BIG C CATHOLICS

St. Jerome with lion: According to legend, a lion came into Jerome’s monastery. All fled save Jerome. Rather than attack, the lion lifted its paw to reveal a thorn. Jerome removed the thorn and tended the animal back to health. The lion remained subservient to Jerome and the brethren. Saint Jerome, one of the four original Western doctors of the Church, is perhaps best known for translating the Bible from Greek (the Septuagint) into Latin (the Vulgate). A remarkable scholar and a sometimes prickly man, Saint Jerome nevertheless believed deeply in the mercy of Christ. Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.                        — St. Jerome       One of the greatest Biblical scholars of Christendom, Saint Jerome was born of Christian parents at Stridon in Dalmatia around the year 345. Educated at the local school, he then studied rhetoric in Rome for eight years, before returning to Aquilea to set up a community of ascetics. When that community broke up after thr

In an interview following his whirlwind tour of Washington D. C. and Philadelphia, Pope Francis affirmed that government workers have a human right to refuse to carry out a duty if they have a "conscientious objection." NBC reports that: While returning from his visit to the U.S., the pontiff told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday that anyone who prevents others from exercising their religious freedom is denying them a human right. [ ... ] The pontiff was asked: "Do you... support those individuals, including government officials, who say they cannot in good conscience, their own personal conscience, abide by some laws or discharge their duties as government officials, for example when issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples?" [Pope Francis]: "I can't have in mind all the cases that can exist about conscientious objection ... but yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right.

From Robert Colquhoun's Discover Happiness  (U.K.). Visit his newest website that seeks to build a growing appreciation of the inalienable rights of every unborn child at RobertColquhoun.com .

September's blog of note is Catholic in My Write Mind — one Catholic writer vs. the post Christian culture . It is the creation of writer, publisher and Catholic apologist, Felix Whelan; who lives with his wife, Carol Ann, daughter, Kate and son, Conner, in rural Missouri alongside twenty or so dogs, cats, chickens, sheep and goats on their one acre farm. Rejecting society's increasingly secular proscriptions; Felix blogs about culture, creativity and all things Catholic. He is the author of the futuristic Christian fiction novel, Children of the Good , in addition to establishing two publishing ventures: eSaint Library makes available great works of the Saints and other classics of Catholic spirituality, published in affordable, colorfully illustrated editions and formatted for study on a variety of today’s eReader devices. eSaint Library also develops original anthologies derived from the writings of the Saints, and people of heroic virtue, that focus on specific theme

This wedding homily by Monsignor Cormac Burke originally appeared in the Nazareth Journal , 1995/2, pp. 18-20. Previously, it was posted on Big C Catholics in installments. At the request of readership, it is presented here in full. I highly recommend you visit Msgr. Burke's website  for more such excellent content.  " You have kept the good wine until now ".      In these words the steward expressed his amazement to the bridegroom at Cana. And his amazement was redoubled when he found the bridegroom just as surprised as he was. The words should, of course, have been addressed to Jesus, who had just let himself be persuaded by Our Lady to work the first of his miracles.      After thirty years of hidden life, Jesus begins to reveal the divine power that is his by nature. Surely it can be no accident that he works his first miracle on the occasion of a human celebration, and in order to provide more of what would make people merrier still at a party already fille

His Holiness is wise to the ways of social media (and its tendency towards inaccuracy ):

The following is excerpted from Pope Francis' address to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia: God did not want to draw near to humanity other than through a home. God did not want any other name for himself than Emmanuel (cf. Mt 1:23). He is “God with us”. This was his desire from the beginning, his purpose, his constant effort: to say to us: “I am God with you, I am God for you”. He is the God who from the very beginning of creation said: “It is not good for man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). We can add: it is not good for woman to be alone, it is not good for children, the elderly or the young to be alone. It is not good. That is why a man leaves his father and mother, and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh (cf. Gen 2:24). The two are meant to be a home, a family. From time immemorial, in the depths of our heart, we have heard those powerful words: it is not good for you to be alone. The family is the great blessing, the great gift of this “God w

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH Suffer the Children , Bloch, c. 1800's ( Click here for today’s readings ) In 2012, El Alto, the second-largest city in Bolivia, enacted a law specifically for indigenous people, to the effect that anyone caught stealing with have his hand cut off. This would be done under anesthetic and doctors will be paid to perform the surgery; but there will be no prison sentence for the criminal. Believe it or not, this law was approved by the city’s indigenous community. I have not been able to discover whether it has ever been enforced. Could this be what Jesus actually had in mind? Even the classic code of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth never imposed such an extreme punishment for theft. Jesus is not specific about what kinds of sins our hands or feet or eyes could lead us to commit. It doesn’t matter. All sin, and most especially one’s “besetting,” or dominant, sin is to be avoided, and any measures

St. Pius X was born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto on June 2, 1835, the second of ten children. He was baptized the following day. Though exceedingly poor, his parents valued education. At every stage of study, Giuseppe's intelligence and high moral character attracted notice. On September 18, 1858, Father Sarto was ordained at the cathedral in Castelfranco. When the diocese of Mantua fell vacant in 1884, Pope Leo XIII named Canon Sarto its bishop. In 1893, Leo XIII, elevated Bishop Sarto to Cardinal; appointing him Patriarch of Venice. When Pope Leo died in July of 1903, the College of Cardinals elected Giuseppe Cardinal Sarto the 258th Vicar of Christ. Dr. Joseph F. X. Sladky, in an article for Crisis Magazine , summarizes Pius' life and legacy: Pope St. Pius X passed through the ecclesiastical cursus honorum , step by step, bringing a wealth of pastoral experience to his papacy as few other popes ever could claim. He held the positions of curate, pastor, canon, spiritual

A tradition held by the Order of Preachers (also known as Dominicans) holds that through Saint Dominic and Alan de Rupe, the Blessed Virgin Mary made fifteen specific promises to Christians who faithfully pray the rosary. They range from protection from misfortune to meriting a high degree of glory in heaven. The fifteen promises fall under the category of "private revelation", and as such are a pious tradition, which a person is free, but not obligated, to practice. The fifteen promises: 1. Whoever faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, will receive signal graces. 2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all who recite the rosary. 3. The rosary is a powerful armor against hell that destroys vice, decreases sin, and defeats heresies. 4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the heart of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift

The Blessed Virgin Mary presenting the Rosary to St. Dominic: T he Vision of Saint Dominic, Bernardo Cavallino, 1640  According to pious tradition, the Rosary was given to Saint Dominic in an apparition of the Virgin Mary in the year 1214. In the 15th century, it was promoted by Alanus de Rupe (St. Alan of the Rock), a Dominican priest and theologian, who established the " fifteen rosary promises " and started many rosary confraternities . St. Louis de Montfort warns us against both the ignorant and scholars who regard the Rosary as something of little importance..."the Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God." "Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day become a formal heretic or be led astray by the devil." Pray the Rosary daily to grow in holiness. The following quotations illustrate the Rosary's power and abundant blessings: When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than

The Divine Mercy Image The Hour of Great Mercy Just as the (Divine Mercy) Image can serve as a reminder of the ocean of Divine Mercy, as well as its price, so can the daily remembrance of the Divine Mercy at the hour of Christ's death. Jesus asked Saint Faustina, and through her us, to celebrate this Hour of Great Mercy, promising tremendous graces to those who would, both for themselves and on behalf of others. At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. ( Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987, 1320). As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it, invoke it's omnipotence for the whole world,

I want to call your attention, once again, to a most noble ministry. As mentioned previously , The Imagine Sisters are a congregation promoting the religious life . They conduct an annual outreach called the One Rose Invitation . (See video at end of post.) From their website: The One Rose Invitation is an annual initiative to invite young women to consider the call to consecrated life as a religious sister. It was inspired by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of Imagine Sisters, who said, "After my death I will let fall a shower of roses." Do you know a young woman you think would make a great sister? Let her know by giving her a single red rose on October 1st. The rose is a symbol of the invitation to consider religious life, and an affirmation of the beauty of that young woman’s soul. Tell her that you respect her as a Catholic woman and that you think she would make a great sister if God called her. Encourage her, just don’t pressure her –because no matter

God our Father, we give you thanks for the gift of marriage: the bond of life and love, and the font of the family. The love of husband and wife enriches your Church with children, fills the world with a multitude of spiritual fruitfulness and service, and is the sign of the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, for his Church. The grace of Jesus flowed forth at Cana at the request of the Blessed Mother. May your Son, through the intercession of Mary, pour out upon us a new measure of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as we join with all people of good will to promote and protect the unique beauty of marriage. May your Holy Spirit enlighten our society to treasure the heroic love of husband and wife, and guide our leaders to sustain and protect the singular place of mothers and fathers in the lives of their children. Father, we ask that our prayers be joined to those of the Virgin Mary, that your Word may transform our service so as to safeguard the incomparable splendo

Pope Francis meets with the Little Sisters of the Poor Yesterday, in his remarks at the White House, Pope Francis said in part: [ ... ]  Mr. President, together with their fellow citizens, American Catholics are committed to building a society which is truly tolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting every form of unjust discrimination. With countless other people of good will, they are likewise concerned that efforts to build a just and wisely ordered society respect their deepest concerns and their right to religious liberty. That freedom remains one of America’s most precious possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant, precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it. ... His comments were a gentle, but unmistakable challenge to the Obama administration's policies that force faithf

I submit to you the following email from Dr. Scott Hahn: Both Saints John Paul II and Gianna Beretta Molla defended the dignity of the family and each presented in a unique way an image of total, self-giving love. Like a good father, John Paul II approached his pastoral duties with a “big picture” mentality. In the myriad cultural and social issues he addressed, whether they be political, economic, or religious, the institution of the family inevitably factored into his teachings. The good of the family , in the most universal sense, was a consistent objective of St. John Paul’s mission. While John Paul II’s concern for the family was played out in the global sphere, Gianna Beretta Molla’s great sacrifice demonstrated total dedication at the most personal level. Suffering from a large tumor during her fourth and final pregnancy, Gianna morally could have had her uterus removed, thus sparing her life but terminating that of her unborn child. As a mother, she believed her great

Days before his death, Padre Pio, thinking of the Audience which the Chapter Members of his Order would have during their General Chapter, wrote a letter to Pope Paul. In it, he expressed his adherence to the Magisterium's teachings, particularly mentioning the recent encyclical, Humanae Vitae . Padre Pio expressed his obedience, devotedness and filial sharing in the anxieties of His Holiness. The full text is as follows: Your Holiness: Availing myself of Your Holiness' meeting with the Capitular Fathers, I unite myself in spirit with my Brothers, and in a spirit of faith, love and obedience to the greatness of Him whom you represent on earth, offer my respectful homage to Your August Person, humbly kneeling at Your feet. The Capuchin Order has always been among the first in their love, fidelity and reverence for the Holy See. I pray the Lord that its members remain ever thus, continuing their tradition of seriousness and religious asceticism evangelical poverty, faithf

Padre Pio was born in 1887 in the Italian village of Pietrelcina. He joined the Capuchin Friars at age sixteen and was ordained a priest seven years later. For fifty years at the monastery of San Giovanni Rotundo he was a spiritual advisor, confessor, and intercessor. His life was devoted to the Eucharist and prayer. Despite such notoriety, he often said, "I only want to be a poor friar who prays." The Life of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Pio was born Francesco Forgione to a southern Italian farm family, the son of Grazio, a shepherd. At 15 he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars in Morcone; joining the order at 19. He suffered several health problems, and at one point his family believed he had tuberculosis. He was ordained on 10 August 1910. While praying before a cross on September 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata. He is the first priest to be so blessed. As word spread, especially after American soldiers brought home stories of Padre Pio following WWII

At the time that Jesus summoned him, Matthew was a publican, or tax collector for the Romans. His profession was despised by the Jews because it reminded them of their subjection. Pharisees viewed publicans as sinners. St. Matthew is known principally as an Evangelist. According to popular piety, he was the first to put down in writing our Lord's teaching and the account of His life. His Gospel was written in Aramaic, the language that our Lord Himself spoke. St. Matthew: From Publican to Apostle & Evangelist  No one was more shunned by the Jews than publicans. They were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire by robbing fellow Jews (through over taxation); making large personal profits as a result. Publicans were not allowed to trade, eat, or even pray with other Jews. One day, while seated at his table of accounts, Jesus looked at Matthew and said two words: "Follow me." This was all that was needed to make Matthew rise, leaving his pieces of silver to follow

The Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux begins on September 22nd, leading up to her feast day October 1st. Also known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (or simply, "The Little Flower"), she is a doctor of the Church. Pope Pius X called her the "greatest saint of modern times." Beloved by many who seek her help, she is a powerful intercessor. Many have a special devotion to St. Thérèse. Praying her novena can build that devotion and deepen one's knowledge of, and love for, this saint. Click here to sign up for daily reminders to pray the St. Thérèse Novena. If you say the novena, you will pray with more than 212,000 people around the world. The Imagine Sisters are a congregation promoting the religious life . They conduct an annual outreach called the One Rose Invitation . From their website: The One Rose Invitation is an annual initiative to invite young women to consider the call to consecrated life as a religious sister. It was inspired by St. Thérè

Detail of  Inferno, from Michelangelo's The Last Judgement , Sistine Chapel  One frequently asked question is: "Why would an all-loving God create Hell, let alone, send souls there?" God did not make us to suffer. True, in the Garden of Eden, there did exist temptation, represented by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation, spurred on by Satan's lies. Having the freedom to love means having the freedom to reject love and the source of love, which is God. But evil, sin and Hell are Satan's doing not God's In answering the above question, we revisit an interview by the Italian blog  Stanze Vaticane , with the Vatican's Chief Exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, in which he discussed his soon to be beatified mentor, Father Candido Amantini C.P., a Master Exorcist. Fr. Amantini was Rome's chief exorcist for thirty-six years — often seeing 60 to 80 people per day. As such, Fr. Amantini witnessed demonic posses

G. K. Chesterton, 1874-1936  Gilbert Keith Chesterton was an English writer, lay theologian, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, literary and art critic, biographer, and Christian apologist. He converted from High Church Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1922. Below is a selection of his quotes concerning religion: It has been often said, very truely, that religion is the thing that makes the ordinary man feel extraordinary; it is an equally important truth that religion is the thing that makes the extraordinary man feel ordinary. +++  The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion, but, on the contrary, of its liberality and humanity. It is shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted: precisely because most things are permitted, and only a few things are forbidden.  +++  One of the chief uses of religion is that it makes us remember our coming from darkness, t

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH "Whoever receives one child such as this in my  name, receiver me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." ( Click here for today’s readings ) In the writings of the classic spiritual teachers, growth in the spiritual life passes through certain stages or “ways.” The “Purgative Way” is that period during which we try, with the help of divine grace, to break away from sin and be purified of past faults. Then comes the “Illuminative Way,” during which we learn as much as we can about God’s working in our lives, about his word, and the sacraments, and seek to discern his will so that we may obey it. Finally there is the “Unitive Way,” characterized by a deep, constant, and effortless experience of our life-giving faith relationship with God. As you can imagine, this does not happen overnight. It’s hard work. There are many setbacks and obstacles along the way, and one never

Editorial cartoon showing bishops as crocodiles attacking public schools, with the collusion of Irish Catholic politicians, Thomas Nast, 1876 There is an excellent article appearing in, of all places, the Guardian (U.K.), entitled " America's dark and not-very-distant history of hating Catholics ".  I would hasten to add that anti-Catholic sentiment today is growing in light of gay "marriage," the abandonment of sexual mores, and the discrimination against, and criminalization of Christianity in general. An excerpt: Pope Francis is expected to be greeted with huge crowds and across-the-board reverence when he tours Washington, New York and Philadelphia during his first visit as pontiff to the United States. The rapture, however, will not change the awkward – and largely forgotten fact – that for centuries the US discriminated against Catholics. The land of immigrants enshrined freedom of religion in the constitution yet spent much of its history desp

The Divine Mercy Image The Hour of Great Mercy Just as the (Divine Mercy) Image can serve as a reminder of the ocean of Divine Mercy, as well as its price, so can the daily remembrance of the Divine Mercy at the hour of Christ's death. Jesus asked Saint Faustina, and through her us, to celebrate this Hour of Great Mercy, promising tremendous graces to those who would, both for themselves and on behalf of others. At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. ( Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987, 1320). As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it, invoke it's omnipotence for the whole world,

Margaret Sanger was born September 14, 1879. She founded the International Planned Parenthood Federation in 1952. Sanger was a proponent of forced eugenics, free love, birth control and abortion. Margaret Sanger and her organization paved the way for the sexual revolution which have exploited countless women and led to divorce, co-habitation, the acceptance of a contraceptive mentality, abortion, fatherless homes, the rejection of the faith and numerous other dysfunctions that have plagued and destroyed millions of families. The following quotations illustrate Ms. Sanger's barbaric views on human sexuality and the dignity of persons: [Because of birth control], child slavery, prostitution, feeble mindedness, physical deterioration, hunger, oppression and war will disappear from the earth. There will come a Plato who will be understood, a Socrates who will drink no hemlock, and a Jesus who will not die upon the cross. These and the race that is to be in America await upon a mo

Excellent post on Epicpew about " 10 Historical Periods in the Church Worse Than Today " An excerpt: It is very easy for us to fall into the trap of believing that our age is some how special or much worse compared to previous ages. From the standpoint of world history, the last Century was the bloodiest on record, that seems to be undeniably true. But what about in Church History? The Synod on the Family has people up in arms about information and misinformation that is coming out of Rome. This cycle of misinformation will ramp up again next month when the Synod resumes. The reality is, however, that open discussion is how the Church conducts her affairs and then she makes pronouncements or clarifies doctrine after the discussion has closed. Far too many people are arguing that the Church is “doomed”, she’s filled with heretics (what’s new?!), and major changes are coming to the Church. It is frequently claimed that we are witnessing the worst period in the Church’s h