Is Honesty The Best Policy? Really?
WHAT IS HONESTY? IS IT THE BEST POLICY? ALWAYS? REALLY? EVEN IF IT HARMS YOU AND OTHERS? EVEN WHEN OTHERS CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH? WHAT IS TRUTH? SHARE YOUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS HERE
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God Wants Our Weeds
When I was a little girl, I'd pick weeds from the lawn - dandelions, mostly, and bring a bouquet in to my mother. She'd smile and put them in a little green glass vase, add water, and put the vase on the kitchen windowsill. Every time I walked by the window and saw my gift to her, my heart would fill with joy, and I'd be so happy.
I had given my mother the best thing I knew.
In today's randomly chosen reading from St. Francis de Sales, a letter he wrote in 1605 to Rose Bourgeois, one his spiritual daughters, gently reminded me of a simple truth:
God wants our weeds.
Read more on my author site: Jeanne Grunert - God Wants Our Weeds
I had given my mother the best thing I knew.
In today's randomly chosen reading from St. Francis de Sales, a letter he wrote in 1605 to Rose Bourgeois, one his spiritual daughters, gently reminded me of a simple truth:
God wants our weeds.
Read more on my author site: Jeanne Grunert - God Wants Our Weeds
Secrets, Visible and Invisible - Book Review
What a treat it was to read Secrets – Visible & Invisible, a selection of seven short stories, written by seven different Catholic teen authors. Each story centers on a secret, and each story’s protagonist(s) depicted virtue, worthy of emulating. So, here is the run down: Secrets of Faith
The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles, is a dystopian tale from Corinna Turner. In this story we meet Margo and Bane, two pre-teens out for a joy ride. They live in a futuristic time where religion and faith are taboo, yet Margo and Bane are practicing Catholics. Masses are said underground. After attending a secret Mass, they get into trouble while trying to get home on time. Will the authorities let them go, or will they convict them of joining the “Resistance?” Margo and Bane’s faith is only one of several secrets revealed in this page-turning, fast paced story, that serves as a prequel to I am Margaret. Secrets of Generosity
In Recreation, by award winning novelist, Cynthia T. Ton…
'Without the Sunday Eucharist we cannot live.' Sunday Reflections, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Cattle and Sheep in a Stormy Landscape, Paulus Potter [Web Gallery of Art]
Readings(New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)
Gospel Mark 6:30-34 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Fr Ragheed Aziz Ganni
(20 January 1972 - 3 June 2007) I will raise up shepherds ove…
Readings(New American Bible: Philippines, USA)
Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)
Gospel Mark 6:30-34 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Fr Ragheed Aziz Ganni
(20 January 1972 - 3 June 2007) I will raise up shepherds ove…
Clutter in the Home and Heart: Confessions of a Hoarder
In Sunday’s Gospel we heard Jesus tell his disciples to take nothing
for their journey but a walking stick, sandals, and ONE tunic! The
homily was about eliminating clutter. This came at an opportune time for
me as I pack up my house and office to move. What a lot of stuff I
accumulated in the past twenty years, making my sorting and packing job
all the more difficult!
Why am I saving a box of transparencies when no one uses an overhead anymore? Why should I keep these size 8 clothes when I’m way past the middle age spread stage? That container of tatting thread? Really, I doubt I’ll be tatting anymore since I’ve taken up crocheting baby blankets. And those letters and greeting cards from years gone by? They only have meaning for me. I don’t think I need to save them as material for my canonization. The packs of paper that I “just might need” someday, I’ve never used. Click to continue
Why am I saving a box of transparencies when no one uses an overhead anymore? Why should I keep these size 8 clothes when I’m way past the middle age spread stage? That container of tatting thread? Really, I doubt I’ll be tatting anymore since I’ve taken up crocheting baby blankets. And those letters and greeting cards from years gone by? They only have meaning for me. I don’t think I need to save them as material for my canonization. The packs of paper that I “just might need” someday, I’ve never used. Click to continue
Towards the Mystic Way - Through Mystical Theology
When I studied mystical theology, I discovered how
to experience this love, not just in others but in God himself, through Jesus
Christ, who, as St John insists, is love - infinite love. This was the
beginning of a journey, a lifelong journey.. that I have spent nearly fifty
years writing about so that those who want to follow me can have a guide to
help them along the way. read on....
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Today marks the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This feast day, in honor of our Blessed Mother, originated in the early 1700’s. It is a day to celebrate the universal church. On this special day, we call on Our Lady to pray for us. We ask for prayers just like when we ask a neighbor to pray for us. Yet, the power of Mary is far greater, as she is the Mother of God.
In honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I found this prayer on catholic.org to share with you: A Prayer to the Most Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
(State your intention/need)
O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. Read more...
'So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.' Sunday Reflections, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Christ as Saviour, El Greco [Web Gallery of Art]
Readings(New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) GospelMark 6:7-13 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Green Drove, Pewsey, with the Pewsey White Horse, south of t…
Readings(New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) GospelMark 6:7-13 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Green Drove, Pewsey, with the Pewsey White Horse, south of t…
Camels or Jet Planes?
We enter into solitude first of all to meet our Lord and to be with Him and Him alone.
Our journey through life can be compared to a desert scene.
We are all standing in a huge, modern, air-conditioned airport, peering anxiously through the plate glass, waiting for a jet plane to fly us over the desert to our oasis. Although we have paced in the lounge for years, a plane never lands for us, never accepts us as passengers.
Meanwhile, God keeps trying to get our attention. He does not use the loudspeakers which pump in distracting music all day but whispers in our hearts. continue
What If This Is It?
I've been feeling restless lately and begging God in prayer to reveal my vocation to me, the direction for the second half of my life.
Then I realized something big: What if this is it?
What if God wants me here, now, doing just this and there is no big "ah-ha!" moment?
A few thoughts from the Salesian perspective on what finding God's will for you, living your vocation, and being who you are - and being that well (to paraphrase St. Francis de Sales).
Read my article What if this is it?
Then I realized something big: What if this is it?
What if God wants me here, now, doing just this and there is no big "ah-ha!" moment?
A few thoughts from the Salesian perspective on what finding God's will for you, living your vocation, and being who you are - and being that well (to paraphrase St. Francis de Sales).
Read my article What if this is it?
Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia
Today is the feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia, Italy. Saint Benedict was a late 5th, early 6th century saint, who founded the Benedictine Order. He is considered the father of monasticism, most notable for building twelve monasteries used to house laity. During this time in history, monasteries were built for housing the religious. However, God had other plans for monasteries! This beloved saint is a great example of how God uses us to work in accordance with His plan, and sometimes we don’t even know it until we look back and see his handiwork.
Saint Benedict, the Builder of Monasteries
Saint Benedict came from Roman nobility, and could have had a very easy life. Yet, all he wanted was to go into the wilderness, live in a cave, and seek God in prayer, all by himself. So, that is exactly what he did. However, as I said, God had other plans! While Benedict was living in the cave, people would come by seeking his advice. The crowds grew and grew! They wanted to learn all that they cou…
We Live in a Crazy Mixed Up World
Let’s face it! We live in a crazy mixed up world! With trade wars threatening to plummet us into another Great Depression, and children being separated from their parents while trying to enter the country seeking asylum, we simply carry on. Sometimes, the only way we can cope is to ignore the news. While evil acts seek to destroy us as a society, we carry on with our hope placed in Christ. Yes, we live in a crazy mixed up world, but we don’t have to cave in to the crazy. We can rise above it.
When life gets crazy, I enter into some serious prayer time; for I know that some of the messes that we get ourselves into, only God can get us out. I pray for peace (my own and for others), as well as the strength to carry on, and the courage to rise up, when needed, to make a positive difference.
And then there are times when all we need is common sense, a little laughter and a dose of kindness. Use your common sense to determine verifiable truth. (Don’t believe everything you hear without ver…