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THURSDAY January 20, 2000 vol. 11, no. 14 SECTION THREESee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Controversy is swirling anew over the Third Secret of Fatima as Father Rene Laurentin, one of the world's foremost Mariologists, contends in a new book called "Breviary for a New Millennium" just released by Italian journalist Giuseppe De Carli that Pope John XXIII was going to reveal the contents of the Third Secret of Fatima in 1960 while making preparations for Vatican II. But the late Pontiff's personal secretary Bishop Francesco Loris Capovilla vehemently denies those claims. Some are speculating Pope John Paul II will finally reveal the Secret during his Jubilee Pilgrimage to Fatima this year. continued inside
ROME, JAN 19 (ZENIT).- Bishop Francesco Loris Capovilla, former personal
secretary of John XXIII, denied the statements of French Mariologist
René Laurentin, according to whom "the third secret of Fatima could have
been revealed in 1960 during the period of preparation of Vatican
Council II."
Fr. Laurentin's statements were published in a book written by Italian
journalist Giuseppe De Carli, entitled "Breviary of the New Millennium"
(San Paolo).
"Laurentin is referring to rumors that were circulating at that time,
but there is no indication that allows one to think that the Pope hoped
to reveal the secret in 1960," Bishop Capovilla said.
According to a Roman newspaper, John Paul II is considering revealing
this secret when he travels to Fatima later this year to beatify the two
shepherds who were favored with apparitions of Mary in that Portuguese
town. This rumor has yet to be confirmed.
ZE00011910
During his regular Wednesday Papal Audience at Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father filled the audience in from the previous day's ecumenical events and entreated all to pray for Christian unity and for those who were sick or suffering to offer their crosses as victim souls for the fulfillment that all may be one as God wills. He targeted the youth as a key component in the crusade for communication with like brethren of other faiths in breaking down prejudices. continued inside.
VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- In his regular weekly public audience for
Wednesday, January 19, Pope John Paul II spoke about the previous day's
ecumenical celebration at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
The Holy Father told his audience in the Vatican's Paul VI auditorium that
prayers for Christian unity would be particularly needed during this Jubilee
year. (Yesterday marked the opening of the annual week of prayer for
Christian unity.) The Pontiff asked all Christians-- but especially young
people-- to be "apostles of dialogue, listening, and pardon." He asked those
who suffer from illness or other pain to offer up their suffering for that
intention. And he urged newly married couples to be "builders of
communion within their own families," offering an example of unity to the
world.
Pope John Paul also announced that he would a new series of catechetical
talks, on the subject of the Holy Trinity. He expects to develop that theme
during his Wednesday audiences throughout the Holy Year.
That is the question some are asking in anticipation of the Holy Father's historic "Jubilee Journey" to Egypt the end of next month in light of an interview with the Israeli archeologist who claims he rediscovered the true mount where Moses received the Ten Commandments. To everyone's surprise Emmanuel Anati claims it is not in Egypt but rather the Negeb desert in Israel. If that were true there are an awful lot of discrepancies in Genesis and Exodus. continued inside.
ROME, JAN 19 (ZENIT).- An Israeli archeologist claims to have discovered
the location of Mount Sinai. He states that Mount Har Karkon, in the
Israeli Negeb desert, was the location of the giving of the Ten
Commandments, not the Egyptian mountain usually accepted as the site,
and which the Holy Father will visit this February.
Emmanuel Anati's first contact with Mount Har Karkon was as a young,
24-year old archeologist. His attention was riveted by a protrusion in
the middle of the desert, which he felt was the silent witness of a
stirring history. Mount Har Karkon, in the Negeb desert, in Israeli
territory, kept a well-guarded secret: "There were unusual paintings.
Pictures of mountain goats and men at prayer. They did not adore an
image of the moon or the sun, but a sign without a picture: a simple
line, an entity not represented; this was the first thing that impressed
me," Anati said.
At the time, the young researcher did not know that many years later, in
1980 to be precise, he would return as head of an Italian archeological
mission and that this mountain would mark his professional life. On
January 24, Anati will present his latest book, published by Bayard and
entitled "The Mysteries of Mount Sinai," in which he recounts the
reasons that have brought him to the conviction that Har Karkon is the
real Sinai of which the Bible speaks.
The author says that Sinai is not north of the Red Sea, as Western
knights assumed during the Byzantine period. However, he admits that
decades of work will be necessary to prove that statement. Nonetheless,
there are findings that are favorable to its being the place of the
Commandments. "In the first place, we found the altar and 12 boundary
posts at the foot of the mount. Those 12 pillars are mentioned in the
pages of the Bible [Ex 24:4]. Then, some 60 meters away, the remains of
a Bronze Age camp. This is also mentioned in the Old Testament."
But this is not all. The archeologist continued with a story reminiscent
of the adventures of Indiana Jones. "We also identified that small cave
on the side of the mountain where, according to Sacred History, Moses
had to hide his face so as not to see God. Having arrived at this point,
the coincidences were impressive," explained Anati. "But last year our
mission came upon the last discovery that for me is decisive. In
parallel work, we excavated a protruding burial mound. We thought we
would find the tomb of a famous personage. Instead, it was a
commemorative burial mound. In the center, it had an altar, and
underneath, the vestiges of a fire. On the altar there was a white stone
in the shape of a half moon, about two feet long and weighing almost a
hundred pounds: the symbol of the moon god. It was a revelation -- in
Mesopotamian culture, the moon god is called Sin. Sinai, therefore, is
an attributive form equivalent to 'of Sin.' The Mesopotamian peoples,
whom we date at the beginning of the third millennium before Christ, had
dedicated Har Karkon to the god Sin. This also explains the mountain
goats on the stone paintings: the mountain goat is the sacred animal
associated with Sin. Therefore, this mount was the authentic Sinai, a
mountain already sacred 1,000 years before Moses."
Today, Anati's work is an enigma to study, to debate, and to prove.
Decades will go by until the information is consolidated, but the
hypothesis has certainly whetted researchers' curiosity. ZE00011902
Long after the Pope has completed his historic "Jubilee Journey" there will be an opportunity for 1000 political leaders from all over the world to follow in the footsteps of Saint Paul in a special pilgrimage from Bethlehem to Rome between October 26 and November 5 this year. At each stop on the pilgrimage an important global issue will be addressed to encompass the needs of all in encouraging the participants to help their people and join together for the good of all. continued inside.
ROME, JAN 19 (ZENIT).- Politicians have not been forgotten in the plans
for the Jubilee. The Vatican understands that the men and women who
decide policy have a unique opportunity to improve life for all
citizens. To celebrate the first Jubilee of Governors and
Parliamentarians, to be held November 5, the Jubilee Committee has
planned a special pilgrimage of preparation.
The pilgrimage will begin on October 26 in Bethlehem. 1,000 politicians
from all over the world will travel the length of the Mediterranean, in
St. Paul's footsteps, until they arrive in Rome on November 5 for the
Jubilee proper, which will be held in the Vatican.
The program for this pilgrimage of men and women politicians was
presented yesterday afternoon to the Diplomatic Corps accredited in the
Vatican and the Italian State.
Each stage of the journey will be linked to a burning issue of our day.
In Bethlehem, the topic will be the family; in Jerusalem, justice, peace
and disarmament; in Cyprus, cancellation of the foreign debt of the
poorest countries; in Ephesus, the dignity of woman; in Athens, Malta,
Syracuse, and Messina the debate will center on religious liberty,
youth, and the role of communication.
At least on this occasion, the politicians will not be the speakers.
Instead, they will hear experts from the 3 great monotheist religions.
In order to attend to the technical aspects of this pilgrimage, a mixed
commission was created directed by Hassan Kouach, president of the Human
Rights Commission of the Palestinian Parliament, and by Salah Tamir,
vice-president of the Israeli Knesset.
When addressing the meeting, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini
emphasized the pivotal character of questions linked to human rights,
rejecting frequently heard accusations that in this area a Western view
is likely to be imposed. "In principle, no one can deny that every man
and woman has the right to life and physical, moral and cultural
integrity, and has a right to his or her own dignity and
self-expression, independently of religion, race, or country..."
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican Secretary for Relations with
States, expressed the hope that the pilgrimage's program would not be
turned into an intellectual debate, but would leave adequate time for
prayer and the spiritual dimension.
Bishop Crescenzio Sepe secretary general of the Vatican Jubilee
Committee, recalled that the Holy Year must be an opportunity to reflect
on the direction of historical and social evolution and the way these
can be improved and corrected. The Bishop also mentioned the surprising
interest that the world of politics has shown in the Jubilee of
Governors and Parliamentarians and hoped that this initiative would
become a traditional event in future Holy Years.
ZE00011905
Once a thriving tourist destination, the Island of Lombok in the Indonesian archepelago will soon be a ghost town as tourists are being evacuated following days of heavy violence, looting and torching Christian sites, churches and homes. Hotel owners, fearful of being identified as pro-Christian have gone out of their way to shun Christians and make it known they are pro-Islam leaving most Christians high and dry. continued inside.
Many of the resorts and hotels on the island posted signs expressing support for Islam or declaring that they are Muslim-owned in an attempt to ward off attacks by extremist Muslims. No hotels have been directly attacked, but several bars and restaurants were burned in addition to dozens of churches and other buildings. The attacks began on Monday following a rally to protest Christian-Muslim violence in the eastern Maluku province that has left over 2,000 people dead in the past year.
Hundreds of riot police and soldiers have been called into the region as nearly 3,000 Christians, most of them ethnic Chinese, sought refuge in police stations and military bases. Even so, crowds of men wearing white Muslim caps blocked access roads to Lombok's Lembar ferry terminal Wednesday. Some said they were checking cars for Christians.
Interreligious violence began in the Malukus as the majority-Muslim country slid into its worst economic crisis in decades and political turmoil rose. Some extremist Muslim leaders have called for a holy war against Christians.
The Spanish Bishops have made an appeal to the Holy See that if Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross are both Doctors of the Church, then shouldn't their teacher and spiritual advisor Saint John of Avila be declared the same. He was a tireless champion for the Eucharist, preaching the importance of adoration throughout Spain despite being imprisoned by enemies for his dauntless defense of Church dogma. continued inside.
MADRID, (ZENIT) - The Spanish Episcopal Conference has petitioned
the Holy See, requesting the Holy Father to declare St. John of Avila a
doctor of the Universal Church. The Bishops highlight the figure of the
saint as a model for the new evangelization in his work as catechist and
pioneer in educational and cultural pastoral care, but also because of
his concern for vocations, and his outstanding life of poverty and
prayer. In his preaching and writings St. John of Avila stressed the
sacramental dimension of Christianity, particularly the Eucharist.
St. John of Avila was the founder of a University and numerous schools,
as well as three centers for the continuing education of the clergy. In
addition, he was the author of an original catechism in verse, which was
so successful "that the Jesuits used it in their schools; it was used in
the greater part of Spain, especially in America, and even in Africa,"
the Episcopal Conference emphasized.
ZE00011407
A highlight of the Jubilee Year outside of Rome will be the World Expo 2000 to be held in Hanover, Germany for five months beginning June 1st in which 40 million are projected to pass through the modern, reverent exhibit that will be in circular structure of glass and wood with displays of art work from the Vatican and display panels on important moral issues today. continued inside.
HANOVER, (ZENIT) - The Vatican has prepared a pavilion for World
Expo 2000, to be held in Hanover, Germany, from June 1 to October 31.
Apostolic Nuncio Giovanni Lajolo was present for the ceremony.
The central space of the Vatican pavilion, which is made of glass and
wood, will be surrounded by a construction in the shape of a ring. In
the main building there will be a single picture of the face of Christ;
in the ring there will be sculptures from the Vatican Museums and
photographic panels illustrating subjects of the social doctrine of the
Church.
Special emphasis will be placed on the topics of peace, children, women,
the family, the dignity of suffering man. The pavilion has the same
motto as the Jubilee: "Christ Yesterday, Today, and Forever,"
integrating with the main theme of Expo 2000: "Man, Nature, and
Technology." After the Exposition closes, the pavilion will be used as a
social center in Latvia.
Archbishop Lajolo explained that the Vatican decided to take part in
Expo 2000 because it "offers a world vision of the state of modern
civilization and its prospects for the third millennium." Moreover, he
added, "40 million visitors are expected."
"To all those who come to this pavilion, the Holy See will speak in
favor of man in his social reality, with its positive and negative
aspects, and with his hopes, which must be inspired by values that do
not deteriorate," the Apostolic Nuncio said.
At the entrance of the ring-shaped section, there will be a sign in
several languages summarizing the Vatican pavilion's message: "Man is
the way of the Church; Christ is the way of man." ZE00011407
