2005 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. [a/k/a Feast of the
Black Christ of Esquipulas, Fiesta Del Senor de Esquipulas] [Originated in
Guatemala and celebrated by Catholics in Central America and the Caribbean as
well as 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.]
* 1/15 (Obs. 1/17): 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).
* 1/16: 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]
* 2/2 to 2/8 (OC 3/5 to 3/11): Carnival/Meat Fare--Christian time of
feasting, dancing, and revelry. [Ends on Shrove
Tuesday/Mardi Gras, final day before Lent.]
* 2/9 to 3/24 (OC 3/14 to 4/23): Ash Wednesday (fast day) and Lent--Christian
time of purification by self-reflection, peace-making, reparation for harm done,
and helping those in need. [Some also abstain from meat on
Fridays.] [a/k/a Great 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]
* 2/15: 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]
* 3/6: Christian feast of Blessed Mary, 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]
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based
oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's
empowerment. [For information on International Women's
Day, see United
Nations website; A history
of International Women's Day.]
[* 3/12: Day Pope John Paul II, in the name of the Catholic Church,
asked Deity's forgiveness and apologized: to Jews for anti-Semitism, to Muslims
for the Crusades, to peoples of other religions for forced conversions to
Christianity, to Christians of other denominations for intolerance to them, to
dissenters for the Inquisition, 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 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. The Pope also forgave the sins of other religions against Catholics
and other Christians.]
* 3/13: Birthday of Joseph Priestley (1733), Unitarian who found Biblical
basis for belief in a unitary Deity, and recognized Jesus to be Deity's Great
Prophet. [Death day 2/6/1804]
[* 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 the anti-Semitic Pope Pius IX on 9/3/2000.]
* 3/19: Christian feast of St. Joseph, partner of Blessed Mary and
foster-father of Blessed Jesus - honors him as nurturer, teacher, protector, and
guide of all fathers.
* 3/20 (OC 4/24): 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, Sunday of the Passion]
[* 3/24: Feast of Gabriel, Angel of Truth.]
* 3/24 (OC 4/28): 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 (Our Mother, the Holy Spirit) who would come
after Him. [a/k/a Holy Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday]
* 3/25 (OC 4/29): Passion Friday--Fast day to mourn the torture and killing
of Savior Jesus by civil and religious authorities, and to contemplate the
sacrifice made for the liberation and redemption of all. [a/k/a
Good Friday, Holy Friday, Great and Holy Friday]
* 3/25 (Tr. to 4/5) (OC 4/7): Annunciation Day--Christian feast commemorating
Blessed Mary'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]
* 3/26 (OC 4/30): 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, Great and Holy
Saturday]
* 3/27 (OC 5/1): Easter/Pascha--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus'
resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Eggs are
blessed and distributed.] [a/k/a Great and Holy Paskha]
[* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001).] [Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), and Canada (2005). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995), Greenland (1996), Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), South Africa (1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001), Finland (2002), Liechtenstein (2002), Croatia (2003), Israel (2004), Luxembourg (2004), New Zealand (2004),
the United Kingdom (2004), Switzerland (2005), Andorra (2005), and Slovenia (2005)). In the U.S., the state supreme courts of Hawaii (1993), Vermont (1999), and Massachusetts (2003) ruled that the bar to same-sex marriage violates their state constitutions.
Subsequently, Hawaii has adopted (1998), and the Massachusetts legislature has
proposed (2004), a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. The Hawaii and Vermont legislatures were given the option of recognizing civil unions, which Hawaii (1997) and Vermont (2000) both adopted. California (1999), D.C. (2002),
New Jersey (2004), Maine (2004), and Connecticut (2005) have also legalized same-sex civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage (e.g., Alaska,
Nevada, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Utah, and Kansas), and others have 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.] [For more
information, see the Religious Coalition
for the Freedom to Marry website.]
* 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
the right 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’s 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 Mary and
St. Joseph. [Also honors St. Joseph as 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 to 5/4: Rogation Days--Christian days of prayer for bountiful crops,
sustainable development, and healing of environmental abuses.
* 5/5 (OC 6/9): Ascension Day--Christian feast marking Lord Jesus' ascension
into Heaven. [a/k/a Ascension of the Lord]
* 5/5: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom
of religion, and separation of religion and government throughout the world. [For
an overview of U.S. Supreme Court cases on freedom of religion under the U.S.
Constitution, see First
Amendment Cyber-Tribune.] [For information on religious freedom in countries
around the world, see U.S. State
Department International Religious Freedom Report; Oslo
Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief.] [For the text and more
information on the Constitution's First Amendment, see Cornell
University's Legal Information Institute website; First
Amendment Online website and 1st
Amendment.com website.] [For information on organizations that advocate for
freedom of religion, see Americans
United for Separation of Church and State website; American
Civil Liberty Union website; Human
Rights Watch website.]
* 5/8: Christian feast of St. Julian of Norwich (d. 1419) - mystic who
believed Deity to be Father and Mother, everywhere in everything.
* 5/15 (OC 6/19): Pentecost/Whitsunday--Christian feast celebrating the
descent of Our Mother, the Holy Spirit, upon the male and female disciples of
Lord Jesus; honors Her as the Paraclete - Grace, Wisdom, Justice, and
Providence. [a/k/a Holy Pentecost]
* 5/22: Trinity Sunday--Christian celebration of the one universal Deity as
Holy Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit Mother, and Holy Christ Child.
[* 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: 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]
* 6/30: 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. Since February 2003, in the Darfur region, the
government-supported Janjaweed militia has been terrorizing the African
population, many of whom are Muslims. Over 100,000 civilians have been killed
there, 405 villages have been destroyed, and 1.2 million have been displaced.
Many have been tortured and raped. Crops and livestock have been stolen or
destroyed. The Janjaweed militia is also blocking aid from reaching refugee
camps, so those in the camps are starving. Though a ceasefire was signed on
4/9/2004 between the government and the two rebel groups, and though a peace
accord was signed on 1/9/2005 between the government and the main rebel group,
the Janjaweed's violence against civilians continues unabated. On 9/9/2004, the
U.S. accused the Sudanese government of genocide and, on 2/2/2005, the U.N.
conceded that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed. On
3/31/2005, the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution to prosecute those
who have committed such crimes before the International Criminal Court.] [For more information, see
CNN website; Global
Security website; Human
Rights Watch report: Sudan; U.S.
State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2004: 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. And the U.S. is even
developing a new nuclear weapon. 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 Mary'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. [The
Vatican issued a declaration on 11/18/1995 indicating that the Church's ban on
ordaining women was an infallible teaching. Because of the lack of litigation or
media attention, the Church has yet to address the problem of priests' sexual
abuse of nuns. The Church has also failed to reward retired nuns with pensions,
in spite of a lifetime of service.]
* 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;
U.S. State Department International Religious
Freedom Report for 2004: Serbia-Montenegro; U.S. State Department International
Religious Freedom Report for 2004: Bosnia-Herzegovina; U.S. State Department International
Religious Freedom Report for 2004: 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. Mary 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 Mary 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, who were ordained Catholic
priests without Vatican authority on 6/29, were excommunicated for failing to
renounce their claims to the priesthood (2002).]
* 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).] [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, being crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, and
being transformed into Our Lady, the Paraclete (the Holy Spirit) who appears
everywhere. [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;
U.S. State Department International Religious
Freedom Report for 2004: 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]
* 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.]
* 9/6: Day Latin American Catholic Bishops espoused Liberation Theology
(1968). They believe 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.]
* 9/8 (OC 9/21): Birthday of Blessed Mary, 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 Mary 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 PLO 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. Hildegarde von Bingen (d. 1179)--mystic who
sang praises to Holy Spirit Wisdom (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 United
Nations website; International
Day of Peace website; 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.
* 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.]
* 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.
* 11/2: All Souls Day--Day Christians remember all the beloved dead.
* 11/2: Day the first openly gay man was consecrated an Episcopalian bishop
(2003). [Bishop Gene Robinson]
* 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.
* 11/4: 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.
* 11/7: Anniversary of the first Re-Imagining Conference, where worship of
Holy Spirit Wisdom brought Goddess-consciousness to mainstream Christianity
(1993). [11/4-11/7/1993]
* 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]
* 11/17: 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.]
* 11/20: Remembrance day for Meister Johannes Eckhart (d. 1328), Christian
mystic. He taught the four ways of the mystic's journey - the creating,
positive, negating, and transforming ways. [1260-1328:
Birthday & death day unknown]
* 11/24: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land
and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.
* 11/26: Death day of Sojourner Truth (1883), Christian preacher and
non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Born
1797: exact date unknown]
* 11/27 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]
* 11/28: Day the Women's Ordination Conference opened, advocating the
ordination of women priests in the Catholic Church (1975). [After
apologizing for the past oppression of women on 7/10/1995, the Vatican issued a
declaration on 11/18/1995 indicating that the Church's ban on ordaining women
was an infallible teaching.]
* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with
AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World
AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS
website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human
Rights Watch website.]
[* 12/6: Christian feast of Old St. Nicholas/Santa
Claus, who leaves gifts for all good children.]
* 12/8: Christian feast celebrating St. Anna's conception of Blessed Mary.
* 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).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day] [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.]
* 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 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). [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
[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.]
* 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 Mary 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.]
[* 12/23: Birthday of Joseph Smith (1805), 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.] [Death day 6/27/1844]
* 12/24 eve: Mother Night--Christian vigil for the laboring Blessed Mary.
* 12/25 (OC 1/7): Christmas--Christian celebration of Blessed Mother Mary
giving birth to Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[a/k/a Feast of the Nativity]
* 12/28: Day the first woman was ordained a Catholic priest (without Vatican
authority) (1970). [Mthr. Ludmila Javorova was ordained by
Catholic Bishop Felix Maria Davidek in Czechoslovakia. Her ordination is not
recognized by the Vatican.] [See "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.]
[Information in brackets is not found in the printed
calendar.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About the Feminine Aspect of Deity...
Biblical & Apocryphal Sources:
The Suppression of Asherah
The Feminine Holy Spirit
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhina/Ruach/Holy Spirit as
Supernal Co-Creatrix
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhina/Ruach/Holy Spirit as Life & Bounty
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhina/Ruach/Holy Spirit as Wisdom & Understanding
Eloah/Hokhma/Shekhina/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 2005
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2004 Page Two, Inc.
For information contact Page Two, Inc.:
P.O. Box 77167, Washington, D.C. 20013
1-800-821-6604
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com
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