BIG C CATHOLICS

The first act of the apostles following the Ascension of Jesus was to find a replacement for Judas. With all the uncertainty they faced, they focused their attention on naming a twelfth apostle. Why was this important? Twelve was a number of significance to the Chosen People: twelve was the number of the twelve tribes of Israel. If the new Israel was to come from the disciples of Jesus, a twelfth apostle was needed. [See video below.] The apostles cast lots and Matthias was chosen. That is the first and last time we hear about Mathias in Sacred Scripture. Fr. René Butler writes this about Matthias, while reflecting on the inscrutable ways of God: "And Matthias was never heard from again. Well, as far as that goes, he was never heard from before, either. This story of his “election” as an Apostle is the only time he is mentioned by name in the whole New Testament. We know, from the criterion established by Peter, that both he and Barsabbas were among the first disciples of

Pope Francis' post-synod apostolic exhortation on the family has been the subject of rampant speculation since before the close of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in October 2014. In the wake of Amoris Laetitia   the secular media has been predictably misleading, if not outright celebratory, in its assessment. Time online's headline proclaimed, " Pope Francis Pushes Church to be More Open to the Divorced ".   Newsday opined, " Pope Francis' 'The Joy of Love' says individual conscience should guide sex, marriage, family ". The International Business Times said, " Pope Francis’ Long-Awaited Document ‘Joy Of Love’ May Open Doors For Communion To Remarried Divorcées  The National Catholic Reporter and like-minded publications have characterized  Amoris Laetitia as a "radical shift" in the practice of the Church. In an article published in the National Catholic Register , Cardinal Raymo

St. Martin was born in Todi, Italy. He was elected pope in 649 during the period of the last christological controversy. Pope Martin refused to be silent in the face of heresy. There existed at that time a belief that Christ didn't have a human will, only a divine will. The emperor had issued an edict that while not supporting Monothelitism directly, commanded that no one discuss Jesus' humanity. Monothelitism was condemned at the Lateran Council of 649, convened by Martin I. The council affirmed, once again, that since Jesus had two natures, human and divine, he had two wills, human and divine. The council then went further and condemned Constans edict to avoid discussion stating, "The Lord commanded us to shun evil and do good, but not to reject the good with the evil." For his defense of Christ as true God and true man, Pope Martin was exiled by the Byzantine emperor Constans II to Crimea where he died in 656, a martyr who stood up for the right of the Church t

Writing for the National Catholic Register , Edward Pentin discusses what Cardinal Christoph Schönborn told academics in Austria one day after the publication of Amoris Laetitia : Speaking on Pope Francis’ new post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the family at the International Theological Institute in Trumau April 9 (see video of full talk below), the Archbishop of Vienna said there are "no forbidden questions" when discussing the text. Compared to his presentation at the Vatican the day before, the cardinal, who is chancellor of the institute, was a little more cautious about the document and, although enthusiastic about it, he appeared to downplay its significance. It is not an encyclical, he stressed, and that while one should listen to it with a "readiness to submission", there should "not be a refusal to discuss" its contents. "Pope Francis would be the last one not to want to discuss what he proposes," Cardinal Schönborn said. &qu

Stanislaus was born into a noble family on July 26. 1030 at Szczepanow near Cracow, Poland. Stanislaus was born in answer to prayer, when his parents were advanced in age. Out of gratitude they educated him for the Church. He was taught at Gnesen and was ordained there. Stanislaus was given a canonry by Bishop Lampert Zula of Cracow, who made him his preacher, and soon Stanislaus became noted for his preaching. He became a much sought after spiritual adviser. Stanislaus was successful in his reforming efforts, and in 1072 was named Bishop of Cracow. As Bishop of Cracow, Stanislaus was a champion of the liberty of the Church and of the dignity of man. He defended the lonely and the poor. When Stanislaus reproached King Boleslaus II for his immoral life, the king himself killed Stanislaus while the later said Mass on April 11, 1079. The cult of Saint Stanisław the martyr began immediately upon his death. St. Stanislaus was canonized in 1253 by Pope Innocent IV. He is the patron saint

For your information... Women Speak For Themselves is a grassroots organization with more than 41,000 women from all 50 states and various political and religious backgrounds. Our list is made up of diverse and intelligent women–with thousands of doctors, lawyers, teachers, businesswomen, home- schooling mothers, and longtime community advocates. Our collaboration with each other — which began in 2012 — has produced hundreds of letters to the media, dozens of published editorials, town hall meetings, letters and meetings with congressional representatives, social media postings, and the occasional protest, all in support of women and religious freedom. Our efforts have shown time and again that women care about religious liberty, and that no one can speak for all women! Women Speak For Themselves' website features articles, talking points, fact sheets, and other information concerning government assaults on religious freedom. Such knowledge is indispensable for the defense

Given the growing allure of socialism in certain quarters, we would do well to remember Pope Pius XI's warnings about socialism's total incompatibility with the teachings and mission of the Catholic Church.   In 1931, a group of concerned Catholics approached Pius XI to inquire whether socialism, in a more mitigated form, might be compatible with the Christian worldview. Cannot socialism be "baptized"? they asked. Pius famously answered : Whether considered as a doctrine, or an historical fact, or a movement, Socialism, if it remains truly Socialism, even after it has yielded to truth and justice on the points which we have mentioned, cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign to Christian truth. Pope Pius XI concluded: "Religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist."