Catholic Fire

This is a beautiful, heartwrenching song/prayer for post-abortive healing by Elizabeth Schmeidler. For help and healing, please see: www.rachelsvineyard.org and http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/

A new play called the VITAE Monologues aims to portray the traumatic effects of abortion in “real-life” stories about women and men. The two-person drama depicts “powerful stories of hope and healing and the triumphant beauty of human life within our broken and wounded culture,” according to its creators. It also aims at engaging audiences in “a powerful, non-political” way to help them think about the controversial subject of abortion from a new perspective. The VITAE Monologues debuted at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota in early March. “I walked out of the auditorium feeling like I'd been turned inside out. I was wiping away tears,” said one audience member. “This is a powerful play, but the word 'Play' doesn't fit. This is drama. These are real stories from real people.” (MORE) More information about the VITAE Monologues is available here.

A Silent No More Rally held at the CT State House on Sunday Sept. 7, 2008

Are you ready for the Holy Father’s visit? In this post, I hope to provide all that you need to get the most out of the Holy Father’s visit to the U.S.A. to enable it to be a memorable and spiritually enriching experience for you and for all Americans. Christ our Hope “The one who has hope lives differently, the one who has hope has been granted the gift of a new life.” ~ Pope Benedict, Spe Salvi, 2 The Need for Prayer This past Sunday, April 13, in Rome, the Holy Father asked for prayers for "spiritual renewal" that would result from his upcoming apostolic journey to the United States. He said: "This Tuesday I leave Rome for my visit to the United Nations and the United States of America. With the various groups I shall meet, my intention is to share our Lord's word of life." "In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in his commandment to love one anot...

By Jean M. Heimann John 8: 1 - 11 In today's gospel, Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene of her sins, while the Pharisees condemn her. Each time I read this passage, I can't help but think of the woman in our own day who has not only slept with a man and become pregnant, and has sought an abortion as a way out of the situation. Society condemns her of her grievous sin, yet what good does that do the sinner? Does it encourage her to repent and reach out to God in her misery? Each one of us is capable of committing the most serious of sins due to our fallen nature. I wonder how many of these upright Pharisees preparing to cast their stones had actually participated in the sin of adultery with her. Jesus seems to be writing something on the ground -- is it the sins of the Pharisees? He is alone with the woman and looks upon her in her frightened and lowly state and He pardons her, opening up His heart of tender love and mercy to her. In the words of Fr. Philippe, OP, " As soon as J...