BIG C CATHOLICS

Jesus said to me; 'How many times would you have abandoned Me, my son, if I had not crucified you. Beneath the cross, one learns love, and I do not give this to everyone, but only to those souls who are dearest to Me." - Padre Pio

Suffering is like a kiss that Jesus hanging from the cross bestows on persons whom He loves in a special way. Because of this love He wants to associate them in the work of the redemption. ~St. Bonaventure

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH ( Click here for today’s readings ) Often enough in families people can feel they are taken for granted. They do so much, and others don’t seem to notice, or even care, much less help. The same sort of thing happens sometimes in parishes. When volunteers are needed, people think, “so-and-so will do it.” Always the same persons are expected to respond. Then comes a time when so-and-so can’t do it any more—or won’t—and either of two things happens. The activity in question simply dies, or someone else responds to the need, only to become the new “so-and-so” that gets tapped for everything. No one likes being taken for granted.  It’s clear from today’s Gospel that Jesus doesn’t either. To avoid taking him for granted, there are two very important things all Christians need to do. First, really believe in Jesus. This is not simply admiration for his goodness, or a general acceptance o...

Sometimes choosing adoption is about being a good mother. Watch how one mother's choice changed her child's life for the better.  H/T Catholic Fire

Can you tell your aspergillum from your alb? Your cassock from your chasuble? Take this quiz on all things Roman Catholic to test your knowledge of one of the world's oldest, largest, and most powerful institutions. Go here for quiz.

When women require excellence in relationships, men should step up to a challenge. Sleeping in the same bed before marriage is a disordered way to express your love for each other in a relationship that is not permanent. Marriage is the free, faithful, total and fruitful exchange of vows between a man and a woman. The more wholesome the dating and courtship period, the greater the chances of a happy and successful marriage. If a man is not ready to commit to a woman, he should not have access to her sexual emotions. When a couple sleeps in the same bed, it points towards the marital act. To wait for marriage is to avoid this occasion of sin. Those who are married will have all their lives to fall asleep looking at their partner. Cohabitation seems a good way to ‘test drive’ our marriage before making the full commitment. Since marriage is just a piece of paper, then surely it’s no big deal? John Paul II said that freedom without responsibility is the opposite of love. ...

 Pope Francis will host a meeting of cardinals on September 30 to formally approve the canonization of Blesseds John Paul II and John XXIII; the date for the canonization will be announced at that time, said Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH ( Click here for today’s readings ) In today’s Gospel Jesus says he came to bring not peace but division, and he gives a short catalogue of family conflicts. If this makes you uncomfortable, you are in good company. No one likes this passage. After all, at every Mass we hear: “Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” In that context, today’s Gospel doesn’t make sense, some may even find it offensive. Where’s the reconciliation we so often read about in the New Testament? Matthew’s version of this saying is even stronger:   “Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.” This is not about dysfunctional families, but about family crisis—caused by choice. It seems the stuff of advice columns. But it’s not just any choice. Jeremiah had enemies because he was saying what God...

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH ( Click here for today’s readings ) I have found a new way to go crazy in four easy steps: 1. In the New Testament look up every reference to the word “Faith”   (depending on the translation, about 245, not counting the word “believe”). 2. Do the same for “Hope” (about 60). 3. Find the passages in which “Faith” and “Hope” appear in the same verse (7). 4. Try to figure out the real difference between faith and hope. Today’s second reading begins, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for,” which seems to indicate that hope comes before faith. In the first reading, faith is described in terms of knowledge based on oaths, then courage and waiting. But isn’t that hope? It gets worse.   The first verse in the second goes on to say that faith is “Evidence” —“of things not seen!” Isn’t that an oxymoron? Over 450 years ago, a famous theologian wrote: “The question occurs to us; Wh...

From August 7 to August 15, Priests for Life invites believers to pray the Novena in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lord Jesus Christ, You have conquered the power of death And opened for humanity The hope of eternal life in body and soul. You granted your Mother A share in heavenly glory, And did not allow decay to touch her body. As we prepare for the Feast of the Assumption, Grant us new confidence in the victory of life over death, And renewed reverence for the human body. As we honor Mary, Assumed into Heaven, May we proclaim the hope of Your Gospel: That you want every human life seated on your throne. May that hope strengthen us to protect every life here on earth. You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. La Salette Missionaries of North America Hartford, Connecticut ( Click here for Sunday’s readings ) I think Ecclesiastes had a favorite song. It was the ancient Hebrew equivalent of “I’m forever blowing bubbles.” The refrain was: “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity!” Is life worth living? Of course it is. Then what makes it worth living? All we are really told in today’s readings is what doesn’t make life worth living. It is clearly not the accumulation of things. Greed is mentioned twice in today’s readings as the opposite of what we should seek in life. Jesus suggests that there are other ways, good ways of being rich, “Rich in what matters to God.” We can intuit what that might mean. St. Paul, with another one of his lists, helps us to understand, again in a negative way, what Jesus does not mean. But earlier in the same text he writes, “Seek what is above.” And later he says we have “put on a new self.” In the Old Testament, “rich” is ofte...