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Prophet Jeremiah Byzantine Mosaic Artist  [ Web Gallery of Art ] So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud  ( Jeremiah 38:6 , First Reading). Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Luke 12:49-53 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, ...

    In recent decades Europe, leader of modern secular culture, and other countries of the Asian continent have aged and the stress of their population control principles has already affected entire economies, after having swept the Christian social culture of Europe. The problem is now so serious that Governments have adressed the emergency, but with the same bureaucratic methods   used to solve other social problems: campaigns advertising and incentives so that couples have children. But it seems that these marketing efforts are not working and the answer and solution are, paradoxically, in the Christian culture that they spurned in the past.

La tan esperada Exhortación sobre la familia y el matrimonio del Papa Francisco es un documento que revela no solo la profundidad y necesidad de la reflexión sobre esta realidad humana que tanta discusiones ha provocado en las últimas décadas, sino también la centralidad   con que la Iglesia considera y trata a   esta célula por su importancia en la vida de la humanidad, de la Iglesia misma, y lo más importante, en la vida de cada uno de nosotros. A muchos puede parecer que en   esta exhortación es el Papa que solo reacciona para condenar, imponer o limitar sobre el matrimonio y la familia, y solo porque ha sido objeto de manipulación cultural en nuestro tiempo. Pero la realidad es que la familia y su problemática ha estado presente en la historia de la Salvación desde el Antiguo y después en el Nuevo Testamento, donde la misma   Sagrada Familia fue pobre, con un embarazo inesperado, desalojada, trabajadora, perseguida, e inclusive migrante.

The Marriage at Cana ,Marten de Vos, 1596-97 Gospel Luke 12:49-53 ( NRVS, Catholic Ed , Can) Jesus said to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” About 40 years ago when I had some programs on DXDD, a radio station in Ozamiz City, Mindanao, started by a Columban priest, Fr Charles Nolan, and now owned by the Archdiocese of Ozamiz, two friends of mine brought in a boy of about three whom they had found wandering at night. I appealed on the air for ...

Here he is. "Karol Wojtyla-splyw" by Unknown  [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons Yes. That's my beloved JP2. It's OK, you can love him too. On April 2, the world marked the tenth anniversary of his death. Pope Francis  encouraged us  to keep up our conversation with the Polish pope, asking him to "intercede for us, for families, for the church so that the light of the Resurrection shines through all of the darkness in our life and fills us with joy and peace.” It makes sense to continue to talk to Pope John Paul II--to pray--just like we did while he was still living among us. Sunday's brilliant celebration of Easter reminds us that Jesus has conquered death. Death is no stumbling block for us; when our friends pass away, we know they live in Jesus Christ. Read about three other popes and the love of Jesus Christ at Praying with Grace !

I have written in my homeschooling blog before about being  Pro-Life . Being a pro-life family, we strive to be up-to-date with all that is happening around us, especially here in the Philippines, where bills that are pro-contraception, sex education for young children, and divorce, are being pushed into legalization. Many people think that it is only the Catholic church that is "waging this war" but actually, many Filipinos of other religions also agree about being pro-life.  Local groups like  Pro-Life Philippines  are trying their best to gather these Filipinos, and have been able to do so in the past, like in the  Filipinos Unite under God for Life Rally last March 25 . This Monday, July 25, there is another event aimed at uniting  Filipinos who are for life .   With this, I humbly ask for all your prayers for us in the Philippines, and in other countries around the world, who are committed to nurture, protect and defend life in all stages,...