Catholic Fire

Are you looking for a fresh new film that is entertaining, fast- moving and fun for the whole family? Then Ratatouille (pronounced rat-at-too-ee) is your pick. Neither children nor adults will become bored with this delightful and delectable animated Pixar film written and directed by Brad Bird. The star of Ratatouille is Remy (Patton Oswalt), a cute, sensitive blue rat with pink ears, a pink nose, and a penchant for cooking, who is very meticulous when it comes to grooming (never walking on his front paws, as he uses them for cooking and making sure that others wash their hands before performing this task) unlike your average rat. His sense of smell and taste are also much more acute than that of the average rat and unlike his peers and family members, he chooses to eat gourmet food rather than garbage. Inspired by the great late chef Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett), whose motto was “anyone can cook”, Remy steals food to create a recipe and barely escapes death from a gun-toting granny...

58% How Addicted to Blogging Are You? Mingle 2 - Online Dating Via Roz.

Mocha Frappuccino Hyper and driven, you'll take your caffeine any way you can get it. Frappuccinos are good, but you'd probably chew coffee beans in a crunch! What Flavor Frappuccino Are You? This is funny because I am not a coffee drinker, but just did this for fun. I avoid coffee and most foods with caffeine. Via Julie D. at Happy Catholic and Equuschick at The Common Room.

A water lily from our pond From my photo collection June, 2007 Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome Saint of the Day: Blessed Raymond Lull , Spanish Mystic, Scholar, Missionary On This Day in Catholic History: 1073 Gregory VII (Hildebrand, ca. 1020–1085; pope, 1073–1085) was consecrated. 1315 According to tradition, Raymond Lully (Ramon Lull, b. 1232), Spanish mystic, scholar and missionary to Muslims, was stoned to death in North Africa. 1963 Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (1897–1978) was crowned Pope Paul VI at Vatican City. Birthdays: 1917 - Susan Hayward , American actress, Roman Catholic convert (d. 1975) 1917 - Lena Horne , American actress and singer 1936 - Nancy Dussault , American actress 1951 - Orlando "Tubby" Smith , Minnesota basketball coach 1970 - Mark Grudzielanek , baseball player 1971 - Monica Potter , American actress 1984 - Fantasia Barrino , American singer, actress, author, American Idol Winner, 2004

The Coliseum Rome, Italy From My Photo Collection February, 2006 The holy men and women are also called the “Protomartyrs of Rome.” They were accused of burning Rome by Nero, who burned Rome to cover his own crimes. Some martyrs were burned as living torches at evening banquets, some crucified, others were fed to wild animals. These martyrs died before Sts. Peter and Paul, and are called “disciples of the Apostles. . . whom the Holy Roman church sent to their Lord before the Apostles’ death.” As I write about the Christian martyrs, I can't help but reflect on the time I spent with my Community in prayer and thanksgiving for their sacrifice and their great faith while visiting the Coliseum in Italy in February, 2006. I felt such a strong sense of their presence as I envisioned these innocent, defenseless victims being tossed into this huge arena to be devoured by the lions while thousands of pagan spectators entertained themselves, drinking and eating to excess, sittin...

Wichita's late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller could face up to 19 years in prison for performing illegal abortions. After dropping all of the charges against Planned Parenthood and some of those against Tiller, Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison says the case isn't over. Morrison announced that he is filing 19 misdemeanor charges against Tiller because he used a second physician that was not financially or legally unassociated with him, as required by law. Like most people, I find this interesting, but am guarded in my feelings about the outcome. Operation Rescue President Troy Newman expresses similar concerns: "While we are happy that charges are being filed against Tiller, we are guarded about this because we believe that these charges are the weakest against Tiller. There is now a pattern of illegal activity by abortionist Tiller and Kline’s investigation is proven to have merit." He added: “Now, because we have charges on the 2003 records, we insist...

I am so looking forward to seeing Ratatouille this weekend. Decent Films Guide has a review here. Rotten Tomatoes' reviews are also very favorable. The Official site is here.

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles On This Day in Catholic History: 1908 The Roman Catholic curia system was reorganized by Pope Pius X (1835–1914) in the constitution Sapienti consilio . 1951 - Joseph Ratzinger , the future Pope Benedict XVI , is ordained as a priest. 1968 Pope Paul VI (1897–1978) issued the Creed of the People of God, an authoritative modern Catholic statement of faith. Birthdays: 1901 - Nelson Eddy , American singer and actor (d. 1967) 1944 - Sean O'Malley , current Archbishop of Boston 1954 - Rick Honeycutt , baseball player 1956 - Pedro Guerrero , baseball player

Sts. Peter and Paul are the co-founders of the Church - the solid rock on which it was founded. St. Peter Peter's original name was Simon. He was a fisherman and the brother of Saint Andrew, the apostle who led him to Christ. As an apostle of Christ, Simon was renamed "Peter" (in Hebrew Kephas) or "rock" by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be the rock-like foundation on which the Church would be built. Peter's house often became the scene of miracles, since Jesus would stay there whenever He was teaching in that locality. Together with his brothers John and Andrew, Peter belonged to the first of Jesus' disciples. After the Ascension, Peter took the leading role that Christ had assigned to him and became the first Pope. He served as the first Bishop of Rome and died there as a martyr in 64 a.d. crucified with his head downward, as he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ. Peter is the author of two letters, the first encyclicals. St. Peter ...

Memorial of St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 767 Pope Paul I died. 1243 - Innocent IV becomes Pope. Birthdays: 1476 - Pope Paul IV (d. 1559) 1577 - Peter Paul Rubens , Flemish painter (d. 1640) 1902 - Richard Rodgers , American composer (d. 1979) 1946 - Gilda Radner , American actress (d. 1989) 1969 - Danielle Brisebois , American actress

CWNews - The Vatican press office has confirmed that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone yesterday briefed a group of bishops on the forthcoming motu proprio expanding the use of the 1962 Roman Missal. The Vatican Secretary of State spoke to "representatives from various episcopal conferences" about "the content and spirit" of the motu proprio, the Vatican announcement indicated. Pope Benedict XVI joined the meeting to speak with the bishops for about an other. The publication of the document, along with "an extensive personal letter from the Holy Father," will take place "within a few days," the Vatican said. The statement did not confirm the July 7 publication date reported yesterday by the Kath.net news service. The Vatican statement did indicate that the text of the motu proprio and the Pope's explanatory letter will now be sent to all of the world's bishops before the document is formally released. That mailing will also indicate when the Pope...

Catholic Carnival 125 hosted by Jen is up at Daughter of the King. There are some great posts there, but I particuarly enjoyed reading The full experience of being open to new life by Elena at My Domestic Church.

Tiller's illegal activities and the political corruption surrounding it continue to be the hot topic in Kansas these days. Of course, abortions are out of control and will continue to be as long as Tiller controls the politicians in this state. This post from Operation Rescue gives us an idea of how things at the Tiller late-term abortion mill have been out of control. Here are some excerpts from that post: The mother of one woman in her 29th week of pregnancy called Mark Geitzen of the Kansas Coalition for Life to ask for intervention on behalf of her daughter. According to the mother, her daughter recently married a man from another country who was physically abusive. The man was forcing her daughter to have a third-trimester abortion. Apparently the pregnant woman, who had been active in the pro-life movement in another state, did not want the abortion, but was complying out of fear severe beatings from her husband. Geitzen reported the call to Operation Rescue, who notified th...

To Christ our Good Shepherd we pray: Response: Hear our cry, our appeal. You came in search of the last, the least, and the lost: -carry your needy ones to safety. Response You chose the company of the poor, the outcast, the sinner: heed the pleading of those who do not know the words of prayer. Response You shielded humanity from the blows of evil by taking them upon yourself: defend those who are abused, abandoned, and oppressed. Response You gave your life that all might live: raise to new life those who have died. Response In thanksgiving for anniversary blessings today. For the special intentions of the Holy Father. For That all people will reverence and defend human life from conception to death. That the Holy Spirit will guide our leaders in supporting a culture of life. For world peace and the safety of our military. For all newly ordained priests, especially Fr. O. and Fr. M. For my husband Bill for all his special intentions. For Matthew who is having hernia surgery tomor...

Whose fault is it when aborting women die? It depends, according to abortion proponents. If the abortion was illegal, we are. If the abortion was legal, she is. Cases in point, yesteryear's illegal abortion of Gerri Santoro and this year's legal abortion of Edrica Goode. You've likely seen the haunting, iconic photo of Gerri Santoro, dead, naked, knees to chest with bloody bottom in the air on a hotel room floor, the result of an illegal abortion in 1964 at age 27. How did Santoro get there? At six and a half months pregnant by a married man, Santoro apparently panicked when learning her own abusive husband, whom she had left but not divorced, was traveling from out-of-state to visit their two daughters. Santoro and her baby's father checked into a hotel, where he tried aborting her using a textbook and borrowed surgical instruments. When Santoro began hemorrhaging, he fled. [More] My Comments: These are both indeed very sad situations which could have been prevented. W...

The long-awaited motu proprio in which the Holy Father liberalizes access to the traditional Latin Mass will be released on July 7. The motu proprio is a 3-page document. It will be made public along with an explanatory letter from Pope Benedict to the world's bishops; that letter is somewhat longer, at 4 pages. The document emphasizes the unity of the Roman rite, and the Pope explains that he hopes the two forms of the Mass will enrich each other. The ordinary form of the Roman rite will continue to be the Novus Ordo Mass; the extraordinary form will be the Latin Mass, using the 1962 Missal. Source. For more information, go here .

To view a great video on the benefits of chastity and virginity , go here.

Happy 15th Anniversary, Bill! "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you." ~ John 15: 9 - 12

Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor St. Cyril is one of the great Greek fathers of the Church. He was chosen by divine Providence to be the shield and champion of the Church against Nestorius, who denied the unity of person in Christ. If this heresy had succeeded, Mary would not be called the Mother of God. [More] On This Day in Catholic History: 678 - Saint Agatho begins his reign as a Catholic Pope. 1299 Pope Boniface VIII (ca. 1235–1303), in his encyclical Scimus, fili, claimed Scotland owed allegiance to the Catholic Church. 1977 - Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, was named a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. Birthdays: 1880 - Helen Keller , American deaf and blind activist (d. 1968) 1951 - Julia Duffy , American Actress (Newhart) 1970 - Jim Edmonds , American baseball player 1975 - Tobey Maguire , American actor (Spider-Man, Sea Biscuit)

The Lord is our love, our joy, and our hope. Let us pray to Him: Response: We hope in You. O Lord. You have promised to be with us always. -may we know Your presence in all that we do. Response You have called us to seek You above all things and in all things: -may we seek You, find You. Response You await us in Your heavenly dwelling place: -may we come to dwell with You forever. Response For the Holy Father's special intentions. That all people will reverence and defend human life from conception to death. For world peace and for the protection of all our military. For the newly ordained priests, especially Fr. O. For my husband Bill for a special intention for tomorrow. For L.'s special intentions. For all those struggling with cancer, we pray for healing. For these two urgent prayer requests from Julie D. For the health and well-being of Marianne's father. For Esther's prayer requests. For anniversary blessings on our 15th wedding anniversary tomorrow. For all prev...

Whispers in the Loggia : Motu Proprio Released National Catholic Register: Priest TV Show Vows Respect CNA: EWTN airs program to inspire Christians to end abortion CWA: Supreme Court ruling upholds faith-based programs LifeNews.Com: BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL BILL WOULD PROMOTE ADULT STEM CELL RESEARCH FAMILY OF TERRI SCHIAVO TO GET NATL PRO-LIFE AWARD, START MEDICAL CENTER KANSAS LEGISLATORS CALL ON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ENFORCE ABORTION LAW LifeSiteNews.Com: Hybrid Embryos Must be Given Right to Life Say UK Catholic Bishops New Oxford Review: German court jails pastor for abortion comment

Optional Memorial of St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer , priest (in some dioceses), Founder of Opus Dei ("the Work of God") Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 684 Pope Benedict II was consecrated as pope (d. 6 May 685). Birthdays: 1892 - Pearl S. Buck , American writer, Nobel laureate (d. 1973) 1907 - Debs Garms , American baseball player (d. 1984) 1922 - Eleanor Parker , American actress, "Baroness Elsa Schraeder" in The Sound Of Music . 1936 - Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte , Archbishop of Montreal 1969 - Mike Myers , American baseball player

Adult stem cells are helping children with brain tumors. The July 1, 2007 issue of Cancer will feature a study by French researchers which "reported that a high-dose regimen of busulfan and thiotepa supported by autologous stem cells followed by local radiotherapy resulted in a 69% 5-year survival in children with medulloblastoma that had progressed after initial surgery or surgery plus chemotherapy....Medulloblastoma is a relatively rare brain tumor in children and has a grave prognosis." [More] Via JivinJehoshaphat

Our son Theo was born on January 15, 2006. His trisomy 13 was not picked up by prenatal ultrasound, so it was a shock to discover about an hour after his birth that he had such a severe condition. He lived for five hours, surrounded by loving family, then very peacefully died in my arms. The beauty he brought in his short life is indescribable, and while we are heartbroken that he left so soon, we feel extremely grateful that he came along at all, and honored that he chose us to be his parents. I was 35 when I got pregnant and knew that extensive prenatal testing was recommended for my age group. Luckily, we decided against it and never had to face what must be a very difficult decision for parents who find out negative results early on. I don't know what I would have done, I certainly didn't have any idea what enormous blessings could lie in such a "tragedy," nor was I aware of the courage I now know I have. I am just extremely thankful that Theo made it to birth aga...

A reader writes: I represent Pro Health Natural Fertility , a non-profit, grassroots initiative praying for and promoting pro-life, noncontraceptive OB/GYN practices. We are initiating a new website, nomorecontraception.org. It will be a simple website of testimonies by women and men about the negative consequences of their articifical contraceptive use or elective sterility surgery. We'll have a few experts, too, but want to keep it simple! We hope to be up by the end of September, and in the meantime, gather testimonies. Please post the following on your website/blog if possible. We would appreciate it. Have you experienced the negative effects of artificial contraception and/or sterility surgery? Do you want to help other women and men avoid similar pitfalls? Send an anonymous personal story about your experiences to: nomorecontraception@verizon.net Your testimony will be posted at nomorecontraception.org , a website designed to share the experiences of women and men who were du...

LifeSite News: Pro-Life Position Showing Steady Rise Among US Voters Bobby Cutts Jr. Charged with Two Murders - Girlfriend and Unborn Child Immensely Popular Quebec Folk Song Laments Abortion and the Modern Culture of Sterility Life News: ABORTION SEEN AS TOP WHITE HOUSE ISSUE BY 40 PERCENT OF AMERICANS RUDY GIULIANI FACES MORE CRITICISM FROM CATHOLIC LEADERS OVER ABORTION OHIO TEACHER DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY UNION DUES OVER ABORTION STANCE Catholic News Agency: US House votes to fund abortion abroad, cut funding for abstinence-education Teenage girl takes chastity ring case to Britain’s High Court

By Eric Pavlat By responsible use of science, technology, and other rational means we shall eventually manage to become posthuman.” —Nick Bostrom “The moral challenge of transhumanism will transcend those of abortion and euthanasia. For this reason, the pro-life movement must become the pro-human movement.” —Nigel M. Cameron Cryonics. Neural implants. Designer babies. Welcome to the future of transhumanism. This energetic movement, comprising thousands of adherents, actively promotes the enhancement of humans via cybernetics, genetics, medicine, surgery, nanotechnology, and a full panoply of other scientific advancements. This enhancement would, according to Nick Bostrom’s “Transhumanist Declaration,” seek to advocate “the moral right for those who wish to do so to extend their mental and physical (including reproductive) capacities and to improve their control over their own lives. [They] seek personal growth beyond [their] current biological limitations” (see http://www.transhumanism...

Monday of the Twelveth Week in Ordinary Time Today's Mass Readings Saint for the Day: St. William of Vercelli Today in Catholic History: 1115 Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) founded the fourth house of the Cistercians in Clairvaux, France, and was also made its first abbot. 1987 Pope John Paul II received Austrian President Kurt Waldheim at the Vatican, a meeting fraught with controversy because of allegations that Waldheim had hidden a Nazi past. Birthdays: 1612 - John Albert Vasa , Polish bishop (d. 1634) 1903 - George Orwell (pen name of Eric Arthur Blair), British writer (d. 1950) He wrote Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four . 1903 - Anne Revere , American actress (d. 1990 ) She played the part of the mother of Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette . 1925 - June Lockhart , American actress ( Lassie , Lost in Space ) 1945 - Carly Simon , American singer 1947 - Jimmie Walker , American TV actor (best known for his role on Good Times )

From Power to Purpose A Remarkable Journey of Faith and Compassion by Sam Brownback Brownback's first hand account of his journey from farm boy to U.S. Senator. Hardcover List Price: $22.99 ISBN: 084990398X Publisher: Thomas Nelson Pub. Date: July 2007 More information is available here.

Leticia has a movie review of Evan Almighty up at causa nostrae laetitiae . Barbara Nicholosi gives her opinion of Evan Almighty as well. A Diamond in the Raunch: Pro-life Positions Emerge in Knocked Up and Waitress via New Advent and Catholic Exchange by Marc T. Newman, Ph.D. The Curt Jester reviews John Allen Jr's Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church here. Esther reviews Magic Mystic - Stories of Padre Pio . Francis Phillips of Mercatornet has a book review on Edith Stein . Julie D. has a book review of EIFELHEIM by Michael Flynn here as well as several movie reviews - some of my favorite old classics. Steven posts a book review on The Song by Calvin Miller.

"Most abortions are the result of unwanted pregnancies, most unwanted pregnancies are the result of sexual relationships outside of marriage, and most sexual relationships outside of marriage are facilitated by the availability of contraception. To turn this 'progression' around: contraception leads to more extra-marital sexual intercourse, more extra-marital sexual intercourse leads to more unwanted pregnancies; more unwanted pregnancies lead to more unwanted abortions." ~ Dr. Janet Smith, Professor of Moral Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary

"Why is chastity so vital a key for unlocking the theology of the body? The theology of the body is centered on the gift of self that we are all called to make to others, regardless of our state or vocation in life." "Only the chaste person can make such a gift. For spouses, this gift is embodied and expressed in the act of conjugal union. But no one can give what he does not first possess. It is precisely the mastery of oneself, the self-possession which comes through chastity, that enables men and women to be a gift to one another." ~ Legionary Father Walter Schu, author of The Splendor of Love (2003, New Hope). Excerpted from his article Theology of the Body For 6 Continents, The National Catholic Register , June 24-30, 2007 Issue

The Birth of St. John the Baptist 1540's Oil on canvas, 181 x 266 cm The Hermitage, St. Petersburg The Church observes the birth of John as a hallowed event. We have no such commemoration for any other fathers; but it is significant that we celebrate the birthdays of John and of Jesus. This day cannot be passed by. And even if my explanation does not match the dignity of the feast, you may still meditate on it with great depth and profit. John appears as the boundary between the two testaments, the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary the Lord himself bears witness, when he speaks of "the law and the prophets up until John the Baptist." Thus, he represents times past and is the herald of the new era to come. As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents; as a herald of the new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his mother's womb. For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mother's womb at the arrival of blessed Mary. In that wom...

I have just returned from watching Nancy Drew. What a delightful and fun film this was! Bill and I both enjoyed it. In River Heights, there is no mystery that Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts), a resourceful teen, can't solve. Nancy Drew has a reputation in her small town as a successful sleuth who gets into some pretty scary situations. When her widowed attorney father (Tate Donovan) accepts a temporary job in Los Angeles, he makes her promise that she will stop sleuthing. However, she has already made plans for them to move into the home of a Hollywood starlet who mysteriously died decades ago. Nancy enrolls at Hollywood High, where she attempts to fit in and behave like a "normal" teenager, but her good manners, cleverness, creativity, and concern for others immediately set her apart from her self-indulgent, self-absorbed peers who can't quite figure her out and give her a hard time. Nancy is an old-fashioned kind of a girl who loves old things - which is reflected in her ...

St. Etheldreda Image Via The Roving Medievalist. Saturday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time: Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Etheldreda aka St. Audrey She was the most popular of early English women saints, was the daughter of royalty and the sister of three other saints. She founded the minster of Ely, built on an estate which had been given to her by her first husband Tonbert, with whom she had never lived in wedlock. Her second husband, Egfrid, King of Northumbria, at first respected her desire to lead a religious life, but later he insisted on his rights, and fear of being carried off by him drove her to Ely. On This Day in Catholic History: 1983 - Pope John Paul II holds a private meeting with the founder of Solidarity, Lech Walesa, on a visit to Poland. 2001 - Pope John Paul II makes the 94th trip of his papacy to the Ukraine in 2001. Birthdays: 1400 - Johannes Gutenberg Inventor of the printing press 1929 - June Carter Cash , American singer (d. 2003) 1948 - Clarence Thoma...

The Coalition for Life presents beingHUMAN, a powerful thirty minute program that explores pro-life activism. This exciting documentary-style series gives witness to everyday people who are working to give a voice to the unborn. Monday, June 25, 2007, at 5:30 PM CDT . Channel 42 (Suddenlink) Channel 422 (DirectTV) Channel 261 (Dish Network) Via Coalition for Life.

Catholic World News: British teen challenges policy barring chastity ring Catholic World News: Giuliani leads among Catholic Republicans, poll finds Catholic World News: British member rips European parliament report for promoting abortion United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Cardinal Rigali Commends President Bush for Veto of Destructive Embryo Research Bill Guardian Unlimited: Portugal Adopts Law Allowing Abortion ABC 7 News: Bush Likely to See More Stem Cells Bills CNS News: House passes bill reversing Mexico City anti-abortion funding policy CNA: Catholic bishops consider political involvement for 2008 LifeSite News: House Democrats Pass Contraceptive Aid Funding for Developing Countries Pope's Implementation Of The Motu Proprio by Dr. Philip Blosser, Pertinacious Papist Why one American couple couldn't adopt Suzanne, Big Blue Wave Why is Contraception A Sin? Mrs Jackie Parkes MJ at Catholic Mom of 10 The One True Church - The Catholic Church by ukok at UKOK...

"We cannot go to heaven in feather beds." "Every tribulation which ever comes our way either is sent to be medicinal, if we will take it as such, or may become medicinal, if we will make it such, or is better than medicinal, unless we forsake it." "What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him?" "The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." "But no matter how high in the clouds this arrow of pride may fly, and no matter how exuberant one may feel while being carried up so high, let us remember that the lightest of these arrows still has a heavy iron head. High as it may fly, therefore, it inevitably has to come down and hit the ground. And sometimes it lands in a not very clean place.” "As Boethius says: For one man to be proud that he...

Taken from my photo collection Rome Pilgrimage 2006 30th Anniversary of the Congregation of St. John God will never forsake the work of His hands. Assured of His love, let us place before him our needs and the needs of the world: The special intentions of the Holy Father. For world peace and for the safety of our military. For our leaders that they will strive to build a culture of life. For the strengthening of marriages and an end to cohabitation. For an end to all sins against life. For one woman who is seriously planning to have an abortion and for another who is considering it. For the health and well-being of Marianne's father. For Faustina's prayer request. For Esther's special prayer request. For Steve's mother-in-law who has been missing since the beginning of June. It appears as if there is some foul play involved and we continue to lift up this family in prayer for healing and peace. For Michael and his son Michael, for reversion to the faith, emotional, ph...

Catholic Tube is now up and running. Head over to http://www.catholic-tube.com/ to check it out. Not all the videos are up yet, but the collection is growing. Via Esther.

"One can not sufficiently deplore the blindness of so many women of every age and station. Made foolish by a desire to please, they do not see to what degree the indecency of their clothing shocks every honest man and offends God. Most of them would formerly have blushed for such apparel as for a grave fault against Christian modesty . Now it does not suffice to exhibit themselves on public thoroughfares; they do not fear to cross the threshold of churches, to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and even to bear the seducing food of shameful passions to the Eucharistic Table, where one receives the Heavenly Author of Purity." ~ Pope Benedict XV

Optional Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop and confessor; Optional Memorial of Sts. John Fisher, bishop and martyr and Thomas More, martyr Today in Catholic History: 431 The Third Ecumenical Council opened in Saint Mary's church in Ephesus (first council of Ephesus). Convoked by Theodosius II, it concerned the Nestorian Controversy, which held that Christ was two separate persons rather than one person with two natures. 1535 The staunch Roman Catholic John Fisher (b. ca. 1469) was beheaded at the Tower of London. He was the only bishop who did not sign a document that declared Henry VIII of England's marriage to Catherine of Aragon unlawful. 1963 - Giovanni Cardinal Montini elected Pope by the College of Cardinals, and takes the name Pope Paul VI . Birthdays: 1906 - Anne Morrow Lindbergh , American author and pilot (d. 2001) 1906 - Billy Wilder , Austrian-born director (d. 2002) 1943 - Brit Hume , American news anchor and commentator (Fox News) 1949 - Meryl Streep , Am...

Jail has been "horrible and really hard" for Paris Hilton , but she's ready to turn the page and begin a new chapter in her life as a changed woman. In an exclusive phone conversation with E! News' Ryan Seacrest Thursday, the hotel heiress said she was "really proud" of herself for serving out her sentence and even admitted there was a positive aspect to life behind bars. "In a way, I'm really glad this happened, because it changed my life forever," Hilton said in a nearly 10-minute call from Century Regional Correctional Facility. (Read excerpts from the conversation .) Via WorldNetDaily. My Comments: I am hoping that this experience has changed Paris. Everyone needs peace and quiet in their lives in order to hear the voice of God and to discern their purpose and goals in life. With the type of lifestyle she was leading, she was quickly becoming dangerous to others as well as to herself. I pray that she will change her ways when she is relea...

A five-minute videotape touted as "smoking gun evidence" of two felonies committed by Sen. Hillary Clinton, was filed in a California appeals court today in a civil fraud suit against the New York Democrat and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. To read the WorldNetDaily post and view a 40 second excerpt of the videotape, go here. My Comments: This doesn't surprise me at all - Hillary has committed crimes worse than this, but has yet to be convicted . I imagine that she will most likely pay a fine and get off. However, I will pray that justice be done in this case.

Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, confessor Catholic History: 1963 Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (1897–1978) was elected Pope Paul VI in Rome, the 261st pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Birthdays: 1002 - Pope Leo IX (d. 1054) 1732 - Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach , German composer (d. 1791) 1774 - Daniel D. Tompkins , Congressman, Governor of New York, and sixth Vice President of the United States (d. 1825) 1947 - Michael Gross , American actor 1950 - Joey Kramer , American drummer and percussionist ( Aerosmith ) 1959 - Kathy Mattea , American country singer 1966 - Alisyn Camerota , American journalist (Anchor: Fox News) 1982 - Prince William of Wales , British prince

God will never forsake the work of His hands. Assured of His love, let us place before him our needs and the needs of the world: For the Holy Father's special intentions. For world peace and for the safety of our military. For spiritual nourishment and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for all our priests. For our leaders that they will strive to build a culture of life. For all those who are suffering from injustices. For Faustina's prayer request. For Esther's special prayer request. For Steve's mother-in-law who has been reported missing since the beginning of June. For Michael and his son Michael, for reversion to the faith, emotional, physcial, and spiritual healing. For forgiveness and healing in the father - son relationship and for a supportive Christian community. For healing for Fr. L., who is seriously ill with cancer through the intercession of Fr. Emil Kaupan. For Bill's special intention. For a special intention of mine. For all previous intentions her...

The Curt Jester offers a satirical post on the Pontifical Council for Migrants issued a “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road,” aka The Ten Commandments of Driving, while Dawn Eden offers some suggestions for the title of the document. Carolina Cannonball also reacts to the driving ten commandments.

I used to like Robin Williams, when he played Mork on Mindy and Mork (the TV sci-fi sitcom from 1978 - 1982) and I have enjoyed his performances in such films as Good Morning Viet Nam, Dead Poet's Society, and Awakenings, but over the years, his humor has gotten really raunchy. Raised as an Episopalian, Williams has taken a turn for the worse as illustrated by his appearance on the Jay Leno Show the other night. Williams went off on Catholic priests, painting them all as pedophiles. Williams also put his hand over his groin, saying, “You have to realize that if you are a Catholic priest, you have retired this. That’s it—no more sex.” Then he took a shot at confession: “But they are going to put you in a small dark box and people are going to tell you the nastiest sexual stuff they have done.” Here is Catholic League President Bill Donanue's response to this issue: “Isaiah Washington lashes out at one gay person in private, and he is banished from ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Robin Willia...

Wichita, KS – A Psychologist who has examined over thirty medical records subpoenaed from abortionist George R. Tiller, says women were given late-term abortions on viable babies so they would not have to miss rock concerts and sporting events. Dr. Paul McHugh revealed last week that he examined medical records that showed women who were 26 to 30 weeks into their pregnancies were being given abortions by Tiller for “trivial” birth control reasons under the guise of “mental health” concerns that could not be substantiated by the records. Dr. McHugh is a Harvard educated psychologist who headed the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital for 26 years and serves on the President’s Council on Bioethics. He was asked to review the abortion records by former Attorney General Phill Kline to determine if the mental health diagnoses were psychiatrically justified. [More] Via Operation Rescue. Please continue to contact Attorney General Paul Morrison and ask him to charge Tiller for c...

This weeks' Catholic Carnival , hosted by Sarah is up at just another day of Catholic pondering . There are many inspiring posts there this week.

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Blessed Michelina Patronage: death of children, in-law problems, insanity, mental illness, mentally ill people, widows In art, Michelina is a young Franciscan tertiary kneeling in ecstasy in the midst of a storm with a pilgrim's hat and staff by her (Roeder). On This Day in Catholic History: 1336 Pope Benedict XII (ca. 1280–1342) issued the encyclical Summi Magistri in an effort to correct abuses that had crept into the Catholic church. It reconstituted the ancient religious order of the Benedictines and remained in effect until the Council of Trent (1545–1563). 1946 Archbishop Josef Beran 's (1888–1969) resistance letter on church/state relations was read in the pulpits of Czechoslovakia. 1949 The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office (Rome) declared Czechoslovakia's Catholic Action Movement schismatic and excommunicated all who participated in this Communist-controlled church. Birthdays: 1924 - Chet Atki...

You Are 48% Republican You aren't a full fledged Republican yet, but it's probably the party that fits you best. You probably consider yourself an independent Republican. You usually support the party, but you also think for yourself! How Republican Are You?