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DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? JESUS DID. DO YOU? DO SOULS FROM HEAVEN VISIT EARTH? DOES GOD SEND THEM ON SPECIAL MISSIONS? ARE OUR DEAD FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN HEAVEN? DO THEY COME BACK TO PROTECT US? READ THIS ARTICLE AND COMMENT HERE. YOUR VIEWS MATTER TO US. CLICK HERE

El desarrollo de la mujer en estas últimas décadas ha sido  extraordinario, y en muchos países ha alcanzado unos niveles de éxito profesional que sus abuelas nunca hubieran imaginado. El nivel de libertad y autosuficiencia es, en países de primer mundo, equivalente al de los hombres. Ha ganado , loablemente, el reto de la igualdad. Pero…. Es feliz? ¿Ha cons e guido la felicidad por fin? Una encuesta realizada en Estados Unidos, nación en donde la equidad y oportunidades son de los más altos, ha encontrado que no.   La mujer moderna no es la más feliz. Y , además, sus niveles de felicidad han bajado en estos años con respecto a la de los hombres.   leer más...

The photo of the sunrise here was one I took from the balcony of my new apartment. The following reflection that came with the Daily Gospel email for Thanksgiving reminded me of it. (I subscribed to dailygospel.org.) May the Saint’s words touch your heart somehow. Saint Raphael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938) Spanish Trappist monk Spiritual writings, 23/02/1938 “If this day you only knew what makes for peace” I leaned out of the window… The sun was beginning to rise. A great peace reigned over nature. Everything began to wake up: earth, sky, birds. Everything began, little by little, to wake up under God’s order. Everything obeyed his divine laws without complaint or sudden spurts, gently, smoothly, the light as much as the darkness, the blue sky as much as the hard earth covered with morning dew. How good God is, I thought! There is peace everywhere except in the human heart. Click to continue

This Sunday we will enter the season of Advent. Have you given much thought to what you might do to enrich your soul this Advent season? Yes, I know that it is a busy time of year, with all the shopping, parties and entertaining that we do. But, it is also a time when we should take stock of why we have this season. What Happens During the Advent Season? Advent exists to prepare us for the celebration of the Incarnation of God made man. It is a time for us to wait, prepare, repent, rejoice and ultimately receive the Word made flesh. We: Wait  in anticipation of the celebration of the birth of Our Savior and Redeemer. If God had never become man, then Jesus would not have died on the cross for our sins. It is through His Death and Resurrection that we are saved. Repent  for our sins and develop contrite hearts. We go to Confession. It is in the sacrament of Confession that Christ will cleanse our souls of our sins and reunite us to Him. Rejoice ! We take time d...

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee , Rembrandt  [ Web Gallery of Art ] We begin Year C, which highlights St Luke's Gospel Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. ...

One of my original compositions, digitally enhanced photo - "Fall Leaves" Gossip . It's everywhere, on the news, television, everywhere. I rarely give it a second thought. Until this weekend, when it hit me how gossip about a friend could have seriously hurt his family, his faith life, and his career if I had given in to the temptation to gossip. A friend was accused of the vague term "abuse" and removed from his position at a Catholic school as well as from parish duties. The pastor's letter read from the altar after Mass, was so unexpected I gasped at the news. I thirsted for the truth - but was I really yearning to know the truth, or simply find reassurance that no, this good person couldn't be tempted? Because if I did find out that this good person had been tempted, then it meant that I too, could be tempted...maybe not in the same way, but no one is immune... I squirmed. I did not want that reminder. Gossip. It's never really ab...

The leftover turkey and fixings are still in the fridge. Yet, I have to ask. Have you got your Christmas shopping done yet? You know, you only have 29 days until Christmas! And the race is on… This year we have the longest possible timeline to prepare for Christmas with Thanksgiving falling on November 22 nd . What will we do with all that extra time? Rather than four weekends to shop for presents, we have five weekends this year. Bonus! Are You a Tortoise or a Hare? Do you see yourself as the tortoise or the hare in this year’s race to get everything done before Christmas day? If you are the tortoise, you patiently pace yourself, making a point not to lose the essence for the real reason for the season. You want to savor each moment; even finding some time to embrace the spiritual side of the holiday season. Perhaps you might attend an Advent mission at your Church or read a good book about the season of Advent. Then, maybe you are more like the hare, rushing to scratch off ...

Are you good at forgiving? On a scale of 1 to 10 how do you score? You may think you're good at forgiving; but is this so? Really? Are you sure? CHECK HERE

What will you say to St Peter when you meet him? What will he say to you? FIND OUT - CLICK HERE

From  The Gospel ofJohn  (2003)  Directed by Philip Saville.  [John 18:33-37, today's Gospel] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  John 18:33b-18 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’  Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’  Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’  Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’  Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a ...

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE CLICK HERE

Por Lourdes de Domenzain

On this day before Thanksgiving, I would like to wish you, and yours, a very Happy Thanksgiving. At this time of year, we take some time to count our blessings and show our appreciation for loved ones, near and far. Giving thanks to God for all His bountiful blessings is the right thing to do. Yet, we should not reserve giving thanks to one day out of the year. Giving Thanks in Your Morning Offering God is gracious to us every day. Every morning, as we wake, the first thing we should do is give thanks for this day. You can make it part of your morning offering to God. What is a morning offering you might ask? I use the acronym ACTS to describe a morning offering. A stands for  Adoration . A simple prayer will do:  I adore you, Oh Lord . C stands for  Contrition . An  Act of Contrition  will do nicely. T stands for  Thanksgiving . This is where you count your blessings, giving thanks to God for His goodness. S stands for... Read more...

Our Blessed Mother is an ideal companion as we live through the days of Advent, which this year begins Sunday, December 2. For four weeks we wait for her Son, but Mary waited for nine months! Imagine what that time must have been like for her. She had never been a mother before, and hers was an unplanned pregnancy. More startling was the fact that her child would be the Son of God. The day of her birth announcement, Mary must have been stunned and maybe wondered if she hadn't imagined or dreamed the conversation with the angel. She waited. But then her body told her without a doubt that she was pregnant. Perhaps she worried about the impact this news would have on her parents, the food for gossip it would provide for neighbors, and, most heartbreaking, how her beloved Joseph would react. In addition, she also knew full well that the punishment for pregnancy outside of marriage was death by stoning. She waited for Joseph's decision: would he divorce her or not? When an angel e...

In today’s Gospel, we hear from the blind beggar, who begs Jesus to hear his plea. Jesus asks in response: What do you want me to do for you?  (Luke 18:41) The beggar asks Jesus to cure him of his blindness. Jesus responds, “ have sight; your faith has saved you ” (Luke 18:42). So, the blind man now sees, and he sees through the eyes of faith. It is because of the man’s faith that he not only sees physically, but he also comes to understand spiritually that Jesus is Our Savior and Redeemer. Jesus Asks You This Question, Too! This is a hefty question to consider. If Jesus sat across from you today, and asked you the same question, how would you respond? Would you ask for money, power and/or fame? Would you want Him to solve your transient problems of the day? Perhaps you would ask for a physical cure of your own illness. Or maybe you would seek understanding, wisdom and knowledge of God. Whatever your need, God is ready to listen. However, I think... read more...

 FOR WHAT IS TRUST? TO FIND OUT CLICK HERE

Since the age of eight my closest friend was, what  later  came to be called 'gay', although the word did not exist in those days. All I knew was that he was, and always has been my best friend, not least because we were complimentary to each other, but most of all because he would never let me down. Vincent was a brilliant pianist and had most of the classical repertoire in his head when I couldn't read or  write with any proficiency. By the time I could he had a degree in English from Cambridge and became a lecturer for the rest of his life. He hated sports of all kinds and I was good at almost all of them. When I was in dire straits and in danger of being left homeless it was Vincent who offered me a home. At his funeral I cried for the first time in living memory.           read on.......

FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH. SO, WHAT IS MISSING? GOOD WORKS? LOVE? SACRIFICE? SOMETHING ELSE? TO FIND THE ANSWER CLICK HERE

We all know the quote from St. Paul which assures us that everything works out for the good for those who trust in God. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28) Well, our family has seen this truth dramatized over and over again. My sixth child discovered she had gestational diabetes. (This disappears immediately after you give birth.) After living on a strict cleansing diet for six months to try to cure her migraines before pregnancy, she was devastated but resigned to another two months of eliminating anything that tastes good from her diet, constantly eating small measured meals, and jabbing herself with a needle twice a day to test her blood sugar. Gestational Diabetes Worked Out for the Good continue reading

The Adoration of the Name of Jesus , 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) Gospel   Mark 13:24-32 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Jesus said to his disciples:   ‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,      and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven,      and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory.   Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its le...