Mischievous Belloc quote

I came across this rather intriguing quote from Hilaire Belloc, but don’t know its ultimate source:

“To be a good catholic, one must be a strong man; that is why so many women are good Catholics.”

I’m not sure what he meant but maybe he was just being a bit mischievous?

(Found it in Fr Bede Jarrett’s Meditations for Layfolk, page 411, “Decisions”).

May Fatima Five First Saturdays devotion

This is a reminder about the Fatima Five First Saturdays devotion, since the coming Saturday is the first Saturday of May.

This is one of the major ways (along with saying the Rosary daily) for Catholics to fulfil Our Lady’s requests and thus bring about the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart and the period of peace for the world.

For more information see:

http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/firstsat/firstsat.html

Book Review: Medjugorje Revisited by Donal Anthony Foley

Book Review: Medjugorje Revisited by Donal Anthony Foley

This new review can be seen via Te Deum Laludamus, the blog by Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS

http://te-deum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/book-review-medjugorje-revisited-by.html

“Some Background and Thoughts – In 2006, British author, Donal Anthony Foley, released the book, Understanding Medjugorje: Heavenly Visions or Religious Illusions? Last year, in 2011, Foley released the updated, revised, and expanded version of that book under the title: MEDJUGORJE REVISITED: 30 Years of Visions or Religious Fraud? It has a foreword by Mariologist, Rev. Manfred Hauke and the preface was written by Patrick Coffin.

I often get emails from people who are discerning whether to visit Medjugorje, or who feel conflicted. When they search, they end up at the most popular sites at the top of the search list which offer an uncritical view of events in favor of signs, wonders, and good fruits. This not only comes to the exclusion of bad fruits; it has blossomed into an alliance within the entire movement which pits the “gospa” of Medjugorje against the local bishops …”

To see the rest of the review, please visit this link:

http://te-deum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/book-review-medjugorje-revisited-by.html

Fatima pilgrimage

The World Apostolate of Fatima England and Wales National Pilgrimage, is from 7-14 July, 2012. And there are still some places left!

The spiritual director of the pilgrimage is Fr Gerard Kelly, and it will be led by Mike Daley. The price of £588 includes return flight from London Heathrow; half-board accommodation in Domus Pacis; taxes and coach tours in Fatima and surroundings. A single supplement costs £140. The week consists of a full programme of events centred in Fatima. Booking forms and itineraries are available for email enquirers.

The flight details are:

London Heathrow to Lisbon Airport: Saturday 7th July 2012 (Terminal 3)

British Airways Flight BA 502 Departure Time: 14.55hrs

Arrive Lisbon (Terminal 1): 17.30hrs

Return to London Heathrow: Saturday 14th July 2012, Lisbon Airport (Terminal 1)

British Airways Flight BA 501 Departure Time: 11.00hrs

Arrive L Heathrow (Terminal 3): 13.40hrs

The pilgrimage will be in Fatima for the 13th July celebrations. Fatima is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage centres in the world, and its message has assumed even more prominence since the beatification of Francisco and Jacinta by Blessed Pope John Paul II in May 2000.

At the Mass in St. Peter’s on 13th May 2006, Pope Benedict XVI expressed the hope that the message of Fatima will be “increasingly accepted, understood and lived in every community”.

Family Life International Conference

Family Life International Conference

Greg Clovis of Family Life International has organised a Conference on Defending Life, the Faith and the Family. It is being held at St Georrge’s Cathedral Hall, Southwark, London, Sat 28th April and you can read all the details online, request a brochure and sign up at :

http://www.flionline.org/index.php/component/content/article/42-rokstories/90-conference-2012.html

Tim Tindal-Robertson of the World Apostolate of Fatima is speaking on the subject of

OUR LADY OF FATIMA’S RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS OF THE FAMILY

Please pray for its success!

First Saturday Devotion for April

Since Holy Saturday is the first Saturday of April, as far as I can see, there isn’t any official devotion on that day, but it can be done privately. If you are currently part-way through the five Saturdays, I would think you need to go to both the Easter Vigil Mass, (Saturday evening), and Mass on Easter Sunday itself, in order to maintain the sequence of Saturdays.

Prayer to St John the Baptist concerning Medjugorje

Prayer to St John the Baptist concerning Medjugorje

There are links below to a prayer to St John the Baptist, that “the Medjugorje Commission may speedily produce its report, and that a just decision may be reached in due course by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict.”

The reason for praying to this saint is that the alleged visions began on the feast day of his birthday, 24 June 1981, and thus he is ideally placed as an intercessor. The prayer is in both letter (US) format, and A4. Please print off this prayer and give copies to your friends (there are 4 copies of the prayer per sheet). This prayer is quite short and can be said every day.

http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/unapprov/medjugor/stjohnmedjprayer-letter.pdf

http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/unapprov/medjugor/stjohnmedjprayer-A4.pdf