Category Archives: Saints: Stories & Symbols

Under pain of death, everyone was to sacrifice to the gods and obtain a certificate.

After a lull in the official persecutions of Christians, in A.D. 250 the Emperor Decius determined that Christians were the enemies of the Roman Empire. Sound like any American President you know?  But I digress. At that time in the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Religious Liberty, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged ,
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“The Church will become small and will have to start afresh …”

Back in 1969 theologian Joseph Ratzinger made some comments about our Catholic future.  They were included in his  Faith and the Future published by Ignatius Press in 2009. The church will become small and will have to start afresh more … Read More

Posted in Four Last Things, Modern Martyrs, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Religious Liberty, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , ,
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Religious Persecution and Martyrdom

A reader sent me this. It contains comments made by His Eminence Francis Card. George, Archbishop of Chicago. In 2010, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago outlined the degree to which he believed religious freedoms (in the United States and other … Read More

Posted in Dogs and Fleas, Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , ,
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Agnes: “Shining with the fire of divine love”

Let us invoke St. Agnes, virgin and martyr. O glorious Agnes, chosen by God, though weak, to make His own might manifest in your martyrdom, together with the Apostles intercede before the throne of our Our Father in heaven and … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , ,
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Appeal to authorities for Chinese New Year: release of three bishops and of six priests who have disappeared

I hope other bloggers will pick this up and share it with their own readers. Perhaps after reading this you could stop for a moment and say a Memorare for the missing priests and bishops as well as for the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Modern Martyrs, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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Nigeria: More Christians killed, probably by Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram

From CWN: Gunmen kill 4 Nigerian Christians Gunmen on the outskirts of Potiskum, a northeastern Nigerian city of 200,000, have killed four Christians who were fleeing the area in the wake of previous attacks. The Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram … Read More

Posted in Modern Martyrs, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , ,
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St. Jerome on St. John the Evangelist

From Matins for today’s feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, from the Breviarium Romanum: V. Grant, Lord, a blessing. Benediction. May the Spirit’s fire Divine in our hearts enkindled shine. Amen. Reading 6 From the Commentary upon the Epistle … Read More

Posted in Patristiblogging, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged ,
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Feeling safe about being a faithful Catholic, are you?

OMI‘s have a video about their Spanish Martyrs. There is an odd liturgical moment, in which, during the Mass as it was during the 30’s, the priest turned around at the elevation of the Host.  I think the producers are … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Modern Martyrs, Our Catholic Identity, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , ,
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St. Ambrose: copycat, rookie, disliked by St. Jerome

St. Ambrose was a titanic figure in the Church in Italy in the 4th century.  Here is a post I wrote some time ago about him and another great figure of the patristic era, St. Jerome. In the ancient world, … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Saints: Stories & Symbols | Tagged , , , ,
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Bl. Carl Lampert: ” ‘I love my Church. I remain faithful to my Church and to the priesthood. I am on Christ’s side and I love His Church.”

I had determined last year that this year I would during Advent read a book Advent of the Heart, reflections by a priest who died in Dachau, Fr. Alfred Delp – a fellow Lutheran convert. (Kindle version. UK book.)  Remember: … Read More

Posted in Global Killer Asteroid Questions, Modern Martyrs, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Saints: Stories & Symbols, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice | Tagged , , , ,
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