From a life of debauchery; prayed for by mom, became a great Priest, Bishop, Saint

St. Augustine of Hippo

 

Facts

Feastday: August 28
Patron of brewers
Death: 430

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St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.

This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terrible ashamed of himself. "What are we doing?" he cried to his friend Alipius. "Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"
Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.
He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone." St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. "Too late have I loved You!" he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion. His feast day is August 28th.

Decision soon on Medjugorje; skepticism high

Church Inquiry May Pit Pope Against a Popular Bosnian Shrine

By ELISABETTA POVOLEDOAUG. 26, 2015

 

   

Roman Catholic pilgrims on the hill above the small Bosnian town of Medjugorje, where in 1981 a group of six youths said the Virgin Mary appeared to them. Three say they still see her daily. Credit Ziyah Gafic for The New York Times

 

MEDJUGORJE, Bosnia and Herzegovina — At exactly 6:40 p.m. one sultry day this month, the peal of church bells rang though the main square of this town, bringing countless pilgrims instantly to their knees.

The ringing marked the moment, 34 years ago, when a group of six youths say the Virgin Mary appeared to them. Three of them say she has continued to do so, usually at the same time, every day since.

Over that period, the scheduled apparitions have drawn millions of believers to this small town, and a good dose of suspicion from skeptics, including, perhaps, Pope Francis. In what was interpreted as a thinly veiled jab at the claims, he recently joked during a morning homily about “visionaries who can tell us exactly what message Our Lady will be sending at 4 o’clock this afternoon.”

Soon the Vatican is expected to make public the findings of its own investigation into the reported apparitions, which was concluded 18 months ago. Though the inquiry was started by Francis’ predecessor, Benedict, if the conclusions are doubtful, as some speculate, they could pit a populist pope against a popular shrine.

Continue reading the main story

HUNGARY

CROATIA

Danube

BOSNIA AND

HERZEGOVINA

Sarajevo

SERBIA

Medjugorje

MONTENEGRO

Adriatic Sea

100 Miles

AUG. 26, 2015

By The New York Times

At the very least, many here fear, the Vatican’s ruling could upend what has become a thriving local industry around the claims. They have made Medjugorje (pronounced mehd-JOO-gor-ee-yeh) an enormously popular religious destination, transforming this once-poor village of rustic stone houses into a beehive of hotels, prix fixe menus and souvenir shops catering to more than a million visitors a year.

Already, since the pope announced in June that a decision was imminent, the numbers of Italians — once the bulk of the pilgrims here — have fallen by half.

 

Read it all:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/world/europe/catholic-church-virgin-mary-apparations-medjugorje.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=3

Please sign the petition

After having my identity as Deacon removed yesterday by Facebook, I ask you to please consider signing this petition.  I appreciate your consideration.  It may not do any good but since this action seems almost exclusively aimed at Catholic clergy & religious, they need to know that people of good will stand together.

Thank you & God Bless.

Here is the petition:  https://www.change.org/p/facebook-to-rescind-a-law-that-prohibits-priest-deacons-sisters-reverends-preachers-and-religious-from-displaying-their-lawful-and-rightful-title?recruiter=151338630&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-xs-share_petition-reason_msg&utm_content=ci_fb_share_title_text%3Ano_dm_s&fb_ref=Default

The mother of St. Augustine; a great Saint in her own right

St. Monica

 

Facts

Feastday: August 27
Patron of Wives and Abuse Victims
Death: 387

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St. Monica was married by arrangement to a pagan official in North Africa, who was much older than she, and although generous, was also violent tempered. His mother Lived with them and was equally difficult, which proved a constant challenge to St. Monica. She had three children; Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Through her patience and prayers, she was able to convert her husband and his mother to the Catholic faith in 370. He died a year later. Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious Life. St. Augustine was much more difficult, as she had to pray for him for 17 years, begging the prayers of priests who, for a while, tried to avoid her because of her persistence at this seemingly hopeless endeavor. One priest did console her by saying, "it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish." This thought, coupled with a vision that she had received strengthened her. St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in 387. St. Monica died later that same year, on the way back to Africa from Rome in the Italian town of Ostia.

Pope Francis has his 100th general audience and it's about family prayer

GENERAL AUDIENCE: On Praying as a Family

“The spirit of prayer gives back time to God, it steps away from the obsession of a life that is always lacking time, it rediscovers the peace of necessary things, and discovers the joy of unexpected gifts.”

    

Vatican City, August 26, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter |   

 

Here is the text of the address Pope Francis gave at the general audience this morning, held in St. Peter’s Square, as he continued with his catechesis series on the family. Today was the Holy Father’s 100^th general audience.
* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
After reflecting on how the family lives times of celebration and work, we now consider the time of prayer. The most frequent lament of Christians has to do, in fact, with time: “I should pray more ... I would like to, but I often lack the time.” We hear this continually. The regret is certainly sincere, because the human heart always seeks prayer, even without knowing it, and if it does not find it, it has no peace. However, to find it, it is necessary to cultivate in the heart a “warm” love for God, an affectionate love.
We can ask ourselves a very simple question. It is good to believe in God with all one’s heart; it is good to hope that He will help us in difficulties; it is good to feel the duty to thank Him. All this is right. But do we also love our Lord a bit? Does the thought of God move us, astound us, make us tender?
We think of the formulation of the great Commandment, which supports all the others: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5; cf. Matthew 22:37). The formula uses the intensive language of love, pouring it over God. See, the spirit of prayer abides first of all here. And if it abides here, it abides all the time and never leaves. Are we able to think of God as the caress that holds us in life, before which there was nothing? A caress from which nothing, not even death, can detach us? Or do we only think of Him as the great Being, the Almighty who has made everything, the Judge who controls every action? All this is true, of course, but only when God is the affection of all our affections does the meaning of these words become full. Then we feel happy, and also somewhat confused, because He thinks of us and, above all, He loves us! Is this not impressive? Is it not impressive that God caresses us with the love of Father? It is so beautiful! He could have simply made Himself known as the Supreme Being, given his Commandments and waited for the results. Instead God has done and does infinitely more than this. He accompanies us on the way of life, He protects us, He loves us.
If affection for God does not enkindle a fire, the spirit of prayer does not warm time. We can also multiply our words, “as the pagans do,” says Jesus, or also exhibit our rites, “as the Pharisees do” (cf. Matthew 6:5.7). A heart inhabited by affection for God also makes a thought without words become a prayer, or an invocation before a sacred image, or a kiss sent toward a church. It is lovely when mothers teach their little children to send a kiss to Jesus or to Our Lady. How much tenderness there is in this! At that moment the heart of the children is transformed into a place of prayer. And it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Let us never forget to ask for this gift for each one of us! Because the Spirit of God has that special way of saying in our heart “Abba” – “Father,” in fact it teaches us to say “Father” as Jesus said it, a way that we can never find on our own (cf. Galatians 4:6). It is in the family that one learns to ask for and appreciate this gift of the Spirit. If one learns to say it with the same spontaneity with which one learns to say “father” and “mother,” one has learnt it forever. When this happens, the time of the whole of family life is enveloped in the womb of the love of God, and seeks spontaneously the time of prayer.
We know well that family time is a complicated and crowded time, occupied and preoccupied. It is always little, it is never enough, there are so many things to do. One who has a family soon learns to resolve an equation that not even the great mathematicians know how to resolve: within the 24 hours there is twice that number! There are mothers and fathers who could win the Nobel Prize for this. Of 24 hours they make 48: I do not know how they do it but they move and do it! There is so much work in a family!
The spirit of prayer gives back time to God, it steps away from the obsession of a life that is always lacking time, it rediscovers the peace of necessary things, and discovers the joy of unexpected gifts. Good guides in this are the two sisters Martha and Mary, spoken of in the Gospel we just heard: they learned from God the harmony of family rhythms: the beauty of celebration, the serenity of work, the spirit of prayer (cf. Luke 10:38-42). The visit of Jesus, whom they really loved, was their celebration. However, one day Martha learned that the work of hospitality, though important, is not everything, but that to listen to the Lord, as Mary did, was really the essential thing, the “better part” of time. Prayer flows from listening to Jesus, from the reading of the Gospel. Do not forget, every day to read a passage of the Gospel. Prayer flows from intimacy with the Word of God. Is there this intimacy in our family? Do we have the Gospel at home? Do we open it some times to read it together? Do we meditate on it while reciting the Rosary? The Gospel read and meditated in the family is like good bread that nourishes everyone’s heart. And in the morning and in the evening, and when we sit at table, we learn to say together a prayer with great simplicity: it is Jesus who comes among us, as he was with the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. There is something that I have very much at heart and that I have seen in the city: there are children who have not learned to make the Sign of the Cross! But you, mother, father, teach your child to pray, to make the Sign of the Cross: this is a lovely task of mothers and fathers!
In the prayer of the family, in its intense and in its difficult seasons, we remember one another, so that each one of us in the family is protected by the love of God.

From Aggie Catholic Blog: Looking into the face of evil

When Looking Into The Face Of Evil – How Should Christians React?

by Marcel

If you haven't heard the story, we had another shooting. This time, it was done on live TV and the video is on the web for anyone to watch. Many will react to such evil and injustice with anger, frustration, sadness, and sometimes fear. These emotions are only natural. When we look into the face of evil, we shouldn't be happy about it. Yet, we are still called to have a different reaction than those who aren't Christian. Let me explain.

One of the most common questions asked is about the seeming contradiction between God’s goodness and human suffering.

• Why would God allow innocent children suffer?
• Why do bad things happen to good people?
• If God is good, why do we suffer so much?
• If God really loves us, why doesn’t He take away suffering?

These questions, and many others like them, haunt many people. There seems to be no good answer. But, is that truly the case?

I would say that the answers some have received do not always satisfy unless we have a good idea of who God is. To really understand the the problem we have with evil, and in turn God’s very nature (as one who allows it to happen), we have to dive into exploring the nature of evil first.

Evil is not a thing. In fact, it is a lack of something. Evil is a lack of goodness. Just as darkness is a lack of light, so evil is a lack of goodness. When we think of it this way, we see that God, who is good by His nature, did not “create” of “invent” evil. Rather, it is God’s creatures’ failure to be good which allowed evil to enter into existence.

Furthermore, the reason death and physical suffering exist is because there is spiritual and moral evil. The cause of suffering and death is ultimately man’s sin. Because of our disobedience we suffer, in both body and soul. What we have earned by our sin is suffering and death for eternity.

This also helps us to understand the eternal love of God for us.
“But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:7.
Even though what we merit by our evil is death and punishment, yet we are still forgiven.

The amazing thing about this paradox of love overcoming evil is that it leads us to the answer of why God allows evil.
The answer is found in the cross.

Suffering and physical death are not good, but neither are they evil in and of themselves. In fact, through the cross, suffering and death can be redemptive. That is, they can help us to re-capture some of the purity, love and holiness that we are created for. The Cross of Jesus is God’s answer to evil. In it, He conquers and shows us how to overcome evil.

Wrapped up in the mystery of evil and God's nature is our own free will. With it, we are able to choose to love. With it, we can do great evil. God gave us this gift of freedom so we could truly have the opportunity to choose Him. If we weren't truly free (and thus incapable of doing evil things), then we would also be incapable of truly loving - which always happens when one truly chooses what is good for the other person.

From this the questions might be turned on their head. We can now understand why bad things happen to good people, but why do good things happen to bad people? It is once again because of the love that God has for all people. Not just the “good” ones.

Suffering and death can lead to holiness and union with God. Therefore, it isn’t as evil as we make it out to be. It is the eternal death of the soul we should be afraid of. All of this perfectly explains the reason St. Paul could write these words to the Romans:

“For if, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign
through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 5:17-21

But, in the midst of suffering all of the reasons still don’t necessarily make suffering easy.

With this in mind, I suggest the following advice for Christians about how we are to react to evil:

1. Never lose hope! We are a people of God's promises and He promises to never leave us or stop loving us. Here are 35 of God's promises from Scripture to help you out.
2. Cling to The Cross! Jesus knows what suffering and evil is like, in fact, He suffered so that all of us could live forever!
3. When you are weak - Jesus is strong! He wants you to say "yes" to Him when you are weak. Because in that weakness, there is great grace, which provides a strength we cannot summon ourselves! (2 Cor 12:9-10).
4. Never stop loving! God never stops loving us and we should never stop loving Him or others.
5. Help change the world by working for justice and conversion of souls! If we don't, then who will?

Facebook has stripped my identity as Deacon Mike Talbot

After weeks of watching Catholic Priest after Catholic Priest complain about Facebook's purge against the identity of Father or Reverend, tonight they began the purge against Deacons.  Actually, they have been at it for some time but they got me and several of my friends tonight. 

Facebook stresses that this is to eliminate across the board honorifics and titles and is a security measure to ensure proper identity.  Well let's take a look at how consistent this is applied.  By far, the greatest purge by Facebook over the past few months has been aimed squarely at Catholics.  Additionally, Islamic Imam's are exempt from this policy.   And get this, drag queens, yes drag queens or any other member of LGBT communities that wants to go by any name or any title is A-OK by Facebook.

You know I discovered this tonight while being a Deacon.  And I'm always being a Deacon.  Tonight I was at Rayburn Prison, ministering to 50 inmates, last night, an important planning session for the Office of the Permanent Diaconate, Monday night at the parish school of religion(PSR, also known as CCD).  Sunday it was Mass and the unexpected hospitalization of my wife.  And yes I went to work today, and I cut the grass over the weekend, and all of this while being a Deacon.  I am what I am; I am a Permanent Deacon.

Facebook can do what they want; it's their product.  Based on their reasoning behind their policy, what are they afraid of when it comes to Priests, Deacons, Catholic clergy and religious?

Take your best shot Facebook; I am Deacon Mike Talbot!  And you can't change that no way, no how!

We got Saints from A to Z; and this Saint was a Pope too

St. Zephyrinus

 

Facts

Feastday: August 26
Death: 202

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Zephyrinus, Pope + Pope from 199-217. According to the Liber Pontificalis , he was a Roman by birth. His reign, as succcssor to St. Victor I (r. 189-199), was dominated by the troubles caused by several heretical groups and the severe persecution of the Church launched by Emperor Septimius Severus (r. 193-211) around 202. The antipope Hippolytus criticized his vacillation in dealing with the Monarchian heretics. According to tradition, Zephyrinus was martyred. His cult was suppressed in 1969. Feast day: formerly August 26.

Powerful piece directed at men: Grow up! Put God First!!

Time For Men To Grow Up

by Marcel

It is time for the generations of men to grow up. Before you get upset at that statement, consider the evidence of what has happened to our understanding of masculinity.

First, men are now conditioned to live in a state of permanent adolescence. They are not raised, coached, mentored, and taught to be men. They are just “guys”. Women don’t want to marry a “guy” then want a man.

Second, men are told that their masculine traits are merely culturally created and therefore should be shed or being a man is all about selfish conquering of desires.
These problems are highlighted in two articles below:

1. Where Have the Good Men Gone? – The Wall Street Journal. A snip:
   

   Not so long ago, the average American man in his 20s had achieved most of the milestones of adulthood: a high-school diploma, financial independence, marriage and children. Today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. This “pre-adulthood” has much to recommend it, especially for the college-educated. But it’s time to state what has become obvious to legions of frustrated young women: It doesn’t bring out the best in men.

2. What Porn Does To A Relationship:
   What I would like for everyone to see is the devastating change brought to the marriage from pornography, from a woman’s viewpoint:

   Not only was I shocked when he told me, I was also hurt, confused, scared, betrayed and angry. I felt like my world had just been turned upside down; my safety and security were crumbling away. His confession was overwhelming.Within minutes, the foundation of our marriage was shaken. The trust we had built was destroyed. I no longer felt safe or loved. I was suddenly bombarded with lies—he doesn’t find me attractive; it’s my fault he strayed; I’m not beautiful; I’m not sexy; I am a horrible wife; I’m a failure; he is stuck with me; he doesn’t love me … these seemed to instantly go from ridiculous to quite possibly true.

The results are the emasculation of men. To emasculate means - "to deprive a man of his male strength, role, etc." or "to make something weaker or less effective." This is certainly the result of men who fail to understand and properly live out true masculinity.

The idea of the full-grown man living as an adolescent guy, who is only out for himself, isn’t masculinity but a betrayal of what a man is supposed to be. Furthermore, porn twists a man into believing that he is masculine by conquering women for his sexual gratification. It isn’t being manly at all. Think of a man that you look up to. I am not talking about a movie star, musician, or athlete. I mean someone who is a real example of humble virtue. Someone who is a true leader of others. They certainly aren't the kind of man who looks at porn, can't hold down a job due to bad habits, is selfish, or immature.

We need to stand up to this corruption of masculinity and really live out . To be a real man is just what I posted a several years back – it is to respect, protect, love, and serve.

We must live this true calling of being a man out, model it for others, teach it to our children, and challenge others to live it out. We cannot sit back and allow the culture which turns men into pleasure-seeking, bumbling, incompetent fools do it for us. They see men, fathers, and husbands as incapable of real virtue.

These issues are not only killing masculinity, they are also killing femininity. Because only when masculinity is truly lived properly will femininity flourish.

So, where do we start? We start with discovering what a masculine man is NOT:

• an emasculated ninny.
• a testosterone infused sack of passions.
• going to turn away from a challenge, just because it is difficult.

A masculine man is this ->

• A man who desperately seeks to follow in the footsteps of THE MAN.
• He will be courageous in the face of danger.
• He will fight for and maintain self control.
• He will put to death his lusts.
• He will be in control of his emotions and yet not afraid of them.
• He will find himself in losing himself.
• He is humble, but sure of the gifts God has given him.
• He is gentle when he should be and rough when necessary.
• He is a man of strength of character and his word means something.
• He says I am sorry, thank you, and please.
• He fulfills his promises.
• He isn’t ashamed of his Lord or either of his mothers.
• He holds open doors, looks people in the eye, and has confidence in himself.
• He will put life in the proper order – 1 – God; 2 – His wife (if he has one); 3 – His children (if he has them) 4 – Others; 5 – Himself

A real man isn’t afraid of his masculine traits, but embraces them as a gift from God. He doesn’t abuse them, but understands the way to use them in service of God and others.

It is time we men resurrect true masculinity. It is time for men to grow up