Catholic Fire

Happy Birthday, dear Holy Father! From The National Catholic Register : The Pope has received a number of birthday greetings. Yesterday, a group sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Today, at the White House, a group of the guests spontaneously launched into "Happy Birthday." Then, at the conclusion of his White House speech, the official singer sang "Happy Birthday" to him before he walked into the White House with the President. I'm sure he'll be receiving many more throughout the day. Stay tuned...we're trying to find out what the President's official gift for the Pope is. Pope Greets Thousands On His Birthday Crowds Scream, Sing 'Happy Birthday' To Pontiff Pope's Birthday At The White House - Deal Hudson, Inside Catholic Today's Papal Events 10:30 a.m. - The Holy Father meets with President Bush and the First Lady on the south lawn of the White House. 5:30 p.m. - Private prayer service and meeting with the 350 bishops of the...

"Whatever trials the Lord sends you, whatever sacrifices He asks of you, whatever duties He imposes on you, always have this response of love and faithfulness on your lips and in your heart: 'Hear is your servant, O my God, ready to undertake all, to give all, to sacrifice all, as long as Your will may be accomplished in me and on all the the earth'." ~ From the private notes of St. Bernadette of Lourdes, A Holy Life, by Patricia A. McEachern, Ph.D.

Image : Saint Raymond of Penafort , patron saint of lawyers, canon lawyers, schools of law, and medical record librarians. Optional Memorial of St. Raymond of Penafort, priest Today's Mass Readings The Fourteenth Day of Christmas On This Day in Catholic History 1844 Saint Bernadette Soubirous , a French peasant girl who had several visions of the Virgin Mary in a cave near the Gave River close to her birthplace of Lourdes, was born (d. April 16, 1879). 1502 - Pope Gregory XIII was born. (d. 1585) Birthdays 1800 - Millard Fillmore , 13th President of the United States (d. 1874) 1827 - Sir Sandford Fleming , Canadian engineer; introduced Universal Standard Time (d. 1915 ) 1873 - Adolph Zukor , Hungarian producer (d. 1976) 1873 - Charles Peguy , French poet, essayist, and editor, Catholic convert, (d. 1914) 1934 - Charlie Jenkins , American runner 1942 - Jim Lefebvre , American baseball player and manager 1945 - Tony Conigliaro , American baseball player (d. 1990) 1948 - Kenny Logg...

Today is the feast 0f Our Lady of Lourdes and the 15th World Day of the Sick. To read the Holy Father's Message on this day, go here. Just a reminder that Catholics who, under the usual conditions, participate in prayer services for the World Day of the Sick today, February 11 — ordinarily the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes — can obtain a plenary indulgence . For details, go here. For a a virtual pilgrimage to Lourdes that explores the life of this great saint of poverty and penance – many high quality and unique photos, go here . Official Site of Lourdes Place Your Petition at the Grotto of Lourdes The 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions