OneBillionStories.com

Evangelical Atheism Questioned

2012-02-22T18:02:20Z

Our team prays especially today for the fruitful growth of the Catholic faithful’s devotion to Christ during this time of Lent. Let us all dig into prayer, fasting, and evangelization of the people around us with the hope of Christ during this special time within the liturgical season.

Today’s Story

As we enter into Lent as a one billion member family, let us not forget the hope that is within us, and our duty to share it with the world. Do you need a little hope in your life? Perhaps you know a family member of friend who could use some hope during these long winter months? Our team is here to help. Everyday of the week, except Sunday, we aspire to bring to your computer screens, smart phones, and tablets the inspiring testimonies of faith, of hope, and of charity. Without an audience, our team would not continue this steadfast work of evangelization. But with all of our thousands of fans in the world, we continue on so that through God’s grace, these ‘one billion Catholic stories’ will impact your life, and then you can ‘go therefore and make disciples of all nations.’ That is our hope, and today’s Catholic testimony brings further evidence to the 21st century table, that Christ will not give up on us, no matter what.

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An evangelical Atheist shares about his wrestling with the big questions of life on this first day of Lent. Despite an unstable foundation in the faith growing up, his strength of character comes out when he decides to take up the challenge of answering those difficult questions that are presented to us in high school and college. Through God’s grace, and his perseverance, this young man finds truth in the Catholic Church, but not before instructing others toward the dark side of God’s presence in the world.

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 22nd February 2012
First: Joel 2:12-18
Responsorial: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 And 17
Second: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Ash Wednesday
Rosary: Glorious Mysteries
1. Resurrection
2. Ascension
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

How do you go to Adoration?

2012-02-21T09:19:59Z

What an opportunity we Catholics have to adore Christ in the Eucharist on a daily basis in adoration chapels around the country. Did you know that adoration was suppressed in certain circles of the Catholic Church during and after the 1970s?

Today’s Story

What a tragedy that must have been for Catholics seeking God’s will. Stories and testimonies like today’s help prove that those circles of people who tried to stamp out adoration were involved in a futile attempt to un-catholicize the Catholic Church. No such thing would last with the JPII generation coming up the ranks! In today’s culture, Catholics must call a spade a spade: Adoration is one of the most beautiful and fruitful forms of prayer that the the Holy Mother Church has protected and given to us in 2012. No heretical branches of Christianity will ever overcome the power of Eucharistic adoration, stories like today’s proves it. And their are many on this website. Simply move your mouse over the ‘Archive’ tab above and then click on ‘Eucharist’ to hear more stories centered around Christ. With God’s strength, Eucharistic adoration will only increase among all Catholics around the world moving forward in to the 21st century.

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It was blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said, ‘you want to know how to end abortion in America? Just establish an adoration chapel across the street from every abortion mill in the country.’ Wow, what a beautiful quote from a modern day saint. May her testimony bring great strength to all who read these words. May the power of the Eucharist laid out clearly in John chapter 6 of Holy Scripture, be the igniter of all apostolic works of the present age, including this humble attempt to evangelize the ‘digital continent’ thanks to inspiration from the one and only Pope Benedict XVI.

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 21st February 2012
First: James 4:1-10
Responsorial: Ps 55:7-8, 9-10a, 10b-11a, 23
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

Rosary: Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning of Thorns
4. The Way of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death

Teenage Suicide is Overcome By…

2012-02-20T07:58:23Z

Perhaps one of the most telling symptoms of a society’s health is it’s suicide rate. What a tragic statistic that unfortunately devastates cultures and families around the world on a daily basis.

Today’s Story

The testimony you are about to hear from this young lady, faces the growing suicide rates around the world, especially among young people, head on. What gets her through? You will just have to find out by clicking play and listening to her amazing story. What is the health of a society when suicide rates continue to rise in the 21st century? Thankfully, the Catholic Church has been blessed with a youth outreach ministry called NET, which stands for National Evangelization Teams. You will hear about NET in today’s testimony. All across the United States and other nations, NETters as they call themselves, take on the task of being God’s instruments to the youth of the nations. Through living out virtue and the message of the Gospels, young people serve young people through the same act of charity that Christ showed on the cross, self-sacrifice.

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Perhaps you may be called to join net? If you are interested in learning more about this Catholic apostolate, click on their logo just to the left. This will take you to their website where all the information about their mission is held. It is there that you may begin the most exciting adventure of your life. Just listen to this story from today and you will see what we’re talking about. Indeed, suicide can and must be overcome, by Christ!

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 20th February 2012
First: James 3:13-18
Responsorial: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

Rosary: Joyful Mysteries
1. Annunciation
2. Visitation
3. Nativity
4. Presentation
5. Finding Jesus in the Temple

Our Day of Rest… Galway, Ireland

2012-02-18T00:16:13Z

Every Sunday, our team strives to rest. We do this because Christ asked all Catholics to remain restful on the seventh day, and what a marvelous plan that is! With the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, Sundays are such an important piece of our weekly pilgrimage toward holiness.

Today’s Story

This call to rest on Sundays is an important piece of this mission. As the universality of the mission grows by the week, we will strive to remind all Catholics about the importance of resting on the sabbath through the beautiful chapels, churches, cathedrals, and basilicas from around the world. Today’s ‘Our Day of Rest’ video is a continuation of our humble attempt to bring the beauty of Catholicism to the world through video on the Internet. It is another shining example of ‘Irish Steve’s’ encounter with the historical Irish Catholic Church. May your day be restful and filled with the family of Christ in your life. See you next week!

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Before we let you go, we would like to make the offer that we are beginning to form a program of evangelization on the ‘digital continent’ through Video Missionaries. Be sure to stay tuned on the website for more information on how you could become the next ‘Irish Steve.’ The mission continues to spread on a global level and we truly believe the Holy Spirit will guide our discernment as we journey deeper into the digital continent.

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 19th February 2012
First: Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25
Responsorial: Psalm 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14
Second: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Rosary: Glorious Mysteries
1. Resurrection
2. Ascension
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
5. Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholic Mystics Defeat Darkness, part II

2012-02-18T15:55:08Z

In 2012, the pressures of the sexual revolution from the 1960s mounts greater and greater challenges to all human beings. The onslaught of promiscuous images both on and off the internet are presenting troubling encounters for most cultures around the world.

Today’s Story

What has happened since the 1960s to human sexuality? Since then, contraceptive use has gone from almost zero usage to a very high percentage of women using the pills. Internet pornography has catapulted to astronomical levels as well in the last 30 years. And because of these horrible manifestations of the dark side, divorce rates have more than doubled, at least in the United States of America. And who’s voice can we rely upon to guide us through these difficult times? If one keeps an ear-peeled to the media, it is very clear that the only unified voice in the world on these issues is the Catholic Church. No other institution in the world has been able to share a unified message against the use of contraceptives, pornography, and the sacredness of marriage.

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Our team shares all of these thoughts with our viewers today because of this young man from the Philippines, whom you are about to listen to. He once again had the courage to share with all of you the challenges that the dark side presented to his life growing up, and how the strength of the Catholic Church picked him up when he was knocked down. This is part II to David’s story, and you can watch part I below. Let us lift up many prayers for David and others who may be encountering similar challenges in their lives. St. Michael the Archangel….

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 18th February 2012
First: James 2:14-24, 26
Responsorial: Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Mark 8:34?9:1

Rosary: Joyful Mysteries
1. Annunciation
2. Visitation
3. Nativity
4. Presentation
5. Finding Jesus in the Temple

J.Lo or Jesus Christ?

2012-02-17T05:56:53Z

We have begun the process of integrating ‘Irish Fridays’ into the mission of OneBillionStories.com. Our team believes in the future of the Catholic faith in Ireland. We know She will resurrect from the ‘troubles’ and other challenges in the recent past. Today’s ‘story’ helps us believe that, take a listen to see why.

Today’s Story

By providing the world with video footage from Ireland every Friday on the website, our team hopes to shed light on the hope that still remains in the nooks and crannies of the Irish people’s hearts. It seems that about once every three months a hip hop singer appears on OneBillionStories.com! Well today is the first Catholic hip hop artist to arrive from Ireland. Although he may not have an official title name, if you listen closely, he has a great message to share. It is the classic message of the 21st century when it comes to discerning God’s will for the world. J.Lo or Jesus Christ? That is the state of American culture, which has now jumped across the pond to Ireland, where this man breaks down in his own fresh style the challenges we Catholics face moving forward. The Culture…or Catholicism?

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So here it is, the first installment of Irish Fridays on the ‘digital continent’ via OBS. It may not hurt to plug in your head phones to hear this man ‘spit’ some rhymes for Jesus Christ. Many thanks to ‘Irish Steve’ for finding this man in Dublin! Keep up the good work. Perhaps you are ready to start gathering stories in Ireland? If so, e-mail our producer at producer@onebillionstories.com to learn how.

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 17th February 2012
First: James 2:14-24, 26
Responsorial: Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel: Mark 8:34?9:1

Rosary: Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. The Crowning of Thorns
4. The Way of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion and Death

Leandro, Rio de Janeiro

2012-02-17T05:08:06Z

Leandro da su testimonio de fé. Es miembro del Movimiento de la Vida Cristiana en Rio. Se fue de viaje al norte de Brasil como misionero y aqui habla de su experiencia allá.

El lanzamiento del logo para la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud 2013 en Rio

2012-02-17T03:49:18Z

Después de trabajar en 2 favelas de Rio por la tarde, fuimos al lanzamiento del logo para la JMJ 2013 en Rio (gracias a nuestros amigos en el Movimiento de la Vida Cristiana). El evento fue muy formal y a causa de ir directamente de las favelas al evento, Al fue muy mal vestido (sandalias, camiseta, y cortos). Unos obispos, un arcobispo, y un cardinal de Roma asistieron el evento. Después de mirar la presentación, el cardinal escribió una bendición para nuestro proyecto misionero en el cuaderno de la Annie. Que bueno es Dios!!!!

World Youth Day 2013 Logo Launch in Rio

2012-02-17T03:49:35Z

After working in 2 of Rio’s favelas for the afternoon, we were invited to (thank you to our friends in Rio’s Christian Life Movement) and attended the unveiling of Rio’s logo for World Youth Day next year. It was a semi-formal black tie event and no one told us. Al was particularly underdressed for the occasion (sandals, shorts, t-shirt). A couple of bishops, an archbishop, and a cardinal from Rome were in attendance. After the unveiling, we managed to get the cardinal to write a blessing for our mission trip on the inside cover of Annie’s journal. God is great!!!!!

Where Can I Find True Happiness?

2012-02-16T18:53:38Z

Over and over again like a record player on auto pilot, we continue to hear so the same stories from young people around the world. Those stories center around one question, ‘where can I find true happiness?’

Today’s Story

Without a doubt, this mission continues to experience profound encounters with the most transparent youth in America. These young people know that the dream job, money, and partying, cannot bring them true happiness. How is that possible? Because they have lived it, period. By going into the trenches for all the world has to offer in the pursuit of happiness, it is no wonder that the cycle of stories from young people continue to carry a similar note. Our team believes that teenagers and young adults do not have to go into the trenches in order to reach the truth. Some Catholics have argued in the past that is part of the process of growing up into an adult of the Catholic faith, going through the trenches. But we argue that indeed you can go directly to Christ and His Church, and bypass the lost hope that the world has to offer.

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As always, in echoing the words of Pope Benedict XVI, we invite you to answer his call of evangelizing the ‘digital continent.’ We can make in impact in this world for the mission of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church if we unite our efforts of ‘bearing witness to the hope that is within us.’ Today, February 16th, 2012, is a prime opportunity to share this story with your family and friends. Let them know how much you care about them by sharing Christ with them through the ‘one billion Catholic stories.’

Related Stories

Yesterday’s Story

Readings for 16th February 2012
First: James 2:1-9
Responsorial: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Rosary: Luminous Mysteries
1. Baptism in the River Jordan
2. Wedding Feast at Cana
3. Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. Transfiguration
5. Institution of the Eucharist