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WILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN? HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE? BETTER CHECK HERE

Ante este pensamiento llega hasta mi algo escrito por el P. Ignacio Larrañaga, que dice así :    “ SEÑOR, ME GUSTARÍA DETENERME EN ESTE MISMO INSTANTE. ¿ POR QUÉ TANTA AGITACIÓN?. YA NO SE DETENERME. ME HE OLVIDADO DE REZAR. CIERRO AHORA MIS OJOS. QUIERO HABLAR CONTIGO, SEÑOR. QUIERO ABRIRME A TU UNIVERSO PERO MIS OJOS SE RESISTEN A PERMANECER CERRADOS. SIENTO QUE UNA AGITACIÓN FRENÉTICA INVADE TODO MI CUERPO, SE AGITA, ESCLAVO DE LA PRISA. SEÑOR, ME GUSTARÍA DETENERME AHORA MISMO. ¿ POR QUÉ TANTA PRISA? ¿ POR QUÉ TANTA AGITACIÓN ?. ( Hasta aquí una parte de su escrito para terminar asi ). MI CORAZÓN CONTINUA LATIENDO PERO DE UNA MANERA DIFERENTE. NO ESTOY HACIENDO NADA, NO ESTOY APURÁNDOME. SIMPLEMENTE ESTOY ANTE TI, SEÑOR. Y QUÉ BUENO ES ESTAR DELANTE DE TI.”   Por: MARÍA ESTHER DE ARIÑO.

The worst possible fate for me would be to die only to discover I had not lived in reality but in a false existence created by both society and my own ego. Reality can only be found in God, lived in the Mystical Body of Christ, in and with and through the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to settle for an existence similar to the life described in Plato’s allegory of the cave. continue reading

What sheer joy it was to read  A Storyteller’s Guide to Joyful Service , by best-selling author, Tony Agnesi. This sequel to  A Storyteller’s Guide to A Graced Filled Life ,  moves us from the stories of Tony’s upbringing, to stories of how, and why, he entered ministry in service to others.  Agnesi is a storyteller, at heart. Give him a room full of people, and he will have them laughing, crying, and wanting more! Well, in this latest in his series, he did just that! Joyful Service Made Me Laugh He made me laugh when I read the story about the “ 80 MPH Rosary .” Bored, on a long drive home from an engagement, an elderly man passes Tony at about 80 MPH, with rosary beads in his hands as he holds on to the steering wheel. This gives Tony the idea to say a Rosary as well. But Tony feels the need to keep pace with this old gent, and they go neck and neck down the highway. Tony shows him his own Rosary beads.  As the man approached his exit, they smiled at each other and parted ways

In talks to religion teachers, I offer reasons to teach Scripture. First and foremost, the Bible is God's Word to us and he speaks to us personally through it. Second, we come to know Jesus through Scripture. And third, an educated person is expected to know Scripture. (How often "Jeopardy!" as well as crossword puzzle clues are Scripture-based.) In addition, many of our common words and expressions have their origin in the Bible. You might already know that the concept of a scapegoat is derived from the Israelite's practice of "loading their sins" on a goat and sending it out into the desert. But did you know that a man's adam apple comes from the notion that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, a piece of it got caught in this throat? And did you know that the expression "jumping Jehosaphat" is a substitute for taking the name Jesus in vain? Jehosaphat was a minor Jewish king. I find the following list intriguing. Hope you will too. click to

Fr Joseph Jeremiah McSweeney (14 March 1933 – 13 September 2018) Fr Joseph J. McSweeney was born on 14 March 1933 in Bealick, Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. His parents were Jeremiah and Ellen Long McSweeney. He is survived by his brothers Daniel McSweeney and his wife Ann in Ireland, Peter McSweeney and his wife Mary oinCanada and many nieces and nephews.  He was the brother of the late Patrick, Timmy, John, and Tommy McSweeney. Bealick Mill, Macroom   [ Wikipedia ] His primary education was at the National School, Macroom from 1940 to 1946. His secondary schooling was at De La Salle College, Macroom, from 1946 to 1952. He entered St Columban's Seminary, Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath, in September 1952. Bishop John Kyne of Meath ordained him to the priesthood on 21 December 1958. In January 1959 Father Joe was appointed to Korea and began language studies toward the end of that year in Seoul. In June 1960 he was appointed to Chuncheon Vicariate a

In  Playing by Heart , by Carmela Martino, we meet two gifted sisters. The story,  set in 1730’s, Milan, Italy, introduces us to Maria, a gifted linguist, mathematician and speaker. Her sister, Emilia, excels at playing and composing music, as well as singing. Where Maria shines in knowledge of the sciences, Emilia glistens in the arts. In 1730’s Italy, it was rare to come across educated females. We find that the girls father’s long held desire to gain a noble title, drives the entire story; propelling the girls into situations that a young lady of the 21 st  century would never need to confront. In the 1730’s, for example, parents arranged the marriages of their children. Young ladies had little to no say about who they would spend the remainder of their lives with as a wife. They found themselves married in their late teens. So, Maria and Emilia were approaching the age when their father would desire to marry them off to suitable husbands. Yet, Maria wants to become a nun. Emi

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati   [ Wikipedia ] (6 April 1901 - 4 July 1925) Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Mark 9:30-37 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it;  for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’  But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’  But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest

Fr John Roderick Long (13 November 1934 - 14 September 2018) Fr John Roderick ('Derrick') Long was born in Dublin on 13 November 1934. He was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Loughrea, County Galway, St Brendan’s National School, Loughrea, and St Joseph’s College, Garbally Park, Ballinasloe. He entered St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, Navan, County Meath, in September 1953 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1959. St Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea  [ Wikipedia ] Father Derrick’s first appointment was to Burma (now Myanmar), but while he awaited a visa he served as temporary dean at the Templeogue house of studies in Dublin. When his visa came through, he left for Burma in October 1962. There he worked with Fr Jim Fisher as the latter ran a procure in Rangoon (now Yangon) for various Catholic groups working in Burma. However, Father Derrick was expelled from there in 1966 when the military government put further restrictions on missionar

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks “ to what shall I compare the people of this generation ” (Luke 7:31)? Jesus compares the people of His time to John the Baptist, considering John to be the greatest of the prophets on earth, with the caveat that the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Something to think about! Remember, at this moment in time, Jesus had not yet opened the gates of Heaven. That would not happen until after Jesus died on the cross, and prior to the Resurrection. So, who were the members of the Kingdom of God at that moment? The Father Almighty, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the angels, were the only members. John the Baptist represents the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and Jesus represents the greatest of the New Testament, as He is God. It is at Jesus’ Baptism, that Jesus ushers in his ministry and brings the Kingdom of God to earth. Thus, now allowing us to participate in the Kingdom of God. Every time we attend Mass, God invites

I’ve always been fascinated by words—a useful trait for a writer. A friend emailed the following roots of common sayings that you might enjoy knowing as I did. Next week I plan to write about sayings that originated in Scripture. There is an old hotel/pub in Marble Arch, London, which used to have a gallows adjacent to it. Prisoners were taken to the gallows to be hanged. The horse-drawn dray carting the prisoner, was accompanied by an armed guard, who would stop the dray outside the pub and ask the  prisoner if he would  like ”ONE LAST DRINK.”  If he said YES, it was referred to as ONE FOR THE ROAD.  If he declined, that Prisoner was ON THE WAGON. Click to continue

Two years before his death St Francis received the stigmata which we celebrate on the 17th September. It is fitting therefore to conclude this series on the feast day of Francis receiving the stigmata. As the end drew near St Francis asked to be taken to the Portiuncula that he might die in the poverty to which he had been accustomed all his life, surrounded by the brothers who loved it as he did. Read on.....

I don’t know about you, but lately, I am finding it difficult in forgiving others for egregious deeds. My head is swimming with all the guilty pleas/convictions from the Mueller investigation within our government. I’m appalled with the news of the priestly sex abuse scandal and cover-up. I’m disappointed with the people in power, both in government and in the Church, who stand by idly and do nothing to bring about justice. With every great sin, the sinful do not want to see the disinfectant of transparency and accountability come knocking on their doors. When it does, it is like a proverbial “bomb” explodes around us, covering us in the sinner’s filth. That’s how I am feeling lately. The Mueller investigation is racking up one guilty plea after another, with multiple indictments and convictions. Everyone who is guilty is looking for a plea agreement and immunity from prosecution. The “bomb” has exploded, and I feel the filth of corruption, and it makes me sick. With the alarmi

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St Peter in Prison , Rembrandt  [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Mark 8:27-35 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’  And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’  He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’   And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and bega