On this day in 1409, the Council of Pisa was called into session in an attempt to end the Great Schism and the competing Avignon and Roman claimants to the papacy. The Catholic Church had found itself split and unable to determine who the real pope was. Unfortunately, the Council of Pisa ended with the inauguration of the Pisa line of papal claimants under anti-pope Alexander V and instead of having to determine the true pope among two opponents, now the faithful had to chose between three possibilities. This problem would not be resolved until the Council of Constance in 1414.
More information on the Council of Pisa can be found in episode #158 of Catholic:Under The Hood.
Today is the 30th anniversary of the murder of Servant of God Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez. Archbishop Romero was killed while he elevated the chalice containing the Precious Blood during the celebration of the Mass.
Blame for his death has fallen on members of the El Salvadoran death squads whom Archbishop Romero strongly condemned for there violence and human rights abuses against the people of El Salvador. The funeral Mass for the archbishop would be attended by more than 250,000 people. Jesuit priest John Dear called it “the largest demonstration in Salvadoran history, some say in the history of Latin America.”
Even the archbishop’s funeral and burial were marred by violence as 30 to 50 people were killed by gunfire upon the mourners.
Creighton University Website dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Archbishop Romero’s death
University of Notre Dame remembers Archbishop Romero on the 30th anniversary of his death
El Salvador to mark the 30th anniversary of the Archbishop’s death
Call for day of prayer and fasting to remember Archbishop Romero
On this day in 1966, Pope Paul VI met with Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey in the Sistine Chapel. This was the first meeting between the heads of the Catholic and Anglican churches in 400 years.
Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey would sign a common declaration stressing their desire to work together on issues of mutual importance such as dealing with issues involving mixed marriages of Anglicans and Catholics. This dialogue would be “founded on the Gospels and on the ancient common traditions”.
Paul VI also presented the archbishop with the episcopal ring he had wore as Archbishop of Milan. This ring is still worn by the Archbishops of Canterbury when they visit the Pontiff.
This meeting would also lead to the establishment of the Anglican Center in Rome.
Time Magazine’s article on this meeting can be found here.
A photo of the meeting where the Holy Father presented the Archbishop with a 13th century fresco of Christ can be found here.
catholicunderthehood.com 