BIG C CATHOLICS

Optional Memorial - March 7th Women have always been important witnesses to the faith and to the sacredness and value of human life. On March 7th the Church honors Saints Perpetua and Felicity, two young mothers of the 3rd century who were martyred because they refused to renounce their Christian beliefs. They are mentioned in the first Eucharistic prayer at Mass and where highly venerated by the early Church. Saint Perpetua was born around 181 A.D. She was a 20-year-old married, well-educated noblewoman, who followed the path of her mother and was baptized a Christian. Her co-martyr, Felicity, was an expectant mother and catechumen who according to tradition was Perpetua’s slave. They both suffered at Carthage in the Roman province of Africa during the reign of Emperor Septimus in 203 A.D. After their arrest and imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicity were led to the amphitheater together alongside fellow professed Christians Revocatus, Felicitas, Saturninus, Secundulus and Satur

The Church celebrates the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus both 1st century bishops and missionary companions to their mentor Saint Paul, on January 26th. Pope Benedict XVI observed, "The sources concerning Timothy and Titus highlight their readiness to take on various offices that also often consisted in representing Paul in circumstances far from easy. In a word, they teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity, realizing that this also entails a service to the Church herself." Timothy and Titus remind us that no grace is given solely for our benefit. Grace is to be shared so the Church may be built up in love. Reading Paul's two letters to Timothy and his letter to Titus show that the early Church was at times deeply divided. St. Paul's first letter to Timothy 3:15 clearly states where we are to find the truth. Paul refers to the Church as the pillar and foundation of the truth. We do not consult Scripture alone to find the truth because different people

Feast Day – January 18th  According to popular piety, Saint Prisca, also known as Priscilla, was a child martyr of the early Roman Church. Born to Christian parents of a noble family, Prisca was raised during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius. While Claudius did not persecute Christians as fervently as other Roman emperors, Christians still did not practice their faith openly. Prisca's parents went to great lengths to conceal their faith, and thus, were not suspected of being Christians. Prisca, however, did not feel the need to take precaution. The young girl openly professed her dedication to Christ, and eventually, she was reported to the emperor. Claudius had her arrested, and commanded her to make a sacrifice to Apollo, the pagan god of the sun. Tradition tells how, Prisca refused, and was tortured for disobeying. Suddenly, a bright, yellow light shone about her, and she appeared luminous like a little star. Claudius ordered that Prisca be taken away to pris

Feast Day - December 26th  It is an interesting point about human nature that we desire to know the truth — as long as it confirms what we, ourselves, already believe and do. That is why it is often dangerous to be a prophet, a speaker of the real truth as God sees it. The words of such a person are not always greeted with joy, but often with anger, suspicion, indignity and sometimes, even violence. Such was the case of Saint Stephen, whose story is told in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters six and seven. We know very little of Stephen’s life prior to this mention in the Scriptures, but much can be inferred about him from what is written there. At this time, in the very early history of the Church, there were practical issues that had arisen that needed to be addressed. One of these concerned charitable efforts, namely, the distribution of alms to the Hellenist, or Greek-speaking Christian widows; it was alleged that they were being neglected in favor of those who spoke Hebre

This idea of Christians and the Christian Church as the soul of the world, a people set apart, animated by a divine calling that is discipleship — evokes the scriptural imagery of salt and light, found in the Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount. As Christians we are expressly called to be in but not of the world. Our Lord tells us: You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Mt 5:14-16) Tertullian of Carthage, "the father of Latin Christianity", a prolific early Christian apologist and successful polemicist against heresy, in a tract from his theological treatise , discusses the Christian’s duties in a way reminiscent of Our Savior: So we sojourn with you in the world, abjuring neither forum, n

December 26th, is the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr and archdeacon. He led the group of seven deacons who the Apostles appointed to help them minister to the poor and the marginalized in the early Church (having been ordained by Saint Peter himself). Stephen labored in imitation of Christ even unto the last measure of his life. The Church celebrates his heroic witness in making a comparison between the disciple and his Master. His name is included in the Roman Canon and has long been invoked by Christians facing persecution. In addition to proclaiming the word at Liturgies, he distributed food and charitable aid to the widowed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen preached Christianity; spreading the Good News throughout Jerusalem and debating Jewish teachers of the Law, which caused enmity. When, at the age of 30, the Jews accused him of blasphemy, Stephen put his trust in the Lord. Before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest, he answered the charge. Stephen’s

On June 29th the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Veneration of these great Apostles is rooted in the very foundations of the Church. These well-known figures are most responsible for spreading the Good News in the early days of Christianity. They share a common feast day because according to tradition, they were executed on the same day during persecution under the Emperor Nero. Historical records indicate Peter was martyred in c. 64-67 AD and Paul in 67 AD. St. Peter was crucified upside since he considered himself unworthy to be martyred in the same manner as Christ. He was buried on Vatican Hill where 20th century excavations revealed his tomb on the site of the Basilica of St. Peter's. By virtue of his Roman citizenship, St. Paul was beheaded in the Via Ostia on the spot where the basilica bearing his name now stands. A partial indulgence may be gained today by anyone who makes devout use of a religious article (crucifix, cross, rosary. scapu

No serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non-historicity of Jesus.   — Otto Betz One assertion detractors of Christianity make to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus is the alleged lack of historical evidence for Christ outside of Sacred Scripture. Such claims are counterfactual and easily refuted. Here are five, first-century, non-biblical, historical references to Jesus of Nazareth. Publius Cornelius Tacitus (55-120 c. AD) was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. His two major works, the Annals and the Histories, record the reigns of seven Roman Emperors: Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who ruled in the Year of the Four Emperors (69 AD). These works span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in 14 AD to the 1st Jewish – Roman War in 70 AD. In the Annals , [XV,44] Tacitus mentions the death of Christ and the existence of Christians in Rome at the time of the great fire: "But not all the relief that could come from man, not al