Catholic Fire

Terry Schiavo's Siblings are launching a radio show called “America’s Lifeline” to address and educate Americans about health care, end-of-life issues and the disabled. Get the full story here. In 2004, a 15-year-old girl named Tamiia Russell died after an abortion at his hands, in 2007 he got caught on camera claiming doctors have a "license to lie" and now police have confiscated the contents of the dumpster outside of one of places Alberto Hodari performs abortions because of accusations of improperly discarded medical waste. MORE The Associated Press reported today: A vast array of pharmaceuticals - including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones - have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.... MORE

By Jean M. Heimann John 8: 1 - 11 In today's gospel, Jesus forgives Mary Magdalene of her sins, while the Pharisees condemn her. Each time I read this passage, I can't help but think of the woman in our own day who has not only slept with a man and become pregnant, and has sought an abortion as a way out of the situation. Society condemns her of her grievous sin, yet what good does that do the sinner? Does it encourage her to repent and reach out to God in her misery? Each one of us is capable of committing the most serious of sins due to our fallen nature. I wonder how many of these upright Pharisees preparing to cast their stones had actually participated in the sin of adultery with her. Jesus seems to be writing something on the ground -- is it the sins of the Pharisees? He is alone with the woman and looks upon her in her frightened and lowly state and He pardons her, opening up His heart of tender love and mercy to her. In the words of Fr. Philippe, OP, " As soon as J...

This weekend Fr. Stan Fortuna is here for a mini parish mission for two evenings (with the entire parish) and he also enjoyed some special time with the youth on Saturday night. Although I have seen him on EWTN a few times, this is the first time I have seen him in person. Tonight he gave an inspiring talk followed by Eucharistic Adoration, accompanied by some very reverent and beautiful meditation music, which brought some of us to tears. He is a gifted, humble, holy, and humorous man of God. He does a wonderful John Paul II imitation and an amazing Billy Crystal imitation. Bill accompanied me tonight, although he was very tired and continues to recuperate from his hospital stay. I took notes and hopefully will be able to share more with you tomorrow night -- I'm soaking it all in right now. More to come...

You are Sunrise You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be. What Time Of Day Are You? Via Alexandra at Happy Hearts at Home.

Check out the new website for priests, deacons and seminarians Humanae Vitae -- a creation of Fr. Thomas Enteneur. It looks great! View the related videos at Sonitus Sanctus.

Vindicate me O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; from wicked and deceitful men deliver me, for your are my God and my strength. v. Send forth your light and your truth; these have led me and brought me to your holy mountain and to your dwelling place. View another short, but beautiful video at Catholic Tube on today's gospel. Thank you, Travis, for sharing this.

John 11: 1 - 45 - Today's Gospel Reading We must love considering the Church in the light of glory, and this is how we should consider her. Just as Jesus lived the entire mystery of the Cross and even His entire apostolic life in the light of this great assertion, "I am the Resurrection", so should we consider the mystery of the Church, and our own lives as well, in the light of the Resurrection. This is what will give us an ever greater hope, since hope already lives the victory of love. The Sacrament of Reconciliation should be understood in this light, as something connected to the Resurrection. Each time the priest gives absolution, each time he makes this gesture of God's forgiveness, his action is directly connected to Jesus' Resurrection, and it thereby prepares us for the mystery of our own Resurrection. Return to Me ... Daily Meditations for Lent by Fr. Philippe, O.P. By Fr. Philippe, O.P., Priest, Philosopher, and Founder of the Community of St. Jo...

"Human life is a gift of God and the meaning of life is found in giving and receiving love . That is why having society promoting the defense of human life is promoting loving protection of the human person.” ~Jose Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio Image Source

Murillo's St. John of God St. John of God was born on March 8, 1495 in a small village in the south of Portugal called Montemor-o-Novo. At the age of eight, he left home and was raised by a Spanish family in Oropesa. John spent most of his life as a wanderer, working as a shepherd, soldier, a religious bookseller and laborer, traveling in Europe and North Africa. When St. John of God settled in Granada around the age of forty he was so deeply moved by a homily of Blessed John of Avila, that he gave away all his worldly possessions to the poor and went about the city beating his breast, begging for God’s mercy. His conversion experience was so dramatic in its intensity that he was locked up in a lunatic asylum, where he was flogged and placed in solitary confinement. His brief experience of this kind of treatment made him feel very compassionate toward the poor, the sick and the suffering; thus, he devoted the rest of his life to caring for those in need.John's work was motivat...

"Almighty and Eternal God, behold I come to the Sacrament of Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. As one sick, I come to the Physician of life; unclean, to the Fountain of mercy; blind, to the Light of eternal splendor; poor and needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, I beg of You, through Your infinite mercy and generosity, heal my weakness, wash my uncleanness, give light to my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. May I thus receive the Bread of Angels, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, with such reverence and humility, contrition and devotion, purity and faith, purpose and intention, as shall aid my soul's salvation ..."

Today is the Optional Memorial of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity. Perpetua was a convert to Christianity who was born to a noble pagan family. She was martyred along with her maid and friend, Felicity in Carthage in 203 A.D. The two women were arrested and imprisoned, along with three other Christians. Perpetua was 22 years old, with a son a few months old; Felicity was pregnant at the time of the arrest. Their only crime was defying Emperor Septimus Severus' prohibition of conversions to Christianity. The account of their martyrdom and courage, The Suffering of Perpetua and Felicity, is one of the earliest historical accounts of Christianity. It is one of the great treasures of martyr literature, an authentic document preserved for us in the actual words of the martyrs and their friends. Perpetua wrote a vivid account of what happened. "While I was still with my companions, and my father in his affection for me was trying to turn me from my purpose by arguments and so weaken my ...

Both Esther and Ebeth have blessed me by awarding me with this beautiful bouquet of flowers. Thank you, kind ladies! You both deserve them, too! In turn, I would like to share this with the following blog friends: Donna Marie Heidi Sarah Leticia Marie Deb Rosemary

Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii reminds of the St. Joseph novena which starts today and ends on March 14 or if you start tomorrow on Friday, you can finish it on his feast day, March 15. Jay at Pro Ecclessia * Pro Familia* shares some frightening quotes from Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama concerning his desire to repeal the defense of marriage act. Here's just one example: "As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws." ~ Barack Obama The Catholic Knight has A Word of Advice for Alan Keyes. Leticia at Causa Nostrae Laetitiae asks Is There a Day of Silence in your Child's School? She's not referring to prayer here either.

A reader writes: Hi Jean, Thank you for your wonderful blog. I was wondering if you knew of any good Catholic midwives in CT or how I might locate one? I noticed you seem to have much pro - life experience and was wondering if you might be able to point me in the right direction, Thanks and God bless you! K.

By Mary Ellen Barrett Catholics and the rosary. They go together like ham and cheese, love and marriage, salvation and redemption. Ok, so that was a little offbeat but then, so are a lot of rosaries. Every Friday night will find my family here at my house or at the home of one of four other families consuming pizza and praying the rosary. This rosary group has existed for about 15 years, and my family has been a member for about nine. We gather in the evening, and the hosting family provides pizza while the other families contribute soda, juice, wine and, when not in Lent, desserts. We eat and then settle down to pray together. Read the Entire Column from The Long Island Catholic here.

The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist. ~Pope St. Gregory the Great Via Sr. Patricia Proctor .

This is a small portion of Huckabee's gracious concession speech , which was very moving. Like Leticia , I am proud to have been one of his supporters. He is an amazing man!

Today is the feast of St. Colette, founder of the Poor Clare Colettines. Born in 1380, Nicolette was named in honor of St. Nicholas of Myra. Her parents, who were both in their 60's when she was born, nicknamed her Colette. Quiet and hard-working, Colette was a pious child who demonstrated a sensitive and loving nature. When Colette was 17, both of her parents died and was left her in the care of a Benedictine abbot. She initially tried to join the Beguine and Benedictine orders, but neither one worked out for her. Instead, she became a third order Franciscan. At age 21, she renounced the world in order to spend her life alone in penance and prayer as an anchoress - walled into a cell whose only opening was a grilled window into a church. She left her cell in 1406 in response to a dream directing her to reform the Poor Clares. She entered the order of Poor Clares, was appointed superior general, and began a successful reform of the Poor Clare convent at Beaume, Switzerland, which ...

You Are Basil You are quite popular and loved by post people. You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive. You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good. What Spice Are You?

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