Today in Catholic History – The Pantheon becomes a Catholic Church

May 13, 2010 – 8:14 pm

On 13 May 609, Pope Boniface IV converted the pagan temple known as the Pantheon in Rome into the Church Sancta Maria ad Martyrs or Santa Maria dei Martiri.

The original Pantheon had been built by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus Caesar but it had been replaced by another structure after burning to the ground. In 609, the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gave the rebuilt Pantheon to the Pope who wished that no longer would the demons be the object of veneration but rather the Mother of God and the saints.

Because the Pantheon was converted into a Church it was spared the destruction that befell many of the ancient Roman buildings during the medieval period. It has since been used as a model for many other structures including St. Peter’s Basilica and the Jefferson Memorial.

More on the Pantheon

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Italian History, Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Anti-Pope Nicholas V Consecrated

May 12, 2010 – 3:41 pm

On 12 May 1328, Pietro Rainalducci was consecrated anti-Pope Nicholas V at St. Peter’s Basilica during the pontificate of John XXII. He was elected through the influence of the excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian and was the last Imperial anti-pope. Rainalducci was a member of the Franciscan spirituals who supported Louis’ view that the secular authority was of greater power than the Church. Rainalducci took the name Nicholas in honor of Franciscan pope Nicholas IV and Pope Nicholas III who had written the Franciscan rules of poverty Exiit qui seminat which John XXII had torn to pieces, causing a schism in the Franciscan order.

One of the most interesting acts of his period as anti-pope was to preside over a trial of Pope John XXII at the Duomo of Pisa. John XXII was represented by a straw puppet dressed in pontifical robes. Nicholas condemned John and handed him [that is, the puppet] over to the secular authority to be executed.

John XXII, for his part, excommunicated Nicholas in April 1329. Later Nicholas would repent, confess both to the archbishop of Pisa and to Pope John, who absolved him on 25 August 1330. However, Nicholas would remain in a comfortable imprisonment in the papal palace at Avignion until his death in October 1333.

More on anti-pope Nicholas V

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Papal History, Renaissance History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Clement X crowned as Pope

May 11, 2010 – 10:19 pm

On 11 May 1670, Emilio Bonaventura Altieri was crowned as Pope Clement X.

In his six year papacy, Clement X canonized several saints including Rose of Lima; beatified John of the Cross; and provided much support to Polish King Jan Sobieski.

However his relationship with French king Louis XIV was not so good, especially concerning the matter of the regalia. Louis XIV sought to claim the authority to make appointments to ecclesiastical positions and to manage the incomes of vacant episcopal sees and abbeys contrary to the opinion of Clement X and his successors. This would mark the beginning of an intense struggle between the papacy and Louis XIV regarding the relationship and authority of the Church and the secular power.

Clement X

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

#233 – Operation Mincemeat

May 11, 2010 – 10:04 pm

In 1942, the British needed someone special to help ensure the success of the Allied invasion of Sicily. Major Martin was that person – he was dead and he was Catholic.

Links:
More on Operation Mincemeat
BBC History Magazine Podcast talked about Operation Mincemeat in October 2008

SaintCast on Fr. Maximilian Kolbe

CNMC Boston

Photo from cosas de huelva

Be sure to check out the CUTH blog for more on the history of the Catholic Church

Send e-mail questions and comments to catholicunderthehood@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 1 740 936 4354

To listen, just click on the link below:

podcasticon#233 – Operation Mincemeat

By sbeshonertor | Posted in British History, German History, Podcast, Spanish History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – End of the Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

May 10, 2010 – 9:11 pm

On 10 May 2002 the siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem by the Israel Defense Forces came to an end. The siege had lasted since 2 April 2002 – for 39 days.
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The IDF raid into Bethlehem began as an attempt to arrest wanted Palestinian militants but the militants were able to evade the Israeli forces by fleeing into the Church of the Nativity. Altogether the number of those who sought refuge in the church included members of Fatah, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Security Forces and some monks and other Palestinians totaling about 220.

The IDF surrounded the Church with tanks and sniping positions. The Israeli government condemned the Palestinian occupation and accused the militants of firing on the IDF from inside the church. Michel Sabbah, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the region, said the gunmen had been given sanctuary, and that “the basilica is a place of refuge for everybody, even fighters, as long as they lay down their arms. We have an obligation to give refuge to Palestinians and Israelis alike”.

On the 7th of April, the Vatican warned Israel to respect the religious site and the Pope issued calls for prayers for peace. On 16 April there was a severe firefight between Palestinians and the IDF near the Church. On 20 April the Greek Orthodox called for a “solidarity day” for the people in the Church of the Nativity and the church itself.

The militants eventually turned themselves over to the IDF after being promised that they would be exiled to Europe or to the Gaza Strip. 8 militants were killed during the siege. One Armenian monk was severely wounded. The IDF reported finding 40 explosive devices left in the church by the militants.

On the Siege of the Church of the Nativity
Timeline

By sbeshonertor | Posted in History of Middle East, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Works of Gabriele d’Annunzio placed on Index of Prohibited Books

May 9, 2010 – 12:32 pm

On 9 May 1911, the Vatican placed on the Index of Prohibited Books all of the love stories and dramatic works of Gabriele d’Annunzio, but not his poetry.

What led the Vatican to take this step was d’Annunzio’s collaboration with Claude Debussy on the musical play Le martyre de Saint Sébastien [The Martyrdom of St Sebastian]. The Jewish actress Ida Rubinstein had been cast to play the role of Saint Sebastian, indeed d’Annunzio had written the part of Saint Sebastian specifically for her. But the fact that the Christian saint would be played by a Jewish women outraged French Catholics. Moreover, d’Annunzio’s play identified Saint Sebastian with the pagan figure of Adonis and neither d’Annunzio nor Debussy were Catholic. Needless to say, neither the Vatican nor Parisian Archbishop, Cardinal Leon Adolphe Amette, expected the play to present an account of Saint Sebastian which would promote Catholic faith and spirituality.

While there was some question as to whether the Vatican prohibition would, in fact, encourage more people to see the performance; the Vatican believed that it would be giving greater moral authority to the Archbishop in regards to his response to the play. Indeed shortly before the opening night of the production, the Archbishop issued a statement reminding Parisian Catholics about the Vatican’s prohibition and that they should not attend any play which “offended Christian consciences”.

The play was not successful, though it is not known whether that was because of or in spite of the actions of the Vatican and Cardinal Amette.


New York Times article about the Vatican and Amette response to d’Annunzio’s play

By sbeshonertor | Posted in French History, Italian History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Pius XI issues Miserentissimus Redemptor

May 8, 2010 – 10:26 pm

On 8 May 1928, Pope Pius XI issued the encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor.

This encyclical urged all Catholics to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to engage in acts of reparation and atonement for sins committed against the Sacred Heart. The encyclical also confirmed the appearance of Jesus to Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque.

Pius XI stated that just as Jesus’ foreknowledge of sins we will commit causes him sorrow, so his knowledge of the acts of reparation we will perform cause him joy. These deeds of reparation are done both in response to our own sins and for the sins of others. Pius particularly believed that reparation for sin was urgent considering the great wrongs being committed at this time.

Prayer of Reparation

O sweetest Jesus, whose overflowing charity towards men is most ungratefully repaid by such great forgetfulness, neglect and contempt, see, prostrate before Thy altars, we strive by special honor to make amends for the wicked coldness of men and the contumely with which Thy most loving Heart is everywhere treated.
At the same time, mindful of the fact that we too have sometimes not been free from unworthiness, and moved therefore with most vehement sorrow, in the first place we implore Thy mercy on us, being prepared by voluntary expiation to make amends for the sins we have ourselves committed, and also for the sins of those who wander far from the way of salvation, whether because, being obstinate in their unbelief, they refuse to follow Thee as their shepherd and leader, or because, spurning the promises of their Baptism, they have cast off the most sweet yoke of Thy law. We now endeavor to expiate all these lamentable crimes together, and it is also our purpose to make amends for each one of them severally: for the want of modesty in life and dress, for impurities, for so many snares set for the minds of the innocent, for the violation of feast days, for the horrid blasphemies against Thee and Thy saints, for the insults offered to Thy Vicar and to the priestly order, for the neglect of the Sacrament of Divine love or its profanation by horrible sacrileges, and lastly for the public sins of nations which resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast instituted. Would that we could wash away these crimes with our own blood! And now, to make amends for the outrage offered to the Divine honor, we offer to Thee the same satisfaction which Thou didst once offer to Thy Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continually renew on our altars, we offer this conjoined with the expiations of the Virgin Mother and of all the Saints, and of all pious Christians, promising from our heart that so far as in us lies, with the help of Thy grace, we will make amends for our own past sins, and for the sins of others, and for the neglect of Thy boundless love, by firm faith, by a pure way of life, and by a perfect observance of the Gospel law, especially that of charity; we will also strive with all our strength to prevent injuries being offered to Thee, and gather as many as we can to become Thy followers. Receive, we beseech Thee, O most benign Jesus, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Reparatress, the voluntary homage of this expiation, and vouchsafe, by that great gift of final perseverance, to keep us most faithful until death in our duty and in Thy service, so that at length we may all come to that fatherland, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.

PIUS XI

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Today in Catholic History – World Premiere of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

May 7, 2010 – 10:42 am

On 7 May 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Ninth Symphony or “Ode to Joy” at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna to a large audience who came to see his first on-stage appearance in twelve years. The premiere was a great success “the public received the musical hero with the utmost respect and sympathy, listened to his wonderful, gigantic creations with the most absorbed attention and broke out in jubilant applause, often during sections, and repeatedly at the end of them.” There were five standing ovations.

The audience reception was even more impressive considering that there were only two rehearsals of the entire program. Moreover Beethoven was almost completely deaf and yet insisted on conducting the performance. So both Beethoven and Michael Umlauf, the official conductor, stood on the stage at the same time. Since Beethoven could not hear the performance, he often gave instructions and directions contrary to what was in the score of the symphony – calling for loudness at a moment of quiet and vice versa. Umlauf had to instruct the musicians to essentially ignore Beethoven’s direction during the performance. At the end of the performance, one of the singers had to tug at Beethoven’s sleeve to turn him around to face the audience as Beethoven was unaware that the symphony was finished. The singer later said, “his turning about, and the sudden understanding thereby forced on all present that he had not done so before because he could not hear what was going on, acted like an electric shock on the audience, and a volcanic explosion of compassion and admiration followed, which was repeated over and over, and seemed as if it would never end.”

The words of the commonly sung hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” were written in in 1907 by Henry van Dyke to intentionally be accompanied by the music of the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Be embraced,
This kiss for the whole world!
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity – Beethoven from his Ninth Symphonyh

God — sometimes through periods of interior emptiness and isolation — wishes to make us attentive and capable of ‘feeling’ his silent presence, not only ‘over the canopy of stars’ but also in the most intimate recesses of our soul. There burns the spark of divine love that can free us to be what we truly are. – Benedict XVI on Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Austrian History, Music, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

Today in Catholic History – Pope John Paul II visits Umayyad Mosque

May 6, 2010 – 8:48 am

On 6 May 2001, Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit a mosque when he visited the Muslim holy site at which the tomb of St John the Baptist is also located.

At the mosque, the pope encouraged Christians and Muslims to work toward forgiveness. He also spent time in silent prayer. There was no joint Catholic/Muslim prayer at the mosque out of respect for Muslim concerns but Sheik Ahmad Kuftaro called the visit “a great day for Muslims around the world”.

Still, the visit was not without controversy. Syrian President Bashar Assad attempted to use the visit to obtain Vatican support against Israel. Also, because the site was formerly a Christian church there was some concern that the Pope might be seeking a return of Christian property. But the pope made no reference to the earlier church while he was at the mosque.

As we make our way through life towards our heavenly destiny, Christians feel the company of Mary, the Mother of Jesus; and Islam too pays tribute to Mary and hails her as “chosen above the women of the world” (Quran, III:42). The Virgin of Nazareth, the Lady of Saydnâya, has taught us that God protects the humble and “scatters the proud in the imagination of their hearts” (Lk 1:51). May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship, so that the Almighty may bless us with the peace which heaven alone can give. To the One, Merciful God be praise and glory for ever. Amen – Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II’s address at the Umayyad Mosque

By sbeshonertor | Posted in History of Middle East, Papal History, Today in Catholic History | Comments (0)

#232 – The Union of Brest, Part II

May 5, 2010 – 10:59 pm

In this episode, we finish our look at the history of the Union of Brest and the effects that it had upon the Orthodox Church in the Polish/Lithuanian Commonwealth, plus I talk about leaving Austria.

Links:
Articles Concerning Union with the Roman Church
Map of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1600

One of the best books on this subject matter is “Crisis and Reform: The Kyivan Metropolitanate, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the Genesis of the Union of Brest” by Fr. Borys Gudziak

Photo – Image of the medal Clement VIII struck after the Union with the Ruthenian Church was established

CNMC MMX Boston 2010

Be sure to check out the CUTH blog for more on the history of the Catholic Church

Send e-mail questions and comments to catholicunderthehood@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 1 740 936 4354

To listen, just click on the link below:

podcasticon#232 – The Union of Brest, Part II

By sbeshonertor | Posted in Eastern Catholic, Papal History, Podcast, Polish History | Comments (0)