Halloween....Eve of All Saints

Halloween or All Hallows' Eve is not a liturgical feast on the Catholic calendar, but the celebration has deep ties to the Liturgical Year. These three consecutive days — Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day — illustrate the Communion of Saints. The Church Militant (those on earth, striving to get to heaven) pray for the Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory) especially on All Souls Day and the month of November. We also rejoice and honor the Church Triumphant (the saints, canonized and uncanonized) in heaven. We also ask the Saints to intercede for us, and for the souls in Purgatory.

Since Vatican II, some liturgical observances have been altered, one example being "fast before the feast" is no longer required. Originally, the days preceding great solemnities, like Christmas and All Saints Day, had a penitential nature, requiring abstinence from meat and fasting and prayer. Although not required by the Church, it is a good practice to prepare spiritually before great feast days.

In England, saints or holy people are called "hallowed," hence the name "All Hallow's Day." The evening, or "e'en" before the feast became popularly known as "All Hallows' Eve" or even shorter, "Hallowe'en."

Since the night before All Saints Day, "All Hallows Eve" (now known as Hallowe'en), was the vigil and required fasting, many recipes and traditions have come down for this evening, such as pancakes, boxty bread and boxty pancakes, barmbrack (Irish fruit bread with hidden charms), colcannon (combination of cabbage and boiled potatoes). This was also known as "Nutcrack Night" in England, where the family gathered around the hearth to enjoy cider and nuts and apples.

Halloween is the preparation and combination of the two upcoming feasts. Although the demonic and witchcraft have no place for a Catholic celebration, some macabre can be incorporated into Halloween. It is good to dwell on our impending death (yes, everyone dies at one point), the Poor Souls in Purgatory, and the Sacrament of the Sick. And tied in with this theme is the saints, canonized and non-canonized. What did they do in their lives that they were able to reach heaven? How can we imitate them? How can we, like these saints, prepare our souls for death at any moment?

Vatican paper cautions against occult influence on Halloween

New York Times refuses to publish Archbishop Dolan's op-ed on anti-Catholic bias

The NY Times graduates from anti-Catholicism to censorship

The New York Times declined to publish an op-ed presented by the Archbishop of New York, Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, in which he made the point that the “Gray Lady” has been reporting stories with a strong anti-Catholic bias.

In his new blog on the archdiocese’s website, Archbishop Dolan explains that his article was submitted in a slightly shorter form to the New York Times as an op-ed, but the Times declined to publish it.

In the blog version, Archbishop Dolan says that next to baseball, “sadly, America has another national pastime, this one not pleasant at all: anti-Catholicism.”

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40 Days for Life Reaches Milestone: 2,000 Babies Saved from Abortion

Thank God for saving these lives!

"Through the grace and mercy of God - and the faithful prayers of more than 200,000 volunteers standing vigil outside abortion facilities - an incredible miracle has taken place," said David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, in a letter to supporters today.

"Starting with the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, Texas in 2004, and continuing through the international 40 Days for Life effort that is under way this fall, we now have confirmed reports of at least 2,000 babies whose lives have been saved from the tragedy of abortion," Bereit said. "Who knows what wonders each of these children will bring to the world!"

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Obamacare "Pharmacy"

Pro-life Democrat group claims 40 lawmakers will vote against health care bill

Since Bart Stupak has admitted that he'll support pro-abortion healthcare anyway, let's pray that Kristen Day and Democrats for Life are more successful in getting CINO Pelosi and the party leadership to allow a vote on excluding abortion from government-run healthcare.

Democrats for Life of America claims to have 40 congressmen who will vote against the House health care reform legislation if taxpayer funded abortion language is not removed from the bill, the organization announced on Thursday.

The 40 vote coalition concerns the refusal of the House leadership to include language that would prevent abortions from being paid for in any new health care reform scheme. If Hyde Amendment-type language were inserted into the bill, Democrats for Life of America (DFLA) says, taxpayer funded abortions in appropriations bills would be prevented.

Several attempts to insert such language have been unsuccessful in committee.

"I want to be clear, pro-life Democrats want to help pass health care reform but our coalition can in no- way support reform that includes tax payer funded abortions. If the leadership will remove that language, we feel confident that we can deliver enough votes to help put this much needed reform over the top in the House," Kristen Day, DFLA Executive Director, said in a statement.

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St. Alonso Rodriguez

The Saint of the Day for October 30 is St. Alonso Rodriguez

Alonso Rodriguez was born in Segovia, Spain, the third of 11 children into a wool merchant family.

His journey toward consecrated life was not a simple one. He began his studies with the Jesuits at age 14. Not much later, his father died So Alonso returned home to learn and manage the family business. At age 26, he married Mary Suarez. Together they had three children though two of them died in infancy. His wife rapidly followed their two children to the grave. By his early 30s, Alonso was a widower. He sold his business, which had suffered much, and moved in with his sisters, who helped him raise his son.

Not long after that, his son died as well. It was then that he decided to follow his call to the religious life. He was initially refused by the Jesuits because he lacked the education they required, but was later allowed to enter as a Jesuit lay brother in Valencia in 1571. He became a Jesuit lay brother at the age of 39, taking final vows at the age of 54.

Alonzo served as a porter at the Jesuit college in Majorca for 46 years. People sought his spiritual advice and he influenced many over the years at his post. He was the friend and roommate of St. Peter Claver and advised him to request missionary work in South America. He was also said to heal the sick by fervent prayer.

He underwent extreme self-imposed austerities, which nearly destroyed his health. Finally, at age 60 he was ordered to begin sleeping in a bed.

He died in 1617 of natural causes.

Bishops Call for Unprecedented, Massive Catholic Opposition to Abortion in Current Health Care Reform

Excellent news: 40 years after being silenced by Vatican II, some of our Bishops are finally starting to speak up and lead their flocks in the faith.

An E-mail directive has been sent from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Activities Secretariat mobilizing every parish in the United States of America. It contains an urgent message which is to be distributed in every parish this weekend and announced at every single Mass. This massive and urgent appeal may be unprecedented in our history as Catholics in America. It is an effort to mobilize the Catholic faithful on an urgent matter of public policy concerning the fundamental and foundational human right to life.

The E-Mail specifically asks that no parish opt out of this initiative.

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Vulgar Catholic Halloween Costumes

It is particularly disgusting and offensive when anti-Catholics use holidays as a chance to mock or attack Catholics.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on this season’s Halloween costumes:

There are costumes depicting Jesus, priests, nuns, ministers, rabbis and imams, and most of them are innocuous. But there are two costumes that are vulgar, and, as usual, they are designed to offend Catholics: a priest with an erection and a pregnant nun, often sold as a pair.

Some immigrant groups are upset about an illegal alien costume, but even those who are complaining don’t say it is vulgar. A mere depiction of Muhammad in a Danish cartoon that was anything but vulgar led to riots. Now imagine what would happen if we paired Muhammad sporting an erection with a Latina illegal alien? Not to worry, it’s only Catholic clergy and religious that the bigots want to bash.

Air Healthcare?

How Pro-Life is Stupak?

Was it too good to be true?
A pro-life Democrat?
Stupak has been battling to keep abortion out of government-run healthcare, even threatening CINO Pelosi that he has enough votes to hold it up, and asking Obama to keep his promise and keep it out. Now, Stupak admits that he'll still vote for Obamacare.
It seems it was too good to be true.

A video released by the Heritage Foundation blog appears to show Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, whose efforts against the health care bill's abortion expansion had emerged as the pro-life community's primary strategy in the House, admitting that he would ultimately vote for the health bill even with government-funded abortion if it otherwise met his standards.


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President Obama signs federal hate crimes law

Why not protect unborn babies from the violence of abortion?

President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law this afternoon in the East Room of the White House. The law, which secured passage by being attached to a military spending bill, is being flagged by Christians as a possible vehicle for preventing them from teaching against homosexuality.

Named after two victims of purported hate crimes, the bill allows federal authorities to prosecute violence based on gender, perceived or actual sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Defenders of the bill say that it doesn’t target Christian beliefs because it deals with actions only and not words, but many Christians, such as Dr. Gary L. Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission say that “where hate crime laws have been enacted, it is Christians, specifically conservative Christians who hold to the historic Christian faith and it's values, that become the object of institutionalized, governmental hate."

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Planned Parenthood promotes Sexual "Rights" (and Perversion)

The latest American Life League Report further exposes the perversion of Planned Parenthood.

St. Narcissus

The Saint of the Day for October 29 is St. Narcissus

Narcissus was born towards the end of the first century, and he was almost 80 years old when he made the 30th bishop of Jerusalem.

In 195, he and Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, presided over a council of bishops of Palestine held at Caesarea, around Easter; where it was decreed that the feast be kept always on a Sunday, and not continually with the Jewish Passover.

The bishop and historian Eusebius says the following miracle can be attributed to him: One year on Easter-eve the deacons did not have any oil for the lamps in the church, necessary at the solemn divine office that day. Narcissus ordered those who had care of the lamps to bring him some water from the neighboring wells. This being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the water. Then he bade them pour it into the lamps; which they did. The water was immediately converted into oil, to the great surprise of the faithful. Some of this miraculous oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history.

The veneration of all good men for this holy bishop, however, could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked. Three incorrigible sinners, fearing his severity in the observance of ecclesiastical discipline, accused him of something terrible. The sinners swore that they were right, adding the following to their testimony: One wished that he might perish by fire, another, that he might be struck with a leprosy, and the third, that he might lose his sight, if what they alleged was not the truth. Their accusations were false, however, and soon, Divine Retribution called upon them. The first was burnt in his house, with his whole family, by an accidental fire in the night; the second was struck with a universal leprosy; and the third, terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before his death.

Narcissus either could not stand the shock of the bold calumny, or perhaps he made it an excuse for leaving Jerusalem to spend some time in solitude, which had long been his wish. He spent several years undiscovered in his retreat, where he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a close conversation with God can bestow.

The neighboring bishops appointed a new pastor for his church until Narcissus returned. Upon his return, the faithful rejoiced and convinced him to once again undertake the administration of the diocese, which he did. As he reached extreme old age, he made St. Alexander his coadjutor. St. Narcissus continued to serve his flock, and even other churches, by his assiduous prayers and his earnest exhortations to unity and concord, as St. Alexander testifies in his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says that Narcisus was at that time about one hundred and sixteen years old. The Roman Martyrology honors his memory on the 29th of October.

Rep. Stupak calls on President Obama to support abortion funding restrictions

A reasonable request, considering that CINO Pelosi is so determined to include abortion (she doesn't even want to allow a vote on whether to include it) and also that Barry himself promised that abortion would not be funded (see video below).

Pro-life Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) has called on President Obama to back up his stated support for the exclusion of abortion funding from health care legislation. Recounting how congressional leaders are opposing funding restrictions, Stupak warned that action is needed as “crunch time” arrives.

Rep. Stupak, who is advocating the inclusion of a Hyde Amendment provision that would bar federal abortion funding from proposed health care reform, spoke about his health care conversation with President Obama in an interview with CNSNews.com.

On Sept. 9 President Obama had told a joint session of Congress: “Under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions.”

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Public Option...or Not

Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles

The Saints of the Day for October 28 are Sts. Simon and Jude

However meagre in details is the history of these glorious apostles, we learn from their brief legend how amply they contributed to this great work of generating sons of God. Without any repose, and even to the shedding of their blood, they "edified the body of Christ"; and the grateful Church thus prays to our Lord today: "O God, through the work of the apostles you have spoken your Word of love, your Son, into our world's deafness. Open our ears to hear; open our hearts to heed; open our will to obey, that we may proclaim the good news with our lives."

St. Simon is represented in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. St. Jude's square points him out as an architect of the house of God. St. Paul called himself by this name; and St. Jude, by his Catholic Epistle, has also a special right to be reckoned among our Lord's principal workmen. But our apostle had another nobility, far surpassing all earthly titles: being nephew, by his father Cleophas or Alpheus, to St. Joseph, and legal cousin to the Man-God, Jude was one of those called by their compatriots the brethren of the carpenter's Son. We may gather from St. John's Gospel another precious detail concerning him. In the admirable discourse at the close of the last Supper, our Lord said: "He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father: and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him." Then Jude asked Him: "Lord, how is it, that Thou wilt manifest Thyself to us, and not to the world?" And he received from Jesus this reply: "If any one love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My word. And the word which you have heard is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."

The churches of St. Peter in Rome and Saint-Sernin at Toulouse dispute the honor of possessing the greater part of their holy remains.

Catholic Families for America PAC Endorses Doug Hoffman in NY-23 Special Election

This is a race to watch, in New York's 23rd District. The Republican, Dede Scozzafava, is very liberal and pro-abort, and the Democrat is as well. That has led to pro-lifers supporting Doug Hoffman, who is running for the Conservative Party. He has also been endorsed by Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, and Fred Thompson.

Today the Catholic Families for America PAC, a national pro-family political action committee, announced their endorsement of Doug Hoffman, Conservative Party candidate for Congress in next week's special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District. In the final week of the campaign, the CFA will be focusing on outreach to Catholic voters in the district.

"The Catholic Families for America PAC is honored to endorse Mr. Hoffman," said Dr. Kevin Roberts, executive director of the group. "He has shown, through his family life and business experience, an impressive commitment to pro-family positions on every important issue facing Americans. Doug Hoffman's strong pro-life stance, coupled with his common-sense approach to tax policy, will make him a friend of American families who are withstanding an onslaught of liberal policies today."

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https://www.doughoffmanforcongress.com/home.html

Obama's Enemy List

Abp. Dolan: ‘Most Pressing Life Issue Today is Abortion'

'When our critics criticize us for being passionate, stubborn, almost obsessed with protecting the human rights of the baby in the womb,they intend it as an insult. I take it as a compliment'.

One of my favorite Bishops...and he has a new blog!

At his installation Mass Archbishop Timothy Dolan signaled his intention to defend human life with these words: "As the Servant of God Terrence Cardinal Cooke wrote, 'Human life is no less sacred or worthy of respect because it is tiny, pre-born, poor, sick, fragile, or handicapped.' Yes, the Church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective 'mamma bear' when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened… Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny…. Everyone is a somebody in whom God has invested an infinite love. That is why the Church reaches out to the unborn, the suffering, the poor, our elders, the physically and emotionally challenged, those caught in the web of addictions."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan loves the Lord and the Church with an infectious enthusiasm borne of a sincere, living faith. He is filled with the joy of the Lord. He is also an evangelizer, to the bone. He has quickly become a significant personality on the Catholic Channel of the Sirius Radio Network. He is a man comfortable in his own skin, at ease with the use of the media, filled with the Holy Spirit, and eager to share the Gospel, as found in its fullness within the Catholic Church. In fact, without any fanfare, he recently launched his own weblog called “the Gospel in the Digital Age” (http://www.archny.org/news-events/columns-and-blogs/blog---the-gospel-in-the-digital-age/) Visitors are welcomed to the blog with these words: “Welcome to my new blog, The Gospel In The Digital Age.

Showdown: Democrat Rep. Stupak Locked in Dead Heat with House Leadership over Pro-Life Health Amendment

As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CINO) aims to seal the abortion-expanding health care bill in an early November vote, pro-life lawmakers, led by Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan, are locked in a dead heat race for votes with Democratic leadership. According to Stupak, the Democratic leadership intends to keep a stranglehold on any pro-life amendment effort, which they acknowledge would likely otherwise succeed.

In an interview with LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) today, Rep. Stupak said that he is counting on about 40 fellow Democrats to "take down the rule" - or kill the bill on a procedural vote - if House leadership refuses to allow a floor vote on an amendment that would prevent federal funding of abortion. The procedural "rule" vote would draft rules for debating the bill on the floor, and needs to be passed before the bill can move forward to a floor vote.

With the 40 Democrats, Stupak's vote-gathering efforts tally up to 220, counting the whole GOP - approximately two votes over the absolute minimum needed to succeed.

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St. Frumentius Of Ethiopia

The Saint of the Day for October 27 is St. Frumentius Of Ethiopia.

St. Frumentius helped bring Christianity to Ethiopia. He was born in Lebanon and was shipwrecked in East Africa while voyaging on the Red Sea. Only he and his brother, Aedeius, survived.

They were taken to the king at Axum, Ethiopia, and became members of the court. When the king died, the two brothers stayed on as part of the queen's court. She permitted them to introduce Christianity to the country, as well as opening up trade between Ethiopia and the west.

Frumentius convinced St. Athanasius to send missionaries from Alexandria. He was later consecrated as the bishop of Ethiopia. He converted many people to Christianity before his death in 380. He is the patron of Ethiopia. His brother, Aedeius, was also canonized.

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) urinates on Jesus

I am glad that I've never seen this show.

Bill Donohue describes a recent episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm":

At one point in the show, David goes to the bathroom in a Catholic home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus; he doesn’t clean it off. Then a Catholic woman goes to the bathroom, sees the picture and concludes that Jesus is crying. She then summons her equally stupid mother and the two of them fall to their knees in prayer. When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, “every erection is a miracle.” That’s what passes for creativity these days.


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"Law & Order" Abortion Episode Outrages Pro-Abortion Groups

The pro-aborts really hate when people see the truth of what abortion does.

I saw this episode (Law & Order is one of my favorite shows) and I agree with James Tillman that this episode handled the topic of abortion very well. They had an abortion clinic nurse who witnessed the killng of a baby born alive and subsequently became a nurse in a neo-natal ICU unit. I particularly liked that at the end Connie admitted: "I grew up thinking that Roe v. Wade was gospel for women, but now I'm not so sure" (paraphrasing)

Last Friday's episode of Law & Order on NBC, entitled "Dignity," has infuriated pro-abortionists while pleasantly surprising pro-lifers with an unexpectedly even-handed treatment of the issue of abortion.

Ripping its plot from recent headlines, "Dignity" begins with the murder of late-term abortionist Dr. Walter Benning (Matthew Boston) during a church service. Although the episode has a disclaimer stating that the story is fictional, its initial outline closely matches the case of the late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller, who was shot and killed in a church in Wichita, Kansas, on May 31st.

After the murderer, Wayne Grogan is captured and confesses to the crime, while his defense attorney, Roger Jenkins (Richard Thomas), argues that the killing was justified because Grogan was acting in defense of someone else - namely, an unborn infant whom Benning was going to abort.

In the end Grogan is found guilty of the murder; but over the course of the episode a host of the arguments and issues surrounding abortion are covered in a manner unusually sympathetic to the pro-life cause.

As Dave Andrusko writes on the NRLC's website: "What makes the Law & Order episode so riveting is that virtually every pro-life argument you knew you would never hear on a network program is a part of 'Dignity.'"

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Anglican bishop plans to convert to Catholicism

Welcome home, Bishop Hind!

Bishop John Hind of Chichester, described by The Telegraph as “the most senior traditionalist in the Church of England,” has announced his plans to convert to Catholicism.

“This is a remarkable new step from the Vatican,” he said, referring to Pope Benedict’s decision to permit members of Anglican communities to enter the Catholic Church as communities. “At long last there are some choices for Catholics in the Church of England. I'd be happy to be reordained into the Catholic Church.”

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St. Evaristus

The Saint of the Day for October 26 is St. Evaristus.

The episcopate of Evaristus began in the third year of Emperor Trajan's reign. Sources refer to him as a Greek from Antioch, the son of a Jew named Juda from Bethlehem. The exact length of his reign has been disputed by historians, as have been the authenticity of his letters and decretals; however, early scholars credit Evaristus with dividing Rome into specific parishes and with ordaining fifteen bishops, seven priests, and two deacons. Lack of historical evidence for these acts, though, would make them questionable.

In his first epistle addressed to the bishops of Africa, Evaristus decreed that seven deacons were to monitor a bishop's preaching, to ensure that he did not lapse from the true teachings. Evaristus did not wish to see undue accusations aimed at his bishops, yet reserved solely to the See of Rome the power to terminate any bishop as a result of this indiscretion. His second epistle drew a comparison between the lasting bond of husband and wife and that of a bishop and his diocese. Fragments of certain documents bearing his name have been proved to be forgeries, and therefore the validity of his epistles is doubtful. Evaristus did, however, live long enough to see the beginning of the Antonine dynasty.

According to Church tradition, he died a martyr and was buried near St. Peter on the Vatican Hill, but again, there is no reliable evidence to support this.

Movie Review: Law Abiding Citizen - R

Warning:possible spoilers

Clyde Shelton and his family are the victims of a home invasion, and his wife and daughter are killed. It is understandable that he would seek revenge against the guys who did it, and it is also understandable that Clyde is angry when the DA has to make a deal with one to obtain his testimony against the other. At first, Clyde is a sympathetic character, but when he decides to target the ADA and others in the criminal justice system, he becomes irrational and as such, is just another killer.

A very engaging plot, and lots of action. Not a dull moment. I really enjoyed the movie and recommend it.

Content Warnings: During the initial attack on his family. there is a rape. The full attack is not shown, but it is clear what is occurring. As you can tell by the previews, there is plenty of violence, particularly explosions. The goriest murder, including torture, is shown in the first half. There is offensive language, in particular the F word is used quite a bit.

http://www.lawabidingcitizenfilm.com/

Chris Matthews' Condescending Interview of Conservative Mike Long

Why does CINO Chris Matthews pretend to be Catholic if he is only going to oppose Catholic teachings? Maybe it has to do with that tingle he gets up his leg by supporting Barry.

We need Catholics on the air who can defend the truth and take on the bullies like Chris Matthews who have gotten away with this nonsense for too long.

Matthews is one of too many Catholics in the public eye who are an embarrassment to many of us in the Catholic Church.Knowing full well the truth - which is revealed in the Natural Law, confirmed by medical science and infallibly taught by his own Church - that the child in the womb is a human person with a fundamental right to life, Chris Matthews pushes the evil lie that someone who has more power should be able to kill him or her at any time and for any reason.

Knowing that these children, called the “poorest of the poor” by Mother Teresa, are our brothers and sisters to whom we owe a debt of solidarity, he purports to be concerned over social justice while he fails to hear their cry. In his open dissent from his own Church he is causing what the Catholic Catechism calls “scandal” among the faithful.

Matthews was supposed to be interviewing Mike Long, the Chairman of the Conservative Party of New York. The Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman, is contending against a Republican candidate who opposes the Right to Life and is an example of why the Republican Party is dying. It is an interesting race, drawing a lot of attention, and it could have been a great interview. It was anything but.It was a sideshow.

From the beginning of this alleged interview to its end, Matthews kept a condescending grin on his face.

Because Mr. Long insisted on properly calling himself Pro-Life - and said his candidate was as well - and because he refused to give in to Matthews verbal bullying and baiting, Matthews called him a “troglodyte” (“a person characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes”). He then spent the whole time trying to make Mike Long look like a buffoon in front of a national audience.

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Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Claret

The Saint of the Day for October 24 is St. Anthony Claret.

Anthony was born at Salent in the Diocese of Vich in Catalonia, Spain, in the year in which Napoleon invaded Spain. He was trained for manual labor, since his father was a weaver, but in 1829 he entered the seminary at Vich. Ordained to the priesthood in 1835, he was assigned as pastor in his home parish. Later he went to Rome to work for the Propagation of the Faith. He also entered the novitiate of the Jesuits but had to leave because of ill health, so he returned to Spain and was assigned as pastor of a parish. His apostolate consisted of rural preaching, conferences for the clergy and publications (he wrote more than 150 books). Because of his successful apostolate he aroused the animosity of some of the clergy and as a result he left Catalonia for the Canary Islands (1848). After a year he returned to Catalonia and resumed his preaching apostolate.

In 1849 Anthony gathered together five priests who formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against the slavery of the Negroes, and regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently threatened with death and on one occasion an attempt was actually made on his life. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the queen. In this way he was able to exert some influence in the naming of bishops, set up a center of ecclesiastical studies at the Escorial, and work towards the recognition of religious orders in Spain. In 1869 he was in Rome, preparing for the First Vatican Council. He followed Isabella II into exile and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador, was placed under house arrest in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide, where he died at the age of 63. His remains were ultimately returned to Vich.

House Democrats Likely Won't Allow Vote to Cut Abortion From Health Care Bill

It appears House Democrats will likely not allow a vote on an amendment that would strip abortion funding from HR 3200, the legislation that will meld the three health care "reform" bills into one. Although a coalition of pro-life Democrats is hoping for a vote, it appears none is forthcoming.

Rep. Bart Stupak, a pro-life Democrat from Michigan, has been leading the way in an attempt to get an amendment that would remove the massive abortion funding and subsidies from the bill.

However, in a new report issued today, the Associated Press makes it appear that's not going to happen.

"Such an amendment would be almost certain to prevail, since it likely would attract the votes of most Republicans as well as some Democrats. So Democratic leaders won't let Stupak offer it," AP indicates.

Stupak told AP that he sees an impasse with one of the top pro-abortion Democrats who chairs one of the committees that approved a version of the bill, Rep. Henry Waxman -- who also said there is a hangup.

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Patrick Kennedy: Catholic Church Fanning ‘Flames of Dissent and Discord’ by Opposing Health Bill Over Abortion Funding

Patrick continues the Kennedy tradition of ignoring Church teachings while calling himself Catholic (CINO). The Bishops are 100% correct to oppose any funding of abortion.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I) told CNSNews.com that the Catholic Church is doing nothing but fanning “the flames of dissent and discord” by taking the position that it will oppose the health-care reform bill under consideration in Congress unless it is amended to explicitly prohibit funding of abortion.

“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person--that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,” Kennedy told CNSNews.com when asked about a letter the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had sent to members of Congress stating the bishops' position on abortion funding in the health-care bill.

“You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?” said Kennedy. “If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it’s going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive. Patrick, if you really are Catholic, YOU should be opposing any 'healthcare' that provides abortion. So this is an absolute red herring and I don’t think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord and I don’t think it’s productive at all."

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Kennedy's Bishop Seeks Apology, Calls Him "Disappointment" on Abortion

From the Catechism:

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

NY Governor continues to push same-sex "marriage"

"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." Pope John Paul II

Paterson's approval rating is plummeting. I doubt that attacking the family will help him.

Gov. David Paterson has announced he wants the New York State Senate to vote on a same-sex "marriage" bill within the next several weeks during a special session of the legislature convened to address New York's budget deficit. However pro-family advocates see the governor's attempt as a ploy to rescue his political standing with the homosexual lobby and mitigate the political consequences legislators would have to pay in 2010 for passing same-sex "marriage."

The governor told reporters Wednesday that the special session of the legislature would first of all tackle the state's three billion dollar budget deficit, but also address leftover legislation from the summer, such as the same-sex "marriage" bill, which was derailed when two Democratic defections to the GOP threw the leadership of the Senate into confusion and all proceedings ground to a halt.

Paterson is seeking to make New York the seventh US state to legalize same-sex "marriage" and he may see its passage as key to his continued political existence, which seems all but extinct. A new Quinnipiac survey released Monday showed that NY voters would chose Attorney General Andrew Cuomo over Paterson by a margin of 3 to 1, and even black voters 2 to 1 favor Cuomo over Paterson, who is the state's first African-American governor.
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President George W. Bush Awarded by Canadian Pro-Life Group for Abortion Fight

Having the most pro-abort president in history in the White House does help me to appreciate President Bush's pro-life efforts.

A Canadian pro-life group gave former President George W. Bush an award yesterday honoring his pro-life record and recognizing his fight against abortion. The Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association presented the president with the award while he was in town to give an address.

The group said in a statement that it "had the distinct privilege to present a humble word of thanks to President George W. Bush for his very public determination to protect the unborn while he served two terms as President of the United States."

Bush received the Humanity of the Unborn Child Pro-Life Award and a plaque that states it is "presented with sincere gratitude to President George W. Bush on the occasion of your visit to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on October 21, 2009."

The award is presented "in recognition of your resolve and initiatives in the protection of human life" and features a quote from Pope Benedict XVI saying, “Openness to life is at the center of true development."

The group posted a laundry list of pro-life accomplishments on its blog and highlighted them in the statement honoring Bush.

The list included signing the Mexico City Policy to stop the use of taxpayer dollars in foreign nations from promoting and performing abortions.

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Optional Memorial of St. John of Capistrano

The Saint of te Day for Ocober 23 is St. John of Capistrano.

St. John was born in 1386 at Capistrano in the Italian Province of the Abruzzi. His father was a German knight and died when he was still young. St. John became a lawyer and attained the position of governor of Perugia. When war broke out between Perugia and Malatesta in 1416, St. John tried to broker a peace. Unfortunately, his opponents ignored the truce and St. John became a prisoner of war. On the death of his wife he entered the order of Friars Minor, was ordained and began to lead a very penitential life.

John became a disciple of Saint Bernadine of Siena and a noted preacher while still a deacon, beginning his work in 1420. The world at the time was in need of strong men to work for salvation of souls. Thirty percent of the population was killed by the Black Plague, the Church was split in schism and there were several men claiming to be pope. As an Itinerant priest throughout Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia, St. John preached to tens of thousands and established communities of Franciscan renewal. He reportedly healed the sick by making the Sign of the Cross over them. He also wrote extensively, mainly against the heresies of the day.

He was successful in reconciling heretics. After the fall of Constantinople, he preached a crusade against the Muslim Turks. At age 70 he was commissioned by Pope Callistus II to lead it, and marched off at the head of 70,000 Christian soldiers. He won the great battle of Belgrade in the summer of 1456. He died in the field a few months later, but his army delivered Europe from the Moslems.

"Progressives," Leftists and Womynpriest Supporters in a Fury over Unification with Anglicans

LOL Only the libs and dissenters would be critical of Pope Benedict XVI for unifying the Catholic Church with others. I think it is a very good thing.

The battle lines in the culture wars within both the Anglican and Catholic Churches have become clearly visible with the announcement of new provisions to bring traditionally-minded Christian Anglicans into the Catholic Church in groups. Some are accusing the Vatican of having torpedoed the remains of the rapidly deteriorating Worldwide Anglican Communion with its surprise announcement by Cardinal Levada, the head of the Vatican's doctrinal office on Tuesday.

Although officially denied by the Vatican, it is being widely acknowledged that the move has been in response to overtures by the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC), the largest of the "conservative breakaway" groups. The TAC has objected to the Anglican Churches' decisions to ordain women to the clergy and episcopate and to embrace homosexual activity as equal to natural sexual relations, as well as other deviations from traditional Christian teaching. After decades of apparently fruitless "ecumenical dialogue," observers have said the Pope has taken the matter into his own hands and offered a refuge to Anglicans who adhere to the tenets of classical, biblical Christianity.

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Attention Plurkers!

You can now follow us on Plurk!

http://www.plurk.com/acatholicview/invite

Nevada Launches Personhood Initiative

Nevada joins other states in doing what Congress has been unable or unwilling to do: acknowledge that an unborn baby is a human being.

Another personhood amendment initiative entered the signature-gathering stage on Wednesday after being filed by a pro-life coalition in Nevada.

The proposed amendment would change the Nevada constitution to read: "In the great state of Nevada, the term 'person' applies to every human being. Article I Section 8 of the Nevada constitution states, 'No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.'"

Richard Ziser, a former Republican U.S. Senate candidate and campaign manager of Personhood Nevada, is heading up the campaign behind Nevada's Personhood Constitutional Amendment. In 2002, Ziser helped organize the thrust behind a successful constitutional amendment enshrining marriage as between a man and a woman.

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5 words that say it all

House Close to Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, But Senate Another Story

House leaders triumphantly announced yesterday that they are close to having enough votes to approve a health care bill with a public option that includes abortion funding. However, the Senate is another story as lawmakers shy away from supporting the government option that expands abortion funding further.

As LifeNews.com reported on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked her top lieutenants to conduct a vote count to determine where members of the party stand on HR 3200, which pro-life groups oppose.

The results came back showing 210 of the 218 lawmakers needed to support the pro-abortion bill are on board.

However, the Senate is a different ball game entirely because support for a bill with the public option is much weaker.

As the Associated Press notes in a new story today, "Obama and Democratic leaders have modest leverage over several pivotal Senate Democrats who are more concerned about their next election or feel they have little to lose by opposing their party's hierarchy."

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'Abortion crushes hope,' says Rep. Chris Smith

Chris Smith, along with Bart Stupak, is one of the most prominent and active pro-lifers in the House of Representatives.

Pro-life leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the danger of federally-funded abortion being a part of health care reform. One speaker, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), said that although President Obama ran his presidential campaign on “hope,” “abortion crushes hope” and is “its polar opposite.”

The press conference took place at the House Triangle, a grassy triangular area near the Capitol Building. Others present were: Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Representatives Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.) as well as the organizations Focus on the Family Action, Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life Committee, Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America. These organizations are really "for women", not the pro-aborts who claim to be, and injure women with abortion.

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St. Mary Salome

The Saint of the Day for October 22 is St. Mary Salome.

Wife of Zebedee. Mother of Saint John the Apostle, and Saint James the Greater. May have been a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the "three Marys," the holy women who ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may have accompanied him on his travels. Witnessed Christ's death on the cross, his entombment, and his resurrection. Mark mentions Salome as one of the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection.

Legend says that after the Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life there spreading the Good News.

Like the Jewish greeting "Shalom" and the Arab "Salaam," Salome is based on an Aramaic word meaning health and peace. It would be hard to think of a more fitting name for a mother.

It is quite probable that Salome was the sister of the Blessed Virgin, and it is certain that she was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James the Greater and John the Evangelist (Matthew 20:20; 27:56). In the Gospel of St. Matthew (20:20ff) it is written: "Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons and did Him homage, wishing to ask Him for something. He said to her, 'What do you wish?' She answered Him, 'Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at Your right and the other at Your left, in Your kingdom.'"

Salome was one of the women who followed Jesus and served him (Mark 15:41), witnessed His Crucifixion and death at Calvary (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40), and who brought spices to embalm him on Easter morning (Mark 16:1ff) (Delaney, Encyclopedia).

In art, Mary Salome is shown with her two sainted children (James and John) in her arms. Occasionally Mary Salome is present at the Nativity because there is a legend that the doubting Salome was a midwife, who came, unbelieving, to the stable at Bethlehem and was converted (cf. Jameson, Legends of the Madonna). Sometimes Mary Salome together with Mary Cleophas support the Virgin at the Crucifixion or they are present with Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection.

House Democrats: We Have Almost Enough Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care

House Democrats said today that they have almost enough votes to get a pro-abortion health care bill through the chamber. The votes they say they have collected include almost enough for the government option, which would expand abortion funding even further.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked her top lieutenants this week to conduct a vote count to determine where members of the party stand on HR 3200, which pro-life groups oppose.

Three House committee have approved different versions of the bill, all of which include massive abortion funding and mandates, that Pelosi and top Democrats will meld into one measure.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, said today that House Democrats have secured about 210 votes for a bill with the controversial public option.

That's just eight votes short of the 218 needed to approve the pro-abortion bill.

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U.S. House Bill Would Coerce States to Allow Homosexual Adoption

Just another way to force the homosexual lifestyle on the rest of society; especially kids.

Last week a bill was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives proposing federal-level punishment for states that ban homosexual couples and non-married individuals from adopting children.

Touted as a measure to help more children find homes, Democratic California Rep. Pete Stark's "Every Child Deserves a Family Act" recommends that states allowing foster care placements only into married heterosexual households be deprived of federal child welfare funds.

The law would have an impact on Utah, Florida, Arkansas, Nebraska and Mississippi, which either explicitly restrict adoption to heterosexual couples, or restrict it to married couples while not recognizing same-sex "marriage."

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Obama Administration's HHS Web Site Promotes Pro-Abortion Health Care Bills

Anyone surprised? We are talking about the most pro-abort president in history. even a site like serve.gov will be used to advance abortion.

While the administration of President Barack Obama is supportive of the pro-abortion health care bills in Congress, the actual federal government is supposed to remain neutral on legislative matters. However, the Department of Heath and Human Services is getting heat for promoting the pro-abortion health care bills.

A web page HHS runs urges visitors to send an email to Obama praising him for his pro-abortion health care plan.

According to a Roll Call report, the page is accessed through a “state your support” button featured prominently on the web page that features a disclaimer saying it is maintained by the HHS department.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a pro-life Iowa Republican who is the ranking member on the Senate Finance committee, one of two panels to have approved a pro-abortion health care bill, is not happy.

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Pro-Abortion Group NARAL Attacks Pro-Life Democrat Bart Stupak on Health Care

Stupak is really under attack from pro-aborts for his efforts to keep abortion out of Obamacare.

Abortion advocates normally reserve their ammunition for attacks on pro-life Republicans and groups. They rarely focus their sights on pro-life Democrats, but they're now going after Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan because he is pressing for a vote to make sure the House health care bill doesn't fund abortions.

Stupak is leading the battle in Congress on HR 3200 and against the Capps Amendment that pro-abortion lawmakers added to deceive the public into thinking abortions will not be funded.

Because of his stalwart stance, NARAL has produced a new video attacking him that its president Nancy Keenan mailed to pro-abortion activists today.

"I'll be honest -- we all expected a fight from the usual anti-choice (No Nancy, we're not anti-choice. We choose life. We oppose killing babies.) agitators on health-care reform," she said. "We expected it from Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the Family Research Council, and the American Life League." Two excellent organizations :)

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Obamacare for Seniors

Sts. Ursula and Companions

The Saints of the Day for October 21 are Sts. Ursula and Companions.

According to a legend that appeared in the tenth century, Ursula was the daughter of a Christian King in Britain and was granted a three-year postponement of a marriage she did not wish to a pagan prince. With ten ladies in waiting, each attended by a thousand maidens, she embarked on a voyage across the North Sea, sailed up the Rhine to Basle, Switzerland, and then went to Rome. On their way back they were all massacred by pagan Huns at Cologne in about 451 when Ursula refused to marry their chieftain.

According to another legend, America was settled by British colonizers and soldiers after Emperor Magnus Clemens Maximus conquered Britain and Gaul in 383. The ruler of the settlers, Cynan Meiriadog, called on King Dionotus of Cornwall for wives for the settlers, whereupon Dionotus sent his daughter Ursula, who was to marry Cynan, with eleven thousand noble maidens and sixty thousand common women. Their fleet was shipwrecked and all the women were enslaved or murdered.

The legends are pious fictions, but what is true is that one Clematius, a senator, rebuilt a basilica in Cologne that had originally been built, probably at the beginning of the fourth century, to honor a group of virgins who had been martyred at Cologne. They were evidently venerated enough to have had a church built in their honor, but who they were and how many of them there were are unknown. From these meager facts, the legend of Ursula grew and developed.

The 11,000 number probably resulted from a misreading of the term "11M" which indicated 11 Martyrs, but which a copyist took for a Roman numeral. St. Ursula is the namesake for the Ursuline Order, founded for the education of young Catholic girls and women.

Indiana priest appointed to serve as bishop of Cheyenne, WY

Fr. Paul D. Etienne, will become the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Fr. Etiene, 50, who is currently a pastor in Tell City, Indiana will fill a see that has been vacant since July 2008.

Upon hearing of the appointment, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver praised the new bishop, whose diocese is within the Province of Denver. With a reference from Chaput, I believe Fr. Etienne will be a very good Bishop :)
“Bishop-elect Paul D. Etienne comes to the Diocese of Cheyenne with an outstanding record of zeal and pastoral leadership in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,” the bishops said before noting that the bishop-elect's new diocese, which includes the entire state of Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park is “a blend of great people and great beauty, great distances and huge potential.”

“The youth and energy that Bishop-elect Etienne brings to his new ministry will serve the Catholic community here in the Rocky Mountain West extraordinarily well,” the bishops wrote.

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Santorum: The Triumph of Socialism in U.S. Requires Destruction of Family & Church

A grim, but accurate warning from Rick Santorum.
This is why the administration is in such a rush to pass government-run healthcare.

Both the family and the Church stand in the way of socialism's triumph, former US Senator Rick Santorum told Christians gathered for the 17th International Week of Prayer and Fasting last week. The pro-life champion warned attendees, however, that both institutions are under heavy attack from Obama-administration policies.

"We are under a great assault with this President and this Congress on the issue of life. We are under a great assault, maybe even greater assault, on the foundational issue of the family," Santorum told those gathered for the October 11 dinner at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Santorum said that the left's policies, especially those policies aggressively set forward by the Obama administration, target the family and Christian churches for "destruction," because these institutions provide local social networks and support for individuals that take away the need for total dependence on central government. To eliminate these social networks means the triumph of socialism, and that means attacking marriage and Christian churches.


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Balloon Bill

Pope Benedict XVI approves a structure for admitting large groups of Anglicans into communion with the Catholic Church

"And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18

In a Vatican press conference today, Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, announced that an Apostolic Constitution has been prepared in response to “many requests” from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful wanting to enter into full communion with the Church.

The Apostolic Constitution, which Cardinal Levada said “provides a reasonable and even necessary response to a world-wide phenomenon”, will be a “single canonical model for the universal Church which is adaptable to various local situations and equitable to former Anglicans in its universal application.”

The new canonical structure will allow former Anglicans to enter into full communion with the Church while “preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony,” said Cardinal Levada. He added that it will allow married former Anglican clergy to be ordained however, in common with Catholic and Orthodox Churches, married clergy will not be allowed to be ordained bishops.

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BREAKING - Anglicans to be Brought Back to "Full Visible Unity" with Catholic Church: Surprise Vatican Announcement

The Holy Father is also working on bringing the Orthodox Church into communion with the Catholic Church.

Optional Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross

The Saint of the Day for October 20 is St. Paul of the Cross.

St. Paul of the Cross was born at Ovada in the Republic of Genoa on January 3, 1694. His infancy and youth were spent in great innocence and piety. He was inspired to found a congregation, having while in ecstasy beheld the habit which he and his companions were to wear. After consulting his director, Bishop Gastinara of Alexandria in Piedmont, he reached the conclusion that God wished him to establish a congregation in honor of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

On November 22, 1720, the Bishop vested him with the habit that had been shown to him in a vision, the same that the Passionists wear at the present time. From that moment the saint applied himself to prepare the Rules of his institute, and in 1721 he went to Rome to obtain the approbation of the Holy See. At first he failed, but finally succeeded when Benedict XIV approved the Rules in 1741 and 1746. Meanwhile St. Paul built his first monastery near Obitello. Some time later he established a larger community at the Church of Sts. John and Paul in Rome.

For 50 years St. Paul remained the indefatigable missionary of Italy. God lavished upon him the greatest gifts in the supernatural order, but he treated himself with the greatest rigor, and believed that he was a useless servant and a great sinner. His saintly death occurred at Rome in the year 1775, at the age of 81. He was canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867.