Catholic Fire

This post is dedicated to all our military heroes -- especially those in my own family -- my dad, my brother, Michael, my sister, Susan, and my brother-in-law, Heinz. Thank you for your service! Poem: "These Heroes All" by Kelly Kirkpatrick Standing guard o'ver Heaven's bounds, to duty called by God, Harkening when the trumpets sound Saint Michael's call aloud, Is a holy, brave brigade of men and women bold, Though their earthly life they've paid, o'er none has death a hold. Heroes all, in virtue steeped, immune to evil's touch, They now with angels vigil keep and still watch over us. Partnered with Almighty God, alive for evermore, Members of His Honor Squad and free on wings to soar. Each fell in bloody battle hard that we might e'er live free, Sacrificed on razored shards of cruel destiny. Let not the banner they held proud, their caskets now which grace, Lie in tatters as a shroud: forgotten, soiled, disgraced. Raise it hi...

Visitation Mariotto Albertinelli 1503 - Oil on wood, 232 x 146 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence Today is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which recalls Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth. This event is also the second joyful mystery of the rosary -- the first being the Annunciation. Elizabeth had been barren all her life, but in the Annunciation, Mary learned that her kinswoman was miraculously expecting a child in her old age. Upon hearing this good news, Mary fervently desired to share in Elizabeth's joy and serve her during the last part of her pregnancy. So she went "with haste" to visit Elizabeth and remained with her for three months. Mary's first action after God had come to dwell in her was one of self-denying charity. She undertook a troublesome journey in order to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Thus, she proclaimed charity to be the virtue which above all Christ brought with Him from heaven. God made Mary's visit ...

“Master, where do you dwell?” “Come and See…” Vocation Retreat with the Brothers of Saint John June 11 – 13, 2010 … The Gospel according to Saint John is the source to which we must always return in order to live by the Paternity of St. John. It is a question of understanding what characterizes the grace proper to Saint John in order to live today by this same mystery for Jesus and for the Church.” From the Charter of Charity Community of Saint John Spaces Limited: Contact Fr. John-Therese, csj (Vocation Director) Congregation of Saint John 11223 Legion Hall Rd. Princeville, Illinois frjtcreus@yahoo.com For more information, see Community of St. John. U.S.A.

Don't be fooled that diversity is a good thing. The word is being used to sneak in an agenda that is targeted at destroying Christian Civilization.

A special report on motherhood by 'Save the Children' analyzes the current situation of mothers worldwide.

In 2012, Ukranian Catholics will celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Lviv archdiocese and now plans are under way for the pope to be a part of that celebration.

Does it ever end?  The Obama Administration has bombed again. Thank God we have Congressmen like Rep. Chris Smith to expose the corruption. LifeNews.Com has the story: New information obtained by a member of Congress makes it appear the Obama administration has spent $10 million potentially illegally promoting a pro-abortion constitution in Kenya. Obama officials were thought to have spent $2 million but Rep. Chris Smith says that figure could exceed $10 million. Lobbying for or against abortion is prohibited under a provision of federal law known as the Siljander Amendment annually included in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The amendment reads, “None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to lobby for or against abortion,” and violations are subject to civil and criminal penalties under the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. § 1341." Smith, the leading Republican on the House Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, and two other members of Con...

Young people from different nationalities who study in Rome will come together to pray for a solution and a stop to sex abuse committed by members of the clergy.

Today is the optional memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury, a Benedictine Monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 598. Augustine was the prior of a monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory the Great chose him to lead a party of forty monks to travel to south-eastern England to spread the Gospel there. They landed in 597, and were welcomed by the king of Kent, Ethelbert, who became a Christian along with many of his subjects. Augustine went to Arles, in France, where he was consecrated archbishop of the English, and then returned to Canterbury to set up his see. The mission prospered, and he founded two more sees, at London and at Rochester in Kent. Augustine died at Canterbury on May 26, 604 or 605. St. Augustine has been called "Apostle of England" because of his missionary efforts. He is the patron of England. Quote: "God, in his promises to hear our prayers, is desirous to bestow Himself upon us; if you find anything bette...

American Life League presents amazing 4D ultrasound imagery featuring preborn babies from eight weeks to thirty-four weeks old. You'll see detailed pictures of babies as they roll, yawn, blink, spin, smile and stretch throughout their 16 stages of development. See www.babystepsdvd.com

  Are you a 'cafeteria' Catholic? If so, you just might find that the cafeteria is scaling back it hours and closing its doors.

American Life League President Judie Brown is mobilizing support both nationally and internationally for Phoenix, Arizona Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted as he is under attack for his adherence to Church teaching. ALL launched a new web site that allows supporters around the world to sign a letter to be sent to Bishop Olmsted. The controversy in Phoenix erupted after Sr. Margaret McBride, an administrator at St. Joseph’s Hospital authorized the killing of a preborn child in the Diocese of Phoenix thereby incurring automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church by virtue of Canon Law 1398. Bishop Olmsted, an expert in canon law, confirmed that Sr. McBride had excommunicated herself by her actions. He has come under fire from pro-abortion proponents and even some Catholics for the move. Text of the letter Brown in encouraging others to sign can be found at www.supportolmsted.com . Your Excellency, We are writing to assure you of our continued support and prayers as you ...

This week, Marie Stopes International , the largest abortion provider in England, launched a British TV ad campaign that encourages pregnant women to call a 24-hour helpline. The campaign uses the slogan "Are you late?" HLI President Reverend Thomas J. Euteneuer today responded to news that Marie Stopes, the largest abortion provider in England and in much of the world, will be allowed to run commercials advertising abortion as a solution for women in crisis pregnancies. "Pro-lifers have been saying this for decades -- these are abortion profiteers," said Rev. Euteneuer. "They literally have no shame. These profit-seeking commercials point out the lie that abortion is a 'choice' or an act of compassion. No, abortion is a grubby business, pure and simple." "Marie Stopes shows us that the abortion industry targets women in their most vulnerable moments and offers them one solution--the killing of a baby," said Rev. E...

Once again the Obama administration (the culture of death) refuses to listen to the American people, but insist on pushing their own radical political agenda. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, and Senator Carl Levin are pushing votes in Congress now to force open homosexuality on the military. They are moving forward before listening to military commanders. In doing so, they are failing to show respect for proper authority and are endangering our troops. These politicians are putting their own political agenda ahead of the well-being of our troops... CNA has the story on the Zogby Poll commissioned by Family Research Council and what they are doing to “help keep our troops from being used to advance a radical political agenda": A recent Zogby poll commissioned by the Family Research Council shows that by a margin of nearly three to one Americans think that military leaders should decide whether or not the “dont ask, don't tell” policy barring homosexuals from...

Today is the memorial of one of my favorite saints. I love them all, but St. Philip Neri has a special place in my heart. He was on fire with love for the Lord and had wonderful way of converting people -- thorough his warm sense of humor and magnetic personality. St. Philip Neri was born in Florence, Italy on July 22, 1515. He was one of four children of the notary Francesco Neri. His mother died when he was very young, but a very capable and competent stepmother filled her place. Although they were related to Italian nobility, the family was quite poor. Philip was a cheerful and friendly boy, and was popular with all who knew him. At eighteen, Philip was sent to the town of San Germano, where he lived with a childless relative who had a business there to train as an apprentice and heir. Philip had a strong aptitude for business. Soon after his arrival, Philip began speaking of his conversion, which dramatically changed his life. He left his relative’s home and set out f...

  Pope Benedict is calling on the laity to transform themselves AND the culture by becoming more involved in all aspects of society, including politics. Personal holiness and evangelization are two key messages of Pope Benedict's pontificate.

The Vatican issued a communique on Tuesday announcing a joint initiative with an international bio-pharmaceutical company to raise awareness and expand research of adult stem cell therapy. Neostem Inc. and the Pontifical Council for Culture will combine the efforts of their respective foundations, the Stem for Life Foundation and STOQ (Science Theology and the Ontological Quest) Foundation, to advance research and explore the use of adult stem cells in regenerative medicine. Fr. Tomasz Trafny from the Council for Culture remarked in a May 19 press release, "Considering the potential implication of scientific investigation, medical applicability and the cultural impact of research on adult stem cells, we view the collaboration with NeoStem as a critical effort." "Through educational initiatives with NeoStem and sponsorship of scientific research programs involving cutting edge adult stem cell science which does not hurt human life, we come one step closer t...

  H/T:  Jill Stanek

It's never too late to be a priest.  A 57-year-old father of five whose marriage had been annulled was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Belleville by Bishop Edward Braxton on May 22. A onetime lay employee of the diocesan education department, Father Dale Maxfield was appointed pastoral life coordinator of a parish. “It was at this time that his marriage began to fall apart and the life he had created as a husband and father,” according to the diocesan newspaper. Read the story.

Help evangelize our culture, revitalize our Catholic identity, and keep a Catholic voice strong in the public square. Please take a moment to check out Patrick Madrid’s Envoy Institute project.

 Who says people aren't interested in religion in film?  According to Kaye Muir of the Times Online: "It is the most intensely passionate film at Cannes so far this year, and the fact that the passion is religious makes it no less moving. The early-morning audience wept yesterday in Of Gods and Men , Xavier Beauvois’s picture of the monks of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria, a beautifully told story of bravery and extraordinary understanding." CNA shares the good news: At the end the prestigious 12-day Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, a film on a group of French monks who were martyred in Africa during the 1990s won the event's second highest honor. “Of Gods and Men,” a film by the French director Xavier Beauvois, centers around the true story of seven Cistercian monks who were taken hostage and murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in 1996. Though the monks were told to return to their native France, the group refused and chose to remain in the conflict...

Today is the optional memorial of St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, a highly gifted mystic, had made a vow of chastity at the age of ten. She entered the convent of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Florence, because the practice of receiving holy Communion almost daily was observed there. For five years her only food was bread and water. She practiced the most austere penances and for long periods endured complete spiritual aridity. Her favorite phrase was: "Suffer, not die!" Her body has remained incorrupt to the present day; it is preserved in a glass coffin in the church of the Carmelite nuns at Florence. Purity of soul and love of Christ are the chief virtues which the Church admires in St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi. These virtues matured her spiritually and enabled her to take as a motto, "Suffer, not die!" Purity and love are also the virtues which the Church today exhorts us to practice in imitation of the saint. We may never a...

 Watch this moving documentary (it's only seven minutes long). Kristin, a Catholic homeschooling mother of 11 children, including a future priest, was deserted by her husband 15 years years ago. In three years, he has not given his family one dollar of child support, and now the family is being evicted from their home. This is the story of her day to day struggle .  H/T: Leticia

 by Jean M. Heimann Over the past year, I have felt that there has been a great awakening in the Church. More people are recognizing the divisions that are present in the Church and have a great desire to heal the wounds within. Michael Vorris  (The Vortex from Real Catholic TV) has been instrumental in pointing out the divisions and the reality of what is destroying the Church in the United States today. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has pointed out that  “The greatest persecution of the Church doesn’t come from the enemies outside, but is born from sin inside the Church.” Before healing can occur, truth (as painful as it may be) is necessary. Truth precedes reconciliation. Once the problem has been defined, then the goals for determining a solution can be defined and implemented. When definition and acknowledgment of the problem has taken place, a plan to restore the bonds of unity can be developed. I believe that both Michael Vorris and our Holy Father have cl...

  Some may criticize the U.S. Bishops as saying too little too late or not being vociferous enough, but I don't think we can lay the blame for this bill's passage on the Bishops. The CHA was openly defiant of the Bishop's stance regarding the passage of Obamacare. I don't know if they ever spoke directly to Sister Keehan of the Catholic Health Association -- who will be forever remembered as the key figure in passing this horrific pro-abortion bill, but I continue to wonder why she has not been removed from her position?  And, yes, the actions of the Catholic Health Association have definitely wounded Catholic unity here in the U.S. Prayer and reparation are needed for their harmful actions. Criticizing the Catholic Health Association for supporting “profoundly flawed” health care legislation , and responding to criticisms-- such as those lodged by Rep. Bart Stupak-- over the US bishops’ opposition to the March law, the United States Conference of Catholic ...

St. Vincent of Lerins (d.c.445) was a monk and writer. Born to a noble family of Gaul (modern France), he was probably the brother of St. Lupus of Troyes. Vincent initially served as a soldier but gave it up to become a monk on the island of Lerins off the southern French coast near Cannes. He was ordained there and in about 434 authored his famous work the Commonitorium. Written under the pseudonym Peregrinus, the Commonitorium offered a guide to orthodox teaching and included his famous maxim, the Vincentian Canon, by which he hoped to be able to differentiate between true and false tradition: quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus credituni est ("what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all"). He believed that the ultimate source of Christian truth was Holy Scripture and that the authority of the Church was to be invoked to guarantee the correct interpretation of Scripture. Source: Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints.

Today is the solemnity of Mary, Help of Christians , which was instituted in was instituted by Pope Pius VII. Prayer to Mary, Help of Christians Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help. If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me? Grant then to me, I implore you, your perpetual help in all my necessities, in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations. I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering. Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners. Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians, that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven. ~ Saint John Bosco , Franciscan Tertiary and modern Apostle of young people (1815-1888)

"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you." ~ St. John 15:26-27.16:12-15 Today is a special day of celebration for me, not only because it is Pentecost , but because it is the anniversary o f my lifetime Oblature with the Community of St. John. Five years ago today, I made my promises to the Lord with the Community, which I am so bl...

"Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle. When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down." ~ St. Josemaria Escriva

Today is the optional memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia, religious. St. Rita was born at Rocca Porena in the Diocese of Spoleto in 1386 to Antonio and Amata Lotti, who were quite advanced in years. Rita’s birth was an answer to their prayers. The family was well-known for their charity, which merited them the surname of "Peacemakers of Jesus Christ". Rita brought much joy to her parents. She was a cheerful, amiable, pious and devout child who spent much of her time in prayer. At the age of twelve, she desired to consecrate herself to God in the religious state. Pious though her parents were, they refused her pleas, but instead gave her away in marriage, at the age of eighteen, to an ill-tempered young man who was the town watchman. The couple had two sons, who inherited their father's temperament. After 18 years of marriage, Rita’s husband was murdered by an old enemy. Her sons swore vengeance on their father’s killers, but through Rita's intercesso...

Pope Benedict XVI met with participants of the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, who are meeting to examine the theme Witnesses to Christ in the political community. The pope took advantage of the gathering to ask the Catholic laity to participate in politics --an indirect way of reminding priests they should stay out of this area.

This is shocking!

"We glorify God in the masterpiece of his power and love…it is the Son whom we honor in the person of his Mother." ~ St. Eugene de Mazenod

  A controversy is brewing over how the RU-486 [abortion] pill is dispensed in Iowa after Planned Parenthood started using technology to allow doctors to hand out the pills using telemedicine. Iowa is the only state in the country where Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is administering RU-486 pills using a remote camera and special pill dispenser to patients at rural clinics....

 Michael Vorris from Real Catholic TV reports on a second deacon's wife. See The Deacon's Wife video for more information. Both videos deal with liturgical abuses.

Today is the Optional Memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs. Like Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. (November 23), Cristobal and his twenty-four companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristobal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. Magallanes and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). All of these martyrs except three were diocesan priests. David, Manuel and Salvador were laymen who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. All of these martyrs belonged to the Cristero movement, pledging their allegiance to Christ and to the church that he established to spread the Good News in society—even if Mexico's leaders had made it a crime to receive baptism or cel...

  At a press conference, Bishop Thomas Olmstead of the diocese of Phoenix presents Fr. Eduardo A. Nevares, a Texas priest appointed by the Holy Father to be the first Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix.

Huntington, NY- Catholic Writers of Long Island , which is poised to become the first local chapter of the Catholic Writers' Guild , will hold a full-day conference at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception , 440 West Neck Road, Huntington, New York, on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 from 9:30-4:30pm , entitled, "The Word Made Flesh: A Day of Encouragement and Enrichment for Catholic Writers." Signed copies of good Catholic books, theater tickets, and other valuable prizes will be raffled off and proceeds will benefit Catholic Relief Services, which is a 501[c]3 organization. All are welcome, including nursing mothers with their babies. The event's keynote speaker, Rick Hinshaw, editor of the Long Island Catholic, will receive the Catholic Writers' Guild's "Lily" award for Meritorious Achievement in Catholic Arts and Letters. Other speakers include: award-winning author and publisher, Josephine Nobisso; author and composer, Alexander J...

St. Bernardine was born in 1380 in Tuscany. His parents died when he was seven years old and he was taken in by relatives who raised him as if he were their own. As a youth, he possessed a strong love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and spoke to her as a child speaks to his mother. She kept him chaste and pure. He had a special devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and later wrote that the Immaculate Heart of Mary was "a fiery furnace of Holy Love." While still a student at the University of Siena, he took charge of the hospital there when an epidemic killed most of the staff. Later he looked after a bedridden aunt until her death. At the age of 22, he became a Franciscan. He was an energetic and popular preacher who spent years travelling on foot throughout Italy preaching to huge audiences. As a priest, he promoted peace among the warring Italian cities, and worked hard for the reform of the Franciscan order and for church unity. He encouraged devotion to ...

  The wife of a deacon recently gave a homily and you should hear what she preached.    INSTRUCTION : Redemptionis Sacramentum

 PTL! Our prayers have been answered on this! Thanks to all those who followed up on this by contacting the USCCB. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has pulled out of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition that lobbies against pro-life and pro-family legislation and boasts top pro-abortion and homosexualist groups among its members. Go here for the story. Previous Post : The USCCB part of coalition that backs Kagan for Supreme Court

For some reason unbeknown to me Blogger isn't publishing reader comments now. I will publish them as soon as Blogger fixes the problem. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for your patience.

American Life League is excited to launch Protest the Pill Day for the third year in a row on Saturday, June 5 ! We are also excited to see the number of groups who are co-sponsoring this year’s event: American Life League, Human Life International, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Pharmacists for Life International, Archdiocese of Mobile Respect Life, Jill Stanek, Pro-Life Unity, Operation Rescue, Generation Life/Brandi Swindell, Life Education Ministry and Movement for a Better America. It’s not too late to be a co-sponsor! To be a co-sponsor simply means that you support the Pill Kills event and that your organization’s name will be included in promotional items. If your group is planning an actual event (prayer gathering, picket, etc.), ALL will help generate awareness of that activity by issuing media releases in your community. We would like you to establish a presence outside of Planned Parenthood, other abortion facilities or local pharmacies on June 5. Please contact us with the infor...

  Here's an important case for us to follow -- This suit raises critical questions of Church-State relations , including whether the Holy See should respond at all if the court should decide to proceed. CWN reports: A lawsuit brought by sex-abuse victims is forcing a US federal court to examine a complex theological issue: the nature and scope of a Roman Pontiff's authority over individual diocesan bishops. In order to include Pope Benedict as a defendant in the case, the plaintiffs must demonstrate that bishops who covered up evidence of sexual abuse-- in this case, the Archbishop of Louisville-- was acting as an agent of the Holy See. William McMurry, the lawyer representing abuse victims, contends that it is evident the bishops work as employees of the Holy See, since the Pope has the power to appoint bishops, establish dioceses, and set universal Church policies. But the nature of authority in the Church, and the collegial exercise of apostolic power, do not fit so...

How can someone who is Catholic -- much less a Catholic sister who is a bride of Christ and has supposedly mastered the Catholic teachings of the faith -- believe such a heresy? This is shocking and very, very disappointing! I blogged about this earlier this week and felt very disgusted by this. As a crisis pregnancy counselor, I had heard that things like this happen in Catholic hospitals, but are rarely made public. I am happy this story is out and that Bishop Olmstead is speaking out against this "Catholic" Hospital's actions and is speaking the truth by telling those who were involved in this abortion that they are ex-communicated. I am also supportive of the bishop for removing her from this position and assigning her other duties. Via CNA/EWTN News: - A religious sister who was on a Catholic hospital panel that approved a direct abortion has excommunicated herself, the Diocese of Phoenix said on Tuesday. According to the diocese, Sr. Margaret McBride told Bish...