Catholic Fire

Image Source: ABC News On Monday evening, Pope Francis held a “virtual audience” in several cities across the United States as part of the lead-up to his visit later this month. During the interactive event, those taking part were able to share their stories and ask the Holy Father questions. In one instance, the Pope asked a teenage girl, who had been a victim of bullying, to sing for him. Speaking from the Vatican, and alternating between English and Spanish, Pope Francis addressed those taking part at various locations across the US. These included students at the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, faithful at a Texas Church near the Mexican border, as well as homeless people and those who work to assist them in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by ABC News and moderated by network’s "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir. The entire virtual audience is scheduled to air in a one-hour special edition of ABC News’ "20/20" on Friday, Sept. 4,...

Pope Francis is coming to the USA in September and Live the Fast will lead a prayer and fasting novena in preparation for his upcoming visit.   The Fast4Francis novena will take place September 18-26, the nine days leading up to the pope’s arrival in Philadelphia. Fast4Francis is a wonderful opportunity for participants to embrace the Pope’s visit as an invitation to a deeper faith life and to pray for his safe travel leading up to and throughout his visit to the USA. Anyone from any faith can take part in the nine day fast. There are various tracks of fasting that participants can take part in. All tracks of fasting involve giving up certain foods, praying the prayers of the novena and taking part in a sacrament (like Holy Mass or Reconciliation). For example, Track 1 involves giving up coffee, Track 2, fasting from snacks and dessert, Track 3 involves skipping one meal, Tracks 4 and 5 bread and water fasts. Since prayer, fasting and almsgiving are inseparable, participants...

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis on Monday confirmed he will be attending the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year. “I wish to confirm according to the wishes of the Lord, that in September of 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families,” said Pope Francis.  “Thank you for your prayers with which you accompany my service to the Church. Bless you from my heart.” The Holy Father speaking at the beginning of a Colloquium on Complementarity of Man and Woman happening in Rome which was sponsored by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The World Meeting of Families takes place September 22-27, 2015, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), and has as its theme “Love is Our Mission: The Family fully alive.”