Catholic Fire

When Lexie Slater-Folksman was born at 23 weeks - an age at which babies can still be aborted - she weighed just 1lb 8oz. She was put on a life support machine and her parents were warned their daughter might not pull through. She was so premature her eyes hadn't even developed properly. At a month old she underwent laser surgery on her eyes and then spent week after week on ventilator machines after she suffered collapsed lungs. But Lexie defied the odds and gradually gained strength. Now, six months after her birth, she weighs a healthy 8lb and has finally been allowed home, to the joy and relief of her parents, 20-year-old Sarah Slater and her fiance Richard Folksman, 25. Read the Entire Story.

A team of volunteers at Live Action Films who earlier released videos of two Planned Parenthood offices advising how to conceal a reported sexual assault on a child now wants the abortion company to answer a few questions, such as how many abortions does it perform and how many reports does it submit to Child Protective Services. In an open letter and a video released today, the pro-life organization said the public should know what is going on at the company that gets millions of federal taxpayer dollars annually. Go here for the full story.

... is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering . Sarah has once again done a fabulous job of hosting and organizing all the posts there. My contribution to this week's Carnival: The Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs, and Our Innocents Today looks at the significance of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, including how it is similar to what is happening in our culture today and what we can do to help put an end to the massacre of the innocents. A few of my favorite posts there include: Christine's Planned Parenthood Abortion Funding Requests in Obama Memo Top $4.6 Billion , which tells us all about how Planned Parenthood sends Barry their Christmas list. Joe's Love and Freedom , which examines the real meaning of love and how it both confines and frees us at the same time. Sarah's A Few of My Favorite Things gives you a tour of her favorite rosaries, complete with their stories. But don't stop here, be sure and read all the great posts at this week's Cath...

Today is the seventh day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor. St. Sylvester, a native Roman, was chosen by God to govern His holy Church during the first years of Her temporal prosperity and triumph over Her persecuting enemies. Pope Melchiades died in January, 314. St. Sylvester was chosen as his successor. He governed the Church for more than twenty-one years, ably organizing the discipline of the Roman Church, and taking part in the negotiations concerning Arianism and the Council of Nicaea. He also sent Legates to the first Ecumenical Council. During his Pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine — the Basilica and baptistery of the Lateran, the Basilica of the Sessorian palace (Santa Croce), the Church of St. Peter in the Vatican, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs. No doubt St. Sylvester helped towards the construction of these churches. He was a frie...

ATTENTION - all concerned parents and medical professionals - Merck needs to hear from you now! Without the separate doses for measles and mumps there will be NO MORAL ALTERNATIVES in the US for these vaccines! Concerned Catholics In December 2008, the Holy See affirmed in Dignitas Personae, that “everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their healthcare system make other types of vaccines available.” The Vatican further stated that “there is a duty to refuse to use such “biological material” even when there is no close connection between the researcher and the actions of those who performed the abortion.” Read the article and the letter we sent to Merck - and let them know how you feel! www.cogforlife.org/merck1208.htm God bless, Debi Vinnedge Children of God for Life H/T: Yvonne Related Information: Judie Brown's column: MERCK MIRED IN MAYHEM

A defiant Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday named a black political trailblazer to Barack Obama's Senate seat, a surprise move that put the governor's opponents in the uncomfortable position of trying to block his choice from becoming the Senate's only black member. Blagojevich's appointment of former state Attorney General Roland Burris injected race into the drama surrounding the embattled governor, who repeatedly sought to distance his selection from charges that he tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder. This is a typical move on the part of Governor B. and doesn't surprise me one bit. He is one of the "untouchables", isn't he? Related: Blagojevich snubs Senate, taps Burris for seat

Washington, D.C. (30 December 2008) – David Bereit, director of the nation-wide 40 Days for Life campaign that has reinvigorated the grassroots pro-life movement, will be speaking at American Life League's Personhood Conference Jan. 23, 2009. Bereit's revolutionary campaign, combining prayer, fasting, constant vigil and community outreach touched 204 cities across 49 states. He is part of an exceptional group of speakers taking part in the Ninth Annual Training and Activism Week in Washington, D.C. "David Bereit is a hero in the pro-life movement," said Marie Hahnenberg, project director for the 2009 Training and Activism Week. "His dedication to ending abortion through regular, peaceful presence outside of Planned Parenthood facilities and other abortion clinics has sparked a passion in thousands of people for protecting and defending the preborn." Reports from around the country say that at least 1,100 lives have been spared from abortion thanks to th...

"When does a new individual of the species Homo sapiens come into existence? Multiple scientific studies have examined the earliest stages of life and there is only one answer that is consistent with the scientific facts: a new human life commences at the moment of sperm - egg fusion, an event that occurs in less than a second." ~ Maureen L. Condic, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Westchester Institute for Ethics and the Human Person and Associate Professor of Microbiology and Anatomy at the University of Utah School of Medicine

Exodus Mandate video calling all Christians to remove God's children from the Government schools. You've heard all about the disputes: "Silent Night" banned at the "holiday" program, artistic references to the Bible censored and faith-inclusive children's programs facing discrimination. Now some people are fed up with public school treatment of Christianity and have launched a campaign calling for a rescue of kids from government education programs – a "Call to Dunkirk." Read more here. Many Christians have been educating their children through homeschooling or by sending them to private or parochial schools. Is there still hope for changing our public school system? Is the answer homeschooling or private schools for everyone? Related Posts: Illinois Review: A call to abandon public schools Ogre's Politics and Views Call to Dunkirk Desert Conservative Stop the Brainwashing

The cruel edicts of Diocletian and Maximin against the Christians being published in the year 303, Sabinus, Bishop of Assisium, and several of his clergy, were apprehended and kept in custody till Venustianus, the Governor of Etruria and Umbria, came thither. Upon his arrival in that city he caused the hands of Sabinus, who had made a glorious confession of his Faith before him, to be cut off; and his two deacons, Marcellus and Exuperantius, to be scourged, beaten with clubs, and torn with iron nails, under which torments they both expired. Sabinus is said to have cured a blind boy, and a weakness in the eyes of Venustianus himself, who was thereupon converted, and afterward beheaded for the Faith. Lucius, his successor, commanded Sabinus to be beaten to death with clubs at Spoleto. The martyr was buried a mile from that city, but his relics have been since translated to Faënza. Reflection.—How powerfully do the martyrs cry out to us by their example, exhorting us to despise a false ...

On Tuesday, October 9, 2007, I published a post on this blog, entitled, Barack Obama Promotes Abortion, Slams Abstinence in Iowa Speech , one paragraph of which was excerpted from LifeNews.Com. This was followed by a series of facts about Barack Obama's voting record and my evaluation of his voting record. Here is what the reader, who anonymously identifies himself/herself as Tea Tree has to say: " I respect that you all have opinions, and the opinions in a population differ greatly. However, the United States are a democracy. Obama is promoting the right for people to CHOOSE for themselves, which is fitting for a democracy, no? There is nothing sinister or evil about allowing people this right. The Bible can be interpreted in many different ways. If one Christian's views do not concur with yours, this does not mean they are not a true Christian. I do, however, think it would be very unfortunate for the 'moderator' of this forum to delete this post because it disa...

Today is the fifth day of Christmas and the feast of St. Thomas Becket. 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 t...

Children under the age of two in Bethlehem were massacred by Herod the Great in an attempt to kill the child Jesus. We call these Holy Innocents martyrs because they died in the place of Christ. St. Augustine called them "buds, killed by the frost of persecution the moment they showed themselves." In modern times, we have our own "holy innocents" -- those children who are killed daily in the place that should be the safest and most protective environment of all for them -- their mother's wombs. On this day, we recall the over 50 million children in our country alone (since 1973) and the vast number of children throughout the world who have been killed under the insane laws permitting abortion. Let us pray daily for an end to this tragedy and begin a novena for the protection of the unborn today. Reading Even before they learn to speak, they proclaim Christ A tiny child is born, who is a great king. Wise men are led to him from afar. They come to adore one who li...

Today is the fourth day of Christmas and the feast of the Holy Family. I have a special fondness for this feast day as my daily prayer has been that my family will imitate the Holy Family in holiness, which brings peace to my heart as I envision that happening. The primary purpose of the Church in instituting and promoting this feast is to present the Holy Family as the model and exemplar of all Christian families. 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 n...

Today is the feast day of my Community -- the feast of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist. 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 l...

Today is one of my favorite blogger's birthdays, so let's help her celebrate this special occasion. Be sure to stop by A Catholic Mom in Hawaii and wish Esther a "Very Happy Birthday" today.

The Christmas Catholic Carnival #204 is up at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars. Ebeth is our gracious hostess this week and this carnival is filled with some tasty treats to celebrate Our Lord's birth.

Faith and Family: The Second Day of Christmas Catholic Culture: The Second Day of Christmas

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...

@ Yahoo! Video

Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah Poznan Cathedral Boys Choir, Polen The Voices of Angels

The Solemnity of Christmas Today the Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ, the first day in the octave of Christmas. Throughout Advent the Church longed ardently for the coming of our Savior. Today she celebrates His birth with unrestrained joy. "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." The Son of God became man to give us a share in that divine life which is eternally His in the Blessed Trinity. Christmas time begins on December 24 with the first Vespers of the feast and ends on the feast of the Baptism of Christ. White vestments reappear in our churches as a sign of joy. The Christmas feast is a festival full of joy. The Eternal Word has become Man and dwells among us. The longings of the patriarchs and prophets are fulfilled. With the shepherds we hurry to the manger and adore the Incarnate Son of God, who for us and for our salvation descended upon earth. The purpose of the Christmas feast is beautifully expressed in the Preface of the Nativity: "For by th...

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...

O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God.

Be inspired as you catch the vision of Priests for Life to end abortion and build the Culture of Life through the Church. ~ Via Fr. Frank Pavone.

Today the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. John of Kanty, priest. St. John was born at Kanty, in the Diocese of Krakow, Poland in 1390 to Stanislaus and Anne who were pious country people. He was educated at the Academy of Krakow, where he impressed his professors and colleagues with his pleasant and friendly disposition; always happy, but serious, humble, and holy, he won the hearts of all who came in contact with him. He earned his doctorate in theology and philosophy, was ordained priest and was then appointed professor of theology at the Academy of Krakow. Shortly afterwards, he was reassigned to the Diocese of Krakow, to be a parish priest. He was then re-appointed professor of Sacres Scripture at the Academy of Krakow, a position he held for the rest of his life. John taught his students this philosophy again and again, "Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause."...

STOPP PLAN OUSTS NATION'S LARGEST ABORTION CHAIN FROM AMARILLO Washington, D.C. (22 December 2008) – American Life League and the Diocese of Amarillo scored a major victory this week as Planned Parenthood prepares to completely withdraw from the Texas Panhandle. Using American Life League's STOPP project to defeat Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion chain has been completely eradicated from the diocese of Amarillo, Texas."Once again we see that the STOP Planned Parenthood plan works – even on a grand scale," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League and director of the STOPP project. "We have been honored to work closely with Bishop John Yanta, Respect Life Coordinator Rita Diller, and all those in the Amarillo Diocese who, since 1997, have worked towards the day when Planned Parenthood would no longer exist in the Texas Panhandle. Through the grace of God, that day will come next week." In 1997, Planned Parenthood operated 19...

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1,46-56: And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical «Deus Caritas Est», §41 (©Libreria Editrice Vaticana) Mary's Magnificat—a portrait, so to speak, of her soul—is entirely woven from th...

O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth. Reflection for Today

You Are an Angel A truly giving soul, you understand the spirit of Christmas. What Christmas Ornament Are You?

By Dana Summers at Townhall.com ... ~ Via Jill Stanek.

O'Dayspring from the East, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!

Via WorldNet Daily: The Campbell's Soup Company purchased a pair of two-page advertisement spreads in one of the nation's leading pro-homosexual magazines, including an ad highlighting a lesbian couple and their son, reports the American Family Association . The advertisement for Campbell's product Swanson's broth, the AFA reports, appears in both the December 2008 and January 2009 issues of The Advocate, a magazine that touts itself with the line, "For 40 years, setting the standard in LGBT journalism." [ Read the rest here.] If Campbell Soup is concerned for the welfare of children, then they should not be contributing to the normalization of same-gender couples with kids. The company has a social responsibility that extends beyond pleasing one group of potential customers. The ad profits from (and blatantly promotes) the homosexual agenda at the cost of the social/emotional/psychological health of society and its children. View ad here . Email the preside...

My Score: 52 SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 of these films, you have no life. Instructions: There are 239 films on this list. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list. Then, bold the films you've seen and count the number. Put your number at the top of the post. Have fun! :) Rocky Horror Picture Show Grease Pirates of the Caribbean Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest Boondock Saints Fight Club Starsky and Hutch Never ending Story Blazing Saddles Airplane The Princess Bride Anchorman Napoleon Dynamite Labyrinth Saw Saw II White Noise White Oleander Anger Management 50 First Dates The Princess Diaries The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Scream Scream 2 Scream 3 Scary Movie Scary Movie 2 Scary Movie 3 Scary Movie 4 American Pie American Pie 2 American Wedding American Pie Band Camp Harry Potter 1 Harry Potter 2 Harry Potter 3 Harry Potter 4 Resident Evil 1 Resident Evil ...

O KEY OF DAVID, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

An Arkansas woman has given birth to her 18th child. Michelle Duggar delivered the baby girl by Caesarean section Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The baby, named Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. "The ultimate Christmas gift from God," said Jim Bob Duggar, the father of the 18 children. "She's just absolutely beautiful, like her mom and her sisters." The Duggars now have 10 sons and eight daughters. MORE ~ Via The Chicago Tribune.

Pro-life leaders are seeking a meeting with President-elect Obama to “establish a foundation” for cooperation in building a culture of life which “honors equality and human rights and ends abortion.” A December 17 letter seeking a meeting has been signed by Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition; Brandi Swindell, Founder and President of Stanton Healthcare; Deborah Frantzich of Rachel’s Vineyard; and Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-life Union. MORE ~ Via CNA. Will he accept? Will the meeting accomplish anything? How I would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting!

Dr. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King Jr., shares her thoughts about the elections and some tips for holiday giving. Great video!

It's about celebrating God's love for mankind and the gift of Life. However, not all of us will be celebrating this year. Give your child a chance. (Josh Groban shares a beautiful lullaby.) Help babies live. Donate to pro-life crisis pregnancy centers in your community. Help pro-life organizations with your time, money, and talent. Jill Stanek shares some ways to help in this post: Help pro-life groups while Christmas shopping Purchase of Christmas Music CD By Pro-Life Priest is Great Way to Support LifeSiteNews Here are just a few of the many worthwhile pro-life organizations who can use your help: * American Life League * Operation Rescue * Priests for Life * STOPP International Please refer to the pro-life links on my left sidebar for more pro-life groups who need your help.

O ROOT OF JESSE, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not.