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Not many films can claim as their source material a novel published by the CIA and distributed by the Vatican. In fact, as far as I know, there is only one: Doctor Zhivago.Banned from publication in its native Russia for its unglamorous portrayal of the rise of communism, Boris Pasternak’s manuscript was smuggled from the country by British Intelligence and passed on to the CIA. Restrained by politics from publicly distributing the novel themselves, the agency sought help from one of communism’s most fervent foes, the Catholic Church. That’s how it came to pass that Russian citizens were able to...

The fact that Israel stands out head and shoulders above its neighbors cannot be attributed to better natural resources, because Israel has few of them.  It can be attributed only to the superiority of Judeo-Christian seeds over militant "Islamic" seeds, and this is something the militant "Islamic" leaders can no more tolerate than the D-minus performers can tolerate from their school's honor student.

The Russian tradition of taking an ice-water plunge to celebrate the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany in the Christian West). They cut giant cross shaped holes in the ice that covers Russian lakes and rivers and put steps in for people go down and do the traditional triple immersion celebrating the Baptism of Christ and their own.

Moscow, January 20, 2017      The feast of Theophany is one of the twelve great feasts of the Orthodox liturgical year, celebrated with great fervency and pious traditions throughout the Orthodox world. In recent years the ancient Orthodox nation of Georgia has added its own unique celebration. It first took place on January 19, 2008, and again this year in Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity Sameba Cathedral a mass Baptism was celebrated, with Patriarch-Catholicos Ilia II becoming the Godfather of around 800 newly-baptized children, reports Sputnik-Georgia, with a video of the event. “I congratulate all on this sacred feast and may the...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem The Book of Psalms (Psalm 87) Psalm 87 Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. A song. 1 He has founded his city on the holy mountain. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion     more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are said of you,     city of God:[a] 4 “I will record Rahab[b] and Babylon     among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush[c]—     and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”[d] 5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said,     “This one and that one were born in her,...

ROME, January 17, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — It would be equivalent to a “suicidal act” and “cutting the ground from under his feet” if the pope were to teach that conscience is the ultimate guide in moral matters, trumping even Catholic teaching as well as Divine Revelation, Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, one of the dubia signers, said in an explosive new interview. “That is why among the five dubia, dubium number five is the most important,” Caffarra said in a January 14 wide-ranging interview with Il Foglio. The cardinal discussed the reasons he, along with three other Cardinals, asked Francis in September...

Sudden changes in approach to doctrine, episcopal rivalries, and a swift drafting process are some of the factors that led to the contentious document.Malta’s two bishops were in Rome this week, just days after the Jan. 13 publication of their controversial “criteria” on interpreting Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia, but they declined to answer any questions about the document while here. Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, co-signatories of the directive, assert the primacy of conscience over the objective moral truth in the document, stating that remarried divorcees can receive Holy Communion after a period...

In a new interview, the Pope warns that populism in a time of crisis is what led to the rise of Hitler and urges dialogue. On the heels of the presidential inauguration, Pope Francis has said he is taking a “wait and see” attitude about President Donald Trump and wants to deal with “specifics” before making a judgment on the new leader of the free world. The Holy Father also warned that the political phenomenon taking place in both the U.S. and Europe has led to a form of populism where people look to a charismatic leader to be a...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:2-3 Sometimes it feels like something’s wrong with you if you aren’t eternally optimistic. We have so many blessings here that you feel guilty if pessimism overcomes you. But even David, described as a “man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14), had a soul that needed God’s attention. You’ve probably heard the Twenty-Third Psalm countless times. But really hear for the first time this amazing truth: God led David’s tired, thirsty soul to the water to refresh it! The Bible is full of people who struggle with being...

Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem The Book of Psalms (Psalm 86) Psalm 86 A prayer of David. 1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,     for I am poor and needy. 2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;     save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,     for I call to you all day long. 4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,     for I put my trust in you. 5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,     abounding in love to all who call to you. 6 Hear my prayer, Lord;     listen to my cry...

I read the daily office for my morning devotions. Today's Old Testament reading is Isaiah 45:18-45. The reason it struck me is that the whole chapter begins with these words-- "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to CYRUS, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed" The actual text of the reading, addressed to Cyrus is: 18For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it;...

The word philosophy derives from a combination of two Greek words: phileo (“to love”) and sophia (“wisdom”). Literally, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” The ancient Greeks, who are usually credited with developing the science of philosophy, were also concerned with abstract metaphysics and epistemology. However, the question of ethics was of paramount importance to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates sought to reduce virtue or ethics to “right knowledge.” Plato sought the ultimate standard of the good. The Jewish thinkers of the Old Testament did little in the area of metaphysical speculation. The Scriptures begin with the affirmation of God, known...

Out of Germany there now come to us some newly unexpected and surprisingly strong words. For, the candid source is that same national Catholic newspaper, Die Tagespost, and that same Rome Correspondent – Guido Horst himself – whom we had just a few days ago politely criticized for his claim that the debate about Amoris Laetitia is – and should be – now over and closed. To do justice to this new important 16 January editorial statement from Germany, I shall therefore present a translation in full of Horst’s somewhat short but incisive statement concerning the current situation in the...

From Redding, CA April 4th, 2007 - Redding, CA April 4, 2007 - Redding, CA The Spirit of God says, I will move in a very unusual manner. For this Nation is being mocked. Third world countries are mocking you. Ungodly nations are mocking you. But God said, not the forces of hell, for they are hearing sounds of fire and resurrection that are emerging from the four corners of this Nation. Some would say, you are forgotten, but I have told you there will be an invasion of the news media. Instruments that once mocked Me will be instruments...

…or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:14 Do you know where the phrase “separation of church and state” comes from? If you guessed the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, you’d be wrong. Thomas Jefferson referred to it in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, which had written to him seeking his help. Connecticut had an established state Congregational Church, which meant that the Baptists’ religious freedom in Connecticut was not an inherent right, but a favor granted by the state. Jefferson...

Here are four books (in no particular order) that I recommend for 2017. All are excellent and none requires specialized knowledge or expertise. Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark Any mainstream textbook will tell you that the Inquisition was one of the most frightening and bloody chapters in Western history; that Pope Pius XII was anti-Semitic and is rightly called “Hitler’s Pope”; that the Dark Ages were stunted by Catholicism towards the progress of knowledge and science; and that the Crusades were an early example of the greed for power and riches on the part...

The “Donald Trump/Mike Pence Prayer Vigil” and “Heroes and Nation Prayer Thread” have combined to form the AMERICA PRAYER VIGIL prayer thread! Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for our President and Vice President-Elect and for AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. George Washington's First Inaugural Address Fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and...

A ROW has broken out after an Islamic call to prayer was held inside one of Britain's most historic cathedrals. The traditional Muslim invocation to worship was performed in front of 1,000 people at the launch of a multi-cultural Faith Exhibition at Gloucester Cathedral. Imam Hassan of the local Masjid-e-Noor mosque was invited by church leaders to carry it out in the cathedral's 11th century Chapter House. Many worshippers welcomed the "inclusive" act but some traditionalists questioned why a "different God" should be worshipped in such an iconic Christian house. A clip of the call to prayer was initially shared...

Warsaw, Poland, Jan 18, 2017 / 06:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Poland's government has adopted multiple resolutions establishing 2017 as a Jubilee Year for the country, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the first canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. “Polish Sejm, convinced of the special importance of Marian devotion for our homeland – not only in the religious aspect, but also social, cultural and patriotic – establishes 2017 the Year of the 300th anniversary of the Coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa,” the resolution of the lower house of parliament stated. More than 94...