, but never the sin! For more, click on Notre Dame.

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Vatican closes the book on Swiss Guard murders

      Citing the fact that all leads and evidence have been exhausted and satisfied that the findings point to the fact that Cedric Tornay was the sole perpetrator in the murder of Swiss Guard commandant-elect Alois Estermann and his wife Gladys before killing himself last May, the Vatican finally closed the books on the investigation, laying the matter to rest in the Vatican Archives hoping to put this sad moment in Church history behind them. For more, click on Swiss Guard.

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From the sublime to the ridiculous. In this case Justice is truly blind though the Judge endeavored for all to see the Light

     The news that a rapist may go free because an Ohio judge invoked God's law regarding scandal and hurting a little one is truly a travesty. This whole idea of separation of Church and State has gone too far as is evident when an Ohio appelate judge overturned the decision against a child-rapist rendered by Judge Melba Marsh because she quoted the words of Jesus in Luke 17: 2 which were more than applicable to the situation. But because she did so there is the possibility that the convicted rapist could go scot free! Is this justice? For more, click on blind justice.

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