BIG C CATHOLICS

St. John Damascene was a theologian who carefully gathered together and transmitted to us the teaching of the Greek Fathers, and is thus one of the most trustworthy witnesses to the oriental tradition. He wrote many liturgical hymns still in use today. St. John Damascene died in 749. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed him a Doctor of the universal Church. He was instrumental in defending the production and veneration of religious images. St. John Damascene, taught that icons and other sacred artworks are permissible because they point to the incarnation of Christ. He understood the power of words to do the same. St. John Damascene is one of the Church’s most gifted poets. Every sacred image, whether in art, hymn or poetry, can lead us to deeper contemplation of the heart of God. Apologia of St. John Damascene Against Those Who Decry Holy Images The Life of St. John Damascene John of Damascus or Damascene, the last of the Greek Fathers, was one of the principal defenders of the venerati

Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe First Day Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor ...  Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.  Second Day O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Third Day   O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.  Fourth Day Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortifi

Saint Francis Xavier [1506-1552] tirelessly evangelized the Far East. He converted more people during his life than anyone since the Apostle Paul — personally baptizing some 50,000 Catholics in ten years [including the entire city of Goa, India]. St. Francis spread the faith to India, China, Japan and the Philippines. He was instrumental in co-founding the Jesuit Order as a close friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Francis is the patron saint of missionaries, and the dioceses of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Joiliet, Illinois and the archdiocese of Indianapolis, as well as, Borneo, China, the East Indies, Goa, India, Navarre, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. The effects of St. Francis's evangelization has lasted for centuries. The Life of St. Francis Xavier St. Francis Xavier, one of the Church's most illustrious missionaries, came from a noble Basque family in Spain. He studied at the University of Paris, where he taught philosophy after obtaining his degree of master of ar

The Catholic Church has been variously described as an institution of human beings [i.e. fallible men and women] with a divine mission [to spread the "Good News" to all corners of the earth in the imitation of Christ.] Two movies in theaters this month illustrate both the human frailty of the Church Militant and the selfless charity of the Church's divine mandate as prescribed by Jesus and lived out by the faithful. Spotlight , the story of how reporters from  The Boston Globe uncovered the scandal of child molestation and enablement within the Archdiocese of Boston, demonstrates how individual priests sinned mortally and exhibited a grievous lack of fidelity to their sacred vows amid a culture of denial and deception within parts of the Church's hierarchy. [For the Church's response to the abuse scandal see Pope Benedict XVI & the Sexual Abuse Crisis .] In a review of the movie for the National Catholic Register , one critic notes the following: &quo

St. Andrew was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman by trade, and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was the one who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, saying, "We have found the Messiah." Overshadowed thereafter by his brother, Andrew appears again in the Gospels introducing souls to Christ. After Pentecost, Andrew evangelized on a wider scale, and was martyred at Patras in southern Greece on a cross in the form of an "X". This type of cross is known as "St. Andrew's cross." St. Andrew the Apostle Andrew, Peter's brother, and John were the first disciples to follow the Lord. The Gospel of John [1:35-42] describes their initial meeting with Jesus. Andrew did not belong to the inner circle of the apostles, Peter, James and John, and the evangelists narrate nothing extraordinary about him [John 6:8]; but tradition extols his great love for the Cross and for the Savior. The Church distinguishes him in the Mass [his name occur

Please remember the Holy Father Pope Francis' intentions in prayer through the month of December: General Intention : That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving. ***  Missionary Intention : That families, especially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain hope.

Below are seven saints whose various commemorations occur during the liturgical season of Advent — the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St. Francis Xavier, St. John Damascene, St. Nicholas, St. Ambrose, St. Lucy and St. John of the Cross. MARY We call the Blessed Virgin the " Theotokos ," ["Mother of God" or "God-bearer"] to reaffirm the central truth of what occurred in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Our Lady's Fiat, her "Yes" to God exhibits her total trust and devotion to the Father's Will. We must live our lives for God by emulating Mary's example. Two Marian feasts occur during this season of Advent: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception [Dec. 8] and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [Dec. 12]. From Mary we learn: love, humility, justice, openness to God's grace and the willingness to act. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (DEC. 3)  St. Francis Xavier [1506-1552] tirelessly evangelized the Far East. He converted