BIG C CATHOLICS

April 7th, is the optional memorial for Saint John Baptist de la Salle. He was born at Rheims, France in 1651, became a member of the cathedral chapter at Rheims when he was sixteen, and was ordained a priest in 1678. Soon after ordination he was put in charge of a girls' school, and in 1679 he met Adrian Nyel, a layman who wanted to open a school for boys. Two schools were started, and Canon de la Salle became dedicated to the field of education. He took an interest in the teachers, eventually invited them to live in his own house, and tried to train them in the educational system that was forming in his mind. This group ultimately left, unable to grasp what the saint had in mind; others, however, joined him, and the beginnings of the Brothers of the Christian Schools was well underway Seeing a unique opportunity for good, Canon de la Salle resigned his canonry, gave his inheritance to the poor, and began to organize his teachers into a religious congregation. Soon, boys from

March 18th, is the optional memorial of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, the 4th century bishop, confessor, exegete and Doctor of the Church who composed the simple, yet, profoundly beautiful Catechetical Instructions , that defended the Church’s dogmas. Bishop of Jerusalem for thirty-seven years, Cyril, spent sixteen of those years banished from his own diocese. This was a result of the raging controversy surrounding the Arian heresy which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ. Like other bishops of his time accused of infidelity, Cyril endured the hardships of exile. He was eventually exonerated and his good standing restored. He participated in the Second General Council at Constantinople, and died in peace in the year 386 AD. Cyril was born in the city of Jerusalem, about the year 315. He immersed himself in the study of Sacred Scriptures from childhood, and achieved such insight that he would became a prominent champion of orthodoxy. He embraced the monastic institute and made a vow o

March 3rd, dioceses in the United States celebrate the optional memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel (1858–1955), the 20th century sister, missionary and educator who ministered to the marginalized in the United States, especially the Native American and African American communities. In 1891, she, and a small cadre of her fellow nuns established the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. The Order operated mission schools in the West and the South. Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia, to a family of immense wealth. Francis Drexel, her father, was a business partner of J.P. Morgan. He was known for his generous philanthropy. Her mother, Hannah Drexel, died less than a month after Drexel's birth. In 1860, her father would remarry. As a daughter of great privilege, Drexel was privately schooled by the best tutors, widely travelled and raised to be a high society heiress. Drexel's sense of compassion and natural empathy were attuned to the needs of

Clockwise from L to R: Pope Pius XI, Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. Pius X. The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. If not for the Incarnation, there could be no Eucharist. In the words of Servant of God Father John Hardon: "We are to believe that the Eucharist is Jesus Christ - simply, without qualification. It is God become man in the fullness of His divine nature, in the fullness of His human nature, in the fullness of His body and soul, in the fullness of everything that makes Jesus Jesus. He is in the Eucharist with His human mind and will united with the Divinity… That is what our Catholic Faith demands of us… If we believe this, we are Catholic. If we do not, we are not, no matter what people may think we are." Below are quotes on the Most Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of our Faith, from 20th century pontiffs. The faith of the Church is this: That one and identical is the Word of God an

The following seven saints Buonfiglio dei Monaldi (Bonfilius), Alexis Falconieri, John Bonagiunta, Benedict dell'Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Gerard Sostegni, and Ricoverus Uguccione were the founders of the Servite Order, a religious community dedicated explicitly to helping foster the practice of reparation and contemplating the Passion of our Lord and the Blessed Mother's Seven Sorrows. The Servites accomplishments are not widely known, due to the spirit of humility cherished by its members. Their work in home missions promoting reverence for Christ’s suffering on Calvary and inspiring devotion to the Mother of Sorrows has benefited innumerable souls. Their divine ministry began in a period of turmoil. When Florence and all Italy was beset by civil strife, during the 13th century, God called seven men from the nobility of Florence. In 1233, they met together and prayed for guidance. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and extolled them to pursue liv

Today marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen-year-old Saint Bernadette Soubirous. Our Lady’s message to humanity stressed devotion to God through Christ, ceaseless prayer, penitence and forgiveness. Three revelations in particular are worth pondering. One concern’s doctrine. The others speak to our earthly pilgrimage and our destiny, if we persevere in love. On February 18th, our Lady began her message telling Bernadette, "I do not promise to make you happy in this life but in the next." On February 24th, Mary asked for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. The next day, the feast of the Annunciation, Mary stated, "I am the Immaculate Conception." The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was initially celebrated on February 11th. It was approved by Pope Leo XIII, and first granted to the Diocese of Tarbes in the year 1890. Less than twenty years later, on November 13, 1907, his successor, Pope Saint Pius X pro

December 21st, is the optional memorial of Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597) the 16th century Dutch Jesuit priest and Doctor of the Church, who played a major role in the Council of Trent and the Counter Reformation. His extensive writing in theology and powerful preaching in defense of orthodoxy won him great renown, and the Church innumerable souls. He wrote three definitive Catechisms in the span of four years explicating the Faith. These were tremendously influential, especially to those in Austria, Bavaria, and Bohemia where Catholicism was most under siege. Although claimed by both the Dutch and German Churches, Canisius is designated the second Apostle of Germany (after Saint Boniface of Mainz). He was born in Wijmegen, Holland, to Jacob Canisius and mother Egidia van Houweningen, who died soon after Peter's birth. His father was Burgomaster of the town. While a student at the University of Cologne studying the arts, civil law and theology, he regularly visited the Carth

St. Joseph’s Dream , illuminated manuscript, T’oros Roslin, c. 1260. Fr. Thomas J. Lane S.T.D. Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture Mt. St. Mary's Seminary Emmitsburg, MD  ( Click here for today’s readings ) We are all busy preparing for Christmas. A lot of preparation had to be made for the first Christmas also by Mary and Joseph. They had to prepare by saying “yes” to God’s plan for the birth of Jesus. Today our Gospel focuses on the preparation made by Joseph for that first Christmas. It was a most difficult preparation for him. At that time Jews were betrothed one year before they got married. When a couple were betrothed to each other one year before marriage they were then legally united but did not live together. A year later the wedding ceremony took place and then the couple came to live together. During the year before marriage after they had been betrothed, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. What suffering he must have endured. The angel Gabrie

December 1st, is the feast of Saint Edmund Campion, S.J., (1540-1581) the 16th century English priest and martyr, also called "the Pope's Champion", who was one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. The most renowned of the English martyrs, Campion abandoned a promising career at Oxford, and an invitation to serve in the court of Queen Elizabeth, to enter the Catholic priesthood. He displayed heroic virtue in ministering to his fellow Catholics, despite great personal danger and widespread oppression. During the reigns of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the Catholic Church was displaced by the Church of England. English monasteries were dissolved and Catholics were brutally persecuted and killed. Campion was born in London, the son of a bookseller near St Paul's Cathedral. He was first educated at Christ's Hospital school. In August 1553, at age 13, he was selected to make the complimentary speech for the visit of Queen Mary. He attended St John's College

Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, a Capuchin Franciscan priest and Doctor of the Universal Church, was born on July 22, 1559 in Brindisi, Italy. He is considered the greatest linguist among the Doctors. In addition to his native Italian, Lawrence could read and speak fluently Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish and French. He labored in many fields, serving as an army chaplain, diplomat, leader of the Counter-Reformation in Austria and Bohemia, teacher of Scripture, exegete and mariologist. Unusual for a scholar, Lawrence was acutely sensitive to the needs of others. At age 31, he was elected Major Superior of the Capuchin Franciscan province of Tuscany. He combined brilliance, compassion and administrative skill to carry out his duties. In 1602, he was elected Minister General of the Capuchins. Under his guidance, the Order grew both geographically and in numbers. St. Lawrence is a tremendous model for priests in their studies and preaching. He died exactly sixty years to th

July 18th, the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Camillus de Lellis  (1550-1614). He was born in Bocchianico, Italy to parents from noble families. His father, a mercenary soldier who served in the armies of various monarchs, ignored him. His mother was no match for Camillus' strong will and vitriolic temperament. For a time, he followed in his father's footsteps. Camillus fought for the Venetians against the Turks as a soldier of fortune, and began gambling recklessly. Dismissed by the Venetians for his quarrelsome ways, Camillus briefly joined a band of Spanish adventurers. By the age of 24. he was broken in mind and spirit and completely destitute. Accounts vary as to how and when Camillus acquired a diseased leg. As a Capuchin novice, he could not profess because of it. He immersed himself in caring for the sick, eventually serving as director of St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome. From his confessor St. Philip Neri, Camillus received permission to be ordained after which