Catholic Fire

August 31, 2012. (Romereports.com) Each month the Pope calls on Christians to pray for specific intentions. For the month of September, he's focusing on politicians, so “they may always act with honesty, integrity and love of truth.” Benedict XVI's intentions also include missions, so that within Christian communities more missionaries, priests, laity, and resources can be given to the parishes in need.

Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and teacher that is known internationally for her teaching methods that have been adopted by an estimated 20,000 schools worldwide. She is being recognized by 'Google Doodle' on the Google homepage on the 142nd anniversary of her birth. She was the first woman to graduate from Rome's University of La Sapienza with a degree in medicine. She went on to work in pediatrics and in psychiatry, eventually become a leading expert in children's medicine. She also began to work with mentally disabled children and would speak out on the role of society to take care of juvenile delinquency at a time when many children in Italy were not attending school. She eventually created her own school based on her methods that are still used today. They included mixed age classrooms, a hands on learning model, and liberty for children to be able to study what interested them. Montessori died of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1952 at the age of ...

The saint of the day for August 31 is St. Raymond Nonnatus. Raymond was born at Portella, Catalonia, Spain in 1204, the son of wealthy parents. He was delivered by cesarean section when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name non natus (not born). In his childhood, he seemed to find pleasure only in his devotions and serious duties. His father, sensing that Raymond was drawn to religious life, ordered him to manage one of the family farms. Raymond readily obeyed but spent his time with the shepherds and workers, studying and praying until his father abandoned the idea of making his son a worldly success. Raymond later joined the Mercederians , which was founded by St. Peter Nolasco , who devoted to ransoming Christians captured by the Moors. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and went to Algeria to ransom slaves. He remained as hostage for several slaves when his money ran out and was sentenced to be impaled when the governor learned that he had converted several Mohamm...

Amen! What a beautiful prayer!

The saint of the day is St. Jeanne Jugan (1792 – 1879) , also known as Sister Mary of the Cross. During the 19th century, she founded the Little Sisters of the Poor with the goal of imitating Christ's humility through service to elderly people in need. In his homily for her canonization in October 2009, Pope Benedict XVI praised St. Jeanne as "a beacon to guide our societies" toward a renewed love for those in old age. The Pope recalled how she "lived the mystery of love" in a way that remains "ever timely while so many elderly people are suffering from numerous forms of poverty and solitude and are sometimes also abandoned by their families." Born on Oct. 25, 1792 in a port city of the French region of Brittany, Jeanne Jugan grew up during the political and religious upheavals of the French Revolution. Four years after she was born, her father was lost at sea. Her mother struggled to provide for Jeanne and her three siblings, while also provi...

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We celebrated the birthday of St. John the Baptist on June 24; today we honor the anniversary of his martyrdom. Shortly after he had baptized Jesus, John the Baptist began to denounce Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. Herod had divorced his own wife and taken Herodias, the wife of his half- brother Philip and also his own niece. John the Baptist declared, "It is not lawful for you to have her," so Herod threw him into prison. Not only did Herod fear John and his disciples, he also knew him to be a righteous man, so he did not kill him. Herodias was determined to bring about John's death. From prison John followed Jesus's ministry, and sent messengers to question him (Luke 7:19-29). One day Herod gave an eloquent banquet to celebrate his birthday. His entire court was present as well as other powerful and influential Palestinians. Herodias's daughter Salome so pleased Herod when she danced to entertain the company that he promised her whatever she wou...

The fourth annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place August 29-31, 2012, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, TX. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe. The conference will offer “pitch sessions,” allowing authors an opportunity to meet personally with publishing professionals and pitch their writing projects. In addition, attendees have the opportunity to sign up for critique with professional editors and writers. Some participating publishers are Ignatius Press, Ave Maria Press, Christus Publishing, Tuscany Press, Ascension Press and Servant Books. Information for this event can be found on the conference web site. This year's conference w...

Today is the feast of St. Augustine, a Western Father of the Church whose conversion to Christianity is well-known as one of the most important events in the history of the Church. Augustine was born in Tagaste, Africa in 354 to Patrcius, a pagan Roman official, and to Monica, a devout Christian. Monica raised Augustine in the Christian faith, but when he went to study law in Carthage, he turned away from his Christian beliefs and led a life of immorality and hedonism. At age 15, he took a took a mistress who bore him a son, Adoedatus, which means “the gift of God,” and at age 18, he and his friend, Honoratus became members of the Manichaean heretical sect, which accepted the dual principle of good and evil. The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen explained his attraction to the heresy: “The conflict between flesh and spirit in him was resolved by the heresy of Manichæanism because it enabled him to pursue a voluptuous life without ever being held accountable for it. He cou...

Today is the memorial of St. Monica - a saint admire so much for her tenacity, patience, and perseverance in prayer for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine. A persistent prayer warrior, Monica never gave up on her son, Augustine, a great sinner, who later became so strongly drawn to the faith that he was eventually canonized, as one of the Church's greatest teachers and philosophers, and was designated a doctor of the Church. Monica was born in 332 to Christian parents in Tagaste, northern Africa and married at the age 13 or 14 to an older man named Patricius, who was neither wealthy nor Christian. The marriage was indeed a cross for Monica.  Patricius was irritable and unfaithful and her live-in mother-in-law criticized her constantly. Monica sought refuge in God through an intimate prayer life and in caring for her three children: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua.  In answer to her constant prayers, both her mother-in-law and her husband Patricius converted to Ch...

Today, August 25, is the optional memorial of St. Louis IX (1215-1270). Louis IX, King of France, son of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile, was born at Poissy, April 25, 1215. Louis was twelve years old when his father's death made him king.At that time, his mother Queen Blanche of Castile, was declared regent and remained an important influence throughout his life. Louis had tutors who made him a master of Latin, taught him to speak easily in public and write with dignity and grace. But Blanche's primary concern was to implant in him a deep regard and awe for everything related to religion. She used often to say to him as he was growing up, "I love you my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should commit a mortal sin." At nineteen, he married Marguerite of Provence and the couple had eleven children. Louis was a model father and his children received careful instruction from him in the C...

Today we commemorate  St. Joseph Calasanz. St. Joseph is the founder of the Poor Clerks Regular (Piarists), a community devoted to the task of educating youth. At an early age, Joseph loved to care for children; he gathered them together, conducted religion classes in boyish fashion, and taught them how to pray. After a time of severe illness he was ordained a priest. His zeal found expression as he organized the Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools and directed the members in the instruction and rearing of children from poor parents. While residing in Rome, Joseph endeavored to visit the seven principal churches of that city almost every evening, and also to honor the graves of the Roman martyrs. During one of the city's repeated plagues a holy rivalry existed between him and St. Camillus in aiding the sick and in personally carrying away for burial the bodies of those who had been stricken. On account of his heroic patience and fo...

The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew TIEPOLO, Giovanni Battista 1722 Today, August 24, is the feast of St. Bartholomew , apostle and martyr. Saint Bartholomew is one of the Twelve Apostles, mentioned sixth in the three Gospel lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14), and seventh in the list of Acts (1:13). The name (Bartholomaios) means "son of Talmai" which was an ancient Hebrew name. Besides being listed as an Apostle, he is not otherwise mentioned in the New Testament. At least not under the name Bartholomew: many ancient writers, and Catholic tradition have identified Bartholomew as Nathaniel in the Gospel of John (John 1:45-51, and 21:2). The Gospel passage read at Mass on the feast of Saint Bartholomew is precisely this passage from John (1:45-51) where Nathaniel is introduced to Jesus by his friend Phillip, and Jesus says of him "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him (1:47)." We are presented with the Apostle's char...

Mitt Romney gave a very impressive and powerful interview on EWTN tonight. His professional demeanor, his strong compassion for others, his sense of discipline and purpose, and his strong sense of right and wrong clearly came through. I believe he is a man who will fight for religious freedom in this country.

August 23 is the feast of St. Rose of Lima, virgin, the first canonized saint of the New World. Isabella Flores de Oliva was the seventh of eleven children born to Spanish immigrants on the feast of Pentecost 1586 in Lima, Peru. She became known as Rosa when an Indian maid declared her to be as beautiful as a rose. She also took the Confirmation name of Rosa. She was pious from an early age. At age five, she built a small chapel for herself in the family garden. When she made her first confession, she obtained permission from her confessor to make a vow of virginity. Rose had a strong devotion for Jesus and His Holy Mother and spent long hours praying before the Blessed Sacrament. With St. Catherine of Siena as her model, Rose fasted three times a week and offered up severe penances. As a result of her exterior mortification, she had interior mystical experiences as well as long periods of darkness and desolation. For fifteen years, she went through the "dark night of th...

From Sept. 7th (Vigil of the Birth of Mary) to Sept. 15th ( Our Lady of Sorrows ), there will be a 9-Day Novena to End Abortion in Kansas. Catholics throughout the state are asked to Pray, Fast, Pray a Holy Hour, Attend Mass, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary. On regular Rosary beads, meditate on each of Mary’s 7 Sorrows (2 extra decades).   1. Simeon’s Prophecy 2. Flight into Egypt 3. Joseph & Mary’s Search for Jesus 4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary 5. Mary at the Foot of the Cross 6. Jesus placed in His Mother’s Arms 7.  Jesus Placed in the Tomb. Novena Prayer : "Lord God, we forever consecrate our State of Kansas to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.  We ask you to close all abortion clinics immediately and never let abortions occur in our state again.  O Jesus! Hear our petitions. For the sake of the tears of Your Most Holy Mother.  Amen."

Related Posts:  The Queenship of Mary Scott Hahn on the Assumption of Mary

Today, we celebrate a beautiful Marian Feast -- the Queenship of Mary . This special Liturgical Feast was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on October 11, 1954 through his Encyclical Letter Ad Caeli Reginam.  The Catholic Church made this proclamation based upon the fact that whether in time of peace or in time of war, the faithful have incessantly offered prayers of petition and hymns of praise and veneration to the Queen of Heaven. Following the tremendous destruction that occurred during World War II and considering the reality that the threat of a similar catastrophe filled the faithful with a great anguish, the Church turned its eyes towards Mary, the Heavenly Queen, in the hope of her protection. Mary has never failed those who have sought her intercession in prayer, placing their total trust in her. Mary’s queenship has its roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. (Luke 1:32 -33) At the ...

Cardinal Timothy Dolan made the following request today on the website of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York: Prayers for Cardinal George I would like to ask you to please keep Francis Cardinal George, the Archbishop of Chicago, in your prayers in a special way these days.  The Archdiocese of Chicago has announced that Cardinal George has been diagnosed with cancerous cells in his kidney and in a nodule that was removed from his liver.  The Cardinal previously fought bladder cancer 6 years ago. Cardinal George is a hero of mine.  He is an outstanding Archbishop, and has been a great help and inspiration to me as my immediate predecessor as president of the USCCB. I know that the Cardinal will face this latest challenge as he faces all challenges: with great strength and great peace, born of a deep love of God and trust in His divine will.

August 21, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Church of the Gesù in Rome receives hundreds of tourists every day that come to see the tomb of St. Ignatius of Loyola. But few actually know that directly next to the church is the house where the founder of the Jesuits used to live. It was the first house of the Society of Jesus, located near the old Venetian palace used to be the home of the pope at that time. When the Tiber River in Rome flooded in 1598, only four rooms in the house were not ruined. Today, it's hallways are home to the artwork of painter Andrea Pozzo, scenes depict some of the miracles attributed to Saint Ignatius. DIEGO ALONSO-LASHERAS Professor, Pontifical Gregorian University “The four original rooms are conserved where St. Ignatius lived the last 17 years of his life and where he died. There also lived the four successor generals of the order. At that time there was a development of the foundation for the Society of Jesus.” In these simple rooms is where St....

Historically today is the feast of Our Lady of Knock , where Our Lady is said to have appeared in Ireland with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist at the church's south gable on a wet and windswept evening in August and was witnessed by 15 people. On August 21, 1879, Margaret Beirne, a resident of Cnoc Mhuire, was sent by her brother to lock up the church for the evening. When she was ready to leave, she noticed a strange brightness hovering over the church. Margaret had other things on her mind, and didn't tell anyone what she saw. Around the same time, another member of the Beirne family, Mary, was leaving from a visit to the church's housekeeper, and stopped with the housekeeper at the gables, where they could see the church. Mary replied: "Oh look at the statues! Why didn't you tell me the priest got new statues for the chapel?" The housekeeper responded that she knew nothing of the priest getting new statues. So, they both went for a clos...

Today, August 21st, is the memorial of Pope St. Pius X (1835-1914). Guiseppe Sarto was born June 2, 1835, the second of ten children born to a poor family in the village of Riese, Province of Treviso, near Venice. His mother, Margherita Sanson, was a seamstress. His father, Giovanni Sarto, who was a cobbler by trade, as well as the caretaker of the city hall and the town's postmaster, passed away when Gisueppe was 16. Gisueppe entered the seminary at the age of 15 and was ordained at the age of 23. For nine years, he served as chaplain at Tombolo, having to assume most of the functions of parish priest, as the pastor was old and in poor health. He sought to prefect his knowledge of theology by studying Saint Thomas and canon law. He established a night school for adults, and devoted himself to pastoral ministry for 17 years. He became the bishop of Mantua, cardinal patriarch of Venice, and Pope in 1903. As Pope, he took as the motto of his reign "to renew all things i...

Via Matthew Warner at the NCRegister : John Paul the Great Catholic University is offering a FREE online crash course in the Catholic Faith. In the span of just 13 weeks - one session per week - you'll get lessons on: Jesus and Apostolic Succession Natural Philosophy Proof for God's Existence Philosophical Anthropology Creation-Redemption Revelation The Trinity Church - Family of God - Mystical Body of Christ Sacraments - Marriage Eucharist Moral Issues Sins - Confession Prayer Read more Here's an introduction video explaining more:

CWN - August 20, 2012- Cardinal Francis George of Chicago has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with cancer in his kidney and liver. The cardinal’s medical prognosis is uncertain. He is likely to undergo further testing, followed by cancer treatment. This is the 2nd bout with cancer for Cardinal George , who had major surgery in 2006 for bladder cancer. He was pronounced cancer-free after his course of treatment 6 years ago. Cardinal George, who has led the Chicago archdiocese since 1997, submitted his resignation early this year after celebrating his 75th birthday. But there has been no indication that Pope Benedict intended to accept that resignation soon. Let us lift up Cardinal George in our prayers.

Phyllis Diller, one of my favorite comediennes, has died, at the age of 95. Via Fox News: LOS ANGELES –  Phyllis Diller, the housewife turned humorist who aimed some of her sharpest barbs at herself, has died at age 95 in Los Angeles. Her longtime manager, Milton Suchin, says Diller died Monday morning in her sleep. She had survived a near-fatal heart attack in 1999. Diller was a staple of nightclubs and television from the 1950s until her retirement in 2002. She was famous for her distinctive laugh and portrayed herself as a bizarre housewife with a husband named "Fang." She would tell audiences that "I bury a lot of my ironing in the back yard." Diller was nearly 40 when she began performing, with five children and a successful career as an advertising copywriter. At the time, women were a rarity in the world of stand-up comedy. Image Source

August 20, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Pope prayed the Angelus from the balcony of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, by inviting pilgrims to rediscover the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Benedict XVI “Let us rediscover the beauty of the Sacrament of Eucharist, which shows us all the humility and holiness of God, who becomes small.” Benedict XVI went on to explain that the message Jesus conveyed wasn't always welcomed by people. Benedict XVI “It is clear that these words were not well received. Jesus knew this and he says it intentionally.  In fact this is a critical time, a radical change in His public life.” He ended the Angelus, by reminding pilgrims that the power of prayer and the Virgin Mary can bring Christians closer to Jesus.

Today is the memorial of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, abbot and doctor of the Church. Bernard, the founding abbot of Clairvaux Abbey in Burgundy, was one of the most commanding Church leaders in the first half of the twelfth century as well as one of the greatest spiritual masters of all times and the most powerful propagator of the Cistercian reform. Bernard is also known as the second founder of the Cistercians, the Mellifluous Doctor, and the last of the Fathers of the Holy Church. He was born to a noble family at Fontaines, near Dijon, France in 1090, the third of seven children. Bernard left his privileged life near Dijon, France, to join the Cistercians at the age of 22. He was well educated and so passionate about his faith that he convinced 30 of his relatives -- including all of his brothers, his uncle, and later his widowed father -- as well as many friends to join him at the abbey. Bernard first entered the abbey at Citeaux, but only three years later was sent with 12...

Today, August 18, is the feast day of Saint Helena of Constantinople (246-330), mother of Constantine the Great, and finder of the True Cross of Jesus Christ. St. Helena was the daughter of an innkeeper in Bithynia, Asia Minor. She was married to an ambitious Roman general and they had one son, Constantine.  When her husband was named Caesar, he promptly divorced Helena to marry another woman for political gain. Following the death of his father, Constantine became emperor of Rome, and one of his first acts as ruler was to declare his mother empress. Constantine had converted to Christianity, and with his encouragement, Helena also became a Christian.  As empress, Helena spent her days in acts of charity, and built magnificent churches on the holy sites of the faith, frequently tearing down pagan temples that had been built on those sites. She worked tirelessly for the poor, released prisoners, and humbly mingled with ordinary worshipers in modest attire. Through...

View "The Dark Knight Rises": a movie review by Fr. Barron.

 The saint of the day for August 17 is St. Hyacinth, a Dominican missionary, known as the "Apostle of the North" and “the Apostle of Poland.”  Born in Oppeln, Poland, he studied at Krakow, Prague, and Bologna and received the title of Doctor of Law and Divinity. Accompanying his uncle, Bishop Ivo Konski of Krakow, to Rome, he there met Saint Dominic and was among the first to be enrolled in the new Order of Friars Minor. He received the Dominican habit in 1220 from St. Dominic. Hyacinth founded communities in Sandomir, Kracow, and at Plocko on the Vistula in Moravia. He extended his missionary work through Prussia, Pomerania, and Lithuania; then crossing the Baltic Sea he preached in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Russia, reaching the shores of the Black Sea. During an attack on a monastery, Hyacinth managed to save a crucifix and statue of Mary, though the statue weighed far more than he could normally have lifted. He died in Krakow, Poland, on August 15, 1257...

Today's saint of the day is St. Stephen of Hungary, the first Christian king of Hungary . Born a pagan, Stephen was baptized at age 10, along with his father, and was raised as a Christian. In 996, at age 20, he married Gisela, the daughter of Duke Henry II of Bavaria and devoted much of his reign to the promotion of the Christian faith. He gave his patronage to Church leaders, helped build churches, and was a proponent of the rights of the Holy See. Stephen also crushed the pagan counterreaction to Christianity, and converted the so-called Black Hungarians after their failed rebellion. In recognition of his efforts, Stephen was crowned king of Hungary in 1000, receiving the cross and the crown from Pope Sylvester II. His crown and regalia became beloved symbols of the Hungarian nation, and Stephen was venerated as the ideal Christian king. The secret of St. Stephen's amazing success in leading his people to the Christian faith was his deep devotion to the Blessed Vir...

August 15, 2012. (Romereports.com) The honorary title of Righteous Among the Nations is a recognition by the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem for people who are not Jewish yet risked their lives during World War II to help Jews escape Nazi persecution. Over 500 of these cases come from Italy alone. During that time, a type of Underground Railroad developed for Jews in Italy known as 'The Assisi Network'. During the Nazi occupation of Italy and their subsequent man-hunt for Jews, Monsignor Giuseppe Placido Nicolini ordered Father Aldo Brunacci to begin helping the Jewish people by hiding them in monasteries and convents. Many were provided with false papers, claiming they were from southern Italy, in an area that had already been liberated by American forces. This made it difficult for Nazi troops to verify them. The Catholic clergy in the region also enlisted the help of locals in order to print the false documents and aid in their escape. All together, around 300 Jew...

There was a shooting at the Family Research Council headquarters in Washington, D.C., today . See below for details: A security guard at the Family Research Council was shot and wounded Wednesday morning after a scuffle in the lobby of the group’s headquarters in downtown Washington, authorities said. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said the shooter walked into the lobby of the building at about 10:45 and was confronted by the security guard as if the guard were asking him where he was going. The man then took out a gun and opened fire on the guard, Lanier said. The guard and others wrestled the man to the ground, disarmed him and waited for police, she said. The guard was then taken to the hospital and is in stable condition, the chief said. FBI officials said the guard was shot in the arm. The shooter is in FBI custody and has not yet been charged, authorities said. I know the security guard who was shot. I used to work in that building about 10 years ago. He’s ...

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates her being taken up body and soul into heaven when her earthly title was finished. It first began to be celebrated as a feast day in the Eastern Church after the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431) proclaimed Mary the Mother of God. By the sixth century, the feast celebrated Mary’s Dormition, “her falling asleep” . The western church began to celebrate this feast around 650. The Church’s teaching on the Assumption was formally proclaimed a doctrine by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In today’s society, many idolize sensuality, materialism, and self-indulgence. In contrast, the celebration of the feast of the Assumption Our Blessed Virgin Mary turns our eyes away from these temporary, earthly attachments and directs our focus on the dignity and destiny of our human body and the beauty and dignity of womanhood. It turns our eyes upon the true life which awaits us beyond the grave – eternal life. May we take heart that one day our bodi...

U.S. March for Life founder, Nellie Gray, has gone to her eternal reward, at the age of 88. While I never had the privilege of personally meeting Nellie Gray, I watched her from a distance, deeply admiring the dear woman who had the courage and inner strength to establish the first March for Life in Washington D.C. in 1974 and who enthusiastically kept it going for 38 years. What a tremendous use of the gifts of wisdom, leadership, perseverance, and compassion she exercised!  What a mighty warrior she was for God and for the pre-born! Nellie was a personal inspiration for me and for so many of us. I pray that she is enjoying her heavenly reward with God, His holy Mother, Blessed Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and all the champions of the pre-born. Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful pro-life warrior, who served as a beacon of light in this culture of darkness and death!  Eternal rest, grant unto her,  O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon he...