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September 7, 2008                               Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time         Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Ez 33:7-9 Thus says the LORD:You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die, ”and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,the wicked shall die for his guilt,but I will hold you responsible for his death.But if you warn the wicked,trying to turn him from...

September 6, 2008                                            Saturday of the Twenty-second Week                                         in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 4:6b-15 Brothers and sisters:Learn from myself and Apollos not to go beyond what is written,so that none of you will be inflated with pridein favor of one person over against another.Who confers distinction upon you?What do you possess that you have not received?But if you have received it,why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?You are already satisfied; you have already grown rich;you have become kings without...

Campaign 2008: The Catholic Church in the Crosshairs September 5th, 2008 by David J. Hartline This fall’s Presidential Campaign will more than likely feature a new wrinkle. The Catholic Church will be in the crosshairs. Once again there will be a professed Catholic who supports abortion on a major party’s ticket — this time on the number two slot. You might ask why the Church would be in the crosshairs since a “pro-choice” Catholic on the ticket is nothing new. True, it happened in 2004 and 1984. However, that was before some bishops began to take a much tougher line...

September 5, 2008                                 Friday of the Twenty-second Week                            in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 4:1-5 Brothers and sisters:Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christand stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewardsthat they be found trustworthy.It does not concern me in the leastthat I be judged by you or any human tribunal;I do not even pass judgment on myself;I am not conscious of anything against me,but I do not thereby stand acquitted;the...

September 4, 2008                                     Thursday of the Twenty-second Week                                 in Ordinary Time         Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 3:18-23 Brothers and sisters:Let no one deceive himself.If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age,let him become a fool, so as to become wise.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are...

September 3, 2008                                    Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great,                                     pope and doctor of the Church     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 3:1-9 Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people,but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.I fed you milk, not solid food,because you were unable to take it.Indeed, you are still not able, even now,for you are still of the flesh.While there is jealousy and rivalry among you,are you not of the flesh, and walking according...

ST BASIL THE GREAT, CONFESSOR, ARCHBISHOP OF CAESAREA—329-379 A.D. Feast: January 2 St Basil the Great, the illustrious doctor and intrepid champion of the church, was born towards the close of the year 329 at Caesarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia. His parents were Cappadocians by birth, both equally illustrious for their nobility and descended from a long line of renowned heroes. But his father was by extraction from Pontus, wined his ancestors had long flourished. St. Macrina, his grandmother by the father's side, and her pious husband, whose name has not reached us suffered the confiscation of their estates...

September 2, 2008                                 Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week                                 in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 2:10b-16 Brothers and sisters:The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.Among men, who knows what pertains to the manexcept his spirit that is within?Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.We have not received the spirit of the worldbut the Spirit who is from God,so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.And we speak...

 The Essentials: Basic Catholic Prayers These are the basic Catholic prayers. We use some of these at Mass (the Catholic liturgy). A lot of other prayers also include one or more of these. The sign of the cross The simplest, most basic Catholic prayer. Catholics begin their day and many activities with the sign of the cross. It is a sacramental, a practice that helps us open ourselves to receiving God's grace more effectively. While saying this prayer, bless yourself by making the sign of the cross with one hand: touch your fingers to your forehead at the word "Father",...

September 1, 2008                            Monday of the Twenty-second Week                             in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers and sisters,proclaiming the mystery of God,I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.For I resolved to know nothing while I was with youexcept Jesus Christ, and him crucified.I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,and my message and my proclamationwere not with persuasive words of wisdom,but with a demonstration of spirit and power,so that...

 Great Catholic Prayers Looking for Catholic prayers? Here's a collection of outstanding ones, plus... ...a user's manual, too! This page collects together some great prayer resources, perfect for the beginning Catholic: The most common Catholic prayers, with ones specifically to help you grow in the interior life. Specific guidance for developing a prayer life. Ordinary people like me often struggle with prayer. It doesn't have to be that way! See "How to pray", below. Why use written Catholic prayers? Written, or formulaic prayers, are an outstanding school of prayer. In following them, we learn how to pray. The Our Father...

August 31, 2008                                 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Jer 20:7-9 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.All the day I am an object of laughter;everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I must cry out,violence and outrage is my message;the word of the LORD has brought mederision and reproach all the day. I say to myself, I will not mention him,I will speak in his name no more.But then it becomes like fire...

August 30, 2008                                    Saturday of the Twenty-first Week                             in Ordinary Time     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 1:26-31 Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.Not many of you were wise by human standards,not many were powerful,not many were of noble birth.Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,those who count for nothing,to reduce to nothing those who are something,so that no human being might boast before...

August 29, 2008                                     Memorial of the Martyrdom of                                     Saint John the Baptist       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 1:17-25 Brothers and sisters:Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel,and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of...

August 28, 2008                                 Memorial of Saint Augustine,                                 bishop and doctor of the Church       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 11 Cor 1:1-9 Paul, called to be an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,and Sosthenes our brother,to the Church of God that is in Corinth,to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.Grace to you and peace from God our...

August 27, 2008                                     Memorial of Saint Monica       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 12 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18 We instruct you, brothers and sisters,in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brotherwho walks in a disorderly wayand not according to the tradition they received from us.For you know how one must imitate us.For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,nor did we eat food received free from anyone.On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked,so as not to burden any of you.Not...

Responsible Parenthood in a Birth Control Culture, Part Two August 14th, 2008 by Fr. James Farfaglia As I explained in part one, when the sacrament of holy matrimony is consummated, the husband and wife need to be open to the possibility of having a child.  I also mentioned that because we live in a culture that is so birth control oriented, even some couples using Natural Family Planning use it with a contraceptive mentality, for inappropriate reasons. Now I want to discuss those reasons.Remember that one of the three purposes of marriage is the procreation of children.  To use Natural...

The issue that won't go away Posted Aug. 23, 2008 9:36 AM || by Phil Lawler || category Commentary With another pro-abortion Catholic on the Democratic national ticket, we can be quite sure that the issue will not go away this year.It's remarkable: 25 years after Roe v. Wade, there's no realistic prospect for overturning that appalling decision, at least in the short term. There's no federal legislation currently under consideration that would ban abortion or even significantly curtail the slaughter of the unborn. Nevertheless it continues to be an important issue in every national campaign. In an odd way, the...

August, 26 2008American prelates rebuke 'pro-choice' Catholics With Church-state disputes swirling around the Democratic Party convention in Denver, Archbishop Chaput and his auxiliary, Bishop James Conley, set the record straight with a public statement: "On the Separation of Sense and State." Their opening lines indicate the strength of their excellent statement: Catholic public leaders inconvenienced by the abortion debate tend to take a hard line in talking about the "separation of Church and state." But their idea of separation often seems to work one way. In Washington, Archbishop Donald Wuerl issued his own public statement, pointing out that the Speaker...

August 26, 2008                                    Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week                             in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 12 Thes 2:1-3a, 14-17 We ask you, brothers and sisters,with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christand our assembling with him,not to be shaken out of your minds suddenly,or to be alarmed either by a “spirit,” or by an oral statement,or by a letter allegedly from usto the effect that the day of the Lord is at hand.Let no one deceive you in any way....

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: The Marks of Christ's Church Issue: What are the four marks of the Church? Response: The four marks of the Church are an important element of the Catholic faith, dating back to the earliest ecumenical councils in Church history (Nicea in 325 and First Constantinople in 381). In the Nicene Creed we profess one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Those four adjectives for the Church—one, holy, catholic, and apostolic—are what we call the four marks of the Church. Discussion: The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses the four marks of the Church in its treatment of the...

August 25, 2008                                     Monday of the Twenty-first Week                                     in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 12 Thes 1:1-5, 11-12 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessaloniansin God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters,as is fitting, because your faith flourishes ever more,and the love of every one of you for one another grows...

August 24, 2008                                 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 22:19-23 Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace:“I will thrust you from your officeand pull you down from your station.On that day I will summon my servantEliakim, son of Hilkiah;I will clothe him with your robe,and gird him with your sash,and give over to him your authority.He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,and to the house of Judah.I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s...

 The Kingdom of God — Taking The Center Of Christ's Teaching Into The Heart Of Your Faith Jesus taught constantly about "the kingdom of God". This concept was at the center of his teaching and life. It should also form a central place in your own Catholic faith. This article will give you a solid understanding of this concept. At the center of Christ's preaching St. Mark announces to us the beginning of the public life of our Lord in these words: "And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God...

August 23, 2008                                  Saturday of the Twentieth Week                                     in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 43:1-7ab The angel led me to the gate which faces the east,and there I saw the glory of the God of Israelcoming from the east.I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters,and the earth shone with his glory.The vision was like that which I had seenwhen he came to destroy the city,and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar.I fell prone as the glory of the LORD...

Pope Gives Key to Being Highly Effective Priests Says It's Essential to Define Priorities, Give Time to Prayer BRESSANONE, Italy, AUG. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says the key for priests facing an ever increasing number of responsibilities is defining their priorities and sticking to them -- and making sure prayer is at the top of the list. The Pope affirmed this Aug. 6 when he met with priests, deacons and seminarians of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone and answered in German six questions they asked him. The Holy Father was on vacation in the Dolomites, where he stayed at the...

August 22, 2008                                 Memorial of the Queenship of                                 the Blessed Virgin Mary       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD came upon me,and led me out in the Spirit of the LORDand set me in the center of the plain,which was now filled with bones.He made me walk among the bones in every directionso that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain.How dry they were!He asked me:Son of man, can these bones come...

Obama and McCain Campaigns Target Catholics August 21st, 2008 by Anita Crane We Catholics find ourselves at a very interesting point in history. Once again, presidential elections are upon us and we represent the largest bloc of religious voters at an estimated 25% of America’s registered voting population. Therefore, Senators Obama and McCain are out to get our votes.On the one hand, signatories of Roman Catholics for Obama ‘08 claim, “We are real, honest-to-goodness, practicing Catholics who embrace and call attention to Catholic Social Teaching…”This is unbelievable given Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) record, especially his infamous crusade against the Illinois...

Responsible Parenthood in a Birth Control Culture, Part One August 11th, 2008 by Fr. James Farfaglia You may be surprised to learn that prior to 1930 every Christian denomination agreed in their opposition to artificial birth control. In 1930, the Anglican Church, motivated by increasing social pressures, stated that artificial birth control could be allowed in some circumstances. Shortly thereafter the Anglicans gave in, allowing contraception. Since then, all other Protestant denominations followed the example of the Church of England. Today, the Catholic Church stands alone in opposition to artificial birth control. However, even though the Catholic Church affirms that...

August 21, 2008                                 Memorial of Saint Pius X, pope       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 36:23-28 Thus says the LORD:I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it.Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.For I will take you away from among the nations,gather you from all the foreign lands,and bring you back to your own land.I will sprinkle clean water upon youto cleanse...

 Understanding The Bible: A Catholic Guide To The Word of God Too many Catholics aren't comfortable reading and understanding the Bible. Let's look at the most essential principles taught by the Catholic Church for reading and interpreting Scripture. For a strong faith, it's important to know this! The Bible is uniquely important The Holy Bible is unmatched in importance for learning about God, his plans for us, and how he has worked through human history for our salvation. Pope John Paul II wrote: [Sacred Scripture] is truly divine, because it belongs to God truly and genuinely: God himself inspired it,...

August 20, 2008                                     Memorial of Saint Bernard,                                     abbot and doctor of the Church       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 34:1-11 The word of the Lord came to me:Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel,in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds:Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israelwho have been pasturing themselves!Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?You have fed off their milk, worn their wool,and slaughtered the fatlings,but the sheep you have not pastured.You...

OUR HISTORYSAINT JOHN EUDESJohn Eudes was born in 1601, in the village of Ri, in Normandy, France. After completing his studies at the Jesuit College in Caen, he entered the Congregation of the Oratory of France, founded in 1611 by Cardinal de Bérulle. Accepted by the founder himself on March 25, 1623, John Eudes was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1625. During that time, he assimilated the Christocentric spiritual thought of de Bérulle and shared his enthusiasm for "restoring the priestly order to its full splendor". Imbued with this spirit, as an apostolic missionary, he evangelized many towns...

August 19, 2008                             Tuesday of the Twentieth Week                                 in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 28:1-10 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are haughty of heart,you say, “A god am I!I occupy a godly thronein the heart of the sea!”—And yet you are a man, and not a god,however you may think yourself like a god.Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel,there is no...

Saintly Role Models for Parents: St. Therese’s Parents to be Beatified August 13th, 2008 by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote of her parents, “God gave me a father and mother more worthy of Heaven than of earth.” Over a century later, the Catholic Church will officially confirm what St. Thérèse already knew. On July 11, 2008, it was announced that Louis and Zelie (Guerin) Martin would be beatified on Mission Sunday, October 19, 2008. They will become the first married couple to be beatified in the history of the Church. As such, they are saintly role models for married...

August 18, 2008                                     Monday of the Twentieth Week                                     in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 24:15-23 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blowI am taking away from you the delight of your eyes,but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead,bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet,do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.That...

What is the Catholic Priesthood? Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.The subject of our present conference is what is the Catholic Priesthood.Not too many years ago it would have been less important to ask the question what is the Catholic Priesthood. It would have been less important because anyone familiar with the Catholic Church not even though not personally a Catholic would have had a fair idea of what a priest, is. The description might have been crude but at least there was no great doubt in anyone's mind as to who or what a priest was supposed to be.But things...

Which of the 12 apostles were martyred? All except one. According to tradition, all of the twelve apostles died as martyrs during the first century A.D. Only St. John, the writer of the Gospel with his name and the Book of Revelation died a natural death. It is believed he died near the year 100 A.D. The possible causes of death of each of the Twelve Apostles: Andrew: Martyrdom by crucifixion (bound, not nailed, to a cross).1 Bartholomew (Often identified with Nathaniel in the New Testament): Martyrdom by being either 1. Beheaded, or 2. Flayed alive and crucified, head downward.1...

Spiritual SOS August 16th, 2008 by Patti Maguire Armstrong “America is great because America is good.  When America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”  These words have been tossed around for decades by presidents and speechwriters.  Although who originally said them is in debate, the statement rings true.  So, are we still great?  Are we still good?  Let’s face it, everyone knows we have slipped.  Some say we are in a moral free fall while others are more optimistic.  I tend to think we have lost our collective minds and can’t see the difference between right...

August 17, 2008                                 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Is 56:1, 6-7 Thus says the LORD:Observe what is right, do what is just;for my salvation is about to come,my justice, about to be revealed. The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,ministering to him,loving the name of the LORD,and becoming his servants—all who keep the sabbath free from profanationand hold to my covenant,them I will bring to my holy mountainand make joyful in my house of prayer;their burnt offerings and sacrificeswill be acceptable on my...

August 16, 2008                                 Saturday of the Nineteenth Week                                     in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 The word of the LORD came to me:Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverbthat you recite in the land of Israel: “Fathers have eaten green grapes,thus their children’s teeth are on edge”? As I live, says the Lord GOD:I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among youwho will repeat this proverb in Israel.For all lives are...

 The Early Church Fathers onThe Assumption The doctrine of the Assumption was one that developed over time. It was not something new but rather the logical result of what was already known (Mary’s Immaculate Conception). Pseudo – MelitoIf therefore it might come to pass by the power of your grace, it has appeared right to us your servants that, as you, having overcome death, do reign in glory, so you should raise up the body of your Mother and take her with you, rejoicing, into heaven. Then said the Savior [Jesus]: "Be it done according to your will" (The Passing...

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY: A BELIEF SINCE APOSTOLIC TIMES Father Clifford Stevens The Assumption is the oldest feast day of Our Lady, but we don't know how it first came to be celebrated. Its origin is lost in those days when Jerusalem was restored as a sacred city, at the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337). By then it had been a pagan city for two centuries, ever since Emperor Hadrian (76-138) had leveled it around the year 135 and rebuilt it as <Aelia Capitolina> in honor of Jupiter.For 200 years, every memory of Jesus was obliterated...

August 15, 2008                                 Solemnity of the Assumption of the                             Blessed Virgin Mary                            Mass during the Day         Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab God’s temple in heaven was opened,and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,with the moon under her feet,and on her head a crown of twelve stars.She was with child and wailed aloud in...

Catholic Voters and 2008 August 9th, 2008 by Russell Shaw Are Douglas Kmiec and Father Michael Pfleger destined to be the representative Catholic voters of the election of 2008? It could be.Kmiec is the California law professor with conservative, prolife credentials who early this year made a name for himself by publicly declaring his support for Sen. Barack Obama. The Democrat, Kmiec claimed (on what basis is unknown), could be counted on take a reasonable position on abortion.Father Pfleger is the Chicago pastor who got his 15 minutes of fame during primary season by trashing Hillary Clinton from the pulpit...

August 14, 2008                             Solemnity of the Assumption of the                             Blessed Virgin Mary, Vigil     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 11 Chron 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORDto the place which he had prepared for it.David also called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites. The Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with poles,as Moses had ordained according to the word of the LORD. David commanded the chiefs of the Levitesto appoint...

Saint Maximilian Kolbe [Martyr] Foreign Affairs MiscellaneousSource: Sacred Heart.ComPublished: August 14, 2001 Author: StaffPosted on 08/14/2001 12:33:47 PDT by Lady In Blue SAINT MAXIMILIAN KOLBE Apparition| Religious Life| Militia| Marytown| Crown Bestowed Apparition Our Lady's apparitions occurred shortly after the turn of the present century. It happened in Poland. The ten year old child who received this exceptional blessing was not exceptional himself. He was as mischievous as any other boy of his age. His name was Raymond Kolbe, born January 8, 1894. Maria Kolbe began to observe her son spending long hours at their little altar of Our...

August 14, 2008                             Memorial of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe,                         priest and martyr       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 12:1-12 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house;they have eyes to see but do not see,and ears to hear but do not hear,for they are a rebellious house.Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on,prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on,migrate from where...

 Catholic Purgatory: What Does It Mean? For the Catholic Purgatory is a period of purification after death. When we die, our souls are judged immediately by Christ in what's called the "Particular Judgment": Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven — through a purification or immediately, — or immediate and everlasting damnation. (Catechism, 1022) Purgatory is this period of purification before heaven. It's not always well understood by today's Catholics but Purgatory is...

August 13, 2008                                 Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week                             in Ordinary Time       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22 The LORD cried loud for me to hear: Come, you scourges of the city!With that I saw six men coming from the directionof the upper gate which faces the north,each with a destroying weapon in his hand.In their midst was a man dressed in linen,with a writer’s case at his waist.They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.Then he called to the man dressed...