Catholic Fire

Filmed and produced by Franciscan University students, sharing the experience of some of the 750 person strong FUS representation at the 2010 March for Life in Washington, DC. Ending comment by Most Reverend John D'Arcy, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

These seven men were born at Florence and led lives as hermits on Monte Senario, especially venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Friday, April 13, 1240, the hermits received a vision of Our Lady. She held in her hand the black habit, and a nearby angel bore a scroll reading Servants of Mary Mary told them, You will found a new order, and you will be my witnesses throughout the world. This is your name: Servants of Mary. This is your rule: that of Saint Augustine. And here is your distinctive sign: the black scapular, in memory of my sufferings. They accepted the wisdom of Our Lady, wrote a Rule based on Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions, adopted the black habit of an Augustinian monk, and lived as mendicant friars. The men founded the Order of Servites which in 1304 received the approval of the Holy See. They are venerated on this day which is said to be the day on which Saint Alexis Falconieri, one of the seven, died, in the year 1310. All seven were beatified on De...

Fr. Barron answers, "What does it mean to take part in this ascetic practice (the self-imposed discipline that Pope John Paul II practiced)?  

... Next week Polish pro-lifers will unveil a huge billboard in one of Poland's large cities (unnamed now so as not to jeopardize the plan) reminding the public of Adolph Hitler's push for abortion during the Nazi occupation.... (See billboard at link) Translation: Abortion for Polish women introduced by Hitler on March 9, 1943 ... Under Hitler's guidance, the Berlin Chamber of Physicians loosened the Nazis' abortion policy in 1933 so as to use abortion as a tool to exterminate nondesirables. It determined "the health of the mother - considered from all angles - is the decisive factor" for abortions. Flash forward to the US Supreme Court's definition of the abortion health exception in its Jan. 22, 1973, Doe v. Bolton decision, which was, "all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age - relevant to the well-being of the patient." Great minds think alike, or plagiarize sometimes. ...

Live Action President Lila Rose speaks to the tens of thousands gathered at the 2010 Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco, California. Related Posts: Lila Rose, Jamie Thietten, and Todd Tiahrt celebrate Love for Life 2010   “My Chance”: An Award - Winning Pro-Life Song Birmingham Planned Parenthood Put On Probation Pro-life Activist Lila Rose Attacked by Planned Parenthood Escort Lila Rose: Rise Up & Defend Human Life Live Action President Lila Rose Appears on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" Program Lila Rose Lays Out the Case Against Planned Parenthood on "The Factor" Breaking: LILA ROSE VIDEO EXPOSES 7th PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC IN UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION Planned Parenthood of Memphis caught covering up statutory rape YouTube Removes New Undercover Video of Planned Parenthood Without Explanation Lila Rose discusses PP Corruption on O'Reilly Planned Parenthood Caught in the Act of Protecting Predators Again Yet Anot...

From today's Morning Prayer : "Although we long to perform grand and magnificent acts of love,  may we still take all the tiny opportunities for love that each day brings."

It's that time of year again -- the time of both internal and external recollection that we are setting out on a journey. On Ash Wednesday, the ashes placed on our forehead invite us to begin a new journey of repentance. They invite us to turn back to God and to receive new life. Once again, we are called to let God penetrate deeper into our lives, for indeed, turning back to Him with our whole hearts is a submission to His holy will. Lent is a time when we permit God to purify our hearts allow Him to unite our wills with His. Lent because it is a time of interior spring cleaning and obtaining new strength and great graces from God. This is the time of year to take a good look inside of ourselves and take inventory. What bad habit or sin can I work on permanently eliminating in my life? What sin am I really attached to that I can work on removing – not just during this Lenten season, but permanently? Is this sin really that necessary for my survival in this world? What virtue can...

 This year, I had the privilege of attending the Kansans for Life "Love for Life" 2010 Valentine's Day Banquet held on February 12 at Newman University, Wichita, KS. Bill and I volunteered at the event, so we were able to meet many of those in attendance -- guests, as well as speakers. Pictured below is 21-year-old UCLA student Lila Rose , president of Live Action films, who was the featured speaker at this event. This beautiful young lady is an extremely articulate and powerful pro-life speaker who is wise beyond her years. As I have shared in previous posts, she has been putting the mainstream media to shame with her extraordinary undercover exposes of Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the country. She has been uncovering their lies and legal abuses, as the staff at their clinics deliberately suppress evidence in the rape of a minor and circumvent parental consent laws. Lila has invigorated and inspired thousands of people to take a stand for life and it was a...

  The second episode of PRI's POP 101 series, this video takes a fresh, humorous approach to the demographic issues facing the world today. Visit www.overpopulationisamyth.com and spread the word: the world is not overpopulated!

 Michael Voris continues his commentary on the USCCB scandal.

On April 17th, 1958, His Holiness Pope Pius XII confirmed the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus on Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday before Ash Wednesday) for all the dioceses and religious orders who would ask for the Indult from Rome in order to celebrate it. You can learn more about this devotion at Holy Face Devotion and at the Holy Face Association . Read more about this devotion at Vultis Christi here and here.

In the words of the late 'Golden Girl' Estelle Getty, picture this... The year is 1865. The Civil War finally comes to an end and the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolishes slavery. For awhile, things looked pretty good for freed slaves. Just a year after the Civil War ended, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, conferring citizenship and equal rights for black people. A few months later, Congress approved the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing due process and equal protection under the law to all citizens. Two years after the Civil War, in 1867, Congress passed Reconstruction Acts. The status of the Negro was the focal problem of Reconstruction. Though slavery had been abolished the white people of the South were determined to keep the Negro in his place, socially, politically, and economically. Enter the notorious "Black Codes." These codes were regarded as a revival of slavery in disguise. The first such body of statutes w...

Today is the day before Ash Wednesday, called Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. Traditionally, it is the last day for Christians to indulge before the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent. Formally known as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras has long been a time of extravagant fun for European Christians. In many southern states of the USA Mardi Gras is a traditional holiday. The most famous celebration takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. It has been celebrated there on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in the early 1700s.   Other posts that might be of interest to you: Preparing for Shrove Tuesday: Recipes, Traditions, and More    Lenten Ideas 2010

                                                                                            See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing . See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing . H/T: Bethany

What is Shrove Tuesday?     Shrove Tuesday is the last day of what traditionally was called "Shrovetide," the week preceding the beginning of Lent. The word itself, Shrovetide, is the English equivalent for "Carnival," which is derived from the Latin words carnem levare, meaning "to take away the flesh." (Note that in Germany, this period is called "Fasching," and in parts of the United States, particularly Louisiana, "Mardi Gras.") While this was seen as the last chance for merriment, and, unfortunately in some places, has resulted in excessive pleasure, Shrovetide was the time to cast off things of the flesh and to prepare spiritually for Lent. Actually, the English term provides the best meaning for this period. "To shrive" meant to hear confessions . In the Anglo-Saxon "Ecclesiastical Institutes," recorded by Theodulphus and translated by Abbot Aelfric about AD 1000, Shrovetide was described as follows: ...

What is Lent? "Lent is a retreat that the Church gives us in order to re-focus on what should be first in our lives. The purpose of Jesus' life was to glorify the Father and save the world. ..Lent is not first a time of giving up but a time to re-choose to be the victim of Christ, the Lamb. It is a time to live the Beatitudes.” (Fr. Dominique, OSJ)   Message of Pope Benedict XVI for Lent 2010 Lenten Ideas for Adults Fasting Fast from watching TV one night a week so that you can spend time on a Lenten practice, such as praying, reading the Bible, and serving others. Fast from watching one movie during Lent and give the money and the time on service to others. Fast from using foul language and put-downs and begin affirming others with positive speech; use your speech to encourage, rather than discourage others Fast from purchasing new things like clothing, music, and magazines; instead make a donation to a charitable cause Fast from holding resentments and learn ...

Twelve years ago at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, a 17-year-old speedskating prodigy named Kirstin Holum was tapped for future greatness. When Holum placed sixth in the 3,000 meters - one of the most grueling disciplines in the women's program, a lung-scraping four-minute bust of lactic acid torture - speedskating insiders predicted a golden future and speculated she may not even reach her peak for another decade. Read the story at CathNews. In her own words from The Franciscan website: " 'Love is not loved!' St. Francis of Assisi. Throughout most of my life, I was searching for the one true love. The love to fill a void in my heart that the "world" created in me. Not knowing or realizing or even contemplating the fact that Jesus was the answer, I strayed far from Him in many ways during college. I had blocked out a calling I had in Fatima at the age of sixteen. "You're going to be a sister:" I heard in prayer ...

Today is the feast of St. Claude de la Columbiere (1641-1682), a missionary and ascetical writer, who was the brilliant and holy spiritual director of St. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Claude de la Colombiere is best known for his association with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the devotion of the Sacred Heart, but his life has its own drama. He was sent to England after his spiritual direction of St. Margaret Mary was over and became embroiled in the Titus Oates "Popish Plot," was imprisoned, then banished from England. His story is part of the history of the seventeenth century. He was born near Lyons in 1641 and entered the Society of Jesus at Avignon. After his novitiate, he taught grammar and the humanities. Even before his ordination to the priesthood, he gained a reputation as a preacher. After completing his studies in Paris, he became tutor to the sons of Colbert, the financial minister of Louis XIV, but was dismissed from his post and returned to Avignon. I...

Via Marjorie at the Susan B. Anthony List: Obama just doesn't get it. Poll after poll shows that Americans are increasingly pro-life, and even more Americans don't want their tax dollars spent on funding abortion. Yet, Obama's proposed 2011 budget doesn't reflect this sentiment. In fact, it does just the opposite, and actually increases taxpayer funding for abortion on-demand both domestically and around the globe. Under Obama's proposed budget, he asks that American tax dollars are used to: --Fund the Title X "Family Planning Program" which sends money directly to Planned Parenthood. Obama asked that Title X funding be increased by $10 million this year, which would bring total funding to a staggering $327 million --Fund Abortions in the District of Columbia because of the loss of the Dornan Amendment --Fund the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) which promotes Abortion worldwide and works with Population Control officials in China who ...

We go to Sunday Mass and consider ourselves good Catholics, but what about the rest of the week? Here are some insights into bringing Christ to the people in your life from the wisdom of Servant of God Fulton Sheen.