Association Of Catholic Bloggers

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your warm comments, expressions of love, and condolences on the passing of our mom. Our whole family was really lifted up this weekend by your prayers, support and visits.  Don’t ever think the online condolences just disappear and nobody reads them, because we do. They are very comforting. I have a few takeaways that I would like to share with you, as I try to get back into my writing. One day I was sitting with my mom at the nursing home and the head of dietary was standing there talking to us about her mom who had passed years before. She said she still thinks, “I have to tell my mom . . .” until she remembers she is gone. Moms are carried in our hearts and minds forever. It is good for us to continue conversing with them. I’ve already started talking to my mom, and I am really comforted when I do. I know we often apply sainthood to those who have passed, but something I have come to realize is how truly s...

I don’t know about you, but I think there is a lot of injustices occurring these days. Of the many concerns impacting our society, we must seek justice regarding: Abortion Government corruption Racial profiling Unchecked prejudices against the vulnerable Destruction of environmental protections Disregard for the rule of law I’m sure that you could add many line items to this list. The onslaught of these affronts against justice can seem overwhelming for anyone. Therefore, what can we do about it? How can any one of us seek justice in an unjust society? How I Seek Justice It’s just little old me. I’m just one person. Yet, I can have some impact, and you can as well. Perhaps you might want to join me. I seek justice, and by that, I mean God’s Justice, by reciting the  Divine Mercy Chaplet   daily. This is a powerful prayer asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness (for all the injustices caused by man). With my daily intention, I seek the revelation of God’s truth...

       México tiene magia. México es un país maravilloso dotado de una gran variedad de climas, de frutos, de policromada e increíble artesanía con el sello característico de sus regions. De lugares de ensueño con playas de blanca o dorada arena únicas en el mundo, con impresionables desiertos, con las dos Sierras Madres que lo atraviesan como gigantescas murallas, con volcanes de nieves eternas y que en su deshielo forman caudalosos ríos. Litorales de mares azules y temperaturas deliciosas, un Golfo en el Océano Atlántico con puertos importantes que dan entrada y salida a grandes barcos que llegan o van a distantes partes del mundo. Y playas idílicas. El moderno y visitado Cancún y como el ya universalmente conocido y bello Acapulco en el Océano Pacifico.    Petróleo, ciudades modernas con fuerte industria, templos con altares de retablos admirables verdaderas glorias del barroco y del churrigueresco, casonas blasonadas, pueblos con callejas...

CLICK HERE

I would like to think that I am not foolish, as I consistently seek Wisdom from on High. For it is with Wisdom that my path is lit and my journey toward God is set. Wisdom speaks: So now, O children, listen to me; instruction and wisdom do not reject! Happy the man who obeys me, and happy those who keep my ways. Happy the man watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts;  For he who finds me finds life and wins favor from the Lord;  But he who misses me harms himself;  All who hate me love death  (Wisdom 8:32-36). I welcome God’s guidance, and I feel called to obey Him. I consistently seek to know God’s Will for me, and when I discern it, I feel joy. How is it for you? Do you seek wisdom from on High, or do you try to go it alone? Those who think they can get though life all on their own, without the guidance and assistance of God, live a fool’s life. Seek Wisdom Whenever I need to make a big decision, I seek God’s Wisdom, as He knows what is best ...

The Return of the Prodigal Son , 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   Luke 15:1-32 [or 15:1-10] ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 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 neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have fo...

It takes a special person to walk into danger when everyone else is fleeing to safety. I have great admiration for the courage and bravery of the first responders from 9/11. Their virtue exhibited on that day, and the weeks afterward is a result of possessing Fortitude. You see, Fortitude gives us the capability to face fear, while courage and bravery allow us to act upon our fortitude. Therefore, the fortitude of first responders is something to behold. They are living witnesses of what it means to truly serve for the glory of God. Fortitude of First Responders Inside each of the first responders is a desire to serve others, even at the expense of one’s own life. How could that be, that the first responder would be willing to die, just to save the life of another? It is that way, because the first responder possesses Fortitude! We are all graced with this virtue at Confirmation, but I think that people of this vein are... Read more...

#CualEsTuValor Eduardo Verástegui nos demuestra que en cualquier ambiente y profesión, Dios puede hacer maravillas a través de nosotros. Un testimonio excepcional  que vale la pena ver y compartir en este video exclusivo de VALORAR PLAY. Por: Valorar Play You tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAmqi8XAeNs&feature=youtu.be

As the new school year gets underway, this is the time of year when transitions for children can be unsettling. What results? A lack of patience on everyone’s part. Everyone is looking for their new “norm” and it can’t come fast enough. For children, especially, finding patience can seem impossible. Whether you have moved to a new home, in the same school district, or to a totally new town, change can be difficult for children. Everything they know is in a state of upheaval. Moving to a new town means going to a new school and making new friends. To help children navigate transition more easily, I wrote a children’s book for ages 6-8, to help them through this process. The story is set at the beginning of the new school year. Faith, the oldest of the three sisters is heading into second grade in a new town and a new school. She doesn’t know any of her new classmates, but they all seem to know each other. This makes Faith feel uncomfortably like an outsider. The story line has a...

CLICK HERE

Prayer is a process of continual inner conversion that involves gently trying to turn, open and surrender the heart to God. As the process is practised, the heart of man is made accessible to the heart of God, and his love shafts down to purify and empty it, so that Christ can come to birth again in all of us. Keep Gently Trying       read on ....

I was rummaging through some things that have been laying around the house for awhile and I came across my old charm bracelet.   I don’t really remember when I wore it last, but it is probably safe to say it was at least 45 years ago! Looking through the charms it occurred to me that the things I liked then, I still like today. On my charm bracelet, among other things, was a horse, a piano and a typewriter.   All things I definitely associated with back then, and still do today. It made me think back to about 15 years ago when I started an * online retreat.   Near the beginning of the retreat, I was supposed to write out sort of a history of my past.   As I started the retreat, I thought, “I don’t need to do this part; I know my past really well.”   No surprise, I figured I could jump to the next step. But, wisdom took hold and I decided I would bother to write down what it asked me to.   Boy was I surprised! It wasn’t that anyt...

St Paul 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  Luke 14:25-33 ( New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition, Canada)     Now large crowds were travelling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them,  ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him,  saying, “This fellow began to buil...