Association Of Catholic Bloggers

What is fear to you? Is it the monster in the closet that looms over you in the middle of the night? Is it those butterflies that won't stop fluttering in your stomach? Is it that dread you wake up with, morning after morning? Cesar Mascarenhas Child Imagination, Flickr Creative Commons What do you do with fear? Do you run away from it? Do you run straight into it? Do you pretend it's not there, blocking it out by doing something that makes you feel good (whether it's good for you or not)? Fear comes home Fear was my constant companion the year my father was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. At first I blocked out my fear by turning to food therapy, bingeing on junk food. My exercise regimen went out the window and and my weight shot up. In the end I felt worse rather than better. Meanwhile, my dad was dying and there was no time to waste. Turning towards fear There comes a point when the effort to avoid fear (and the ensuing burden of guilt) e...

"Matthew’s gospel reveals to us the greatness of St. Joseph’s heart and soul."   Pope Francis goes on to explain... "He was following a good plan for his life, but God was reserving another plan for him, a greater mission.  Joseph always listened to God’s voice, was deeply sensitive to God’s secret will, attentive to the messages that came to him from the depths of his heart and from on high.  He did not persist in following his own plan for life or allow bitterness to poison his soul.  Rather, he was ready to make himself available to the news that, in such a bewildering way, was being presented to him.  And thus, he was a good man.  He did not hate or allow bitterness to poison his soul.  Yet how many times does hatred, or even dislike and bitterness poison our souls!  And this is harmful ... >> Click Here to Read More at: The Way to Nourish for Life >> [which shall include a prayer by Pope Francis; as well as the song: "O...