BIG C CATHOLICS

Attention Big C Catholics readers. We recently received from Pray More Novenas, the following announcement which we submit for your consideration.  *********************************** The Pray More Lenten Retreat is coming up (Lent starts in one week!), and we wanted to let you know more about it... The Pray More Lenten Retreat is an online retreat to help you spend more time in prayer this Lent to prepare to commemorate our Lord's Passion, His Death and Resurrection at Easter. If you sign up for the retreat, you will receive: + 20 Video & Audio Presentations with Transcripts, and + 20 Reflective Study Guides - one for each talk We know how busy you are :) That's why the retreat is self-paced; that means you can watch, listen or read the presentations whenever you have the time to do it. We hope the Pray More Lenten Retreat will help you intentionally work on your prayer life this Lent — wherever you are, and whenever you have the time. The talks a

Our priests are the busiest people we know. They labor tirelessly in serving the congregations that are entrusted to them and spreading the Good News of Christ. Does your priest deserve a break? Would he enjoy a retreat with Dr. Scott Hahn and St. Paul Center Fellows? Tell him about our Priests Retreat and Conference. Retreat and Conference Details Living Sacrifice: The Priesthood in Scripture July 10th-13th, 2017 The Old and New Testaments provide more than enough practical information on the office of priesthood. But just as abundant is the spiritual wealth that Scripture contains for the heart of every pastor. Join the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology as Drs. Scott Hahn, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, and Fr. Pablo Gadenz address the centrality of the Word of God in the life and ministry of the Priest. The conference, for Catholic Priests, will take place on July 10-13, 2017 at the 4 star Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, WV. Registration is $550

"For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  — Luke 2:11-14 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 Divine Liturgy of the Nativity of the Lord Dear Readers, May the joy of Christmas be with you, now and always. A blessed Christmas to all!

The following websites were featured in our monthly "Blog of Note" series which highlights the very best of the Catholic blogosphere. Each blog is faithful to the Magisterium and seeks the fullness of truth by way of promoting the Gospel of Life and the imitation of Christ. All will repay your frequent visitation. January's Blog of Note: The Catholic Gentleman’s Guide January's blog of note is The Catholic Gentleman’s Guide . The site features numerous articles about authentic manliness in the imitation of Christ. Site creator, Matthew, a husband, father of three and lifelong Catholic, realized that: "Our modern world can be a challenging place in which to live as a Catholic Man." He created Catholic Gentleman’s Guide to: "provide a source of encouragement and Faith formation for Catholic Men in all walks of life as we persevere on our paths of manly holiness!" The Catholic Gentleman’s Guide is a clarion call to Catholic men to fulfil

Emmaus Road Publishing has put together six of their favorite titles which are sure to inspire, encourage, and enlighten our spiritual fathers. Buy the whole bundle, and you’ll receive $40 off . The bundle includes Jesus is the Gift by Regis Flaherty, Joy to the World by Scott Hahn, Reading the Sermons of Thomas Aquinas by Randall B. Smith, and Speaking the Love of God by Jacob W. Wood, plus: The Catholic Priesthood: Biblical Foundations : Fr. Thomas Lane’s probing examination of the changed understanding of the priesthood that followed Christ’s death and resurrection. The Sacred Conversation: The Art of Catholic Preaching and the New Evangelization : Fr. Joseph Mele’s engaging guide to the "why" and "how of sound homiletics. Looking for a bigger gift? Consider sponsoring your priest for their week-long priest's conference in July 2017. Check out the details here and ask your priest if he's interested in attending. Select Emmaus Road Publishin

We received the following from praymorenovenas.com about their online Advent retreat. A modest donation is requested to offset the cost of their ministry. If you are financially unable — or wish to delay doing so, you are welcome to participate for free. For additional information and to register, see the links below.  ______________________________________________  The Pray More Advent Retreat will be available on Monday! The Pray More Retreat is an online retreat to help you spend more time in prayer this Advent to prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If you sign up for the retreat, you will receive: + 20 Video & Audio Presentations with Transcripts, and + 20 Reflective Study Guides - one for each talk We know how busy you are. That's why the retreat is self-paced; that means you can watch, listen or read the presentations whenever you have the time to do it. We hope the Pray More Retreat will help you intentionally work on your pr

Beginning this week, we will publish two Sunday homilies; one from Fr. Charles Irvin and another, when available, from Fr. René Butler. Fr. Irvin's will be posted on the preceding Sunday as usual. Fr. Butler's will be posted on Friday. May these homilists benefit you greatly.  In Christ, Matthew Coffin  

What is the Fortnight for Freedom? The "Fortnight for Freedom" is 14 days of prayer, education and action for religious freedom in the United States and around the world. It will take place from June 21 to July 4, 2016. The theme of this year’s Fortnight is "Witnesses to Freedom." During this time, the Church's liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution: St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Four Ways to Celebrate the Fortnight for Freedom Pray Hold a prayer vigil for religious freedom. Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet could all be forms of intercession for our country and our first freedom. Gather Get together and celebrate religious freedom with a parish picnic or barbecue. Hand out religious freedom conversation starters as a way to spur discussion about our first,

Read our review of  Learning to Love With the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir . Mercy Press announces the release of author Jean M. Heimann’s new book, Learning to Love With the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir . It is available in digital and paperback editions at Amazon.com . Learning to Love with the Saints gives practical insight into the abundant love and mercy that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus to our hearts when we learn to trust in His love and mercy. The lives of the saints convey precious lessons of love and guidance on how to live virtuous lives. When we befriend them and ask for their prayers, miraculous transformations can occur in our lives and the lives of those around us. Learning to Love with the Saints shows us how to develop a personal relationship with God, to grow more deeply in love with Him, to trust in His mercy and to use the saints as our supporters and spiritual guides. Learning to Love with the Saints is the inspiring personal witness of how Jean M. Hei

We are pleased to announce the 2nd annual New Evangelization Award for excellence in Catholic blogging. The Catholic blogosphere is home to thousands of sites. Choosing among them blogs of distinction is a daunting task. This award honors Catholic bloggers for their unique contributions in evangelizing a society that is increasingly hostile toward Judeo-Christian principles and the "culture of life." In order to qualify a blog must: have been in existence for at least 3 years feature content that is faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church evangelize and inform all who seek the fullness of truth  The 2016 recipients of the New Evangelization Award for excellence in Catholic blogging are: Speak the Truth in Love   Catholic Sacristan Shameless Popery Thank you to our readers who nominated blogs for this award. We have several new sites for our monthly 'Blog of Note' series in the future.

The following websites were featured in our "Blog of Note" series which began in April. Each blog is faithful to the Magisterium and seeks the fullness of truth by way of promoting the Gospel of Life and the imitation of Christ. Many appear on our blogroll. All will repay frequent, thoughtful visitation. May's Blog of Note: Catholic Crossing The World Wide Web boasts thousands of Catholic sites. “Blogs of Note,” is a new monthly series featuring blogs and blog authors who are faithful to the Magisterium and worthy of your time. I am pleased to highlight a new addition to the Catholic blogosphere. Catholic Crossing is an online clearinghouse of information, bringing you the best in Catholic Media. If you are looking for faithful, thoughtful articles of interest to orthodox Catholics, with a focus on theology, the complementarity of faith and reason, and other issues relevant to the life of the Church, visit this site. June's Blog of Note: Happy Catholic

I want to alert you to a great radio program available online called "Christ is the Answer" by Father John Ricarrdo on Ave Maria Radio . "Christ Is the Answer" provides instruction on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other topics critical to those seeking answers to life’s greatest questions. The show airs from 11-12 M-F and at other times during the week. [Update: this program now airs: Monday - Friday 11:00-11:30 am EST & 2:00-3:00 pm EST.] "All Christ is the Answer" programs are available for free download or podcast in Ave Maria Radio's  Audio Archive . If you would still like to order a copy of any "Christ is the Answer" program with Fr. John Riccardo, please go to the Program Copies page for more information.

Recently, several orthodox Christians from numerous denominations formulated and signed the following declaration. To read the declaration in full and sign it go here : Declaration We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities. We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image. We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and nonbelievers alike, to consider carefu