Catholic Fire

Due to the upcoming holiday and my dire need for a vacation, blogging will be light for the next few days or so. I will return to put up a few posts, but lest I forget, Have a very Happy 4th!

The Coliseum Rome, Italy From My Personal Photo Collection February, 2006 When the city of Rome had been devastated by fire in the year 64, the Emperor Nero launched a persecution against the Christians, who were soaked in tar and burned as living torches at evening banquets, fed to wild animals in the arena, or crucified. Their deaths are documented in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus and in Pope St Clement’s letter to the Corinthians. 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.” Collect: Father, you sanctified the Church of Rome with the blood of its first martyrs. May we find strength from their courage and rejoice in their triumph. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.   Fr. compares partial - birth abortion to the persecu

This preview is for the powerful new one-hour documentary, "Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All." To learn more about upcoming broadcasts and showings of the film -- and learn how you can get involved -- visit http://www.SheenFilm.org.

American Life League President Judie Brown issued the following statement after Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan confirmed her advocacy of abortion on demand this morning. In responding to questions from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kagan stated that “Roe (v. Wade) and Doe (v. Bolton) require” that any state “regulation” of abortion protect the “health” of women seeking abortion. “Elena Kagan has revealed herself as the pro-abortion activist she is. The ‘health of the mother’ exception has long been code for abortion on demand for any reason under the sun - including financial ‘health.’ “Kagan’s position is clearly opposed by the majority of Americans who self-identify as pro-life. While we are not shocked that an Obama nominee would be anything but rabidly pro-death, we are compelled to demand representation from our elected leaders: this pro-abortion ideologue is not fit to serve on the Supreme Court. “At a time when the Court is already befuddled with the disconnect between

Moments ago, responding to a line of questions from Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Kagan confirmed her belief that "Roe (v. Wade) and Doe (v. Bolton) require" that any state "regulation" of abortion protect the "health" of women seeking abortion. Kagan isolated the Supreme Court's holding in the 2007 case, Gonzales v. Carhart -- which upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 without a "health" exception -- by stating that the Gonzales decision only pertained to a particular abortion procedure. "Elena Kagan, for the benefit of her supporters in the abortion lobby, reaffirmed her support for abortion in the extreme, without limitations or restrictions," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life. "The American people don't support this out-of-the-mainstream position and they don't want a judge who has already pre-judged the issue." Under the Roe / Doe framework, an abortioni

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 e

Kagan Argued Before Supreme Court: its Fine if The Law Bans Books Because Government Won't Really Enforce It

 The family is at the heart of the parish and should be the focus of all ministries as the Church seeks to grow, evangelize and build the kingdom of God.  Realizing that the most basic aspects of the family are being challenged and denigrated, the U.S. bishops have formed the Ad Hoc Committee in Defense of Marriage, headed by Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville (Kentucky). Watch a new 12-minute video that explains why marriage is uniquely between a man and a woman, from the US bishops. The video provides natural and common sense reasons for upholding marriage as a union between one man and one woman, as well as some basic theological conclusions drawn from the Bible. The message is given by a married couple (actors named Josh and Carrie) who exhibit the virtues they speak about. The DVD comes with a study/discussion guide for parish or small group use. It is well worth your time to view the video through the link given above. Learn more at Fathers for Good.

 The rumors that have been circulating over the past several weeks are true. CWN reports: Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed his plan to create a new office of the Roman Curia: the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. Speaking on June 28 at a Vespers service in the basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls, on the vigil of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Pope said that the new council would be devoted to spreading the Gospel message in regions where the faith has suffered from the inroads of secularism and the “eclipse of God.” In a reference to his coming patronal feast, the Holy Father said that he, as successor to St. Peter, had an obligation to continue the apostolic mission that the apostles began, bringing the faith to every part of the earth—including those parts where Christendom once flourished but has now been weakened. The Pope’s plan to create the new dicastery had been reported several weeks ago, but never formally announced. In his Monday-evenin

On June 30, the movie Eclipse based on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels will suck millions of dollars at box offices worldwide from the pockets of young and old alike -- especially teenage girls. When the evil vampiress Victoria seeks revenge for the death of her lover James, romantic rivals Edward Cullen and Jacob Black unite the forces of vampire and werewolf to defeat her, and to protect Bella. It's a wholesome love story, right? Wrong! warns occult researcher and bestselling author of 24 books Steve Wohlberg in The Trouble with Twilight: Why Today's Vampire Craze is Hazardous to Your Health (Destiny Image, July 2010). "Twilight has positive features," notes Wohlberg, "but it is laced with occultism, contains mixed moral messages, and is now fueling the dangerous practice of sipping real blood among teens and adults." Major media have reported on this bizarre phenomenon: ABC News: Coming Out of the Coffin: Vampires Among Us Th

Leticia writes: Today my daughter and I faced religious discrimination beacause of our Catholic faith in a Northestern Connecticut community hospital. She was denied access to a summer  internship because of our religious objections to a vaccine. Read the rest of the story.

 Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, in Asia Minor (now Izmir in Turkey) and emigrated to Lyons, in France, where he eventually became the bishop. It is not known for certain whether he was martyred or died a natural death. Whenever we take up a Bible we touch Irenaeus’s work, for he played a decisive role in fixing the canon of the New Testament. It is easy for us, now, to think of Scripture – and the New Testament in particular – as the basis of the Church, and harder to remember that it was the Church that had to decide, early on, what was scriptural and what was not. Before Irenaeus, there was vague general agreement on what scripture was, but a system based on this kind of common consent was too weak. As people meditated on the intolerable event of the Redemption, dissensions and heresies inevitably arose, and reference to scripture was the obvious way of trying to settle what the truth really was. But in the absence of an agreed canon of scripture it was all to easy to attack one’

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary -- this post is for you Bill:

You can read his biography here. A Few of My Favorite Quotes: "You go to pray; to become a bonfire, a living flame, giving light and heat." "The world thrives on lies even twenty centuries after the Truth came among men.—We have to tell the truth! This is precisely what we have to do as children of God. When men get used to proclaiming and hearing the truth, there will be more understanding in this world of ours." "We are children of God, bearers of the only flame that can light up the paths of the earth for souls, of the only brightness which can never be darkened, dimmed or overshadowed. The Lord uses us as torches, to make that light shine out. Much depends on us; if we respond many people will remain in darkness no longer, but will walk instead along paths that lead to eternal life." "No Christian married couple can want to block the well-springs of life. For their love is based on the love of Christ, which entails dedication an

 The cinema has used the image of a Catholic priest on numerous occasions throughout history. Now a photographic exhibit brings together priests in Italian cinema, from the years of silent movies to the present.

 This is powerful!

Today's saint is William of Vercelli also known as William of Monte Vergine. Saint William was born in Vercelli, Italy in 1085. He lost his father and mother in his infancy and was raised by a relative. At age fifteen, he made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. When he returned, he became a hermit in Naples and lived there in an uninhabited mountain. After a miracle was obtained by his prayers, he was discovered and his contemplation interrupted, so he decided to move to another mountain, where he built a beautiful church in honor of Our Lady. His holiness attracted many followers and, in 1119, he established the Congregation of Monte Vergine, or Mount of the Virgin. These sons of Our Lady lived in great poverty. Saint William founded several more monasteries, both for men and women, in various places in the kingdom of Naples. He assisted the king of Naples in practicing all the Christian virtues of a worthy sovereign, and in gratitude, the king had a house of the

CNA/EWTN news reports: After Bishop Thomas Olmsted publicly condemned an abortion authorized by Sr. Margaret McBride in a Catholic hospital in Arizona, and after much public outcry, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine has released a statement supporting the Phoenix bishop's decision.  A June 23 statement from the USCCB Committee on Doctrine addresses the Arizona controversy , and calls upon the teachings of the Holy Fathers to explain the issue at hand. “The Distinction between Direct Abortion and Legitimate Medical Procedures” clarifies Church teaching, and applies it succinctly to the Arizona case. Read the entire story.

CWN reports that Pope Benedict XVI visited a Dominican monastery in Rome today, joined the nuns for the Liturgy of the Hours, and spoke about the importance of prayer of cloistered religious in the life of the Church. The Pope told the nuns that their vocation to contemplative life is a “sublime and gratuitous gift” which makes them “living and vital members in the heart of the Lord’s Mystical Body which is the Church.” He paid tribute to the women who have "chosen to live in obscurity" in pursuit of a higher good: union with Christ. More Information: Prayer Brings Graces of Sanctification to the Church (VIS) Our "Sweet Christ on Earth" Visits our Dominican Monastery of Monte Mario, Roma!

"Never call your wife merely by her name. Call her with terms of endearment, with honor, and with much love...Always begin by telling her how much you love her...tell her that you love her more than your own life." ~ St. John Chrysostom (Homily XX on Ephesians)

The Birth of John the Baptist 1540's The Hermitage, St. Petersburg Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John....” But John would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: “[Y]et the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28). John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His Baptism, he said, was for repentance. But One would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is not worthy even to carry his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insisted, “Al

 I blogged about this problem a few days ago , but here's an update from the latest STOPP bulletin: A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) showed that Planned Parenthood Federation of America spent $657.1 million between 2002-2008 from federal grants and programs, but PP’s own annual reports show that it took in $2 billion from government grants and programs during the same time period. Where is the remaining 1.3 billion dollars? There is nothing in the report that will explain why, according to a 2001 GAO report, PPFA spent $162 million in federal dollars -- 79% of its government income; yet for the years 2002-2008 it spent a total of 657.1 million government dollars -- only 32% of its government income. American Life League broke the story on Planned Parenthood’s missing millions with Rita Diller’s June 18 editorial in The Washington Times. As Rita explains, the report was released in response to a request from 31 U.S. senators and representat

 When it comes to being a bishop, the bishop of Rome is telling the other bishops to get in line and do it now.

 Basing his catechesis for a third and final time on the legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict highlighted Aquinas’ “masterpiece,” the “Summa Theologica.” He referred to the saint's devotion to the Eucharist, making the call for all people to "fall in love" with the Blessed Sacrament. Referring to the "masterpiece" of the “Summa Theologica,” Benedict XVI noted the saint’s “serene confidence in the harmony of faith and reason, and in the ability of reason, enlightened by faith, to come to an understanding of God and his saving plan.” Through the work, said the Pope, the saint “illustrates the working of divine grace, which perfects our natural gifts and enables us, through the practice of the virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to attain the eternal happiness for which we were created.” Read the full story at CNA.

 I think it's about time the USCCB stepped up to the plate regarding CHA -- which supports abortion, and as such, can no longer be considered a Catholic organization.  The Catholic Health Association (CHA) has issued a statement reaffirming its support for the health-care reform legislation that was opposed by the US bishops’ conference. Just days after Cardinal Francis George, the president of the US bishops’ conference, reportedly laid heavy blame on the CHA for the passage of the bill, the CHA approved a statement applauding the Obama reform. Without mentioning the concerns expressed by the bishops and by pro-life groups that the legislation will expand public support for abortion, the CHA said: Once fully enacted, we are confident that the Affordable Care Act will provide access to more affordable insurance products and a greater sense of security for over 32 million people in this country that current lack these protections. ~ Via CWN.

I am writing to tell you the dramatic story of a single mom who fought abortion facility workers in order to save the life of her baby and to request your help. On the morning of May 22, Precious was brought to the “Aid- For-Women” Abortion Facility in Kansas City, Kansas by her older sister, and was scheduled to be the first abortion-client.  However, when her older sister came out to smoke, she saw the large photo of an 8-week old baby that a Kansas Coalition for Life volunteer was holding, and the 10-week-old aborted baby photograph on the Truth-truck. These photos emotionally stirred the older sister, and she sent a text message to Precious about the graphic photos. This caused Precious to have second thoughts about having her abortion. Precious was 7½ weeks pregnant at the time. Mark Gietzen, president of KCFL, and a volunteer sidewalk counselor, spoke to the older sister, offering her financial help, even though the pro-life organization did not and still does not have muc

H/T: Michelle

He was born on January 15, 1811 at Castelnuovo d'Asti, now Castelnuovo Don Bosco, in the Province of Piedmont about twenty miles from Turin. Joseph Cafasso was the third child of a family of four. His parents, who were known for their charity to the poor, were small farmers who had to supplement their scanty income by working on neighboring farms. Joseph was a saint from his infancy; his sanctity was the result of victories gained over himself and it increased with his years. Although he was born with a deformed spine, he did not allow this defect to influence his need to do penance. Even in his childhood he had certain days set apart for mortification, and he fasted every Saturday in honor of Our Blessed Lady. He also attended daily Mass, at which he often served. He was gifted with a keen intellect and a good memory, and was first in his class at school. He was ordained a priest in 1833 at the age of twenty-two. After Ordination, he was selected to be an assistant professor

The seminarians at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia have a little fun with the various styles of the sign of peace. This video depicts a parody of the sign of peace used at Mass. However, as with most parodies, this also brings out and exaggerates the reactions of some in day to day liturgies. H/T: Creative Minority Report

Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, has called for a canonical reprimand against U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Biden, a Catholic, recently travelled to Kenya to lobby for the country's proposed constitution, which has been strenuously opposed by pro-life groups due to its pro-abortion language. Biden told a crowd earlier this month that the Kenya government should adopt the new constitution in order "to allow money to flow" to Kenya from other countries. When asked about the lobbying of U.S. pro-life groups against the document, Biden told religious leaders that the Obama administration did not share the position of such groups, and  said that their activities are "one of the drawbacks of democracy." Bishop Gracida wrote on his blog Saturday that Biden "has crossed the line as a Catholic" by supporting the document. "Now he has taken a stand on Kenya’s proposed new constitut

 This is just beautiful!   ~Via Catholiques1   A translation into English is: Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffering, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood: May it be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death. Oh sweet , Oh merciful , Oh Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen. - Ave verum corpus is a short Eucharistic hymn that has been set to music by various composers. It dates from the early 14th century and has been attributed to Pope Innocent IV. During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The hymn's title means "Hail, true body", and is based on a poem deriving from a 14th-century manuscript from the Abbey of Reichenau, Lake Constance.[citation needed] The poem is a meditation on the Catholic belief in Jesus's Real D

  Lucifer heads one Army while the Mother of God stands at the head of the other. You must choose, now!

On the Feast Day of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, whose courage in the face of apostasy and government corruption should be a model for American Catholics, Catholic Families for America announced its endorsements in more than 30 U.S. House and 12 U.S. Senate races. Endorsed candidates had to fulfill a strict set of guidelines that cover every major public policy issue facing the United States today. "For all people of faith, not just Roman Catholics, we recognize that our republic is at a crossroads," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, executive director of the group. "We can continue the politics of self-promotion, high taxation, and the insidious undermining of the culture of life, or we can get back on the road to virtuous, limited government." Roberts also commented that his organization is purposefully targeting Catholic members of Congress who voted for pro-abortion Obamacare. He said, "Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, who the Church honors tod

 Once again, Catholic in Name Only Joe Biden is making a mockery of the Catholic faith and scandalizing the world by his public actions not only endorsing, but also pushing, the murder of pre-born children both in this country and in Kenya. What the world sees is not only scandalous, but sacrilegious, as well.   The push for ratification of the new Kenyan constitution is exposing, once again, the pro-abortion scandal perpetrated by “Catholic” Vice President Joe Biden. B iden promised Kenyan officials he would work to “allow money to flow” if the struggling African nation passed the new pro-abortion constitution. Judie Brown, president of American Life League, the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life organization is calling on Biden’s bishops in both Washington, D.C., and his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, to deny him Holy Communion until he renounces the measure. “As Catholics, each and every one of us is bound to protect and defend the sanctity of every human be

Rita Diller from the Washington Times writes: A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on federal tax money funneled into Planned Parenthood and similar organizations raises more questions than it answers about the nation's largest abortion chain. Planned Parenthood Federation of America's (PPFA) audits show the organization spent just $657.1 million between 2002 and 2008 from federal government grants and programs, but the abortion behemoth's own annual reports show that it took in $2.3 billion from government grants and programs during the same time period. That's not pocket change. Why the discrepancy? The report (the first of its kind since 2002) was released in response to a request from 31 U.S. senators and representatives and in an atmosphere increasingly hostile to abortion. Not surprisingly. then, its findings are fueling an escalating outcry to defund Planned Parenthood. Since 2009, at least five nationwide polls have confirm

A new musical production in Rome compresses the life story of Pope John Paul II into a 2-hour show, including 18 songs. The musical, Non Abbiate Paura (Do Not Be Afraid) was written by two Italian priests. Reviews have been mixed. You can view a video of the play here. More Information: NCReg. --Pope John Paul II the Musical  Pope John Paul II -- The Musical, in Rome Source

  Thomas More - saint, knight, Lord Chancellor of England, author and martyr, born in London February 7, 1477 - 78; executed at Tower Hill, July 6, 1535. "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.

According to the 2010 Southern Maine Pride website , Home Depot signed on as a major sponsor of its 2010 Gay Pride events. But simply financing and marching in the parade wasn't enough for the big box chain. Home Depot also signed on as a "festival" vendor, conducting Kid's Craft Workshops for children in the midst of loud and boisterous gay activities. To this end, Home Depot is basically encouraging the attendance of children at events which openly expose them to transvestites, cross-dressers, and homosexual activists. Unfortunately, Home Depot's participation in the Southern Maine Pride Festival doesn't stand alone. It has also sponsored and participated in the 2010 Boston Gay Pride parade. Gay pride events have a long track record for offensive public displays of homosexual conduct. Obviously, Home Depot is OK with the idea of exposing children to an unhealthy and risky environment. So much so, it is willing to also celebrate it by part

 This is one scary pill and I hope and pray that no one will take this dangerous death drug. In spite of what the FDA has said, it is not safe for mother or child. On June 17th, an advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a recommendation that the FDA should approve EllaOne (Ulipristal), a new drug closely related to Mifiprex (Mifepristone, the RU-486 abortion pill). Like Mifiprex, EllaOne has the potential to cause the death and abortion of an established pregnancy growing in the womb. Care Net, a national network of more than 1,100 pregnancy resource centers, strongly recommends that EllaOne not be granted FDA approval. Its ability to destroy established pregnancies, as well as prevent implantation, makes it an embryocidal drug. FDA approval without making this clear to the public would violate the public trust.   HRA Pharma, the company that manufactures EllaOne, claims that it is not an abortion pill. Care Net joins other life-affirming organiza

Surgical abortion may increase the likelihood of certain autoimmune diseases,  according to a new report by Dr. Ralph P. Miech of Brown University. Fetal microchimerism - the transfer of fetal cells into the bloodstream of the mother, whence they may be grafted on to bone marrow or other tissues - is the key link between abortion and autoimmune disease, says Miech. The researcher pointed out that as the placenta is destroyed during a surgical abortion, there is an increased "fetal-to-maternal transfer of fetal ... cells." These fetal cells may persist in the mother’s body for decades. Read the entire article.