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  Christ in the House of Martha and Mary Joachim Beuckelaer [ Web Gallery of Art ] On this mountain the  Lord  of hosts will make for all peoples   a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,   of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined  (Isaiah 25:6, First Reading). The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,     and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast  . . .  (Matthew 22:2-3 Gospel). Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel   Matthew 22:1-14 or 22:1-10 ( English Standard Version Anglicised) Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,   “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,   and sent his ser...

What Do You Know of Death? In the opening scene of the movie  Gran Torino ,  Walt, a hardened soldier stands rigidly, scowling at family and friends during his wife’s funeral mass. Dying from lung disease and tormented by the fact he slaughtered men and boys during the Korean War, Walt accuses his parish priest of knowing nothing of death as he quotes from the funeral homily: ‘Death is bittersweet? Bitter in the pain, sweet in the salvation.’ That’s what you know of life and death? Good, God. It’s pathetic. A similar accusation could be leveled at most Catholics. If Christians want to speak out against euthanasia, we better know a bit more about life and death than pious, memorized phrases. continue reading

In the first world countries the so-called achievement in medicine of the good death now sees its dark side. With the Mirage to avoid unbearable suffering to terminally ill, countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium modified 15 years their health and legal structures to help the dying. But this form of assistance has proved to be a trap for many seniors, disabled and mentally ill of these prosperous countries. At that time, the Catholic faith warned about the effects to our individualistic world that ignores the other so easily. spanish version on: http://mujer-catolica.blogspot.com/2016/07/el-vacio-detras-de-la-buena-muerte.html

I’ve been meaning to write this post since February 20th. How do I know? Because that’s the day I heard about 85 year old Oriella Cazzanello; a woman from Northern Italy, who travelled to a clinic in Basel, Switzerland, and paid €10,000 to kill herself.  I first heard this story on my way to work. I listen to Teresa Tomeo’s Catholic Connection Radio Show on Ave Maria Radio in the morning and she gives me the news. I find that it’s never just news, it’s always information that makes you think and shapes your day. Mrs. Cazzanello said she felt “weighed down by ageing and the inevitable loss of the looks of which she was proud”. This took place at an assisted suicide clinic. A clinic. Even the naming convention of this place is horrid. A clinic. Makes it sound clean and spa-like, doesn’t it? I imagine Mrs. Cazzanello tried to gain love and attention from others to overcome her feelings of loneliness by working on her outward appearance. Society says we are supposed to be per...