Association Of Catholic Bloggers

Get-togethers, family and community, are part of the holiday season. Take Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, for example. Thousands of folks, maybe a million or more, turned out Thursday morning, 1 standing in a cold New York City rain, cheering this celebration of consumerism. I could kvetch about folks buying stuff they don't actually need, the rampant waste of helium, or Snoopy being neither at the parade's head nor at Santa's side. But I won't. Fact is, I enjoyed an online broadcast — or is that stream? — of the parade. Watching the parade has become part of my holiday season routine. Instead, I'll talk about another holiday tradition I've enjoyed: family Christmas gatherings at the home of Aunt Jule and Uncle George. They lived, along with some of the rest of the family, in Grand Forks, North Dakota: about a two hour drive north from Moorhead, Minnesota, where I grew up. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Sharing memories of an annual family ...

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] . And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves . . .  (Luke 21:25; today’s gospel). We begin Year C, which highlights St Luke's Gospel. From this weekend the Church in England & Wales and in Scotland will be using a new lectionary based on the English Standard Version of the Bible. Readings   (English Standard Version: England & Wales, Scotland) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36  (English Standard Version Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: 'There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,   people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is c...

Wizard of Id's Spook and Turnkey made a good point last Sunday. Gratitude is an option, even when life's bowl of cherries seems filled with pits.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Being grateful is a decision: one that makes sense, even when it is not easy.)

    Several years ago, I saw this young lady walking around our church campus with a man about her age (she was 18.) I introduced myself and started a conversation with the two of them. Margaret asked me if we could talk, without him around, so I invited her into my office. She was from out-of-state, up here in Michigan for a job.  The guy wasn't so much a real boyfriend as someone she was traveling with for work, but you got the sense she felt kind of stuck. I won't go into her whole story, but she clearly was interested in growing in her faith. I toured the church with them and she asked for one of our free rosaries. You could tell she had a deep desire to learn more about God and how to turn to him. I never learned her last name and know that I will never have contact with her again, since I am no longer at that parish.  It was just a chance encounter, designed by God. I still pray for her. I pray that she still has a light in her for seeking God. Y...

"Vatican to consider classifying 'spiritual abuse' as a new Catholic crime" was in my Google News feed this morning.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Pope Francis wants folks in the Dicastery for Legislative Texts to review rules dealing with folks who misuse alleged supernatural experiences.)

I'm taking A Catholic Citizen in America in a different direction, at least for a while. I'll still post something each Saturday, but will be focusing on what I call 'family stories'. It's not that I've lost interest in science, history, and all that. When there's something more-than-usually exciting going on, I'll write about that. But mostly, I'll be sharing memories and thoughts of a distinctly less nerdy sort. I've got a few reasons for this. Why I'm Doing What I'm Doing: Converting Memories to Writing Getting Started: Cats, Homes, and an Incendiary Stove Racing Into a South Wind Another Memory, and Distractions More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Reminiscences: cats, homes, and an incendiary stove.)

From  The Gospel of John  (2003)  Directed by Philip Saville.  [John 18:33-37, today's Gospel] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, [England & Wales], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 18:33-37  (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”     Jesus answered,  “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”   Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”   Jesus answered,  “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”   Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered,  “You say that I am a king. For thi...

  Sometimes in life we have to face unwanted changes (i.e., losing a job, friendship, suffering, elections, etc.) that can be very hard to accept. I came across this Dr. Seuss quote that I think is a good approach to moving forward when we find ourselves devastated by life. Notice that the key to this quote has to do with what our response. Will you cry (sometimes we need to for a time) or will you smile (this has to do with adjusting our perspective.) Even in suffering and loss we can find our way to gratitude, because often through these we grow. These can help us grow in appreciation for others and what they are going through, prompting us to have greater compassion.  Suffering and loss can also help us grow spiritually as we offer ourselves for the benefit of others. They can help us mature overall. As we unite ourselves to the cross of Jesus, his suffering and sacrifice, we connect with him in a very deep way. Let us find a way to smile at this and not miss ...

...I could take many routes, talking about what that bunch of crazy college kids did yesterday (October 20, 2024) in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Taking my cue from Sixties sensibilities that I still retain — to an extent — I could ponder the perils which their launch posed to the fragile desert biome. Or I could complain that they didn't focus on some sorta-now, sorta-wow, social protest. Instead.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A 79 second YouTube video of the successful University of Southern California rocket launch of October 20, 2024. Plus a news excerpt and my reaction.)

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I've been watching NASASpaceflight's YouTube channel's coverage of the SpaceX Starship sixth test flight. Maybe they don't have the polish of old-school broadcast media, but I thoroughly enjoy what they do. That's partly because they're frankly nerdish. And partly because they actually know what they're talking about. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Watching the SpaceX Starship test flight, November 19, 2024. Why I think it matters, and how I see space exploration.)

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Sooner or later, I figure someone will develop a spaceplane that takes off from places like Tampa International Airport, carries passengers and cargo to low Earth orbit, and flies back: either to the airport it came from, or the next stop in its flight schedule. It might be a next-generation version of Dawn Aerospace's Aurora, or an advanced Radian Aerospace model. But it won't be Reaction Engines Limited's Skylon. Developing their two-mode SABRE rocket engine ended up costing too much and taking too long. I'll take a quick look at Skylon. After that, I'll take a longer look at Seattle-based Radian Aerospace's PFV01 spaceplane. PFV01, a prototype of Radian's Aurora spaceplane, is the one that's been making test flights near Abu Dhabi. Closing the Book on Skylon Radian Aerospace PFV01: Another Step Test Flights Living With and Working Around Rules Rocket Sled — — To the Stars More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Reaction Engines Ltd. de...

The Archangel Michael Unknown Italian Goldsmith [ Web Gallery of Art ] At that time shall arise  Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time  (Daniel 12:1. First Reading).  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 13:24-32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    Jesus said to his disciples: “But in those days, after that tribulation, 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.   And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.   And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the fou...

    Peanuts                                                                                                                                               The other day, a bus driver, brought up (on the famous "Uncensored group" online), the topic of children smelling bad from weed when ...

      I belong to a community group on Facebook where people might ask for recommendations for doctors, therapists, restaurants or the best places to vacation.  They might ask about the best schools (when they are new to the community.) Sometimes, the information can be helpful, but too often the comments turn very dark and ugly, judgmental and insulting. Why do I keep the thread? Because sometimes, like I said, they make good suggestions. The idea is supposed to be neighbors helping neighbors, and when they do, it is a good reminder that some people are very kind and extremely generous. But, sadly, the conversation frequently goes off-track, fast, by a handful of hateful people. For instance, you might ask a simple question, like "Is there someone that could help me move? I'll pay them," and before you know it, you get an angry rant about how (pick your political party) is responsible for all of our problems. I'm not kidding. You might have a lost puppy...

A little over a week ago, scientist published a detailed analysis of Vega's surprisingly planet-free debris disc. Vega, one of the brightest stars in Earth's sky, may have planets: but the October 31 paper rules out any Saturn-size or larger worlds in wide orbits. That reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes quote: "'Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?' 'To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.' 'The dog did nothing in the night-time.' 'That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes." ("The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes", " Silver Blaze " , Arthur Conan Doyle (1894) Via Gutenberg.org) More to the point, not finding planets in Vega's debris disc should help scientists learn more about how stars and planets form. And gives me something to write about. Vega Debris Disc: "Smooth, Ridiculously Smooth" Dust, a Gap, and — the "Poynting-Robertson Effect...

  Tacloban City, Philippines after Typhoon Hayan/Yolanda [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 12:38-44 (shorter form: 12:41-44)   (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    [In his teaching Jesus said,  “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the market-places   and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at feasts,   who devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” ] And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.   And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.   And he called his disciples to him and said...

  Oye Católico…¿Te identificas como un ORNI?... ¿Eres un Objeto Religioso No Identificado? Así podríamos definirnos muchos católicos laicos que pasan desapercibidos y que se confunden en la grandes masas. ¿Somos como invisibles? ¿ Cuándo nos perdimos tantos católicos de parroquias y movimientos que no se notan en ningún lado? El laicado es una vocación, es un camino de vida para vivir la santidad y llegar a Dios, pero nosotros parecemos no saberlo. Los laicos de hoy no saben de dónde vinieron ni a dónde van. Y me pregunto yo: ¿cuándo empezamos a desaparecer?   Los primeros cristianos, al lado de Jesús, desbordaban la necesidad del anuncio y testimonio de la fe que los inundaba. Todos testimoniaban, todos anunciaban. Era una dinámica natural. ¿En qué momento se perdió esta fuerza en tantos miembros de la Iglesia? ¿Cuándo se quedaron los sacerdotes solos anunciando? Y los laicos desentendidos y callados.   Para entender ésto, veamos la evolución de la vocación laical en la ...

    I am STILL working my way through the book "What's Next?" about "The West Wing" television series.  It's really long and this is the second time I had to borrow it from the library. The thing that most surprised me about this book--that I absolutely missed when watching the series--is that "the West Wing" was about service. (Apparently the phrase "What's Next?" was also prominently used throughout the series, which is why the book is so aptly named. I can see it now as I re-watch it, but I missed it the first time around.) A lot of the characters in the show were created to highlight what a good, moral, approach to public service can look like. The thread throughout the book is strong, as well, and it highlights the service interests of the actual actors. In fact, the actors interact with each other outside of work, dedicating personal time and energy to each other's particular charities and causes. This got me to...