Association Of Catholic Bloggers

  Blind Pensioner with a Stick Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Ar t] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 9:1-41  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)     [For the shorter form (9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38) omit the text in brackets.]   As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.   [   And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”   Jesus answered,  “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.   We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.   As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ]   Having said these things,]  he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud   and said to him,  “Go, wash in the poo

  Christ the Saviour El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 5:38-48  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)     Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’   But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.   And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, [ a ]  let him have your cloak as well.   And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.   Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’   But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,   so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

  The Sermon on the Mount Carl Heinrich Bloch [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Matthew 5:17-37  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)     Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.   For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.   Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.   For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to those

  St John the Baptist in Prison Juan Fernández de Navarrete [ Web Gallery of Art ] Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”  (Matthew 11:2-3; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 11:2-11 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As they wen

  Farmer in a Field Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] Luke 17:7 (Gospel) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 17:5-10 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”   And the Lord said,  “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you. “Will any one of you who has a servant [  ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?   Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterwards you will eat and drink’?   Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?   So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are un

   Return of the Prodigal Son Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel   Luke 15:1-32 [Shorter form 15:1-10]( English Standard Version Anglicised: India) . Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus.   And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:   “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?   And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.   And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’   Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven o

Altar of St Ignatius of Loyola, Il Gesù, Rome Andrea Pozzo SJ [ Web Gallery of Art ] Very rightly the fine arts are considered to rank among the noblest activities of man's genius, and this applies especially to religious art and to its highest achievement, which is sacred art. These arts, by their very nature, are oriented toward the infinite beauty of God which they attempt in some way to portray by the work of human hands; they achieve their purpose of redounding to God's praise and glory in proportion as they are directed the more exclusively to the single aim of turning men's minds devoutly toward God  (Vatican II,  Sacrosanctum Concilium , No 122). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 12:13-21 ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to div