Catholic Fire

Lenten Reflection for Friday, the Fifth Week of Lent Today's Mass Readings and Homily Today in Catholic History Saint John Climacus (died 649) 1995 - Pope John Paul II issued an encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) promoting a "culture of life"in which human freedom will find its authentic meaning by joining forces with truth, life and love. It condemns the "culture of death"and cites abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws could legitimize. The Vatican's Summary of Evangelium Vitae

Lenten Reflection for Thursday, the 4th Week in Lent Today's Scripture Readings Homily of the Day Catholic History 1544 - Johannes Magnus , last Catholic Archbishop of Sweden died. (b. 1488)

Lenten Reflection for Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent Today's Scripture readings Homily of the Day Today in Catholic History 543 The Italian monk Benedict of Nursia (b. ca. 480), author of the Benedictine rule (which established the pattern for European monastic life through the Middle Ages), died at Monte Cassino. 1098 The monastery in Citeaux, France, was founded by Saint Robert, abbot of Molesme and a Benedictine monk. This was the origin of the Roman Catholic religious order known as the Cistercians . 1146 Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153), one of the most famous theologians and monks of his day, had been preaching for a second crusade, and King Louis VII of France took up the cause and led the ill-fated mission to regain the crusader capital of Edessa. 1800 Pius VII (1742–1823) was crowned Pope in Venice with a temporary papal tiara made of papier-mâché.

Lenten Reflections for Tuesday, 4th Week of Lent Today's Scripture Readings Daily Gospel Today in Catholic History 1897 Frank Sheed , Roman Catholic lay theologian and founder of Sheed and Ward, publishers of books in the areas of biography, history, philosophy, theology and literature, was born (d. 20 November 1982).

The following are notes from a talk given by Fr. Dominique, a few years ago, about the meaning of Lent. I have adapted them very slightly in order to help clarify the meaning in English, as the speaker is French. The content is still the same. Lenten Reflections Lent is a retreat that the Church gives us in order to re-focus on what should be first in our lives. The purpose of Jesus' life was to glorify the Father and Save the world. Today, we are called to rediscover the dignity of being invited to live as the Son. Lent is not first a time of giving up but a time to re-choose to be victim of Christ, the Lamb. It is a time to live the Beatitudes. If sleeping less makes us gloomy, then we should sleep as we normally do. Lent should bring us joy – Christian joy. We become joyful when we live out the sacrifice of Christ in our lives. To re-choose a Christian joy means to embrace the sorrowful mysteries that lead us to the glorious. During the Lenten season, we must refocus on Jesus Ch...

Optional Memorial of St. Frances of Rome, Religious Patron of: automobile drivers, cab or taxi drivers, death of children, lay people, motorists, people ridiculed for their piety, Roman housewives, widows. Friday of the Second Week in Lent - Reflection & Prayer Today in Catholic History 395 St. Gregory of Nyssa , Cappadocian father and bishop, died (b. ca. 335). Birthdays 1568 - Aloysius Gonzaga , Italian saint (d.1591 ) 1856 - Eddie Foy , American singer and dancer (d. 1928) 1900 - Howard Aiken , American computing pioneer (d. 1973 ) 1932 - Keely Smith , American singer 1986 - Brittany Snow , American actress

Optional Memorial of St. John of God Lenten Reflections and Prayer for Thursday, the Second Week in Lent Today in Catholic History 1144 - Pope Celestine II died. Today's Birthdays 1714 - Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach , German composer (d.1788) 1841- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. , U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d. 1935) 1909- Claire Trevor , American actress (d. 2000) 1921 - Cyd Charisse , American actress and dancer 1938 - Pete Dawkins , American football player 1948 - Peggy March , American pop singer 1945 - Micky Dolenz , American musician ( The Monkees ) 1953 - Jim Rice , Baseball player 1963 - Kathy Ireland , American model and actress 1976 - Freddie Prinze Jr. , American actor 1976 - Juan Encarnacion , baseball player

Wednesday, Second Week of Lent, Memorial of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs Lenten Reflection and Prayers for Today Today in Catholic History 1274 Thomas Aquinas (b. ca. 1225), greatest philosopher and theologian of the Medieval church, died. 1530 Pope Clement VII (1478–1534) rejected Henry VIII ’s (1491–1547) request to divorce Catherine of Aragon. 1964 Pope Paul VI (1897–1978) celebrated Mass in Italian instead of Latin, implementing one of the most significant changes of the Second Vatican Council-worship in the vernacular. Birthdays 1693 - Pope Clement XIII (d. 1769 ) 1934 - Willard Scott , American television broadcaster 1952 - Lynn Swann , American football player 1962 - Taylor Dayne , American singer 1963 - Denyce Graves , American singer 1964 - Wanda Sykes , American actress and comedian 1968- Jeff Kent , American baseball player 1971 - Peter Sarsgaard , American actor

Tuesday, Second Week of Lent Lenten Reflection and Prayer for Today Today in Catholic History 1447 - Nicholas V becomes Pope. Birthdays 1475- Michelangelo , Italian artist (d. 1564) 1806 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning , British poet (d. 1861) 1906 - Lou Costello , American actor comedian (d.1959) 1923 - Ed McMahon , American television personality 1927- Gordon Cooper , astronaut (d. 2004) 1968 - Moira Kelly , American actress

Monday of the Second Week in Lent Lenten Reflection and Prayer for the Second Week in Lent Today in Catholic History Saint Theophilus (†195) was Bishop of Caesaria Palestina. He is commemerated on March 5. 308 Saint Adrian died. 308 Saint Olivia died. 1179 Pope Alexander III (1100/05–1181) convoked the Third Lateran Council . Attended by three hundred bishops, it gave the college of cardinals the exclusive right to elect the pope (by a two-thirds majority) and enacted measures against the Waldensians and Albigensians. 1545 The Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul III (1468–1549). Birthdays 1869- Michael von Faulhaber , German cardinal and archbishop (d. 1952 ) 1939- Samantha Eggar , English actress 1954 - Marsha Warfield , American actress, comedienne 1973 - Ryan Franklin , American baseball player 1974 - Eva Mendes , American actress

The Second Sunday in Lent - Liturgical Reflection Lenten Reflection and Prayers Today in Catholic History 303 or 304 - Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia . 1853 - Pope Pius IX recovers Roman Catholic hierarchy in Netherlands . 1979 - The first encyclical written by Pope John Paul II , Redemptor Hominis ( Latin for "The Redeemer of Man") is promulgated less than five months after his installation as pope. Birthdays 1678 - Antonio Vivaldi , Italian composer (d.1741) 1888 - Knute Rockne , American football player and coach (d.1931) 1939 - Paula Prentiss , American actress 1950 - Rick Perry , Governor of Texas 1958 - Patricia Heaton , American actress

Saturday, First Week in Lent Reflection and Prayer Today in Catholic History 1431 - Eugene IV becomes Pope . 1974 - Roman Catholic and Lutheran officials reach an agreement for eventual reconciliation into one communion , marking the first agreement between the two churches since the Reformation . Birthdays 1926 - Joseph Anthony Ferrario , American Catholic prelate 1962 - Jackie Joyner-Kersee , American athlete 1962 - Herschel Walker , American football player 1970 - Julie Bowen , American actress

Friday of the First Week in Lent Today is First Friday . Today's Lenten Reflection Today in Catholic History 1459 Pope Adrian VI was born (d 14 September 1523). He was the only pope of modern times, except Marcellus II, who retained his baptismal name. 1810 Pope Leo XIII was born near Anagni, Italy (d. 20 July 1903). 1876 Pope Pius XII was born in Rome (d. 9 October 1958).

The First Thursday in Lent Lenten Reflection for Today by Mother Angelica Quote for the Day: "Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them." ~ St. Francis de Sales Today in History 589 Saint David of Wales , bishop and confessor, patron of Wales, died (b. ca. 500). 713 Suitbert, Apostle of Frisia and a Northumbrian priest, died. 1547 The Council of Trent reaffirmed the Roman Catholic teaching on Confirmation as a sacrament. 1958 - Samuel Alphonsus Stritch , is appointed Pro-Prefect of the Propagation of Faith and thus becomes the first American member of the Roman Curia . Birthdays 1474 - Angela Merici , Italian nun (d. 1540 ) 1732 - William Cushing , 2nd (confirmed) Chief Justice of the United States . (d. 1810 ) 1810 - Frédéric Chopin , Polish-French composer and pianist (d. 1849 ) 1904 - Glenn Miller , American bandleader (d. 1944 ) 1910 - David Niven , English actor (d . 1983 ) 1912 - Gerald Emmett C...

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Meditation - The Faults of Our Neighbor Daily Lenten Reflection and Prayer This Day in History 1759 Pope Clement XIII (1693–1769) granted permission for the Bible to be translated into all the languages of the Roman Catholic states. 1873 The Society of Mary (the Marist Fathers) was officially sanctioned by Pope Pius IX. This Roman Catholic religious order, founded in 1816, seeks to unite the work of education with missions. 1944 Nazi soldiers invaded the home of Dutch Christian Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983) and arrested the family on the charge of harboring Jews. Births 1901 - Linus Pauling , American chemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1994 ) 1923 - Charles Durning , American actor 1930 - Gavin MacLeod , American actor 1931 - Dean Smith , American basketball coach 1940 - Mario Andretti , American race car driver Quote of the Day "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. Tha...

Daily Lenten Devotions: Tuesday, the Second Week of Lent Today's Saint : St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows For More Information about St. Gabriel and Today's Liturgy, go here . This Day in History 1860 - Abraham Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union in the city of New York that was largely responsible for his election to the Presidency . 1939 - American Civil Rights Movement : Sit-down strikes are outlawed by the Supreme Court of the United States . 1971 - Doctors in the first Dutch abortion clinic (the Mildredhuis in Arnhem ) start to perform abortus provocatus . 1973 - The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota . 1991 - Gulf War : U.S. President George H. W. Bush announces that " Kuwait is liberated." Births 272 - Constantine I , Roman emperor (d . 337 ) 1807 - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , American poet (d. 1882 ) 1886 - Hugo Black , U.S. Supreme Court Justice (d . 1971 ) 1891 - Anne Samson ...