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530 A.D.
Death of Saint Cannera. This Irish woman is considered the first holy "women's libber." This mystic anchorite always preached that if Jesus could minister to women as He did in the Gospels, then so could the Church's clergy. She broke down superstitions that women were contaminated and dangerous because of the sins of Eve. Just before she died, she broke all barriers by literally walking across the waters of the famed Shannon River in southern Ireland to reach the monastery of Senan where she convinced the abbot to admit her so she could die in peace.
544 A.D.
Death of Saint John of Reome, Benedictine abbot who is considered the pioneer of monastic life in France which laid the seeds for her conversion a few centuries later.
804 A.D.
Death of Saint Paulinus of Aquilea, Patriarch of Aquilea who worked closely with Charlemagne in ensuring Catholics were instructed in their faith, especially converts. He played a role in various Church councils and defended the doctrine of filioque which defines that the Holy Spirit descends from the Father and the Son. He was a great composer of hymns and poetry.
814 A.D.
Death of Blessed Charlemagne at the age of 71. He freed Rome from the tyranny of Barbarossa and the antipope, restoring the true hierarchy. Pope Leo III crowned him the first Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas day at the turn of the 9th century.
1077 A.D.
Pope Saint Gregory VII, the holy pontiff known as the monk Hildebrand lifts the interdict of excommunication and pardons the German emperor Henry IV who had approached the Pope in penitential garb at Canossa in the northern Italian Alps. It was a great victory for the Church vs. the state over the constant issue of investiture.
1119 A.D.
Death of Pope Gelasius II, 161st successor of Peter. Born in Gaeta, his pontificate lasted less than one year. Attacked in the Basilica of the Lateran, he was imprisoned by the rebel Cencio Frangipane. When he was freed by Genoese sailors he fled to his native Gaeta. From there, dressed as a pilgrim, he returned to Rome and eventually was forced to move to Cluny where he died on this date.
1495 A.D.
The ruthless Pope Alexander IV gives his son Cesare Borgia as a hostage to King Charles VIII of France in appeasement for the taking of Naples.
1621 A.D.
Death of Pope Paul V, 233rd successor of Peter. The papacy of this Roman-born pontiff lasted 16 years. During this time he established relations with Michael Romanoff of Russia and appealed to the civilized nations to intervene and prevent the persecution of Christians in Japan and china. He encouraged Astronomy but did not interfere with the investigation and condemnation of Copernicus.
De Exorcismus et supplicationibus quibusdam, approved by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 1998, was formally released by the Vatican on January 26. The document sets out a new and precise liturgical form for the rite of exorcism. The 84-page form, introduced by the Congregation Divine Worship, was published entirely in Latin; the episcopal conferences of different nations may now prepare their own versions in the vernacular languages.
This new Vatican document clearly recognizes both the existence of the Devil and the reality of diabolical possession. In a short introduction, the document calls attention to the existence of both "angelic creatures" and others "called demons, who are opposed to God." Since the influence of the demonic can become apparent in people, places, or things, the document continues, the Church "has prayed, and continues to pray, that men will be freed from the snares of the Devil."
The new rite confirms "the victory of Christ and the power of the Church over the demons." It points to the rites in the Christian tradition: the "minor exorcism" of catechumens prior to their baptism and the major exorcisms conducted according to this ritual. The latter are designed to "drive out demons, or bring freedom from demonic influence, through the spiritual authority which Jesus confided in his Church."
The liturgical ritual itself is centered on supplicatory prayers, asking for God's help, and "imperative" prayers addressed directly to the Devil, commanding him to depart. The prayers are to be said as the exorcist lays his hand on the individual, and are part of an overall ritual which includes specific blessings and sprinklings with holy water. The ritual also includes the litany of the saints, the reading of the Psalms and the Gospel, and a proclamation of faith which may be either the familiar Creed or a simple question-and-answer ("Do you renounce Satan? I do."). The ritual concludes with the kissing of the Cross, and the final prayer, proclaiming the triumph of Christ and his Church.
The new ritual for exorcism replaces one which was promulgated as part of the Roman Ritual of 1614. The Second Vatican Council called for the revision of that Ritual, which has been accomplished in stages during the past 30 years; the rite of exorcism was the last of the new rituals to be introduced.
In introducing the new document to reporters in Rome, Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, said that the rite has not been greatly changed from the earlier ritual. He added that while there are "very few cases" in which the rite is used, the rite of exorcism-- which can only be used under the guidance of the local bishop, and with the consent of the person suffering diabolical possession-- remains necessary because the Devil is a reality. He cautioned that while many Catholics today no longer profess belief in the Devil, that belief "is not a matter of opinion which one can accept or reject; it is an element of faith and Catholic doctrine."
The News Service Noticias Eclesiales also reports that during the presentation, Cardinal Estevez pointed out that "exorcism has its departure point in the faith of the Church, according to which Satan and other evil spirits exist and that their main activity consists of deviating men from the path to salvation."
Regarding the real existence of the devil and his harmful action in the world, he pointed out that "the devil is the liar par excellence. Lies have always been, right from the beginning, his preferred strategy to deceive men making them believe that happiness is in money, power, and carnal concupiscence."
The earthquake affected the eastern, coffee-producing region of Armenia, Pereira, and Manizales. According to official reports, half of the city of Armenia has been destroyed and at least 300 dead and 1,200 injured have been reported, but the figures may rise as rescue operation continue. "In this year devoted to God the Father and focused on the virtue of Charity, the painful tragedy of our brothers and sisters in the coffee region is a test to our Christian fraternity," said Archbishop Giraldo in the statement.
"Once again, the pain of those who have lost their loved ones and are now homeless is knocking at the doors of our hearts," the document said, making reference to the earthquake that devastated the same region in 1995. "It is Christ who is showing his suffering face in our brethren and who invites us to break all indifference and attachment to our goods and give our best to God in the person of the affected."
"We only own before God what we give generously to the ones in need," he added. Archbishop Giraldo called priests, religious, and committed laymen to launch a collection that will take place on Sunday, January 31 at the parishes and on February 1 in all other Catholic institutions such as schools, colleges, and hospitals. "The help will be sent immediately to our fellow bishops of Armenia and Pereira, as a sign of ecclesial communion," he concluded.
Father Cipriano Ibanez, 72, was killed on Tuesday by robbers who shot him after he refused to give them his car, according to the report. He was on his way to celebrate Mass in Santo Domingo.
In Tuesday's story about the murder of Father Hector Fabio Rojas in Ecuador, he was mistakenly identified as a Salesian. The slain priest is actually a member of the Order of Friars Minor, a Franciscan order. We regret the error.
Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said at a news conference on Wednesday, "If they want to have their freedom, they are welcome." Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah quoted President B.J. Habibie as saying that Indonesia's highest legislative body could take up the issue later this year of East Timor's leaving this southeast Asian nation.
East Timor, which is predominately Catholic, was invaded by Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world, in 1975 and annexed it the following year in a move not recognized by the United Nations. The region has suffered bloodshed and human rights abuses since then as revolutionary groups and government soldiers battled for control of the region.
The remarks follows weeks of clashes in other parts of Indonesia between Christians and Muslims that have resulted in dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries, and enormous property damage. The worst economics crisis in decades has exacerbated divisions and suspicions in the country, igniting riots and violence.
