November 14

The Catholic archbishop of Chicago, Joseph Louis Bernardin, died during the night of November 13, 1996 after a long struggle against illness.
Born in 1928 in South Carolina into a family of Italian immigrants, Joseph was ordained a priest in 1952. Elected auxiliary bishop of Atlanta at the age of 38, he became one of the most outspoken American bishops, guiding the American Catholic church through its difficult post-Vatican II transition. In the midst of disputes among the different components of the North American church, Bernardin worked tirelessly to build communion.
Named archbishop of Cincinnati, and later of Chicago, Bernardin led the United States Bishops' Conference, taking clear stands in favor of peace and sharply criticizing his country's military policies.
At the same time, he began to reflect on the need to turn the Church's attention to Christ. This reflection accompanied him constantly during the last years of his spiritual journey, informing his entire ministry as a servant of God's Word.
After successfully defending himself against the false allegations of sexual abuse filed against him by a psychologically disturbed man, without resorting to exemptions or privileges, Berdardin was diagnosed with an incurable illness in 1995.
The last two years of his life were a ceaseless pilgrimage among those who suffered in his diocese. To the ill, prisoners, and all of society's marginalized, Bernardin announced the love for life that had illuminated his pastoral ministry and his entire existence.

THE CHURCHES REMEMBER...

ANGLICANS:
Samuel Seabury (d. 1796), first Anglican bishop in North America

COPTS AND ETHIOPIANS (5 hatur/hedar):
Appearance of the head of Longinus, the Soldier (Coptic Orthodox Church)
All Saints (Coptic Catholic Church)
Abba Yohannii of Dabra `Asa (13th cent.), hermit;
End of the flower season (Ethiopian Church)

LUTHERANS:
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnz (d. 1716), Christian thinker at Hannover

MARONITES:
Philip, apostle

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND GREEK CATHOLICS:
Philip, apostle
Gregory Palamas, archbishop of Thessaloniki (Greek Church)

WEST SYRIAN ORTHODOX:
Philip, apostle

EAST SYRIAN ORTHODOX:
Josaphat (d. 1623), martyr (Malabar Church)