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Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
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CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
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Why is the Immaculate Conception patroness of the United States?
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, has been patroness of the United States since the mid-19th century. But her protection of the nation dates back to its earliest history.
One of the first Catholic churches in what is now the United States was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1584: the now-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Jacksonville, Florida.
John Carroll, the first bishop in the United States, had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1792, he placed the Diocese of Baltimore — which encompassed the 13 colonies of the young republic — under her protection.
Over the next 50 years, seven more dioceses were created, including New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, and Oregon City.
Continued below.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
One of the first Catholic churches in what is now the United States was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1584: the now-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Jacksonville, Florida.
John Carroll, the first bishop in the United States, had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1792, he placed the Diocese of Baltimore — which encompassed the 13 colonies of the young republic — under her protection.
Over the next 50 years, seven more dioceses were created, including New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, and Oregon City.
Continued below.
Did you know the Immaculate Conception is patroness of the United States?
U.S. bishops unanimously named Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the nation in 1846 during the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore.
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What is ‘papal infallibility?’ CNA explains an often-misunderstood Church teaching
- By Michie
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
On Dec. 8 the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception — a paramount feast in the Church’s liturgical calendar and one that indirectly touches on a regularly misunderstood but important piece of Church dogma.
The solemnity is the patronal feast of the United States and marks the recognition of the Blessed Mother’s freedom from original sin, which the Church teaches she was granted from the moment of conception.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Mary was “redeemed from the moment of her conception” (No. 491) in order “to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation” (No. 490).
The dogma was disputed and challenged by Protestants over the centuries, leading Pope Pius IX to affirm it in his 1854 encyclical Ineffabilis Deus, stating unequivocally that Mary “was endowed with the grace of the Holy Spirit and preserved from original sin” upon her conception.
Continued below.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
The solemnity is the patronal feast of the United States and marks the recognition of the Blessed Mother’s freedom from original sin, which the Church teaches she was granted from the moment of conception.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Mary was “redeemed from the moment of her conception” (No. 491) in order “to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation” (No. 490).
The dogma was disputed and challenged by Protestants over the centuries, leading Pope Pius IX to affirm it in his 1854 encyclical Ineffabilis Deus, stating unequivocally that Mary “was endowed with the grace of the Holy Spirit and preserved from original sin” upon her conception.
Continued below.
CNA explains papal infallibility
Father Patrick Flanagan, an association professor of theology at St. John’s University, told CNA the doctrine of papal infallibility “does not concern the pope’s character.”
www.catholicnewsagency.com
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Celebrities calling for convicted terrorist's release shows their moral character, watchdog says
- By Michie
The founder of an antisemitism watchdog group condemned actors Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch and the hundreds of celebrities who signed a petition demanding that Israel release Marwan Barghouti, a convicted terrorist found guilty of orchestrating multiple attacks that killed Israeli civilians.
The "Free Marwan" campaign is calling for the United Nations and world governments to "actively seek" Barghouti's release from Israeli prison, alleging in the petition that the political figure and terror leader faces "violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned."
Over 200 public figures, in addition to Ruffalo and Cumberbatch, have signed the petition, including musician Paul Simon, author Margaret Atwood and actor Sir Ian McKellen.
According to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Barghouti is associated with the Fatah terrorist organization, having served as the leader of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, which carried out thousands of terror attacks against Israel between September 2000 and April 2002.
"Just as we wouldn't expect a counterterrorism expert to win an Oscar or Grammy, no one should listen to celebrities' opinions on a mass murderer and arch terrorist," StopAntisemitism founder and executive director Liora Rez told The Christian Post.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
The "Free Marwan" campaign is calling for the United Nations and world governments to "actively seek" Barghouti's release from Israeli prison, alleging in the petition that the political figure and terror leader faces "violent mistreatment and denial of legal rights whilst imprisoned."
Over 200 public figures, in addition to Ruffalo and Cumberbatch, have signed the petition, including musician Paul Simon, author Margaret Atwood and actor Sir Ian McKellen.
According to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Barghouti is associated with the Fatah terrorist organization, having served as the leader of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, which carried out thousands of terror attacks against Israel between September 2000 and April 2002.
"Just as we wouldn't expect a counterterrorism expert to win an Oscar or Grammy, no one should listen to celebrities' opinions on a mass murderer and arch terrorist," StopAntisemitism founder and executive director Liora Rez told The Christian Post.
Continued below.
Celebrities calling for convicted terrorist's release shows their moral character, watchdog says
The founder of a watchdog group dedicated to exposing antisemitism condemned actors Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch and the hundreds of other celebrities who signed a petition demanding that
www.christianpost.com
The primary cause of America's social-justice violence
- By Michie
- General Politics
- 0 Replies
A year has passed since Luigi Mangione allegedly pulled the trigger on UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. When arrested, Mangione received a tidal wave of sympathy that emanated everywhere from online forums and social media to the streets of Manhattan. People across the country celebrated the accused killer as a quasi-folk hero who struck a blow against what they saw as the vile institution of American healthcare.
Ed Davis, a former Boston police commissioner who led the police response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, saw the outpouring of support for Mangione and remarked, “I’ve been shocked by it. It’s actually troubling to see it, and I really am surprised that people are reacting that way considering the tragic loss here and the violence of what happened.”
The support for Mangione hasn’t cooled down over the past year, as evidenced by a $1.4 million crowd-sourced legal defense fund and the continued displays of public support that appeared at his court hearings this month. Jeff Goodwin, a New York University professor who studies social movements, said, “He had the chutzpah to actually do something spectacular, which certain people find attractive and courageous.”
I’m not the only one disturbed by people describing murder as being “spectacular” and “attractive” — Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, stated: “The only question after the assassination and its immediate celebration is: What the heck is going on with America’s moral compass?”
Mangione’s celebrators brought to my mind what Paul spoke about centuries ago: “They were fully aware of God’s death penalty for these crimes, yet they went right ahead and did them anyway and encouraged others to do them, too” (Rom. 1:32).
Someone else who sees this in our culture is Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf, who makes a connection with a disbelief in God and the kind of social justice violence we see when he writes: “Most people who insist on God’s ‘nonviolence’ cannot resist using violence themselves (or tacitly sanctioning its use by others).”
Volf then makes an excellent point when he notes the important distinction between Christianity and the secular culture’s methods for pursuing justice: “The practice of non-violence requires belief in divine vengeance.”
Think about that.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
Ed Davis, a former Boston police commissioner who led the police response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, saw the outpouring of support for Mangione and remarked, “I’ve been shocked by it. It’s actually troubling to see it, and I really am surprised that people are reacting that way considering the tragic loss here and the violence of what happened.”
The support for Mangione hasn’t cooled down over the past year, as evidenced by a $1.4 million crowd-sourced legal defense fund and the continued displays of public support that appeared at his court hearings this month. Jeff Goodwin, a New York University professor who studies social movements, said, “He had the chutzpah to actually do something spectacular, which certain people find attractive and courageous.”
I’m not the only one disturbed by people describing murder as being “spectacular” and “attractive” — Heather Mac Donald, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, stated: “The only question after the assassination and its immediate celebration is: What the heck is going on with America’s moral compass?”
Mangione’s celebrators brought to my mind what Paul spoke about centuries ago: “They were fully aware of God’s death penalty for these crimes, yet they went right ahead and did them anyway and encouraged others to do them, too” (Rom. 1:32).
Someone else who sees this in our culture is Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf, who makes a connection with a disbelief in God and the kind of social justice violence we see when he writes: “Most people who insist on God’s ‘nonviolence’ cannot resist using violence themselves (or tacitly sanctioning its use by others).”
Volf then makes an excellent point when he notes the important distinction between Christianity and the secular culture’s methods for pursuing justice: “The practice of non-violence requires belief in divine vengeance.”
Think about that.
Continued below.
The primary cause of America's social-justice violence
What the heck is going on with America s moral compass
www.christianpost.com
The rise and fall of Christian nationalism
- By Michie
- General Politics
- 0 Replies
“By any objective, scientific standard, blacks are not fully human.”
“Adolf Hitler was a Christian prince.”
“It was evil to permit women to vote.”
“You can have either a civilization or blacks — but not both. What must be done is obvious.”
“Jews and blacks are both a problem.”
“It should be illegal for women to work outside the home.”
“Tolerance for the Jews is apostasy before God.”
“Adolf Hitler is in Paradise.”
Thesestatements — and many, many more like them — were posted on X over the past few years by Corey Mahler, a self-identified “Christian nationalist,” who is co-host of the Stone Choir podcast.
Last week, Mahler’s podcast was recommended by Gab CEO Andrew Torba as the “#1 Christian Nationalist podcast in the world” on his new website ChristianNationalist.com. More concerning still was the fact that Torba’s website was immediately praised by Christian nationalist pastors like Joel Webbon and Brian Sauvé, whose ministries were also recommended on the site.
How did Christian nationalism go from an ambiguous pejorative invoked primarily by progressives, to a small but growing movement among Reformed Evangelicals, to a repository for gutter racism, misogyny, and antisemitism? The story is complicated.
Christian nationalism as vague pejorative
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
“Adolf Hitler was a Christian prince.”
“It was evil to permit women to vote.”
“You can have either a civilization or blacks — but not both. What must be done is obvious.”
“Jews and blacks are both a problem.”
“It should be illegal for women to work outside the home.”
“Tolerance for the Jews is apostasy before God.”
“Adolf Hitler is in Paradise.”
Thesestatements — and many, many more like them — were posted on X over the past few years by Corey Mahler, a self-identified “Christian nationalist,” who is co-host of the Stone Choir podcast.
Last week, Mahler’s podcast was recommended by Gab CEO Andrew Torba as the “#1 Christian Nationalist podcast in the world” on his new website ChristianNationalist.com. More concerning still was the fact that Torba’s website was immediately praised by Christian nationalist pastors like Joel Webbon and Brian Sauvé, whose ministries were also recommended on the site.
How did Christian nationalism go from an ambiguous pejorative invoked primarily by progressives, to a small but growing movement among Reformed Evangelicals, to a repository for gutter racism, misogyny, and antisemitism? The story is complicated.
Christian nationalism as vague pejorative
Continued below.
The rise and fall of Christian nationalism
How did Christian nationalism go from an ambiguous pejorative invoked primarily by progressives, to a small but growing movement among Reformed Evangelicals
www.christianpost.com
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Why Christians are more frustrated than ever and desperately need discernment
- By Michie
- General Theology
- 0 Replies
Set aside any distinctly political topic or person for a moment, if you can.
If you’re a 40-year-old (or over) Evangelical like me, you’ve probably seen and heard so much about who Christians are in the last 20 years, and much of it has been hogwash. I know this personally, having spent nearly a decade in the media, and I have seen from the inside how these distortions and cartoonishly Ned Flanders caricatures are generated in real time.
Before the proliferation of social media platforms, many legacy media narratives that sincere, theologically orthodox believers faced were, and still are, beyond tiresome. While I can't speak for everyone, many Christians have been intensely frustrated that no matter how graciously they tried to explain where they were coming from, they were routinely misrepresented in the press, and they’ve often felt as though they were neither heard nor understood. And to be sure, I’m not defending truly evil people within churches and ministries who are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15) in sheep’s clothing, who should be exposed.
But I was wrong about something that I’ve believed for a while. Maybe partially wrong, but still wrong. As the world rapidly changes, it's important to be honest about what I've seen previously but now see more clearly.
Continued below.
www.christianpost.com
If you’re a 40-year-old (or over) Evangelical like me, you’ve probably seen and heard so much about who Christians are in the last 20 years, and much of it has been hogwash. I know this personally, having spent nearly a decade in the media, and I have seen from the inside how these distortions and cartoonishly Ned Flanders caricatures are generated in real time.
Before the proliferation of social media platforms, many legacy media narratives that sincere, theologically orthodox believers faced were, and still are, beyond tiresome. While I can't speak for everyone, many Christians have been intensely frustrated that no matter how graciously they tried to explain where they were coming from, they were routinely misrepresented in the press, and they’ve often felt as though they were neither heard nor understood. And to be sure, I’m not defending truly evil people within churches and ministries who are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15) in sheep’s clothing, who should be exposed.
But I was wrong about something that I’ve believed for a while. Maybe partially wrong, but still wrong. As the world rapidly changes, it's important to be honest about what I've seen previously but now see more clearly.
Continued below.
Why Christians are more frustrated than ever and desperately need discernment
May God grant his faithful remnant discernment like the sons of Issachar We need it more than ever
www.christianpost.com
Second Week of Advent (Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary)
- By johnnypapa
- One Bread, One Body - Catholic
- 0 Replies
December 8, 2025
Our Morning Offering – 8 December – Immaculate! Immaculate! By Fr Faber
anastpaul.com
www.morningoffering.com
One Minute Reflection – 8 December ‘ … Pure and Immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings … ‘
anastpaul.com
Immaculate Conception propers & commentary (EF)
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary propers & commentary (EF)
December 8 – The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin propers & commentary (EF)
pseudoclasm.wordpress.com
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's Instruction on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary readings & commentary (OF)
catholic-daily-reflections.com
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary readings & commentary (OF)
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Daily Gospel
The Immaculate Conception (Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
catholicexchange.com
Saints of the Day
Sermons for Everyday Living
Pope John Paul II’s Last Sermon on the Immaculate Conception
catholicinsight.com
Tallis’ Gaude Gloriosa
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Audio The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Guéranger)
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Our Morning Offering – 8 December – Immaculate! Immaculate! By Fr Faber
Our Morning Offering – 8 December – Immaculate! Immaculate! By Fr Faber
Our Morning Offering – 8 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” and The Feast of the Immaculate Conception Immaculate! Immaculate!By F…
anastpaul.com
Morning Offering for December 8, 2025
www.morningoffering.com
One Minute Reflection – 8 December ‘ … Pure and Immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings … ‘
One Minute Reflection – 8 December ‘ … Pure and Immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings … ‘
One Minute Reflection – 8 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Proverbs 8:22-35 – Luke 1:…
anastpaul.com
Immaculate Conception propers & commentary (EF)
Immaculate Conception
Propers and commentaries for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
sermonry.com
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary propers & commentary (EF)
December 8 – The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin propers & commentary (EF)
December 8 – The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin
At length, on the distant horizon, rises, with a soft and radiant light, the aurora of the Sun which has been so long desired. The happy Mother of the Messias was to be born before the Messias hims…
pseudoclasm.wordpress.com
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's Instruction on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Goffine's Devout instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and holydays : with the lives of many saints of God, explanations of Christian faith and duty and of church ceremonies, a method of hearing Mass, morning and evening prayers, a
xiii, [7]-703 p., [1] leaf of plates :
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Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary readings & commentary (OF)
The Immaculate Mother of God
Monday, December 8, 2025 - Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Catholic Daily Reflections from My Catholic Life!
catholic-daily-reflections.com
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary readings & commentary (OF)
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - December 08, 2025 - Liturgical Calendar
Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the solemn dogma defined by Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. As Our Lady Immaculately Conceived is the patroness of the United States of America, this is a holy day of obligation in the United States. Through the centuries the Church
www.catholicculture.org
Daily Gospel
The Immaculate Conception (Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)
The Immaculate Conception, (Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)
Lives of the Saints for every day - The Immaculate Conception, (Declared a dogma December 8, 1854 by Pius IX)
sanctoral.com
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Catholic Exchange
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Church’s celebration of the unique grace given to Mary from the first moment of her existence.
catholicexchange.com
Saints of the Day
Sermons for Everyday Living
Sermons For Everyday Living: Immaculate Conception - 12/8/25
December 8th, 2025: She Will Crush Your Head; Immovable Column of the Immaculate Conception; Who Are You, Immaculate?; The Positive Meaning of the Immaculate Conception
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Pope John Paul II’s Last Sermon on the Immaculate Conception
Pope John Paul II’s Last Sermon on the Immaculate Conception - Catholic Insight
HOLY MASS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOGMA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wednesday, 8 December 2004 "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" (Lk 1: 28). We...
catholicinsight.com
Tallis’ Gaude Gloriosa
Tallis’ Gaude Gloriosa - Catholic Insight
For this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - and a blessed one may it be - here is the opening section to a motet to the glorious Virgin Mother of God by the great English Thomas Tallis (the full motet runs to 18 minutes or so). The manuscript dates from either late in the reign
catholicinsight.com
Audio The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Guéranger)
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Dear Pete Hegseth, I’m Grateful the Japanese Navy Spared My Grandfather’s Life
- By Servus
- American Politics
- 58 Replies
Here you go:
Mexican Navy seizes 9,700 pounds of cocaine after high-speed boat chases caught on video
Dramatic video from the Mexican Navy shows two high-speed chase across the Pacific Ocean that ended with a massive cocaine bust.
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