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The Presentation of the Lord, as a Feast of the Lord, takes precedence over the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. 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 2:22-20 or 22-32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons’. Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been...

    Do you believe that Communion is really the Body and Blood of Christ? Why? What makes you so sure? On what do you base your beliefs? Click HERE to find out more.

When I was in college, first time through, someone who had one leg in a cast struck up a conversation with me. He was clearly not having a good time. His leg, particularly his foot, was healing from a motorcycle accident. It hurt. Even worse, he worried that when the muscles grew back, they wouldn't work right. He had legitimate concerns. He may also have expected somewhat more heartfelt sympathy than I showed. He'd started talking with me because he noticed that I was walking with a cane. I tried to provide the social connection he apparently wanted. How successful my effort was, I have no idea. The conversation did, however, help me appreciate how lucky/blessed I was. Being born with defective hips, I never faced the adjustments he was dealing with. On the other hand, I live with the results of a doctor's decision to use me for his research. Without my parent's knowledge. Hip Dysplasia and Me Shock at the Reference Desk Responses Options, Operations, and Ou...

  Father Ignatius is a fictional character created by Christian writer Victor S E Moubarak in his first fictional novel “VISIONS” which tells the story of three children who see an Apparition of Jesus. Tthe news soon spreads throughout town. People react to it differently – some negatively. The children’s parents are subjected to malicious gossip and vicious attacks. Their Parish priest, Father Ignatius, has a crisis of faith. The Church wants the story to just go away; whilst the children insist it is true. Especially when Jesus appears again … and again. Since then there have been another eight stand-alone novels in the Father Ignatius series as well as several short stories compilations. These Christian fiction books, whilst offering intriguing fast-paced crime mystery story lines which will keep you guessing at what happens next, also include Christian based moral guidance and a challenge to the readers’ conscience as to what they would do in similar circumstances. A true...

  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 1:1-4; 4:14-21  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had bee...

    I often respond "Hey, I'm a Girl Scout!" when I get "accused" of being overly prepared for outings. I always make sure we have snacks and drinks and so forth. After all, the The Girl Scout motto is "Be prepared."  "In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto was explained this way: 'A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency.' The same holds true today." Well, I suppose I have compressed the motto over the years, since my idea of being prepared means always having snacks; clearly the motto encompasses so much more. Although Jesus was definitely not a Girl Scout, he described preparedness this way, when talking to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour yo...

Monday's presidential inauguration may edge the Los Angeles wildfires off the top of my news feed. Momentarily, at least. About that, and results of the election: I'm not political. I haven't and won't frantically declare one candidate or party as America's Only Hope, or hysterically denounce another as That Which Will Destroy Our Fair Nation. Maybe that's why I'm not giddy over the election results. Or plunged into the depths of despair. I do, however, give a rip about what happens in my country and in my world. I have precious little control over national and world events, but there's something I can do: pray.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A short prayer for healing, help, and guidance. Why I think it makes sense, and why I am not either giddy or despondent.)

One of the many things I liked about living in San Francisco was the city's public transportation system. I don't know about the situation now. But a half-century ago I could get up, eat breakfast, catch a cable car, connect with a bus and be at work on time. Getting back was another matter. By late afternoon, agreement between the bus route schedule and actual running time was at best approximate. I got in the habit of walking toward downtown until a bus came along, leaving the bus near the Embarcadero Center, and walking from there. After a cup of coffee.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Two boys and their sister, good advice, and an offhand observation: remembering an incident in a San Francisco BART station.)

John 2:1-11 from  The Gospel of John Directed by  Philip Saville Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)   Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 2:1-11  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    At that time: There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding seventy or one hundred litres. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to...

      Way back in Season 10 (Episode 14) of the television show Blue Bloods, the detective character Danny (son of the police commissioner played by Tom Selleck), made this statement: "Don't rehearse for bad news."  I don't remember the context of his comment, but it stood out for me because I think many of us do "rehearse for bad news." My husband, who worked in the medical field, always had a different saying, which I really appreciated: "Don't worry until you have something to worry about." Now he wasn't advocating worrying, of course, but his reminder always helped me whenever I "rehearsed for bad news." It's pretty much pointless to worry when you don't even have all of the necessary information, not to mention any control of the outcome! Whatever you are worried about today, sit quietly with our Lord, and through prayer, spiritual reading, or even inspirational podcasts, receive the peace and calm he is alw...

I learned, long ago, that being "pretty sure" about something wasn't necessarily the same as being right. Take what I was "pretty sure" about last month, for example: "...Folks living in the next block north of our house have inflatable yard decorations out and lit up for this Christmas season. So, on my way to Mass, I drove by Baby Yoda and SpongeBob SquarePants wearing a festive Santa hat. "Baby Yoda is holding what I’m pretty sure is an orange Halloween treat bag...." ("Christmas: Family, Lights, and a Little Weirdness" > Holiday Weirdness (December 28, 2024)) The neighbor's Baby Yoda/Grogu's Christmas stocking didn't seem as bright red as the one in that promotional photo. But the symbol on it was the same. And it was clearly a Christmas stocking.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Correcting what I said about an inflatable holiday lawn decoration and about the Christmas season. Includes a link to the...

      Today's reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Why was Jesus Baptized?) is a good one for today as we celebrate The Baptism of the Lord. This twelve minute video will be well worth your time!  If you have ever wondered why Jesus was baptized (even though he was free of sin), this will explain it all! If you are a believer, you will find this very clarifying. If you are not a believer, you will definitely learn why others are! Enjoy! Janet Cassidy Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com janetcassidy.com https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/ https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy For the link, just search "Sunday Sermons" at wordonfire.org

I missed Mass on Epiphany Sunday. I'm not happy about that, at all. But we had very cold weather outside — and I'd been noticing a serious mismatch between temperature readings my body was giving me, and what I saw on a room thermometer. I'm not a 40-year-old kid any more, so I played it safe. Other members of the household have been quite distinctly not up to par, so playing it safe was probably a good idea.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Remembering a happy three-legged dog. Plus why I missed Epiphany Sunday Mass, links to Jubilee 2025 resources: and links to vinaigrette/pomander exhibits.)

  The Baptism of Christ Francesco Mochi [ 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 3:15-16, 21-22  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    At that time: As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptise you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ Now when all the people were baptised by John the Baptist and when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘Yo...

Former President Jimmy Carter's funeral was at the top of my news feed briefly, earlier this morning. Then the California wildfire headlines bobbed back up: reminding me that living in the frozen north does have advantages. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Fire, winter storm warnings, a weather map, headlines: and why I prefer living in central Minnesota. We have experience, dealing with our weather.)

    Before you begin reading today's reflection, would you please consider subscribing to my blog and following my Facebook page (if you have not already done so)?  My contact information for you to do so is listed below.  Thank you! Now on to today's post . . . I came home from the eye doctor after having had a shot in my eye. Not being able to do much, comfortably, I decided to lay down and listen to Bishop Robert Barron's recitation of the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary. Not surprisingly, I was fast asleep before I barely started the first decade (a decade of the rosary is ten Hail Marys.) Reflecting on this later, I came to the conclusion that it's not a bad thing, this resting with Jesus and Mary. Resting your heart in a soft-spoken meditation of the rosary brings about such a sense of peace. I have concluded that God is perfectly fine with me doing this, because my heart is at rest in him, or as Saint Augustine famously said: “You have made us for you...

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  Have you ever given it much thought? Why are you here? What is the purpose of your life? Apart from living, bringing up a family, making money and so on. What is the real purpose of your life? CLICK HERE

Adoration of the Magi  (Bern) Blessed Fra Angelico [ Web Gallery of Art ] Where the Epiphany is celebrated this year on its proper date, Monday 6 January, it is a holyday of obligation. This applies in England & Wales and in Ireland. In countries where the Epiphany is not a holyday of obligation the feast is celebrated on Sunday 5 January. These countries include Philippines, Scotland and the USA. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales)   Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel   Matthew 2:1-12   ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     I n the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’...