BIG C CATHOLICS

Today the Church celebrates all the saints, canonized and beatified, as well as those known only to God who are in heaven enjoying the beatific vision. During the early centuries the saints venerated by the Church were all martyrs. Later Popes set November 1st as the day for remembering the saints' holy example. The Commemoration of All Saints was first celebrated in the Eastern Church. The feast was initially observed in the West starting in the 8th century. The Roman Martyrology mentions that the current date was first promulgated by Gregory IV (827-844) and that he extended this observance to the whole of Christendom. It seems certain, however, that Pope Gregory III (731-741) preceded him in this. Meanwhile, in Rome, on May 13th, there was the annual commemoration of the consecration of the basilica of St. Maria ad Martyrs (or St. Mary and All Martyrs). This was the former Pantheon, the temple of Agrippa, dedicated to the gods of paganism, to which Boniface IV had translat

Editor's note: Occasionally on Tuesday we will feature posts discussing St. John Paul the Great's Theology of the Body; his reflection on our nature and life as persons made in the image and likeness of God, conjugal love, the meaning of celibacy, and the eternal beatitude to which every human being is called. ________________________________________ Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, S.T.D. Bishop of Birmingham, Alabama  (Excerpted from a pastoral letter delivered as Bishop of Charleston)   Only a careful reflection on Sacred Scripture, done in unison with the Tradition of the Church, can provide the understanding of the human person which the Church can present for our reflection. This is what Pope John Paul II did as he took the Lord's discussion with a group of Pharisees and especially noted that the Lord made reference to the original intent of the Creator when he said, "from the beginning it was not so" (Matt. 19:8). Then, going to the beginn

Reformation Day is the Protestant observance of Martin Luther's consequential action on October 31, 1517 which would lead to the onset of the Reformation. According to legend, the young Augustinian monk nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral, changing Christianity, and the world, forever. On this the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's historic theses, we bring to your attention two articles of interest. Glenn Stanton writing for the Federalist offers a fascinating examination into the myths, lies, distortions and outright fabrications surrounding Luther's momentous dissent. In " Luther Didn’t Actually Nail Up His 95 Theses, And Other Curious Reformation Day Facts ", Stanton observes: The results of this theology professor’s world-changing action are beyond dispute. What actually happened on what is celebrated as Reformation Day, however, is highly questionable. Simply put, it’s unlikely the door episode ever happened. It certainly d

Two things stand out in this Sunday’s Gospel account from Matthew. First, Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Second, God’s ways are not the ways of the world. These themes are echoed throughout Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments, by patriarchs and prophets, and finally, by the Messiah Himself. Jesus states, "The greatest among you must be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). In our fallen world, the humble and the lowly magnify God’s love. The mighty and the self-righteous enrich only themselves. We must love others selflessly, not use people and love things out of greed and selfishness (as is often the case today). Jesus continues, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (v. 12). To be disciples of Christ, we must follow the Savior’s example. This means emptying ourselves out completely and loving unconditionally, not agreeing with others or confirming them should they sin. On the verge of his Passi

The final prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi lived during the Persian period, the time of the return to Zion from the Babylonian captivity. Here Malachi urges God's priests to be faithful: "A great King am I, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; you have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways…" (Malachi 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10) _________________________________ A Prayer for Priests Lord Jesus, we pray to You for our priests. You have gifted them to us for our salvation. You have made them priests in the liken

The Lepanto Foundation, an international foundation based in Rome that aims to defend the principles and institutions of Christian civilization, is reporting that Pope Francis has authorized a commission to 'reinterpret'  Humanae Vitae  'in the light of Amoris laetitia .' Should it lead to the sanctioning of artificial contraception by the Church it would constitute heresy – a fact the report itself acknowledges: "On the subject of contraception, Paul VI expressed himself in Humanae Vitae , in a manner which theologians judge as infallible and thus unmodifiable, not because the document in itself had the requisites of infallibility, but because it reaffirms a doctrine always proposed by the perennial Magisterium of the Church. The Jesuit theologians, Marcelino Zalba, John Ford and Gerald Kelly, the philosophers Arnaldo Xavier da Silveira and Germain Grisez, and many other authors explain how the doctrine of Humanae Vitae needs to be considered infallible, not

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in Purgatory is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit a church or oratory on All Souls Day (November 2nd). Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on All Souls Day: ◗ Visit a church and pray for souls in Purgatory. ◗ Say one "Our Father" and the "Apostles Creed" in the visit to the church. ◗ Say one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the Pope’s intentions ( those intentions designated by the Holy Father each month ). ◗ Worthily receive Holy Communion (ideally on the same day). ◗ Make a sacramental confession within 20 days of All Souls Day. ◗ For a plenary indulgence, be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin (or the indulgence is partial, not plenary). You may gain one plenary indulgence a day. These partial indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory: ◗ A partial indulgence may be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for

As October draws to a close, we conclude the 100th anniversary observance of the Fatima apparitions with the words of Sister Lucia dos Santos to mankind… The appearance of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, which Lucia witnessed together with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta marked a new and definitive stage in salvation history. Making known Our Lady’s urgent appeal for repentance, prayer and renewed devotion to God, centered on the most Holy Rosary, was the singular mission to which Sister Lucia remained faithful her entire life. God’s Mercy, while great, is not inexhaustible. Mary implores us to holiness while there is still time. The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families…that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem…no matter ho

Fr. Charles Irvin Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for Sunday’s readings ) A fundamental theme that runs throughout the entire Bible is this: “God offers, we respond.” God’s offer of love for us is a given; His unconditional love is always offered to us no matter what. The result, however, is conditional. The result depends upon our response to His offer. How, then, do we respond to Christ’s mandate that we love everyone as we love ourselves? First of all, we should take it for what it is – a mandate, a command. It is something we must choose to do with little regard for our feelings. Feelings are important but feelings are not decisive. Convictions, things we are convinced of, are decisive. Feelings are not. More often than not, acting on our feelings leads us down wrong paths and into trouble. Then, too, we can be victimized by our feelings. We can feel sorry for ourselves and spend so much time pitying ourselves that we end up feeling like we are victims. We can impri

Feast Day - October 28th  However meagre in details is the history of these glorious apostles, we learn from their brief legend how amply they contributed to this great work of generating sons of God. Without any repose, and even to the shedding of their blood, they "edified the body of Christ"; and the grateful Church prays to our Lord today: "O God, through the work of the apostles you have spoken your Word of love, your Son, into our world's deafness. Open our ears to hear; open our hearts to heed; open our will to obey, that we may proclaim the good news with our lives." St. Simon is represented in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. St. Jude's square points him out as an architect of the house of God. St. Paul called himself by this name; and St. Jude, by his Catholic Epistle, has also a special right to be reckoned among our Lord's principal workmen. But our apostle had another nobility, far surpassing all earthly titles: bein

This is an excerpt from Fr. Augustine Thompson's, O.P., article, "Halloween: The Real Story!" (The original post has been deleted but here is the article in full .) "We’ve all heard the allegations. Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods. Nothing could be further from the truth. The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety. It’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival on Oct. 31 — as they did on the last day of most other months of the year. However, Halloween falls on the last day of October because the Feast of All Saints o

October 27, 2017 Today, on the final day of this Saint Jude novena, we reflect upon the sins in our life that feel impossible to overcome. We pray for the ability to resist temptation and all occasions of sin with the grace of God and the intercession of St. Jude. Saint Jude Novena - Day 9 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, pray for me that I will not lose hope. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of all pray that I may join you in heaven together with God, seeing Him face t

Feast Day - October 27th Born in Tyre, Lebanon, Frumentius and his brother Aedesius were taken on a voyage to Ethiopia while young by their uncle, Meropius, a Christian. During the journey, the ship was attacked by barbarian pirates while harbored in a city on the Red Sea. The entire crew, with the exception of the two children, were slain, and the ship destroyed. Frumentius and Aedesius were captured as slaves. The two youth were unlike the people of the region in appearance, and as such were given to the king of Axum as a curiosity. He was immediately taken with their youth, beauty, and wit, and installed them as members of his court, seeing to their education, and providing them protection and care. Aedesius would in time become the king’s cup-bearer, and Frumentius his trusted secretary. The brothers grew in faith, serving their king well. On his deathbed, grateful for their service, the king granted the twins their freedom. When the king died, the brothers stayed on as

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Provincial Superior, La Salette Missionaries of North America Hartford, Connecticut ( Click here for today’s readings ) The Pharisees are at it again, putting Jesus to the test, but this time they seem to be off their game. They had to know what to expect. The answer was obvious. In fact, in Luke’s version of this episode, it is the Scribe, not Jesus, who gives this very answer. Even the addition of the “Second Greatest Commandment” in Jesus’ reply could not have come as much of a surprise. Apparently, this pairing may not have been rare among rabbis in Jesus’ day. Again, in Luke’s version, the Scribe himself includes it. Note that neither the question nor the answer implies that other commandments could be neglected. All the commandments were to be observed with equal care. Jesus simply notes that the Two Great Commandments are the foundation for all the rest. The first reading illustrates this fact with unambiguous examples. It is a curiou

October 26, 2017 Today we pray for another seemingly impossible cause: an end to violence. With God, and through Saint Jude's intercession, let us pray for peace in our world, and that it may truly begin with us. St. Jude, we dare to ask you for harmony in our families and between nations. Petition God for peace we humbly beseech you. Saint Jude Novena - Day 8 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, pray for me that I will not lose hope. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of

October 29, 2017 Priesthood Sunday, the last Sunday of October, is a day set aside to honor the priesthood in the United States. Saint John Vianney observed, "The Priesthood is the Love of the Heart of Jesus." In considering this most profound insight from the Curé d'Ars , His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI explained that, "This touching expression makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself." Unfortunately, the number of priests in many dioceses is dwindling. But what if they disappeared all together? The consequences would be immense. No more priests, no more Eucharist, no more grace, no more Church, no more mercy, no more salvation. As Saint Padre Pio once said, "It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!" This is indeed true. Do not be afraid to break out of comfortable and

Martyrdom according to the Catechism is "the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death." Blessed Pope Paul VI in his homily for the canonization of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales speaks of the ineffable fortitude the martyrs display in witnessing to the love of Christ. Faced with the choice of remaining steadfast in their faith and of dying for it, or of saving their lives by denying that faith, without a moment’s hesitation and with a truly supernatural strength they stood for God and joyfully confronted martyrdom.  — Blessed Pope Paul VI _________________________________ O God, who was pleased to give light to your Church by adorning on your Forty Martyrs of England and Wales the victory of eternal life graciously grant that, as they imitated the Lord's Passion, so we may, by following in their footsteps, be worthy to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with

October 25th in England is the feast of the Forty Holy Martyrs of England and Wales (in Wales this is a memorial), a group of forty men, women, religious, priests, and lay people, canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970. Their martyrdoms span the years 1535 to 1679. Four distinct waves of persecution occurred. The first followed the passing of the First Act of Supremacy (1534) when Henry VIII broke with Rome. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and Henry’s chancellor, Sir Thomas More, were executed in 1535 along with several religious. The second wave came after 1570. Pope Pius V, believing that Queen Elizabeth I, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, was illegitimate and had no right to the throne, issued a papal bull Regnans in excelsis excommunicating her and absolving all her subjects from allegiance to her and her laws. This was a real dilemma for Catholics especially if they were asked the infamous "bloody question": if there was an invasion from the Pope, which would

October 25, 2017 All things are possible with God. Let's remember that today as we pray for an end to poverty. Saint Jude, help us to aide those in need, and that the destitute may strive to improve their lives so as to realize true freedom from poverty and need. Saint Jude Novena - Day 7 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, pray that I may put my trust in God that He knows my needs even better than I do and that He provides. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of all pray

According to the 1962 Missal of Saint John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, October 25th is the feast of Saints Chrysanthus and Daria. As husband and wife they carried on an active apostolate among the noble families of Rome during the 3rd century. Denounced as devout Christians, they would undergo various tortures before being buried alive in a sandpit in the year 283. According to legend these two saints belonged to the nobility. Daria received baptism through the efforts of her husband Chrysanthus. In Rome they brought many to the faith, for which cause they were cruelly martyred. Chrysanthus was denounced as a Christian to Claudius, the tribune’s leader. Chrysanthus' attitude under torture so impressed Claudius that he and his wife, Hilaria, two sons, and many of his soldiers became Christians, wherein the Emperor had them all slain. Chrysanthus was sewn inside an ox's hide and placed where the sun shone hottest. Taken to a house of ill-fame, Daria was

The Roman Martyrology includes these twin brother martyrs for October 25th. Saint Crispin was a Roman noble and brother of Saint Crispinian with whom he evangelized Gaul in the middle of the 3rd century. They worked from Soissons, preached in the streets by day and made shoes by night. The group's charity, piety and contempt of material things impressed the locals, and many converted in the years of their ministry. They were martyred in Rome in 286 by torture and beheading, under emperor Maximian Herculeus, being tried by Rictus Varus, governor of Belgic Gaul and an enemy of Christianity. A great church was built at Soissons in the 6th century in their honor; Saint Eligius ornamented their shrine. This feast was immortalized by Shakespeare in his play Henry V, (Act 4, Scene 3). The king gave a rousing speech (called "Saint Crispin's Day) extolling his troops on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, fought on this day in 1415: This story shall the good man teach his s

Please remember the Holy Father Pope Francis' intentions in prayer throughout the month of November: Christians in Asia That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions. Specific Intention - To be Announced Pope Francis has decided to keep one monthly prayer intention. He is no longer proposing an urgent prayer intention. Each Sunday on which he gives an Angelus address, he will request prayers for specific people and situations that are of deep concern to him and to the universal Church.

October 24, 2017 In keeping with the theme of difficult circumstances and hopeless causes, today we remember everyone who has left the Church. Let us pray for their conversion and their return to the Church. We pray also for those who have never been a part of the Church. May they come to know the fullness truth that is our Faith. Saint Jude Novena - Day 6 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, pray that I may know God’s will in my life. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of al

Ordinary Time - October 24th Saint Anthony Claret’s efforts would engender as much discussion in the 21st century as they did in the 19th. A champion of the Hispanic poor, he was vilified by those in power who did not appreciate his "Christian meddling" in their secular and often exploitive lifestyles. Yet, he also garnered the respect of some in authority, for precisely the same reasons that others sought to destroy him. St. Anthony Mary Claret was born in Spain near Barcelona in 1807. His father was a small manufacturer of wool and, for a while, Anthony also pursued that occupation. His mind, however, was on another type of vocation entirely, and he dedicated his spare time to studying Latin and printing. Although he longed to join either the Carthusian or Jesuit orders, ill health prevented him from doing so. His gift was preaching, and for over a decade after his ordination to the secular priesthood in 1835, he gave retreats and missions, emphasizing the importan

Saint John of Capistrano, the 14th century priest Franciscan priest and reformer was a brilliant homilist and staunch defender of the Church. He labored to restore the Order founded by Saint Francis of Assisi to its original charism and mission. His reflection on the pastors of souls below summarizes the sacred role of priests. "Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life. They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice. Their upright lives must make them like the salt of the earth for themselves and for the rest of mankind. The brightness of their wisdom must make them like the light of the world that brings light to others. They must learn from their eminent teacher, Jesus Christ, what he declared not only to his apostles and disciples, but also to all the priests and clerics who were to succeed them, when he said: You are the salt of the eart

October 23, 2017 Today we remember marriages in distress and families that face hardships or are undergoing difficulty. We pray for reconciliation and peace. May Saint Jude guide them through each day and restore them so to exerience God's love and comfort. Saint Jude Novena - Day 5 Most holy St. Jude, apostle, martyr and friend of Jesus, pray for me and my intentions. Intercede for me before the throne of God and plead for His favor. (State your intentions here) You are the patron of the impossible. Pray for my intentions St. Jude, that God’s grace and mercy will answer them. Pray for the impossible if it is God’s will. Pray that I may have the grace to accept God’s holy will even if it is difficult. St. Jude, you sacrificed for the Kingdom of God, pray that I may sacrifice like you. O St. Jude, pray for me that I may grow in faith, hope and love and in the grace of Jesus Christ. Pray for these intentions, but most of all pray that I may join you in heaven tog

Optional Memorial - October 23rd The times were anything but good. It was the 14th century, and Europe was in the grip of incredible turmoil. The bubonic plague was raging, leaving a third of the population dead. In Rome, the Great Schism was rocking the papacy, with two, and sometimes three men claiming the Chair of Peter at the same time. England and France were at war, and the city-states of Italy in constant conflict. Into this gloomy picture stepped St. John Capistrano. Born in 1386, his extensive education in the law led to his appointment as governor of Perugia in 1412. In 1416, he was sent to broker a peace between that city and the city of Malatesta, a move that resulted in his imprisonment there. During his captivity, he decided to change his life completely. After his release, he entered the Franciscan Order. John would became a disciple of Saint Bernardine of Siena. A great preacher, he reinvigorated the faith of innumerable Catholics, and aided St. Bernardine

By Msgr. Bernard Bourgeois Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:11 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Mt 22:36) Americans like things summed up easily and in few words. We like short news bytes and easy to understand directions that pop up on our phones. Simple, quick, and easy are words we live by. At first glance, today’s Gospel from Matthew offers such a summary for today’s Catholic. A lawyer asks Jesus, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Here is Jesus’ answer: " You shall love the Lord, your God , with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: " You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." Simple, quick, and easy—love God and love neighbor. It sums up everything Jesus teaches and is thus the center of the law of Christ. As anyone w

Pope St. John Paul endured two brutal totalitarian regimes during his life: Nazi Germany and Soviet communism. He resisted the first and actively worked to undermine the second, both successfully. His tireless defense of human dignity, religious freedom and a culture of life animated his efforts as a scholar, pastor and Supreme Pontiff of God's Universal Church. His words remain true today. Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought. *** When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society. *** The historical experience of socialist countries has sadly demonstrated that collectivism does not do away with alienation but rather increases it, adding to it a lack of basic necessities and economic inefficiency. *** Pervading nationalism imposes its do

Fr. Charles Irvin Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for Sunday’s readings ) Every three years we are presented with today’s gospel, one that interests many of us because it deals with the question of separation between Church and State. The first thing we should note is that the question put to Jesus was a lawyer’s trick question. It was not a question that sought enlightenment; it was not put to Jesus in order to learn from Him. No. It was put to Jesus to trap Him. Was He to be seen as an insurrectionist revolutionary and an enemy of the State or was He to be seen as a collaborator with the hated Roman authorities who so brutalized the Jewish people? The Pharisees, the religious fundamentalists of the day, hated the Roman tax. The Herodians, those Jews who supported the Roman puppet King Herod, supported the tax. Both groups, the Pharisees and the Herodians, hated each other. But here we find them joined together in a combined effort to trap Jesus, to discredit Him, an