PRELUDE
The events of the past week have had a profound impact on
hundreds of millions of those living in this world. Perhaps
never before has the passing of a single man meant so much
to so many. With the exception of a brief explanation of daylight
savings time, this week’s issue is dedicated in its
entirety to the late Pope John Paul II. May these pages bring
to light some of his accomplishments, so that we may all better
understand what the world has lost.
QUOTEs
OF THE WEEK
“Science
can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion
can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes.”
—Pope John Paul II
“Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of
men.”
—Pope John Paul II
“An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for
an excuse is a lie guarded.”
—Pope John Paul II
THIS
WEEK IN HISTORY
APRIL
11, 1814: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates the throne and
is exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba by the treaty
of Fontainebleau. After extensive campaigns in Europe, Napoleon
was faced with defending France from a formidable alliance
between Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria. This alliance
converged on Paris, successfully occupying it on March 31,
1814. Though exiled, Napoleon was allowed to keep his title
of “emperor,” but his empire was restricted to
Elba’s shores.
While on Elba, Napoleon was eager to escape back to the mainland,
having heard that the French empire he had so painstakingly
built was shrinking back to its former size. After nearly
a year in exile, Napoleon escaped and returned to France on
March 1, 1815, where he was met by soldiers dispatched by
Louis XVIII (who had been installed by French loyalists in
the erstwhile emperor’s absence). Napoleon was not resisted,
as the loyalty to him amongst his soldiers remained high.
He returned to Paris with several hundred thousand troops
and governed there for 100 Days. He was later defeated by
Anglo-Prussian forces at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18,
1815.
Source: www.wikipedia.org |
 |
3
WORDS
Memorize these by week's end and you shall
quickly develop an enviable lexicon.
This week’s theme: words related to the papacy.
| crosier
(KRO-zher) noun |
| 1. |
|
a staff with a crook or cross at one end, carried before
an abbot, bishop, or archbishop as a symbol of office |
| 2. |
|
the coiled young frond of any of various ferns, some
of which are considered a delicacy when cooked (also
called a fiddlehead) |
Ex.
The abbot carried a wooden crosier before him,
resting upon it from time to time as though it
were a stout tree. |
|
encyclical (in-SICK-li-kul) |
| 1. |
|
adj.: addressed to all the individuals
of a group |
| 2. |
|
noun: a letter, esp. one sent by the Pope
to the bishops of the church |
Ex.
My inbox is constantly overflowing with daily
encyclicals from the school dean. |
|
miter (MIGHT-er) noun |
| 1. |
|
a headdress worn by bishops and abbots |
Ex.
The Pope was laid in state and arrayed in full
clerical robes, a crosier beneath one arm and
a miter atop his head. |
|
|
