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(From Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; used w/o permission.) That's the great hall in Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, a 13-room dollhouse in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The museum's online exhibit page for the great hall opens with something that's not in the room: " ...the good fairy welcoming you to Fairyland.... " But I'll start with that sweeping staircase: which has no railing. It's not a design flaw. Colleen Moore and the folks who created this dollhouse imagined that fairies lived there. The tiny little winged fairies that became my culture's default version of the fair folk in Victorian times, and that's another topic. More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Regina Pacis - Queen of Peace University of Bonn [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Pope Francis has called for Ash Wednesday, 2 March, to be  a day of prayer andfasting for peace in Ukraine . Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for peace in Ukraine. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 6:39-45  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    Jesus told a parable to his disciples: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?   A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.   Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?   How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye’, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your

I was watching one of my favorite shows, This is Us , about an underprivileged ballet student who got into a special ballet academy.  She, and the other students being taught, were told "You belong here.  Take up space." I thought that was a great line.   The words "take up space" were not meant as if to say just take up space, as in you don't need to do anything.  No, she was instructing the students to be seen, to not be overlooked, to make a difference. Whatever space you and I have been given in life, we need to fill it uniquely, as only we can.  It is a good reminder that life is precious, our God-given gifts are meant to be used, and each of us has the capacity to do more than we think. And telling someone they belong?  Expressing that truth can be motivating as it pushes one past feelings , into greater self-confidence.  Too often it is unspoken, leaving a trail of isolation in its silence. You do belong.  So do I.  We know this because we were

 22/02/2022 Mark 9:34-9:1  Jesus called the people and his disciples to him and said: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake and the sake of the gospel, will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to win the whole world and ruin his life? And indeed, what can a man offer in exchange for his life? For if anyone in this adulterous and sinful generation is ashamed of m end of my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels” And he said to them, “I tell you solemnly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” Comment: What does it mean to renounce oneself? And take up our cross? To save our life we must lose it. What’s all that about? How do we do that? Does it mean I need to be in a convent, a

On a Saturday morning, as I was cleaning off my kitchen counter, I picked up a local newspaper that covers the news of all of the nearby cities.  One of the regular columns I like is titled Out of the Past .  It offers excerpts of news in increments of 10, 25 and 50 years ago. I always think it is fun to read about "way back when." What did people do in another era?  How did they think?  How are they different from us today? Imagine my surprise, when on that particular morning, I noticed that the date from 50 years ago was only 5 years prior to my high school graduation! Whaaaat?  How could that be?  You mean I actually lived in the Out of the Past time-frame? Oh my gosh, was I ever shocked.  Since I am not accustomed to counting the years between now and my graduation, I didn't realize it had been so long.  It's just not something I think about. This got me to thinking . . . what would I tell someone about that long-ago era, a time before they were even

Another week has passed, and I still haven't written about fusion power experiments on both sides of the Atlantic. It's on my to-do list, but I'm putting it off until I'm less distracted and more clear-headed. Besides, this has been an distracting week. Or I've been distracted. Which isn't quite the same thing. So - Tuesday I saw a doctor, who told me that I've caught COVID-19: along with about 80% of all Minnesotans. I decided to skip getting a blood test to verify my COVID-19 status: partly because it wouldn't make a difference on how I deal with the situation. And partly because I didn't see a point in expending resources just to satisfy my curiosity.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

  Matthew 11: 28-30 Jesus said, 'Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.' 18th Feb 2022 "Shoulder my yoke " What do you mean?  You promise to give rest, then you ask us to  take up your yoke . How are  these two  compatible? Overburdened with our  "selves" weighed down, yet resting in you we find a light-heartedness, a peace to our souls. May time stand still in moments of joy Photo - Maria Lang

Christ as Saviour El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills (Ps 102 [103]:2; Responsorial Psalm). Readings  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)   Gospel  Luke 6:27-38  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    Jesus said to his disciples: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,   bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.   To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic  either.   Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.   And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.   And if you do good to those w

            El aborto ha sido glorificado en las últimas décadas como el modo de liberar a la mujer y de darle mayores oportunidades y mejor vida. Pero la experiencia y el tiempo ha dejado ver algunas verdades ocultas acerca de este tema controvertido que nos hacen dudar de su efectividad e inclusive nos alarma de los vicios que oculta, en detrimento de la misma mujer y de su bebé. El Lic. Agustín Laje, en su visita a México en 2021, nos hizo ver varias de esas verdades ocultas:     leer más...

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(From Erin Whittaker, U.S. National Park Service; via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.) I stopped for several hours at the Grand Canyon on my way back from San Francisco. This was about five decades back. The massive gulch wasn't on the the most direct route, but I'd decided that seeing the Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater on the way was a good idea. I haven't been back since then, which suggests that I was right. I'd bought a big topographic map of the Grand Canyon while living in San Francisco, and had it with me when I was there. At the Grand Canyon, that is. Near where the South Rim Visitor Center is now, probably.... ...I was flattered, and surprised, when two tourists from Thailand asked me if I was Jewish. I explained that I'm a gentile — although I don't remember my exact words.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

           It is not often that someone’s good works are chronicled in a movie. It is even more uncommon for someone’s good deeds to be mentioned in their lifetime. The Father Clements Story is a made for TV movie about the first Catholic priest to adopt a child. It tells the story of Fr. George Clements, a Black parish priest in Chicago who became aware that a disproportionate number of Black children were languishing in the foster care system. His response was to adopt. The movie tells us that the Archdiocese was not inclined to allow Fr. Clements to adopt a child but Pope John Paul II gave his blessing and Father was able to adopt the first of four boys. Fr. Clements was the first African American to graduate from Quigley Academy Seminary. He marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and worked with the Black Panthers in community service. He started the One Church One Child national organization in 1980 and this network has been responsible for the adoption of more than 394,

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I saw an interview with Boy George, lead singer of the pop band Culture Club, and when he was asked if he is a Buddhist or a Catholic, his quote-worthy response was: "I am Buddhist in my aspirations and Catholic in my complications."  Wow. That, of course, required me to check out his family background.  It looks like he was raised in a working-class Irish Catholic family with a father who physically and mentally abused his mother when she was pregnant with George.  I believe it said in the interview that he has been a Buddhist for many years. Being a Catholic, and understanding some of the challenges that can come with practicing Catholicism, the "Catholic in my complications" really struck me as an interesting turn of phrase.  Naturally, I don't know the details of his personal life beyond what I have recently learned, so I can only wonder. But here's my point: Being a person of any religious persuasion can be complicated.  No matter how one i

  River Bank in Springtime Vincent van Gogh [ Wikipedia ;  source ] He is like a tree planted by water,      that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,      for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought,      for it does not cease to bear fruit  (Jeremiah 17:8; First Reading). He is like a tree      planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,      and its leaf does not wither  (Psalm 1:3; Resposnorial Psalm). R eadings   (Jerusalem  Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 6:17, 20-26  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place, with  a great crowd of his disciples and   a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of  Tyre and Sidon. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you w

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This came to me recently when I was watching a news report and thinking about the current state of our country:   ignorance and immorality are a dangerous combination. Admittedly, this is nothing new, not exactly a profound thought, but nonetheless, true.   Let me explain . . .  Ignorance is a "lack of knowledge or information" and morality relates to " principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior." Whenever we move forward on information without having a sense of right and wrong, our behavior will not have the benefit of sound reasoning, because it is our sense of right and wrong that leads us to judgment. For instance, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1786) instructs us, a well-informed conscience leads us to right judgment (with reason).  As we "strive to interpret data" through our experience, using prudence and the "advice of competent people and the help of the Holy Spirit" th

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Parents of adult children always have the same dilemma:   How do we get them to do things right?  And by right, I mean the way that we would do it!   Undeniably, we have lived a few more years than they have; we have already walked much of the path they are currently walking; and, probably, most importantly, we can see into the future, just as clearly as if we had a crystal ball, and we know what is best!   Can I hear an Amen? This superpower extends to grandchildren as well.  We can see the accident waiting to happen.  We know the discipline that will work, the habits that will lead to virtue, and we even know the effects of too much sugar on a little human body, but the best part of all for our adult children is that we are a fountain of wisdom, just waiting to be called upon to share the wealth of information we have acquired over time through our own experiences. All kidding aside, maybe we're not that great, after all, God is the only one who is all-knowing.  In

I spent part of Monday morning making notes for a talk with our parish priest. Then I called the Parishes on the Prairie office — P. on the P. are six parishes and a school in central Minnesota. I left a message, asking our priest to call me back. So far, he hasn't. Which is probably just as well. A bit after noon Monday, I ran an errand: picked up meds. After that, I — actually, I don't remember just what I did. But I do remember feeling cold. Unaccountably cold. Good news, the furnace was working fine, and inside temperatures were normal. A little below normal in some spots, since my wife was baking. But well within the normal range. Decades of experience told me that checking my temperature was prudent. So I did.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America .

I always get a kick out of watching old shows and seeing the outdated telephones, cars and other such things that have long since gone away.  I remember buying an old, black, army phone with a handset in the cradle, when I was a teenager.  I was so happy to have my own phone.  I remember how, before that, we had one telephone, attached by a long cord to the kitchen wall. But the other night, I was watching a show and noticed something I haven't thought about in years--a telephone book.  The character in the show had to find someone, so they went to the great book of names, addresses and phone numbers to locate them. Looking back, it is hard to imagine that at one time we lived so simply that we could actually put everyone's name and number in one book.  At that time, we didn't worry about publishing our information.  Oh, there were a few exceptions--people whose numbers were "unlisted"--but most of us just allowed it.  Same with church directories.  P

Miraculous Draught of Fishes Raphael [ Web Gallery of Art ] Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord  (Luke 5:8). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 5:1-11  ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)    On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,   and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.   Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.   And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,  “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”   And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”   And when they had done t