Catholic Fire

It's that time again. I'm working on a project for my graduate studies in theology and will be taking a brief blogging break until August 1st.  See you then!

Today is the memorial of St. Joachim (whose name means Yahweh prepares) and St. Anne (whose name in Hebrew means grace), the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Tradition has it they first lived in Galilee and later settled in Jerusalem where the Blessed Virgin Mary was born and raised. Joachim and Anne were a rich and pious couple who had been married for a long time, but found themselves childless. The couple prayed fervently for a child and promised to dedicate their first born to the service of God. An angel appeared to Anne and told her, "The Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world". Joachim also received the same message from the angel. Anne gave birth to a daughter whom she called Miriam (Mary), who was conceived without sin. As a child, Mary was taken to the temple and her parents suffered great sorrow but at the same time joy for fulfilling the vow...

"No matter how much a life is diminished, no matter what suffering the person is undergoing, that life demands the greatest respect and care. It's never right to snuff out a life because it's in some way under heavy burden." ~ Cardinal Burke (speaking at the Kansas City archdiocese on July 23, 2011) Read more here.

Edited By Ellen Gable Hrkach and Kathy Cassanto, released June 15, 2011, Full Quiver Publishing , Pakenham, Ontario, 152 pages, Paperback $9.99, Kindle: $2.99 ( Amazon ). Reviewed by JEAN M. HEIMANN, freelance writer, wife and mother, graduate student in theology, retired educator, psychologist, and oblate with the Community of St. John. Come My Beloved is a beautiful collection of twelve true inspiring stories of Catholic courtship. Ellen Gable Hrkach and Kathy Cassanto have interviewed married couples of all ages, from a variety of locales and backgrounds, and asked both the husband and wife to recount the details of their courtship. The stories, presented from both the male and the female perspective, are told in an intimate, conversational style, which easily arouse the reader’s interest and make it a quick, interesting read. What I found most appealing was that each story was very unique, and no two stories were alike. Each has its own theme, its own storyline, and its ow...

‎"A woman too weary for articulate prayer will find that for her the best of all prayer is the unspoken act of faith in Christ in her children." ~ Caryll Houselander

Today's saint of the day is St. James the Greater. St. James, known as the Greater, in order to distinguish him from the other Apostle St. James, our Lord's cousin, was St. John's brother, and, like him, a fisherman. He was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration and one of those who slept through most of the Agony in the Garden. He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, being beheaded by King Herod Agrippa I to please the Jewish opponents of Christianity. He was buried in Jerusalem, and nothing more is known about him until the ninth century. At this time we learn of a tradition that the relics of St James were brought to Spain some time after his martyrdom, (perhaps early, perhaps as late as 830), and his shrine at Compostela in Galicia grew in importance until it became the greatest pilgrimage center in western Europe. In every country there are churches of St James and known, well-trodden pilgrim routes. In Paris, the Tour St Jacques marks the start of the ...

O God, in Whom we live and move, and have our being, grant us rain, in due abundance, that, being sufficiently helped with temporal, we may the more confidently seek after eternal gifts. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Prayer Source: Novena in Honor of St. Isidore: Patron of Farmers by National Catholic Rural Life Conference, National Catholic Rural Life Conference

God our heavenly Father through your Son you promised to those seeking first your kingdom and your righteousness all things necessary for bodily welfare: send us, we pray, in this time of need, rain to water the earth, that we may receive its produce to strengthen and sustain us and always praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  The saint of the day for July 23 is St. Bridget of Sweden, visionary, mystic, devoted wife and mother, and advocate for reform in the Church. Bridget was born in Finista in Sweden in 1303. From childhood, the Lord granted her special graces, visions and an extraordinary understanding of divine mysteries. At age seven, she had a vision of the crucified Jesus in all the suffering and sorrow of his Passion, which enkindled within her a deep devotion for our Savior. The daughter of a provincial governor and judge, at age 13, Bridget married Ulf Gudmarsson, a prince, who was then eighteen; they lived happily together for twenty-eight years and had eight children, among them St. Catherine of Sweden. Bridget convinced her husband, by her own example, to live a life of piety and to strive for holiness. At age 32, Bridget became the lady in waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur and King Magnus II of Sweden. She was known for her charitable acts, especially caring for the sick, but the ...

  On July 22, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdelene , one of the most prominent women mentioned in the New Testament. Her name comes from the town of Magdala in Galilee, where she originated. Scripture introduces her as a woman “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Lk. 8:2). Some scholars identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ with oil in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk. 7:36-50). Others associate her with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Lk. 10:38-42, Jn. 11). Some believe the three figures to be one person, while others believe them to be three distinct individuals. What the Scriptures make certain about Mary Magdalene is that she was a follower of Christ, who accompanied and ministered to him (Lk. 8:2-3). The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion. In addition, she was the first recorded wit...

The Diocese of Wichita Respect Life and Social Justice Office and The Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS Pro-Life Office Is sponsoring a Nine Day Novena of Prayers and Masses From August 7th to August 15th (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) We are asking our Diocesan families to offer up their prayers, sacrifices, Holy Communions, Rosaries, fasts, and Holy Hours with the intention of making Kansas Abortion Free Permanently. If your parish wants to offer up Mass(es) for this intention during the Nine Day Novena please contact Fr. Edmond Kline at mediatrix@catholic.org with your information and he will send you the stipend for the Mass. Abortion Clinic Developments: There are three major abortion clinics in the Kansas City metro area in Kansas. 1) Two of the abortion clinics in Kansas City were recently forced to close due to the new health dept. regulations. But they were able to re-open due to a federal judge ruling. 2) Planned Parenthood in Overland Park is facing 107 civi...

The saint of the day for July 21 is St. Lawrence of Brindisi, the first Capuchin Franciscan to be honored as a Doctor of the Church. St. Lawrence was born at Brindisi, in the kingdom of Naples, Italy, on July 22, 1559 and named Caesar de Rossi. He took the name Lawrence when he became a Capuchin Franciscan at the age of 16. While still a deacon, St. Lawrence of Brindisi became known for his powerful preaching and after his ordination startled the whole of northern Italy with his amazing sermons. Because he could speak Hebrew, he worked for the conversion of the Jews living in Rome. In 1596, he became a high-ranking superior in the order, and five years later was sent to Germany with Blessed Benedict of Urbino. They founded several priories throughout Europe. Lawrence also helped to raise an army to combat the Turks in Hungary, where he won a battle against them by leading the troops into battle with only a crucifix to protect himself. In 1602, St. Lawrence became the master gen...

It's a tradition that started well before Benedict XVI became pope. Every year, he holds a private meeting with his former students to discuss theology. This year, the theme will be “The New Evangelization.”

The city of Philadelphia will soon have a new archbishop. The pope appointed Monsignor Charles Chaput to lead one of the biggest archdiocese in the U.S. Within just a few months, the 66 year old will leave his current post as archbishop of Denver to take on his new role. Chaput is the first Native American archbishop in the country. He's also a member of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Indians. More than anything, he's mostly known for being an outspoken and conservative voice in the Church, especially on issues like abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage. Chaput will replace 76 year old Cardinal Justin Rigali who plans to retire after serving in Philadelphia since 2003. The formal transition is expected to take place on September 8th, 2011. ~ Via Rome Reports .

The saint of the day for July 20 is St. Margaret of Antioch (275-290), martyr. Margaret of Antioch was a Christian virgin whose tortures and martyrdom became famous in early books of Acts. Her mother died when she was an infant and her father was a pagan priest. She was converted by her nursemaid, who adopted her. At the age of fifteen, she was noticed by the local prefect who was attracted by her beauty and wanted to marry her, but she spurned him and vowed to keep her virginity for Christ. He turned her in to the Roman authorities to be persecuted. In prison she was swallowed by Satan in the form of a dragon, but the cross she was carrying irritated his throat, and he spit her out unharmed. Her persecutors tried to kill her by fire and then by drowning, but each time, she survived, converting the growing crowd of onlookers. Finally, she was beheaded, along with her many converts, by Emperor Diocletian. At the time of her death, she prayed that her persecutors would be pardoned ...

The saint of the day for July 19 is St. Macrina the Younger . St. Macrina (330-380) was the eldest child in a family of saints. Her grandparents were martyrs. Her parents, Basil and Emmelia, are also recognized as saints. She was well educated by her mother and was able to read at an early age. Macrina, in turn, became the teacher of her younger brothers Basil , later bishop of Neocaesarea, and Gregory, later bishop of Nyssa , who themselves became two of the greatest teachers in the Universal Church. At age 12, Macrina was engaged to be married, but when her fiancé died quite suddenly, she decided she would not marry despite subsequent offers. Instead, she dedicated her life to raising her brothers and assisting her mother with housework, cooking, and directing the servants. She also devoted a good part of her time to prayer. After her siblings had grown up, they called her Macrina the Great, as they had in their childhood, a sign of the high respect they had for her. On the d...

The cause for sainthood of Blessed Hawaiian nun Marianne Cope has received Vatican approval of a second miracle.

“Concerned citizens need to tell their friends and family to visit StopPlannedParenthood.com and to get involved as soon as possible.” STOPP International, a project of American Life League, announced today that it is launching a major education campaign to raise public awareness supported by an action center that helps citizens to “stop waste, fraud, and the abuse of public funds by Planned Parenthood and its inside-the-beltway supporters.” “Our Defunding Planned Parenthood Action Center is the first to integrate short educational videos, current research, and up-to-the-moment news with user friendly technology that will help inform, motivate, and empower citizens to make a difference,” said Johanna Dasteel, who headed the development of the action center over the last several months. “We are witnessing an explosion all across the country from average citizens who do not want to see Planned Parenthood get another penny of taxpayer money. Our action center will help t...

The saint of the day for July 18 is Saint Camillus of Lellis, patron of hospitals the sick, and nurses. When St. Camilus was born (in Italy, 1550), his mother was nearly sixty years old. His mother died while he was still a child and his father was an officer in both the Neapolitan and French royal armies, leaving him neglected. While still a youth, he became a soldier in the service of Venice and later of Naples, remaining there until 1574. While Camillus referred to himself as a great sinner, his only vice seemed to be gambling. He gambled away everything he had and to atone for actions, he went to work as a laborer on the new Capuchin buildings in Manfredonia. Here, after a moving exhortation from the Friar, he completed his conversion and begged God for mercy, at the age of twenty-five. Camillus entered the Capuchin novitiate three times, but a nagging leg injury, received while fighting the Turks, each time forced him to give it up. He went to Rome for medical treatment whe...

I just finished watching Of Gods and Men , which is a profoundly moving spiritual film that nourishes the soul with its powerful gospel message.  Of Gods and Men is based on an event in Algeria in 1996, when eight French Cistercian monks were taken hostage by terrorists.  They live peacefully in a Muslim community,  caring for the sick and the poor, and employing some of their neighbors as workers. Brother Luc is the aging, asthmatic doctor who cares for the sick and gives them “grandfatherly” advice.   Most of the film is focused on the daily activities of the monks: community prayer, gardening, cooking, making honey, sharing meals together, and helping their neighbors. There is a revolution in the land and terrorism abounds – a group of Croatian workers have their throats slit. The monks are offered military protection, but they refuse assistance from a corrupt government. The Algerian government then asks the monks to leave, and they must decide what to do both...

Today is the patronal feast of the Carmelites . The Order of Carmelites takes its name from Mount Carmel in Israel, which was the first place dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and where a chapel was erected in her honor before her Assumption into heaven. In the Old Testament, Mount Carmel was a holy place sanctified by the memory of Elijah and his followers - who fought for the rights of the true God 900 years before Christ. Christians would interpret Elijah's vision of the cloud rising from the Mediterranean sea as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Son would be the Messiah and Savior (1 Kings 18, 42-45). After the days of Elijah and Elisha other holy hermits lived on Mt. Carmel and led solitary, contemplative lives, praying and fasting. Along with the austere figure of Elijah, they looked for inspiration to the Mother of God. Her Latin title was "Virgo Dei Genitrix", which means "Virgin Mother of God". July 16th is also the feast of the "Sca...

Today, July 15,  is the feast day of St. Bonaventure , bishop and doctor, who is known for his leadership of the Franciscans and his great intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy. St. Bonaventure, known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnorea, Italy in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure as a result of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child's mother, the saint prayed for his recovery from a dangerous illness, and, foreseeing his future greatness, cried out "O Buona ventura"- O good fortune! Because of the spirit that filled him and his writings, he was initially called the Devout Doctor; but in more recent centuries he has been known as the Seraphic Doctor after the “Seraphic Father” Francis because of the truly Franciscan spirit he possessed. At the age of twenty-two, St. Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. After he made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studie...

The saint of the day for July 14 is Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha , the first native American to be declared blessed. She is the patroness of the environment and ecology along with St. Francis of Assisi. Biography Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks" and and the “Geneviève of New France,” Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and a Catholic Algonquin woman whom he had saved from captivity at the hands of the Iroquois. She was four years old when her parents and younger brother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri, scarring her face and impairing her eyesight. Kateri was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle. She converted as a teenager. When she was baptized at the age of twenty, she experienced great hostility from her tribe. Although she had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. To escape persecution and death threats, Kateri joined the new Christian colony of Indians i...

 Wishing my Wonderful Husband a Day filled with Blessings! Happy 25th Birthday, Honey! Photo Source

Henry II, successively Duke of Bavaria, King of Germany and Emperor, devoted himself to the spread of religion by rebuilding churches and founding monasteries. Henry II, son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria, and of Gisella, daughter of Conrad, King of Burgundy, was born in 972. He succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria, and in 1002, he was elected emperor. In 1014, he went to Rome and received the imperial crown at the hands of Pope Benedict VIII. Henry worked hard to establish peace in Europe. However, to defend justice, he had to fight many wars. He was honest in battle and insisted that his armies be honorable too. Henry married a gentle and loving woman named Cunegund (or Kunigunda) around 998. She, too, has been proclaimed a saint. The couple remained childless. Some sources claim the two lived chastely, but there is no proof of this. Emperor Henry was one of the best rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. He promoted needed reforms in the monasteries and strengthened the various eccl...

The saint of the day for July 12 is St. Ignatius Delgado . St. Ignatius Delgado was a Spanish missionary and is now one of the martyrs of Vietnam. He was born in Villafeliche, Spain, in 1761. He was raised in a pious family, became a Dominican priest and served as a missionary to Vietnam for almost 50 years. He was named coadjutor vicar-apostolic at East Tonkin, Vietnam. However, government-sanctioned persecution of Christians began soon after. He was arrested, locked in a cage put on public display for ridicule and abuse, and left to die. He died of hunger and exposure in 1838. The martyr was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

  Today is the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, the twin brother of St. Scholastica , the patron of Europe, and the founder of Western monasticism. Biography : Tradition teaches that St. Benedict lived from 480 to 547, though we cannot be sure that these dates are historically accurate. His biographer, St. Gregory the Great, pope from 590 to 604, does not record the dates of his birth and death, though he refers to a Rule written by Benedict. Scholars debate the dating of the Rule though they seem to agree that it was written in the second third of the sixth century. Saint Gregory wrote about St. Benedict in his Second Book of Dialogues , but his account of the life and miracles of Benedict cannot be regarded as a biography in the modern sense of the term. Gregory's purpose in writing Benedict's life was to edify and to inspire, not to seek out the particulars of his daily life. Gregory sought to show that saints of God, particularly St. Benedict, were still operative i...

 It is our responsibility to defend the faith.  How good are we at engaging the arguments of the new atheists?

The America Needs Fatima blog has the full novena and the origins of this devotion here.

  Franciscan Missionary and Martyr Today's saint of the day is St. Jeanne-Marie Kerguin, also known as: Giovanna Kerguin, Juana María Kerguin, Marie Santa Natalia, and Marie de Sainte Nathalie. Jeanne-Marie was born on May 5, 1864, at Belle-Isle en Terre, France to a poor peasant family. Her mother died when she was quite young, and she was forced to take over the household chores for the family. With her home obligations fulfilled, she joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1887, taking the name Marie Santa Natalia. There she happily threw herself into a life of prayer and devotion to the simplest and most menial tasks of her house. She was assigned first to Paris, then to Carthage in north Africa. She encountered health problems and was sent to Rome to recover. There she answered the call of her Order to work as a missionary. She arrived in China in March 1899, and was almost immediately hospitalized for several months with typhus. Her short lived career ended during ...

Reflecting on the recent passage of same-sex "marriage" in New York, Archbishop Timothy Dolan stated: My brother bishops of New York were particularly prophetic. When I arrived here a little over two-years ago, they told me realistically that we faced a looming battle over the defense of marriage. They advised me that the odds were not in our favor, and that some experts were even suggesting that we give-in and not put up a fight... We have been bloodied, and bruised, and, yes, for the moment, we have been defeated. But, we’re used to that. So was the Founder of our Church. The real forces of “intolerance” were unmasked here. The caricature, of course, is that those defending traditional marriage were the right-wing bigots and bullies …As one respected columnist has observed, the problem is not homophobia but theophobia — a hatred by some of God, faith, religion, and the Church … Read his full reflection.

This is sooo cute! H/T: Matthew Archibold at Creative Minority Report.

Everyone needs a vacation every now and then, the Pope is no exception. This week, Benedict XVI will head out to the usual spot, Castel Gandolfo, a small village just south of Rome. Things won't be as busy as they are in the eternal city, but still the Pope will have plenty to do. On Sunday's he'll hold the Angelus and Papal Blessing for the public and on his free time, he's reportedly planning on finishing the third and last part of his book “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Find more more prayers at my posts here and here.

  I believe that attendance will soar even more after the American public views this TV program (expected to air on July 13) which will be exploring the history, theology, and the unparalleled importance of the Blessed Virgin to Christians and even non-Christians throughout history, and will be featuring the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Wisconsin. The number of pilgrims visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Wisconsin has increased nearly tenfold since Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay officially approved the Marian apparitions that took place there in 1859. “The turnout has been incredible,” the bishop said. “It's been a wonderful gift to the diocese. So many people are coming, and there are all kinds of reports of answered prayers and healings continuing.” Read the full story. Related Posts: Our Lady of Good Help: The First Approved Marian Apparition In The U.S.A. Photo Source

Today's Saint of the day is Blessed Maria Romero Menses, Salesian Sister and Social Apostle of Costa Rica. Blessed Maria Romero Meneses (1902-1977) is a saint of the new millennium. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2002. She was born in Granada, Nicaragua, in 1902 to a wealthy family; her father was a government minister. At the age of 12, she was extremely sick and paralyzed for six months with rheumatic fever. She was cured by the intercession and apparition of Our Lady Help of Christians, during which sh understood her vocation to be a Salesian sister. She entered the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) and made her final profession in 1929. Two years later, she was transferred to San Jose, Costa Rica. She taught music, drawing and typing to rich girls. She also trained catechists and trades to the poor. She inspired many of her students to join her in her work with the poor and was known for helping people come to know God in a personal way...

The Church and New Media is an important book coming out in August 2011, edited by Brandon Vogt. The book has 12 contributors that highlight different ways in which the Church uses new media to bring the Good News to the world. It has a forward by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, of Boston, and an afterword by Archbishop Dolan, of New York. Some of the contributors include Mark Shea, Fr. Robert Barron, Thomas Peters, Marcel LeJeune, Lisa Hendey, and Jennifer Fulwiler. A new website has been set up to announce the book. You can also follow on Facebook and Twitter. Aggie Catholics has more information here.

The notion that we can commit sins and become guilty of moral wrongdoing does not sit well with citizens of the post-Enlightenment. It clashes with their self-esteem; it is unscientific, unmodern and unfashionable. Yet throughout history the prevailing consensus has been that guilt is a natural response to one's deliberate and voluntary complicity in moral wrongdoing, and that man persists in suffering both in body and in soul when his guilt remains unconfessed and unatoned. ~ Dr. Donald DeMarco

The official portrait of St. Maria Goretti, recognized by her mother as a close likeness Today is the feast of St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902), a peasant girl who was stabbed fourteen times, while fighting off a rapist. She died forgiving her killer. Maria Goretti was born on October 16, 1890 , in Coranaldo in the province of Ancona in Italy, the third of seven children of Assunta and Luigi Goretti. When Maria was six, her father, realizing he could not support his growing family on the barren countryside, took them south, toward Rome, to a village near Anzio, believing that in the rich, warm farmlands of the Mediterranean he would find a more prosperous living and a make a better life for his family. In order to make ends meet, Maria’s father entered into partnership with a man called Serenelli, and shared a house with him and his two sons, one of whom was called Alessandro. Luigi was a hard worker, but suffering from malaria, typhus, meningitis and pneumonia, he died in 1900, leavin...

Of course, PP is suing -- they don't want to lose the $200K they are making from our tax money here in Kansas!  Planned Parenthood sues to stop Kansas’ Title X tax money from being prioritized to full-serve facilities Last Monday, Planned Parenthood (PP) filed suit in federal court to force the state of Kansas to give PP nearly one-third million dollars in tax money. This is money PP grabbed annually, but it is taxpayer money that pays for services that can be adequately performed in other medical settings. The newly approved Kansas budget directs that family planning services financed in any way under “Title X” federal rules must be contracted primarily with public health clinics and secondarily with qualified non-public hospitals or health centers that provide comprehensive health care– both primary and preventative. In plain language, Kansas wants to support the local health clinics that see patients of all ages and provide a wide range of services including immunizat...

Pope Benedict XVI opened the exhibition titled "The Splendor of Truth, Beauty of Charity." It brings together 60 works of art made by 60 artists from around the world. The works were given to the Pope as a gift for his 60th anniversary as an ordained priest. The art ranges from jewelry, music and of course paintings. All of them have a special meaning, and all of them were made by world renowned artists and also by those with emerging talent.

I found this video on Father Z.'s blog and felt compelled to pass it along, particularly in light of the recent legislation in New York, legalizing same sex unions, which are contrary to natural law. The video is about a priest in El Paso, Texas, Fr. Michael Rodriguez. Fr. Rodriguez spoke at a City Council Meeting about an ordinance extending health-care benefits to unmarried “partners” of city employees. Then a City rep, a member of the Council, attacked the Catholic Church in response to Fr. Rodriguez statement. Father Rodriguez does an amazing job of defending Catholic Truth!