Catholic Fire

November 1, 2013. (Romereports.com) This Italian teenager was only 15 years old. He was passionate about animals and computers. In October 2006, he passed away from leukemia. The teens name was Carlo Acutis, and in a matter of years, he could be declared a saint.   FRANCESCA CONSOLINI Office of the Causes of Saints of Milan (Italy) “There's a difference in the virtue you can expect at 15 or 12 year old, compared to someone who is 30 or 50, because their life responsibilities, their roles and tasks change.” Carlo Acutis was not raised in a Christian environment. According to his parents and his classmates, the teen helped them better live out their faith, by earning their respect through his coherent approach to life. FRANCESCA CONSOLINI Office of the Causes of Saints of Milan (Italy) “He was not ashamed to share convictions with others. But those people would not make fun of him, because they understood that his conviction were real, they came from inside him. It wasn...

Although it has taken more than 400 years, the sainthood cause of Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci, the 16th-century missionary to China, is back on track. Bishop Claudio Giuliodori, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Macerata, Italy, where Fr. Ricci was born in 1552, formally closed the diocesan phase of the sainthood process May 10. The cause now moves to the Congregation for Saints’ Causes at the Vatican. Bishop Giuliodori had met Pope Francis, a Jesuit, at the Vatican the first week of May. He wrote in the Macerata diocesan newspaper, “I never imagined I’d be able to speak about the cause of Fr. Matteo Ricci with a Jesuit pope. After the great attention given by Benedict XVI, who never missed an occasion to encourage us to promote the cause, we now have the joy of placing it into the hands of a Jesuit.” The bishop said when he spoke to Pope Francis about the cause, the pope highlighted Fr. Ricci’s “innovative method of evangelization based on the inculturation of the fait...

 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is one of my favorite intercessors. He is dear to my heart for many reasons. Watching his TV show was mandatory in our household -- he was a frequent visitor and influenced me to develop a deep devotion for the Blessed Mother and love for the truth.

This week's Carnival is being hosted by Jay at Living Catholicism. As can be expected some of the posts there focus on the Notre Dame scandal, which is a major concern for Catholics now, however, there is so much more. Here is a small sampling of the posts you'll find there: Some Causes . . . at Sanctus Christopher offers up five of those on the path to Sainthood and prayers along with links to more information. I enjoyed this one a lot! 32 Days of Love Beats an Abortion at The Anchoress muses on us allowing life to live. Loud Cries and Tears at Ho Kai Paulos points out that Jesus "learned obedience through suffering" and we, too, must learn bear our cross until we are perfected for God. Social Media, Canon Law and Attacking Clergy at Adoro te Devote discusses the need for charity when criticizing those who God called to be priests and bishops. My contribution to the Catholic Carnival: St. John Climacus: My Favorite Quotes offers quotes that help to promote ...

Cardinal Rouco opens cause of canonization for Spanish couple

Pilsen, KS, Jun 15, 2008 ( CNA ).- The Cause for the Canonization of Father Emil Kapaun, an Army Chaplain who died while in a North Korean Prisoner of War Camp in 1951, will be officially opened on June 29. Father Emil Kapaun, a native of Pilsen, was ordained for the Catholic Diocese of Wichita on June 9, 1940. After serving as a priest in the diocese, Father Kapaun asked to be allowed to serve as a U.S. Army chaplain. On June 29, Bishop Michael O. Jackels will be the celebrant of the 10 a.m. Mass in Pilsen, Kan., Father Kapaun’s home town. After the celebration of the Mass, a short ceremony will take place in which the officials of the diocesan canonization process will take their oath of office and the Father Emil Kapaun’s Cause for Sainthood will be officially opened. MORE Fr. Kaupan's Bio: Father Kapaun, was born in Pilsen, Kansas in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas on Holy Thursday, April 20, 1916. He was the first child of Enos and Elizabeth (Hajek) Kapaun and was of Bohemian (Cz...