BIG C CATHOLICS

Here is a list of the top Catholic aggregation websites according to our readers. They are all worthy of your time and frequent patronage. As Catholics, we are called to live our lives in imitation of Christ in all things, in accordance with the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. These sites help us do so. Canon 212, News of the Church and the World New Advent, the Best of the Catholic Web Spirit-Digest, Guarding Our Judeo-Catholic Heritage Traditional Latin Mass in Maryland Creative Minority Report  [A semi-aggregation site] _________________________________________ Prayer Before Using the Internet Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct ou

Big C Catholics is for Catholics who are faithful to the Magisterium and who seek the fullness of truth. Our guiding mission is to advance the culture of life and the imitation of Christ. To that end, we have added several new like minded websites to our blogroll for your consideration. (See the lower right side of the blog.] _____________________________________________ Prayer Before Using the Internet Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we will encounter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint Isidore, patron of the internet, pray for us.

The Sacred Page is a blog on the Bible and Catholic theology written by four professors of Scripture and Theology, Michael Barber, John Bergmsa, Brant Pitre, and John Kincaid. Together they provide insightful, scholarly commentary on all things related to the Good News as recorded by the authors of God’s Word. Their ministry takes its mission statement from Dei Verbum , "...the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology" (Vatican II, Dei Verbum , 24). The biblical exegesis they offer is faithful and enlightening. Here is one such example: (On the Prodigal Son) "Jesus begins by telling the story of a man who had two sons. The parable begins with the younger brother going to the father and asking for his inheritance. Of course, an inheritance is usually bestowed upon offspring after the death of the one bequeathing it. Essentially, by demanding his inheritance while his father is still alive the younger brother basically says, 'Dad,

**Nominations are now closed. Congratulations to the winners ** We invite you to nominate your favorite Catholic websites for consideration in the 3rd annual New Evangelization Award for Excellence in Catholic Blogging (see below). The Catholic blogosphere hosts thousands of sites. In choosing blogs of distinction, we will recognize three Catholic websites that uniquely contribute to evangelizing and engaging our society which is increasingly hostile toward Judeo-Christian ideals and the "culture of life." Winners will be announced on May 26th. In order to qualify, a blog must: 1.) Have been in existence for at least 3 years 2.) Publish original content that is faithful to the Magisterium of the Church 3.) Evangelize and inform Catholics, and all who seek the fullness of truth To Nominate a Blog or Website: You may nominate a Catholic blog or website through our Contact Page or in the comments below. Winners are based on reader input. Last year's recipi

EWTN has a site, accessible through its faith listings, which examines everything one could want to know about Our Lady's miraculous appearance to three young children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. 100 Years of Fatima , presents the events surrounding the apparitions, the seers, Mary's urgent message to the world and developments since showing how the apparitions changed both the course of the children's lives and the history of the 20th century. A selection from the site : In the year 1917, in a mountainous region at the center of Portugal, the Mother of God appeared six times to three young children. Elsewhere on the continent the “Great War” raged, that would cost Europe an entire generation, over 37 million lives. Besides sending her own sons to die (in France and North Africa) Portugal was in political chaos at home. There was a dizzy succession of governments following a revolution in 1910. The monarchy had been replaced by a republic, with a new liberal constitut

April's Blog of Note is   Fr. Gary Coulter, the home page of a Catholic priest and parish pastor . Father Coulter is a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska and a graduate of Mount Saint Mary's Seminary. His website features numerous topics of interest to Catholics seeking information and insight concerning the faith; including apologetics, book recommendations, resources on Catholicism and marriage, current issues, Latin, recommended links, and more. As one reviewer stated, the site: "is a valuable resource for almost anyone. Homeschooling families will delight in checking out the recommended reading list, Latin students will find help in their studies and married couples will find sound direction." Among the offerings, of particular note to priests and seminarians is Fr. Coulter's thesis The Presbyterium of the Diocese , in which he writes: "Addressing the U.S. Bishops of Detroit and Cincinnati on their Ad Limina visit (May 6, 2004) Pope John P

March's blog of note is The Veil of Chastity . The site is written for single Catholic young women, but the information provided, focusing expressly on living chastely in both the single and married vocations — is applicable to all. Although currently inactive, the blog’s author, a Catholic Mom and full-time professional, faithful to the teaching of the Church and to the Magisterium, is finalizing a book discussing the wisdom behind the virtue of chastity. The work of Saint John Paul II, Pope Paul VI, Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand, and Saint Thomas Aquinas are thoughtfully considered vis–à–vis Humanae Vitae and the Theology of the Body. The blog's about page explains its mission: "The United States alone has 27 million single Catholics. This site is dedicated to those singles and those around the world who are looking for wisdom and hope. This is a place to share and learn about the virtue of chastity, the truth behind the virtue and why it leads to our happines

February’s Catholic blog of note is Catholic Preaching . Its information and insights emanate from the mind of Father Roger J. Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, who works for the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations. Father's priestly formation is detailed on the "About" page: "After receiving a biology degree from Harvard College, he studied for the priesthood in Maryland, Toronto and for several years in Rome. After being ordained a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Fall River by Bishop Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap. on June 26, 1999, he returned to Rome to complete graduate work in Moral Theology and Bioethics at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family. Fr. Landry writes for many Catholic publications, including The National Catholic Register and The Anchor , the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River, for which he was the executive editor and editorial writer from 2005-2012." Visitors to C

Although it has not published in several years, January's blog of note is Roman Catholic Vocations . Prior to the internet, deciding on which religious order to enter, for one called, was decidedly more serendipitous, if not almost entirely providential. While God has always chosen whom he wills, the notion of entering one religious community over another was owed more to immediate experience, personal encounters or geography than inclination, although the later played a role. At least, this was the case among the religious of previous generations. Modern technology allows current day discerners to simply serf for the best fit. Whether you feel called to be a cloistered nun or a mendicant brother, a diocesan priest or to marriage, Roman Catholic Vocations has something to offer. Faithful to the Magisterium, it's content features prayers, reflections, countless men's and women's religious vocation links and videos. From below the website's masthead: "If

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

July's blog of note, Speak the Truth in Love , originates in  Alberta, Canada, and began publication in May, 2010. It features articles on a wide range of topics of interest to Catholics regarding the Church, and current issues within society that enervate the culture. Blog author, Randy, a convert from a reformed protestant tradition, who is "trying to understand Catholicism and help others understand it," offers original, thought-provoking commentary. This husband and father of six knows the joys and challenges of raising a Catholic family amid the increasingly hostile secular mentality. His most recent post: " The Stoning of Soraya M " discussing the film of the same name about an Iranian women who is stoned to death after being falsely accused of adultery; contains this insight that is worth pondering: What happens when moral principles lose out to sentimental stories? Morality goes backwards a few thousand years. Really with the 10 commandments and a f

June's blog of note, Domine mihi hanc aquam! , has long been a fixture of the Catholic blogosphere. Since November, 2005, Fr. Philip Neri Powell, a Dominican seminary professor, formation advisor and parish priest, has preached and commented about Christ, the Church, popular culture and events of consequence. Featured are Fr. Powell's thought provoking homilies through which readers know and love the mind of Christ. The wide ranging scope of HA's subject matter is reflected in a quote from Pope Benedict XVI displayed on the blog's masthead: "A [preacher] who does not love art, poetry, music and nature can be dangerous. Blindness and deafness toward the beautiful are not incidental; they are necessarily reflected in his [preaching]." In addition to faithful homiletics, readers are just as likely to see advice for discerning a religious vocation , a presentation of original paintings or a polemic against the "Culture of Death." Domine mihi hanc

Since April 2009, the blog, Shameless Popery , has provided inquiring Catholics faithful, thoughtful articles about their faith . These include theological commentary, apologetics, scriptural exegesis and more. With writing that is clear and concise, Joe Heschmeyer, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, tackles questions of interest from the controversial to the sublime. Recent post titles include "It’s Time to Re-Re-Evangelize the World", "The Incomprehensible Love of the Holy Trinity", "The Catholic Church Doesn’t Look Like the Early Church? Good." and "Why I’m a Theist, a Christian, a Catholic, and a Seminarian". The later, a 35 minute video, is worth watching. High school students especially would benefit from Heschmeyer's testimony. The Catholic blogosphere hosts thousands of websites. Shameless Popery is among those that present Catholicism's rich intellectual heritage alongside contemporary analysis

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.

I am very happy to inform you that last August's blog of note,  The New Theological Movement , which ceased publication in December 2014, appears to be publishing articles once again. The New Theological Movement Blog emanates from the minds of Father Ryan Erlenbush and a fellow diocesan priest who is the site's webmaster. NTM is a treasure trove of theological commentary, apologetics, scriptural exegesis and more. From the About page: "The aim of this blog, first and foremost, is to write for the benefit of the Catholic faithful and clergy. We will try to make the articles neither too academic such that they would belong in a theologically technical publication, nor merely 'popular.'" Fr. Erlenbush describes his method of theological interpretation thusly: " The Catechism of the Catholic Church is 'the sure norm of truth' to which we will remain faithful. (John Paul II, Laetamur Magnopere ). It goes without saying that whatever is written

March's blog of note is Catholic first and always while also incorporating gems of our nation's Judeo-Catholic heritage. Spirit-Digest is an online clearinghouse of information, bringing you insightful content from across the Catholic blogosphere. If you appreciate faithful posts of interest to orthodox Catholics, with a focus on theology, the complementarity of reason and revelation, and other issues in the life of the Church, Spirit-Digest is a website worth your time. Articles about our constitutional republic and the liberties found therein, as well as threats to freedom/ human dignity at home and abroad, are also featured. Further down the page are links to various Catholic resources. The content is updated daily from a variety of sources. For this reason, Spirit-Digest is one of the sites I visit everyday. [Plus, all visitors are prayed for in a daily rosary. Grace + information!]

February’s blog of note,  A Catholic Mom in Hawaii , has long been a fixture in the Catholic blogosphere. It is the creation of wife, mother, pro-life advocate, resident of Hawaii, and devoted Catholic, Esther Gefroh, who since April 2006, has contemplated, observed and celebrated the six seasons of the Church’s liturgical year. In addition, Esther writes about numerous issues concerning the Church, including; the sanctity of life, natural marriage and the family, Catholics of heroic virtue, both past and present, the persecution of Christians around the world, books of interest, devotions, prayer, current events within and impacting Catholicism, and much more. One thing that has always impressed me about the site is the sense of community and fellowship evidenced by readers’ comments and contributions [i.e. of articles, reflections and ideas]. Moreover, each Lent, [and at other times during the year] Esther posts recipes for families to prepare, as well as her own personal insigh

January's blog of note is 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 fulfill their duties as sons, brothers, fathers, husbands, mentors, and disciples of our Lord. From the site's about page: Catholic Gentleman’s Guide ’s mission is to be everything Catholic and everything Man. Its mission is to provide a source of encouragement and Faith formation for Catholic Men who want to make the most of their Manhood for Christ. We can become Men of God, by building up hab

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

Father Daren J. Zehnle is a priest of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois who serves as the Episcopal Master of Ceremonies and the Associate Director of the Office for Vocations. At the time of this posting, he is studying canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Servant and Steward is his personal web log where he has posted since 2005. His other online ventures are A Beggar for Love and Persecution Watch . From Servant and Steward 's about page: Here you will find my homilies, thoughts and many other things of interest to me; I hope they will also be of interest to you. The title of this blog - Servant and Steward - comes from the first letter of Saint Paul Corinthians.  He writes to them, "Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God" (4:1). To speak of himself as a “servant of Christ” is somewhat obvious; it means that Paul’s life is no longer his own, but is now directed to the will of Jesus Christ