Association Of Catholic Bloggers

The Holy Family with a Bird , Murillo, 1650 I was assigned to Glasgow, Scotland, for five months in 2002. One day I went strolling around St Enoch Centre, a shopping malls in the city centre, and had need to use the men's room. The janitor, who was an immigrant, happened to be there. When I told him that it was the cleanest restroom I had ever seen in a public building anywhere his face lit up.   St Enoch Centre , Glasgow Find out who the Fiddler is and see and hear him play here .

  ...[the sheep]they will hear my voice.... John 10: 16  The Gospel of this Sunday is one of the Good Shepard readings.  What spoke to me in this Gospel is the voice of the Shepard.  The Sheep know his voice and follow him.   If you have toddlers, school children, teens you may have very little triumph getting your children's attention.  Sheep bleat all the time, they are not quite, so how did they ever hear their Shepard let alone be able to tell one Shepherd from all the others?!  We all know how hard it is to get the attention of our own children.   From  Ten Sneaky Ways to Get Your Child's Attention 1. Whisper. If your child shuts out shouting, try whispering. Your child may be intrigued enough by this hard-to-hear approach that she'll turn her attention to it. Saves your voice, anyway. 2. Surprise. Something that makes your child jump -- a clap of the hands, say, or a flicker of lights -- can break attention from one th...

The King of Love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His, And He is mine for ever. Where streams of living waters flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth, And where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth.   Perverse and foolish oft I stray'd, But yet in love He sought me, And on His shoulder gently laid, And home rejoicing brought me. In death's dark vale I fear no ill With Thee, dear Lord, beside me; Thy rod and staff my confort still, Thy cross before to guide me.   And so through all the length of days, Thy goodness faileth never; Good shepherd, Good Shepherd May I sing Thy praise, sing Thy praise, For ever, and for ever!

From The Gospel of John (2003) Directed by Philip Saville. Jesus played by Henry Ian Cusick; narrator, Christopher Plummer. Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Second Reading 1 John 3:1-2 (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God's children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;  all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. An Dara Léacht 1Eoin 3:1-2 (Gaeilge, Irish) A clann ionúin, breathnaígí cad é mar ghrá a thug an tAthair dúinn! go nglaofaí clann Dé orainn, agus is amhlaidh sinn. Sé an fáth nach n-aithníonn an saol si...

public domain image "Look at the oaks of the forest, hemmed in on all sides; they do not see the light except from on high, so their trunks are without all these deformed branches that draw away the sap necessary to go upward.  The oaks see nothing but the sky above, and all their strength is turned in that direction, so soon they attain a prodigious height....The soul has light when it looks upon Heaven, there alone it can rest its gaze, never must it fear climbing too much in this direction.'"  (St. Therese of Lisieux) How often are we cautioned not to "climb too much in that direction?"  Told that religion is okay in its place, fine for nuns and priests (and for us too - on Sundays).  Just don't be a fanatic.  Don't be a goody two-shoes, a spoilsport, a prude.... (read more) 

Nitty Gritty Stuff of Mothers!

You know, when the Lord decides to take some things away from you, you expect to be miserable. And everyone around you, expects you to be miserable. "How can you do without such-n-such? You must be miserable." He is smarter than we are, though. He knows that all we really want is Him. But  we  don't know that sometimes. Sometimes we say silly things to ourselves like "No, all I really want, is chocolate." or "No, all I really want is a beach house in Tahiti." or "No, all I really want is to be a hermit." or "No, all I really want is a big screen T.V.". Take it all away though, and suddenly, there's clarity like you've never had. Your soul breathes a deep sigh, looks up and finally says, "Oh!! All I really want, is you Lord!" Read More...

http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/st-george-great-martyr-trophy-bearer.html The above link is to a very lovely and interesting Orthodox description of St George who's feast we celebrate today. I'm English and happy and proud to seek the intersession of the meek and honourable martyr and warrior for truth. St George is venerated in the Eastern Mediterranean area by Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim. Not a cause of division but a figure of unity and his burial place is a place of pilgrimage by all three communities. As I point out to my Welsh family, the Dragon wasn't the Welsh one! St George is a very popular Saint he is patron of : Georgia, England, Egypt, Bulgaria, Aragon, Catalonia, Romania, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iraq, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia, Ukraine and Russia, as well as the cities of Genoa, Amersfoort, Beirut, Fakiha, Bteghrine, Cáceres, Ferrara, Freiburg, Kumanovo, Ljubljana, Pomorie, Preston, Qormi, Rio de Jan...

Interview with author, Karen Edmisten

Hijab and Modesty – Two Unique Perspectives (No, Really!)

Easter Week See the land, her Easter keeping, Rises as her Maker rose. Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping, Burst at last from winter snows. Earth with heaven above rejoices; Fields and gardens hail the spring; Shaughs and woodlands ring with voices, While the wild birds build and sing. You, to whom your Maker granted Powers to those sweet birds unknown, Use the craft by God implanted; Use the reason not your own. Here, while heaven and earth rejoices, Each his Easter tribute bring- Work of fingers, chant of voices, Like the birds who build and sing. by C.Kingsley       

We Are All Witnesses of These Things

Custodia Terræ Sanctæ Franciscans in the Holy Land

  Supper at Emmaus , Rembrandt, c.1629 Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel Luke 24:35-48 (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread. They were still talking about this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you! ' In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, 'Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.' And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they could not believe it, and they stood dumbfounded; so he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat? ' And they offere...

Image & Likeness: And Many More!! : A s Easter soars along with it’s thousands upon thousands of Alleluias, we give a great ‘Alleluia’ for the life we celebrate today,...

Ælfheah of Canterbury - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Click here to join

Vatican considers healing attributed to death camp ‘archangel in hell’ | CatholicHerald.co.uk Click here to join

View from the Domestic Church: First and Foremost Responsibility to Educate Our Children

Read Senator Ronan Mullen defending our Catholic Schools. Parents' wishes count on denominational schools

View from the Domestic Church: "Food for the Family's Soul" radio today!

It pains me to say that the only thing I remember about my first communion is that I got to wear open-toed shoes for the first time and that I did NOT want to walk down the aisle with Phillip, another boy in the group, for fear it would appear we were getting married. It was after reading St. Thérèse of Lisieux's "Story of a Soul" in her account of her first communion, that I realized it  is  possible for a child to understand the magnitude of this great gift (to a certain degree) and make ready their heart to receive Him with great reverence, excited anticipation, and joy. Read More...

Father Thomas Byles Catholic martyr priest of the Titanic

Dear St Joseph, present our prayers to God.       Father,   Please aid a daughter facing a terminal illness and her family  For a return to the Faith of lapsed family members for healing of a family rift for a sufferer from alcoholism and their loved ones for candidates for First Holy Communion for Nick in Afghanistan   Trusting in the Divine Mercy of Your Only Begotten Son   and in the Holy and Undivided Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thy Will Be Done O God, Amen

LAST WELSH MARTYR: SIX OF THE FORTY : The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales were selected from among the hundreds of Catholics who gave their lives for the faith during the dar...

View from the Domestic Church: Embracing Motherhood!

I belong to the Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.  They have recently revamped their website.  It still has some kinks, but it is very attractive and informative.  This link is part of their prayer page.  It is an inspiring essay on beauty as a way of access to God.  Enjoy! On Beauty - Order of Carmelites | Order of Carmelite

From The Gospel of John (2003)   Directed by Philip Saville. Jesus played by Henry Ian Cusick; narrator, Christopher Plummer. Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel John 20:19-31 (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again,      Peace be with you. 'As the Father sent me,  so am I sending you.' After saying this he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.' Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the T...

A report into the the future of primary school patronage in Ireland was delivered on Tuesday. It does not make for pleasant reading. A recent census indicates that 84% of the population are Catholic, but 89% of the primary school are Catholic. The Government wants to divest schools, (remove schools from the patronage of the Catholic Church) to cater for other groups within Irish society. But the recommendations within this report which will effect these newly divested schools, as well as our existing schools, are extremely anti-catholic in their sentiment. Yet they seem to have been greeted with relative silence by our Church leaders.  I ask all readers and bloggers here at the Association of Catholic women Bloggers to pray for struggling Catholic Ireland.  I have posted more on this issue on the St Genesius Blog

 Estefanio Luceño with his wife Teresita, 60 years married, taken in Dahilayan, Bukidnon, last year Please pray for the repose of the soul of Estefanio A Luceño who died in Pagadian City on Holy Saturday, 7 April, and will be buried there on Easter Saturday, 14 April. He was 85 and the father of Aurora Luceño, a long-term Columban lay missionary who has spent much of her time in Pakistan. Many of us have read stories, including vocation stories, about and by missionaries and been inspired by them. We don't hear quite as often from the parents of missionaries, about their part in the vocation stories of their sons and daughters or of what it costs them. Below is an article we published in Misyon , the Columban magazine I edit here in the Philippines, in January-February 2004 by the late Estefanio: We had to let her go . Now God has asked his wife and family to let him go. As the Irish prayer for the dead goes, 'May the light of heaven shine upon him'. Aurora Luceño, kno...

View from the Domestic Church: Mother's Day book sale!

A group of my friends recently started a facebook group with a monthly novena and prayer. For April we are doing the Divine Mercy Novena. Here's a link to the novena  http://www.praymorenovenas.com/divine-mercy-novena#axzz1qPx9fwHg And our Prayer of the Month is: The Divine Praises Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints. May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world,...

View from the Domestic Church: Radio today: Chatting about "Embracing Motherhood!"

Dear St Joseph,  present our prayers to God. Please aid a daughter facing a terminal illness and her family  For a return to the Faith of lapsed family members for healing of a family rift for a sufferer from alcoholism and their loved ones for candidates for First Holy Communion for Nick in Afghanistan Trusting in the Holy and Undivided Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thy Will Be Done O God, Amen

Home - Society of Our Lady of Penrhys Our local Shrine here in South Wales (Anglican group)

View from the Domestic Church: Fourth day of the Divine Mercy Novena

Triduum Stations of the Cross meditation It’s Good Friday, we read the Stations of the Cross together as a family, except our middle child whom I discovered asleep.   I was disappointed, but didn’t disturb her.   We read from the Lent 2012 edition from The Magnificat, what a beautiful interpretation, with Genesis references.    We read it at 3:00pm this afternoon with everything off and we traded off reading each station.   Then my knight read the Passion account from John and we discussed how the gospels differ.   I still like Luke’s version for the story of the two thieves and the forgiveness at the last minute.   Forgiveness at the last possible moment of life on this side of eternity is mercy of an amazingly inconceivable degree; only divinely instituted, taught, and expected from us.   It touches me completely and gives me, this lowly sinner, hope.  As Jesus sets out on His Passion, He is not alone; he is together with His Father. ...

View from the Domestic Church: Second day of the novena

(Priest and deacons enter, and lie prostrate before the altar and cross for several minutes) Whispering... "Mommy, why are we here?" "Because we want to show Jesus how thankful we are for the wonderful thing he did for us on the cross." "Oh, yea!! Wait, what did he do?" "He suffered and died so you could go to heaven." "Mommy why are there no candles?" "Because we are fasting today, not just from food, but anything that gives us comfort. Jesus is suffering and sad, so we are loving him by being sad with him." "Why is he sad?" "Because there are people who don't love him, and he died for them." Read More