Take care in living, eating and being merry for tomorrow you may meet your Maker face to face. Then what?
The words pronounced yesterday when we received ashes aren't just words, but a stark and needed reminder that we are mere mortals and totally dependent on God to raise us from the ashes. In his column today, Pat Ludwa focuses on these words and why too many fail to comprehend its finality, often opting to put it off until later while they eat, drink and make merry with nary a thought to the ultimate consequences. Through encouragement in the Word, Pat shows how we must continue on the narrow path strewn with thorns in the face of public opinion that tries to block out the inevitable. For his article Remember!!!, click on VIEW FROM THE PEW
Do we truly understand the meaning of Sacrifice?
Today we commence our Lenten segment on the Church today, beginning with Sacrifice, a necessary spiritual and physical exercise we cannot live without! By its nature sacrifice dictates there will be a heavy attrition rate which Jesus knew only too well (cf. Matthew 7: 14) The only way through the narrow gate is Sacrifice, but too often many Catholics rationalize their way around it with a psuedo-sacrificial effort that doesn't quite cut it in God's boot camp for the militant. For the ninety-sixth installment of this on-going megaseries, click on WHERE IS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH HEADING AS WE NEAR THE MILLENNIUM?.
"Hosanna, He comes!"
Continuing with the launch yesterday of this series of special Meditative Lessons for Lent, today we bring you part two of the first chapter JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM as the scene is set for Christ's triumphant arrival in the Holy City where, less than a week later, He would be jeered and crucified rather than cheered and exalted. For part two, click on "IT IS CONSUMMATED!"
CATHOLIC CANVAS
Daily Dose of curious contents of the Church: Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
Yesterday, in our COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION we featured Cardinal Edward Isdris Cassidy, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. This Roman curia is relatively new, having been established by Pope John XXIII on June 5, 1960 in preparation for the Second Vatican Council. At that time it was merely a preparatory secretariat, but elevated to the status of a Commission in the autumn of 1962 during the first session of Vatican II with John's successor Pope Paul VI defining its functions and status as a secretariat after the close of the Council. It was our current Holy Father who proclaimed it a Pontifical Council on June 28, 1988 and appointed Cardinal Cassidy to head it. Since then he has been the only person to be President of this Pontifical Council. Under the new functions designated by John Paul II it handles relations with members of other Christian ecclesial communities; deals with the correct interpretation and execution of the principles of ecumenism; initiates or promotes Catholic ecumenical groups and coordinates on national and international levels the efforts of those promoting Christian unity. It also undertakes meaningful dialogue on ecumenical questions and activities with churches and ecclesial communities who are not in communion with the Apostolic See. In addition this Council is responsible for dispatching Catholic observer-representatives to Christian gatherings around the world and also invites observers of other faiths to Catholic gatherings, such as the Second Vatican Council. Another duty of this Council is to execute conciliar decrees dealing with ecumenical affairs such as the one last year toward those of the Jewish Faith with "We Remember the Shoah." (source: Catholic Almanac, Our Sunday Visitor, Publisher).
SIMPLY SHEEN:No one knows the time, nor the hour!
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 secret of growing old is in this counsel an old man once gave a youth: 'Repent on your last day.' But the youth answered: 'But who knows when my last day will be?' 'For that reason,' said the saint, 'Repent today for it would be tomorrow."
Silence is Golden!
That is the theme of her two messages we bring you today in which the BLessed Mother conveyed to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart that we speak too much and our unkind, ignorant words only contribute to the babble that creates static and interference in trying to communicate with God. Our Lady asks us all to speak with our hearts in prayer and follow that up with the actions of showing ultimate reverence for her Divine Son Jesus and those teachings He has left us, carried out through His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. For Messages #401 and #402 in early September 1993, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."
WORLDWIDE
NEWS & VIEWS
with a Catholic slant
HEADLINES:
Holy Father considers it paramount in returning to Fatima sometime this year because of its significance for our times
When John Paul II will make his pilgrimage to Fatima is still to be determined, but there is no question it will be sometime this year as the Holy See confirmed the Pope's acceptance of the invitation from the Bishop of Fatima. There is much speculation that the Holy Father might proclaim a special document while there, or further the cause for canonization of the two deceased visionaries Francisco and Jacinta (Lucia is still alive), or tie in Our Lady's message of Russia's conversion with his impending visit to the Ukraine, or quite possibly proclaim the fifth dogma at Fatima. No one knows for sure but they do know that Fatima can expect him to make his third pilgrimage sometime this spring or summer. For more, click on Fatima.
Castro opens arms to Inter-American Bishops at conclusion of conference in Havana
Following up and affirming all the Holy Father had imparted during his historic papal pilgrimage to Cuba last year, bishops from North, South and Central America met with communist dictator Fidel Castro after they expressed agreement with him that the 36-year embargo imposed by the United States must be lifted. But they did agree to disagree on the capital punishment issue which the bishops are against and Castro is for. For more, click on Cuba conference
Papal-bashing Mouth of the South at it again with foot-in-mouth disease!
Talk about stupid remarks!!! If he had bashed the blacks, Jews or gays, they'd have his head, but becasue Ted Turner, the liberals' darling for promoting the culture of death, bashed Catholics, in particular Pope John Paul II he's applauded! In his crusade to advance abortion and contraception he had to attack the Catholic faith and her Vicar of Christ, calling him out of touch and, well, you know, the same ol' liberal refrain. For more, click on Terrible Turner.
Survivors of slain Swiss Guard incensed by defamation of character over drug and gay accusations
Cease and desist! That is the message the surviving families of both Swiss Guard Commandant-elect Alois Estermann and his wife Gladys Meza Romero have clearly told Italian media barracudas swimming in a school of sensationalism surrounding the causes of Estermann's death last May. With no evidence by the Italian press to back up their claims, the family members are furious that they continue to denigrate the memory of Estermann when the Vatican has researched it thoroughly and concluded it had nothing to do with drugs or a homosexual affair which the media falsely perpetuates. For more, click on Swiss Guards.
For more headlines and articles, we suggest you go to the Catholic World News site at the
CWN home page and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales. Both CWN and NE are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provides this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.
Events that happened this day in Church History
On this date in 1564, that celebrated master Michelangelo Buonarotti died. Age and arthritis that crippled him so badly from the many, many years of molding, chipping granite and marble, and lying prone painting the Sistine Chapel under extreme weather conditions and pressures, finally took their toll. He is remembered as the greatest of all Renaissance painters and the greatest contributor of artistic treasures for the Vatican. He often remarked that he did not have time to get down on his knees because they hurt so much, but that every brush stroke, every fold in his sculptures was a prayer. For other pertinent events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
|
