Catholic Fire

By Jean M. Heimann On July 14th, we commemorate St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint. Known as the "Lily of the Mohawks" and the “Geneviève of New France,” Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin Christian. She was four-years-old when her parents and younger brother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri, scarring her face and damaging her eyesight. Due to her poor vision, Kateri was named "Tekakwitha", which means "she who bumps into things". Kateri was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle, who was strongly opposed to Christianity. When she was 18 years of age, Kateri secretly began instructions in the Catholic Faith. Her uncle finally relented and gave his permission for Kateri to become a Christian, provided that she did not try to leave the Indian village. At the age of 20, she was baptized with the name Kateri (Catherine after St. C...

November 7, 2013 (Romereports.com) The theme for World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow will focus on mercy, one of the topics Pope Francis talks about most. The event will take place from July 25 to August 1. The theme is “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”   During WYD 2013 in Rio, Pope Francis urged young Argentinians to reread the Beatitudes, and use them a guide in their everyday lives. POPE FRANCIS “What do we have to do, Father? Look, reading the Beatitudes will do you some good. And if you want to know what practical things you must do, read Matthew 25, which is the protocol by which we will be judged. With these two things, you have a plan of action: the Beatitudes and Matthew 25.” He also announced the themes for the two Youth Days that will be celebrated locally, in 2014 and 2015: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Today is the feast of Blessed Pier Giorgo Frassati , a Dominican tertiary, and the patron saint of World Youth Day.  Here are some of my favorite Quotes:  "The end for which we are created invites us to walk a road that is surely sown with a lot of thorns, but it is not sad; through even the sorrow, it is illuminated by joy." “To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing.”  "You ask me whether I am in good spirits. How could I not be, so long as my trust in God gives me strength. We must always be cheerful. Sadness should be banished from all Christian souls. For suffering is a far different thing from sadness, which is the worst disease of all. It is almost always caused by lack of Faith. But the purpose for which we have been created shows us the path along which we should go, perhaps strewn with many thorns, but not a sad path. Even in the midst of intense suffering it is one ...

Benedict XVI: "The time has come for me to say good-bye -- or rather, to say arrivederci! I thank you all for your participation in World Youth Day 2008, here in Sydney, and I look forward to seeing you again in three years' time. World Youth Day 2011 will take place in Madrid, Spain. Until then, let us continue to pray for one another, and let us joyfully bear witness to Christ before the world. May God bless you all".

In Deliberately Insulting the Most Deeply Felt Sensibilities of Other Human Beings , Jimmy Akin responds to a question on his call-in radio show "Catholic Answers Live" about Prof. P. Z. Myers, the Minnesota professor who has threatened to desecrate the Eucharist and post the results on YouTube. He shares an mp3 of the exchange. Diane at Te deum laudamos shares a wonderful post with lots of links and photos on Pope Benedict XVI and Don Bosco's Dream... At Daily Donna-Marie, she shares the amazing Stations of the Cross from World Youth Day through her commentary and a YouTube video. Jay Anderson shares a rewarding experience when he takes a day off from work to see the Vatican Splendors Exhibition at the museum of The Western Reserve Historical Society in his post Yesterday I saw the Vatican Splendors.

SYDNEY, July 17, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In his address to the hundreds of thousands of youth who welcomed him at Barangaroo, Sydney Harbour today, Pope Benedict XVI issued one of the strongest challenges he has yet made to work for the right to life of unborn children. "How can it be that the most wondrous and sacred human space - the womb - has become a place of unutterable violence?" he said. MORE See the full speech by the Pope here.

LifeSiteNews: WYD Focuses on Healthy Sexuality and an Openness to Life Zenit: World Youth Day Conversions Begin From Daniel Bean: Stay tuned to Pope2008.com where Tim Drake is covering WYD events live from Sydney, as they happen. Some recent posts not to miss: Pope’s Australian Arrival Pilgrims: Why They’re Here Spending the Eve of WYD with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Stay tuned! Related Posts: Video from Australia: Pilgrims and the Pope Sydney cathedral unveils statue of Pope John Paul II Pope Benedict XVI touches down in northern Australia Pope Benedict XVI Leaves for WYD World Youth Day Links NFP Ready for Condom Peddlers at WYD World Youth Day 2008: Catholic Olympic Torch is Coming Catholic Facebook Launched Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Holy Father's Message for World Youth Day 2008

From WYD08 : His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has touched down in Sydney following the longest journey in his life on Alitalia flight AZ4000 from Rome, travelling for 19 hours 45 minutes and 16,418 kilometres. This historic visit to Australia is his ninth apostolic visit outside of Italy. Descending from the aircraft, the Pope was greeted on the tarmac by the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, and the Premier of NSW, Morris Iemma amongst other dignitaries. Following the brief greeting, he then travelled by car to the Kenthurst Study Centre, where he will spend time privately until the evening of Wednesday 16 July. MORE From CNA: Pope lands in Australia, prays youth will find rest, joy and desire to evangelize Pilgrims of World Youth Day in Australia 2008 BBC World News has a video entitled "Pope begins Australia tour" here. Fr. Z shares more videos and commentary here. Related Posts: Sydney cathedral unveils statue of Pope Joh...

Pope Benedict XVI smiles before leaving from Fiumicino airport in Rome, as he leaves for World Youth Day in Australia, July 12, 2008. (Max Rossi/Reuters) The World Youth Day, which will be held in Sydney, Australia from July 15 to 20, 2008, has as its theme: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses" (Acts of the Apostles 1, 8). Related Posts: World Youth Day Links NFP Ready for Condom Peddlers at WYD World Youth Day 2008: Catholic Olympic Torch is Coming Catholic Facebook Launched Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Holy Father's Message for World Youth Day 2008

Some inspiring photos of our Catholic family throughout the world via Jules. Song: Here I Am Lord By: Daughter's of St.Paul

VATICAN CITY, February 5, 2007 ( LifeSiteNews.com ) - Today, the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI's message for the World Youth Day 2007, which is to be celebrated in all dioceses on Palm Sunday, April 1. The message focuses on love, and a significant portion is dedicated to preparation for marriage. Rather than assume young people incapable of avoiding premarital relations, the Holy Father challenges youth to remain pure even during a marriage engagement. "The period of engagement," he said, "very necessary in order to form a couple, is a time of expectation and preparation that needs to be lived in purity of gesture and words." Typical of Pope Benedict, he provides youth with the reason behind the instruction. "It allows you to mature in love, in concern and in attention for each other," he said "it helps you to practise self-control and to develop your respect for each other." The Pope added, "These are the characteristics of true ...