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...

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Today's Mass Readings "I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and not one will ever steal them from me. The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one (John 10:25-30)." Reflection The Work of the Holy Spirit Meditation for April 15, Angels of the Agony Via †Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam† Saint of the Day St. Paturnus On This Day in Catholic History 2008 -- Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the USA for his apostolic visit. Historical Birthday 1452 - Leonardo da Vinci , Italian Renaissance polymath: a scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer (d. 1519) Today's...

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter Today's Mass Readings "I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd." (John 10: 14 - 16) Today's Saints: Sts. Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, Martyrs On This Day in Catholic History 1191 - Giacinto Bobo became Pope Coelestinus III. 1434 - The foundation stone of Cathedral St. Peter and St. Paul in Nantes, France was laid. Famous Birthday 1866 - Anne Sullivan Macy , Helen Keller 's teacher (d. 1936)

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter Today's Mass Readings Reflection Saint of the Day: St. Julius I Famous Birthdays 1484 - Antonio da Sangallo the Younger , Italian architect. He was the chief architect of St. Peter's Basicilia in Rome. (d. 1546) 1979 - Jennifer Morrison , 29, Actress, ("House M.D.")

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter Today's Mass Readings "I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6: 48 - 51) Image Source: Eucharist Reflection: I AM by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, President of Human Life International Saint of the Day: St. Fulbert of Chartres More about St. Fulbert here. Famous Birthday: 1921 - 1992 Chuck Connors , American actor ( The Rifleman (1958-1963), professional basketball and baseball player. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrants from the Dominion of Newfoundland via Ireland. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and served as an altar boy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. His natural athletic ...

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter Today's Mass Readings “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." (John 6:35) Today's Homily Saint of the Day: St. Eupsychius, Martyr On This Day in Catholic History 715 -- Pope Constantine I (708-15), died. 2005 -- A day after the funeral for Pope John Paul II, cardinals began an intense period of silence and prayer before their conclave to choose the next pope. Today's Special Prayer Intentions: For the Holy Father's intentions. For this prayer request from Father Z. at What Does the Prayer Really Say? For those in the media that they may be a strong voice for the oppressed in our world. For an end to abortion, euthanasia and all sins against human life. For the conversion of all abortionists. For the conversion of all those esnared in the culture of death. For all the intentions at One Came Back. For all previous prayer intentions mentioned here.

Friday of the Second Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Isidore of Seville, bishop and doctor St. Isidore was born around the year 560 in Seville, Spain. After his father's death, he was raised by his brother Leander. He was appointed Bishop of Seville, and wrote many learned works. As Bishop, he called together several councils in Spain and presided over them with wisdom. He died in 636. Patron of: Computer technicians; computer users; computers; the Internet; schoolchildren; students. Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History 397 Saint Ambrose , bishop of Milan, church father, leader, teacher and liturgist, died (b. ca. 340). 1541 Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was elected the first General of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Famous Birthday: 1975 - Scott Rolen , American baseball player

Optional Memorial of St. Francis of Paola, hermit Today's Mass Readings St. Francis of Paola St. Francis was born at Paula in Calabria; after living as a hermit for five years (from the age of fourteen to nineteen) he gathered around him some companions with whom he led the religious life. This was the origin of a new order, to which he gave the name of Minims, that is "the least" in the house of God. Pope Sixtus IV sent him to France to help Louis XI on his deathbed. He remained there and founded a house of his Minims at Tours. Homily of the Day

Today's Mass Readings Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20:16 - 18) Saint of the Day : St. Margaret Clitherow , Patron of businesswomen; converts, and martyrs. Today's Special Prayer Intentions For the intentions of the Holy Father for this month. For safe travel for the Holy Father. For Father John Corapi, who has been undergoing testing at the Mayo Clinic. For a special personal intention. For an end to abortion and the closing of all abortion mills. For all the prayer requests at One Came Back. For all previous prayer requests posted here.

Today's Mass Readings Today's Meditation We understand the suffering of Jesus' heart, His sadness over one of His disciples, one of those He had chosen and therefore one of those whom He loves: "One of you will betray me." Here we see the two extremes: the disciple whom Jesus loves, John close to Jesus' heart, and Judas, who draws further and further away, who turns in on himself and closes himself in on his evil will. A division arose among those whom Jesus had chosen and loved and the cause of this division is Judas' jealousy towards John. Judas did not directly will Jesus' death, but he could not stand Jesus' love for John. Judas did not go to the end in his first love and he rejected this first love because he saw that another was first passing ahead of him. Let us ask Jesus for the grace to be faithful to the end in our love for Him and that nothing, absolutely nothing, make us stray from Him. May He always be the one we love above all things....

Wednesday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time Old Calendar: St. Raymund of Penafort, confessor; St. Emerentiana, virgin and martyr Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: Saint Ildephonsus On This Day in Catholic History 1789 - A Catholic academy, now Georgetown University , was founded by Father John Carroll in Washington, D.C., as the first Roman Catholic college in America. Birthdays 1832 - Edouard Manet , French painter, impressionism, (d.1883) 1855 - John Moses Browning , American inventor (d. 1926) 1898 - Randolph Scott , American actor (d. 1987) 1907 - Dan Duryea , American actor, The Pride of the Yankees (1942) (d. 1968) 1919 - Ernie Kovacs , American Author, actor, comedian, composer and producer 1948 - Anita Pointer , American singer ( Pointer Sisters ) 1950 - Danny Federici , American musician ( Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band ) 1979 - Larry Hughes , American basketball player

Martin Luther King Day "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~ Martin Luther King Memorial of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr More on St. Agnes with quotes from St. Augustine and St. Ambrose Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History 1118 - Pope Paschal II , significantly involved in the long struggle with emperors over the appointment of church officials, died. 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade . 1998 - Pope John Paul II began his first visit to Cuba. Birthdays 1932 - John Chaney , American basketball coach 1938 - Wolfman Jack , American disk jockey and actor (d. 1995) 1940 - Jack Nicklaus , American golfer 1941 - Plácido Domingo , Spanish tenor 1947 - Jill Eikenberry , American actress 1956 - Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis, an American actress, producer, writer, athlete, and former fashion model. ( Tootsie , The Accidental Tourist ) 1963 -...

Memorial of St. Anthony, abbot Today's Mass Readings St. Anthony of the Desert: Abbot and Inspiration to St. Augustine On This Day in Catholic History 356 - Saint Anthony the Great (b. ca. 251), founder of Christian monasticism, died. 1377 - Pope Gregory XI (ca. 1336–1378) moved the Papacy back to Rome from Avignon . 1504 - Pope Pius V was born (d. 1 May 1572). Birthdays 1905 - Ray Cunningham , American baseball player (d. 2005) 1914 - William Stafford , American poet and essayist (d. 1993) 1922 - Betty White, American actress, ( The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls .) 1927 - Thomas Anthony Dooley III , Roman Catholic missionary to southeast Asia, was born in Saint Louis, Missouri (d. 1961). 1931 - James Earl Jones , American actor 1931 - Don Zimmer , American baseball coach 1933 - Shari Lewis , American ventriloquist (d. 1998) 1939 - Maury Povich , American talk show host 1943 - Chris Montez , American singer, ("Call Me", " The More I See You "...

Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Berard and Companions On This Day in Catholic History 1120 - The Council of Nablus was held, establishing the earliest surviving written laws of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem . 1581 - The English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism. Birthdays 1901 - Frank Zamboni , American inventor (d. 1988) 1908 - Ethel Merman, American actress and singer (d. 1984) 1910 - Dizzy Dean , American baseball player (d. 1974) 1934 - Marilyn Horne , American opera singer 1935 - A.J. Foyt , American race car driver and team owner 1943 - Ronnie Milsap , American singer and songwriter 1947 - Laura Schlessinger , American radio talk show host 1950 - Debbie Allen , American dancer and choreographer 1959 - Sade , Nigerian-born singer 1974 - Kate Moss , English model 1977 - Jeff Foster , American basketball player 1980 - Albert Pujols , Dominican-born baseball player

Tuesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time Today's Mass Readings Today's Saint: St. Ita On This Day in Catholic History 345 - Paul of Thebes , traditionally considered to be the first Christian hermit and an inspiration for Antony of Egypt and later Christian monasticism, died. 1844 - The University of Notre Dame was chartered in South Bend, Indiana. Culture of Life History Highlight of the Day 1951 - The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York City ordinance requiring a police permit for street preachers. The court determined that the ordinance violated the First Amendment , which guarantees freedom of speech and religion. Birthdays 1918 - Édouard Gagnon , Canadian Roman Catholic cardinal (d. 2007) 1920 - John Cardinal O'Connor , American Catholic cardinal (d. 2000) 1929 - Martin Luther King Jr , American civil rights leader, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (d. 1968) 1937 - Margaret O'Brien , American actress 1951 - Charo, Spanish-born singer

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Old Calendar: St. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; St. Felix of Nola, priest and martyr Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: Saint Barbara, Virgin and Martyr On This Day in Catholic History 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Knights Templar was granted at the Council of Troyes . 1514 - Pope Leo X issued a papal bull against slavery. Birthdays 1875 - Albert Schweitzer , Alsatian physician, Nobel laureate (d. 1965) 1883 - Nina Ricci - Italian - born French fashion designer (d. 1970) 1892 - Hal Roach , American film and television producer from the 1910s to the 1980s. (d. 1992) 1906 - William Bendix , American actor (d. 1964) 1941 - Faye Dunaway , American Actress 1942 - Dave Campbell , American baseball player and sportscaster 1952 - Maureen Dowd , American writer 1964 - Shepherd Smith , News Anchor at Fox News

Saturday Christmas Weekday Saint of the Day: St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, Canada's First woman saint, founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame de Montreal Have your children visit this interactive webpage about the life of St. Marguerite which also teaches the history of Canada. See my special post dedicated to St. Marguerite Bourgeoys and the Sisters of the Congregation on Notre Dame who taught me in elementary school and high school. Saint Quote of the Day: Our Lady's love is like a stream that has its source in the Eternal Fountains, quenches the thirst of all, can never be drained, and ever flows back to its Source. ~ St. Marguerite Burgeoys Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History 690 - Saint Benedict Biscop , the Benedictine abbot and monastery builder who introduced the stone-built church and the art of glassmaking to England, died (b. ca. 628). 1167 - Aelred (a.k.a. Ailred, Ethelred), abbot of the Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire, England, di...

Friday Christmas Weekday Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Theodosius The Eighteenth Day of Christmas On This Day in Catholic History 314 - Pope Saint Miltiades , who became pope after the Roman emperor Galerius had previously passed an edict of toleration ending the persecution of Christians, died. During his pontificate, in 313, the Edict of Milan was passed by the tetrarchs Constantine and Licinius , declaring that they would be neutral with regard to religious worship and restoring church property. Constantine presented the pope with the Lateran Palace which became the papal residence and seat of Christian governance. Birthdays 1815 - Sir John A. MacDonald , First Prime Minister of Canada (1867-1873, 1878-1891) Conservative-Ontario. 1842 - William James , American psychologist and philosopher (d. 1910) 1885 - Alice Paul, American women's rights activist; Paul called abortion "the ultimate exploitation of women" (d. 1977) 1939 - Anne Heggtveit , Can...

"He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord." (Luke 4: 16 - 19) Thursday Christmas Weekday Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St William , Archbishop of Bourges On This Day in Catholic History 236 - Fabian was elected bishop of Rome. He served until January 20, 250, when he became the first martyr under Decius, the emperor who initiated an Empire-wide persecution of Christians. 681 - Agatho , pope from 678 to 681, died (b. ca. 577). 1276 - Pope Gregory X died (b. ca. 1210). 1607 - St. Isaac Jogues , French Jesu...

Wednesday Christmas Weekday Today's Mass Readings The Sixteenth Day of Christmas Saint of the Day: St. Adrian of Canterbury On This Day in Catholic History 1431 - Judges' investigations for the trial of St. Joan of Arc begin in Rouen, France, the seat of the English occupation government. 1554 - Pope Gregory XV was born (d. 8 July 1623). Birthdays 1773 - Cassandra Austen , English watercolorist and sister of Jane Austen (d. 1845) 1854 - Jennie Jerome, American society beauty and mother of Winston Churchill (d. 1921) 1892 - Monsignor Athol Murray , Canadian priest and high school president. (d. 1975) 1902 - Saint Josemaría Escrivá , Spanish Catholic priest and founder of Opus Dei (d. 1975) 1913 - Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States (d. 1994) 1934 - Bart Starr , American football player 1935 - Robert Osbourne "Bob" Denver, an American comedic actor best known for his role as Gilligan on the television series Gilligan's Island . (d. 1975) 1951 -...