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Cardinal Adam Joseph Maida was groomed to be Archbishop of Detroit and a member of the College of Cardinals

     Our seventy-seventh red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is 69 year-old Cardinal Adam Joseph Maida, son of Polish immigrants and the Archbishop of Detroit who was ordained in Pittsburgh by a Bishop who would go on to become both the Archbishop of Detroit and receive the red-hat - Cardinal John Dearden. It was an omen of good things to come for Cardinal Maida. But even before Cardinal Maida became shepherd of Detroit and a cardinal he was highly regarded in Canon and Civil Law from the halls of the Vatican to the marbled corridors of the United States Supreme Court to the Diocese of Pittsburgh as Vice Chancelor and Special Counselor. For more on Cardinal Maida, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

77.   Cardinal Adam Joseph Maida

      Born to the parents of Polish immigrants in East Vandergrift, Pennsylvania on March 18, 1930, Cardinal Adam Joseph Maida entered the seminary in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and was ordained there on May 26, 1956 by Bishop John Dearden who would go on to become Archbishop of Detroit and Cardinal in Pope Paul VI's Consistory of April 28, 1969. Little did Fr. Maida realize he would follow the same course. After early pastoral work, he enrolled at the Lateral Pontifical University in Rome where he received a degree in Corporate Law and then returned home to earn a doctorate in Civil Law at Duquesne University. His expertise in both Canon and Civil Law served him well as a lawyer in Pennsylvania as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. It also aided the Pittsburgh Diocese greatly for he was assigned as Vice Chancellor and General Counselor.

      On November 7, 1983 Pope John Paul II named him Bishop of Green Bay succeeding the retired Bishop Aloysius J. Wycislo. He was ordained Bishop for this northern Wisconsin Diocese on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul in 1984 (January 25). Bishop Maida's expertise in law prompted him to be appointed to various Papal Commissions and national Church committees concerning the interpretation of Canon Law. After seven years heading the Green Bay Diocese, on April 28 1990 the Holy Father tabbed him to replace Cardinal Edmund Szoka who had been called to Rome to serve as President for the Prefecture for the Economics Affairs of the Holy See. Bishop Maida was elevated to Archbishop of Detroit at his installation on June 12, 1990. After four years with Detroit not having a cardinal to represent them, he was honored with the cardinalate by John Paul II in his Consistory of November 26, 1994 receiving the titular church of Sts. Vitalis, Valeria, Gervase and Protase.

      At 69, Cardinal Maida also serves membership in the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education plus the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. He oversees over one and a half million Catholics in southeastern Michigan and has had his hands full curtailing his liberal Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton whom he inherited from the previous regime. Cardinal Maida has also had his run-ins with the administrators at the University of Detroit-Mercy where Catholic education has been questioned because of radical faculty who Rome is trying to reign in. He is a strong advocate of pro-life, serving on the NCCB Committee on Pro-Life. During his tenure as Detroit's shepherd he has introduced new programs such as Cornerstone Schools, the Religious Leaders Forum, Partners in Service, St. John’s Center for Youth and Family, Project Life, an archdiocesan endowment, Jubilee 2000, and helped establish the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC. He resides at the Archdiocesan address at 1234 Washington Blvd. in Detroit.

Reviewing the first six hundred years of the Church as we set sail on the Barque of Peter from the time of Christ to Saint Gregory the Great

     With the summer mode in vogue, we suspend this series until August, allowing the reader to catch up on past articles they may have missed in archives, including the Establishment of the Blessed Sacrament and the early struggles of the Church in this on-going abridged History of the Mass and Holy Mother Church over a 2000 year span called 2000 YEAR VOYAGE ON THE BARQUE OF PETER. For the first fifteen installments, click on BARQUE OF PETER

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Taking time to taste Food for Thought appeteasers over the past year

      With summer upon us we follow the summer schedule and bring you retro vignettes from the past year of humorous and moving Food for Thought Appeteasers that could bring a chuckle, a tear or both but definitely will make you stop and think. For past Appeteasers, click on Archives for FOOD FOR THOUGHT APPETEASERS

SIMPLY SHEEN: A Loving Father Who cares

      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".

"Prayer tells God what care is; faith believes that God can and will lift it. No one can cast his cares upon an 'it.' If there is ever to be a relief for the burdens of the human heart, there must be behind the universe something more than a vague Power, namely a loving Father. He Who cares for the sparrows, the lillies of the field and knows even the fall of a strand of hair from the head, will not indeed be unmindful of us toward whom He made the greatest act of love this world has ever seen (cf. Luke 12: 22-34)."

"Dear children, do not interpret Divine or private Revelation. This is a grave error. Rather, the just soul properly discerns through the enlightening of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of My Church."

      Those words from Our Lord were imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart on February 28, 1995 in which He emphasizes the importance of not getting carried away in interpreting Sacred Scripture or the messages imparted from Heaven to His chosen messengers. Our Lord speaks of this to caution us to not prejudge but also not to accept everything as gospel. This is more applicable today than even in 1995 for there are some messengers who the Church has sanctioned today who continue to permeate messages, acting in direct disobedience to the Magisterium and therefore should be avoided like the plague. Jesus calls us to pray and invoke the help of the Holy Spirit in discerning God's Will and through submission to His Holy Will, He will slowly reveal that which He wants us to understand as He reaffirms the coming of the glorious Reign of His Sacred Heart in His message four days later. For Messages #595 and #596 from Our Lord, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages 595 and 596

Message Five-Hundred-ninety-five, February 28, 1995

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, Peace! I am with you.

      Dear children of My Sacred Heart, this month draws to its close and in pleasure do you prepare for the Holy Season of Lent, as it says in Scripture, "Even in those days they shall be drinking and making merry..."

      You do this out of human weakness and lack of faith, never understanding that I come again, but a time known only to the Father. Will you be prepared? If you are, then you have nothing to fear.

      I do solemnly tell you that as I promised so on the 18th of this month I gave unto you the luminous sign of My Presence among you, as proof that I Who Am shall be victorious. How saddened that so few of My children saw and understood this marvelous sign.

      Now, I do solemnly say to you that in this Holy Season of Lent beseech Me for the grace of proper, holy discernment which is a true gift of the Holy Spirit.

      Dear children, do not interpret Divine or private Revelation. This is a grave error. Rather, the just soul properly discerns through the enlightening of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of My Church.

      So many of you, little children, because of fear, and out of curiosity, interpret these God-given messages because you want dates, times and absolute diagrams of events.

      Behold, I solemnly tell you it shall not be revealed in this manner, and you are prey to satan's wiles if you seek such knowledge.

      Know, My children, Sacred Scripture speaks eloquently of the end times. The messages given in your own day point to Scripture and, if you both read and discern, then the Holy Spirit shall enlighten. Through enlightenment you draw closer to Me and fear vanishes, for you perceive events with supernatural senses. This is My desire for you and to all who seek the grace and gift of discernment with pure heart, it shall be given to you. Pray and sacrifice every day, for all that has been foretold shall be fulfilled.

      Prepare well. I Come!

Message Five-Hundred-ninety-six, March 3, 1995

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

      Beloved Hidden Flower of My Mother's Immaculate Heart, trust in Me always for I am Mercy!

      Now all of My children have begun Lent and on this day when you come to honor My Sacred and Sorrowful Heart, I, your God, say: This Lent and every day to come, the sacrifice I ask of each of you is this: Give to Me your heart. Surrender to Me in all things. Only in this way do you truly become Mine and I, Who Am, shall fulfill all of My Promises. I shall give you My Own Heart through which you shall learn to love and forgive as I do, and the Reign of My Sacred Heart shall come to all the world.

      This is the sacrifice I seek. Do you trust Me enough to surrender your life to Me? Contemplate My words and do as I ask, that you might be prepared. For I solemnly tell you - I Come!

      Today is the Sixteenth Wednesday in Ordinary Time and the Feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Religious Priest and Doctor of the Church while tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Disciple of the Lord. For the readings, liturgies, meditations and vignettes on these saints, click on DAILY LITURGY.

Wednesday July 21:
Sixteenth Wednesday in Ordinary Time and
Feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Religious priest and Doctor of the Church

Green or white vestments

First Reading: Exodus 16: 1-5, 9-15
Psalms: Psalm 78: 18-19, 23-28
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13: 1-9

      Born in Brindisi in the Kingdom of Naples shortly after the Protestant Reformation in 1559, Saint Lawrence of Brindisi was born as Caesare de Rossi. He is one of the few saints who was born and died on the same day - July 22nd. He was educated by the Conventual Franciscans in Naples and also sent for further studies under his uncle at St. Mark's in Venice. At 16 he joined the Capuchin order in Verona and was given the name Lawrence. His keen mind and tremendous zeal earned him the honor of studying at the University of Padua where he mastered several languages from Latin and Greek to Hebrew and Aramaic, not to mention French and German. After his ordination as a Capuchin priest, he became known far and wide as an astute preacher. However his administrative prowess led to his election as Provincial for the Order in Genoa, Tuscany and Venice, in addition to Switzerland where the Reformation had dug in deeply. At the turn of the seventeenth century Lawrence was sent to the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II to seek his military support for Naples and join the Catholic League against the Turks. He was successful and joined the troops on the front line as head chaplain with only the Crucifix as his weapon. It was enough as he led the men valiantly into battle at Szekesfehervar where they were victorious for the cause of Christ. A year later he returned to Naples where he was unanimously elected Superior General of the Capuchins. While holding this position of Vicar General he not only established the Order in Austria, Moravia and Tyrol but traveled into the heart of Germany to counter the fall-out effects of Luther's campaign. Rudolph was so impressed with Lawrence that he solicited the saint to recruit the various German rulers to join the Catholic League in their on-going battles with the Turks. In 1605 the Capuchins overwhelmingly chose Lawrence to serve another term but he gratefully declined, to concentrate more on evangelization to other countries. One of these countries included Spain where he convinced the Spanish King Philip III to join the Catholic League and received imperial permission to found a Capuchin house in Madrid. His success prompted the Holy Father Pope Paul V to appoint Lawrence Papal Nuncio. In 1618 he resigned his position and retreated to his beloved homeland of Brindisi in Naples to live out the rest of his life, but God had other plans. At the persistence of the Neapolitan rulers, he was sent to Spain to seek military support against the duke of Osuna, a Spanish subject. Again his mission was successful and the duke was recalled to Spain for a harsh chastising by the king. However, the trip took its toll on Lawrence who had struggled with the sweltering summer heat and became seriously dehydrated. Shortly after his mission had been accomplished he fell into a coma and died in Lisbon on his sixtieth birthday - July 22, 1619. Two hundred and sixty two years later Pope Leo XIII canonized Lawrence and that was topped by Pope John XXIII on July 21, 1959 when he proclaimed Lawrence of Brindisi the distinguished title of Doctor of the Church.

Thursday July 22:
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Disciple of the Lord

White vestments

First Reading: Exodus 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20
Psalms: Daniel 3: 52-56
Gospel Reading: John 20: 1-2, 11-18

      One of the greatest examples of Jesus' claim that He came for sinners was hid dear, loyal disciple Saint Mary Magdalene from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee. This beautiful Jewish woman was caught up in the world, the flesh and the devil until she met Jesus. He saw right into her soul and she knew instantly in her heart she needed to totally repent of her life of sin as a prostitute by following Our Lord into the house of a rich man, and, oblivious to the taunts and jeers from others, knelt at His feet and washed His precious feet with her tears and expensive ointment. Jesus was moved at her repentance and cast out seven devils (cf Mark 16: 9, Luke 8: 2) from her body. From that time on The Magdalen was one of the most loyal followers of Jesus. Aside from His Own Blessed Mother, no one stuck by Our Lord through thick and thin more than Mary Magdalene throughout His ministry and at the foot of the Cross. Christ Himself rewarded her for her devotion and persistence by being the first one He appeared to after His Resurrection (cf. John 20: 1-18). After the Ascension, there are some reports that Mary Magdalene retreated to the desert to live out her life in prayer and penance, while Eastern tradition claims Mary Magdalene accompanied the Blessed Mother and Saint John to Ephesus after Pentecost where The Magdalen died peacefully and was buried there. The latter bears believability since her relics were found in Ephesus, transfered to the Monastery of St. Lazarus in Constantinople in 899. Her feast was first celebrated in the 10th Century and spread to the entire Church in the 11th Century.

      Today we bring you the Opening Prayer for the Mass honoring Saint Lawrence of Brindisi:

Lord, for the glory of Your name and the salvation of souls You gave Lawrence of Brindisi courage and right judgment. By his prayers help us to know what we should do and give us the courage to do it.

Events Today in Church History

      On this date four-hundred and fifty-seven years ago and only eight years since the founding of the Society of Jesus, Pope Paul III, the 220th successor of Peter who had approved the Jesuits in 1534, put the fledgling order to the test by appointing them in charge of the Inquisition in Rome because of the growing Protestant threat. 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 July 21:

1542 A.D.


Pope Paul III establishes the Inquisition in Rome. It had already been tested in Spain and France. Now, with the Protestant Reformation it was decided to set it up in Rome under the guidance of the Jesuits which he had given official approval as an Order in 1534.

1571 A.D.


Pope Saint Pius V decrees that the Inquisition be extended to the Portuguese Navy where dissension forced this move.

1619 A.D.


Death of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi. For more on this saint, see DAILY LITURGY.

1900 A.D.


Pope Leo XIII issues his 75th encyclical - Omnibus compertum aimed at the Patriarch and bishops of the Greek-Melkite rite on unity among Greek Melkites with Rome.

    Dear children! Today I thank you for living and witnessing my messages with your life. Little children, be strong and pray so that prayer may give you strength and joy. Only in this way will each of you be mine and I will lead you on the way of salvation. Little children, pray and with your life witness my presence here. May each day be a joyful witness for you of God's love. Thank you for having responded to my call.
For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

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July 21, 1999 volume 10, no. 135   DAILY CATHOLIC