BIG C CATHOLICS

June 21, 2016 On this final day of the Novena for the Persecuted Church and Religious Freedom, we give thanks to God. If you have not been greatly persecuted for your faith in Jesus, then give thanks to God for the blessing of not having that cross. If you have been persecuted for your faith in Jesus, then give thanks to God for allowing you to partake in His cross. In both cases, if we continue to follow Him faithfully, we will be able to partake in His resurrection. Day 9 - The Novena for the Persecuted Church O great cloud of witnesses! O host of Angels and Saints worshiping God for all eternity! O holy ones in heaven above, Pray for us! You who were once part of the Church on earth, you who were faithful servants of the Church Militant, you who suffered for the love of God, Pray for us! In all ages, the Church is persecuted and hated. We pray, oh Lord, through your holy Saints, that we may be blessed with the freedom to worship and adore you at all times! We pray th

Please remember the Holy Father Pope Francis' intentions in prayer through the month of July: General Intention : Indigenous Peoples That indigenous peoples, whose identity and very existence are threatened, will be shown due respect. Evangelization: Latin America and the Caribbean That the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, by means of her mission to the continent, may announce the Gospel with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

Saint Aloysius (1568-1591) was born in Castiglione, Italy. He was destined for the military by his father, but at age 9 Aloysius dedicated himself to religious life, making a vow of perpetual virginity. St. Charles Borromeo gave him his first Holy Communion. A kidney disease prevented St. Aloysius from having a full social life. Consequently, he spent his time praying and reading about the lives of the saints. When he was 18, Aloysius joined the Jesuit. In 1591, a plague ravaged Rome. The Jesuits opened a hospital in response. Because he nursed patients, washing and caring for them, Aloysius caught the disease. His fever persisted and he was so weak he could scarcely rise from bed. Still, Aloysius maintained his great discipline of prayer, knowing that he would soon die. He was born into eternal life on June 21, 1591, at the age of 23. St. Aloysius Gonzaga was named the patron saint of youth by Pope Benedict XIII at his canonization. (Video below) The Life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga

USCCB Fact Sheet: Frequently Asked Questions on  Religious Liberty What do we mean by religious liberty? In Catholic teaching, the Second Vatican Council “declare[d] that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.” ( Dignitatis Humanae , No. 2.) Religious liberty is protected in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and in federal and state laws. Religious liberty includes more than our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home; it also encompasses our ability to contribute freely to the common good of all Americans. What is the First Amendment? The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states the following: “Congress shall mak

June 20, 2016 Today we remember those parts of the world most hostile to Christianity. Let us pray for Christians in the Middle East and Asia where the Church is persecuted. May those forced to live their faith underground not be martyred. Day 8 - The Novena for the Persecuted Church O great cloud of witnesses! O host of Angels and Saints worshiping God for all eternity! O holy ones in heaven above, Pray for us! You who were once part of the Church on earth, you who were faithful servants of the Church Militant, you who suffered for the love of God, Pray for us! In all ages, the Church is persecuted and hated. We pray, oh Lord, through your holy Saints, that we may be blessed with the freedom to worship and adore you at all times! We pray that you may bless your Church throughout the world and me, personally, with your grace to persevere with love in the face of persecution just as You did on the Cross. (Mention your personal intentions here) St. Lucy – Pray for us!

A father's love reflects something of the infinite perfection of God. Like Joseph, who humbly accepted his role as guardian, husband and father in the Holy Family, a father should protect and provide. May fathers everywhere recognize their divine calling as models of selflessness love within their families and to the world. A blessed Father's Day to all fathers.

June 19, 2016 In a homily given October 14, 2012, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on the occasion of the Marian Pilgrimage for Life and Liberty, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore said in part: Our "right to choose" — our right to choose to practice the faith we profess — a right guaranteed by the First Amendment — seems to mean little or nothing to many who wield power. [ ... ]  Indeed, many of the secularist threats to religious liberty seem to hinge on the Church's teaching with regard to the sanctity of human life — whether it's the Church's teaching on the immorality of abortion, or the obligation of couples to be open to the gift of new human life, or marriage as between one man and one woman as the unique relationship that begets new human life and is meant to be the matrix in which it is nurtured. Today we pray for the Church's freedom in the face of threats by secularism. As society be