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THURSDAY January 13, 2000 vol. 11, no. 9 SECTION TWOSee why so many consider the Daily CATHOLIC as the "USA Today for CATHOLICS!"
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Today we at the DailyCATHOLIC indulge ourselves in acknowledging a special date for the Church and this publication for it is the 77th birthday of our spiritual director who this editor has known since 1956. He is Father Al Svobodny, OMI, born in Minneapolis on this date in 1923. For more on this remarkable, loving priest who is affectionately known as "Uncle Al" to so many, see Father Al. For other time capsule events that happened in Church history on this date, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES
262 A.D. Martyrdom of forty Roman soldiers who had converted to Christianity. When the Roman emperor Gallienus discovered their allegiance to the one true God he had them killed as they marched on the Via Lavicana.
322 A.D. Death of Saint Glaphyra, a Christian slave of the emperor's wife Constantia. Her husband Licinius wanted Glaphyra to become a concubine, but she escaped the Byzantine court and took refuge with Saint Basileus who was the bishop at that time. Yet soldiers forcibly entered the bishop's residence and took her prisoner and she died enroute to being martyred.
323 A.D. Death of the first slavic saints - the deacon Saint Hermylus and his servant Saint Stratonicus who were both martyred by drowning in the Danube River at the order of the emperor Licinius who would later that same year be defeated by Constantine at Adrianople thus giving Christians the right to worship.
333 A.D. Death of Saint Agrecius, bishop of Trier. Legend has it that he bought the garment that was believed to be Jesus seamless tunic, called the "Holy Coat of Trier." St. Agrecius greatly assisted Pope Saint Sylvester I's policies at the Council of Arles.
337 A.D. Death of Saint Leontius, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia who took an active part as one of the Council Fathers in the First Ecumenical Council where the "Creed" was formulated during the pontificate of Pope Saint Sylvester I who convened the Council of Nicaea in 325.
368 A.D. Death of Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers and Doctor of the Church. For more on this saint, see DAILY LITURGY
612 A.D. Death of Saint Kentigern, the son of Saint Thenaw. After he became a bishop in Ireland, he was forced to flee pagan persecution and settled in Wales and then migrated north to Scotland where he evangelized the faith in Glasgow where he built and restored churches including the Glasgow cathedral where he is buried.
850 A.D. Death of Saint Gumersindus a pastor of the local parish in Cordova, Spain and Saint Servusdei, a Benedictine monk. Both were martyred for their faith in Cordova during the persecution of the Saladin Abderrahman II.
927 A.D. Death of Saint Berno of Cluny, first Benedictine abbot of the famous monastery at Cluny. He is generally regarded as the founder of the influential Cluny abbey in 910.
1097 A.D. Death of Blessed Hidemar of Arrouaise, an Augustinian hermit who founded the Arrouaise monastery. He died on this date when a fellow cleric, having a vendetta against him, disguised himself as a novice to gain the inner sanctum of Hidemar's cell where he stabbed him to death.
1381 A.D. Death of Saint Colette, abbess and reformer of the Poor Clares.
1497 A.D. Death of Saint Veronica of Binasco, mystic and religious victim soul who experienced mystical pains and ecstasies throughout her life as a victim soul. At age 52, she died on the exact day she had been told she would by the Blessed Mother six months before.
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".
"No matter how many hairs a man has in his head, it hurts to have even one pulled out. No matter how much capital a man has, it hurts to touch even a cent of it. He knows 'he can't take it with him' so he denies there is any place to go; whereas, the Christian way is to use money that those who are helped may be our intercessors in Heaven."
While no one is saying so, the Holy Father's constant reminders of the Blessed Virgin Mary vital role in salvation prompts one to hope that he has not abandoned plans for declaring the Fifth Dogma. We suspect he is still waiting for that right time to officially declare this important, beautiful Dogma on the Mother of God. He's hopefully heading on that course with his most recent Wednesday General Papal Audience at Paul VI Hall yesterday, pointing out misconceptions on Our Lady's role and how Mary always shines the limelight away from her in leading us to her Divine Son Jesus as the bridge between God and man. continued inside
VATICAN CITY, JAN 12 (ZENIT).- In today's General Audience, John Paul II
explained Mary's role in salvation history and in the lives of
individual believers. As a completion to last year's series of
catechesis on the Father, the Pope sought to clarify her role in our
journey to the Father.
John Paul II said that over the past four centuries, there have been
numerous misunderstandings relating to Mary's role, which have caused
controversies that are altogether unfounded.
Expanding on this topic, John Paul II referred to Pius IX's bull, "Ineffabilis Deus," which defined the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. "Mary herself was redeemed by Christ and thus is the first of the redeemed, because the grace given her by the Father at the beginning of her existence is due to the 'merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human species.' "
In speaking to more than 7,000 pilgrims who gathered in Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, the Holy Father said that, in fact, "Mary does not wish to draw attention to her person. She lived on earth with her gaze fixed on Jesus and the Celestial Father. Her strongest desire is to make all turn their gaze in the same direction. She wishes to promote a gaze of faith and hope in the Savior sent to us by the Father."
"Mary makes the same request of us today," asserted the Holy Father. Consequently, if "we do what Christ asks us to do, the millennium that is approaching will be able to have a new face, more evangelical and more genuinely Christian, and so respond to Mary's most profound aspirations."
"Here is the value of Mary's life: fulfillment of the divine will. Accompanied and sustained by Mary, by way of acknowledgment let us receive the new Millenium from the Father's hands and be determined to correspond to his grace with humble and generous devotion," concluded the Pope. ZE00011202
The Holy Father was overwhelmed yesterday when a group containing 300 lay missionary youths presented him with a massive parchment which had been signed by a million other youths throughout 30 Italian cities compiled last year. It brought tears to his eyes and he quipped that he was not old, but very much young at heart and all who know him would agree 100% with his assessment. continued inside.
VATICAN CITY, JAN 12 (ZENIT).- This morning 300 lay missionary boys and
girls gave the Holy Father a half-mile-long roll of parchment with a
million signatures promoting World Youth Day, which will be held this
year in 30 Italian cities with the participation of the most important
leaders of the world.
Ernesto Olivero, founder of the Youth Missionary Service (SERMIG), the
organization responsible for the initiative, met the Pope personally at
the end of today's General Audience. The most significant part of the
message signed by the youth read: "when I am weak, then I know I am
strong." After reading these words out loud, Olivero said to the Pope:
"Holy Father, you are a friend of youth, friend of the future, enemy of
fear, friend of God. Thank you for your old age!"
At this point, the Holy Father interrupted him and said: "But I am not
old."
"That's true. You are very young. You are always with youth," SERMIG's
founder said.
The Pope was impressed by the long scroll and began to read some of the
signatures. Speaking to the young lay missionaries, the Pontiff asked
them to help their friends "to rediscover the incalculable gift of life
and to use their great potential to do good."
"Be credible signs of God's tenderness in this world that is facing the
third millennium. Let your contagious enthusiasm and conviction in the
logic of the Gospel touch those who are victims of a dangerous culture
of violence, or who are living the exhilarating stage of youth in a
banal way or in despair," the Holy Father exhorted.
He continued, "At the beginning of this extraordinary Jubilee Year, in
which the Lord is opening to all the doors of mercy, the task of being
peacemakers of peace is indispensable to implement brotherhood in
justice in the world, which will restore to each person the joy and
honor of being called to form part of the family of God."
ZE00011203
While Iraq and Egypt are still being worked out, the Holy See made it official in a joint announcement by the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, and other representatives in Jordan and in Bethlehem yesterday: The Holy Father will begin his historic "Jubilee Journey" by walking in the footsteps of Our Lord from Bethlehem to Nazareth to the River Jordan to the Sea of Galilee, to the upper room in Jerusalem where he will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where the very first Mass was said by Christ. His journey between March 20 to 26 will take him to Jordan, Israel and Palestine in one of the most ambitious and historic pilgrimages ever. continued inside.
JERUSALEM, JAN 12 (ZENIT).- John Paul II's long dreamed-of pilgrimage to
the Holy Land will take place from March 20-26. The Holy Father will
visit Jordan, Israel, and the Autonomous Palestinian Territory. The
announcement was made simultaneously this morning in the Vatican,
Jerusalem, Amman, and Bethlehem.
In Jordan, the Pope will visit Mount Nebo Monastery, from where Moses
saw the Promised Land, without the joy of touching it, but with the
certainty of having arrived at its doors. The Holy Father will celebrate
Mass in the Amman Stadium.
Then His Holiness will preside over the celebration of the Eucharist in
Bethlehem, the Cenacle of the Last Supper (in Jerusalem), the Mount of
the Beatitudes in Galilee, the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth,
and the Holy Sepulcher (in Jerusalem), accompanied by members of the
Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. John Paul II will hold
an ecumenical meeting with heads of Christian Churches in the land of
Jesus' birth.
John Paul will visit the holiest site in Judaism, the Western Wall, as
well as Islam's third holiest site, the Al Aqsa mosque. Palestinian
officials said he also will stop at a Palestinian refugee camp.
His Holiness will also meet the King of Jordan, the President and Prime
Minister of Israel, and the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority.
The question of Pope's security is laden with political connotations, especially in East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967, a move that is not recognized by the Vatican or by many other countries. The Patriarch explained that "This problem will be resolved by those responsible for security in virtue of the de facto situation -- not the law."
Another reporters insisted on the possibility of political expectations. "No," Patriarch Sabbah replied. The "expectations of the Pope's trip are of a spiritual, religious, and human nature."
The reporters pressed for the reason why the Holy Father will visit the major Palestinian and Israeli political representatives. This relates to the "message of peace in justice and in reconciliation," Patriarch Sabbah responded.
Finally the reporters addressed the construction of a Mosque in Nazareth, overshadowing the Basilica of the Annunciation. The Patriarch replied that "the search for a solution to this controversy is making headway and has nothing to do with His Holiness' visit."
In Jordan, the King himself announced the Pope's visit; in Jerusalem, the Israeli government, which promised the trip would have "the highest degree of grandeur, distinction and security, as befitting a dignitary of this stature"; and in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Authority, which called the visit "a blessing for the Palestinian people." ZE00011204
Add another country to those enjoying diplomatic relations with the Vatican when Bahrain in the Persian Gulf will officially establish an agreement with the Holy See. The announcement was made after the Emir of Bahrain, who wants to improve relations between Muslim and Christian in his country, met with the Holy Father in a private audience in Rome yesterday. continued inside.
VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Holy See will soon establish formal
diplomatic relations with Bahrain, according to announcements
issued simultaneously in Rome and in Manama, the capital of the
Persian Gulf state.
That January 12 announcement came just weeks after the emir of
Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Essa al-Khalifa, was received at the
Vatican by Pope John Paul II. Following his conversation with the
Pontiff on November 22, the Sheikh told reporters that he was
particularly anxious to promote friendly relations between Christians
and Muslims in the Persian Gulf region.
There are only about 30,000 Catholics living in Bahrain; the vast
majority of them are migrant workers from other countries--
primarily the Philippines. They are served by only one parish, with
three priests. That parish comes under the jurisdiction of the
apostolic vicariate of Arabia.
While the Church was burying a Maronite nun in Beirut yesterday, murdered by Islamic radicals, word came down that the first martyr of the new millennium was also slain by Islamic forces in Indonesia on New Year's Day. He was Yosef Jami, a 29 year-old Theology student with the Society of the Divine Word. continued inside.
JAKARTA, JAN 12 (ZENIT-FIDES).- Br. Yosef Jami, 29, a seminarian and theology student of the Society of the Divine Word was the first missionary killed in the year 2000. On the afternoon of January 1, while walking on the beach in Ende, Indonesia, he was attacked and beaten to death by an unknown group. His body was found at dawn on January 2 and taken immediately to the Ende Hospital, where doctors certified his death. The seminarian's funeral and burial took place on January 4. Jami began his year of pastoral integration in June, 1999, working in the St. Paul Biblical Center of Ende. ZE00011209
In what has become a melting pot of the world, Miami's Archbishop John Clement Favalora is taking advantage of the diversified nationalities by bringing them together to show all can coexist in peace when they are all focused on Jesus. At a special Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral he addressed all races and provided a multi-ethnic presentation of the gifts in proclaiming the intentions in numerous different languages. continued inside.
MIAMI, 12 (NE) "Most people at the end of the century have agreed that war is no longer a solution for the problems among nations," recently stated Archbishop John Favalora of Miami, during a Mass specially offered for immigrants in the archdiocese. Before the great variety of nationalities present at St. Mary's Cathedral, Archbishop Favalora emphasized the importance of making concrete the hope of peace that the new millennium brings. Following the Archbishop's homily, people offered prayers for their homelands as well as for the local community in their respective native languages, among these English, Croatian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The Mass, began with a procession of children, followed by adults and children alike, dressed in the vibrant greens, reds and golds of African, Filipino, Chinese, Indian and other native costumes representing the diversity of peoples present in Miami.
