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Wednesday, April 6, Fourth Week in Lent

ST. CRESCENZIA HOESS (Germany, 1662-1744), Franciscan Nun
She was a weaver's daughter in Augsburg who showed remarkable piety that even as a child she
was called 'little angel'. She was refused admission to the novitiate by the Franciscans because
she had no dowry, but four years later, she was admitted with help from a philanthropist. However,
she was discriminated against and given menial jobs. Later, under a new supervisor, she became
mistress of novices and financial manager. She not only improved the convent's finances and its
spiritual level. but she soon started attracting people, including cardinals and princes, who came
to her for spiritual advice. Always afflicted with one illness or another, she was crippled towards
the end of her life, with a condition that led her to be curved permanently in a fetal position. She
was beatified in 1980 and canonized in 2001.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/readings/040611.shtml


OR today.
Two articles in this issue on JON-2, one on Page 1 is an essay about truth in Christ's dialog with Pontius Pilate, and the text of Mons. Mariano Crociata, CEI secretary-general, in presenting JON-2 at the Universita Cattolica di Sacro Cuore. Page 1 international news: As his artillery continues to pound revel positions and he threatens to cut off teh water supply to the rebel-held city of Benghazi, Qaddafi offers 'free elections and political reforms'; defiant ex-president Ngagbo's troops attack UN headquarters in the Ivory Coast capital as an act of reprisal, as they mount a last-ditch stand against advancing forces supporting President-elect Ouattara; and Moody's brings down Portugal's credit rating.


AT THE VATICAN TODAY

General Audience today - The Holy Father dedicated his catechesis to St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), the last and youngest of the 33 Doctors of the Church so far, proclaimed by John Paul II in 1997. The Pope also made an appeal for an end to the continuing violence in Libya and the Ivory Coast.