BIG C CATHOLICS

Saint Joseph truly followed the will of God. When an angel came to Joseph and told him about Mary and the child she was carrying, Joseph took Mary as his wife. He did so without any questions, doubt or hesitation. He knew God's will for him, and he chose to accept it and live for the glory of Jesus Christ. Today we pray that we may all be more like St. Joseph; more open to the will of God in our own lives. Let us pray for clarity in our discernment and for the confidence St. Joseph had as we choose to follow God's will. Day 7 - St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Novena (For an audio/video version of this prayer go here .) Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession.

The date of Blessed Mother Teresa’s canonization has been announced. It will occur on Sept. 4th of this year, a day which also marks a special jubilee for workers and volunteers of mercy. The Vatican made the announcement following a March 15th consistory of cardinals. A CNA/EWTN report briefly summarizes Mother's life and work: Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu Aug. 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia. After joining the Sisters of Loretto at age 17, she was sent to Calcutta, where she later contracted tuberculosis, and was sent to rest in Darjeeling. On the way, she felt what she called “an order” from God to leave the convent and live among the poor. After she left her convent, Mother Teresa began working in the slums, teaching poor children, and treating the sick in their homes. A year later, some of her former students joined her, and together they took in men, women and children who were dying in the gutters along the streets. ... The consistory also determined

Missionaries of Charity Martyrs, from L-R: Sr. Anselm, Sr. Reginette, Sr. Judith, Sr. Marguerite.  Credit: The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. The Italian bishops’ television network [TV2000] has made public the last letter of the five Missionaries of Charity who served the poor, the elderly, and the disabled at a care home in Aden, Yemen. Four of the five sisters were martyred by Islamic terrorists in the March 4th massacre; the fifth survived and is now safely out of the country. An Ave Maria University Blog recounted the horrific attack: On that day Islamic extremists stormed their home and executed them. The Superior of the home, Sr. Sally, M.C., fortunately was alerted by a gate attendant and was able to scurry to safety behind a door while she watched in horror the slaughter of innocent women. Not only were the Sisters killed, all 12 volunteers who worked with the Sisters in caring for the Muslim residents God had entrusted to them, were summarily killed,

Saint Joseph died with Jesus and Mary. For that reason, he is the patron saint of a blessed death. Today we pray for everyone near death, and for those who are suffering and in agony, that they may pass peacefully into eternal life. Finally, let us pray that when we face death, we may also be close to Jesus and Mary. May all who fear death be welcomed into Eternal Beatitude. On that day, an occasion of unrivaled joy, sin and death will be no more, and we shall see God face to face. Day 6 - St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Novena (For an audio/video version of this prayer go here .) Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary,

March's blog of note is Catholic first and always while also incorporating gems of our nation's Judeo-Catholic heritage. Spirit-Digest is an online clearinghouse of information, bringing you insightful content from across the Catholic blogosphere. If you appreciate faithful posts of interest to orthodox Catholics, with a focus on theology, the complementarity of reason and revelation, and other issues in the life of the Church, Spirit-Digest is a website worth your time. Articles about our constitutional republic and the liberties found therein, as well as threats to freedom/ human dignity at home and abroad, are also featured. Further down the page are links to various Catholic resources. The content is updated daily from a variety of sources. For this reason, Spirit-Digest is one of the sites I visit everyday. [Plus, all visitors are prayed for in a daily rosary. Grace + information!]

It is the fifth day of the Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Novena. St. Joseph was a carpenter. He is also the patron saint of the unemployed. Let us pray for those who are unemployed and underemployed, as well as those struggling to provide food and shelter for their families. Day 5 - St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Novena (For an audio/video version of this prayer go here .) Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death. Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to t

Padre Pio was once asked what he thought about people who do not believe in Hell. His answer: "They’ll believe in Hell when they get there." Hell exists. The Devil is an active force, a living, spiritual being. Those who ignore Hell's reality do so at their own peril. Ultimately, it is our decision to sin or to love that determines where we spend eternity. God respects our free will, even if we chose damnation over Him.