Catholic Fire

  Today is the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, was born in 1491 in the Basque Country of Northern Spain to parents of distinguished families in that area. He was the youngest of 13 children and was called was called Iñigo. At the age of 15, he served as a page in the court of a local nobleman and later embraced a military career and became a valiant soldier. Wounded in battle by a cannonball , which broke one leg and injured the other, he was taken prisoner by the French, who set his leg and eventually allowed him to go home to Loyola. He spent his time recuperating at the home of his brother. Confined to his sick bed , he was given pious books to read, which he grudgingly accepted. To his surprise, he enjoyed them and began to dream of becoming a "knight for Christ", pursuing the ideals of St. Francis and St. Dominic. He eventually promised to devote his life to being a knight for S...

 This documentary tells the story of "Cuba's forgotten hero", Dr. Oscar Biscet.

Today is the optional memorial of St. Peter of Chrysologus , "the man of golden speech", who earned the title of Doctor of the Church for his eloquent sermons. Born at Imola, Italy in 406, St. Peter was baptized, educated, and ordained a deacon by Cornelius, Bishop of Imola. Made Archbishop of Ravenna by miraculous intervention of St. Peter in 433, he rooted out all remaining traces of paganism, as well as a number of abuses among the Christians. In his sermons he strongly urged frequent Communion, saying, “the Body of the Lord should be the daily food of our souls.” He practiced many corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and ruled his flock with diligence and care. He died about the year 450 in his native city of Imola. My Favorite Quotes from St. Peter Chrysologus "He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily su...

The movie "There be Dragons" is about to debut in movie theaters around the world. With the release of the trailer, everything is ready for its debut in the spring of 2011. I can't wait to see this! TRAILER:

 In the face of scandals like the homosexual agenda at a Manhattan parish, what's a faithful Catholic to do?

Washington D.C., Jul 29, 2010 / 05:16 am ( CNA/EWTN News ) .- Responding to a new report that the 2010 health care law lacks restrictions that prohibit states from using federal funding to pay for abortions in the new high risk insurance pools, 13 Republican senators have written to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to urge regulatory action. “We request your immediate assistance to ensure that federal dollars will not be used to pay for elective abortions,” the Senators’ July 28 letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius read. They asked Sebelius to identify specific actions to be taken and to set a timeline for them by July 30. Read the entire story here. I wish this story would have mentioned the names of the thirteen Republican Senators. We need to know who to thank and who to vote for in the upcoming elections. I'm glad someone has the courage to take action on this.

  NEW YORK, July 29 (C-FAM)  A United Nations (UN) treaty committee notorious for its promotion of abortion and ideological positions not supported by UN treaties, concludes its session this week after launching attacks on motherhood and traditional gender roles, while calling for an ever-expanded array of new sexual and reproductive “rights.”  The session was especially notable for the statement by the Russian Federation, which reported that decreasing abortion rates were helping to decrease the overall maternal mortality rates in that country.      The committee, which monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), is composed of 23 “independent” experts and is reviewing eight nations during their 46th session. Read the entire story.

 The Archdiocese of New York's answer to the gay goings-on at St. Francis Xavier parish stretches belief.

Today is the memorial of St. Martha, Virgin. Mary and Martha lived with their brother Lazarus at Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem. They are mentioned in several episodes in the Gospels. On one occasion, when Jesus and His disciples were their guests (Luke 10:38-42), Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Him while her sister Martha busied herself with preparing food and waiting on the guests, and when Martha complained, Jesus said that Mary had chosen the better part. When Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died, Jesus came to Bethany. Martha, upon being told that He was approaching, went out to meet Him, while Mary sat still in the house until He sent for her. It was to Martha that Jesus said: "I am the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:1-44) Again, about a week before the crucifixion, as Jesus reclined at table, Mary poured a flask of expensive perfume over Jesus' feet. Mary was criticized for wasting what might have be...

On Monday, August 2, HBO will air the documentary 12th and Delaware about an abortion clinic and pregnancy care center located directly across the street from each other in Fort Pierce, Florida: For details, see HBO.com. H/T: Reflections of a Paralytic

Tourists and Romans clad in scanty summer clothing were being told to cover up before entering the Vatican City on Tuesday. Long-standing rules on modest dress, previously applicable only to those visiting St Peter's Basilica, appear to have been extended throughout the tiny walled state. Swiss Guard officers manning the official customs point between Rome and the Vatican City began pulling aside members of the public dressed in 'inappropriate' clothing early in the morning. Men in shorts and women with exposed knees or uncovered shoulders were all stopped by the officers, who asked them if they knew "how things worked here". Bewildered locals, accustomed to treating the Vatican much like any other part of Rome, initially assumed a new bureaucratic procedure was in force. Prescriptions, letters and shopping permits were hastily produced as evidence of plans to use the Vatican's pharmacy, post office and shop. Only to be told t...

Joseph Schmidt died in Rome July 28, 2010. This is his last interview.

The U.S. Senate Democrat majority failed to push through a federal bill that would “gag ” the free flow of candidate information, S.3628.  Passage was opposed by Kansans for Life and National Right to Life. Pushed through without hearings, and almost certainly unconstitutional, this misnamed “DISCLOSE” bill was NOT a public citizen-serving election reform , but a roundly criticized vehicle to favor certain establishment interest groups and shut down real information voters needed . Read the entire story here.

 Mary Ann Mark, a 2010 Harvard graduate, is joining the order featured recently on Oprah -- the Dominicans from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She's a charming, poised, very happy young woman -- and she clearly has a deep and prayerful sense of religious life, and her own calling. H/T:  Deacon Greg

“Being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.” ~ Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island, in a letter to Congressman Patrick Kennedy

Thank God for the Internet! Thank God for the faithful laity!

Today's saint of the day is St. Victor, Pope. Victor, an African by birth, governed the Church in the time of the Emperor Severus. He confirmed the decree of Pius I, which ordered Easter to be celebrated on a Sunday. Later on, Councils were held in many places in order to bring this rule into practice, and finally the first Council of Nicea commanded that the feast of Easter should be always kept after the fourteenth day of the moon, lest the Christians should seem to imitate the Jews. Victor ordained that, in case of necessity, baptism could be given with any water, provided it was natural. He expelled from the Church the Byzantine, Theodosius the currier, who taught that Christ was only man. He wrote on the question of Easter, and some other small works. In two ordinations which he held in the month of December, he made four priests, seven deacons, and twelve bishops for different places. He was crowned with martyrdom, and buried in the Vatican on the fifth of the ...

 I received this invitation via email today and can't tell you how much I would love to attend this. But without the financial resources now, it is not possible, so I'm sharing it with all of you, in the event that you would like to attend. I would like to cordially invite you to the 5 th World Prayer Congress for Life which will take place in Rome, Italy from October 5 – 10, 2010. What is the best way to respond to the constant threat of the culture of death?   In “Evangelium Vitae”, Pope John Paul II writes: " a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world ."  This congress responds concretely by offering the tools needed for this battle. A range of spiritual leaders will teach and lead us in the most effective ways of waging this battle to defend the sanctity of human life and love. World Prayer Congress for Life in the heart of Catholicism, the “Eternal City”, ROME, Italy from October 5 – 10, 2010. Our congress feat...

I blogged about this in an earlier post: Why is an abortionist working at a Catholic hospital?   Now pro-life leaders are taking action. LifeGuard will hold a press conference on Thursday, July 29, to divulge the details of the ongoing relationship between Catholic hospital Mercy Regional Medical Center and abortion provider Grossman. "A Catholic Hospital that grants full privileges to a Doctor who brutally murders babies every week is NOT a Catholic Hospital," stated Joe Scheidler, National Director of the Pro-Life Action League. "Mercy Regional can no longer ignore this issue. We hope to send a clear message -- we want Dr. Grossman out of there." Speakers will include Joe Scheidler, National Director of the Pro-Life Action League, Father Fessio, founder of Ignatius Press, Walter Hoye, Founder of the California Civil Rights Foundation, Gualberto Garcia-Jones of Personhood Colorado, and Dan Anguis, LifeGuard Director. These national leaders will...

Wichita, KS - The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has filed an 11-count petition recommending that abortionist Ann Kristin Neuhaus be disciplined for negligence and violations of the Healing Arts Act for late-term abortion referrals she made to George Tiller in 2003. The petition was based on a complaint first filed by Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger in October, 2006, and amended in February, 2007. Sullenger was notified of the petition in a letter from the KSBHA dated July 21, 2010. The letter indicated that the petition had been filed on April 16 of this year and that an evidentiary hearing will soon be scheduled. Neuhaus could face revocation of her medical license. Sullenger discovered that Tiller used only Neuhaus as the legally-mandated second referring physician for all his post-viability abortions, an arrangement that created a symbiotic financial relationship that appeared to violate the law that prohibited legal or financial affil...

St. Pantaleon was born in Nicomedia, near the Black Sea in Asia. He was the son of a rich pagan, Eustorgius of Nicomedia, and a Christian mother, Saint Eubula, who instructed him in the faith, but died while he was still a child. Pantaleon studied medicine with such great success that he was appointed as one of the court physicians to the Emperor Galerius Maximianus. The bad influence of the pagan court caused him to fall away from his Faith. A holy and zealous priest named Hermolaos helped him realize the error of his sinful ways by pointing out the example of his virtuous mother. Pantaleon returned to the Faith once more and imitated Our Lord's charity by distributing his goods among the poor and caring for the poor and the sick without charge. When the Emperor Diocletian began his persecution, Pantaleon was accused of being a Christian. He was given the choice of denying his faith or being put to death, but no torture could force Pantaleon to deny his Fait...

One small little invention has totally altered the social and cultural fabric. It was THE BOMB that destroyed the West. Michael Voris discusses how contraception has turned our country into a killing field:

Take a look at the three video clips below and then select your two favorites. Toy Story 3 -- Rated G Karate Kid (2010) - Rated PG Predators -- Rated R Now that was pretty easy, wasn't it? So why is Hollywood puzzled as family films top the charts?  They just don't get it, do they?

Benedictine nuns at a French abbey that traces its heritage back to the 6th century have won a recording contract with Decca Records. The sisters of Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation, outside Avignon, will record Gregorian chant for Decca. Their album Voice: Chant from Avignon , is scheduled for release in November 2010. “We never sought this, it came looking for us,” says the abbess. Related: Major record deal for reclusive Benedictine nuns (BBC) ~ Via Catholic Culture News.

It takes almost nothing to begin to drift away from the faith. Michael Voris does an excellent job of explaining this.

A documentary on the life of Archbishop Fulton Sheen is being shown in pre-release screenings across the country, as part of an effort to raise awareness of the late archbishop, whose cause for sainthood is currently underway. The hour-long documentary, entitled, “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All,” offers both entertainment and a powerful message of evangelization as it follows the life of the famous archbishop (1895-1979). The video includes the testimonies of dozens of individuals who were touched by the life of the archbishop. It also shows footage from his popular television program, “Life is Worth Living". Read the entire article. “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All” will be released on DVD to the general public during the 2010 holiday season.

 A beautiful pro-life video embracing adoption, thanking birth mothers for choosing life:

Today is the memorial of St. Joachim (whose name means Yahweh prepares ) and St. Anne (whose name in Hebrew means grace ), the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Tradition has it they first lived in Galilee and later settled in Jerusalem where the Blessed Virgin Mary was born and raised. Joachim and Anne were a rich and pious couple who had been married for a long time, but found themselves childless. The couple prayed fervently for a child and promised to dedicate their first born to the service of God. An angel appeared to Anne and told her, "The Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by all the world". Joachim also received the same message from the angel. Anne gave birth to a daughter whom she called Miriam (Mary), who was conceived without sin. As a child, Mary was taken to the temple and her parents suffered great sorrow but at the same time joy for fu...

Benedict XVI is preparing the third volume of his work on Jesus. He's writing it at Castel Gandolfo, where he enjoys his summer vacation.

Today is the optional memorial of Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhloof, priest. Saint Sharbel was born in 1828 in the small mountain village of Beqa-Kafra, Lebanon. His peasant family lived a strong faith, were attentive to the Divine Liturgy, and had a great devotion to the Mother of God. At the age of twenty-three, he left his family to enter the Lebanese-Maronite Monastery called Notre-Dame de Mayfouk. Following studies and perpetual profession at St. Cyprian de Kfifane Monastery, he was ordained in 1859. For the next seven years, Sharbel lived in the mountainous community of Anaya. He then spent the next twenty-three years of his life in complete solitude at Sts. Peter and Paul Hermitage near Anaya. He died there on Christmas Eve, 1898. Sharbel had a reputation for his austerity, penances, obedience, and chastity. At times, Sharbel was gifted with levitations during prayer, and he had great devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament. He celebrated Mass close to noon so as to devot...

St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow, Third Order Franciscan (1303 – 1373 ) Bridget was born in Finista in Sweden. From childhood, the Lord granted her special graces, visions and an extraordinary understanding of divine mysteries. At age seven, she had a vision of the crucified Jesus in all the suffering and sorrow of his Passion, which enkindled within her a deep devotion for our Savior. The daughter of a provincial governor and judge, at age 13, Bridget married Ulf Gudmarsson, a prince, who was then eighteen; they lived happily together for twenty-eight years and had eight children, among them St. Catherine of Sweden . Bridget convinced her husband, by her own example, to live a life of piety and to strive for holiness. At age 32, Bridget became the lady in waiting to Queen Blanche of Namur and King Magnus II of Sweden. She was known for her charitable acts, especially caring for the sick, but the royalty appeared more content to admire her piety rather than to follow h...

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma city has concluded the diocesan phase of the canonization cause of Father Stanley Rother (1935-81), a missionary slain in Guatemala. Father Rother translated the Bible into the Tzutuhil language and built a hospital. “When the Servant of God, Father Stanley Rother, was brutally attacked, beaten, and shot dead, the natives of Santiago Atitlan and the Catholic people of Oklahoma were shocked and saddened,” Archbishop Eusebius Beltran preached in a July 20 homily. “But immediately the Tzutihil people enshrined his heart in the parish church because they believed Father Rother was a holy man. They believed he was a saint with God who would now be their intercessor … From that time on, people began to pray and popular devotion arose. In Okarche, Holy Trinity Church and cemetery have become pilgrim stops for people from Oklahoma and beyond.” Sources: Closing Mass, Cause for Canonization (Archdiocese of Oklahoma City) Cause for Beatification of F...

The Friends of Jesus is the title of a new book for children by Benedict XVI in which he recounts the story of the twelve Apostles and St. Paul. The book, forty-eight pages long and illustrated by the Italian artist Franco Vignazia, has been published by the publishing house "Piccola Casa Editrice". It brings together a number of passages from the Pope's catecheses in his Wednesday general audiences, according to the "Osservatore Romano" newspaper. The prologue is by the Spanish priest Fr. Julian Carron, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation. "One upon a time there was a small group of men who, one day two thousand years ago, met a young man who walked the roads of Galilee. Each had his own job and family but, in an instant, their lives changed. They were called Andrew and John, Peter, Matthew, Thomas, etc. They were twelve and we know them today as the 'Apostles'. ... In Jerusalem at that time everyone knew that they were J...

 July 21 - Throughout the state yesterday, voters supported an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution that said the "right to life is vested in each human being from their earliest biological beginning until natural death" and that right should be protected by law. In all 46 counties where the amendment was presented, it passed overwhelmingly by an amazing 75 % ! Georgia is the first state in the nation where voters have said "Yes" to the Personhood question. Georgia Right to life chapters began work this spring in requesting that their local county parties place this non-binding "party" question on their local party ballots. Both Democrat and Republican parties were approached. Butts county was the only county to succeed in getting both parties to cooperate and approve the measure (Republicans 79% and the Democrats 72%). "There is no question that the people of Georgia would pass a Personhood Amendment" IF given the chance!", says...

 I loved "Toy Story 3"! It's my favorite film this summer and probably my favorite Pixar production. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

Today is the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene.  The feast of St. Mary Magdalene is considered one of the most mystical of feasts, and it is said that of all the songs of the saints, that of Mary Magdalene is the sweetest and strongest because her love was so great. That love was praised by Jesus Himself who said that because much was forgiven her, she loved much. Where she is buried, no one knows. Legend has her dying in Provence, France, in a cavern where she spent her last days, and her body resting in the chapel of St. Maximin in the Maritime Alps. Another has her buried in Ephesus where she went with St. John after the Resurrection. This latter view is more likely, and St. Willibald, the English pilgrim to the Holy Land in the eighth century, was shown her tomb there. She was the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus, His most devoted and loving follower. She had stood with Mary at the foot of the Cross on that brutal Good Friday afternoon and had been by the side o...

The Archdiocese of Baltimore on July 20 included the diocesan phase of the canonization cause of Father Patrick Peyton (1909-1992), the “Rosary priest” famous for the adage, “The family that prays together stays together.” In compiling the 16,000-page report, investigators interviewed 80 witnesses, including Dolores Hope and actor Joseph Campanella. Source(s): Archdiocese sends results of Father Peyton inquiry to Vatican (Catholic Review) Patrick Peyton (Wikipedia) Story Source: Photo Source: Da Mihi Animas

NDIANAPOLIS, July 20--The youth-led pro-life group Live Action released a new undercover video today showing staff at an Indianapolis Planned Parenthood clinic using manipulative and medically inaccurate counseling to convince a young woman to have an abortion. This is the third undercover video Live Action has released showing abusive counseling practices at Planned Parenthood of Indiana. When the woman, purportedly 10-weeks pregnant, asks the clinician, named "Sarah," when her baby's heart begins to beat, Sarah replies, "It's around I think the 8th or the 9th week that you can hear the heartbeat." The heart actually begins beating 3 weeks and 1 day after conception, according to Moore and Persaud's well-known textbook  The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology . The Planned Parenthood clinician also insists, "It's not a baby, it's a fetus," which, she claims, is "not like a p...

The director of “The Last Summit,” the documentary about the life of the Spanish priest and mountaineer , Pablo Dominguez, gave an interview to CNA’s sister news agency, ACI Prensa, in which he reflected on the reasons for the success of his movie. He confirmed that negotiations are under way for the film to be screened in Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. For Cotelo, the overwhelming response of the film's numerous viewers –many of whom are reporting how the movie caused them to have a conversion- “owes itself to the magnetism God has on any person.” “If Fr. Pablo’s story is attractive,” the filmmaker said, “it's because the love of his life also is. The protagonist in Fr. Pablo’s story, and of the movie, is God. Among all the famous actors and actresses in the world, there isn’t a protagonist more attractive and attracting than God.” Get the full story.

Today is the optional memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, the first Capuchin Franciscan to be honored as a Doctor.  St. Lawrence was born at Brindisi, in the kingdom of Naples, Italy, on July 22, 1559 and named Caesar de Rossi. He took the name Lawrence when he became a Capuchin Franciscan at the age of 16. While still a deacon, St. Lawrence of Brindisi became known for his powerful preaching and after his ordination startled the whole of northern Italy with his amazing sermons. Because he could speak Hebrew, he worked for the conversion of the Jews living in Rome. In 1596, he became a high-ranking superior in the order, and five years later was sent to Germany with Blessed Benedict of Urbino. They founded several priories throughout Europe. Lawrence also helped to raise an army to combat the Turks in Hungary, where he won a battle against them by leading the troops into battle with only a crucifix to protect himself. In 1602, St. Lawrence became the master ...

Today is the optional memorial of St. Apollinaris , an illustrious second century bishop and a great apologist for his time. Born in Antioch, Turkey, he became the first bishop of Ravenna, in Italy, where he shepherded his flock for twenty-six years. He addressed a defense, of the Christian religion to the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who, shortly before, had obtained a signal victory over the Quadi, a people inhabiting the country now called Moravia. One of his legions, the twelfth, was composed chiefly of Christians. When the army was perishing for want of water, the soldiers of this legion fell upon their knees and invoked the assistance of God. The result was sudden, for a copious rain fell, and, aided by the storm, they conquered the Germans. The emperor gave this legion the name "Thundering Legion" and mitigated his persecution.  It was to protect his flock against persecution that St. Apollinaris, who was bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, addressed his apolog...

Today my Oblate Community -- the Community of St. John -- commemorates St. Elijah. Saint Elijah (9th century B.C.): Scripture presents the Prophet Elijah as a man of God, walking continually in God's presence and fiercely defending the worship of the one true God. He stood up for God's rights in a solemn contest on Mount Carmel. Later on Mount Horeb he was granted an intimate experience of the living God. The hermits who instituted a form of monastic life in honor of Our Lady on Mount Carmel in the twelfth century, followed monastic tradition in turning also to Elijah as their model.  St. Elijah is the patron of the Carmelites.