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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....

    Having been raised Catholic, and knowing and believing what Catholics know and believe about Mary, I have never struggled to understand the Church's teachings about Mary, but I know that for some people, these can be a real obstacle.  The common question is, "Why go to Mary when you can pray directly to Jesus?" or, "Why do you worship Mary?" Like Blessed Fulton Sheen said . . . “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” First, let's clear up the second question. Catholics do not worship Mary. We know she is not God. We do accept that she was conceived without sin and that God prepared her for her special role to be the mother of Jesus. But the "why pray to Mary" question takes a little more explaining, and the Bible gives us the perfect answer. At the Wedding at Cana ( Gospel of John, Chapter 2 ) the hosts of the wedd...

What with writing down what I consider reasonable health care if I am unable to communicate, running a fever that finally fizzled this week — and being aware of our current pope's state of health— maladies and medicine have been more my mind than usual. Basically, I've been a bit preoccupied. And to top it all off, this household experienced a very welcome visit from number-two daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. So this post will be somewhat rambling: or discursive, which sounds classier. I'll start with what should be a no-brainer. Human life matters. A lot.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A rambling look at why I am taking care while writing my Health Care Directive: medical ethics, Minnesota rules. and the Catholic Catechism.)

Tribute Money Vecellio Tiziano (Titian) [ Web Gallery of Art ] "Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” (Matthew 22:19-20; Gospel). 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 22:15-21 (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) At that time: The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Jesus in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocr...