Catholic Fire

St. Bernard on the Blessed Virgin Mary: "In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.” "If the hurricanes of temptation rise against you, or you are running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star- call on Mary!" St. Bernard on Love: "Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its...

Memorial of St. Bernard, abbot and doctor St. Bernard (1090-1153) was born near Dijon and died in Clairvaux, France. He was of a noble family and received a careful education in his youth. With his father, brother and thirty noblemen he entered the Benedictine monastery of Citeaux. Two years later he led a group of monks to establish a house at Clairvaux, and became its abbot. The monastic rule which he perfected at Clairvaux became the model for 163 monasteries of the Cistercian reform. He was a theologian, poet, orator, and writer. He is sometimes considered as a Father of the Church. (Catholic Culture) Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 984 - Pope John XIV died Birthdays: 1517 - Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle , French Roman Catholic Cardinal (d. 1586) 1632 - Louis Bourdaloue , French Jesuit priest (d. 1704) 1833 - Benjamin Harrison , 23rd President of the United States(d. 1901) 1845 - St. Albert Chmielowski , Polish Catholic Saint (d. 1916) 1908 - Al Lopez , ...

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.