Tuesday, January 27, 2009

FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

In Florida, an atheist created a case against the upcoming Easter and Passover holy days.

He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews and observances of their holy days.

The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.

The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel, declaring, "Case dismissed!"


The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying,

"Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case?

The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others.

The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah,
yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays."

The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."


The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."


The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fools Day. Psalm 14:1 states,

'
The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool.

Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned.

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

The Virtue of Sharing

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.'


The Lord led the holy man to two doors.


He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.



In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.




The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.




They were holding spoons with very long handles, that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.




But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.




The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.




The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell.'





They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.




There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water..





The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here
the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.'




It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill.





You see they have learned to feed each
other, while the greedy think only of themselves..'




When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you.


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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Bold tales of young saints

St. Agnes

Although in the year 304 Agnes of Rome was only thirteen years old, pagan authorities tortured and murdered her because
she was a Christian.

Like so many young Christians, she lived — and then died — for Christ and with a courage that many adults find hard to muster.

St. Charles Lwanga
Just over a hundred years ago, and because they also wouldn't renounce their faith, young Charles Lwanga and his companions were burned to death by a pagan king in Uganda.

The tales of these brave young Catholics are told in the Golden Legend of Young Saints, which we just published for you and for your children, ten and older.

Golden Legend of Young Saints


King St. Louis IX
is here:

St Louis IX

Crowned king of France in 1226 when he was but twelve years
old, Louis's holiness and wisdom, and his care for the poor, won him renown while he still lived, and lifted him swiftly to the ranks of canonized saints after he died.

There's Joan of Arc, of course, leading armies in the 1400s while yet a teen; but also saints whose names are not writ large in the book of history:

Dominic Savio

Dominic Savio,
canonized for the simple goodness
that marked each day of his
brief fifteen years; and

St. Bernadette

Bernadette Soubirous,
the destitute 14-year-old
to whom our Lady appeared
at Lourdes.


Their lives of great and simple virtue remind us that "valor
does not wait on years," nor does holiness. To live in the love of God, in absolute obedience to His commandments, to practice the noblest Christian virtues, and even to offer our life in sacrifice — we don't have to be grown up.

Christ is calling each of us to be like these young saints, to cultivate in ourselves what we know is best: kindness, courage, perseverance, faith, charity, and absolute trust in God. The example of these bold young saints will help you and
your children do so.

Plus
these
other fine
books for
your children:

Catholic Tales

Golden Legend of Young Saints

Golden Legends
of Young Saints


by Henri Daniel-Rops
$12.95 (Dnrs.: $9.71)
ppbk 160 pgs

Order online now or call
1-800-888-9344

www.SophiaInstitute.com

Plus
these
other fine
books for
your children:

More Catholic Tales for Children

The First Christians
Twenty Tales of Irish Saints
Bible Stories
A Life of Our Lord for Children
The Tripods Attack
St. Patrick's Summer
Blood Red Crescent
The Book of Saints and Heroes

My Path to Heaven
Book of Angels


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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Book: The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life

Therese of Lisieux

"Reading this book was one
of the greatest graces of my life!"

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

In the late 19th century, Father Charles Arminjon, a priest from the mountains of southeastern France, assembled his flock in the town cathedral to preach a series of conferences to help them turn their thoughts away from this life’s mean material affairs — and toward the next life’s glorious spiritual reward.

His wise and uncompromising words deepened in them the spirit of recollection that all Christians must have: the abiding conviction that heavenly aims, not temporal enthusiasms, must guide everything we think, say, and do.

When Father Arminjon’s conferences were later published in a book, many others were able to reap the same benefit — including 14-year-old Thérèse Martin, then on the cusp of entering the Carmelite convent in Lisieux.

Reading these pages, Thérèse says,
"plunged my soul into a happiness
not of this earth."


Filled with a sense of "what God reserves for those who love him, and seeing that the eternal rewards had no proportion to the light sacrifices of life," she copied out numerous passages and memorized them, "repeating unceasingly the words of love burning in my heart."


Now the book Thérèse loved is
available for the first time in English:

End of the Present World (book cover)

Let its pages fill you with the same burning words of love, with the same ardent desire to know God above all created things, that St. Thérèse gained from them.

Let them enrich your understanding of certain teachings of the Faith that can often seem so mysterious, even frightening: the signs that will precede the world’s end; the coming of the Antichrist and how to recognize him; the Judgment and where it may send us; and Biblical end-times prophecy (how to read it and not be deceived).

Jesus commands us to be ever-watchful for his return, and ever-mindful that we have no lasting city on earth. The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life is an invaluable aid to inculcating in your spirit that heavenly orientation, without which true human happiness cannot be found — in this world or the next.

End of the Present World (book cover)

The End of the Present World
and the Mysteries of the Future Life


by Fr. Charles Arminjon.
336 pgs ppbk $17.95


Arrives from the printer
on January 26th, 2009.

Order online now or call
1-8...

www.SophiaInstitute.com


Other fine books for those who love St. Thérèse:

I Believe in Love

Fr. Jean C. J. d'Elbée
$15.95 paperback
304 pages
I Believe in Love (cover)
Descending Fire
Descending Fire

by Fr. Jean Petit
$2.00
176 pages
"This classic beautifully reveals God's deep love for each of us and awakens in us a burning love for Him. If you want to grow in love of God, this book is a must."
Fr. Benedict Groeschel

"Author Fr. Jean Petit calls St. Thérèse and her Little Way "the soul of my soul." Anyone who desires a more contemplative way of prayer will find this book very helpful."
Fr. Kilian Healy, O.Carm.


$2 PER BOOK

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