Forgiving You

Are your sins forgiven when you go to Confession?

Has God forgiven you?

Have you forgiven yourself?

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Hurrying our way through lent? (Spanish) A la mitad de Cuaresma: y tú ¿dónde estás ahorita?

Estamos avanzando ya sobre el tiempo de cuaresma.

     Es increíble con qué velocidad pasan los días y las horas. Las semanas apenas nos parecen empezarlas y ya nos encontramos en su final. Pero aún es tiempo, si no lo hicimos en su comienzo, de dedicar un poco de atención a este tiempo cuaresmal.

   Pronto diremos: -" Ya llegó la Semana Santa, ¡ qué rápido!. " pero ya dijimos aún estamos a tiempo para prepararnos precisamente para esa Semana Santa.

 

God in Our Midst

 (from The Cloistered Heart)

The Resurrection of Lazarus

How does the resurrection of Lazarus affect us - if at all?

What message is there in that story for us?

Is there any significance in that miracle?

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As the Morning Rising: A Future We Cannot See

As the Morning Rising: A Future We Cannot See: God leads us blindfold to a future we cannot see, but all our trust is in Him who is our Shepherd and friend.

10 Minute Daily Retreat - Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross

Reflection by Louise Crossley

When I gave birth for the first time, I felt that it was more than I could bear. I vividly remember fearing I could literally break in half. The other births, while still painful, where less overwhelming as my body was strengthened by past experience.

When I first experienced a broken heart, I thought I could not live on. The pain seeped through my body as though my heart was leaking venom that was poisoning my will to go on. While heartbreak is never easy, it gets a little less intense as a result of knowing what to expect or from bracing ourselves somewhat.

Jesus carrying the cross at this Station represents the impact of first times...read on: https://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

'Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ Sunday Reflections, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A

The Raising of Lazarus, Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Readings (Jerusalem Bible)
For the shorter form of the Gospel omit the passages [in square brackets].

Gospel John 11:1-44 [11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45] (NRSV,Catholic Ed) 

[Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.] So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’ [The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.’ Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’ Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’]

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. [Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.] When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’

[When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When] Jesus saw her weeping and [the Jews who came with her also weeping, he] was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

From The Gospel of John

I think it was back in the 1980s when I was at home in Ireland on a visit that I heard a young diocesan priest being interviewed on national radio about his work as a prison chaplain. He spoke about an occasion when he spent an hour in a cell with one prisoner who was there for stealing on a large scale. The priest got no response whatever - until he was about to leave. He then looked at the young man, put his arms around him and said, 'I love you', adding the man's name.

The prisoner broke down and began to open up to the priest. Over a period of time they became friends. After he was released the young man set up a successful security agency, no doubt drawing on his 'professional skills'.
Full post here.

The Gift Of Prayer - Only Useful When Being Used

Gifts are Meant to be Used

“What is the gift of prayer?” is the first question asked in the Walk in Her Sandals’ journal with regard to Pat’s reflection. Personally, I see prayer as part of what I’ve dubbed, “The Grace Trifecta.” This trifecta consists of one engaging in prayer, participating in the Sacraments, as well as reading and reflecting on Scripture — prayer, Sacrament and Scripture. It truly amazes me that God allows us to communicate with Him in this intimate way. What a gift that he allows us to enter into conversation with Him.

When I was a child, my mother would wrap every single item in our Christmas stocking. Opening each individual present was what I looked forward to the most about Christmas; I enjoyed it so much I continue that tradition today with my own children. This is how I have experienced prayer in my life — as many small gifts. The first prayer gift to be unwrapped was opening up a more frequent line of communication with God. This came after reading St. Paul’s words in 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, which reads .... READ MORE 

All Rights Reserved, Allison Gingras 2017 

DNA and Cancer

Apparently quiet a few sorts of cancer 'just happen,' no matter how much fiber we eat, how much we don't smoke, and how far we run each day.

Or exercise, in my case. Thanks in part to now-replaced defective hips, my running days never really happened.

That doesn't mean that we're all gonna die from random cancer. I think it means we should think about paying more attention to testing before symptoms appear....

After talking about oddly-under-reported 'cancer' news, I kept going; mostly about mutations, and why being healthy is okay...

More at A Catholic Citizen in America.

10 Minute Daily Retreat: Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,"Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly. John 19:1-3

By Margaret Kirchener
The bathroom seems so far away.

My arthritis has flared up and every step is torture.

I crawl through the house using a broom as a crutch. I desperately need my medication.

Everything else in my life fades. All that exists is me and the throbbing pain...

Read on:https://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

Laughter in Heaven

 

I would appreciate your views and comments about this video.

The Past: What We Know, What We Don'’t

I was writing about cancer and medical knowledge we've accumulated over the last few millennia, when I realized that I'd gotten more off-topic than usual.

For me, that's saying something.

When I catch myself rambling I've got options. Sometimes I delete and start over from where I was making sense; or copy and paste the ramble into a text file for later use, delete and start over.

Sometimes I delete, get up, make myself a cup of coffee, and try desperately to remember what, if anything, I had in mind....

...Like the title says, it's about what we know and what we don't about the past: and why we're not all that certain about so much....

More at A Catholic Citizen in America.

As the Morning Rising: The Trees and Countless Stars

As the Morning Rising: The Trees and Countless Stars: Sometimes all we need do is take God in, the way a new-born baby takes a first breath – this too is prayer. To look in awe at a...

Motherhood as a Feminist Career Choice

Raising children is not a default chore for women who were not successful in the world of business, power, and wealth. However, the trend in the last few decades has been to delegate childcare to women who are often treated like second-class citizens. Society seems to dismiss and even ridicule women’s most sacred, natural role as nurturing mothers.

continue reading on CTS Catholic Compass

Finding Virtue in the Mundane: Even Doing Dishes!

So, how is doing the dishes well, or any other mundane task for that matter, virtuous? Well, let’s answer that question by first defining virtue:

“A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.” ¹

 

If you strive to always give your best to every task performed, even something so mundane as doing the dishes, then your action can be virtuous.

I remember, as a child, having the chore of doing the dinner dishes with my two sisters. The oldest sister always needed to go to the bathroom immediately after dinner. How convenient for her! She always got out of doing the dishes, unbeknownst to my mother. That left my middle sister and me, the youngest, to clear the table, wash and dry the dishes. (Yes, I am old! This was in the day before every household had an automatic dishwasher. But I digress.) My middle sister and I always fought over who would do what, and... Read more... 

Take a Dose of Vitamin N ~ Nature

Spring is upon us, so venture outside! Recent reports claim that contact with nature makes us healthier and happier. In Greek mythology, Antaeus was invincible as long as he was in contact with his mother, Earth. Apparently we too gain strength by being in touch with Mother Earth, whose clay we were made from. Spring is a good time to be refreshed and renewed by taking a walk though the woods, in a park, along a beach, or in your own backyard. When I walk outside in the country— gazing on violets, mushrooms, and honeybees and filling my lungs with fresh air— I feel at peace. I’m sure my blood pressure sinks.  click to continue

As the Morning Rising: Prodigal - Lenten Poem

As the Morning Rising: Prodigal - Lenten Poem: Prodigal Sometime between now and Easter I will die to my old self Rise to the challenge Of putting on a new garment Befitting one ...

The Virtue Driven Life, by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R. - Book Review

The Virtue Driven Life, by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., offers insightful information about the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance, along with scriptural passages, simple prayers, and citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This gem of a book offers the basic information on these virtues in part I. He saves the best for last, though, when in part II, we learn some in-depth information on the Theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. Part II also provides scriptural passages, prayers and citations from the Catechism, in relation to the Theological virtues.

I was most impressed with Fr. Groeschel’s insight into the... Read more...

PRAYING/SPEAKING FOR/TO THE DEAD

Do you ever pray for dead relatives and friends?

Do you offer Masses for them?

Do you sometimes "speak" to them; perhaps in your thoughts?

Do you visit their graves?

Why do you do these things?

Where are your dead relatives and friends anyway?

Heaven? Hell? Purgatory?

If they are in one of these places then God has decided their fate anyway.

So why pray for them?

Your comments and thoughts are very welcome.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION HERE

The gift of confession (Spanish) El regalo de la confesión.

 

 

Las plantas y los animales para crecer y desarrollarse, necesitan luz y aire, agua y alimento. Si estos le faltan pierden color, frescura, energía, y poco a poco mueren. Y los animales necesitan crecer sin ataduras, para llegar a ser lo que tienen que ser. Por ejemplo, a un águila cuando le cortan las alas, no puede volar a las alturas, que es su medio natural. Se quedará a ras del suelo. Y si le empiezan a crecer las alas pero está atada con un cordel, tampoco podrá volar, y aunque lo intente, el resultado será el mismo: se quedará en el suelo y no podrá evitar la muerte.

 

Pues lo mismo sucede con nosotros los hombres. Fuimos creados por Nuestro Padre Dios con todo amor, pero por el pecado estamos atados y no podemos llegar a ser lo que Él quiere que seamos. Y porque nos quiere tanto, porque somos tan importantes para Él, envió a su único hijo, Jesucristo, a liberarnos del pecado y abrirnos las puertas del cielo.

 

Revisiting the Real Jesus

Recently I read something touting a "politically correct" (but unmistakably warned against in Scripture) lifestyle as being something Jesus would applaud. 

I immediately thought:  "Oh, really?"  

Just who, I asked, is this jesus of whom the writer is speaking?  It's definitely not the Jesus quoted and taught about in Scripture and 2,000 years of the Church.  The real Christ clearly taught against what the author was endorsing.

This is extremely important.  Nothing in our lives could be more important.  If we intend to respond to the world through the "grillwork" of God's will, a knowledge of the real Jesus is critical. 

If I am going to see the world through Scripture and the teachings of the Church, I must have a working knowledge of what these are. I cannot make them up for myself. And certainly I can't invent my own jesus, one who will approve of everything I do.. even sin. The real Jesus loves me; He genuinely loves me. He cares enough about me to correct my missteps.  

The real Jesus does not overlook the cliffs I'm blindly frolicking about on. He is not afraid of warning me about them lest He interrupt my fun. Because He loves me, He wants to protect me from the enemy of my soul... (continue)

Knowledge: Opening the Gift

The quote is from Tennyson's "Ulysses," among my favorite poems; and the source for my Google Plus tagline:

"...To follow knowledge, like a sinking star,
"Beyond the utmost bound of human thought...."
("Ulysses," Tennyson (1833))

I'm not "an idle king," and take my family obligations seriously, so I won't be setting off on a voyage of discovery. Thanks to a pretty good Internet connection and research skills, I can "follow knowledge" without leaving my desk.

My shameless curiosity may need some explanation. Or maybe not, if you read my Friday 'science' posts.

More at A Catholic Citizen in America.

10 Minute Daily Retreat 5th Station: Jesus is judged by Pilate

Being judged and wrongly declared guilty is a horrible experience. I had a taste of this once when a valuable item went missing in my share household and everything pointed to me.

It's equally as devastating when you are judged and victimised for standing up for something you believe in. A sense of our own powerlessness can make us feel incredibly vulnerable and rejected.

What kind of God is willingly vulnerable to the opinions and judgements of humans? Standing before Pilate, was Jesus thinking about the divine power He could invoke to escape from the fate of death? Read on: 

https://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

Our Lady: Queen of Ireland

I'm a week late in sharing this, but I always love learning new Irish things, and I thought you might too! My March column at CatholicMom.com has some fun info about the Irish love for Our Lady: Our Lady: Queen of Ireland. Happy Feast of the Annunciation!

The Annunciation Through The Eyes Of Modern Artists

Modern artists are still fascinated by Mary and her encounter with the angel Gabriel.

There are so many moments to capture her initial shock, fear, sense of awe and wonder, questions, acceptance and final glorious infilling by the Holy Spirit.

Each artist reflects a different facet of truth with the Spirit of God shining through each painting in a myriad of different hues and tones and nuances.

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As the Morning Rising: A Paste of Clay and Spittle

As the Morning Rising: A Paste of Clay and Spittle: Sight I did not see the wind But I saw a rain drop Blown clean off a leaf That had been shaken I did not see the secret ...

A Core Fact

So, if you have been following my blog for any length of time, you have probably figured out that I like analogies. It is also the way God gets my attention and speaks to me.

I believe the Lord gave me an analogy that some people reading this blog post may need to hear. I share it in order to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

Continue Reading @ beautifulthorns>

Much Ado About Mary

Once upon a time there was an old priest who became rather forgetful and tired of giving sermons at Mass on Sunday.

He used to write down his sermons and then read them at Mass; but more often than not he used to forget bringing his sermons to church; so at sermon time he had nothing to read anyway.

He reasoned that if he had to write down his sermons in order to remember them, then how could the congregation be expected to remember them after leaving church.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

Baryons, Gravity Waves

These are exciting, or disquieting, times.

Which it is depends partly on how much a person likes living in a world where scientific knowledge is rapidly changing.

I like it, a lot....

...Since this is a "religious" blog, I'll be discussing — briefly, for me — how my faith relates to experiments using CERN's Large Hadron Collider and science in general....

More at A Catholic Citizen in America.

'One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.' Sunday Reflections. Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Blind Pensioner with a Stick, Van Gogh [Web Gallery of Art]
Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India

Gospel John 9:1-41 [9: 1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38] (NRSV, Anglicised Catholic Ed)

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. [His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’] When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. 

From The Gospel of John

In his homily on the Solemnity of the Annunciation in 2014 Pope Francis said, Salvation cannot be bought and sold; it is given as a gift, it is free . . . We cannot save ourselves, salvation is a totally free gift. The Pope continued: Since it cannot be bought, in order for this salvation to enter into us we need a humble heart, a docile heart, an obedient heart like Mary's. Moreover, the model on this journey of salvation is God himself, his Son, who did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, and was obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Full post here.

Columban parish in Peru cut off by devastating floods

March 24, 2017 Media Release –
Flooding in Peru. In wake of the unprecedented flooding in Peru, Columban Fr Kevin McDonagh in his parish in Samanco near Chimbote [420 kms north of Lima], has been cut off from the outside world. He is managing ok, but the situation is getting precarious for the people.

The worst is not quite yet over as rain is still expected over the next few weeks, with some of it moving south. The challenges ahead are enormous in terms of reconstruction, etc. There is little bottled water available, but fortunately there is water flowing again in Lima though with low pressure. It is worrying to think of so many people without clean water especially in the provincial areas.

So far there are 75 known deaths and over 100,000 people who are homeless. That figure will be multiplied when help reaches all the areas that have been incommunicado since the flooding began. It is mind boggling. We had bad flooding in 1982, and we all thought it was terrible. But that was child’s play in comparison to now. The question is how much more can the people take. Their response and solidarity so far has been nothing short of heroic. Even in the midst of all the suffering, we are seeing Peru and Peruvians at their very best. It is inspiring and heartbreaking all at once. These people are really heroic.

Please, we are asking for prayers and positive thoughts in solidarity with the people of Peru in these times of suffering, especially those most directly affected

In Christ,
Fr Kevin O’Neill
Superior General
Missionary Society of St Columban

10 Minute Daily Retreat: Fourth (Scriptural) Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly. Matthew 26: 69-75

  

When Jesus first met Peter, He fixed his gaze upon him and said, 'You are Simon, son of John; you will be called Peter'. (John 1:42)That was an experience of the grace of God in giving the fisherman a new vocation to proclaim the love and mercy of God.

Later on, Peter had a unique experience of grace with James and John when they witnessed the Transfiguration whereby the body of Jesus was transformed by Light. Matthew 17:1-13

Despite experiencing miracles, healings and the Transfiguration, Peter was still full of fear of death and therefore denied knowing Jesus in the courtyard. Read on: https://susannetimpani.blogspot.com.au/

As the Morning Rising: Radiant Lights of Fatima

As the Morning Rising: Radiant Lights of Fatima: Radiant lights emerging from shadows, the hope of the world and the light of the church of tomorrow.

Much Ado About Laughter

THIS BOOK WILL SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT INSIDE YOUR DOG

PLEASE CLICK HERE

Even Our Guinea Pig Had a Household Chore

No able-bodied human or animal would live in my house without contributing in some way to our household

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the family as the original cell of society which teaches children all about justice and responsibility. There are countless ways to teach kids about responsibility and one of the best ways is assigning everybody a chore. Even family pets are not exempt.

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Seeking Mercy This Lenten Season: A "See" Change

I’ve been slowly reading the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska; a little each week during my time in Adoration. I read a few pages and then stop to meditate on what she and Christ are communicating to me. You see, it is a story of Saint Faustina’s visions of the Lord, who instructed her on His mercy. It’s packed with a lot of great information; digestible in small bits. At this point, maybe I’ll finish the book by the end of this year! I started this book prior to the end of the Year of Mercy, because I wanted to learn more about Christ’s mercy. My Lenten mission is one of seeking mercy from Christ. Oh, am I learning a lot about His mercy!

Seeking Mercy: A “See” Change

This Lenten season has been fruitful in that I see a change occurring within me because of reading this book. I find myself seeking mercy a lot more than I had ever done in the past, and not just for myself. I find myself saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for our country, my family and friends. And, to be honest, I must admit, that... Read more... 

Who Is This God We Believe In?

Last week I listened to a panel discussion about God, sponsored by Notre Dame College's Abrahamic Center. A Jesuit priest, a rabbi, and a Muslim were to answer three questions, but never got beyond the first one, "Who is God?" Their talks and the discussion that followed provided much rich food for thought. In this post I share some of the information and insights gathered there. You might find them as stimulating as I did.
    The rabbi began by pointing out that naming animals was the first thing Adam was told to do. Names reveal people, and our names for God reflect what we think of him—like El Shaddai, the almighty one, or God of Hosts (a military title). A name for God in the Bible is Elohim. This name is mysterious because it is composed of a feminine beginning and a plural masculine ending. Click to continue

As the Morning Rising: Singing His Praise

As the Morning Rising: Singing His Praise: To call God my Saviour is to bear the Cross while singing His praise.

St. Joseph Through the Eyes of Modern Artists

St. Joseph was a worker, strong, capable but spiritual enough to see and hear messages from God. He was courageous enough act on those commands even though they went against all common sense. His young betrothed pregnant yet a virgin? A move to Egypt, the place of slavery in the minds for the Jews? How many of us could obey such ludicrous messages? Modern artists reject sappy images of St. Joseph, choosing to capture a strong, loving man but supported by divine strength.

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As the Morning Rising: Joseph's Dream

As the Morning Rising: Joseph's Dream: Joseph's Dream Quickly now, we must leave this place - The baby's life is in danger! We will travel lightly And return ...

Saint Joseph: The Silent Saint of Salvific Service

Saint Joseph, a man of few words; no – make that no words –had a huge impact on salvation history. He is portrayed in the Bible, without ever having spoken one word. All mention of him is in the third person. Yet, silent Saint Joseph was one of the most important instruments of Christ’s salvific action.

Had Joseph refused to take Mary as his wife, Mary would have been placed in a tenuous situation, and so would the safety of her child, Jesus. You see, in Mary’s day, if a woman was caught having relations with a man out of wedlock, she could have been stoned to death. Because Mary was pregnant with Jesus, everyone else would have assumed that Mary was having relations with a man. Therefore, no one would have understood that Mary’s pregnancy was a result of the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing of Mary. Saint Joseph’s silent “yes,” – his own “fiat,” to taking Mary as his wife – paved the way for fulfilling God’s plan for salvation. Thus, Jesus could be given a safe and secure means to grow to manhood. Read more...

Let's Find Our Way Back!

Recently I watched the new Disney animated movie, Moana. The Producers spent 5 years researching and visiting the islands in the South Pacific before making the movie. In doing so, they were able to get acquainted with Polynesian culture. Under the special features section of the Moana DVD, one can learn about the culture as well. 

While I was watching the "making of the movie", it occurred to me just how far we have strayed from the way God originally intended the world to be.  

Continue Reading @beautifulthorns>

Saint Joseph

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Amoris Laetitia is a pro woman document (Spanish) La mujer en la Amoris Laetitia.

 

La Exhortación Apostólica del Papa Francisco, que fue el resultado de un trabajo colegiado de los últimos dos años, reúne muchos de los temas que son especialmente importantes para las mujeres dentro y fuera de la Iglesia. Aporta una perspectiva novedosa, cercana y realista de la realidad que ellas viven. En un estilo casi parroquial, el Papa confiere a la parte humana y particular de cada vida un lugar muy importante y propone un modo igual de cercano e incluyente para mejorar la situación de las familias, y por ende, de las mujeres.

Las situaciones familiares realista que trata y deshebra dejan ver la complejidad de las dinámicas familiares: violencia, madres solteras, inequidades, madres trabajadoras, abuso, viudas,  mujeres separadas, abandono, mujeres divorciadas y vueltas a casar. Además trata temas esenciales para las mujeres: educación de los hijos, preparación como pareja en el noviazgo y en las diferentes etapas de la vida, educación sexual, homosexualidad. Todos éstos, sin un seguimiento adecuado, tienen efectos erosivos como lo han experimentado las mujeres de nuestra época.