Association Of Catholic Bloggers

 One of the great contributions of the USA to popular culture is the Broadway/Hollywood musical. Among the masters at writing these were composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Most of their works were produced first on stage and later made into movies. The exception was State Fair , a 1945 film for which they wrote the score. It Might as Well Be Spring , from that production, won the Oscar that year for best song. I doubt that there is a better version than that of Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel in the video above. The words of Lorenzo in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice could surely be applied to anyone who doesn't enjoy this performance with its great melody, words and arrangement and a singer clearly enjoying himself: The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils . (Apologies on behalf of the Bard of Avon for the 'non-inclusive' 'man'!) ...

Today we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Last year I wrote a post for this feast in honor of Our Lady; it is one of my most read posts (well according to Blogger Stats that is) so I thought I would share it here. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Knows The Way The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is always celebrated on the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it is done so for good reason~ the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady is inseparably linked to the Sacred Heart of her Son. Five years ago on this feast day, I made the Consecration to Mary through the  Militia Immaculata , the organization founded by St Maximilian Kolbe. I renew my consecration each year on this feast day. My regular readers know that Mary played a subtle (to me anyway), but vital role in my return to her Son and my faith. In a certain way, I sometimes feel like I have lived,and continue to live the Joyful Mysteries in my own life. My Annunciation   came in t...

St Margaret Mary Alacoque Contemplating the Sacred Heart of Jesus , Corrado Giaquinto, c.1765 Readings   (New American Bible, used in the Philippines and the USA)  Gospel Matthew 11:25-30 (Jerusalem Bible, used in Australia, England &Wales, Ireland, Scotland) Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.' AN SOISCÉAL : Matha 11:25-30 (Gaeilge, Irish) San am sin la...

Hi everyone. Just to introduce myself. I have been married to Andrew for 27 years & we have 10 living children & 2 miscarried babies. Our eldest Jennifer (24) is a doctor & was married in April to Daniel. Our second daughter Katherine (21) has a BA Hons in English & is starting her Masters Degree. Claire (19) is a teaching assistant in a Primary School. Rose (18) has just completed her A2's & is starting Uni in September. Mary (17) is deputy Head Girl at St Paul's Girls School & has finished her AS subjects. She is very much into her Christian music & plays for us in the evening when we pray & sing. Elizabeth (16) loves babysitting & has completed her GCSE's. Patricia is a qualified diver & is doing her Duke of Edinburgh expedition at Harvington Hall this weekend. Alexander (14) is busy growing! & doing GCSE's & Andrew jr (12) is in year 7 at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School. Both boys serve at the Birmingham Oratory. Jac...

"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled." (Luke 12:29) We have approached the fire of the love of God. Let us allow that fire to burn our lives. Let us feed the desire to spread that divine fire throughout the world, making t known to all the people around us. They too can experience the peace of Christ and find happiness there. A Christian who lives united to Christ's heart can have no goals but these: peace in society, peace in the Church, peace in his soul, the peace of God which will reach its climax when his kingdom comes." ~ St. Josemaria Escriva

Today is Canada Day. On July 1 2011 Canada celebrates its 144th birthday. One hundred and forty-four must be a significant number, because this year we are honoured with a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who are celebrating with us. O Canada. We have the reputation beyond our shores of being polite, perhaps rather simple, peace-loving, and having cute, folksy accents. Some of those things used to be true, but while our country was founded on wholesome Christian values, our political and social climate has shifted in the last half century. Fortunately we claim St. Joseph as our patron and if anyone can bring about conversion and restoration to this country, it is the foster father of our Lord. This year, our birthday coincides with the great Feast of the Sacred Heart. I believe that Jesus and His earthly father are united in their loving concern for this nation and its people. I earnestly beseech God's mercy on our government leaders. I ask for His guiding hand on al...

 Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The video above, produced by the Apostleship of Prayer, tells us something of the struggle of the Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) with alcoholism. It mentions the fact that he didn't have the benefit of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which hadn't yet come on the scene. But it doesn't mention that he was one of the earliest members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart . The Pioneer Association, or PTAA, describes its mission and vision as follows:  Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through: Faith and prayer Self denial Example Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young Advocacy Our vision - based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels - is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be ...