Catholic Fire

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST I have just seen The Passion of the Christ. What a powerful movie! Never in my life (of 50+ years) have I witnessed a film that had such a powerful impact on me! And, I already knew the story line, the plot, and the outcome before I went in to see it. The Passion of the Christ has the power to open hearts to abundant grace and to convert souls. It will draw each of us closer to Jesus Christ and to His Holy Mother, if we permit it. The movie is violent -- even more so than I expected it to be --but I believe that it is still probably not as violent as the real crucifixion was. It is that violence that makes us commiserate with Jesus Christ in His agony and motivates us even more to fully unite our pain with His. We are so spoiled in our society today that if we cut our finger or get a headache, then we're complaining about our pain and immediately have to take something to relieve of us of the discomfort. If you watch this film, you get a taste of w...

Quote For the Day "If a politician can't respect the life of a little baby, how is he supposed to respect yours?" Father Frank Pavone, Priests For Life

Humility “If then, Your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13: 14 “ He humbled Himself, becoming obedient, even to death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8 “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others. Have among you the same attitude that is also yours in Jesus Christ.” Philippians 2: 3-5 A Prayer for Humility Lord, teach me to be humble As you were humble When you washed the feet of your followers, When you permitted others to scourge and mock you, When you persevered in the midst of pain, And united your will with that of the Father’s. Teach me the truth that is humility, The foundation of faith, hope, and charity Empty my heart of pride And fill it with Your love. ~ Jean M. Heimann, Copyright 2004 “True humility makes no pretence of being h...

Lent "Lent is the time for entering into oneself. It is the period of the particular intimacy with God in the secrecy of one’s own heart and conscience… Lent is essentially an invitation to conversion. The 'works of mercy' spoken of in the gospel open the way to it." "Let ourselves be reconciled with God, for He has done so much for this reconciliation." ~ Pope John Paul II Lent begins today on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time when we are called as Catholics to a deeper conversion and cleansing of our hearts. It is a time where we are called to give ourselves totally to God and to remove any obstacles that prevent Him from drawing nearer to us. Lent reminds me of the spring-cleaning that I do each year. Each spring, I clean my house thoroughly and throw out or give away the items in my home that I no longer use. I rid my house of the clutter and make room for the necessary items or create new space so I can move about more freely without st...

My Favorite Quotes on Materialism and Attachment The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union. For whether it be a strong wire rope or a slender and delicate thread that holds the bird, it matters not, if it really holds it fast; for until the cord be broken, the bird cannot fly. -- Saint John of the Cross Simplicity is a narrow road of self-discipline, but the alternative -- money and materialism-- is only another master. ... Jesus never said material things in themselves are evil, but rather warned that they threaten our freedom. In this context, simplicity is not restriction, sacrifice, or denial. It is emancipation. -- Living More with Less We can not become whole in a culture of materialism, in a culture with so much junk on television, in movies, so much crassness, so much sordidness, so much self-absorption. This is exactly the opposite of wholeness. There is grave danger that we can permi...

Prayer to Our Lady Of Lourdes Oh ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfortess of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. When you appeared in the grotto of Lourdes, you made it a privileged sanctuary where you dispense your favors, and where many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. My loving Mother, obtain my request. I will try to imitate your virtues so that I may one day share your company and bless you in eternity. Amen.

Eucharistic Quote For the Day The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host. -- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Our Lady of Lourdes Our Blessed Mother appeared to a very poor young girl, Bernadette Soubirous, 18 times in 1858. On the feast of the Annunciation, Our Lady revealed to Bernadette, “ I am the Immaculate Conception.” Because the dogma of the Immaculate Conception had been officially proclaimed less than four years earlier, and Bernadette could not have even known of its existence, great credibility was given to Bernadette by the repetition of the Blessed Mother’s words. It was an affirmation from Heaven about the truth of the dogma. During one of these apparitions, when Bernadette was told by Mary to begin digging in the ground; she obediently did so, to the townspeople’s scorn. Water immediately began flowing from the spot where Bernadette dug, a tiny stream that has since has grown to the size of a small river. Thousands of healings have been reported as the result of people bathing in or drinking this miraculous water. The walls of the grotto where the Blessed Mother appe...

Eucharistic Quote For the Day "All my sermons are prepared in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. As recreation is most pleasant and profitable in the sun, so homiletic creativity is best nourished before the Eucharist. The most brilliant ideas come from meeting God face to face. The Holy Spirit that presided at the Incarnation is the best atmosphere for illumination. Pope John Paul II keeps a small desk or writing pad near him whenever he is in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament; and I have done this all my life — I am sure for the same reason he does, because a lover always works better when the beloved is with him." - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Litany to the Saints (in honor of my friend, Theresa, and all those who are ill or are having surgery today) Please join me in prayer. Litany of All Saints Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, our redeemer, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Mother of God, pray for us. Most honored of all virgins, pray for us. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, pray for us. Angels of God, pray for us. Prophets and Fathers of our Faith St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us. St. Andrew, pray for us. St. John and St. James, pray for us. St. Thomas, pray for us. St. Matthew, pray for us. All holy apostles, pray for us. St. Luke, pray for us. St. Mark, pray for us. St. Barnabas, pray for us. St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us. All disciples of the Lord, p...

Saint Scholastica Today is the feast of St. Scholastica (480 - 543), the twin sister of St. Benedict and head of the monastery at Plombaria, under her brother's direction. The siblings were very close. They met once a year at a house near the Monte Cassino monastery to discuss spiritual matters. Saint Gregory tells the charming story of their last meeting. The saints had spent their time together in the mutual comfort of "heavenly talk" and with nightfall approaching, Benedict prepared to leave. Scholastica believed that it would be their last opportunity to see each other alive, so she asked Benedict to spend the evening in conversation. Benedict sternly refused because he did not wish to break his own rule by spending a night away from his monastery in Monte Cassino. Scholastica cried, laid her head upon the table, and prayed that God would intervene. As she did so, a sudden storm arose. There were brilliant flashes of lightning, a loud peal of thunder, and t...

Jesus In the Eucharist My Spiritual Father gave a beautiful talk to our parish adult enrichment class on Jesus in the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration. He is a priest with the Brothers of St. John, who possess a special love and reverence for the Eucharist. There are many new insights I have learned from this talk about adoring Our Lord and I would like to share just a few of the highlights. While exposing Our Lord in the monstrance on the altar, he told us, "This is truly God Himself." The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or a representation of Christ, but it is Christ Himself. However, only 33% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In John 6:26, Jesus told his disciples: " Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life which the Son of Man will give you." ...