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Adoration of the Shepherds Jacopo Bassano [ Web Gallery of Art ] Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord This is a Holyday of Obligation in the Philippines, the USA and some other countries. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 2:16-21  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    At that time: the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had hea...

As I said Saturday, getting to Mass is a big deal for me. I stayed in all day Sunday, and probably will do the same today. That's doubly frustrating, since Sunday morning Mass is one of the two times I get out each week, and I prefer doing my weekly errands Monday afternoon.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Getting to church matters, but I missed Sunday Mass. I talk about that; mothers, making sense, and two Bible readings.)

    Have you ever felt trapped? Some people feel trapped in their life, in their work or family. Some people feel trapped by their schedules, like they are on a wheel, running in circles like a gerbil. I came across Psalm 124 on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and I read: " Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare. Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." Jesus, our help, whose birth we are now celebrating, did that for us.  He broke through into our humanity and freed us from being snared by sin and death. What a joyous time we are in now, as we continue to celebrate this season of Christmas. I hope you are continuing to have a Merry Christmas, and enjoying the love and freedom our Savior brings! Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

This week I started writing about a holiday visit from family up in North Dakota. By Friday afternoon I was looking at depression and a prayer: Good Times, Good Visit Mass in Minnesota: Freezing Fog and Celebrating Anyway Babies and Expectations Holiday Weirdness Meanwhile, at Our House Two Incidents After Mass Desolation, Dissatisfaction, Depression, and a Prayer ... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A family visit, freezing fog for Christmas, celebrating anyway. A little holiday weirdness. Depression, a prayer, and St. Ignatius of Loyola: very briefly.)

The Holy Family Heinrich Meyring [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 2:41-52  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.   And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.   And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,   but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,   and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.   After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among...

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Adoration of the Shepherds Murillo [ Web Gallery of Art ] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it  (John 1:4). Christmas Day Gospel of Mass During the Day,   John 1:1-18 . In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God;  all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.  He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.  He came to his own home, and his own people ...

My father told me that a few generations back, his forebears got stuck with farmland near Lake Michigan. It wasn't a marsh, but it wasn't particularly good for growing crops, either. They found someone who'd buy the place and moved west. Again. Time passed. My father's father got hired at a construction site, working there until someone dropped a crane on him and several of his colleagues. Unintentionally.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Two more family stories: what might have happened if the family had hung on to substandard farmland near Lake Michigan, and a construction accident.)

Visitation Luca della Robbio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales; Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 1:39-45  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,   and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.   And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,   and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!   And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?   For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.   And bl...

  Is the story of Christmas real or is it fairy tale fiction? How do you know? What makes you so sure? Read more. CLICK HERE

    I've been reading about spiritual formation. I came across a good reminder about the importance of having a healthy balance between our sins and faults, and acceptance: "Every thought you think, every emotion you let shape your behavior, every attitude you let rest in your body, every decision you make, each word you speak, every relationship you enter into . . ." (the list goes on and on), is "forming us into a particular shape." In other words, stop beating yourself up over every flaw you have, because everything is working toward forming us. When you get frustrated with yourself, it helps to remember that we are in a process where "We are being either transformed into the love and beauty of Jesus or malformed by the entropy of sin and death." (Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer) Like me, you are probably not who you want to be. Not quite yet. This is evidenced by our imitation of St. Paul, who famously said, "What I do, I do not ...

    As we finish out this second week of Advent, I want to talk about listening. By listening, we can be God's presence to others, and they to us. Let me explain. My husband and I stopped into a box store looking for a particular item. Since we had no idea where to find it, I followed the nearest employee to ask about it. As I approached her, I realized she was on a personal telephone call. She was talking exceptionally loud into the phone. As we waited, I silently indicated to her that it was all right, that we could wait. When she finished, she apologized profusely and explained that she was talking to her dad, who was becoming hard of hearing. "No problem," we told her, and then she gave us some of her personal story. As we listened, she told us that, remarkably, at the age of 70, her dad (self-taught) took up sculpting and ended up sculpting some important statues around our community. He was also famous nationwide for his intricate carving, a scrimshander...

(Moorhead State's gate, a few blocks from where I grew up. (October 2011)) My wife and I met while we were Computer Science students at MSU. I don't remember if MSU was Minnesota State University Moorhead by that time, or Moorhead State University. Either way, it was Moorhead State to me: the place where my dad worked, a block or so from my home. My wife earned a Computer Science degree, I nearly learned calculus a few times. The first time we talked was in the hallway near the Computer Science department's entrance: a square arch leading to another hallway. Someone — students, I figure — had put a banner of continuous-feed paper over the arch. It bore a motto: "ALL HOPE ABANDON, YE WHO PROGRAM". Having written a few programs in the two years I lasted there, I appreciated the sentiment.... More, at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering milestones along the way my wife and I marrying: friends, a movie, pizza, and reasonable questions.)

St John the Baptist Preaching Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 3:10-18  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    And the crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then shall we do?”   And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”   Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”   And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”   Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” As the people were filled with ...

  Our Lady of Guadalupe [Wikipedia; photo in public domain] Today the Church celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe. In most countries it is an optional memorial. Here in the Diocese of Meath in Ireland today is the Feast of St Finnian, the patron saint of the diocese and so Our Lady of Guadalupe isn't celebrated liturgically at all. Under that title Our Lady is a secondary patron of the Philippines, since the country was originally part of the Archdiocese of Mexico. The Daily Meditation published in  Magnificat  and online by  Aleteia  today is by the Servant of God  Luis María Martínez who died in 1956 when he was Archbishop of Mexico. Here is the first part of it. The Incomparable Love of Our Lady of Guadalupe Do we remember the first word that the Blessed Virgin pronounced on the summit of the Tepeyac? It was a word of love, a word of incomparable predilection: “My son Juan Diego, whom I love tenderly as a delicate little one.” Continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

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I'll start with something that should be flamingly obvious. Murder is a bad idea and I shouldn't do it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2268-2269) By murder, I mean deliberately killing an innocent person. Which is what someone who apparently expressed "ill will" against corporate America has been charged with. This isn't what I'll be talking about in my 'Saturday' post. But an insurance executive from Minnesota getting killed is still international news, and the situation touches on points I think are important. Some expert said the way folks are reacting is "deeply concerning". More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (The killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been praised. American healthcare has problems, but I see the killing and praise as bad ideas.)

Fr Aminiasi Ravuwai Today we Columbans received this email from our Superior General Fr Andrei Paz: With a heavy heart, I write to request your prayers for our dear brother, Fr Aminiasi Ravuwai. Recently, Amini has been hospitalized in Lima, and after undergoing a series of tests, it has been confirmed that he has an inoperable tumor in his pancreas. He is experiencing significant pain, which has left him unable to travel for medical treatment outside of Peru. This news has deeply affected him and all of us who care for him. In this difficult time, prayers are needed for Amini’s strength and peace, as well as for the grace to face the challenges ahead. I also ask for prayers for the Columbans in the Region of South America and for his family, who are dealing with this difficult news. The Columbans in Lima are deeply moved by his suffering, and his family is grappling with the emotional weight of this situation. Amini’s loved ones, both near and far, are struggling with the uncertainty ...

 Today's question to ponder. What would you have said? CLICK HERE

    I finally got to see "Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin." I have been looking forward to its release for awhile now. I was not disappointed.  Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran Pastor from the "Confessing Church" who realized before most people in the church that Hitler was not someone to be followed. He was strong in his defiance of Hitler and risked his own life to stand against him. He really makes you wonder if you would even recognize a bad leader; would you be among those courageously speaking out, or would you follow a maniacal controller? Would you even realize you were being duped? Too many people just did not see it until it was too late. Bonhoeffer became unafraid of the consequences of standing up for the good of his country and people. Forgoing his personal safety, he courageously ran towards what he needed to do.  God, he felt, would be with him as he pursued a path against evil. This all reminds me of the story about the frog sitting in a pot of...

        As we begin to settle into Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) and the beginning of the new liturgical year, let us make a commitment to center our lives around the church seasons, rather than the season of commerce. Advent is the perfect time to teach your children the importance of slowing down and focusing on something (someone) important.  Advent recalls the coming of Jesus, through Mary; his presence today in the Eucharist; and it raises our awareness of the coming of Jesus at the end of time. We love this time of year. We set out our Advent candle wreath on the dining room table and light it, centering ourselves in song, prayer and scripture. The wreath is our constant reminder that this is no ordinary time of year. Jesus is the Light of the World, penetrating the darkness. We look forward to celebrating the Christmas Season, which begins on December 25th. One thing you will notice as you take up centering your life around the Ch...

St John the Baptist Preaching Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (English Standard Version; England & Wales, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 3:1-6  (English Standard Version Anglicised: India, England & Wales, Scotland) In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the w...