Blessed Jane lived in the French town of Toulouse during the 13th century. A Carmelite monastery was founded in the same town in 1240 which exposed Jane to the Carmelite lifestyle and spirituality.
In 1265 when St. Simon Stock, a 13th century reformer of the Carmelites, was passing through Toulouse, Jane met him and requested to be affiliated with the Carmelites. Simon agreed and Jane became the first Third Order Carmelite.
Jane vowed herself to perpetual chastity and applied herself completely to the Carmelite Rule. In addition to many daily holy practices and penances, she reached out to the community and worked to help the sick and poor. One of Jane's primary missions was encouraging the boys of the town to help her serve the poor and help them discern whether or not they were called to be Carmelites.
Blessed Jane is considered to be a founder of the Carmelite tertiary order and is considered to be its first member.
I think Cardinal Dolan is showing excellent leadership with his opposition to the unconstitutional HHS Mandate.
Commenting on the Department of Health and Human Services’ ’ contraception mandate, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York told popular cable television host Bill O’Reilly that members of the Obama administration were trying to divide the Catholic community.
“I don’t want to judge people, but I think there would be a drift in the administration that this is a good issue, and if we can divide the Catholic community because it’s already divided and if one can caricature the bishops as being hopelessly out of touch, these bullies who are trying to achieve judicially and legislatively what they’ve been--been unable to achieve because their moral integrity has been compromised recently--there is that force out there trying to caricature us,” Cardinal Dolan said.
St. John Climacus was born around the year 525 in Palestine. As a youth, he excelled in his studies and was highly regarded by his peers for his knowledge. At the age of 16, John decided to leave the world and retired to a hermitage near the base of Mount Sinai. For the next four years, John spent his time in prayer, fasting, meditation and discernment while preparing to take solemn vows to the religious life. Through the direction of Martyrius, John curbed his vices and worked to perfect his virtues.
After professing his solemn vows, John began to spend more of his time studying scriptures and the early fathers of the Church. He became very knowledgeable in these subjects but his humility caused him to hide his talents and not presume to share them with others. Near the end of his life, he was encouraged to share his knowledge with others and wrote the "Climax" also known as "The Ladder of Paradise." This work was a collection of sayings and examples to illustrate how to live the monastic life. From this work, he received the name Climacus, a derivative from the Latin root for climax or ladder.
As John progressed in years and wisdom, many of the religious living on Mount Sinai began to seek his advice in spiritual matters. He freely offered his advice and was highly regarded for his wisdom and holiness. Around the year 600 the abbot of all the religious in the region of Mount Sinai died and John was chosen to replace him. John ruled until his death in 605 and always tried to lead through his own example.
Father Carlos Martins never expected to be a priest, or to be touring North America to promote devotion to the saints through their sacred relics. For much of his life, he did not believe in God.
“I was raised in a very nominally Catholic family. We didn't go to church,” the 37-year-old priest told CNA on March 27. “The Catholic school that we went to was 'Catholic' in name only.”
“By the time I became an adult, aside from being a 'practical atheist,' I became an intellectual one as well. I thought it was impossible for God to exist, given the state of the world.”
During his university years, some “very committed Catholics” made him question his atheism – leading to a profound encounter with Christ in Eucharistic adoration.
Sixteen years and one priestly ordination later, Fr. Martins helps others encounter God, through another traditional Catholic practice: the exposition and veneration of sacred relics.
A Catholic student group says it will leave the Vanderbilt University campus at the end of the year over a controversial school policy which bars the group from requiring its leaders to be Catholic.
“The discriminatory non-discrimination policy at Vanderbilt University has forced our hand,” Vanderbilt Catholic chaplain Father John Sims Baker said in a March 26 statement.
“Our purpose has always been to share the Gospel and proudly to proclaim our Catholic faith. What other reason could there be for a Catholic organization at Vanderbilt?” he asked. “How can we say it is not important that a Catholic lead a Catholic organization?”
The university’s non-discrimination policy prevents student groups from requiring their leaders to hold specific religious beliefs, Duh! shouldn't they consider the fact that this IS a religion-based group? The Tennessean reported. It has an “all-comers” policy which means that groups must be open to all students and must allow every student member to run for office.
Leaders of Vanderbilt Catholic say the rule makes no sense. They will not comply and instead will become an independent off-campus ministry. Good for them...doing the right thing.
St. Joseph of Arimathea is a disciple of Jesus Christ who is mentioned in each account of the Passion narrative. After the Passion of the Lord, Joseph, a member of the Jewish council went to Pilate and asked for possession of the body of Jesus. After receiving this permission, Joseph had Jesus laid in a nearby tomb.
The Gospels tell us that Joseph was a just and devout man waiting for the kingdom of God. He followed Jesus' public ministry but feared the repercussions from the other members of the Jewish council.
It is truly disgusting how Barry and the Dems are trying to use this young man's death for political purposes.
Several pro-life leaders urged prayer and justice in the wake of the Florida shooting of 17-year-old high school student Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch patrolman.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Trayvon, his young life cut so short,” said Day Gardner, founder of the National Black Prolife Union.
“As we pray for other lives lost, including those in the womb, it is important for us to remember that every life is sacred, from conception and fertilization until natural death. There was nothing natural about the killing of Trayvon, and we are saddened.”
Dr. Alveda King, niece of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said she is praying for Martin’s family.
“Senseless killing from the womb to the tomb must cease. Trayvon is yet another example of the slaying of an endangered species: America's youth,” King said in a March 27 statement from the Atlanta-based group King for America.
The Feb. 26 shooting in Sanford, Florida has become the center of a major controversy.
We need to keep praying hard this week...and hope the Supreme Court will declare Obamacare unconstitutional.
Transcripts from the Supreme Court’s ongoing oral arguments over the Obama administration’s health care law show a sharply divided court that some analysts say could mean the controversial law is in “grave danger.”
At the heart of the controversy is the law’s mandate forcing Americans to purchase health insurance, which opponents have said goes beyond the scope of Congress’ power, and which many believe could unravel the entire law should it be struck down.
The law is being challenged by the attorneys general of 26 U.S. states and the National Federation of Independent Business.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, one of three swing votes proponents hope to win over, said on Tuesday that the mandate “threatens to change the relationship between the government and the individual in a profound way.”
Justice John Roberts also expressed skepticism that the broad power assumed by the government had any clear terminus, and compared the insurance mandate to a rule forcing Americans to buy cell phones in order to respond to emergency situations.
The Pope has reportedly asked Cuban president Raul Castro, to declare Good Friday, a national holiday in Cuba. During the second day of his apostolic visit, Benedict XVI met with president Raul Castro at Havana's Revolution Palace. According to the Vatican's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, it was on that very day, that the Pope issued the request to the president.
The Saint of the Day for March 28 is St. Sixtus III.
Not much is known about the history and youth of St. Sixtus, but we do know that he was born in Rome, Italy and ascended to the papacy in 432.
As the 44th Pope, he approved the results of the Council of Ephesus and actively protested against the heresies of Nestorianism and Pelagianism. He restored many Roman basilicas and corresponded frequently with St. Augustine of Hippo.
He died on August 18 in the year 440 of natural causes.
During his second day in Cuba, the Pope visited the Sanctuary that honors Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba. The Pope noted the deep devotion Cubans have for her, by saying that he too, has specifically prayed to her, and for those who suffer.
Keep in mind that abortion facilities usually have a policy: do not let the client see the ultrasound. Once they see a baby rather than a “fetus” or “blob of tissue,” they’re much more likely to choose life. And it’s not just a baby they see — it’s their baby.
We then heard another story of an employee who showed a young woman her ultrasound image. She took one look and headed for the door.
“Abortion?” she said. “No way!” … because the ultrasound image showed … quadruplets!
St. Rupert, bishop and missionary, is also listed as Robert of Hrodbert.
St. Rupert was a member of a noble Frankish family. He was appointed bishop of Worms, Germany, and dedicated himself to spreading the faith among the Germans.
With the patronage of Duke Thedo of Bavaria, he took over the deserted town of Luvavum in about 697, which was later renamed Salzburg, Austria. There Rupert founded a church, a monastery, and a school. He brought in groups of missionaries, and established a convent at Nonnberg with his sister, Eerentrudis, serving as the first abbess.
Rupert died in Salzburg and is venerated as the first archbishop of this major diocese.
The Supreme Court begins hearings on the Constitutionality of ObamaCare. Frankly I don't see how they could possibly say that forcing people to violate their religious beliefs is constitutional.
Just 36 percent of Americans back Obamacare, which is opposed by pro-life groups because it funds abortions and prompts rationing concerns, as the Supreme Court begins reviewing the controversial law this week.
A new New York Times/CBS News poll shows 47 percent of Americans disapprove of the president’s Affordable Care Act, including 30 percent who strongly disapprove while just 36 percent of those questioned said they support the law either somewhat or strongly.
“Since the health care law was passed in March 2010, more have disapproved than approved of it. The highest level of support was reached in May 2010 when 43percent of Americans approved of the law; its lowest level was just after it was passed in March 2010, when only 32 percent supported it,” CBS reported.
After celebrating Mass at Guanajuato's Bicentennial Park, the Pope blessed 91 replicas of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico. The copies of 'Our Lady' will be sent to different Dioceses throughout Mexico.
It is the time of the Reaping, and Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take the place of her younger sister in the Hunger Games, a competition in which each District sends one man and one woman to compete in a competition to the death where the winner's District gets plenty of food to eat. Peeta, a man from Katniss' past, is the other entrant from her District. They are both being trained by Haymitch Abernathy, but are they partners?
The idea of young people competing to the death for for food for their District is bad enough, but the "games" have become both entertainment and sport. There are video cameras all over the place, and everyone is watching. It is treated as reality TV.
There is an announcement made midway through which changes the nature of the Games.
Although it is every person for themselves, there are a couple scenes where a contestant helps another for varying reasons.
The acting was tremendous: you could see the apprehension and trepidation in the contestants faces.
Content warnings include some violence. You obviously see some people die in the contest, but what I also found disturbing were two scenes with a closeup of a wound.
I hadn't read the book before the movie as I usually do, but I read online that the movie is pretty faithful to the book.
To be honest, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.
A tradition, which has come down from the apostolic ages, tells us that the great mystery of the Incarnation was achieved on the twenty-fifth day of March. It was at the hour of midnight, when the most holy Virgin was alone and absorbed in prayer, that the Archangel Gabriel appeared before her, and asked her, in the name of the blessed Trinity, to consent to become the Mother of God. Let us assist, in spirit, at this wonderful interview between the angel and the Virgin: and, at the same time, let us think of that other interview which took place between Eve and the serpent. A holy bishop and martyr of the second century, Saint Irenaeus, who had received the tradition from the very disciples of the apostles, shows us that Nazareth is the counterpart of Eden.
In the garden of delights there is a virgin and an angel; and a conversation takes place-between them. At Nazareth a virgin is also addressed by an angel, and she answers him; but the angel of the earthly paradise is a spirit of darkness, and he of Nazareth is a spirit of light. In both instances it is the angel that has the first word. 'Why,' said the serpent to Eve, 'hath God commanded you, that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?' His question implies impatience and a solicitation to evil; he has contempt for the frail creature to whom he addresses it, but he hates the image of God which is upon her.
See, on the other hand, the angel of light; see with what composure and peacefulness he approaches the Virgin of Nazareth, the new Eve; and how respectfully he bows himself down before her: 'Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!' Such language is evidently of heaven: none but an angel could speak thus to Mary.
Scarcely has the wicked spirit finished speaking than Eve casts a longing look at the forbidden fruit: she is impatient to enjoy the independence it is to bring her. She rashly stretches forth her hand; she plucks the fruit; she eats it, and death takes possession of her: death of the soul, for sin extinguishes the light of life; and death of the body, which being separated from the source of immortality, becomes an object of shame and horror, and finally crumbles into dust.
But let us turn away our eyes from this sad spectacle, and fix them on Nazareth. Mary has heard the angel's explanation of the mystery; the will of heaven is made known to her, and how grand an honor it is to bring upon her! She, the humble maid of Nazareth, is to have the ineffable happiness of becoming the Mother of God, and yet the treasure of her virginity is to be left to her! Mary bows down before this sovereign will, and says to the heavenly messenger: 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.'
Thus, as the great St. Irenaeus and so many of the holy fathers remark, the obedience of the second Eve repaired the disobedience of the first: for no sooner does the Virgin of Nazareth speak her fiat, 'be it done,' than the eternal Son of God (who, according to the divine decree, awaited this word) is present, by the operation of the Holy Ghost, in the chaste womb of Mary, and there He begins His human life. A Virgin is a Mother, and Mother of God; and it is this Virgin's consenting to the divine will that has made her conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost. This sublime mystery puts between the eternal Word and a mere woman the relations of Son and Mother; it gives to the almighty God a means whereby He may, in a manner worthy of His majesty, triumph over satan, who hitherto seemed to have prevailed against the divine plan.
Never was there a more entire or humiliating defeat than that which this day befell satan. The frail creature, over whom he had so easily triumphed at the beginning of the world, now rises and crushes his proud head. Eve conquers in Mary. God would not choose man for the instrument of His vengeance; the humiliation of satan would not have been great enough; and therefore she who was the first prey of hell, the first victim of the tempter, is selected to give battle to the enemy. The result of so glorious a triumph is that Mary is to be superior not only to the rebel angels, but to the whole human race, yea, to all the angels of heaven. Seated on her exalted throne, she, the Mother of God, is to be the Queen of all creation. Satan, in the depths of the abyss, will eternally bewail his having dared to direct his first attack against the woman, for God has now so gloriously avenged her; and in heaven, the very Cherubim and Seraphim reverently look up to Mary, and deem themselves honored when she smiles upon them, or employs them in the execution of any of her wishes, for she is the Mother of their God.
Saint Anthony, St. Anthony please come around. Something has been lost and cannot be found.
Poor St. Anthony....For many of us, that is the only prayer we offer to him...when we've lost something.
That has changed for me. Someone very close to me recently had surgery. Although I did pray to several Saints for intercession, I put this situation squarely in the hands of St. Anthony.
He did not let me down, as the surgery went well and she is recovering, improving every day. Thank you Saint Anthony!
Here is a good prayer to St. Anthony:
O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, you love for God and Charity for His creatures, made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me (state request here). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even so,you are the Saint of Miracles.
O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the eaars of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.
St. Catherine was born near the beginning of the fourteenth century to parents Ulfo and St. Bridget of Sweden. At the age of seven, Catherine was sent to the Abbey at Risburgh by her parents and placed under the care of the abbess to receive an education and to build a foundation for her spiritual life.
At the age of 13, Catherine was taken from the abbey and given in marriage to Egard, a German nobleman. Upon meeting Egard, Catherine persuaded him to make a mutual vow of perpetual chastity with her. Catherine and Egard dedicated themselves to the service of God and encouraged each other in works of mortification, prayer and charity.
Around the year 1349, after the death of her father, Catherine accompanied her mother on a pilgrimage to Rome to visit the relics of the Roman Martyrs. The two spent several years living in Rome. In 1373 St. Bridget died and Catherine returned to Sweden with her mother's body. Two years later, Catherine returned to Rome to promote the cause for her mother's canonization and to gain approval for a Rule she had written for a group of religious women.
After gaining approval for her rule, Catherine returned to Sweden and became abbess of Vadzstena. Catherine served as abbess of Vadzstena until her death in 1381. During the final 25 years of her life, Catherine was known for her austere lifestyle and her practice of making daily use of the Sacrament of Confession.
St. Catherine was canonized in 1484 by Pope Pius II.
Great to see so many pro-lifers protest the pro-death HHS Mandate.
I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a rally in my area.
Thousands of pro-life Americans took to nearly 200 local rallies in cities and towns across the country to stand up for religious freedom and against the Obama mandate that requires employers to pay for birth control and drugs that may cause abortions.
The rally in Washington, D.C. was so large organizers had problems getting the entire crowd in one picture.
Kristan Hawkins, the head of Students for Life of America, was one of the pro-life leaders to address the crowd in the nation’s capital.
“The new mandate, which was released last month, violates our civil liberties and free exercise of religion by forcing every American, every public and private University Student Health Care Plan, and every U.S. Employer, regardless of religion or conscience, to pay for abortion-causing drugs, like Ella, in health insurance plans, she said.
Since I've been in North Carolina, I've been blessed with two good Bishops: first, Bishop Jugis, now Bishop Burbidge.
President Barack Obama’s reported opposition to a North Carolina marriage amendment is a “grave disappointment” that further escalates the “increasing confusion” about the nature of marriage, the Catholic bishops of the state have said.
“In his comments on the upcoming referendum in our state, the president regrettably characterized the marriage amendment as a matter of discrimination,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh and Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte said March 21. “While we are respectful of the office of the president, we strongly disagree with this assessment.”
The bishops said President Obama’s involvement is reported to be the first time he has entered into the issue on the state level. Nothing new...Barry has been trampling states' rights since he took office.
On May 8 North Carolina voters will decide on Amendment 1, which would recognize marriage between one man and one woman as “the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in the state.”
Early voting on the proposal will start in just over a month.
Cameron French, the spokesman for the president’s North Carolina campaign, said on March 16 that the president does not support the measure.
Together with Rose of Lima, Turibio is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for twenty-six years.
Together with Rose of Lima, Turibio is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for twenty-six years.
Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at Granada. He succeeded too well. But he was not sharp enough a lawyer to prevent a surprising sequence of events.
When the archbishopric of Lima in Spain's Peruvian colony became vacant, it was decided that Turibio was the man needed to fill the post: He was the one person with the strength of character and holiness of spirit to heal the scandals that had infected that area.
He cited all the canons that forbade giving laymen ecclesiastical dignities, but he was overruled. He was ordained priest and bishop and sent to Peru, where he found colonialism at its worst. The Spanish conquerors were guilty of every sort of oppression of the native population. Abuses among the clergy were flagrant, and he devoted his energies (and suffering) to this area first.
He began the long and arduous visitation of an immense archdiocese, studying the language, staying two or three days in each place, often with neither bed nor food. He confessed every morning to his chaplain, and celebrated Mass with intense fervor. Among those to whom he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation was Saint Rose of Lima, and possibly Saint Martin de Porres. After 1590 he had the help of another great missionary, Saint Francis Solanus.
His people, though very poor, were sensitive, dreading to accept public charity from others. Turibio solved the problem by helping them anonymously.
When Turibio undertook the reform of the clergy as well as unjust officials, he naturally suffered opposition. Some tried, in human fashion, to "explain" God's law in such a way as to sanction their accustomed way of life. He answered them in the words of Tertullian, "Christ said, 'I am the truth'; he did not say, 'I am the custom."'
Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at Granada. He succeeded too well. But he was not sharp enough a lawyer to prevent a surprising sequence of events.
When the archbishopric of Lima in Spain's Peruvian colony became vacant, it was decided that Turibio was the man needed to fill the post: He was the one person with the strength of character and holiness of spirit to heal the scandals that had infected that area.
He cited all the canons that forbade giving laymen ecclesiastical dignities, but he was overruled. He was ordained priest and bishop and sent to Peru, where he found colonialism at its worst. The Spanish conquerors were guilty of every sort of oppression of the native population. Abuses among the clergy were flagrant, and he devoted his energies (and suffering) to this area first.
He began the long and arduous visitation of an immense archdiocese, studying the language, staying two or three days in each place, often with neither bed nor food. He confessed every morning to his chaplain, and celebrated Mass with intense fervor. Among those to whom he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation was Saint Rose of Lima, and possibly Saint Martin de Porres. After 1590 he had the help of another great missionary, Saint Francis Solanus.
His people, though very poor, were sensitive, dreading to accept public charity from others. Turibio solved the problem by helping them anonymously.
When Turibio undertook the reform of the clergy as well as unjust officials, he naturally suffered opposition. Some tried, in human fashion, to "explain" God's law in such a way as to sanction their accustomed way of life. He answered them in the words of Tertullian, "Christ said, 'I am the truth'; he did not say, 'I am the custom."'
A Mexican group from 1926 known as the 'Cristeros' is getting some attention in the new film 'For Greater Glory'. It's the most expensive Mexican movie ever made.
Only 35 percent of the American people think the Democratic Party is “friendly to religion,” while 54 percent say the Republicans are. When asked specifically about the Obama administration, 39 percent see it as “friendly,” and 23 percent see it as “unfriendly.” But in 2009, only 17 percent said the administration was “unfriendly to religion.”
The big problem for Obama is with Catholics, especially white Catholics. The percent of Catholics who say the administration is “unfriendly to religion” has jumped in the past three years from 15 percent to 25 percent. Among white Catholics, the percent who say the administration is “unfriendly” has gone from 17 percent to 31 percent.
As the debate over religious freedom in health care continues to rage, a California hospital has voluntarily taken steps to bring itself into conformity with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Queen of the Valley Medical Center of Napa, California, has changed its sterilization policy and stopped offering tubal ligations. Although the hospital never offered the procedure as a mere elective form of contraception, officials revised their policy when they realized they were still violating the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic hospitals issued by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
The “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2009, states, “Direct sterilization of either men or women, whether permanent or temporary, is not permitted in a Catholic health care institution.”
After a conservative student action group launched a petition against the University of Notre Dame for linking to pro-abortion and gay rights groups as “internship opportunities” on its website, the school claimed the situation was mischaracterized.
TFP Student Action on Monday called supporters to oppose a page hosted under Notre Dame’s Department of Political Science.
The page for “Summer Internship Opportunities” lists pro-abortion groups such as Emily’s List, Feminist Majority Foundation, institute for Women’s Policy Research, and National Women’s Law Center, the top gay rights group Human Rights Watch, and the leftist groups Center for American Progress and Think Progress. It also lists the United Nations Population Fund, the international organization’s population control arm that investigations have found complicit with China’s coercive one-child policy.
St. Lea was a widow who lived in fourth century Rome and died around the year 384. After the death of her husband, she retired from the world to a monastery and eventually became superior of the community there. Much of the information available concerning the life of St. Lea, who has long been honored in the Roman Martyrology, comes from a letter from St. Jerome to Marcella which compares Lea's life to that of the Counsul Praetextaus. An excerpt of this letter, the twentieth epistle of St. Jerome is found below.
"Who will praise the blessed Lea as she deserves? She renounced painting her face and adorning her head with shining pearls. She exchanged her rich attire for sackcloth, and ceased to command others in order to obey all. She dwelt in a corner with a few bits of furniture; she spent her nights in prayer, and instructed her companions through her example rather than through protests and speeches. And she looked forward to her arrival in heaven in order to receive her recompense for the virtues which she practiced on earth."
"So it is that thence forth she enjoyed perfect happiness. From Abraham's bosom, where she resides with Lazarus, she sees our consul who was once decked out in purple, now vested in a shameful robe, vainly begging for a drop of water to quench his thirst. Although he went up to the capital to the plaudits of the people, and his death occasioned widespread grief, it is futile for the wife to assert that he has gone to heaven and possesses a great mansion there. The fact is that he is plunged into the darkness outside, whereas Lea who was willing to be considered a fool on earth, has been received into the house of the Father, at the wedding feast of the Lamb."
"Hence, I tearfully beg you to refrain from seeking the favors of the world and to renounce all that is carnal. It is impossible to follow both the world and Jesus. Let us live a life of renunciation, for our bodies will soon be dust and nothing else will last any longer."
I'd like to know why he calls this a Bible, because it's not really.
It does contain the NIV (New International Version) text, but essentially, it's his own thoughts and reflections on it; more of a study guide.
Former president Jimmy Carter has been strongly identified as a “Born Again” Christian and as a liberal Democrat for nearly five decades. He is once more blending those roles as he promotes “his” latest book, his own study Bible.
The NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter contains the full text of the New International Version of the Bible and the former president’s prayers, reflections, and asides.
During his book tour to promote a study of the Scriptures, Carter mentioned he supports same-sex “marriage.” Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman
President Carter told Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior religion editor of The Huffington Post:
Homosexuality was well known in the ancient world, well before Christ was born and Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things – he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies. (Emphasis added.)
However, he said he drew the line, “maybe arbitrarily, in requiring by law that churches must marry people.”
“If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to,” he said, adding his own church accepts “gay members on an equal basis.”
Battling sexual sin is perhaps one of the toughest and most demanding calls of the Christian life .. of the fully integrated life. But discouragement in the battle is not allowed.
Today, the universal church celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas of Flue. During his lifetime, the Swiss saint had 10 children, became a hermit and later prevented a civil war.
Nicholas was born in 1417 near the Lake of Lucerne in Switzerland. He married at the age of 30 and had 10 children. In addition to his duties as a husband and a father, Nicholas donated his talents and time selflessly to the community and always strove to give an excellent moral example to all.
The saint was also able to devote much of his private life to developing a strong relationship with the Lord. He had a strict regime of fasting and he spent a great deal of time in contemplative prayer.
Around the year 1467, when he was 50 years old, Nicholas felt called to retire from the world and become a hermit. His wife and children gave their approval, and he left home to live in a hermitage a few miles away. While living as a hermit, Nicholas soon gained a wide reputation on account of his personal sanctity and many people sought him out to request his prayers and spiritual advice.
Nicholas lived the quiet life of a hermit for 13 years. However in 1481, a dispute arose between the delegates of the Swiss confederates at Stans and a civil war seemed imminent. The people called on Nicholas to settle the dispute, so he drafted several proposals which everyone eventually agreed on.
Nicholas' work prevented civil war and solidified the country of Switzerland. But, as a true hermit, he then returned to his hermitage after settling the dispute.
He died six years later on March 21, 1487 surrounded by his wife and children.
Excellent choice...Lori is a strong Catholic leader who is not afraid to speak the truth.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops' committee on religious freedom, as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore on March 20.
“The very thought of serving and leading the nation's 'Premier See' fills me with joy and also with profound gratitude, first and foremost to the Lord who shepherds his people in love,” said Bishop Lori, referring to the long-standing national primacy of the first Catholic diocese established in the U.S.
Archbishop-designate Lori's installation will take place May 16 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. In an announcement from the Baltimore archdiocese, the new archbishop-designate thanked the Pope for entrusting him with leadership of the “great and historic” local Church.
As the Vatican announced Archbishop-designate Lori's appointment, it also revealed the Pope's choice of new bishops for Rockford, Ill. and Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida, as well as a new Archbishop of Montreal, Canada.
In Montreal, Cardinal Archbishop Jean-Claude Turcotte will be succeeded by his auxiliary Bishop Christian Lepine. Rockford's bishop-designate is Milwaukee-based pastor Monsignor David Malloy, while the Pensacola-Tallahassee diocese will be headed by Father Gregory Parkes from the Orlando diocese.
JPMorgan Chase is an expert in secrecy. Last November, it was reported that the bank, one of the biggest traders of credit derivatives, told their shareholders that they had sold protection on more than $5 trillion of debt. So who benefited? Such economic losers as Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. According to Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis, the stockholders were kept ignorant. “As concerns mount that those countries may not be creditworthy, investors are being kept in the dark about how much risk U.S. banks face from a default.”
JPMorgan Chase doesn’t have a good track record of being transparent, so it is hardly in a position to point fingers. Worse is its selective finger-pointing: it has no problem coming to the rescue of Italy, but it is very upset with the Vatican. As they like to say, we could use a little sunshine on this issue.
Sometimes we are so focused on Lent, that we forget the 40 Days for Life campaign is taking place at this time.
In Psalm 126, we read: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” When we go to pray in front of abortion facilities, we go with joy.
Today we look at the fruit of offering joy in a place of despair — and praise God that thus far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we are aware of at least 352 babies who have been saved from abortion!
Here are just a few of the great reports of the Lord’s victories.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
40 Days for Life vigil participants watched as a car pulled up to the abortion center. A woman got out — while a man and three small children waited in the parking lot.
A volunteer went to see if the man would speak to her. He did — telling her it would just be too difficult to have a fourth child.
A counselor told him of the help available and how abortion is not a solution for his wife. She told him that he had three beautiful gifts from God in the back seat … and God was giving them another beautiful gift — the baby his wife was carrying.
After a while, the woman came out in tears. There would be no abortion. She then returned to the abortion center and got her money back.
“What courage they had,” the volunteer said. “What a wonderful God we serve!”
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
A young couple had been parked down the street for more than half an hour. But all of a sudden, they got out of the car and made a dash for the abortion center.
One of the prayer volunteers tried to speak to them. “The girl looked confused – and the boyfriend was set on her going in. I called out to her and she turned and smiled at me.” She said to the young woman, “You do not need to go through this. You should make the decision. After all you’re the one who is pregnant.”
They went inside – and later stormed back out. “She evidently had second thoughts and came to discuss them with the boyfriend,” the volunteer said. “He took her back into the clinic. They came out again and the girl looked happy. The boyfriend drove out recklessly and screeched all the car tires.”
Please pray for this young couple — and their child.
Young people can become trapped in a specific habit of sexual sin and the effects of that sin can stay with them for the rest of their spiritual and psychological lives.
Where the first amendment guarantees us freedom of religion?
And now we have to pray for religious freedom?
Because Barry is shredding the constitution.
It's surreal.
The U.S. bishops have launched a nationwide prayer campaign to defend religious liberty against recent threats such as the federal contraception mandate.
The campaign centers around a newly-released “Prayer for Religious Liberty,” which asks God to grant “a clear and united voice” to all who gather to defend rights of conscience “in this decisive hour in the history of our nation.”
At a Washington, D.C. administrative committee meeting on March 13-14, leaders of the U.S. bishops' conference called for the campaign in response to imminent threats to religious liberty, including the Obama administration's controversial contraception mandate.
Bishops from every diocese in the country have spoken out against the mandate – announced by the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 20 – which will require employers to offer health insurance plans that cover contraception, sterilization and early abortion drugs, even if doing so violates their religious beliefs.
In a March 14 statement assessing the threat to religious freedom posed by the mandate, the bishops urged all people of faith to engage in “prayer and penance” for the protection of conscience rights in America.
Not much is known about the life of St. Herbert, other than he was a Hermit of England and a good friend of St. Cuthbert. Herbert was a priest, and lived as a recluse on an island in Lake Derwentwater, England which later became St. Herbert’s in his honor. Herbert had asked to die on the same day as his dear friend St. Cuthbert, and God granted Him the fulfillment of that desire.
Just when you think Barry couldn't be any more disgusting...
The Food and Drug Administration has approved experiments using brain tissue from aborted unborn babies to treat macular degeneration. StemCells Inc. will inject fetal brain stem cells into the eyes of up to 16 patients to study the cells’ effect on vision.
In its press release announcing the clinical trial, StemCells Inc. was careful to refer to the fetal brain material as “purified human neural stem cell product” or HuCNS-SC cells, rather than “fresh human fetal brain tissue,” a description which can be found elsewhere on its website.
“StemCells Inc. is not using embryonic stem cells. A five-day-old human being at the embryonic stage does not have a brain, but a fetus at 10 or 20 weeks of development with visible fingers, toes and ears has a functioning brain,” said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. “Developing human beings in the womb are treated simply as raw material for laboratory experimentation by StemCells Inc. and other companies seeking to monetize aborted unborn children.”
The misleadingly-named Birth Defects Research Laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle is known within the research community as a top government distributor of fetal tissue. The lab has been sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for over four decades, according to a report in WORLD Magazine. The Puget Sound Business Journal stated that the lab “in 2009 filled more than 4,400 requests for fetal tissue and cell lines.”
WORLD reports that the Seattle facility has retrieved the products of 22,000 pregnancies to date; the lab collects aborted fetuses from abortion centers across the country.
Barry keeps pushing his pro-death agenda, eradicating first amendment rights.
In a move that is likely to reignite the ire of religious leaders, late Friday afternoon the Obama administration announced a proposal that would require universities, including religious universities, to provide contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs to their students, as well as their employees, without a co-pay. This appears to significantly widen the originally-announced HHS mandate, which had only applied to employees.
The White House released the 32-page proposal late Friday afternoon. It outlines three different options to ensure that the health plans for employees and students of religious organizations cover birth control, including abortifacient drugs, and sterilizations, without co-pay.
The proposal, particularly the widening of the mandate to cover students, was met with simultaneous statements of support from members of the abortion lobby.
“Women who buy health insurance from their college or university will have access to affordable birth control, just like women who receive health insurance from their employer,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards said in an online press release.
“Covering birth control with no co-pays means college students will not have to choose between paying for tuition and books, or paying for basic health care like birth control.” What a pro-abort lie...Birth Control is NOT health care!
