BIG C CATHOLICS

This Sunday’s Gospel about the wedding feast at Cana was the subject of a thoughtful commentary by Venerable Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in his book The World’s First Love . The Venerable Bishop’s remarks cannot be improved upon. Rather, the following observations underscore Mary’s indispensable role in leading humanity to Christ, and Christ’s incomparable benevolence in showing us the way to the Father. 1. Jesus' first recorded miracle is at a wedding feast.  Sacred Scripture begins with a marriage, [the primordial marriage of Adam and Eve] and ends with the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation [where Christ (the Lamb) is eternally united with his Bride (the Church) in Heaven]. It is no accident that Christ's first recorded miracle happens amid a wedding celebration. Indeed, Christ’s actions prefigure the ultimate end of human history and the singular goal of Salvation History – namely the joining of God and man in the Beatific Vision. Moreover, Jesus’ miracle demonst

Today is the fifth day of the Novena of Reparation for Roe vs. Wade and to end the wanton destruction of innocent human life that is the tragic result of the abortion holocaust. Prayer of Reparation [ Click here for Spanish – En Español ] God and Father of Life, You have created every human person, And have opened the way for each to have eternal life.  We live in the shadow of death. Tens of millions of your children have been killed because of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.  Father, have mercy on us. Heal our land And accept our offering of prayer and penance. In your love for us, Turn back the scourge of abortion. May each of us exult in hearts full of hope And hands full of mercy And work together to build a culture of life.  We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. ____________ Consider praying the prayer for the unborn in danger of abortion by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to our Lady of Guadalupe. Say this praye

In conjunction with the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis has published his first book as pope. The Name of God Is Mercy is a series of interviews with Vatican reporter Andrea Tornielliin. Pope Francis reveals his vision of God’s mercy, a subject close to the pontiff's heart – which has long been the cornerstone of Francis' faith, and is now the central teaching of his papacy. Several extracts were made available by the publisher ahead of its official release on January 12. Here, Pope Francis says that like his predecessor, St. Peter, he is a sinner in need of forgiveness: "I [Pope Francis] said it sincerely to the prisoners of Palmasola, in Bolivia, to those men and women who welcomed me so warmly. I reminded them that even Saint Peter and Saint Paul had been prisoners. I have a special relationship with people in prisons, deprived of their freedom. I have always been very attached to them, precisely because of my awareness of being a sinner. Every ti

Today is the fourth day of the Novena of Reparation for Roe vs. Wade and to end the wanton destruction of innocent human life that is the tragic result of the abortion holocaust. Prayer of Reparation [ Click here for Spanish – En Español ] God and Father of Life, You have created every human person, And have opened the way for each to have eternal life.  We live in the shadow of death. Tens of millions of your children have been killed because of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.  Father, have mercy on us. Heal our land And accept our offering of prayer and penance. In your love for us, Turn back the scourge of abortion. May each of us exult in hearts full of hope And hands full of mercy And work together to build a culture of life.  We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. ____________ Consider praying the prayer for the unborn in danger of abortion by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to our Lady of Guadalupe. Say this pray

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) Here we are at the beginning of a new year with high hopes that this year will be better than 2015. We have our hopes even though we know that there is much in our world that is wrong. Without going into a long dismal list of the many things that are wrong let me point out just a few of them. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening, not closing. Political corruption and the politics of gridlock darken our perceptions of those we have elected to office. Terrorism and abortion along with ISIS murders cause us to realize that in the minds of many, human life is cheap and regarded as disposable. We face much that is sinful, evil, and criminal in our world. All of these things we know quite well are exceptions to the way things ought to be; they are out of the general order of what should present in our relations with others. How do we know that? What gives us this perspective and rec

Jesus, you made Blessed Teresa an example, of humility, charity and selflessness. She taught us that every human life has value and dignity. May we follow her in heeding Your cry of thirst from the Cross, and in loving the poorest of the poor.  Grant us, by her intercession, and according to Your will, the graces we implore..., knowing that she will soon be numbered among Your saints. We ask this in Your name,  through the intercession of Mary,  Your Mother and the Mother of us all. Amen.

Today is the third day of the Novena of Reparation for Roe vs. Wade and to end the wanton destruction of innocent human life that is the tragic result of the abortion holocaust. Prayer of Reparation [ Click here for Spanish – En Español ] God and Father of Life, You have created every human person, And have opened the way for each to have eternal life.  We live in the shadow of death. Tens of millions of your children have been killed because of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.  Father, have mercy on us. Heal our land And accept our offering of prayer and penance. In your love for us, Turn back the scourge of abortion. May each of us exult in hearts full of hope And hands full of mercy And work together to build a culture of life.  We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. ____________ Also, Please consider praying the prayer for the unborn in danger of abortion by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen to our Lady of Guadalupe