Catholic Fire

Jean M. Heimann, Aug. 8, 1949-Feb. 21, 2021 The founder of this blog, Jean M. Heimann, has gone on to her eternal reward. After suffering rapidly declining health following the death of her beloved husband, Jean died on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at the age of seventy-one years. Of your charity, please pray for the repose of her soul. Those who have appreciated the work Jean put into this blog for many years, those who have appreciated her books, as well as those who knew Jean are invited to leave a tribute on this memorial site . There you can also find details of her funeral, scheduled for Friday, 26 February 2021, in Wichita, Kansas. This blog will remain online as a lasting memorial to Jean. Those who have enjoyed the inspiration and information provided here may also like to read Jean's books (click title headings for link to Amazon): Seven Saints for Seven Virtues To live a virtuous life might seem like a daunting task, but we are fortunate to have examples to follow— the sa...

I watched all her movies on TV when I was a child and admired her a great deal.  She was immensely talented and used her gifts wisely. May she rest in peace. PHOTOS: REMEMBERING HER LIFE AND CAREER (Vatican Radio) The legendary Hollywood child star Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85 at her home near San Francisco in the US. She was the cute curly haired child star that audiences flocked to see on the silver screen in the mid 1930’s. As box office gold during that period she appeared in movies such as “The Little Princess, ``Stand Up and Cheer!'' and “Little Miss Marker”. Children during that era even sang renditions of one of her most famous songs, “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” But as her star began to wane, Shirley Temple retired from films at the early age of twenty one. In her later life she raised a family and under her married name Shirley Temple Black became active in politics holding several diplomatic posts in Republican administrations including am...

Annette Funicello, "the first crush for a generation of boys, the perfect playmate for a generation of girls" has died at the age of 70 . May she rest in peace. Image Source.

May she rest in peace. LIVERPOOL, England (CNS) -- The Catholic bishops of England and Wales offered prayers for the soul of Margaret Thatcher, the former British prime minister who died at age 87 following a stroke. Baroness Thatcher, who led Britain from 1979 to 1990, died "peacefully" the morning of April 8, according to her family. Soon after news of her death was made public, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, issued a short statement. "It was with sadness that we heard the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher, who served this country for many years both as a member of Parliament and as prime minster," said Archbishop Nichols. "We pray for the repose of her soul and for the intentions of her family and all those who now mourn for her," he added. Later that day, the Vatican released a telegram that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, ...

This is sad news indeed. Deacon Bill was a dear man who will be missed by Mother Angelica, all those connected with EWTN, and by the viewers. May perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in peace. My deepest condolences go out to his wife and family. Irondale, Ala., Feb 15, 2013 / 06:49 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Deacon R. William Steltemeier, Jr., founding president of the Eternal Word Television Network, died in Hanceville, Ala. on Feb. 15 at the age of 83 after a lengthy illness. Michael P. Warsaw, current network president and CEO, called Deacon Steltemeier “a man of incredible faithfulness,” noting that only EWTN founder Mother Angelica was more closely associated with the network. “As a husband, a father, an attorney and in his vocation as a permanent deacon, Bill always remained focused on serving God and serving others,” Warsaw said. “He devoted himself totally to Mother Angelica’s mission and sacrificed all he had to help her build EWTN into the tremendous vehicle ...

Although I did not agree with his pro-death, anti-Catholic policies, I was very sad to hear of the death of Senator Edward Kennedy . I had been praying for his health -- particularly his spiritual health. As a child, I admired his brothers, President John Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy. I was devastated when they were both assassinated. The incident at Chappaquiddick made me shudder and led me to pray for Edward Kennedy. I sincerely hope that he was able to repent on his death bed. Let us pray for the repose of his soul. From CNA: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) passed away last night at the age of 77 after a battle with brain cancer.  Kennedy, a Catholic, will be remembered for his service to the poor, and dedication to education but also his opposition to pro-life issues. After a long struggle with brain cancer, last night Sen. Kennedy took a turn for the worse while at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.  Surrounded by his family members and a priest, Fr....

Fr. John Richard Neuhaus, a great Catholic intellectual and theologian, and a major voice in the pro-life movement for over 40 years, passed away of cancer at age 72 on January 8. Watching "The World Over" this evening on EWTN, I learned a lot about him. Here are the highlights: Michael Novak , Catholic educator and author, and George Weigel , a Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a Catholic theologian, both close friends of Fr. Neuhaus, were guests. Both men praised his intellectual genius as well as his ability to relate well to people. Novak described Fr. Neuhaus as "the most consequential Christian intellectual in America since Reinhold Niebuhr . " Weigel described Fr. Neuhaus as "a remarkable, gentle discerning counselor", especially with young people. I learned that Fr. Neuhaus was a convert to Catholicism. He had served as a Lutheran pastor, writer, and theologian for thirty years and had been working for Christian unity (betwe...

Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., RIP by James Martin, S. J. Avery Dulles Ordination 1956

One of my favorite film stars, Paul Newman, died of cancer Friday , at the age of 83. The LA Times has some great photos of Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward (whom he was married to for 50 years) here. He was born Paul Leonard Newman on the 26th of January, 1925, in Shaker Heights, an affluent suburb of Cleveland. His father, Arthur, was Jewish and ran a profitable sports goods store. His mother, Theresa (nee Fetzer), was Catholic and helped out in the shop, while raising Paul and his brother Arthur (later a producer and production manager). Young Paul was bright and good at sports. He also showed an early interest in theatre, something that Theresa encouraged. He made his acting debut at 7, as the court jester in a school production of Robin Hood. Paul graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1943. He briefly attended Ohio University at Athens, but was expelled for (allegedly) crashing a keg of beer into the president's car. It was clear that young Newman was possessed of ...

Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, died Saturday after a long bout with cancer. He was 53. A syndicated columnist, editor, TV anchor, radio show host and musician, Snow worked in nearly every medium in a career that spanned more than 30 years. MORE

Ann Ball, a prolific author who wrote lives of the saints alongside Catholic cookbooks, died of a heart attack shortly before midnight on Sunday, her family announced in an email. Though a schoolteacher for many years, she later took over the operation of a security company. Following a regular workday, she would dedicate time to writing, penning several books on the saints and Catholic heritage and traditions. Commenting on her industriousness, the president of Our Sunday Visitor, Greg Erlandson, told CNA that, "I was always surprised how she was able to run a private investigation office and still find time to write so many books that spiritually edified so many people." In a short autobiography at Catholic Authors, the grandmother of eight wrote that curiosity about the saints led her into the Church and her career as a Catholic writer. She was especially interested in the life of Blessed Miguel Pro, the Jesuit priest and Mexican martyr. “I find it horrifying that so few ...

— ROME — Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high C's and ebullient showmanship made him one of the world's most beloved tenors, died Thursday, his manager told The Associated Press. He was 71. For more information, see Fox News. Grant him eternal rest, O Lord. May his soul and all of the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Here is a link to Youtube. He is singing Schubert's Ave Maria.

Fr. Drinan's last public act of note was to celebrate Mass for Nancy Pelosi. They say one shouldn't speak ill of the dead. So, let's have his actions speak for him. He once defended Clinton's veto of a partial birth abortion (id est sucking the brains out of viable babies): One of the president's strongest defenders was a Jesuit priest, Father Robert Drinan, who published articles in both the Reporter and the New York Times attacking the bill and praising the President for having vetoed it. In both articles he accepted at face value the claim--refuted by knowledgable people--that the brutal "dilation and extraction" method is sometimes medically necessary. He also demanded that Congress include an exception to allow the use of the partial-birth procedure if a doctor deemed it necessary to preserve the "health" of the mother--a vague phrase which pro-lifers long ago realized could be used to justify practically any abortion. Drinan also attacked ...