The Message of Fatima: A conspiracy theory on the interior life? talk by Fr. Thomas Dufner

Listen to a very interesting interview and learn new insights on the Message of Fatima from Fr. Francisco Pereira, chaplain of the Shrine in Fatima, Portugal. 

The question came up:  Who is the patron saint for gardeners?  According to Catholic Online, the patron saints for gardeners are:  Adelard, Fiacre, Rose of Lima, and when you really think about it, Adam.  My Catholic Source adds:  Dorothy, Phocas, and Tryphon.  We recently celebrated St. Isidore the farmer.  He was a day laborer who did farming work outside Madrid.  He attended Mass every day before he went into the fields.  He and his wife, Maria Torribia had a little boy, who died in infancy.  Henceforth, they lived together chastely and gave freely to the poor.  Isidore died in 1130 and was canonized in 1622.  Maria was canonized in 1697.  St. Isidore is the patron for farmers. 
One interesting fact about Isidore and Maria is their decision to live chastely.  Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within a person and thus the inner unity of a person in his bodily and spiritual being.  Living continently out of love for God is the celibate state.  Celibacy is viewed by the Church as a gift from God – it is a charism of the Holy Spirit.  It is never to be viewed as a lugubrious treatment of one’s body or of another person’s body.  Celibacy and virginity are beautiful, not dirty.
Whether it is for vegetables or for flowers, garden work truly demonstrates the fresh, spontaneous, and generous work of the Holy Spirit.  The flower which symbolizes chastity is the white lily.  St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, is depicted in statues and pictures holding a lily.  All the saints mentioned above share in some way this fragrant attribute of Jesus – His Purity of Heart.  Perhaps St. Isidore and St. Maria were inspired by the Holy Family to live out their days in chastity in the service of charity for the purpose of offering the total gift of self as did Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

The Most Rev. James F. Checchio was named the Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen by Pope Francis on March 8, 2016. He was ordained and installed as the Fifth Bishop of Metuchen on May 3, 2016

Reverend Fr. Luke grew up in small town Indiana. Raised nominally Catholic, he experienced a profound conversion while at a rock concert during his freshman year at Ball State U. He transferred to Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Upon graduating from Franciscan University in 1996, he joined the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in the Bronx. The friars live a radical life concentrated on prayer, fraternity, hands on work with the poor and the new evangelization. Fr. Luke was ordained to the priesthood in 2003. He has served as vocation director, postulant director, and presently as director of priestly studies. Fr. Luke gives retreats and leads pilgrimages.
 

A New Season of Fatima - A group discussion with David Carollo, Patrick Sabat and Barb Ernster: On the 101th Year Anniversary of the First Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. 

Mary and the Gift of Courage - Talk by Barb Ernster.

John Paul, Winner of EWTN's Cool2BCatholic Commercial Contest (high School Category) share his winning piece and what inspired him to create “A Day in the Life of A Priest”.