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TUESDAY January 25, 2000 vol. 11, no. 17 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Today we continue with our new series in the search to uncover the wonderful treasures of the Church contained in the great Deposit of Faith, concentrating on the Books of the New Testament with today introducing Paul's Letters to Philemon and Hebrews. For the ninty-fifth installment, see APPRECIATING THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF OUR FAITH
During his first Roman imprisonment 61-63 A.D.), Saint Paul came to know a slave named Onesimus, who had deserted his master Philemon, a wealthy Christian of Colossae in Phrygia. After the Apostle had won the fugitive over to Christianity, he looked for a favorable opportunity to send him back to his master. This opportunity offered itself when he was dispatching a letter to the Colossians in tye year 63 A.D. Onesimus accompanied St. Paul's messenger Tychious (Col. 4, 7-9). To Philemon the Apostle addressed the touching appeal, entreating his friend to deal kindly with the runaway.
Apart from some doubts expressed unofficially in the West before the fourth century, the traditional Catholic view has always maintained the Pauline authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, at least in the sense that it was conceived by Saint Paul and written under his direction. Its thought is thoroughly Pauline, and much of its phraseology is also distinctly Pauline. The excellent literary style however, is generally superior to that found in the other Epistles of St. Paul, and ranks with the best in the New Testament.
The time, place of composition and destination of the Epistle are not stated explicitly, and there is but little evidence elsewhere bearing upon these matters. Opinions, based on the few vague indications available, differ widely. As plausible as any is the common view that the Episstle was written at Rome about 63 A.D., shortly after St. Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment, and that it was destined for the Jewish Christians of Palestine, who under the stress of trials were in danger of relapsing into Judaism.
The Epistle described most eloquently the eminent superiority of the new dispensation over the old. Inaugurated by the Son of God Himself, this new dispensation was God's final revelation to man. It completed the message of the prophets, and brought to perfection all that was of permanent value in the Mosaic covenant. The Incarnate Son of God was its High Priest, and His glorious sacrifice was truly efficacious before God in the forgiveness of sin. As suffering and humiliatin had an important place in His victory, His followers are exhorted to forego worldly advantage, to bear their trials patiently, and to persevere heroically in the faith.
Tomorrow: The Epistle of St. James the Apostle
Today is the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, while tomorrow we commemorate the Feast of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and vignettes on these feasts, see DAILY LITURGY.
The other bishop whose feast we celebrate today - Saint Titus was converted with Timothy, but unlike Timothy, was pagan born and not tutored by his parents in the faith. Titus was invited to join Paul and Saint Barnabas to the Council of Jerusalem with the other Apostles. Paul, as is confirmed in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, had great trust in Titus and appointed him bishop of the Church in Crete. There he died at an old age, also a peaceful death. Both, along with Saint John, were a few of the only ones not martyred for their faith. Titus holds a special place in the hearts of Croatians.
O God, Who has taught the whole world by the preaching of Blessed Paul the Apostle; mercifully grant that we, who this day celebrate the memory of his conversion may, by following his example, advance in the way that leads to You.
"Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned."
On this date 41 years ago while at St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls to celebrate the Apostle's Feast, Pope John XXIII shocked the world by announcing he would hold an Ecumenical Council which would be the landmark Second Vatican Council which is still, after thirty five years, so misunderstood. Many were surprised that this Pontiff, who had been elected as an "interim Pope" to succeed Pope Pius XII three months earlier on October 28, 1958 would have the "gumption" to call such a monumental meeting which was more than a "temporary caretaker" of the Papal throne should undertake according to his skeptics. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on this date, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
380 A.D.
Death of Saint Bretannion, Bishop of Tomi in Scythia on the Black Sea. Because of his undying loyalty to Rome and belief in Christ's Divinity, the Arian Emperor Valens stripped St. Bretannion of his rightful bishopric and exiled him, but the total revolt of the people of his diocese forced Valens to reinstall him.
395 A.D.
Death of Saint Apollo, an Egyptian anchorite who attracted over 500 monks to his hermitage outside of Hermopolis in Greece. He was elected abbot and intended to stay on, but the great threat posed by Julian the Apostate prompted Apollo to vacate his role as abbot to go back into the world to combat the heresies being spread about the Divinity of Jesus.
460 A.D.
Death of Saint Donwenna, a virgin from Wales whose smile and loving spirituality moved many to consider her the patron saint of lovers in her region with many legends attributed to her, but they remain just that, legends and her cult really only exists in Welsh circles.
597 A.D.
Death of Saint Eochod, who was a disciple of Saint Columba and was dispatched to northern Britain. He is considered the Apostle of the Picts of Galloway.
676 A.D.
Death of Saint Praejectus, Bishop of Clermont, France. This eloquent and wise preacher founded numerous monasteries, churches and hospitals throughout his see in Auvergne.
660 A.D.
Death of Saint Ragnobert, first Frankish Bishop of the Diocese of Autun.
844 A.D.
Death of Pope Gregory IV, 101st successor of Peter. This Roman-born pontiff was elected on September 20, 827. During his seventeen year pontificate Gregory organized a powerful army under the command of the Duke of Tuscany which defeated the Saracens in Africa five times. These however, having landed in Italy, destroyed Civitavechia and Ostia and threatened Rome. He died as the Saracens stormed the gates.
1048 A.D.
Death of Saint Poppo, Benedictine abbot of Stavelot. After repenting of his wayward life in the military by making pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem in penitence for his sins, he became a Benedictine monk and played a significant role in reviving monastic life throughout Flanders.
1533 A.D.
King Henry VIII seals his fate and the fate of the Church throughout England by marrying Anne Boleyn after divorcing his wife Catherine of Aragon.
1959 A.D.
Pope John XXIII, less than three months after having been chosen the 261st successor of Peter, made the startling announcement outside St. Paul outside-the-walls Church that he was going to convene the Second Vatican Council as well as a diocesan synod of Bishops for Rome, and revise Canon Law. He held the synod a year later at St. John Lateran, the first such synod of Bishops in Rome's long history.
Historical Events in Church Annals for January 25:
363 A.D.
Death of Saint Juventinus and Saint Maximinus, both infantrymen under Julian the Apostate. Because they would not abandon their faith or oppose Rome and not follow the heresies of Julian, the Eastern emperor had them whipped and decapitated in Antioch.
That's a far stretch to tie in the three films we review today, but how else do you introduce them? The best of the lot is the sentimental, warm-hearted video "Come to the Stable" from 1949 starring Celeste Holm and Loretta Young as French nuns acclimating to American culture. The other we recommend for just plain escape is last year's hit "The Mummy" and the only new video released this week is Julia Robert's fun and innocent vehicle "Runaway Bride" For the reviews of these videos, see VIDEOS & VIRTUES
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".
"Physiological motherhood is glorified by cooperation with God Himself, Who fathered the baby's soul and then permitted a woman to clothe it in her flesh. The human mother does not bear a mere animal but a human being, made to the image and likeness of the God Who created it. "
NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit.
Dear children! This is the time of grace. Little children, today in a special way with little Jesus, Whom I hold in my embrace, I am giving you the possibility to decide for peace.Through your 'yes' for peace and your decision for God, a new possibility for peace is opened. Only in this way, little children, this century will be for you a time of peace and well-being. Therefore, put little newborn Jesus in the first place in your life and He will lead you on the way of salvation. Thank you for having responded to my call.
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