The Pope offers Mass in the Sanctae Marthae Chapel for the Copts killed in Libya

Pope Francis (AP)

Vatican City, 17 February 2015 (VIS) – Pope Francis offered this morning's Mass in the Chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae for the 21 Egyptian Copts murdered yesterday in Libya, whose funerals will be held today.

“Let us offer this Mass for our 21 brother Copts, beheaded for the simple fact of being Christians. Let us pray for them, so that the Lord may welcome them as martyrs, for their families, and for my brother Tawadros, who suffers deeply”.

He went on to pronounce the antiphon from Psalm 31: “For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me”.

Yesterday afternoon the Holy Father telephoned the Patriarch, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, to express his participation in the profound sorrow of the Orthodox Coptic Church for the recent barbaric massacre of Egyptian Copts at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. He assured him of his prayers and today, the day of the victims' funerals, joined spiritually in the prayers and the suffering of the Coptic Church, in the morning Eucharistic celebration.

You can find more information at: www.visnews.org

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Posts For Faith of the Fathers Blogs For July 21, 2014

Saint Quote of the Day: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Quote

Saints of the Faith: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Daily Catholic Mass Readings: Catholic Mass Readings For Monday, July 21, 2014

Church Under Attack: Christian Holocaust Underway in Iraq, USA and World Look on

Faith of the Fathers: A Desperate Cry From Iraq's Christians

Cardinal assures traditionalists of Pope’s support for Extraordinary Form : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:

• The former prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy has told a traditionalist group that Pope Francis has no intention of restricting access to the Extraordinary Form of the Latin liturgy.
• “I met Pope Francis very recently and he told me that he has no problem with the old rite, and neither does he have any problem with lay groups and associations like yours that promote it,” Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos told members of Una Voce International (FIUV), who were in Rome for a general assembly.

Read more by clicking below:
Cardinal assures traditionalists of Pope’s support for Extraordinary Form : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

2013 Ordination Mass Diocese of Charlotte

A promotional video for the Diocese of Charlotte's Mass for the ordination of Jason Christian to the priesthood on June 22, 2013. Watch the ordination Mass live from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, NC, starting at 10 a.m.: 

http://catholicnewsherald.com/features/local/53-news/roknewspager-local/3598-live-video-experience-the-june-22nd-priesthood-ordination-online

Pope Francis to Hold Global Pro-Life Conference, Pro-Life Mass on June 16 | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:

• Pro-lifers held their breath the day the world received a new Pope. They did not question his pro-life credentials but wondered if he would speak forcefully.
• An old quote soon surfaced and concerns faded. “Defend the unborn against abortion even if they persecute you, calumniate you, set traps for you, take you to court or kill you. No child should be deprived of the right to be born, the right to be fed, the right to go to school.”
• On Sunday, June 16, Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass for Life in St. Peter’s Square.

Read more by clicking below:

Pope Francis to Hold Global Pro-Life Conference, Pro-Life Mass on June 16 | LifeNews.com

Evangelization: Something We Should All Do

Spirit Daily has a most interesting article entitled: "EVANGELIZE, EVANGELIZE! IF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CAN GO DOOR TO DOOR, WHAT ABOUT US CATHOLICS?"

The article begins as follows:

"On occasion we hear the admonition from Rome or the local pulpit: evangelize. Go forth and speak of Catholicism. Spread authentic Christianity!

We hear that good notion (part of Christ's own admonition) but usually with little advice on how to do it [this was written before the Pope's recent remarks].

Yet, ways there are.

The most basic: go to homes; door to door; visit people in your community; show them what Catholics look like and act like and believe like, as opposed to the conceptions they may have from the media.

If Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons can do it -- if evangelicals can, with substantial results -- why can't the world's oldest and most authentic form of Christianity?"

(You can read the entire article here.)

Indeed, why can't Catholics....or even more importantly....why don't Catholics go door to door?

I have asked this question many times, and the only response I have ever gotten is a shrug of the shoulders.

It makes one ask questions. Do Catholics not care if no one else comes home to the Catholic Church? Do they not care if people come into the Church, only to disappear a short time later?

It would seem on the surface at least, that many, if not most, don't care. I did have one person tell me, that if a person came into the Church, only to disappear later, then perhaps the new member had decided that the Catholic Church was not for them after all.

I think, that many Catholics think that this is something that should be entirely left up to the priests and bishops, and that the laity has no role to play. They believe that such evangelistic work is best left to the clerics, and to others like The Legion of Mary, and Catholics Come Home.

This line of thinking is in itself entirely wrong. All of us have a role to play, by witnessing to our Catholic faith, and sharing the full truth of authentic Christianity with others.

Let them see what Catholics are like, what we believe, and how we care. Whenever one shares even one truth about the Catholic Church, he or she may be planting a seed that will bring forth fruit, and lead someone home to the Catholic Church.

Remember, the Holy Spirit can use you or me as the tool to lead someone where they truly need to be, and that is the One, Holy, and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church.

Homily from Bishop Peter Jugis during March for Life

Diocese of Charlotte Bishop Peter J. Jugis was the homilist during the North Carolina Mass in Washington, D.C. during the March for Life 

Mass for Life 2013

Diocese of Charlotte priests, seminarians and Bishop Peter J. Jugis process during the Mass for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 24, 2013.

Missal Moment #7

This is the final video about the new english language translation of the Roman Missal from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Missal Moment #6: Bowing during the Creed

A video about the new english language translation of the Roman Missal from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

2011 Eucharistic Congress

The following link will take you to a website with complete information on the 2011 Eucharistic Congress hosted by the Diocese of Charlotte, NC.

2011 Eucharistic Congress

Missal Moment #2: 'Many' vs. 'All'

A video about the new english language translation of the Roman Missal from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Missal Moment #1 "With Your Spirit"

A video about the new english language translation of the Roman Missal from the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nation & World | Papal aide restores ancient tradition to rites | Seattle Times Newspaper

"Some of the key trappings of the Mass — the vestments and vernacular, the "smells and bells" — have taken on a more ancient air since Benedict succeeded John Paul II, and since Guido Marini succeeded Piero Marini."

Read more by clicking the link below:

Nation & World | Papal aide restores ancient tradition to rites | Seattle Times Newspaper