Special Rosary Today for the Philippines

The Philippines has a bill in their Government that would promote artificial contraception and establish a 2 child per limit for each family. This policy has caused China to force abortions and sterilizations.

Please, the Philippines are 87% Catholic, let us pray against this. Please join me in a special Rosary today. "Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world" (Pope Pius IX). The Rosary is extremely powerful. Pope John Paul ll called it the second greatest prayer after the Holy Mass. Please join me today for a special Rosary for the Philippines.

Please spread the word!

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Sydney: World Youth Day 2008

A new website, although in the early stages, has been set up for the next international World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia.

The theme for this 2008 World Youth Day is: "You will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses" (cf Acts of the Apostles 1:8) For themes for the World Youth Days at the diocesan level for 2006 & 2007 just follow that link.

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Please Pray for Fr. McKenna

I have been saying prayers for a priest who recently went through surgery. The woman who knows him and asked for prayers through a Yahoo Group that I frequent, sent this email today. I ask all of my readers, to please say a prayer for him:

"A quick thank you to all of my prayer warrior friends who have been praying for our Pastor Emeritus James McKenna. I wanted to update you on his condition. He is out of surgery and is now taking chemotherapy and radiation to his lungs and brain respectively, and he DEMANDS more prayers from all of us. He is in good spirits and he humbly thanks everyone for their steadfast and continual prayers. I truly wish you could all know him personally. You would indeed love him as his parishioners have. He has never left the side of those in the hospital when they needed him."

February 7th Update: I posted an update on Fr. McKenna
April 15th Update: Prayers are needed desperately
May 6th Update: Fr. McKenna has not improved.
May 28th Update - Fr. McKenna has died.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Eucharistic Adoration

“The eternal spring is hidden in this living bread for our life's sake ... It is here calling out to creatures; and they satisfy their thirst” (St. John of the Cross).

"It moves me to see how the joy of Eucharistic adoration is increasing throughout the Church, and how its fruits are appearing. During the period of liturgical reform, Mass and Eucharistic adoration outside of Mass were often seen as being in opposition." "[However,] receiving the Eucharist means adoring Him Whom we receive." (Pope Benedict XVI, Dec. 22, 2005)

I love Eucharistic Adoration. My parish has 24/7 adoration in our chapel and Eucharistic Adoration in the Church for about 1 1/2 hours each weekday. Eucharistic Adoration is the greatest experience for me.

Yes, God is always with you, but He is with you differently at different places. In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is truly there - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity! At no other moment can we get closer to Heaven in this life than we we receive and adore Our Savior.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain, From the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)
Do any of you go to Adoration or does your parishes at least offer the opportunity?

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Thank You For Prayers for My Speeches

Thank you, everyone for your prayers. I gave my speeches again yesterday to a fairly good audience. Almost everyone liked my opinion against embryonic stem cells, and one man said he did learn a lot from my speech.

Thank you! Without your prayers I wouldn't have been able to succeed. Thanks be to God.

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Please Pray for Speeches Tomorrow

Today I will not be blogging because I will be presenting my speeches again. Please keep me in your prayers again that I might serve the Lord and do well.

I deeply thank all of your for your prayers

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How Times Have Not Changed

"People look upon [the Church] and say, 'She is about to die. Soon her very name will disappear. There will be no more Christians; they have had their day.' While they are thus speaking, I see these very people die themselves, day by day, but the Church lives on." (St. Augustine, "The Coming of the Catholic Church", page 12)

And St. Augustine died in 430 AD...

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Servant of God John the Gardner

Today in the liturgical calendar, we remember Servant of God John the Gardner. He was born in Portugal and was soon left orphaned. He spent time going door to door begging for anything, and he soon took a job as a shepherd. John shared the little money he earned with those needier than himself.

On one occasion two Franciscans encountered him on their journey and invited John back with them to their friary in Salamanca. At the frairy, he assisted the Franciscans in gardnering and soon entered the Franciscan Order as well. He lived a life of prayer and meditation with the Gift of Prophecy and the ability to read other's hearts. Even the rich princes from afar came to him for advice, and John always spoke of forgiving others.

He predicted his own death - January 11, 1501

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Catholic Exam: Test Your Knowledge in 130 Questions

Catholic Exam

When I went through RCIA classes a few years ago, I put together a study guide with just a small portion of the things I learned in the class. I thought that I would post it so that readers would be able to take it or pass it on to others to learn more about the faith.

Let me know what you think. View the Answers

1. Who are the three persons of the Most Holy Trinity?
2. What language was the Old Testament written in?
3. The New Testament?
4. Name the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit
5. Name the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit
6. What is the difference between Mortal & Venial Sin?
7. Recite the Our Father
8. Recite the Hail Mary
9. What are Christ's two natures?
10. What is original sin?
11. How can it be washed away?
12. In the Old Testament name 1 event which symbolized baptism freeing peoples
13. Name the precepts of the Church
14. What is the name given to the first 5 books of the Old Testament?
15. How did St. Paul convert to the faith?
16. Who was Abraham, Issac, and Jacob?
17. Who was Joseph from the Book of Genesis?
18. What is the difference between the Ascension & Assumption
19. How many days after Christ died did he rise?
20. How many days after the Resurrection did he ascend?
21. How many days after the Ascension did the Holy Spirit descend?
22. What is that day called?
23. In Genesis there were 2 trees -- name and describe both.
24. How many books are in the Protestant Bible of the Old Testament -- how many additional in ours?
25. What city was Christ born?
26. In what city did He die?
27. What does 'Peter' mean?
28. To what country did Joseph & Mary take the infant Jesus so that Herod couldn't kill him?
29. In what city in Galilee did Jesus live most of his human lifetime?
30. In what city did Christ die?
31. What is Palm Sunday?
32. What is Good Friday?
33. What is the hill where Christ died?
34. In what city did Christ perform his first public miracle, changing water into wine? Who asked Him to do this?
35. From what building did Christ drive out the money changers?
36. From what mount did Christ ascend into heaven, and on what mount will He stand on the day of His return?
37. What was the river that Christ was baptized in?
38. Who baptized Christ?
39. What is the purpose of a guardian angel?
40. Can someone, after they die, become an angel? If not, then a saint?
41. What are angels?
42. What are devils?
43. If someone's body is still preserved years after death what are they known as?
44. Was Christ forced to die or did he give His life up for us?
45. Did Christ have to die for our salvation?
46. Who turned Christ in to the Romans?
47. The Jews told Christ "We have no King but ________."
48. What 3 gifts did the 3 wise men bring?
49. What is the feast celebrated on Jan. 6? The day the 3 wise men came to Christ.
50. Who is the most popular Saint of all times?
51. Of modern-times?
52. What is the type of prayer called when you pray it 9 days in a row?
53. Christ died on what day?
54. He rose on what day?
55. Name the 7 capital sins.
56. Name the 10 Commandments?
57. Who were the 10 commandments presented to?
58. Moses parted what sea?
59. T/F Peter walked on water
60. How could he?
61. T/F Paul was one of the original disciples
62. Name the 12 original disciples
63. What disciple turned Christ in to the Romans?
64. Under what Roman Governor was Christ crucified?
65. What was the place that Christ was arrested at?
66. T/F Money can be a false god
67. What are the 4 Gospels
68. When did Christ 1st institute the Eucharist?
69. The arrival of the 3 wise men symbolized what?
70. Say a Glory Be
71. Who was Saint Francis of Assisi?
72. What two additional Commandments did Christ mention in the New Testament?
73. What does "Testament" mean?
74. Why are there 4 different Gospels instead of one?
75. The Old Testament mirrored the New Testament. Who symbolized Christ in the Old Testament? (Hint King _____)
76. Name at least two prophets
77. What is a martyr? Why are they symbolized in art with palm branches?
78. What does it take to be a Saint?
79. Canonization is the term for what?
80. Most of the books of the Bible were written by the end of what century?
81. Jesus tells us His Church will be guided by the ...
82. T/F Tattoos are allowed. (Hint: Leviticus 19:28)
83. Is Contraception, In vitro fertilization, and/or artificial insemination a sin?
84. The Great Flood lasted how long?
85. Did Noah first send out a raven or a dove?
86. What did God tell Noah the rainbow meant?
87. What is the name of the mount where the ark came to rest?
88. How many people were on Noah's ark during the Flood?
89. What did God tell Noah the rainbow meant?
90. Who replaced Judas Iscariot as an Apostle?
91. At what place was Christ Jesus arrested?
92. Who wrote most of the epistles of the New Testament?
93. T/F There was a Gospel of Mary & James. If yes, were they ever part of the Bible?
94. What are the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy?
95. Who were the 4 Major Prophets?
96. Lent has 3 parts to prepare ourselves for Christ’s Resurrection at Easter. What are they, as stated in Mt (6:1-6, 16-18)
97. What was the split between the Eastern Church & western Church in 1054 called?
98. What is Mary’s promise to whoever wears a brown scapular?
99. What are the 2 parts to the Mass?
100. At last ... recite the Nicene Creed.
101. Why do we genuflect?
102. Why do we make the sign of the Cross upon entering the Church? (2 reasons)
103. What is the greatest commandment?
104. The movement towards unity of all Christians is called?
105. Who was the first person to see Christ after his Resurrection?
106. What is the beginning of wisdom?
107. What is the difference of tradition & Tradition?
108. What personal friend of our Lord was raised from the dead by Jesus?
109. What is the Mass? How is it a Sacred Meal and a Sacrifice?
110. When do we genuflect on both knees in the Church?
111. Name 2 times we perform a profound bow in Church?
112. What is the purpose of Ash Wednesday?
113. What is the “seal” of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
114. Who was the first martyr? Why was he murdered?
115. Whose tomb was Christ buried in?
116. What is Genesis 3:19? On what day do we hear these words?
117. Describe each day and its meaning in Holy Week
118. What is the translation of ‘Gospel'?
119. What do the initials INRI above Christ’s head stand for?
120. Name the 7 capital sins?
121. Who turned Christ into the Romans?
122. What is the difference between the Visitation & Annunciation?
123. What is the transfiguration; where was it? What does it mean?
124. Early Christians used the word “mysteries” to describe what?
125. What is the Magisterium?
126. What is the last communion a person receives called?
127. What does a priest take communion to the sick?
128. What is the garment over a funeral coffin called?
129. Which Pope declared the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950?
130. What Roman emperor legalized Christianity in 313?

Want to learn more and better perfect your knowledge of the Catholic Faith? Look to CatechismClass.com for easy-to-use, affordable, yet proudly complete online self-study courses. The Adult Faith Formation Class will cover all of this and MUCH MORE.

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St. Hilary of Poitiers

Image: Church of Notre-Dame-La Grande in Poitiers
Optional Memorial (1969 Calendar): January 13
SemiDouble (1954 Calendar): January 14

Today we remember and celebrate the life of St. Hilary of Poitiers (315 - 368), Doctor of the Church. Born at Poitiers near the end of the 3rd century A.D. to pagan parents, St. Hilary converted to the faith after intense reading of the Holy Bible. His wife and child also converted, and he eventually became the bishop of Poitiers (clerical celibacy was not yet mandatory). He lived the rest of his life for the Catholic faith and worked all of his life to defeat Arianism, a heresy denying the divinity of Jesus Christ. He has been called the "Hammer against Arianism" as well as the “Athanasius of the West." St. Hilary baptized St. Martin of Tours.

In his seminal work on the liturgical year, Dom Gueranger writes:

After having consecrated the joyous Octave of the Epiphany to the glory of the Emmanuel who was manifested to the earth, the Church—incessantly occupied with the Divine Child and his august Mother, during the whole time from Christmas Day to that whereon Mary will bring Jesus to the Temple, there to be offered to God, as the law prescribes—the Church, we say, has on her Calendar of this portion of the year the names of many glorious Saints, who shine like so many stars on the path which leads us, from the joys of the Nativity of our Lord, to the sacred mystery of our Lady’s Purification.

And firstly there comes before us, on the very morrow of the day consecrated to the Baptism of Jesus, the faithful and courageous Hilary—the pride of the Churches of Gaul, and the worthy associate of Athanasius and Eusebius of Vercelli in the battle fought for the Divinity of our Emmanuel. Scarcely were the cruel persecutions of paganism over, when there commenced the fierce contest with Arianism, which had sworn to deprive of the glory and honours of his divinity that Jesus who had conquered, by his Martyrs, the violence and craft of the Roman Emperors. The Church had won her liberty by shedding her blood, and it was not likely that she would be less courageous on the new battlefield into which she was driven. Many were the Martyrs that were put to death by her new enemies—Christian, though heretical, Princes: it was for the Divinity of that Lord, who had mercifully appeared on the earth in the weakness of human flesh, that they shed their blood. Side by side with these stood those holy and illustrious Doctors, who, with the martyr-spirit within them, defended by their learning and eloquence the Nicene Faith, which was the Faith of the Apostles. In the foremost rank of these latter we behold the Saint of to-day, covered with the rich laurels of his brave confessorship, Hilary: who, as St Jerome says of him, was brought up in the pompous school of Gaul, yet had culled the flowers of Grecian science, and became the Rhone of Latin eloquence. St Augustine calls him the illustrious Doctor of the Churches.

Though gifted with the most extraordinary talents, and one of the most learned men of the age, yet St Hilary's greatest glory is his intense love for the Incarnate Word, and his zeal for the liberty of the Church. His great soul thirsted after martyrdom, and, by the unflinching love of truth which such a spirit gave him, he was the brave champion of the Church in that trying period when Faith, that had stood the brunt of persecution, seemed to be on the point of being betrayed by the craft of Princes, and the cowardice of temporizing and unorthodox Pastors.

Prayer:

O God, Who didst give blessed Hilary to Thy people as a minister of eternal salvation: grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who have had him for our teacher on earth, may deserve to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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