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Mary's silence at the foot of the Cross is active, not passive. Mary stands at the foot of the Cross as a strong, silent woman who is suffering over the loss of her son but remains obedient by embracing John as her son. Mary is really opening her heart to embrace all disciples as her children. Only a strong woman can love once again in the midst of suffering. Then, in the Book of Acts, Mary does not indulge in grief but devotes herself to prayer with the disciples, waiting for the Holy Spirit. continue reading

I know that this is not a Catholic book but this book is great and it has really touched me and the life of a few of my friends. I am sharing this with you because I really feel that this particular Bible Study will benefit a lot of people.  Surprisingly this book like the “Strong Willed Women” the author describes, is not what it seems. This book touches base with many women and it definitely made a difference for not only me but my inner circle. A book that can be shared, revisited, and quoted shows you the quality of the writing inside.  Tobias hits this nail right on the head! The experiences shared by the women in this book is something that all women can relate to .I am happy to not only share this with my readers but to share this with my close family and friends Click here to continue 

So ... what is your view about married priests? Is it OK for a priest to fall in love? What if he does. Should he leave the priesthood? Or can he marry and remain a priest? If the marriage vows are for life then ... why isn't the vow of celibacy the same, for life? What about married priests from other denominations joining the Catholic Church? TO LOVE A PRIEST - by Victor S E Moubarak CLICK HERE

I read The Fulfillment of All Desire , by Ralph Martin, in preparation to give a prayer and spirituality retreat. This book offered much advice on how to live a more spiritual life with examples set by such greats as Augustine, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Frances de Sales and God’s little flower, Theresé of Lisieux. I learned that the fulfillment of all desire comes from a life of prayer and modeling our behavior to that of Christ. For when we become more Christ-like we unite with the pinnacle of our desire – that of Christ himself. The book is lengthy, with numerous quotes from the works of the saints. Ralph Martin lets the saints tell the story of how one might develop the fulfillment of all desire. If I had one complaint, it is that the quotes were too numerous. I say that because I am familiar with Ralph Martin having watched him on EWTN. The man is a brilliant and esteemed professor of Theology. With that said, I hoped that... Read more... 

These days we are focusing on creation and on our responsibility to be caretakers of our beautiful home planet. Recently I reread my book “Voices: Messages in Gospel Symbols” and realized that its introduction would be a fitting post to share. So here it is . . . “I said to the almond tree, ‘Sister, speak to me of God.’ And the almond tree blossomed.” ~ Nikos Kazantzakis Creators are mirrored in their creations. A song reflects the composer; a painting, the artist; a book the author. In the same way, the universe, the masterpiece of the supreme creator, reveals God. Its variety, its intricacy, and its magnitude attest to God’s wisdom and power. Every created thing is an epiphany, echoing some aspect of the divine Being. Click to continue

The Grace-filled Tuesdays Book Club met today over at my flagship blog, String of Pearls. We talked about my second YA Catholic novel, Erin's Ring , recipient of two book awards from the Catholic Press Association. If you haven't read Erin's Ring yet and would like to do so, you might be interested to know that I'm hosting a giveaway. I'm giving away five free promo copies of Erin's Ring , with the winners to be announced on Nov. 1.   If you'd like to find out how to enter, head on over to String of Pearls for more information.

It is not always easy to forgive injuries, because we’re human and pain hurts! Yet, we are called by Christ to forgive in the same manner that He taught the Apostles to forgive when He taught them the Our Father: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt 6:13). To forgive then requires us to extend mercy and compassion. How so? Let’s use an example: A family crisis occurs. Tensions are high. A close relative makes a comment that cuts you to your core, causing you great emotional pain. It’s the type of comment that could result in the two of you never speaking to each other again, or at least not for several years. Anyone else ever experience this situation? I know that I can speak from experience: It happened to me. I couldn’t bring myself to be in the same room with this relative for about two years. Unable to forgive, I hurt deeply. Read more...

REFLECTIONS AND PRAYERS FOR THOSE SPECIAL TIMES OF NEED CLICK HERE

What You Want Has Its Price. And The Price of Such of a  Tremendous  Good  As That  Is  FAITH. "People are told 'Believe,' and they want to see..." –St. Augustine >> Click Here to Read More at: The Way To Nourish For Life >>

En este siglo XXI donde el libertinaje absoluto de la persona se ha vuelto el bastión de la cultura global, permanece la interrogante de si esta independencia de cualquier estructura social la llevará a la felicidad que todo ser humano ansía. Durante décadas a algunas de estas “estructuras sociales” se les ha tachado de obsoletas, como la familia y el matrimonio. A los que han tratado de defenderlas, como la fe católica, se les ha etiquetado de intransigentes. Pero últimamente a su voz se han unido, finalmente, las voces de muchas otras denominaciones espirituales que ven en esta defensa una prioridad urgente, ante los sufrimientos y problemas sociales que su degradación han traído.

Her birth is a cause for great joy as it is considered the “dawn of our salvation” Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 1972. to see more images and quotes

  from The Cloistered Heart

Airliners were flown into New York City's World Trade Center and the Pentagon 15 years ago today, killing nearly 3,000 folks whose chief offense had been living in an American city and going to work Tuesday morning. The 19 immediately responsible died with their victims. They were waging Osama bin Laden's religious war against the United States. Osama bin Laden is dead now, and so are a great many others: perpetrators and victims; Christians, Muslims, and folks who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. On top of that, about 1,800,000 folks were stopped last year, while trying to get into Europe. Some may have had ulterior motives; but most were trying to stay alive, fleeing because their former homes had become a war zone. It's the biggest problem of that sort Europe's had since the 1940s. Quite a few folks are upset: partly because most of the refugees hadn't had opportunities to fill out all their paperwork before entering Europe. More at A

As the Morning Rising: I Am the Gold : I am the gold someone else wishes they had - My gifts, my senses, My health is wealth beyond measure. Lead me Lord, along the ri...

DO YOU ALWAYS FORGIVE? READILY? WITHOUT BEARING A GRUDGE OR THOUGHTS OF REVENGE? REALLY? ARE THERE TIMES WHEN ... YOU CANNOT FORGIVE. CLICK HERE ... PLEASE

As the Morning Rising: Labour : Detail in stained glass in Holy Family Church Belfast Labour Stone walls make up the physical house of God When other landmarks t...

(from The Breadbox Letters)

Scientists spotted Philae, the European Space Agency's spacecraft that crash-landed on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014: which will help them make sense of data sent back while the probe still functioned. Other scientists think they’ve worked out where carbon near Earth's surface came from, and the Juno orbiter has been sending pictures of the giant planet. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

The Return of the Prodigal Son , Rembrandt, c.166 Gospel Luke 15:1-32 (or 1-10) ( NRSV, Catholic ) Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, 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 over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds

Birth of the Virgin ,  Orsola Maddalena Caccia , c.1635 Pinacoteca Malaspina, Pavia The glory of the Virgin was all within For a long time I have wondered and been at a loss to understand why the evangelists should have spoken at such length about John the Baptist and the apostles, and yet told us so little about the Virgin Mary, who in life and distinction excels them all. Being at a loss, as I say, to understand this, all I can think is that it pleased the Holy Spirit that it should be so. It was by the providence of the Holy Spisit that the evangelists kept silent, because the glory of the Virgin, as we read in the psalms, was all within, and could more truly be thought of than described. The most important fact of her life, that Jesus was born of her, is enough to tell her whole story. What more do you want to know? What further inquire would you make concerning the Virgin? It is enough for you that she is the Mother of God. What beauty, I as you, what virtue, what perfec

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As the Morning Rising: Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Msry : Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary It's a girl! Joachim hurried home His face bright with joy All the neighbours gathering W...

We humans love heroes—people who excel in sports like the Olympians, music like rock stars, politics like senators and presidential candidates, acting like movie stars, and in other endeavors. We not only look up to them, but they serve as models for us. They inspire us to be better. How disappointing and depressing it is to discover that our idols have flaws and sometimes even serious faults. The news is glutted with stories of famous people who acted infamously today and in the past. So how do we deal with these sad turns of events? For one thing, we shouldn't be surprised. There is a saying that idols have clay feet. This adage is derived from an Old Testament story of the king of Babylon's dream in which a statue of gold, silver, bronze, and iron had feet of clay. The prophet Daniel said that the dream symbolized that the powerful nation would be destroyed. We are all children of Adam, who, according to Genesis, was created out of clay. We are all prone to s

I recently attended the National Marketing Network Trade Show / Catholic Writers Guild Conference in Chicago this summer. At the tradeshow/conference, we Guild members got to meet many authors and receive free autographed books! I had a great time. Yet, the most memorable moment for me occurred as I traversed through the Trade Show booths.  I came across a table with a certain children’s book on it: Journey to the Cross . I said to myself, “ Hey, that’s the book that won in my category at the National Indie Excellence Awards contest this year! ” Okay, now I must see what’s so special about this book that it beat out my own book in the contest (mine was named a finalist). What occurred next was beyond awesome. I stepped up to the table... Read more...

Lord give us a sense of humour and a creative intelligence to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of our children Even when all the kids were still little, I decided to share the magic of a newborn with them. It was one of the best decisions I ever made to enable mutual respect and love to flourish in our family.  However, at the time I was forced to literally watch the clock to ensure everyone would get a chance to hold their new sibling . It seems to me that the children bonded to each other because even our toddlers were given the privilege of holding the baby. With excitement twinkling in their eyes, barely containing their joy long enough to sit still while I propped up one of their little arms with a pillow, they looked extremely proud and pleased as they too held the baby. continue

Today is a glorious day because Teresa of Calcutta is officially a saint, having been canonized yesterday! She died 19 years ago today at the age of 87. How fitting that such a short time passed from her death to her canonization; for she was truly holy and faithful. Her joyful spirit and love for Christ and his mother, Mary radiated from her at all times. Her determination to keep Christ at the forefront of her life, even when darkness and struggles surrounded her, is a testament to her faith. Always putting others first, her humility became her hallmark. Beloved by Catholics and admired greatly by non-Catholic Christians, Teresa of Calcutta was a true witness for Christ. Yesterday, Pope Francis... Read more...

Mother Teresa with Fr Michael Mohally                                     Yesterday, 4 September, Pope Francis canonised St Teresa of Kolkata (Calcuttat). Today is her feast day, the anniversary of her death in 1997. My Columban classmate and close friend, Fr Michael Mohally from the city of Cork, Ireland, wrote the article below for the September-October 2003 issue of   MISYON , the Columban magazine in the Philippines of which I have been editor for 14 years now. We have re-published it in the current September-October issue of the magazine, now known as   MISYONonline.com . Fr Michael is based in Manila. Towards the end of   his homily   at the canonisation Mass Pope Francis made an off-the-cuff comment about what we should call the new saint and figured that everyone would still refer to her as' Mother Teresa'. Very few Catholics would know who St Pius of Pietrelcina is but they would know who 'Padre Pio' is. And in Chile  San Alberto Hurtado SJ   is still

  This year, the United States of North America chooses a new President, that is, not only the head of his Government and nation, but one of the world leaders with more influence over the fate of humanity. Within an electoral bipartisan democratic system as the American, the political parties and its principles had been, until recently, clearly defined and differential in conservative party and liberal party. But in recent decades the differences on the principles of these parties have been disappearing, especially in the area of human and social well being, leaving voters with more of the same. This problem is   becoming critical for Catholic and Christian citizens in general. Aalthough they constitute the majority of the population in that country,   they are facing   the dilemma of whom to vote for   without letting down their Christian principles, because almost none of them are reflected in much of what the candidates propose. (1)

As the Morning Rising: St Teresa of Calcutta pray for us. : “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta) Photo courte...

(from The Cloistered Heart)