2002 Christian Holidays -
Ecumenical Mysticism/Wisdom Tradition
* 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. [World Peace Day;
Universal Hour of Peace: 7:00-8:00 a.m. EST.]
* 1/1: Day the first woman was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the U.S.
(1977). [Rev. Jacqueline Means]
* 1/1: Day Pope John Paul II exhorted Christians to respect Nature, to
preserve natural resources, and to stop environmental destruction (1990). [Citing
Genesis, the Pope said that, because responsibility for Creation was entrusted
by Deity to humankind, the ecological crisis is a moral issue of human
responsibility. He believed the ecological crisis was caused by a lack of
respect for life. He said that it implicates planetary peace as well as the
quality of life of all. He was concerned about the depletion of the ozone layer,
massive urban concentrations, unrestricted deforestation, and the use of certain
types of herbicides, coolants, and propellants. He also expressed concern about
genetically-modified plants and animals. He exhorted governments to cooperate
internationally, and to internally adopt internationally-accepted standards, to
ensure preservation of the environment.] [This was expressed in "Peace with
God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation: Message of His Holiness Pope John
Paul II for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace".]
* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn
all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.][Text of Convention] [For more information, see
Anti Racism Information Service website;
Human Rights Watch website.]
* 1/6 (OC 1/19): Epiphany--Christian feast recalling the adoration of Child
Jesus by the Magi, and the beginning of Rabbi Jesus' ministry of love to
humanity - when He changed water into wine at Cana. [Orthodox Christians
celebrate
the Baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.] [a/k/a Epiphany of the Lord]
* 1/7: Orthodox Christian Christmas. [a/k/a Nativity of the Savior]
* 1/13: Death day of George Fox (1691), founder of the Quakers. Quakers
experience Deity within and practice egalitarianism, social activism, and
peacefulness. [Born 7/1624: exact date unknown]
* 1/15: Feast of the Black Christ. [Originated in
Guatemala and celebrated by Catholics in Central America and the Caribbean and
immigrants and African-Americans in the U.S. Pilgrims travel to the Church of the Black
Christ of Esquipulas annually during the week leading up to the feast.] [a/k/a Feast of
Christ of Esquipulas, Fiesta Del Senor de Esquipulas]
* 1/15 (Obs.1/21): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist
preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death
day 4/4/1968]
* 1/15: First appearance of Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the poor, the
sick, and the suffering (Belgium 1933).
* 1/20: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different
paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 1/29: Birthday of Vladimir Soloviev (1853), Orthodox Christian mystic who
bewailed humanity's alienation from Holy Wisdom and from Nature, Her
manifestation. [Death day 8/12/1900]
* 1/31: Birthday of Fr. Thomas Merton (1915), Catholic mystic and poet, who
found Deity in stillness and silence. [Death day 12/9/1968]
* 2/6: Death day of Joseph Priestley (1804), Unitarian who found Biblical
basis for belief in a unitary Deity, and recognized Jesus to be Deity's Great
Prophet. [Birthday 3/13/1733]
* 2/6 to 2/12 (OC 3/10 to 3/17): Carnival/Meat Fare--Christian time of
feasting, dancing, and revelry. [Ends on Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras, final day
before Lent.]
* 2/11: First appearance of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lady of healing waters
(France 1858).
* 2/11: Day the first woman was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop in the U.S.
(1989). [Bishop Barbara Harris]
* 2/13 to 3/28 (OC 3/18 to 4/27): Ash Wednesday (fast day) and Lent--Christian time of
purification by self-reflection, reparation for harm
done, peace-making, and helping those in need. [Some also abstain from meat on
Fridays.]
* 2/15: Birthday of Galileo (1564), astronomer; day to mourn the persecution
of scientists by religious authorities. [Death day
1/8/1642]
* 2/18: Death day of Michelangelo (1564), painter of the Sistine Chapel
(where Our Father is shown embracing Our Mother while reaching out to humanity).
[Birthday 3/6/1475]
* 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide (1999); day to mourn their victims.
[Protocol on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices a/k/a Convention on Landmines a/k/a Mine Ban Treaty, amending the 1980
Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects: Treaty signed/adopted 10/10/1980; entered into force 12/2/1983; Protocol signed 12/3/1997; entered into force
3/1/1999.] [The U.S., Russia, Yugoslavia, Armenia, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia have not
ratified the Protocol.] [There are between 60 and 70 million landmines in the ground of 70+ countries. Landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians each year, including 8,000 to 10,000
children. In the name of Jesus Christ, and for love of Jesus Christ, Christians should renounce the production and use of landmines, and should demand removal and destruction of all existing landmines.]
[Text of
Convention] [For more information, see International
Campaign to Ban Landmines website; Adopt
a Minefield website.] [Text of
United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 3/10: Christian feast of Blessed Maria, partner of St. Joseph and mother of
Blessed Jesus - honors her as nurturer, teacher, protector, and guide of all
mothers. [a/k/a Mothering Sunday]
* 3/12: Day Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church, asked
Deity's forgiveness and apologized: to Christians of other denominations for
intolerance to them, to Jews for anti-Semitism, to peoples of all non-Christian
religions for intolerance and contempt for their religious traditions, to women for their humiliation and
marginalization, and to the poor and the powerless for indifference to them
(2000). [On the first Sunday in Lent in the Jubilee Year, as a part of the
liturgy of the Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Pope John Paul
II made this public confession with the aid of seven cardinals and bishops. See
Transcript of Confession and Request for Forgiveness.]
* 3/16: Day Pope John Paul II expressed remorse for the failure of Christians
to prevent the murder of six million Jews during World War II (1998).
[This was
expressed in
"We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah".] [Pope Pius XII, who
became Pope in 1939, was silent about the Nazi persecution of Jews, other than a
1942 Christmas message that acknowledged that "hundreds of thousands of
persons...because of nationality or race, have been consigned to death".] [Pope
John Paul II also expressed sorrow for the suffering of Jews at the hands of
Christians in a note left at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on 3/26/2000.
However, Pope John Paul II planned to beatify Pope Pius XII, until protests
dissuaded him. And, in spite of protests, he beatified anti-Semitic Pope Pius IX
on 9/3/2000.] [For commentary on the controversy, see articles by
America magazine and
CNN.]
* 3/19: Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Maria and
foster-father of Blessed Jesus - honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and
guide of all fathers.
* 3/24 (OC 4/28): Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance
into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice
Himself for the liberation and redemption of all. [a/k/a Passion Sunday]
* 3/24: Feast of Gabriel, Angel of Truth.
* 3/25 (OC 4/7): Annunciation Day--Christian feast commemorating Blessed
Maria's fiat - choosing to conceive Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit
and to become catalyst of liberation and redemption. [a/k/a Annunciation of the
Virgin Mary, Annunciation of the Lord]
* 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide (1975); day to mourn their victims.
[Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction a/k/a Biological Weapons Convention: signed 4/10/1972; entered into force 3/26/1975.]
[Russia and Cuba are believed to currently have biological weapons research
programs in spite of the Treaty's prohibition. Both have ratified the Treaty.] [In the name of Jesus Christ, and for love of Jesus Christ, Christians should renounce
the production, acquisition, and use of biological weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.]
[Text of
Convention] [For more information, see U.N.
Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Biological
and Toxin Weapons Convention website; Sipri
Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
Mainpage; Chemical and Biological
Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey
Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page;
Federation of American Scientists
(FAS)
Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text
of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 3/28 (OC 5/2): Maundy Thursday/Last Supper of Savior Jesus--He washed the
feet of His male and female disciples, gave them bread and wine as His body and
blood, and told of the Paraclete who would come
after Him. ["Paraclete" means "Comforter" and "Advocate"
and is identified with the Holy Spirit. See Acts 1:5, 1:8, 2:4, 2:38. Christian
mystics believe the apparitions of Our Lady at Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima, etc.,
were manifestations of the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete.] [a/k/a Holy Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday]
* 3/29 (OC 5/3): Passion Friday--Fast day to mourn the torture and killing of
Savior Jesus by civil and religious authorities. [Day to contemplate the sacrifice
made for the liberation and redemption of all.] [a/k/a Good Friday, Holy
Friday]
* 3/30 (OC 5/4): Holy Saturday--Vigil remembering Savior Jesus in His cave
tomb. [Some fast during the day. In the evening, fire and water are
blessed, and the Holy Spirit is entreated to bring about regeneration and
renewal.] [a/k/a Easter Vigil, Easter Eve]
* 3/31 (OC 5/5): Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus'
resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Eggs are blessed and distributed.]
* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001).
[Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions
or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995),
Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001),
and Finland (2002)). In the
U.S., Hawaii (1997),
California (1999), Vermont (2000), and D.C. (2002), have legalized same-sex
civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have constitutional amendments, statutes, or
judicial decisions banning same-sex marriage. A federal
statute (Defense of Marriage Act -- 1996) bans same-sex marriage under federal
law and allows states to not recognize same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere.]
[For more information, see the
Wikipedia website.] [Christian denominations that perform same-sex marriage ceremonies include the
Metropolitan Community Church, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the
United Church of Christ, and the Ecumenical Catholic Church. Some Episcopal churches, Presbyterian churches,
and Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) meetings also perform same-sex marriage or blessing ceremonies.]
* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and
seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World
Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on
World Health Day, see World
Health Organization website; UN
Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health
Organization, see World Health Organization
website.]
* 4/11: Day Pope John XXIII called for world peace, recognition of human
rights, and justice under law (1963). He recognized that peace will only be
realized when social justice is realized.
[The Pope believed that it is the function of government
to create a juridical order, in harmony with the moral order. He recognized that
each person is vested with rights and duties that are universal, inviolable, and
inalienable. The Pope said that each person has: the right to live, the right to
the means necessary for life, the right to freedom of speech, the right to
pursue the profession of choice, the right to an education and to receive
information about public events, the right to religious freedom, the right to
found a family, the right to work, the right to a just and living wage and work
conditions conducive to family life, the right to own property, the right of
meeting and association, the right to emigrate and immigrate, the right to
participate in public life, and to legal protection of these rights. He
indicated that government, with due regard for the equality of all, has a duty
to accommodate the rights and duties of all, preventing the rights of some to
impede the rights of others. Government must be particularly concerned with the
welfare of the weak, minority groups, and refugees. The Pope believed that
governments should, in their international relations, also act with truth,
justice, and respect. He also believed that wealthier countries should aid the
poorer ones. He encouraged countries to work together through the United Nations
and other international entities. The Pope condemned the arms race and the
development of nuclear weapons, and said that disarmament is necessary for world
peace. He disapproved of war, recognizing that weapons of mass destruction could
not serve justice.] [This is expressed in Pope John XXIII抯 Encyclical on Peace on
Earth.]
* 4/18: Death day of Elhanan Winchester (1797), Universalist who exhorted
people to lives of personal ethics and social reform. [Birthday 9/30/1751]
* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity
manifesting as Mother Earth. [a/k/a International Earth Day, National Earth Day]
[For information about Earth Day activities, see Earthday Network
website; Envirolink website; U.S.
government website for Earth Day; U.S.
E.P.A.
website for Earth Day.]
* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in
their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion
(1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951;
entered into force 4/22/1954.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see
United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 4/29: Day production and use of chemical weapons was outlawed world-wide (1997); day to mourn their victims.
[Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons a/k/a Chemical Weapons Convention: signed 1/13/1993; entered into force 4/29/1997.]
[Russia and Ethiopia are believed to currently possess chemical weapons in spite
of the Treaty's prohibition. Both have ratified the Treaty.] [In the name of Jesus Christ, and for love of Jesus Christ, Christians should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of chemical weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.]
[Text of
Convention] [For more information, see U.N.
Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons webpage; Sipri
Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Chemical Weapons Convention Mainpage;
Chemical and Biological Weapons
Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey
Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page;
Federation of American Scientists
(FAS)
Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text
of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]
* 5/1: Christian feast celebrating the sacred marriage of Blessed Maria and
St. Joseph. [Also honors St. Joseph, the Laborer.]
* 5/1: Birthday of Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881), Catholic mystic and
evolutionary who experienced the union of consciousness with all Nature. [Death
day 4/10/1955]
* 5/1: Day Pope John Paul II affirmed that capitalism must be tempered by
social justice and restrained by human rights and environmental laws (1991). [Pope John Paul II rejected communism
and totalitarianism, as well as consumerism and unbridled capitalism. He
reaffirmed the fundamental rights of workers to their own labor, to dignity in
work, to reasonable working conditions, to humane working hours, to a just and
living wage, to a family life, to associate with other workers for their
collective good, and to participate in a democratic process of governance under
the rule of law. He indicated that the government has an obligation to seek full
employment of workers through its economic policies, to provide social security
for those unable to work, and to provide unemployment insurance and retraining
for the unemployed. He also reaffirmed the right to private ownership of
property, including technology, but cautioned that the government should not
favor the wealthy over the poor. Rather, it is the responsibility of the
government to protect all people, but especially the poor and the vulnerable,
from exploitation by rich and the powerful companies, particularly in times of
economic and industrial change. He also indicated that governments should not
allow companies, in the name of capitalism, to exploit natural resources of the
Earth irresponsibly and destroy the environment.] [Expressed in Pope John Paul II's Social
Encyclical, issued on the 100th Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, the
Social Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, which it strives to reinterpret.]
* 5/2: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom
of religion, and separation of church and state throughout the world. [Freedom
of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government is
guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. For text and information on
the First Amendment, see
Cornell
University's Legal Information Institute website;
First Amendment Online website and
1st Amendment.com website. For
domestic organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see
Americans United for Separation of
Church and State website and
American
Civil Liberty Union website. For information on religious freedom in
countries around the world, see U.S.
State Department's International Religious Freedom Report;
Human Rights Watch website; and
Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or
Belief website.]
* 5/6 to 5/8: Rogation Days--Christian days of prayer for bountiful crops,
sustainable development, and healing of environmental abuses.
* 5/8: Christian feast of St. Julian of Norwich (d. 1419)--mystic who
believed Deity to be Father and Mother, everywhere in everything.
* 5/9 (OC 6/13): Ascension Day--Christian feast marking Lord Jesus' ascension
into Heaven. [a/k/a Ascension of the Lord]
* 5/19 (OC 6/23): Pentecost/Whitsunday--Christian feast celebrating the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the male and female disciples of
Lord Jesus; honors Her as the Paraclete, Grace, Wisdom, Justice, and
Providence. [Christian mystics identify the Holy Spirit
(Hebrew "Ruach") with Holy Wisdom (Hebrew "Hokhma"), who aided the Heavenly
Father in creation of the universe. See Genesis 1:1-2; 1:26-27; Job 38:4-11;
38:28-30; Psalm 104:24-30; Proverbs 3:19-20; 8:22-31; Wisdom of Solomon 8:2-6;
8:21-9:4; 9:9-11; and Ecclesiasticus 1:1-5; 24:1-6.] [Wisdom of Solomon 7:22-27
describes Holy Wisdom (Hokhma): "In Wisdom there is a Spirit intelligent and holy, unique in its kind
yet made up of many parts, subtle, free-moving, lucid, spotless, clear,
invulnerable, loving what is good, eager, unhindered, beneficent, kindly towards
humanity, steadfast, unerring, untouched by care, all-powerful, all-surveying,
and permeating all intelligent, pure, and delicate spirits. For Wisdom moves
more easily than motion itself, She pervades and permeates all things because
She is so pure. Like a fine mist, She rises from the power of Deity, a pure
effluence from the glory of the Almighty; so nothing defiled can enter into Her
by stealth. She is the brightness that streams from everlasting light, the
flawless mirror of the active power of Deity, and the image of goodness. She is
but one, yet can do everything; Herself unchanging, She makes all things new;
age after age She enters into holy souls, and makes them Deity's friends and
prophets...."] [Because Jewish mystics consider Ruach and Hokhma to be
feminine, Christian mystics consider the Holy Spirit to be feminine. However,
most mainstream Christians consider the Holy Spirit to be masculine.] [a/k/a Holy Pentecost]
* 5/25: Day Pope John Paul II reaffirmed the Catholic Church's commitment to
ecumenism (1995). He asked for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation amongst the
various Christian denominations, in spite of continuing differences and a
painful past. He called for continuous dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity in
service to humanity. [This was expressed in Pope John
Paul II's Encyclical on Commitment to
Ecumenism.]
* 5/26: Trinity Sunday--Christian celebration of the one universal Deity as
Holy Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit Mother, and Holy Christ Child.
[Christians consider the Trinity to be a singular Deity
with three distinct aspects - not three Deities.] [Christian mystics
refer to the Holy Spirit as "Mother" and consider the Holy Spirit Mother to be
coequal with the Holy Heavenly Father and the Holy Christ Child. However, most mainstream
Christians do not.]
* 5/30: Corpus Christi--Christian day for veneration of Christ Immanuel in
the Host - divine immanence in the grain.
* 5/31: Christian feast of Our Lady, Queen of Heaven.
* 6/6: First appearance of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Compassionate
Mother who answers all pleas (France 1830).
* 6/13: Christian feast of St. Anthony (d. 1231), guardian of the poor and
the powerless, and guide of social justice activists.
* 6/16: Birthday of Fr. Sergei Bulgakov (1871), Orthodox Christian mystic who
believed the one universal Deity to be Father and Mother, Spirit and Matter.
[Death day 7/12/1944]
* 6/24: First appearance of Our Lady of Medjugorje, Queen of Peace, Mother of
All Peoples (Yugoslavia 1981).
* 6/25: Day the first woman was ordained a Universalist minister in the U.S.
(1863). [Rev. Olympia Brown]
* 6/27: Death day of Joseph Smith (1844), founder of the Mormon Church
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]. He
promoted a religion that was egalitarian and communitarian, and worshipped Deity
as a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. [Birthday 12/23/1805]
* 6/30: Vigil for peace, democracy, religious freedom, ethnic equality, and
the end of slavery in Sudan - now in the throes of civil war. [Since
1983, when Islamic law was adopted in Sudan, civil war has pitted Arab Muslims
against African Christians and animists. As a result, over 2 million have died,
most through forced starvation. Government troops have been accused of torture,
rape, enslavement, and the murder of women and children. On 6/30/1989, a
military coup by Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir brought authoritarian rule to
Sudan. In 1991, Islamic law was imposed on non-Muslims in the areas within his
control.] [For
more information, see CNN
website; Global
Security website; Human Rights
Watch report: Sudan.]
* 7/1: Day the world's nations committed to stop proliferation of nuclear
weapons (1968); vigil to protest the production and use of all nuclear weapons
world-wide. [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed
7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970.] [The U.S., the U.K., France, and Russia
have failed to destroy their nuclear weapons in spite of the Treaty's
requirement that they work towards disarmament. The U.S. used 2 atomic bombs on
Japan in 8/1945: over 270,000 civilians died from the bombs and radiation.] [In the name of Jesus Christ, and
for love of Jesus Christ, Christians should renounce the production,
acquisition, and use of nuclear weapons, and should demand destruction of all
existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more
information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website;
International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) website.]
[Text of United Nations Charter, chapter
V, article 26]
* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to
celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered
into force 7/1/1975.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see U.N.
Environmental Programme CITES website; World
Wildlife Fund website;
EarthJustice
website.]
* 7/2: Visitation Day--Christian feast marking St. Elizabeth's recognition of
Blessed Maria's divine destiny as catalyst for human liberation and redemption.
* 7/10: Day Pope John Paul II acknowledged the evil of sexism and apologized
for the Catholic Church's past oppression of women (1995); day to mourn the
continued subordination of women by the Church. [See
Letter to Women.]
[See also Catholic
Perspective on: Women in Society and in the Church. And see the Catholic
feminist response:
"Feminist Christology"
by Elizabeth Johnson;
"Heart of Flesh: A Feminist Spirituality for Women and Men" by Joan
Chittister O.S.B.;
"Equality: A Radical Democratic Ekklesial Vision" by Elisabeth Sch乻sler
Fiorenza;
"Feminist Theologians Speak Encouragement to Women"; and the
Catholic Network on Women's
Equality website.]
* 7/11: Day Srebrenica, Bosnia, fell to attacking Serbs (1995), beginning a
massacre of thousands of civilians because of their ethnicity and religion;
vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the human
rights of all in the Balkans. [Though it was declared a U.N. "safe
haven," Srebrenica, Bosnia, was attacked and fell to Christian Serb
aggressors on 7/11/1995. 8,000-15,000 civilian Muslim Slavs were killed there
from 7/12-7/17/1995 because of their ethnicity and religion. On 8/2/2001, Bosnian
Serb General Radislav Krstic was convicted of genocide for his part in the
massacre. Former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic is now being tried for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against
humanity for his part in the massacre at Srebenica
and the "ethnic cleansing" elsewhere in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo.]
[For more information, see
Report
of the Secretary General Pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 53/35 (1998);
Human Rights Watch report:
Serbia-Montenegro;
Human Rights Watch report: Bosnia-Herzegovina;
Human Rights Watch report: Croatia.]
* 7/12: Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (1690); vigil for true peace,
justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for all in Northern Ireland. [The
Battle of the Boyne, which marked the defeat of Catholic James II by Protestant
William III, occurred on 7/12/1690. Following this defeat, the law discriminated
against Catholics. Protestants annually celebrate their victory over Catholics
on this date, providing an impetus to civil strife. Catholics and Protestants
committed to peaceful coexistence, power-sharing, and disarmament by signing the
Good Friday Peace Agreement on 4/10/1998.] [For a history of the conflict, see CAIN Web Service: The Northern Ireland Conflict 1968 to the
Present; BBC News website: The Troubles;
CNN News website.]
* 7/16: Birthday of Mary Baker Eddy (1821), founder of Christian Science, who
honored Deity as Father-Mother God. [Death day 12/3/1910]
* 7/22: Christian feast of St. Maria Magdalen, disciple and priestess--Savior
Jesus made her His priestess by purifying her seven times; she anointed Him in
preparation for His sacrifice and witnessed His torture, death, and
resurrection.
* 7/26: Christian feast of St. Anna, mother of Blessed Maria and grandmother
of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandmothers and elderly women.
* 8/2: Feast of the Black Madonna. [a/k/a Feast of the Virgin of the Angels]
* 8/5: Day that six women were excommunicated for failing to renounce their claims to
the priesthood (2002). They had been ordained Catholic priests without Vatican
authority on 6/29/2002. [See
Declarations
issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.]
* 8/6 (OC 8/19): Transfiguration Day--Christian feast celebrating the
revelation of Lord Jesus as the Cosmic Christ and friend to all humanity. [a/k/a
Transfiguration of the Lord]
* 8/10: Remembrance day for Nicholas of Cusa (d. 1464)--Christian mystic who
believed all Creation to be the unfolding of Deity. [Birthday & death day
unknown]
* 8/11: Christian feast of St. Clare of Assisi (d. 1253), guide of
environmentalists.
* 8/12: Day Pope Pius XII proclaimed the theory of evolution to be consistent
with Catholic teaching and Christian faith (1950). Pope John Paul II concurred.
[See Encyclical Humani
Generis] Pope John Paul II concurred. [See
Message to Pontifical Academy of Sciences (10/22/1996)]
* 8/15 (OC 8/28): Assumption Day--Christian feast commemorating Blessed
Mother Mary rising into Heaven and being crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.
[Christian mystics believe she was transformed into Our Lady, the Paraclete
- the Holy Spirit - who appears
everywhere to comfort and aid those in need, and who advocates the cause of the
departed in heaven.] [a/k/a Assumption of the Virgin Mary]
* 8/17: Vigil for peace, justice, religious tolerance, and respect for the
human rights of all in Indonesia--now struggling against religious terrorism. [Indonesia Independence Day 8/17. Since
1/1/1999, due to forced conversions to Islam, there has been interreligious
violence between Muslims and Christians in Indonesia.] [For more information,
see
Human Rights Watch report: Indonesia.]
* 8/22: Christian feast of Our Lady, Queen of Angels.
* 8/27: Birthday of Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) (1910), Catholic
nun who served the poorest of the poor and saw Deity in each person. [Death day
9/5/1997]
* 8/28: Day of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s peaceful march on Washington,
D.C., for recognition of the rights of African Americans (1963). [Rev. King made
his inspiring
"I have a dream"
speech at this rally.]
* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended
by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that
condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in
the name of religion. [Text
of Global Ethic] [See also
website for the Parliament of
the World's Religions.]
* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn
all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly
12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text
of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch:
United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist
Majority Foundation website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 9/3: Day Pope John Paul II beatified symbols of progressive religious
authority (Pope John XXIII) and autocratic religious authority (Pope Pius IX)
(2000). [Pope John XXIII instigated the reforms of the
Vatican II Council in 1962, and advocated freedom of religion, peace, and social
justice. Pope Pius IX adopted the doctrine of papal infallibility at the Vatican
I Council in 1870, and rejected the doctrines of separation of church and state,
freedom of religion, and freedom of speech in his Syllabus of Errors in
1864.] [See articles by
CNN
(about both) and
American Catholic (about Pope John XXIII.]
* 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology
(1968). They believed that the Gospel requires Christians to aid the poor and
oppressed in the struggle for economic and social justice. [The Second Latin
American Bishops Conference was held in Medellin, Colombia, on 9/6/1968.] [See a
"Liberation
Theology Chronology"; "A
Concise History of Liberation Theology" by Leonardo and Clodovis Boff; and
"Is there a Change in Paradigm
in Liberation Theology?" by Jose Maria Vigil.]
* 9/8 (OC 9/21): Birthday of Blessed Maria, catalyst of liberation and
redemption. [a/k/a Nativity of the Virgin Mary]
* 9/8: Death day of Mother Ann Lee (1784), mystic and founder of the Shakers,
who worshipped with ecstatic dance and song, and believed Deity to be Father,
Son, Mother, and Daughter. [Birthday 2/29/1736]
* 9/9: Christian feast of St. Joachim, father of Blessed Maria and
grandfather of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandfathers and elderly men.
* 9/10: Birthday of Thomas Thayer (1812), Universalist who believed Deity to
be at work in evolution and continuing creation. [Death day 2/12/1886]
* 9/13: Day Israelis and Palestinians committed to peaceful coexistence
(1993); vigil for true peace, justice, religious tolerance, and equal rights for
all in the Middle East. [Declaration of Principles was signed by Israel &
the P.L.O. on 9/13/1993.] [The
History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict]
* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister
in the U.S. (1853). [Rev. Antoinette Blackwell]
* 9/17: Christian feast of St. Hildegard von Bingen (d. 1179)--mystic who
sang praises to the Holy Spirit as Grace (Caritas) and Wisdom (Sapientia). She
recognized the Holy Spirit to be the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity, and
found Her everywhere in Nature.
* 9/19: Appearance of Our Lady of La Salette, Mother of the Harvest (France
1846).
* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice
throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace]
[For more information on the International Day of Peace, see
International
Day of Peace website and International Day
of Peace Vigil website.]
* 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice.
* 9/30: Christian feast of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Soul of the Universe,
and source of faith, hope, and love.
* 10/2: Feast of the Guardian Angels; day to honor one's personal guardian
and guide.
* 10/4: Christian feast of St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226), and Animal
Blessing Day.
* 10/11: Opening of Vatican II Council, during which the Catholic Church
committed to ecumenism, freedom of religion, and social justice (1962). [The
Council met from 10/11/1962 to 12/8/1965.] [For information about the Vatican II
Council and its aftermath, see
Wikipedia article
and
National Catholic Reporter articles. See also
Documents of the Vatican II Council.]
* 10/12: Day the first woman was ordained a Methodist minister in the U.S.
(1880). [Rev. Anna Howard Shaw]
* 10/13: Final appearance of Our Lady of Fatima, Lady of Oracles and Miracles
(Portugal 1917).
* 10/15: Christian feast of St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582), mystic who loved
Deity passionately.
* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for
the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et
seq.] [Text of statute]
[See also EarthJustice
website.]
* 10/24: Feast of Raphael, Angel of Healing.
* 10/24: Day the first woman was ordained a Presbyterian minister in the U.S.
(1956). [Rev. Margaret Ellen Towner]
* 11/1: All Saints Day--Day Christians remember all the virtuous dead, known and unknown.
* 11/1: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity
and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity
of many names and aspects.
* 11/2: All Souls Day--Day Christians remember all the beloved dead.
* 11/3: Christian feast of St. Martin of Porres (d. 1639), healer and
advocate of social equality and inter-ethnic harmony; guide of healers and human
rights activists.
* 11/7: Anniversary of the first Re-Imagining Conference, where worship of
Holy Spirit Wisdom was introduced to mainstream Christianity
(1993). [This conference was organized by the Women's
Ministry Unit of the Presbyterian Church USA. 24 other Christian churches and
organizations also participated. 2200 Christian leaders, scholars, clergy, and
laity attended the conference between 11/4/1993 and 11/7/1993 to address the
problem of patriarchy in the church and in society. Following the conference,
there was a backlash against its organizers, who were accused of heresy.]
* 11/8: Birthday of Dorothy Day (1897), activist for peace, economic justice,
and workers' rights. [Founder of the Catholic Worker
Movement.] [Death day 11/22/1980]
* 11/10: Birthday of Martin Luther (1483), Christian reformer who rejected
blind obedience to religious authority and recognized the priesthood of all
believers. [Death day 2/18/1546]
* 11/11: Death day of Lucretia Mott (1880), Quaker preacher and non-violent
advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Birthday 1/3/1793]
* 11/12: Birthday of Sr. Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651), Catholic nun and
feminist poet. [Death day 4/17/1695]
* 11/20: Remembrance day for Meister Johannes Eckhart (d. 1328), Christian
mystic. He taught the Four Ways of the Journey - the creating, positive,
negating, and transforming ways. [1260-1328: Birthday & death day unknown]
* 11/21: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action
to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World
Harvest] [For more information, see the
Oxfam
America website.]
* 11/26: Death day of Sojourner Truth (1883), Christian preacher and
non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Born
179: exact date unknown]
* 11/28: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land
and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.
* 11/28: Day the Women's Ordination Conference opened, beginning the movement
to ordain women as priests in the Catholic Church (1975).
[See Women's Ordination Conference
website.]
* 12/1 to 12/24 (OC 11/28 to 1/6): Advent/Festival of Lights--Christian vigil
for the birth of the Cosmic Christ. Advent candles are lit. [a/k/a Christmas
Lent]
* 12/8: Christian feast celebrating St. Anna's immaculate conception of
Blessed Maria.
* 12/10: Birthday of John Murray (1741), Trinitarian Universalist who
believed that Jesus died to save all humanity, not just Christians. [Death day
9/3/1815]
* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and
fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly
adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217
A(III). See Text
of Declaration. For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin
& Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website. The U.D.H.R. is generally
recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the
U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with
enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Text
of Covenant) is enforced by the Human Rights Committee (see
Human
Rights Committee website; University
of Minnesota Human Rights Library website) and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (see Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human
Rights Watch website). The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
(Text of Covenant)
is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights(see
Committee
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website).] [a/k/a International
Human Rights Day]
* 12/12: First Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and Mother
of the Oppressed, at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Tonantzin Coatlicue
(Mexico 1531).
* 12/14: Christian feast of St. John of the Cross (d. 1591), whose suffering
- for advocating church reform - generated mystical union with Deity.
* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing
fundamental rights to all (1791). [Text
of Bill of Rights] [For more information about the Bill of Rights and the
U.S. Constitution, see U.S.
National Archives & Records Administration website and the Bill
of Rights Institute website. For information on organizations that advocate
for enforcement of rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights, see
Center
for Constitutional Rights website; American
Civil Liberties Union website.] [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
* 12/15: Death day of Fr. Pavel Florensky (1943), Orthodox Christian mystic
who taught that Holy Wisdom is Our Mother, the Holy Spirit, third part of the
Holy Trinity. [Birthday 1/21/1882]
* 12/15: Day the Catholic Church silenced Fr. Matthew Fox for teaching
Creation Spirituality (1988); day to mourn the silencing of all religious
dissenters and reformers.
* 12/16 to 12/24: Christmas Novena/Las Posadas--Christian remembrance of the
journey of Blessed Maria and St. Joseph to Bethlehem and their taking refuge in
a cave-stable.
* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the
air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.]
[Text of statute]
[See also EarthJustice
website.]
* 12/24 eve: Mother Night--Christian vigil for the laboring Blessed Maria.
* 12/25 (OC 1/7): Christmas--Christian celebration of Blessed Maria giving
birth to Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. [a/k/a
Feast of the Nativity]
* 12/28: Day a woman was ordained a Catholic priest without Vatican authority
(1970). [Mother Ludmila Javorova was ordained by Catholic Bishop Felix
Maria Davidek in Czechoslovakia. Her ordination is not recognized by the
Vatican.] [See Wikipedia
article on Ludmila Javorova. See also "Out of the Depths: The Story of
Ludmila Javorova, Ordained Roman Catholic Priest" by Miriam Therese Winter.]
* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn
those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat.
884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.] [Text of
statute] [See also EarthJustice
website.]
[The Christian holy scripture is the Bible, which
includes the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament (the Gospels
of Jesus and the Letters of the Apostles). Some denominations also recognize the
Old Testament Apocrypha as a canonical or instructive text. Christian beliefs
are reflected in the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed. Some denominations
also recognize the Athanasian Creed. Christians believe in the existence of one
Deity manifested as a Trinitarian Godhead, and believe in the divinity and
humanity of Christ Jesus.) Christians follow the Ten Commandments and Jesus'
instruction: to love Deity with all one's heart, soul, and mind; and to love
one's neighbors throughout the world as oneself. Christian communal worship
occurs on Sunday for most denominations, though some denominations hold communal
worship on Saturday or other days. Christians attend churches to hear Biblical
readings and interpretation, and to partake of the Eucharist/Lord's Supper.
While theological and ritual differences exist among the various denominations,
it is not the intent of this calendar to prefer one over another. Rather, it is
our intent to be inclusive and ecumenical.]
[Christianity encompasses mystic Christianity (also
known as Christian mysticism or the Wisdom Tradition), based on the Wisdom
Literature of the Bible and writings of Christian mystics. Christianity also
includes progressive social interpretation: the Social Gospel (embracing social
justice), Liberation Theology (embracing social equality, economic justice, and
empowerment of the oppressed), and Feminist Theology (embracing gender equality,
empowerment of women, and recognition of the femininity of the Holy Spirit), and
is sometimes called Liberal Christianity, Progressive Christianity, Humanistic
Christianity, and Vatican II Catholicism. Christianity also includes
environmentalist interpretation (Creation Spirituality, deep ecology, and
Christian stewardship). Christianity also is reflected in ethnic interpretation
(such as Celtic Christianity and Hispanic Christianity) and in the interfaith
dialogue of ecumenism.]
[This Christian calendar is an ecumenical calendar
(interfaith calendar). It includes Eastern Orthodox holidays, Catholic holidays,
Episcopal holidays, and Protestant holidays. Thus, it constitutes an Eastern
Orthodox Christian calendar, a Catholic calendar, an Episcopal calendar, and a
Protestant calendar. Not all Christian denominations observe all the Christian
holidays reflected in this calendar. For example, while Eastern Orthodox
Christians, Catholics, Episcopalians (Anglicans), and some Protestants celebrate
the feasts of many saints (saints days or feast days), they do not recognize all
the same saints. And some Protestants do not recognize saints. Dates for
Christian holidays may vary from denomination to denomination, with Eastern
Orthodox dates at variance with Catholic, Episcopal, and Protestant dates
because of the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Holiday
dates may also vary because of a difference between a traditional date and a
recent Church reform.]
[Please note: Because this calendar is an interfaith
calendar, the term "God" is used only when referring to a male Deity. The term "Deity" is used to refer to a
gender-neutral Deity or a Deity that encompasses both male and female
characteristics.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About the Feminine Aspect of Deity...
Biblical & Apocryphal Sources:
The Suppression of Asherah
The Feminine Holy Spirit
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhinah/Ruach/Holy Spirit as
Supernal Co-Creatrix
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhinah/Ruach/Holy Spirit as Life & Bounty
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhinah/Ruach/Holy Spirit as Wisdom & Understanding
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhinah/Ruach/Holy Spirit as Justice & Mercy
Non-Biblical Sources:
Conceived by the Holy Spirit: The Apostles' Creed
Writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial
purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2002
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
2001 Page Two, Inc.
WheeloftheYear@BookArts.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com |