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02/23/2024

“Penance without fasting is useless and vain; by fasting [we] satisfy God.”

02/23/2024

Feb. 23 is St. Polycarp's feast day. He was an early Christian Martyr and a student of St. John, the Beloved Apostle.

The witness of his faith unto death is remarkable:

From CNA:
"Although the crowds clamored for Polycarp to be devoured by beasts, it was decided he should be burned alive, just as he had prophesied. He prayed aloud to God: "May I be accepted this day before you as an acceptable sacrifice -- just as you, the ever-truthful God, have foreordained, revealed beforehand to me, and now have fulfilled."

What happened next struck Polycarp's companions with amazement; they recorded the sight in the letter that they circulated after Polycarp's death.

"As the flame blazed forth in great fury," they wrote, "we to whom it was given to witness it, beheld a great miracle." The fire did not seem to touch the bishop's body. Rather, as they described, "shaping itself into the form of an arch, it encompassed – as by a circle – the body of the martyr. And he appeared within not like flesh which is burnt, but as bread that is baked, or as gold and silver glowing in a furnace."

"Moreover, we perceived such a sweet odour coming from the flames – as if frankincense or some such precious spices had been burning there."

The executioners perceived that Polycarp's death was not going as planned. Losing patience, they ordered him to be stabbed to death.

From the resulting wound, "there came forth a dove, and a great quantity of blood, so that the fire was extinguished."

The crowd, as the Christian witnesses recalled, were understandably amazed.

"All the people marveled," they wrote, "that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect." Polycarp, they proclaimed, had been among that elect – "having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna."
Read more: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-polycarp-of-smyrna-156

02/22/2024

02/22/2024

Protestants are critical of Catholic prayers like the rosary, often citing the KJV Bible verse about "vain repetitions" in prayer. But here's what you should know about repetitive prayer.

02/22/2024

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter celebrates the papacy and St. Peter as the first bishop of Rome. St. Peter's original name was Simon, but Jesus changed it when He gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/seasons-and-feast-days/chair-of-saint-peter-23015

02/21/2024

-from “Lord, Have Mercy” bit.ly/2mGCWvH

02/21/2024

Credit - on Instagram for this photo

02/21/2024

“The issue of moral consistency could be an effective tool for evangelizing conservatives who are not yet aware of certain fundamental moral principles.”

Read the latest from Dr. Richard DeClue, who argues that consistency on moral teaching is of vital importance for potential converts as well as for ourselves: https://bit.ly/4bGBhtF

02/21/2024

A great reminder while we're in Lent - go to Confession!

Reflect on God's great love for you this season with a free eBook of Lenten Meditations - https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/seasons-and-feast-days/lent-14353

02/21/2024