Food of the Day

Guard your eyes that they may not look upon anything contrary to purity; your ears, that they may not listen to evil conversation; your mind, by banishing from it all suggestive thoughts; your heart, by stifling impure desires at their very birth.
-- St. John Baptist de la Salle

Race Car Driver

After Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica survived a major crash last week, he requested relics of Pope John Paul II and received them from the present Archbishop of Krakow.

Kubica has been in the hospital since a Feb. 6 crash during a rally race called the Ronde di Andora in northwestern Italy's Liguria region left him with serious injuries to his limbs. The car was destroyed after it hit a guardrail on a mountain road at an estimated 140 mph.

The driver has undergone operations to treat damage in his right hand and shoulder and his right foot. According to local news reports, his co-pilot escaped the crash without major injuries.

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Two Brothers

Blessed Virgin Mary

Below is the exact description that Saint Marie Bernadette Soubirous gave of the times when the Immaculate and Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her in Lourdes, France in 1858.

There are three details that I especially like. The first that our Blessed Mother had gold or yellow roses on her feet. The second is that as soon as St Bernadette stopped praying the Holy Rosary, Mary disappeared. The third is that Mary called herself 'the Immaculate Conception.' Mary not only experienced an immaculate conception in the womb of her mother Saint Anne, but Mary is the Immaculate Conception. In other words, it's one of her titles: the Immaculate Conception.

It's truly inspiring to read this and consider that the Blessed Virgin actually appeared to Bernadette in this way. Here are Bernadette's own words:

I had gone down one day with two other girls to the bank of the river Gave when suddenly I heard a kind of rustling sound. I turned my head toward the field by the side of the river but the trees seemed quite still and the noise was evidently not from them. Then I looked up and caught sight of the cave where I saw a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright belt. On top of each of her feet was a pale yellow rose, the same colour as her rosary beads.

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Misplaced Grace

Did you see Christina Aguilera mess up the National Anthem at the Super Bowl? I didn’t.

I didn’t see the failed National Anthem, but I certainly read about it. Minutes after Christina’s big flub YouTube videos surfaced of her “ramparts” deletion and countless Facebook status updates transitioned from “Go Packers!” to “Christina Aguilera Sucks!” and “Who Forgets The National Anthem?” Within moments of the slip-up social networking forums, blogs, and new sites unanimously proclaimed their disapproval of everything from Christina’s choice of wardrobe to her awful pitch and obvious lack of patriotism.

One small mistake brought a hail storm of criticism upon the pop-star. The minor error that harmed no one and broke no laws was enough to provoke immediate opinion from much of the country. The next morning, even more buzz circulated about Christina and her horrifying pre-game solo on early newscasts and television shows. Journalists gave their “two-cents” about why and how the seasoned singer botched her performance. Some reporters cracked jokes, others expressed sympathy. The general public gave no mercy for her blunder. Instead, she became a laughingstock. Her actions, of no actual consequence to the American people, provoked a national response of “comical” condemnation.

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Food of the Day

My God, do Thou strengthen and increase my faith in Thy divinity that I may adore it, and love it, and confess it even at the peril of my own life; let me be only too happy if I should be called to shed my blood in defense of it.
-- St. Peter Eymard

George W. Bush's daughter Barbara

George W. Bush's daughter Barbara has joined her mother in opposing the former president's stand against same-sex 'marriage' by appearing in a video promoting gay 'marriage' in New York.

Last May, former first lady Laura Bush had told television talk show host Larry King that she disagreed with her husband regarding the legality of homosexual 'marriage.'

'Do you think we should have it?' King asked.

'Well, I think that we ought to definitely look at it,' Mrs. Bush responded. 'When couples are committed to each other and love each other - they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has.

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Catholic Healthcare West

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) has awarded a grant to a network of clinics that counts at least two abortion providers as members.

The organization has been under heavy scrutiny in recent months after St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, which is owned by CHW, performed a direct abortion. Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix announced in December that because the hospital had refused to renounce the decision, he was revoking its Catholic status.

The same month, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, where Catholic Healthcare West is based, said he would be initiating a dialogue with the organization as a result of Bishop Olmsted's concerns.

In the wake of this controversy, Catholic Healthcare West announced January 6 that they had dispersed nearly $1.2 million in grants to 35 non-profit organizations, including the Capitol Community Health Network (CCHN).

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Planned Parenthood

Less than a day after an undercover video showed Planned Parenthood clinic manager Amy Woodruff coaching a pimp and a prostitute how to keep their underage sex trafficking business secret, Planned Parenthood has fired Woodruff. Planned Parenthood had originally claimed that Woodruff reported the incident to Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey the same day of the actors’ visit.

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Purification of Mary

Obama administration's health care

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Obama administration's health care overhaul is unconstitutional, siding with 26 states that sued to block it. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson accepted without trial the states' argument that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties.

Attorneys for the administration had argued that the states did not have standing to challenge the law and that the case should be dismissed.

The next stop is likely the U.S. Supreme Court. Two other federal judges have upheld the insurance requirement, but a federal judge in Virginia also ruled the insurance provision violates the Constitution.

In his ruling, Vinson went further than the Virginia judge and declared the entire health care law unconstitutional.
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The New York Times Hearts Abortion

They know it, we know it, everyone knows it, the New York Times is a big supporter of human abortion. They regularly publish editorials filled with the talking points of Planned Parenthood (the nation’s largest abortion provider) and NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League).
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Roe v Wade

Food of the Day

Remember, that the devil has only one door by which to enter the soul: the will. There are secret or hidden doors. Temptations, discouragement, and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord within the human soul
-- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Food of the Day

For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that "the work of our redemption is accomplished," and it is through the liturgy especially that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.
-- Sacrosanctum concilium

Food of the Day

We must above all show charity to our enemies. By this you may know that a man is a true Christian, if he seeks to do good to those who wish him evil.
-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Pimp's Underage Sex Ring

Gay Pride Parade

Members of the San Diego Fire Department have won a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city for being forced to participate in a local gay pride parade in 2007.

On Jan. 26, the California Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the city and instead upheld a lower court ruling in favor of the firefighters.

The move ends a several-year legal legal battle for four firefighters who lodged a complaint against San Diego for being forced to participate in the city's gay pride parade in 2007. Although the firefighters objected numerous times to taking part in the event, the fire department disregarded their complaints and ordered them to dress in full uniform and drive their fire truck in the parade.

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Paul II's Beatification

Rome is already bracing for the impact of the many pilgrims who will converge on St. Peter's for the May 1 beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Sleeping space in religious communities across the city - around 15,000 beds - was booked up within a day of the Jan. 14 announcement.

The Domus Aurelia hotel run by the Emmanuel Community has been reserved 'since literally two minutes after the announcement,' said Lorenzo Amico, who was working the hotel desk at the time. The hotel is located a short way from St. Peter's on foot

Two large groups made the reservations, filling the facility to capacity for an entire week.

'We've received calls continuously since then,' Amico told CNA during a Jan. 31 phone conversation. 'Even though the entire area is completely full, they keep on calling.'
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New Book Celebrates

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington says the new English translation of the Roman Missal represents 'a catechetical moment for the whole Church in the country.'

In anticipation of the new translation, the Cardinal has co-written a new book - a step-by-step walk through the parts of the Mass - which he hopes will be a 'helpful tool' to help Catholics deepen their understanding of the Mass.

'We begin the book by saying the Mass is 'what Catholics do.' The most clearly identifiable action of the Catholic Church is the Mass. ... It is the identifying quality of our Catholic life,' Cardinal Wuerl told CNA in a Jan. 31 phone interview.

'The Mass is how the salvific redemption of the Cross reaches Christians today, nearly 2,000 years since the death of Christ,' he said. 'And that's why there is nothing the Church does that is more important, more significant, more grace-laden, than the Mass.'

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Teen Expresses Thanks

On the eve of this past Thanksgiving, 44-year-old native Alaskan Brenda Kolerok-Schott of Anchorage walked unannounced into the offices of Catholic Social Services to write a $10,000 check to the organization. Never before had she written such a large check. But this gift to Catholic Social Services' pregnancy support program and Brother Francis Shelter was a deeply personal one for the once pregnant, homeless teenager.

Young, homeless - and pregnant

In 1983, 16-year-old Kolerok-Schott was pregnant. And her family was homeless. After a house deal fell through in Wasilla, they passed from hotels to friends to even the crawl space in a relative's house. Finally, the family - with four children - moved into a one bedroom, one bath apartment. It was 'heaven,' Kolerok-Schott told the Catholic Anchor.

pro-gay marriage

Another head shaker comes to us from the Vatican with the appointment of pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion scientist, Dr. Miguel Nicolelis to the Pontifical Academy of Science.

Pope names staunch pro-abortion and pro-'gay marriage' scientist to Pontifical Academy of Sciences. This comes on the heels of the appointment of a Protestant as head of the Academy.

Does any of this matter? Does appointing Protestants and those who diametrically oppose Catholic teaching to the Academy affect its deliberations and advice to the pope?

Well, the facetious question, 'Is the pope Catholic?,' pops into my head. How can it not? Jesus founded a Church where the fullness of the truth lies. That includes the fullness of the truth about the world that God made. Who is most able to carry out scientific inquiry? The man of faith and science like Louis Pasteur or the ridiculer of God and religion, Richard Dawkins?

The Lost Valentine,' airing on CBS

A new made-for-TV movie by Hallmark and a faith-based film company in time for Valentine's Day promotes 'tremendous' Catholic values, a priest involved with the production said.

The president of Paulist Productions, Fr. Eric Andrews, praised the film to CNA for having what he called 'poignant moments' where 'faith and trust in God's promises are put to the test and not found wanting.'

'The Lost Valentine,' airing on CBS this Sunday, Jan. 30 at 9 Eastern time, features actress Jennifer Love Hewitt of Ghost Whisperer fame, as well as veteran performer and recent pop culture phenomenon Betty White.

member of a pro-abortion

After it was revealed that the director of the U.S. bishops' social justice arm had been a campaign member of a pro-abortion state senate candidate, the director has responded by saying that he never knew the candidate's position and that his role in the campaign was minimal.

News of CCHD director Ralph McCloud's role as treasurer of Democrat Texas state senator Wendy Davis broke last week on the Creative Minority Report blog. Davis, strongly backed by Planned Parenthood, defeated pro-life incumbent Kim Brimer in the 2008 election while McCloud, also CCHD director at the time, was part of the campaign.

health reform law

After causing a major stir last year by claiming that President Obama's health reform law did not fund abortion - in contradiction to position of the U.S. Bishops and every major pro-life group - the Catholic Health Association (CHA) has now backed a bill that would amend the law to prevent government-funded abortion in health care.

In a January 24th letter to Rep. Joe Pitts, who sponsored the Protect Life Act, CHA President and CEO Sr. Carol Keehan says she applauds his 'efforts to ensure the protection of the unborn and of providers' conscience rights.'

Pitt's legislation was unveiled last week along with the 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act' (HR 3), which would establish a permanent government-wide ban on federal funding of abortion.

participate in a gay pride

Four California firefighters forced to participate in a gay pride parade in July 2007 are victorious after the California Supreme Court this week refused to hear the city's petition to review an appellate court decision last year.

The four men, led by Fire Capt. John Ghiotto of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, filed the suit against the city of San Diego for sexual harassment a month after a battalion chief directly ordered them to ride a fire engine in a lewd parade through the city streets. The men endured verbal abuse and come-ons, as well as overtly sexual gestures from the crowd

Family

Food of the Day

My Jesus, how good it is to love you! Let me be like your disciples on Mount Tabor, seeing nothing else but you, my Savior. Let us be as two friends, neither of whom can bear to offend the other. Amen.

-- St. John Vianney