BIG C CATHOLICS

By Fr. René J. Butler, M.S. Provincial Superior, La Salette Missionaries of North America (Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-6; Matthew 2:1-12) For Christians, the word Epiphany has a limited, specific meaning. If you look it up in a dictionary of Ancient Greek, you might be surprised to see how many meanings it has. Examples include: what something looks like; when something or someone comes into view; what is visible on the surface; the sensation created by someone. In short, something or someone is seen or noticed. The Magi created a sensation when they arrived in Jerusalem. Before that, they saw a star come into view. They received an epiphany and then became one themselves when they appeared on the scene. Another translation of the Greek word is simply Appearance, interchangeable with Apparition. At La Salette, the bright globe of light the children first noticed revealed within itself a woman seated, her face in her hands, weeping. Thus begins the story of her epipha

January 1, 2018  On this day the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, our Lady's greatest title. This feast is the octave of Christmas. In the modern Roman Calendar only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave. According to the 1962 Missal of Saint John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, it is the Solemnity of Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ. "Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. She is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom."( Catechism of the Catholic Church , 721.) Mary is the Queen of

In his 1995 letter to women, Mulieris Dignitatem , Pope Saint John Paul II makes reference to the unique characteristics of women as the feminine genius. Indeed, the creation of Eve was the capstone of the creation story. Even now, women are called to be the moral safeguards of their families, for society, and for the world. A Catholic Wife Explains "Why I Don’t – and Won’t – Use Contraception" A Catholic Wife and Mother on Living Chastely in Marriage and in the Single Life The A-List Hollywood Actress Who Became Pro-Life Following Her Abortion St. Catherine of Bologna’s Seven Spiritual Weapons Against Evil Flannery O’Connor on Protestantism St. Therese of Lisieux. Patroness of Missionaries Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Why It is Proper to Call Mary Queen TOB Tuesday: Virginity for the Sake of the Kingdom 339 Years After Her Death, St. Teresa of Ávila Converted Edith Stein [St. Teresa Benedicta] Happy New Year  to one and all!

Fr. Simon Francis Gaine O.P. Regent of Studies, English Province of the Dominicans Professor of Theology, Blackfriars Oxford, UK ( Click here for today’s readings ) Today’s Gospel takes us beyond the biological fact that Mary was a biological mother. It tells us more about her motherhood than that she gave birth. We learn how Mary, together with Joseph, had the baby circumcised when he was eight days old, introducing him into the covenant between God and the Jewish people. At the same time they gave the boy his name, Jesus, which means Savior, because he would save this people – and all peoples – from their sins.  With these actions, we see Mary undertaking the ongoing work of being a mother, treasuring every moment of this motherhood in her heart, just as she had already treasured her Son since she conceived him in her womb. Mary’s motherhood is not simply to conceive and give birth as a biological fact. Together with Joseph, she has the responsibility of nurturin

Fr. Charles Irvin Senior Priest Diocese of Lansing ( Click here for today’s readings ) Today we continue our Christmas celebration with a consideration of the Holy Family. This feast has the same first two readings every year but one of three different Gospels. The first reading is always the reading from Sirach about the honor that children should extend to their parents. The second reading is always the reading from Colossians about respecting each other’s position within the family. It is not a divine decree that women should be subordinated to men any more than was St. Paul’s admonition to slaves to be faithful to their masters is a divine endorsement of slavery. In today’s Gospel Mary and Joseph present Jesus in Jerusalem’s Temple in fulfillment of their religious tradition. You parents can remember when your children were infants. You couldn’t wait to show them off to family and friends. You probably had a big celebration on that very special day when you went to

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus or "the Little Flower" was a 19th century French Discalced Carmelite nun. This beloved mystic experienced profound spiritual insights attained in prayer. Here is Saint Thérèse's reflection on the Holy Family that she shared with her fellow sisters: What does me a lot of good when I think of the Holy Family is to imagine a life that was very ordinary… Little Jesus didn’t perform useless miracles…even to please His Mother. Why weren’t they transported into Egypt by a miracle which would have been necessary and so easy for God? In the twinkling of an eye, they could have been brought there. No, everything in their life was done just as in our own. How many troubles, disappointments! How many times did others make complaints to good St. Joseph! How many times did they refuse to pay him for his work! Oh! How astonished we would be if we only knew how much they had to suffer! — St. Thérèse of Lisieu

(In 2017, this feast is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.)  December 31st is the optional memorial of Saint Sylvester I, the 4th century pope and confessor, whose papacy saw the end of the initial period of Christian persecution. He guided the Church during the reign of Emperor Constantine when the Arian heresy and the Donatist schism had lead to great discord. He convened the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea and oversaw the building of Rome’s magnificent Basilicas. Only a strong and wise man could have preserved the autonomy of the Church in the face of such a looming and powerful figure that was Constantine. _____________________________________________________ Saint Sylvester, a native Roman, was chosen by God to govern His Church during the initial years of her temporal prosperity and the triumph over her persecuting enemies. Pope Melchiades died in January, 314, and Sylvester was chosen as his successor. He governed the Church for over twenty-one years, ably organizing the

December 31, 2017  The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph is the model for all Christian families. Beginning in the 17th century, devotion to the Holy Family spread throughout the Church. In 1893, Pope Leo XIII approved the feast of the Holy Family; composing part of the Divine Office observing it. Since ancient times, the Coptic Church has celebrated this memorial in light of the flight into Egypt. Succeeding Pontiffs have affirmed the feast as an efficacious means of reminding Christians of the sanctity of the family and it's essential role in disseminating and preserving the Faith. The example of the Holy Family at Nazareth is a template for the restoration of family life and a safeguard against diabolical, present-day efforts to redefine or end the institutions of marriage and the "Domestic Church" as ordained by God. For Mary and Joseph, having God Incarnate in their midst was an unrivaled joy. Looking at the Holy Family, we see the love, the protectio

A plenary indulgence may be gained by reciting or singing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year. This hymn calls on the Holy Spirit's guidance, protection and blessing before endeavoring any new venture. In addition to its place in the Pentecost liturgy, the Veni Creator Spiritus  is devoutly recited as the opening prayer for Church councils and synods. [ Listen to it in Gregorian chant .] Requirements for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on New Year's Day: ◗ Recite or sing the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus on the first day of the year. ◗ Say one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for the Pope's intentions . ◗ Worthily receive Holy Communion [ideally on the same  day]. ◗ Make a sacramental confession within 20 days of New Year's Day. ◗ For a plenary indulgence, be free from all attachment to sin, even  venial sin [or the indulgence is partial, not plenary]. Come, Holy Spirit, Creator Blest Come, Holy Spirit, Creator

Father Pius Parsch God became Man . Utterly incomprehensible is this truth to our puny human minds! That the eternal God whom heaven and earth cannot contain, who bears the world in His hand as a nutshell, before whom a thousand years are as one day, that this eternal, omnipotent God should become Man! Would it not have been a tremendous condescension if for the redemption of mankind He had simply sent an angel? Would it not have proven His loving mercy had He appeared for a mere moment in the splendor of His majesty, amid thunder and lightning, as once on Sinai? No, such would have shown far too little of His love and kindness. He wanted to be like us, to become a child of man, a poor child of poorest people; He wished to be born, in a cave...in hostile surroundings. Cold wind, hard straw, dumb animals — these were there to greet Him. The scene fills us with amazement; what other can we do than fall down in silence and adore! In heaven only will we comprehend the profound imp