Catholic Fire

“In Christ ascended into Heaven, the human being has entered into intimacy with God in a new and unheard-of way; man henceforth finds room in God forever.  ‘Heaven’:  this word Heaven does not indicate a place above the stars but something far more daring and sublime:  it indicates Christ himself, the divine Person who welcomes humanity fully and forever, the One in whom God and man are inseparably united forever….  We draw close to Heaven, indeed, we enter Heaven to the extent that we draw close to Jesus and enter into communion with him.” - Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI

Pentecost – the great birthday of the Church is only nine days away! Are you getting excited? If not, you should be. This is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of the great graces and gifts that the Holy Spirit wants to bestow upon us. Now, more than ever, we need these graces in our lives. We need the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to stand strong in our faith and to be able to witness to the world. How can you prepare for the feast of Pentecost this year? 1. Pray the novena for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit . These are gifts that will not break or shatter. They are lasting gifts that, when used, will bear much fruit. 2. Gather together as a community (with your family, friends, prayer group, or bible study) in prayer and wait for the promise of the Father to send the Holy Spirit.  Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray, “Come Holy Spirit.” Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our country. Pray specifically for your own persona...

I love this powerful quote from our Holy Father on the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit: "The authority of Jesus - and the authority of the Christian – comes from this ability to understand the things of the Spirit, to speak the language of the Spirit. It is from this anointing of the Holy Spirit. Often, so often, we find among our faithful, simple old women who perhaps didn't even finish elementary school, but who can speak to us of things better than any theologian, because they have the Spirit of Christ. Exactly like St. Paul. We all need to ask for this. Lord grant us Christian identity, which You had. Grant us Your Spirit. Grant us Your way of thinking, feeling, speaking: May the Lord grant us the anointing of the Holy Spirit. " ~ Pope Francis, homily at m orning Mass at Casa Santa Marta , September 2, 2014

In his Tuesday morning Mass, Pope Francis said that Jesus, intercedes for mankind, before God. He described him as a lawyer who comes to one's defense, despite committed sins. POPE FRANCIS "Jesus shows God His wounds and with those wounds Jesus prays for us, as if telling God: 'Father, I paid the price ok? Help them, protect them. They are your children and with these wounds I saved them.” The Pope then added that Jesus doesn't just defend His flock. He also prays for it, so their faith may stay strong. SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio) "The apostle John, thinking about these things and speaking of us, who are great sinners, says, 'Do not sin, but if any of you do sin, know that we have an advocate before the Father, one who prays for us, defends us in front Father, justifies us'. I believe we should really think about this truth, about this reality: Jesus is praying for me right now. I can go on in life because I have an...

During difficult times, we may feel distant from God or even abandoned by Him, so how do we draw close, when He seems so far away?  We all go through periods of our life feeling like this. Many of the saints experienced this during their lives. This is something that I have been personally struggling with for the past few months. I have been praying for Mother Mary's intercession -- asking her to hold me close and wrap me in her arms -- especially during the darkest nights, when I am unable to sleep or my night is filled with pain. Daily Mass, prayer throughout the day, the rosary and clinging to the Truth are all ways I manage to cope. Today, I was reminded of the reality of His presence, in light of the gospel message for Thursday of the sixth week of Easter "A little while and you will no longer see me and you will no longer see me." John 16: 16 Here's is a new insight (a reminder actually) I obtained from today's The Word Among Us (April 20 - M...

(Vatican Radio) We cannot understand the things of God only with our heads, we need to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit too. This was Pope Francis’ message at morning Mass Tuesday at Casa Santa Marta. The Pope also said that faith is a gift of God which we cannot receive if we live our lives “detached” from His people, the Church. As usual, the Pope reflected on the readings offered by the liturgy of the day, which show us "two groups of people". In the First Reading, "there are those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose" following Stephen’s martyrdom. "They were dispersed with the seed of the Gospel - the Pope said – and they carried it everywhere". At first, they only spoke to the Jews. Then , "almost naturally, some of them" who had come to Antioch, "began to speak to the Greeks". And so, slowly, "they opened the doors to the Greeks, to the pagans”. Once the news arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas was sent...

November 20, 2013. (Romereports.com) During Wednesday's General Audience, Pope Francis spoke about the forgiveness of sins. He said that he goes to Confession every two weeks . He also asked all priests who aren't kind to people, to change before administering the Sacrament.   The Pope also explained that the Holy Spirit is 'the main character' of the Sacrament of Penance. He added that the service provided by all priests is a 'very delicate one' because through them, every person should see that God never grows tired of forgiving. SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH: Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today I would like to speak again on the forgiveness of sins by reflecting on the power of the keys, which is a biblical symbol of the mission Jesus entrusted to the Apostles. First and foremost, we recall that the source of the forgiveness of sins is the Holy Spirit, whom the Risen Jesus bestowed upon the Apostles. Hence, he made the Church the gu...

June 12, 2013. (Romereports.com) During his daily Mass at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis explained that the Beatitudes are God's 'new law' for mankind. The Pope also added that it is the Holy Spirit who helps humanity meet the will of God. But, he explained that mankind fears the Lord's will, and sometimes it's tempted to take a step backwards. POPE FRANCIS “This is the temptation to go backwards, because we are 'safer' going back: but total security is in the Holy Spirit that brings you forward, which gives us this trust - as Paul says - which is more demanding because Jesus tells us: “Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law”. It is more demanding! But it does not give us that human security. We cannot control the Holy Spirit: that is the problem! This is a temptation.” The Mass was concelebrated by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz and attended ...

June 10, 2013. (Romereports.com) During his daily morning Mass at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, the Pope talked about the Beatitudes, describing them as the 'new commandments.' He said that to truly understand them is not a matter of the mind, but rather of the heart. POPE FRANCIS “They are the new commandments. But if our heart isn't open to the Holy Spirit, they will seem silly. People will say 'but being poor, being meek, being merciful will hardly lead us to success'. If we do not have an open heart and if we have not experienced the consolation of the Holy Spirit, which is salvation, we cannot understand this. This is the law for those who have been saved and have opened their hearts to salvation. This is the law of the free, with the freedom of the Holy Spirit.” The Pope said that when people seek freedom, without God, they run the risk of becoming hypocrites like the Pharisees, and also spiritual slaves to a freedom that's fake and temporary...

May 15, 2013. (Romereports.com) For about 40 minutes, Pope Francis made his way through St. Peter's Square in the popemobile, as he greeted the crowds in St. Peter's Square. In fact a pilgrim actually asked the Pope to bless two white doves before setting them free. But it seemed like one of the doves wanted to stay with the Pope. Next Sunday, exactly 40 days after Easter, the Catholic Church celebrates Pentecost. So during his catechesis, the Pope talked about the power and importance of the Holy Spirit. POPE FRANCIS “The Holy Spirit, then, as Jesus promises, guides us 'into all truth.' He leads us not only to an encounter with Jesus, the fullness of Truth, but guides us "into" the Truth.” The Pope explained that truth is not an idea that everyone agrees with, nor is it a possession, rather he said, it's an encounter that's made possible by the Holy Spirit. POPE FRANCIS “Let's ask ourselves: are we open to the Holy Spirit, do I pray to...

May 14, 2013. (Romereports.com) The workings of the Holy Spirit: This was the theme of Pope Francis' homily during his daily Mass at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta Chapel.  The Pope said the Holy Spirit teaches one to love. He added that to truly be a Christian one should see life as a gift that one gives, and not as a treasure that's kept from others. Since the Holy Spirit teaches us to love, said the Pope, one must pray and ask for a bigger heart. POPE FRANCIS “These days, as we prepare to celebrate the feast day of the Holy Spirit, let us pray: Come Holy Spirit! Come and make my heart bigger. A heart that can love with humility and meekness. Give me a big heart so that I may love. We ask this grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit lead us, so we don't stray on the wrong track of selfishness, which always ends badly. Let's pray for this grace.” Usually Vatican employees are allowed to attend the Pope's daily Mass. On Tuesday the group included empl...

May 8, 2013. (Romereports.com) More than 70,000 people flocked to St. Peter's Square for the Pope's weekly general audience. For about 45 minutes, the Pope greeted the crowds. On several occasions, he even got out of the Popemobile to greet ill or disabled children. Before the start of the audience, a girl who was wearing her first communion dress, gave the Pope a bouquet of flowers. The Pope placed them at the feet of Our Lady of Luján, who is actually the Patroness of Argentina. Today, the Church celebrates her day. During his greeting in Spanish, the Pope asked the crowd for a warm applause in honor our Our Lady. POPE FRANCIS “This day in which we celebrate Our Lady of Luján, the heavenly patroness of Argentina, let's give her a warm applause. Louder, I can't hear you! Louder. On this day in which we honor Our Lady of Luján, I extend my sincere affection to all the children of this dear land of Argentina. At the same time, I place before her all your joys...

Read the story Pope Suggests Daily Holy Spirit Review at CNA.

April 10, 2013. (Romereports.com)-During Wednesday's general audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on faith. He explained that Christianity is not just about following the ten commandments, but about being transformed by the love, grace and hope of God. With more than 30,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope explained that faith needs to be cared for and nourished on a daily basis, through reflection, prayer, charity and the Sacraments. CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH: “In our continuing catechesis on the Creed during this Year of Faith, we now consider the meaning of Christ’s resurrection for us and for our salvation.  The Lord’s death and resurrection are the foundation of our faith; by his triumph over sin and death, Christ has opened for us the way to new life. Reborn in Baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become God’s adoptive sons and daughters.  God is now our Father: he treats us as his beloved children; he understands us, forgi...

Many years ago, I went through inner healing with a spiritual director to rid myself of a block in my spiritual life – unforgiveness. I wanted to grow spiritually, but was unable to due to this obstacle. I wanted to experience the fullness of God’s peace, which He gives so freely to those who open their hearts to Him. When I went through this process, I realized that in my life, there was not just one person I needed to forgive, but many, throughout the various stages of my life. It was not an easy journey, but one that taught me valuable lessons. Here are a few of the lessons I learned: First, without forgiveness in our lives, we cannot experience the fullness of God’s love and the peace and joy that comes with it. Second, I learned that forgiveness is not an emotion, but an act of the will. You can still feel hurt by the injustice that was done to you, but make the decision to forgive the person who hurt you. Third, I began to think of all the times that I needed to be forgiven for t...