Catholic Fire

Fr. Craig Harrison from California shares his conversion story at St. James Church in Medugorje. Source.

Washington, DC – Operation Rescue President Troy Newman will be part of a historic Christian prayer delegation to Iraq. The group of six men, led by the Christian Defense Coalition, has been officially welcomed by the Iraqi government and will be their guests in Baghdad. The group is scheduled to leave today for Iraq, and will spend a week praying for people of Iraq and seeking God’s wisdom and guidance for the direction of Iraq during this critical time in the nation’s history. “Because we are a pro-life group, we are very concerned about the loss of life, both among the American troops endeavoring to bring stability to Iraq and to the innocent non-combatants that too often find themselves in harm’s way,” said Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger. “This is an amazing opportunity to cover this nation with much-needed prayer.” “We are aware of the dangers of traveling to a war zone, so we are asking for special prayer Troy and the other men in the delegation that they...

Too many husbands and wives expect their partners in marriage to give only what God can give: eternal ecstasy. Yet if any man or woman could do that, he would be God. We are right to want the ecstasy of love, but if we expect to enjoy it through the flesh, which is merely on pilgrimage to God, we prepare ourselves for disappointment. The first ecstasy of love is not an illusion; but is only a kind of travel folder, a foretaste, a preview, urging body and soul to start the journey toward eternal joys. If the first ecstasy passes, the change is not an invitation to love another person, but to love in another way -- and the other way is the Christ Way, the way of Him who said: "I am the Way." ~ Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, "Way to Happiness", Fawcett Publications, Greenwich, Conn., 1957, page 75.

Optional Memorial of St. Sharbel (Charbel) Makhloof, priest Born in 1828, Sharbel Makhluf was a monk and priest of the Marionite Order in Annaya, Lebanon, who spent many hours praying before the Blessed Sacrament. He later lived as a hermit of his order. He celebrated Mass close to noon so as to devote the morning to preparation, and the rest of the day to thanksgiving. He died in 1898. Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 1216 - Cencio Savelli is consecrated as Pope Honorius III . Birthdays: 1725 - John Newton , English cleric and hymnist (d. 1807) 1802 - Alexandre Dumas, père , French writer, author of Three Musketeers (d. 1870) 1936 - Ruth Buzzi , American actress and comedian 1942 - Chris Sarandon , American actor 1951 - Lynda Carter , American actress ("Wonder Woman") Birthday Highlight of the Day: My sister, Maureen, was born today. Happy birthday, Maureen!

By Colleen Carroll Campbell When Gov. Matt Blunt signed into law new regulations for Missouri abortion clinics this month, the critical response from abortion-rights groups highlighted a hotly contested question in today's abortion debate: Which side cares more about women? For decades, the feminist establishment has declared the question a no-brainer. The right to abortion is the premier women's right, feminist leaders argue, so support for unfettered abortion access is the litmus test for concern for women. And restrictions on abortion or abortion providers -- such as the new provision in Missouri law that holds abortion clinics to the same health and safety standards as other outpatient surgical centers -- are, by definition, anti-woman. [more]

You’re Constantine The Great! Though he did not accept baptism until the very end of his days, Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor. His Edict of Milan put an end to institutionalized persecution of Christians in the Empire. He convened the first ecumenical council, the Council of Nicea, to settle major doctrinal and disciplinary disputes. Though it has become fashionable to portray Constantine as a ruthless suppressor of paganism, that is a caricature, based on almost no evidence. He is better represented by one of his famous pleas for tolerance : “Let those who delight in error alike with those who believe partake of the advantages of peace … Let no one disturb another, let each man hold fast to that which his soul wishes … What each man has adopted as his persuasion, let him do no harm with this to another.” Constantine condemned “violent opposition to wicked error.” The Orthodox venerate him as a saint. Find out which Byzantine ruler you are at The Way of the Fathers !

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May this prayer we offer to the Lord our God, be present to him night and day, as we say: Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servants, O Lord, our God. For the peace of the Church, that our love for one another may bear witness to you. For the joy of our fellow pilgrims on the road of faith, that rejoicing in the Lord may be our common strength. For those who have gone before us into the heavenly Jerusalem, that they may ask our own good. In Thanksgiving for the marriage retreat. For special blessings upon Maureen and Henry, who were married today. For Donna Marie's special intention. For Paul's conversion. For Esther's prayer request. For Matthew's special intention. For Julie D.'s parents. For C. who is struggling with a problem pregnancy. For L., a woman who will be undergoing brain surgery to try to stop further brain damage caused by tumors; the surgery is planned in the beginning of August. For all those suffering from cancer ( especially Diane (...

Fr. Tom Euteneuer, the President of Human Life International, will be celebrating all of the televised Masses for EWTN this week, that is, from Sunday the 22nd of July through Saturday the 28th. The reason Fr. Euteneuer is celebrating these particular Masses is that Wednesday, July 25th will be the 39th anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae . Fr. Tom's preaching will be on that famous, but often misunderstood encyclical issued by Pope Paul VI, which reaffirmed the Church's constant teaching on the immorality of contraception. The day before that, Tuesday, July 24th, will also be a special occasion for Fr. Euteneuer, since he will be celebrating his 19th anniversary of being a priest. His homily on that day will focus on the Holy Priesthood. Source

Sunflower Source Optional Memorial of St. Bridget, religious Today's Mass Readings Today in Catholic History: 1649 - Pope Clement XI is born. (d. 1721) Birthdays: 1823 - Alexandre-Antonin Taché , Canadian Catholic priest and archbishop (d. 1894) 1936 - Don Drysdale , American baseball player (d. 1993) 1936 - Anthony Kennedy , U.S. Supreme Court Justice 1943 - Tony Joe White , American singer and songwriter 1974 - Maurice Greene , American athlete

"There is no sinner in the world, however much at enmity with God,who cannot recover God's grace by recourse to Mary, and by asking her assistance." ~ St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow, Third Order Franciscan (1303 – 1373) St. Bridget is known for her astonishing revelations documented carefully by her confessors, filling several volumes. Their accounts of her visions of biblical scenes, especially the nativity and the crucifixion, have greatly inspired imagery in Christian art and her devotions have inspired popular piety. It was, however, for her practical works of charity, that she was canonized, and not for her private revelations – which had some very harsh things to say about popes. Bridget was born in Finista in Sweden. From childhood, the Lord granted her special graces, visions and an extraordinary understanding of divine mysteries. At age seven, she had a vision of the crucified Jesus in all the suffering and sorrow of his Passion, which enkindled within her a deep devotion for our Savior. The daughter of a provincial governor and judge, at age 13, Bridget married Ulf Gudmarsson, a prince, who was then eighteen; they lived happ...

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On this podcast:"Silk" From Lion Sun: Poems by Pavel Chichikov The music is "Ave verum corpus," by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; publisher, Shockwave-Sound.com. All poems in this podcast are copyrighted by Pavel Chichikov. Read Pavel’s poetry every week at "The Poetry of Pavel Chichikov." And watch for an announcement soon about Pavel’s readings on Catholic Radio International .

Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make our own the lamentation of the Prophet: "There is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in the land" (Hosea 4:1). Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God and man. ~ Pope St. Pius X

New water lily from our pond July, 2007 Optional Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 1542 Pope Paul III (1468–1549) issued the encyclical Licet ab Inuito, which instituted the Congregation of the Roman Inquisition or the Holy Office. 1773 Pope Clement XIV (1705–1774) issued the bull Dominus ac Redemptor. Birthdays: 1414 - Pope Sixtus IV (d. 1484) 1515 - St. Philip Neri , Italian churchman (d. 1595) 1620 - Jean Picard , French astronomer (d. 1682) 1899 - Ernest Hemingway, American Nobel Prize-winning (1954) novelist and short story writer (d. 1961) 1924 - Don Knotts , American actor (d. 2006) 1978 - Josh Hartnett , American actor

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks. You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next. And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life! What's Your Travel Personality?

From Decent Films: Catholic Harry Potter haters made headlines recently when a hacker named “Gabriel” posted purported plot revelations from the completed but unreleased seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, along with a note crediting “the great Pope Benedict XVI” with exposing the “Neo Paganism faith” of J. K. Rowling’s cultural juggernaut. Read more > Go here to view the trailers. Update: The Sci Fi Catholic gives us his opinion of Harry Potter here. I like the breakdown of his rating system, which gives us a clearer picture of what we can expect. My Comments: I am not a big Harry Potter fan, but apparently there is some value to watching this film.

Optional Memorial of St. Apollinaris, bishop and martyr Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History: 514 - Pope Hormisdas assumes the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. 1962 Pope John XXIII (1881–1963) sent invitations to all "separated Christian Churches and Communities," asking each to send delegate-observers to the upcoming Vatican II Ecumenical Council in Rome. Birthdays: 1822 - Gregor Mendel , father of modern genetics (d. 1884) 1938 - Natalie Wood , American actress (d. 1981) 1942 - Pete Hamilton , American race car driver 1945 - Kim Carnes , American singer and songwriter 1969 - Josh Holloway , American actor

Via Catholic Exchange: By Elias Crim Like many other laypeople who found a new ministry, Monica Rafie first had to undergo a personal trial by fire. On her website, BeNotAfraid.net , she recounts what happened at the clinic in suburban Chicago in June 2001, when her second child, Celine, was 22 weeks along. The OB left us in the exam room for a very long time. I don't know whether she had ever delivered bad news before. I wonder what must have raced through her mind when she looked over the ultrasound. Eventually she did return to the little room where I sat with legs dangled over the examination table and my husband bobbed our squirmy ten-month old son on his knees...We were told that our baby had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a condition incompatible with life. [More] This is an inspiring piece which describes the BeNot Afraid Website. "Our site is not actually not about abortion, it's about what happens when you choose life. And it's not just for faithful Cathol...