Catholic Fire

Via Fox News: A Washington state congresswoman and her husband are speaking out about a trial that left them devastated, but now filled with new hope ... and new life, with a bouncing and healthy baby girl named Abigail. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) and her husband, Dan, were over the moon when they found out they were expecting their first child late in 2012 ... but nothing could prepare them for the journey ahead. Doctors told them their daughter had Potter's Syndrome, a diagnosis that is fatal. Or, is often fatal. Physicians say baby Abigail is the first baby to survive the diagnosis. In essence, the syndrome is characterized by a lack of amniotic fluid in utero, which makes the womb shrink and prevents the baby from developing normally, particularly the kidneys. "I don't know if anything can ever prepare you for that kind of a diagnosis. It floored us," Herrera Beutler said. "On one hand, we were first time parents and excited, and then we get ...

Image Source The secular press is going crazy about this one , but, as Catholics, we all know what this is about. It's about true faith and self-giving love which come with the vows we make in the sacrament of matrimony. It's about becoming one with your spouse and committing yourself to a lifetime bond, which is something that is rare in our culture today. It is a beautfully inspiring story we all need to hear. Here is the scoop from Fox News: A grandson of an Ohio couple who died at a nursing home on the same day after 65 years of marriage credits their faith in God for the “shocking” timing. Jeff Simon, 20, of Russia, Ohio, told FoxNews.com that his grandparents, Ruth, 89, and Harold “Doc” Knapke, 91, met in the third grade and continued a torrid love affair until Aug. 11, when the devoted pair died just days before their 66th wedding anniversary in the room they shared on a nursing home in Versailles in western Ohio. "It was very hard to see them both go a...

to get your inspirational story in for the new book. A Great Lenten Project: The Guidelines: Are you married? Are you Catholic? Do you have a devotion to the saints? Have you and your spouse or a family member experienced hope and healing as a result of prayer to a saint or saint(s)? This is your chance to evangelize and it makes for a wonderful Lenten project as well. I am looking for dramatic conversion stories as well as stories of trials and tribulations (for example, financial difficulties, addictions, the birth of a child with a medical problem) overcome or that you learned to cope with better through the intercession of a saint or saints and the grace of God to publish in a new book meant to inspire and encourage married couples. In order to be published: Your story must name a saint (or saints) who has (have) interceded for you. It must be at least 1800 words, but not more than 2000 words. Email your submission to me no later than March 15, 2009. jean.heimann@gmail.com

I need your inspirational stories from a Catholic perspective affirming marriage and the family for a new book. In it, I plan to share 15 compelling faith-filled stories of hope and healing from Catholic families who have dealt with great difficulties and hardships, but have managed to transcend these trials through the grace of God and the intercession of the saints. Have you experienced great suffering in your family life, but managed to overcome it and experience great hope and unexpected graces in the midst of your trials through the intercession of a special saint or saints? Do you have a child who is handicapped, but instead of 'terminating' the pregnancy, you chose to keep your child? Has your family had to deal with unexpected financial hardships, debilitating or chronic illness but received healing and hope to transcend these trials? Has anyone in your family considered or had an abortion and the entire family was devastated by it, but God healed you and gave you hope...

A wonderful thing has happenned to me recently! I have proposed an idea for a new book to a major Catholic publisher and the idea has been approved. However, I need to share more information with the publisher before it will be definite. Before I can do that, I need your inspirational stories (which will comprise about half of the book's content). I need your inspirational stories from a Catholic perspective affirming marriage and the family for a new book. In it, I plan to share 15 compelling faith-filled stories of hope and healing from Catholic families who have dealt with great difficulties and hardships, but have managed to transcend these trials through the grace of God and the intercession of the saints. Have you experienced great suffering in your family life, but managed to overcome it and experience great hope and unexpected graces in the midst of your trials through the intercession of a special saint or saints? Do you have a child who is handicapped, but instead of ...

... is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering . Sarah has once again done a fabulous job of hosting and organizing all the posts there. My contribution to this week's Carnival: The Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs, and Our Innocents Today looks at the significance of the Feast of the Holy Innocents, including how it is similar to what is happening in our culture today and what we can do to help put an end to the massacre of the innocents. A few of my favorite posts there include: Christine's Planned Parenthood Abortion Funding Requests in Obama Memo Top $4.6 Billion , which tells us all about how Planned Parenthood sends Barry their Christmas list. Joe's Love and Freedom , which examines the real meaning of love and how it both confines and frees us at the same time. Sarah's A Few of My Favorite Things gives you a tour of her favorite rosaries, complete with their stories. But don't stop here, be sure and read all the great posts at this week's Cath...

is now up and ready for your reading pleasure! Joe at Ho Kai Paulos has created a beautiful theme, so please join me on my trek there. Here are just a few of my favorite posts: Worship in the Shadowlands by Heidi at Mommy Monsters, in which she discusses Humanae Vita and the meaning of true love. She makes a profound discovery about conjugal love when she watches Shadowlands, the love story of C.S. Lewis and his wife. In How to Be a Man, Jane at Building the Ark, reminds us that we can all strive to be heroes . At Behold Your Mother, Heidi introduces us to Christine Trollinger and an example of divinely answered prayer - When the Lost is Found . When Things Turn Out...Differently by Sarah at Another Day of Catholic Pondering reminds us that God has every hair on our heads counted and keeps our best interests in mind, even when they aren't how WE planned things. Don't stop at reading these inspirational and well-written posts, but be sure to check out all the great posts ther...

Alexa is hosting this week's Catholic Carnival at Frank, in a Sense, and Mirth and what a wonderful job she's done there! Great graphics accompany each story in her entertaining theme. Check it out! You'll love it! Here are just a few of my favorite posts: In An Opportunity for Virtue , Denise Hunnell shares an article written by Tony Snow. She focuses on probably the one most important issue his article brings up: that every challenge in life is an opportunity to practice virtue. "Being Human, Part II" ...by Marcel at Aggie Catholics AKA Mary's Aggies is a great pro-life post. Elena at My Domestic Church writes about the feelings she and her husband shared when they went back to Flint, Michigan where her husband was born and raised. Her post is titled, "Sometimes You Really Can't Ever Go Home" . Therese Garcia's post, "Be Fruitful and Multiply ~ Your Many Gifts of Love" . Therese is a guest writer at Heidi Hess Saxton...

This week's Catholic Carnival is up at Living Catholicism and Jay has done a wonderful job of organizing the posts and creating a central theme. Here are just a few of my favorites: I enjoyed Weathering the Storm at Transitus Tiber , which is Kim's reflection on becoming a Benedictine Oblate. I loved reading Leticia's post Happy 11th Birthday, Isabella at Cause of Our Joy , in which she shares a wonderful birthday prayer that really gives you a feel for Isabella's personality! Sarah at Aggie Catholics will open up your spiritual eyes with a lesson she learns in Spelling . Ask Sister Mary Martha has written an entertaining and essential post on humility in Doing a Humble. Pepperdine Professor denied communion at A Catholic View by Christina asks for your take on this event: a Catholic professor was denied communion because of his public support for Obama. The professor is pro-life, but publically supporting a candidate who is pro-abortion. Was the priest correct in ...

Image Source: Praying & Sending the Rosary Around the World This week's Catholic Carnival is up and is being hosted by Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. It has a beautiful rosary theme and a wide variety of great posts. Here are a few of my favorite posts there: Alexa's post " Blessed are the Pure of Heart ," in which is she bares her heart and testifies to Our Heavenly Father’s infinite mercy and compassion. You'll learn about her late husband and how prayer played a part in the struggle that she holds up to us as a gift, one she shares with grace. Elizabeth's " Playing Elizabeth to Their Mary , in which she shares a view of the Visitation from within. As an "aged Elizabeth," she found herself ministered to by many women, and it felt, she says, as though "I'd been mothered by the Blessed Mother herself." Kate's I'll Never Walk Alone. When God designed marriage, he knew what he was doing. Kate discover...