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Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Wednesday June 5, 2013 God's Breath Given to Us
Monday, June 03, 2013
June 3 - Saint Charles Lwanga and companions The 22 Martyrs of Uganda (+ 1886-1887)
Saint Charles Lwanga and companions
The 22 Martyrs of Uganda
Charles was one of 22 Ugandan martyrs who converted from paganism. Though he was baptized the night before being put to death, he became a moral leader. He was the chief of the royal pages and was considered the strongest athlete of the court. He was also known as "the most handsome man of the Kingdom of the Uganda." He instructed his friends in the Catholic Faith and he personally baptized boy pages. He inspired and encouraged his companions to remain chaste and faithful. He protected his companions, ages 13-30, from the immoral acts and homosexual demands of the Babandan ruler, Mwanga.
Mwanga was a superstitious pagan king who originally was tolerant of Catholicism. However, his chief assistant, Katikiro, slowly convinced him that Christians were a threat to his rule. The premise was if these Christians would not bow to him, nor make sacrifices to their pagan god, nor pillage, massacre, nor make war, what would happen if his whole kingdom converted to Catholicism?
When Charles was sentenced to death, he seemed very peaceful, one might even say, cheerful. He was to be executed by being burnt to death. While the pyre was being prepared, he asked to be untied so that he could arrange the sticks. He then lay down upon them. When the executioner said that Charles would be burned slowly so death, Charles replied by saying that he was very glad to be dying for the True Faith. He made no cry of pain but just twisted and moaned, "Kotanda! (O my God!)." He was burned to death by Mwanga's order on June 3, 1886. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on June 22,1964. We celebrate his memorial on June 3rd of the Roman Calendar. Charles is the Patron of the African Youth of Catholic Action.
http://www.savior.org/saints/
Saturday, June 01, 2013
SAINT JUSTIN Martyr. June 1st
June 1st - SAINT JUSTIN
St. Justin was born of heathen parents at. Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 103. He was well educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one object, that he might learn the knowledge of God. He sought this knowledge among the contending schools of philosophy, but always in vain, till at last God himself appeased the thirst which He had created.
One day, while Justin was walking by the seashore, meditating on the thought of God, an old man met him and questioned him on the subject of his doubts; and when he had made Justin confess that the philosophers taught nothing certain about God, he told him of the writings of the inspired prophets and of
The Scriptures and the constancy of the Christian martyrs led Justin from the darkness of human reason to the light of faith. In his zeal for the Faith he travelled to Greece, Egypt, and Italy, gaining many to Christ.
At Rome he sealed his testimony with his blood, surrounded by his disciples. "Do you think," the prefect said to Justin, "that by dying you will enter heaven, and be rewarded by God?" "I do not think," was the Saint's answer; "I know."
Then, as now, there were many religious opinions, but only one certain-the certainty of the Catholic faith. This certainty should be the measure of our confidence and our zeal.
Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013 St. Felix of Cantalice (1515-1587)
Thursday, May 23, 2013
St. Felix of Cantalice. (1515-1587)
St. Felix of Cantalice. (1515-1587)
Felix was the first Capuchin Franciscan ever canonized. In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins did not yet exist as a distinct group within the Franciscans.
Born of humble, God-fearing parents in the Rieti Valley, Felix worked as a farmhand and a shepherd until he was 28. He developed the habit of praying while he worked.
In 1543 he joined the Capuchins. When the guardian explained the hardships of that way of life, Felix answered: "Father, the austerity of your Order does not frighten me. I hope, with God’s help, to overcome all the difficulties which will arise from my own weakness."
Three years later Felix was assigned to the friary in Rome as its official beggar. Because he was a model of simplicity and charity, he edified many people during the 42 years he performed that service for his confreres.
As he made his rounds, he worked to convert hardened sinners and to feed the poor–as did his good friend, St. Philip Neri, who founded the Oratory, a community of priests serving the poor of Rome. When Felix wasn’t talking on his rounds, he was praying the rosary. The people named him "Brother Deo Gratias" (thanks be to God) because he was always using that blessing.
When Felix was an old man, his superior had to order him to wear sandals to protect his health. Around the same time a certain cardinal offered to suggest to Felix’s superiors that he be freed of begging so that he could devote more time to prayer. Felix talked the cardinal out of that idea. Felix was canonized in 1712.
Comment:
Grateful people make good beggars. St. Francis told his friars that if they gave the world good example, the world would support them. Felix’s life proves the truth of that advice. In referring all blessings back to their source (God), Felix encouraged people to works of charity for the friars and for others.
Grateful people make good beggars. St. Francis told his friars that if they gave the world good example, the world would support them. Felix’s life proves the truth of that advice. In referring all blessings back to their source (God), Felix encouraged people to works of charity for the friars and for others.
Quote:
"And let us refer all good to the most high and supreme lord God, and acknowledge that every good is His, and thank Him for everything, [He] from Whom all good things come. And may He, the Highest and Supreme, Who alone is true God, have and be given and receive every honor and reverence, every praise and blessing, every thanks and glory, for every good is His, He Who alone is good. And when we see or hear an evil [person] speak or act or blaspheme God, let us speak well and act well and praise God (cf. Rm 12:21), Who is blessed forever (Romans 1:25)" (St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Ch. 17).
"And let us refer all good to the most high and supreme lord God, and acknowledge that every good is His, and thank Him for everything, [He] from Whom all good things come. And may He, the Highest and Supreme, Who alone is true God, have and be given and receive every honor and reverence, every praise and blessing, every thanks and glory, for every good is His, He Who alone is good. And when we see or hear an evil [person] speak or act or blaspheme God, let us speak well and act well and praise God (cf. Rm 12:21), Who is blessed forever (Romans 1:25)" (St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Ch. 17).
Monday, May 20, 2013
A Gifted Blind Prodigy Gives Glory to God in Spite of His Shortcoming
Often I have lots of excuses not to have a good day. In the attached film we see a young man who goes beyond his infirmities.
http://youtu.be/ozdRzyFeJ4s
In many ways, I guess we're called to be like the young man. He could've spent his life saying I can't because I'm blind; I won't because I'm blind. Instead, he sees the beauty of God through his shortcoming and turns them into ways to praise God.
http://youtu.be/ozdRzyFeJ4s
In many ways, I guess we're called to be like the young man. He could've spent his life saying I can't because I'm blind; I won't because I'm blind. Instead, he sees the beauty of God through his shortcoming and turns them into ways to praise God.
With my physical challenges I sometimes I find myself saying I can't andI won't, more than I saying thank you to God for the life that I have.
Tomorrow let's all thank God for all the gifts that we have, including the ones that may not look like guess at first blush.
Tomorrow let's all thank God for all the gifts that we have, including the ones that may not look like guess at first blush.
May God bless you and your family.
May God's loving arms around the families of the victims of the Oklahoma City tornado.
And may you know no God more tomorrow than you do today.
Love in Christ,
Love in Christ,
Deacon Tom
Sunday, May 19, 2013
May 20th. St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
Feast Day: May 20
Patron of advertising, gambling addicts, public relations
Bernardine was one of the most gifted preachers who ever lived. After his ordination he spent 12 years in prayer and contemplation before beginning an explosive ministry in his mid-30s.
Bernardine was often referred to as the “Apostle of Italy,” and Pope Pius II compared him to St. Paul after hearing him preach. Bernardine attracted crowds of up to 30,000 people and had cities competing for a stop on his tour. People were drawn by his spellbinding preaching, but he always directed their gaze toward God. In the words of a contemporary, after Bernardine’s preaching, people would scamper to confession “like ants.”
A front-runner in “branding,” he had a theme that ran like a golden thread through his every message — and an image to go along with it. He preached about the Holy Name of Jesus and popularized the symbol of Jesus’ name: IHS surrounded by rays of light. This image can be seen in churches and on tabernacles to this day. It was displayed whenever Bernardine preached and was set out for veneration afterwards. The image became so popular that Bernardine helped a former gambler make a living by selling copies of it. Demand was so high for this simple piece of sacred art that the man made a small fortune!
The image was also used to strengthen Bernardine’s efforts to bring reconciliation to the many warring factions dividing Italy in the 1400s. He successfully convinced parishes to take down their region’s coat of arms and replace it with the IHS insignia — a sign of Christian unity. Bernardine was effective because he embodied what he preached, had a clear message and had a simple image to help people remember it, rightly earning him a place among the saints.
Thursday, April 04, 2013
April 4 - St. Isidore of Seville (560?-636)
St. Isidore of Seville
(560?-636)
The 76 years of Isidore's life were a time of conflict and growth for the Church in Spain. The Visigoths had invaded the land a century and a half earlier, and shortly before Isidore's birth they set up their own capital. They were Arians—Christians who said Christ was not God. Thus Spain was split in two: One people (Catholic Romans) struggled with another (Arian Goths).
Isidore reunited Spain, making it a center of culture and learning. The country served as a teacher and guide for other European countries whose culture was also threatened by barbarian invaders.
Born in Cartagena of a family that included three other sibling saints (Leander, Fulgentius and Florentina), he was educated (severely) by his elder brother, whom he succeeded as bishop of Seville.
An amazingly learned man, he was sometimes called "The Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages" because the encyclopedia he wrote was used as a textbook for nine centuries. He required seminaries to be built in every diocese, wrote a Rule for religious orders and founded schools that taught every branch of learning. Isidore wrote numerous books, including a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths and a history of the world—beginning with creation! He completed the Mozarabic liturgy, which is still in use in Toledo, Spain. For all these reasons, Isidore has been suggested as patron of the Internet. Several others (including Anthony of Paduia) have also been suggested.
He continued his austerities even as he approached 80. During the last six months of his life, he increased his charities so much that his house was crowded from morning till night with the poor of the countryside.
Stories:
Once, when Isidore was a boy, he ran away from home and from school. His brother Leander, some twenty years older than he, was his teacher, and a very demanding one. While Isidore sat by himself out in the woods, loafing, he watched some drops of water falling on a rock. Then he noticed that the dripping water had worn a hold in the hard rock! The thought came to him that he could do what the little drops of water did. Little by little, by sticking to it, he could learn all his brother demanded, and maybe even more.
.
Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1343
(560?-636)
The 76 years of Isidore's life were a time of conflict and growth for the Church in Spain. The Visigoths had invaded the land a century and a half earlier, and shortly before Isidore's birth they set up their own capital. They were Arians—Christians who said Christ was not God. Thus Spain was split in two: One people (Catholic Romans) struggled with another (Arian Goths).
Isidore reunited Spain, making it a center of culture and learning. The country served as a teacher and guide for other European countries whose culture was also threatened by barbarian invaders.
Born in Cartagena of a family that included three other sibling saints (Leander, Fulgentius and Florentina), he was educated (severely) by his elder brother, whom he succeeded as bishop of Seville.
An amazingly learned man, he was sometimes called "The Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages" because the encyclopedia he wrote was used as a textbook for nine centuries. He required seminaries to be built in every diocese, wrote a Rule for religious orders and founded schools that taught every branch of learning. Isidore wrote numerous books, including a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths and a history of the world—beginning with creation! He completed the Mozarabic liturgy, which is still in use in Toledo, Spain. For all these reasons, Isidore has been suggested as patron of the Internet. Several others (including Anthony of Paduia) have also been suggested.
He continued his austerities even as he approached 80. During the last six months of his life, he increased his charities so much that his house was crowded from morning till night with the poor of the countryside.
Stories:
Once, when Isidore was a boy, he ran away from home and from school. His brother Leander, some twenty years older than he, was his teacher, and a very demanding one. While Isidore sat by himself out in the woods, loafing, he watched some drops of water falling on a rock. Then he noticed that the dripping water had worn a hold in the hard rock! The thought came to him that he could do what the little drops of water did. Little by little, by sticking to it, he could learn all his brother demanded, and maybe even more.
.
Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1343
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
New York's Cardinal Dolan Insight To What is REALLY Happening in Rome
Cardinal Dolan's blog
Above is a wonderful link to blog of Cardinal Dolan from New York. He gives clear insights to what is really happening with the Cardinals in Rome.It is a very refreshing relief from what is being reported in the media.
Thank God For Cardinal Dolan may God bless him and all of the Cardinals. For us, let us keep praying!
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Graphic Summary of the Conclave
As the Conclave to elect a new pope draws nearer, much disinformation abounds. Here is a great link that summarizes the process.
http://visual.ly/inside-conclave
Blessings,
Deacon Tom
-----------------------------
Blog: deacontomf.blogspot.com
Facebook: Deacontomf
Twitter: @TomFrankenfield
Website: www.deacontom.com
http://visual.ly/inside-conclave
Blessings,
Deacon Tom
-----------------------------
Blog: deacontomf.blogspot.com
Facebook: Deacontomf
Twitter: @TomFrankenfield
Website: www.deacontom.com
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Papal Trivia. Ages & Lasts
AGES OF POPES
-- Three popes were under the age of 25. The last was Pope Gregory V, who was 24 when elected in 996.
-- Seven were between 25 and 40 years old. The last was Pope Leo X, who was 37 in 1513.
-- Eleven were between 41 and 50. The last was Pope Clement VII, who was elected in 1523 at the age of 44.
-- 24 popes were in their 50s. The most recent was Blessed John Paul II, who was 58 years old when he began his papal ministry in 1978.
-- 37 were between 61 and 70 years old. The last was Pope John Paul I, who was 65 when he began his 33-day papacy in 1978.
-- Only three popes were over 80 when elected. The last, chosen by cardinals in 1406, was Pope Gregory XII. He was 81.
FAMOUS LASTS
Piazzoni also provided a list of "lasts":
-- The last pope who was not a cardinal yet when elected was Pope Urban VI in 1378.
-- The last who was not even a priest yet was Pope Leo X.
-- The last born in Rome was Pope Pius XII, elected in 1939. (He was also the last serving Vatican secretary of state elected.)
-- The last African was Pope Gelasius, elected in 492.
-- The last native of Dalmatia, an ancient Roman province, was Pope John IV in 640.
-- The last Frenchman elected was Pope Gregory XI, in 1370.
-- The last Greek was Pope Zachary in 741.
-- The last Englishman was Pope Adrian IV in 1154.
-- The last Italian was Pope John Paul I.
-- The last Dutchman was Pope Adrian VI in 1522.
-- The last Palestinian was Pope Theodore in 642.
-- The last Pole was Pope John Paul II in 1978.
-- The last Portuguese was Pope John XXI in 1276.
-- The last Syrian was Pope Gregory III in 731.
-- The last Spaniard was Pope Alexander VI in 1492.
-- The last German was Pope Benedict XVI, elected in 2005. It had been 950 years since a German -- Pope Victor II -- had been elected.
Copyright (c) 2013 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
-- Three popes were under the age of 25. The last was Pope Gregory V, who was 24 when elected in 996.
-- Seven were between 25 and 40 years old. The last was Pope Leo X, who was 37 in 1513.
-- Eleven were between 41 and 50. The last was Pope Clement VII, who was elected in 1523 at the age of 44.
-- 24 popes were in their 50s. The most recent was Blessed John Paul II, who was 58 years old when he began his papal ministry in 1978.
-- 37 were between 61 and 70 years old. The last was Pope John Paul I, who was 65 when he began his 33-day papacy in 1978.
-- Only three popes were over 80 when elected. The last, chosen by cardinals in 1406, was Pope Gregory XII. He was 81.
FAMOUS LASTS
Piazzoni also provided a list of "lasts":
-- The last pope who was not a cardinal yet when elected was Pope Urban VI in 1378.
-- The last who was not even a priest yet was Pope Leo X.
-- The last born in Rome was Pope Pius XII, elected in 1939. (He was also the last serving Vatican secretary of state elected.)
-- The last African was Pope Gelasius, elected in 492.
-- The last native of Dalmatia, an ancient Roman province, was Pope John IV in 640.
-- The last Frenchman elected was Pope Gregory XI, in 1370.
-- The last Greek was Pope Zachary in 741.
-- The last Englishman was Pope Adrian IV in 1154.
-- The last Italian was Pope John Paul I.
-- The last Dutchman was Pope Adrian VI in 1522.
-- The last Palestinian was Pope Theodore in 642.
-- The last Pole was Pope John Paul II in 1978.
-- The last Portuguese was Pope John XXI in 1276.
-- The last Syrian was Pope Gregory III in 731.
-- The last Spaniard was Pope Alexander VI in 1492.
-- The last German was Pope Benedict XVI, elected in 2005. It had been 950 years since a German -- Pope Victor II -- had been elected.
Copyright (c) 2013 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Conclaves: Vatican Library official shares interesting, strange facts
Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of the book, "History of Papal Elections," shared facts and curiosities with journalists at the Vatican Feb. 20:
-- Electing a pope is the main and most serious responsibility of members of the College of Cardinals. In the last several hundred years, Piazzoni said, cardinals have missed a conclave only if they were seriously ill or if they were impeded from traveling to Rome by their governments.
-- The upcoming conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI "will be, technically speaking, the 75th conclave" in the history of the church, he said. He dates the conclaves -- elections conducted while the cardinal-electors were closed off in a room -- to Pope Boniface VIII, who was elected in 1295 and inserted the conclave rules into the Code of Canon Law.
-- During World War II, Pope Pius XII, like several of his predecessors who were popes in times of war, left a document informing the College of Cardinals that if he were taken prisoner, he was no longer to be considered the pope, so the cardinals were to hold a conclave and elect a new pontiff.
-- Pope Gregory XV, elected in 1621, was the last pope to be elected by "spontaneous acclamation" when all the cardinals, believed to be acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the same candidate to be pope. Piazzoni said almost immediately after taking office, Pope Gregory changed the conclave rules to require that such a "spontaneous acclamation" be confirmed immediately with a written ballot in the conclave.
He also was first to rule that the cardinals must cast their votes secretly, in writing, rather than verbally.
-- Election by acclamation is no longer considered valid, nor is the "election by compromise" in which the cardinals, after a stalemate, unanimously decide to choose a few of their members and delegate to them the power to elect a pope. The last pope elected with that method, Piazzoni said, was Pope Clement IV in 1265 who was elected by two cardinals.
-- Pope Paul VI was the pope who clarified the exact moment when a candidate becomes pope: It is the moment he accepts his election, as long as he previously had been ordained a bishop. If the cardinals choose someone who has never been ordained a bishop, the ordination takes place immediately, then the election as pope becomes valid.
-- When Blessed Gregory X was elected by a cardinals meeting in Viterbo, Italy, in 1271, he was not present and he was not even a priest yet.
-- Pope Nicholas II, who served in 1059-61, was the pope who ruled that only cardinals were eligible to vote to elect a pope.
-- "To put an end to discord" created when two or more candidates received a similar number of votes, Pope Alexander II in 1169 established the rule that a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected.
-- Pope John Paul II was the first pope to specify that a conclave must take place in the Sistine Chapel. Previous popes recommended the chapel, but throughout history the conclaves have been held in a variety of churches in Rome and elsewhere.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1300745.html
Copyright (c) 2013 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
-- Electing a pope is the main and most serious responsibility of members of the College of Cardinals. In the last several hundred years, Piazzoni said, cardinals have missed a conclave only if they were seriously ill or if they were impeded from traveling to Rome by their governments.
-- The upcoming conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI "will be, technically speaking, the 75th conclave" in the history of the church, he said. He dates the conclaves -- elections conducted while the cardinal-electors were closed off in a room -- to Pope Boniface VIII, who was elected in 1295 and inserted the conclave rules into the Code of Canon Law.
-- During World War II, Pope Pius XII, like several of his predecessors who were popes in times of war, left a document informing the College of Cardinals that if he were taken prisoner, he was no longer to be considered the pope, so the cardinals were to hold a conclave and elect a new pontiff.
-- Pope Gregory XV, elected in 1621, was the last pope to be elected by "spontaneous acclamation" when all the cardinals, believed to be acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, proclaim the same candidate to be pope. Piazzoni said almost immediately after taking office, Pope Gregory changed the conclave rules to require that such a "spontaneous acclamation" be confirmed immediately with a written ballot in the conclave.
He also was first to rule that the cardinals must cast their votes secretly, in writing, rather than verbally.
-- Election by acclamation is no longer considered valid, nor is the "election by compromise" in which the cardinals, after a stalemate, unanimously decide to choose a few of their members and delegate to them the power to elect a pope. The last pope elected with that method, Piazzoni said, was Pope Clement IV in 1265 who was elected by two cardinals.
-- Pope Paul VI was the pope who clarified the exact moment when a candidate becomes pope: It is the moment he accepts his election, as long as he previously had been ordained a bishop. If the cardinals choose someone who has never been ordained a bishop, the ordination takes place immediately, then the election as pope becomes valid.
-- When Blessed Gregory X was elected by a cardinals meeting in Viterbo, Italy, in 1271, he was not present and he was not even a priest yet.
-- Pope Nicholas II, who served in 1059-61, was the pope who ruled that only cardinals were eligible to vote to elect a pope.
-- "To put an end to discord" created when two or more candidates received a similar number of votes, Pope Alexander II in 1169 established the rule that a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority to be elected.
-- Pope John Paul II was the first pope to specify that a conclave must take place in the Sistine Chapel. Previous popes recommended the chapel, but throughout history the conclaves have been held in a variety of churches in Rome and elsewhere.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1300745.html
Copyright (c) 2013 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Praying For the Rite of Election
A Prayer Before the Rite of Election
Come Holy Spirit fall on each and everyone in RCIA.
Loving Trinity, even before each of these beautiful sojourners were born, You called them and You named them.
Even before they understood, You sought and summoned them.
In the last months,You have been choosing them in secret and intimate ways.
Now, You call them to stand before You and before Your people; to be elected by your Church and to be chosen by You for the world to see.
Grant them...
The courage to answer Your call, loudly and clearly
The courage to give You their name
The courage to give You their lives, so they may receive the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Finally Lord, make each day of their new life a public testimony to Your holy name.
Amen.
Come Holy Spirit fall on each and everyone in RCIA.
Loving Trinity, even before each of these beautiful sojourners were born, You called them and You named them.
Even before they understood, You sought and summoned them.
In the last months,You have been choosing them in secret and intimate ways.
Now, You call them to stand before You and before Your people; to be elected by your Church and to be chosen by You for the world to see.
Grant them...
The courage to answer Your call, loudly and clearly
The courage to give You their name
The courage to give You their lives, so they may receive the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Finally Lord, make each day of their new life a public testimony to Your holy name.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Forget Candy - Give Up Porn For Lent
It is time to stand up!!
Please review some of these important presentations. I think you will take a minute to look at them you'll see the porn has a grip on our society
PORN IS ADDICTIVE
1. Porn has a physical and mental impact on your well being.
Shocking details of the impact on the brain: http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/Get-the-Facts/
PORN IS ATTACKING OUR KIDS
2. Porn has a killer effect on our society. From almost $100 billion a year revenue to touching youngest of our children--it is evil.
Powerful presentation: http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html
DON'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY--FIGHT BACK!!
3. Regardless of the arguments in the media, porn is wrong at many levels.
Here are a few tools
This is a comprehensive site: Pornnomore.com/
Also the US Catholics Site offers some ideas: http://old.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/houckpamphlet.pdf
Please do something for your family and your children.
Let us pray!
Prayer of St. Augustine
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy,Act in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy,Draw my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy,Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy,Guard me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.
Monday, February 11, 2013
POPE BENEDICT XVI RESIGNS
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Saying he no longer has the strength to exercise ministry over the universal church, Pope Benedict XVI announced Feb. 11 that he would be resigning at the end of the month.
"After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry," the pope told cardinals gathered for an ordinary public consistory to approve the canonization of new saints.
Pope Benedict, who was elected in April 2005, will be the first pope to resign in almost 600 years.
He told the cardinals, "In today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of St. Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."
The pope has had increasingly trouble walking in the past year, often using a cane and always being assisted getting up and down steps. However, the Vatican has never released medical information that would make it appear the pope suffers from anything other than joint pain connected to his age.
The option of a pope to resign is explicitly written into the Code of Canon Law. It says a pope may step down, but stipulates that the decision must be made freely and "duly manifested."
Fulfilling the canonical requirement, Pope Benedict solemnly declared to the cardinals, "Well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of bishop of Rome, successor of St. Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of St. Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is."
It is up to the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, to make preparations for a conclave to elect a new pope.
Before ending his remarks, Pope Benedict told the cardinals, "I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the holy church to the care of our supreme pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the cardinal fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new supreme pontiff."
The pope made no mention of his future plans, other than to say, "I wish to also devotedly serve the holy church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."
END
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Tuesday, February 05, 2013
February 5th Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr
February 5th
Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr
Catholic Culture's Saint of the Day - St Agatha
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Feb 1 - St. Brigid of Ireland
St. Brigid of Ireland - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online.
Brigid was probably born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Her parents were baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close friendship. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Lienster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court. Even as a young girl she evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her. She settled with seven of her virgins at the foot of Croghan Hill for a time and about the year 468, followed Mel to Meath. About the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. The foundation developed into a center of learning and spirituality, and around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. She died at Kildare on February 1. The Mary of the Gael, she is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick, with whom she is the patron of Ireland. Her name is sometimes Bridget and Bride. Her feast day is February 1.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=453#
PRAYER
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.
- Saint Brigid
Brigid was probably born at Faughart near Dundalk, Louth, Ireland. Her parents were baptized by St. Patrick, with whom she developed a close friendship. According to legend, her father was Dubhthach, an Irish chieftain of Lienster, and her mother, Brocca, was a slave at his court. Even as a young girl she evinced an interest for a religious life and took the veil in her youth from St. Macaille at Croghan and probably was professed by St. Mel of Armagh, who is believed to have conferred abbatial authority on her. She settled with seven of her virgins at the foot of Croghan Hill for a time and about the year 468, followed Mel to Meath. About the year 470 she founded a double monastery at Cill-Dara (Kildare) and was Abbess of the convent, the first in Ireland. The foundation developed into a center of learning and spirituality, and around it grew up the Cathedral city of Kildare. She founded a school of art at Kildare and its illuminated manuscripts became famous, notably the Book of Kildare, which was praised as one of the finest of all illuminated Irish manuscripts before its disappearance three centuries ago. Brigid was one of the most remarkable women of her times, and despite the numerous legendary, extravagant, and even fantastic miracles attributed to her, there is no doubt that her extraordinary spirituality, boundless charity, and compassion for those in distress were real. She died at Kildare on February 1. The Mary of the Gael, she is buried at Downpatrick with St. Columba and St. Patrick, with whom she is the patron of Ireland. Her name is sometimes Bridget and Bride. Her feast day is February 1.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=453#
PRAYER
I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress, that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.
- Saint Brigid
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Jan 31 - St John Bosco
Saint John Bosco
Don Bosco is the Patron of The Youth, Catholic Schools & Education
“ Believe me... nobody can be truly happy in this world unless he is at peace with God.” ~ St. John Bosco
John Bosco was born in a small town not too far from Turin, Italy. His father died when he was two years old. He was raised with tender love yet firm discipline by his mother, Margaret.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1841 and went to work in Turin, where the industrial revolution was attracting waves of young people to the city.
The misery and abandonment of these youngsters moved John Bosco deeply. He dedicated his life to them and began youth clubs for them. John Bosco devoted himself to the care of the young, first of all by means of evening classes, to which hundreds came, and then by setting up a boarding-house for apprentices, and then workshops for their training and education.
He then started hostels and boarding schools, where he taught them trades. In 1859 he founded the Salesian Society and in 1872 the Salesian Sisters to work for girls. Three years later, he sent the first missionary group to Argentina. His work spread through-out the mission world, and today more than half the Society works in mission lands.
The educational philosophy of John Bosco can be condensed in three words: reason, religion and kindness. The basic principle of his system was a deep understanding and love for young people. Salesians continue his work all over the world
Saint John Bosco died at the age of seventy-two in 1888 and was canonized in 1934.
Novena Prayer:
Father and teacher of Young, In need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, O Saint Don Bosco, for I require not only spiritual graces, but also temporal ones, and particularly...
(add your own personal intentions here)
May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were suffering, obtain from Jesus and His Heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere resignation to the Will of God.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father
Don Bosco is the Patron of The Youth, Catholic Schools & Education
“ Believe me... nobody can be truly happy in this world unless he is at peace with God.” ~ St. John Bosco
John Bosco was born in a small town not too far from Turin, Italy. His father died when he was two years old. He was raised with tender love yet firm discipline by his mother, Margaret.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1841 and went to work in Turin, where the industrial revolution was attracting waves of young people to the city.
The misery and abandonment of these youngsters moved John Bosco deeply. He dedicated his life to them and began youth clubs for them. John Bosco devoted himself to the care of the young, first of all by means of evening classes, to which hundreds came, and then by setting up a boarding-house for apprentices, and then workshops for their training and education.
He then started hostels and boarding schools, where he taught them trades. In 1859 he founded the Salesian Society and in 1872 the Salesian Sisters to work for girls. Three years later, he sent the first missionary group to Argentina. His work spread through-out the mission world, and today more than half the Society works in mission lands.
The educational philosophy of John Bosco can be condensed in three words: reason, religion and kindness. The basic principle of his system was a deep understanding and love for young people. Salesians continue his work all over the world
Saint John Bosco died at the age of seventy-two in 1888 and was canonized in 1934.
Novena Prayer:
Father and teacher of Young, In need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, O Saint Don Bosco, for I require not only spiritual graces, but also temporal ones, and particularly...
(add your own personal intentions here)
May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were suffering, obtain from Jesus and His Heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere resignation to the Will of God.
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father
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