Catholic Fire

I watched EWTN News tonight and learned of the approval of the apparitions of Mary Mediatrix of all Grace  that I am excited to share this with all of you. In 1948, Our Blessed Mother appeared 19 times to a novice in the Carmelite order in Lipa City, Philippines. Teresita Castillo recounted that Our Lady stressed humility, penance, prayers for the clergy and the Pope, and to pray the Rosary. Our Lady also asked that a Mass be held on the 12th of every month. Before her final departure, the Blessed Virgin identified herself: "I am the Mediatrix of all Grace." Teresita reported that there was one secret for herself, one for the Carmel convent in Lipa City, one for China, and also one for the entire world.Initially declared by a local bishop as non-supernatural in 1951, the case was reopened in 1991 with extensive research then investigation, and was formally approved by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles on September 12, 2015.   Update: Here is a video of the EWTN News...

 Pope Francis told families in the Philippines Friday that they should take time to rest and to pray together and to be examples of holiness.  On the second day of his five day trip to the Asian archipelago, Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people gathered for a meeting with families that the world “needs good and strong families” to overcome threats of poverty, materialism, destructive lifestyles, and those caused by separation due to migration. In his discourse, delivered at the “Mall of Asia Arena,” Manila’s principle sports arena, the Pope said “the Philippines needs holy and loving families to protect the beauty and truth of the family in God’s plan.” Below, please find the the full text of the Pope's adress (including his off-the cuff remarks in Spanish which were translated into English) Dear Families, Dear Friends in Christ,  I am grateful for your presence here this evening and for the witness of your love for Jesus and his Church.  I tha...

You have got to love it! It sure looks like Pope Francis did! One of the first things Pope Francis saw upon arriving in Manila, was unique choreography dance carried out by children and teenagers. The music was combined with a phrase in Spanish, which translates to 'Welcome Pope Francis.' The second song, had a more modern twist to it. Young women wearing white skirts and yellow tops, to represents the Vatican's flag colors, danced to techno music as Pope Francis greeted state authorities.

Pope Francis met Filipino political leaders at the Presidential Palace in Manila. In his speech, he stressed he wants to give his support to the victims of typhoon Haiyan, adding that he admires them for their "heroic strength” during and after the natural disaster. The Pope also highlighted that democracies should always back the family, protecting the "inalienable right to life” of the elderly, sick and unborn. READ THE POPE'S FULL SPEECH: Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you, Mr President, for your kind welcome and for your words of greeting in the name of the authorities and people of the Philippines, and the distinguished members of the Diplomatic Corps. I am most grateful for your invitation to visit the Philippines. My visit is above all pastoral. It comes as the Church in this country is preparing to celebrate the fifth centenary of the first proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on these shores. The Christian message has had an immense influence on...

I have first hand news that the supplies are coming, but things are moving slowly. Let's continue to pray for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Catholic Relief Services personnel are overcoming huge obstacles to get aid to tens of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. “This is the worst storm ever to hit the Philippines,” said CRS Country Representative Joe Curry of a nation that often suffers from extreme weather. With the highest recorded winds ever to make landfall, Haiyan had the power of a tornado and the size of a hurricane, cutting a 30 to 50 mile-wide swath of total destruction across three of the country’s most populated islands – Leyte, Panay and Cebu — hitting their coastal communities with a huge storm surge. Working in coordination with the Philippine government, CARITAS Philippines, other humanitarian organizations, and the Church, CRS is initially focusing on providing shelter, safe drinking water and other essent...

Vatican City, 13 November 2013 (VIS) – After today's catechesis, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for an end to the tragedy in Syria and also mentioned the Philippine people currently suffering the consequences of the super-typhoon Haiyan. “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the mortar attack two days ago in Damascus in which several children were killed on the way home from school, along with the driver of their bus. Other children were injured. Please, let us pray with all our strength that these tragedies may never again happen! In these days we are praying and uniting our strength to help our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, struck by the typhoon. These are the real battles that must be fought. For life, never for death!”

(Vatican Radio) The head of the Catholic church in the Philippines, Cardinal Luis Tagle says every times he sees images of the massive destruction caused by typhoon Haiyan he’s left speechless. At the same time, Cardinal Tagle says he is consoled by the love and solidarity that is pouring in from all over the world in the wake of this disaster. Read more. View more images HERE. Related:  Pope sends $150,000, as Vatican sets up fund for victims of super typhoon in Philippines

November 11, 2013. (Romereports.com) The death toll is estimated at 10,000, but expected to grow. There are millions affected, and nearly 600,000 people displaced, after Typhoon Haiyan battered the Philippines with 150mph winds and 10-foot tidal waves.   PATRICK NICHOLSON Communications Director, Caritas Internationalis “People who've flown over the area say they haven't seen similar to this since the Asian Tsunami in 2004 or the Haiti earthquake, so we're talking about a massive catastrophe.” Such comparisons are proof of the destruction, and the need for immediate assistance. Catholic groups stepped up right away. Pope Francis, through the Vatican's Cor Unum Council, agreed to send $150,000 to the Catholic Church in the Philippines. The money will be distributed among the dioceses hardest hit by the storm. Meanwhile the Vatican's official aid agency, Caritas Internationalis, created a special fund where people can donate to support aid efforts. They a...