Faith Through the Ages - Today in Religious History
Pope Gregory the Great wrote to Empress Constantina explaining the practice of venerating relics, distinguishing between the physical remains and the divine power they represent. This letter became a foundational text for Catholic teaching on relics.
At the closing session of the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II called for armed pilgrimage to aid Eastern Christians and reclaim Jerusalem. His sermon sparked the First Crusade, a pivotal event in medieval Christian history.
On this date, the papal brief 'Piam et sanctam' confirmed the separation of the Discalced Carmelites from the mitigated Carmelite order. This solidified the reform led by John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila.
The papal letter condemned the slave trade and slavery as contrary to Christian morality, though it was addressed to bishops and did not impose immediate disciplinary measures. It was a significant moral statement in the 19th century.
Although not a religious event, Nobel's will created a legacy that honors peacemakers, many of whom have been Christian leaders. The Peace Prize has been awarded to figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa.
The U.S. bishops founded the NCWC to coordinate Catholic activities and address social issues after World War I. It later became the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Executive Order 9066 led to the internment of over 110,000 Japanese Americans, including Buddhist and Christian communities. Christian churches, such as the Methodist and Presbyterian, ministered to internees.
Pope John XXIII opened the first session in 1962, but the second session began under Pope Paul VI on September 29, 1963. However, on November 27, 1962, the council was in its first session, discussing the liturgy.
The revised Code of Canon Law, promulgated on January 25, 1983, was signed by the pope on this date. It replaced the 1917 code and reflected the reforms of Vatican II.
In a gesture of ecumenism, the pope gave relics of Saint John Chrysostom to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The relics were returned to the Orthodox Church, where the saint is highly venerated.