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      When I read this verse from Psalm 34--"I sought the Lord, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears"--it reminded me of something I heard years ago . . . "People are not so much afraid of death as they are afraid of dying." This got me to thinking that, of course, it is natural to fear the process of dying when you think of all of the conditions that we may be subjected to that are out of our control. The pain and suffering that we may have to endure is part of the reason why people turn to euthanasia, but that's a different discussion for another day. I started wondering why we would be more concerned about the physical affects of dying and less concerned about where we might end up for all eternity. We know our life here is temporary, and any suffering we might have to endure will technically be short-lived, yet we still do whatever we can to ease our pain, here and now. That's understandable. But what doesn't make sense to ...

    Just a quick thought for today . . . While praying the Glorious Mysteries the word "powerhouse" came to mind over and over again. The Glorious Mysteries cover the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, as well as Mary's Assumption and Coronation, not to mention the Holy Spirit.  What a powerhouse of people we have in heaven that are standing with us, ready to help us every step of the way.  But even more, we have a whole host of saints and angels and our loved ones who have gone before us. We have great access to a true powerhouse that has the ability to overcome evil. However, in this world, we must participate with them and call on them. When we do, the sheer magnitude of what can be accomplished can barely be imagined. Instead of us simply complaining about people and those whose evil actions bring about death and destruction, let us make sure we are doing our part as a huge community of believers to make a difference through our own actions, especia...

As I said when the Artemis II mission started, this is a big deal. Not an Easter-level big deal, but a big deal nonetheless. Four of us — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — have gone back to the Moon. They set a record, going a few miles farther from Earth than the Apollo 13 crew did back in 1970. But they didn't land. So maybe I should say 'back toward the Moon'.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Written as Artemis II returned from the Moon: how I see going to the Moon and beyond, what is new in this mission, and what is not new.)

The Incredulity of St Thomas Caravaggio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Second Sunday of Easter, Year A Divine Mercy Sunday Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel   John 20:19-31   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And 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 withhold forgi...

  Happy Easter!   Isn't it wonderful that we get to return to our Alleluia? This is truly a day for rejoicing, but if you are not "feeling" it because of whatever is going on in your life, don't despair. The joy that comes from this day can be ours to have no matter what life's circumstances surround us.  The love that Jesus poured out from the cross and the hope for each of us that comes with his resurrection goes far beyond our earthly state. May the work of his life bring you love and peace today. Settle into the gift he has given us and let it lift you up. Again, Happy Easter!!!! Pray for peace and an end to war. Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy      

I'm a Catholic, so this weekend I'm celebrating a particular series of events. Seriously Two millennia back, someone was tortured and executed. We celebrated, maybe "remembered" or "observed" would be a better word, that on Thursday and Friday. Saturday — I see it as a day when we wait and review what led up to that execution and what happened later. The day's readings this year are from Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, Ezekiel, Romans and Matthew. Sunday, tomorrow, is the big celebration of our year. Calling it a celebration makes sense, since a few days after he'd been killed, Jesus stopped being dead.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A very quick review of what we celebrate during Easter. Also four old Easter-themed greeting cards)

  . So many lies and conspiracy theories about Easter   CLICK HERE    

The Resurrection of Christ El Greco [ Web Gallery ofArt ] The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night The Easter Vigil is the most important liturgical celebration in the whole year. It is NOT an 'anticipated Mass', though by attending it we fulfil our Sunday obligation.  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) At the Mass during the Day Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 20:1-9   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the...

    St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower of Jesus) has such great insight into the human spirit. She benefits all of us by her willingness (obedience) to let us into her thoughts and actions in her autobiography. I'm not sure if you know this, but she had a deep longing to be an Apostle, a priest, a martyr, a missionary and a preacher. She also wanted to be a Doctor of the Church. (Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor in 1997.) There she was, in her little cell in the cloistered Carmelite monastery in France and she felt a huge pull to just go out and be all of these things. Her dreams were ultimately fulfilled following her death at the monastery at the age of 24. She is known throughout the world and preaches to us through her life.  She was canonized a saint on May 17, 1925.  While St. Thérèse wasn't able to fulfill her earthly longings during her short life, God had a much bigger plan for her. She concluded, after reflecting on St. Paul's...

"The Milky Way pictured from the International Space Station in a long-duration photograph" (NASA (November 25, 2024)) Today's Artemis II launch is a big deal, even if it's not particularly "newsworthy". As usual, my news feed has been packed with the usual direly dreadful distressful disasters: and that's another topic. I'm actually writing this Tuesday evening, but what I have to say matters: even if the launch is rescheduled. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A few thoughts about the April 1 Artemis II launch, Apollo missions, and wondering what is over the next hill.)

  Pray with the Pope — April: For priests in crisis Today, 31 March 2026, Tuesday of Holy Week,  the Vatican posted the video above  with the Pope's intention for all Catholics to pray for during the month of April. We are asked to  Pray with the Pope  for his specific intention for each month. This was formerly known as the  Apostleship of Prayer .   APRIL: For priests in crisis In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd and companion on the journey, today we place in your hands all priests, especially those going through moments of crisis, when loneliness weighs heavily, when doubt clouds their hearts, and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope. You who know their struggles and wounds, renew in them the certainty of your unconditional love. Let them feel they are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes, but beloved sons, humble and cher...

  I've always wondered how, after spending all that time with Jesus, Judas missed Jesus' message of forgiveness.  After learning of the consequence of his betrayal, rather than turning to Jesus in his great remorse, Judas took his own life into his hands.  While the events of the betrayal and the arrest of Jesus needed to play out, Jesus didn't condemn Judas. Judas condemned himself for his sin. During this Holy Week, it is a good time for us to think about how often we condemn ourselves and just assume that God won't forgive our sins. As we watch the events play out and clearly see that Jesus died for us, we still stubbornly refuse to believe THAT sin can be forgiven, so, like Judas, we think all is lost and turn away from Jesus. This is not the work of God. God doesn't want us to stay away from him. He wants us to believe in his saving action. He wants us to experience his grace that will be poured out on us as both forgiveness and love. Take some time this week t...

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Rockford, Illinois: Central Park Gardens Amusement Park's roller coaster. (ca. 1930) Quite a bit has changed since my childhood. Even more has changed since my father's. Human nature, on the other hand — how and why folks do what they do — details shift, but the basics don't. Like kids taking crazy risks, and adults acting with dubious wisdom.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Maybe the amusement park ride operator had a heart of gold. But the free rides ended for my father when his mother found out.)

                                                       I've been thinking about prayer and how we feel when we don't get what we want. "What's the point?" we ask, if our prayers don't elicit a response, or specifically, the response we are asking for. We might even conclude that if we don't have the ability to manipulate change, or God, when we pray, then why bother? We may even just give up on the idea of prayer altogether, feeling like we're just putting our petitions out into the universe where no one is listening.  A couple of things to remember, when we get frustrated by prayer . . . For one thing, prayer helps us come into union with God, in his communion of persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Also, our prayers should be pure.  Let's not pray to win the lottery. Let's ask God for something we really need or for the needs of ot...

  . Sermon for Palm Sunday by Father Jonathan E Moore    LINK HERE   Please consider contributing an article to The Christian Lounge 

Entry into Jerusalem (scene 1) Duccio di Buoninsegna [ Web Gallery of Art ] Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road  (Matthew 21:8; Gospel for Procession of Palms). The Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem Gospel for Procession of Palms   Matthew 21:1-11  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: England & Wales,  India, Scotland)    When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, “The Lord needs them”, and he will send them at once.’ This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘Say to the daughter of Sion, “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounte...