BIG C CATHOLICS

A fallacy is a violation of logical principle disguised under an appearance of truth and validity. This explanation of false logic (below) is from  The Nizkor Project's page featuring 42 common logical fallacies: ______________________________________________ To understand what a fallacy is, one must understand what an argument is. An argument consists of one or more premises and a conclusion. A premise is a statement (a sentence that is either true or false) offered in support of the claim being made, which is the conclusion (also a sentence that is either true or false). There are two main types of arguments: deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) complete support for the conclusion. An inductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) some degree of support (but less than complete support) for the conclusion. If the premises actually provide the required deg

Martyrdom of Saint Januarius September 19th, the Church celebrates the optional memorial of Saint Januarius, (Italian: San Gennaro) the 4th century bishop of Beneventum, who, together with his companions, (his deacons Socius and Festus, and his lector Desiderius) was martyred in the persecution of Diocletian at Naples in c. 305. Little is known about Januarius before his episcopate. Later accounts contend he was born in Benevento. The earliest mention of him is found in a 432 letter by Uranius, bishop of Nola, concerning the death of Saint Paulinus. It asserts that the ghosts of Januarius and Saint Martin appeared to Paulinus three days before the later's death. Uranius states that Januarius was a "bishop as well as martyr, an illustrious member of the Neapolitan church." Tradition records his martyrdom as follows: First, he was placed into a fiery furnace, but remained unscathed. Then, he was thrown to the lions, but they refused to attack him. Finally, he was

Former Vatican exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth, has died at the age of 91 . A priest of the diocese of Rome and a member of the Paulist Order, he performed more than 70,000 exorcisms over the past three decades. The outspoken servant of God shared his insights through books, interviews and presentations on the demonic and combating evil — gathered from his time as an exorcist. We have previously featured Fr. Amorth's wisdom in the following posts: Vatican's Chief Exorcist, Fr. Amorth, Reveals Secrets of Hell, Says the Devil is Behind ISIS Don’t Blame Hell on God. It was Satan’s Idea. An Exorcist Tells His Story: Fr. Gabriele Amorth on the Power of Satan Interview with an Exorcist: How the Devil Harms the Living And What We Can Do to Defend Ourselves Exorcism: Separating Fact from Fiction. 3 Exorcists Discuss This Rite of the Church Father Gabriele Amorth, a devoted priest, has passed into eternal life. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) The Gospel passage you’ve just heard is a part of a series of parables dealing with spiritual crises that are generated when we misuse our possessions, when we end up being possessed by our possessions. Last Sunday’s Gospel was about the Prodigal Son who demanded his share of his father’s estate and then went out and squandered it all. Next Sunday’s Gospel will be all about the rich man eating a sumptuous meal at his table while poor Lazarus sat starving at the rich man’s gate. The lesson today involves, as you all know, the devious and clever wicked steward who doctors the accounts of his master’s books in order to win friends, friends who will care for him after he faces his impending firing. We need to give attention to some background before we unpack the meaning of today’s parable while noting the number of instances when in His parables Jesus uses business practices so familiar to His

September 17th, is the optional memorial of Saint Robert Bellarmine, (1542-1621) a 16th century Jesuit theologian, cardinal archbishop and Doctor of the Church. While not widely known to Catholics in the United States, in his native Italy, he is greatly venerated. Bellarmine was a "Spiritual Father" to many, including Saint. Aloysius Gonzaga. He helped write the authoritative Latin text of the Bible called for by the Council of Trent. He is one of the great figures of the Counter-Reformation. Robert Francis Romulus Bellarmine was born October 4, 1542 at Montepulciano in Tuscany. His father, Vincent Bellarmino, was a member of a noble family that had fallen on hard times. His mother, Cynthia Cervini, was the half-sister of Cardinal Marcello Cervini, a leader of the Counter-Reformation Church, who was elected Pope Marcellus II in 1555. Marcellus II reigned for one month before his death. His nephew (Robert Bellarmine) would seek the priesthood a short time later and complet

You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace. — St. Cyprian

Saint Anthony Abbot between  Saints Cornelius and Cyprian September 16th, the Church celebrates two friends who received the crown of martyrdom in their imitation of Christ and in service to His Church. Saint Cornelius, (251-253) a Roman was elected Pope in 251 amid the persecutions of the Emperor Decius. Little is known of his life before the papacy. Besides the danger posed by Roman authorities in opposition to the Church, he also had to contend with a schism occasioned by Novatian, the first anti-pope. The issue in contention resulting from the Decian persecution was whether those who had apostatized could be absolve and receive back into the Church. Novatian held that those who had apostacized must be rebaptized, and that some sins were so grave they could not be forgiven by the Church. (Such sins could only be forgiven at the Last Judgment.) Cornelius had the support of St. Cyprian, St. Dionysius, and most African and Eastern bishops convened a synod of bishops to confirm