Some Things I Believe

Let me be clear:

1. I believe in the sanctity of life, from conception unto natural death.

2. I don't support abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, or euthanasia.

3. I believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman.

4. I believe that there are only two genders, male and female, as it has always been, and always will be.

5. I believe that God is the author of all life, and that He alone is in charge of all things, both seen and unseen.

If you choose to believe otherwise in all of the above named, that is solely between you and God.

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for April 2018

For Those who have Responsibility in Economic Matters

That economists may have the courage to reject any economy of exclusion and know how to open new paths.

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for March 2018

Formation in Spiritual Discernment

That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels.

Ten Years!

On August 1, 2005 Faith of the Fathers blogs were started.

There were four of us posting then, and alas, the only one left is yours truly.

It has been an enjoyable ride for the most part, but not always a smooth one.

There were a couple of occasions when finances forced me to disconnect from the internet, and after I returned from the last such event, everyone else had left. One due to her health, one due to some life changes, and I believe the other just lost interest.

Now I am having to deal with unreliable internet service, and I am doing extremely well if I am able to make one or two posts a week, when I had been making 3 or more per day!

Ah technology. It’s enough to make a man want to apply a hammer firmly to his computer.

Anyway, we have managed to hang around for 10 years! 10 years!

As an old friend used to say, “who would’ve thunk it?”

Anyway, thank you to all of the readers, subscribers, followers, and casual passersby of Faith of the Fathers blogs.

Many of you (you know who you are, and so do I), have given me lots of inspiration, guidance, and support...both spiritually and materially...when I have found myself in need.

Thank you one and all!

God Bless you all, and may Our Lady keep you in her care!

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions For August 2015

Vatican City, 31 July 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for August is: “That volunteers may give themselves generously to the service of the needy”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That setting aside our very selves we may learn to be neighbours to those who find themselves on the margins of human life and society”.

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

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

God Never Changes

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for July 2015

 

Vatican City, 30 June 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for July is: “That political responsibility may be lived at all levels as a high form of charity”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That, amid social inequalities, Latin American Christians may bear witness to love for the poor and contribute to a more fraternal society”.

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

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE 2015

Vatican City, 29 May 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for June is: “That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life”.

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

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for May 2015

Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for May is: “That, rejecting the culture of indifference, we may care for our neighbours who suffer, especially the sick and the poor”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That Mary's intercession may help Christians in secularised cultures be open to proclaiming Jesus”.

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

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Top Posts For This Week

The top posts for this week are listed below by blog name and post title. Click on the post title if you would like to read them.

Faith of the Fathers:

After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram

Saint Quote of the Day:

Saint Alphonsus Liguori Quote

Daily Catholic Mass Readings:

Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Tuesday, April 21, 2015 and Daily Catholic Mass Readings For Thursday, April 23, 2015 (tie)

Faith of the Fathers Report

Bill to legalize euthanasia in Peru draws criticism

The Pope And Church News

News Vatican Information Service April 23-24, 2015

Church Under Attack

Human Rights Leaders Plead With Obama to Stop 'Nazi' Campaign Against Christians

Saints of the Faith

Priest who died on the Titanic could be on path to sainthood

Approved Apparitions

Our Lady of Nicaragua (Our Lady of Cuapa)

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After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram :: EWTN News

The following excerpts are from EWTN News:

A Nigerian bishop says that he has seen Christ in a vision and now knows that the rosary is the key to ridding the country of the Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram.

Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme says he is being driven by a God-given mandate to lead others in praying the rosary until the extremist group disappears.

“Towards the end of last year I was in my chapel before the Blessed Sacrament… praying the rosary, and then suddenly the Lord appeared,” Bishop Dashe told EWTN News April 18.

In the vision, the prelate said, Jesus didn’t say anything at first, but extended a sword toward him, and he in turn reached out for it.

“As soon as I received the sword, it turned into a rosary,” the bishop said, adding that Jesus then told him three times: “Boko Haram is gone.”

“I didn’t need any prophet to give me the explanation,” he said. “It was clear that with the rosary we would be able to expel Boko Haram.”

Read more by clicking below:

After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram :: EWTN News

Embarrassed Again

As many of you already know, I was fired from my previous job back in January, as I told you in a previous post here.

At the time, I did not want to go into the details of the reason I was given for being fired, so I will now. My former employer had told me, and the young lady that I worked with, that he was going to have to cut hours. She had found out a few weeks earlier that she and her husband were expecting their first child. She had to miss some work due to some related problems, and then she was laid off. Meanwhile, my hours were cut from 40 per week, to 26 per week. No one else had any hours cut.

Then, my former employer hired four new employees. One was full time, and the other 3 were part time. So in talking to another employee, I had complained about my hours being cut, while no one else was cut, and the fact that new employees were hired. I suppose that my having been with this company the longest did not count.

Any way, my employer was told that I had complained about my hours being cut and his hiring more people, so he said he was firing me because I had complained.

So, I finally found a new job 2 weeks ago. I started out at less pay per hour, but at least I am working and getting 40 hours per week.

The thing is, being unemployed for 3 weeks with no money coming in, combined with already being in a financial bind because of my reduced work hours, has really put me behind on my necessities, like the rent, power bill, and such.

It was also time to renew the license plate for my car, and have it inspected. I have not been able to have that done, because the check engine light was on, and they can not inspect a car until the reason for it being on is repaired. I had the repairs done by a mechanic friend, and I now owe him $270.00 for the parts alone.

I have been getting by on food by eating ramen noodles, beans and rice, and pasta. Sometimes I get tuna and maybe chicken when it’s on sale.

I owe a months rent, and a power bill (I have been using a portable kerosene heater to heat with to reduce the power bill), and still can’t get the car inspection and license renewal done because I only have $3.50 left in the bank. In other words, I am already in the red over $800.00 before I even get started.

So, once again, I am asking my blog readers and friends to please make a donation to me through PayPal. I hate to ask you to do this, but I have nowhere else to turn.

If you can’t make a donation, your prayers are surely needed and deeply appreciated!

Thank you for reading and following Faith of the Fathers blogs!

Your brother in Christ,

Steve Smith

Ash Wednesday (Goffine's Devout Instructions)

Why is this day thus named?

Because on this day the Church blesses ashes, and places them on the heads of her faithful children, saying: "Remember man, thou art dust, and unto dust thou shaft return."

Why is this done?

St. Charles Borromeo gives us the following reasons for this practice: that the faithful may be moved to sincere humility of heart; that the heavenly blessing may descend upon them, by which they, being really penitent, will weep with their whole soul for their sins, remembering how earth was cursed because of sin, and that we have all to return to dust; that strength to do true penance may be given the body, and that our soul may be endowed with divine grace to persevere in penance.

With such thoughts let the ashes be put upon your head, while you ask in all humility and with a contrite heart, for God’s mercy and grace.

Is the practice of putting ashes upon our heads pleasing to God?

To read more, please click here.

The "Doghouse" or the Happy House...It's Your Choice Gentlemen!

Chocolate Covered  Cherries from
Mystic Monk Coffee

Gentlemen, allow me to say...survival is a strong instinct. Very strong. Indeed.

If you don’t want to be in the proverbial “doghouse” this St. Valentine’s Day...and for several days thereafter...I have some good news!

The good monks at Mystic Monk Coffee have come to the rescue! Yours. Not mine. It’s a tad too late for an old over the hill bachelor of 59 such as yours truly to be rescued...but that’s a story for another time and one that I’ll just keep to myself.

Nevertheless...the good monks now have available just in time for St. Valentine’s Day their wonderful Chocolate Cherry Coffee, available in regular ground, decaffeinated ground, and whole bean regular. Their letter tells me that they are roasting it fresh as I type this.

Now maybe your sweet thing isn’t a coffee drinker...but is a chocolate lover...and is especially a chocolate covered cherries lover. I don’t blame her. I am suspicious of anyone who doesn’t like chocolate covered cherries. Especially these Chocolate Covered Cherries from Mystic Monk Coffee which their letter tells me are “real dried cherries, coated first with a layer of milk chocolate, and then finished with a layer of cherry flavored white chocolate.”

Stop drooling!

If you can’t make up your mind as to which one to get...then get both! Just order the Valentines Gift Set! It has 2 packages of Chocolate Covered Cherries, and 1 package of Chocolate Cherry Coffee, all tastefully packed in a beautiful red box.

See how easy that is? Get the gift set and you don’t even have to wrap it!

Or at the last minute you can always run over to the drug store and buy her one of those tired...lame..."I put no thought into this"...heart shaped box of chocolates that have been sitting in a warehouse since before Christmas.

So you can either be in the “doghouse”...or the happy house...it’s up to you. I can lead the horse to water but I can’t make him drink!

Remember....as always....your purchase of Mystic Monk Coffee helps to support the monastery of the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and this blogger!

Our Top Blog Posts of All Time

I thought that the readers of these blogs might be interested in the all-time top blog posts on all of my Faith of the Fathers Blogs. Below is a list of those posts. You may click each post’s title if you’d like to read them.

Favorite Prayers and Scripture

Prayer for a Mother who has died

May 13, 2006,

Views: 15441

Saint Quote of the Day

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Aug 28, 2005,

Views: 2838

Daily Catholic Mass Readings

Sunday Catholic Mass Readings For August 18, 2013

Aug 17, 2013,

Views: 1625

Faith of the Fathers Report

Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Display of WTC Cross at 9/11 Memorial - FoxNews.com

Jul 27, 2011,

Views: 558

The Pope And Church News

News Vatican Information Service 07/06-08/2013

Jul 8, 2013,

Views: 642

Saints of the Faith

Sister Josefa Menendez-Victim Soul

Mar 15, 2006,

Views: 6284

Faith of the Fathers

The Digital Catholic Bible

Aug 15, 2010,

Views: 862

Church Under Attack

Syria: Aleppo priest advises Christians to leave : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Apr 24, 2013,

Views: 610

Our Lady

Mary's Way Of The Cross - Fifteenth Station: Jesus is Raised from the Dead

Apr 4, 2007,

Views: 975

The Early Church Fathers

Saint Jerome: Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church

Sep 29, 2010,

Views: 1876

Apologetics

Why Do We Suffer? The Theological Answer of St Paul ~ Canterbury Tales by Dr. Taylor Marshall

Apr 22, 2012,

Views: 4131

Approved Apparitions

Our Lady of Kibeho

Mar 24, 2006,

Views: 17778

Cardinal George dropped from cancer drug trial, asks for prayers :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, at a press conference at the NAC on Feb. 27, 2013.
Credit: Paolo Tiranti/CNA

The following excerpts are from Catholic News Agency (CNA):

Chicago, Ill., Jan 6, 2015 / 11:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Francis George has asked for continued prayers after being dropped from a cancer drug’s clinical trial, which was determined to be ineffective for him.

“He is at peace, but he counts on everyone’s prayers that he might be of service to the Lord and His Church in the time left to him,” the Archdiocese of Chicago said Dec. 31.

“Cardinal George would like to thank all those who have been praying for him, and asks them to continue to do so. You and those you love are remembered in his prayers as well.”

The 77-year-old cardinal and archbishop emeritus of Chicago had been taking part in a clinical trial conducted by University of Chicago Medicine, while also being cared for by Loyola University Hospital.

The drug, from the pharmaceutical company Genentech, is designed with the intention of helping the human body’s immune system recognize and attack cancerous cells, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Tests indicated that the drug has not been effective for the cardinal.

The archdiocese said the physicians and others overseeing the treatment of the cardinal have assured him that the information gathered in the clinical trial will help benefit others.

Cardinal George will meet with his doctors to discuss how to address his cancer’s side effects. His cancer at present has not spread to any vital organs.

Read more by clicking below:

Cardinal George dropped from cancer drug trial, asks for prayers :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (Goffine's Devout Instrctions)

What festival is this?

This festival is set apart to solemnly commemorate the coming of the three wise men from the East, guided by a miraculous star which appeared to them, and directed them to Bethlehem, where they found Christ in the stable; here they honored and adored Him and offered gifts to Him.

Why is this day called Epiphqnid Domini, or Apparition of the Lord?

Because the Church wishes to bring before our mind the three great events in the life of Christ, when He made known to man His divinity: the coming of the wise men from the East, through whom He revealed Himself to the Gentiles as the Son of God; His baptism, on which occasion His Divinity was made known to the Jews, and His first miracle at the marriage of Cana, by which He revealed Himself to His disciples.

INTROIT.

Behold the Lord the Ruler is come; and the kingdom is in his hand, and power and dominion (Mal. 3). Give to the king thy judgment, O God; and to the king's son thy justice (Ps. 71:1). Glory be to the Father.

Read more by clicking here.

Continued Prayers Please

I am asking for your prayers for my worsening eyesight. I have cataracts, and my eyesight worsens daily it seems. I can definitely tell the difference between now and this same time last year.

I can especially tell the difference when it comes to posting for my blogs. If it continues, I may have to give up blogging altogether in a few more months.

So if you see a spelling or punctuation error in my blog posts, Facebook posts, or tweets on twitter, I apologize. Sometimes I just don't see them until well after the posts and someone points them out.

I have no health or vision insurance from work, as my employer does not offer either.

Your continued support through prayer is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank all of you who have made contributions for my situation through PayPal and GoFundMe, or have made purchases of Mystic Monk Coffee and my Zazzle products from Faith of the Fathers Catholic Gifts. All have been of a great help in my present situation, and I appreciate it very much!

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for January 2015

Vatican City, 30 December 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for January 2015 is: “That those from diverse religious traditions and all people of good will may work together for peace”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That in this year dedicated to consecrated life, religious men and women may rediscover the joy of following Christ and strive to serve the poor with zeal”.

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

The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Saint Pope Clement I- Early Church Father

Saint Pope Clement I is also known as Clement of Rome. There are differing views as to exactly when and where he was born. The general agreement is that he may have been a freed man from a Roman household. He is generally considered by the Roman Catholic Church to be one of the Greek Fathers and an Apostolic Father. He was the third successor to Peter as Pope, after Linus and Anacletus (Cletus), and writings from other Early Fathers including those of St. Irenaeus, Origen, and St. Jerome, to name a few, say that Clement was baptised by Peter. He was also a contemporary of Paul, and one of the early writers in speaking of Clement, said that "the preaching of the Apostles still rang in his ears".

The one thing that gives us more knowledge about Clement than the first two sucessors of Peter, is Clements "Epistle to the Corinthians", a letter he wrote to the "sojourning Church in Corinth from the sojourning Church in Rome", in regard to a schism happening there. The date of the letter is believed to have been around 96 A.D. His name does not appear in the letter nor did he direct the letter to a bishop at Corinth, but, the letter seems to have been generally intended for all in the Church at Corinth. Clements Epistle, is also the first evidence of papal correction to a Church outside of Rome. The letter he wrote was so highly regarded by the Church at Corinth, that a decade or so later, the bishop in Corinth in a letter to Rome, mentions that the letter from Clement was read at their assemblies. Indeed, this letter was also included in the early Bibles of many of the eastern Churches, before the canon was established in the Latin Vulgate.

Read more by clicking here.