Catholic Fire

Check out the fun at The Curt Jester . There's a party going on over there.

I have spent more than half my life strategizing about how the people of God can most effectively fight and end abortion. There is no one line that summarizes my conclusions better than what St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Evil flourishes when it is hidden; injustice festers when the victim is unseen. And history demonstrates that those who have overcome social injustices have followed Paul's advice to expose the evil. For instance, those who fought the slave trade in Britain went to the ports to draw pictures of the boats and how the slaves were kept in them like sardines. Exposing evil causes it to collapse under its own weight, as it confronts the light of human conscience. Overcoming injustice does not require that everyone believe it is injustice. There is, rather, a critical mass at some point in the spectrum, when "enough" people are so convinced. The good news is that th...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. was sworn in as the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday after being confirmed by the Senate in one of the most partisan victories in modern history. Alito was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court building across from the Capitol at about 12:40 p.m., EDT, court officials said. Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann Bomgardner, along with other members of the court and their spouses, attended the ceremony in the justices' conference room. The 55-year-old New Jersey jurist took both the constitutional and judicial oaths so he can immediately participate in court decisions. This came only hours after the Senate voted 58-42 to confirm Alito - a former federal appellate judge, U.S. attorney, and conservative lawyer for the Reagan administration from New Jersey - as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a moderate swing vote on the court. All but one of the ...

Today, I am praising and thanking the Lord for... 1. The confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. 2. closing on my new home...alleluia! I am praying for... 1. employment for Gilles, father of seven children, who has just been laid off from his job. 2. guidance from the Holy Spirit for Samuel Alito in his decision-making duties on the Supreme Court. 3. an end to the culture of death, a renewal of the culture of life, and a deep respect for all human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. 4. world peace, an end to terrorism, and for safety for all our military who are in harm's way. 5. guidance, wisdom, and knowledge for President Bush in leading our country. 6. conversion and reversion for all of our family members and friends. 7. a special intention for Amy P. 8. my own special intention. 9. all who are blogging for life. 10. the reversal of Roe V. Wade. 11. an increase in vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. 12. the repose of the soul ...

Two men died and went to heaven. God greeted them, and said "I'm sorry, gentlemen, but your mansions aren't ready yet. Until they are, I can send you back to earth as whatever you want to be." "Great!" said the first guy, "I want to be an eagle soaring above beautiful scenery!" "No problem," replied God, and POOF! The guy was gone. "And what do you want to be," God asked the other guy. "I'd like to be one cool stud!" was the reply. "Easy," replied God, and the other guy was gone. After a few months, their mansions were finished, and God sent an angel to fetch them back. "You'll find them easily," he says, "One of them is soaring above the Grand Canyon, and the other one is on a snow tire somewhere in Detroit!"

"The early feminists found abortion to be the ultimate exploitation of women. [Women had to] become men to compete. We bought into that. We're smarter today. It's more empowering to go through with your pregnancy." ~ Patricia Heaton , Emmy-winning actress, Washington Times, 4/14/2005

Born in 1815, Giovanni (John) Melchior Bosco was the youngest son of a poor farmer in hamlet of Becchi in northern Italy. John lost his father at age two and was raised by his mother, Margaret Bosco, a hard working woman who struggled to raise three sons on her own. At age nine, John had a dream that predicted his vocation. In the dream, he was surrounded by a crowd of swearing and fighting children he attempted to pacify, first by reasoning with them verbally, then by hitting them. Then, suddenly a mysterious woman appeared who instructed him, “Softly, softly…if you wish to win them! Take your shepherds staff if you wish to lead them to pasture.” As she spoke the children transformed first into wild beasts, then into lambs. From this time on, John believed that it was his duty to lead and to help other boys.He began teaching the children of his village catechism, first amusing them with acrobatics and magic tricks, at which he became quite skilled. One Sunday morning, when John saw a ...

Catholic PRWire Hanover, Pennsylvania – Many Catholics have good reason to be concerned about the erosion of moral values at Catholic universities and colleges during the weeks surrounding Saint Valentine’s day. This is the time when students are afflicted by a play called “The V-Monologues,” scheduled to be staged at twenty-one Catholic campuses across the country. Tradition Family Property Student Action is opposing the play again this year, urging its members on 716 campuses to protest. According to the TFP’s web site, the play is offensive: “In one scene, a woman describes her seduction by a lesbian woman when she was 16 years old, declaring it her ‘salvation’ and an important coming-of-age experience.” “I cannot imagine why this immoral play would be shown anywhere, let alone at twenty-one Catholic universities,” said TFP Student Action director John Ritchie. “We are asking our affiliate members on 716 campuses, and all concerned Catholics, to protest by signing a personal online ...

The 2006 Catholic Blog Awards are open. Nominations will end this Friday. I have a lot of wonderful Catholic blogs that I want to nominate. I also hope this blog does win a nomination to anything. I am not sure which category it fits into, but best blog by a woman seems to be the best fit overall. Just to be nominated would be a great honor. There are so many inspirational and well-written Catholic blogs out there. You can go here http://www.catholicblogawards.com/ to nominate your favorites. Being nominated is a great tribute and a kind way to give your favorite bloggers a pat on the back.

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Cult Classic Quirky, offbeat, and even a little campy - your life appeals to a select few.But if someone's obsessed with you, look out! Your fans are downright freaky. Your best movie matches: Office Space, Showgirls, The Big Lebowski If Your Life was a movie, what genre would it be? Via Happy Catholic.

Here's one way an American Bishop has found to stay fit and on his toes for his duties . (I hope he has a good health insurance plan.) This reminds me of Pope John Paul the Great and all his athletic interests.

VATICAN CITY, JAN 29, 2006 (VIS) - The primacy of charity and its most privileged witnesses, in other words the saints, provided the central theme of the Pope's reflections this morning, before praying the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Benedict XVI referred to his first Encyclical, "Deus caritas est," published last Wednesday, January 25, saying that saints "have all made of their lives, though with a thousand differing shades, a hymn to the God of Love." He particularly recalled those saints whose feast days are commemorated over this period and "who are very different from one another: the Apostle Paul with the disciples Timothy and Titus ... belong to the very roots of the Church, missionaries of the first evangelization. Thomas Aquinas, from the Middle Ages, is the model of a Catholic theologian who found Christ in the supreme synthesis of truth and love. Angela Merici, in the period of the Renaissance, proposed a way of ...

Will Senator Hillary Clinton's next role be in a film about women's pre-menstrual syndrome? The answer is yes, if Hollywood's Rosanna Arquette gets her way. According to the World Entertainment News Network, the star of "Desperately Seeking Susan" wants to have the New York senator play a part in a documentary about PMS. "I'm so fascinated about this. I have so many friends who are hitting 40 and are flipping out," said Arquette. "I think it hasn't been talked about so I'll be interviewing a bunch of people about it. I want to interview movie stars and rock stars, people on the street and then I want to interview Hillary Clinton." Arquette has recently had success as a director with her debut documentary titled "Searching For Debra Winger," in which she examined actresses struggling to find meaningful roles after reaching age 40. "I also want the men's response to it and how they deal with it because I think tha...

I have added some new books to the sidebar, which I purchased at Borders today and have started reading. I have less than two weeks to learn some basic Italian for the pilgrimage with my Community, which begins on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Much of my time lately has been devoted to spiritual preparation for the trip by interceding for those who will be traveling with me and by spending extra time in prayer during Eucharistic Adoration and of course, attending Holy Mass daily, praying the rosary daily, and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as novena prayers. What is a pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is not a tour. Pilgrimage comes from the Latin word "pregrinum", which means “to wander over a distance." A pilgrimage is a sacred act in which we go forward in a spirit of faith, hope and charity. When we are on pilgrimage we PRAY, DO PENANCE, REJOICE. We also hope to convert more deeply to love—to grow in faith, hope and charity. As the Community of St. John, we go on this...

Ford Motor Company has solidly rebuffed a coalition of pro-family groups and has said it will continue to promote the homosexual agenda and advertise all of its products in “gay”- themed publications. This news was received by pro-family groups just prior to Ford’s announcement that it would undergo a major restructuring. Bob Knight, Director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute, has been following this situation and brings us an update. Click here to listen. This is so sad -- the way they treat their workers as well as their promotion of the culture of death. Lord, have mercy! Please help them change their ways. Via Concerned Women for America.

Today I am praying for... 1. the quick recovery following surgery of ABC "World News Tonight" co-anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, who were seriously hurt in Iraq. 2. an end to the war in Iraq, an end to terrorism, a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East, and for world peace. 3. the safety of all our military who are in harm's way. 4. an end to the culture of death, a renewal of the culture of life, and a deep respect for all human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. 5. guidance, wisdom, and knowledge for President Bush in leading our country. 6. conversion and reversion for all of our family members and friends. 7. the quick and speedy approval of Alito to the Supreme Court and an end to the Hilllary/Kerry shenanigans. 8. the conversion of all pro-death politicians and abortionists. 9 . the repose of the soul of Kathleen, Moneybag's friend, and for all those who are mourning her loss. 10. a special intention. Please join me i...

I thought this one from Spirit Daily was pretty good. 'Gay marriage': Conceived in iniquity, it gives birth to abomination'

"Millions of Americans are sick and tired of their tax dollars being used to underwrite Planned Parenthood - the largest abortion chain and most aggressive promoter of sexual immorality in our nation," said David Bereit, executive director of American Life League. "On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that forced abortion upon all 50 states, American Life League is launching an aggressive nationwide campaign to stop every dollar of Planned Parenthood taxpayer funding at the local, state, and national levels." American Life League has established a web site for the campaign: www.StopPlannedParenthoodTaxFunding.com . "Since the Roe v. Wade decision, Planned Parenthood has aborted more than three million innocent American children, and scarred countless women for a lifetime," said Bereit. "Six states have already blocked Planned Parenthood taxpayer funding, and American Life League is working to build on this momentum and achieve ...

You Are a Peacemaker Soul You strive to please others and compromise anyway you can. War or conflict bothers you, and you would do anything to keep the peace. You are a good mediator and a true negotiator. Sometimes you do too much, trying so hard to make people happy. While you keep the peace, you tend to be secretly judgmental. You lose respect for people who don't like to both give and take. On the flip side, you've got a great sense of humor and wit. You're always dimplomatic and able to give good advice. Souls you are most compatible with: Warrior Soul, Hunter Soul and Visionary Soul What Kind of Soul Are You?

Amy Proctor writes about the lawsuit brought against Fr. Fr. Enrico Righi, Italian Roman Catholic parish priest in by his childhood friend, Luigi Cascioli, Italian atheist . In a nutshell, Cascioli is charging the Catholic Church (i.e., the Christian faith) with misrepresenting the identity of Christ and perpetuating a fraud. His legal challenge is that Fr. Righi prove the existence of Christ. In short, Cascioli claims that Jesus was not really Jesus, but rather a guy named "John", that Joseph and Mary are two totally imaginary characters, that the Bible is composed of fables and that Christianity is a fraud. She presents an interesting story about how Satan is attacking Christianity through an atheist -- another kook on the loose.

Saint Thomas Aquinas is was a 13th century Dominican priest, philosopher, and theologican. As a Doctor of the Church, he has been given the title "Angelic Doctor" and is the patron of Catholic universities and schools. St. Thomas reflected the Dominican ideal. He was a true contemplative who shared the fruits of contemplation with others. Major Life Events 1225 Born to a noble family in Italy 1230 (age 5) Placed in the Monastery of Monte Cassino to be educated 1239 (age 14) Attends the University of Naples 1244 (age 19) Joins the Dominican Order, the Order Friars Preachers 1245 (age 20) Placed under the instruction of St. Albert the Great 1250 (age 25) Ordained to the priesthood 1255 (age 30) Receives his Doctorate in Theology 1256 (age 31) Named Professor at University of Paris 1258 (age 33) Writes Summa contra Gentiles 1265 (age 40) Appointed Archbishop of Naples by Pope Clement. He turns it down to work on Summa Theologia. 1272 (age 47) Appointed head of the faculty of the...

Theology 911 * Final Exam 1 Summarize Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae in three succinct sentences. You may use your Bible. 2. St. Martin of Tours, Pope Clement VII and Karl Barth were not contemporaries. Had they known each other, how might the history of the Reformation have turned out differently? 3. Define a moral system that satisfies Liberals, Conservatives, Moderates, and the entire population of Ancient Rome, ca. 3 BCE. 4. Memorize the Bible. Recite it in tongues. 5. Imagine you have the stigmata. Would it affect your productivity at work? Would you still be admitted into fine restaurants? Would it be covered by your medical insurance, or should it constitute a pre-existent condition? 6. What would it mean to be eternal, co-eternal, and non-existent all at once? 7. St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine of Hippo decide to rob a bank. The note to the teller is 1,200 pages long, not counting footnotes, complete with a promise of damnation if the teller does not accept immediat...

Today I am praying for... 1. a renewal of the culture of life and a respect for all human life throughout the world from the moment of conception to natural death. 2. healing for all those who are suffering from the traumatic spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical effects of abortion. 3. all those who are in need of healing -- especially those who are most in need of spiritual healing and conversion. 4. an increase in vocations to the religious life and for strength, support, and protection for all our priests and religious. 5. the quick confirmation of Alito to the Supreme Court and that when confirmed, he will stand up for the dignity of all human life. 6. the conversion of all our pro-death governors and legislators. 7. a special intention. 8. a successful and safe pilgrimage for all those who will be traveling with me to Rome in February and for their good health. 9. all bloggers who are supporting the culure of life for the grace to continue to do the Lord's work and spre...

Today is the feast day of St. Angela Merici, the foundress of the Ursulines. Angela was born on March 21, 1474 at Desenzano, Lake Garda, Italy and died on January 27, 1540 in Brescia. Angela’s parents died when she was only ten years old. Together, with her older sister, she moved to the nearby town of Salo, to live with her uncle. When her sister died quite suddenly without receiving the last sacraments, Angela was deeply upset. At the age of 15, she became a Franciscan tertiary and greatly increased her prayers and sacrifices for the repose of her sister's soul. She asked God to reveal to her the condition of her deceased sister and He answered her prayer by showing her through a vision that her sister was in Heaven. When her uncle died, she returned to live at Desenzano to make a life for herself. She was convinced of the need for women to be educated in their faith and converted her home into a school where she daily gathered all the girls of Desenzano and taught them the basic...

Failed presidential candidate and flunkee "Catholic" Kerry is encouraging his fellow democrats in the Senate to filibuster Alito at the 11th hour in an attempt to make it appear as if he is actually doing something constructive for his pro-death constituents. He called from Switzerland -- demonstrating that hobnobbing with international politicians in Europe is much more important than attending to the affairs of this county. Of course the abortionists are all thrilled with his political move, which even "Darth Durbin" admits is doomed to failure. ("I've come to the conclusion that it is highly unlikely that a filibuster would succeed," IL Senator Durbin concedes.) Even more ridiculous than his calling for the filibuster is his reason for rejecting Alito -- because Anne Coulter likes him. The man must be genius to come up with an idea like this.

Haleigh Poutre was given a death sentence by doctors who said she was “virtually brain dead” and in a “hopeless” state of “persistent vegetation”. The eleven year-old was hospitalized after her stepfather allegedly burned her and beat her unconscious with a baseball bat. Less than three weeks later, the Massachusetts Department of Social Services pushed to remove Haleigh's feeding tube and respirator and won approval from the State Supreme Court to so. Well, the young girl fought, and she lived. Today, two weeks later, Haleigh was moved to a rehabilitation facility . Despite her "hopeless" condition, and her status as "virtually brain dead", she reportedly began showing signs of improvement and was weaned off her ventilator. An outside doctor gave a positive second opinion and now Haleigh has a shot at life. A sad and diabolical twist to the story is the fact that the DSS, the agency that petitioned the court to end her life, was aware that she had suffered inj...

The Top 10 Signs You're Flying On A Bad Airline The engine's being held on by duct tape. You see the Gorilla from those old Samsonite commercials running loose up and down the aisles. In-flight movie has "Ernest" in its title. Pilot informs you that you're at cruising altitude and he's gonna put the top down. Instead of Peanuts, you get a healthy helping of SPAM. As you're taking off, the stewardess mentions the phrase "Guest Pilot Program" The seats are wet due to flotation device moisture. The stewardess asks you to join the Mile High Club..."she" has a beard and bigger arms than you! Pilot asks if there is anyone else who wants a shot of Beam before he finishes the bottle. You look down and see a copy of "Fixing a Plane for Dummies" by the mechanic's feet!!!

-- A commentary by Fr. Frank Pavone National Director, Priests for Life President, National Pro-life Religious Council There are pro-life people who work in Hollywood, and two of them – Jonathan and Deborah Flora – have created a new tool to help the American people wrestle with abortion. “A Distant Thunder” is a powerful new 35-minute film that combines courtroom drama and supernatural warfare to help reveal the reality of what abortion does to a baby, and to the baby’s mother. The film helps the viewer wrestle with the issues and their implications, but is not presented in explicitly pro-life or religious themes. What it does, instead, is to help the viewer touch some of the aspects of the abortion issue that the other sides tries so desperately to cover up. In touching these painful and often scary facets of the issue, the viewer has the opportunity to let the light of conscience and compassion inform his or her conclusions. The court case is about a partial-birth abortion that went...

Fr. Frank Pavone National Director, Priests for Life Victory Near “This might be our last March,” some declared, on a not-too-cold January 23, 2006, on the streets of Washington, DC. They meant that we are closer than ever to victory over abortion. The crowd at the March for Life (for which reliable size estimates were not given) had a special note of confidence, building on the sense of accomplishment that permeated the event last year because of the pro-life election victories. This year, people were feeling the effects of those election victories as they witness before their eyes the changes on the Supreme Court. Many of the speeches at the March for Life rally and on other occasions throughout the day echoed that theme. I also noticed this year that more people than ever told me it was their first time at the March for Life. We seem to have had a large new wave of recruits this year. Terri Schiavo I believe that one reason for the large wave of new recruits was the Terri Schiavo tr...

We had no doubt that abortion would be the central concern of those who oppose the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. His confirmation process so far has demonstrated that this was the case. Judge Alito did not say one way or the other whether he would vote to overturn Roe vs. Wade. That is as it should be, because a nominee should not comment in advance on a judgment that he may need to make when on the Court. Yet Judge Alito also did not say that Roe vs. Wade was "settled law," like some Senators wanted him to say. He refused to go along with the idea that Roe was impossible to revisit or reverse. For pro-abortion Senators, of course, this is the red flag. Yet nominees for the Courts are not supposed to be politicians with platforms that prove acceptable or unacceptable to the Senators who confirm them. Rather, the Senators have the duty to examine the qualifications of the nominee, and Judge Alito comes to this nomination with a greater amount of judici...

Study of 56,284 May Link Sleep Problems to Abortion Trauma Springfield, IL (Jan. 25, 2006) A new study published in Sleep, the official journal of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, has found that women who experienced abortion were more likely to be treated for sleep disorders or disturbances compared to women who gave birth. The researchers, David Reardon of the Springfield, Ill.-based Elliot Institute and Priscilla Coleman of the University of Bowling Green, examined medical records for 56,284 low-income women in California who gave birth or underwent an abortion in the first six months of 1989. Researchers examined data for medical treatment for these women from July 1988 to June 1994 and excluded women who had been treated for sleep disturbances or disorders in the 12 to 18 months prior to abortion or delivery. The findings showed that, up to four years following abortion or delivery, women who underwent abortions were more likely to be treated for sleep disorders follow...

I'm a Porsche 911! You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it. Take the Which Sportscar Are You? Quiz Via Happy Catholic.

St. Paul was so influential and attractive a personality that he was able to draw such different types of men as Timothy and Titus and to make them his collaborators. Timothy and Titus were converted to Christianity by St Paul, and became his companions and helpers. They were were two of the most beloved and trusted disciples of St. Paul, whom they accompanied in many of his journeys. Paul made both men bishops and entrusted Timothy with the care of the Christians in Ephesus, and sent Titus to Crete to look after the Christians there. He wrote them “pastoral” epistles, giving advice for pastors and people alike. Timothy was St. Paul's confidant. St. Timothy has been regarded by some as the "angel of the church of Ephesus", Rev 2:1-17. Titus was the negotiator, the one St. Paul sent to clear up misunderstandings, reconcile differences, and the one who would organize a new Church. He received a letter from St. Paul which encouraged Christians to live temperate, just, and de...

Happy Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul! As a Catholic revert, I can definitely relate to St. Paul's conversion. In fact, I had to get knocked off my horse quite a few times before my reversion. Be assured that he who shall always walk faithfully in God's presence, always ready to give Him an account of all his actions, shall never be separated from Him by consenting to sin. ~ St Thomas Aquinas "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." ~ Mark 16:15

VATICAN CITY, JAN 25, 2006 (VIS) - Given below is a summary of Benedict XVI's first Encyclical, entitled "Deus caritas est" (God is love). Dated December 25, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, it considers the question of Christian love. The Encyclical is divided into two long parts. The first, entitled, "The Unity of Love in Creation and in Salvation History," presents a theological- philosophical reflection on "love" in its various dimensions - "eros," "philia," and "agape" - highlighting certain vital aspects of God's love for man and the inherent links that such love has with human love. The second part, entitled "The Practice of Love by the Church as a 'Community of Love'," concerns the concrete implementation of the commandment to love others. [Entire Story]

Praise the Lord! Our prayers have been answered. NBC has dumped "The Book of Daniel". Here’s what Catholic League president Bill Donohue said today about NBC-TV’s decision to cancel “The Book of Daniel”: “A story posted on worldnetdaily.com earlier in the day said that the NBC-TV show, ‘The Book of Daniel,’ has been cancelled. We have since confirmed the veracity of this story with an NBC affiliate producer; an internal memo has been released to that effect. “This is good news for Christians, and bad news for those who get their jollies trying to disparage them. As I said in a news release on January 4, the decision to air this show about a totally dysfunctional Christian family was another example of Hollywood’s agenda. That was two days before the show premiered. But the very next day, we changed our tune: Kiera McCaffrey, the league’s director of communications, had an opportunity to preview the first two episodes, and after having done so she told ‘Entertainment Tonig...

"If people spent an hour a week in Adoration, abortion would be ended." ~Blessed Mother Teresa

Pope Benedict XVI has urged journalists to be responsible and objective, to search for truth rather than be content with superficial reports, and to protect family life. These papal exhortations were contained in an annual message for the World Day of Social Communications, released by the Vatican on January 24. The full text of Pope Benedict's message is available on the Vatican web site. St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

Today I am praising the Lord and offering prayers of thanksgving for a successful and jubiliant Walk for Life in Washington, D.C . Thank you, Lord, for all those who participated in this celebration of life and for all those who supported this event with their prayers and sacrifices. You have given great hope to Your people! Today I am praying for... 1. a gentleman who has been studying to be a deacon and needs prayer for his vocation and his marriage. 2. my husband's health and special intentions. 3. my health and healing from an accident involving injuries to my back and ankle so I can be in shape for my upcoming pilgrimage to Rome in February. 4. For all Catholic writers and journalists that they will spread the good news and the Truth throughout the world and draw all people to the Lord through their work. 5. For all those who are in need of healing -- especially those who are most in need of spiritual healing and conversion. 6. For a renewal of the culture of life and a respec...

Francis was born on August 21, 1567, at the Chateau de Sales in Geneva, Switzerland to a noble family. He was a frail and delicate child, but very intelligent, humble, kind, loving, patient and gentle. He was educated in some of the best schools of that time period. At the age of thirteen, he attended the University of Paris where he studied theology. He then attended the University of Padua, where he earned his doctorate in law. His father desired that he become a lawyer and politician, but Francis desired to become a priest. In 1593, he was ordained. The Catholic Church at this time was losing many of its parishioners to the new churches of the Protestant Reformation. Francis set out to restore Catholicism to the area around Lake Geneva known as Chablais. For three years, he trudged through the countryside, his feet frozen and bleeding, as he trampled through the snow. No one would listen to him, so he wrote out his sermons, copying them by hand in the form of leaflets, and placed th...