Catholic Fire

Most Blessed Trinity, I, Your child, thank You for all the gifts and privileges which You granted to St. Gerard, especially for those virtues with which You adorned him on earth and the glory which You now impart to him in heaven. Accomplish Your work, Oh Lord, so that Your kingdom may come about on earth. Through his merits, in union with those of Jesus and Mary, grant me the grace for which I ask.... (Mention your request) And you, my powerful intercessor, St. Gerard, always so ready to help those who have recourse to you, pray for me. Come before the throne of Divine Mercy and do not leave without being heard. To you I confide this important and urgent affair.... Graciously take my cause in hand and do not let me end this novena without having experienced in some way the effects of your intercession. Amen. You can find another novena to St. Gerard  HERE .

Dr. Marie Anderson, Chief Medical Officer of Tepeyac Family Center, explains the method of hormonal contraception's abortifacient effects.

Give Miranda a minute to tell you why she chose adoption to provide the best life for her and her baby. Just 15, Miranda knew she needed a few more years of being a kid before she could even think about being a parent. So if you're pregnant but you're not ready to be a mom, we're ready to help you choose adoption too. Because you're not giving your baby away, you're giving your baby a chance. The follow video is very inspirational. Visit their web site at http://ichooseadoption.org/. ~ Via LifeNews.com

A 60-year-old Indian woman shocked doctors, and herself, when she unexpectedly gave birth to a healthy 3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz) baby girl last Thursday. Only identified as Lilabai, the mother of (now) four children presented herself at the Prakash Chand Sethi Hospital last Tuesday, June 11, with stomach pains, reports the India Times. Upon examination, it was determined she was with child and was presenting low hemoglobin levels. She was immediately rushed to a maternity ward at Mahraja Yeshwantrao Hospital to be stabilized before delivering the child via cesarean section. Lilabai was reportedly in “good spirits” before surgery. Dr. Lakshmi Maru, the head of gynecology at MYH, declared the procedure a success, saying, “The patient and the baby are healthy.” Lilabai was thankful for her health, but even more so for the safe delivery. Read full story.

Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholic pharmacists to stop selling drugs that prevent pregnancy or assist in euthanasia. At the World Congress of the International Alliance of Catholic pharmacists in Poland, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged all the pharmacists not to deviate from their own consciences in the name of the market laws and reminded them that they must respect Church’s moral laws instead. He was referring to a medication that can terminate or prevent pregnancy and help with the execution of euthanasia. Read the rest of the article here.

Women who have abortions could be posing a risk to future children, according to research published today. A Canadian medical study found that those who abort a pregnancy could run the risk of giving birth to premature of low-weight children in subsequent pregnancies. It discovered that women who had undergone more than one abortion had a 72 per cent increased risk for low birth weight and 93 per cent risk of prematurity. It also found that women who had an abortion in the first or second trimester had a 35 per cent increased risk of giving birth to a low-weight birth baby and a 36 per cent increased risk of having a premature baby. Read more.

Feminists for Life of America (FFL) has a new series of videos on its Web site called Exposing Coercion:  Pregnant Women Stand Up .   The clips outline the heart-wrenching testimonies of college-age women who have been pressured by medical professionals, parents and boyfriends into having an abortion. The video clip below is just one example of the many found there to serve as tools and resources to young women. H/T: Citizens Link

This video was originally blocked by YouTube for no apparent reason. An important and unique look at abortion:

Following are the words of a woman who had an abortion: Quote “After the abortion, I felt dirty, ashamed, like a low ant below all else. I felt betrayed, like a betrayer. I sat in the rain the rest of the day, occasionally walking, crying, and not knowing why I really had the abortion.” End of quote. These words express the experience of many people, who realize that abortion is not a “choice” but rather the result of total despair. The Church and the pro-life movement, on the other hand, bring hope and healing. If you have had an abortion, or know someone else who needs this healing, visit priests for life dot org. We operate Rachel’s Vineyard, the world’s largest ministry of healing after abortion. The time for healing is now. –Fr. Frank Pavone Dr. Teresa Burke, founder of Rachel's Vineyard, speaks about symptoms related to abortion and invites people to visit her website.

This is an awesome video!

The story of Samuel Mann, who was given no chance to live before he was born. ~ Via Catholic News Agency.

There is a new use for a drug that is supposed to help treat ulcers. But it has doctors concerned, because more women are apparently using the drug to have an abortion. There are multiple warnings on the bottle, and they couldn't be more clear. Pregnant women should steer clear of misoprostol, an ulcer medication that causes cramping and could cause miscarriage. But pharmacist Bob Rosenberg knows firsthand that some pregnant women try and buy the drug without a prescription to intentionally terminate a pregnancy. Learn more here.

Chaunie Brusie shares the story of her pregnancy and her involvement with Feminists For Life.

To end the tragedy of newborns being abandoned and left to die, Michigan passed the Safe Delivery of Newborns law to make it legal for a parent to surrender the infant in a safe and anonymous way. This video explains the process.

This week's Catholic Carnival is up at Organ-ic Chemist and she did a great job of organizing the many posts there. This week has been a crazy one for me so I neglected to enter. Here are a few of my favorites: Marcel's post entitled Humanae Vitae and The Catholic Church , is an extensive discussion on Mary Eberstadt's article The Vindication of Humanae Vitae . He presents a very interesting and extensive discussion in his well-researched post. Heidi at the Extraordinary Moms Network gave a list of posts she made on her other blog, Mommy Monsters Inc. which reflects what she considers to be the highlights of Humanae Vitae. Heidi also posted a beautiful reflection at Behold Your Mother on St. Joseph and the sacrifices he may have made being the husband of Mary. Elena at My Domestic Church reflects on the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and childbirth . Jane at Building the Ark writes on how she managed to find God in the garbage . There are many more great p...

Life begins at conception, which is when parenting begins for both the mother and father. Destroying a human life at any stage of development is murder. To find a crisis pregnancy center, go here. If you have had an abortion and need help, go here.

American Life League calls all pro-lifers across the country to speak out on Protest the Pill Day '08: The Pill Kills Babies, scheduled for the Griswold anniversary of Saturday, June 7. We encourage you to gather with your friends for peaceful protests in front of facilities that distribute birth control products.

October 4, 1922 – April 28, 1962 If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation; Choose—and I demand it—the baby, Save him!” Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian doctor, wife, and mother who refused to have either an abortion or hysterectomy when she was pregnant with her fourth child. Doctors had discovered in the second month of her pregnancy a fibroma tumor in her uterus. As a doctor, Gianna knew the consequences of not fully treating the fibroma. She chose the life of her child over her own. On the morning of April 21, 1962, a healthy baby girl was born, Gianna Emanuela. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died of septic peritonitis. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international year of the fa...