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The Coronation of the Virgin Velázquez [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  John 3:16-18 ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Jesus said to Nicodemus: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.   Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ’ Léachtaí i nGaeilge Last weekend I was in a parish in Dublin for a mission appeal on behalf of the Columbans with Angie Escarsa, a Columban lay missionary from Zambales, Philippines, who has been here in Ireland since the 1...

There are times when I almost regret having successfully avoided a conventionally-successful career. Last weekend was not one of them. Partly because I saw what happens when an otherwise-smart person forgets to think. Big-Time Bungle: Bogus References Trust, Assumptions and ChatGPT Two Timelines, a Career and Experience A Little of This, a Little of That Using Our Brains: It’s an Option Common Sense and Other Alternatives A Skunk, a Wood Pile, Dynamite and the Sixties Changing Times, Human Nature THE ROBOTS ARE COMING! THE ROBOTS ARE COMING! More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Bogus research by a chatbot. Technology, common sense and human nature. Using our brains is an option. And a good idea.)

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St Margaret Mary Alacoque Contemplating the Sacred Heart of Jesus Corrado Giaquinto [ Web Gallery of Art ] This morning I celebrated the Mass for the memorial of St Justin Martyr. He was born of Greek parents in Palestine around AD100, was a philosopher who taught and defended Christian teaching and was martyred around AD165. As I did not have a congregation I used the readings that may be used for this saint instead of the readings for Thursday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time. The readings for the memorial are extraordinarily apt for the first day of June, the beginning of the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Christ in Agony on the Cross El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art] The First Reading is from  1 Corinthians 1:18-25 . Some quotations:  For the word of the cross is  folly to  those who are perishing, but to us  who are being saved it is  the power of God . . .  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,   but we preach Christ crucified,...

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  (A local artist painted this image from our reception napkins as a backdrop for our reception table.  Many years later, my husband commissioned a smaller image of it to hang in our home.  We still have it.) A thousand years ago (okay, almost 41), my husband and I got married.  The first thing I knew we had to do was to find a church and a hall.  We got engaged in the fall, so trying to plan a May wedding had its challenges. We decided to go with May 29th because both the church and hall were available.  We hesitated a little because we knew a lot of people go out of town for Memorial weekend, but we figured, hey, we'd probably have a few people who cared enough for us who would celebrate with us.  And that was true.  It was a beautiful celebration, as weddings tend to be, and yes, people came.   But now, looking back, I often wish we hadn't planned it on a holiday weekend.  I am adamant that the one thing I will not ...

  The Blessed Virgin Mary  Mother of the Church Monday After Pentecost Sunday Pentecost El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus  (Cf Acts 1:14; Entrance Antiphon). In 2018 the Church established the  Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church  to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday . Please continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

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TThis week, I'll talk about Professor Ethan Siegel's view that "the myth of the super-habitable super-Earth planet" is "a scientific catastrophe", other non-catastrophes; and a problem with "super-Earths" as a label. Along the way I'll look at science, news, headlines and silliness. And finally, skip lightly over a 13th century academic debate that got out of hand. "...A Scientific Catastrophe"? Earth ISN'T the Best of All Possible Worlds??? Bigger Isn't (Always) Better: But Neither is Smaller Science News, Silliness, Headlines and "Catastrophe" Proxima Chorizo, the Great Moon Hoax and Headlines Exoplanets: New Categories for Strange New Worlds Sorting Exoplanets by — Radius? Mass, Period and Discovery Method of Known Exoplanets (March 2022) New Worlds Discovered by Kepler, TESS, and Everything Else Still Seeking the Legendary Earth 2.0 The Problem with "Super-Earths" HD 219134 b: Da...

  Pentecost Sir Anthony van Dyck [ Web Gallery of Art ] Pentecost Sunday, Year A NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings. It is a celebration proper to the evening before Pentecost Sunday and may be celebrated in an extended form. It also fulfils our Sunday obligation. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)     Gospel   John 7:37-39 ( English Standard Version, Anglicised, India) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.   Whoever believes in me, as   the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”   Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, beca...

Everywhere I go lately, road crews are placing cones in front of fresh paint at intersections.  That's good, I'm glad they are doing it.  But the problem is, most drivers do not even notice their lane is blocked by the cones until they get right up to it.  Then, everyone has to try to squeeze over into the next lane at the intersection.   The placement of the cones by the road painters make sense, or at least it would, if you could assume drivers are always attentive, which we all know is not the case. One of the keys to the road cone problem is that we have to be looking down the road, ahead of us, to think about where we need to go, before we get squeezed in. As you move through life, do you look "down the road," or do you find yourself frequently squeezed into tight spots, looking for a way out? What behavior might you need to change to prevent yourself from continuing down the wrong lane in life, sometimes making quick, dangerous decisions that impact other...

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First, the good news. I am not experiencing withdrawal (or, more politely, "discontinuation syndrome"). The not-so-good news is that I'm putting off what I was getting ready for today until next week. This 'journal' post is in part an explanation: Decisions — or — Ducks in a Row and Other Alternatives Smoke in the Air, Health Issues and a Needed Prescription Responsibility and Requirements, Reasonable or Otherwise Benefit/Risk and Labels Learning Experiences Diagnosis An Informed Decision, Unforeseen Results "Reefer Madness", "Frankenfish" and Me "...Odd or Eccentric"?.... I Can See That Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Two Lists Navel-Gazing — or — The Paranoids are After Me! 😉 Disorders, Cultural Expectations and Making Sense Living Up, or Down, to Expectations Being Out of Step A Few Good Ideas More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Disorders, controlled substances and me. I need a prescription which requires monthly aut...

  This is Saint Peter. He opens the door (gate) of Heaven and asks you; "why do you want to come into Paradise?" What would your answer be? Honestly now ... what would you respond? CLICK HERE to learn more ... before it is too late!

  Ascension Cupola Italian Mosaic Artist [ WebGallery of Art ] Ascension, Year A The Ascension is celebrated on Ascension Thursday, 18 May, in England & Wales, Scotland. In the USA it is celebrated on Ascension Thursday in the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia. In all of these places Ascension Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation. The Ascension is observed on Sunday, 21 May, in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Philippines, USA (apart from the jurisdictions mentioned above). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 28:16-20 ( English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.   And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted.   And Jesus came and said to them,  “All ...

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            Por: Líderes Católicos   El documental organizado por Disney+ con el Papa Francisco que sale a escuchar a un grupo de jóvenes escogido por el productor y que incluía a jóvenes de varias partes del mundo y de caminos de vida muy diversos.  Mucho que aprender de Su Santidad por el simple hecho de "salir a las periferias" a escuchar y tratar de compartir sus realidades complejas y hacerlos sentir cercano y humano. Al mismo tiempo, tratando de contestar algunas de sus preguntas. Muchas veces , los católicos no abrimos primero los corazones con la caridad, para luego compartir la luz que la fe católica da a nuestras vidas. Lo hacemos al revés: Prmiero señalamos lo que está mal en la vida de aquellos que llevan vidas lejanas a Dios, y luego queremos que abran el corazón.  El Papa se arriesgó, esperemos que este evento que lo mostró vulnerable, humano y cercano haya sembrado en muchos corazones un deseo de acercarse a la fe...

The Holy Family with the Father and the Holy Spirit Carlo Dolci [ Web Gallery of Art ] I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you for ever,   even the Spirit of truth  (John 14:16-17; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :  John 14:15-21  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.   And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you for ever,   even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.   Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me....

I'd been planning on having something else ready for posting. By Friday afternoon, that obviously wasn't going to happen. So I'll talk about what has been happening. I should have my ducks in a row by the end of next week. This week's highlight was an unexpected visit from number-two daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. They'd been vacationing in Kentucky, and had planned on driving straight through to their home in North Dakota. Then our granddaughter had a learning experience involving a swing and gravity. She'll be okay, but right now she's dealing with a broken arm. And that's why they stopped off in Sauk Centre. More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (A visit this week, a broken arm and illness in the house have distracted me. So I this week I talked life, health, faith and making sense.)

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I learned to play (around) on the piano when I was young.  I was taught beginner classical pieces.  I have always loved playing the piano, mostly for myself, because my timing is not so good, and honestly, I don't really have an ear for it.  So like I said, I have always played for my own enjoyment. My mom hired a lady who taught piano in her home, in our neighborhood.  I think she taught professionally in a local school or institute.  I don't remember, but we figured she was good.   I found out as an adult that she was not actually a good piano teacher at all, so I am choosing to blame her for my poor timing and lack of skill.  Seems reasonable, doesn't it?  I wonder if there is any hope for me now. The problem is, when you learn something wrong, and stick to it for so many years, it is pretty hard to undo it and re-learn it correctly.   There are a lot of people out there who have learned things wrong.  I'm think...

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