CATHOLIC WORLD NEWS: SUN. JAN. 3, 2009: HEADLINES-
VATICAN: POPE: ANGELUS: MESSAGE FOR 2010-
VATICAN: POPE: ANGELUS: MESSAGE FOR 2010-
EUROPE: VATICAN: POPE SEEKS TO CONTACT WOMAN WHO ATTACKED HIM-
AMERICAS: USA: GA. 4-YEAR OLD KILLED IN CHURCH BY STRAY BULLET-
AFRICA: UGANDA: RETIRED BISHOP: DR. ADRIAN KIVUMBI DDUNGU DIES-
AMERICAS: USA: GA. 4-YEAR OLD KILLED IN CHURCH BY STRAY BULLET-
AFRICA: UGANDA: RETIRED BISHOP: DR. ADRIAN KIVUMBI DDUNGU DIES-
ASIA: MALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SAYS THE WORD "ALLAH" NO LONGER ILLEGAL-
AUSTRALIA: FATHER DIES IN CRASH WITH FAMILY-
AUSTRALIA: FATHER DIES IN CRASH WITH FAMILY-
VATICAN
POPE: ANGELUS: MESSAGE FOR 2010
"The story has a meaning, because it is inhabited by the
Divine Wisdom of God." With these words, Pope Benedict XVI greeted the many pilgrims in St Peter's Square for the first Angelus of 2010. For the next twelve months the Pope has dedicated these reflections, inviting all to hope in God alone, and not in "improbable odds and even in the economic forecasts." With the birth of Jesus, said the Holy Father , the Lord has revealed "a complete and definitive desire to be with man, sharing his story, to guide us all to his Kingdom of love and life." Still, acknowledged the Pope, "the divine plan is not achieved automatically, because it is a project of love, and with love brings freedom." Every man and woman is responsible for accepting the Lord in their lives day by day. In this way 2010 will be more or less good to the extent that each according to his or her responsibilities will cooperate with the grace of God. Whenever, the Lord wants to move forward together with us to the promised Land He knocks first on our hearts waiting for our yes in small as well as in great choices. (source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8qWxqwwBJMEUROPE
VATICAN: POPE SEEKS TO CONTACT WOMAN WHO ATTACKED HIM
Monsignor Georg Gaens
wein visited Susanna Maiolo, the Italian-Swiss woman in a clinic.
Pope Pope Benedict XVI initiated contact through his private secretary with the woman who attacked him at the midnight mass. According to the Vatican press office Gaenswein visited the Italian-Swiss woman. The woman suffering from mental health problems, keeps on currently in a clinic in Subiaco in Rome. The visit had taken place in recent days.
Meanwhile, the Vatican prosecution continues its investigation. The investigation will «their course to the charges continue», was reported by the Vatican. In a newspaper interview shortly after the incident, the Vatican spokesperson Giuseppe Dalla Torre said depending of irresponsibility woman we will waive criminal charges.
In the incident, the French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray was overthrown. The 87-year old suffered a broken hip. He is doing better.
wein visited Susanna Maiolo, the Italian-Swiss woman in a clinic.Pope Pope Benedict XVI initiated contact through his private secretary with the woman who attacked him at the midnight mass. According to the Vatican press office Gaenswein visited the Italian-Swiss woman. The woman suffering from mental health problems, keeps on currently in a clinic in Subiaco in Rome. The visit had taken place in recent days.
Meanwhile, the Vatican prosecution continues its investigation. The investigation will «their course to the charges continue», was reported by the Vatican. In a newspaper interview shortly after the incident, the Vatican spokesperson Giuseppe Dalla Torre said depending of irresponsibility woman we will waive criminal charges.
In the incident, the French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray was overthrown. The 87-year old suffered a broken hip. He is doing better.
(edited from: http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=25116
AMERICAS
USA: GA. 4-YEAR OLD KILLED IN CHURCH BY STRAY BULLET
Blackspin reports that a 4-year old boy in Atlanta was killed 20 minutes after New Years, when a 
stray bullet went through the roof of his church and hit the child in the head. The incident took place at the Covington Drive Church of God of Prophecy in Decatur, Ga. His mother, Nathalee Peters, is asking for any information that might lead to finding out who may have killed her child, but the truth is that this information will probably never be found. While we can't bring back the young boy who was killed by the stray bullet, we can all play a part in stopping incidents like this from happening in the future. If you see someone who plans to shoot off a gun to bring in the New Year, remind the person of the danger of engaging in such activity. Also, laws against such activity should be strengthened and enforced. "I heard a little sound like a pink. I heard him scream a little bit, so I looked around to hand him the game, and that's when I saw the blood," Peters said. "I tried to pick him up and then he was losing consciousness, and he was just breaking and going down. It was so hard."
stray bullet went through the roof of his church and hit the child in the head. The incident took place at the Covington Drive Church of God of Prophecy in Decatur, Ga. His mother, Nathalee Peters, is asking for any information that might lead to finding out who may have killed her child, but the truth is that this information will probably never be found. While we can't bring back the young boy who was killed by the stray bullet, we can all play a part in stopping incidents like this from happening in the future. If you see someone who plans to shoot off a gun to bring in the New Year, remind the person of the danger of engaging in such activity. Also, laws against such activity should be strengthened and enforced. "I heard a little sound like a pink. I heard him scream a little bit, so I looked around to hand him the game, and that's when I saw the blood," Peters said. "I tried to pick him up and then he was losing consciousness, and he was just breaking and going down. It was so hard."AFRICA
UGANDA: RETIRED BISHOP: DR. ADRIAN KIVUMBI DDUNGU DIES
All Africa reports that retired bishop of Masaka Catholic Diocese, Dr. Adrian Kivumbi Ddungu, has died after suffering a stroke twice. Ddungu, 86, was paralysed, developed pneumonia and was admitted at St. Francis Hospital in Nsambya two weeks before Christmas.
"The retired bishop had the first stroke on October 15 and the second on October 22. When he developed pneumonia a week before Christmas, his con
dition deteriorated and was admitted until he breathed his last this morning (yesterday) at about 6:15am," Dr. Martin Nsubuga, the medical superintendent and consultant physician, told The New Vision.
"A stroke interrupts blood circulation in the body and to the brains. Given his old age, strokes are common to such people," he explained.
Born on July 15, 1923, Ddungu was ordained priest on December 20, 1952, appointed bishop on November 11, 1961 and ordained bishop on March 18, 1962. He retired on January 10, 1998 and was succeeded by bishop John Baptist Kaggwa.
Speaking about his principal co-consecrator, Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, the retired Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, said he was saddened by the death of Ddungu whom he knew since they joined priestly training at Bukalasa Seminary in Masaka.
Wamala described the bishop as a man of God who was dedicated to his ministry and a man who cared and felt good for all.
"He tirelessly helped the clergy to be active and exemplary in their work," he said.
"Family life was at his heart. He loved education in Masaka and in the Buganda Kingdom," Wamala added.
Among the mourners who turned up at the Nsambya Priests Centre where the body spent a vigil last night was the former Katikkiro (prime minister) of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere.
Ssemwogerere described Ddungu as a good preacher with wise counsel on all issues that affected society. "He was loyal to the Buganda Kingdom and was always available when needed to help in the organisation of the Mengo government. He will be greatly missed by the Kabaka," Ssemogerere said.
Jolly Lutaaya, the katikkiro of the Buganda's Ngonge (otter) clan, described Ddungu as a good counsellor who will be missed by the present and future generation. The bishop was from the Ngonge clan. By the time of his death, a 96-page book titled Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu (Bishop Emeritus Masaka Diocese) His Life, Vocation and Legacy, by Benedict Ssettuuma Jr. and John Mary Waliggo was due to be launched.
There will be a requiem mass at Rubaga Cathedral today at 11:00am after which the body will be taken to Masaka for burial.
In Masaka, Kaggwa paid tribute to Ddungu, saying he did great work for the church and in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Speaking to The New Vision at his residence at Kitovu yesterday, Kaggwa said Ddungu was among the first Ugandans to declare war against the AIDS scourge in Uganda.
"We shall hold a mass in Rubaga Cathedral on Thursday (today) at 10.00am and then transport his body to Kitovu Cathedral where another Mass will be held before he is finally taken to Villa Maria for burial on Saturday," Kaggwa explained.
Ddungu contributed towards the establishment of the good leadership of Masaka Diocese, Kaggwa said, adding that he will be remembered for his efforts to resist false claims of miraculous visions.
"We had many such activities in Masaka like that of Mbuye in Lwanda Rakai district, Byana and others," Kaggwa said.
"Ddungu came up with a document he named ekirangiriro (announcement) in 1990 which contained directions that have guided the diocese up-to-date," he said.
Ddungu established the Masaka Diocesan Development Organisation which is among the leading groups fighting poverty in the district.
Kaggwa added that Ddungu participated in the Vatican II council which carried out a number of reforms in the Catholic Church. (SOURCE: http://allafrica.com/stories/200912310407.html
"The retired bishop had the first stroke on October 15 and the second on October 22. When he developed pneumonia a week before Christmas, his con
dition deteriorated and was admitted until he breathed his last this morning (yesterday) at about 6:15am," Dr. Martin Nsubuga, the medical superintendent and consultant physician, told The New Vision."A stroke interrupts blood circulation in the body and to the brains. Given his old age, strokes are common to such people," he explained.
Born on July 15, 1923, Ddungu was ordained priest on December 20, 1952, appointed bishop on November 11, 1961 and ordained bishop on March 18, 1962. He retired on January 10, 1998 and was succeeded by bishop John Baptist Kaggwa.
Speaking about his principal co-consecrator, Emmanuel Cardinal Wamala, the retired Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, said he was saddened by the death of Ddungu whom he knew since they joined priestly training at Bukalasa Seminary in Masaka.
Wamala described the bishop as a man of God who was dedicated to his ministry and a man who cared and felt good for all.
"He tirelessly helped the clergy to be active and exemplary in their work," he said.
"Family life was at his heart. He loved education in Masaka and in the Buganda Kingdom," Wamala added.
Among the mourners who turned up at the Nsambya Priests Centre where the body spent a vigil last night was the former Katikkiro (prime minister) of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere.
Ssemwogerere described Ddungu as a good preacher with wise counsel on all issues that affected society. "He was loyal to the Buganda Kingdom and was always available when needed to help in the organisation of the Mengo government. He will be greatly missed by the Kabaka," Ssemogerere said.
Jolly Lutaaya, the katikkiro of the Buganda's Ngonge (otter) clan, described Ddungu as a good counsellor who will be missed by the present and future generation. The bishop was from the Ngonge clan. By the time of his death, a 96-page book titled Bishop Adrian K. Ddungu (Bishop Emeritus Masaka Diocese) His Life, Vocation and Legacy, by Benedict Ssettuuma Jr. and John Mary Waliggo was due to be launched.
There will be a requiem mass at Rubaga Cathedral today at 11:00am after which the body will be taken to Masaka for burial.
In Masaka, Kaggwa paid tribute to Ddungu, saying he did great work for the church and in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Speaking to The New Vision at his residence at Kitovu yesterday, Kaggwa said Ddungu was among the first Ugandans to declare war against the AIDS scourge in Uganda.
"We shall hold a mass in Rubaga Cathedral on Thursday (today) at 10.00am and then transport his body to Kitovu Cathedral where another Mass will be held before he is finally taken to Villa Maria for burial on Saturday," Kaggwa explained.
Ddungu contributed towards the establishment of the good leadership of Masaka Diocese, Kaggwa said, adding that he will be remembered for his efforts to resist false claims of miraculous visions.
"We had many such activities in Masaka like that of Mbuye in Lwanda Rakai district, Byana and others," Kaggwa said.
"Ddungu came up with a document he named ekirangiriro (announcement) in 1990 which contained directions that have guided the diocese up-to-date," he said.
Ddungu established the Masaka Diocesan Development Organisation which is among the leading groups fighting poverty in the district.
Kaggwa added that Ddungu participated in the Vatican II council which carried out a number of reforms in the Catholic Church. (SOURCE: http://allafrica.com/stories/200912310407.html
ASIA
MALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SAYS THE WORD "ALLAH" NO LONGER ILLEGAL
UCAN reports that the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 31 ruled that the national Catholic weekly, “Herald,” can use the word “Allah” to refer to God and that the Home Ministry’s order banning its use is illegal.
A copy of the 'Herald' weekly
The court also declared that the wo
rd “Allah” is not exclusive to Islam.
“We welcome the court’s decision very much as in the long term it will be not only good for ‘Herald’ but for others as well,” said S. Selvarajah, one of a team of four lawyers involved in the Church’s challenge of the ban.
The Home Ministry in 2007 issued a blanket ban on the use of the word “Allah” in all non-Muslim publications.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur, publisher of "Herald," challenged it in a case that began in February.
Selvarajah told UCA News the judge made six declarations, one citing Article 11 of the constitution on the right to religious freedom.
“Article 11 states that we have the right to manage our own religious affairs, thus using ‘Allah’ as part of our worship is our right,” the lawyer said.
Bishop Antony Selvanyagam of Penang spoke to UCA News immediately after the decision. “I would like to congratulate the Herald’s lawyers and (Herald editor) Father Lawrence Andrew for their efforts to defend the rights of the Church in this matter,” he said.
Pastor Jerry Dusing, president of the Sabah Evangelical Church of Malaysia and Sabah Council of Churches, said the decision was good for everyone. “We are living in a multi-racial country, thus there must be racial unity and respect among each other,” he said.
The government had argued that the use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications was likely to confuse Muslims and draw them to Christianity. The Church claimed the ban violates its constitutional rights to practice its religion freely.
Father Andrew said that the word “Allah” has been used by Christians in the region to refer to their God for 400 years.
(SOURCE: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/12/31/court-overturns-ban-on-non-muslims-using-the-word-%e2%80%98allah%e2%80%99/
A copy of the 'Herald' weekly
The court also declared that the wo
rd “Allah” is not exclusive to Islam.“We welcome the court’s decision very much as in the long term it will be not only good for ‘Herald’ but for others as well,” said S. Selvarajah, one of a team of four lawyers involved in the Church’s challenge of the ban.
The Home Ministry in 2007 issued a blanket ban on the use of the word “Allah” in all non-Muslim publications.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur, publisher of "Herald," challenged it in a case that began in February.
Selvarajah told UCA News the judge made six declarations, one citing Article 11 of the constitution on the right to religious freedom.
“Article 11 states that we have the right to manage our own religious affairs, thus using ‘Allah’ as part of our worship is our right,” the lawyer said.
Bishop Antony Selvanyagam of Penang spoke to UCA News immediately after the decision. “I would like to congratulate the Herald’s lawyers and (Herald editor) Father Lawrence Andrew for their efforts to defend the rights of the Church in this matter,” he said.
Pastor Jerry Dusing, president of the Sabah Evangelical Church of Malaysia and Sabah Council of Churches, said the decision was good for everyone. “We are living in a multi-racial country, thus there must be racial unity and respect among each other,” he said.
The government had argued that the use of the word "Allah" in Christian publications was likely to confuse Muslims and draw them to Christianity. The Church claimed the ban violates its constitutional rights to practice its religion freely.
Father Andrew said that the word “Allah” has been used by Christians in the region to refer to their God for 400 years.
(SOURCE: http://www.ucanews.com/2009/12/31/court-overturns-ban-on-non-muslims-using-the-word-%e2%80%98allah%e2%80%99/
AUSTRALIA
FATHER DIES IN CRASH WITH FAMILY
News.com.au reports that the father of two girls killed in a fiery multi-vehicle crash has died from the burns he sustained in the horror accident in New South Wales last week.
David Bridge, 47, died in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospi
tal yesterday, where he had been in a critical condition since Monday.
His wife, Debbie, 40, remains in a critical condition in Concord Hospital, also in Sydney, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Shoalhaven Mayor Paul Green said the Ulladulla community would be further saddened by the news.
"It is another blow to them. The sad thing in this is it is just going to ripple out, this grief," he said.
"This is just another thing we are going to have to come to terms with."
Mr and Mrs Bridge were pulled from the wreckage of their Subaru Forester last Monday, after a southbound petrol tanker crossed into their path on the Princes Highway at Termeil, north of Batemans Bay.
Their two daughters, Jordan, 13, and Makeely, 11, died in the wreck.
"It is tragic," Mr Green said.
"With 80 per cent burns one was expecting it was going to be a tough fight for mum and dad."
He wished Mrs Bridge a full recovery. "At the end of the day life is precious," he said. "Even though it may seem there is very little reason to live, I think there is every reason to survive this and and give others hope."
A date for the girls' memorial is expected to be announced soon.
Police are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash and will prepare a report for the NSW Coroner.
The Bridges were in the last of three cars to be struck by the tanker, whose driver Dave Carolan, 36, from Narellan Vale in Sydney's southwest, also died in the accident.
The state's road toll for the Christmas and New Year period now stands at 23.
(SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/national/david-bridge-loses-brave-fight-for-life/story-e6frfkvr-1225815751518
David Bridge, 47, died in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospi
tal yesterday, where he had been in a critical condition since Monday.His wife, Debbie, 40, remains in a critical condition in Concord Hospital, also in Sydney, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Shoalhaven Mayor Paul Green said the Ulladulla community would be further saddened by the news.
"It is another blow to them. The sad thing in this is it is just going to ripple out, this grief," he said.
"This is just another thing we are going to have to come to terms with."
Mr and Mrs Bridge were pulled from the wreckage of their Subaru Forester last Monday, after a southbound petrol tanker crossed into their path on the Princes Highway at Termeil, north of Batemans Bay.
Their two daughters, Jordan, 13, and Makeely, 11, died in the wreck.
"It is tragic," Mr Green said.
"With 80 per cent burns one was expecting it was going to be a tough fight for mum and dad."
He wished Mrs Bridge a full recovery. "At the end of the day life is precious," he said. "Even though it may seem there is very little reason to live, I think there is every reason to survive this and and give others hope."
A date for the girls' memorial is expected to be announced soon.
Police are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash and will prepare a report for the NSW Coroner.
The Bridges were in the last of three cars to be struck by the tanker, whose driver Dave Carolan, 36, from Narellan Vale in Sydney's southwest, also died in the accident.
The state's road toll for the Christmas and New Year period now stands at 23.
(SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/national/david-bridge-loses-brave-fight-for-life/story-e6frfkvr-1225815751518
TODAY'S SAINT
St. Genevieve
VIRGIN, CHIEF PATRONESS OF THE CITY OF PARIS
Feast: January 3
Information:
Feast Day:
January
3
Born:
422 at Nanterre near Paris, France
Died:
500 at Paris, France
Patron of:
Paris
Her father's name was Severus, and her mother's Gerontia: she was born about the year 422, at Nanterre, a small village four miles from Paris, near the famous modern stations, or Calvary, adorned with excellent sculptures, representing our Lord's Passion, on Mount Valerien. When St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, went with St. Lupus into Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy, he lay at Nanterre in his way. The inhabitants flocked about them to receive their blessing, and St. Germanus made them an exhortation, during which he took particular notice of Genevieve, though only seven years of age. After his discourse he inquired for her parents, and addressing himself to them, foretold their daughter's future sanctity, and said that she would perfectly accomplish the resolution she had taken of serving God, and that others would imitate her example. He then asked Genevieve whether it was not her desire to serve God in a state of perpetual virginity, and to bear no other title than that of a spouse of Jesus Christ. The virgin answered that this was what she had long desired, and begged that by his blessing she might be from that moment consecrated to God. The holy prelate went to the church of the place, followed by the people, and, during long singing of psalms and prayers, says Constantius,[1] that is, during the recital of None and Vespers, as the author of the life of St. Genevieve expresses it,[2] he held his hand upon the virgin's head. After he had supped, he dismissed her, giving her a strict charge to her parents to bring her again to him very early the next morning. The father complied with the commission, and St. Germanus asked Genevieve whether she remembered the promise she had made to God. She said she did, and declared she would, by the divine assistance, faithfully perform it. The bishop gave her a brass medal, on which a cross was engraved, to wear always about her neck, to put her in mind of the consecration she had made of herself to God; and at the same time, he charged her never to wear bracelets, or necklaces of pearls, gold or silver, or any other ornaments of vanity. All this she most religiously observed, and considering herself as the spouse of Christ, gave herself up to the most fervent practices of devotion and penance. From the words of St. Germanus, in his exhortation to St. Genevieve never to wear jewels, Baillet and some others infer that she must have been a person of quality and fortune: but the ancient Breviary and constant tradition of the place assure us that her father was a poor shepherd. About fifteen years of age, she was presented to the Bishop of Paris to receive the religious veil at his hand, together with two other persons of the same sex. Though she was the youngest of the three, the bishop placed her first, saying that heaven had already sanctified her; by which he seems to have alluded to the promise she had already made, in the presence of SS. Germanus and Lupus, of consecrating herself to God. From that time she frequently ate only twice in the week, on Sundays and Thursdays. Her food was barley bread with a few beans. At the age of fifty, by the command of certain bishops, she mitigated this austerity so far as to allow herself a moderate use of fish and milk. Her prayer was almost continual, and generally attended with a large flow of tears. After the death of her parents she left Nanterre, and settled with her grandmother at Paris, but sometimes undertook journeys upon motives of charity, and illustrated the cities of Meaux, Laon, Tours, Orleans, and all other places wherever she went, with miracles and remarkable predictions. God permitted her to meet with some severe trials; for at a certain time all persons indiscriminately seemed TO be in a combination against her, and persecuted her under the opprobrious names of visionary, hypocrite, and the like imputations, all tending to asperse her innocency. The arrival of St. Germanus at Paris, probably on his second journey to Britain, for some time silenced her calumniators; but it was not long ere the storm broke out anew. Her enemies were fully determined to drown her, when the Archdeacon of Auxerre arrived with, or blessed bread, sent her by St. Germanus, as a testimony of his particular esteem for her virtues, and a token of communion. This seems to have happened whilst St. Germanus was absent in Italy in 449, a little before his death. This circumstance, so providentially opportune, converted the prejudices of her calumniators into a singular veneration for her during the remainder of her life. The Franks or French had then possessed themselves of the better part of Gaul, and Childeric, their king, took Paris. During the long blockade of that city, the citizens being extremely distressed by famine, St. Genevieve, as the author of her life relates, went out at the head of a company who were sent to procure provisions, and brought back from Arcis-sur-Aube and Troyes several boats laden with corn. Nevertheless, Childeric, when he had made himself master of Paris, though always a pagan, respected St. Genevieve, and, upon her intercession, spared the lives of many prisoners, and did several other acts of clemency and bounty. Our saint, out of her singular devotion to St. Dionysius and his companions, the apostles of the country, frequently visited their tombs at the borough of Catulliacum, which many think the borough since called St. Denys. She also excited the zeal of many pious persons to build there a church in honour of St. Dionysius, which King Dagobert I afterwards rebuilt with a stately monastery in 629. St. Genevieve likewise performed several pilgrimages, in company with other holy virgins, to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours. These journeys of devotion she sanctified by the exercises of holy recollection and austere penance.
King Clovis, who embraced the faith in 496, listened often with deference to the advice of St. Genevieve, and granted liberty to several captives at her request. Upon the report of the march of Attila with his army of Huns, the Parisians were preparing to abandon their city, but St. Genevieve persuaded them, in imitation of Judith and Hester, to endeavour to avert the scourge, by fasting, watching, and prayer. Many devout persons of her sex passed many days with her in prayer in the baptistry; from whence the particular devotion to St. Genevieve, which is practiced at St. John-le-rond, the ancient public baptistry of the church of Paris, seems to have taken rise. She assured the people of the protection of heaven, and their deliverance; and though she was long treated by many as an impostor, the event verified the prediction, that barbarian suddenly changing the course of his march, probably by directing it towards Orleans.
Our authority attributes to St. Genevieve the first design of the magnificent church which Clovis began to build in honour of SS. Peter and Paul, by the pious counsel of his wife Saint Clotilda, by whom it was finished several years after; for he only laid the foundation a little before his death, which happened in 511 . St. Genevieve died about the same year, probably five weeks after that prince, on the 3rd of January, 512, being eighty-nine years old. Some think she died before King Clovis. The tombs of St. Genevieve and King Clovis were near together. Immediately after the saint was buried, the people raised an oratory of wood over her tomb, as her historian assures us, and this was soon changed into the stately church built under the invocation of SS. Peter and Paul. From this circumstance, we gather that her tomb was situated in a part of this church, which was only built after her death. Her tomb, though empty, is still shown in the subterraneous church, or vault, betwixt those of Prudentius, and St. Ceraunus, Bishop of Paris. But her relics were enclosed by St. Eligius in a costly shrine, adorned with gold and silver, which he made with his own hands about the year 630, as St. Owen relates in his life. The author of the original life of St. Genevieve concludes it by a description of the basilic which Clovis and St. Clotilda erected, adorned with a triple portico, in which were painted the histories of the patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, and confessors. This church was several times plundered, and at length burnt, by the Normans. When it was rebuilt, soon after the year 856, the relics of St. Genevieve were brought back. The miracles which were performed there from the time of her burial rendered this church famous all over France, so that at length it began to be known only by her name. The city of Paris has frequently received sensible proofs of the divine protection through her intercession. The most famous instance is that called the miracle of Des Ardens, or of the burning fever. In 1129, in the reign of Louis VI, a pestilential fever, with a violent inward heat, and pains in the bowels, swept off, in a short time, fourteen thousand persons, nor could the art of physicians afford any relief. Stephen, Bishop of Paris, with the clergy and people, implored the divine mercy, by fasting and supplications. Yet the distemper began not to abate till the shrine of St. Genevieve was carried in a solemn procession to the cathedral. During that ceremony many sick persons were cured by touching the shrine, and of all that then lay ill of that distemper in the whole town, only three died, the rest recovered, and no others fell ill. Pope Innocent II coming to Paris the year following, after having passed a careful scrutiny on the miracle, ordered an annual festival in commemoration of it on the 26th of November, which is still kept at Paris. A chapel near the cathedral, called anciently St. Genevieve's the Little, erected near the house in which she died, afterwards from this miracle, though it was wrought not at this chapel, but chiefly at the cathedral, as Le Beuf demonstrates, was called St. Genevieve Des Ardens, which was demolished in 1747 to make place for the Foundling Hospital.[3] Both before and since that time, it is the custom in extraordinary public calamities to carry the shrine of St. Genevieve, accompanied by those of St. Marcel, St. Aurea, St. Lucan martyr, St. Landry, St. Merry, St. Paxentius, St. Magloire, and others, in a solemn procession to the cathedral; on which occasion the regular canons of St. Genevieve walk barefoot, and at the right hand of the chapter of the cathedral, and the abbot walks on the right hand of the archbishop. The present rich shrine of St. Genevieve was made by the abbot, and the relics enclosed in it in 1242. See the " Ancient Life of St. Genevieve," written by an anonymous author, eighteen years after her death, of which the best edition is given by F. Charpentier, a Genevevan regular canon, in octavo, in 1697. It is interpolated in several editions.(SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/G/stgenevieve.aspp
VIRGIN, CHIEF PATRONESS OF THE CITY OF PARIS
Feast: January 3
Information:
Feast Day:
January
3Born:
422 at Nanterre near Paris, France
Died:
500 at Paris, France
Patron of:
Paris
Her father's name was Severus, and her mother's Gerontia: she was born about the year 422, at Nanterre, a small village four miles from Paris, near the famous modern stations, or Calvary, adorned with excellent sculptures, representing our Lord's Passion, on Mount Valerien. When St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, went with St. Lupus into Britain to oppose the Pelagian heresy, he lay at Nanterre in his way. The inhabitants flocked about them to receive their blessing, and St. Germanus made them an exhortation, during which he took particular notice of Genevieve, though only seven years of age. After his discourse he inquired for her parents, and addressing himself to them, foretold their daughter's future sanctity, and said that she would perfectly accomplish the resolution she had taken of serving God, and that others would imitate her example. He then asked Genevieve whether it was not her desire to serve God in a state of perpetual virginity, and to bear no other title than that of a spouse of Jesus Christ. The virgin answered that this was what she had long desired, and begged that by his blessing she might be from that moment consecrated to God. The holy prelate went to the church of the place, followed by the people, and, during long singing of psalms and prayers, says Constantius,[1] that is, during the recital of None and Vespers, as the author of the life of St. Genevieve expresses it,[2] he held his hand upon the virgin's head. After he had supped, he dismissed her, giving her a strict charge to her parents to bring her again to him very early the next morning. The father complied with the commission, and St. Germanus asked Genevieve whether she remembered the promise she had made to God. She said she did, and declared she would, by the divine assistance, faithfully perform it. The bishop gave her a brass medal, on which a cross was engraved, to wear always about her neck, to put her in mind of the consecration she had made of herself to God; and at the same time, he charged her never to wear bracelets, or necklaces of pearls, gold or silver, or any other ornaments of vanity. All this she most religiously observed, and considering herself as the spouse of Christ, gave herself up to the most fervent practices of devotion and penance. From the words of St. Germanus, in his exhortation to St. Genevieve never to wear jewels, Baillet and some others infer that she must have been a person of quality and fortune: but the ancient Breviary and constant tradition of the place assure us that her father was a poor shepherd. About fifteen years of age, she was presented to the Bishop of Paris to receive the religious veil at his hand, together with two other persons of the same sex. Though she was the youngest of the three, the bishop placed her first, saying that heaven had already sanctified her; by which he seems to have alluded to the promise she had already made, in the presence of SS. Germanus and Lupus, of consecrating herself to God. From that time she frequently ate only twice in the week, on Sundays and Thursdays. Her food was barley bread with a few beans. At the age of fifty, by the command of certain bishops, she mitigated this austerity so far as to allow herself a moderate use of fish and milk. Her prayer was almost continual, and generally attended with a large flow of tears. After the death of her parents she left Nanterre, and settled with her grandmother at Paris, but sometimes undertook journeys upon motives of charity, and illustrated the cities of Meaux, Laon, Tours, Orleans, and all other places wherever she went, with miracles and remarkable predictions. God permitted her to meet with some severe trials; for at a certain time all persons indiscriminately seemed TO be in a combination against her, and persecuted her under the opprobrious names of visionary, hypocrite, and the like imputations, all tending to asperse her innocency. The arrival of St. Germanus at Paris, probably on his second journey to Britain, for some time silenced her calumniators; but it was not long ere the storm broke out anew. Her enemies were fully determined to drown her, when the Archdeacon of Auxerre arrived with
King Clovis, who embraced the faith in 496, listened often with deference to the advice of St. Genevieve, and granted liberty to several captives at her request. Upon the report of the march of Attila with his army of Huns, the Parisians were preparing to abandon their city, but St. Genevieve persuaded them, in imitation of Judith and Hester, to endeavour to avert the scourge, by fasting, watching, and prayer. Many devout persons of her sex passed many days with her in prayer in the baptistry; from whence the particular devotion to St. Genevieve, which is practiced at St. John-le-rond, the ancient public baptistry of the church of Paris, seems to have taken rise. She assured the people of the protection of heaven, and their deliverance; and though she was long treated by many as an impostor, the event verified the prediction, that barbarian suddenly changing the course of his march, probably by directing it towards Orleans.
Our authority attributes to St. Genevieve the first design of the magnificent church which Clovis began to build in honour of SS. Peter and Paul, by the pious counsel of his wife Saint Clotilda, by whom it was finished several years after; for he only laid the foundation a little before his death, which happened in 511 . St. Genevieve died about the same year, probably five weeks after that prince, on the 3rd of January, 512, being eighty-nine years old. Some think she died before King Clovis. The tombs of St. Genevieve and King Clovis were near together. Immediately after the saint was buried, the people raised an oratory of wood over her tomb, as her historian assures us, and this was soon changed into the stately church built under the invocation of SS. Peter and Paul. From this circumstance, we gather that her tomb was situated in a part of this church, which was only built after her death. Her tomb, though empty, is still shown in the subterraneous church, or vault, betwixt those of Prudentius, and St. Ceraunus, Bishop of Paris. But her relics were enclosed by St. Eligius in a costly shrine, adorned with gold and silver, which he made with his own hands about the year 630, as St. Owen relates in his life. The author of the original life of St. Genevieve concludes it by a description of the basilic which Clovis and St. Clotilda erected, adorned with a triple portico, in which were painted the histories of the patriarchs, prophets, martyrs, and confessors. This church was several times plundered, and at length burnt, by the Normans. When it was rebuilt, soon after the year 856, the relics of St. Genevieve were brought back. The miracles which were performed there from the time of her burial rendered this church famous all over France, so that at length it began to be known only by her name. The city of Paris has frequently received sensible proofs of the divine protection through her intercession. The most famous instance is that called the miracle of Des Ardens, or of the burning fever. In 1129, in the reign of Louis VI, a pestilential fever, with a violent inward heat, and pains in the bowels, swept off, in a short time, fourteen thousand persons, nor could the art of physicians afford any relief. Stephen, Bishop of Paris, with the clergy and people, implored the divine mercy, by fasting and supplications. Yet the distemper began not to abate till the shrine of St. Genevieve was carried in a solemn procession to the cathedral. During that ceremony many sick persons were cured by touching the shrine, and of all that then lay ill of that distemper in the whole town, only three died, the rest recovered, and no others fell ill. Pope Innocent II coming to Paris the year following, after having passed a careful scrutiny on the miracle, ordered an annual festival in commemoration of it on the 26th of November, which is still kept at Paris. A chapel near the cathedral, called anciently St. Genevieve's the Little, erected near the house in which she died, afterwards from this miracle, though it was wrought not at this chapel, but chiefly at the cathedral, as Le Beuf demonstrates, was called St. Genevieve Des Ardens, which was demolished in 1747 to make place for the Foundling Hospital.[3] Both before and since that time, it is the custom in extraordinary public calamities to carry the shrine of St. Genevieve, accompanied by those of St. Marcel, St. Aurea, St. Lucan martyr, St. Landry, St. Merry, St. Paxentius, St. Magloire, and others, in a solemn procession to the cathedral; on which occasion the regular canons of St. Genevieve walk barefoot, and at the right hand of the chapter of the cathedral, and the abbot walks on the right hand of the archbishop. The present rich shrine of St. Genevieve was made by the abbot, and the relics enclosed in it in 1242. See the " Ancient Life of St. Genevieve," written by an anonymous author, eighteen years after her death, of which the best edition is given by F. Charpentier, a Genevevan regular canon, in octavo, in 1697. It is interpolated in several editions.(SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/G/stgenevieve.aspp
TODAY'S MASS READINGS
Sunday, January 3, 2010The Epiphany of the Lord (Solemnity)
Isaiah 60: 1 - 6
1
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2
For behold, darkness 
shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
3
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4
Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms.
5
Then you shall see and be radiant, your heart shall thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Mid'ian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Psalms 72: 1 - 2, 7 - 8, 10 - 13
1
Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2
May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
7
In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8
May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
10
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11
May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12
For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13
He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
1
Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son!
2
May he judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with justice!
7
In his days may righteousness flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8
May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
10
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11
May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12
For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13
He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
Ephesians 3: 2 - 3, 5 - 6
2
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
5
which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6
that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
GOSPEL
Matthew 2: 1 - 12
1
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
2
"Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
3
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4
and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
6
`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
7
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared;
8
and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
9
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;
11
and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
