Sacred Heart of Jesus

The promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless [...]

Caritas in Veritate

Social Encyclical of Pope Benedict now due out in the Fall according to CWS.

New Versions of Older Books

Late this year, a book written by Amy and myself fifteen years ago will be re-released under a new title by Ave Maria Press. Neither of us was ever very thrilled about the original art in The Biblical Way of the Cross, when I was asked if I had any artist in mind for the [...]

Day to Pray for China

From Pope Benedict via Father Mark:
Dear Pastors and all the faithful, the date 24 May could in the future become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China. This day is dedicated to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady, Help of Christians, [...]

Corpus Christi

From Reuters India:
In his sermon at the Mass at St. John’s before the start of the procession, the Pope said that communion joined all
Catholics together — regardless of their backgrounds.
“We are united beyond our differences of nationality, profession, social class, ideas,” he said.

Romanus the Melodist

Pope’s weekly catechesis, from Vatican Radio:
In today’s catechesis we turn to the Christian poetry of Romanus the Melodist. Born in Syria at the end of the fifth century, Romanus received a classical education, was ordained a deacon, and settled in Constantinople. His preaching took the form of chanted metrical hymns known as “kontakia”, consisting of [...]

Thoughts on “Roman Catholics for Obama ’08”

From Archbishop Chaput in First Things:
In fact, I can’t name any pro-choice Catholic politician who has been active, in a sustained public way, in trying to discourage abortion and to protect unborn human life—not one. Some talk about it, and some may mean well, but there’s very little action. In the United States in 2008, [...]

Hero Dies

Irena Sendler, 98–responsible for saving about 3,000 Polish Jews during the Holocaust, from the LA Times:
Fate may have led Irena Sendler to the moment almost 70 years ago when she
began to risk her life for the children of strangers. But for this humble Polish
Catholic social worker, who was barely 30 when one of history’s most [...]

Saint Mathias, Apostle

First example in the Bible of Apostolic succession…after the Ascension of Jesus, from the Acts of the Apostles:
In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, [16] “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by [...]

General Audience: Religions of the East

A different angle today by Pope Benedict:
In the reflection he had previously addressed to the 30,000 people present at the Wednesday audience, the pope had spoken about dialogue with the mystical religions of Asia, maintaining that these are based on the idea that God is found through praising him, praying to him, and not only [...]

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Only extended to the universal church in 2002, of course also the anniversary of the attempt on Pope John Paul II’s life at Saint Peter’s. For a rare and excellent look at the children of Fatima see Leo Madigan’s The Children of Fatima: Blessed Francisco & Blessed Jacinta Marto (Children of Fatima) which includes photos of [...]

Australian Bishops Take on One of Their Own

Release negative critique of a book he published, from the Australian Bishops Conference:
In 2007 Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, retired Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of
Sydney, published a book entitled “Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic
Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus.”
We are grateful for the
contribution Bishop Robinson has made to the life of the Church. We [...]

Horrible Loss of Life

In Myramar and China and how you can help:
Catholic Relief Services
Caritas International

The Pope Stumbles

Old news, happened yesterday, but in this picture the MC’s offer a Christ like example in helping the pope back to his feet setting a true Pentecost example:

The Octave of Pentecost?

This morning I mused on our way to Mass that it seemed strange that there wasn’t an Octave of Pentecost–given that it celebrates the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity. Well it turns out that there was an Octave, but that it disappeared in the 1960’s, Father Mark has a post on this. [...]