BIG C CATHOLICS

Blessed Flavianus Michael Malke On Saturday, August 29, Pope Francis declared the first Syrian Catholic bishop, Flavianos Melke who was killed in Turkey one hundred years ago to the day, a martyr. Three weeks earlier, Pope Francis approved Melke's beatification after it was determined that the bishop was killed in hatred of the faith. The Pope noted that Melke's example is especially salient for Christians facing persecution now: Even today, dear brothers and sisters, in the Middle East and other parts of the world, Christians are persecuted. There are more martyrs than in the first centuries. The beatification of this martyr should instill in us consolation, courage, and hope, but it is also a stimulus to legislators and government leaders to ensure that religious freedom is guaranteed everywhere... A beatification Mass was celebrated in Lebanon, and brought together numerous patriarchs from the Eastern churches of Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. Flavianos Michael Melke wa

Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP Notre Dame Seminary, NOLA He said to them, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21  ( Click here for today's readings ) So, Jesus – the hometown boy – walks into his synagogue, picks up a scroll, reads a passage from Isaiah, and says, in effect, “God the Father has sent me to rescue y'all, you bunch of sinners.” Surprisingly, this little stunt goes over well. . .at first: “. . .all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” Then some of the less-impressed listeners start asking questions designed to put Jesus in his place, “Hey, wait a minute, isn't he Joseph's boy?” Seeing where this line of questioning is headed, Jesus nips it in the bud, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” He then goes on to point out their faithlessness and how their ancestors abused God's prophets, earning the Father's wrath. This went ove

At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for your pardon. By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor. By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for your negligence and omissions. Christ forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished. By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief. Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass. Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and aff

Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Director, La Salette Shrine Enfield, NH "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." Mark 7:15 ( Click here for today’s readings ) What’s wrong with washing your hands before you eat? What’s wrong with washing cups and jugs and kettles and beds? Nothing, of course. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Jesus did not criticize the Scribes and Pharisees for doing these things. What provoked his reaction was their reference to hand washing as "the tradition of the elders" and the reference to "unclean hands." As you know, "unclean" in the Bible is not the same as "dirty." It has to do with one’s suitability to participate in community and worship. Since a blessing was pronounced on all foods before eating, it made sense that you would not want to be "unclean" in any way. It isn’t so different from restaurants, however

August's blog of note ceased publication in December 2014. The New Theological Movement emanated from the minds of Father Ryan Erlenbush and a fellow diocesan priest who was the site's webmaster. Despite it's inactive status, The New Theological Movement Blog emanates from the minds of Father Ryan Erlenbush and a fellow diocesan priest who is the site's webmaster. NTM is a treasure trove of theological commentary, apologetics, scriptural exegesis and more. From the About page: "The aim of this blog, first and foremost, is to write for the benefit of the Catholic faithful and clergy. We will try to make the articles neither too academic such that they would belong in a theologically technical publication, nor merely 'popular.'" Fr. Erlenbush describes his method of theological interpretation thusly: " The Catechism of the Catholic Church is 'the sure norm of truth' to which we will remain faithful. (John Paul II, Laetamur Magnopere ).

In Humanae Vitae Pope Paul VI makes positive as well as negative prophecies . He elaborates the good that comes from following Church teaching on contraception. While acknowledging that spouses may face difficulties acquiring the self-discipline needed to practice periodic abstinence, he nonetheless affirms such self-discipline is possible, with the help of sacramental graces. In paragraph 21, he states: Value of Self-Discipline 21. The right and lawful ordering of birth demands, first of all, that spouses fully recognize and value the true blessings of family life and that they acquire complete mastery over themselves and their emotions. For if with the aid of reason and of free will they are to control their natural drives, there can be no doubt at all of the need for self-denial. Only then will the expression of love, essential to married life, conform to right order. This is especially clear in the practice of periodic continence. Self-discipline of this kind is a shining witne

The Divine Mercy Image The Hour of Great Mercy Just as the (Divine Mercy) Image can serve as a reminder of the ocean of Divine Mercy, as well as its price, so can the daily remembrance of the Divine Mercy at the hour of Christ's death. Jesus asked Saint Faustina, and through her us, to celebrate this Hour of Great Mercy, promising tremendous graces to those who would, both for themselves and on behalf of others. At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. ( Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987, 1320). As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it, invoke it's omnipotence for the whole world,

Pro-Choice Journalist Ruben Navarrette makes several stark observations in his column " I Don’t Know if I’m Pro-Choice After Planned Parenthood Videos " which appeared earlier this month in the Daily Beast. Mr. Navarrette acknowledges being an abortion supporter for the past 30 years. He is, however, reconsidering his pro-choice sympathies in light of this summer's release of gruesome, undercover videos by The Center for Medical Progress in which top officials of Planned Parenthood discuss the harvesting of baby organs for money. Navarrette writes: It’s jarring to see doctors acting as negotiators as they dicker over the price of a fetal liver, heart, or brain, and then talk about how they meticulously go to the trouble of not crushing the most valuable body parts. This practice is perfectly legal, and for some people, it is just a business. With millions of abortions each year in America, business is good. Who could forget Dr. Mary Gatter, council president of the

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs ,  Fra Angelico , 1424 All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly. — Saint Francis de Sales Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them. — Saint Francis de Sales  If we are, in fact, now occupied in good deeds, we should not attribute the strength with which we are doing them to ourselves. We must not count on ourselves, because even if we know what kind of person we are today, we do not know what we will be tomorrow. — Saint Gregory the Great Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him. — Saint Dominic Savio No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limit

Orthodox Icon: Christ with the saints Our wish, our object, our chief preoccupation must be to form Jesus in ourselves, to make his spirit, his devotion, his affections, his desire, and his disposition live and reign there . — Saint John Eudes You cannot please both God and the world at the same time.  They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions . — Saint John Vianney You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God.  — Saint John Vianney He who trusts himself is lost.  He who trusts in God can do all things. — Saint Alphonsus Liguori Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife. — Saint Leo the Great  Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved. — Saint Robert Bellarmine Nothing is far from God. — Saint Monica Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin. — Saint John B