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The definition of self-giving love is to give without expecting repayment. With self-giving love, one gives from the heart, solely because he/she loves another for the sake of that person. There is no self-interest; only concern for the other person. In today’s Gospel from Luke 14:12-14, Jesus tells us, via one of His parables, not to invite the wealthy to a banquet, for we may be asked to return the favor one day. Rather, …when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.   How to discern self-giving love Let me take this one step further and ask you: When you give to the poor, do you... Read more... 

Sister Lucia, the oldest of the Fatima visionaries prophesied that the final fight between Our Lord and Satan will be over marriage and the family. Being the one good thing that remains from Paradise, it is easy to see why the devil would attack it so harshly. With sex scandals upon scandals, the acceptance of same-sex “marriages”, the  normalization of incest , the epidemic of contraceptive use, and a million other violations of the natural order, it’s not terribly crazy to speculate that we are nearing that final battle. Faithful Catholics easily recognize the dangers of the big lies society is pushing, and we seem to frame our understanding of this final battle as being against these  big  issues, but that is only the surface of the fight. .... Those of us in faithful, sacramental marriages, I really think we are going to be attacked more than anyone else. You only have to do a quick read through of the Book of Job to see how much the devil delights in bringing destruction

Perhaps I should remember my station, and be respectfully silent before the weekend's mighty display of power and glory. I am, after all, but one of those who live neither in the Northeast megalopolis nor the shining lands of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Daylight Saving Time — Again — Still Enough of that 'umble posturing. If you live in America, there's a pretty good chance that you remembered to set your clock back an hour during the weekend. We've gone through this routine every year for — too long, I think. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

By Laura Durant When you live for God and allow Christ to live within you, nothing is impossible. Challenges that come your way are but opportunities for the Lord to show His majesty and power. You have total trust you will be taken care of, you will not be forgotten and all your needs will be met. It is important we ask ourselves when uncertainty comes our way, when challenges arise, when things don’t go as planned, where do I turn? To whom do I seek for advice, counsel or comfort? Your Lord, the One who created you in His image and likeness, desires your answer to be that you turn to Him first, always and forever. If you do, you will always find peace, even in the midst of life’s greatest challenges and obstacles. Read more in English      Read more in Spanish

This universe is bigger and older than some folks thought, a few centuries back. I don't mind, at all. Besides, it's hardly new information. We've known that we live in a big world for a long time. " 4 Indeed, before you the whole universe is as a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth." ( Wisdom 11:22 ) If that bit from Wisdom doesn't sound familiar, I'm not surprised. It's not in the Bibles many Americans have. The one I read and study frequently is the unexpurgated version.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  Ecclesiastes 3:4 Despite the poor quality photo, this picture captures a moment from a dance I encountered while working as a Lay Missionary in Papua New Guinea. Sitting in the dirt surrounded by a jungle of utter blackness, I lost connection with everything I considered as 'normal'. I didn’t just witness the dance, I experienced it. I have no idea if the dance was a dance of grief or a dance of joy, but the depth of emotion released by the creativity extended beyond the dancers into the community. In my own community, most of us can't perform like that, unscripted, in harmony with others, to the rhythmic thump of magnificent handcrafted instruments. Read more:  Season to Journal

Everyone loves a good motivational quote. These little bite-sized mantras have the power to refocus our attention and push us to achieve before unreachable goals. I’ve got one from Winnie the Pooh hanging by my front door, one above my cabinets, one usually on my whiteboard, and one each on my laptop and cell phone wallpapers. Have you heard this one before? “If you want to be a miserable failure, just do what makes you happy.” Yes, you read that right. This opinion piece from a few weeks back  got me thinking. It boils down to the fact that while we often tell ourselves and our children to “just do what makes you happy in life”, if you really want to be successful, you need to put in the hard work, get out of bed when you don’t want to, and maybe turn off Netflix next time it asks, “are you still there” instead of continuing the binge of  Marvel’s Defenders . Keep reading here

  Así como la familia fue el centro de la atención de la Iglesia en los años pasado, ahora serán los jóvenes los que tomarán el estrado en la iglesia. Con el tema de “LOS JÓVENES, LA FE   Y EL DISCERNIMIENTO VOCACIONAL” el Papa Francisco ha dicho a los jóvenes de todos los rincones: “He querido que ustedes ocupen el centro de la atención porque los llevo en el corazón.” (1) En su labor de atender pastoralmente a las comunidades del mundo, se abocará a escuchar las necesidades y conocer las realidades de los jóvenes realizando un proceso de 2 años recoger inquietudes a todos los niveles para elaborar un documento de trabajo y un compendio pastoral final por el Papa Francisco, que ha captado su energía y disposición durante los encuentros con ellos: “En Cracovia, durante la apertura de la última Jornada Mundial de la Juventud, les pregunté varias veces: «Las cosas, ¿se pueden cambiar?». Y ustedes exclamaron juntos a gran voz «¡sí!»”. Esa es una respuesta que nace de

On leaving Rome in 1223 Francis made for the Rieti Valley and back to the hermitage of Fonte Columbo where he had written his rule. It was here that he had an idea which was to stain the memories and the imaginations of everyone for centuries to come with the mystery of the Incarnation.  As Christmas drew near the following year he approached John Vellita who owned land in the vicinity of Greccio, and asked him for permission to use a cave on his property to re-enact the birth of Brother Jesus at Bethlehem. There was an ass and an ox in the cave and a manger with a statue of the Christ-child lying in the straw.  St Francis was deacon at the Mass and spoke with such love and tenderness that many believed that the statue came alive as he cradled it in his arms.  Whether this was true or not one thing was for sure, Francis had brought back to life the humanity of Jesus Christ in the minds and in the imaginations of his contemporaries.   read on ....

Looking forward to Christmas?  Get your shopping done now and enjoy Advent as a time of prayer and anticipation. What's more, this guide will help you find some amazing shops run by hardworking moms.  Support small business and families at the same time! Read more on Veils and Vocations!

BBC News posted what a scientist thinks about we've learned in the last hundred years. That's hardly news. What's remarkable is that he didn't go on to say that the sea will catch fire, or that if we don't recycle with greater zeal all the birds will die. In short, that we're doomed. Doomed! DOOMED, I TELL YOU!!!!! Not that BBC News goes in for that sort of thing. They're very British. Even so, an essentially upbeat look at a century of science and technology is somewhat remarkable. The way I see it, science and technology are tools. Whether we use them to help or hurt each other is up to us. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

Christ as Saviour, El Greco [ 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 Matthew 23:1-12 ( NRSV, Anglicised CatholicEd ) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you h

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We take this day to remember all those saints who walked our path before us, triumphing in the face of adversity by placing their trust in God. Some of those saints are famous, like Saint Augustine , or Saint Francis of Assisi . And then, there are those saints who remain unknown to us; but, nonetheless, strove to do God’s will while on earth. Whether famous, or unknown, they now reap the reward of everlasting life with God. With perfected souls, they pray for us. They ask God to give us strength to resist evil. Through their intercession, we receive grace to persevere on our own journeys. These souls are a source of virtuous inspiration, making All Saints Day a day of remembrance and celebration. All Saints Have a Story to Tell Each saint has their own history, or story to tell. Saint Therese of Lisieux tells us of her “little way” of growing closer to God in The Story of a Soul . Saint Faustina shows us... Read more... 

Hi there, ya'll! =) I've been MIA these past few weeks because my family and I have been on vacation in Mexico! I am planning to share a vlog of our trip on my YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe so you can see it as soon as it's posted!

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I  raised my nine children in the shadow of other dedicated Catholic mothers, mostly homeschoolers, who thought Halloween was evil, dedicated to witches. Their children were not allowed to celebrate with their neighbors but went to a church basement to celebrate All Saints Eve. I felt my children suffered enough because of a perceived alienation from their peers. At our tiny Catholic, country, school everyone dressed up for the day and often joined friends afterward to go door to door. I did not want to deny them the joy and creative fun which surrounded this cultural, childhood tradition. I wish I had been able to read Father Steve Grunow’s research and commentary 30 years ago.   continue

I have to say, I'm rather excited by the media buzz surrounding the Netflix original series “Stranger Things,” with the premier of its second season this past Friday. One of the big reasons I'm excited is because it means something is happening that has been getting more and more rare since the advent of streaming platforms and the DVR: A lot of people are watching the same thing at the same time... Continue Reading

Tomorrow is Halloween. I hope you have a good one. I mentioned St. Wolfgang of Regensberg, All Hallows' and All Souls' Day, and the autumnal equinox, last year. Also Gaelic and Welsh traditions, jack-o'-lanterns, and Easter eggs. Enjoying my culture's traditions, within reason, makes sense. To me. It's arguably better than bitter bewailing stuff I can't change: and don't want to.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

In today’s first reading from Romans 8:12-17, Saint Paul encourages us to live by the spirit and not by the flesh. What does it actually mean to live by the spirit? And for that matter, what does it mean to live by the flesh? Let’s clear up the answers to those questions first, before we can determine how we should live. To Live by the Spirit As a baptized Christian, you are an adopted son or daughter of God. That makes you a rightful heir of God. As an heir of God, your inheritance is Heaven. Therefore, how you live your life on earth, will determine how you live for eternity. Will you squander your inheritance, or will you live your life in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Saint Paul strongly urges us to live our lives in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. That’s what it means to live by the Spirit. To Live According to the Flesh Do you place more importance on the here and now, rather than eternity? Is it most important to you to... Read more...

Pharisees and Sadducees had important roles in the Land of Israel for about two centuries by the time our Lord talked about love. They agreed on quite a bit. Maybe more than they realized. But they didn't see assorted political, social, and philosophical points the same way. Pharisees didn't like Helenization, adopting at least some foreign ideas. Sadducees thought Helenization was a generally good idea. But Sadducees thought the written Torah was divine authority's only source. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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En el Día Mundial de información sobre Desarrollo enmarcado por esta época donde la información es poder y moldea las decisiones que se hacen sobre el destino de   millones de personas, el cómo se obtiene y construye esta información es vital. Sobre todo en un tema tan prioritario como es el desarrollo que, de entrada, parece haber perdido en su nombre una parte esencial: lo humano. Ya no se habla de desarrollo “humano”, y de acuerdo a este tono, la manera de definir y medir el desarrollo de las personas ha abandonado facetas muy importantes para lograr su plenitud y que sin ellas no puede llegar a lo que todos buscan: la felicidad.   A nivel global, organizaciones internacionales como el Banco Mundial miden   el desarrollo de un país por el nivel de su Producto Interno Bruto ( PIB) per cápita,   y clasifica a los países de acuerdo a su nivel de Ingreso. Una manera puramente monetaria de evaluar el desarrollo: cuánto produces.

The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix), Van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Mt 22:39). Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel Matthew 22:34-40 ( NRSV, Anglicised CatholicEd .) When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan , Archbishop of Seoul (1922 - 2009) This time three years ago I visited Korea to attend the ordination to the

We're a lot smarter than flies, which probably helps us swat them. But the insects are very good at being somewhere else when the flyswatter or newspaper hits whatever they were on. I've run into a few reasonable speculations. One was that flies are hypersensitive to air movements, and feel an approaching object. That may be part of the answer. Scientists found another piece to that puzzle recently. "Recently" by my standards, that is. Flies live a whole lot faster than we do. Or, in a fly's eyes, we move in slow motion.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

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Who is God? God is the supreme being. Why did God make me? God made me to show forth his goodness, and to make me happy with Him in heaven. What must I do to be happy with God in heaven? To be happy with God in heaven, I must know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this life. These three questions are probably what I will be reciting on my deathbed after all other thoughts have decayed. Pretty much every thought I have ever had regarding faith and morals goes right back to these three questions and fits into this framework. In the last couple of months, I attended two funerals on my husband’s side of the family. We took the boys (thankfully, they behaved); in the middle of sorrow, sometimes it is a welcome reminder that life continues. Death never gets the last word. One of these times, I am going to have to explain to my boys what is going on. Likely next year when we celebrate the upcoming All Souls, I’ll have an inquisitive 3-year old that wants to know what all t

Today’s first reading from Romans 6:12-18 speaks to the heart of whether we choose vice or virtue to guide us in this life. When we walk towards vice, or sin, we become slaves to sin. We lose our freedom, because the sin rules our life; very similarly to an addiction. Think about how a drug addict will do anything to get the next fix. Sin and vice have that same kind of hold on a person. So, the question is, do you want to be a slave to sin, or might you prefer moving in the opposite direction? Obedience vs. Slavery: What’s Your Choice? God and sin are polar opposites, because God is all good and sin is all evil. So, when we turn our backs on sin, we move 180 degrees toward God. When we turn toward God, we reject sin. We opt for obedience to God, the Supreme Good, because we want that goodness. To get that goodness, we choose to obey God’s commands. We willingly embrace virtue! We choose to... Read more...

We all have periods in our lives when so many things go wrong, we wonder what else could happen…and then, surprise, it does! The other day at 6:30 AM I got in the car to go to Mass in the dark, and the key wouldn’t turn in the ignition. This had never happened before. In the same brief time span, the television went black, the car’s engine warning sign went on, I couldn’t connect to Facebook, I cut my hand on a Reddi-wip can (very hard to do!), and a thank-you card I sent came back. I won’t even mention what was happening on the national scene. I also lost the large cross that identifies me as a Sister of Notre Dame. How ironic! The Lord had supplied plenty of other crosses. So how does a Christian cope when minor problems pile up or one huge one crops up? You can get frustrated and depressed, but there are tips to help maintain inner peace and sanity. Click to continue

If you want to get inside my head, my title question is the type of stuff I think about. I don't really know for sure the answer. Even though Weinstein's actions were deplorable, it does seem like he has become a type of scapegoat. I say this even though I could easily say, "Me Too!" because I have also been the recipient of sexual harassment. Once, I even reported it at the job I was at and nothing was done about it. I remember the way it made me feel...completely belittled and ashamed. I remember not wanting to wear skirts anymore to work...but I digress.   Continue Reading  @ beautifulthorns>