Catholic Fire

Celebrating Father's Day (the third Sunday in June) is a tradition in the United States. This is a day for the entire family to go to Mass and to pray for fathers and grandfathers. Today is a day to be thankful for fathers and all that they do and have done for us. As I remember my own father who went Home to His Heavenly Father several years ago, I remember how much he loved me, my mother, and our entire family. He was a wonderful provider for our family, of course, and to this day I can hear his voice saying, "Never miss a day of work." And, he never did. But more than that, I remember how he led our family in the faith - how he always drove us to Mass and insisted that all seven of us arrive there at least fifteen minutes before Mass began (This wasn't easy with five women and only one bathroom in the house.) I remember how he was actively involved in the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus, and how he led us in the holy rosary and encouraged us t...

By Jean M. Heimann June 13th is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. With it being so close to Father's Day, my dad has been on my mind, so I thought I would re-post this popular post I wrote last year and updated this year. Whenever I think of my father, who passed on to eternal life 16 years ago, I am reminded of St. Anthony of Padua.  My dad introduced me to this powerful intercessor, to whom he was deeply devoted, inviting me to pray the novena prayers with him shortly before he died.  Although he was eighty years old and was suffering from an aggressive cancer, dad was able to recite the prayers from memory. He prayed often for the conversion of his family and for many other intentions, He gave me a copy of the novena prayers and encouraged me to pray it on my own. While I had always invoked St. Anthony of Padua for objects I seemed to be consistently misplacing, I never realized until then what a great saint he was and what a miracle-worker he was. I now pray daily...

Jeffery Wright has been selected as EWTN's "Unseen Hero" due to his Catholic vocation as teacher and father of his special needs son. He is truly an amazing man, living out his Catholic faith in his life.

January 30, 2013. (Romereports.com) During Wednesday's general audience, Benedict XVI reflected on why God is called 'Father.' The Pope explained that the Gospel uses the term to reflect on the generosity, forgiveness and mercy of a parent. The Pope also added that when parents find themselves having trouble caring and raising their children, they too, can seek the example of God, the Father, to overcome these challenges. FULL CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In our continuing catechesis during this Year of Faith, we now reflect on the Creed’s description of God as “the Father Almighty”.  Despite the crisis of fatherhood in many societies, the Scriptures show us clearly what it means to call God “Father”. God is infinitely generous, faithful, and forgiving; he so loves the world that he has given us his only Son for our salvation. As “the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15), Jesus reveals God as a merciful Father who never abandons his chi...