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St. Rose of Lima

On August 30, 2010, In Stuff In Our Store, The Saints, By Patrick

St. Rose of Lima
by Sister Mary
Alphonsus O.SS.R.

So many people today are obsessed with making themselves look attractive: gym memberships, dieting, makeup, plastic surgery. St. Rose of Lima, who is celebrating her feast today, was just the opposite.

She was born in 1586 and died in 1617. Her real name was Isabel, but was given this nickname when a servant supposedly saw her face transformed into a rose–and, for her remarkable beauty. She would later officially take the name “Rose” at her Confirmation.

St. Rose of Lima
Patron Saint Medals
1.6cm ENGRAVABLE
2.0cm ENGRAVABLE

Early on she had already decided to give her life entirely to Jesus, despite her parents’ wish that she marry. She feared that her beauty was leading others to sin (as many would stare at her), so she would cut her hair or disfigure her face using peppers and lye. She spent many hours alone in prayer and penance in a grotto she built herself, or, before the Blessed Sacrament.

In 1602, she entered a Dominican convent where she spent the remainder of her days. She predicted her own death in 1617, at the young age of 31. She was beatified by Clement IX in 1667 and canonized by Clement X four years later. She is the first saint from the Americas. Our current pope, Benedict XVI, has a special devotion to St. Rose of Lima.

Newsflash: There IS a God

On August 24, 2010, In Pop Culture, Stuff In Our Store, By Patrick

The Godless Delusion:
A Catholic Challenge
to Modern Atheism
by Patrick Madrid and
Kenneth Hensley

In his 2006 book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins argues that a supernatural creator does not exist, and, that faith is a delusion–a fixed, false belief. Translated into 31 other languages, the English version of this book alone has sold more than 2 million copies.

Dawkins, who is referred to as “Darwin’s Rottweiler,” is a very intelligent and well-spoken man with a long list of credentials from prominent, reputable institutions to back him up; for someone on the fence or wavering in their faith, this book could very well sway them into atheism.

But hold on a minute… don’t make a decision until you hear BOTH sides of the argument. Dawkins may be “Darwin’s Rottweiler,” but we have “GOD’s Rottweiler”–Benedict XVI–and, the credentials of tw0 thousand years’ worth of the most intelligent thinkers who ever walked the Earth.

Answering the
New Atheism:
Dismantling Dawkins’
Case Against God
by Scott Hahn and
Benjamin Wiker

Patrick Madrid and Kenneth Hensley’s The Godless Delusion is not a book defending Catholicism from atheist attacks–rather, it is a direct assault on atheism itself. And it does so with logic and reason, by exposing the contradictions within the atheists’ arguments entirely apart from the tenets of our faith. Madrid and Hensley then are able to present the arguments FOR the existence of God.

Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker’s Answering the New Atheism meets Dawkins toe-to-toe, and finds that The God Delusion, and most other atheist arguments, are unreasoned, unfactual, and nothing more than diatribe and caricature. Hahn and Wiker then use reason and the truth to show the errors in atheist arguments.

These two are excellent resources to have when encountering an atheist challenge to our faith–whether it is a loved one on the fence, or, our own questions about the existence of God.

St. John Bosco: Mission to Love

On August 23, 2010, In Pop Culture, Stuff In Our Store, The Saints, By Patrick

St. John Bosco:
Mission to Love
DVD

I’d say this is the leading biopic on St. John Bosco. It is the most recently produced and has the best actors by far.

The only drawback is that it was filmed in Italian–so you’ll just have to bear the awkward English overdub or the subtitles. As is the norm for biographical movies, events have been dramatized, others omitted (like his dreams and encounters with the devil), though the key elements of this great Saint’s life are all there. And, perhaps it runs a little long.

I can’t say that Flavio Insinna resembles St. John Bosco, either, but this very capable actor has convincingly portrayed the zeal, the self-sacrificial love, and the humility possessed by the Apostle of Youth–which is the important point of this movie.

St. John Bosco’s relics are making their way to the United States next month. I will most definitely make a pilgrimage to see them. I had a very influential teacher when I was in the sixth grade who was a Salesian Cooperator, so I’ve been out camping with the Salesians and on retreat. And, this teacher of mine possessed for herself a first-class relic, which she passed around to us one day. So I guess you can say I’ve met St. John Bosco already.

August Birthstone Rosary

On August 17, 2010, In Stuff In Our Store, By Patrick

Peridot Rosary
(Sterling Silver with
Swarovski Crystals)

For your August birthday celebrants, we have this stunning peridot Rosary for your consideration.

Made by Creed in the USA, these LIFETIME GUARANTEED Rosaries feature intricately-faceted and precisely-cut peridot crystal beads produced by Swarovski in Austria. It is complemented by an ornate sterling silver oriental crucifix and Our Lady’s Miraculous Medal centerpiece.

This, like all our birthstone rosaries, qualifies for fast and free shipping anywhere in the United States.

Find more Rosaries like this in our store. For September celebrants, check out this Sapphire Rosary that’s available with sterling silver or 22k gold plated.

Engravable Catholic Gifts!

On August 16, 2010, In Stuff In Our Store, By Patrick

ENGRAVABLE
Catholic Bibles

Gift-giving is an artform. Though we don’t usually show it, we feel kinda bad when we open a present and it’s something that’s obviously been re-gifted; or, picked up at the last minute; or, shows that they don’t really know us and what we’re into. Sometimes we think it would’ve been better if they hadn’t given a gift at all–to spare all that awkwardness.

But a gift-giver who takes their time to pick just the right item, who goes out of their way to make it known that it was selected and given from the heart, with much thought and love–when that gift is opened, the giver immediately receives ten-fold the trouble and price put into it from the sincerest gratitude of the recipient. So if you want to give a gift, go the extra mile.

ch1stsimeofy m Engravable Catholic Gifts!
ENGRAVABLE
1.6cm Patron Saint Medal
2.0cm Patron Saint Medal

At Catholic Books and Gifts, we have made available a heat-press engraving option for most of our hardcover, vinyl, or leatherbound books (such as the New American Bible: Deluxe Parish Edition pictured above). Etched engravings are also available for both sizes of our round Patron Saint Medals (see inset). What better way to show that the gift was picked out especially for them with just a few lines of text, added for just a little more on the already low prices and fast and free shipping.

Br. Andre Bessette

On August 11, 2010, In Pop Culture, Stuff In Our Store, The Saints, By Patrick

Brother Andre
(Le frere Andre)
DVD

Blessed Br. Andre Bessette will be canonized this Fall.

Br. Andre was a Holy Cross Brother from Quebec, Canada. Because of his poor education and frail health, he was assigned as a doorman, which along with other menial tasks, he performed dutifully for forty years. A devotee of St. Joseph, Br. Andre would share this devotion with those he encountered who were in need. He would annoint the sick with oil from the lamp before the altar of St. Joseph; they would then experience miraculous healing.

Over the years, thousands claimed to have been cured due to his help and the intercession of St. Joseph. His popularity grew across the nation, and, the world. Br. Andre refused to take any credit for these miracles and directed them entirely to the workings of his patron. He campained to have a chapel built in honor of St. Joseph, which came to fruition in 1924.

Br. Andre
Relic Rosary

Br. Andre died in 1937. His remains are buried under that basilica, named St. Joseph Oratory, in Montreal, Canada. He was beatified by John Paul II in 1982, and Benedict XVI announced in February his approval for Br. Andre’s canonization as a Saint, to be held October 17, 2010.

We have the DVD on the life story of Br. Andre (pictured above) and a commemorative Rosary with an encased relic touched to his tomb in Montreal (inset).

The Cure D’Ars

On August 3, 2010, In Pop Culture, Stuff In Our Store, The Saints, By Patrick

The Cure D’Ars
St Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney
by Abbe Francis Trochu

Tomorrow is the Feast Day of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Priests.

He has an interesting story in that he was poorly educated. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, he struggled with his studies towards the priesthood. Supposedly he was sent to the small, rural community of Ars because of his ineptitude.

But, St. John Vianney made such a dramatic difference in the people of Ars, turning them back to the Church from drunkeness and debauchery through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He would spend entire days hearing Confessions–up to sixteen hours! In his sermons and counsels he would demonstrate great wisdom and wit that was beyond his education.

Gradually, his fame spread that many made pilgrimmages to Ars for him to hear their Confessions or to seek spiritual advice. Miracles such as supernatural knowledge and healing were attributed to him during his life and after his death in 1859. Pope Pius XI canonized him in 1925 and named him Patron Saint of Priests in 1929.

In honor of his 150th anniversary, Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the “Year for Priests” from June 16 of 2009 to 2010. If you see your priest tomorrow, wish him a happy Feast Day, and thank him for what he has done for you and for all the faithful.

The Wizard of Heaven
(Biographical DVD)