My Top 10 Historical Events

"At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone then went to register himself, each to his own town.
Joseph went to register with Mary" (Luke 2: 1-5).

Charles A. Beard (1874 - 1948). Historian. When asked if he could summarize the lessons of history in a short book, said he could do it in four sentences:

• Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad with power.
• The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small.
• The bee fertilizes the flower it robs.
• When it is dark enough, you can see all the stars.

"Condensed History Lesson," Readers Digest, February 1941.

1. Judea 4 BC: Mary, the wife of Joseph gave birth to Jesus called the Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Judea, 7 September 70 AD: Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem.

3. Milan, Feb 313: Edict of Milan - Emperors Constantine and Lucinius agreed on a policy of religious toleration for Christians.

4. Rome, 3 July 321: Sunday became a day of rest throughout the Roman empire.

5. Asia Minor, June 431: The third ecumenical council meeting at Ephesus condemned the Nestorian doctrine as heresy and declared Mary as Theotokos, that is, Mother of God.

6. Arabia, 16 July 622: Mohamed fled Mecca and took refuge at Medina. His flight is known as the hegira.

7. Caribbean, 12 October 1492: Christopher Columbus landed in an island he called San Salvador.

8. Germany, 31 October 1517: Martin Luther posted a list of 95 theses challenging the Church.

9. Lourdes, 15 February 1858: The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Lourdes grotto.

10. Washington DC, 1 January 1863: President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Act, proclaiming all slaves in the confederate states free.