Catholic Fire

Fr. Martin Fox's homily for today. Happy Feast Day!

Morning Has Broken As sung by Cat Stevens Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the word Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall, on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, Eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day. Saturday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time Morning Prayer Saints of the Day: Blessed Ralph Milner and Roger Dickenson "These two men lived in England at a time when the practice of one's Catholic faith meant imprisonment and possible execution. Ralph Milner was an elderly, illiterate farmer, the father of eight children, from Flacstead, Hampshire. He was brought up as a Protestant but was so impressed by the lives of his Cat...

Monday of the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time Mass Readings for Today Saint of the Day: St. Bernardino Realino , Jesuit Priest On This Day in Catholic History: 862 Saint Swithin died. 1636 French Jesuit St. Isaac Jogues (1607-1646) arrived in Quebec, where he was later martyred. Birthdays: 1667 - Pietro Ottoboni , Italian cardinal (d. 1740) 1937 - Polly Holliday , American actress (Alice) 1937 - Richard Petty , American race car driver 1947 - Luci Baines Johnson , younger daughter of Lady Byrd and former President Lyndon Johnson, Catholic convert 1964 - Joe Magrane , American baseball player 1984 - Johnny Weir , American figure skater 1986 - Lindsay Lohan , American actress (The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Herbie: Fully Loaded)

A white water lily in our pond From my photo collection Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass Readings for Today On this Day in Catholic History: 1535 St. Thomas More (1478-1535) was indicted for treason after refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the church. Birthdays: 1872 - Louis Blériot , French aviator (d. 1936) 1899 - Thomas A. Dorsey , American composer (d. 1993) 1903 - Amy Johnson , English pilot (d. 1941) 1909 - Bill Stern , American sportscaster (d. 1971) 1916 - Olivia de Havilland , American Actress (Gone with the Wind) 1934 - Jamie Farr , TV and film actor, (M*A*S*H) 1934 - Sydney Pollack , American film director 1938 - Craig Anderson , baseball player 1952 - Dan Aykroyd , Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician 1961 - Diana, Princess of Wales (d. 1997) 1971 - Julianne Nicholson , American Actress

A water lily from our pond From my photo collection June, 2007 Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome Saint of the Day: Blessed Raymond Lull , Spanish Mystic, Scholar, Missionary On This Day in Catholic History: 1073 Gregory VII (Hildebrand, ca. 1020–1085; pope, 1073–1085) was consecrated. 1315 According to tradition, Raymond Lully (Ramon Lull, b. 1232), Spanish mystic, scholar and missionary to Muslims, was stoned to death in North Africa. 1963 Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (1897–1978) was crowned Pope Paul VI at Vatican City. Birthdays: 1917 - Susan Hayward , American actress, Roman Catholic convert (d. 1975) 1917 - Lena Horne , American actress and singer 1936 - Nancy Dussault , American actress 1951 - Orlando "Tubby" Smith , Minnesota basketball coach 1970 - Mark Grudzielanek , baseball player 1971 - Monica Potter , American actress 1984 - Fantasia Barrino , American singer, actress, author, American Idol Winner, 2004

St. Etheldreda Image Via The Roving Medievalist. Saturday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time: Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Etheldreda aka St. Audrey She was the most popular of early English women saints, was the daughter of royalty and the sister of three other saints. She founded the minster of Ely, built on an estate which had been given to her by her first husband Tonbert, with whom she had never lived in wedlock. Her second husband, Egfrid, King of Northumbria, at first respected her desire to lead a religious life, but later he insisted on his rights, and fear of being carried off by him drove her to Ely. On This Day in Catholic History: 1983 - Pope John Paul II holds a private meeting with the founder of Solidarity, Lech Walesa, on a visit to Poland. 2001 - Pope John Paul II makes the 94th trip of his papacy to the Ukraine in 2001. Birthdays: 1400 - Johannes Gutenberg Inventor of the printing press 1929 - June Carter Cash , American singer (d. 2003) 1948 - Clarence Thoma...

Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, confessor Catholic History: 1963 Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (1897–1978) was elected Pope Paul VI in Rome, the 261st pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Birthdays: 1002 - Pope Leo IX (d. 1054) 1732 - Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach , German composer (d. 1791) 1774 - Daniel D. Tompkins , Congressman, Governor of New York, and sixth Vice President of the United States (d. 1825) 1947 - Michael Gross , American actor 1950 - Joey Kramer , American drummer and percussionist ( Aerosmith ) 1959 - Kathy Mattea , American country singer 1966 - Alisyn Camerota , American journalist (Anchor: Fox News) 1982 - Prince William of Wales , British prince

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Blessed Michelina Patronage: death of children, in-law problems, insanity, mental illness, mentally ill people, widows In art, Michelina is a young Franciscan tertiary kneeling in ecstasy in the midst of a storm with a pilgrim's hat and staff by her (Roeder). On This Day in Catholic History: 1336 Pope Benedict XII (ca. 1280–1342) issued the encyclical Summi Magistri in an effort to correct abuses that had crept into the Catholic church. It reconstituted the ancient religious order of the Benedictines and remained in effect until the Council of Trent (1545–1563). 1946 Archbishop Josef Beran 's (1888–1969) resistance letter on church/state relations was read in the pulpits of Czechoslovakia. 1949 The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office (Rome) declared Czechoslovakia's Catholic Action Movement schismatic and excommunicated all who participated in this Communist-controlled church. Birthdays: 1924 - Chet Atki...

Monday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Blessed Osana of Mantua Today in Catholic History: 1376 St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) set out from Siena to coax the pope in Avignon, France, to return the papacy to Rome. 1429 St. Joan of Arc , "Maid of Orleans," led the French to victory over the English at Patay. Birthdays: 1511 - Bartolomeo Ammanati , Italian architect and sculptor (d. 1592) 1903 - Jeanette MacDonald , American actress and singer (d. 1965) 1939 - Lou Brock , baseball player 1952 - Carol Kane , American actress (Taxi)

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Today in Catholic History: 1215 The Magna Carta was signed by King John at Runnymede, England, under pressure from nobles. It ensured the basic rights for his subjects. 1256 Pope Alexander IV (ca. 1199–1261) again ordered Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1225–1274) to be admitted as a doctor of theology. Rivalry between Catholic orders had led universities to resist. 1520 Exsurge Domine (a "Bull against the Errors of Luther and His Followers") was issued by Pope Leo X, condemning Martin Luther as a heretic. Birthdays: 1594 - Nicolas Poussin , French painter (d. 1665) 1805 - William Butler Ogden , first Mayor of Chicago (d. 1877) 1936 - William Joseph Cardinal Levada , American Catholic prelate 1938 - Billy Williams , baseball player 1946 - Janet Lennon , singer (The Lennon Sisters)

Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Methodius of Constantinople On This Day in Catholic History: 1936 English author, journalist, and convert to Roman Catholicism G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton died (b. 29 May 1874). 1948 Cardinal József Mindszenty (1892–1975) ordered church bells tolled throughout Hungary in protest of the nation's secularization law. 1949 Archbishop Josef Beran (1888–1969) of Czechoslovakia tried to preach his Corpus Christi sermon in the Cathedral of Saint Vitus, but Communist agitators broke it up with catcalls. 1966 The Vatican abolished the Index of Prohibited Books , established in 1557 by the Congregation of the Inquisition under Pope Paul IV. History Highlights of the Day: 1956 President Eisenhower signed a congressional resolution that added the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance . Today is Flag Day in the United States. Birthdays: 1811 - Harriet Beecher Stowe , American author (d. 1896) 1906 - Mar...

Memorial of St. Barnabas, apostle St. Barnabas, designated by the Holy Spirit to share the charge and mission of the twelve Apostles, is venerated by the Church as one of them. He played an important part in the first extension of Christianity outside the Jewish world. It was Barnabas who presented St. Paul to the other Apostles when, after his long retreat in Arabia, he came to Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion to submit for Peter's approval the mission to the Gentiles entrusted to him by the Master Himself. Barnabas was Paul's companion and helper on his first missionary journey and returned with him to Jerusalem, but left him when he set out on his second journey and went to Cyprus. The name of St. Barnabas is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. Name Meaning son of encouragement; son of consolation Patronage against hailstorms; Antioch; Cyprus; invoked as peacemaker; Marino, Italy Representation ax; lance; middle-aged bearded apostle, often bearing a book or ...

Thursday of the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew Today in Catholic History: 555 Pope Vigilius died in Syracuse on his way back to Rome after attending the fifth church council. 1099 The armies of the First Crusade reached the walls of Jerusalem. Birthdays: 1848 - Paul Gauguin , French painter (d. 1903) 1896 - Douglas Campbell , American World War I flying ace (d. 1990) 1917 - Gwendolyn Brooks , American poet (d. 2000) 1947 - Thurman Munson , American baseball player (d. 1979) 1981 - Tyler Johnson , baseball player

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel Today in Catholic History: 589 Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 685 Pope Saint Benedict II was buried. 1373 English mystic St. Julian of Norwich (1342–1413) received revelations that she later recorded in her book, The Sixteen Revelations of Love Divine. 1521 Roman Catholic educator and writer St. Peter Canisius born in Nijmegan, Netherlands (d. 21 December 1597). 1895 Roman Catholic archbishop and broadcaster Fulton J. Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois (d. 9 December 1979). Birthdays: 1521 - St. Petrus Canisius , Dutch Jesuit (d. 1597) 1753 - Miguel Hidalgo Mexican revolutionary (d. 1811) 1786 - St. Jean Vianney , French Catholic priest (d. 1859) 1895 - Servant Of God Fulton J. Sheen , American bishop (d. 1979) 1884 - Harry S. Truman , President of the United States (d. 1972) 1905 - Red Nichols , American musician (d. 1965) 1943 - Toni Tennille , American singer 1943 - Paul Samwell-Smith ...

Litugical Calendar / Saint of the Day: Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter / Memorial of St. Pius V, pope; Optional Memorial Blessed Marie de l'Incarnacion, religious (Can) Today in Catholic History: 304 The last and most punishing anti-Christian edict during Roman Emperor Diocletian 's (ca. 245–ca. 312) reign was published. 418 Roman Emperor Honorius (384–423) issued a decree against Pelagianism , a teaching that a person can take the initial and fundamental steps toward salvation by one's own efforts, apart from divine grace. 1651 Roman Catholic educational reformer St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle , founder of the lay order the Brothers of the Christian Schools, was born in Reims, France (d. 7 April 1719). 1658 St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620–1700) established the first uncloistered Catholic missionary community in the new world at Ville Marie, Canada. Birthdays: 1721 - Roger Sherman , American statesman (d. 1793) 1908 - Eve Arden was an Academy Award -nominated and Emmy...

Friday of the Third Week of Easter Saint of the Day - St. Zita. patron saint of domestic workers Today in Catholic History: 155 Tertullian , Latin ecclesiastical writer, was born, probably at Carthage, the son of a pagan centurion (d. ca. 230). 1565 Blessed Osanna of Cattaro (also Hosanna, known in Croatian as Ozana Kotorska), a Catholic Montenegrin Dominican tertiary, visionary, anchoress and convert from Greek Orthodoxy, died (b. 25 November 1493). Birthdays: 1822 - Ulysses S. Grant , 18th President of the United States (d. 1885) 1900 - Walter Lantz , American cartoonist (d. 1994) 1975 - Chris Carpenter , American baseball player

Liturgical Calendar / Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Good Counsel On This Day in Catholic History 1467 - The miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel appears in Genazzano, Italy. 1955 - The Roman Catholic television program Life Is Worth Living was broadcast for the last time on Dumont television. Premiering 12 February 1952, it was one of the most successful religious programs ever to air on television. It won its host, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979), an Emmy Award in 1952 for "the most outstanding personality" on television. Birthdays: 1878 - Saint Rafael Guízar Valencia , Mexican Catholic bishop 1798 - Eugène Delacroix , French painter (d. 1863) 1900 - Hack Wilson , American baseball player (d. 1948) 1917 - Sal Maglie , baseball player (d. 1992) 1938 - Duane Eddy , American musician 1933 - Carol Burnett , American comedian 1942 - Bobby Rydell , American singer

Liturgical Calendar/Saint of the Day: St. Mark, the Evangelist On This Day in Catholic History: 387 Saint Augustine (354–430) was baptized. 799 Pope Saint Leo III (perhaps ca. 750-816) was attacked, his eyes stabbed and his tongue torn. He recovered and crowned Charlemagne emperor. He was pope from 795 to 816. 1214 Louis IX , king of France and saint, was born (d. 25 August 1270). Leader of the Seventh and Eighth Crusades (he died in the latter), he was known for his humility. 1982, John Cardinal Cody , American cardinal died. Birthdays: 1874 - Guglielmo Marconi , Italian inventor, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics (d. 1937) 1915 - Frederick William Seward , United States Assistant Secretary of State (b. 1830) 1939 - Ted Kooser , American poet and US Poet Laureate 1969 - Renée Zellweger , American actress 1969 - Joe Buck , American sports broadcaster

Liturgical Calendar/Saint of the Day: Optional Memorial of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr On This Day in Catholic History: 1870 The First Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic church, in its third public session, published "Dei Filius." Beginning with an attack on pantheism, materialism and atheism of the day, it focused on the relationship between faith and reason. In essence it proclaimed that God can be known through human thought. It adopted "the dogmatic constitution on the Catholic faith." 2005 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI . Birthdays: 1581 - St. Vincent de Paul , French Founder of the Congregation of Priests of the Mission (d.1660) 1706 - Giovanni Battista Martini , Italian musician (d. 1780) 1905 - Robert Penn Warren , American poet (d.1989) 1936 - Jill Ireland , British actress (d. 1990) 1967 - Omar Vizquel , Major League Baseball shortstop 1982 ...

Optional Memorial of St. George, Martyr, and St. Adalbert, bishop and martyr On This Day in Catholic History: 303 Saint George , Christian martyr, died. 997 Adalbert of Prague , "Apostle of Prussia," was martyred. 1725 Saint Gerard Majella , was born. Today's Highlight in History: April 23, 1564, is believed to be the birthdate of English poet and dramatist William Shakespeare; he died 52 years later, also on April 23. Birthdays: 1791 - James Buchanan , 15th President of the United States (d. 1868) 1813 - Frédéric Ozanam , French scholar ( Society of Saint Vincent de Paul ) (d.1853) 1928 - Shirley Temple , American actress and politician 1960 - Valerie Bertinelli , American actress