Association Of Catholic Bloggers

  Mucho se habla del problema del tr áfico o trata de personas y, gracias a la reciente concientización, su visualización ha crecido en el mundo entero y las denuncias también . E n México, éstas han aumentado en un 600% en los últimos años, descubriendo que afecta principalmente a las mujeres (93% de los casos). (1) A simple vista, parecerá un delito lejano, como de cine, donde se amaga a las víctimas y se les mantiene encadenadas en lugares obscuros. Pero la realidad de este mercadeo violento es más cercana a nuestro diario vivir de lo que nos imaginamos, y nosotros podemos estar siendo parte de su cadena productiva. Esto puede darse s in darnos cuenta, pues todos nosotros podemos estar cooperando a su proliferación al comprar productos que “utilizan” personas en su producción. En Estados Unidos se han identificad o 139 productos d e 75 países que usan “esclavos modernos ”. ( 2 ) ver más...  

I see much intrinsic evil surfacing in our society. Whether it be racism, hatred, or lying – they all stem from selfishness. What makes many of these acts intrinsically evil is that nothing good comes from them. What makes an intrinsically evil act different from a morally unjust act is the intention of the sinner. For example, if a person steals a loaf of bread with the intention of feeding his starving family, the act of stealing is evil, but the intention does not make it intrinsically evil. Contrast that with the sins of racism, hatred and lying. When a person expresses racial slurs, aimed at demeaning or dehumanizing another human being/race, nothing good comes from that. The racist shows his/her vulnerabilities and insecurities. The recipient of the racial slurs is humiliated. Therefore, racism is intrinsically evil. If one individual hates another, wishing ill will on that person, nothing good comes from that. In fact, it only eats away at the goodness of the hater. Also,...

WHAT IS HONESTY? IS IT THE BEST POLICY? ALWAYS? REALLY? EVEN IF IT HARMS YOU AND OTHERS? EVEN WHEN OTHERS CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH? WHAT IS TRUTH? SHARE YOUR VIEWS AND OPINIONS HERE

Photo by  Leo Rivas  on  Unsplash When I was a little girl, I'd pick weeds from the lawn - dandelions, mostly, and bring a bouquet in to my mother. She'd smile and put them in a little green glass vase, add water, and put the vase on the kitchen windowsill. Every time I walked by the window and saw my gift to her, my heart would fill with joy, and I'd be so happy. I had given my mother the best thing I knew. In today's randomly chosen reading from St. Francis de Sales, a letter he wrote in 1605 to Rose Bourgeois, one his spiritual daughters, gently reminded me of a simple truth: God wants our weeds. Read more on my author site: Jeanne Grunert - God Wants Our Weeds

What a treat it was to read  Secrets – Visible & Invisible , a selection of seven short stories, written by seven different Catholic teen authors. Each story centers on a secret, and each story’s protagonist(s) depicted virtue, worthy of emulating. So, here is the run down: Secrets of Faith The  Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles , is a dystopian tale from Corinna Turner. In this story we meet Margo and Bane, two pre-teens out for a joy ride. They live in a futuristic time where religion and faith are taboo, yet Margo and Bane are practicing Catholics. Masses are said underground. After attending a secret Mass, they get into trouble while trying to get home on time. Will the authorities let them go, or will they convict them of joining the “Resistance?” Margo and Bane’s faith is only one of several secrets revealed in this page-turning, fast paced story, that serves as a prequel to  I am Margaret . Secrets of Generosity In  Recreation , by...

Cattle and Sheep in a Stormy Landscape , Paulus Potter  [ 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 6:30-34 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.  He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.  And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.  Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.  As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many thing...

In Sunday’s Gospel we heard Jesus tell his disciples to take nothing for their journey but a walking stick, sandals, and ONE tunic! The homily was about eliminating clutter. This came at an opportune time for me as I pack up my house and office to move. What a lot of stuff I accumulated in the past twenty years, making my sorting and packing job all the more difficult! Why am I saving a box of transparencies when no one uses an overhead anymore?  Why should I keep these size 8 clothes when I’m way past the middle age spread stage? That container of tatting thread? Really, I doubt I’ll be tatting anymore since I’ve taken up crocheting baby blankets. And those letters and greeting cards from years gone by? They only have meaning for me. I don’t think I need to save them as material for my canonization. The packs of paper that I “just might need” someday, I’ve never used. Click to continue

When I studied mystical theology, I discovered how to experience this love, not just in others but in God himself, through Jesus Christ, who, as St John insists, is love - infinite love. This was the beginning of a journey, a lifelong journey.. that I have spent nearly fifty years writing about so that those who want to follow me can have a guide to help them along the way.  read on....

Today marks the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This feast day, in honor of our Blessed Mother, originated in the early 1700’s. It is a day to celebrate the universal church. On this special day, we call on Our Lady to pray for us. We ask for prayers just like when we ask a neighbor to pray for us. Yet, the power of Mary is far greater, as she is the Mother of God. In honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I found this prayer on catholic.org to share with you: A Prayer to the Most Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (State your intention/need) O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. Read more...

Después del resultado de las elecciones generales en México en julio 2018 y ante la victoria del partido de izquierda socialista MORENA que prometió mucho y antes de una semana ya se ha retract ado de parte, dejando a sus seguidores desencantados, inclusive antes de tomar el poder….. ¿Q u é hacer? Como católicos que dudamos de la viabilidad de sus promesas y de su modo de alcanzar el desarrollo e igualdad que todos queremos pero que siempre hemos creído en las instituciones y las estructuras democráticas para la convivencia civilizada, hemos optado por la paz y la aceptación de los resultados de un ejercicio democrático ejemplar por su asistencia y desarrollo . Este ambiente se siente muy distinto a las reacciones de las fracciones socialistas en las elecciones anteriores, donde la toma de calles por meses fue una de sus tantas manifestaciones invasivas post-electorales. más...  

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 Mark 6:7-13 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition) Jesus  called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.   He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;   but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.   He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.   If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’   So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.   They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil m...