Catholic Fire

On April 30, the Food and Drug Administration approved over the counter sale of the morning-after pill Plan B One-Step to all women aged 15 and older. Plan B One-Step is the name of the drug, made exclusively by Teva Women's Health, Inc., which acts as an emergency contraceptive which reduces the possibility of pregnancy when taken up to three days after sexual intercourse. It is taken as a single-dose 1.5 mg tablet of levonorgestrel. Pharmacies and retailers with on-site pharmacies will have the drug on shelves, and those wishing to purchase it will have to provide proof of age. Teva has agreed to have a security tag placed on all Plan B One-Step cartons to prevent theft, according to the FDA. Read the full story. Dr. Manny Alvarez states : "I will stay true to my beliefs that there is a danger to providing these types of medications over-the-counter, especially to young children." "I still believe there are risks associated with these medications,

"How marvelous it would be if, at the end of the day, each of us could say: today I have performed an act of charity towards others!" ~ Pope Francis (from his Twitter feed)

The Pope's general prayer intention for May is: "That administrators of justice may act always with integrity and right conscience." His mission intention is: “That seminaries, especially those of mission Churches, may form pastors after the Heart of Christ, fully dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel.”

I watched this interview on O'Reilly last night. If you missed it, it's worth watching. I noticed that ABC news  also  reported on Live Action's undercover investigation.

The saint of the day for April 30th is St. Pius V, pope. Michael Ghislieri was born near Alessandria in Italy in 1504. He was a poor shepherd boy, who entered the Dominican Order at the age of 14 and was ordained a priest at the age of 24. He taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years and developed a reputation as a gifted teacher and preacher. Michael led an austere and holy life in the monastery: he fasted, performed penance, spent long hours of the night in meditation and prayer, and traveled in silence on foot without a cloak. After being ordained a bishop and named a Cardinal, he became pope at the age of 62, taking the name of Pope Pius V. His holiness and austerity continued in the papacy. He refused to wear the ornate and flowing garments of previous popes, but insisted upon wearing his white Dominican habit even as head of the Church. To this day, the pope wears white, a custom begun by this Dominican pontiff. His reign, though short, was one of the most frui

Here is what Archbishop Chaput had to say in his latest column in the Catholic Philly  about the murder trial of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who practiced in Philadelphia: Some stories, no matter how unsettling, just can’t be ignored — even when some people are determined to look away. The murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell will soon go to jury. And like every other criminally accused person under the law, Gosnell is innocent until proven guilty. Whatever the verdict though, there’s no ambiguity about the kind of business he ran at his West Philadelphia “Women’s Medical Center” ­— an abortion clinic that critics have likened to a meatpacking plant or a butcher shop, with unborn children delivered into a toilet, and jars of fetal body parts stored around the facility. Dr. Gosnell was originally charged with one count of infanticide and five counts of “abuse of corpse” for killing fetuses born alive by plunging scissors into their necks. Without

April 29, 2013. (Romereports.com) The spokesperson for the Vatican, Father Federico Lombardi, confirmed that Benedict XVI will likely return to the Vatican at about midday on May 2. The Pope emeritus has been staying at Castel Gandolfo for the past two months, as crews finished work on the Mater Ecclesie convent to turn it into the new home for Benedict XVI. Joining him back at the Vatican will also be four consecrated women, Memores Domini, a part of Communion and Liberation, that help Benedict XVI in his daily life, as well as his personal secretary, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, who will continue in his role as Prefect of the Pontifical Household. It is also very likely that the convent will also house the Pope emeritus' brother, Georg Ratzinger, who is also a priest and Benedict's only living family member.

Live Action released a second undercover video today, revealing how leading D.C. late-term abortion doctor Cesare Santengelo would leave a baby struggling for life after a failed abortion to die. “Hopefully we’ll get this pregnancy out intact, but it doesn’t always happen that way,” Santangelo said to an undercover Live Action investigator who was 24 weeks pregnant. “I try and sever the umbilical cord first, and we wait for that to stop pulsing, and this way the fetus is expired first.” When asked by the undercover investigator what will happen if the baby survives the abortion, Doctor Santangelo says: “Technically – you know, legally we would be obligated to help it, you know, to survive.  But, you know, it probably wouldn’t.  It’s all in how vigorously you do things to help a fetus survive at this point.  Let’s say you went into labor, the membranes ruptured, and you delivered before we got to the termination part of the procedure here, you know?  Then we would do things –

This excellent video will teach you about St. Catherine of Siena's spirituality. In it, Doug Keck interviews Fr. Thomas McDermott, OP on his book St. Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development in Her Life and Teaching. Related Post: St. Catherine of Siena

April 29th is the feast of my Confirmation saint, St. Catherine of Siena, Caterina di Giacomo di Benicasa (1347 - 1380). As a mystic, activist, reformer, contemplative, and Doctor of the Church, she is one of the most prominent figures in Christian history. Catherine, the youngest of twenty-six children, was born in Siena on March 25, 1347. During her youth she had to contend with great difficulties on the part of her parents. They were planning marriage for their favorite daughter; but Catherine, who at the age of seven had already taken a vow of virginity, refused. To break her resistance, her beautiful golden brown tresses were shorn to the very skin and she was forced to do the most menial tasks. Undone by her patience, her mother and father finally relented and their child entered the Third Order of St. Dominic -- a lay order. Catherine managed a large household of followers, all of whom called her "Mama". She served as spiritual director to royalty and religious

Gosnell is not alone. What you are about to see will shock you! You've heard about the horrifying details of Kermit Gosnell's gruesome late-term abortion spree, but what if he is not the only one? Watch Live Action's investigative release to find out what happens when an abortion counselor in the Bronx, New York, is asked what will happen to a child that survives an abortion at their clinic. Her answer will shock you... Note: This video is not intended for children.  At Dr. Emily's clinic in the Bronx, NY, the abortion counselor is caught on tape describing, in a gruesomely precise way, exactly how late-term abortions happen. She goes on to explain what happens to a baby after the abortion and advises to “flush” the child down the toilet if he or she is delivered at home before the final stage of the two- or three-day abortion procedure. “If it comes out, then it comes out. Flush it. ... if anything, you know, put it in a bag or something or somewhere an

We must pray for the conversion of these abortionists and for an end to abortion.  April 28, 2013  Wichita, KS - Operation Rescue has received verification of the identity of a second abortionist who plans to work at a new Wichita abortion clinic located in the same building where George Tiller once operated the largest late-term abortion mill outside Communist China. Valencia Stephens is an abortionist from Arizona who will fly into Kansas to do first and early second trimester abortions through 14 weeks at South Wind Women's Center, located at 5107 E. Kellogg in Wichita, a new abortion business that opened earlier this month. Prior to its opening, Wichita had been abortion-free for nearly four years.  Stephens is currently operating in Kansas under a temporary license with no local hospital privileges. In Arizona, Stephens works for Saguaro Physicians in Sierra Vista, a small boarder community south of Tuscon. (View her profile page at Saguaro Physicians.) Read the

The saint of the day for April 27 is St. Zita (1212-72), the patron saint of domestic workers. She was born in Tuscany, Italy in the village of Monsagrati. Zita came from a poor, but deeply devotional family. To help support the family, she became a maid of a wealthy family, Fatinelli, in the nearby Tuscan city of Lucca, serving them loyally for 48 years. Zita considered her work as an employment assigned to her by God and obeyed her master and mistress in all things as being placed over her by God. She always rose several hours before the rest of the family and spent time in prayer while they slept. She started each day with Holy Mass before she began performing her duties. Zita visited the sick and those in prison, giving them hope and spreading the gospel message. She was well - known for all her works of charity and her sweet, joyful disposition. Zita had a great love for the poor and donated her own food or that of her master to the poor. At first, her employers were ups

Ray Kapaun speaks about his uncle, Fr Emil Kapaun, who was recently awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously), and is on the road to sainthood.

Today we commemorate  Our Lady of Good Counsel. On the Feast of Saint Mark, the Evangelist, April 25 1467, the people of Genazzano, Italy witnessed a marvelous sight. A cloud descended upon an ancient church dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel. When the cloud disappeared, an image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus was revealed which had not been there before. The image, on a paper-thin sheet, was suspended miraculously. Soon after the image's appearance many miracles were attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Because of this, Pope Paul II ordered an investigation and the results have been preserved. It was later discovered that the very same image had been seen in a church dedicated to the Annunciation in Scutari, Albania. The image in this church was said to have arrived there in a miraculous manner. Now, the image had been transported from Albania miraculously to avoid sacrilege from Moslem invasion. A commission of inquiry determined that a portr

Via LifeNews.Com : A top pro-life congresswoman exposed late-term abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, who is on trial for murder, on the O’Reilly Factor program last night. Due to a lack of national broadcast news coverage on these issues, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) organized a letter with 71 of her House colleagues last week to ABC, NBC, and CBS. The letters demand these networks stop blacking out coverage on high-profile abortion controversies. Read more Via David Gittrich at Kansans for Life : The murder trial of Kermit Gosnell has been ignored by the major media.  Those who are aware of what is happening, are appalled that the media refuses to cover this story.  Over 70 U.S. Representatives sent the following letter to the media.  Representative Tim Huelskamp and Representative Mike Pompeo signed this letter.  The addresses for the major media follow the letter.  All of us should let them know that we are aware of the media's bias -- we are not fools. Dear­ (

In addition to Kermit Gosnell, there is another human butcher on the loose. Hopefully, through our efforts, late-term abortionist  LeRoy Carhart will be removed from his position soon. Annapolis, MD — Over 6,000 of citizen complaints against late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart were successfully delivered to the Maryland Board of Physicians yesterday by representatives of Students for Life in America. The complaints were in support of a formal complaint filed on February 19, 2013, by Operation Rescue seeking license revocation for Carhart in the death of 28-year old Jennifer Morbelli. Morbelli had sought an abortion at Carhart’s late-term abortion clinic in Germantown, Maryland, at 33-weeks into her pregnancy after her pre-born daughter, Madison, was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. After her abortion, Carhart left Maryland and could not be reached by Morbelli’s family when her condition deteriorated later that night. The next day, February 7, Morbelli was taken to Shady Grov

Giuseppe Vermiglio, Saint Mark the Evangelist, c. 1630 Today is the feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist. What a great model he is for us during the New Evangelization in this great year of faith! John Mark, later known simply as Mark, was a Jew by birth. He was the son of that Mary who was proprietress of the Cenacle or "upper room" which served as the meeting place for the first Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). He was still a youth at the time of the Savior's death. In his description of the young man who was present when Jesus was seized and who fled from the rabble leaving behind his "linen cloth," the second Evangelist might possibly have stamped the mark of his own identity. During the years that followed, the rapidly maturing youth witnessed the growth of the infant Church in his mother's Upper Room and became acquainted with its traditions. This knowledge he put to excellent use when compiling his Gospel. Later, we find Mark acting as a co

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Fox News will air a one-hour documentary on “house of horrors” abortionist Kermit Gosnell in two weeks. The special program will air at 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 , according to Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. The Gosnell story garnered national media coverage after a successful campaign on the social media site Twitter two weeks ago that generated more than half-a-million mentions of the abortionist and hundreds of thousands of uses of the #Gosnell hashtag. Read the entire story. Note: My research reveals that this special is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET., but be sure to double-check your local listings for the exact time in your area, as times may vary or be subject to change.

allowfullscreen> (Vatican Radio) The Church is not a bureaucratic organization, but a love story. This was Pope Francis’ message during Wednesday’s Mass in the Chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. Attending the Mass this morning were employees of the Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly called the Vatican bank. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragán, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, concelebrated Mass with the Holy Father. The day’s readings tell the story of the growth of the first Christian community. In his homily, the Pope warned against being tempted to make "deals" simply to get "more partners in this enterprise." Instead, he said, “the road that Jesus willed for His Church is otherwise: the way of difficulties, the way of the Cross, the way of persecution . . . And this makes us wonder: what is this Church? Because it seems it is not a human enterprise." The Church, he said, is "something else."

The saint of the day for April 24 is St. Fidelis of Sigmarengen. Known as Mark Rey and the "Poor Man's Lawyer," Fidelis was born in 1577 at Sigmaringen, Prussia. His studies took him to the University of Freiburg and eventually to the position of tutor for Wilhelm von Stotzingen. Fidelis traveled with Wilhelm extensively throughout France and Italy before returning to Freiburg and earning a doctorate in canon and civil law. He became a prominent lawyer. However, he felt that this career endangered the salvation of his soul and he abandoned law. Mark joined the Capuchin Friars Minor, changed his name to Fidelis (meaning Faithful) and gave away his worldly wealth to the poor. As a Franciscan priest, he served his friary as guardian, and worked in epidemics, especially healing soldiers. He had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Trusting in her intercession, he often begged God for the grace of sacrificing his life in vindication of the Catholic faith.

By Judie Brown What is it that makes mainstream media all but ignore the horrors perpetrated by Kermit Gosnell? What is it that makes most Americans have only a passing interest, if any, in this gruesome case? And what can be done to change this? Today's commentary addresses the heart of the matter and challenges each and every one of us to overcome this problem that has crippled our society. There have been literally millions of words spoken and written about the 72-year-old abortionist who is now standing trial because of the aborted-but-born-alive babies he butchered. Read the entire editorial.

April 23, 2013. (Romereports.com) Pope Francis celebrated the feast day of St. George, his patron saint, with a Mass as the Pauline Chapel, along with the resident cardinals in Rome. At the start of the ceremony, Cardinal Dean Angelo Sodano congratulated him on behalf of others. During the hour-long ceremony, Pope Francis gave a brief homily similar to the ones he offers at the Casa Santa Marta Chapel. POPE FRANCIS “I also thank all of you who wanted to come today: Thank you. Because I feel welcomed by you. Thank you. I feel good with you, and I like that.” Without written remarks, but basing himself on the Gospel of the day, he spoke about the Church's expansion, starting with the first persecution of Christians. POPE FRANCIS “And this is how the Church moved forward. Whose was this initiative to speak to the Greeks? This was not clear to anyone but the Jews. But ... it was the Holy Spirit, the One who prompted them ever forward ... But some in Jerusalem, when they hear

The judge in the trial of abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell has acquitted him of three of the eight murder charges the abortion business owner faces in his murder trial. Gosnell faces eight total murder counts — one or killing a woman in a botched abortion and seven for killing babies in abortion-infanticides that involved live-birth abortions and snipping their necks after birth. Read the entire story. This leaves me speechless. All I can say is this is a sad commentary on our judicial system and on our society. It is very sad indeed. 

The saint of the day for April 23 is St. George . St. George was a soldier of the Roman army who was tortured and beheaded for his Christian faith in the year 303, in Lydda (in modern day Palestine).  He was likely born in Cappadocia, of a Cappadocian father and a Palestinian mother of noble rank. At the death of his father (possibly martyrdom) he moved to Palestine with his mother where he joined the military and apparently served with some distinction, meriting several promotions in rank. One account of the martyrdom of St. George is Eusebius´ Ecclesiastical History, which relates that when the emperor Diocletian issued an edict "to tear down the churches to the foundations and to destroy the Sacred Scriptures by fire…a certain man, of no mean origin, but highly esteemed for his temporal dignities, stimulated by a divine zeal, and excited by an ardent faith, took it as it was openly placed and posted up for public inspection, and tore it to shreds as a most profane and wi

Today we commemorate Blessed Teresa Maria of the Cross, Carmelite nun and founder. Teresa Maria Manetti (Bettina was her nickname.) was born at Campi Bisenzio, Florence, Italy. Daughter of Salvatore Manetti and Rosa Bigagli, Teresa had one brother, Adamo Raffaello. She lived her entire life in her small village. Bettina had a cheerful, energetic disposition and a talent for organization and all the qualities which make for a good leader. At the age of 21, she rented a home with two other women who dedicated themselves to a life of prayer, penance, and charity. They cared for the sick and the poor and taught catechism to children. They were inspired by the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila, and had a special devotion to her. Many other women joined the small group. The women were admitted to the Teresian Third Order and Bettina took the new name of Teresa Maria of the Cross. Two years later, she joined the Discalced Carmelites as a nun. Over the next few years she started scho

April 22, 2013 --Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation creating a new center at the state's medical school for researching potential cures using adult stem cells. The bill signed into law Monday by Brownback prohibits the new center at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City from using money or resources on research with embryonic stem cells. Instead, the aim is to make Kansas a leader in research with adult stem cells and stem cells from babies' umbilical cord blood. Excerpted from  KAKE News. Image Source

Vatican City, Apr 22, 2013 / 10:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis warned that some people, even in the Church, are “social climbers” that try to promote themselves, instead of seeking to glorify Christ. “These social climbers exist even in the Christian communities, no? Those people who are looking out for themselves ... and consciously or unconsciously pretend to enter but are thieves and robbers,” he said at an April 22 Mass for Vatican press office and Vatican Radio employees. “Why? Why steal the glory from Jesus? They want glory for themselves and this is what (Jesus) said to the Pharisees: ‘You seek for each other's approval,’” the Pope responded. Read the full story.

April 22, 2013. (Romereports.com) The Custodian of the Holy Land, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, sent an urgent message asking for emergency donations to help support Syrian families. The ongoing violence is escalating among rival groups, and already hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. One year since the civil war started, Syrian families lack food or work because all industries have been destroyed. This past week, renewed fighting southwest of Damascus killed more than 550 people, mostly women and children. The Custodians of the Holy Land are active in many Syrian cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia and Orontes. Inside the Franciscan convents, medical dispensaries have turned into shelters for anyone, without religious or ethnic affiliations. They've received Alawite and Sunni Muslims, Christians, as well as injured government and rebel troops. For this reason, the Custodians of the Holy Land ask for direct assistance to help keep up their chari

This just in from Father Frank Pavonne :  FOX News is getting ready to air a one-hour documentary on Gosnell. This is our opportunity to really educate the American public about someone who, sad to say, represents the norm, not the exception, of the abortion industry. Stay tuned to Priests for Life for the details of the FOX documentary. It will probably be the first Sunday of May at 9pm. We will confirm that for you, but please begin to spread the word. We need as many people as possible to watch this! Image Source

Today we commemorate Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu, a Trappist nun. Maria was born into a family of shepherds in 1914 in Sardinia, the fifth in a family of eight children.  At the age of 18, she taught catechism to the local youth, helped the aged, and developed a deep prayer life. When she was 21, she entered a Trappist monastery in Rome. Her superior was an advocate of ecumenism, and Maria also became devoted to this cause. She offered herself as a victim soul for the unity of the Catholic Church during the week of prayer for Christian unity in 1938. Almost immediately, she developed tuberculosis. After 15 months of intense suffering, she died on April  23, 1939. The Gospel that day included these words which had become Maria’s lifetime motto: “There will be one flock and one shepherd.”  (John 10:16) Pope John Paul II beatified her on January 25, 1983. Blessed Maria Gabriella is buried at the Trappistine Abbey of Our Lady of Saint Joseph at Vitorchiano (near Viterbo). S

By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, to be released May 9, 2013, Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Indiana, Paperback. Available from Our Sunday Visitor, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Catholic  book stores. Autographed copies are available at Donna- Marie's website HERE . Reviewed by Jean M. Heimann, M. A. Theology, wife, mother, freelance writer, and oblate with the Community of St. John. In her latest book, Catholic Mom’s Café: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year , Donna-Marie Cooper-O’Boyle offers busy Catholic moms a wonderful way to grow closer to God by rejuvenating their prayer lives. She provides 365 days of devotions based on the virtues of faith, hope, and love that are brief enough to be enjoyed in just five minutes.  Each meditation consists of four parts: Ponder, which is the reading of a Scripture verse or quote, Offer, which entails offering yourself to the Lord through an activity or idea, Pray, which consists of the recitation of a few short prayers relat

Sen. Julia Lynn, Rep. Steve Brunk, Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, KFL Legislative Dir. Kathy Ostrowski, KFL Lobbyist Jeanne Gawdun, KS Catholic Conference Dir. Michael Schuttloffel; KS Catholic Conference Lobbyist, Edward Larson look on as Governor Sam Brownback signs the Pro-life Protections Act into law. Hip Hip Hooray! Another victory for life in Kansas! I just received this exciting news today from Kansans for Life: This morning, Governor Sam Brownback signed HB 2253, the Pro-life Protections Act, into law.  HB 2253 codifies abortion informed consent materials authorized by the state health department, and removes all tax streams that pay for abortion and give tax advantages to abortion businesses. The informed consent section has an added mandate for the state health department to facilitate medical information access and community support for families facing pre-birth and post-birth diagnoses of Down Syndrome and other conditions. HB 2253 assures taxpayers are not directly f

The saint of the day for April 19 is Blessed James Oldo , who experienced a radical conversion that led him to become a Franciscan tertiary, and later a priest. He was born in 1364 into a rich family in Lodi, Italy. He married at a young age, and he and his wife both led a very self-indulgent lifestyle. One day, a traveling reproduction of the Holy Sepulchre came to their town. As a joke, James lay down on it to compare his height to Christ's. As soon as he laid down on it, he was instantly converted, and became a tertiary soon after. At first, his mother and wife were opposed to the change they saw in him, but soon they grew attracted to his new ways and became tertiaries as well. The family turned their mansion into a chapel and worked with the sick and with prisoners. When James’ wife died, he became a priest. His acts of penance were so severe that his bishop had to order him to eat at least three times a week. He was a celebrated preacher, who inspired many to enter t

The FBI has identified two suspects in Monday's the Boston Marathon bombing, releasing photos and video showing them and asking the public to help locate them.

Pope Francis has asked the faithful to join him in prayer for the victims of a fertilizer-plant explosion in Texas . The Pope posted on his Twitter account: "Please join me in praying for the victims of the explosion in Texas and their families.” Prayer for the Victims of the Texas Explosion and Their Families Lord, for those who lost their lives, and those who mourn them, we ask for your loving mercy. Lord, for those who are wounded, we ask for healing and help. Lord, for those reaching out to the wounded, give them the supernatural graces, and the practical and economic resources they need in their efforts.Father, may this true human tragedy become an invitation for all your people to enter into the ongoing mission of reaching out to all your children and seeing in their face and in their suffering the face of your Son. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to thy protection,

April 18, 2013. (Romereports.com) Just hours after being elected, Pope Francis asked Portuguese Cardinal José Policarpo for a special request. The Pope asked the patriarch of Lisbon to consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima.   In the month of April, Portuguese bishops held their annual meeting, where they all agreed to carry out the consecration ceremony together.   The celebration will held on May 13th and it will be led by Cardinal Policarpo, who also serves as the president of Portugal's Episcopal Conference. The bishops have also invited pilgrims to take part in the ceremony to honor the 'Pope's pastoral service.'

On April 18, we commemorate the feast of Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin , a Canadian woman whose life was a story of obedience in the face of personal setbacks. Esther Blondin was born in 1809 to a pious, French-Canadian farm family in southern Quebec. When she was old enough, she began to work as a domestic servant for a merchant and later for the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame. While she worked for the sisters, she learned to read and write. During that time, Esther decided to enter the congregation as a novice. However, her health forced her to abandon the pursuit. Nevertheless, the literacy she had obtained opened doors for her and she became a teacher, and eventually a director at a parochial school. She was aware of the high levels of illiteracy in the area, and when she was 39 years old, she sought to found an order that taught both boys and girls in the same school. The year was 1848 and her idea was radical, as schools taught boys and girls separately. Event

April 17, 2013. (Romereports.com) On Wednesday morning, St. Peter's Square was especially busy, during the Pope's general audience. More than 50,000 people came out to the Vatican to hear the Pope's catechesis. But before getting started, the Pope greeted some of the pilgrims, for about 30 minutes, as he made his way in the popemobile. Among the crowds, one pilgrim gave him a 'papal hat' as a gift. The Pope, in return, gave him the one he had on. The Pope talked about the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. As usual, the Pope improvised quite a bit. The Pope said there is no need to fear Jesus, because He is like our personal lawyer. POPE FRANCIS “We have someone who always defends us from the traps of the devil, from ourselves and our sins. Dear brothers and sisters, He is our advocate. We should not be afraid to ask for forgiveness or to ask for blessings, to ask for mercy. He will always forgive us. As our lawyer, He will always defend us. We must not forge

Jill Stanek shares an interview from the Today Show in which President Obama is directly asked about Kermit Gosnell, She also exposes evidence which confirms that Obama supports infanticide. It never ceases to amaze me how the mainstream media can close their eyes and ears to the truth when it is bleeding and screaming out all around them. What is obvious to you and me is not obvious to those who are continually wearing blinders and ear plugs. And, when Obama dances around an issue, their typical response is: "What an articulate man!" or other such nonsense.  It is well worth the read.

The saint of the day for April 14 is St. Stephen Harding, who is regarded as the founder of the Cistercian monasteries.  The son of an English noble, Stephen was born at Sherborne in Dorsetshire, England, about the middle of the eleventh century. He consecrated himself to the monastic life in the Abbey of Sherbonne in Dorsetshire, where he received his early education. He later studied in Paris and Rome, where he pursued a brilliant education in humanities, philosophy and theology. After studying in Paris and Rome, while on pilgrimage, he visited the monastery of Molesmes. Impressed by its leaders, Robert of Molesmes and Alberic (who were later canonized), Stephen joined the community. A few years later, Stephen, along with four other monks, the abbot and prior, requested permission to leave Molesmes to find a more spiritual way of life. They established a more austere monastery in Citeaux. Eventually, Robert was recalled to Molesme (1099), Alberic died (1110), and Stephen wa

A major highlight for the Year of Faith will be a two-day celebration in Rome on the Church’s teaching about the dignity of life and how it fits with the New Evangelization. Father Geno Sylva, the English-language official for the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, hopes the event will speak so clearly to the secular world that it is “going to have to listen and say, ‘well, there is a culture of life coming out of the Church.’” The June 15-16 international gathering will begin on Saturday morning with a catechesis session on “The Gospel of Life and the New Evangelization.” The event will “explore the enduring and timeless truths of Blessed John Paul II's 1995 encyclical, ‘Evangelium Vitae,’ and the central role that the Gospel of Life continues to have in the Church's mission of the New Evangelization,” according to organizers. More

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, also said : “In the midst of the darkness of this tragedy, we turn to the light of Jesus Christ, the light that was evident in the lives of people who immediately turned to help those in need today. We stand in solidarity with our ecumenical and interfaith colleagues in the commitment to witness the greater power of good in our society and to work together for healing.” Let's continue to pray for the victims and their families as well as the first responders.

April 16, 2013. (Romereports.com) Pope Francis joined a chorus of world leaders expressing their condolences to the victims of two deadly explosions that disrupted the Boston Marathon on Monday. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's Secretary of State, send a telegram on behalf of Pope Francis to Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley. In it, the Pope expressed his “sympathy and closeness in prayer,” with the victims of this “senseless tragedy.” He also prayed for peace of the people killed, and consolation and strength for the survivors and emergency responders. The telegram ends with the Pope's call to unity and to face evil by doing good. FULL TEXT: HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL SEAN O’MALLEY ARCHBISHOP OF BOSTON DEEPLY GRIEVED BY NEWS OF THE LOSS OF LIFE AND GRAVE INJURIES CAUSED BY THE ACT OF VIOLENCE PERPETRATED LAST EVENING IN BOSTON, HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS WISHES ME TO ASSURE YOU OF HIS SYMPATHY AND CLOSENESS IN PRAYER. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS SENSELESS TRAGEDY,

Today is the feast of St. Bernadette Soubirous, the renowned visionary of Lourdes. Born in Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, Bernadette was the first child of Francois and Louise Soubirous, a poor peasant family. A severe asthma sufferer, Bernadette was such a poor student that she was unable to make her First Holy Communion until she was 14. She had many trials to contend with as a child -- poverty, health problems, which caused her to be behind in school, many responsibilities as the oldest child of six siblings, moving from one poor place to another, and a father who escaped from his financial problems by drowning them in alcohol. Her education was entrusted to the Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction. - a teaching and nursing order whose mother-house is at Nevers, in central France. The Sisters soon discovered that although Bernadette had a quiet, modest demeanor, she had a lively sense of humor and a pleasing personality. It was to this simple 14-year-old girl