Catholic Fire

Hurricane Sandy destruction of homes on the New Jersey shoreline Washington D.C., Oct 31, 2012 / 05:17 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic Charities agencies along the East Coast are working to assess the damage left by Hurricane Sandy and respond to the needs of those left in its wake. Kevin Hickey, executive director at Catholic Charities of Camden, N.J., told CNA on Oct. 31 that while there is significant flooding and damage throughout the six southern counties that make up the diocese, “the main focus is the coast.” “The devastation there is enormous,” he said, especially on the barrier islands of Ocean City and Atlantic City, which took a direct hit from the storm. Because access to the two sites is restricted, emergency workers cannot get there and do not know when they will be able to do so. Hickey added that Catholic Charities has an office in Atlantic City, but said that he is “fairly confident that is underwater.” New Jersey is one of several states that were devastat...

October 31, 2012. (Romereports.com) Despite the light rain, Wednesday's general audience was held in St. Peter's Square. Roughly 10,000 people held on to their umbrellas, as the Pope continued his catechesis on the Year of Faith. He explained that faith is indeed something personal. But to live it fully and intensely, it must be shared and experienced within a community. BENEDICT XVI “We have seen that faith is something intensely personal: a gift of God which transforms and enriches our life.  At the same time, the gift of faith is given in and through the community of the Church.” It's within a community that faith can be nourished, especially when celebrating the Sacraments. In essence, the Pope explained that one's faith when lived in the Church, becomes part of the Christian family. BENEDICT XVI “In this sense, the Church is our Mother. As Saint Cyprian says, “No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother.” Towards the end, the P...

(Romereports.com) Many describe Francis Arinze as one of the most charismatic cardinals in the Church. He was a close collaborator to John Paul II and on November 1st, the Nigerian cardinal will turn 80. Many describe Francis Arinze as one of the most charismatic cardinals in the Church. He was a close collaborator to John Paul II and on November 1st, the Nigerian cardinal will turn 80. Interestingly, the cardinal was baptized by one of the first blesseds of Nigeria, priest Cipriano Michele Tansi.  Arinze is also part of the Church's history. He became a bishop at the age of 32 and took part in the Second Vatican Council. CARD. FRANCIS ARINZE “All diocesan bishops could participate in the council. Back then auxiliary bishops were not required to go, but they were invited. I didn't think twice. I accepted the invitation immediately.” Back in 1984, he was appointed by John Paul II to lead the dialogue between the Church and other religions. He was also commissioned as...

October 31, 2012. (Romereports.com) It was 500 years ago, when the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was publicly inaugurated. To mark the occasion, Benedict XVI prayed the Vespers in the Chapel, beneath Michelangelo's impressive frescoes.

(Romereports.com) Benedict XVI is 85 years old. To be even more exact, on Tuesday October 30th, he turns 85.54.  When it comes to age, he ranks fifth among the oldest Popes in history. The ranking is based on statistics listed by expert Anura Guruge. The list itself includes Popes who were elected after the year 1400.   Seventy one days from now,  so January 9th, the Pope will rank fourth, when he surpasses Pope Pius IX. At that point, the three Popes who will be ahead of him are Clement X, who lived until the age of 86. He's followed by Clement XII, who lived 87 years. The number one ranking, of the eldest Pope in history is held by Leo XIII, who served until the age of 93.

  (Romereports.com) Five hundred years ago, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was inaugurated by Pope Julius II. It was a day before the Feast Day of All Saints, that Michelangelo's masterpiece was shown to the public. The renowned artist spent four years working on the ceiling, which is about 65 feet high. To mark the occasion, Benedict XVI will celebrate the anniversary on October 31st, by praying the Vespers inside the Sistine Chapel. The striking ceiling depicts scenes from the Bible, like Creation and Original sin. The Pope will honor all the saints of the Church, including those who have not been formally canonized. It's truly a priceless work of art. Michelangelo's masterpiece covers an area of roughly 11,840 feet.

Today is the Eve of the Feast of All Hallows, that is, All Saints Day.   Pope Sixtus IV in 1484 established November 1, the feast of All Saints, as a holy day of obligation and gave it both a vigil (known today as "All Hallows' Eve" or "Hallowe'en") and an eight-day period or octave to celebrate the feast. By 1955, the octave of All Saints was removed. All Hallows' Eve Halloween or All Hallows' Eve is not a liturgical feast on the Catholic calendar, but the celebration has deep ties to the Liturgical Year. These three consecutive days — Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day — illustrate the Communion of Saints. The Church Militant (those on earth, striving to get to heaven) pray for the Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory) especially on All Souls Day and the month of November. We also rejoice and honor the Church Triumphant (the saints, canonized and uncanonized) in heaven. We also ask the Saints to intercede for us, and for the...

I just learned that Barbara Curtis, Catholic pro-life blogger at Mommy Life and mother of 12 (four of whom have Down Syndrome), has suffered a stroke.   Her condition is very serious and she is not expected to regain consciousness. Please pray for her and for her family.  Go here for information on a way to help the family. Related Posts:  Dawn Eden -  Please pray for Mommy Life blogger Barbara Curtis Mark Shea - Prayer Request

The saint of the day is St Alphonsus Rodriguez, a Jesuit, who was born at Segovia in Spain, on July 12, 1531. From childhood he was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He loved her as his mother. This childlike devotion to her was the main reason for his sanctity. When he was a teenager, Alphonsus and his older brother were sent to study in a Jesuit college. On the death of his father in 1545, he was called home from his studies, by his mother, who was burdened with the care of eleven young children. Though only a boy of fourteen, he was placed in charge of the family business, which involved the buying and selling of wool. At the request of his mother, Alphonsus married the virtuous Maria Suarez. His married life of four years was marked with much suffering. His business suffered, and two of the couple’s three children died in infancy. He was widowed at the age of 32 and his mother died soon afterwards. He sold the business and moved in with his sisters; they helped A...

Today we celebrate Helen Kafka, better known as Blessed Maria Restituta. Helen Kafka was born in 1894 to a shoemaker and grew up in Vienna, Austria. She initially worked as a salesgirl and then as an assistant caregiver at the Lainz public hospital, which brought her into contact with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. At the age of 20, she decided to join the Order and took the name Restituta, after a 4th century Christian martyr. In 1919, she began working as a surgical nurse at the Moulding hospital in Austria. When the Germans took over the country, she became a local opponent of the Nazi regime. Her conflict with them escalated after they ordered her to remove all the crucifixes she had hung up in each room of a new hospital wing. Sister Maria Restitua refused and she was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942. She was sentenced to death for "aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of the fatherland and for plotting high treason.” Martin Bormann decided ...

Via the Telegraph: Pope Benedict XVI has said a prayer for the victims of Hurricane Sandy which has killed at least 21 people in the Caribbean. Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Pope Benedict said: "I wish to assure those who have been affected by this natural disaster of my closeness and my thoughts "I invite everyone to pray in solidarity, to alleviate the pain of the families of the victims and to offer support to the thousands affected by the damage." His comments were met with cheers and chants of "long live the Pope" from the hundreds of people who had gathered in the square to hear his weekly address.

Saint Frumentius was still a child when his uncle, a Christian philosopher of Tyre in Phoenicia, took him and his brother, Aedesius, on a voyage to Ethiopia. In the course of their voyage the vessel anchored at a certain port, and the barbarians of that country slew with the sword all the crew and passengers, except the two children. Because of their youth and beauty they were taken to the king at Axuma, who, charmed with the wit and sprightliness of the two boys, took special care of their education, and later made Aedesius his cup-bearer and Frumentius, who was a little older, his treasurer and secretary of state. The king, on his deathbed, thanked them for their services and in reward gave them their liberty. After his death the queen begged them to remain at court and assist her in the government of the state until the young prince came of age; this they did, using their influence to spread Christianity. When the young king reached his majority, Aedesius desired to return to ...

Three months ago, 24-year-old Tonya Reaves stepped into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Chicago for an abortion, never realizing her life was in danger. It was. Planned Parenthood's abortionist perforated Tonya's uterus, and she bled to death hours later. When investigators called the Chicago clinic, posing as a woman with concerns about the health risks of abortion, Planned Parenthood lied to the would-be abortion client and denied anyone had been hurt. The investigative team called 6 other Planned Parenthood clinics where recent medical emergencies, including hemorrhaging after abortion, had been documented. Every clinic lied about the risk. Watch the the gripping undercover video now: The investigators called Planned Parenthood clinics with recent cases of medical emergencies and botched abortions in 7 different states asking if Planned Parenthood's abortion practice was safe and if women had ever been hurt at these clinics. Not a single Planned Parenthood abor...

Today is the feast of Blessed Damian of Fulcheri, a Dominican priest. Damian was born at the end of the fourteenth century to wealthy, Italian nobility. As a baby he was kidnapped by a man who was mentally ill. His parents prayed to Our Lady, and searchers were led to the baby by a miraculous light. He was returned to his family unharmed. Damian entered the Dominican order at Genoa and became a diligent student and later, a dedicated priest. He was well-known for his forceful preaching and hundreds of people were converted during his missions in Italy. Damian died in Modena, Italy in 1484, and immediately became the object of much pious speculation, because of the miracles worked at his tomb. He was beatified in 1848 by Pope Pius IX (cultus confirmed). Prayer God of truth, for the salvation of the faithful you endowed Blessed Damian with wondrous virtues and powers of speech. Through his prayers may we hear your word with an open heart and hold fast to it with patience. We...

This feast honors the hundreds of British men and women who died for their faith in wake of the dispute between the Pope and King Henry VIII during the 16th century. Many loyal Catholics were tortured and killed by the British state from 1535 to 1679. In 1970, the Vatican selected 40 martyrs, men and women, lay and religious, to represent the full group of about 300. Each martyr has their own day of memorial, but they are all remembered as a group on October 25. Learn more about these martyrs here . The forty martyrs are: Carthusians Augustine Webster John Houghton Robert Lawrence Brigittine Richard Reynolds Augustinian John Stone Jesuits Alexander Briant Edmund Arrowsmith Edmund Campion David Lewis Henry Morse Henry Walpole Nicholas Owen Philip Evans Robert Southwell Thomas Garnet Benedictines Alban Roe Ambrose Edward Barlow John Roberts Friars Observant John Jones Franciscans John Wall Secular Clergy Cuthbert Mayne Edmund Gennings Eustace...

Today is the optional memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret -- a favorite saint that my husband introduced me to several years ago when he gave a teaching on this amazing man of God. I don't think I have ever heard of any saint who was filled with so much zeal for his apostolate. He was a monk and a mystic who exerted an unusual amount of influence over the laity by obeying the call of God. Born on Christmas eve, 1807, in the village of Sallent, in Catalonia, Spain, Anthony was a very pious child. When he was eleven years old, the bishop visited his school and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Without the least bit of hesitation, he replied: "A priest." As a young adult, Anthony Claret excelled as a maker of cloth as a weaver in his father's textile factory. He then studied for the priesthood, desiring to be a Jesuit. Ill health prevented him from entering the Order, so he served as a diocesan priest. He was ordained at age 27 and busied himself p...

In addition to the Live Action Team investigators, over a thousand people called Planned Parenthood last week and got a sleu of different responses -- ultimately, the truth became evident, that not a single Planned Parenthood in America does mammograms.  Planned Parenthood is the world's largest abortion provider.

Today is the optional memorial of St. John of Capistrano, a great Franciscan priest, preacher, and theologian. St. John was born at Capistrano, Italy in 1385, the son of a former German knight of that city. He studied law at the University of Perugia and practiced as a lawyer in the courts of Naples. King Ladislas of Naples appointed him governor of Perugia. During a war with a neighboring town he was betrayed and imprisoned. Upon his release he entered the Franciscan community at Perugia in 1416. He and St. James of the March were fellow students under St. Bernadine of Siena, who inspired him to institute the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and His Mother. John began his brilliant preaching apostolate while a deacon in 1420. After his ordination, he traveled throughout Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia, preaching penance and establishing numerous communities of Franciscan renewal. When Mohammed II was threatening Vienna and Rome, St. John, at the...

Marianne Cope was one of the three women who were canonized by Benedict XVI during a Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. COMPLETE TEXT IN ENGLISH: I now turn to Marianne Cope, born in eighteen thirty-eight in Heppenheim, Germany. Only one year old when taken to the United States, in eighteen sixty-two she entered the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis at Syracuse, New York. Later, as Superior General of her congregation, Mother Marianne willingly embraced a call to care for the lepers of Hawaii after many others had refused. She personally went, with six of her fellow sisters, to manage a hospital on Oahu, later founding Malulani Hospital on Maui and opening a home for girls whose parents were lepers. Five years after that she accepted the invitation to open a home for women and girls on the island of Molokai itself, bravely going there herself and effectively ending her contact with the outside world. There she looked after Father Damien, already famous for his heroic w...

During the canonization ceremony, the Pope entrusted Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, with the renewal of faith in North America. “Kateri Tekakwitha was born in today’s New York state in sixteen fifty-six to a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother who gave to her a sense of the living God. She was baptized at twenty years of age and, to escape persecution, she took refuge in Saint Francis Xavier Mission near Montreal. There she worked, faithful to the traditions of her people, although renouncing their religious convictions until her death at the age of twenty-four. Leading a simple life, Kateri remained faithful to her love for Jesus, to prayer and to daily Mass. Her greatest wish was to know and to do what pleased God. She lived a life radiant with faith and purity. Kateri impresses us by the action of grace in her life in spite of the absence of external help and by the courage of her vocation, so unusual in her culture. In her, faith and cul...

The Church has designated October 22 for the commemoration of Blessed John Paul II .  He was born Karol Josef Wojtyla in Wadowice, a city 50 kilometers from Cracow, on May 18, 1920, to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. He was baptized on June 20, 1920, in the parish church of his town. He attended elementary and high school in Marcin Wadowita in Wadowice, after which, Karol enrolled in Krakow’s Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama until 1939 when the university closed. The young Karol had to work in a quarry for four years. In his desire to answer his call to the priestly life, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow in 1942. The seminary then was being run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, the Archbishop of Cracow. While studying for the priesthood, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the “Rhapsodic Theatre,” also an underground organization. The major seminary of Cracow re-opened after the Second World War and Karol continued hi...

Today is the optional memorial of St. Paul of the Cross. St. Paul of the Cross was born in Ovada in northern Italy as Paolo Francesco Danei in 1694. As a young man, he helped his father who was a merchant. Paul received his early education from a priest and was a very virtuous and pious young man, who spent much time in prayer, attended daily Mass, and spent much time before the Blessed Sacrament without neglecting his duties. At the age of 19, Paul had a vivid experience of the depth of God's love. As a result of this experience, he aspired to live a life of perfection. While still a layman, he left everything behind and founded the Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Most Holy Cross and Passion (Passionists) in 1721. While contemplation and prayer were at the very heart of Paul's life and the life of his new institute, Paul himself soon became a very famous popular preacher, spiritual guide, writer and mystic. For Paul the Passion of Christ was the most vivid ...

Today in the dioceses of the United States the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Sts. Issac Jogues and John de Brébeuf (priests and martyrs) and their companions (martyrs) . They were Jesuit missionaries who died martyrs in North America, where they preached the Gospel. French Jesuits were the first missionaries to go to Canada and North America after J. Cartier discovered Canada in 1534. Their mission region extended from Nova Scotia to Maryland. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, Gabriel Lalemant, Noel Chabanel, Charles Garnier, Anthony Daniel, Rene Goupil and John de Lalande (the first six Jesuits, the last two laymen) preached the gospel to the Iroquois and Huron Indians, and after being tortured, they were martyred in the area of what is now Auriesville, New York. The martyrdoms took place between 1642 and 1649. Ten years after the martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues, Kateri Tekakwitha was born in the same village in which he died. These martyrs are co-patrons of Canada. ...

October 18, 2012. (ROMEREPORTS.com) New York Cardinal, Timothy Dolan talked to the press about how the Synod  is going so far.   As usual, his dynamic personality and humor came through as he talked about different movements within the Church, ways to deliver a  good Homily and also about how the New Evangelization can be a success. CARD. TIMOTHY DOLAN Archbishop of New York (USA) “Rather than fractioning, perhaps what best we can do is emphasize, we say the Universal call to Holiness for the Second Vatican Council, to emphasize the universal call to evangelization. That is a charge to which no one can escape, if one takes their discipleship and the Catholic faith seriously.” One of the main points of the new evangelization is to put God back in people's lives and in society. The Cardinal notes that religion in the United States is deeply rooted. CARD. TIMOTHY DOLAN Archbishop of New York “Society itself still may have this transcendental directive that we ...

Today is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. It is believed that St. Luke was born a Greek and a gentile. A physician at Antioch, and a painter, St. Luke became a convert of Saint Paul and afterwards his fellow-laborer. Luke was the writer of the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles and has been identified with St. Paul's "Luke, the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). Saint Luke shared the shipwreck and perils of Saint Paul's voyage to Rome, and was with him in his last days. He later died a martyr's death in Achaia. Next to St. John, St. Luke's gospel writings are my favorite part of the New Testament. Although Luke was not an eye witness, he was a historian who carefully researched his material and obtained details from eye witnesses. As a physician, Luke emphasizes the miracles and the merciful love of Jesus, which heals his children and welcomes all into his arms -- especially the sinner, the outcast, the gentile. Luke shows us the compassion of Je...

Today, October. 17, the Roman Catholic Church remembers the early Church Father, bishop, and martyr  Saint Ignatius of Antioch , whose writings attest to the sacramental and hierarchical nature of the Church from its earliest days. Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate his memory on Dec. 20. In a 2007 general audience on St. Ignatius of Antioch, Pope Benedict XVI observed that “no Church Father has expressed the longing for union with Christ and for life in him with the intensity of Ignatius.” In his letters, the Pope said, “one feels the freshness of the faith of the generation which had still known the Apostles. In these letters, the ardent love of a saint can also be felt.” Born in Syria in the middle of the first century A.D., Ignatius is said to have been personally instructed – along with another future martyr, Saint Polycarp – by the Apostle Saint John. When Ignatius became the Bishop of Antioch around the year 70, he assumed leadership of a loc...

The saint of the day for October 16 is St. Margret Mary Alacoque. St. Margaret Mary Biography The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart My Favorite Quotes from St. Margaret Mary: "What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He caresses us, and to be cold immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Those who love thus, love themselves too much to love God with all their heart." "The Divine Heart is an ocean full of all good things, wherein poor souls can cast all their needs; it is an ocean full of joy to drown all our sadness, an ocean of humility to drown our folly, an ocean of mercy to those in distress, an ocean of love in which to submerge our poverty." "Love keeps Him there [in the Blessed Sacrament] as a victim completely and perpetually delivered over to sacrifice for the glory of the Father and for our salvation. Unite yourself with Him, then, in all that you do. Refer everything to His glory. Set up your abode in this...

Today, October 15, is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), who was born in Avila and died in Alba, Spain. When only a child of seven, she ran away from home in the hope of being martyred by the Moors; in this way, she said she could come to see God. At the age of eighteen she joined the Carmelite Order and chose Christ as her heavenly Spouse. With the help of St. John of the Cross she reformed most of the Carmelite convents and founded new ones. She reached the highest degree of prayer and through prayer obtained such knowledge of divine things that in 1970 Pope Paul VI named her the first woman Doctor of the Church. St. Teresa of Avila: Favorite Quotes and Prayers Prayer for a Busy Life by St. Teresa of Avila Brief Biography of St. Teresa of Avila Detailed Biography of St. Teresa of Avila Excerpts from Interior Castle: "This body has one fault, that the more people pamper it, the more its wants are made known. It is strange how much it likes to be indulge...

Thank you, Esther , for this award, which is both an honor and a blessing! Here are the rules if you accept this award. You need to do these things: 1) Name your favorite saint, and why. 2) Name your favorite part of the Mass, and why. 3) Name your favorite part about being a Catholic. 1.  Sorry, but I can't limit this to just one, but I will try to limit it as best as I can. My favorite female saints are two Doctors of the Church: St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Catherine of Siena. They have both been powerful intercessors for me and I admire each of them for the contributions they have made to the Church. St. Therese is noted for her Little Way, which is a simple way of obtaining sanctity for the average person. I love St. Catherine of Siena (who is my Confirmation saint) for her strong and courageous spirit and her great love for the Church. Both saints teach us what love is all about and both were humble, holy, and on fire for the Lord. 2.  My favorite par...

The saint of the day for October 13 is Blessed Magdalen Panattieri, a Dominican tertiary who was one of the most famous preachers in Italy. Magdalen Panattieri was born at Trino, near Vercelli, in 1443, of pious parents. While still a child, she made a vow of virginity. She tried to emulate her favorite saint, St. Catherine of Sienna; she had a special devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Before she turned 20, she took her vows as a Dominican tertiary, living in her home, while performing the apostolic works of charity performed by her Dominican community. This was unusual, as the tertiary chapter was primarily composed of widows and older women. Magdalen brought a spirit of penance to the chapter, while remaining cheerful and resourceful. She often spent entire mornings in Eucharistic adoration and afternoons caring for the sick and the poor. Magdalen began teaching children catechism, then, later attracted adults to her teaching. She was so effective that she was appointe...

October 12, 2012. (Romereports.com) The Synod meetings bringing together bishops from around the world are continuing at the Vatican. Discussions are offering a rich exchange of ideas on the New Evangelization.   Among those at the Synod is Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, of Louisville, Kentucky in the US. He has proposed that all parishes offer the blessing of babies in the womb. MSGR. JOSEPH KURTZ Archbishop of Louisville (US) “It's a blessing for the child in the woomb, for the mother and for the father and other family members”. The formula for the blessing was proposed by the US Bishops and approved by the Vatican last December. It already has been very successful in local parishes. Besides highlighting the dignity of human life, the blessing offers an opportunity to show the humanity of the Church and a great instrument in the New Evangelization. MSGR. JOSEPH KURTZ Archbishop of Louisville (US) “This blessing is a great opportunity, first of all, to join a mother w...

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows: Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees: "With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact." This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious ...

Today is the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar -- the Blessed Virgin Mary's first apparition in history. Seven years after the death of Jesus, James (the Greater), reportedly traveled as far west as Spain to the village of Saragossa in north east Spain.  James became disheartened because of the failure of his mission. Tradition tells us that on January 2, 40 A.D. while he was deep in prayer, the Blessed Mother appeared to him and gave him a small wooden statue of herself and a column of jasper wood and instructed him to build a church in her honor: "This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build." The jasper column and the wooden statue can still be seen on special occasions at a church that houses them. About a year after the apparition James arranged to build a small chapel in Mary's honor, the first Church ever dedicated to the honor of the Virgin Mary. After James returned to ...

October 11, 2012. (Romereports.com) Benedict XVI entered St. Peter's Square to preside over the opening Mass of the Year of Faith, with the year's official anthem playing in the background. It was also a solemn ceremony, which recalled the 50th anniversary of Vatican II and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In a symbolic gesture, among those who accompanied him were 15 elderly bishops who 50 years ago participated in the Council. Along with them, were 80 cardinals, eight patriarchs of Eastern Churches, 191 Bishops of the Synod for the New Evangelization and 104 representatives of Bishop's conferences from around the world.   Greeting them, Pope Benedict solemnly inaugurated the Year of Faith. BENEDICT XVI “Fifty years since the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, we begin with great joy this Year of Faith”. During his homily, Benedict XVI explained that the Year of Faith is not a simply an anniversary but a real necessit...

Today is the feast of Saint María Soledad Torres Acosta (1826-1887). St. Mary Soledad was a "modern" saint who gave to the world yet another sisterhood dedicated primarily to nursing. They are the "Handmaids of Mary Serving the Sick", better known in this country (where they have been working since 1914) as the Sister Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick. The foundress, a native of Madrid, was baptized Bibiana Antonia Manuela. She was the second of the five children of shopkeeper Francisco Torres and his wife Antonia Acosta. Raised in good Christian surroundings, Manuela grew up a thoughtful child, more interested in passing her own food on to her poorer playmates, and teaching them their prayers, than playing games with them. Educated by the Daughters of Charity, she may have been inspired by that order's hospital work to think along nursing lines. Definitely desiring to join a religious order, she had the Dominican nuns particularly in mind. But t...

A special Year of the Faith will be held from 11 October 2012, the anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, until 24 November 2013, Solemnity of Christ the King. That was the announcement made by Pope Benedict during his homily at a Mass concluding a conference on the New Evangelization. It was also a theme taken up and reiterated at the Angelus, before many of the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square. Speaking about his decision to invoke this "Year of Faith" Pope Benedict said it was "to give new impetus to the mission of the whole Church to lead men out of the desert in which they often find themselves, to the place of life, of friendship with Christ". October 10, 2012. (Romereports.com) One day before the start of the Year of Faith, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the begining of the Second Vatican Council, Benedict XVI reflected on the importance of the event during his weekly general audience.   “As we begin tomorrow the Year of ...

St. Francis Borgia Exorcising By Francisco José de Goya The saint of the day for October 12 is St. Francis Borgia, a Spanish duke, who married, and after his wife died, gave up a life of nobility to become a Jesuit priest. St. Francis Borgia was born October 28, 1510, at Gandia, Valencia, Spain, the first of 17 children, to noble parents. He was the son of the Duke of Gandia, the great grandson of Pope Alexander VI, the notorious Borgia pope, and the grandson of King Ferdinand of Aragon. He was named after St. Francis of Assisi. Following the death of his mother at the age of ten he was educated by his uncle, the Archbishop of Saragossa. Because he posessed many natural gifts he became a favorite at the court of Charles V. In 1539, Francis was appointed Viceroy of Catalonia, and four years later, on his father’s death, the Duke of Gandia. He built a university there, received the degree of Doctor in theology. After his wife died in 1546, Francis entered the Society of Jesu...

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