March 6
766: Passing away of Chrodegang, an eminent bishop of Metz, who was conferred the Pallium, following the death of St. Boniface in Germany. Chrodegang dedicated his life to reform the church in France. He took effort to bring the French liturgy into conformity with the Roman Catholic and promoted Gregorian chant. He also restored and founded churches, abbeys, and other religious institutions; he updated and elevated the standard of learning among the clergy and encouraged the use of the Benedictine Rule by monks. He also influenced Pepin, king of the Franks, to protect Rome.
1447: Tommaso Parentucelli from Italy is elected pope, and takes the name Nicholas V. As great lover of literature and arts, Nicholas exerted much effort to establish Rome as a fitting home for a great Christian civilization. He granted a charter for the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His Concordat of Vienna secured the papacy the right to control benefices (offices and honours conferred) and sees (dioceses), especially in Germany.
1609: Philip III, King of Spain, issues the Cedula Magna (Great Decree) which grants Indians equal freedom as Spaniards, supporting the work of the Jesuits among the Indians of Brazil and Paraguay to protect and train them.
1629: The Edict of Restitution ordered in Germany that all church property secularized since 1552 be restored to the Roman Catholic Church.
1642: Pope Urban VIII puts Jansen’s work Augustinus in the index of prohibited books.
1735: George Whitefield, English revivalist, exhorted in a letter, “The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.”
1759: John Wesley, English founder of Methodism, reflected in a letter, “There is a wonderful mystery in the manner and circumstances of that mighty working, whereby God subdues all things to himself, and leaves nothing in the heart but his pure love alone.”
1830: The New York Evangelist daily is founded with the assistance of Charles G. Finney for the purpose of representing revival interests and could command a large circulation soon.
1901: Amy Carmichael, serving as a missionary in India, shelters her first temple runaway from the “Devadasi” group, young girls dedicated to the Hindu gods and forced into prostitution.
1903: Death of Uriah Smith, a prominent author, pastor, educator, and editor in the early Seventh-day Adventist Church in the US. He authored Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation that represents their prophetic views and helped found Battle Creek College. Some of his writings contained anti-trinitarian views.
1916: Russians slaughter the Turkish 3rd Army, which was held responsible for the massacre of Armenian Christians.
1933: Death of Amos R. Wells, pioneer U.S. Christian educator and the editor of “Peloubet’s Notes for the International Sunday School Lessons” from l901 until his death.
1984: Death of Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, a founder of Germany’s Confessing Church. Being an opponent of the Nazis, he was imprisoned for many years.
1993: Death of Solomon Enoch Yaw Opam, a Seventh Day Adventist leader from Ghana, who had rejected kingship when his people tried to force him to assume the throne. He reminded them of Jesus’ words, “My kingdom is not of this earth.” He was a great pastor, educator, translator, and evangelist among his people.
Edited by: T. Chempilayil MCBS
Courtesy: www.studylight.org