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	Facebook Twitter Newsletters Email Video News Catholic Life Shopping Saints Bible Prayers Mary Headlines Courageous Cardinal George Challenges Catholics Who Claim to Care for the Poor but Reject Marriage By Deacon Keith Fournier | August 2, 2013 In other words, when it comes to marriage and family life, men and women are not interchangeable. The whole civilized world knows that. Those who signed the open letter in the Tribune proclaimed their adherence to the Catholic faith even as they cynically called upon others to reject the Church's bishops. The Church is no one's private club; she is the Body of Christ, who tells us he is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Continue Reading... The Homily Pope Francis Preached for His Brothers on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola By Catholic Online | August 1, 2013 "Is Christ the centre of my life? Do I really put Christ at the centre of my life?" Because there is always the temptation to want to put ourselves in the centre. And when a Jesuit puts himself and not Christ in the centre, he goes astray. In the first Reading, Moses forcefully calls upon the people to love the Lord, to walk in His ways, "because He is your life" (cf. Deut. 30, 16-20). Christ is our life! The centrality of Christ corresponds also to the centrality of the Church: they are two flames that cannot be separated: I cannot follow Christ except in and with the Church. Continue Reading... Treasures Old and New: Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church By Deacon Keith Fournier | August 2, 2013 This image of God pitching his tent and filling it with his glory has been richly reflected upon in the Christian Tradition. It has been seen by many holy men and women as giving us an insight into the role which Mary, the Mother of the Lord, played in God's plan of redemption. She was seen as a new tent of meeting, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit; the new Ark of the Covenant, who became the place where Jesus, the New Covenant, took up residence - and from whom - was born, given for the sake of the world. Continue Reading... Radical Discipleship: Sell All for the Kingdom, As St. Ignatius of Loyola Did By Deacon Keith Fournier | August 1, 2013 Ignatius began to reflect at length about the Saints, their lives, their faith and their heroic virtue. He discovered that as he did that, he was filled with joy. When he did not, sorrow would return. He also began to reflect upon his past life and ego-centered vainglory. He became filled with sincere contrition. It was during these days that he had a deepening conversion experience; an encounter with the Eternal King, Jesus Christ. He determined to become His Knight, His Soldier, and to dedicate his life and service to His Kingdom and His glory alone. Continue Reading... Catholics and the Environment: The Climate Change Controversy By Deacon Keith Fournier | August 1, 2013 The Catholic Church has been green for a lot longer than any modern environmental movement. We are called to what I call a relational environmentalism; one of stewardship with the earth which God has made and entrusted to us to care for and to share. For those eager to understand Catholic teaching on this vital topic, we should always begin with scripture and tradition. We have a well of teaching in the Church on our relationship to the gift of God's creation. The concern I have about some of the arguments concerning global warming is that they promote one more charged right vs. left political food fight. Sadly, they often use sometimes conflicting scientific data as fodder for the fight. We are not first political conservatives or liberals, we are first, last and all in between, Catholic. Continue Reading... Growing Together with Christ, the Fruitful Fallen Grain of Wheat By Fr. Roger J. Landry | July 31, 2013 Throughout the globe, Jesus sows good seed, which he defines as children of the kingdom, the true sons and daughters of his Father. Each of us is called to be that good seed planted in the midst the world, which is meant to be transformed into his kingdom. At the deepest level, Jesus is himself the good seed planted in a fallen world by God the Father. He is the grain of wheat that fell to the ground and died in order to bear that good fruit. And we are supposed to be that seed-bearing fruit that he can in turn plant elsewhere continuing that same mission. Continue Reading... On Plane Back to Rome: What Did the Pope Really Say about Homosexual Practice vs. Media Hype By Deacon Keith Fournier | July 30, 2013 On his return from the historic World Youth Day in RIO de JANEIRO, Pope Francis had an informal conversation with journalists aboard the plane. In the midst of a warm and even humorous dialogue, he expressed the teaching of the Catholic Church - and the Sacred Scripture - concerning mercy and forgiveness. A part of that liberating teaching is that when someone repents of sin, they should not only be forgiven - but their past failure should be forgotten. Of course, that involves any sin, including sexual sin. Yes, even homosexual acts, which are sinful and always morally disordered. Continue Reading... Faithful Christian Marriages at the Forefront of a New Counterculture By Deacon Keith Fournier | July 31, 2013 The Christian claims concerning life and marriage are not outdated notions of the past but the path to a future of freedom for all men and women. They are the antidote to the malady rotting western civilization from within. Faithful Christians are a Counter Culture and consecrated married couples and their families, called from antiquity the domestic church, are the vanguard of this new Christian counter culture movement. Continue Reading... Francis Tells Millions at Closing Mass: Go, Do not be afraid, and Serve. The Gospel is for Everyone By Catholic Online | July 29, 2013 Jesus does not treat us as slaves, but as free men, as friends, as brothers and sisters; and he not only sends us, he accompanies us, he is always beside us in our mission of love. Where does Jesus send us? There are no borders, no limits: he sends us to everyone. The Gospel is for everyone, not just for some. It is not only for those who seem closer to us, more receptive, more welcoming. It is for everyone. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. The Lord seeks all, he wants everyone to feel the warmth of his mercy and his love. (Pope Francis) Continue Reading... Most Popular On Plane Back to Rome: What Did the Pope Really Say about Homosexual Practice vs. Media Hype Read More   More important: What the Pope DIDN'T say about gays Read More   Atheists losing ground as Christianity surges Read More   Black racism in America won't end until blacks decide to end it - 'Racism in America' Read More   IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE: Sea level rise dooms American cities even if emissions stop Read More     News | Catholic Life | PRWire | Encyclopedia | Bible | Prayers | Vocations | Saints & Angels © Copyright 2012 Catholic Online. This e-mail is never sent unsolicited. You have received this Catholic Online e-mail because you subscribed to it or someone forwarded it to you. To opt out, see the links below. TO ADVERTISE For information on advertising at Catholic Online, please contact Advertising Sales. 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