BIG C CATHOLICS

Dr. Peter Kreeft teaches Philosophy at Boston College and is a convert to the Catholic faith. This audio overviews reasons for considering Catholicism.

Pope Benedict XVI has weighed in on a heated debate over gay marriage, criticising new concepts of the traditional family and warning that mankind itself was at stake. In the fight for the family, the very notion of being – of what being human really means – is being called into question," the Pope said in Italian during an end-of-year speech. "The question of the family ... is the question of what it means to be a man, and what it is necessary to do to be true men," he said. The Pope spoke of the "falseness" of gender theories and cited at length France's chief Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, who has spoken out against gay marriage. "Bernheim has shown in a very detailed and profoundly moving study that the attack we are currently experiencing on the true structure of the family, made up of father, mother, and child, goes much deeper," he said. He cited feminist gender theorist Simone de Beauvoir's view to the effect that one

Fr. John Riccardo , a priest from Plymouth, Michigan, was invited to speak at Kensington Community Church , a local Non-denominational church. He gives an awesome 30 minute sermon on the importance of knowing Jesus, rather than just knowing about Jesus.

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.

Here is a short list of some saints whose commemorations come during or just before early Advent, depending upon the year. Each has an Advent message. MARY Most of us readily think of St. Mary, Mother of God, during Advent. After all, Mary is the one closest to Jesus. Two Marian feasts fall during Advent: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12). From Mary we learn the greatest traits of the Christian: love, humility, justice, openness to God's grace and willingness to act. ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (DEC. 3)  He tirelessly evangelized in the Far East. Busy as he was, he took time to set religious truths to verse and fit them to popular tunes in the countries he served. This was such a successful way of spreading the Good News that his songs were sung in the streets. Xavier invested his missionary zeal in a way that yielded a harvest long after he left. This didn't happen without hours spent in silence

Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms. Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love. Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love. Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them. Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope. Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us that one day we may join you there to bask in God's love forever.