BIG C CATHOLICS

O Priest! You are not yourself because you are God. You are not of yourself because you are the servant and minister of Christ. You are not your own because you are the spouse of the Church. You are not yourself because you are the mediator between God and man. You are not from yourself because you are nothing. What then are you? Nothing and everything. O Priest! Take care lest what was said to Christ on the cross be said to you: 'He saved others, himself he cannot save! — St. Norbert on the occasion of his ordination to the priesthood.

Saint Norbert was born in Xanten near Cologne about the year 1080. As a young cleric he resided at the court of the Archbishop of Cologne and then at that of the emperor where he allowed himself to be overcome by worldly influences. But he was won back by grace; caught by a storm during a journey on horseback, Norbert made up his mind to take his clerical obligations seriously. After ordination he devoted himself to itinerant preaching. St. Norbert founded the religious order known as the Praemonstratensians or the Norbertines. His founding of the order was a monumental task: combating rampant heresies (particularly regarding the Blessed Sacrament), revitalizing many of the faithful who were indifferent and dissolute, and effecting peace and reconciliation among enemies. Reluctantly, Norbert became archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany. In this position he courageously continued his work for the Church until his death on June 6, 1134. Click to learn more about the Praemonstr

Unfortunately today, there is growing confusion in society about gender, to the extent that gender ideology has destroyed personal meaning throughout North America. In response to the Obama administration’s recent guidelines on the use of bathrooms by those who call themselves transgendered, Cardinal Donald Wuerl emphasized that the human body "is not extraneous, but goes to our very essence." The Cardinal added: One of the enervating forces of our culture is the assertion that everything is up for grabs. What was once grasped as objective truth is now dismissed as mere construct, and there is a growing relativism that seeks to reconstruct the most fundamental realities. Last year we saw a societal redefinition of marriage and family. Today, the concept of humanity itself is called into question with an aggressive "gender" ideology which holds that whether a person is male or female is not an objective reality, but is subjectively determined. Increasingly, t

The Resurrection of the Widow's Son at Nain , James Tissot, 1886-1896. Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) In mulling over today's Scripture readings two themes came to my mind, (1) the role of women, and (2) what kind of a God God is. When you stand back at try to look at The Big Picture you recognize how often Scripture — God’s Word for us – forces us to see that women play a significant part in it. Again and again in Sacred Scripture we see how God continually calls us to care for widows. In ancient Jewish culture, and at the time Jesus lived among us, women were not treated well at all. They were regarded as inferior, often mistreated, and had no legal status or rights. It was a totally male dominated culture. Even in our day, particularly in the Middle East, in Africa, and in Asia we see that this ancient prejudice and treatment of women still exists in our world. Just bring to mind the many recent news report

The Immaculate Heart of Mary The attention of Christians was early attracted by the love and virtues of the Heart of Mary. The Gospel itself invited this attention with exquisite discretion and delicacy. What was first excited was compassion for the Virgin Mother. It was, so to speak, at the foot of the Cross that the Christian heart first made the acquaintance of the Heart of Mary. Simeon's prophecy paved the way and furnished the devotion with one of its favourite formulae and most popular representations: the heart pierced with a sword. But Mary was not merely passive at the foot of the Cross; "she cooperated through charity", as St. Augustine says, "in the work of our redemption". It is only in the twelfth, or towards the end of the eleventh century, that slight indications of a regular devotion are perceived in a sermon by St. Bernard (De duodecim stellis). Stronger evidences are discernible in the pious meditations on the Ave Maria and the

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 3, 2016  I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment. — Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Only the Heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way ( Catechism 1439 ). The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior's steps ( Catechism 2669 ). The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Infinite Love of Christ The Chu

June 2, 2016 is Day 9 of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena Let us pray for more hopeful hearts so as to live in the imitation of Christ each day. That we may face every cross and all trials with confidence in the promises of Our Savior. Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena Prayers, Day 9 O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of… (Mention your Intention Here) Our Father, Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of ou