BIG C CATHOLICS

◗ Pray more ◗ Read Scripture ◗ Keep holy the Sabbath ◗ Sin less ◗ Eat less ◗ Honor your father and mother ◗ Spend less ◗ Spend more time with family ◗ Read a Psalm a day ◗ Live more simply ◗ Find a patron saint ◗ Find a good Catholic smartphone app [and use it]

Today, the seventh day in the octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor. Little is known about his life and formative years. He ruled the Church during the reign of Constantine when the Arian heresy and the Donatist schism provoked great controversy. As Supreme Pontiff he convoked the first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Sylvester did not attend the Council of Nicaea in 325, but he was represented by two legates, and he approved the council's decision. During his pontificate, the great Basilicas were founded in Rome by Constantine; [the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Old St. Peter's Basilica, and several others,] built over the graves of martyrs. Sylvester's papacy lasted from 314 until his death in 335. History testifies that only a strong, wise Pope could have preserved the essential autonomy of the Church in the face of a figure like Emperor Constantine. St. Sylvester I – A Con...

Please remember the Holy Father Pope Francis' intentions in prayer through the month of January: General Intention : That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice. ***  Missionary Intention : That by means of dialogue and fraternal charity and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christians may overcome divisions.

In Matthew 2:11 it is written: "and on entering the house they [the wise men] saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Contrary to popular opinion, the wise men were not kings. They were, rather, according to several Church Fathers, men of intellectual renown and considerable means, most likely from the Orient. Whether such wealth was their own or it was bestowed by royalty, on whose behalf they acted, is the subject of debate. The wise men's gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, seem curious offerings to a child no more than two years of age [and perhaps far younger]. Both popular piety and Church Tradition suggest that the three gifts represent different dimensions or unique offices of Christ Incarnate. We Three Kings The verses of the carol "We Three Kings", while not altogether historically accurate, ( The wise men wer...

A plenary indulgence may be gained by reciting or singing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year. This hymn calls on the Holy Spirit's guidance, protection and blessing before endeavoring something new. In addition to its place in the Pentecost liturgy, the Veni Creator Spiritus has also been assigned as the official opening prayer for Church councils and synods. [ Listen to it in Gregorian chant .] Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on New Year's Day: ◗ Recite or sing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year. ◗ Say one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the Pope's intentions . ◗ Worthily receive Holy Communion [ideally on the same  day]. ◗ Make a sacramental confession within 20 days of New Year's Day. ◗ For a plenary indulgence, be free from all attachment to sin, even  venial sin [or the indulgence is partial, not plenary]. Come, Holy Spirit, Creator Blest Come, Holy Spiri...

Today, the fifth day in the octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr. He was born December 21, c. 1119 in London, the son of Gilbert and Matilda Becket. Becket was sent as a student to Merton Priory in England and later attended a grammar school in London, perhaps the one at St Paul's Cathedral. Later, he spent a year studying in Paris. Becket was appointed  Lord Chancellor to King Henry II in January 1155. Seven years later, in 1162 he was ordained Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket absorbed himself in the duties of his new office, defending the rights of the Church against the Monarchy. Henry and Becket clashed frequently as the new archbishop sought to recover the Church's jurisdiction. This included disagreements with the king, over whether secular courts could levy ecclesiastical penalties on English clergymen. Ultimately, King Henry exiled Becket to France for six years. Upon his return, Becket endured many...

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) From Advent until now the readings and themes of our liturgies have all centered on God’s coming to us. The underlying movement has been God seeking us out and offering Himself to us in His Son, in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah first promised to the descendants of Adam and Eve after their Fall. In today’s Liturgy the basic movement shifts. Now it’s all about our seeking, specifically our seeking out God in His Christ, and by the word “our” I mean all of humanity. The Magi we need to note were not Jews. They were the representatives of the gentile nations and peoples. They were kings who were sages, wise men, visionaries, men who searched beyond what is obvious; searching into the mysterious non-scientific world in which we exist as distinguished from what is merely technical and material. The word "question" has the word "quest" tucked inside it, a...

During this octave of Christmas the Church celebrates the memory of the small children of the neighborhood of Bethlehem put to death by Herod. Sacrificed by a wicked monarch, these innocent lives bear witness to Christ who was persecuted from the time of His birth by a world which would not receive Him. It is Christ Himself who is at stake in this mass-murder of the children; already the choice, for or against Him, is put clearly before men. But the persecutors are powerless, for Christ came to perform a work of salvation that nothing can prevent; when He fell into the hands of His enemies at the time chosen by God it was to redeem the world by His own Blood. Our Christmas joy is tempered today by a feeling of sadness. But the Church looks principally to the glory of the children, of these innocent victims, whom she shows us in heaven following the Lamb wherever He goes. The Holy Innocents Today, dearest brethren, we celebrate the birthday of those children who were slaughtered...

Due to technical difficulties, [no internet over the weekend] we were unable to post the following on Sunday. The Feast of Saint John the apostle is commemorated each December 27th. This liturgical year, the evangelist’s feast fell on a Sunday and was thus superseded by the Feast of the Holy Family. John’s prominence in the spread and development of the Church is undeniable. We therefore present to you this summation of his life and contributions. ____________ St. John, the apostle and evangelist, is the only apostle [excluding Judas Iscariot] not to be martyred; having survived at least one attempt on his life . Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Christ. He would become Jesus’ beloved disciple. John wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles and the Apocalypse [Book of Revelation]. His passages on the pre-existence of the Word, who by His Incarnation became the light of the world, and the life of our souls, are among the finest spiritual reflections in...

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) What it means to be a family is undergoing a redefinition in our culture. No longer is the term “family” applied strictly to a household with mom, dad and the children all living together in the same home at the same time. As a matter of fact what is known as the nuclear family is now in the minority. We have now various arrangements found in single parent families, in families in which the parents are of the same gender, and in families in which one parent is simply living with a boyfriend or a girlfriend. One major consequence is that children now must relate to multiple sets of parents, multiple sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other adults who are not related to them by birth or blood. The Fourth Commandment, “Honor thy father and honor thy mother” is now strained, to say the least. How is that divine commandment, handed down on Mt. Sinai to Moses and the Israelites, to b...

Today, the second day in the octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. As one of several who assisted the apostles; he was "filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit," and was "full of fortitude." The Church draws a comparison between the disciple Stephen and his Master, Jesus, emphasizing the imitation of Christ even unto the complete gift of self. He is referenced in the Roman Canon. Stephen's name means "crown". He was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the crown of martyrdom. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles found that they needed helpers to look after the care of widows and the poor. Consequently, they ordained seven deacons, of which, St. Stephen is the most famous. [Saul of Tarsus was present during the stoning of Stephen and was a witness to Stephen's profession of faith and unfailin...

We have compiled for your consideration the top ten articles appearing on Big 'C' Catholics in 2015 [plus four honorable mentions]. They are listed in order of publication from first to latest. Christ's Last Words on the Cross or What's Good about Good Friday Why Satan Hates the Ascension of Christ In Honor of the 95th Anniversary of Saint John Paul the Great's Birth - A Retrospective Vatican's Chief Exorcist, Fr. Amorth, Reveals Secrets of Hell, Says the Devil is Behind ISIS Christ and the Feeding of the 5,000 The Power of the Mass The Future Pope Pius XII's Dire Premonition Regarding the Catholic Church Amazing! Pope Pius XI, the Washington Post and Mohandas Gandhi All Agreed Contraception is Gravely Immoral Five, First-Century, Non-Biblical, Historical References to Jesus of Nazareth Prayer for the Canonization of Mother Teresa Two Soldiers From the Life of Christ Who Exhibited Exemplary Faith An Exorcist Tells His Story: Fr. Ga...

Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.  — Isaiah 7:14 O God, who marvelously created and yet more marvelously restored the dignity of human nature, grant that we may share the divinity of Him who humbled himself to share our humanity. — From the Nativity of the Lord [Christmas Day] liturgy. The Nativity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ From The Roman Martyrology The announcement of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology draws upon Sacred Scripture to declare in a formal way the birth of Christ. It begins with creation and relates the birth of the Lord to the major events and personages of sacred and secular history. The particular events contained in the announcement help pastorally to situate the birth of Jesus in the context of salvation history. The Nativity Of Our Lord Jesus Christ The Twenty-fifth Day of December, when ages beyond number had run their course from the creation...

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) All of the shopping, all of the rushing about, all of the busy-ness of Christmas is now over. Today the streets are deserted. A quiet and peaceful stillness lays over all. Now the religious meaning of Christmas is allowed to emerge from beneath all of the mall music, the shopping, and the frantic preparations for this day. But to what do we turn our attention? To peace on earth toward men of good will? Yes, and something more.  To the sharing of love with family? Yes, and something more. To joining together with the ones we love? Yes, but more. Christmas is more than having a lovely time, more than family sharing, more than the so-called “happy holidays.” We celebrate today what so many are looking for. We focus our attention today on that which will give peace to many who are lonely, uneasy with themselves, and who are searching for meaning in their lives. The centerpiece of the M...

Adoration of the Magi , Giotto di Bondone, c. 1312.  1. Our Savior wasn’t born in 1 A.D. Scripture gives clues as to Christ’s year of birth based on references to rulers at the time. Matthew’s Gospel states that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod [Matthew 2:1-2]. We know Herod died in 4 B.C. It was Herod who ordered all boys two years old and younger in the vicinity of Bethlehem to be killed in an attempt to destroy the Messiah. Jesus could have been as old as two before Herod’s death. Luke 3:23 asserts that: "Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age." Jesus commenced His ministry during the time John the Baptist preached in the wilderness. John’s ministry began “in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of A...

In honor of the upcoming Feast of the Holy Family, we present to you Father René Butler's insightful reflection for families, "Principles for Family Life":  Fr. René Butler It’s easy to imagine the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. All we have to do is picture the perfect family: never a cross word, no signs of impatience… None of the unpleasant things that are part of the life of most families. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a beautiful theology of the family. But it isn’t theology that makes family life good. Of course what the Catechism teaches is true. Family prayer is important. But healthy common sense is what families need, an understanding of what it takes to live together. What follows is a talk I have given to members of religious communities, but the principles apply to family life too. There are eight principles, each with consequences. PRINCIPLE 1 – Snowflake principle: People are like snowflakes, no two are alike. Consequence : I cannot...

We will publish next Sunday's homily by Father Charles Irvin for the Feast of the Holy Family tomorrow, according to the usual schedule. Father's Christmas Day homily will be published on Christmas Eve, during the Christmas vigil. May this season of Advent draw you closer to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The following reflection by Father Michael Najim (posted with permission) reminds us of the tender compassion of our God, who came to us as a helpless infant to show us the way to truth and eternal life. Let us not forget that when Christ comes again in glory, it will be as King of the universe and a just Judge.  Fr. Michael Najim is a priest serving the Diocese of Providence, RI. He is currently, Director of Spiritual Formation at Our Lady of Providence Seminary and chaplain at La Salle Academy (a Catholic high school).  A God who became so small could only be mercy and love.   — St. Thérèse of Lisieux Last Monday evening I was blessed to visit Amy and Paul and their newborn baby boy, Joseph, at the hospital.  It was last April when I celebrated Amy and Paul’s wedding, and it’s been a joy seeing them eagerly anticipate the arrival of Joseph.  A few weeks ago they’d asked me if I’d be willing to bless them and little Joseph before they left the hospital....

From Church Pop comes this: " Veni, veni Emmanuel " performed by the "Dainava" Lithuanian Choral Ensemble.

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) The Gospel account for this 4th Sunday of Advent is about two pregnant women, one of whom, Elizabeth, was already in the sixth month of her pregnancy. Mary had only recently received the news that she was pregnant. It was a life-changing announcement and she probably needed some time to herself, time to prepare, time to reflect, time to get herself together. But she didn’t think of her own needs. Instead she set out on an arduous journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was six months pregnant and to care for her. That’s not something most women would do. But these were two remarkable women, remarkable in the sense that under ordinary circumstances they would not be pregnant. One was a virgin; the other was beyond, way beyond, childbearing age. Both were not supposed to be pregnant. But God was at work within them. To add to the unexplainable mystery, they both bore within their wombs myster...