Catholic Fire

On November 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, also known as Hallowmas and All Hallows. Today's feast honors all the saints of the Church, known and unknown, whose virtues and efforts in this life are considered to have earned them an eternal reward with God. On this day, Catholics are asked to reflect on holiness and sainthood and to celebrate the holiness of men and women who gave their lives in faithfulness and service to God, and whose witness continues to inspire us today. Christians have been honoring saints and martyrs since at least the second century AD. Initially, the calendars of saints and martyrs varied by location, with churches honoring local saints. However, gradually feast days became more universal. The first reference to a general feast celebrating all saints occurred with St Ephrem the Syrian (d. AD 373). St. John Chrysostom (d. AD 407) assigned a day to the feast, the first Sunday after Pentecost, where in the Eastern Churches the feast is celeb...

September 20 is the memorial of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr, St. Paul Chong, martyr, and companions. During the persecutions of 1839, 1846, 1866, and 1867, one hundred and three Christians in Korea gave their lives as martyrs. The martyrs included clergy, but were, for the most part, members of the laity. They consecrated the rich beginnings of the Church in Korea with their blood. Among them were Fr. Andrew Kim of Taegon, the first Korean priest and pastor, and Paul Chong of Hasang, a lay apostle. St. Andrew Kim Taegon was born into a noble Korean family. He traveled to China to become a Catholic priest and he was ordained in Macao. When he returned to Korea, as the first native priest, he was arrested, tortured, and eventually beheaded. Paul Chong Hasang was a seminarian, aged 45. As a layman, he was one of the great founders of the Catholic Church in Korea. He was persecuted before he could be ordained. Reflection "We have received baptism, entrance i...

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month of the year 1918, an armistice was signed, ending the "war to end all wars." November 11 was set aside as Armistice Day in the United States to remember the sacrifices that men and women made during the war in order to ensure a lasting peace. In 1938 Congress voted Armistice Day as a legal holiday, but World War II began the following year. Armistice Day was still observed after the end of the Second World War. In 1953 townspeople in Emporia, Kansas called the holiday Veterans' Day in gratitude to the veterans in their town. Soon after, Congress passed a bill renaming the national holiday to Veterans' Day. Today, we remember those who have served for our country in the armed forces in our prayers. Thank you, veterans, for serving our country and protecting our freedoms! I am especially thankful to those in my own family who have served in the Armed Forces -- my dad, my brother, and my sister. My...

On June 27 we commemorate Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I have had a long-time devotion to Our Blessed Mother under many titles, but began praying to Our Lady of Perpetual Help early in my childhood and continue to pray for her intercession today. She is such a sweet mother who always asks Jesus to grant me that which will draw me closest to Him. The Icon The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is perhaps the oldest actual icon of the Blessed Virgin. According to tradition, St. Luke wrote an icon of Our Lady while she was still living in Jerusalem. When she saw the beautiful icon of herself holding the Child Jesus in her arms, she blessed both the artist and his work proclaiming, "My grace will accompany this icon." The passage of centuries has proven that Mary did not forget this promise. So numerous were the miracles and favors granted by means of this Holy Icon, Pope Innocent III in 1207 stated that Mary's soul seemed to have entered into this icon since it was...

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in today's liturgy. The Feast of the Presentation, often called Candlemas, commemorates the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the presentation of Christ in the temple, which took place 40 days after his birth as Jewish law required. According to Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days. Also, she was to remain 33 days "in the blood of her purification." Luke tells us, quoting Exodus 13:2,12, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to sacrifice a pair of doves or two young pigeons, showing that Mary and Joseph were poor. Once in the temple, Jesus was purified by the prayer of Simeon, in the presence of Anna the prophetes...

Today, November 27, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Devotion to and wearing of the Miraculous Medal is second to the Rosary in popularity among traditional Catholic devotions. History In 1830, the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed the design of the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine Laboure in an apparition. In Paris, on June 6, 1830, the Lord appeared to the young (age 24) Daughter of Charity novice Catherine at Mass, and again on the nights of July 18-19 when she was summoned to the chapel by a beautiful "child clothed in white" to converse with the Virgin Mary. Catherine was told prophecies and charged with "a mission" that manifested itself on November 27 in an early morning (5:30am) appearance of the Blessed Virgin who was "clothed in white" standing on a globe and "a serpent." Rays of light issued forth from rings on her fingers and Catherine was told to commission a medal of what she was seeing. Then, tur...

Today, November 21, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the fact that the parents of Our Lady brought her to the Temple and handed her over to live there for a long period as a virgin consecrated to the Temple, contemplating God exclusively.  Also known as the Dedication of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast originated in the East, where it is called the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple. History of the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Protoevangelium of James (7-8), and the writing entitled "De nativit. Mariae" (7-8), state that Joachim and Anna, faithful to a vow they had made, presented the child Mary in the Temple when she was three years old; that the child herself mounted the Temple steps, and that she made her vow of virginity on this occasion. St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Germanus of Constantinople adopt this report; it is also followed b...

In 2007 the monks of St. Benedict's Abbey celebrated 150 years of stability in Kansas. Here is the history of their community, which they created: The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey pray and work for the glory of God and the good of the world. Five times every day, the Benedictine monks gather together to pray through the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist and lift the needs of the world up to God; and from those times of prayer flows the work the men perform in service to God and others. The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey serve as pastors and ministry support for several parishes in Northeast Kansas and beyond. They serve the students, faculty, and staff of Benedictine College and Maur Hill-Mount Academy in Atchison; as priests, teachers, confessors, and spiritual directors. And they serve as chaplains, regionally and nationally, for religious houses, prisons, colleges, and various ministries. Learn more at their website . Like them on Facebook  and follow them on T...

St. Brendan of Birr, also known as "Brendan the Elder" was born around the year 500 in Ireland.  He founded the monastery at Birr in Offaly, central Ireland c.540, and served as its abbot. St. Brendan of Birr was a contemporary of the far more famous Saint Brendan the Navigator (d. 578). He was a member of The Twelve Apostles of Ireland -- Irish saints of the 6th century who studied under St Finian at the rigorous monastery of Clonard Abbey at Cluain-Eraird. He was also a friend and disciple of Saint Columba of Iona. History/Biography In early Christian Ireland the druid tradition collapsed with the spread of the new faith. Study of Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. Brendan became a pupil at the monastic school at Clonard Abbey. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard wa...

Today, November 27, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Devotion to and wearing of the Miraculous Medal is second to the Rosary in popularity among traditional Catholic devotions. History In 1830, the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed the design of the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine Laboure in an apparition. In Paris, on June 6, 1830, the Lord appeared to the young (age 24) Daughter of Charity novice Catherine at Mass, and again on the nights of July 18-19 when she was summoned to the chapel by a beautiful "child clothed in white" to converse with the Virgin Mary. Catherine was told prophecies and charged with "a mission" that manifested itself on November 27 in an early morning (5:30am) appearance of the Blessed Virgin who was "clothed in white" standing on a globe and "a serpent." Rays of light issued forth from rings on her fingers and Catherine was told to commission a medal of what she was seeing. Then, turning ...

Today, November 24th, is the solemnity of Christ the King. The Feast of Christ the King was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 as an antidote to secularism, a way of life which leaves God out of man's thinking and living and organizes his life as if God did not exist. The feast is intended to proclaim in a striking and effective manner Christ's royalty over individuals, families, society, governments, and nations. Today's Mass establishes the titles for Christ's royalty over men: 1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and hence wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created by Him"; 2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 3) Christ is Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion. Today's Mass also describes the qualities of Christ's...

August 11, 2013. (Romereports.com) Inside the Vatican Museum's, there's yet another smaller museum that deals with the history of popemobiles. The so called 'Carriage Pavilion' was created by Pope Paul VI back in 1973. The exhibit covers this unique form of transportation, which have been used by Popes  in the past two centuries. The oldest of the chariots is the Grand Gala Berlin used by Leo XII. In 1931, the Papal chariots gave way to motored cars, which is all marked in the Vehicle Registry. SANDRO BARBAGALLO Carriage Pavilion “We have carriages from 1826. Also, the Grand Gala chariot ordered by Pope Leo XII that was made by great Roman carriage makers. The exhibit moves on to the end of the 1800's and to the start of 1900's. The Landau carriage would be the last one used by Popes, because soon after. the first motored vehicles were used.” One of the crown jewels in the collection is the Fiat 1107, where John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981. Of cou...

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary the day – one day after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The proximity of both celebrations reflects the deep connection between the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of His Mother. The connection between the Hearts of Jesus and Mary was prophesied by Simeon at the Presentation in the Temple of Jerusalem. In Luke 2:35, we read: “and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The fulfillment of this prophesy is found in John 33-34: “But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out.” It was at the piercing of Christ’s Heart at His death, then, that Mary's Hea...

The History of All Hallow's Eve In 834, the evening of October 31 became All Hallow's Eve when Pope Gregory IV established November 1 as the feast of All Saints, followed by a day in honor of her soon-to-be saints, the feast of All Souls. This time of year was chosen because it was the time of barrenness on the earth. The harvest was in, the summer done, and the world was brown, drab, and mindful of death. Snow had not yet descended to comfort and hide the bony trees or blackened fields; so with little effort man could look about and see a meditation on death and life hereafter. Apparently how you spent the vigil of All Saints depended on where you lived in Christendom. In Brittany the night was solemn and without a trace of merriment. On their "night of the dead" and for forty-eight hours thereafter, the Bretons believed the poor souls were liberated from Purgatory and were free to visit their old homes. The vigil for the souls, as well as the saints, had to be kept...

Which Civil War General are You? Robert E Lee: You are the very image of the gentleman warrior with the soul of a river boat gambler. You place a very high price on honor and personal loyalty. Lee is widely regarded as one of the greatest generals in US history. Personally opposed to slavery, he only joined the Confederate army after Virginia seceded from the Union. Some say that he personally prolonged the war at least two years with his tactical brilliance Take this quiz ! Quizilla Join Make A Quiz More Quizzes Grab Code

The First Thursday in Lent Lenten Reflection for Today by Mother Angelica Quote for the Day: "Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them." ~ St. Francis de Sales Today in History 589 Saint David of Wales , bishop and confessor, patron of Wales, died (b. ca. 500). 713 Suitbert, Apostle of Frisia and a Northumbrian priest, died. 1547 The Council of Trent reaffirmed the Roman Catholic teaching on Confirmation as a sacrament. 1958 - Samuel Alphonsus Stritch , is appointed Pro-Prefect of the Propagation of Faith and thus becomes the first American member of the Roman Curia . Birthdays 1474 - Angela Merici , Italian nun (d. 1540 ) 1732 - William Cushing , 2nd (confirmed) Chief Justice of the United States . (d. 1810 ) 1810 - Frédéric Chopin , Polish-French composer and pianist (d. 1849 ) 1904 - Glenn Miller , American bandleader (d. 1944 ) 1910 - David Niven , English actor (d . 1983 ) 1912 - Gerald Emmett C...

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Meditation - The Faults of Our Neighbor Daily Lenten Reflection and Prayer This Day in History 1759 Pope Clement XIII (1693–1769) granted permission for the Bible to be translated into all the languages of the Roman Catholic states. 1873 The Society of Mary (the Marist Fathers) was officially sanctioned by Pope Pius IX. This Roman Catholic religious order, founded in 1816, seeks to unite the work of education with missions. 1944 Nazi soldiers invaded the home of Dutch Christian Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983) and arrested the family on the charge of harboring Jews. Births 1901 - Linus Pauling , American chemist, Nobel laureate (d. 1994 ) 1923 - Charles Durning , American actor 1930 - Gavin MacLeod , American actor 1931 - Dean Smith , American basketball coach 1940 - Mario Andretti , American race car driver Quote of the Day "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. Tha...

Daily Lenten Devotions: Monday, the First Week of Lent Lenten Topic for Today: The Value of Fasting Saint of the Day: St. Alexander, Bishop This Day in History 398 John Chrysostom (349–407), the greatest preacher of the early church, became bishop of Constantinople. 1732 In Philadelphia, Mass was celebrated for the first time at St Joseph's Church the only Roman Catholic church built and maintained in the American colonies before the Revolutionary War. 1802 Victor Hugo , author (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables) was born in Besancon, France (d. May 22, 1885 in Paris, France). 1846 William F "Buffalo Bill" Cody , an American soldier, showman, and bison hunter who killed 4000 buffaloes was born in Iowa, near LeClaire (d. January 10, 1917 in Denver, Colorado). 1932 Johnny Cash , American country and western songwriter and vocalist, was born in Kingland, Alabama (d. September 12, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee).

This Day In History 1825 - The U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president. No candidate had received a majority of electoral votes. 1929 - The Lateran Treaty was signed with Italy, recognizing the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City. 1958 - The American Research Bureau stated that "American Bandstand" was the number one daytime TV program. 1962 - Neil Sedaka recorded "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" for the first time. 1964 - The Beatles made the first of three record-breaking appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." 73 million people watched the show. It was their American TV debut. 1969 - The Boeing 747 flew its inaugural flight. 1975 - Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to lead the British Conservative Party. 1990 - South African black activist Nelson Mandella was freed after 27 years in captivity. 1997 - "The Simpsons" became the longest-running prime-time animated series. "The Flintstones" held the re...