BIG C CATHOLICS

In honor of the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1st: The following 100 quotations are from individuals the Church has recognized for their heroic virtue. They appear in random order and are compiled from readers' responses, and suggestions for, quotes by saints appearing on this blog. For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.  — St. Thérèse of Lisieux Trust the past to the Mercy of God, the present to His Love, and the future to His Providence. — St. Augustine of Hippo He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things. — St. Alphonsus Liguori Our own evil inclinations are far more dangerous than any external enemies.   — St. Ambrose You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy – the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud.  —  St.

This morning, I received the following message from Fr. René Butler: At our Provincial Chapter which took place October 19-22, I was elected Provincial Superior of the La Salette Missionaries of North America. Between finishing my work here (busiest time of the year at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Enfield) and trying to keep up with new responsibilities, I will not be able to provide homilies for a while. Once I move, I might be able to resume. In the meantime, let me say what an honor it is to be a "featured contributor" to this blog, which enables me to reach so many. I have known Matt for a number of years, and congratulate him on his dedication. Please keep me in prayer, as I will you. Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Please pray for Fr. Butler as he assumes his new role as Provincial Superior of the La Salette Missionaries of North America. The La Salette Missionaries are certainly in capable hands. In the meantime, Sunday homilies will be provided by Fr. C

Homily of St. Peter in the presence of St. Mark (detail), Fra Angelico, 15th century  The following article by  Father Philip Neri Powell, O.P., Ph.D., " Put Down the Missalette! Listening to a Homily " was originally posted on Big C Catholics in installments. Visit Fr. Powell's excellent website  for more. ________________________ I’ve written about some of the artsy elements of writing a homily and about some definitions of preaching . I’ve been challenged to write about how one should go about listening to a homily and getting the most out of it. So, here’s my shot at answering the question: how do I listen to a homily for maximum benefit? The very first thing I want to say is that listening to a homily is and is not like listening to any other sort of performed text. All the skills you use to listen to a speech, an academic lecture, or a conversation are used in listening to a homily. However, the difference that makes the difference in listening to a homil

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 Holy Father’s intentions ( the 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 can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying

The Great Adventure Bible Study Program is available through Ascension Press . If you want to listen to an audio presentations of the course go to EWTN's Audio Library File Index under 'Our Father's Plan' with Scott Hahn & Jeff Cavins . (I understand it is the same material despite the different title.) Unrelated but equally efficacious is Dr. Scott Hahn's Understanding the Scriptures: A Complete Course on Bible Study , which I recommend, and have used to great effect with students.

St. Matthew and the Angel, Vincenzo Campi, 1588. I call your attention to this Bible trivia website . It's a Protestant source, but the questions are a who, what, when, where of Sacred Scripture, and not theological in nature. Scripture references are from the KJV Bible. New quizzes are added periodically (see sample quiz below). I've taken random quizzes in the past by way of testing my scriptural IQ. Of course, reading Scripture daily is the best way to study/retain its wisdom. Category: In The Beginning This Quiz: Adam and Eve 1.) Why did Adam call his wife Eve?        She was the firstborn among women        She was a help meet fit for him        She was the mother of all living        She was taken out of man 2.) What kind of leaves did Adam and Eve use in an attempt to cover their nakedness?        Fig        Sycamore        Palm        Olive 3.) After Adam and Eve sinned, what did God make for them?        A garment of fig leaves        Coats

October's blog of note is Catholic Sacristan . Established in 2011, the site is "an oasis of truth, goodness & beauty in the desert of the world wide web." Focusing on the transcendentals of being — each transcending the limitations of time and place, as the objective properties of all that exists, Catholic Sacristan presents the Catholic Church as the fullness of truth. It's mission statement explains the blog's raison d'être: Why an oasis? An oasis is a pool of refreshing water in an otherwise bleak landscape. The "water" offered here is often drawn from other wells (blogs, websites) that offer safe drinking water. If the water here presented contains elements foreign to the Catholic Faith, then the blog-keeper will always defer to the Magisterium and remove or modify content that does not accurately present the true, the good and the beautiful as conserved in the Church's Apostolic Tradition. Catholic Sacristan is oriented to C