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As the Morning Rising: Birdsong at Twilight : It was way past dusk when I heard birdsong from a tree in a neighbouring garden – blackbird sweet. And early this morning, around 4am I ...

Pentecost , El Greco, 1596-160 Gospel John 20:19-23 ( NRSV, Catholic Ed ., Can.) When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Or Gospel John 14:15-16, 23b-26( NRSV,Catholic Ed ., Can) Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, an

As the Morning Rising: Follow the Icon - Rosemount House Belfast : http://www.followtheicon.ie/ http://www.121-web.co.uk/rosemount/?page_id=21 The sun did not disappoint those who came...

Dr. Helen Scieszka's desire to heal the emotional wounds of people is a calling; it is definitely her mission. To accomplish this, she has turned her talents to Catholic fiction and uses the mighty pen as part of the healing process.   She writes from her experience as a therapist and her love of the Catholic faith in the Catholic fiction series Little Girl Lost, Little Girl Found . With each entry in the trilogy, Dr. Scieszka takes the reader on a slow, gentle, loving healing journey. She use her fiction series to address the pain of long-held emotional or physical trauma in a way that allows and encourages the reader to experience healing as well.   To read more about Dr. Scieszka's Little Girl Lost, Little Girl Found series, read the current article on her work in The Compass .        

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I’m not used to it, but that has to change. One of the priests at Church, Father A., ends a conversation with the words, “God Bless You.” The first time I heard him say that to me, I didn’t know what to say. It took a heartbeat, but I did respond, “And with your spirit.” We both chuckled because he wasn’t saying Mass at the time.  Read More at Prayerfully Yours

Being part of a larger Catholic community who really, really love life..  I mean, we REALLY love life.  In all its messy, demanding and chaotic iterations.  This also means we LOVE babies, children, families, old people, grandparents, teenagers and even (sometimes) cranky mothers like me.  One of the challenges, however, in a  "Culture of Death"  as  St John Paul 2  put it, is the the issue of shelter.... Read more

As the Morning Rising: Gathering Spaces : Gathering Spaces There are gathering spaces Quiet places where kindred souls can meet And offer a prayer. Believing...

(from The Breadbox Letters)

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Live Today Well: Saint Francis de Sales’s Simple Approach to Holiness , by Fr. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S is a gem! This five-star book offers anyone wanting to grow closer to God a practical means of doing so. Fr. Dailey takes the reader through Saint Francis de Sales’ Spiritual Directory , using contemporary ways of applying this ever useful, and timeless instruction of St Francis on how to live today well; from one’s first rising in the morning until one lays their head down to sleep at night. This book offers prayerful ways that we can grow in virtue; thus grow in holiness. My favorite line from Fr. Dailey’s book is this: By seeking ways to practice a particular virtue throughout the day, we can counteract those imperfections toward which prior examinations have revealed we may be inclined (page 113). How to Live Each Day Well How often have we looked back on our day and said to ourselves... Read more...

In this month of May devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is fitting that we reflect on her. I’d like to focus on one of the many ways that she is a model for all Christians: Mary had courage as she fulfilled her mission of bringing forth Christ into the world and furthering the kingdom of God. As human as any of us, Mary experienced fear several times during her life. Yet, she conquered her nerves to do what she knew she had to do. Granted, since she was “full of grace” and filled with the Holy Spirit, she had a special reservoir to draw on for her accomplishments. Still, her life was not a bed of roses. She encountered several thorny situations. Click to continue

I sit. I wait. I hope. What else can I do? I’ve asked. I must wait in faith. You Who command the world unseen, You Who command the angels. You Who command the forces of good. You Who created that which can be seen and that which cannot be seen.   Read More At Prayerfully Yours

Have you written a letter to God lately? Fr. Daniel Lord, SJ, will inspire you! Join me at Praying with Grace for some excerpts and inspiration.

“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” Taken from the Nicene Creed.  Read more at Prayerfully Yours

Not sure if y’all knew this or not, but I am a big country music fan. I heard Tim McGraw sing his new song, Humble and Kind , at a recent Country Music Awards show. Then, I seemed to catch it every time it played on the radio. Tim McGraw has a wonderfully distinct voice and this song speaks to my heart. Being the lover of virtue that I am, I immediately honed in on the lyrics, as well as the melody, of the song. I had some thoughts on the underlying message, but I was interested in learning how Tim McGraw interpreted the lyrics. So, I went to YouTube to see the video. Visual messages seem to have a way of really drilling the concept home. The video... Read more...

M y mother taught me to say my  Morning Offering  the moment I woke up in the morning.  But above all she showed me how to put it into practice by her own example. It wasn’t the little things that I noticed at first, but the big sacrifices that she made, that even I noticed. Like that terrible moment in her life when her own precious son, my older brother, died at the age of 22. It was then that, with the help of her spiritual director Abbott Williams she gradually learnt to accept his death, as Mary had done, as she stood at the foot of the Cross. Lessons learnt in such moments are never forgotten. They indelibly stain the memory and determine the way you think and act for the rest of your life, for better or for worse. In my mother's case it was for better not worse, as it had been for Mary.   read on ...

Happy Mother’s Day to Me! I found this rosary in our church gift shop yesterday. It’s an October birthstone rosary made with beautiful PINK crystals! I knew it was mine! (My birthday is in October.) I asked Father A. to bless this Rosary so now I will use it. Today, when I say my Rosary, I will offer it up for four things: 1) Our Lady’s intentions 2) All Mothers. 3) All Women 4) an end to abortion Read More at Prayerfully Yours

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”   But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.   Luke 1:26-29     Surely Mary, the  mother of Jesus, holds the greatest honour amongst mothers? Mary responded to the invitation to bear Jesus by 'pondering.' This is a wonderful example for us. Pondering implies a  careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter – reflection, meditation. Don’t be fooled  into thinking that little decisions don’t need our pondering.  Whatever we choose  brings us closer to God or further away, and either brings others closer to God or further away.  Regular ‘pondering’ facilitates  the reshaping of our minds and hearts so we m

(from The Breadbox Letters)

Why can we not stand in awe and live joyfully with mystery? I think we simply dislike our own vulnerability. We want to pretend we are in control and in the know. Life is the exact opposite. We can only bow in humility before the Almighty. continue reading

The Ascension of Christ , Rembrandt, 1636 The Solemnity of the Ascension Gospel Luke 24:46-53 NRSV, Catholic Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. When I went home to Ireland on vacation from the Philippines in 1994 before beginning six years as vocation director I took a short course for missionaries in the use of computers given

As the Morning Rising: Fields of Blue : Fields of Blue Mysterious crafted workings that have shod The foot as it walks on this glad earth and sod There is such deftness...

When I was a kid and didn’t have any money for gifts, I used to give freely when it came to spiritual bouquets. Sister Mary Claudia let me play at recess, even though I was talking, I made her a spiritual bouquet. I needed a birthday present for my aunt or for my cousin, I made a spiritual bouquet. My best friend’s mother gave me cookies as a treat, you guessed it, I made them a spiritual bouquet. Read More at Prayerfully Yours

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Enjoy flavorful recipes, such as for a fiesta celebration (like Cinco de Mayo!) or backyard barbeque? … and any time at all! Here you will find recipes for: “Award Winning Guacamole” + “Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Hass Avocado and Cucumber Relish” + “Raspberry Avocado Salad with Honey Raspberry Vinaigrette” + “California Avocado, Fruit and Citrus Bowl” + more… from appetizer through dessert! >> Click Here to Read More at: The Way To Nourish For Life >>

Why should we pray the Rosary? More importantly, why should we pray the Rosary daily? 1) “Pray the rosary frequently. It costs so little, and it’s worth so much!”  Padre Pio Read more at Prayerfully Yours

  Centering Prayer practitioners are often very sincere people who are seeking a closer relationship with God. For some, a Centering Prayer group at church was their first introduction to the idea of cultivating a deep prayer life. Others have read the saints’ works about prayer, but have not understood them. Both groups are vulnerable to false teachings about prayer. Unfortunately for them, they are taught a skewed interpretation of the saints, the fathers, and even the Catechism. Theses errors take root. People become emotionally attached to their method of prayer. It is very difficult to convince them that the practice is not in line with Catholic tradition. Continue reading at Contemplative Homeschool.

As the Morning Rising: Brief Meditations on Sorrowful Mysteries of the Ro... : The Agony in the garden Lord, come to the assistance of those who are in agony, in body, mind or spirit. Send your angels to conso...

Thanks to the help of Mother Angelica,  I’ve been finding myself calling upon all angels of heaven for assistance!   It was during the weeks leading up to Easter (Lent 2016) that I began to pray on a regular basis the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel, guided by Mother Angelica herself (via EWTN CD ), and what a blessing it’s been!   …Thus something I wanted to share with you here, as we journey on, in pursuit of progress, still... body, mind, and soul. >> Click Here to Read More at: The Way To Nourish For Life >>  

LET'S BE HONEST NOW ... WHAT SINS DID YOU LAST CONFESS? WAS IT THE SAME OLD SINS COMMITTED ONCE MORE? OR DID YOU HAVE NEW ONES TO RAISE THE PRIEST'S EYEBROWS? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

When you think about those virtues that you want your children to possess, what comes to mind? Is it gratitude? Do you constantly tell them to say thank you? Is it respect? Do you keep reiterating to them to say please, play nicely; share their toys? Is it patience? Do you tell your children that some things are worth the wait, and in the process teach them how to wait? By your living example, you teach them all of this, and much more. By your own faith and trust in God, or lack of faith and trust in God, you teach your child what to believe. By your own hope in Christ’s promises, or lack of hope in Christ’s promises, you teach your child about hope/despair. By your demonstration of love for God and family, or lack of love for God and family, you show your child the meaning of love/hatred from your own perspective. Read more...

We used to celebrate the Ascension exactly forty days after Easter on Thursday. On that day the Paschal, or Easter, Candle was extinguished after the Gospel as a sign that Jesus, the light of the world, had left for heaven. Nowadays we celebrate the Ascension on the Sunday after. Why? The Ascension, the mystery of Jesus returning to the Father in heaven, is of key importance, and so it is a holy day of obligation. For many people who work it is difficult to go to Mass on a weekday. Therefore, our bishops transferred our celebration to Sunday so that this great feast can be given its due and more people can celebrate it. Actually, the accounts of the Ascension in Scripture set this event on different days. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus ascends on Easter Sunday. John too apparently assumes that Jesus goes directly from risen glory to heaven. It is in the Acts of the Apostles that we find that after the resurrection, Jesus continues teaching the apostles for forty

by Nancy Ward Last Mother’s Day we went to the 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Jude’s in Allen, TX,  with my son Andrew and his family. We arrived early while the choir was practicing and sat in the third row behind their two reserved rows. Andrew prepared his French horn and joined the music practice. When the practice was over, just before Mass started, I observed this young man come from the row of choir microphones and around the pews with an armful of pillows. He headed toward the pew in front of us where an elderly woman and a couple of young people were sitting. He motioned that he wanted to sit in that pew and they moved toward the aisle to allow him to move past them. He hesitated, said something to them and after a short conversation, they moved to another pew. He arranged his pillows in the pew and lay down on his back.  I turned to my daughter-in-law inquisitively and she told me about the man’s back problems and recent back surgery. His name was Patrick Underwo

This is the last of six articles for families on celebrating the Sunday Mass. My washing machine broke. A tiny plastic piece in the detergent compartment disappeared. Don’t ask me how—it’s one of life’s mysteries related to the Final Resting Place of socks that vanish from the dryer. Whatever. I ordered the part, tracked the package’s progress online, and ripping open the envelope, discovered my simple piece of plastic. Predictable enough, I suppose. Even so, I still felt a little thrill when I saw a package waiting for me in the mailbox. ©TABERNACLE BY CHRISTIAN BOWEN REDDINGTON (2012) VIA  FLICKR I can’t be the only one who hasn’t quite outgrown the charm of receiving a special delivery. Sending and receiving packages connects us to one another. And knowing a package is meant just for me—regardless of its contents—lifts my spirits. As our “Whispers in the Pew” series draws to a close, we consider the very end of Mass. Read all about it at Praying with Grace !

Of course, I’ve had supper and a glass of wine with supper, so life feels very good right now. The truth of the matter is that, no matter what we say or do, life will become complicated again and again or over and over. No matter what we do, life will get messy. Read more at Prayerfully Yours

Jesus is the epitome of virtue; the exemplar of how we are to live. We are all good at some virtues but, unlike Jesus, we are unable to master all of them. It seems that no matter how hard we try, we seem to continue to struggle mastering some of them. With what virtues do you excel? With what virtues do you struggle? In the areas where you excel, do you find the virtues come easy to you? In the areas where you struggle, do you have any idea why you experience such difficulty in mastering said virtues? Let’s do a very quick analysis: On a scale of one to ten, with ten being outstanding, how virtuous do you think you are in each of the following categories? Read more...

As the Morning Rising: I'll Not Let Mary Go : I'll not let Mary go Should rain and snow Blind my eyes And cover every path I know Should sickness come And weaken ...

Really. Where is your Rosary? It’s May, and May is dedicated to the Mother of God, Mary, our Mother, too, and the practice of prayer called the Rosary. I have to admit, I am a Rosary Hoarder. I think I own about 20 rosaries, and I look to collect more. I also carry rosaries with me to give away. It is a weird thing to do, but when the Holy Spirit prompts, I have found, even though I feel silly giving away Rosaries to people I don’t know, and sometimes to people I do know, that in the gesture are many blessings. I am both blessed and bless in the gift of the Rosary. Read More at Prayerfully Yours.