Association Of Catholic Bloggers

A tip of the hat to Father Mark Botzet for letting me post his homily from November 8, 2026. I took the liberty of changing some of the transcript's punctuation so that it matches this blog's style, and added headings. Here's Fr. Botzet's homily (Stewardship Sunday) and the usual somewhat-related links (Acting As If Beliefs Matter): Stewardship Sunday Gifts Needs and New Tech Why is This So Important? Opportunities and Needs Gift Bearers, the Community, Building a Legacy What is keeping you from God? Acting As If Beliefs Matter More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Transcript of the Stewardship Sunday homily Fr. Botzet gave at our parish: a look at what we can do, and why it matters.)

Married Couple in a Garden Frans Hals [ Web Gallery of Art ] An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:10-12; First Reading). Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)  Gospel Matthew 25:14-30   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) [ For the shorter form (25:14-15, 19-21), omit the text in brackets .] At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.   [He wh...

"...Somethin' to say on the eleventh day of November." Walt Kelly's Pogo. (November 11, 1953) It's Veterans Day: a day set aside for honoring veterans of the United States Armed Forces. This year I'm observing what used to be called Armistice Day by summarizing how I feel about being an American: along with my view of patriotism, citizenship, and protecting folks in a less-than-ideal world. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (How I feel about being an American: along with my view of patriotism, citizenship, and protecting folks in a less-than-ideal world.)

Perspectives: statue of Abraham Lincoln, VIPs walking past. (August 28, 2013) This week's election actually went smoothly for me. Although early voting was an option, I decided to follow old routines and show up on November 3. We've had rain or drizzle almost all week, but not a drop fell on me when I went out Tuesday morning. I can't say I was, or am, cheerful about voting. But at least I didn't get wet. A much more immediate exercise in frustration has been this household's efforts to make several organizations keep on receiving our money. I am not making that up. First, though, I'll talk about my father, this season, and a good idea. Boots, Birdsongs, and Dad Autumn Routing Number SNAFU Simple — Maybe — For Someone — Somewhere Civic Duty and Changing Diapers Necessary, if Unpleasant, Tasks More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (How I feel about the recent midterm election. Our issue with routing numbers and automatic payments. Rememberi...

Christ and the Wise Virgins German Mediaeval Sculptor [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand)    Readings ( English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel Matthew 25:1-13   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, “Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps ar...

"Pope Leo XIV writes a note to Bishops inviting them to embed Vatican News’ new video widget in the web pages of dioceses, parishes, and organizations linked to the Catholic Church, which will be automatically updated with our latest news and videos...." (" New video widget for Catholic websites with Pope's latest news and videos " , Vatican News (February 18, 2026)) Took me long enough, but I finally added this Vatican News widget to A Catholic Citizen in America. I’ll admit that I’ve added this display of video and links to other Catholic media partly because it may encourage you to visit this blog occasionally. Or this page, at any rate. But I also think adding this content is a good idea, since.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Video from Vatican News, along with links to other Catholic media from the Holy See.)

   Sometimes feelings of doubt in ourselves can get in the way of accomplishing God's will. What do I mean by that? Well, let me give you a few examples . . .  Let's say, in your enthusiasm in responding to what you consider a call from God--be it a vocational call, a call to a particular job, writing a blog, or even a call to ministry--you move forward happily. Then, when it gets tough, you start wavering by thinking maybe you can't really do what you thought you could. What do you do at that point, after you have made your initial decision? First, ask yourself if you are confident that God called you to do this. If you are, then you can be sure that God will sustain you as you move forward.  It will not be easy to move by your own determination, but with God's help you can continue to move along the path chosen. God will provide what you need to keep your commitment to him. But, if you know that you rushed into it without much thought or prayer--moving simply on yo...

By now, I figure nearly everyone who understands English and is even mildly interested in current events knows that a private jet crashed in Florida yesterday. As usual, there's been the usual discharge of "what really happened" claims: along with all-too-predictable mudslinging directed at 'those people'. ... ...At any rate, this 35-minuite video is almost as boring as the NTSB news briefing I watched this morning. I very highly recommend it. ... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Sharing a discussion of what is known so far, how weather and technology might be involved: and a suggestion that dignity and respect matter.)

"New Owners, Old Tenant". (2015) Videos with "Samhain" in the title have been showing up on YouTube.com lately. So have Halloween-themed items. With a little digging, I could probably find someone going ballistic over this year's interest in Samhain and/or Halloween. Then I could either join folks who jumped on that bandwagon, or those who ridicule them. Instead, I'll take a look at Samhain, along with whatever else comes to mind, and wrap things up with a quick look at Halloween. But first, I'll (briefly, for me) rehash why I take ideas like "soul" and "supernatural" seriously, and can't be superstitious. Not if I'm going to keep on being a Catholic. Ideas, Faith, Reason, Kermit and Uncle Deadly "...There is No Logical Explanation"?? Faith AND Reason Samhain: Here Comes Cold and Darkness Halloween, Life, Death, and the Big Picture Life, Looking Ahead "This Innumerable Community" .... Mo...

Coronation of the Virgin Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] This year All Saints' Day falls on Sunday and takes precedence over the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. There are no specific readings for All Souls' Day. Readings may be taken from those for Masses for the Dead. Matthew 5:1-12a, below, is proper to All Saints' Day and may also be used on All Souls' Day. Readings for All Saints' Day Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel Matthew 5:1-12a (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek...

I've felt that way, too. 😉 "Wizard of Id", John Hart Studios. (October 14, 2026)   America's national election is happening on Tuesday of next week. I'm not looking forward to it. But voting is a duty for citizens here, so that's what I'll be doing. Figuring out who and what to vote for — or against — is easy, or really, really hard: depending on how I look at the task. (Today I'm reposting links — Conscience and Voting: Ethics Matter, Even in Politics — with two new items ( Recent statements: Office of Public Affairs ). I'll be back with my regular 'Saturday' post on — well, Saturday. It'll be about Halloween, and whatever else comes to mind.)... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Why I vote, even though I have no great enthusiasm for politics. An updated link list of resources: guides to forming consciences, voting responsibly.)

      My husband and I have this ongoing "competition" when we watch a favorite police investigation show. Without any humility, I can honestly say that most often I can identify the culprit within the first minutes of the show. Now that's not always true, but it often is. Happily, my husband is now catching on and has vastly improved his detective skills.  I have to admit that identifying a criminal in a television show isn't actually a skill I can use very often at this point in my life (thank goodness!), but one of the detectives on the show  does  have a skill I wouldn't mind having to a greater degree--the gift of observation. This particular detective notes all of the tiny, incidental things that help to make their case. For me, the skill of observance would be a good one to perfect. I've noticed that comedians like Jerry Seinfeld seem to have the gift of observance, but I have noticed that some comedians  over use their gift to the point of bein...

The rosary I use: a bit non-standard, but that’s okay. I'd prefer saying more about the rosary. But it's been an eventful week here, so you're in luck: I'll chatter on a bit, link to the best 'how to pray the rosary' resource I've found, and call it a day. Week. Contemplative, Very Catholic, But Not Exclusively Catholic First off, the rosary is a contemplative prayer, but not the only contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer is a whole category.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A quick definition of contemplative prayer. Links to a how-to rosary guide I use, discussions of the rosary on New Advent and Vatican websites.)

T he Good Samaritan (after Delacroix) Van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Mt 22:39; Gospel) . Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) At that time: When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’ Léachtaí i nGaeilge Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan   Archbishop of Seoul (1922 - 2009) In 20...

  In response to the comment I received ( * see below), which was written as a reply to my post, "Mary, an obstacle?" I do want to take a minute to answer the questions the writer asks.  Typically, I let readers' comments stand so as to respect the writer and to avoid a lengthy back and forth, but occasionally I find it necessary to clarify, not out of an attempt to persuade, but to offer accuracy.  I will try to do that here. As always, thank you for your comments, they are most welcome! Catholics would agree that there is one God and one mediator between God and the human race--Jesus--who is 100% human and 100% divine.  Mary, does not share the divine nature of Jesus, only his humanity. The distinction here is that Mary is not our redeemer and does not replace Jesus as such. She is an intercessor for us in her unique role as his mother, and she can take our petitions to him.  Mary could not  take the place of Jesus on the cross. She does not forgive sins....