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HOW DISTANT IS YOUR GOD? CHECK THIS NOW CLICK HERE

ARE YOU FILLING UP THE CAULDRON OF HATRED BE HONEST ARE YOU? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT

Desde el a ño pasado el Papa Francisco ha bía estado trabajando en prepara r la cumbre sobre protección de menores, reuniendo información y aportaciones de obispos. Este esfuerzo culminó en una Cumbre, que los medios dejaron sin relevancia, en Roma el pasado mes de febrero, con la presencia de 190 asistentes , entre 114 presidentes de las Conferencias Episcopales, líderes religiosos de las Iglesias orientales y prefectos de las congregaciones vaticana s , en la que se escucharon, antes que nada, las voces de varias víctimas de todos los continentes. "Ante la lacra de los abusos sexuales cometidos por hombres de la Iglesia contra menores, quería consultar con ustedes", dijo Francisco a obispos y líderes de órdenes religiosas reunidos, pidiéndoles que escucharan "el llanto de los pequeños que claman justicia". ( 1 ) leer más...

Be honest with yourself: How often do you place your own needs and desires ahead of anyone else’s? If I am going to be honest with myself, I do it far more than I would like to admit. Why? Because it is human nature – self-preservation! Yet, that is no excuse for not embracing the virtue of unselfishness. Unselfishness can be defined as: the emptying of one’s own wishes and desires for the total fulfillment of God’s will the betterment of the common good love of one’s fellow man How to Incorporate Unselfishness in Our Lives Think of others more, and of yourself less (embrace humility). For example, think of ... Read more...

A little boy was afraid to get the broom out of the dark closet for his mom. She assured him, “Don’t be afraid. God is everywhere.” So the little boy cracked open the closet door and called in, “Hey, God, would you hand me the broom?” God is omnipresent. We are never alone because God is constantly with us, and so we needn’t feel lonely or be afraid. God says in Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you. . . I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Click to continue

The Return of the Prodigal Son , Rembrandt  [ 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  Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons.  The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them.  A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.  When he had spent eve...

I know some people who dread the season of Lent because all they can see is sacrifice and loss and they don’t want to participate in either. They don’t want to give anything up for Lent. Nor, do they want to refrain from eating meat on Fridays. In addition, little to no interest exists in giving of their time and/or talent for the love of God and neighbor. Yet, sacrifice has a purpose meant to draw us closer to God. We can find joy in Lenten sacrifices. Those who do wish to partake in the Lenten season usually give up their favorite foods/drink. Others sacrifice their free time and use it to do good deeds for others. This year my husband and I are taking a different approach. We’re combing through our house, looking for items to donate to charity. We’ve found old clothes that are perfectly good but don’t fit anymore. These clothes would be best placed with someone who needs them. That gives us joy! We’re also looking for household items – things from throughout the house that I h...

¡Qué lástima! Que al ser tu luz tan dulcemente plateada nos conformemos con las luciérnagas de nuestros caprichos y veleidades; y apretemos los ojos para seguir caminando a tientas en nuestra ceguera. leer más...  

When my niece Lisa was baptized, I gave her a cross necklace. It was a lovely cloisonné cross with a pink rose in the center, but it was still a cross. How curious that an instrument of execution is now a worn as jewelry! (Can you imagine wearing a guillotine or an electric chair?) Moreover, many Christian houses have a cross displayed somewhere, with the body of a nearly naked man nailed to it. The cross is so common around necks, atop church steeples, and in cemeteries that we have become immune to the shocking horror of it as well as the glory associated with it. That is why Lent is so important. During Lent we have six weeks to ponder and pray over the mystery and the message of the cross. As we eat our hot cross buns, pray the stations of the cross, and venerate the cross on Good Friday, we realize once more what it symbolizes.  Click to continue From Death to Life

Moses Before the Burning Bush , Domenico Fetti  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 , First Reading Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Luke 13:1-9 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition)      At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.  Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will...

Many people overlook the virtue of piety, as if it is a virtue out of their grasp. Such folks believe that only the Saints can claim a right to piety. But that’s not true. Every Saint in Heaven was once a sinner, just like you and me. Yet, every Saint, once living on earth, would seek piety – there’s the difference! There is nothing wrong, or odd, with: Living a holy life in accordance with Divine Revelation Having a reverence for all things holy, especially God, family and country Keeping God’s Commandments and following His Beatitudes Worshiping God and doing good for others out of reverence for God This is piety! Seek Piety Lent is the perfect time to embrace the virtue of Piety, because Lent is a time that we typically look for ways to draw ourselves closer to God. Here are some ways that you can embrace Piety during this Lenten season, and beyond: Read more...

Three folks on a streetcar in Utrecht, Netherlands, didn't get off. Not alive. Someone, maybe the man in that picture, killed them. He's been caught, apparently no more bodies have been found, and that's as much as I know so far. know for sure, anyway. This incident grabbed my attention, partly because it's been happening in the Netherlands: one of my wife's ancestral homelands. Instead of trying to focus on something else, I decided to share what I've been reading — and some odd speculation. (More at A Catholic Citizen in America )

Lent is a great time to not only seek God’s forgiveness, but to grant forgiveness to others, as well. When we seek God’s forgiveness, we make right our relationships with God. When we seek or give forgiveness to others, we make right our relationships with our neighbor. Seeking forgiveness from God seems much easier than seeking or giving forgiveness to others. Wouldn’t you agree? When we seek forgiveness from God, we know that He hears us and is quick to forgive. For that, we express gratitude. Yet, we humans tend not to be so quick to seek and give forgiveness when it come to our fellow men. Sometimes, we hold back from seeking forgiveness from others because we fear rejection. That seems understandable, as no one likes rejection. However, we may never know if we are forgiven unless we ask. Giving Forgiveness Now, what’s our excuse for withholding forgiveness? Is the hurt too deep? The offense too great? Hmm…Did God have any qualifiers on His forgiveness of you when you sou...

You've almost certainly seen the news by now. Someone killed more than four dozen folks at a Friday afternoon prayer meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand. One attack was east of the city's center, the other west. Both were about a mile from Cathedral Square.... I noticed familiar angles in today's news and op-eds covering the attacks.... ...That's understandable. Even if some outfit managed to get all the facts and discussed how they'd affect — or might affect — everyone, I doubt that anyone would read the result. Maybe a few news wonks, with entirely too much time on their hands. I've got an angle or two, myself.... (More at A Catholic Citizen in America )