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FRI-SAT-SUN February 18-20, 2000 vol. 11, no. 35 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant | ||
On Friday 436 years ago in 1564 the great Renaissance master Michelangelo Buonarotti, famous for his Pieta marble sculpture residing inside St. Peter's, his statue of David in Florence, the magnificent Sistine Chapel ceiling, and countless other priceless works of art, passed away at the old age of 88. His influence has been tremendous over the centuries and yet no one before him or since has been able to express the beauty of God's creation than this moody Italian artist, who had his share of run-ins with Popes who expected miracles from this man whose work truly transcended the Heavens. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on this date, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
449 A.D.
Death of Saint Flavian of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople who excommunicated the heretic Eutyches for teaching the false doctrine that Christ was only Divine. Pope Saint Leo the Great backed Flavian's actions with a special "Tome of Leo" to the saint confirming the dogma of Jesus being born with both a human and divine nature. Though Flavian was deposed at the Council of Ephesus by Eastern sympathizers to Eutyches. The Byzantine Emperor Theodosius and his hand-picked new Patriarch Dioscorus manipulated the Council, having Flavian tortured and beaten of which he never recovered. Dioscorus was appointed Patriarch until two years after Flavian's death when, at the Council of Chalcedon Flavian was declared a saint and martyr and Dioscorus deposed.
632 A.D.
Death of Saint Helladius, Archbishop of Toledo who converted late in life after serving as minister in the courts of the Visigoth monarchs.
814 A.D.
Death of Saint Angilbert, Abbot of Centula who had been brought up by Saint Alcuinin the great Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne's court and courted his daughter Bertha. Rather than marriage, both vowed themselves to the Lord, she to a convent and he as a Benedictine monk where became Charlemagne's personal confessor as well as his special diplomat and executor of Charlemagne's last will and testament.
999 A.D.
Death of Pope Gregory V, 138th successor of Peter. Born in Saxony, he was elected on May 3, 996. During his three-year pontificate he was forced to flee to Pavia and the antipope John XVII was nominated by the Italian patrician Crescentius. John ruled Rome only a year until Gregory returned triumphantly. He instituted the commemoration of the dead and translated to the church of Santa Maria Nuova in Rome the body of the Martyr Saint Lucy.
1564 A.D.
Death of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Italian master sculptor and painter whose arthritis caused him to give up his life's work in his later years. The man who painted the Sistine Chapel, sculpted the Pieta and the statue of David, among countless other priceless works of art, died at the age of 88.
1587 A.D.
Death of Mary Stuart, Catholic Queen of Scots who was beheaded at the order of her half sister Elizabeth who usurped the crown of England rightfully belonging to Mary and turned against Catholicism in the same manner her father Henry VIII had.
509 A.D.
Death of the Palestinian Martyrs who were slaughtered by Persian Saracens who were on a mission to destroy anything or anyone who represented the Roman empire or Christianity. Unfortunately for these hermits in Palestine they were rooted out and swords thrust into them as they died for Christ.
607 A.D.
Election of Pope Boniface III, 66th successor of Peter. Born in Rome, his pontificate would last less than a year. During this short time he would forbid arrangements for the election of the new Pope until three days had passed after the death of a pontiff. Today that has been extended to nine days - novendiali". He would also decree that the only universal bishop was that of Rome, ergo - the Pope, a decision that would further strengthen the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff as head of the Church.
682 A.D.
Death of Saint Barbatus, Bishop of Benevento who was instrumental in eliminating idolatry and the belief in superstitions from not only his Diocese but much of Lombardy. He also was of great assistance to Pope Saint Agatho, 79th successor of Peter in helping organize the Sixth Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in 680. Shortly after that he passed on to his Heavenly reward at the age of 70.
1352 A.D.
Death of Saint Conrad, Franciscan hermit of Piacenza who was renowned for both his humility and miracles both during his death and after when many reported cures after visiting his grave. In early life he had been a hellion, but his conscience got the best of him and he came clean, giving it all up to join the Franciscan Order started by Saint Francis of Assisi four decades earlier as well as convincing his wife to join the Poor Clares. The couple surrendered all their personal belongings and gave the rest of their lives to God.
743 A.D.
Death of Saint Eucherius, Benedictine Bishop of Orleans who felt unworthy of being elevated to the episcopacy but when the people clamored for his election he relented. Throughout his bishopric he was a constant thorn in the side of French sovereign Charles Martel because of his policies, lifestyle and gutting of Church property and treasures. The former had him exiled hoping that would silence him but the people and monks rallied behind this humble man, giving him sanctuary in a monastery in Cologne. When Martel moved to have him exiled further, he was befriended by the governor who permitted Eucherius to retire in peace in a monastery near the Netherlands far enough away from Martel's influence.
1431 A.D.
Death of Pope Martin V, 206th successor of Peter who was the first after the end of the Great Schism of the West. He was elected on November 21, 1417 and his fourteen year pontificate was highlighted by the beginning of the Renaissance. Martin was the first Pope to open a "Holy Door" at St. John Lateran Basilica.
Historical Events in Church Annals for February 18:
107 A.D.
Death of Saint Simeon , believed to be first cousin of Jesus and nephew of St. Joseph who became one of the first bishops. Some historians believe he was given a heavenly warning of the impending destruction of Jerusalem in 66 AD and gathered a group of faithful and fled the city, setting a safe distance away until returning to Jerusalem to rebuild it. Though many times he nearly met his martyrdom, it wasn't until 107 when, under the persecution of Emperor Trajan that he was scourged and crucified like his relative Christ had been 74 years before.
Historical Events in Church Annals for February 19:
452 A.D.
Death of Saint Odran, who, as the chariot/horse driver for Saint Patrick throughout Ireland. He is considered a martyr because when he learned of a plot by some pagan tribesmen to ambush the Irish bishop, he masqueraded as Patrick to save him, and rode into the gauntlet of certain death in order to give Patrick time to escape.
Historical Events in Church Annals for February 20:
302 A.D.
Death of the Martyrs of Tyre , also part of the contingent of Palestinians, not to be confused with the Palestinian martyrs who would die seven years later or the Phoenician martyrs a year after that.
Legend has it that these Egyptian Christians living in Palestine were rounded up and when they refused to offer up sacrifices to false idols, were made sport of by unleashing wild beasts on them.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Archbishop 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 word 'kindness' is derived from kindred or kin, and therefore implies an affection which we bear naturally to those who are our flesh and blood. The original and archetypal kindness is that of a parent for a child and a child for a parent, an idea which is preserved in the German language where Kind means 'child.' Gradually the word gained in extension until it embraced anyone whom we are to treat as a relative. Unkindness is therefore unnaturalness."
This weekend we observe Ordinary Time plus the Observance of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday and the SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and vignette on Saturday's feast, see DAILY LITURGY.
For the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time:
"Why are you arguing these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the parlytic, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee,' or to say, 'Arise, and take up thy pallet, and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins."
Through the stewardship of Catholic Journalism you can help us reach more souls by sending whatever you can to help keep the DailyCATHOLIC going strong since it is the only daily publication of its kind for Catholics anywhere in the world in daily promoting the truths of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Coming from all over the world, professing professions from fashion designer to painter to fine artist to musician to characaturist to actors, thousands of creative souls descended on Rome for Friday's special Jubilee for Artists where they are attending special events commemorating artists, highlighted by a Papal Mass and an address by His Holiness John Paul II, a bit of an artist himself. continued inside
VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Between 3,000 and 4,000 artists are expected to
participate in a special Jubilee observance at the Vatican on February 18.
Bishop Francesco Marchisano, the chief organizer of the artists' jubilee,
regards that figure as "more than satisfactory."
Architects, painters, sculptors, and musicians are expected to arrive in Rome
for the event. But the Jubilee organizers have also extended their invitation
to practitioners of the practical arts, and to those who work in the field of
fashion and style. The Jubilee will provide a time for reflection on the
vocation of the artist, Bishop Marchisano said.
The bishop pointed out to reporters that the Catholic Church has been a
leading patron of the arts for centuries. However, he said, the movement
toward modern art has produced a failure of understanding between artists
and the Church. Bishop Marchisano suggested that one outcome of the Jubilee
could be the formation of "strategies for rapprochement" between the world
of art and the world of faith.
One artist who will not be at the Jubilee for Artists physically, but surely in spirit is Charles Schulz, the esteemed and lovable creator of "Peanuts" - for fifty years a staple in bringing smiles to millions of people the world over. His ideas and drawings epitomized humanity's struggles with morals in a way that all could relate with. He died in Santa Rosa, California last Sunday and tributes have been pouring in from all over the world, the latest from L'Osservatore Romano who credited the St. Paul native nicknamed "Sparky" with revolutionizing the world of comics with his ideas and drawings, thus "elevating it to the level of art and of expression of thought" that brought smiles and a feel-good mentality to all. continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, FEB 17 (ZENIT).- Charles M. Schulz's comic strips were "a
lesson in style" for movie and television writers, according to the
semi-official Vatican newspaper. Yesterday, L'Osservatore Romano paid
moving homage to "Peanuts" author Charles M. Schulz, who died on Sunday.
"The Pencil that Made a Good Part of Humanity Smile Daily has Broken,"
was the headline of an article published in the papal newspaper.
Accompanying the article were illustrations of Charlie Brown, Lucy, and
Snoopy. This was the first time cartoons have appeared in the Vatican
newspaper.
"It has been said that Schulz revolutionized the world of comics. He was
an innovator who had two merits: he made the comic popular, allowing
everyone -- from the common people to professors, to realize the
communicative possibilities of this language and he ennobled it,
elevating it to the level of art and of expression of thought," Domenico
Volpi states in his article.
L'Osservatore Romano points out that Charlie Brown's creator achieved
success "without taking recourse to vulgarity"; in this way, he has
given "a lesson of moral cleanliness to young cartoonists and short
story writers: psychology and romanticism can create situations that
make one smile."
This is "a lesson in style that should make movie and television authors
reflect, who look too avidly for an easy laugh, perhaps because they do
not know anything else."
In the article published Tuesday in the Italian Catholic newspaper
"Avvenire," reference wass made to the Biblical allusions that appear in
the farewell letter that Schulz wrote to his readers. It also refers to
the fact that this genius of comedy of our century was a fervent
Christian of the Church of God, a Lutheran-Evangelical congregation in
which he had been a Sunday school teacher.
Schulz himself gave his approval to the trilogy dedicated to the
theology of "Peanuts" written by U.S. expert Robert L. Short. Those
books present Charlie Brown's and his friends' ups and downs as a clear
example of harmony between art and faith.
Schulz addressed, in a very special way, one the most incomprehensible
mysteries for the person with no faith: the suffering and illness of
children. This problem has been treated by great names in Christian
literature, such as Dostoievsky in "The Idiot," when he asks: "Why do
children die?" In the redeemed world described by Schulz, to which he
dedicated an essay, hope conquers all, and little Janice, the girl with
leukemia that introverted Linus falls in love with, is cured. In the
last strip, the cap that covered the baldness caused by chemotherapy
falls to the ground, and her magnificent blond hair grows again.
"This 'discarded cap' reminds us of the shroud that the women found in
the sepulcher on Easter morning. A symbol of resurrection, presented
discreetly and subtly, as Schulz was accustomed to do," the "Avvenire"
article concludes.
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