Catholic Fire

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes our deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. ~Albert Schweitzer Image: Christmas Candles

Optional Memorial of St. Sylvester I, pope The Seventh Day of Christmas Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History Callistus III, [Alfonso the Borgia], Pope (1455-58), was born. Birthdays 1919 - Tommy Byrne , American baseball player 1931 - Bob Shaw , Irish writer (d. 1996) 1943 - John Denver , American singer, songwriter, one of the most popular artists of the 1970's; released 300 songs. Some of his songs included: " Take Me Home, Country Roads ", " Leaving on a Jet Plane ", " Calypso ", " Annie's Song ", " Thank God I'm a Country Boy ", and " Rocky Mountain High ". (d. 1997) 1943 - Pete Quaife , English bassist ( The Kinks ) 1959 - Phill Kline , American politician from Kansas 1961 - Rick Aguilera , American baseball player Image: Vita Mundi

Juno opened here this weekend and I went to see it this afternoon. This film really surprised me! I had heard it was good, but I had no idea that it would be so funny, and, at the same time, so touching. It was obvious from the reactions of the audience (the laughter and the tears), I was not alone in my feelings for this film. Ellen Paige plays Juno McGruff, a brainy but zany 16 – year – old, who decides to have sex for the first time with her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera), who is also a virgin. Naturally, she gets pregnant and after a frightening trip to the abortion clinic, Juno decides to give the baby up for adoption. At the suggestion of her girl friend Leah (Olivia Thirby), she checks out the want ads in The Penny Saver and discovers a picture – perfect couple to be the parents of her child -- Mark and Vanessa (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman). When Juno breaks the news of her pregnancy to her dad and stepmom, Bren (Allison Janney) and Mac (J.K. Simmons) they reac

Today I received one of the best gifts of the entire Christmas season - a visit from the Brothers - one of the Brothers of St. John from the Laredo monastery and one of the Brothers from the New Jersey monastery were here to visit. It is such a treat to visit with family! We (The Oblates and the Brothers) enjoyed a wonderful supper together and engaged in long conversations about the family Community and the faith. My mind and soul are fed each time I see them (They always encourage such stimulating philosophical conversations on the faith.) and my heart melts. The charism of the Community is love and it radiates from each one of them in copious amounts. Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful blessing!

Wichita, KS - As late-term abortionist George R. Tiller opened his infamous abortion mill for the first Saturday in three years, Operation Rescue conducted sidewalk counseling and prayer in below-freezing temperatures. One couple entered the icy parking lot as sisters from the Myers family sang hymns at the gate. A few minutes later, the couple left the abortion clinic, pausing for some time to consider the images of the aborted babies displayed in front of them on the Truth Truck. Sidewalk counselors report that the woman was overcome with emotion. The couple left and did not return. We have no doubt that if faithful Christians had stayed home, the outcome for that pre-born child would have been tragic. We thank God for everyone who braved the cold and snow to stand as a testimony to Christ's love! We rejoice in this change of heart and encourage those in the Kansas area to join Operation Rescue next Saturday, January 5, 2008, to offer help and hope to women who will be considerin

"The state of marriage is one which requires more virtue and constancy than any other; it is a perpetual exercise of mortification." "Married people have need for two kinds of chastity; the one for absolute abstinence, when they are separated . . . the other for moderation." ~ St. Francis de Sales

On this special feast day of the Holy Family let us pray that we may emulate their holiness in our own family. Say a prayer dedicating your family to the Holy Family. Pray also for all families and for our country to uphold the sanctity of the marriage bond which is under attack. Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family Dear Lord, bless our family. Be so kind as to give us the unity, peace, and mutual love that You found in Your own family in the little town of Nazareth. Saint Joseph, bless the head of our family. Obtain for him the strength, the wisdom, and the prudence he needs to support and direct those under his care. Mother Mary, bless the mother of our family. Help her to be pure and kind, gentle and self-sacrificing. For the more she resembles you, the better will our family be. Lord Jesus, bless the children of our family. Help them to be obedient and devoted to their parents. Make them more and more like You. Let them grow, as You did, in wisdom and age and grace before God a

You can read my most recently published book review on Infinite Space, infinite God by Karina and Robert Fabian here . You don't have to be a Sci Fi fan to enjoy this one.

St. Thomas Becket was born in London, England in 1118. His father was a Norman knight, Gilbert, who had become a prosperous merchant in London; his mother was also Norman, and he had at least two sisters. Thomas was noted for his piety, his strong devotion to Our Lady, and his generosity to the poor. Richly endowed by nature, he was tall, handsome, strong, and athletic, with dark hair, pale complexion and a prominent nose. His sight and hearing were unusually keen, he had an excellent memory, and he was a gifted speaker and debater. He enjoyed playing field sports as a boy, and as a young man, his energy, his practical ability, and his initiative exceeded his wisdom and his judgment. He was educated at the Merton Priory in Sussex and at the University of Paris. When he returned to England at twenty-one, he obtained an appointment as a clerk to the sheriff’s court, where he showed great ability. He was determined to make it on his own in the world now that his parents were both deceased

Wichita, KS — Operation Rescue will be sponsoring two local events in Wichita, Kansas, to memorialize the 35th Anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion in America. Remembrance Service Saturday , January 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM 3013 E. Central Avenue, Wichita This special service of remembrance will be held in Operation Rescue’s new national headquarters, located in the FORMER Central Women’s Services abortion building. Service will feature a dedication of a Memorial to the Pre-born. Please come and remember what God has done in Wichita! Tour the building that has been redeemed for God’s Glory! 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Candlelight Vigil Tuesday , January 22, 2008 from 6- 7 PM Outside Women’s Health Care Services, 5107 E. Kellogg Ave., Wichita Please come and remember the innocent children whose lives have been sacrificed, and pray with us for an end to abortion. Bring a candle or a flashlight, and your friends and family! Contact Operati

Newman calls Board “actions” too little, too late (Topeka, Kansas) Operation Rescue is calling for radical reform of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts amid scandals involving Board ineptitude in the handling of complaints against a doctor indicted on Federal charges of unlawfully prescribing medication that may have led to 56 overdose deaths and an abortionist charged with multiple counts of violating state laws. Thursday, the KSBHA recommended that the medical license of Stephen Schneider be suspended since his “continuation in practice constitutes an imminent danger to the public health and safety.” However that recommendation has no timetable for implementation. The Schneider complaint languished at the KSBHA since 2004. The recommendation was issued only after headlines revealed the Federal charges, spurring outrage from legislators over the KSBHA’s glacial pace of operation. Complaints against abortionist George Tiller, filed in October, 2006, have yet to see action even th

Baby Jesus in the Manger Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs The Fourth Day of Christmas Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History 1622 - St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, died. (b. 1567) Birthdays 1763 - John Molson , English-born Canadian brewer (d. 1836) 1842 - Calixa Lavallée , French-Canadian composer ( O Canada ) (d.1891) 1856 - Woodrow Wilson , 28th President of the United States, Nobel laureate (d. 1924) 1922 - Stan Lee , American comic book writer 1932 - Nichelle Nichols, American actress and singer; Her most famous role may be that of communications officer Lieutenant Uhura aboard the USS Enterprise in the popular Star Trek television series. 1954 - Denzel Washington , American actor 1972 - Adam Vinatieri , American football player

Via EJG at God+Tube.

Today I am praying for the following intentions: The Holy Father's special intentions. For Dawn Eden. For Leticia's prayer request for a premmie baby premie baby named Alanna with Down Syndrome in Crouse Hospital in Syracuse. The hospital is pressuring Alanna's parents to pull the plug. For continued healing for Christina. For the repose of the soul of Benazir Bhutto. For Jackie's special intention for Tony . For Seminarian Matthew's special intentions. For Bill's special intentions. For a renewal of the culture of life in our country. For world peace, an end to war in the Mideast, and the safety of our military. For all the prayer intentions at One Came Back . For all previous prayers intentions mentioned here and for the special intentions of all my readers. Image: Our Father...

is up and is being hosted by the delightful and entertaining Ebeth at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars. Check it out here. Image via Ebeth.

Image: Gloria in Excelsis Deo Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist Today's Mass Readings The Third Day of Christmas Christmas Meditation: A New Birth for Each One of Us On This Day in Catholic History 1944 - Sister Sara Salkahazi was killed by the Arrow Cross, the Hungarian allies of the Nazis, for hiding Jews in a Budapest building used by her religious order, the Sisters of Social Service. In 2006 she was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI. 1983 - Pope John Paul II pardoned Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who shot him. The Pope visited Mehmet Ali Agca at Rome’s Rebibbia prison and personally pardoned him for the 1981 assassination attempt. 1994 - Four Roman Catholic priests, three French and a Belgian, were shot to death in their rectory in Algiers, a day after French commandos killed four radicals who had hijacked an Air France jet from Algiers to Marseille. Birthdays 1717 - Pope Pius VI (d. 1799) 1822 - Louis Pasteur , French scientist (d. 1895) 1896 - Louis Bromfield , American wr

Each year Christmas is for us a feast of unity with the Father, of unity with the Holy Spirit, and of unity with the Word Made Flesh. It is this presence of her child, her God, that took hold of Mary and plunged her into an immense thanksgiving, for God was accomplishing marvels in her in giving Himself completely to her, as a little child is completely given and completely relative to His mother. Mary is mother in a stronger and more profound way than all other mothers (this is the summit of maternity), in the sense that her son, her little child, is given to her by the Holy Spirit and resembles her in a unique way. He is all hers, and He gives her the light which allows her to gaze upon Him, to contemplate Him, and to be wholly absorbed by His presence and by His silence. Let us ask Mary that we, too, be absorbed by this presence and this silence that we belong wholly to Jesus and that this feast of the Nativity be a great grace for us, a new starting point in our complete gift to H

Today is the feast day of my Community -- the feast of St. John, the Apostle. St. John is also my patron saint and the saint I try most to emulate in my daily life. St. John, a fisherman, the son of Zebedee, and the brother of St. James the Great, was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry, and he travelled everywhere with Him. St. John is known as the Beloved Disciple, the Apostle of Love. Why was he identified in this way? John loved Jesus greatly, and he demonstrated a meek, mild, tender, humble, and peaceable disposition that made him very much like Our Lord himself. Also, his singular privilege of chastity, his virginal purity rendered him worthy of this more particular love. As St. Augustine explains, "He was chosen by our Lord, a virgin, and he always remained such. Christ was pleased to choose a virgin for his mother, a virgin for his precursor, and a virgin for his favorite disciple. His church suffers only those who live perfectly c

Today during my Holy Hour in Eucharistic Adoration I prayed for the following intentions: (Please feel free to join me in praying for these special intentions.) In thanksgiving for Christina, who is better and has been released from the hospital. For the special intentions of the Holy Father. For the priests, brothers, and seminarians I have spiritually adopted and for all deacons, that they will emulate St. Stephen in his strong faith and love of the Lord. For the special intentions of Fr. J.M. That our country and our world will show, through their actions, a deep respect for the sanctity of all human life. For the closing of all abortion mills, especially Tiller's late - term abortion mill in Wichita. For world peace and the safety of our military. For those who are suffering in any way that God will fill them with His peace and comfort and give them the graces to to persevere on the path that He is leading them. For Linda W. and Sue who are both in advanced stages of cancer. Fo

Have a beautiful birthday, Esther ! Praying for many blessings for you!

Image: Mater Mea Feast of St. Stephen, First Deacon and First Martyr The Second Day of Christmas Today's Mass Readings Today's Spiritual Quote : "The Church is not our way of finding answers to our religious quest for the Truth; it is the method through which the Truth becomes humanly present to us." ~ Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete On This Day in Catholic History 267 - Pope St. Dionysius died. 1948 - Cardinal Mindszenty was arrested in Hungary and accused of treason and conspiracy. 2006 - The Vatican called on retired Bishop Fernando Lugo to give up his plans to run for Paraguay's presidency or face canonical sanctions. Lugo said he had already resigned from the priesthood to lead a planned opposition alliance and challenge conservative President Nicanor Duarte of the Colorado Party in elections scheduled for May 2008. Birthdays 1914 - Richard Widmark , American actor 1921 - Steve Allen , American comedian (d. 2000) 1927 - Alan King , American comedian (d. 2004) 19

St. Stephen was the first deacon as well as the first Christian martyr. All that we know of him is contained in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 6 and 7. In Acts 6:5 seven men were selected and specially ordained by the Apostles to take care of the temporal relief of the poorer members. Of these seven, Stephen, is the first deacon mentioned and the best known. The Church had, by selecting him for a deacon, publicly acknowledged him as a man "of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). He was "a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost" (vi, 5), "full of grace and fortitude." Certain Jews, members of the Synagogue of Roman Freedmen, debated with Stephen but proved no match for the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. They persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy against him. He was seized and carried before the Sanhedrin. Stephen spoke to the crowd and recalled the mercies of God towards Israel during its long history and

A Sequel to the Best Seller Fr. Elijah is Being Contemplated Q. Tell us about the story to give readers a sense of it. O'Brien: The Island of the World is the story of a child born in 1933 into the turbulent world of the Balkans and tracing his life into the third millennium. The central character is Josip Lasta, the son of an impoverished school teacher in a remote village high in the mountains of the Bosnian interior. As the novel begins, World War II is underway and the entire region of Yugoslavia is torn by conflicting factions: German and Italian occupying armies, and the rebel forces that resist them - the fascist Ustashe, Serb nationalist Chetniks, and Communist Partisans. As events gather momentum, hell breaks loose, and the young and the innocent are caught in the path of great evils. Their only remaining strength is their religious faith and their families. Q. Is this primarily a historical novel, or perhaps a political one? O'Brien: No, it is neither, though of cour

Jesus is the Light of the World "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." ~ John 1: 1 - 9 May His light warm your heart and fill it with the peace of His presence and the joy of His love this Christmas and throughout the New Year!

It has always been a tradition in my family to celebrate Christmas at Midnight Mass. Our parish church is so beautifully decorated I wanted to share the beauty with you. The large Fontanini nativity set is my favorite.

Christmas special 1987 Julie Andrews, Placido Domingo in Salzburg Austria, where he sings a beautiful rendition of 'O Holy Night'. Julie Andrews, Christmas 1987, with Placido Domingo, and the late, lamented, John Denver. Lovely Salzburg, Austria, plus The Domingo family. Listen to the entire medley to hear it all - it's just gorgeous!

Luke 2: 1 - 14 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great jo

You Are An ENFJ The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud What's Your Personality Type? I found this on Margaret Mary's blog and it has been awhile since I have taken this. At least it seems somewhat reliable - I am the same type I was when I last took this test. The onl

Today is my 4th anniversary of blogging. In commemoration of this special occasion, I would like to share my joy with all those who read my blog. These roses are for you with my thanks and gratitude for stopping by to visit.

Fourth Sunday of Advent Today's Mass Readings Advent Meditation with Video Today is Day Eight of the Christmas Novena. On This Day in Catholic History 1988 - Pope John Paul II met with Yasser Arafat at the Vatican. The pontiff told the PLO leader he believed Palestinians and Jews had "an identical fundamental right" to their own countries but that both must reject violence, including terrorism and reprisals. Birthdays 1582 - Severo Bonini , an Italian composer, organist and Benedictine monk, (d. 1663) 1935 - Paul Hornung , American football player (Notre Dame) 1938 - Bob Kahn , American Internet pioneer 1971 - Steve Stenstrom , American football quarterback

Gospel: Matthew 1:18 - 24 When the angel says, "For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit", he is underlining the fact that she obeyed the will of God, and that her relationship with Joseph remains the same. It is not she who chose to be Mother of God -- God chose this for her, and she accepted it. The angel, therefore, allows Joseph to receive Mary and to love her in a new way but which is nonetheless in continuity with His first love for her.... "She shall bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus." Each of these words from the angel carries weight and allows us to understand the role that God is giving to Joseph. Naming a new-born child is something that comes under the authority of the father, and in doing this the father acts as God's instrument; for, to name a tiny child is surely to point him already in a certain direction. And we are told how Joseph is to name the child: "You shall call His name, Jesus, for it is He who shal

Former British prime minister Tony Blair has converted from Britain's established church, Anglicanism, to Roman Catholicism.

Lord, You are the joy and the peace of all who hope in You. Shower us with Your graces, Lord, and hear our prayer. King of peace, send your spirit upon those who rule, so that they take special care for the poor and destitute. Shower us with Your graces, Lord, and hear our prayer. Lord, Light of our lives, fill the hearts of all Your people with hope during this holy season and draw all Your children to Your tender and merciful heart. Bring Your children home to You - both those who have drifted away from You and those who do not know You. Shower us with Your graces, Lord, and hear our prayer. For all those who are sick, those in nursing homes, in hospitals, or imprisoned, show them Your love and compassion. Shower us with Your graces, Lord, and hear our prayer. Lord, we pray for healing for Leticia's daughter, Christina, who is in the hospital with double - pneumonia. We also lift up her parents and family for peace and comfort. Console those who are treated unjustly and those wh

Gospel Luke 1:46 - 56 Throughout her whole life Mary lived in an attitude of gratefulness and thanksgiving. Her Magnificat burst forth in the presence of Elizabeth, but it was ever present in her soul. Mary lived in such poverty that she always recognized God's free gift of love for her. If we were poorer, if we had a greater sense of our littleness, of our poverty, and if we recognized that everything is free, that the Lord has given everything to us, then we would more often be in an attitude of gratefulness. We would always look at Jesus, thanking Him for being there, for loving us, and for gathering us into His love. We should always be thanking Jesus, thanking Mary for protecting us and for keeping us faithful to responding to His love. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us this attitude of thanksgiving with Mary, our Mother, so that with her, we can always sing our Magnificat. ~ ~ From the Daily Gospel with Fr. Philippe, OP (Priest, Philosophy Professor, Founder of t

Seraphim - Ave Maria (Gregorian) Listen to the angelic harmony of Seraphim as they sing the Gregorian rendition of Ave Maria. This selection is from their new Marian album entitled "Hail, Queen of Heaven" which is produced by David Phillips.

You Are a Cranberry and Popcorn Strung Tree Christmas is all about showcasing your creative talents. From cookies to nicely wrapped presents, your unique creations impress everyone. What Christmas Tree Are You?

I have been having some connectivity problems with my Internet server and a technician won't be able to come out for awhile, so please bear with me. I will continue posting as often as possible, but instead of high speed internet, it's more like I have dial-up, so it's been taking twice as long to post things and to edit my posts. Also, when this blasted thing froze up on me yesterday for the umpteenth time, I turned it off and lost some of your comments. I have switched things to another server address, so feel free to post any comments that you don't see published. I apologize for any incovenience. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Update : The technician was here yesterday and replaced our modem -- it seems that there was a recall on that type of modem. I also added something from google to speed things up on the Internet, so things are going more smoothly now. Thanks for the your patience.

O' Antiphons~December 21 From: EJGcatholi O'Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death! Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor Read my post on St. Peter Canisius, priest and doctor, which includes a brief bio, quotes, and a prayer here. Today's Mass Readings Today is Day Six of the Christmas Novena. On This Day in Catholic History 1118 - Thomas Becket , Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury was born. (d. 1170) 1597 Peter Canisius (b. 8 May 1521), Dutch-born Roman Catholic reformer, died. Birthdays 1401 - Tommaso Masaccio , Catholic Italian painter (d. 1428) 1872 - Don Lorenzo Perosi , Catholic Italian composer of Sacred Music (d. 1956) 1892 - Rebecca West , English journalist and novelist (d. 1983) 1915 - Werner von Trapp , member of the Trapp Family Singers (d. 2007) 1922 - Paul Winchell , American ventriloquist (d. 2005) 1954 - Chris Ever

Juno is back in the news again now that it's getting closer to the release date, which is Christmas. The film critics love it. Roger Ebert, of the Chicago Sun Times has this t0 say about it: "Jason Reitman's "Juno" is just about the best movie of the year. It is very smart, very funny and very touching; it begins with the pacing of a screwball comedy and ends as a portrait of characters we have come to love. Strange, how during Juno's hip dialogue and cocky bravado, we begin to understand the young woman inside, and we want to hug her." Jill Stanek has an updated review of it here . She calls it "the film pro-aborts will hate." Previous Post with video: Juno, The Movie

Jamie Lynne Spears, the 16 - year - old sister of Britney Spears, has announced that to OK! Magazine she's pregnant, and has decided to keep her baby. As to her decision, Spears told OK! "I think my whole life I would have to live with knowing what I did or what I didn't do." Spears discouraged sex before marriage saying, "I definitely don't think it's something you should do; it's better to wait. But I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in. But, she is ready to live up to the consequences of her actions. "I'm the one who has to live with it for the rest of my life," she says. "I put myself in this position, an adult position, so I have to act like an adult and take responsibility for what I did." Get the whole scoop at LifeSiteNews.Com and learn the reactions of Georgette Forney, director of Silent No More. To read the interview at Ok Magazine, go here.

Video: O' Antiphons~December 20 via EJGcatholi at Love To Be Catholic . Thursday of the Third Week of Advent Today is the fourth of the O Antiphons. O sublime majesty of the coming Redeemer! To Him has been delivered the key, the government of the house of David (Is 22:22). Boundless is His power over the graces and privileges of the Church, over the souls and hearts and the wills of men. He holds the destiny of the Church in the palm of His hand. He is Master of the storms that arise to destroy the Church and the souls committed to her. He is capable of dealing with the false principles and the errors that threaten her doctrines. He has overcome the devil and his associates, the world, the flesh and its tribulations. To Him all power is given (Matt. 28:18). "He shall open and none shall shut" (Is 22:22). Against the power that is His all other forces are powerless. The destiny of souls and the government of the Church are placed in His hand. He is the Lord of all. O Key