Catholic Fire

Today is the feast of Blessed Thomas Tsuji (circa 1570 - 1627), a Jesuit priest and martyr. Thomas received his early education from the Jesuits in Arima and entered the Society in January 1589. He was ordained a Jesuit in Nagasaki sometime before 1613. He was an excellent preacher and became well known throughout southern Japan. He was transferred to Hakata after he became too outspoken in his condemnation of the scandalous conduct of some Christian Japanese in the city. While exercising his priestly ministry in Hakata, the edict of 1641 which ordered the banishment of all Catholic priests from Japan was enacted. In obedience to the order, Fr Tsuji and the other eighty priests left for Macau and remained there for four years. In August 1618, Fr. Tsuji disguised as a merchant, returned to Japan and secretly resumed his apostolic work. Unlike the European Jesuits who could only minister at night, Fr Tsuji worked day and night, achieving great results disguised sometime as a pros...

1. Valentine's Day -- Here are the cards we shared with one another. Bill's is on the left and mine is on the right. 2. We decided rather than go out to eat in.  Here is what I prepared for our Valentine's Day meal: shrimp cocktail,  keta salmon with a tasty rub, asparagus, and baked potatoes. It is so easy to prepare and super healthy as well as delicious. 3.  Here is my Valentine's Day gift from Bill -- a diffuser which is so relaxing at bedtime. I combine lavender essential oils with absolute rose and it produces a heavenly scent! 4. What have you been reading this Lent? Here is what has been on my night stand: The Autobiography of Dina Belanger (a French-Canadian Blessed), The Lenten Magnificat, Magnificat Year of Mercy Companion, and The Word Among Us -- Lent 2016. I am really enjoying reading about Blessed Dina, but am taking my time reading this volume, as there is much to savor here. 5. Lenten music -- For Lent, I tend ...

February 18 the Church honors Blessed Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar and an Italian Renaissance  painter. He is the patron of artists. I feel blessed to have viewed his original works of art on display in Florence when I traveled there on pilgrimage in 2006. This is a special feast day for me and my religious community. Bl. John of Fiesole, popularly known as Bl. Fra Angelico, was a Dominican painter in the mid-fifteenth century known for the beauty of his paintings and the holiness of his priestly life. Nicknamed “Angelico” by his brothers, his Dominican consecration and life are worthy of imitation as he preached Jesus Christ by his life, his words, and his paintings. Given the name Guido at Baptism, this saint was born near Vicchio, in the vicinity of Florence, at the end of the 14th century. From his youth he practiced the art of painting. Having entered the Dominican convent in Fiesole, he was given the name Brother Giovanni (Brother John). After ordination he held va...

By Jean M. Heimann On October 27 we commemorate the feast of Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza (1201-1270). He was a Dominican priest who used his skills as a preacher to combat the heresies of his day. Blessed Bartholomew was born at Vicenza, Italy Vicenza in Northern Italy, and belonged to the noble family of Breganza. He became a Dominican priest at the age of twenty and received the habit from St. Dominic's own hands. He was a very virtuous man and within a short time, he became prior of the monastery, effectively overseeing several monasteries with great wisdom and fruitfulness. Seven years later, he became Master of the Sacred Palace, an office which had been first held by Saint Dominic himself. It was during this period that Blessed Bartholomew composed his scholarly commentary on the work of Saint Denis, entitled "From the Heavenly Hierarchy.”  In 1246, Pope Innocent IV appointed Blessed Bartholomew as Bishop of Cyprus, where he served for two years. He was ...

Today marks the feast day of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta - a beautiful servant of God who is one of our most celebrated mothers and a universal symbol of God's merciful and preferential love for the poor and forgotten. In her own words: “By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.” "God still loves the world and He sends you and me to be His love and His compassion to the poor.” "The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between." Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) Biography Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Peacemaker, Pioneer, Legend Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: My Favorite Quotes Book Review: Mother Teresa's Secret Fire Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: Do It Anyway A PICTORIAL T...

On July 1, we honor Blessed Junipero Serra, a Franciscan priest and missionary, who converted thousands of native Americans. Miguel Jose Serra was born on the island of Majorca (Spain), on November 24, 1713, and took the name of Junipero in honor of Saint Juniper, who had also been a Franciscan and a companion of Saint Francis of Assisi. In 1730, he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained seven years later. A brilliant man who had earned his doctorate in theology, he taught philosophy and theology at the University of Padua for two years.At the age of thirty-seven, he arrived in Mexico City on January 1, 1750, and spent the rest of his life converting the people of the New World. When Father Junipero Serra founded California's first mission in 1769, he was 56 years old and asthmatic, with a chronic sore on his leg that troubled him for the rest of his life, and he suffered frequently from other illnesses, as well. He stood just 5 feet, 2 inches, and, as a journalist l...

The saint of the day for June 18 is Blessed Osanna of Mantua (1449 - 1505), an Italian Dominican tertiary, who was a mystic and stigmatist. She is the patron of school girls. The daughter of Italian nobility, Osanna had her first mystical experience at the age of five: a vision of the Trinity, the nine choirs of angels, and Jesus as a child her own age, carrying His Cross. Feeling called to the religious life, Osanna rejected an arranged marriage and became a Dominican tertiary at the age of 17; however, she waited 37 years to complete her vows so she could care for her brothers and sisters after the death of her parents. At the age of eighteen, she experienced mystical espousal to Jesus -- like St. Catherine of Siena, she had a vision in which Our Blessed Mother made her a bride of Christ, placing a ring on her finger. When she was thirty, she received the stigmata on her head, her side, and her feet. She also had a vision in which her heart was transformed and divided in...

June 9, 2015 marks the 75th anniversary of Fr. Emil Joseph Kapaun's ordination as a Catholic Priest. The ordination took place in 75 years ago in St. John's Chapel located on the Newman University campus. In this video you will see images and footage of the beautiful St. John's Chapel, as well as a mural of Father Emil Kapaun by artist Wendy Lewis.

By Jean M. Heimann On June 10, we honor Blessed John Dominici (1350 - 1420), a Dominican priest, renowned theologian and preacher, and reformer. He is wonderful example of a man who was determined to live out his full potential, using all his gifts to serve the Lord, overcoming his weaknesses. John had humble beginnings. He was born in Florence, Italy, to a very poor family, had no formal education, and suffered from a severe speech impediment, which caused him to stammer and stutter. His speech impediment, combined with a lack of formal education, made the Dominican friars doubt the validity of his vocation to their Order. The Dominican Order is known for their emphasis on education and their work in the world as preachers. Thus, for two years, John was refused admission to the Order, who encouraged him to stay at home to care for his parents. When he was finally admitted to the Order at age 17, John demonstrated an excellent memory, as well as an aptitude for theology and ...

On April 15, we celebrate the feast of Blessed César de Bus, a priest, teacher, and founder of two religious congregations: the Fathers of Christian Doctrine and the Daughters of Christian Doctrine. He is the patron of catechists. César was born at Cavaillon, France in 1544, and was educated by the Jesuits. As a youth, he led a holy and virtuous life.  At eighteen, he joined the French army, and fought in the king’s war against the Huguenots. After the war, he dedicated his time in pursuit of the arts, writing poetry and painting. Then, he tried to join a naval fleet, which was besieging La Rochelle; but due to serious illness was unable to carry out his plans. Instead, he travelled to Paris. In Paris, César drifted away from his faith and began living a life of self-gratification and worldly ambition. For three years, he indulged his sinful wishes until the death of his brother, a canon of Salon. When his brother died, César managed to acquire his vacated positio...

One of the highlights of Pope Francis' trip to Sri Lanka will be the canonization of Joseph Vaz, the country's first Saint. He was born in India in 1651. After being ordained a priest, he traveled to Sri Lanka. During the XVII and XVIII century,  the Dutch controlled the island and imposed their confession, which was Calvinism. Under those circumstances, Vaz helped preached to Catholics who were actively being persecuted. FR. PRASAD HARSHAN Sri Lankan Priest "He was a wonderful sign of reconciliation, a sign of love, a sign of peace. God is going to give him back to us, as our first Saint. At this junction. Pope Francis is going to give that gift to us in our own land. I have no words to express the joy.” Blessed Joseph Vaz learned the native languages of the island and had a very good relationship with the country's spiritual leaders. He is seen as an example of reconciliation in the country, severely divided by a 25 year long civil war.

The amazing Pat Gohn graciously invited me to her popular Among Women podcast. We discussed the saints and virtues which are profiled in my new book Seven Saints for Seven Virtue s . You can listen HERE . Seven Saints for Seven Virtues is available at  Amazon , Barnes & Nobles , Franciscan Media, and at Catholic bookstores. You can read my review of Pat Gohn's beautiful book Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious HERE. Related Posts: Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious (video) It was wonderful to be there, but it's great to be back!

On October 29, we celebrate Helen Kafka, better known as Blessed Maria Restituta, martyr. Helen Kafka was born in 1894 to a shoemaker and grew up in Vienna, Austria. She initially worked as a salesgirl and then as an assistant caregiver at the Lainz public hospital, which brought her into contact with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. At the age of 20, she decided to join the Order and took the name Restituta, after a 4th century Christian martyr. In 1919, she began working as a surgical nurse at the Moulding hospital in Austria. When the Germans took over the country, she became a local opponent of the Nazi regime. Her conflict with them escalated after they ordered her to remove all the crucifixes she had hung up in each room of a new hospital wing. Sister Maria Restitua refused and she was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942. She was sentenced to death for "aiding and abetting the enemy in the betrayal of the fatherland and for plotting high treason.” Martin ...

By Jean M. Heimann Blessed Bartholomew was born circa 1200 at Vicenza, Italy Vicenza in Northern Italy, and belonged to the noble family of Breganza. He received the habit of the order from Saint Dominic's own hands on occasion of the holy founder’s visit to Vicenza in 1220. He was a very virtuous man and within a short time, he became prior of the monastery, effectively overseeing several monasteries with great wisdom and fruitfulness. Seven years later, he became Master of the Sacred Palace, an office which had been first held by Saint Dominic himself. It was during this period that Blessed Bartholomew composed his scholarly commentary on the work of Saint Denis, entitled "From the Heavenly Hierarchy.”  In 1246, Pope Innocent IV appointed Blessed Bartholomew as Bishop of Cyprus, were he served for two years. He was then sent as Papal Legate to King Louis IX of France, who was then carrying on the Crusade against the infidels. The two saints became good friends and ...

Declaring someone a saint is a process that takes years. But what's actually involved? Each canonization includes a long process that's divided in several phases. The first one is carried out by the local diocese of the candidate. SILVIA CORREALE Postulator "This includes writing and gathering the testimonies of those who directly knew the person. So documents, letters and declarations that shed light on the candidate's grace.” The information is then sent to the Vatican, where it's reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If approved, the candidate is declared a Servant of God. The next step is analyzing whether the candidate manifested heroic virtues that reflect the Gospel. If so, the person is recognized as 'Venerable.' CARD. JOSÉ SARAIVA MARTINS Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints "When someone is declared as having heroic virtues, it's based on the way he or she lived. For example, thos...

Today the Church commemorates Blessed Francisco and Jacinto Marto , the visionaries at Fatima. Francisco, 11, and Jacinta, 10, are the youngest non-martyrs to be beatified in the history of the Church. The brother and sister, who tended to their families’ sheep with their cousin Lucia Santo in the fields of Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions of Mary, now commonly known as Our Lady of Fatima. During the first apparition, which took place May 13, 1917, Our Lady asked the three children to say the Rosary and to make sacrifices, offering them for the conversion of sinners. The children did, praying often, giving their lunch to beggars and going without food themselves. They offered up their daily crosses and even refrained from drinking water on hot days. In October 1918, Francisco and Jacinta became seriously ill with the Spanish flu. Our Lady appeared to them and said she would to take them to heaven soon. Bed-ridden, Francisco requested his first Communion. The fol...