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At 2:49:43 and 2:49:57 pm EDT/18:49 UTC, April 15, 2013, two pressure cooker bombs exploded on Boylston Street near Copley Square in Boston. They were about 210 yards, 190 meters, apart; near the finish line of the Boston Marathon . Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev's bombs killed Krystle Marie Campbell, Lu Lingzi (吕令子), Martin William Richard, and Sean A. Collier. Dzhokhar said that he and his brother wanted to defend Islam from America. I think their experiences as Chechens and Avars may have been a factor, too. Don't expect a rant against Muslims, 'foreigners,' Americans, or anyone else.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

This is my most recent column in The Catholic Free Press : Our son called the other day to share a lovely story about a former student. Until recently Stephen had been a pre-school teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Although he had neither experience nor background in education, he took the job because he was desperate, having been unemployed for months. Even as he fumbled in the dark with no idea as to what he was doing, Stephen managed to touch the life of a then 3-year-old boy. Surprising encounter Stephen knew well the thankless nature of teaching. So imagine his surprise when the now five-year-old boy recognized him on the street and ran up to him, throwing his arms around him. The family followed up with a phone call and Stephen is planning an outing with them as a result. Give what little we have We never know how we will affect other people’s lives. We think we have to be experts; my son’s experience says otherwise. We don’t need to know anything—we just need to be open and v

This is from Jean Corbon,  The Wellspring of Worship,  San Francisco CA: Ignatius Press, 2005. They have carefully sealed up the tomb again and filled up the fountain with sand; they continue to  "look among the dead for someone who is alive"  and they return to their narrow lives in which some things have to do with morality and others with cult, as in the case of the upright men and women of the old covenant. But in fact the ascension is a decisive turning point. It does indeed mark the end of something that is not simply to be cast aside: the end of a relationship to Jesus that is still wholly external. Above all, however, it marks the beginning of an entirely new relationship of faith and of a new time: the liturgy of the last times. Read more at  lenkdesigns.blogspot.com.au

The Ascension of Christ , Rembrandt,1636 , Munich [ Web Gallery of Art ] Gospel   Mark 16:15-20  ( New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada)  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news   to the whole creation.   The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.   And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;   they will pick up snakes i n their hands,   and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.   And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. In Regions where the Solemnity is observed on Asc

THREE BELLS TO PARADISE? CLICK HERE

Dear  Sister Helen Prejean , You are wrong about Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.  He is not "genuinely sorry" about the bombing at the Boston Marathon.  He is not sorry about killing and maiming people. You can read the rest of the article at Being Catholic ... Really .

Catholic artist Michael O'Brien There were times when I was deep down in a pit. When I believed the lies my enemies told me about myself. When I truly believed I was worthless. When I genuinely agreed I was a loser. When I felt unloved and therefore angry with everyone.These times have come and gone at various points in my life. But this time, it was different. Read on at J.A.M .

Working with Your Child's Temperament from Four Waters Pres It’s release day for A Spiritual Growth Plan for Your Choleric Child! Enjoy the slide show on the temperaments I put together for the upcoming Minnesota Home Education and Curriculum Conference. I included lots of photos of my kids to make you smile. Have you ordered your copy? If you pre-ordered the ebook, you can access it now. The ebook is $3.99 on Amazon. The paperback is available for $12.95 at Amazon. You can also buy the paperback at CreateSpace . As always, if you buy five paperbacks directly from me, I’ll sign them all and give you a sixth free–with no shipping cost. Email me at crossini4774 at comcast dot net if you are interested. See the book blog tour schedule at  Contemplative Homeschool.

The last I heard, Rubenstein's robot swarm was pretty good at forming different shapes: but not much else. ( August 22, 2014 ) What we're learning about how fire ants build their nests may change that. Scientists discovered that the pests use different excavating techniques, depending on what sort of soil they're in. Other scientists found stretchy nerves in rorqual whales. The nerves are made from the same stuff found in other animals — what makes them stretchy is how the nerve fibers fold up.... ...Looking up rorqual whales and baleen encouraged a (very brief) tangent on evolution. I figure I'd better review why I don't argue with the Almighty about this world's development: and don't fear a robot revolution.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The Resurrection My Son was here!  He has Risen from the dead as He Promised!  He is glorious!  He spoke to me asking me not to tell anyone.  The women would bring the good news to His Apostles.  It was necessary.  Women would be very important when spreading His Gospel. They were chosen to be the first to see Him.  His angels had rolled back the stone on His tomb, and the Roman soldiers ran away.  The women are back.  Peter doesn’t believe what they are saying. He and John have left the upper room running to the tomb where my Son had been laying.  Mary has also run back to the tomb.  She will see my Son.  She will not recognize Him at first, but He will reveal Himself to her.  She will spread the good news, too! My Son Has Risen!  My Son Has Risen! Read more at Prayerfully Yours

The Secret to the Survival of a Humane Society.  Treasure each human,  No matter how Little or Weak.  Honour Family  As it is the Foundation; A training ground for living. continue reading

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13 In this new commandment Jesus took, “Love your neighbor as yourself” several steps further. Now love involves sacrifice. His greatest demonstration of this commandment was his death on the cross. But because he was willing to sacrifice his life, he rose again to new life in a body glorified. Waiting For The Word Resurrection 60, from Flickr Creative Commons This is the love he requires from us. It’s a radical love, a sacrificial love. What does it mean to lay down one’s life? Are we literally to die a martyr’s death? What other ways are there to lay down one’s life? Recently I had a chance to hear fellow Catholicmom columnist Allison Gingras describe a way. from right to left: Allison and Kevin Gingras and their daughter, Faith Click here to continue reading.  

A fellow walker in the park On the way to my Florida vacation, I arrived early at the Hopkins airport, so I went into its nondenominational chapel. Only a young man from India was there. As I prayed, he came over, sat down next to me, and asked, “How do you meditate?” A half hour later, this Hindu had had a course in Christian prayer. You never know when or how God will use you! Speaking of meditation, there is a unique way to adapt lectio divina. You might be familiar with this “sacred reading” prayer, but you might not know that you can also use it to “read” the events of your life. ( Lectio divina has four steps: 1. Read a Scripture passage until a word or phrase captures your attention. 2. Stop and ponder why that word means something special to you. What is God trying to tell you? 3. When you realize the word’s significance, the “aha moment,” respond to God with thanks, praise, contrition, joy, love, or petition. 4. Simply rest in God’s presence.) Click to conti

WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE? CLICK HERE

The Agony in the Garden I felt my heart begin to break when I knew Jesus and His Apostles had left for the Garden after supper.  The Apostles were uneasy.  They sensed that My Son was sorrowful.  He had warned them that He would be killed, but they did not believe.  I fell to my knees with the other women and we began to pray.  Jesus began to suffer in the Garden.  He felt the weight of sin on his shoulders and satan was there to tempt Him again.  Jesus was sorrowful beyond words.  I could feel His sorrow in my heart.  How he could bear the weight I do not know.  I’ve never known such sorrow.  He asked His Father to let this cup pass, but the Father withdrew.  Jesus accepted His cup for love of us.  His soul was at peace, but He knew what was to come.  When they came to arrest Him, My Jesus identified Himself to the soldiers of the temple.  They began to beat Him.  When Peter tried to stop this by cutting off the ear of the soldier, Jesus reminded Peter that this had t

My family got together Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day. Just a small affair, you know, since only 22 of us could make it. I laughed when I saw the pile of Mother's Day cards stacked up on the gift table: every one of them came in a pink envelope. © Sumetho/Getty Images Pink . Pink is so sweet, innocent, and calming. I remember reading an article once that claimed pink walls reduce aggression and cause physical weakness. I've never really liked pink. And it isn't the first color that comes to mind when I think of most moms, especially my own mom. My mom is active, clever, and fiercely loyal. I'm not sure what archetypal colors represent those qualities, but probably not pink. In honor of moms everywhere, pink-lovers or not, I offer a re-post of an earlier story about my mom. Read the whole story at Praying with Grace !

Bell V. Dodd’s autobiography so colourful and so vivid, that reading it, skepticism tugged at the peripheries of my consciousness. The book is a journey into a world of intrigue, conspiracy, and frenzied activity for a cause. Dodd (1904-1969) spent her youth and young adulthood as a Communist. She worked tirelessly for a cause she believed would lead American society to become better and fairer. This book follows her experiences throughout the uncertain times of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. It encapsulates the time American relations to the USSR were dramatically fluctuating from one extreme to another. In America, children of the Great Depression were reaching adulthood and campaigning for a better world through destruction of traditional institutions and the rise of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Read more:  http://lenkdesigns.blogspot.com.au

     During my undergraduate years at Mt. Holyoke College, I was to take the first course of what was to become my life’s work. Yet, at this very secular college, Philosophy of Religion had not been framed as articulate reasoning to believe. Rather, it was most often presented as confounding belief despite the fallacies, heresies, and multitude of reasons stacked up against it.  Yet the more I listened to the Harvard trained divinity professor reinforce his opinion in lengthy lectures, I wondered if he was actually a believer at all.                                                                                                    See More..

Pope John Paul II wrote of "Mary's Memories" in the Rosary. In his Apostolic letter " Rosarium Virginis Mariae "  Pope John Paul, soon to be canonized, wrote, " Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word: “She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” ( Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51). The memories of Jesus, impressed upon her heart, were always with her, leading her to reflect on the various moments of her life at her Son's side. In a way those memories were to be the “rosary” which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life." I wrote these Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  As I wrote, I tried to look at these mysteries through Mary’s eyes.  Of course, these responses are fictional.  I am writing these, not Mary.  Let us look at Mary and see her Son.   Read more at:: Prayerfully Yours

Now that I’ve got your attention, I’d like to let you know I’m completely serious. Last Friday Russell Brand posted the most awesome anti-porn rant ever. Yes, Russell Brand, eccentric English comedian and activist. Star of Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.  I’ve noted his wisdom in the past. For instance, check out this interview he did with Westboro Baptist Church.  I wanted to write my own analysis of his rant, but there is no point in reinventing the wheel. First, here is the video (Offensive Language Alert)... Watch his awesome rant on True Dignity of Women:  https://truedignityofwomen.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/theology-of-the-body-thursday-14-russell-brand-theologian/

.. By the way, if you are viewing this post in a reader,  click over to my blog  to view the new Page I've added (found underneath the title of my blog)~  my articles by subject . This includes my articles since 2013 that I've written here, for Catholic Mom, and for Real Housekeeping, for the first time,  categorized by subject!   It is still a work-in-progress. ;) How do you deal if you're struggling with anger? And no, the answer isn't donuts.  Or chocolate. Or ice-cream. The other day, something happened that had me completely discouraged and disillusioned.   It got me thinking about angry outbursts, and  why they happen in the first place. imagine with me... read the rest at Picture a Skyline

St. Michael the Archangel Icon Weeping at Rhodes, Greece In 2013, in Rhodes Greece, an Icon of St Michael the Archangel began weeping.  There is a video of the event, which I will post a link to at the end of this post.  When I saw this, I was terrified.  The implications are quite frightening. Statues of the Blessed Virgin and even images of our Lord have also wept in the past, sometimes even blood. .... TO READY MORE...CLICK HERE! 

Happy Mother’s Day!  I am so thankful for you, and your example of a virtuous woman who said “yes” to God, even when the task was huge, and you must have felt overwhelmed at times by the details. Thank you, and bless you, Mother, your example helps me to walk in obedience when God calls me to difficult tasks. I know that Proverbs is one of the books of Wisdom and not typically categorized as a book of prophecy…but I’m inclined to believe that Proverbs 31:10-31 is one of several exceptions to this classification of Holy Scripture.  I see you ALL OVER in this passage.  For today’s celebration, I have compiled paralell Scriptures from Proverbs and the New Testament accounts of you and your words. Come over to New Things to read the rest of this post. Blessings, Lyn

John 19: 26-27  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,  “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Listen to this little one as she reveals our true mother to our hearts. One afternoon, I was making dinner, standing at the counter with my back to our three youngest children. Katie and Anthony were lounging around the kitchen table, with three-year-old Lucy perched like a little elf on a high stool, happily swinging her legs. Simply making conversation, Katie who was about eight, asked Lucy, Lucy replied,”Both!”“Lucy, who’s your favorite, mum or dad?” continue reading

The odds are that you hadn't heard of Barpak , between Kathmandu and Pokhara . It's the April 25, 2015, earthquake's epicenter. Fewer than 10 of 1,200 homes there came through intact. Survivors in Nepal are getting help from many outfits, including Catholic Relief Services . I'll get back to that. (From Reuters, via BBC News, used w/o permission.) (" Residents of Bhaktapur carry their belongs through the rubble of destroyed houses " (BBC News)) More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

A particularly tender moment in a nun's profession is when she pronounces vows with her hands in those of Mother Superior.  "My heart was full of joy," wrote one such Sister, "as I pronounced these words from the vow formula, '...I vow to God into your hands Reverend Mother to live my whole life in obedience, without property, and in chastity.'" ( Sister Mary Immaculata)  "I vow into your hands...." I read these words and immediately think of the total consecration to Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort:  "I, (name)_____, a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism..." In whose hands are these baptismal vows being renewed and ratified?  Into those of the Blessed Mother.  "I vow into your hands...." (continue here)

The Cocktail Queen CLICK HERE

Christians are now dealing with a new obstacle to evangelism;  we can no longer assume people know stories in the Bible or the basic tenets of the faith. Perhaps this dearth of spirituality in modern culture will serve to drive desperate people to the feet of Christ but more than ever seekers need basic catechism to lead them back into the arms of God and the Church. A few decades ago, almost everyone knew the bible, even if they did not attend church because even public schools read the bible and prayed before classes started. I am a convert. As a Protestant kid who went to Sunday School from 3 years old, I grew up on the stories of Jesus,  singing songs about His love and memorizing bible verses. I realize now that I was a prayerful kid; God was close to me. continue

Scientists found a two-century lag between temperature changes near Earth's poles — and maybe a "bipolar seesaw" temperature cycle. Other scientists say that shock waves from the Chicxulub impact may have triggered volcanic eruptions in the Deccan Traps and elsewhere.... ...We don't, I think, have all the answers about how Earth's climate changes and what we should do about it: but we're discovering what some of the questions are. That's a good start. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

I saw this quote from  Abby Johnson  and started thinking about something totally unrelated: If you are a Christ follower but also hate abortion clinic workers or abortionists, then the Bible says that you are guilty of murder. We won't win this battle unless we learn to love better. If you have hate in your heart, then you need to pray.  It's really hard to hate the people that you diligently pray for. - Abby Johnson On this Mother's Day, nearly 20 years after my own Mother's death, I cannot find it in my heart to pray for her.  I've always wondered why I never do and now I know.  The  hatred I have for her still lingers after all these years  and that definitely made me pause. To read the article go to Being Catholic ... Really .