Category Archives: Saints

Beatification of Pope John Paul II Online Schedules

Posted on by

Pope John Paul 2 will be beatified in ceremonies at the Vatican this Sunday, May 1, 2011. Here is a listing of fairly comprehensive English language programming covering the event, and these are links to online schedules as well as live, online streaming of the ceremonies if you wish to view it on you computer:

First off is EWTN, a major American global Catholic TV and radio network:

EWTN coverage: “Beatification of Pope John Paul II Coverage with EWTN Catholic Television Network”

(Via EWTN.)

Next is “CatholicTV”, not to be confused with “RealCatholicTV”:

CatholicTV: “Online Schedule of Papal Programming”

(Via CatholicTV.)

The Canadian “Salt and Light TV” offers their programming here:

Salt + Light Television: “John Paul II Beatification”

Their live stream is here:

Streaming LIVE | Salt + Light Television

(Via Salt + Light TV.)

“Pope2you” is a Vatican service in the new social media age:

Pope2you: “Pope John Paul II – The Beatification”

(Via Pope2You.)

“Xt3” is a Catholic social network founded after the Sydney World Youth Day. Although they are focused on WYDs, they are a comprehensive social network:

Xt3: “Beatification: Live webcast”, and the stream is found here: John Paul II: “webcast”

(Via Xt3.)

And finally, and certainly not the least of these, here is the Home Office’s offerings:

Vatican Radio – Vatican Radio CTV, : “Bringing Rome to your home for JPII beatification”

The stream is found here (I think) Vatican Player

(Via Radio Vatican.)

The above links are not presented in any particular order of importance. If you find any link to be wrong or broken, etc, please email me or comment. All comments are moderated but I hope to get to them as quickly as I can.

Pope John Paul 2 was very important to me. He was the Pope during my departure from the Church, thus proving how stupid and prideful I can be, and he was reigning when I returned. His papacy was instrumental in my reversion and re-formation of my faith.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

A Saint for those who are Prisoners of their Past

Posted on by

There is a relatively new Saint whose Feast day today (February 8th) is. Her name is Saint Josephine Bakhita. Although she is not at all connected to alcoholism and addiction, those of us who suffer from them can do well to pay attention to her. Those of us who are haunted by our past and feel that we cannot let go of the resentment associated with it can learn a great deal from how she dealt with her … slavery. Read on here:

A Saint for Those who are Prisoners of their Past: “”

(Via Truth Himself.)

In reading that blog post I can imagine those of us who may be trapped by our past can handle it half as well as she dealt with her enslavement.

She was not a prisoner of her past.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Dorothy Day

Posted on by

I missed this earlier this week, as I was probably too busy from snow removal and recovering from it. In getting caught up with a few friend’s blogposts I noticed that Dymphna’s Well had a post on Dorothy Day this past Wednesday.

“Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.

An early radical, Day became a socialist, dropped out of college, married and had an abortion before converting to Catholicism as an adult. As this article by Andrew Hamilton says, Dorothy’s was ‘a gospel with teeth.’  She founded Catholic Worker Houses that helped (and still help) the poor–alcoholics, drug addicts and street people.

Her theology was all about pacifism, hospitality and human dignity. The poor who came to her were treated with dignity and non-violence–the first many had ever known.  Even when involved in political passive resistance (think, Gandhi and Martin Luther King) the innate human dignity of one’s opponent was at the forefront.

*This* is Christianity.  This is what Jesus wants us to do.”

Posted by Dymphna at 11:23 AM on December 1, 2010

(Via Dymphna’s Well.)

Catholic Worker Houses, as Dymphna says, still offer a lot of assistance to those on the fringes and margins of society, many of whom are there due to alcoholism and addictions.

Dorothy Day is not a canonized saint yet (although I tagged this post in that category), but her work is an excellent portrayal of applied Christianity.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

A Prayer to Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels.

Posted on by

A Prayer to Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels.: “Heavenly King, You have given us archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.
Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord,
to realize more fully the reality of the archangels
and their desire to serve us.

Holy angels,
pray for us.

Amen.
“

(Via Catholic Doors.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Therese of Lisieux: the “Little Flower”

Posted on by

Today starts another Novena, this one to St. Therese of Lisieux, affectionately known to her devotees as “The Little Flower”. This nickname arose from her theology of “littleness”, as in doing all things, especially small, menial things, with great love and care, and also from her promise to “distribute” flowers from Heaven after her death. These are well known to her devotees (myself included) and are basically “signal graces” indicating Divine presence in your life.

Her theology is what caused Philip Maynard, in his excellent book, “To Slake a Thirst: The Matt Talbot Way to Sobriety” to regard her as the chief theologian of the Matt Talbot Way.

Here is a must read online biography of her:

EWTN’s Saints and other Holy People Home

(Via EWTN)

The novena starts in the next post.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Introduction

Posted on by

On September 29th the Church celebrates the Three Archangels: St. Michael, St. Raphael and St. Gabriel. Today starts a Novena to them, it ends on the 29th.

Some background:

St. Michael is a patron and defender of the Church and the chief angelic nemesis of Satan. His intercession can be invoked when you need to counter the “cunning, baffling, powerful” allure of alcohol. Not to blame Satan for your alcoholism, but it is a tool that he can use to keep you away from God.

St. Raphael is God’s Healer. He is also the Patron Saint of Happy Meetings (such as finding a spouse). His healing abilities are detailed in the Old Testament Book of Tobit. His intercession can be invoked in your constant battle against alcohol.

St. Gabriel is the Angel of the Incarnation. He told the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah. He also told old Zechariah that he was to become the father of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and the precursor to the Messiah. His intercession can be invoked to better perceive and understand God’s will.

My next post will start the Novena.

More info: Three Archangels

(Via EWTN.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyr of Auschwitz, to be celebrated August 14

Posted on by

St. Maximilian Kolbe is a favorite saint of mine, and often the subject of posts. Currently I am running a Novena for alcoholics and addicts to him. Here is a news article reminding us of his upcoming Feast Day this Saturday:

Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyr of Auschwitz, to be celebrated August 14

(Via CNA.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Dymphna, the Church and Mental Illness

Posted on by

I chanced upon an interesting article on St. Dympha, traditionally the patron saint of the mentally ill: St. Dymphna: Out of the Shadows of Mental Illness

(Via Patheos.)

There are several parts to the article. The beginning details a man’s history with mental illness, his treatments and how he ultimately discovered the strength of the Catholic Church in helping to deal with it.

One quote: “In time, he found a way to manage his illness. He started a family and returned to the faith he had abandoned, finding new peace and unexpected strength in the Church… ‘Prayer, faith, the Church, the Eucharist: all those things kind of gave me a floor that I could stand on.'”

As a part of his reliance on the Church to help him with his illness, he discovered St. Dymphna. The rest of the article is an overview of St. Dymphna’s life and legends, followed with a testimony of his growing prayer life and developing faith.

St. Dymphna had been critical in his spiritual development. I highly recommend this piece.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Saint Rita of Cascia

Posted on by

Today is May 22nd and that means that it is my 8th anniversary of becoming (and remaining) sober. It is also the Feast Day of St. Rita of Cascia, information on her life can be found here:

Saint Rita of Cascia

(Via SQPN.)

She is the Patroness of impossible, lost and forgotten causes. That is something that a lot of us alcoholics and addict can relate to. We were considered all of those at one point.

She is also the Patroness of physical and sexual abuse victims, those in difficult or troubled marriages.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Official Matt Talbot website

Posted on by

John Blair, of the Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center recently posted on the disappearance of the “Official” Matt Talbot website:

The “Official” Venerable Matt Talbot Website has Moved

I remembered a valuable tool for retrieving a dead website, and found an archived version here: Welcome to the Matt Talbot Website courtesy of the Internet Archive: Free Movies, Music, Books & Wayback Machine.

People who are interested can find a complete listing of archived versions of the site, dating back to 2000.

I am posting this as Matt Talbot is of interest to many readers, and I also want to introduce John’s site to anyone new to my blog. His blog on Matt is an excellent resource on our patron saint.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)