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FRI-SAT-SUN January 7-9, 2000 vol. 11, no. 5 SECTION TWO
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Italy's 86 year-old Cardinal Ersilio Tonino has been called the "Mother Teresa" of the cardinals for his work with the poor and downtrodden
We continue with this special series introducing you to the Princes of the Church. Our one-hundred-forty-second red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is 86 year-old Cardinal Ersilio Tonino, Archbishop emeritus of Ravenna-Cervia who retired on October 27, 1990 after fifteen years in that post. During that time he often left his comfortable bishop's quarters to live and care for the street people. He was elevated to the cardinalate during the Consistory of November 26, 1994 by Pope John Paul II. For more on Cardinal Ersilio Tonino, go to COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION
142. Cardinal Ersilio Tonini
Cardinal Ersilio Tonini was born during the last days of Pope Saint Pius X's pontificate on July 20, 1914 in the village of Cenovera di San Giorgio Piacentino, Italy. He has lived during the reigns of nine Sovereign Pontiffs. So embued with a vocation was young Ersilio that he entered the seminary at the unusual age of eleven in Piacenza. and became a priest on April 18, 1937 at only 23. He was immediately appointed Vice-Rector of the Piacenza Seminary where he also taught Latin, Italian and Greek until 1939 when he was called to Rome during the war. In 1943 he returned to Piacenza and became editor of the Diocese's weekly newspaper. On October 14, 1953 his bishop assigned him to a parish in Salsomaggiore where he was introduced first hand to the poverty and the problems of the downtrodden. After fifteen years the parishioners were heartbroken to see him leave when he was appointed Rector of the Piacenza Seminary in September 1968. A year later Pope Paul VI named him Bishop of Macerata-Tolentino on April 28, 1969 and he was ordained and installed on June 2 of the same year.
On November 22, 1975 the Holy Father transferred him to the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia where he remained until his resignation on October 27, 1990 when he retired at the age of 76. But his greatest honor was yet to come for His Holiness Pope John Paul II named him in his Consistory of November 26, 1994 and at the ripe old age of 80 he received his red-hat and the titular church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Val Melaina. It was more as an honor to this dedicated man than for his service to the cardinalate for he was no longer eligible for the Sacred Conclave and remains today in retirement at Via Santa Teresa 8, 48100 in Ravenna, Italy.
Cardinal Tonini gained fame while Archbishop of Ravenna when he left his comfortable quarters in the Bishop's palace to minister to the poor derelicts and addicts in the streets and help out at the St. Teresa Institute in Ravenna caring for the sick. Thus, he became known around Ravenna as the "Mother Teresa of Ravenna."
WEEKEND LITURGY
Friday is both the Feast of the priest Saint Raymond of Penafort and the FIRST FRIDAY of the new millennium. Saturday we commemorate the Final Day in the week of Epiphany as we head into Ordinary Time after Sunday's Feast of the BAPTISM OF THE LORD For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and vignettes on these feasts, click on DAILY LITURGY.
Friday, January 7, 2000
Friday January 7:
Weekday in the Days of Christmas and
Feast of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest and Religious
White vestments
First Reading: 1 John 4: 5: 5-13
Psalms: Psalm 72: 1-2, 14-15, 17
Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 12-16
Feast of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest and Religious
Born at Penyafort in Catalonia, Spain in 1175, Saint Raymond was a scholarly genius, evident by the fact
he was teaching philosophy in Barcelona at the early age of 20. By the time he was 35 he had resigned to
study law at Bologna, Italy where he acquired a doctorate in 1216. Two years later Bishop Berengarius of
Barcelona, proud of Raymond's achievements, made him an archdeacon which led to Raymond's vocation
as a Dominican. The ensuing years brought fame to Raymond for his preaching throughout Spain as he
addressed both Moors and Christians who had been freed from Moorish slavery, an endeavor Raymond
played a pivotal role in from preaching the Spanish crusade which ultimately freed the Spanish slaves.
Along with Saint Peter Nolasco, Raymond cofounded the Mercedarians in 1223, which was a lay order
called the Order of Our Lady of Ransom and whose specific purpose was to raise money to ransom the
Christian slaves. Raymond was St. Peter Nolasco's spiritual director. Raymond became spiritual confessor
to Pope Gregory IX in 1230. It was there in Rome where Raymond was assigned the task of collecting and codifying papal decrees. His massive work, released in 1150, became the cornerstone for canon law. It
was also during this time that he was appointed papal penitentiary which led to his writing Summa casuum
and which would have an influential effect on the penial system throughout Europe during the middle ages.
In 1235 Raymond was consecrated Archbishop of Tarragona, Spain. It was a position he did not want for he
wanted to be with the people and felt as bishop he could not dedicate time to preaching or studies. He
became very ill a year later and requested the Holy Father to rescind his appointment as bishop so he could
return to his beloved Spain where, after recuperating, resumed his preaching duties. Three years later he
was named Master General of the Dominican Order. In this position he wrote a revision of the Dominican
constitution, one that would stand until 1924 and then, at the age of 65, resigned his position with the
Dominicans. Though it was the end of his official titles with the Dominicans it was not the end of his
ministry for he would go on to preach for 35 more years, living to the ripe old age of 99, passing into God's
embrace on January 6, 1275 in Barcelona, just shy of becoming a centarian. In those final years Raymond
not only founded friaries in Tunis and Murcia, introduced the study of Arabic and Hebrew in Dominican
circles to better understand Sacred Scripture and to preach to the non-Christians of the mideast during the
Crusades, but also assisted in establishing the Inquisition in Catalonia, Spain. Raymond was canonized in
1601 by Pope Clement VIII.
CENTER>Saturday, January 8, 2000
First Reading: 1 John 5: 14-21
Psalms: Psalm 147: 12-15, 19-20
Gospel Reading: John 3: 22-30
SUNDAY, January 9, 2000
First Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 55: 1-11
Psalms: Psalm 29: 1-4, 9-11
Second Reading: Acts 10: 34-38 or 1 John 5: 1-9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1: 7-11
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
It is fitting that the First Week in Ordinary Time for the new year begins with the Feast of the Baptism of Our
Lord for He began His three year ministry by humbling Himself as He waded into the River Jordan to
institute the Sacrament of Baptism administered by the one who made "ready the way of the Lord"(Luke
3:4). That was, of course, His friend and cousin Saint John the Baptizer son of Zachary and Elizabeth. John knew he wasn't worthy to perform this task for he knew who Jesus truly was. After all, it was John who "leapt for joy" in his mother's womb and John had said to the crowds in today's Gospel Reading of Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water, for repentance. But He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." God also chose this time to give a sign to all present, a manifestation of Himself in endorsing His Divine Son with the
words recorded in today's Gospel: "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." Isn't this what we seek? To have God approve of our lives? Jesus gave us a head start with the Sacrament of Baptism,
initiating us into His Holy Church where, if we follow her directives obediently, we too will someday join
Jesus and all His Saints in Heaven.
Monday, January 10, 2000
First Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 1-8
Psalms: Psalm 97: 1-2, 6-7, 9
Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 14-20
"Stuart Little" continues to be the mouse that roared, retaking first place over the holidays
Top Ten Movies over the Holidays
A little mouse named "Stuart Little" continued to hold strong at the box office, beating out all comers and regaining the top spot from last week's leader "Any Given Sunday" which slipped all the way to fifth. Both "Toy Story 2" and "The Green Mile" showed staying power by finishing third and fourth respectively. For the Top Ten reviews for the final week of the second millennium, prepared by the NCCB, go to MOVIES AND MORALS
1. STUART LITTLE
$16 million in last week: $79.4 million in three weeks
Because of scenes of menace and a few cuss words, the
U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents..
The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance
suggested. "Stuart Little" is a fetching live-action fantasy in which a talking
white mouse (voice of Michael J. Fox) is happily adopted as the younger
son in a human family (in which Geena Davis plays the mom) only to be
targeted as a meal by mean neighborhood alleycats. As loosely adapted
from E. B. White's 1945 classic, the cheery tale has ample visual appeal,
though purists may find the neatly happy ending a cop-out to the author's
more probing tale of self-discovery.
2. THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
$12.4 million last week/ $39.8 million in two weeks:
Because of occasional gory violence, and implied affair,
discreet homosexual innuendo, fleeting full nudity and a few instances of rough language, the
U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV -- adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is R -- restricted. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" is a disquieting
melodrama set in 1958 Italy where, after befriending a rich expatriate couple (played by Jude
Law and Gwyneth Paltrow), an impoverished young American assumes his identity and
stops at nothing to keep the risky charade going. Adapted from Patricia Highsmith's 1955
novel, a chilling cautionary tale of materialism expanding to grotesque evil unfolds replete with
seductive visuals and sleek performances -- but an ambiguous ending.
3. TOY STORY 2
$12.3 million last week/ $208.8 million in seven weeks:
The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I --
general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G
-- general audiences. In "Toy Story 2" the animated adventures of toys
that come to life when humans aren't around continues as cowboy
Woody voiced by Tom Hanks is stolen by a greedy toy collector, sending Woody's toy buddies, led by Buzz Lightyear, the voice of Tim Allen, on a breathless rescue mission. Featuring even better animation, the briskly paced cartoon sequel is slightly less original,
but zippy action scenes and gentle humor should amuse small fry and grown-ups alike.
4. THE GREEN MILE
$11.8 million last week/ $76.7 million in four weeks:
Because of some violence including an horrific electrocution, occasional profanity and
intermittent rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. "The Green Mile" is a prison drama set in 1935 Louisana where death-row head guard Tom Hanks comes to believe in the innocence of a huge, gentle black man played superbly by Michael Clarke Duncan whose miraculous healing powers affect those around him in startling ways. Adapted from the serialized 1996 Stephen King novel, the movie is unduly long but presents affecting character studies of good and evil men with spiritual undertones and a sobering depiction of capital punishment.
5. ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
$11.7 million last week/ $45.8 million in two weeks:
Because of much stylized violence, brutality, sexual situations,
locker-room frontal nudity, drug abuse, recurring rough language and occasional profanity,
the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV - adults, with reservations.. The Motion
Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. "Any Given Sunday" is a frenetically
jumbled look at a professional football team trying to make the play-offs under veteran coach
Al Pacino who puts his career on the line by starting an ailing but reliable old-timer as
quarterback rather then the hotshot young maverick favored by the club's devious owner
(played by Cameron Diaz). The strictly formula sports story follows the underdogs to the big
game in a jazzed-up narrative with jarring scenes of physical and verbal violence on and off
the field, in locker rooms, bedrooms and corporate suites, while the coach philosophizes,
cajoles, screams and whispers about team unity and the game's dignity.
6. GALAXY QUEST
$9.7 million last week/ $27.3 million in two weeks:
No available review from the NCCB as of yet.
7. BICENTENNIAL MAN
$8.1 million last week: $39.4 million in three weeks
Because of mild sexual innuendo and references, as
well as occasional profanity, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is
A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America
rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. "Bicentennial Man" is a
futuristic fantasy in which a family robot (played by Robin Williams) actively
seeks to become fully human over two centuries and eventually to marry the
family's great-granddaughter. The bland tale examines what it is to be
human in terms of free will, love and mortality, but its poky pace blunts
interest in the robot's earnest quest.
8. DEUCE BIGALOW: MALE GIGOLO
$5.6 million last week/ $46.4 million in four weeks:
Because of sexual situations, comically
intended violence, brief rear nudity and occasional profanity, the U.S.
Catholic Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture
Association of America rating is R -- restricted. In "Deuce Bigalow: Male
Gigolo" a klutzy loser (played by Rob Schneider) tries and fails at temporary
male prostitution in order to pay for accidentally wrecking his boss’s condo.
The pathetically unfunny comedy dredges up lame double entendres and
toilet humor when not mocking characters with assorted physical diseases
and disabilities who resort to paying for male companionship.
9. MAN ON THE MOON
$5.4 million last week:/ $24.6 million in two weeks
Because of sexual situations with nudity, a live-in relationship, brief
wrestling violence, occasional profanity and sporadic rough language, the U.S. Catholic
Conference classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is
R -- restricted. "Man on the Moon" is an uninvolving biography about 1970s-80's comedian
Andy Kaufman (played by Jim Carrey), whose peculiar sense of humor, elaborte charades
and abrasive style drew some ardent admirers and a largely indifferent public by the time of
his death at age 35. Despite Carrey's uncanny performance, no insights emerge about the
oddball entertainer and viewers may wonder why this marginal figure merited a major motion
picture biography.
10. ANNA AND THE KING
$5.36 million last week: $24.7 million in three weeks
Because of sporadic violence and references to
polygamy and concubines, the U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II
-- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating
is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be
inappropriate for children under 13. In "Anna and the King", 19th-century
English schoolmarm Jodie Foster and imperious king of Siam Chow Yun-Fat
learn much from each other as she teaches his 58 children, while a
duplicitous general plots to kill the king and all his heirs. After a sluggish start
the lavish historical drama goes beyond sumptuous visuals to explore
contrasting East-West cultures and beliefs while maintaining suspense
about the assassination plot.
While the reviews by the NCCB are very good and provide the ratings, we have discovered another site which will give you a much more detailed survey of what to watch out for. Just click on Christian Analysis of Culture Alert.
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Finally the long-awaited books "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." and THE HIDDEN WAY are NOW available!
With the messages completed, you can now order the book that contains ALL the messages. This much-anticipated 224-page book of ALL the messages to the world imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart from the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a lasting gift that will inspire you in your faith, and all God asks of us. You can acquire your own handsome, coffee-table top copy of "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." containing all 632 messages or the THE HIDDEN WAY containing 100 inspirational Meditative Lessons from Our Lord and Our Lady on Church Doctrine by clicking on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." or THE HIDDEN WAY or both books at BOOKS
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January 7-9, 2000 volume 11, no. 5
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