EWTN Press Release: Miracles, Motorcycles & Far Away Places

EWTN Kicks Off Its 2017 Spring Season March 1

Experience Miracles, Motorcycles & Far Away Places 

  Irondale, AL (EWTN) – In 1917, during the fourth year of World War I, Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal with prophetic messages and a miracle that stunned the world. In May 2017, the Catholic Church will begin a six-month celebration of the 100th anniversary of those six apparitions, which are widely considered to be the most important series of Marian apparitions in history – and there is no better place to see, celebrate, and learn everything about Fatima than EWTN.
The Network’s coverage of this momentous series of events – live from Fatima, Portugal – will also include EWTN’s six-part original mini-series, “The Miracle of Fatima,” documentaries, films and more. (Get frequently updated information about EWTN’s Fatima programming and a lot more at www.ewtn.com/fatima.)
However, as important as the Fatima celebration is, it’s just one part of the Network’s spectacular Spring season lineup, which begins in March 1 and continues through June.
“We’re very proud to be able to roll out a package of high-quality Catholic programming that covers many new and exciting topics of interest to our EWTN family,” said EWTN President & COO Doug Keck.
In addition to new episodes of all your favorite shows, EWTN’s Spring programs, which premiere the first week in March, will include new series such as:
“EWTN Pro-Life Weekly:” In partnership with the Susan B. Anthony List, EWTN Host Catherine Szeltner gives viewers the tools they need to defend life from conception to natural death. What can I do to help create a culture of life in my home and in my country? Airs 11 p.m. ET, Fridays beginning March 3; 10 a.m. ET, Sundays; and 3 a.m. ET, Mondays.   “Battle Ready:” Doug Barry, former “Life on the Rock” co-host, helps men discover the resources the Church offers to help them lead their families in today’s spiritual battles. What can I do as a husband and father to protect my family against the snares of the devil? Airs 11:30 p.m. ET, Sundays beginning March 5; and 3 a.m. ET, Fridays.   New children’s programs include “Hermie and Friends” (10 a.m. ET, Saturdays, beginning March 4) and “Bugtime Adventures” (4:40 p.m. ET, Fridays, beginning March 3).   Coming in June: “The Long Ride Home:” Champion Surfer Bear Woznick and a group of friends motorcycle their way from Florida to Texas to meet people, evangelize, and discuss the Faith. What does it mean to be a man living out your faith in today’s world?   Coming in June: “Real Life Catholic” Host Chris Stefanick travels the world and gets lessons in gratitude from a cranberry farmer in Wisconsin, discovers Catholic traditions in Cajun country, speaks with young saints in the making in Krakow during World Youth Day, and much more.  Plus, travel to:
Ireland with Fr. Nathan Cromley and a group of young people who walk in the footsteps of St. Patrick in “Discovering Patrick: Saint of Ireland.”  The Holy Land with EWTN’s Fr. Mark and Fr. Joseph to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, Mary, and St. Peter.  Philadelphia with Fr. Charles Connor, who discovers “Catholic Beginnings” in the City of Brotherly Love – and more.  For a complete listing of all of EWTN’s television programming and show times, please go to www.ewtn.com/television. Keep up-to-date on EWTN programs and news from a Catholic perspective via EWTN's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ewtnonline.
EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 36th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 268 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.  

Virgin Mary statues and images moving around the globe

Over night in my email I received two stories about "moving Mary miracles" according to some anyway. 

Personally, I don't see it, but I'm going to share them for others to judge for themselves. 

What I will say, in this first one...if true about the miracles of healing [deaf 33 years now can hear, lame can walk, stroke victim in perfect health now and husbands returning to wives - marriages healed etc], it would not surprise me and I would be more inclined to believe this story then the next one.  

One woman calls this the "second Lourdes"...maybe it will be. 

More on this story here: http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/Crowds-still-flock-to-moving-Virgin-Mary-statue-at-Ballinspittle-three-decades-on-VIDEO.html

***

Now this one... Mary's moving lips during prayer... 

I think its just the camera/optical illusion, but again, you decide...

More on this story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3170287/The-amazing-footage-Sydney-parishioners-say-shows-Virgin-Mary-s-lips-moving-painting-pray-local-church.html

***

There were a few other "Mary miracles" in my email...but they were simply too much for me specifically to share here.  You can find them in this Yahoo article if you're interested in that sort of thing: https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/29006976/virgin-mary-painting-filmed-praying-in-sydney-church/


In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

I didn't know Pope Francis had a sense of humor

This made me laugh...

"The Pope had taken the vial with the blood of St. Gennaro - displayed on the altar - in his hands and kissed it. Cardinal Sepe said over the microphone: “It is the sign that St. Gennaro loves Pope Francis: half of the blood turned to liquid.” The pronouncement was followed by a long applause from faithful. The Pope then replied: “If only half of it liquefied that means we still have work to do; we have to do better. We have only half of the saint’s love.” But the blood continued to liquefy until the whole relic had turned to liquid, with many faithful crying out as they witnessed this."

I'm not sure if Pope Francis' quick wit quip is correct about having "half of the saints love" or if perhaps the Saint just approved of the speech he gave:

"Prior to this, the Pope had set aside his written speech and continued off the cuff, describing some personal experiences he had had and encouraging faithful to worship and love the Church (“you cannot love Jesus without loving his Church”) and show apostolic zeal (“The Church exists in order to bring Jesus” to people, he stressed). “We need to start from Jesus and Mary, the Pope urged, before going on to condemn wheeling and dealing in the Church, the “terrorism of gossip” and the attachment to money displayed by some priests and religious. “Wheeling and dealing” in the Church is an “ugly” thing."

Who could find fault with any of that?



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner



Source: http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-napoli-39932/

Three Misconceptions of Catholicism

The misconceptions of Catholicism are numerous and widespread. If people took a moment to find out what Catholics really believe and why all these misconceptions could be dispelled. Unfortunately, many people don't take the time to investigate things concerning religions and instead accept something they heard as the truth without considering it could be wrong.

A few common misconceptions about Catholic beliefs that I'd like to respond to are Catholic views of Mary, earning salvation by works and holy relics. First, Catholics don't worship Mary. They never have and never will because the Catholic Church teaching is that only God is worthy of worship. To worship anyone besides God is a sin. Mary is the Mother of God incarnate, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. The angel Gabriel called her "full of grace" and "highly favored". When Mary had given birth to the Savior she said "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked upon his handmaiden's lowliness; behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed." (Luke 1:46-48) The Catholic faith calls her 'full of grace' and 'blessed' because Sacred Scripture records this fact. She is not worshipped, she is honored and highly favored.

Secondly, Catholics do not 'earn' salvation. Salvation comes by grace from God. Faith and good works go hand in hand, neither 'earns' us our salvation, they are the fruits of the grace God gives us. Jesus Christ is God incarnate and came to bring salvation. No one 'earns' their salvation, if we could there would have been no need for Jesus.

And finally, those holy relics. Catholics don't worship holy relics and they are not magic charms. Relics are scriptural and found in both the Old and New Testaments. In 2 Kings 13:21 we see a man brought back to life when his dead body touched the bones (relics) of the Prophet Elisha. In the New Testament we see that handkerchiefs touched by Paul were taken to the sick and they were healed. These healings are all from God. God using ordinary things to do extraordinary miracles with relics.

Saint Augustine said something like "Remember, you will be faulted not because you are ignorant against your will but because you neglect to seek out what it is that makes you ignorant." I think that applies to all of us in our assumptions of things that we take as fact without bothering to seek out the truth of a matter.