Catholic Books and other items: Ideas for your Catholic articles

Summer Reading Special - 20% or more off selected titles!

Ignatius Press: Summer is the  perfect time for reading a favorite novel
that is a great story, especially one that can not only inspire and inform
us, but also entertain. Here is a group of great novels, thoughtful works
of literary analysis, and thrilling true-life stories - all from a Catholic
perspective. Pick a few for your reading enjoyment and leisure this summer
- all at 20% off or more!

Catholic Saints and their writings

St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor: 540-604 A.D.

A Latin Doctor: St. Gregory was born to a wealthy family during the era
of Rome’s disintegration as an Empire.  Despite the political turmoil, he
was able to receive a good education and eventually became the Prefect of
the City of Rome. However, hearing a higher calling to serve God, he turned
the estates of his family in Sicily into six monasteries and included his
own home in Rome to be a monastery.  Eventually, because of his political
status, he was elected pope when the previous pope died in a plague. As a
pope, St. Gregory worked so well that he merited the title, “The Great”.
He also wrote many excellent writings and involved himself in the political
safeguarding of the city of Rome. In his last years, he suffered from
illnesses caused by his excessive asceticism.  He is the last of the
traditional Latin doctors of the Church.

St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor

Defender of Rome: St. Leo the Great was probably born of Tuscan parentage
in Rome at about 400 A.D.  He served as a deacon for two popes and eventually
was elected to the papacy when Pope Sixtus died.  As pope, St. Leo the Great
had to resolve the Eutychian controversy, which he was able to do in the
Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.  His papacy was besieged by the attacks of
barbarians, the Huns and the Vandals. St. Leo was able to stem the Huns
from ransacking Rome but was unsuccessful with the Vandals, who promised
not to burn the city.  St. Leo wrote many sermons and letters, but his
major writing which contributed to his declaration as Doctor of the Church,
was the “Tome” - a letter that expressed the Christian doctrine on the
Incarnation.

Articles on Building a Catholic Articles Web Site or Catholic Blog

Using WordPress Blog for your Home Page

WordPress Software: For a content-rich web site filled with information on
the Catholic faith, a good and inexpensive way to put up a standardized
home page with basic design is a WordPress blog home page. With a WordPress
blog home page, you can save on purchasing templates that comply with the
standards of web design.

Other Catholic articles, blogs, gifts

Dioceses Prepare for Jubilee of Apostle of the Gentiles

Sunday Mass Readings of the Catholic Church

Lectionary Readings for the 12th Sunday of the Year, Year A

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for the 12th Sunday of the Year,
Year A, are taken from: the book of Jeremiah, the letter of Paul to the
Romans, and the gospel of Matthew.  In the book of Jeremiah, we find the
prophet Jeremiah being assailed and persecuted by his enemies, but even
though he may be outnumbered, he has the Lord on his side to rescue his
life.  Then in the letter to the Romans, Paul teaches that by the offense
of the one man, Adam, all have sinned and died, but God did much more
by the gracious gift of the one man, Jesus Christ, whose graces abound
for all. Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we read about Jesus encouraging
all His followers not to be afraid of anything, because as much as God’s
people acknowledge Him before others, God will acknowledge them before
His Father in heaven.

Reflections on the Sunday Gospel

“Do not fear those who deprive the body of life…”

Gospel reflection: Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to
encourage all His apostles and disciples, to share in His ministry and
mission.  The Holy Spirit, of which Christian tradition speaks of as
the “Soul’s-hardening for the fight”, will help all the failings of our
flesh, and supply it with never failing power.  But the fight which the
Spirit is helping us, so that we may share in Christ’s victory, is a
spiritual fight - one that resists the temptation to sin and to do all
manner of good works amidst adversity and difficulty.  We know that not
all are called to have the gift of martyrdom, but all are called to share
in the Cross of Christ.  And sharing in Christ’s Cross may mean, in the
world of family and work, opposing or resisting any spirit that seeks to
destroy the Christian soul of the family, or the Christian spirit in
which we work and earn our living.  It is by a life of prayer and union
with the Spirit that we shall obtain the strength and the power to
resist and oppose sin - in ourselves and among us.

Catholic Books and other items: Ideas for your Catholic articles

DVDs on Becket, Sports Champions of Faith and Immaculee

Ignatius Press: Highly regarded spiritual writer and theologian, Fr.
Aidan Nichols, OP, has a beautiful title “Lovely Like Jerusalem” that
shows the crucial links between the Old and New Testament. And another
title by the renowned Henri de Lubac on the impressive Scriptural
insights of the Church Father, Origen, in his “History and Spirit”.
Plus two powerful, deeply inspiring DVDs on real spiritual champions
- “Becket”, the acclaimed classic movie on St. Thomas Becket, and the
fabulous sports film about devout Catholic baseball stars, “Champions
of Faith”.

Catholic Saints and their writings

St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor

A Jesuit Scholar: St. Robert Bellarmine came from a noble family.
Entering the Jesuit Order at an early age, he devoted himself to study,
teaching, and preaching.  A brilliant scholar, he was called to Rome
for various offices.  Although given many titles and honours, St.
Robert Bellarmine was also a very dedicated pastor of Capua - caring
for the poor and catechizing children.  In his last years, he wrote
more on spiritual works and retired at a Jesuit novitiate where he
passed away on September 17, 1621 A.D.

St. Isidore of Seville, Bishop and Doctor

A Man of Prayer: St. Isidore was a prayerful man.  However, he had to
obey God’s will and be more active in his life when he had to succeed
his brother Leander as bishop (when Leander died in about 600 A.D.). He
presided over Councils and became a very prolific and voluminous writer.
Knowing that both a contemplative and an active life is what is useful in
the Church, he led a life that sets an example for us of how we are to
grow in our being Christians: to live simply, taking little for ourselves,
and being charitable to our brothers and sisters.  In one of his writings,
we can see how a life of prayer can help us be in God’s company when
engaging in the active life, and at the same time how we can purify
ourselves from anything that is not of God.  St. Isidore says: “Prayer
purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when both are possible.
Otherwise, praying is better than reading. If a man wants to be always in
God’s company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray
we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us.”

Articles on Building a Catholic Articles Web Site or Catholic Blog

Optimizing Time and Resources for our Catholic Blogs

Optimization: Building a Catholic articles web site or posting at our
Catholic blogs can involve much of our time and resources. So that we do
not waste time and resources, what can help us optimize our productivity
are three things: planning and organization, regular defragmentation of the
hard drive, and scheduling our work online and offline. This articles helps
the Catholic site owner and blogger to learn of three ways to maximize and
optimized the productivity, efficiency and quality of his Catholic articles
and Catholic blog posts.

What it Takes to Build Catholic Articles Web Sites and Blogs

Faith, Dreams: As in any venture in life, taking a step into unchartered
territory of the Net always involves risks. Every decision we make to take
a step forward, is an act of faith that we can make it, despite the risks
involved. Placing our faith in God, helps us to be confident that we will
be able to take a good step forward, and to overcome any fear with the
courage that God will supply. Faith, plus determination and our undying
dreams, will spur us to succeed in building Catholic articles web sites
and Catholic blogs for the proclamation of the gospel on the Net and the
propagation of Catholicism.

Families Proclaim the Gospel

Catholic Family Web Site: There are many ways of proclaiming the gospel and
propagating the Catholic faith on the Net.  One way to do so is by building
a web site where family members can each give their time or resources in
the production of Catholic articles and Catholic blogs.  The Catholic
family web site is an example of how, as lay members of the Church, the
gospel can be proclaimed also as a Catholic family on the Net. If you wish
to discover ideas as regards this lay mission, we have a Catholic eBook
preview section where you can get as many ideas as you can on how to build
a Catholic articles web site with many Catholic blogs included in the site.

Other Catholic articles, blogs, gifts

St. Isidore’s Gift to Church: On Active and Contemplative Life

Archbishop Wuerl Says Faithful Are True Participants in Mass

Direct From Lourdes Catholic Gifts

Site News - June 16, 2008

News on our Blog Sites: Our Information and Communications Blog, which
was started last October 2005, had to be discontinued and deleted because
of too much spamming activity.  This blog used to have information on our
Newsletters, SEO-related topics, some Catholic articles, and articles
related to building a Catholic web site.  However, all the contents of
these blog were saved and will be revised and edited with a more updated
presentation in a new section of the web site.  If you wish to review the
information and contents that were in this blog, you can follow the regular
publishing of these 25 or more blog posts at our third rss feed.  You can
subscribe to this third rss feed either through a feed reader or through
email subscription.

Sunday Mass Readings of the Catholic Church

Lectionary Readings for the 11th Sunday of the Year, Year A

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for the 11th Sunday of the Year,
Year A, are taken from: the book of Exodus, the letter of Paul to the Romans,
and the gospel of Matthew.  In the book of Exodus, we will read about Moses
and how he went up to the mountain of God where the Lord commanded him to
speak to the people Israel and tell the people how they are a special people
- a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.  Then in the letter to the Romans, we
will read about Paul telling the community of Christians in Rome how great
the love of God is for us: that even while we were still sinners, His Son
Jesus already gave His life for our salvation.  Lastly, in the gospel of
Matthew, we will read about Jesus calling his twelve disciples and giving
them authority to expel unclean spirits and cure sickness and disease of
every kind.

Reflections on the Sunday Gospel

“The heart of Jesus was moved with pity…they were…like sheep
without a shepherd.”

Gospel reflection: The heart of Jesus is the heart of a spiritual father:
one who cares for the direction of the people.  When he saw the crowds and
had pity on them, He immediately commanded His twelve disciples to pray
that there would be laborers to gather the harvest for God.  And He Himself
set the example, by ordering His apostles to preach that the reign of God
is near. And to show evidence of this sign, they were to cure the sick,
raise the dead, heal the leprous, and expel demons.  The leadership of
Jesus is one that involves the heart - the core of our being where God
Himself dwells. Thus, Jesus leads with a fatherly spirit - caring for the
people as a father would care for his children.  And to set an example of
this fatherly concern, He instructed His disciples to do as He does in
His ministry and mission of caring for the sick and expelling demons who
threaten the life of persons.

Catholic Books and other items: Ideas for your Catholic articles

20% off In honor of the Year of Saint Paul

Ignatius Press: Pope Benedict XVI announced a special jubilee year
dedicated to St. Paul which begins on June 28th. He stated that the
Church needs modern Christians who will imitate the apostle’s missionary
energy and spirit of sacrifice. Ignatius Press is offering 20% off the
titles below in honor of this special jubilee year. With a wide range of
titles from “Paul Struggles with His Congregation” to “You Can Understand
the Bible”, Ignatius Press offers something for everyone who seeks
focused study and meditation on this great saint.

Discovering God in the Rwandan Holocaust: Stories of Courage

Ignatius Press: The Rwandan genocide has had an impact on people around
the world from the minute it began, to this very day. Countless stories have
been told and heard from survivors of this tragic event, but none has had
more of an impact than the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza. She is a survivor
of the genocide who put pen to paper and has provided us with her story of
courage, forgiveness, and most of all her faith in God. Her unwavering
faith is an example for all of us, and we wish to share her story with you
and other stories listed on this page from Ignatius Press.

Whatever Became of Sin?, by Karl Menninger, M.D.

Book review: For many of us educated in the social science of psychology,
we often take for granted the moral responsibility that goes with
every human act.  Dr. Karl Menninger, M.D., a famous psychiatrist, tells
and explains in this book that even with our highly informed minds on
psychological theories and realities, we still need to take into account
the moral responsibility inherent for all our actions if we are to find
new hope for real emotional health.

Great Saints Great Friends, by Neill and Chervin

Book review: Great Saints Great Friends, by Neill and Chervin, helps
the Catholic be inspired by the example of the saints and learn from them
how to seek the Lord always so as to be faithful to God until the end.
The two authors Chervin and Neill divided the writing of the book with
each one writing on a saint whom they have a special interest or devotion
in.  Chervin writes on St. Paul, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of
Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Elizabeth Seton.
Neill, on the other hand, writes on: St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Joan of Arc,
St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette of Lourdes and St. Therese of Liseiux.
Both authors have written well and their inspired writing helps us to see
how the saints are also human like us but their special and ardent
commitment to Christ have raised the level of their spirituality to heights
beyond the average. These saints are described by the two authors as “God
Seekers”, for they have sought the Lord with their whole mind, heart, soul
and strength and because of this they all had a profound impact on countless
men and women down through the ages.  Each chapter written by Chervin or
Neill contains a brief description of each saint’s life story and then adds
with a discussion of the effect their “friendship” has on the modern
believer and devotee.  Dr. Ronda Chervin is a wife, mother, professor,
author and international lecturer.  Sr. Mary Neill, OP, is a professor,
workshop director, lecturer and co-director of Inner Explorations.

The Pontiff in Winter, by John Cornwell

Book review: The Pontiff in Winter gives a balanced portrait of John
Paul II and his pontificate.  Despite also the negative aspects that cannot
be avoided in any person’s life and administration, author John Cornwell
preserves the great respect rightfully obtained by the Holy Father John
Paul II by the witness of his life and spirit. The book highlights how
John Paul had firmly set his stamp on the billion-member-strong Catholic
Church for future generations, and how he has become one of the most
influential political figures in the world.  It tells about his key role
in the downfall of communism in Europe, and his apologies for the Catholic
Church’s treatment of Jews and to victims of the Inquisition, racism, and
religious wars. Because of this, he has won worldwide admiration.  The book
however sets a balance to John Paul II’s image and also gives those aspects
of his papal administration that are “negative” in the eyes of his critics.
So the book tells also about his papacy which was perceived as marked also
with many issues concerning the Church’s internal affairs. All in all, the
book is an objective view into the administration of John Paul II in his
from the beginning of his pontificate to his last years.

Catholic Saints and their writings

St. Louis-Marie Teaches a Way to Holiness

On Christian Holiness: Montfort reveals to us his spiritual insight
into the theme of Christian holiness through: (1) the source of holiness
(the Most Blessed Trinity); (2) describes its origin (the Christian
vocation); (3) indicates its authors (the Holy Spirit working through
the Mother of the Redeemer); (4) reveals its marvelous secret (the true
devotion to Mary); (5) proposes models of holiness (Christ, Mary, and
the saints); (6) reminds us of the necessity of mankind’s cooperation
in order to acquire it (the virtues); (7) traces the development of its
intensity (the three stages of the spiritual life); and (8) speaks to
us of its final goal (eternal life in God)

St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor

A Jesuit Doctor: St. Peter Canisius was a Dutchman who comes from a
wealthy family - his father being a nine-times-elected major of Nijmegen.
His father sent him to study law, wanted him to become a lawyer and
marry a wealthy young lady.  But while at the University of Cologne, Peter
was influenced by a group of pious men. This shifted his attention from
the world to wanting to serve the Church.  He then met Peter Faber and
then proceeded to make a retreat of the Spiritual Exercises (of St.
Ignatius of Loyola) under Peter Faber’s guidance.  This led him to the
decision to become a Jesuit.  Once entering the Jesuit Order, he led a
life of missionary work and established colleges in many parts of the
German Empire. This great work led Pope Leo XIII to declare him the
Second Apostle of Germany - next to the first being St. Boniface.  A
prolific writer even after experiencing a stroke, St. Peter Canisius
passed away at Fribourg in December 21, 1597 A.D.  In 1925 A.D., he was
canonized together with the declaration of his title as Doctor of the
Church.

Catholic news items from Zenit and Vatican page features

Pope Summarizes Christian Message: Love for God and Neighbor

Pope Repays Bush’s Cordiality: Offers Him Welcome Too

Lectionary Readings for the 10th Sunday of the Year, Year A

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/10th-sunday-a.html

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for the 10th Sunday of the Year,
Year A, are taken from - the book of the Prophet Hosea, the letter of Paul
to the Romans, and the gospel of Matthew. In the book of Hosea, the prophet
teaches the people Israel to love the Lord and to get to know what He desires:
knowledge of Him rather than sacrifices and holocausts. Then in the letter
of Paul to the Romans, Paul reminds the community at Rome that faith is
important and gives Abraham as an example of one who had great faith for
he “hoped against hope”.  Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus
calling Matthew, who was at his post where taxes were collected, and at
once Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

“I have come to call not the self-righteous, but sinners”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/blog3/2008/06/06/10th-sunday-a/

Gospel reflection: The gospel for the 10th Sunday of the Year tells the
story of the call of Matthew.  Matthew was a tax collector, and tax
collectors at the time of Jesus were considered outcasts of the Jewish
society - together with other sinners.  Tax collectors were outcasted
because they work for the Roman Empire, and obtain income by taxing their
fellow Jews.  But in this gospel passage, it tells us that Jesus was moving
about until he saw Matthew at his post collecting taxes.  Jesus said to
Matthew, “Follow Me”. At this call, Matthew got up and followed Jesus.
Since Jesus accepted Matthew as one of His own, Matthew invited Jesus
to his home and there was a celebration together his fellow tax collectors.  The Pharisees
saw this and took it against Jesus for dining and associating with such
people.  But Jesus replied: “People who are in good health do not need
a doctor; sick people do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘It
is mercy I desire and not sacrifice.’ I have come to call not the self-
righteous, but sinners”.

Books and other Catholic items

Irish Inspired Music: Hayley Westenra, Mark Forrest and More

http://www.pcentral-online.net/sale/ignatius061907.html

Ignatius Press: Looking for a music CD, or a DVD performance of some
amazing Irish inspired music? Then look no further! Ignatius Press is
offering the music of some Celtic jewels! Whether you prefer the angelic
voices of the Irish Ensemble Celtic Woman, the wonderful pure voice of
Hayley Westenra or the gifted and popular International Irish Tenor Mark
Forrest we have a little Irish for everyone!  Featuring popular singers
Hayley Westenra, Mark Forrest, and The Irish Tenors, you can reminisce
old times through classic tunes like Scarborough Fair, Danny Boy, and
Shenandoah.

Celebrating the feast of St. Anthony and Father’s Day with 20% off!

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius061008.html

Ignatius Press: Father’s Day, as well as the feast of St. Anthony, are
right around the corner. June 13 is the feast of St. Anthony, and June 15
is Father’s Day.  What better way to celebrate both of these great days
than browsing over these gift ideas at 20% off for Dad, or for you and a
member of the family. We have some great reads such as The Judge - about
Ronald Regan’s right hand man, and devout Catholic, William Clark. Or
the true, couragous and awesome story of Fr. Goldmann in The Shadow of His
Wings. We’ve got some great DVDs for gift ideas as well including
Champions of Faith - that tells the stories of many great baseball players
today who are serious Catholics, and a powerful feature movie on St.
Anthony. Their stories are an inspiration to us all!

Author Therese Borchard on “Our Blessed Mother”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/reviews/therese-borchard.html

Book review: Author Therese Borchard treats the subject of devotion
to Mary in a very theologically sound way - drawing on Scripture and noted
Catholic scholars. Also, she does not dwell only on the cerebral way of
knowing Mary, but elicits the heartwarming affection we can have on the
good Mother of God through art and literature, and the classic traditions
of prayer such as the rosary. She mentions the prayer called “The Memorare”,
a prayer that was known to have been used by the good Blessed Teresa of
Calcutta when she wanted to raise funds for her mission in India. That
prayer on The Memorare is:  “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that
never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy
help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this
confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do
I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word
Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer
me.”

Four Mystics Who Wrote on the Life of Mary

http://www.pcentral-online.net/reviews/the-life-of-mary.html

Book review:  “The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics” by Raphael
Brown, is a book that compiles the writings of four women mystics: St.
Elizabeth of Schoenau, St. Bridget of Sweden, Venerable Mother Mary
of Agreda, and Sister Anna Catherine Emmerich. This book is a pleasing
presentation of vivid narratives on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“as seen by” four noted mystics of the Church. Since what is known of
the Blessed Mother is clearly seen only in what the gospel tells of her,
the writings of these mystics add interesting details and picturesque
stories of her life - that can lead to greater love and devotion of
the Blessed Mother of God. As is suggested by the Rev. Ryan in the
foreword of the book, this work is one that is to be leisurely and
lightly read only as a religious novel and is not to be confused with
the information that we already have of the Blessed Mother in the New
Testament.

On Saints and their writings

St. Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Doctor

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/anselm-of-canterbury.html

On St. Anselm: St. Anselm of Canterbury was a preeminent theologian,
father of Scholasticism, and Doctor of the Church. Though preoccupied for
many years with defending the Church’s right against the English kings,
St. Anselm also wrote a lot of important treatises.  Among his works
included: the Monologion, the Proslogion, De fide Trinitatis, De conceptu
virginali, De veritate, Liber apologeticus pro insipiente, and many other
letters, prayers, and meditations. St. Anselm of Canterbury died on
Wednesday of Holy Week, April 21, 1109 A.D., in his seventy-sixth year,
and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral.  He was declared a Doctor of
the Church in 1720 A.D. by Pope Clement XI.  The Church celebrates his
feast on April 21.

St. Anselm of Canterbury and His Ontological Argument

http://www.pcentral-online.net/blog11/2008/06/02/ontological-argument/

On God’s Existence: Before St. Thomas Aquinas formulated his popular five
proofs for the existence of God, St. Anselm already produced his ontological
proof for God’s existence.  The age of scholasticism produced many great
thinkers who sought rational ways to prove the existence of God.  And one
of them was St. Anselm of Canterbury.  This short blog post will attempt
to simplify what Anselm says about his ontological argument.  The
presupposition of St. Anselm is that man’s mind is structured with logical
ideas. When man’s mind stumbles upon anything beyond logic (ontological),
it eventually arrives upon the idea of a Most Perfect Being (God). The
existence of this Most Perfect Being is unlike the existence of any other
beings.

Zenit news and Vatican page features

Decree On Celebration Of the Conversion Of St. Paul

http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/d4_en.htm

Rosary Is a School of Mary, Says Pope

http://www.zenit.org/article-22771?l=english

Lectionary Readings for the 9th Sunday of the Year, Year A

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/9th-sunday-a.html

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for the 9th Sunday of the Year,
Year A, are taken from: the book of Deuteronomy, the letter of Paul to the
Romans, and the gospel of Matthew.  In the book of Deuteronomy, we read
about Moses telling the people to heed the voice of God–taking His words
seriously by “binding them at their wrist as a sign, and letting them be a
pendant on their forehead”.  Then in the letter of Paul to the Romans, we
find Paul teaching that all men who have faith in Christ are justified by
the gift of God: the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus who made Himself
a means of expiation for all who believe in Him.  Lastly, in the gospel of
Matthew, Jesus teaches that we can wisely build “our house on rock” and
“not on sand”, by hearing His words and putting them into practice.

“…Like the wise man who built his house on rock.”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/blog3/2008/05/29/9th-sunday-a/

Gospel reflection: The gospel for the 9th Sunday of the Year speaks of a
very important parable that reveals a wisdom that not only we Catholics
believe as true, but also the majority of humanity.  In the first paragraph
of the gospel, Jesus speaks of the importance of doing the will of the
Father in heaven. Then in the second paragraph, we read His teaching about
the importance of building one’s house on a sure foundation - one solidly
set on rock, rather than one on shifting sand.  When we reflect how the
two parts of this passage of the gospel convey a serious message, we
discover that the gospel wanted to impart the importance of heeding the
Father’s will, to build our lives on a sure foundation.  And this may mean
in our present Catholic generation, the hope we have in God as the source
of all security and stability in life.

Lectionary Readings for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/sacred-heart-a.html

Lectionary readings: The lectionary readings for the Solemnity of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus are taken from: the book of Deuteronomy, the first letter of
John, and the gospel of Matthew.  In the book of Deuteronomy, we read about
Moses addressing the people Israel and reminding them that they are a people
sacred to the Lord…but they are required to carefully observe His statutes,
decrees, and commandments.  Then in the First Letter of John, we find a
teaching which tells us to love one another, because love is of God, and our
basis for this love is that God loved us first by sending His only Son to
the world that we might have life through Him.  Lastly, in the gospel of
Matthew, we find the passage which has that popular invitation of Christ
- “Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will
refresh you; take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me, for I am
gentle and humble of heart; your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy
and My burden light.”

Lectionary Readings for Feast of the Visitation, May 31

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/visitation.html

Lectionary readings: The second joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary is: the
mystery of the Visitation of the Blessed Mother to her cousin St. Elizabeth.
This mystery has its roots in the gospel of Luke.  In a passage in Luke,
Luke lets us see the image of Mary, already having the Child Jesus in her
womb through the power of the Holy Spirit, going out to travel in haste to
the hill country where Elizabeth her cousin lives.  Elizabeth has in her
womb the child John the Baptist. When Mary entered the house where
Elizabeth stays, the child John in her womb leapt for joy at Mary’s
greeting. And Elizabeth praised Mary for being the Mother of God, and for
granting Elizabeth the honor of her visit. After this praise from Elizabeth,
Mary sang her popular Magnificat - in praise of the Lord’s goodness and mercy
to the people Israel.  Given in this page are the lectionary readings for
this feast of the Visitation.  There are two options for the first reading:
either from the book of the prophet Zephaniah or from the letter of Saint
Paul to the Romans.  The gospel reading is from Luke 1:39-56

Books and other Catholic items

New Books from Ignatius Press at 20% off!

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius060308.html

Ignatius Press: A few more exciting new titles have just been released
from Ignatius Press and to celebrate their release, Ignatius Press is
offering these titles to you, for a short time only, at 20% off! Learn
about the prayer lives of the saints thru Adrienne von Speyr’s powerful
Book of All Saints.  Learn the meaning of true freedom in God’s revelation
to man through Hans Urs von Balthasar’s exhilarating book Engagement
with God, or participate in the current debate on Creation and Evolution
with some of the greatest minds in the Church in the new book with the
same title edited by Fr. Stephan Horn. These fascinating titles along
with the others listed below offer something to peak the interest of
people of all ages!

Books, Films and Music On Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

http://www.pcentral-online.net/sale/ignatius060507.html

Ignatius Press: May 30, is the combination of two feasts, that of St.
Joan of Arc and that of the Heart of Jesus…although the solemnity
of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will be given priority. St. Joan
of Arc is a humble maiden from Orleans, France.  At an early age,
she heard a voice asking her to lead the armies of France against the
English. She obeyed the voice and what followed became part of the history
of both Catholic France and Catholic England.  Featured on this page are
a sample of books, films, and music on St. Joan of Arc.  One of the films
on Joan of Arc is starred by popular actress Ingrid Bergman.  There
are also a selection of books which speak on her retrial - a reverse
statement of the initial sentence on her by the Church.

The Essentials of Christian Mysticism, by Bernard McGinn

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/reviews/christian-mysticism.html

Book review: We often associate mysticism with something out of the
ordinary.  However, this is an experience that many people can have when
their relationship with God and their life has been transformed thru the
very search for His Person. The outcome of the experience is a union with
God that makes the person more fully united with His will, and to some
extent in others, they become more active in His service in prayer or
in the Church. This book by editor Bernard McGinn is an anthology of
Christian mysticism that spans seventeen centuries.  It is written in an
organized manner: by subject, with accessible headnotes, with some
biographical sketches of the mystics and passages of their writings,
and a selected bibliography. This is an accessible anthology which is
a good resource for discovering how the history of Christianity has
evolved through its Western Christian mystical tradition.

Anthologies: Rich References for Writing Catholic Articles

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholicism/index.htm

Book review:  We have grouped three books under a special section
called The Catholic Anthologies Section.  Two of the anthologies were
already featured in the feed items, The Essentials of Christian Mysticism,
and Spiritualities of the Heart.  A new anthology also included with these
two is “Modern Spiritual Writers”.  These three anthologies are presented
as rich references in writing comprehensive Catholic articles.  And if you
still wish to discover more Catholic anthologies available online, you
can use the Books Search section of Google’s search engine.  This is also
given in the More Information box of this new section’s template.

Mary in the New Testament, by editors Brown, Donfried and others

http://www.pcentral-online.net/reviews/mary.html

Book review: The role that Mary plays in God’s plan of salvation is
something many contest over the centuries and has divided Christians and
and their churches.  In part, these differences stem from disagreements
about what the New Testament says about the mother of Jesus.  This book
review on Mary in the New Testament can help toward finding a solution to
the disputes about the subject.  It is not a collection of essays but
rather a collaborative statement prepared by a team of Protestant,
Anglican, and Roman Catholic scholars who have reached substantial
agreement on how Mary was pictured by Christians of the first two
centuries.  If Roman Catholic and Protestant scholars can agree on
what the oldest Christian sources said through the production of this
book, then maybe the way can be paved for the churches to agree on
a fundamental Christian attitude toward Mary.

On SEO and writing Catholic articles

Writing Tips Using Many References

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholicism/instructions.htm

On Writing Tips: Given in the Catholic Anthologies Section of the web
site are writing tips on how to use many references in producing
comprehensive Catholic articles.  One primary tip is the use of
Catholic anthologies where you are given a rich supply of content,
style, and text which you can blend with your own style of writing,
your own ideas and Christian experiences.  Whenever you encounter
differences of information among the references, the best information
to use is the one wherein two or more references agree.  If the absence
of such agreement is not to be found, then the reference book that is
more detailed in presentation would be a wise choice to make.

On Saints and their writings

St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/alphonsus-liguori.html

On Alphonsus de Liguori: St. Alphonsus de Liguori wanted to be a lawyer.
At an early age, because of the social status of his parents, he obtained
doctorate degrees in both civil and canon law.  He practiced his profession
successfully for several years until he lost one important case. This was
the beginning of the recognition of his calling to the priesthood.  At one
time, he visited the incurables in a hospital and heard an interior voice
telling him to “leave the world and to give his life to God”.  He obeyed
the voice and entered the Oratorians where he became a chaplain of a
hospital.  It was here that he met Bishop Falcoia.  Through his association
with the bishop, he was introduced to a convent of nuns whom he reorganized
according to the vision of Bishop Falcoia.  This move led to the founding
of the Redemptorines.  Soon, Alphonsus also founded the Redemptorists, a
community of men that would be dedicated to the work in the missions.
However, dissensions rose among the ranks until Alphonsus was left alone.
He however was able to run the congregation until it gained vocations
again, and was able to work for the officialization in the Church of the
Redemptorines and the Redemptorists.  Alphonsus toiled hard and towards the
end of his life, received many prophetic visions and worked miracles.
He was declared a Doctor of the Church in the mid-nineteenth century.

St. Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/saints/joan-of-arc.html

On the Maid of Orleans: Joan of Arc is one of the popular saints in the
Catholic Church. Her feast is celebrated every May 30th. She was born on
January 6, 1412, at Domremy, France, on the Feast of the Epiphany. St.
Joan was the youngest of five children to Jacques d Arc, a peasant farmer.
Her village was a poor one, only just within “France”; the last place from
which one would expect help to come. As soon as she was able to work, Joan,
like every other child, was set to help in the house, driving out the
village cows to pasturage, and occasionally acting as shepherdess. A
pious girl by nature, while in the garden of her house one day, Joan
experienced supernatural visions. She was already an adolescent of
about thirteen years of age. She describes these visions as voices
coming from St. Michael, St. Catherine, St. Margaret, and others.
Her heavenly visitants at first contented themselves with telling
Joan to go on being a good girl and to say her prayers. It was only
when Joan was about seventeen years of age that these voices revealed
to St. Joan that her mission was to save France, by helping the
Dauphin organize an army, and rightfully place him on the throne
of France.

Saints for the Month of June

http://www.pcentral-online.net/jun.html

This page gives a listing of the names of the saints who are honored
in the liturgical month of June.  Popular amongst them are: St. Charles
Lwanga and companion martyrs, the young martyrs of Uganda (June 3);
St. Boniface, the “Apostle of Germany” (June 5); St. Ephrem of Syria,
the only Doctor of the Church who is a deacon (June 9); St. Barnabas,
apostle-companion of St. Paul (June 11); St. Anthony of Padua, the
“miracle-worker” and “finder of lost articles” (June 13); St. Romuald,
founder of the Camaldolese hermits (June 19); St. Aloysius Gonzaga,
the Jesuit scholastic who gave his life for those stricken with the
plague (June 21); St. John the Baptist, herald of Christ (June 24);
St. Cyril of Alexandria, doctor of the Church (June 27); St. Irenaeus
of Lyons, bishop (June 28); St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29); and
the first martyrs of Rome (June 30).

Zenit news features

About 17% of World Is Catholic

http://www.zenit.org/article-22714?l=english

The House Upon the Rock, By Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

http://www.zenit.org/article-22750?l=english

Lectionary Readings for Corpus Christi, Year A

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/corpus-christi-a.html

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for Solemnity of Corpus Christi,
Year A, are taken from: the book of Deuteronomy, the first letter of Paul
to the Corinthians, and the gospel of John.  In the book of Deuteronomy,
we read about Moses reminding the people Israel how God fed them with
manna when the people felt hunger after journeying in the desert. Then,
in the letter of Paul to the Corinthians, Paul teaches the community in
Corinth how the breaking of the bread is a sharing in the body of Christ
and how we are one body in that one loaf.  Lastly, in the gospel of John,
we read about Jesus teaching that He Himself is the living bread that
came down from heaven and that if anyone eats of this bread, he shall
live forever.

“This is the bread that came down from heaven.”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/blog3/2008/05/21/corpus-christi-a/

Gospel reflection: The feast of Corpus Christi reminds us to be thankful
to the Lord for the gift of His Son, who instituted the sacrament of the
Eucharist, so that we may share in His life and be directed towards what
is of the essence: eternal life and heaven.  By our participation in this
great sacrament, we are connected with the mystery that was enacted
on Calvary and onward to the glorious event of the Easter life with
Jesus.  The more we immerse ourselves in a Eucharistic life, the more
we shall receive the Spirit of Jesus and do what He commands us to
do: to love God with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our
souls, and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself.
The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is a mystery of Life from
God - the mystery of God’s only Son, who was sacrificed on Calvary and
then raised up again to life after three days to be victorious against
sin, evil and death.  Let us therefore be thankful for this gift of
the Eucharist in our lives.  And let us pray also for those people who
live in war-torn and terror-stricken areas where the celebration of the
Eucharist is hampered and prevented.

Books and other Catholic items

On Joan of Arc, St. Camillus de Lellis and Padre Pio

http://www.pcentral-online.net/sale/ignatius052907.html

From Ignatius Press: In this page of Catholic books are - the powerful
story of the vindication of Joan of Arc, and the inspiring true stories of
great saints Padre Pio and Camillus de Lellis.  St. Joan of Arc was burned
at the stake because she was accused of being a witch.  However, after her
execution, her mother worked for her cause and the retrial of her case. St.
Joan of Arc was exonerated of her crime and has been even made patroness of
France.  St. Camillus de Lellis was a soldier and a gambler.  After his
conversion, he cared for the sick and eventually founded a religious order
that works for the sick.  St. Pio of Pietrelcina is a humble Capuchin friar
who lived in our modern times, though his spirituality was rooted in the
classic spirit of the olden Catholic times.  He is said to be gifted with
so many spiritual powers that throngs of people flocked to his friary to
obtain God’s blessings through him.

The End Will Not Be At Once, by Herman Hendrickx

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/reviews/the-end-will-not-be-at-once.html

Book review: Popular religious literature on the end times are often
written by holy men and women, saints, and religious, who base their
prophecies on visions and revelations from God. Some of these holy men
and women are: Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (Rome), St. Pio of Pietrelcina
(Capuchin Priest, Italy), Pere Lamy (Priest, France), Elizabeth Canori-Mora
(Rome), Sister Rosa Colomba Asdente (Italy), Father Nectou (Jesuit Priest,
Belgium), Sister Palma D’Oria (Italy), Sister Marie Baourdi (Carmelite,
France), Marie Julie Jahenny (France), Saint Hildegard of Bingen (Germany),
Marie Martel (Normandy), and many more. Although the prophetic visions of
these holy men and women are regarded as authentic, if we read the
scripture texts themselves, with a special attention to the eschatological
passage in Mark and Luke, a systematic study of the text can provide quite
a substantial number of biblical insights into what will happen in the end
times. Fr. Herman Hendrickx, a noted scripture scholar, writes this book
which gives an exposition of the end times as it is presented in the
gospel of Luke and in Mark.  It is a very good resource book and research
material for those making New Testament studies.

Celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi with 20% off!

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius052708.html

On Corpus Christi: Pope John Paul II referred to the Holy Eucharist as
“the greatest treasure of the Church.” This Sunday, May 25th, we celebrate
this great treasure on the feast of Corpus Christi. There are many hidden
truths about the Eucharist and Ignatius Press has chosen a number of titles
that can help reveal these truths in a deeper way for everyone. Whether you
are just beginning on this spiritual journey, or you are looking for
something to increase your knowledge and love of the Eucharist, we offer
something for everyone: 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, by Vinny Flynn; The
Biblical Roots of the Mass, by Thomas Nash; Celebrating the Holy
Eucharist, by Francis Cardinal Arinze; and many more.

Doctors of the Church

http://www.pcentral-online.net/reviews/doctors-of-the-church.html

Book review: This two-volume book by author Fink is a very good and
very readable presentation on the lives and works of the Doctors of the
Church. We are currently finishing the presentation of the lives of the
others in this list - including information from the books: Saints for
Our Times, by Ransom, Dictionary of Saints, by Delaney, and A Year With
the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.  Still on the way for production
are information on the lives of: St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Robert
Bellarmine, St. Peter Canisius, St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory the Great,
St. Peter Damian, St. Anselm, St. Albert the Great, and St. Alphosus
Liguori.  We project that we can finish the production of their biographies
in 10 weeks time.

On SEO and writing Catholic articles

Catholic eBook Preview Section

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/index.html

On free eBook: The free Catholic eBook we have available for download
is currently not available.  However, for those who still have not read this
free Catholic eBook on how to start a Catholic articles web site or blog,
we have created a special section in this web site so that you may view
the contents of this eBook.  Even if you have no plans of starting a
Catholic web log or Catholic articles web site, you can also benefit from
the many information that is embedded in the contents of this eBook -
information that you may need for your browsing and computer sessions.

On Saints and their writings

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/saints/bernard-clairvaux.html

On the Mellifluous Doctor: Continuation of presenting the Doctors of
the Church series of biographies.  Given here also is St. Bernard of
Clairvaux.  St. Bernard was a very influential leader - leading many
of his uncles, brothers, and friends, to go with him and enter the
Cistercian monastery at Citeaux.  Then upon the request of the abbot,
Bernard was told to go with 12 other monks to found another monastery
at Clairvaux.  This monastery became the mother house and the center
of sixty-eight other monasteries which were founded by the monks of
Clairvaux.  St. Bernard was so influential in his holiness and in his
reputation that he was the counsel of rules, kings and even the pope.
He is an excellent writer & his writings are very mystical–influencing
also the mystical tradition of the Middle Ages.  He is called the
Mellifluous Doctor for the way he is good at the spoken word.

St. John Damascene

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/saints/john-damascene.html

On the Chrysorrhoas: John of Damascus, or St. John Damascene, was born
of a wealthy Christian family at Damascus, Syria, in 675 A.D. His father,
also named John, had the position of chief of the revenue department for
the caliphate and also chief representative of the Christian community.
A brillian monk called Cosmas, who had been captured in a Mohammedan
raid on Sicily, educated the young St. John Damascene - teaching him
all the sciences, but most especially theology. When John grew to
manhood, he succeeded his father as chief of the revenue department
and as representative of the Christian community. In 719 A.D., a new
caliph changed the system and John soon lost his position. He then
entered the Monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem to settle down and
live the life of a monk. He occupied his time for more than thirty years,
when not praying, by writing books and composing hymns. St. John
Damascene turned out to be a prolific author, writing one hundred
fifty works on theology, religious education, philosophy, and
biographies. Among his outstanding writings are: Fount of Wisdom,
which dealt on philosophy, heresies, and the orthodox faith; De Fide
Orthodoxa, a comprehensive presentation of the teachings of the Greek
Fathers on the main Christian doctrines; and Sacra Parallela, a
compilation of scriptural and patristic texts on Christian moral and
ascetical works. St. John also wrote poetry, of which some are used
in the Greek liturgy. The elegance of St. John’s use of Greek earned
him the title Chrysorrhoas (gold-pouring).

Lectionary Readings for Trinity Sunday, Year A

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic/lectionary/trinity-sunday-a.html

Sunday readings: The lectionary readings for the Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, Trinity Sunday, Year A, are taken from: the book of Exodus, the
Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, and the gospel of John. In the
book of Exodus, we read about Moses going up to Mount Sinai as the Lord
had commanded him - taking along the two stone tables that contained the
commandments of God. Then in the 2nd letter of Paul to the Corinthians,
we read about Paul teaching the Corinthians to encourage one another
and to live in harmony and peace.  Lastly, in the gospel of John, we read
about Jesus speaking to Nicodemus - teaching him how God so love the world
that he gave His only Son so that whoever believes in the Son may not die
but have eternal life.

“…God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/blog3/2008/05/16/trinity-sunday/

Gospel reflection: From this passage in the gospel of John, we see the
relationship between the Father and Jesus - Jesus as the Son who was sent
by His Father to save the world from sin.  Last Sunday, Pentecost Sunday,
we read about the resurrection appearance of Jesus to His apostles and
wherein He “breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit”.  We can
thus learn from these passages how God redeems us through His Fatherhood,
His Sonship, and His Most Holy Spirit.  Just as the apostles received the
Holy Spirit, we who are members of the Church Jesus founded, receive the
same Spirit through them.  And when we are called to reflect who God is
for us, one of our responses is: “God is Father, Son and Spirit”. Thru
this triune relationship, we are saved from our sins and will be rewarded
with eternal life, if we continue to believe in God-in-Jesus, who sends
His Spirit among us, so that we can also participate and continue the
mission of redemption which Christ commissions us to do through our
baptismal consecration

Books and other Catholic items

New Bella book and DVD, and message from Kathi Lee Gifford!

http://www.pcentral-online.net/2008/sale/ignatius052008.html

From Ignatius Press: Bella was the surprise winner of the coveted
“People’s Choice Award” at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival, and
since winning that award it has touched many peoples lives across the
world.  To coincide with this marvelous movie, Ignatius Press has joined
with Metanoia Films to publish an inspiring book, Behind Bella, that
tells the amazing stories of people’s lives who have been touched and
saved by this movie. Both the movie and book are so beautiful and
powerful, they belong in homes around the world! Get your copies today
at this discounted price that won’t last long!

Books and Material on the Holy Spirit

http://www.pcentral-online.net/template/holy-spirit.html

Book on the Spirit: With the feast of Pentecost just celebrated, it is a
good time & opportunity to learn more of the Third Person of the Blessed
Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The study of doctrines on the Holy Spirit is
called Pneumatology. In Western Christianity, most especially in
Catholicism, the least written about of the three persons of the Trinity,
is the Holy Spirit. However, in preparation of the Jubilee year last
2000, the year 1998 was dedicated to the person of the Holy Spirit. There
is a lot of books and material that were written on the Holy Spirit during
this time. Some of these material is included in the list given in this
page. When writing Catholic articles, it would be good to write much also
on the person of the Holy Spirit. Though there is little written of Him
in our Catholic history, material on the Holy Spirit is much needed
now, not only because of the need of the charismatic movement for
more material, studies and information on Him, but also because all
Catholics have to be informed that the person of the Holy Spirit is
the One who gives life and unity to the Church and the Christian
communities.

On SEO and writing Catholic articles

Advantage of the Key Word “Catholic” Over “Roman Catholic”

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic-articles/key-word-catholic.html

On Key Phrases: Although the key phrase “Roman Catholic” is an official
term that defines a world religion under the leadership of the Roman
Pontiff, there is a spirit of universality and inclusivity found in
the use of the key word “Catholic”. Advantage of using the key word
“Catholic” - the key word “Catholic” is more inclusive in meaning as
it also refers to Anglicans, Eastern rite Catholics, and all the
Christian churches in communion with the Holy See; the key word
“Catholic” also refers to a religious culture that is lived and
propagated by many adherents all over the world; the key word “Catholic”
is rooted in a Greek term meaning “universal” or “general” - thus
having a connotation of expansiveness and global in scope; the key
phrase “Roman Catholic” is much more specific in its meaning as it
refers to a religion that is centralized in the Vatican: the seat
of the papacy; the key phrase “Roman Catholic” is a religious culture
that brings associated meanings of formalization of things liturgical
and documentation of all things didactic; the key phrase “Roman
Catholic” means all those who adhere to the Latin rite and who are
bonded together under the leadership of the Roman Pontiff.

Catholic Articles - Writing Ideas and Tips

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic-articles/ideas-and-tips.html

On writing ideas: Though there is no one way of writing the perfect
Catholic article, there are certain patterns of writing we can follow by
which we can write simple but in classic style - one that can appeal to
the popular visitor of the Net. This article will present a few styles
by which Catholic articles and posts in Catholic blogs can be patterned
after.  The article gives 7 ways of how one can write simple Catholic
articles that will help many to understand the Catholic
faith.

Search Engine Optimization from a Catholic Perspective

http://www.pcentral-online.net/catholic-articles/seo-catholic.html

On Catholic SEO: This article helps those who write Catholic articles
to understand that studying basic ethical SEO techniques will help one
apply it at both basic and advanced levels. SEO from a Catholic perspective
can be seen from a technical point of view and from a moral point of view.
This article will help those who wish to start a Catholic articles web
site or web log where the technical and moral points of view can be found.
Before applying SEO [search engine optimization] in your Catholic web site,
it is important to know the basics. A good list and forum that gives free
classes in ethical SEO is the Yahoo! List SEO Techniques. From the basic
lessons provided in these classes, you can apply all what you have learned
within a Catholic framework and perspective. SEO from one Catholic
perspective is a technical matter of using key words and key phrases so
that your web pages have more visibility in the search engines. Below is a
list of ways you can optimize your web pages: through the use of popular
Catholic key words and phrases in the title of your page and in your
meta tags; the use of popular key words and phrases in your file names,
title tags and alt tags; and the use of popular key words and phrases most
of all in the content of your web pages.

Solemnity of Pentecost, Year A

The lectionary readings for Pentecost Sunday, Year A
are taken from: the Acts of the Apostles, the first letter of
Paul to the Corinthians, and the gospel of John. Since this
is a special feast, there is a prose text or poetic text that
can be read or sung - a Sequence. It is also given in this page.
[Just click on the link on Solemnity of Pentecost above to get
to the page.] In the book of Acts, we read the story of the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and Mary - arriving
and coming upon them like a strong, driving wind and with tongues
of fire resting on each of them.  Then in the letter of Paul
to the Corinthians, Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit gives
different gifts and ministries to each member of the body of
Christ.  Lastly, in the gospel of John, we read of one of the
resurrection appearances of Jesus to His apostles - which, in
this passage He breathed on them so that they would receive
the Holy Spirit. learn more

The Pentecost Event in Acts 2:1-11

The Pentecost event that we read in the book of Acts -
specifically chapter 2, verses 1-11, can be understood from
both a historical point of view and a spiritual point of view.
If we try to picture Galilee at the time of the apostles, we
can presume to see that it contained a mixed population of
different peoples and races.  Some of the disciples of Jesus
(outside the apostles) could have been from other races in the
Roman Empire.  Thus, interacting with them, the apostles may
have learned basic words and phrases that belonged to their tongue.
So, when the Holy Spirit came down upon the apostles and emboldened
them to speak of Jesus and His saving ministry, they had the gift
of courage to speak in that second or third language they learned
from interacting with their companion disciples.  This way of
understanding the Pentecost event considers the social and cultural
factors that may be have been a part of the event.  If we however
understand it from a purely spiritual point of view, then the gift
of tongues (speaking in different languages) is seen as a genuine
supernatural gift that the Holy Spirit has given the apostles, so
that the miraculous powers of God may continue to be felt by His
people so that they may acknowledge Him as Lord and Giver of Life.
learn more

“What Must We Do Brothers?” - Acts 2:38

When Peter and the apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
they stood up before the people and preached a gospel of repentance
from sin and reconciliation with God.  The text of the Scripture
said that the people were “cut to the heart” - proving that the Word
of God is indeed a double-edged sword.  They asked Peter, “What
shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  The
people received the apostles’ word and had themselves baptized.  In
our modern times, we tend to place the blame on many other things
except the wrong use of our free will and freedom. Dr. Karl Menninger,
a famous psychologist who wrote the book, “Whatever Happened to Sin?”,
teaches us in his book that much of what we suffer in life is due to
our disregard of our sense of moral responsibility. If we listen to
the voice of God more through our consciences, and follow an ethical
standard that is genuinely Christian, we can learn how to use our
freedom and will wisely, prudently and according to the teachings of
Christ through the Church. learn more

Sharing and Witnessing to Christ of His Love

It is a truth that the world listens to witnesses more than to
teachers. This is evident in how many follow those who witness by
deed more than by word. When teachers teach what they know, some
of what they teach are not necessarily being lived out by them.
This holds true for many of us who teach whatever we know about. The
audience or student body who listens to teachers listen and acknowledge
the teacher’s expertise of the subject because the teacher is often a
professional and is well-trained to deliver what he was educated to
do as an educator. The impact on the audience of his teaching is based
on the truth of what he learned and what he imparts from both theory
and experience. What is in witnessing that creates such a life-changing
direction and outlook in people? It is in the very example of the way
he is living his talk or ‘walking his speech’. That creates a good
and positive impact. Although witnesses can have this great impact,
a greater impact can be made by teachers who are also witnesses of
how great Christ is in their life. They are often more powerful
witnesses because of their command of their knowledge of Christ
and their commitment to Him. However, we need not teach at a
professional level in order to make this greater and more powerful
witness. We only need to know the necessary basics and rudiments of
our faith, nurture and strengthen our relationship with Christ
through the Eucharist, and in our ministry to others, and commit
ourselves every day to do as we say. This is a challenge. It is
a Christian challenge that we are called to make by virtue of
our baptismal commitment. learn more

“The Holy Spirit Strengthens the ‘Inner Man’”

The late holy father, John Paul II, has written an encyclical
on the Holy Spirit, entitled “Dominum et Vivificantem”.  In
this encyclical, he mentions, among so many other truths, that the
purpose why God sent His Holy Spirit into the world was to strengthen
us in a way that we become more and more like His Son, and have the
courage and fortitude to bring the Gospel to all peoples.  For those
of us who are working along this line on the Net (which John Paul II
encourages Catholics to do so), we receive His Holy Spirit continuously,
and every moment of our life, by our commitment to follow His will
through our participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist,
and then make the Catholic presence on the Net a way of making Christ
more central, and vital to anything technological in content or in
tools.  The witness on the Net shows that the Net is not only a mere
mass of technological information, but can also contain the words
of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  If we use it rightly, the Net can
disseminate and spread classic Catholic tradition to those who use
this medium as part of their daily lives: in their family setting,
in their workplace, in their religious communities, in their parish,
or in big secular institutional settings. learn more

Saint in Review: St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor

St. John Chrysostom earned the title golden-mouthed or “Chrysostom”,
because of the eloquence of his preaching.  He was made patriarch
of Constantinople against his wishes, but at once reformed the
see of Constantinople when he assumed the position.  As patriarch, he
incurred the enmity of the imperial court and other less worthy bishops.
He particularly incurred the enmity of the Empress Eudoxia because he
reprimanded her for her vanity, lack of charity and dress.  He also
incurred the enmity of bishops, more specifically his rival to the
see of Constantinople - bishop Theophilus.  Due to this political
situation, he was sent into exile several times.  On his trip to his
last exile, he eventually died of exhaustion due to the stifling
heat. St. John Chrysostom was declared Doctor of the Universal Church
in the council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. St. John Chrysostom is the
fourth of the four men - along with Saints Athanasius, Basil and
Gregory Nazianzen - who were considered the great Doctors of the
Church from the East until more were added in the sixteenth century.
Due to the excellence and eloquence of his preaching ability, he
was also named patron of preachers by Pope Pius X.  His feast day is
September 13. learn more

Saint in Review: St. Benedict of Nursia, abbot

St. Benedict is also one of the greatest saints that the Church has
produced.  His way of life and spirituality had a great influence
in the life of the Church for many centuries.  The religious order
he founded, the Benedictines, has given to the Church 50 popes,
7,000 bishops, and 40,000 saints and blesseds.  Our current pontiff,
Pope Benedict XVI, (a.k.a. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger), took the name
of this saint, because he believed that the present conditions of
world societies are similar to the conditions that were happening
also during the time of St. Benedict.  Since St. Benedict was very
active in combatting the evils in himself first, and then in the society
of his time, he sets a very good example for us in contemporary time to
have courage to fight through all attacks of evil and not to grow weary,
to labor on ourselves and to change ourselves until we become one with
ourselves and experience oneness with others in the oneness with God.
learn more

Jesus of Nazareth, the Hope of our Lives

Ever since the Holy Father Benedict XVI wrote his second encyclical
Spe Salvi, Jesus as the source of our hope became more and more
pronounced in his statements and addresses.  He wrote a book called
Jesus of Nazareth, wherein the Pope shares with us his profound and
powerful insights about the person of Jesus Christ, and where he
inspires us to deepen our own understanding and relationship with
Him.  In this bold, momentous work, the Pope — in his first book
written as Benedict XVI — seeks to salvage the person of Jesus
from recent “popular” depictions and to restore Jesus’ true identity
as discovered in the Gospels. Through his brilliance as a theologian
and his personal conviction as a believer, the Pope shares a rich,
compelling, flesh-and-blood portrait of Jesus and invites us to
encounter, face-to-face, the central figure of the Christian faith.
A quotation from the book: “the great question that will be with us
throughout this entire book - But what has Jesus really brought, then,
if he has not brought world peace, universal prosperity, and a
better world? What has he brought? The answer is very simple: God.
He has brought God! learn more

News item from Zenit.org

Church Awaiting Miracles on Pentecost, Says Pope

check news item at: http://www.zenit.org/article-22538?l=english

Solemnity of the Ascension, Year A

The lectionary readings for the solemnity of the Ascension
of the Lord are taken from: the Acts of the Apostles, the
letter of Paul to the Ephesians, and the gospel of Matthew. 
In the book of Acts, we find the account of the Ascension of
the Lord into heaven - and the promise of the Holy Spirit to
the apostles so that they can be His witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 
Then, in the letter to the Ephesians, we read about Paul
praying for the community of the Ephesians that they be
granted a spirit of wisdom and insight to know Christ clearly
- especially as regards the immeasurable scope of His power
- that those who believe in Him may be enlightened with the
innermost vision to know the great hope to which Jesus has
called them.  Lastly, in the gospel of Matthew, we find Jesus
commissioning His apostles to go forth and make disciples of
all nations - baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - and promising them that
He will be with them always even until the end of the world.
learn more

7th Sunday of Easter, Year A

The lectionary readings for the 7th Sunday of Easter, Year
A, are taken from: the Acts of the Apostles, the first letter
of Peter, and the gospel of John.  In the book of Acts, we
read how after the Ascension of Jesus, the apostles returned
to Jerusalem to go to the upstairs room were they devoted
themselves to constant prayer - awaiting the coming of the
Holy Spirit. Then, in the letter of Peter, we read how Peter
encourages the faithful to rejoice in their sharing Christ’s
sufferings - for when Christ’s glory is revealed, they too
will rejoice exultantly.  Lastly, in the gospel of John, we
read about Jesus calling on the Father to glorify the Son,
for He had given glory to the Father on earth by finishing
the work that had been entrusted to Him.

Saints for the Month of May

The month of May has its share of well-loved saints. This page
highlights those saints who are honored in the liturgy for the
month of May.  Not all of them however are mentioned in the Mass,
though they are also included together with the ones who are
designated with feasts and memorials.  Popular among the saints
of May are: St. Joseph the Worker (May 1), St. Athanasius, bishop
and doctor (May 2), Sts. Philip and James, apostles (May 3),
Sts. Nereus, Achilles, and Pancratius, martyrs (May 12), St.
Matthias, apostle (May 14), St. John I, pope and martyr (May 18),
St. Bernardine of Siena, priest (May 20), St. Bede, priest and
doctor, St. Gregory VII, pope, and St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi,
virgin (May 25), St. Philip Neri, priest (May 26), St. Augustine
of Canterbury, bishop (May 27), and lastly the feast of the
Blessed Mary, the Visitation (May 31).

St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor

St. Jerome is one of the four original Doctors of the Church
- together with St. Augustine, St. Ambrose and St. Gregory the
Great.  He had a very good education in Rome and was ordained
by St. Paulinus.  Then, together with St. Paulinus, they were
sent to attend a Council were he remained there to be the
secretary of Pope Damasus. Pope Damasus then encouraged St.
Jerome to undertake the translation of the Bible.  It was this
work that earned St. Jerome his greatest achievement - the
production of the Vulgate.  This translation of the Bible became
the norm for many centuries until the middle of the twentieth
century, when bible scholars then already used the original sources
to translate the Bible.  St. Jerome also led a monastery of men
in Bethlehem in tandem with St. Paula, who led three convents
also in Bethlehem.  Being of fiery temperament, St. Jerome got into
fierce fights with many of the opponents of Christendom.  He even
got into a fight with St. Augustine over a matter of interpreting
a certain scriptural passage.  God however used this fiery
temperament of St. Jerome to conquer the enemies of Christendom
during his time.

New Titles are 20% Off

Ignatius Press has several new titles recently released off the
press! Take 20% off on these newest releases, including books by
popular authors such as Joseph Pearce, Russell Shaw, and Fulton Sheen.
Or, if you wish to be inspired and revitalized from the work you are
doing, Ignatius Press also has a few great new films. Check out the
titles of the books and the films on the page.

Christian Leadership to Truly Touch the World!

In the early months of our web site, Anne Macdonnell sent us and shared
her Christian experience in writing.  And so we dedicated part of our
web site to those who would want to have their Christian experience
published in the site.  We call this section, Sharing and Witnessing. 
Anne Macdonnell did very well in sharing with us her Christian journey
of knowing Christ and how we are called to make a leap of faith to witness
and share that Christian faith with others.  Here is a passage of what
she shares in her writing:

“My three years of study in the doctoral program in organizational
leadership at Regent University proved to be the most challenging,
exhilarating, and inspirational of my life. It was a very intense time
in which my entire life was devoted to diligently pursuing God’s truth
through my studies. The wonderful aspect of this program is the fact that
all of my professors and my fellow learners in Cohort I were deeply
committed to the Lord. Also, being a member of Cohort I was a pioneering
adventure!  After all, we were members of the first cohort of learners
to experience a computer-mediated doctoral program in organizational
leadership anywhere in the world! What an awesome privilege to be chosen
by the Lord to embark on a new, computer-mediated adventure involving
the prayerful sharing of charitable fraternity, ecumenical dialogue,
scriptural integration, and inspiring leadership- all based upon the
principles of Christian discipleship! Just as all Christians have been
commissioned to spread the Good News to all corners of the earth, we
were indeed using the miraculous power of the World Wide Web to spread
the Gospel literally throughout the entire planet.  What mission could
be more exciting than this one?”

Like Anne Macdonnell, if you also have a story to share wherein you
witness to the greatness and marvelous wonders of the Lord, just send us
your story and we shall publish it in this section called, Sharing and
Witnessing.

6th Sunday of Easter, Year A

In the passage from the gospel of John, Jesus promises the
Holy Spirit to His apostles.  He said that He will ask the
Father to send them another Paraclete: the Spirit of truth. 
And so, He assures them that He will not leave them orphaned,
and that the Spirit of truth will always be with them. This
Spirit, which they are to receive after His Ascension into
heaven and on the feast of Pentecost Sunday, will guide them
into all truth - all the truth that Jesus had taught them. 
And with the Spirit moving them, they will know how to preach
the commandment to love God and their neighbor.  Like the
apostles, we too received the Spirit on our baptism. And we
receive the gift of His presence regularly if we celebrate
the Eucharist and go to confession often.  Like the apostles
we are assured that Jesus will not leave us orphaned because
the Holy Spirit will always be with us in prayer, Word and
Sacrament, and through the bonds of love created by Him in
our family and professional lives. learn more

Jesuit Lombardi evaluates Pope’s USA Visit

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican
press office, gave this summary of the Pope’s April 15-20
U.S. trip, which had the theme “Christ Our Hope.” The spokesman
said he thinks the objective of the trip was achieved: The
Holy Father transmitted hope to Americans, particularly Catholics,
and to the United Nations. “He brought an announcement of hope
to a great nation, which should have the dignity and the sense
of greatness of its vocation in the world today,” Father Lombardi
said. The Pontiff communicated hope to “a Church that has lived
a particularly difficult period in recent years and that had
much need of being consoled and relaunched toward the future,
aware of its responsibilities in the realm of the universal
Church,” he added. learn more

Special offers in honor of the Pope’s USA visit
Following the Pope’s visit to the United States of America,
we reflect on his visit and the spiritual direction he provided
in his homilies and speeches. We can also look to his published
works for direction as well, particularily his two encyclicals:
God is Love and Saved In Hope. Both give us profound direction
which we can use in our everyday life. Given in this page is
an Ignatius Press offering of 20% off on God is Love and Saved
In Hope, as well as a list of additional titles that speak on
these two very important topics of hope and love. Titles like
the works of Josef Pieper, Hans Urs von Balthasar or Pope John
Paul II, these readings give a spirit of hope and love for
everyone! learn more

Featuring biographical sketches on the 33 Doctors of the
Church

We are continuing to provide in this web site brief biographical
sketches of the 33 Doctors of the Church declared by the Church.
Featured for this week is St. Isidore of Seville. Like St. Basil
the Great, St. Isidore of Seville comes from a family of saints:
his two brothers Leander and Fulgentius, and his sister Florentina
were also saints.  When their parents died, Leander, who was 26
years the senior of Isidore, took care of the education of Isidore. 
Isidore assisted Leander who became bishop of Seville. When Leander
died, Isidore succeeded Leander as bishop and continued their works
in the administration of the diocese of Seville.  Isidore was a
prolific and voluminous writer - writing so many noted works that
spanned many subjects and themes.  His well-noted work is the
Etymologies - an early encyclopedia that attempted to compile all
the knowledge and all the sciences during the age of Isidore.  St.
Isidore is the first Spaniard to be declared Doctor of the Church -
the other two being St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross
(both of whom lived a millenium after St. Isidore of Seville).
learn more

If you wish to learn of the other Doctors of the Church which
we have already written about, you can check the page The Doctors
of the Church: Introduction to the Church’s Great Teachers. We
hope to finish all the brief biographical sketches of these great
Doctors of the Church by the end of the year.