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A motion filed by lawyers representing the woman accused of starting fires on the campus of St. Catherine University seeking to suppress evidence obtained as a result of search warrants has been denied by a federal court judge. In early February, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced a three-count indictment of Tnuza Jamal Hassan, charging her with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, making a false statement to the FBI and arson. The charges came in connection to fires that were set at St. Kate's on Jan. 17, including inside a building that housed a day...

Saint Catherine of Siena to the Pope: "Don't believe in the counsels of the devil! Alas, sweet my father, with this sweet hand I pray you, and tell you to come to discomfit our enemies. On behalf of Christ crucified I tell it you: refuse to believe the counsels of the devil, who would hinder your holy and good resolution. Be manly in my sight, and not timorous. Answer God, who calls you to hold and possess the seat of the glorious Shepherd Saint Peter, whose vicar you have been. And raise the standard of the holy Cross; for as...

Time for Clergy to “Man Up” – How the Exhortation of St. Catherine of Siena is Still Needed Today! By: Msgr. Charles PopeTrue sanctity does not easily fit into our notions of being merely nice or humble. The lives of the actual saints of the Church exude joy and can bring great encouragement to many around them. But it is also true that the great saints were irksome and unsettling to many. Most of the great saints had encountered the holiness of God and wanted to see that holiness be like a fire cast on the earth. When you really want...

April 29, 2006 Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church Psalm: Saturday 18 Reading 1Acts 6:1-7 As the number of disciples continued to grow,the Hellenists complained against the Hebrewsbecause their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,filled with the Spirit and wisdom,whom we shall appoint to this task,whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayerand to the ministry of the word.”The proposal...

Taddeo CrivelliItalian, Ferrara, about 1469 SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA VIRGIN, MARTYR C. 310 A.D. Feast: November 25 From the tenth century onwards veneration for St. Catherine of Alexandria[1] has been widespread in the Church of the East, and from the time of the Crusades this saint has been popular in the West, where many churches have been dedicated to her and her feast day kept with great solemnity, sometimes as a holy-day of obligation. She is listed as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers of mankind among the saints in Heaven; she is the patroness of young women, philosophers,...

November 25, 2005Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Friday 50 Reading IDn 7:2-14 In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,from which emerged four immense beasts,each different from the others.The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings.While I watched, the wings were plucked;it was raised from the ground to stand on two feetlike a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side,and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks.It was given the...

April 29, 2005Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church Psalm: Friday 20 Reading IActs 15:22-31 The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:"The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your...

For those in need of special graces, one secure way to obtain them is the Miraculous Medal. As the name implies, devotees experience nothing short of miracles when they have recourse to this great treasure of the Church. The America Needs Fatima campaign has just launched a nationwide drive called Miracles for America to get free Miraculous Medals and novena cards in hands of tens of thousands of Americans. Campaign director Robert E. Ritchie hopes to distribute 200,000 blessed medals soon. The medal originated in 1830 when Our Lady appeared to Saint Catherine Laboure. This devout religious was entrusted with...

November 25, 2004Thursday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Reading IRev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven,having great authority,and the earth became illumined by his splendor.He cried out in a mighty voice: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.She has become a haunt for demons.She is a cage for every unclean spirit,a cage for every unclean bird,a cage for every unclean and disgusting beast." A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstoneand threw it into the sea and said: "With such force will Babylon the great city be thrown down,and...